Issuu

VOL. XXXI • NO. 190 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

GOLD MEDALISTS ALL. Gymnasts Reyland Capellan and Kaitlin de Guzman, together with wushu artist Agatha Wong (center) display their gold-winning form in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur. Later in the day, two other Filipino athletes in fencer Brennan Wayne Louie and trackster Eric Cray (400m hurdles) contributed to the ﬁve-gold rush. PSC, AFP, Jat Tenorio (Story on A8)

Cops: It’s Kian on video Police probers see ‘lapses, irregularity’

US envoy weighs in as outrage snowballs US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim expressed hopes Tuesday that those who killed 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos in an anti-drug police operation would be held fully accountable. Kim also offered condolences to the family of the 11-grader who was shot dead last week by police who claimed he was a drug runner. Outrage over Delos Santos’ killing spread to Filipinos working in Hong Kong. “He was only 17 years old,” said Eman Villanueva, Bayan Hongkong & Macau chairman. “He planned to ﬁnish schooling to help his family. He planned to go overseas. He planned to be a Next page

By John Paolo Bencito

OLICE involved in the killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos admitted that it was he that they were dragging and not an informant as they earlier claimed, investigators said Tuesday. DOES FOOTAGE LIE? A CCTV camera footage released Tuesday shows cops apparently dragging slay

victim 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos to the place where he was shot dead on Aug. 16. While investigations are going on, three police—PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jerwin Cruz, and PO1 Jeremias Pereda (top)—linked to the killing have been suspended by the authorities.

PO1 Jerwin Cruz

PO3 Arnel Oares

PO1 Jeremias Pereda

Broker claims Paolo’s ‘handler’ received P5m By Macon Ramos-Araneta, John Paolo Bencito and Vito Barcelo

bon committee Tuesday he handed P5 million in cash as a one-time “enrollment fee” to a friend and “handler” of Davao City Vice CUSTOMS broker Mark Ruben Mayor Paolo Duterte to facilitate Taguba told the Senate Blue Rib- his transactions at the Bureau of

Customs. Taguba, the broker of the P6.4billion shipment of shabu that slipped through Customs in May, said he met “Small”—whom he identiﬁed as Davao Councilor

Nilo Abellera Jr.—and a certain “Jack” in a restaurant in Davao City to hand over the money in January 2017. He said he never met the vice mayor, however. Next page

Govt lifts ban on fowl movement to Vis-Min By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE government has lifted the ban on moving poultry and poultry products from Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao following a series of consultations with poultry raisers, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel

Piñol said Tuesday. He said he would issue an administrative order on the lifting of the ban, and that it would take effect immediately. “The products, however, must not originate from inside the seven-kilometer radius controlled area,” Piñol said. Next page

Rody: No war over sandbar By John Paolo Bencito and Maricel V. Cruz SHABU SMUGGLING. Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte (left) and Davao Councilor Nilo Abellera Jr. have been identiﬁed by Customs broker Mark Ruben Taguba as persons implicated in what he has described as ‘enrolment fee’ to ‘a friend and handler’ of Duterte’s to facilitate his transactions at the government agency.

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has said there is no reason for him to defend Sandy Cay, a sandbar near Pag-asa Island (Thitu Island) in the West Philippine Sea as the

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presence of Chinese ships there does not count as an ‘invasion.’ Responding to warnings by Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio that Beijing is allegedly virtually occupying the new geological feature

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The admission came as Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa ordered the relief of Northern Police District chief Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo, who had claimed a day earlier that Kian had been selling 10 grams of shabu daily. PNP Internal Affairs Service Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said administrative charges are being prepared against the policemen involved in Delos Santos’ case after the IAS found lapses that led to

the killing of the Grade 11 student in Caloocan City on Aug. 16. “They admitted that it was Kian that they were seen dragging on the [CCTV] video and not an informant, as they had earlier claimed,” Triambulo said in Filipino. Renato Loberas, a drug suspect presented by police, earlier claimed Kian was not the victim police was dragging away as seen on closedcircuit television footage. “For now, what we see from the Next page

Palace banks on AFP’s loyalty amid ouster call By John Paolo Bencito AN underground organization, which claims to have in its ranks military and police ofﬁcials, has called for the resignation of President Rodrigo Duterte, who won a six-year term last year, following his alleged crime of betraying the public trust. But the military Tuesday expressed support to Duterte, downplaying what it called as

“unfounded” allegations against the commander-in-chief. “The AFP categorically denies the recent statement issued by a group that pretends to be a representative of the men and women of the AFP and the PNP and call themselves the Patriotic and Democratic Movement or Padem,” the military said in a statement read by Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella during a Malacañang news Next page brieﬁng.

Moving target: Marawi siege over in a month THE Marawi City siege, which began on May 23, may possibly end within the month, Col. Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of Joint Task Force Ranao told reporters. “There is a big chance and we are hopeful but we are not setting a deadline. We see that our troops are really pushing the Maute group to a smaller area,” Brawner said. The military ofﬁcial was quoted as saying by GMA

News the Maute group was being holed up in mosques with between 40 and 60 hostages. His statement could not be immediately independently conﬁrmed. “They [the Maute members] are now runNing out of ammunition. They are running out of food, and this is manifested by their response to our assault. Pailan-ilan na lang ang kanilang putok,” Next page Brawner addded.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Judy: Digong had little faith F ORMER Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said Tuesday President Rodrigo Duterte did not keep faith with her days after her appointment was rejected.

“Mr. President, I kept faith me in the end,” Taguiwalo said with you. I feel sad because I during her send-off at her dedon’t think you kept faith with partment.

“Still, thank you for allowing me to serve the Filipino people as a member of your Cabinet, for showing the Filipino people that the Left could serve well and with love.” Duterte said Monday he could not do anything about Taguiwalo’s rejection.

“That is the job of Congress as part of the checks and balances of government,” he said. “We can do nothing if she was rejected.” The Commission on Appointments on Aug. 16 voted to reject Taguiwalo’s appointment after a closed-door executive session of

the bicameral body. Taguiwalo is the third Cabinet official appointed by Duterte to be rejected by the commission. The other two were Perfecto Yasay Jr. as Foreign Affairs secretary and Gina Lopez as Environment secretary.

Caloocan City police chief Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna was placed under administrative relief to prevent him from influencing the investigation. In a radio interview, Dela Rosa announced Fajardo’s relief. “Effective today, the director of the NPD has been administratively relieved,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino, adding that this would pave the way for a faster and impartial investigation of the Kian delos Santos killing. Dela Rosa said that neither he nor President Rodrigo Duterte had sanctioned the killing of drug suspects. “I just want our fellow citizens to know that these incidents are not sanctioned, if it’s true that the defenseless boy was shot,” he said in Filipino. Dela Rosa had earlier said that Delos Santos was a drug courier for his father and uncle but Fajardo later said that Delos Santos and his relatives were not included in the drug watchlist. Dela Rosa said he ordered his men to conduct operations against illegal drugs, not to kill suspects. CCTV footage contradicted police claims that Kian fired at them first, prompting them to return fire and kill him. On Monday night, President Duterte said intelligence information alone that said Kian was a drug courier was not enough to pin him down as being part of the illegal drug trade. Speaking to reporters at a media roundtable in Malacanang Park, Du-

terte slammed claims by the local police, including Dela Rosa that Kian could be a “legitimate target” of antidrug operations based on information that he was a source of drugs in the neighborhood. The President said that even intelligence reports could not prove anything in court. “No, intel is intel,” he replied, when asked if he believed the Grade 11 student was a drug courier. “There is no probative value. You cannot use it in court… That’s information gathered by the police and the military, but sometimes, it’s wrong,” he added. He also said the barangay CCTV footage showing Delos Santos being dragged by two policemen should be scrutinized before it is presented to court. Early that night, Duterte said he would let the National Bureau of Investigation probe the killing, and vowed that the cops behind the death would rot in jail if found guilty. The President however, said that there is no room for the police to misinterpret his orders to destroy the drug apparatus, even if this meant killing those who resist arrest. He also denied suggestions that killings similar to Kian’s are happening because police think it is now state policy to kill addicts. He acknowledged, however, that there might be some policemen who

might be emboldened to kill because of his promise to protect them. Nevertheless, Duterte said the police are using the “appropriate force” needed to conduct anti-drug operations, and that the bloody drug war will not change despite the 17-yearold’s death. “No, no, no, I cannot back down there. If there is a mistake, if I am gone, you try to imagine a scene in which my plane crashes when I go home, who is in the best position to carry out the fight against drugs?” Dela Rosa, who said the policemen involved were in restrictive custody, said Duterte had ordered him to have them face the consequences. “Yes, that what’s the President said to immediately arrest and jail them,” Dela Rosa said. But he said there was no need to arrest them because they were in restrictive custody the following day after the shooting. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, meanwhile, said Kian did not deserve to die, even if he was involved in illegal drugs. “Whether or not he was involved in the use or trafficking of illegal drugs, he did not deserve to die in the manner that he did,” Lorenzana said as he expressed his sympathies to the family. “If the allegations of foul play are proven then the perpetrators must be brought to justice. They must be made to account for what they have done,” Lorenzana said.

“We must allow the investigation into this incident to take its full and proper course,” he added. He urged the public to remain calm and let the investigation rolls to unravel the whole truth. “The President has already spoken and he assured that those who violated the law will be liable for Kian’s death,” he said. Also on Tuesday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Caloocan City fiscal Darwin Cañete would not handle the Kian delos Santos case. Earlier, Senator Frnaklin Drilon had accused Cañete of bias against Kian, based on statements he had made. But Aguirre said Cañete would no longer be involved in the imminent preliminary investigation of criminal charges expected to be filed by Kian’s family against the policemen involved in his death. “Prosecutor Cañete, the one who gathered the facts of such a case, is no longer included in the raffle of the case. This exclusion is precisely done to avoid any purported prejudgment from being present in his resolution of the case if the same is raffled to him,” Aguirre said. Aguirre said Cañete was only tasked to assist in the fact-finding probe on Kian’s case upon request of the local police due to his availability, being a resident of the city. With Francisco Tuyay and Rey E. Requejo

Broker... From A1

Taguba said he knew Tita Nanie through Jojo Bacud, an acquaintance of his father. Bacud was working for the BoC’s Special Studies and Project Development Committee and helped him get his shipments smoothly through Customs. But when his father had a quarrel with a certain Mike Saban, who was said to have strong connections at the BoC, Taguba’s shipments were always tagged. The broker then asked Bacud for help, and he referred him to Tita Nanie. Trillanes said Abellera had close ties with Paolo Duterte and showed photos of them to support his claim, but Gordon said these did not prove that Paolo was involved in smuggling. Abellera was invited to attend Tuesday’s meeting, but he failed to show up, claiming hypertension. During the hearing, Taguba also read text messages from Tita Nanie, who said Jack was the “handler of Paolo [Duterte]” and that Jack could arrange his meeting with Paolo. But Taguba said he and the vice mayor never met. “Good am, Mark. Will make fi-

nal arrangement with Jack. He is the handler of Paolo. Now, we have to advance the enroll. He can fly to Davao to arrange a meeting with Pulong ASAP. During the meeting, you personally turn over the P5 million…,” one text message read. Pulong is the nickname of Paolo Duterte. Aside from the P5 million “enrollment fee,” Taguba said he paid the Davao Group P10,000 per container. On average, he said, he processed 100 containers a week, amounting to P1 million. He said Jack would fly to Manila every Friday to collect the money. He said after he paid the Davao group, he encountered no difficulties at the BoC. This setup went smoothly for three months until one day, he received an alert on one of his shipments. Taguba said he called Tita Nanie who told him he had scolded Jack. She then referred him to a “Third Group” also supposedly based in Davao, with “Noel” and “Big Brother,” whom he called “General Capuyan.” Senator Antonio Trillanes IV identified him as Col. Allen Capuyan from the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983 and said he is as-

signed in Davao City. The next hearing of the committee is set for Aug. 30. In a late Monday night press conference, President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that the smuggling of the shabu shipment through Customs meant he could not wipe out the drug menace in three to six months, as he had earlier promised to do. “I said I will try to stop the shabu problem within three to six months, but I never realized that an agency under me [was the one slipping shabu in],” Duterte said. While Duterte was composed during most of the press briefing, he appeared upset when the topic of the Customs mess was discussed. “What more poignant reaction [do] you want?” Duterte said when asked about Senator Panfilo Lacson’s remark that he had not expressed outrage upon learning of the shabu shipment. “I was admitting my failure. That’s one. Very clear. Second is, I said it’s impossible to stop [the drug problem] within six months because one of my agencies is slipping shabu in. That was my reaction. And if that does not sound like a reaction, well, I’m sorry.” With Maricel V. Cruz

Cops:... From A1 testimony and video footage, apparently there were lapses… and irregularity in the performance of their duty,” Triambulo said. He said the IAS will submit the results of its initial investigation to Dela Rosa on Wednesday, recommending that charges be filed. Triambulo said IAS has yet to see the report of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), which it will compare with the testimony of witnesses and other pieces of evidence. “Our investigation is not yet over because we have yet to see the SOCO report,” Triambulo said. IAS investigators conducted an ocular inspection again and interviewed the other police personnel who were possibly involved in Kian’s case, he said. Triambulo said he would recommend any other personnel involved in the case be put under restrictive custody to encourage other witnesses to come out. Police Officer 4 Arnel Oares; Police Officer 1 Jeremias Pereda; and Police Officer 1 Jerwin Cruz, who were involved in the shooting, are under restrictive custody. Chief Inspector Amor Cerilo, the precinct commander, has also been relieved.

Palace... From A1 “The entire AFP along with all the men and women of the uniformed services and all its civilian personnel stand by the Constitutionally mandated government and unequivocally support the Commanderin-Chief,” the military said. “The accusations and issues cited by the group are unfounded and uncalled for. Such issues are clearly politically motivated and a matter that the AFP does not and will not subscribe to,” it added. In a statement posted in a blog ‘Pinoy Abrod,’ Padem called on the military to “condemn and hold Rodrigo R. Duterte accountable for gross crimes in betrayal of public trust and in violation of national sovereignty and democratic rights of the Filipino people.” “We call on our fellow officers and members of the AFP and the PNP to join the people in demanding the resignation or ouster of Duterte and his administration,” the group’s Spokesperson, Antonio Bonifacio, said Among the 10 crimes Duterte allegedly committed, according to the group, were: treating the military and police as his private armies; condoning and protecting top-level illegal drug users; emboldening and inciting the police to engage in extrajudicial activities; corruption; allowing China to occupy the country’s maritime features in the West Philippine Sea; making the Philippines a ‘debt vassal’ of China, among others. Padem also mentioned that Duterte was condoning and protecting top-level illegal drug lords, including his son Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and, short of identifying them, drug protectors at the level of governors and generals. The group added it would “support a new civilian administration” in the event Duterte would be ousted, and follow the principle of civilian supremacy. In many of his previous speeches, the President dared his critics who wanted him out of power to stage an uprising against him. “I will even send trucks for your transportation. Go ahead. I am waiting for that actually, so there will be a change in president and a new government that is working,” the President said in a media interview at Malacañang Park on Monday. “If there is an uprising, go ahead all those who do not believe in me. Let us have an uprising,” the President said. Those from the military who wanted to launch a coup against him “need not fight the Presidential Security Group,” Duterte said. “Tell me if you want my office and I will swear them (sic) to office,” he said. The military, however, warned they would not hesitate “in acting against forces who shall undermine the stability and security of our country and those who wish to destabilize our nation thru unconstitutional means.”

The shipments—605 kilos of shabu—was found days later in a Valenzuela City warehouse during a raid conducted by Customs personnel led by the director for the Intelligence and Investigation Service, Neil Anthony Estrella. Estrella had told the Senate panel that Chinese Customs had tipped him off about the shipment from Xiamen. He said the warehouse was owned by Chen Ju Long alias Richard Tan, owner of Hong Fei Logistics Co. Taguba said he was introduced to the “Davao Group,” which included “Small” and “Jack,” by a certain “Tita Nanie,” whom he had met at a Quezon City mall. Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the committee, asked Taguba repeatedly for the surnames of Jack and Tita Nanie, but the broker said he did not know their last names. Nanie Koh and Lorna Rosario, who were thought to be behind the alias Tita Nanie, were both invited to the hearing. But Taguba, said neither of them was the Tita Nanie he had met.

Rody:... From A1 some 2.5 nautical miles off Pag-asa Island— Duterte simply brushed off the presence of Chinese ships as a maneuver to “patrol” the area since “we are friends.” “Why should I defend a sandbar and kill the Filipinos because of a sandbar?” Duterte told reporters in a media roundtable Monday night. “They’re not invading. What Carpio is saying isn’t true, they are just there but they are not claiming anything,” he added. In the House of Representatives, a staunch critic of Duterte Tuesday denounced the continuing activities of China in the West Philippine Sea, calling them “very concerning.” Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, former marine officer, said he received information that a Chinese flag mounted on a steel pipe was discovered planted on a Sandy Cay. In related developments:

Moving... From A1 The Mindanao State University, which is in the heart of the capital city, opened classes on Tuesday while troops secured the campus. In related developments: • Former Marawi Mayor Omar Solitario Ali and two of his sons will remain in the arrest orders issued by martial law administrator and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, after revoking temporary clearances seeking to disprove accusations he let terrorists into Marawi City, a senior Cabinet official said Tuesday. Ali and two of his sons were given temporary clearances by Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza, intended to discuss with Lorenzana how he could help the government resolve the ongoing conflict in Marawi City. Dureza, however, said Lorenzana “found basis for their being retained in the arrest list and ordered the cancella-

• Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday denied Carpio’s claim that China allegedly invaded part of a Philippine territory. At the sidelines of the budget deliberations conducted by the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations, Cayetano said there was no such thing as China’s invasion of a Philippine islet. “The problem with some of the press statements that came out had wrong facts and wrong premises, wrong conclusion,” Cayetano said as he faced lawmakers on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ proposed P19.57-billion budget under the 2018 P3.767trillion General Appropriations Bill. “One of them was saying [there is an] invasion of the sandbars sa Pag-asa. What does an invasion mean? It means inaagaw mo or tinatayuan ng ibang country. That is not true,” Cayetano added. Carpio claimed Chinese ships have been guarding Sandy Cay, but Cayetano assured the public the government has been trying to resolve the issue in a peaceful and diplomatic manner. • At the same time, the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations on Tuesday vowed to

tion of their temporary clearance.” “Based on the vehement objections of the AFP, PNP and local leaders in Marawi and Lanao del Sur, I have recalled/cancelled the clearance I gave to Solitario and his two sons effective today. They are now subject to arrest,” Lorenzana said in a message to Dureza, which the latter shared in his statement. • A group of child rights advocates lamented on Tuesday that Marawi, since May 23, still had tens of thousands of children suffering from disrupted education, dire living conditions and psychosocial distress. Ned Olney, Save the Nation country director in the Philippines, said more than half of the 60,000 children who fled the city when fighting broke out between the Maute terror group and government forces have not reenrolled in school. Many of those who returned to the classroom still cannot afford basic learning materials, like uniforms, books and other school

John Paolo Bencito

study a forthcoming proposal from Cayetano regarding a dedicated budget for “West Philippine Sea concerns.” “There is more than meets the eye regarding the geopolitical terrain in the WPS and we trust Secretary Cayetano to come up with a sensible and ultimately advantageous plan to address the current issues there,” Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, the panel chairperson, said after hearing Cayetano’s manifestations during the panel discussions on the DFA’s proposed P19.57-billion budget for 2018. “We will do our job whether you add a peso or not. Of course the more resources you give us, the more we can assert not only our rights but develop the institutional memory and institutional strength in fighting for our claims,” Cayetano told the Appropriations panel. Alejano said the activities of China in the disputed waters were discovered around third week of July 2017, where a Chinese vessel allegedly erected the said 3-meter high Chinese flag on a Sandy Cay which is known to be within a Philippine-controlled area.

supplies, he added. “There are classes that have more than doubled in size to compensate for the surge of new arrivals, some with up to 100 students,” he noted. The former Marawi mayor earlier accused by President Rodrigo Duterte of condoning the entry of Islamic State-inspired rebels in his city sought for clearance to “facilitate their planned meeting with Lorenzana and be allowed safe passage through martial law checkpoints.” With this latest development, Ali will remain in the martial law arrest orders issued by the Defense Department last June 5. Ali is one of the more than 150 government officials tagged by Duterte allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. Hours before the opening of classes Tuesday, an intense fighting between troops and the Maute group members erupted in nearby Marantao town. With John Paolo Bencito and Rio Araja

Govt... From A1 He said the poultry and poultry products must also have passed the inspection of quarantine officers and sealed during their transport. “We will coordinate with the local government units and inform all agencies concerned that the ban on the movement of poultry and poultry products has already been lifted,” Piñol said. “They should abide by that. We will coordinate with the proper agencies and everyone will be informed.” The Agriculture Department earlier imposed a temporary ban on the movement of live domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, semen and manure from Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao to prevent the further spread of bird flu. The temporary ban on the ship-

US... From A1 cop. It’s paradoxical that he was killed by a bunch of cops.” Villanueva said the killing of Delos Santos, whose mother worked in the Middle East, should cause other Filipinos working abroad to reflect on the dangers of blindly following President Rodrigo Duterte, who won the highest number of votes from overseas Filipinos. “The drug war implemented by a rotten and corrupt system and framed on murdering with impunity has also claimed family members of OFWs including innocent ones like Delos Santos,” he said. “While the drug war remains on a murderous streak and not on resolving the causes that enable the drug problem, our people including our loved ones will not be secure,” he added. Bayan Hongkong & Macau urged the government to prosecute the police officers involved in the killing, but said Duterte “should be viewed as equally guilty.” “His war on drugs has left a generation of families mourning for unnatural deaths; deaths that could have been avoided were drug use viewed as an issue covered by several factors, including the systemic poverty these families are mired in,” Villanueva said. The minority bloc at the Senate called for an inquiry into the recent spate of killings in operations by the police against drug suspects. “There is a need not only attain justice for Kian and other victims of abuse by the state in the hands of our law enforcers and authorities, but also to reassess and change the strategy of the administration’s drug war, which unjustly targets the poor and the helpless while failing to address the root causes of the drug menace in the country,” said a resolution filed by Senators Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Leila de Lima, Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, and Antonio Trillanes IV. “It is high time to end police abuse during drug raids. The police should be reminded of their mandate to protect the citizens, especially the helpless and the poor,” Aquino said. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said the investigation should be aimed not only at purging police ranks of personnel implicated in the killing and abuse of drug suspects, but also at providing accountability for those found erring. “Relieving cer tain personnel without making them suffer the consequences of their action will not make a dent,” Trillanes said. The past week saw at least 80 people dead in a series of raids in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela and contiguous cities in northern Metro Manila as part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs. Since July 1, 2016, security forces and “unidentified gunmen” have killed at least 7,000 suspected drug users and dealers, including 3,116 killings by police, and 31 children, the resolution said. In simultaneous operations in Caloocan on Aug. 16, 12 people were killed, including Kian, who was found dead in the site of the encounter, lying face down in a fetal position, with three gunshot wounds, one to his back and two to his head. Opposition lawmakers in the House pushed for an independent fact-finding commission that will look into the killings in Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs. Reps. Edcel Lagman of Albay, Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao and Gary Alejano of Magdalo Party-list said extrajudicial killings of drug suspects must stop. Lagman said the creation of an impartial fact-finding commission composed of retired jurists may be the answer to stopping the escalating killing of drug suspects. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan, Macon Ramos-Araneta, Maricel V. Cruz, Bill Casas ment of chicken and other fowls from Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao is contained in Memorandum Circular 09, Series of 2017, signed by Enrico P. Garzon Jr., the department’s assistant secretary for Livestock and director of the Bureau of Animal Industry. “Since the Visayas and Mindanao remain free from avian influenza, the movement of live poultry, poultry mat, day-old chicks, eggs, semen manure and other products from Visayas and Mindanao to Luzon will be allowed,” Garzon said. Industry stakeholders had earlier lamented the temporary ban and said poultry raisers had already lost billions of pesos. Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura executive director Jayson Cainglet said farmgate prices had already gone down from P80 to P85 per kilo to P25 to P30 and to as low as P10 per kilo after the imposition of the ban.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

JT to pay $1 billion for Mighty cigarette

STOP THE KILLINGS. Carrying a banner which reads ‘Justice for minors and to Grade 11 Kian Delos Santos,’ militant group Anakbayan holds a press conference in Sta. Cruz. Manila on Tuesday calling on President Rodrigo Duterte to stop killing the poor allegedly involved in illegal drugs. Norman Cruz

IN BRIEF Solon urges House to pass body cam bill A LAWMAKER on Tuesday urged the leadership of the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of the “Body Cam Bill” or a proposed law seeking to install body cameras on police officers to record the events in cases of abuses. Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon said his House Bill 2741 or the “Body Cam Bill,” once enacted, shall serve as “neutral eyewitness” to protect the targets of operations from possible abuses and guard police operatives from trumped up charges. “Having video recordings of operations will serve the interests both of policemen and the public they come into contact with,” Biazon said. “Many policemen have also been victims of trumped up charges of abuse against them, just as members of the public have been victims of abusive law enforcers,” he added. This developed as Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to arrest the three police officers involved in the killing of Kian Loyd delos Santos. “With the President’s order to arrest the officers involved, we are reassured that justice will be done to the family of Kian... We support the President’s order and we ask him to see to it that justice is meted out to the police involved,” Atienza, a House deputy minority leader, said. Maricel V. Cruz

Senate okays P6-m proposed budget for OVP THE Senate finance committee, chaired by Senator Loren Legarda, approved on Tuesday the proposed P6,031,018,000 budget of the Office of the President and the P443.946 million proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President for 2018. The OP’s budget is 70.10 percent lower than this year’s P20billion budget while the OVP’s budget is a 3.6 percent increase from 2017’s P428.618-million budget last year Meanwhile, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV questioned the lack of specific budget allocations of the six agencies under the OP covered by the intelligence and confidential funds. He said the six agencies are the National Coast Watch Council, Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, National Coast Watch System, Anti-Terrorism Council, Presidential Commission on Visiting Forces Agreement and Presidential Complaint Center. “They didn’t allocate specific budget for these offices,” said Trillanes during the hearing of the Senate committee on finance. He said they cannot expect the six offices under OP to perform well without the budget. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Duterte rejects Leni as new DSWD chief P By John Paolo Bencito

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte shot down the possibility of having Vice President Leni Robredo take over the position of Social Welfare secretary after it was vacated with the recent rejection of Judy Taguiwalo by the powerful Commission on Appointments.

Asked by reporters on the possibility of having Robredo, the former housing secretary, to take over the Social Welfare portfolio, the President on Monday night responded with a resounding “no” on the suggestion. He did not clarify. Duterte, however, said that he had asked an incumbent senator once if “she” could be the next DSWD chief.

The President likewise offered in jest the position of DSWD secretary to popular ABS-CBN broadcaster Doris Bigornia—who were among the reporters present during the roundtable held at Malacañang Park, a few steps from his Bahay Pagbabago home at the Pasig riverbanks. The President said he will replace Taguiwalo with someone

who will “avoid corruption” and “work sincerely” for the post. Robredo’s name ﬂoated as one of the possible contenders for DSWD chief after one of his die-hard supporters, the former sex guru now Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson included her in an online poll, which the Vice President topped. Uson later on accused the Vice President of employing trolls to win the online poll. Duterte and Robredo had a falling out after the Vice President was disallowed to attend Cabinet meetings, following her criticisms over the Presidnet’s bloody drug war. In the same media interview, the President said that he intends to work around the “legally-feasible” limits of the law to have the current military chief, General

Eduardo Año within his turf. While Año cannot assume a post yet due to one-year appointment ban, Duterte said that he can make him his senior aide at the Office of the President or even an undersecretary at the Interior Department, if this is possible. “I need his services. Año would be under me. I would make him a senior aide of the Office of the President or whatever. Or undersecretary if that is legally feasible. Ilagay ko lang siya undersecretary but he performs as officer-in-charge,” Duterte said. “It’s Año. But he has a mission. Sabi ko, “Tapusin mo muna ‘yung Marawi then I want you to go to the DILG,” he added. Current Interior Officer-incharge Catalino Cuy will remain in his post as DILG chief, until Ano’s one year restriction would be over, the President said.

TOKYO—Japan Tobacco said Tuesday it would pay nearly $1 billion to buy Mighty Corp., the Philippines’ number two cigarette firm, marking its second acquisition in Southeast Asia this month. One of the world’s biggest tobacco companies, whose global brands include Winston and Camel, JT has set its sights on international markets to counter slowing sales at home and intensifying competition in the e-cigarette market. JT on Tuesday said it would pay P46.8 billion ($936 million) for Mighty, which has a 23-percent share of the Philippine market. It comes several weeks after announcing it was buying Indonesian cigarette maker PT Karyadibya Mahardhika and its distributor for $677 million. “This major acquisition in Southeast Asia adds to our recently announced full-scale entry into Indonesia, and will further enhance our business base in the region,” JT executive vice president Mutsuo Iwai said in a statement. The deal will help Mighty settle a tax evasion case in which it is facing a P30-billion payment. The government had accused Mighty of using counterfeit cigarette tax stamps to avoid paying excise taxes. The Philippines’ Finance Department has described the agreement as the country’s biggestever tax settlement. AFP

Ex-solon, lawyer to file No furlough yet for De Lima from SC Impeach case vs Bautista By Rey E. Requejo FORMER Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras and prominent lawyer Ferdinand Topacio wil file on Wednesday an impeachment complaint against Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista before the House of Representatives. Manuelito Luna, counsel for Paras and Topacio, on Tuesday said his clients have already secured the endorsement of some congressmen so that the complaint would be tackled by the House justice committee. Luna said the complaint contained allegations of Bautista’s unexplained wealth as disclosed by his estranged wife Patricia Bautista, accountability for the data breach and the script tweak of the transparency server during the 2016 elections, and the reported receipt of referral fees or commissions from the Divina Law Office. The complaint will also discuss Bautista’s “incessant pattern of arbitrary, unilateral, or unauthorized acts in breach of collegiality and to the great prejudice of the public.” “Paras and Topacio were impelled to make such move due to Bautista’s betrayals of the public trust which tended to put the office into disrepute, as well as for culpable violation of the Constitution,” Luna said in a text message. Bautista had said the National Privacy Commission, which recommended the filing of charges against him late last

year, may have misappreciated the facts concerning the March 2016 hacking of the poll body website that contained the database of voters. He also denied allegations he had amassed unexplained wealth amounting to nearly P1 billion. Bautista has said that he was ready to face impeachment proceedings and denied reports that he resigned. “I will face impeachment complaints in order to vindicate myself,” Bautista said. “It is not true that I resigned from my post,” he said, adding it was just another smear campaign to create the impression that he is guilty of the accusations hurled by his wife. The poll chief continued to deny that the hidden-wealth allegations against him and claimed all were half-truths. The accusation, however, has already prompted Bautista to think about quitting his post. Earlier, the Bureau of Internal Revenue has formed a ﬁve-member panel to investigate possible tax evasion cases against Bautista, according to Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. Aguirre said the BIR team will investigate possible violations of the National Internal Revenue Code, not only by Bautista, but also by his wife Patricia Paz, law dean Nilo Divina of the Divina law ﬁrm, Luzon Development Bank and other parties involved in the case.

DETAINED Senator Leila de Lima won’t be able to attend the Senate inquiry on Thursday on the killing of student Kian Lloyd delos Santos in an anti-drug operation by police Caloocan City last week after she failed to get immediate relief from the Supreme Court for furlough to attend the legislative investigation. Through her lawyer Teddy Esteban Rigoroso, De Lima ﬁled a very urgent motion with the SC, but her pleading was not included in the agenda of the Court’s en banc session on Tuesday. An SC insider revealed that De Lima’s motion would instead be deliberated in the next session on Tuesday next week. This means the senator, who is detained at the Philippine National Police custodial center

while facing drug trading cases, would not be able to join the ﬁrst hearing of the Senate on Kian’s case and would have to wait for the next SC session to know if she would be allowed to attend the succeeding hearings. In her motion, De Lima appealed to the SC to allow her to attend the Senate inquiry and exercise her duties as a senator to probe Kian’s case and the recent spate of killings under the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. “It is clear from the foregoing that Petitioner’s presence and participation during the inquiry into the death of Kian Loyd delos Santos serves those causes, and is but consistent with Petitioner’s mandate and rights under the Constitution and to the right of the Filipino people to be represented in the Senate by the elected Senator,” De Lima stressed.

WATERPLAY. Tots enjoy a burst of water from a busted waterline along Manila’s Quirino Avenue.

Ey Acasio

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017

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Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Stop selling—we’re not buying

EOPLE are not stupid. Police who are trying to wiggle their way out of the indefensible killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos ought to know that.

When Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa trotted out an alleged drug pusher to say that Kian, a Grade 11 student, was a courier, only the most gullible of people gave the “revelation” much credence. What threats, we wondered, were made against this “pusher” to go public and smear the memory of Kian, who by all accounts was worried about a test in school the next day when policemen started beating him—just before they dragged him to a lonely alley, made him hold a gun, then shot him dead.

We have a long history of people bearing false witness; 25 centavos can buy you two of them. They go for even less, when the police use coercive power to jog their “memory.” Regardless of what Dela Rosa’s pusherwitness says, there are just too many reasons to doubt the police narrative. The original claim that Kian shot ﬁrst, prompting police to shoot back, has been discredited by CCTV footage showing him being dragged away by two policemen to a dead-end alley. People who now claim that the boy in the footage was not Kian probably also subscribe to conspiracy theory. Even more damning are the autopsy results that showed Kian suffered three gunshot wounds—one in the back, one behind the left ear, and one into his left ear. Forensic experts have determined that the boy

was lying face down on the ground when the first two bullets hit. Kian was killed on Aug. 16, a Wednesday but Dela Rosa only made his “revelation” about the student on Aug. 20, four days after the dastardly deed was done. If, as Dela Rosa claims, it was general knowledge that Kian bought drugs for his father, a feared neighborhood tough, why did it take the police four days to say so? If Kian had been identified as a notorious drug courier even before the shooting, why was this information not offered to the public immediately afterward? Or even a day later? Where did Dela Rosa get his “intelligence” about Kian and his family? From the same Caloocan City police chief that was sacked because of the questionable shooting? Wouldn’t this official have a

motive to make up stories about the victim to deodorize the fact that his men mercilessly killed the boy like a pig? That certain politicians associated with the previous administration have jumped on the issue is almost irrelevant, because their support doesn’t make Kian’s killing any less reprehensible, or the cold-blooded killers any less guilty. These politicians from a now-discredited administration may be jumping on the bandwagon—but they certainly did not plant the seed of public outrage. That was done singlehandedly by the abusive police who dragged a boy into a dark alley in Caloocan City and executed him. When this ﬁnally dawns on Dela Rosa and others of his ilk in the police force, maybe they will stop selling their tall tales—because we are certainly not buying them. VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Thieves, relatives in a narco-state

Judy and Nic LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES GOOD people with good intentions, believe it or not, don’t necessarily produce good work. And I’m not even talking about Judy Taguiwalo, whom I still miss as social welfare secretary. President Rodrigo Duterte has bowed to intense pressure from Congress to remove Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon. Late on Monday, Duterte announced that he was replacing Faeldon with the head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, former police general Isidro Lapeña, who will in turn be replaced by Central Luzon police director Aaron Aquino as head of the antiillegal drugs office. Faeldon, according to the president, had thrice asked to be relieved as head of the corruptiontainted waterfront agency and had thrice been convinced to stay on. Duterte remains convinced that

Faeldon is incorruptible—but that seems to be, among other things, what brought on his removal from office. Like Taguiwalo at the Department of Social Welfare and Development, I tend to believe that Faeldon’s lack of understanding about how things work in government —specifically the relationship of certain government agencies with Congress—was what did him in, in part. If Faeldon had not been such a hard-ass and knew how play ball with Congress, he probably would still be at the bureau today, just as Taguiwalo would still be at DSWD. Remember that Faeldon came into Congress’ radar when his office said no to a request for the promotion of a bureau functionary coming from no less than House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. And this was way before Congress went to town with the seizure of the P6.4 billion worth of shabu that mysteriously slipped through Customs last May. Faeldon was, as they say, “mahirap kausapin” just like Taguiwalo, who was done in by her be-

lief that lawmakers must not dip their hands in DSWD programs like the conditional cash transfer, the calamity funds and the various “soft” projects that they traditionally get for their constituents.

Taguiwalo’s rejection is on Congress. Faeldon’s resignation is, in large part, the result of self-inﬂicted wounds. Faeldon believed that the president’s trust was enough—and that was his first mistake. Faeldon’s second (and bigger) mistake was surrounding him-

self with people who either did not know what they were doing or who had other agendas of their own, to put it mildly. More than the huge shipment of drugs that went through Customs, these people that Faeldon brought in to advise him actually sabotaged him, like those consultants who convinced him to put up a Command Center that only became an added “checkpoint” for goods going through the ports. Faeldon was also ill-served when lawmakers turned up the heat, failing even, in his defense, to justify hiring a bunch of athletes to play for the bureau in an inter-government tournament by explaining that even Malacañang and even Congress fielded similar teams using the same rules of temporary employment. (That pretty lawyer who was Faeldon’s head executive assistant was also a consultant, and yet she reviewed legal matters for the commissioner and even signed the daily time records of the athletes, both questionable acts.) In the end, Faeldon could not even prove that he had ended the “tara” system of regular payoffs

made to bureau employees since time immemorial, computed on a per container basis regardless of the contents of a shipment or the identity of the shipper. He could not stop the corruption even if he was not personally tainted, could not put an end to smuggling of anything, including illegal drugs. So, while Faeldon and Taguiwalo are similar, there is a limit to their similarities. Judy did a fine job but ran into the wall put up by Congress; Nic ran into the same wall, but could not really say he did as good a job as Judy. Judy Taguiwalo’s rejection is on Congress alone. Faeldon’s resignation is, in large part, the result of self-inflicted wounds. *** Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has belied the claims of Senator Franklin Drilon that an assistant prosecutor in Caloocan City, Darwin Canete, was prejudging the sensational case of the 17-year-old student who was killed in an anti-drug operation in the city last week. Aguirre pointed out that Canete cannot be removed Turn to A5

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte was fuming mad in his 50-minute late night press conference the other night (August 21), at the presidential palace. He announced the firing of the current Bureau of Customs chief, former military putschist, Captain Nicanor Faeldon, and his replacement by another military officer, Isidro Lapeña, the current head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. For the first time in his presidency of 14 months, the chief executive feels beleaguered, for two reasons. One, at about 8:45 p.m. on a busy night on August 16, despite onlookers from a nearby basketball court and with a closed circuit tv camera in action, a 17-year-old Grade 11 high school student was forcibly taken away from their small store in suburban Caloocan City by three policemen who were not uniformed. The cops covered the young man’s head, forced a gun into his left hand, ordered him to run, and pumped three bullets into his head, killing him instantly. The police claimed the student, Kian delos Santos, who was right-handed, fought it out with the arresting officers during a chase and fired at them, forcing them to return fire and murder him point blank. Witnesses told newsmen later the victim was unarmed, was abducted, coerced to run, and shot dead as he reached the dead-end of an alley. Thus, Kian was a victim of extrajudicial killing, one of some 3,500 killed in Duterte’s illegal drugs war of the past 14 months. But police insisted Kian was into drugs, just like his father and uncle. Two, Duterte’s son, Paolo Duterte or Pulong, the vice mayor of Davao City, has been tagged by a customs broker and self-confessed fixer, Mark Ruben Taguba, as part of a so-called Davao group which imported P6.5 billion worth of shabu from China last May 2017. Taguba made the allegation in three separate hearings of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The P6.5-billion shabu was imported through the Customs “super” green lane, without need for a single signature. The third time Taguba named Paolo was in yesterday’s hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon. Testifying under oath, Taguba read messages from a Tita Nanie, who said a certain Jack is the “handler of Paolo [Duterte]” and that Jack could Turn to A5

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Opinion TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

The tipping point THERE is outrage against the killings in pursuit of this administration’s war against illegal drugs. The murder of 17-yearold Kian delos Santos might well be the tipping point that could make President Rodrigo Duterte rethink his bloody war. This is not to say he was wrong in focusing on eradicating drugs, alongside criminality and corruption. However, the mantra to kill all those involved in illegal drugs has spawned collateral problems. He told policemen he would protect and even promote them. The mayor of Albuera, Leyte, for instance, was killed inside his cell in November. Those who killed him were the members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region VIII. They were reassigned but later on reinstated. This was even after the Senate probe that found that the killing of the mayor, a drug suspect, was premeditated. D e l o s Santos’ killing sparked an outrage among many sectors of society. The President must realize that the problem of illegal drugs cannot be ended in such a short time. It has roots in poverty and unemployment. The war may have reached its tipping point. The President should perhaps change his strategy. Then again, I don’t believe all this will lead to people power. Many Filipinos still believe in him. The Senate should investigate this. The physical evidence belies the claim of the police. We have to see the war on drugs in the proper perspective. *** The President has accepted the resignation of Customs Commissioner Nicanor fFael-

don. Faeldon’s utter incompetence made possible the entry of drugs worth P6.4 billion into the country. Another outsider, former director general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Isidro Lapeña, will replace Faeldon. I hesitate to judge Lapeña’s success in weeding out corrupt Customs personnel, but I have seen too many “novatos” bungle the job. This is exactly what happened with Faeldon. If the President appoints an insider, he can’t be sure that the appointee is not a part of the smuggling syndicate. If he appoints an outsider, he or she would need at least six months to know the workings of the agency. Some ﬁnance chiefs have tried appointing undersecretaries to the helm of Customs, but sooner or later they resign, unable to stand the corruption. So what should we do? We can look at how other countries are doing it. For example, during the time of President Marcos, Finance Minister Cesar Virata had Societe General de Surveillance undertake pre-shipment and valuation. It worked —but only for a while. Corrupt Customs ofﬁcials discredited the SGS as ineffective. Perhaps it is time to think about engaging SGS again? *** Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista has been accused of misdeclaring his assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. No less than his wife Patricia made revelations about his wealth two weeks ago. The chairman is left with two choices—resign or be impeached. Can he stand the heat? I am his friend and I sympathize with him.

Judy... From A4

on the scene. When Canete started posting on Facebook about his impressions on the alleged murder of the young man, having arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, he unfortunately began providing a counter-narrative to the widelyreported “EJK version” of events that Drilon and his fellow Liberal Party members had been spouting as gospel truth. That was why Canete had to be stopped—never mind if what he was saying was non-political and his professional opinion as an inquest fiscal on what was, to him, just another crime scene. Aguirre’s defense of Canete has silenced Drilon—for the moment. I have a suspicion that Drilon will try to once again bully the prosecutor, who has been summoned to appear before the Senate probe of the Kian slay tomorrow. But if I were Drilon, I wouldn’t be so confident of beating down Canete, whom I’ve known for many years. This is a man who will not back down when he knows he’s in the right; and that’s what Darwin is, once again, in this case.

President Duterte must rethink his war on drugs.

from the case of Kian Loyd delos Santos simply because the prosecutor has not been assigned to it; in fact, Aguirre said there still is no case filed against the three policemen who allegedly killed the student in cold blood. I was really surprised when Drilon, who prides himself as a legal expert, did not even bother to find out about the status of Delos’ Santos non-case—and Canete’s non-involvement in it— before thundering about the prosecutor’s alleged bias last Sunday. I was surprised, but I wasn’t really surprised. Like I wrote yesterday, Drilon and other leaders of the antiDuterte movement were probably just handed a script after being assigned their roles in the hurriedly-hatched plot to use Kian’s case to hit at the President. And Drilon’s role was to go after a mere assistant city prosecutor who—while he is an acknowledged Duterte supporter—knew a lot about the case, since he was the inquest fiscal

Thieves,... From A4 arrange Taguba’s meeting with the presidential son. But Taguba said he had never met the Vice Mayor. Reading a January 11 text from Tita Nanie, Taguba said: “Good am Marc [sic], will make ﬁnal arrangement with Jack. He is the handler of Paolo. Now we have to advance the [money] so he can ﬂy down to Davao to arrange your meeting with Pulong asap. During the meeting, you personally turn over the 5 million. Same manner you likewise turn over the [money] to Jack when we meet.” Earlier, Senator Gordon said there is no evidence linking Paolo Duterte to the 604 kilos of smuggled shabu from China last May. Paolo had initially dismissed the allegations as hearsay and

not worth a reply. The President himself said he needs an afﬁdavit as proof to convince him of his son’s complicity in big-time drug smuggling. In Kian’s case, the police needed no proof of his illegal drugs activity to murder him. In Paolo’s case, the authorities are waiting for more substantial evidence, like an afﬁdavit. Even if Kian was guilty as alleged, there was no reason for the police to murder him in cold blood. Besides, the country’s lenient laws on juvenile malcontents prohibit the arbitrary arrest and jailing of minors. The impunity with which Kian was killed and the seeming double standard of justice by the police have outraged a great part of the nation. The ABS-CBN news machine

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017

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Fitness for office BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO THERE are serious questions being raised about the fitness for office of United States President Donald Trump. In Washington, it’s not just the opposite sides of the political aisle, meaning among Democrats, that concerns are being expressed the man Americans elected to the White House might not be fit for the office. Whatever is expressed here is not my opinion but those of leading members of Congress and the US media. Carl Bernstein, an internationally known journalist, in an interview with CNN, said Trump is unfit to be president. There are Republicans who question Trump’s fitness but party loyalty prevents them from expressing the same sentiment. This is the long-standing twoparty system in American politics. There is seldom a crossing of party lines, unlike here. Here, when our traditional politicians smell blood, they either switch sides or troop to Edsa to join People Power to call for the resignation of the president. We have seen this happen

with former Presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada. Their downfall was fast-tracked by politicians, Cabinet officials and high-ranking Armed Forces of the Philippines officers who defected to join the popular uprising against the two leaders. Trump’s troubles actually started from Day One when he took his oath of office. Starting from his threat to break away from NATO, and refusal to sign the Paris accord on climate change, Trump also announced the building of a wall along its border with Mexico to “keep away those illegal immigrants, rapists and drug dealers.” Then there was Trump’s pronouncement to ban immigrants and visa applicants from six Muslim countries because they sow terrorism on US soil. Trump’s most recent gaffe was his conflicting statement on the racial violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. The violence was triggered by the plan of the white extremists to remove the monument of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the iconic leader of the Confederate southern states during the American civil war. Trump, instead of condemning the torch-bearing white supremacists and neoNazis during a rally that turned violent and killed one, said both sides were to blame for the incident. Surprisingly, conservative

evangelists like Jerry Falwell supported Trump and said the President is not a racist. This is how divisive the Trump presidency is; it has turned Americans against each other. If some of these outrageous statements and policy decisions sound familiar, there are sentiments in this country that voters might have elected the wrong man to the presidency. This is not my opinion but those of political observers who are evenly divided, with many approving of President Rodrigo Duterte’s relentless war on drugs despite wide-scale accusations of extrajudicial killings of drug suspects. There has to be a tipping point on how the scale will go at some point. Will Digong will continue to gain support or will major players like the military or people in his own party deem it time to leave the President and his helter-skelter way of running the government? Meanwhile, credit must be given to Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol on how he’s handling the bird ﬂu outbreak in Pampanga. But despite his efforts and the culling of some 300,000 chicken layers, the bird ﬂu has spread to the town of Jaen, Nueva Ecija. Apparently, there are a few poultry growers who were able to slip some

of their diseased chicken out of Pampanga. The bird flu outbreak has cost the poultry farmers millions of pesos in lost income. Thousands of workers in the industry have lost their jobs as the price of chicken in the market plummeted to an all-time low. Housewives who go to the market for food stay away from chickens even if these did not come from Pampanga. There is always the suspicion that some unscrupulous vendors are selling chicken that came from the affected area. This fear of contacting avian flu has spiked the prices of beef, pork and seafood. To cushion the effect of the bird flu outbreak, the government is giving out P20,000 per farmer to tide them over the lean days. After the culling of some 300,000 chickens, the DA and the Department of Health said it would take three months or 90 days before poultry farmers can start raising chickens again in San Luis, Pampanga. This is a good preventive measure to insure the non-recurrence of the dreaded disease. The Department of Health has advised the people the chicken and eggs are still safe to eat as long as they are well cooked and no pink part is left after taken out of the fire.

The ghosts (and guns) of August THE month of August in the Philippines has had some ominous history, many of which are most memorable. Of glorious memory is the Cry of Balintawak, sometimes referred to as the Cry of Pugad Lawin, supposedly on Aug. 23, 1896, when the Katipuneros under Gat Andres Bonifacio tore up their cedulas and started the uprising against the Hispanic colonizers. The Chinese, or more speciﬁcally, the feng shui traditionalists, would say it was a most inauspicious date to start something most important in the life of a nation. Of course, the Revolution failed, torpedoed by the gunboats of Admiral Dewey and later, sold out through the Treaty of Paris. August normally falls under what is called the “ghost month,” when the Chinese pay their respects to their ancestors, who, their tradition and legend combined say to be the seventh month of the lunar year when the ghosts roam the earth. It is supposed to be “bad” to start construction of a house, or even renovating it, or starting a business enterprise, opening a store, in fact, starting anything important. Put off all major decisions until after the ghost month, the traditional Chinese say. So even the stock market is spooked. But young third- or fourth- generation Chinese look at the bargains, and still buy. But that’s another story, which they probably hide from their grandparents. Of more recent memory for senior citizens is the Aug. 21, 1971 bombing of Plaza Miranda. The Liberal Party was holding its proclamation rally for the November mid-term elections. When almost everyone in the political party was on stage, a bomb

placed underneath its platform shattered the political peace. But for Ninoy Aquino, the LP enfant terrible who was late and was scheduled to deliver the last speech, injured seriously in the mayhem were stalwarts like Jovito Salonga, Gerry Roxas, Eva Estrada Kalaw, Ramon Bagatsing, and other notables. The result of the November elections turned badly against the reelected Ferdinand Marcos, with only one, the redoubtable Ernesto Maceda, spared from the LP senatorial sweep as a result of the backlash against the Plaza Miranda bombing. But just before that, the president declared a suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. And a year and one month later, on Sept. 21, 1972, after the ghost month had expired, Marcos declared martial law, and continued to rule, beyond term expiration and in authoritarian mode, for the next thirteen and a half years. Until Aug. 21, 1983, when the enfant terrible he reduced to an exile after long imprisonment came back to the country, it seemed like Marcos would rule forever. Apres Ferdie … Meldy. Or so everyone speculated. A gunshot killed Ninoy Aquino in an instant upon being ferreted out of his China Airlines plane by the military escorts through the service stairs of the Manila International Airport. Until now, who exactly shot Ninoy remains a mystery, but the bullet that entered the back of his head, in the words of the literary giant Alejandro Roces, “shattered an empire.” The political landscape changed overnight from one of meek submission and resignation to the regime of one man to deﬁance, and ended in the mutiny of Feb. 22, 1986 which wrote ﬁnis to the Marcos rule four days later. The millennials know little about these portentous events. I was privileged to have been in the thick of the 1983 homecoming and the resistance that fol-

lowed. In 1987, while I was in Beijing to attend the annual Asia Pacific Postal Union conference as its secretary-general, sketchy reports from Manila indicated that a military uprising against Cory Aquino was in progress. It was so difficult to get in touch with Manila at the time when cellphones were non-existent and China was rather “primitive.” That too was an uprising in the ghost month, and predictably, it failed. This year, the ghost month started yesterday. It will last until Sept. 19. This month of August has been wracked by tensions both on the domestic and international scene. Boy-king Kim Jong Un huffed and puffed about his nuclear toys, and Trump harrumphed about “fire and fury like nothing the world has ever seen.” Intemperate remarks by the irascible Donald Trump that betrayed a seeming racial bigotry, after a march and shooting in Charlottesville, Virginia sparked a national outrage that haunts the American president till now and likely beyond. And on the 21st of August (22 here), a total eclipse of the sun was visible in the US of A. Whether the same brings portents of the ominous, as the ancient Mayans believed, remains in the realm of America’s possibilities in the reign of the Donald. Days before the “ghosts” came marching in, busy La Rambla in lovely Barcelona was shattered by a speeding maniac killing 14 and injuring a hundred more. What is the whole world coming to? And on the local scene, bullets peppered by the police into the helpless body of 17-year-old Kian de los Santos horrified the nation just as the Maute terrorists held out in the long battle for Marawi. “Parang pumapatay lang ng manok,” some wags would compare, at a time when DA’s Manny Piñol was “culling” birds in Pampanga supposedly afflicted

with some strain of the dreaded avian flu. The local “tipping point” in the war on drugs, as some called it, was exacerbated by the often callous reaction of a defensive police establishment that preferred to stand by its own, rather than act against its own in the face of overwhelming indications of guilt. But mercifully, after some politicians and their “allies” thought they could go in for the “kill,” President Duterte, in a meeting with the Malacañang Press Corps late Monday night, declared that he had instructed the NBI to investigate without fear and favor, and let the ax fall where it should, because “overcoming” a suspect was not synonymous to a kill. Clearly, he said, their “suspect” was overcome by the two policemen, which means the killing was unnecessary. And PAO forensic examination showed, among other glaring pieces of evidence, that Kian did not attempt to escape, or fight back, but was murdered. The President’s reaction should stay the ghosts of August from spooking the political landscape. Equally counter-balancing was the pronouncement that he has accepted the resignation of Nicanor Faeldon from the Bureau of Customs and replacing him with PDEA’s Isidro Lapena, in the wake of the smuggling of tons of drugs. It was another ghost that haunted in August, and which was one of the resignations this column predicted forthcoming in my first article for this paper in the month of August (read back “Interesting Times,” Manila Standard, 02 August). But this space predicted some other interesting events, perhaps some other “sudden” resignations. Not because we have any ringside seat, far as we are, both physically and otherwise, from the palace by the Pasig. Call it gut feel. Call it a “culling” of experience and political reading. Ah, the ghosts of August.

has gone full blast interviewing the parents of Kian, his other relatives, alleged witnesses to the killing which they described was a rubout. The usually timid Manila archbishop, Cardinal Antonio Tagle ﬁnally found his voice and denounced “the waste of human lives.” “We knock on the consciences of those who kill even the helpless, especially those who cover their faces with bonnets, to stop wasting human lives,” he cried in a letter read in churches in Manila and nearby cities last Sunday. The president of the 100-strong Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Archbishop Socrates Villegas, asked angrily: “Bakit walang nagagalit laban sa drogang ipinasok galing Tsina? Bakit ang mga mahihirap na lang lagi ang binabaril at kapag mayamang “malakas sa itaas” ay kai-

langan muna ng imbestigasyon at afﬁdavit?” (Why is it that nobody is outraged against the smuggling of illegal drugs from China? How come only the poor are killed while the rich and the powerfully connected need an afﬁdavit before they could be investigated?). Villegas announced that from August 22, the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, until November 27, the Feast of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal, the church in Lingayen, Dagupan will continuously ring its bell at 8 a.m. The bell rings for 15 minutes as a prayer offering for those who have died in the war on drugs. Incidentally, August 22 is the day after the August 21, 2017 34th anniversary of opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.’s killing. November 27, this year would have been Ninoy’s 84th birth anniversary.

Last Tuesday, August 21, hundreds of pro-Aquino family protesters and anti-Duterte followers massed at the People Power monument outside the Camp Aguinaldo armed forces headquarters to denounce the illegal drugs killings. Yesterday, August 22, students from UP’s various colleges and campuses were to have marched also in protest. The rally was cancelled after the government cancelled classes “at all levels.” In his presscon, near midnight Tuesday (August 21), Duterte commented on the Kian case. He said: “I saw the tape or tapes doon sa TV and I agreed that there should be an investigation. Should the investigation point to liabilities by one, two, or all, there will be a prosecution and they have to go to jail if convicted. That I can assure you that there will be no luto-luto

diyan sa ano because I really do not interfere.” He recalled that his order to the police is to destroy the apparatus of the illegal drugs organization, implying that the national police had a mandate to kill illegal drugs suspects. Duterte explained: “When (I) say that you have to destroy the organization I should be referring to the one cooking, the one selling, and the one distributing. Otherwise, if I stop only doon sa taas (only at the top), eh walang mangyari (nothing would happen). I cannot stop the drug problem and it is very serious.” “We are already a narco-politics state,” he declared, “92 percent of our barangays [villages] are affected.”

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF PH, Aussie govts host Asean forum THE Australian Government and the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry will co-host the Asean Forum on ‘Women’s Economic Empowerment: the Next Driver of Asean’s Success’ on Aug. 29 at the Philippine International Convention Center. The event will bring together over 200 business leaders and senior government representatives to support women’s economic empowerment as a driver for growth in the region. It will be co-chaired by Dr. Sharman Stone, Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, and Ms Zenaida Maglaya, Undersecretary, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippines. “We are pleased to host this forum with the Philippine Government as part of the week-long Asean Women in Business Conference,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely said. “The Philippines ranks strongly on global gender parity, meaning there is no better partner to push for women’s economic empowerment in Asean.” The Women’s Economic Empowerment Forum is an Australian contribution to Asean’s 50th Anniversary, and was announced by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the 2016 AseanAustralia Summit. It will focus on practical ways to increase women’s participation in the workforce and encourage stronger economic growth across Asean. Speakers at the Forum include Shinta Kamdani, CEO of Indonesian conglomerate Sintesa Group, Susila Devi, former Deputy CEO of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp., and Gabrielle Costigan, former chief executive officer of the Linfox International Group. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

News

‘Roxas ex-pol operator supplies fake parts to MRT’ By Maricel V. Cruz

HE “mystery man” identiﬁed as Marlo dela Cruz, who was tagged as the mastermind behind a string of controversies hounding the Metro Rail Transit 3, is also the supplier of MRT 3 maintenance service provider Busan Universal Rail Inc. of fake safety equipment for its signaling system, a party-list lawmaker said on Tuesday. Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles said it turned out that Dela Cruz, who is one of former Interior

and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas’ long-time political organizers and one of the three individuals accused

by Czech Ambassador Josef Rychtar of extorting $30-million from Czech train maker Inekon, is also the owner of Diamond Pearl Development Corp., a dubious construction supply firm which also supplies BURI of its spare parts for MRT 3. Nograles said he found it alarming that apart from an obvious case of conflict of interest, the spare parts that are being supplied by his company and are being installed on the MRT 3’s signaling system are fake spare parts. “This is very, very dangerous. Using fake spare parts for

a very critical component such as safety equipment for signaling system is a criminal act. Our people’s lives and limbs are in danger each time they take the MRT 3 because the train system uses fake safety components,” Nograles said. This maintenance service contract of MRT3 is becoming messier and messier. Now we have discovered that we don’t only have a fake contract but our MRT 3 also have fake spare parts!” he said. Nograles said that he has already filed House Resolution1212 which seeks to inves-

BI nabs, deports fugitive pedophile By Vito Barcelo

Win wants to probe Palawan ‘brownouts’ UNSATISFIED by the “shallow” probe conducted by the National Electrification Administration, Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a Senate resolution for a deeper investigation into the frequent power outages in Palawan. Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, said Palawan residents suffered through an average of 13 brownout hours during 10 power interruptions per month in the first six months of this year. He said the Senate must exercise its oversight powers to hold stakeholders accountable and finally put an end to this mess. His proposed measure, Senate Resolution No. 470, directs the appropriate Senate committee to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the matter, puts under scrutiny the compliance of the Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco) with the Epira Law (Republic Act No. 9136) and the performance of NEA as the regulator of electric cooperatives under Republic Act No. 10531. In a formal dialogue held by the Energy Committee with Paleco, NEA, and private energy stakeholders last August 3, it was discovered that the frequent brownouts in Puerto Princesa City were caused by the inability of DMCI Power Corp. to provide 25 megawatts of electricity pledged under its 2012 power supply agreement with Paleco. As a result, the committee directed NEA to conduct an investigation into the matter. However, the resolution states that the August 11, 2017 report submitted by NEA upon the conclusion of its investigation was “unsatisfactory as it failed to provide new information and specific action steps to put a stop to Palwan’s frequent brownouts.” Macon Ramos-Araneta

tigate why BURI is using fake safety equipment for MRT 3 instead of the original proprietar y parts supplied by Bombardier Transportation Signal Ltd., the maker of MRT 3 safety components for its signaling system. “We have already previously exposed how BURI fails to purchase needed spare parts but what is more appalling is the evident disregard of passenger safety. BURI has been purchasing fake replacement parts for the safety equipment specifically the signaling system,” Nograles revealed.

RADAR SYSTEM. Members of Philippine Navy work on the newly-acquired Tethered Aerostat Radar System at the Naval Education and

Traning Command in San Antonio, Zambales on Tuesday. The radar system was donated to the Philippine Navy through Joint US Military Assistance Group (Jusmag). It can provide telemetry data to the ground station for monitoring of ambient temperature, pressure, wind speed and other parameters in the operation of the system. The Philippine Navy will use the equipment in Maritime Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance by effectively detecting maritime and air trafﬁc within the country’s coastal water using sensors. Norman Cruz

Stop power deal, group asks govt CONSUMER rights advocacy group Matuwid na Singil sa Kuryente issued an urgent call yesterday to President Rodrigo Duterte and Energy Secretary Alfonso S. Cusi to stop the six midnight power supply contracts for 3,551-megawatt negotiated by Meralco with project companies controlled by its sister company Meralco PowerGen and to call for a truly competitive biddings to assure power supply in the future. In a statement, MSK co-convenor David Celestra Tan said its studies showed that the difference in the generation rate of competitive bidding and negotiated contracts is 10 to 15 percent and the difference between negotiated contracts of Meralco sister companies and non-sister companies is another 10 percent. Tan said these translate to an overprice of P15 to 25 billion a year or P.5 trillion over 20 years

tand added that it could be more due to sweetheart contract provisions in fuel pricing, guaranteed take or pay disguised as load factor pricing, downtime allowances, and escalation indices. Through these questionable agreements, MSK warned of a dangerous situation wherein Meralco is able to create a power cartel that will own and control 14,000 mw of the country’s 18,000 mw of installed capacity by 2020. The group said that on nationwide basis the overcharge to consumers can total P1.0 trillion over 20 years. “Cartelization of power is specifically prohibited by the Epira Law of 2001 and the Energy Regulatory Commission is mandated to motu propio investigate and guard against it. The cartelization will also eliminate true competition in the wholesale electricity spot market,” MSK said. According to the consumer

group, Meralco was able to fasttrack the negotiation and signing of the six power supply contracts on April 26 and 27, 2016 due to the inexplicable extension by the ERC of the deadline for CSP up to April 30, 2016. The ERC alleged that the extension was made to allow distribution utilities who have signed contracts as of Nov. 6, 2015 the needed time to complete their ERC application filing. Meralco PowerGen’s contracts were not signed until 171 days after Nov. 6, 2015. Yet, they were accepted and appear to be on way to approvals. The 3,551 mw of contracts are for delivery from 2021 and 2022 and cover 24.88 billion kwh a year or 80 percent of Meralco’s annual energy purchases. But the MSK said that the “legislators and the ERC are apparently using President Duterte’s

newly issued Executive Order 30 calling for approval in 90 days the “projects of national significance”. These overpriced contracts that were circumventing the CSP policy are indeed projects of national significance but in harmful ways against the consumers. Further, the creation of a Meralco cartel that as a group control 14,000 mw puts the country in the dangerous path to entrenched oligarchy and imperils the true independence in the future of the Presidency and legislature, according to MSK. “There is an urgent need for President Duterte and Sec. Alfonso Cusi to look into the cartelization of power which is illegal and would have dangerous political repercussions for the country in the long term. Cartelized power pricing will overprice and hurt the Filipino consumers badly,” the MSK said.

AN AMERICAN septuagenarian pedophile wanted by federal authorities in Florida, US was nabbed by immigration authorities in Pampanga, for violating the conditions of his parole. The 70-year-old Ronald Omar Pelletier was arrested at his home along Paulette Street, Josefa Subd., Barangay Malabanias, Angeles City by operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit. Pelletier is the subject of an arrest warrant by a US district court in Florida which found him guilty of violating his parole by not reporting a change of his address to authorities, according to Immigration commissioner Jaime Morente. “He will be deported for being an undesirable and undocumented alien,” said Morente, who added that the American’s passport was already cancelled by the US State Department. The BI chief added that the bureau’s board of commissioners will issue this week a summary deportation order against Pelletier whom he described as a “risk to public safety and security due to his being a fugitive from justice.” Immigration intelligence officer Bobby Raquepo, BI-FSU acting chief, disclosed that Pelletier last arrived in the country on May 20 this year. Raquepo said Pelletier was sentenced by a Florida court to 18 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release following his conviction for possession of child pornography on Sept. 21 last year. He was also fined US$10,000. “It was only last March when authorities learned that he had vacated his last known address, thus prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest,” Raquepo added. Information provided by the US Embassy revealed that among the conditions imposed by the court for his supervised release was for him to notify authorities of any address change as required by existing statutes for sex offenders.

Iqbal presses for immediate passage of BBL By Maricel V. Cruz SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez must take the initiative to advocate for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law by signing as principal author of the measure. Former Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal made the urging to Alvarez, a Mindanaoan, at a book launching of “Beyond Peace Tables: Reflections on the GPH-MILF Process,” authored by Dato Tengku Abdul Ghafar, Malaysian facilitator of the GPH-MILF peace talks. The book launch was held at the House of Representatives, Batasan Complex, Quezon City and was sponsored by the House special committee on peace, reconciliation and unity chaired by Tawitawi Rep. Ruby Sahali.

Iqbal said the BBL version that was submitted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission should be the one to get passed. “Any other proposed bill, like or similar or lesser than Republic Act 9054 that created the present Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, is a violation of the agreements of the parties, and more seriously, will only prolong the sufferings and agonies of the people,” Iqbal said. He said lawmakers “should look at the Bangsamoro problem as “a political and not a purely legal issue.” So far, former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the only member of the 17th Congress to file the BBL measure, through House Bill 6121 or the “Basic Act for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.”

The bill was in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for a “just and lasting peace for a unified nation,” Arroyo said in filing the bill. Alvarez, for his part, assured the stakeholders concerned that the Lower House will do its “part to help find peace in Mindanao.” “Now more than ever, it is imperative that Filipino Muslims and Christians united amid a new threat coming from Islamist militants, espousing an extremist and violent ideology radically different from Islam’s tenets of peace and bortherhood,” said Alvarez in a speech read by Deputy Speaker Bai Sandra Sema. Alvarez and Iqbal both acknowledged Ghafar’s role in bridging a peace pact between the Philippine government and the MILF.

NOT SO LITE. A Toyota Lite Ace lay submerged at the Marikina river after the heavy rains brought about by the monsoon rain on Tuesday. Manny Palmero

Sports Delos Reyes is Bike King Duathlon champion JOEY Delos Reyes of the Standard Insurance team successfully defended his Elite title and led the team in sealing another 1-2-3 finish for the second consecutive year in the Bike King Duathlon held Sunday at the Alviera in Porac, Pampanga. Delos Reyes completed the long distance 6 Kilometer run —60 Km bike—4 Km run with a winning time of 2 hours, 14 minutes and 56 seconds. He took home the top cash prize of P10,000. His teammates Cipriane John Topia and Jarwyn Banatao captured 2nd and 3rd places, respectively, clocking 2:18:55 and 2:19:27. In the women’s side Elite category, the Philippine team’s Miscelle Gilbuena proved to be untouchable, finishing in 2:41:35, while Sante Barley members Jelsie Sabado (2:50:02) and Rowena Valdez (3:02:11) finished with the silver and bronze. Delos Reyes credited the cloud cover and cooler weather for his win. “Unlike last year’s race, the heat was not too intense which was helpful as I was able to excel,” Delos Reyes said. “At around the 15-kilometer point of the bike leg along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, I gained the lead and kept it until the finish line,” he added. The 2017 Bike King Duathlon, participated in by 900 athletes, was supported by Alviera, Standard Insurance, NLEX-SCTEx, TIMEX, hydration partner—Gatorade, Prohealth Sports and Spinal, Gardenia, Aboitiz, WeatherPhilippines, AboitizPower, Orbea, partner hotel Royce Hotel & Casino and media partners SwimBikeRun.ph, RaceDay, and Endurance.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Jade, tracksters in spotlight T AIPEI—Top Filipina netter Marian Jade Capadocia and promising track and field athletes under the Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines take the limelight in the 29th Summer Universiade here Wednesday.

Capadocia, who provided the bright spot for Team Philippines with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 victory over Nepal’s Kripa Sharma on Monday, takes on Mexico’s Victoria Rodriguez at 9:30 a.m. today at the Taipei Tennis Center. While it was a breezy win for the Arellano City standout, Capadocia gets her first acid test

here against Rodriguez, who is the no. 2 seed in the Universiade, considered as the Olympics of student athletes. The 15-man athletics’ team under coach Joseph Sy kicks off its campaign against the world’s best as track and field competitions get underway at the Taipei Stadium. Sean Michael Kaufmann and

Yuhei Go and Jeremiah Angela Malonso will see action in the qualifying heats in the men’s and women’s 100m starting at 9 a.m. Kaufmann, the 19-year-old student from University of the Philippines, and Go, the 22-year-old bet from Xavier University-Cagayan de Oro, are also scheduled to compete in the men’s 200m. Malonso, the 20-year-old trackster from UP, will also try her luck in 200m The other members of the team are: Men—Lloyd Prado (5000m), Connor Alexander Henderson (400m hurdles), Alvin John Vergel (110m hurdles).

Aristeo de la Pena (long jump), Rogil Pablo (long jump, triple jump) and Carlo Caong (discus), Women—Karen Janario (200m, 100m hurdles), Jingky Obanon (400m), Louielyn Pamatian (800m), Felyn Dolloso (long jump, triple jump) and Ma. Elizabeth Capioso (20km walk). Not even the sad fate that befell hurdler Jaime Mejia could dampen the morale of the team members now at the newlybuilt Universiade Athletes’ Village. Mejia became the first casualty in the team when he was rushed to a Taipei hospital with dengue. Mejia was scheduled to com-

Ateneo-La Salle Golf Classic set at Forest Hills

A woman waves and wears a hat with the image of the Formosan Black Bear, mascot of the Summer Universiade, during a parade to celebrate the upcoming sporting event in Taipei. Taiwan is hosting its largest ever sporting event, attracting thousands of athletes from around the world, but the World University Games, dubbed the ‘Little Olympics’, has highlighted tensions with China and Taiwan’s struggle for international recognition. The biennial Summer Universiade will drew more than 7,000 student athletes to Taipei for two weeks to compete in sports from basketball to swimming to Chinese martial arts. AFP

Enriquez, Publico win dancesport ranking tilt

MBC RENEWS PARTNERSHIP WITH SRI. Motivation Builds Champions renews its

partnership with Sports Resources, Inc. by tapping Wilson as its ofﬁcial basketball for another year. MBC is a group of basketball enthusiasts committed in developing elite, competitive and strong basketball programs for kids. The group organizes Basketball Clinics that motivates and teaches children the fundamentals and joy of the sport. According to MBC Founder and CEO AC Marquez, the new contract with Wilson is expected to bring more and much bigger basketball camps and tournaments this year. Present during the contract signing were (in photo from left) Wilson brand manager Errol Cajefe Elicanal, SRI president and CEO Rodolfo Claudio. MBC founder and CEO AC Marquez and MBC managing partner Sherwin Hipolito. Wilson, a leading international sports gear brand actively involved in the promotion of various local and international sporting events for many years now, is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by SRI, the country’s leading company dealing with the exclusive distributorship of popular international brands in sports gear, equipment and accessories. Wilson products are available in leading sports retail and department stores like Toby’s Sports, Olympic Village, CSI, Gaisano, All Shoppe Vista Mall and SportMart. For updates visit WilsonSportsPH on Facebook or call 651-7777 Loc. 839.

GERMAN Enriquez and Ma. Danella Renee Publico led all the champions of the 2017 DanceSports Council of the Philippines Midyear Ranking and Competition recently at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena in Pasig City. Enriquez and Publico emerged as winners in the Grade A standard amateur category, outperforming second placer Sean Mischa Aranar and Ana Leonila Nualla, and third placer Tristan John Ducay and Willanne Rose Ducay. Gerald Jamili and Cherry Clarice Parcon dominated the Grade A latin amateur class by beating second placer Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo, and third placer Cristian Vanni and Camila Mola in the ranking competition organized by DSCPI President Becky Garcia. The DanceSport event was supported by the Philippine

Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Flawless, Muebles Italiano, Organique /Acai Berry, Retro DCG-FM 105.9 and The Greenery Bulacan. Other champions in the event were Zjiane Troy Villarta and Zjiana Tracy Villarta (Grade B standard); Jeffrey Ruben Benarao and Therese Andre’ Quilaton (Grade B latin); Lew Gian Jose Yee and Cristy Glen Hilario (Grade C standard); Inoue Roi Rendon and Maria Gabriela Maglahus (Grade C latin); Resty Puno and Ma. Theresa Curia (Grade D standard); and John Laurence Orboc and Rochelle Canoy (Grade D latin). The next DanceSport event is the 21st DSCPI National Championship at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena (Ultra) on Oct. 7. For inquiries, you may reach the DSCPI Secretariat at 637-2314.

Longshot wins PCSO Derby; WTA carryover on Thursday THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE LAST weekend’s races at the Philippine Racing Club Inc.’s Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite, were a huge success. Not only were exciting races run, but fundraising was also held to benefit worthy causes. I’ll coin a phrase to describe what went on—“fundracing,” or racing to raise funds. *** Last Sunday, (Aug. 20), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office National Grand Derby benefited the Diabetes Center for Underprivileged Filipino Children and Adolescents, Inc. Son Also Rises crushed the field, winning the mile race wire-

pete in the 110m and 400m hurdles before he was hospitalized. FESSAP president David Ong urged the Filipino tracksters to keep their heads up highs during the six-day athletics’ competition. “As I’ve told our athletes even before our departure to Taipei, they are already winners by having this once-in-a lifetime opportunity to compete in the Universiade,” said Ong. The Filipinos’ campaign in this prestigious 12-day competition known as the ‘Olympics’ of university athletes is also being supported by San Miguel Corp., Bestank and Garfield Sportswear.

to-wire by three lengths. Pinagtipunan, who came in second, also gave a good performance considering he was racing in last in the early stages of the race. 3rd Salt and Pepper, 4th Pinay Pharoah, 5th Great Wall. Time: 1:38 (24’-22’-23’-27’). *** Race 9 last Sunday was earmarked for the benefit of victims of the Marawi conflict. The purse was put up by the Philippine Racing Commission and PRCI. The ratings-based handicap system race (that’s a mouthful, they should come up with a sexier name for it) was won by Oxygen, who came from behind to best six other horses. Ni Hao led at the start, followed by Through the Years, Kimagure, Blue Eagle, Oxygen, Kuya Yani, and Boss Pogi last. Blue Eagle grabbed the lead in the backstretch, paced by Ni Hao

and Through the Years. Oxygen rallied on the outside to lead at the far turn. Kuya Yani put up a fight down the stretch, but failed to defeat Oxygen who won by a length and a quarter. 2nd Kuya Yani, 3rd Through the Years, 4th Ni Hao, 5th Kimagure. Time: 1:24.2 for 1,300 meters. *** Sunday sales exceeded P35.5 million. The day, marked by longshot wins beginning with Race 1, saw a P1.77 million carryover in the Winner-TakeAll event to Thursday’s races. As of presstime, PRCI is having its bolahan for the Thursday and Friday races under the eagle eye of no less than eversupportive Philracom Chairman Andrew Sanchez. Santa Ana Park Racing Manager Antonio B. Alcasid Jr. says he has asked Philracom for per-

mission to use the ratings-based handicap system on Thursday, hoping it will result in a challenging racecard for racing fans keen to score the fat WTA pot. *** Last Saturday (Aug. 19), the George Y. Stribling Cup was held in honor of the late founder of the Philippine Jockeys Academy to benefit the current cohort of student jockeys. In the 1,200-meter race sponsored by Philracom, the lead was taken by Top Stratum followed by Jazz Azia, Skeena, Copernicus, and the rest of the pack. Jazz Asia, the favorite, led at the home turn and won by three lengths. 2nd Copernicus, 3rd Top Stratum, 4th Believable. Time: 1:14.4 (25-23-26’). Jazz Asia’s rider Peter Guce was also last year’s winner of the GYS Cup. The other jockeys are calling him the “back-

to-back champ.” Peter was too young to study under “Lolo George” when the latter was still alive, but Peter’s older brothers, alums of the PJA, took him along to trainings where he met the old American horseman who devoted the last three decades of his life to uplifting horseracing in the Philippines. The race proceeds will go towards the purchase of gear for the student riders, such as googles, safety vests, helmets, whips, and stirrups. The students, as the beneficiaries of the fundracing, attended the day’s festivities wearing commemorative Lolo George t-shirts. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste, and Instagram: @jensdecember and @artuoste

THE Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University, two collegiate powerhouses with a long history of sports rivalry, clash anew in the 30th Ateneo-La Salle Golf Classic slated on Sept. 18 in Antipolo City. An explosive competition from both schools is keenly awaited as the Blue Eagles bid for back-to-back wins, although many are expecting the Green Archers to go all out to halt that and reclaim the coveted title. Though some of the best golfers come from these schools, it is exciting to watch how they will conquer the fairways and greens of the Forest Hills Golf Club, which is hosting the tournament for the first time. Players from the Open, Year 1969 and below and Decade 70-79 will tackle the lengthy course by Jack Nicklaus, while those from Decade 80-89, 90 and up and ladies’ divisions, will play the Arnold Palmer layout. “No one has the advantage. It would be nice to see them compete without any edge,” said the joint organizing committee representing Ateneo and La Salle. Registration has already begun for the oneday event, which is open to all alumni and students of Jesuit or Christian Brother’s schools qualified by and conditional to having graduated at least two (2) years. The tournament fee is P 4,000 that includes green fee, golf cart, giveaways, awards lunch, raffle stub and two (2) mulligans, which can be used anytime and anywhere except the putting green. To register, contact Mary Ann or email her at 926.6046, 09273907287 or email maryannateneogolf@gmail.com or Cathy Yuson at 6370200, 09189200827 or email lynnejay_27@yahoo. com Cherry Rivera 5265612 or 09278976761 or cherry.rivera@dlsu.edu.ph

NCAA games canceled; SBC chessers ahead Games Thursday

(San Sebastian Gym, Mendiola) 2 p.m- San Sebastian vs Jose Rizal (jrs) 4 p.m- San Sebastian vs Jose Rizal (srs)

DUE to suspension of classes brought about Tropical Storm Isa, the NCAA postponed its Season 93 games at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City yesterday. Management Committee chair Fr. Glyn Ortega, OAR, of host San Sebastian made the announcement while adding the postponed games will be rescheduled at a still unspecified date. Interestingly, the same set of six games which included the seniors’ duel pitting unbeaten leader Lyceum of the Philippines University and cellar Mapua University were the same ones postponed last July 28 also due to inclement weather. The league resumes with San Sebastian hosting Jose Rizal at the San Sebastian Gym in Mendiola, Manila tomorrow. Meanwhile, defending champion San Beda College dumped Letran, 3-1, to keep its stranglehold of the lead after five rounds of the 93rd NCAA seniors’ chess competition at the Lyceum of the Philippines University Auditorium over the weekend. McDominique Lagula and Marc Christian Nazario delivered the wins over Marco Jay Mabasa and Lian Patrick Desturia at second and third boards, respectively, while FIDE Master Mari Joseph Turqueza and Dave Patrick Dulay drew with Melwyn Kenneth Baltazar and Joshua Berdadero on boards one and four to seal the win.

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

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

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017

Sports

Hotshots seek 4th win in a row By Jeric Lopez

2017 SEA Games Medal Tally as of 6 p.m.

Malaysia Singapore Indonesia Vietnam Thailand Philippines Myanmar Brunei Laos Cambodia Timor Leste

32 14 10 10 7 7 4 0 0 0 0

23 16 11 9 10 9 3 1 1 0 0

15 16 18 14 14 9 3 5 1 3 0

Kaitlin de Guzman (above) performs her gold-winning routine in the uneven bars, while Reyland Capellan (left) prepares for his turn in the ﬂoor exercise event of the SEA Games gymnastics competition at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Center on Tuesday.

LEAGUE-LEADING Star aims to stay unbeaten as it shoots for a fourth straight win in as many starts in the resumption of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. At the top of the standings without a defeat, Star (3-0) tries to keep it rolling as it faces a challenge from ailing Phoenix (2-4) at 7 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. In the opener, a team on the rise in Blackwater (2-3) takes on desperate Alaska (0-4) at 4:15 p.m. The Hotshots are the only unbeaten team and they are aiming higher as they want to keep their place at the top of the heap knowing couple of teams are right behind their tail-end. They need to list another one in the win column to keep their spot, otherwise, teams below them will move up the ladder. Star is looking to capitalize on its freshness as it last saw action way back in Aug. 4 when it probably listed the tournament’s biggest win as it tripped Grand slamseeking San Miguel Beer, 104-98, to send a message to the rest of the league. As for Phoenix, it isn’t exactly having the best of luck recently. After having a hot 2-0 start, the Fuel Masters have fallen on hard times, losing four in a row. The last time out, Phoenix was actually on the verge of snapping its skid until it came undone down the stretch before yielding to Meralco, 104107, just last Friday. With the entry of returning PBA import Bill Walker, Blackwater suddenly became a different team. The Elite, after losing its first three assignments, has won their last two with Walker including an impressive 107-106 squeaker over erstwhile league leader NLEX last Friday. On the other hand, the Aces are riding the franchise’s longest losing streak, having lost their last 12 games dating back to the Commissioner’s Cup. Alaska once again fell short the heartbreaking way in its last outing, losing to TNT KaTropa, 106-107.

Gymnasts trigger PH’s 4-gold SEA Games haul

UALA LUMPUR—A pair of gymnasts stepped forward, while a wushu artist and a fencer delivered to fuel the the Philippines’ campaign midway into the 29th Southeast Asian Games.

Veteran Reyland Capellan and rising star Kaitlin de Guzman buckled down to work early and reigned supreme in their respective events in the gymnastics competition Tuesday at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Center here. The 23-year-old Capellan, a gold medalist in the previous SEA Games in Singapore, overcame a faulty start to finish with 13.950 points en route to winning the men’s floor exercise event. Capellan bested Zul Bahrin Bin Mat Asri of Malaysia and Tikumporn Surintornta of Thailand, who registered 13.750 and 13.6700

points to settle for the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Capellan said he was so tense at the start, prompting him to lose his balance. But when he regained his composure, performing his routine appeared like a walk in the park for him. “I’m so happy that I am able to contribute to the gold-medal production of the Philippines,” said Capellan, a former member of the Centro Escolar University pep squad and who also campaigned in the World Artistic Gymnastics in Glasgow two years ago. Barely an hour after grabbing the gold, it was the 17-year-old

de Guzman’s turn to step into the top podium as she 12.875 points to rule the uneven bars category and ends the country’s 20-year old gold-medal drought in women’s artistic gymnastics event. Tracie Ang of Malaysia settled for the silver medal with 12.550 points, while Rifda Irfanaluthfi of Indonesia grabbed the bronze medal with 12.075 points. “I am so happy now that I won a gold medal representing the Philippines,” said De Guzman, a senior at Epic Charter Home School in Dallas, Texas. De Guzman’s feat didn’t come as a surprise. Her mother, Cintamoni Dela Cruz, ruled the same event in the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai and was part of the squad that emerged with a bronze medal in team event in the Jakarta SEA Games in 1997. Dela Cruz said all they’ve been

praying for was for her daughter to advance to the finals since this is just her first try in the biennial meet despite competing in the United States where she is part of Metroplex Gymnastics in Texas. “We were not expecting her to win (the gold medal) since this is just her first SEA Games,” said Dela Cruz. “All we were hoping was for her to qualify in the finals. This victory is a major surprise. That’s why we’re so happy with this achievement.” But the gymnasts were not alone in providing a ray of hope for Team Philippines. Also emerging with a gold medal Tuesday when 45 gold medals were disputed are wushu artist Agatha Won and fencer Brennan Wayne Louie. Wong, who already has a silver medal under her name, added a gold for good measure after she scored 9.66 points to rule the

women’s taijiquan event. Basma Lachkar of Brunei settled for silver with 9.54 points, while Ho Lin Ying of Singapore grabbed the bronze with 9.44 points. The Filipino-American Louie, a gold medalist in the Asean Championship, for his part, clobbered compatriot Nathaniel Perez in the gold-medal match of men’s foil event in fencing competition. Perez, a University of the East standout, settled for the silver together with Hanniel Abella, who lost to Nguyen Thi Hoa of Vietnam in the women’s individual epee competition. With Capellan, De Guzman, Wong and Louie’s achievements, the Filipinos’ golden haul was jacked up to seven, thanks to previous gold-medal winners like Mary Joy Tabal of athletics and Nikko Huelgas and Kim Mangrobang of triathlon.

Uichico: We want to win convincingly vs Malaysians KUALA LUMPUR—Gilas Pilipinas shoots for a more emphatic win when it battles host Malaysia in the men’s basketball event of the 29th Southeast Asian Games Wednesday at the MABA Stadium here. Game time is at 6 p.m., with the Filipinos looking to pull off a convincing victory following a thrilling 81-74 win over Thailand in the opener. Also marching to battle is the national women’s squad, Perlas Pilipinas, which will battle dangerous Thailand at 8:15 p.m. The Filipinas are coming off a big 123-33 victory over the Burmese Tuesday, a fitting rebound from a sorry 68-78 set-

Games Wednesday

(MABA Stadium) 6 p.m. – Philippines vs Malaysia (M) 8:15 p.m. -- Philippines vs Thailand (W)

back to Indonesia on Monday night. With the setback, Perlas Pilipinas hopes that the Indonesians will drop their next two assignments against Thailand and Malaysia for it to remain on track for the top seed at the end of preliminaries. Malaysia, which snapped the Philippines’ dominance in men’s basketball when it won the title in 1989, is tipped to be a major force as it would come with the full support of the

home crowd. But Gilas coach Jong Uichico said they are ready for the challenge. “We saw during our game against Thailand that this tournament is no longer the same as before,” said Uichico, who welcomed the return of Carl Bryan Cruz in their game against lowly Myanmar late Tuesday. “We have to do some adjustments if we want to win convincingly over the Malaysians.” Tipped to lead Gilas Pilipinas are Filipino-German Christian Standhardinger, Ray Parks and Kiefer Ravena as well as Kobe Paras, Kevin Ferrer and Troy Rosario.

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia—For the national triathlon squad, dominating the 29th Southeast Asian Games was just the start. Triathlon Association of the Philippines secretary general Tom Carrasco said the triathletes will have just a week of rest before plunging back to work in various training destinations. Headed by gold medalists Nikko Bryan Huelgas and Marion Kim Mangrobang, the triathletes swept the men’s and women’s events with a 1-2 finish, a rare feat in the biennial meet. “After this [SEA Games] one week rest lang kami, then back to the drawing board to set up a master plan for our four triathletes,” said Carrasco. “Kim and Claire will continue their training in Portugal under coach Sergio Santos, while Nikko and Rambo [Chicano] will go to Australia and resume training also under a world renowned coach Brett Sutton,” added Carrasco, whose team surpassed its previous finish of two gold and a silver medal in the Singapore SEA Games. “Walang patid yan. Tuluytuloy na ang preparation namin sa kanila hanggang next year’s Asian Games in Jakarta, SEA Games in Manila and Summer Olympics in Tokyo with the help, of course, of the Philippine Sports Commission and hopefully the private sector,” Carrasco said.

St. Clare rebounds Tipped to lead Gilas Pilipinas against the Malaysian are Bobby Ray Parks (above), Filipino-German Christian Standhardinger, Kiefer Ravena, Kobe Paras, Kevin Ferrer and Troy Rosario.

Expect more medals in athletics By Peter Atencio

Eric Cray competes in the preliminary heat of the men’s 400-meter hurdles event of the 29th Southeast Asian Games Tuesday at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

No let up for Pinoy triathletes

MORE medals can be won in athletics. American coach Roshan Griffin, who has been part of the coaching staff of Team Philippines for many months, believes so. Griffin said this following time trials that members of the national squad did before they left for Kuala Lumpur for the 29th Southeast Asian Games. “Everybody ran their personal best times. Things are looking good,” said Griffin. With one gold medal already won by Mary Joy Tabal in women’s marathon, focus is now on the performance of

sprinter Kayla Richardson. The 19-year-old Richardson will be missing the 100-meter sprint, an event where she is the defending champion. Instead, she will concentrate on the women’s 200-meter. This time, Zion Corrales Nelson takes her place. She will be up against Vietnamese Le Thu Chinh, who currently holds the three fastest times in the women’s 100-meter, according to the regional rankings. Le has clocked 11.47 seconds, 11.54 seconds and 11.61. Nelson, being ranked third in 2017, will chal-

lenge Le, by trying to do better than her personal best of 11.69 seconds. “They [national tracksters] are now tapering down and getting ready to peak,” added Griffin. The athletes included in the pool to compete in the Games went through their last phase of intensive training last month. Many of them flew to the Hong Kong Sports Institute for their 6-week training last June 16. The HKSI training stint was fully supported by the Philippines Sports Commission, with the help of the Ayala Corporation, UCPB Gen and Cherrylume Corrugated Sheets.

DEFENDING chamoion St. Clare College bounced back from a heartbreaking setback on opening day, beating Philippine Mer chant Marine School, 98-67, in the NAASCU men’s basketball tournament at thd RTU gym. Last year’s MVP Aris Dionisio scattered 22 points and three other players scored in double figures for the Saints, who were never seriously threatened in the game en route to their first win in two games in this prestigious 17-team comperition. Dionisio also had nine rebounds. Earvin Mendoza added 19 points, while Mohamed Pare contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Saints of NAASCU head Dr. Ernesto Jay Adalem and coach Jino Manansala lost to Philippine Christian University in overtime last Thursday, but were in unforgiving mood against the Mariners. So dominant were the Caloocan City-based Saints that they led by 23 points at haltiime, 53-30, and 34 points after three quarters, 82-48. Rizal Technological University whipped City University of Pasay, 90-74, and De Ocampo Memorial College bested Holy Angel University, 101-67. Cyrus Tabi, Kim Herbert Reyes and Nicole Jay Liquinan combined for 46 po8nts for the Thunder, who broke away from a close contest with a strong third-quarter run. Edgar Erice Jr. led CUP with 25 markers.

Quezon’s LNG power plant woes unresolved

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017

CTBC-SUN LIFE PARTNERSHIP. Clients of CTBC Bank Philippines will soon be able to invest in Philippine Stock Exchange index companies, after the bank and Sun Life

Asset Management Co. Inc. signed a partnership for the CTBC-Sun Life Philippine Stock Index Feeder Fund. At the signing of the agreement are (from left) SLAMCI head of bank and alternative channels Gerald Bautista, SLAMCI head of investor services and process management Rodel Carandang, SLAMCI president Valerie Pama, CTBC Bank vice president and trust ofﬁcer Dreda Teresa Mendoza, CTBC Bank assistant vice president and product services head Gerardo Bien and CTBC bank senior manager and investments and portfolio management head Ray Alejandrino.

S&P sees sustained growth until 2020

Metro Pacific renews buyout plan for MRT 3

A MAJOR international credit rating agency said Tuesday it expects the Philippines to sustain an annual growth above 6 percent until 2020. S&P Global Ratings said in a report titled ‘Asia-Pacific Economic Snapshots’ that the gross domestic product of the Philippines would likely grow 6.4 percent this year, after expanding 6.4 percent in the first six months. The Philippine economy is projected to grow 6.4 percent in 2018, 6.6 percent in 2019 and 6.7 percent in 2020, according to S&P. “We expect strong domestic demand to drive solid GDP expansion over the next few years, at about 6.5 percent annually,” S&P Global said. S&P said external factors would continue to be the main source of risks―such as rising protectionism overseas, geopolitical tensions or uncertainty in financial markets that could lead to capital outflows. “The tail risk of a spillover of tension and fighting in the south [between government forces and extremists] appears to have receded significantly,” it said. Standard Chartered Bank said in a separate report the Philippines would be the fastest-growing Asean-6 economy in 2017, with a 6.5-percent expansion. “Strong domestic demand and steady services-sector growth will likely remain the primary growth drivers; better implementation of planned infrastructure investments might drive even faster growth,” Standard Chartered said. Darwin G. Amojelar

By Darwin G. Amojelar

ONGLOMERATE Metro Paciﬁc Investments Corp. revived its plan to buy out the stake of the government and private investors in Metro Rail Transit Line 3.

“There’s no proposal yet, but we said in principle we’re prepared to do that,” Metro Paciﬁc chairman Manuel Pangilinan told reporters, when asked if the company was interested to buy out the government’s stake in the rail system which runs along Edsa. The government through Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines own a combined 80-percent economic interest in MRT 3, while the remaining stake is held by creditors of Metro Rail Transit Corp.

MPIC in 2011 offered to buy out the shares of LBP and DBP in MRT 3 for $1.1 billion. MPIC signed a cooperation agreement in 2011 with various groups holding rights and interests in MRT 3, including MRTC, Metro Rail Transit Holdings Inc., Metro Rail Transit 2 Inc. and Monumento Rail Transit Corp., giving the company led by businessman Manuel Pangilinan an option to acquire 48 percent. Metro Paciﬁc has not exercised the option. MPIC along with Ayala Corp. last week submitted an unsolicited proposal to Transportation Department to upgrade and rehabilitate MRT 3 system for P12.5 billion. “We have several meetings between our team, which we organized for the MRT 3 and the DoTr [Department of Transportation] for the past week or so it seems there’s some progress in that side,” Pangilinan said. “We want to resolve the issues [of MRT3] for the beneﬁt of the commuters,” he said. MPIC submitted a proposal to the Department of Transportation in 2011

to invest $524 million to rehabilitate and upgrade MRT 3. The Aquino administration, however, rejected Metro Paciﬁc’s offer that involved raising commuter fares. Former President Benigno Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 126 in 2013, directing the Transportation and Finance Departments to buy MRTC out of MRT 3, under the build-leasetransfer agreement. MRT 3, which runs along Edsa from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, serves over 500,000 passengers a day, beyond its rated capacity of 350,000. The line has a ﬂeet of 73 Czech-made airconditioned rail cars. The Transportation Department in January 2016 signed a P3.8-billion three-year contract with the joint venture of Busan Transportation Corp., Edison Development & Construction, Tramat Mercantile Inc., TMICorp and Castan Corp. to do maintenance works on the rolling stock and signaling system, the most critical maintenance component of MRT 3.

PhilWeb rises after regaining Pagcor accreditation By Jenniffer B. Austria SHARE price of PhilWeb Corp. jumped 17.2 percent Tuesday, after the company said it regained accreditation as an electronic games service provider of staterun Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. PhilWeb said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it received a provisional certiﬁcate of accreditation from Pagcor as an accredited electronic gaming system service provider.

Share price of PhilWeb closed at P11.12 Tuesday, to emerge as the top gainer among most active stocks. PhilWeb said that as an accredited EGS service provider, it could offer its software and other services to the operators of Pagcor-licensed gaming sites for electronic games. Pagcor will soon conduct an inspection of PhilWeb’s servers and gaming facilities as required under the accreditation rules, after which it may then issue a no-

tice to operate. Pagcor chairman and chief executive Andrea Domingo said the creation of an EGS service provider accreditation process “will allow for a level playing ﬁeld for any qualiﬁed provider” such that the different operators of Pagcor’s electronic gaming outlets would be able to choose the service provider or providers that could best assist them in operating their outlets. “We are grateful to Pagcor

By Othel V. Campos

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

51.4940

Japan

Yen

0.009177

0.4726

Pound

1.290300

66.4427

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127823

6.5821

Switzerland

Franc

1.039933

53.5503

Canada

Dollar

0.796369

41.0082

Singapore

Dollar

0.735132

37.8549

Australia

Dollar

0.793500

40.8605

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654844

136.7085

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

13.7314

Brunei

Dollar

0.732440

37.7163

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0039

Thailand

Baht

0.030067

1.5483

UAE

Dirham

0.272279

14.0207

Euro

1.181800

60.8556

Korea

Won

0.000879

0.0453

China

Yuan

0.150083

7.7284

India

Rupee

0.015599

0.8033

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233345

12.0159

New Zealand

Dollar

0.732300

37.7091

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032996

1.6991 Source: PDS Bridge

IN BRIEF Banks told to increase independent directors

THE Monetary Board said it amended the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas corporate guidelines, raising the number of independent directors of banks and other supervised ﬁnancial institutions to promote good governance. “The policy change, which is anchored on the fundamental principle that the tone of good governance should come from the top, sets out enhanced requirements on the membership composition of the board,” Bangko Sentral said in a statement. Bangko Sentral said the amendment aimed to ensure the board of directors was comprised of a collective mix of individual who possess the expertise and competence to effectively manage the ﬁnancial institution “The amendments also aim to promote an environment that fosters critical exchange of views and exercise of objective judgment,” it said. The approved policy requires nonexecutive directors, who shall include independent directors, to comprise majority of the board. The prescribed number of independent directors was increased from 20 percent to one-third of the members of the board, or two directors, whichever was higher. Darwin G. Amojelar

Health groups back higher fuel excise tax

TWO health advocacy groups joined the clamor to adjust the excise taxes on fuel under the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act to address air pollution and help mitigate the impact of global warming. Health Care Without Harm and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, in separate positions papers, called on the government to use Train as a tool to clear the way for the country’s quick transition to more renewable energy sources and help ensure a cleaner, safer and more sustainable means of supplying the needs of the power and transport sectors. ICSC also said it was supporting Train for “its progressive intent and equitable” effects, “as incremental revenues are needed for investments in human capital and badly needed infrastructure.” “The oppositors of tax reform contend that any increase on reﬁned petroleum products is anti-poor. We don’t agree with that proposition. Instead, we support the assertion of the DOF [Department of Finance] that the poor can better be helped through improved targeting of poverty alleviation programs, instead of subsidizing pollutive behavior,” ICSC said in its position paper submitted to the Senate ways and means committee chaired by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara. Alena Mae S. Flores

Seven foreign companies interested in Clark airport

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, August 22, 2017 Currency

chairman Domingo and the entire board of directors of Pagcor for their faith in our company and for giving us the opportunity to deliver services to their electronic gaming operators once again,” PhilWeb president Dennis Valdes said. PhilWeb chairman Gregorio Araneta III expressed confidence that the gaming firm would be able to resume operations that would enable it to contribute a significant amount of revenue to Pagcor.

PBSP MEMBERS. The Aboitiz Group’s Aboitiz & Company, Davao Light and Power Corp., Pilmico Foods Corp., Cotabato Light and Power Corp., Cebu Private Power Corp. and East Asia Utilities Corp. contribute P1.66 million and renew their membership with Philippine Business for Social Progress. Shown during the check turnover ceremony in Taguig City are (from left) PBSP executive director Reynaldo Antonio Laguda, PBSP president Bro. Armin Altamirano Luistro, Aboitiz Foundation president Susan Valdez and Aboitiz Foundation ﬁrst vice president and chief operating ofﬁcer Maribeth Marasigan.

SEVEN international contractors signed up Tuesday to take part in the bidding process for the P12.5-billion Clark International Airport expansion project. State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority said two joint venture companies – First Balfour Inc. – Datem and Megawide Group Co. Ltd.; three Chinese contractors – China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd., China State Construction Engineering Corp. and Qingjian Group Co. Ltd.; and two local construction ﬁrms with international engagements―RII Builders Inc. and Tokwing Construction Corp. – bought bid documents with the intention to participate in the ofﬁcial bidding

eon Oct. 23, 2017. The companies, however, expressed concern over the delays in the issuance of the environmental clearance certiﬁcate for the project. BCDA senior vice president and president of the special bids and awards committee Joshua Bingcang said the agency was working with Environment Department to have the ECC released in a month’s time. “I assure the bidders that the ECC will not be a cause of delay for the project. The Environment Department gave us assurance that the ECC will be issued at the right time,” he said. The new passenger terminal building will have an 8,000-passenger capacity to add to the old terminal’s capacity of 4,000 passengers.

Business

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

DoubleDragon to build 519-room Davao hotel By Jenniffer B. Austria DOUBLEDRAGON Properties Corp. said Tuesday it will build a 519-room hotel in Davao City, the largest in Mindanao. DoubleDragon said in a disclosure to the stock exchange hospitality subsidiary Hotel of Asia Inc. recently signed a joint venture agreement with Davao-based W2JP2 Corp. to build Hotel 101-Davao City on a 5,300-square-meter prime commercial lot along Eco West Drive beside SM City-Davao. Construction will start in the fourth quarter of 2017 and will be completed by 2020. The 519-room hotel will also have a commercial and retail strip and facilities for convention. This will be the third Hotel

101 to be developed by HOA. Already operational is Hotel 101-Manila near Mall of Asia, while Hotel 101-Fort is currently under construction. The company aims to have 5,000 hotel rooms by 2020. “We envision Hotel 101 to become the largest and most recognized hotel chain in the Philippines, signiﬁcantly contributing to the recurring income of DoubleDragon, and at the same time providing the market with an innovative, safe and secure investment platform,” said DoubleDragon chairman Edgar Injap Sia II. DoubleDragon recently upgraded its 2020 goal to achieve 1.2 million square meters of leasable space with a mix of ofﬁce leasing, community mall retail leasing, industrial leasing and hotels.

Stock market ends ﬂat; PhilWeb leads gainers

TOCKS ended ﬂat Tuesday, after a threeday break, ahead of a closely watched meeting of central bankers later in the week and amid lingering concerns about US President Donald Trump’s economic agenda and about geopolitical crises.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, settled at 8,015.93 Tuesday, nearly unchanged from Friday’s level. The heavier index, representing all shares, picked up 2 points, to close at 4,737.17, on a value turnover of P6.1 billion. Losers

outnumbered gainers, 112 to 91, while 37 issues were unchanged. Nine of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by gaming solutions company PhilWeb Corp. which surged 17.2 percent to P11.12. Nickel Asia Corp. climbed 6.7 percent to P6.49, while casino

operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. gained 3 percent to P10.12. Jollibee Foods Corp. rose 2 percent to P240. Meanwhile, most Asian stocks closed higher Tuesday. Equities have been struggling in recent weeks due to the continuing standoff between the US and North Korea, which has been compounded by Thursday’s terror attack in Barcelona. The US president’s woes have fueled speculation he would struggle to push through his market-friendly economy-boosting policies that fanned a global market rally in the months after his November election. The loss of top adviser Steve

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.36 138,000 59.4 77,550 105.1 1,528,310 3.92 3,000 128.6 2,003,030 1.28 160,000 35.85 80,100 16.1 3,800 32.9 665,000 1.65 2,000 0.69 1,930,000 89 4,282,500 1.06 9,700,000 13.18 22,500 25.5 600 61.1 11,730 237 4,890 110 410 88.2 70 51.9 22,310 255 791,110 1,800 215 86.4 135,260 1.39 66,000

621,510 4,581,416.50 160,569,887 11,760 258,921,143 205,900 2,868,810 60,864 21,849,070 3,300 1,340,940 379,830,731.50 9,900,940 296,582 15,300 718,700 1,160,214 45,360 6,174 1,158,039 201,892,198 387,000 11,683,528.50 91,870

3,172,993.50 -47,807,378 -72,843,653 1,136,155 5,926,365 56,580.00 65,902,162.50 -348,900 -620,327.50 -159,433.50 46,239,926 -135,000 5,111,412.50 -

39.3 9.03 0.8 1.36 24 0.24 151 5.69 16.8 31.65 22.15 65 70 1.91 5.4 11.3 10.08 15 12.96 7.12 6.85 1.7 17.04 67.05 14 12.3 12.98 1.8 235 3.5 3.56 22.2 31.15 18.5 17.9 276.8 0.242 10.68 2.91 7.04 9.53 7.7 1.78 12 65.4 6.65 312 4.24 2.25 2.46 12.5 4.6 0.145 1.2 145 3.8 1.95 1

INDUSTRIAL 39.55 497,700 9.25 2,751,000 0.81 978,000 1.36 692,000 24.05 57,400 0.242 610,000 159 490 5.72 2,608,100 16.82 925,600 32.9 665,500 24 414,300 65 100 70 400 1.93 563,000 5.4 58,200 11.3 10,600 10.16 7,038,300 15.1 386,900 13 106,800 7.17 748,000 6.9 13,702,200 1.7 26,000 17.2 355,400 67.7 28,390 14 17,300 12.4 211,200 13.1 1,429,100 1.83 155,000 240 1,397,980 3.5 22,000 3.56 1,000 23 9,600 31.3 34,400 18.7 274,500 17.94 1,876,300 277 587,470 0.242 15,950,000 11.4 62,600 2.97 1,485,000 7.12 385,400 9.7 2,502,400 7.7 57,500 1.79 450,000 12 613,700 65.55 158,740 7 282,500 312 30 4.28 8,020,000 2.27 14,000 2.56 174,000 12.7 1,659,200 4.63 149,000 0.145 70,000 1.2 224,000 151 2,949,290 3.8 18,000 2.06 8,587,000 1 56,000

19,659,105 25,352,086 788,490 941,180 1,413,305 147,920 76,050 14,891,440 15,581,306 21,673,305 10,560,055 6,500 28,000 1,082,590 314,559 120,680 71,626,928 5,824,060 1,385,744 5,369,871 94,554,363 44,200 6,077,164 1,908,101 243,138 2,624,742 18,664,260 281,480 333,700,430 77,790 3,560 219,840 1,079,380 5,114,088 2 33,736,164 9 162,851,040 3,902,100 690,340 4,422,690 2,760,261 24,269,421 7 456,664 804,330 7,365,238 10,389,989.50 1,988,829 9,360 34,325,940 31,780 432,950 20,850,100 686,900 10,170 272,340 438,770,837 68,850 17,304,440 ( 56,000

6,672,905 -412,927 -52,800 -1,261,436 12,826,762 -955,485 13,510 45,200 -4,461,418 1,223,168 -221,794 -4,896,236 180,297 -1,672,508 1,344,356.50 -690,164 4,519,404 157,041,778 91,215 ,578,220.0001 ,117,548.0001 -19,774,322 183,830 44,740 73,000 ,788,941.9996 4,848 4,712,711 151,961 -17,094,200 11,450 -92,500 10,607,182 455,400.00 15,477,950 23,070 316,939.9999) -

0.365 73.45 13.8 1.15 7.04 0.32 901.5 7.79 15.82 7.74 1,150 7.92 72 5.01 5.41 5.44 0.91 7.08 17.7 6.73 0.044 2.11 101 828 0.87 1.63 303 0.28 0.211 0.241

0.35 73.1 13.34 1.08 7.03 0.3 897 7.6 15.6 7.58 1,128 7.6 69.05 5 5.41 5.44 0.89 6.91 17.12 6.65 0.044 2.05 97.2 812.5 0.87 1.57 302 0.28 0.201 0.227

HOLDING FIRMS 0.36 3,910,000 73.3 505,990 13.4 3,498,300 1.12 20,000 7.04 3,000 0.32 140,000 900 410,510 7.76 528,200 15.74 7,087,500 7.58 27,800 1,130 172,255 7.92 200 72 1,010,750 5.01 600 5.41 900 5.44 2,900 0.91 225,000 7.07 1,280,900 17.68 411,200 6.7 16,921,100 0.044 6,300,000 2.11 1,104,000 101 198,020 823 333,500 0.87 4,000 1.61 632,000 303 3,800 0.28 90,000 0.206 510,000 0.241 10,070,000

1,380,950 37,079,273.50 46,964,190 21,970 21,098 43,300 369,416,705 4,047,452 111,532,684 211,282 195,410,820 1,552 71,511,840.50 3,004 4,869 15,776 200,430 9,016,790 7,196,914 113,399,104 277,200 2,266,780 19,668,172.50 272,464,245 3,480 1,013,670 1,151,258 25,200 103,340 2,296,090

-14,266,573 -34,622,724 95,232,650 2,900,443 46,568,800 -69,986,195 -30,027,115 703,477 -3,162,892 29,076,486 41,200 -2,452,868.50 -183,650,720 -

5.38 1.34 6.79 2.27 0.92 43.4 3.56 5.2 5.25 5.4 0.53 1.35 1.6 0.27 0.55 44 0.69 0.161 1.92 1.63 0.96

5.33 1.28 6.79 2.2 0.9 42.1 3.51 4.98 5.25 5.4 0.51 1.28 1.51 0.238 0.495 43.7 0.67 0.154 1.87 1.6 0.96

2,782,568 8,733,560 203,700 480,100 1,189,340 329,170,820 16,552,340 43,073,277 101,325 32,400 2,718,720 2,111,550 6,778,590 56,550,240 314,150 8,047,005 2,122,470 388,510 82,601,240 10,253,660 1 115,200

-2,453,885 203,700 -118,800 -107,560 -68,215,055 2,362,910 -213,030 -78,900 11,650 36,340 -14,660 148,500 2,562,345 13,600 42,879,070 ,625,819.9997 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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

4.55 58.65 105.8 3.92 130.2 1.28 35.2 15.9 32.5 1.65 0.7 88 0.97 13.2 25.5 61 239 112 88.2 52 256 1,800 86.35 1.44

4.59 59.4 106 3.92 130.2 1.3 36 16.1 33.25 1.65 0.7 89.1 1.06 13.2 25.5 61.5 240 112 88.2 52 258 1,800 86.6 1.44

4.36 58.6 104.6 3.92 128.6 1.28 35.2 15.9 32.5 1.65 0.69 87.7 0.95 13.16 25.5 61 237 110 88.2 51.9 254.4 1,800 86.05 1.36

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

39.5 9.16 0.81 1.36 24.1 0.245 160 5.69 16.8 32.65 27.5 65 70 1.92 5.42 11.6 10.08 15.1 13.1 7.24 6.91 1.7 17.1 67.1 14.5 12.56 13.16 1.85 235.2 3.55 3.56 22.2 31.9 18.7 17.9 277.8 0.249 10.68 3 7.4 9.53 8.08 1.79 12 65.4 7.06 312 4.3 2.29 2.48 12.56 4.6 0.147 1.28 145.1 3.82 2 1

39.55 9.27 0.81 1.37 25.6 0.245 160 5.73 16.88 32.95 29.7 65 70 1.93 5.42 11.6 10.22 15.1 13.1 7.24 6.94 1.7 17.2 67.7 14.5 12.56 13.34 1.85 240 3.55 3.56 23 31.9 18.7 18.02 278.4 0.249 11.4 3 7.4 9.75 8.19 1.8 12.1 65.6 7.1 312 4.3 2.29 2.58 12.7 4.63 0.147 1.28 151 3.85 2.07 1

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

0.365 73.1 13.8 1.15 7.03 0.315 900 7.62 15.78 7.6 1,150 7.6 70.05 5 5.41 5.44 0.91 7 17.3 6.71 0.044 2.06 99.35 828 0.87 1.58 302.8 0.28 0.201 0.228

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

5.37 1.34 6.79 2.21 0.92 43.4 3.56 5.02 5.25 5.4 0.52 1.34 1.51 0.25 0.55 43.8 0.69 0.161 1.87 1.63 0.96

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

4.91 0.275 0.53 0.53 4.8 23.1 1.79 3.22 34.05 1 7.5 0.88 5.96

4.91 0.275 0.54 0.54 4.86 23.2 1.81 3.23 34.35 1.01 7.5 0.9 6.01

4.82 0.27 0.52 0.52 4.8 22.5 1.79 3.22 34 0.99 7.4 0.88 5.94

4.85 0.27 0.52 0.52 4.83 23.15 1.8 3.23 34.1 1.01 7.4 0.9 5.94

31,157,000 17,280,000 3,390,000 2,400,000 1,553,000 2,690,200 546,000 23,000 9,259,900 605,000 400 204,000 4,166,000

151,172,130 4,692,250 1,779,970 1,259,250 7,504,060 61,650,285 984,570 74,090 316,065,635 609,730 2,980 180,590 24,923,568

6,816,290 -338,250 26,000 -224,120 1,099,980 -14,999,125 -446,380 -63,277,370 -2,980 -4,038,150

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

20.6 41.95 1.7 0.63 0.04 5.15 9.83 0.076 102.1 9.4 10.24 8.89 2,030 6.17 15.9 2.42 3.06 105.8 11.02 8.65 0.175 2.91 15.58 4.42 1.56 10.9 0.56 2.41 8.64 4.22 22 2.32 11.2 5.05 177 10.98 1,728 1.59 0.4 48.2 88.9 5.91 4.14 1.38 3.45 1.24 8.89

20.6 41.95 1.7 0.63 0.04 5.15 10.18 0.076 103 9.4 10.24 8.9 2,060 6.17 15.92 2.42 3.14 107 12.56 8.65 0.176 2.91 15.58 4.46 1.56 10.9 0.56 2.42 8.72 4.22 26.45 2.32 11.2 5.19 177 11.58 1,728 1.6 0.4 48.3 88.9 5.93 4.2 1.4 3.45 1.24 8.9

20.1 41.5 1.61 0.59 0.039 5.1 9.8 0.073 102.1 9.4 9.98 8.31 2,028 6.08 15.9 2.36 3.03 105.7 11 8.6 0.174 2.91 15.56 4.3 1.38 10.58 0.56 2.4 8.51 4.13 22 2.26 11.14 5.05 177 10.6 1,690 1.58 0.39 46.9 88 5.91 4.11 1.37 3.39 1.16 8.63

SERVICES 20.35 41.5 1.63 0.61 0.04 5.1 10.12 0.074 103 9.4 10 8.43 2,060 6.08 15.92 2.38 3.04 106 12.56 8.6 0.176 2.91 15.56 4.36 1.45 10.64 0.56 2.42 8.71 4.2 24.45 2.28 11.14 5.06 177 11.12 1,710 1.6 0.39 47.9 88 5.93 4.2 1.4 3.4 1.19 8.84

58,600 149,400 357,000 2,653,000 31,500,000 1,700 15,101,300 13,210,000 96,950 400 3,121,000 274,200 7,905 264,200 38,800 578,000 57,000 1,787,820 76,500 260,000 4,100,000 1,000 300 1,252,000 2,208,000 636,800 7,000 101,000 1,594,900 1,689,000 133,500 558,000 6,400 19,600 20 23,163,400 34,645 3,405,000 6,760,000 762,600 246,400 21,300 1,791,000 6,415,000 159,000 13,980,000 1,380,800

1,195,890 6,231,155 584,000 1,590,530 1,249,900 8,750 150,875,501 974,300 9,958,355 3,760 31,472,144 2 2,337,844 16,219,440 1,615,226 616,932 1,382,530 174,050 189,519,243 956,082 2,248,500 716,530 2,910 4,672 5,481,830 3,185,750 6,789,362 3,920 244,000 13,767,461 7,044,790 3,202,925 1,267,130 71,440 99,238 3,540 257,174,760 59,229,215 5,441,300 2,642,550 36,306,670 21,699,311.50 125,887 7,447,890 3 8,914,570 6 541,800 16,651,240 12,101,224

-871,300 1,405,399 760 4,501,064 ,200,701.9997 -194,392 1,313,690 -311,190 14,853,473 910,600 742,660 -81,140 53,180 -221,229 1,008,950 6,827,984 4,884,595 1,194,710 32,000 3,215,120 687,971 ,095,299.9997 ,642,479.9995 187,840 -326,240 3,029,199

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

0.0028 1.66 4.86 1.79 1.22 0.385 8.36 2.55 0.27 0.18 0.192 0.01 0.011 1.95 6.29 1.83 0.52 1.16 0.011 0.012 0.012 2.45 8.4 3.9 169.9 0.008

0.0029 1.67 4.87 1.79 1.22 0.385 8.42 2.61 0.28 0.182 0.2 0.011 0.011 1.98 6.58 1.93 0.54 1.16 0.011 0.013 0.012 2.59 8.46 4.08 169.9 0.008

0.0027 1.63 4.81 1.79 1.19 0.385 8.3 2.54 0.27 0.18 0.192 0.01 0.011 1.91 6.25 1.83 0.52 1.1 0.011 0.012 0.011 2.45 8.4 3.9 168 0.008

MINING & OIL 0.0029 83,000,000 1.64 2,496,000 4.82 516,000 1.79 1,000 1.2 370,000 0.385 100,000 8.3 36,400 2.59 10,911,000 0.27 510,000 0.18 2,220,000 0.2 170,000 0.01 56,700,000 0.011 1,400,000 1.95 604,000 6.49 17,618,700 1.93 24,000 0.54 235,000 1.1 1,800,000 0.011 17,400,000 0.013 3,500,000 0.011 3,700,000 2.59 16,000 8.41 329,100 3.97 7,749,000 169.9 291,000 0.008 1,000,000

230,700 4,104,670 2,497,400 1,790 444,550 38,500 303,544 28,142,790 138,150 399,880 32,800 575,500 15,400 1,179,240 113,637,013 44,480 123,620 2,043,640 191,400 42,500 44,200 40,230 2,774,403 30,884,460 49,299,169 8,000

2,700 -53,270 -1,790 12,000 569,600 19,185,837 -1,140 -115,185 -32,170 9,333,095 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H

41 524 520 106 112.2 5.84 1,015 1,020 1.04 110 1,101 77 81 81.9 79.9 79.5

41.2 524 520 106 112.2 5.85 1,020 1,023 1.04 111 1,119 77 81.05 81.9 79.95 79.5

41 516.5 518 105.2 112.2 5.84 1,015 1,020 1.04 110 1,101 77 80.8 81.9 79.9 79.5

PREFERRED 41.15 381,200 516.5 110 518 4,000 105.2 5,070 112.2 500 5.84 2,277,000 1,020 2,000 1,023 5,105 1.04 5,000 110 4,500 1,119 3,160 77 380 81.05 18,880 81.9 4,200 79.95 6,230 79.5 62,710

15,657,505 57,565 2,072,020 534,403 56,100 13,318,320 2,030,050 5,207,115 5,200 495,130 3,500,040 29,260 1,527,435 343,980 497,810.50 4,985,445

-613,010 -186,790 -

LR WARRANT

2.46

2.49

2.42

WARRANTS 2.42 385,000

939,330

-109,400

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.82 4.94 5.91

3.94 5.2 5.98

3.8 4.94 5.75

3.94 5.1 5.91

1,761,620 190,863 7,285,776

200,200 488,511

FIRST METRO ETF

120.8

120.2

595,650

24,160

PROPERTY 5.35 1.29 6.79 2.2 0.91 42.6 3.52 5.18 5.25 5.4 0.53 1.28 1.59 0.24 0.495 44 0.69 0.154 1.88 1.6 0.96

520,100 6,659,000 30,000 218,000 1,312,000 7,727,000 4,697,000 8,423,300 19,300 6,000 5,251,000 1,633,000 4,305,000 227,210,000 630,000 183,700 3,130,000 2,500,000 43,588,000 6,374,000 120,000

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

21,629,031

INDUSTRIAL

88,532,286

HOLDING FIRMS

55,526,206

PROPERTY

397,852,245

SERVICES

143,123,999

MINING & OIL

213,040,779

GRAND TOTAL

921,439,486

SME

454,000 38,400 1,237,600

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.7 4,940

VALUE 2,004.79 (down) 2.01 1,058,250,373.05 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,121.94 (up) 55.98 1,469,080,116.56 HOLDING FIRMS 7,858.22 (up) 26.80 1,283,509,804.11 PROPERTY 3,761.21 (down) 28.17 1,702.84 (down) 2.55 1,145,831,836.17 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,860.76 (up) 101.61 919,327,093.19 PSEI 8,015.93 (down) 0.80 237,276,559.415 All Shares Index 4,737.16 (up) 2.32 6,123,109,691.50 Gainers: 91; Losers: 112; Unchanged: 37; Total: 240

Bannon last week and talk that a leading member of his ﬁnance team could also leave have added to his problems. “My sense is that the outlook for the US, and thus the economy and the Fed, is clouded for many traders and investors because of the uncertainty around the Trump presidency and its agenda,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader. However, investors mostly moved back into buying mode Tuesday, sending Hong Kong more than one percent higher in the afternoon. Sydney closed up 0.4 percent, Singapore rose 0.6 percent and Seoul ended up 0.4 percent. Shanghai added 0.1 percent. There were also gains in Taipei but Tokyo ended 0.1 percent off. London opened 0.6 percent higher, Paris put on 0.5 percent and Frankfurt was 0.7 percent up. Markets were little moved by Trump’s speech clearing the way for the deployment of thousands more troops in Afghanistan, backtracking from a promise to pull US troops out of the 16-year conﬂict. With few key catalysts to drive business, all eyes are on the Jackson Hole symposium in Wyoming at the end of the week, which brings together the world’s top central bank chiefs. Most attention at the meeting will be on Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen, with hopes for some clues about the bank’s plans to wind in its huge bond holdings. With Bloomberg, AFP

MPTC expands payment options By Darwin G. Amojelar METRO Paciﬁc Tollways Corp. on Tuesday launched electronic payment options for motorists plying its toll roads. “The use of digital payments is helping usher a new era of tollways operations in the country where consumers can enjoy faster, more secure and more convenient electronic transactions. This is very much aligned with the National Retail Payment System program of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that aims to transform 20 percent of the country’s payment transactions to electronic by 2020,” MPTC chairman Manuel Pangilinan said. Aside from cash, motorists traversing North Luzon Expressway can now pay toll by using Easy Trip RFID, beep cards and Mastercard contactless debit, prepaid and credit cards, including Smart Mastercard powered by PayMaya. Mastercard acceptance for Manila-Cavite Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway will commence soon. Motorists will also be able to pay at MPTC expressways with Visa contactless debit, prepaid and credit cards soon. “With these payment options, motorists will experience even more seamless, convenient and hassle-travel at the NLEx, SCTEx and Cavitex,” MPTC president Rodrigo Franco said. Enabling the end-to-end acceptance of contactless card payments at MPTC tollways is PayMaya Philippines’ PayMaya Business, which delivers solutions that allow businesses of all sizes to accept payments.

Business

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Gatchalian probing Palawan brownouts

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno (from left), Senator Cynthia Villar and Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio are among the awardees at the 2017 University of the Philippines Alumni Association general homecoming at the Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman, Quezon City. Villar earned her degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from UP and completed her Master’s degree in Business Administration at the New York University.

LNG power plant woes in Quezon unresolved By Alena Mae S. Flores

he Energy Department advised Energy World Corp. to seek the help of the Energy Regulatory Commission to address the company’s transmission line issues, an ofﬁcial said Tuesday.

Energy World, a unit of Energy World Corp. of Australia, is putting up a 650-megawatt liqueﬁed natural gas plant and terminal in Pagbilao, Quezon province but has difﬁculty in getting a connection to the Luzon grid. “It encountered problems so we advised them why they don’t consider going already to the ERC... It’s not only EWC, it also involves NGCP (National Grid Corp. of the Philippines), TransCo (National Transmission Corp.) and it also has issues with energy players in the area like Pagbilao,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said. National Grid operates and maintains the country’s transmission network while state-

owned TransCo owns the transmission assets. Energy World’s power plant is situated beside TeaM Energy Philippines’ 735-MW Pagbilao coal-ﬁred power plant. TeaM Energy, along with Aboitiz Group, is building the Pagbilao 3 expansion which will add 420 MW to the grid by late this year. Energy World wants to use the existing transmission facility of TeaM Energy to connect to the Luzon grid, a faster option instead of building a new connection facility. Other power generators, however, will also use the line to deliver power from the Pagbilao expansion. “There are questions that should be answered technically and it can be through a petition ﬁled before the ERC,” Fuentebella said. Fuentebella said by formalizing its concerns to the ERC, Energy World could speed up the plant’s project development. Fuentebella said the issues facing Energy World include linking the plant to the transmission line, another 14-kilometer line with right-of-way problems and the possibility of building a submarine cable to ensure delivery of the plant’s capacity. “The plant is around 45 percent complete...,” Fuentebella said.

Energy World has been seeking government assistance to enable it to connect the plant to the Luzon grid since last year and has not obtained a solution to date The company in June last year received P1.5 billion funds in for the Pagbilao LNG hub terminal project. The company’s omnibus loan and security agreement provides an additional P2-billion facility for the project. Standard Chartered Bank acted as issue manager and book runner, while Land Bank of the Philippines was the lead arranger of the loan. Energy undersecretary Mylene Capongcol earlier said Energy World’s planned floating storage re-gasification unit, which was supposed to be the first LNG facility in the country, remained to be completed. Reynaldo Umali, chairman of the House committee on energy, also said a team from the committee visited the company’s project and learned about the interconnection issues hounding the project. “There’s a problem in the interconnection. But the plant itself can produce anytime. It’s ready for commissioning, except for the interconnection concerns,” Umali said.

PHILEX GRANT.

A Philex doctor examines a patient during a medical mission in Sitio Sta. Fe, Barangay Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet. Philex Mining Corp. has granted health insurance to 620 individuals, along with their families, worth P1.48 million, bringing to P3.4 million the total amount of coverage given to the indigent residents in the outlying communities of its Padcal mine in the province over the past four years.

Two ﬁrms seek BSP help on bitcoin transactions BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said two companies are seeking registration of their digital platforms for virtual currency transactions or bitcoin. Espenilla declined to name the locally based companies with international routes at the sidelines of an event in Mandaluyong on Friday. “... We see a rapid increase in the trajectory [of bitcoin transactions]. It is coming from a small base but increasing that is why we decided to require companies [engaged in the business] to register,” Espenilla said.

Under Circular 944 issued early this year, Bangko Sentral required businesses handling conversions from peso or real money to virtual currencies like bitcoin to register and report to the central bank as part of efforts to combat money laundering and other terrorist ﬁnancing schemes. The regulator said the virtual currency systems had the potential to revolutionize delivery of ﬁnancial services, especially for payments and remittances. A bitcoin is a form of easily transferable electronic currency used for paying goods sold

through the Internet, which sometimes stands as an investment for its holders given its ﬂuctuating valuations. It is a form of digital money that is not issued or guaranteed by a central bank, and can be sent or received by anonymous users internationally. Under the law, the Bangko Sentral is the sole authority that can issue money in the Philippines through bank notes and coins used as legal tender for day-to-day transactions. Any person can buy and sell bitcoins, which may be traded by tapping the services of bitcoin dealers or brokers who

look for good deals for a bitcoin investor. One can go to bitcoin exchanges—an establishment that allows holders to directly buy and sell the virtual currency or participate in a “mining pool”—a group of individuals with top-of-the-line computers that can solve complex math problems to unlock codes in exchange for a bitcoin, or look for someone to trade cash or goods for bitcoins. All virtual currency exchanges must secure a certiﬁcate of registration from the Bangko Sentral to operate as a remittance and transfer company. Julito G. Rada

SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian filed a Senate resolution calling for a more in-depth investigation into the frequent brownouts that plague the province of Palawan. Gatchalian said in a statement he was not satisfied with the “shallow” probe conducted by the National Electrification Administration on the Palawan brownouts. “During the first six months of this year, Palawan residents suffered through an average of 13 brownout hours during 10 power interruptions per month. The Senate must exercise its oversight powers to hold stakeholders accountable and finally put an end to this mess,” said Gatchalian, the chairman of the Senate energy committee. Proposed Senate Resolution No. 470 directed the committee to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the matter. The inquiry will review the compliance of the Palawan Electric Cooperative with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (Republic Act No. 9136) and the performance of NEA as the regulator of electric cooperatives under Republic Act No. 10531. Gatchalian said at a formal dialogue held by the Energy Committee with Paleco, NEA, and private energy stakeholders on August 3, it was discovered that the frequent brownouts in Puerto Princesa City were caused by the inability of DMCI Power Corp. to provide 25 megawatts of electricity committed under its 2012 power supply agreement with Paleco. DMCI Power said its contractual obligation was to deliver 25 MW of electricity using thermal and diesel power plants but due to the opposition of certain stakeholders, the company was “unable to construct and operate the committed thermal facility, which would have effectively addressed the need for stable, reliable and affordable power in the province.”

The Business Plan IT’S the third week of August. The work week in the Philippines actually began with a legal holiday punctuated by driving rain. In North America, Monday was marked by a total solar eclipse. In the meantime, the rest of the business community continues to work on business plans. Of course, the phrase business plan can mean different things to different people. In particular, we differentiate between the strategic and operating plan created primarily for internal consumption by going concern businesses and the business plan created with the primary purpose of gaining funding. Strategic Management For most corporations, the annual cycle of planning is really part of the strategic management cycle. It involves a review of external and internal situation, including how the current strategy is faring, a decision concerning corporate direction and then a recrafting of operating plans and budgets in order to support business direction. The output of this process has two basic objectives: driving direction and creating alignment. One of the most important functions of a business plan is to clarify corporate direction. The entire company needs to be clear about corporate positioning, and key goals and strategies. This clarity concerning direction sets the foundation for creating organizational alignment, which is essentially about aligning organizational resources and effort. In the management classroom, we also talk about vertical alignment (alignment between the many levels of the organization) as well as horizontal alignment (alignment between the different units of the organization). Part of this challenge of course is creating a common language and understanding. The other part of creating alignment is about creating policies, structures and systems that ensure alignment. Alignment In the AIM strategy classroom, we often discuss how strategy creates alignment. In my classes, we explain that strategy creates alignment by providing the answers to the five basic questions. The first question is one of direction. What is our objective? This is typically answered by at least three things: the organization vision, the organizations long-term objectives (typically short-term and medium term), and the organization’s key metric (the one important goal that will drive corporate success in the medium term) The next three questions deal with market clarity. Who is our customer? What are we offering to the customer? Why would the customer buy from us? The second question deals with clarity in our target market segment and should be more than about the customer’s socio-economic class. The answer to the question of who is our customer must be precise enough for managers to understand both how to find our customer (where is our customer?) as well as how to determine whether a potential customer is indeed part of our target. The next two questions are a matter of the corporate promise. Question number three sounds easy but is not. Very often, we believe we are offering a product when the larger part of our offer is really a service. Question number four is even more difficult. It addresses core value proposition and requires an understanding of at least two things – what is driving demand as well as what is driving preference. For example, perhaps I am choosing a restaurant primarily as a location for a meeting. In this case, my criteria for choice (preference) would be very different from my criteria for when I am choosing a restaurant for a family gathering. The final question is the one that is often the most difficult. How do we deliver to our promise? We must deliver in a manner which satisfies the customer and ensures that the organization prospers over the long-term. This is a matter of effectivity as well as efficiency. Balance One of the most important concerns of strategic management is to create alignment without sacrificing flexibility. Businesses today need to grapple with quick changes as well as with micro-markets. Both require the ability to flex the basic business strategy without sacrificing key elements of positioning. Budgets, organization structures and authority matrices are a key part of creating alignment. These tend to be the more rigid elements of alignment. The danger in every organization is that too much rigidity can kill an organization’s ability to deal with localized situations or rapid changes. Too much flexibility, of course, can create runaway costs or even expose the company to major fraud. Creating flexibility while ensuring alignment involves being clear about what things must be the same. One useful way to think about this comes from Collis and Rukstad, who in a 2016 article in the Harvard Business Review, explained that there are three key elements that must be clear in communicating strategy: objective, scope and advantage. The authors discussed two elements within the category of advantage: value proposition (especially versus key competitors) and the set of activities required to deliver the value proposition. It is, of course, this last item that is often the most difficult for managers. In any case, the main audience of this kind of business plan is essentially internal. Its purpose is to inform the organization about direction and priorities. This internal business plan is the basis of what is then communicated to external stakeholders. Business Plan By contrast, the term business plan, as opposed to strategic plan or operation plan, is, not always, but often used to connote the plan that is crafted primarily for engaging potential investors. The key purpose of the business plan is to create clarity and confidence about the business opportunity, the fit between the business opportunity and the proposed solution, and the ability of the proponent team to deliver the proposed solution profitably and at scale. In either case, the heart of the business plan is about three things: fit, logic and clarity. Readers can email Maya at integrations_manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at http://integrations.tumblr.com. For academic publications, Maya uses her full name, Maria Elena Baltazar Herrera.

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

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017

Business

European Union seeks orderly Brexit By Charlotte Ryan and Svenja O’Donnell

INSECT BURGERS.

RITAIN is in a hurry to get Brexit talks to envelop trade. Not so fast, the European Union says.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s government is issuing on Tuesday its third position paper in two days on how it sees its future relationship with Europe. The latest details focus on civil judicial cooperation―covering disputes from cross-border business to divorce and child custody―ahead of a much-anticipated document Wednesday on the role of the EU Court of Justice. The aim is the same: rebut criticism from the EU that the UK is unclear about what it wants and pressure its divorce partner into discussing commerce. The UK returns from the summer break with a strategy to force a conversation on the future much sooner than the EU wants. The release of a flurry of policy specifics seeks to demonstrate that Britain has thought things through as it builds the case that the myriad issues are complex and interconnected enough to require trade to be part of the mix. Brexit Secretary David Davis has adopted a more forceful attitude and is reopening for debate the EU’s stipulation, which he had appeared back in June to finally accept, that the divorce needs to be settled first. His chief adversary, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, tweeted Monday that the new round of negotiations next week will “focus on orderly withdrawal” and that he’d been “clear and transparent since day 1.” In other words, the EU is not budging. So where does that leave the UK? While much has been made of the batch of position papers coming out, one UK government official said that many

of these are devoid of much substance and that most of the preparatory work is being done behind the scenes. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said in an interview with Bloomberg Television in Toronto on Monday that he remains “confused and puzzled” about the UK’s plan for trade after Brexit. Varadkar dismissed the UK’s position as unrealistic and repeated that he wants no border on the island of Ireland, ahead of a visit to the US-Canada frontier on Tuesday. And despite the rhetorical posturing from the UK government, both papers out Monday were uncontroversial in reiterating that Britain wanted the “freest and most frictionless trade possible” and also to preserve existing rules on conﬁdentiality. In fact, the paper concerning “goods on the market” drew praise from British businesses concerned their products will lose regulatory approval the day after Brexit even if they run off the same production line as those shipped on the day the UK departs. The UK listed examples of how products from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics could be caught up in Brexit if the issue isn’t tackled. Bart Van Vooren, a lawyer at Covington & Burling LLP, said the regulation of goods ultimately will depend on something far more important. “Without the UK making a fundamental choice on its future relationship to the EU, it cannot expect to receive this depth of mutual recognition,” he said. “Without making that choice clear now, the proposals in the position paper simply cannot work and the EU will not give concessions to the UK.” Bloomberg

Packs of precooked insect burgers based on protein-rich mealworm are seen on a supermarket shelf on August 21, 2017 in Geneva. Switzerland’s ﬁrst insect-based food aimed at humans goes on sale this week following a revision of the country’s food safety laws. Swiss food safety laws were changed last May to allow for the sale of food items containing three types of insects: crickets, grasshoppers and mealworms, which are the larval form of the mealworm beetle. AFP

US, Korea start talks on revising trade deal THE US and South Korea kicked off talks on possible changes to a ﬁve-year-old bilateral trade deal that President Donald Trump has called a “ job killer.” South Korean trade minister Kim Hyun-chong spoke early Tuesday with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer via video-conference, and ofﬁcials from both nations are continuing discussions in Seoul. Kim is set to hold a news conference at 5:30 p.m. local time on the Korus deal that he once described as a “slam dunk-shot”

for the US. In June, Trump told South Korean President Moon Jae-in that US automakers a should have a “fair shake” for better car sales. In his inauguration speech in early August, Kim said that South Korea would pursue a “balance of interests” in any trade deal. “Negotiations that beneﬁt one side only are simply not possible and can’t be maintained,” Kim said. South Korea describes Korus as a mutually beneﬁcial deal, basing its argument on a

surge in bilateral trade volume. But the US sees it as one of the main reasons for the trade imbalance. Trump’s push to revise the deal is part of his broader drive to reduce his nation’s trade deficits with various nations, such as his pursuit of a full renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Countries such as Japan that have large trade surpluses with the US are watching on with interest. The trade issue has emerged just as the US and South Ko-

Berkshire’s latest ﬂop adds to Buffett’s dealmaking woes By Scott Deveau, Noah Buhayar and Matthew Monks THIS year isn’t shaping up to be the stuff of Warren Buffett dealmaking legend. Buffett’s $9-billion bid to acquire Oncor Electric Delivery Co. started to unravel last week after Paul Singer’s Elliott Management Corp. outmaneuvered the Oracle of Omaha by acquiring a small parcel of unsecured debt. That opened a window for Sempra Energy to swoop in and strike a deal to acquire the Texas utility. The loss comes six months after another multibilliondollar Buffett pursuit hit the skids. In February, his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. committed $15 billion to help Kraft Heinz Co. in a proposed buyout of Unilever. The Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant rejected the approach, and the offer was quickly pulled. The collapse of two highproﬁle pursuits in such a short time frame is a rarity for Buffett, who has spent decades building Berkshire into a sprawling conglomerate through shrewd takeovers. While he’s made many offers that went nowhere, it’s less common for such losses to play out in public. Elliott’s purchase from Fidelity Investments of $60

million worth of leveraged notes in Oncor’s parent, Energy Future Intermediate Holding Co., was all it needed to do to block Buffett’s bid, according to people familiar with the matter. Buying the notes allowed the activist investor and another dissenting creditor to own the majority of all classes of impaired debt in the company, all but assuring that a bankruptcy judge would reject Buffett’s bid, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter was private. Berkshire’s energy unit was aware of the risk posed by the Fidelity notes, the people said. But purchasing the debt would have disqualified those votes in favor of the transaction, according to the people. Typically, bankruptcy courts only require one group of unsecured creditors to support a takeover bid. Berkshire Hathaway Energy declined to comment on its handling of the deal after saying in a statement Monday that Energy Future had terminated the offer. Buffett didn’t respond to a request for comment. Sempra’s Opportunity Squaring off against Buffett wasn’t a factor for Sempra, said Chief Executive Officer Debra Reed. “When the Berkshire deal looked like it was not going to get creditor support and

Warren Buffet then the creditor deal looked like it was not going to get regulatory support,” Reed said, “we saw an opportunity to come in with a transaction that we thought would meet the needs of both the creditors and the regulators.” Berkshire’s loss of two big opportunities this year “calls into question the effectiveness of their gentleman’s agreement acquisition strategy,” said Cathy Seifert, an equity analyst at CFRA Research who has a hold rating on Berkshire. “It’s going to get tougher and tougher to earn the reputation” for savvy dealmaking “unless something in this trajectory changes pretty quick-

ly,” Seifert said. Buying the debt was an elegant solution for Elliott, which will get 45 cents to 50 cents on the dollar for its investment if Sempra’s $9.45 billion bid wins approval. That compares to the 18 cents on the dollar that Elliott would have gotten from a Buffett victory. Road Map Berkshire, along with Elliott, ended up providing a road map for Sempra to acquire Oncor. Elliott had held talks about a month ago about partnering with Sempra on its $9.3 billion bid for the company, along with several other US and Canadian utilities, as well as sovereign wealth,

infrastructure and pension funds, the people said. Sempra ultimately determined it was in its best interest to go it alone at a higher price, according to those people. Berkshire had agreed to 47 regulatory commitments that were aimed at helping it win court approval and protect Oncor from unnecessary risk, including having no debt at the intermediate companies. It said in a statement Friday that those commitments had resolved all issues involving Oncor. Sempra is comfortable upholding those commitments, which won over some stakeholders and the staff at the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the people said. Elliott provided a benchmark when it said it was trying to drum up the ﬁnances for its own bid valued at $9.3 billion, meaning it would be hard for the New York hedge fund to oppose a bid higher than that threshold, the people said. One of the people said it was Elliott’s experience in the rough and tumble bankruptcy space that gave it an edge over Buffett. Berkshire felt its own proposal was sufﬁciently formed and had the support needed to win approval from the bankruptcy judge, the people said. Once Elliott bought the debt from Fidelity, however, Berkshire was blocked, they said. Bloomberg

rea need each other’s support to fight together against North Korea’s nuclear threat. Korus also helps the US on a strategic level as China’s economic and political influence grows in the region. South Korea is the US’s seventh-largest trading partner, while the US is South Korea’s second-biggest partner after China. US figures indicate its goods deficit with South Korea was $27.7 billion last year, or about $4.4 billion more than the number Korea came up with. Bloomberg

BHP posts $5.89-b net proﬁt after loss in Q1

SYDNEY, Australia―BHP reported a return to profit Tuesday as strong commodity prices helped it bounce back from a large loss last year, with the mining giant also flagging the sale of its US shale assets. The world’s largest miner recorded an annual net profit of $5.89 billion for the year to June 30, just short of forecasts, after a $6.39-billion loss in the previous period. “Over the last five years, we have laid the foundations to significantly improve our return on capital and grow long-term shareholder value,” outgoing BHP chairman Jac Nasser said. Underlying profit, which strips out one-off write-downs, was also below forecasts at $6.73 billion. The Anglo-Australian firm rewarded shareholders with a final dividend of 43 cents, well up from 14 cents last year. BHP said it had determined its onshore US shale operations were “non-core” to the business and it was “actively pursuing options to exit these assets for value.” The announcement follows a push by New York-based Elliott Advisors, a significant shareholder in the company, for BHP to restructure the business, including spinning off its US oil and gas operations. BHP had previously rejected Elliott’s proposals in April. BHP, like other miners, has benefited from the rebound in key metals prices after a slump caused by supply gluts and a slowdown in growth in the world’s top commodities consumer China. Bloomberg

LGUs

QC gives villages P129.1-m tax share

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista has turned over P129.1 million to the 142 barangays of the city’s six districts as their share of real property taxes for the second quarter of 2017. He tasked the Barangay Operations Center to coordinate with the treasurer’s office, headed by Ruby Guevarra, in the distribution of the real-estate tax share. District 1 got P7.6 million; District 2, P9.4 million; District 3, P18.2 million; District 4, P26.8 million; District 5, P31.9 million, and District 6, P35.2 million. Among the barangays with the highest share were Socorro with P987,629.18, Bagumbayan with P914,691.10, and Pasong Putik with P862,607.82. Under the Local Government Code of 1991’s Section 271, 30 percent of the proceeds from the basic real-property tax of the city within the Metro Manila shall be distributed to the barangays. The barangays will use the tax share to fund infrastructure improvement, local development and livelihood projects. Meanwhile, the Quezon City Council has passed an ordinance granting a P5,000 emergency medical assistance for elderly residents admitted in hospitals owned by the city government. Also known as the “Quezon City Emergency Medical Benefit Assistance for Senior Citizens,” City Ordinance 2598-2017 authored by Councilor Rogelio P. Juan aims to provide financial relief to our senior citizens and to their families who are already burdened emotionally and economically of the medical condition of their elderly. Funding for the assistance will be taken from the one percent budget allocation for the programs, projects, and activities for city’s senior citizens. “Despite the free medical services which are presently provided for our government facilities and hospitals by the provisions of R.A. No. 9994, however, there remain hospital services and medical necessities of our senior citizens that are not covered by the provisions of R.A. No. 9994, such as ‘stat medicines’ or those immediate medicines given in emergency cases to stabilize the condition of a patient, as well as emergency medical supplies and services.

GREEN THUMBS. Senator Cynthia Villar and Antipolo City Mayor Jun Ynares joined the tree-planting activity of the Rotary Club Philippines District 3830 held at the Antipolo Ecopark

in Sitio Cabading, Lower Barangay San Jose. Also in the photo are Rotary International District 3830 Governor Edwin Afzelius, Carmen Afzelius, RI District 3830 Past District Governor Lito Colona, District 3830 Service chairman Cha-Cha Camacho and Past Rotary International Director Guiller Tumangan. Lino Santos

Makati forms TF ‘Bantay AI’ T By Joel E. Zurbano

HE city government of Makati has formed a special team tasked to ensure that poultry products from bird flu-affected provinces are not brought into the city and sold in its public markets. Dubbed “Task Force Bantay AI,” the team is composed of meat inspectors from the city’s Veterinary Services Office (VSO) who have been mobilized to monitor and check Meat Inspection Certificates in all meat-selling establishments in the city. The inspection also covers all businesses involved in trans-

porting, storing, receiving, processing, preparation and selling poultry products in Makati. Acting on the alert order of the National Meat Inspection Service, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay instructed the team to vigilantly inspect and monitor establishments that sell meat and poultry, including street and

ambulant vendors, to prevent consumption of tainted products. “The heightened alert on meat inspection is a precautionary measure to protect our constituents. We want to make sure that the poultry products in our groceries, public markets and even the small talipapas remain safe for consumption,” Binay said. Binay also urged establishments that sell meat and poultry to display their Meat Inspection Certificates to show that their wares are “certified clean and virus-free.” To raise public awareness, the city chief executive instructed the team to conduct lectures in all public markets to educate

chicken vendors on how poultry infected with the bird flu virus looks like. She added that the information drive, which started today, August 22, will teach residents how to properly inspect the meat they buy. According to VSO officer-incharge Katherina Mangahas, the team began inspections on Aug. 18 at Comembo and Tejeros markets. Stalls selling dressed chicken were inspected and their Meat Inspection Certificates were checked to ensure that the chickens being sold did not come from the quarantined areas. On Tuesday, the group conducted market inspections and lectures

Manila issues gifts to 17 centenarians By Bill Casas MAYOR Joseph Estrada has awarded 17 more centenarians—those who reach the age of 100 or more—with P100,00 cash gift each, to show his continuing endeavor to support senior citizens in Manila. This brings to 42 the number of centenarians that benefited from Estrada’s P100,000 cash incentive program that he started last year. Estrada was elated that he personally met 11 of the 17 centenarians during a simple awarding ceremony at his office over the weekend; the remaining six were physically unfit to go to the city hall to receive their P100,000 checks. “You are the living legends of Manila. We look up to you as our heroes,” Estrada told the centenarians. “We’re hoping this small amount could help you live your life comfortably, and should be able to help you in your healthcare necessities,” he said. Of the 17 latest beneficiaries, the oldest was Laurenciano

Biliran bettor bags P9-m lotto pot

Bohol, a resident of Barangay 223 in Yuseco Street, Tondo. At age 106, he beamed and greeted Estrada as he received his P100,000 check. The other centenarian-beneficiaries were Jacoba Bautista, 101; Matilde Capiral, 100; Emilio Chavez, 100; Luz Dela Cruz, 100; Geronima Diaz, 104; Armelia Quizon, 100; Dolores Nalus, 100; Lando Nanding, 102; Cecilia Nubla, 101; Lourdes Perete, 100; Juana Refuerzo, 100; Ester Simbol, 100; Kim Tan, 100; Genoveva Viar, 100; Carmen Yu, 100; and Virginia Zara, 102. Jeffrey Manansala of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs said another batch of centenarians will receive the P100,000 cash gift next month. “It is a joy for us to recognize these centenarians. Mayor Estrada wants to help them and remember them in a special way through this cash gift program,” Manansala said. The P100,000 cash gift program has been authorized by Ordinance No. 8483 approved by Estrada on March 17, 2016.

NEW PRECINCT. Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan presents to the residents of Bagong Silang the latest Police Community Precinct 3-Extension Office (inset). Also at the event were Caloocan Rep. Along Malapitan and precinct commander Chief Insp. Ronald Cayago. Bagong Silang is the most populous barangay in the city. Jun David

Navotas helps revive city chamber of commerce THE City Government of Navotas has helped reenergize the Navotas Chamber of Commerce and Industry to strengthen the business sector in the city and encourage their participation in local governance. “The Chamber will serve as the voice of our business sector. It will also boost the capabili-

ties and competitiveness of our business, thereby helping them develop further and become sustainable,” Mayor John Rey Tiangco said. The chief executive also noted that the Chamber will play a crucial role in strengthening the partnership between the local government and the local businesses.

in Guadalupe and Pembo. Mangahas reported that poultry products being sold in these markets were sourced from South Luzon. The city government is also discouraging the sale and movement of live domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day old chicks, eggs, semen and manure from Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Tarlac, Zambales, and Bataan. After Pampanga, the towns of Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija have also been placed under a state of calamity after poultry farms have tested positive for the avian flu virus.

“The Chamber could represent the business sector and coordinate with us in establishing projects and programs that will benefit both the industry and the city,” he said. The Chamber is also seen to provide opportunities to business owners to diversify their networks and manage to serve a

larger market later. The 15 new officers, trustees and directors of the Chamber took their oath of office before Tiangco. Jesusa P. Lukban of 3D&S Rice Dealer was elected president, and Nerissa T. Domingo of Pia’s Lechon Manok and Boodle Fight was chosen as vice president. Other officers included Cesar T.

Roque Jr. of Roque Water Refilling Station as corporate secretary, Ruth M. Celorio of NFC Marine Trading as treasurer, and Rosario C. Alcorroque of Ian’s Foodhaus (Samareños) as auditor. “We are of one dream—to see Navotas flourish. We will help one another to realize this shared vision,” Tiangco said.

A BETTOR in Naval, Biliran bagged the jackpot in the last Monday draw of the Mega Lotto 6/45 Regular Lotto. The still unidentified winner picked the six-digit winning combination 10-01-35-28-0522, which had a jackpot prize of P9 million. Twenty-six other players won P26,350 each for guessing five of the six-digit winning combination, according to Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Assistant General Manager for Gaming Sector Conrado C. Zabella. The Mega Lotto 6/45 Regular Lotto is drawn every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Previously, a 70-year-old market vendor from San Juan City won the P27.6-million jackpot in the 6/42 Lotto draw last Oct. 22. After betting P60, his randomly picked winning numbers 09-10-21-31-41-02 enabled him to bring home the P27,592,968 lotto pot. The lone winner, who works as food market vendor in San Juan City, Metro Manila, has been betting on the lotto since 1996. Claiming his winnings last Oct. 24 at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes main office in Mandaluyong City, the lone winner told PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan he would invest in business, set aside most of the money for the needs of his wife and four children, and save for future needs.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

TODAY

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Second Judcial Region BRANCH 30 BAMBANG, NUEVA VIZCAYA Stationed at Bayombong

Official Receipt issued by DENR-EMB for processing fee, Database inspection procedural processing fee; Itemized Fees paid under Annex J-17; Attached Plumbing Plan to DENR EMB

SPS. NONIE R. SALVIEJO & EMMA SY-SALVIEJO., Plaintiffs.

April 25,2012 & June 1,2012

versus-

CIVIL CASE NO. 1152

June 27, 2012

STANDFORD MARKETING CORP.& ABIGAIL DA SILVA., Defendants.

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION WHEREAS, on December 26, 2012, the abovenamed plaintiff thru counsel filed the complaint which reads as follows:

COMPLAINT COME NOW, plaintiffs spouses Nonie R. Salviejo and Emma Sy-Salviejo, through counsel, before the Honorable Court, respectfully state:

PARTIES 1. Plaintiffs Nonie R. Salviejo and Emma Sy-Salviejo (plaintiffs) are lawful spouses of legal age, Filipino and residents of National Road, Barangay Homestead, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya; Defendant Stanford Marketing Corporation (defendant SMCo) is a domestic corporation, duly organized and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with office address at SM Corporate Offices, Bldg. E, J. W. Diokno Boulevard, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City 1308 where it may be served with summons and other court processes through its President, Herbert T. Sy while defendant Abigail Da Silva (defendant Silva) is of legal age, Filipino and is the Senior Manager, Business Development of Defendant SMCo and holds office at the same office address as defendant SMCo and where she may be served with summons and other court process;

ALLEGATIONS COMMON TO PLAINTIFFS’ CAUSES OF ACTION ADJACENT/ADJOINING LOTS: 2.) That plaintiffs are the absolute owners of several adjacent/adjoining parcels of commercial lands, three (3) of which are abutting the National road and three are located behind and adjoining the first three (3) mentioned, all located at the business section of the municipality of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, (Bambang) and said parcels of land are covered by Transfer Certificates of Titles Nos. T-1577225,T-80528,T-120181,T-157326,T-156886 and T-56885; that photocopies of said titles are hereto attached as Annexes “A”,”A-1”, “A-2” “A-3”,”A-4” & “A-5”, respectively; 3.) That adjacent to and adjoining the plaintiffs’ land covered by T.C.T. No. T-120181 (“A-2”) is a commercial lot owned by Francisco Salviejo, Jr. and covered by TCT T-80530, a photocopy of which is hereto attached as Annex “A-6”; 4) That adjoining/adjacent to the land covered by TCT No. T-80530 (Annex “A-6”) is a parcel of commercial land owned by the Alay Kapwa, a multi-purpose cooperative, covered by TCT No. T-132998, a photocopy of which is hereto attached as Annex “A-7”; 5) That behind and adjacent to the lot covered by TCT No. T-157225 (Annex”A”) is a lot owned by Harrison Salviejo whose title is TCT No. 80531, a photocopy of which is hereto attached as Annex”A-8”; 6) That hereto attached as Annex “B” and make an integral part hereof is a lot plan showing the relative positions of all the lands above-described, their titles numbers and their corresponding areas;

IMPROVEMENTS: 7) That with the exception of the land covered by TCT No. T-156886 (Annex “A-4”) which is an open space, all of the other eight(8) lots are with improvements consisting of:

BUILDINGS: 7.a) two-(2) storey ancestral house built on TCT No. T-157225 (“A”) and owned by the plaintiffs who bought the respective shares of the other siblings of Nonie R. Salviejo; 7.b) a four (4) bedroom bungalow, built on the lot covered by TCT No. T-80528 (“A-1”) and owned by spouses Nonie Salviejo and Emma S. Salviejo; 7c) a two-storey building with a restaurant in front of it owned by Dr. Roger Salviejo and is built on the lot covered by TCT No. T-120181 (“A-2”) in the name of spouses Nonie Salviejo and Emma Salviejo; 7d) a one-storey old houses owned by Francisco Salviejo,Jr. and built on his land covered by TCT No.T-80530 (“A-6”); 7e) a three (3) bedroom bungalow owned by the heirs of Harrison Salviejo and built on their lot covered by TCT No. T-80531 (“A-8”) in the name of Harrison Salviejo; 7f) a warehouse owned and built by plaintiffs on the lot covered by TCT No. T-157326 (“A-3”) in the name of the plaintiffs; 7g) a one-storey Bldg. B owned by Verger Cabantac constructed on the lot covered by TCT No. T-156885 (Annex “A-5) in the name of plaintiffs) and another one-storey Blg. A owned by Delia Cabantac and constructed on the same lot (TCT No. T-15668); 7h) a warehouse with three commercial stalls for rent, built and owned by Alay Kapwa on the lot covered by TCT No. T-13998 (“A-7”) in the name of of Alay Kapwa.

COMMERCIAL STALLS 8) That plaintiffs constructed four (4) business stalls for rent adjoining their buildings on lots covered by TCT No. T-157225 (Annex “A”) and TCT No. T-80528 (Annex”A-1) abutting the National Road. 9) That Francisco Salviejo,Jr. constructed two (2) commercial stalls for rent on the space between his one (1) storey building and the National Road. 10) That the relative positions of the improvements and their respective values and/or monthly rentals are indicated in a Lot Plan with Cost of Damages, hereto attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex “C;” 11) That Alay Kapwa constructed three (3) stalls in front of their warehouse built on its lot covered by TCT No. T-132998;

ENTRY OF DEFENDANTS SMCo AND ABIGAIL DA SILVA: 12) That defendant SMCo is the operator of Savemore markets which are established and operating in cities and selected urbanized municipalities in the country.

13) That sometime in the early part of 2011, Mayor Balgos of Bambang, accompanied and introduced to the plaintiffs, one Victor Santiago as an official and representative of defendant SMCo and who was scouting for a lot in Bambang whereat to establish a Savemore Market; that Mayor Balgos then told plaintiffs that the plaintiffs’ lands earlier identified is a suitable site and that a Savemore market in Bambang will generate employment for Bambang residents aside from boosting the economy of Bambang; 14) That Victor Santiago and a certain Louie Docot followed up that first meeting with the plaintiffs which included a site visitation of the place and Victor Santiago noted that the plaintiffs’ lands are an ideal place for a Savemore market and he told plaintiffs that defendant SMCo. would be needing an area of at least 2,000 square meters and noting that plaintiffs’ lands totals less that 2,000 square meters, he persuaded the plaintiffs to expand their area either by buying the adjacent lots or by securing special powers of attorney from the adjoining owners, empowering the plaintiffs to lease the principals’ lands to defendant SMCo because defendant SMCo wanted to deal with only one person; 15) That when told by the plaintiffs that the improvements then existing on the plaintiffs’ lands were owned by the siblings/nephew/niece of plaintiff Nonie Salviejo, Victor Santiago also persuaded the plaintiffs to acquire the improvements because all the improvements will be demolished and removed once the lease would push through; 16) That in the course of the negotiation, Victor Santiago was assigned elsewhere but before he left, he introduced to the plaintiffs, the defendant Silva as his replacement and the representative of defendant SMCo in the negotiations; 17) That apparently, defendant Silva was already briefed of the developments in the negotiation because shortly after she came in and visited the site, she formally proposed to the plaintiffs, through a document dated June 30, 2011, the interest of defendant SMCo to pursue the lease of the plaintiffs’ lands, under the terms stated therein which will be the basis for the execution of a memorandum of agreement and a lease agreement to be signed by plaintiffs and defendants, and defendant Silva got the conformity of the plaintiffs to the said document; a photocopy of said document is hereto attached as Annex “D” and made an integral part hereof; 18) That plaintiffs formally opted to lease their property under “Option A” in Annex”D” wherein plaintiffs will build the desired structure; 19) That in conjunction with Annex “D”, the defendant Silva also sought the plaintiffs’ conformity to an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement, a photocopy of which is hereto attached as Annex “E”; 20) That thereafter, plaintiffs and defendant Siva communicated with each other through emails and letters relative to the negotiations and copies of said emails/letters shall be presented and correspondingly marked as exhibits of the plaintiffs during the pre-trial; 21) That on July 27, 2011, the plaintiffs and defendants formalized their agreement for the defendants to lease the plaintiffs’ properties, under the terms and conditions set forth therein, a copy of the said formalized agreement is hereto attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex”F”; 22) That a copy of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) as well as a copy of a Lease Agreement were furnished to the plaintiffs for their study and comment and hereto attached are photocopies of the said Memorandum of Agreement and Lease Agreement as Annexes “G” & “G-l”, respectively;

a)That with the exception of: a.l) the four (4) bedroom residence owned by plaintiffs and constructed on their lot covered by TCT No. T-80528; a.2) the four(4) stalls owned by plaintiffs and constructed in front of their buildings; and a.3) a warehouse constructed on the lot covered by TCT No. T-157326, b.) all of the other improvements particularly those constructed on: b.l.) the two-storey ancestral house co-owned by the plaintiff Nonie Salviejo and his siblings; b.2) a one-storey building with a restaurant owned by Dr. Roger Salviejo constructed on the lot covered by TCT No. T-120781; b.3) a two-storey old house and two stalls built in front of the building, owned and constructed by Francisco Salviejo, Jr. on the lot covered by TCT No. T-80530; b.4) the one-storey building A owned by Delia Cabantac and another one-storey building B owned by Verger Cabantac, constructed on the lot covered by TCT No. T-No. T-156885; All of the foregoing improvements were subsequently paid for by the plaintiffs in the amounts respectively stated in the Lot Plan with Cost of Damages (Annex”C”):

`c.) that plaintiffs also gave a down payment to the heirs of Harrison Salviejo for the purchase of their lot and improvements covered by TCT No.T-80531 (Annex “A-8) in the amount of Php 2,000,000.00 out of the agreed purchase price of Php 3,500,000.00; d.) that as regard the land covered by TCT No. T-132998 owned by Alay Kapwa, the improvements thereon consist of a warehouse and three (3) commercial stalls in front of it with a total value of Php 2,000,000.00 and each of its three (3) stalls was being rented at Php6,000.00 per month; SECURING SPECIAL POWERS OF ATTORNEY: 24) That plaintiffs also started securing the special powers of attorney of the adjoining landowners, particularly that of Francisco Salviejo, Jr. who owns the land covered by TCT No. T-80530 (Annex”A-6”) and a copy of his special power of attorney is hereto attached as Annex”H”, and the special power of attorney of the heirs of Harrison Salviejo who own the land covered by TCT No. T-80531 (Annex A-8”), a copy of said special power of attorney of Alay Kapwa whose land is covered by TCT No. T-132998 (Annex”A-7”) and its special power of attorney consisting of several documents are hereto attached as Annex “J”; 25) That in purchasing the improvements of the siblings of plaintiff Nonie Salviejo, the plaintiffs, as shown in Annex “C”, had spent huge amounts in the acquisition of the aforesaid improvements and in like manner, the plaintiffs also incurred expenses in securing the special powers of attorney in an approximate amount of Php 100,000.00; 26) That as an additional requirements of the defendants, the plaintiffs also contracted the services of an engineer (Engr. Rico Tiongson) who prepared the building plan of the proposed Savermore market that underwent several revisions and said engineer will be in charged in constructing the desire Savemore market and plaintiffs have paid a down payment to said Engr. Tiongson in the sum of Php 200,000.00;

SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION 27) That plaintiffs also started securing the required “security documents” enumerated in the document, (Annex “D”) as well as other documents subsequently required by the defendants and in the process plaintiffs incurred expenses in an approximate amount of Php 50,000.00 and among the documents obtained are:

January 18,2012

January 18,2012 January 19,2012 March 23,2012 March 26,2012 April 11. 2012

April 12. 2012 April 12, 2012 April 16,2012 April 16, 2012 April 19, 2012

May 7, 2012

Certificate of Non-Coverage of NRS Building issued by DENR –EMB

K-22

BDO Savings Account No. 004960155240 of Nonie R. Salviejo or Emma S. Salviejo

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27.a. Savemore gave a final copy of the Final Agreement, dated March 19,2012 signed by both parties, superseding the formalized letter of agreement, dated July 27,2011 (Annex”F”)and wherein in said final agreement, the leased premises consists of a building floor area of at least 1,600 square meters and the parking area is 350 square meters and that the turn-over of the finished building by the plaintiffs to defendant was set on September 15,2012, a photocopy of said Final Letter of Agreement is hereto attached as Annex “L”; 27.b. That as regards the technical people (Plaintiffs and defendants’ architect and engineers), they agreed on the division of their work and the time frame of accomplishing their respective works, a copy of said division of work agreement is hereto attached as Annex”M’; 27.c.That it was also agreed by the parties that they again meet on April 28,2012 when plaintiffs are to submit all the documents not yet submitted by them; 29. That on their way out from the conference room towards the main door, defendant Silva accompanied the plaintiffs, their two (2) daughters and Engr. Rico Tiongson and the plaintiff Emma Salviejo asked defendant Silva if plaintiffs could already demolish the improvement on the lands considering that the agreed turnover of the finished building was already set on September15, 2012 so that Engr. Rico Tiongson would have no trouble in starting the construction of the structure and in response, defendant Silva told the plaintiffs, in tagalong, “of course, yes could already start the demolition of the improvements” and she further stated that anyway you already met and talked with my “boss.” 30) That upon their return to Nueva Vizcaya, the plaintiffs and Engineer Rico Tiongson secured a demolition permit (Annex “K-6”) and started the demolition of all the improvements on the lands with the use of hired carpenters, laborers and a bulldozer and backhoe in leveling the lands and also filled up the lands with sand and gravel, spending in the process an amount of Php 500,000.00; 31) That the scheduled meeting on April 28,2012 wherein the plaintiffs were to submit the other documents not yet submitted by them, was however cancelled by the defendants; that defendant Silva however committed herself to visit the site at Bambang and the Alay Kapwa at Solano, Nueva Vizcaya on June 11, 2012 and by which time the plaintiffs will submit the documents; 32) That on June 11, 2012 when defendant Silva came to Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, she was very happy to see the cleared site and even took pictures of it and expressed her satisfaction of what she saw; that it was then that she received all the required documents as shown by her receipt of said documents, a machine copy of which is hereto attached as Annex “N;” that she also went to the Office of Alay Kapwa at Solano, Nueva Vizcaya and appeased the Alay Kapwa people just to be patient; 33) That after the return of defendant Silva to her Manila Headquarters, the said defendant Silva continued communicating with the plaintiffs through text messages and email and the plaintiffs were able to save the text messages which shall be presented and marked as exhibits during the pre-trial of the case; 34) that the delay in the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement and the Lease Agreement was not at all attributable to the plaintiffs because as of June 11, 2012 or even earlier than that date, the plaintiffs have already completed the compliance of all that were required of them on their end, which includes the submission of all the documents and the totality of the area that was already available for the lease is 2,312 square meters, with sufficient documents of ownership and/or special power of attorney; UNILATERAL ABRUPT CANCELLATION BY DEFENDANTS OF THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT 35) That notwithstanding all of the foregoing painstaking efforts underwent by plaintiffs and the expenses incurred by them in complying with all the requirements imposed by defendants on plaintiffs as contained in the formalized letter of agreement, dated July 27, 2011 (Annex “F”) and superseded by the final letter of agreement, dated March 19, 2012 (Annex”L”) and in the process of their compliance, the plaintiffs spent huge amounts as earlier pointed out, the plaintiffs were then shocked to receive a letter, dated August 31, 2012 signed by defendant Silva and noted by EVP-Operations Jose Ronaldo Tagbo, informing the plaintiffs, “that management decided not to push through with the lease of your property due to size and market dynamics,” a copy of said letter is hereto attached as Annex”O” for ready reference; 36) That plaintiffs could not indeed understand why defendants suddenly made as a reason in not pushing through with the lease of plaintiffs’ property on the ground of property size when in fact as early as June 11, 2012, the plaintiffs’ lands including those they were authorized to lease already totaled 2,312square meters while in the final letter of agreement, dated March 19, 2012 (Annex”L”), the property to be leased by plaintiffs speaks only of a total land area of 1,950 square meters; that moreover, ”marketing dynamics” was never mentioned/discussed during the negotiation; 37) That after the plaintiffs have recovered from their state of shock, they sought the assistance of a counsel who wrote defendant Silva, the AVP for Operations, and defendant SMCo, asking for a reconsideration of defendants’ unexpected and sudden decision not to push through with the lease of the Salviejos’ property, a copy of the said letter is hereto attached as Annex ”P”; 38) That in response to the letter of the plaintiffs’ counsel, defendant Silva in a letter, dated October 25, 2012, wrote the plaintiffs’ counsel that the management’s decision “ to let go of your client’s offer to lease is final”; that a machine copy of said letter is hereto attached as Annex “Q”; 39) That plaintiffs then decided to file a case against the defendant but it took plaintiff sometime to raise the needed filing fee to file the case as they were already drained financially; 40) That plaintiffs, in incurring huge expenditures, now considered losses, relied in good faith on the clear and consistent conduct and representations of defendants that the Salviejos” property and those covered by plaintiffs’ special powers of Attorney obtained by plaintiffs by the proddings of defendants, shall be leased by defendants for the construction of the Savemore Market. Stated more concretely, the defendants: a) b) c) d) e) f) g)

NATURE/DESCRIPTION Business Clearance issued by the office of the Punong Barangay,Calaocan, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya through Glen C. Ypear, Punong Barangay; Barangay Permit issued by Punong Barangay of Calaocan, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, Glen C. Ypear; Certificate on Zoning issued by the Office of The Municipal Planning & Development Coordinator, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya by Engr. Carlito L. Alvarez, Municipal Planning & Development Coordinator/Deputy Zoning Administrator; Certificate of Annual Inspection issued by the Office of the Bldg. Official, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya by Engr. Norberto G. Urban, Bldg. Offical, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya; Mayor’s Business Permit Official Receipt for Mayor’s Permit, Application Fee and Demolition Permit issued By the Municipal Treasurer’s Office, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya; Demolition Permit issued to Mr. Nonie R. Salviejo issued by the Office of the Building Official; Landbank (LBP) Certification Allowing Mortgagors/Plaintiffs to Lease TCT No. T-80528 and TCT No. T-80532 Certified true copy of TCT No. 157326 containing the annotation of a mortgage referred to in Annex G-7; Certified true Copy of TCT No. 80528 likewise, containing the annotation of a mortgage referred to in Annex G-7. Certificate of Zoning Clearance issued by the Office of the Municipal Planning & Development Coordinator. Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya through Engr. Carlito L. Alvarez MPDC/SCO/DZA: Application for Building Permit by Mr. and Mrs. Nonie Salviejo through Engineer Rico T. Tiongson Mayor’s Permit to construct commercial building issued by Atty. Flaviano D. Balgos,Jr. Municipal Mayor, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya DTI – Certificate of Registration of NRS building; Certificate of Registration. Bureau of Internal Revenue, issued by District Revenue No. 14 by Ma. Isabel B. Utit; BIR Form-“Ask for Receipt” Sample of BIR Office Receipt of NRS Bulding, Homestead, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya Official Receipt issued by DENR-EMB RO2, Tuguegarao City, paid by NRS Building; Order of Payment, issued by Ofelia P. Layugan for DST

ANNEX K K-1

In requiring plaintiffs to purchase certain improvements as earlier explained, to conform to their requirements: In agreeing to the hiring of the services of Engr. Rico Tiongson; In requiring defendants to securing all necessary permits, clearances and documents; In giving the go signal for the demolition of certain improvements to clear the construction site; In confirming their intentions, expressly and impliedly, to lease the property in point through several communications (email, letters and text messages),meetings and discussions; In signing the formalized agreement dated July 27, 2011 and the final agreement dated March 19, 2012; In providing plaintiffs the memorandum of agreement and lease agreement for plaintiffs’ review and comment,

gave plaintiffs all the reasons to believe that defendants were going to lease the Salviejos’ property and those covered by special powers of attorney; 41) That defendants’ one-sided actuations and their unfair and unjust treatment and dealings of the plaintiffs as earlier shown and the defendants’ sudden decision not to lease the property in point after all defendants’ representations and actuations to the contrary, the defendants have clearly acted arbitrarily and in bad faith to the extreme prejudice of plaintiffs and contrary to Articles 19,20 and 21 of the New Civil Code and for which the defendants should be held liable jointly and solidarily to pay all the financial losses of the plaintiffs as stated by them earlier in their complaint; 42) That Plaintiffs have likewise suffered sleepless nights, wounded feelings and besmirched reputation and embarrassment as a result of the sudden stoppage of the letters of agreement (Annex “D” & “F”) and for which the defendant SMCo and defendant Silva should be condemned to pay jointly and solidarily the plaintiffs, moral damages in an amount of not less than Php 1,000,000.00; 43) That moreover, as an example and a deterrent to others who ‘are as maliciously inclined as the defendants, the latter should also be condemned to pay jointly and solidarily to the plaintiffs exemplary damages in an amount of no less than Php 500,000.00; 44) That plaintiffs were forced to engage the services of their counsel whom they contracted to pay an acceptance fee of Php200,000.00 and to pay him the amount of Php5,000.00 per court hearing appearance and to eventually pay him 15% of whatever the plaintiffs could recover from the defendants. WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed that judgment be rendered against defendant SMCo and defendant Silva; 1)

To pay, jointly and solidarily, the plaintiffs, the damages suffered by them as follows; 1,a) Php 14,598,000.00-Total cost of improvements demolished; 1.b) Php 200,000.00- Advance payment to Engr. Rico Tiongson; 1.c) Php 100,000.00 – Expenses in securing Special Powers of Attorney: 1.d) Php 50,000.00 – Expenses in securing documents required by Defendants; 1.e) Php 500,000.00 – Total cost of expenses in the demolition of improvements; 1.f) Php 48,000.00 – Monthly rental of 8 stalls starting April, 2012; 1.g.) Php 50,000.00 – Monthly rental of warehouse starting April,2012; 1.h)Php 20,000.00-Monthly net income of restaurant starting April,2012; 1.i)Php 50,000.00- Miscellaneous expenses in going to and fro defendant’s office in Manila; 1.j) Php 200,000.00-Acceptance Fee of Counsel, Php 5,000.00 per court hearing appearance and 15% of what will be finally collected from the defendants.

23) That in consonance with the advice of Victor Santiago and seconded by defendant Silva, the plaintiffs purchased the improvements as follows:

January 9,2012 January 9, 2012

K-18 K-19 K-20 K-21 K-21-a

28) That on the 3rd meeting at the defendants’ office at the Mall of Asia, Pasay City on March 19, 2012, the following attended: a) On the side of defendant SMCo are: the boss of defendant Silva, defendant Silva herself and its technical people, an architect and engineer, and on the plaintiffs’ side, were the plaintiffs themselves, their two(2) daughters and their Engineer, Rico Tiongson and in the said conference, the following among others were agreed upon:

FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION PURCHASE OF IMPROVEMENTS:

DATE OF DOC.

requirements for ECC;

Attached Letter of Emma Salviejo to DENR EMB,NV Provincial Office; Accountability Statement of Proponents, the plaintiffs to DENR EMB; Two Special Powers of Attorney executed by None Salviejo in favor of Emma Salviejo

THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION

x--------------------------------------------x

Ordering the defendants to pay the cost of suit.

Plaintiffs further respectfully pray for such other reliefs, just and equitable in the premises. Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, December 26, 2012. RODOLFO Q. AGBAYANI (SGD.) Counsel for the Plaintiffs 255 Calle Real, Don Mariano Marcos Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya PTR No. 1127070/12-12-11/ Bay.N.V. IBP No. 844938/12/14/11/Bay. N.V. TIN No. 114890339 Roll No. 15785/Jan. 25,1961 VERIFICATION, OATH AND CERTIFICATION OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING That we, spouses NONIE R. SALVIEJO and EMMA SY-SALVIEJO, both of legal age, Filipino citizens and residents of National Road, Barangay Homestead, Nueva Vizcaya, after having been duly sworn to on oath, hereby depose and say: 1. That we are the plaintiffs in the foregoing complaint; 2. That we have caused the preparation of the aforesaid complaint; 3. That we have read the allegations of the said complaint and hereby certify of our own personal knowledge and based on authentic documents that the same are true and correct; 4. That we further certify that we, singly or jointly, have not heretofore commenced any action or proceeding of the same nature as the above-complaint, nor are there any, to the best of our knowledge which is pending before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, or any other tribunal or agency in the Philippines; 5. That should we learn that a similar action is pending before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals or any other tribunal or agency in the Philippines or elsewhere, we will promptly inform this Honorable of the said fact within five (5) days therefrom. th

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set my hand this 26 day of December, 2012 at Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. NONIE R. SALVIEJO (SGD.) Postal ID No. 2065381 4/17/2015

EMMA S. SALVIEJO(SGD.) TIN No. 219-600-983-003

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this 26th day of December, 2012 at Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, affiants exhibiting their valid evidence of identity written below their name and signature. Doc. No. 4214; Page No. 47; Book No. 10; Series of 2012.

K-2

RODOLFO Q. AGBYANI (SGD.) Notary Public Until Dec. 31, 2013 PTR No. 1127070/12-12-11/ Bay.N.V. IBP No. 844938/12/14/11/Bay. N.V. TIN No. 114890339 Roll No. 15785/Jan. 25,1961

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2017, a Motion for Leave of Court to serve summons by publication to defendant Abigail Da Silva was filed by plaintiff thru counsel, Atty. Rodolfo Q. Agbayani; K-3 K-4 K-5

WHEREAS, on May 2, 2017, an Order was issued by the Honorable Presiding Judge Paul R. Attolba, Jr. GRANTING the motion; WHEREAS, an Order dated June 30, 2017 was issued amending in part the order dated May 2, 2017;

K-6 K-7

WHEREAS, an Order dated July 7, 2017 was released which amended the order dated June 30, 2017 and reads as follows:

K-7a K-7b

“Accordingly, let summons by publication be effected upon defendant Abigail Da Silva once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of national publication. SO ORDERED.

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Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, July 7, 2017.” K-9

PAUL R. ATTOLBA, JR. Presiding Judge

K-10 K-11 K-12 K-13 K-14

Defendant Abigail Da Silva is given sixty (60) days from the last issue of publication within which to show cause why the instant petition should not be granted in favor of the Plaintiffs. WITNESS the Honorable Paul R. Attolba, Jr., Presiding Judge of this court, this 7th day of July, 2017 at Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.

K-15

ATTY. CANDICE K. MAGNO-GUYGUYON Branch Clerk of Court

K-16 (MS-AUG. 23,30 & SEPT. 6, 2017)

LGUs

K-17 K-17-a

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017

Davao council approves new property taxes By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

AVAO CITY—The 18th City Council here approved for third reading the amendments of the Real Property Tax Code here, almost 12 years after it was last amended.

The amendments include the 4-percent increase for residential taxes, 9.5 percent in agriculture, 11 percent for commercial, and 25 percent for mineral, industrial and timberland industries. The approved amendments of the City Council were lower than the proposed increase of the City Assessor’s Office, which intended to increase the residential rates by 5 percent, 10 percent for agricultural, and 12 percent for commercial. Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, chairman of the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, said the council considered the status of the Dabawenyo tax payers in approving the RPT increase. “The basic principle here is affordability. We considered the situation of the Dabawenyos if we will impose a big increase in their real property tax,” he said. Dayanghirang said the RPT increase will be split into three tranches. On the first payment, taxpayers will pay one-third of the increase, two-thirds on the second

payment, and a full rate on the third payment will be imposed. “We split it into three so the Dabawenyos can adjust to the increase,” he said. If the amendments will be fully implemented, the city is expected to gain P326 million in real property taxes, the councilor said. RPT amendments were supposed to be done every five years; however, the city made its last amendment to the rates in 2005. New investors in the city were also subject to two years’ exemption of the RPT as part of the city’s way to attract investors here. The RPT amendments were still subject for approval by the Department of Finance. “We are very confident that the Department of Finance will approve our RPT increase proposal without amendments,” Dayanghirang said. The amended RPT is expected to be implemented in 2019 after the approval of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.

Muntinlupa steps up bird flu inspections TO PREVENT the possible entry of bird flu in Muntinlupa and secure safety of locally retailed meat, the city government launched inter-agency inspections to public markets last Aug. 18. The Office of the City Veterinarian headed the surprise inspection at Alabang Public Market to ensure that meat sold in the city are safe for human consumption and free from bird flu. Muntinlupa City Veterinarian Dr. Pamela Hernandez said the inspection in Alabang will be the first of intensive inspection rounds across meat stalls, shops, and establishments in the city. “Even though majority of Muntinlupa’s poultry and meat supply come from the South and NCR, we will continue to conduct surveillance to guarantee that retailed meat in the city is free from contamination,” the City Veterinarian added. She said while there is only one broiler identified in one of the barangays in Muntinlupa, OCV will continuously monitor

areas where birds and chicken are being raised. Hernandez discussed their agency’s coordination with supermarkets and meat handlers regarding the pro-active response of the local government on the bird flu outbreak. OCV confiscated meat and poultry products weighing 188 kgs that are not fit for human consumption which include: pork lungs, pork head, pork entrails, pork ear (imported), chicken byproducts, carabeef, and chicken liver. Confiscated meat was transported to Pacwood, Tunasan for proper disposal. Joining the inspection were Muntinlupa City Health Office, Muntinlupa Business Permits and Licensing Office, Muntinlupa City Public Market Office, and Muntinlupa Public Information Office. Mayor Jaime Fresnedi called for vigilance among locals in buying poultry products and exposing oneself to birds and chicken.

Popcom needs more family planning workers By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Officials of the Population Commission in Cagayan Valley said there is a need for more workers who will closely monitor and serve the unmet needs of couples under the Family Planning Program. Herita Macarubbo, POPCOM assistant regional director, said they have already submitted the proposal to concerned agencies for appropriate approval and action. “These workers will be oriented so that they can conduct house-tohouse visits to couples to identify the source of their unmet needs. In his way, we can address their problems,” she said during the recent Adolescent Health and Development meeting. She said the proposal is still ‘hanging’ as it needs a legal man-

date to implement recruitment and hiring of additional workers. Macarubbo also expressed optimism on the lifting of the ban on the distribution and use of contraceptives purchased by the Department of Health to boost the family planning program in the country. POPCOM data showed that there are still 371 individuals and couples with unmet needs in Cagayan Valley for 2017 which is distributed as such: Cagayan – 140, Isabela – 109, Nueva Vizcaya – 15, Quirino – 45, Ilagan City – 1, Cauayan City – 30 and Santiago City – 31. POPCOM officials Nueva Vizcaya said most of the number of couples with unmet needs are concentrated in the upland villages in the province who are hardly reached and therefore needs to be attended closely by additional workers.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World IN BRIEF Saudi renews Iraq ties to distance Iran BAGHDAD―Influential Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr’s visit to Saudi Arabia at the end of July signaled the Gulf Sunni powerhouse’s ambition to distance its Iranian foe from policymaking in Baghdad. In the wake of former dictator Saddam Hussein’s August 1990 invasion of Kuwait, Riyadh severed relations with Baghdad and closed its border posts with its northern neighbor. Ties have remained strained even after Saddam’s ouster in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, since when successive Shiite-dominated governments in Baghdad have stayed close to Tehran. But Sadr’s rare visit to Saudi Arabia came at the invitation of Riyadh, which played up his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Two weeks later, Sadr followed up by holding talks in Abu Dhabi with its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, strongman of the United Arab Emirates and close ally of his counterpart in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “Hosting Sadr in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi shows regional rivals and particularly Iran that KSA/UAE are capable of tapping into and influencing intra-Shia politics in Iraq,” said Fanar Haddad, a research fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute. For the Gulf monarchies, “Sadr would be a prize catch: authentically ShiaIraqi, distrustful if not disdainful of Iran and with a genuinely organic and loyal grassroots following.” The pro-Western Arab states of the Gulf aim to show that Iran no longer holds a monopoly on influencing policy in Baghdad, according to Iraqi political scientist Hashem al-Hashemi. Tehran “prided itself on pulling all the strings among the Shiites (of Iraq) but it seems that several strings are now beyond its grasp, like that of the Sadrists”, Hashemi said. In June, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, also a Shiite, held meetings in Saudi Arabia, four months after a visit to Baghdad by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, a first of its kind since 2003. For Michael Knights, a researcher at the Washington Institute, such interaction with Riyadh could come at a price. AFP

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017

HK activist back in court SOLAR ECLIPSE.

A hot -ir balloon ﬂies at dawn above the Solar Temple at Big Summit Prairie ranch in Oregon’s Ochoco National Forest near the city of Mitchell ahead of the total solar eclipse. AFP

ONG KONG―With hair newly shaved in accordance with Hong Kong prison rules, jailed prodemocracy activist Joshua Wong was in court again Tuesday on more protestrelated charges. Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow were sent to prison last Thursday for their leading role in the initial protest that sparked the months-long Umbrella Movement of 2014―demonstrations and street blockades calling for democratic reforms. Their jailing has been slammed by international rights groups and politicians and has prompted accusations that the independence of Hong Kong’s courts has been compromised under pressure from Beijing. Tens of thousands turned out in protest Sunday. Wong was at High Court Tuesday as part of another case dating back to the Umbrella Movement. He is one of 20 activists charged with contempt of court for violating an order to clear the Mong Kok protest camp―scene of some of the most violent clashes during the demonstrations. In closing arguments prosecutor Victor Dawes said that by obstructing bailiffs the defendants had intended to “interfere with the administration of justice” which amounted to criminal contempt. Dawes added that the large crowd meant there were safety and public order concerns. Supporters packed the courtroom and the areas outside. Veteran activist Leung Kwok-hung, known as Long Hair shouted: “They have Rimsky Yuen―you have the Hong Kong people!” before the case began, referring to the city’s justice minister at the center of the controversy over the jailings. Joshua and fellow defendant Raphael Wong, who is also in custody, responded with a cheer from the dock, surrounded by four uniformed guards. Hong Kong was returned from Britain to China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” arrangement, guaranteeing freedoms unseen on the mainland, but there are growing concerns those rights are disappearing as an assertive Beijing tightens its grip. The government has vehemently denied there was political interference in the decision by the Court of Appeal last week to overturn previous non-custodial terms for Wong, Law and Chow and instead jail them for six to eight months after a sentencing review brought by the department of justice. Prosecutors have ﬁled a raft of cases against prodemocracy activists with fears that more will be jailed in the wake of last week’s judgment. Lester Shum, another prominent Umbrella Movement activist and one of the defendants in court Tuesday, said before the hearing that he felt relaxed about his case, adding he was inspired by the “determined attitude” of other jailed activists. AFP

One-night stands getting old in Chinese community ZHABA, China―Nimble after years of practice, Trinley Norbu is used to hoisting himself three stories up the side of a stone house and through the window for a onenight stand in his southwest China community. While other young men squire their love interests to dinner or a movie, Trinley Norbu has honed his climbing skills, long the key to successful courtship for men in the small matrilineal Zhaba ethnic group of Sichuan province. The Zhaba eschew monogamous relationships for traditional “walking marriages”-so-called since men typically walk to their rendezvous before slipping

through their lover’s window. But the 37-year-old truck driver and others in the remote area on the edge of the Tibetan plateau lament that the tradition is waning, as women increasingly want a bit more commitment from a man. The arrival of the internet, smartphones, livestreaming and popular Korean TV shows, along with improved transportation and education opportunities beyond the valley, have exposed the once isolated Zhaba to other lifestyles. “Now the women especially have begun to want the same things as outsiders―ﬁxed marriages, and ﬁnancial assets such as a house or car,” he said.

But an even more dramatic challenge looms on the horizon: one of the world’s tallest dams will soon ﬂood the valley, forcing villagers to scatter as they relocate from ancestral homes. “It’s heartbreaking. They’ve turned our area upside down, and we don’t have any say in it,” said Trinley Norbu, who is temporarily employed by the construction site. His friend Khando Tsering stared up at the towering, unﬁnished support pillars of a highway that will soon halve travel times to the nearest city―and bring tourism to the once-pristine enclave. “The economy will develop and people’s character will degenerate.

Everything will be about money, and our local traditions will disappear,” he predicted. “That’s just how things work in this era.” Walking marriages began disappearing in the 1980s as the government imposed strict family planning measures. The new policy meant heavy ﬁnes for babies born without legal fathers, forcing Zhaba people to obtain government marriage certiﬁcates and identify-on paper at least―a single partner as a spouse. That process introduced the idea of “people as possessions” and caused a rise in notions of jealousy, an emotion once rarely overtly

expressed, according to a paper by Qinghai Normal University anthropologist Feng Min. Since then, walking marriage has become less and less common. Feng’s 2004 survey of 232 households found that only 49 percent of Zhaba households still practiced the tradition. Children in such families are raised by their mother and her siblings in large, six-storey communal houses of yellowed stone on the lush green hillsides, with cavernous rooms too large for much light to penetrate. Fathers might provide some ﬁnancial support, but live with their mother. AFP

Lagos pays homage to jollof in festival LAGOS―In Nigeria, jollof rice isn’t just a tasty West African dish―it’s a national obsession. Dozens of top chefs gathered at the weekend for Lagos’ inaugural jollof festival, showcasing their personal twists on the tangy tomatoey rice to a crowd of hundreds of hungry hipsters. Imoteda Aladekomo, a 31-year-old chef who has been making jollof for four years, has led the way in reinventing the national staple, creating several pioneering variants through her company Eko Street Eats. “It’s so popular because it’s easy to customize,” she said while preparing take-away boxes at the jollof fair, staged at a former railway yard complete with disused train tracks, blaring Nigerian music and a giant version of Scrabble. “Rice is really easy to get here whereas other ingredients aren’t. Every party has to have jollof rice and every Sunday people will have it, having looked forward to it all week,” she added, her plastic gloves caked in rice. “Jollof rice will always reign supreme―even compared to McDonald’s or whatever, your jollof rice captures people’s childhoods.” Her flagship version, deep-fried in breadcrumbs and served with plantain sauce and a fiery red pepper coulis, drew a steady stream of jollof afficionados. Mo Alatise, a self-taught chef, also drew a crowd with her distinctive fusion-style jollof offerings. “We try to do a mix of really local recipes, but I imagine it with things from other countries―like very traditional gnocchi from Italy with jollof,” the 30-year-old told AFP. “Or a rice bowl from Asia―but instead of white rice, I made it with jollof,” she said, wearing oversize sunglasses and a hat decorated with a feather. AFP

THEY’RE BACK.This ﬁle photo taken on August 8, 2014, shows people queueing under the rain to get in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

After a decline in 2016 due to the terror attacks in Paris and Nice, tourism in Paris and Ile de France was in much better shape in the ﬁrst half of 2017, with 1.5 million tourists and 3.3 million overnight stays more than a year ago. AFP

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017

ADDRESS. From left, Ivanka Trump, US First Lady Melania Trump and US Vice President Mike Pence listen to US President Donald Trump addressing the nation at the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia. AFP

Probe after second collision SINGAPORE―Ten US sailors were missing and five injured after their destroyer collided with a tanker east of Singapore early Monday, the second accident involving an American warship in two months. The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain arrived in Singapore Monday afternoon with a large hole torn in its hull after the pre-dawn accident sent water flooding into the vessel, the US Navy said. A major search involving ships and aircraft from three countries was launched for the missing sailors after the warship collided with the Alnic MC near the Strait of Malacca. “Significant damage to the hull resulted in flooding to nearby compartments, including crew berthing, machinery, and communications rooms,” the navy said in a statement, after the vessel arrived at Changi Naval Base in the city-state. “Damage control efforts by the crew halted further flooding.” A helicopter took four of the injured to a Singapore hospital with injuries that were not lifethreatening while the fifth did not need further medical attention, the navy said. The 505-foot vessel could still sail under its own power after the collision with the Liberian-flagged tanker at 5:24 am (2124 GMT Sunday), which was slightly bigger at 600 feet. Two other vessels escorted it into port, AFP journalists saw. The warship had been heading for a routine stop in Singapore after carrying out a sensitive “freedom of navigation operation” in the disputed South China Sea earlier in August, sparking a furious response from Beijing. The vessel is named after US Senator John McCain’s father and grandfather, who were both admirals in the US navy. McCain said in a tweet that he and his wife “are keeping America’s sailors aboard the USS John S McCain in our prayers tonight -- appreciate the work of search & rescue crews”. President Donald Trump initially said “that’s too bad” in response to reporters’ shouted questions about the collision, as he arrived back at the White House after a holiday. AFP

Trial a sham, says Amnesty BEIJING―A prominent Chinese human rights lawyer whose case has attracted international concern confessed Tuesday to “inciting subversion of state power” in what Amnesty International called a sham trial. Jiang Tianyong, 46, sat in court in the southern city of Changsha as he told the judges he was “ashamed”. Jiang had taken on many high-profile cases, including those of Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetan protesters and victims of the 2008 contaminated milk powder scandal before being disbarred in 2009. His family has not had contact with Jiang since his sudden disappearance on November 21 en route from Beijing to Changsha, where he had gone to inquire about detained human rights lawyer Xie Yang. Xie was detained in the “709 crackdown” of July 2015, and his claims of being tortured in custody, which Jiang helped to publicize, prompted international concern. Authorities in that crackdown detained more than 200 people, including lawyers who took on civil rights cases considered sensitive by the ruling Communist Party. Xie was found guilty of “subversion of state power” and released on bail in May after what critics described as a show trial. Jiang told the court on Tuesday that he “deliberately fabricated torture details of Xie Yang while he was in police detention and played to western media’s taste, aiming to tarnish the image of the government”. “I know what I did was wrong, it is a serious crime,” Jiang said in video clips of the trial posted on the official microblog of the Changsha Intermediate People’s Court. Authorities did not inform family members of the trial date, said Jiang’s wife Jin Bianling, who currently lives in the US, where she fled in 2013 to escape harassment from Chinese authorities. “The trial is a choreographed script,” she told AFP. Calling the trial a “sham”, Amnesty International China researcher William Nee said Jiang’s treatment “epitomizes many of the worrying aspects of the lawyers’ crackdown”. AFP

Baghdad presses assault on Islamic State bastion

AGHDAD―Pentagon chief Jim Mattis was in Baghdad Tuesday to show US support for Iraqi forces as they pressed an assault on Tal Afar, the Islamic State group’s last major bastion in the country’s north.

Mattis flew in for talks with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and other top officials, as well as Massud Barzani, president of the Iraqi Kurdistan region, saying he wants to help keep the regime focused on eradicating IS jihadists. “Right now our focus is on defeating ISIS inside Iraq, restoring Iraqi sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Mattis told journalists ahead of his trip to Baghdad, using an alternative acronym for IS. Iraqi troops, supported by the forces of a US-led international coalition, routed IS in Mosul in July after a grueling nine-month fight for Iraq’s second city. On Sunday they launched an assault on Tal Afar, once a key IS supply hub between Mosul -- around 70 kilometers to the east -- and the Syrian border. In the desert plains around Tal Afar, convoys of tanks and armored vehicles could be seen heading Monday for the jihadist-held city, raising huge clouds of dust. Mattis would not make any predictions on the fight. “ISIS’s days are certainly numbered, but it’s not over yet and it’s not going to be over anytime soon,” said the US defence secretary. Iraqi forces “fought like the dickens in Mosul, (it) cost them over 6,000 wounded, somewhere over 1,200 killed,” he noted. Yet that comeback restored

the confidence of the Iraqi security forces after their shock loss of Mosul to Islamic State group in 2014. Mattis stressed that retaking Mosul would not have happened “without... Abadi’s steady hand reconstituting that army, that was so shattered in 2014, an army he inherited.” But the comeback also leaned crucially on extensive training, planning and firepower support from the US military. The future of that support still must be settled, and there will be resistance from Shiite militia and Iranians, said Nicholas Heras, Middle East Security Fellow at the Center for a New American Security in Washington. Mattis said discussions will focus on the way ahead, including how to keep Iraq from again politically fragmenting or falling further under Iran’s influence, after four years united around battling the jihadists. “Secretary Mattis is going to be very much focused on a pathway for the United States to continue to have to a residual force in Iraq to continue to train Iraqi security forces” and avoiding a successor from IS rising up, said Heras. A key issue is Iraqi Kurdistan’s plan for an independence referendum on September 25, strongly opposed by the US as an event that could undermine Abadi politically and distract from the fight against IS. AFP

PROCESSION. Indian Sikh devotees

carry the Guru Granth Sahib, the central religious text of Sikhism, during a religious procession to mark the 413th anniversary of the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. AFP

India’s top court prohibits Islamic instant divorce NEW DELHI―India’s top court on Tuesday banned a controversial Islamic practice that allows men to divorce their wives instantly, ending a long tradition that many Muslim women had ﬁercely opposed. The Supreme Court ruled that the practice of “triple talaq”, whereby Muslim men can divorce their wives by reciting the word ta-

laq (divorce) three times, was both unconstitutional and un-Islamic. Victims including Shayara Bano, whose husband used triple talaq to divorce her by letter in 2015, had approached India’s highest court to ask for a ruling. A panel of ﬁve judges from India’s major faiths―Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism―said triple ta-

laq was “not integral to religious practice and violates constitutional morality”. They said it was “manifestly arbitrary” to allow a man to “break down [a] marriage whimsically and capriciously”. “What is sinful under religion cannot be valid under law,” said the judges. Bano, who suffered a nervous

breakdown after her divorce, said it was a “historic occasion” for Muslim women. “I appeal to the people to not politicize this issue and accept Supreme Court’s verdict on triple talaq,” she told reporters outside the court. “I have felt the pain when family breaks. I hope no one has to go through this situation in future.”

India, which is ofﬁcially secular, is one of the few nations that legally permitted the practice, which is banned in neighboring Bangladesh. India allows religious institutions to govern matters of marriage, divorce and property inheritance in the multi-faith nation, enshrining triple talaq as a legal avenue for its 180 million Muslims to end unions. AFP

Multiwear 18K White Gold Halo Earrings with 106 pieces 0.98 carats diamonds

Life FASHION & BEAUTY

WOMAN OF BRILLIANCE.

Charo Santos, like a priceless diamond, rose to the top in all the roles she has taken on.

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017

A GEM LIKE NO OTHER

Charo Santos for

MyDiamond

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Show your inner beast in Burberry Beasts BURBERRY Beasts are introduced on small and large leather goods, as prints and embroidered appliqués on clothing and scarves, and as jacquards on ties. The designs are inspired by illustrations of fictional birds and animals found in medieval English manuscripts.

Designs accessories

Beasts appear in three forms on large bags: as crossbody bags, as appliqués, and as prints on rucksacks. The small leather goods category also features beasts as appliqués, together with beast prints on leather accessories. Products include beast-shaped key charms, coin cases, and pouches. Leather beast appliqués feature on The Mini Buckle Bag, ziparound wallets, folding wallets and card cases. Beasts are printed on leather ziparound wallets, folding wallets, card cases, and continental wallets.

Ready to wear

In ready to wear, Beasts appear as embroidered motifs on the Burberry classic cashmere scarf and leather appliqués on jersey sweaters and capes. Prints are worked on to wool-cashmere ponchos, wool-silk scarves, and silk-twill skinny scarves. Jacquard beasts appear on a small range of ties in two-tone colorways and on a wool-cashmere poncho.

Materials

Material and texture play a big part in the designs to enhance the creative look of the collection. Individual designs bring together a mix of signature Burberry materials, from House check cotton to animal-print calfskin. The scarves range is presented in the following fabrics: cashmere, wool-cashmere blend, woolsilk gauze, washed silk chiffon, cashmere silk, and silk twill.

Color palette

Ochre yellow, honey, tan, chocolate, burgundy red, antique red, coral red, blossom pink, mauve pink, pale apricot, olive green, dark navy, bright lapis blue, pale opal, slate blue.

Craftsmanship

Burberry Beasts were conceived, hand-drawn and illustrated in the Burberry design studio in London. The English velvet is made at an 84-year-old manufacturer in East Lancashire, England – a region with a rich textile heritage. Leather accessories are finished with handpainted edges. The Scottish-made classic cashmere scarf and English-woven House check feature in the collection. In the Philippines, Burberry is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. and is located at Greenbelt 4, Rustan’s Makati, and Rustan’s Shangri-La. Follow @ssilifeph on Instagram for more information.

BELOVED BEASTS.

Burberry presents its Beasts collection which features fictional birds and animals introduced on small and large leather goods as prints, embroidered appliques, and jacquards on ties.

Life

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

The SELFIE package at DARE I

N TIME, the skin can undergo some unwanted changes caused by a variety of internal and external factors: climate change, weather, pollution, food, products we use, stress, and of course, aging.

Dr. Jean Marquez knows of these all too well. As the owner of DARE, she understands the unavoidable instances that can affect the skin and how it can mask the person’s overall innate beauty. “We don’t normally notice it, but our skin undergoes a lot of stress depending on our lifestyle and habits,” says Dr. Jean. “So we created this package to help our patients regain their youth and glow.” This is the reason why she decided to create a package that can cater to those needs and assist in accentuating one’s natural tone and structure. The SELFIE treatment package is a combination treatment of Ulthera, Botox, Juvederm, and Lasers. Its acronym stands for the wide range of effects the treatment provides: S - Smooths the skin E - Erases pigments L - Lifts the skin F - Firms the skin I - Improves contours of the face E - Enhances your natural features DARE is a dermatology, aesthetics, and restoration clinic by Dr Jean Marquez, FPDS, that uses the most thoughtful and advanced, yet affordable skin care and beauty treatments. The clinic boasts a wide array of treatments that address numerous types of concerns such as facials, peels, acne, blemishes and scar treatments, skin dis-

DARE clinic founder and cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Jean Marquez introduces the SELFIE treatment package that helps patients regain their youth and glow.

eases, nailbed therapy, whitening, anti- toration, IV nutrient therapies, and knee ESNA Bldg, 30 Timog Avenue, Quezon darebydrjeanmarquez, or visit www. aging, slimming, hair removal, eyebrow PRP treatments. City. For more information, like its page dare.clinic or call (02) 374-8087, (0917) enrichment, cosmetic surgery, hair resDARE is located at the ground floor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ 810-1319 for appointments.

The SELFIE treatment package is a combination treatment of Ulthera, Botox, Juvederm, and Lasers that claims to smooth the skin, erase pigments, lift the skin, firm the skin, improve facial contours, and enhance natural features.

Smell like a star

Designer Kenneth Cole received CFDA’s The Swarovski Award for Positive Change for his contribution to American communities

Kenneth Cole

honored with CFDA Award KENNETH Cole is pleased to announce that designer Kenneth Cole is the honoree of The Swarovski Award for Positive Change, a true tribute to the man and the brand. Every June, the international fashion community honors the best and brightest in American design at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards. This year, the CFDA introduced a new award,

The Swarovski Award for Positive Change, which honors an individual in the U.S fashion industry who has made a positive impact on American communities and has improved the welfare of others. Founded in 1981, the CFDA Awards are the highest honor in fashion and recognize the outstanding contributions made to American fashion in womenswear, menswear, and accessories as well

as journalism, creative vision, personal style, and lifetime achievement. In the Philippines, Kenneth Cole is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. and is located at Alabang Town Center, B7 Bonifacio High Street, Power Plant Mall, Rustan’s Makati, SM Mall of Asia, and TriNoma. Visit facebook.com/KennethCole. Philippines or follow @ssilifeph on Instagram for more information.

POPULAR actress and influencer, Elisse Joson, is at the top of her game. Only 16 when she joined show business, she’s proven to have staying power after having been given roles in daytime and primetime TV series and movies. Her breakthrough came when she’s featured in a recent series of ads for a popular fast food chain. Currently, she is starring in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano on ABS-CBN opposite Mccoy De Leon, her rumored suitor. Elisse is just taking it all in stride. “I’ve been so busy and I’m really grateful for all the blessings. But I’m also my own worst critic. I experienced bullying in high school so words really have an impact on me,” she reveals. So she’s happy to partner with a brand like Fiona Cologne that aims to empower girls like her. Fiona Cologne, with its charming and attractive scents, brings out the fun and beautiful in everyone and will nat urally make its wearer shine in the spotlight. Elisse is the perfect choice for Fiona Cologne. She’s obviously very beautiful but she’s also effortlessly fun and

has a quirky charm, making her positively magnetic. Elisse admits being a fan of Fiona’s lineup of scents ever since. “There’s definitely a scent for all kinds of personalities. One of my favorites is Rosy Red, it’s my go-to everyday scent!” Elisse declares. She enjoins her fans to try Fiona Cologne so they can be just as confident as her, attracting compliments wherever she goes. Fiona Colognes are now available in supermarkets, groceries, and drugstores nationwide. Elisse Joson aims to empower girls with the help of Fiona Cologne which makes wearers shine in the spotlight

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017

‘Ride N’ Seek’s’

JAIME DEMPSEY

Lex May Jane Llagas (center) receives the P1M Grand Prize from RGMA President Mike Enriquez. (Left to right) WARM Inc. President Manny Alvarez, Wellmade Manufacturing Corp. Marketing Head Aljon Gemperoa, Kaufmann Pharma, Inc. Product Manager Gil Caoile, UBE Media Marketing Head Emma Arceo.

returns to the Philippines

ICTURE this – a California girl riding a big bike immersing in local culture and experiencing what even many locals have not experienced before. That’s Jaime Dempsey, the tattooed chick who wanders on to the edges of the map in search of big adventure while accelerating on her big bike.

Dempsey was in the Philippines in 2015 to feature the country, for the ﬁrst time, in her travel show Ride N’ Seek on History Channel. Since then, the 37-yearold “darling of the riding community in the region,” has been visiting the country to do more episodes of her continuing adventures in this side of the world. “The Philippines is very close to my heart. I love it here, that’s why I keep on coming back. And I’ll be featuring the Philippines again in my show’s latest season,” Dempsey told Manila Standard during the opening of the four-day History Con 2017, Manila’s biggest entertainment convention at the World Trade Centre Manila. Known for exploring uncharted and intriguing locations, Ride N’ Seek trained the spotlight on the Philippines when its host and crew embarked on a four-week adventure in 2015 starting from up north then going down south, pretty much traversing Luzon,

Blonde American biker Jaime Dempsey takes viewers along for the ride as she explores uncharted locations around the country

Visayas and Mindanao. She interacted with locals and immersed herself in the country’s culture via an exploration of Mount Mayon’s lava trails. She played Juego de Anillo or Game of Rings, which required her to ride on horseback while holding a dagger as she tries to get rings off a pole. Then she dove into Verde Passage in Mindoro and got permanently inked by Kalinga’s Whang-Od, the nonagenarian tribal tattoo artist famous for her traditional hand-tapped tattooing. “As you can see, these tattoos (showing off her sleeve tattoo on both arms) represent my life. A tiger for being ﬁerce, phoenix for being reborn. Now, I’m planning to get another tattoo in Kalinga from a 94-year-old tattoo artist that executes traditional technique using thorns and bamboo sticks, which would remind me of my whole experience here in the Philippines,” she said in adding another tattoo on her heavily inked skin during our previous interview. This time, Dempsey will be exploring Mindanao, Palawan, and Batanes. She could only divulge so much about the new season but promised that the show will still have the same feel just like the previous seasons. “There are a lot of action, adventure, and history

in the new season. We’re exploring new places. We’re into explaining the adventure and the history together. We do adventurous things but we ﬁnd out about the place and the history of it while we’re doing it. It’s history and adventure all rolled up in one show,” she furthered. Talking to the press during the media launch of History Con 2017, she said that the show is going to stick to its old formula but viewers are in for a treat for some unexpected and strange things she’s experienced doing the episodes. “I usually do everything but there are times that I’m a bit more hesitant. There were some comic relief moments when they made me eat some really weird stuff,” she said. Dempsey was referring to her experience when she did one episode in Palawan where she was asked to eat Tamilok, a shipworm pulled right out of a log. “It’s nice to be thrown in situations you are least familiar with because it makes for interesting stories and memories. That’s the beauty of it. You head on an adventure not knowing what to expect. That’s the real essence of this travel show. It inspires people to venture out into the unknown,” she ended

RYAN REYNOLDS, SAMUEL L. JACKSON in ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ FOUR years after they both rendered their voices in the 2013 animated film Turbo, Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson finally got the chance to work more closely together in the live action-comedy film, The Hitman’s Bodyguard. Reynolds plays Michael Bryce, a Triple A-rated executive protection agent, while Jackson plays Darius Kincaid, one of the world’s most notorious hitman newly captured by the Interpol. For the love of his wife Sonia (Salma Hayek), who is also detained in jail, Kincaid agrees to be a star witness against the bloodthirsty tyrant Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman) in the International Criminal Court in exchange for Sonia’s freedom. But while Kincaid is being transported, his transport convoy is attacked by Dukhovich’s men. Interpol Agent Amelia Roussel (Elodie Yung) still manages to save Kincaid and turns him over to Bryce for protection. Within 24 hours, the two men must reach the trial court in The Hague. Though they can’t hide their contempt for each other, they must learn to unite against countless enemies coming at them from every angle. Says Reynolds, “I love the bond between Bryce and Kincaid. These two guys couldn’t be more polarized but as we move through the story they start to acquire begrudging love and respect for each other. There’s a bromance and several love stories all wrapped up in this incredible, crazy action story.” Director Patrick Hughes, having worked with an all-star cast and plenty of action in

Expendables 3, had the high-adrenaline chops that this movie required. He readily saw the potential for a chemical reaction between Reynolds as Bryce whom he describes as “overanalytical about everything, trying to control all the elements in his life, from his job to his love life”, and Jackson as Kincaid, who he says “always goes with his gut”. How the two go from “absolutely intending to murder each other to...learning something about relationships,” is truly something to look forward to. On top of the comedy, the ﬁlm boasts of great car chases, stunts and practical effects. Reynolds commends Hughes for helping them create “incredible action sequences that are suspenseful but also uplifting and fun rather than dark.”

To create the exhilarating action scenes the way Hughes envisioned them, stunt expert Greg Powell, whose long list of credits includes Skyfall, Harry Potter series, and Avengers: Age of Ultron, was recruited to join the team. According to him, “The biggest challenge was that with so many fights throughout the story, (they) had to find a way to keep each one fresh, different and fun.” The viewers are in for adventure, as they’ll see “cars, motorbikes, SUVs, police cars and even speedboats racing through the canals of Amsterdam,” he adds. Apart from their “crazy fun jaunt through the roads of Europe”, Jackson reveals the chance to work with Hayek was what lured him to doing this film. In describing their role as husband and wife, the actor says, “Sonia loves Kincaid despite his many flaws – and because of her, Kincaid has learned a bit about romance… Salma and I are friends…it was a great coup for everybody to bring her into this project.” Perhaps the biggest challenge for Hayek was Sonia’s epic bar fight, which convinces Kincaid she’s the one for him. “I was sore for a week after we shot that,” she admits. “But I’m so happy that at 49 I am still kicking ass and able to do all my stunts.” Just like Hayek, Reynolds and Jackson also did most of their stunts themselves. Jackson says, “There’s a lot of hand-to-hand in the film and it makes us look heroic which is part of the joy and what people want to see,” says Jackson. “It’s a high-energy movie.” The Hitman’s Bodyguard opens in cinemas today, from VIVA International Pictures and MVP Entertainment.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, August 23, 2017

ACROSS 1 Sudden impact 5 Earthen jar 9 Sell hot tickets 14 Pointed arch 15 Speckled horse 16 Ill-fated lover 17 Cranston or Shepard 18 Board game 20 Famous Loch 21 Perfect 22 Affectation 23 Plywood units 25 Flamenco shout 27 Insult, slangily 28 Good manners 33 Avoid 35 Entered a 10K 36 Sheep’s cry 37 Fellow 38 British nobles 39 Farm sound 40 Charged particle 41 Floated down the river 42 Rumple 43 WWII foot soldiers 45 Caress 46 Northern seabird 47 Clan ID 50 Mighty — — oak 53 Inaccuracy 56 Calcutta nanny

58 Nabisco shortbread cookie (2 wds.) 60 As it happens 61 More than willing 62 Ajar 63 Patch locale 64 Form a gully 65 Celebration 66 Realty sign DOWN 1 Talkative Rivers 2 Gawks at 3 Animal tether 4 Got edgy (2 wds.) 5 Moons’ tracks 6 Takes on cargo 7 Blouse trim 8 “Lonely Boy” singer 9 Tijuana “Mrs.” 10 Force 11 Weapon supplies 12 Durocher and Tolstoy 13 Fried cornbread 19 Mitten cousins 24 One, in Munich 26 Bottle cap 28 Party centerpieces 29 Cooled down 30 Egret cousin

31 Gets some sun 32 Wild ox of Tibet 33 Wave away 34 Suspend 35 Country cousin 37 British FBI 38 Avoided 39 Debates better 41 Frat letter 42 Spoil 44 Made a breeze 45 Granddad, to dad 47 Gets in shape 48 Protein-building acid

49 Seedless orange 50 Away from the wind 51 Fly upward 52 Brand of cornstarch 54 Overhead structure 55 Hawser 57 Listen 59 Where — you?

Newest ‘PERASORPRESA’ millionaire LEX Mary Jane Llagas, an avid listener of Barangay 100.7 FM, is from Brgy. Puerto, Cagayan De Oro City. She is a single mother to a one-year-old son. She is the newest Pera Sorpresa millionaire. The 24-year-old, who sells clothes and cosmetics online for a living, intends to use her winnings to buy an apartment for rent and save up for her son’s future. RGMA President Mike Enriquez, together with the representatives of this season’s Pera Sorpresa sponsors, namely WARM Inc. President Manny Alvarez, Wellmade Manufacturing Corp. Marketing Head Aljon Gemperoa, Kaufmann Pharma, Inc. Product Manager Gil Caoile, and UBE Media Marketing Head Emma Arceo, presented Llagas the grand prize check at the awarding ceremony and thanksgiving lunch held on Aug.t 9 at Luxent Hotel in Quezon City. Apart from the lucky million-peso winner, ﬁve winners also received P 25,000 each –Irene Garcia (Mega Manila), Felisa Agtarap (North Luzon), Dioscoro Roncesvalles, Jr. (South Luzon), Joan Cielo (Visayas), and Sweet Faith Daguplo (Mindanao). This season’s successful RGMA Pera Sorpresa was made possible in partnership with Petron, Tang, Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink, Bravo Male Supplement, Sunsilk, Wellmade, Air21, WARM Inc., and Dowell. Catch the next season of Pera Sorpresa coming this October. For the latest updates, listen to Radio GMA’s AM and FM stations nationwide or visit their website at www.gmanetwork.com/radio.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017

OGIE

Alcasid’s

MUSICAL JOURNEY

Singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid stages a beneﬁt birthday concert that celebrates World Vision's 60th anniversary

By Nickie Wang

EXT year in September, Ogie Alcasid will stage a grand concert at the Araneta Coliseum to mark his 30th year in the business, but before it happens, the singersongwriter has another equally good reason to perform live in a big venue. On Friday at the KIA Theatre, Alcasid is putting his fame and fortune to good use by celebrating his birthday with a one-of-a-kind concert dubbed NakakaLokal! based on his recently launched album of the same title. The concert, which the 50-year-old singer

MICHELLE OH in ‘My Korean Jagiya’

One of Korea’s most beautiful and talented actresses, Michelle Oh plays the role of Madam Kim Yea-jin, Jun Ho (Alexander Lee) and Ji Hu’s (David Kim) authoritative but caring mother. She immediately accepted the role when it was offered to her because she was excited to work ﬁnally in the Philippines and be a part of GMA’s ﬁrst Filipino-Korean romantic comedy series. “The Philippines is such a friendly and hospitable country. I couldn’t ask for a better role. All of my family and friends are supporting me on this project so I am grateful and I feel I need to do my best,” she said. Michelle said that she really loves her role in the primetime soap because it’s different from her previous characters, “Most of the roles I’ve done were a rich woman and wife but in My Korean Jagiya, I’m not only rich but powerful so I like this role very much.” She greatly appreciates the warm welcome and hospitality of the entire production team and her co-actors most especially Heart Evangelista. “I think Filipinos, in general, have a good heart. I am truly grateful for the kindness Heart has shown us. She invited us to her home and she also brought us to different places. I’ve learned so much from her. I am overwhelmed that I’ve made new friends. All of the my co-stars are very friendly and kind.” My Korean Jagiya premiered last Monday and airs weeknights right after Mulawin vs Ravena on GMA Telebabad.

describes as “a musical journey,” will benefit child-focused humanitarian agency World Vision and its advocacy campaign, “It Takes a World to End Sexual Exploitation against Children.” “It’s their 60th year this year, and we were planning for a special project. So, it makes perfect sense to come up with a concert dedicated to the children of World Vision,” Alcasid told Manila Standard in an interview. As a staunch supporter of the non-government organization, Alcasid sponsors a child and regularly visits the indigenous people in Zambales. This immersive experience has touched his heart that’s why he decided to commit himself to doing wellmeaning initiatives. It all started in 2009, according to Alcasid. One day, people from Word Vision approached him and his wife Regine Velasquez for a serious discussion over dinner. “How could I say ‘no’ to them, it was free dinner,” Alcasid said in jest then shifted to a serious tone saying, “They invited us to be ambassadors of

World Vision, without any commitment. They just wanted our time if our schedule permits it. Then our ﬁrst mission was in Zambales to meet some indigenous people.” On his ﬁrst visit to the Central Luzon province, Alcasid noticed the tribe didn’t have any musical instrument. At their church, they were just using wooden sticks when they sing. “The next time we went there, we brought a sound system. And using the same equipment they immediately performed for me. It was heart heartwarming,” the singer shared. Every year, since then, he would go to Zambales to visit the community and check how they’re doing. And, he believes that this life changing experience wouldn’t have happened if he didn’t join the people from World Vision who approached him to be one of the faces of the NGO that currently assists over 75,000 children across the country. “The concert will not just feature a segment that will highlight World Vision and its effort in giving abused and underprivileged children

a better life. The whole concert is actually dedicated to the organization and its continuous effort to help children all around the country,” Alcasid afﬁrmed. The concert’s repertoire, the singer-songwriter furthered, will be entirely OPM. The songs he will be performing will be the hits from the past decades including the most recent tracks that he popularized. He will be joined by Angeline Quinto, Basti Artadi, Davey Langit, Erik Santos, Iñigo Pascual, Jaya, Kyla, Lara Maigue, Leila Alcasid, Lovi Poe, Men and Music, Solenn Heussaff, and Yeng Constantino. “I’m really looking forward to this concert. We are working hard to come up with a grand musical experience, which started from recording section by section - the rhythm, strings, percussion and so on. It’s a tedious job but I enjoyed the whole process so much. It’s not just putting songs onto a CD, it’s a journey. And it’s the same experience that I wanted to share with people during my concert,” Alcasid concluded.

Korean TV star Michelle Oh joins the cast of GMA Network's original primetime series, "My Korean Jagiya"

EDM SUPERSTARS. Dutch DJ Hardwell (left) and German hitmaker Zedd headline "Road to Ultra," a concert for electronic dance music aﬁcionados

‘Road To Ultra’ at MOA Concert Grounds Sept. 15 Worldwide, the world’s top international music festival brand, is scheduled to return to Manila in September when it brings back Road to Ultra Philippines on Sept. 15 at the Mall of Asia concert grounds in Paranaque City. Presented by Blackwater and Ovation Productions, the one-night Electronic Dance Music (EDM) event will be headlined by an all-star line-up led by Hardwell and German hitmaker Zedd. Supporting them are Getter and Rezz, two of the fastest-rising stars in electronic dance music who will be making their debut performance here, together with Sam Feldt. Road to Ultra Philippines 2017 is one of eight major events that Ultra Worldwide hosts in Asia in September including Ultra India Mumbai on Sept. 7, Road to Ultra New Delhi on Sept. 8, Ultra China on Sept. 9-10, Road to Ultra Taiwan on Sept. 10, Ultra Beach Ball on Sept. 14-15, Ultra Hong Kong on Sept. 16, and Ultra Japan on Sept. 16-18. Now on its third staging, Road to Ultra Philippines has previously hosted some of

the world’s biggest names in electronic dance music, including Alesso, A-Trak, Skrillex, and Tiesto. The upcoming concert marks the music festival’s return to the Mall of Asia concert grounds after it moved indoors for last year’s show. The Ultra music festival, the world’s premier electronic music event promoted by Ultra Worldwide, celebrated its 19th anniversary on March 24-26 with a sold-out waterfront concert in the heart of Miami, Florida that attracted over 165,000 music enthusiasts. The annual EDM event was recently voted the world’s No. 1 music festival by DJ Magazine for the second consecutive year. It is slated to return to Bayfront Park in Miami for its 20th annual edition on March 23-25, 2018. Tickets to Road to Ultra Philippines 2017 are priced at P5,500. P3,500 and P1,500 and are now available exclusively through smtickets. com and Ultraphilippines.com {P1,500 tickets have been sold out}. For reservations for VIP tables, please call 5328883 or email info@ultraphilippines.com)