Manila Standard - 2017 August 30 - Wednesday

VOL. XXXI • NO. 197 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

ACCUSATIONS, DENIALS. Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV links Tuesday presidential son-in-law Manases Carpio (left), husband of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and nephew of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, to smuggling at the Bureau of Customs.

President Rodrigo Duterte defended his family in a speech at the oathtaking of newly appointed government officials yesterday.

‘Smuggling is a family affair’

Man stabs three people dead in high-rise crime AT LEAST three people were killed while several others were wounded after a knife-wielding man ran amuck inside a condominium in Pasay City Tuesday night.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Oscar Albayalde said the suspect got into a heated argument with his girlfriend on the 16th floor of the Central Park Condominium.

“The suspect stabbed his girl-

friend several times. He then started stabbing other residents whom he passed by,” Albayalde said in a radio interview.

The killer then threw his girlfriend over the stairwell where her body landed on the 13th floor.

The suspect stabbed two male residents who died upon arrival at the hospital.

As of presstime, the suspect has yet to yield.

Duterte’s son-in-law also linked to Customs mess

By Macon Ramos-Araneta, F. Pearl A. Gajunera and John Paolo Bencito

O

PPOSITION Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday linked presidential sonin-law Manases Carpio, husband of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and nephew of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, to smuggling at the Bureau of Customs.

He also said Carpio received bribes to facilitate the swift entry and release of shipments at the bureau, and said he was behind the so-called Davao Group, along with Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.

Carpio immediately denied Trillanes’ allegations, saying the senator was imputing malice in saying that his mere appearance in the BoC had something to do with large-scale smuggling.

“I represent many clients who have transactions with the Bureau of Customs. It is my job as a lawyer to appear before the government agencies for and on behalf of my principals,” he said.

“Senator Trillanes is imputing malice in saying that my appearance before the BoC is because of smuggling. He is just a desperate rumor monger who happens to be a senator,” Carpio added.

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DEATH PLUNGE. An enraged knife-wielding man, described by

police as a boyfriend of the victim, runs amuck in a Pasay condominium Tuesday night, stabs the girl then throws her from the 16th floor, the body landing on the 13th floor. Two other male condo residents were also reported knifed to death. Photo below shows blood splattered inside the condo elevator. Jojo Sicat

‘FM heirs to return hidden wealth’ Uber pays

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said the family of the late dictator President Ferdinand Marcos has expressed readiness to surrender the billions in alleged ill-gotten wealth, including a few gold bars.

“The Marcoses–I will not name

the spokesman, they expressed that they’ll open everything and probably return whatever was already seen,” the President said in his speech before newly appointed government officials at Malacañang.

Duterte said the Marcoses told him that the late dictator stashed away billions in government

funds “to protect the economy” and that he had thought of regaining Malacañang.

“I will accept the explanation, whether or not it is true,” Duterte said. “And they are ready to return [the government funds].”

Marcos, who ruled the country from 1965 to 1986, had amassed a Next page

IN HIGH GEAR. An all-female contingent of 40 AFP enlisted personnel and 60 non-commissioned PNP officers poses for camera before deployment on Tuesday to Marawi City to help in the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts there. Norman Cruz

P190-m fine, ban lifted

By Rio N. Araja THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Tuesday lifted its suspension of Uber System Inc. after it paid a P190-million fine and provided financial assistance to its more than 36,000 drivers.

The mobile-app transport network company, represented by its lawyers Roberto Ramiro and Anne Mascenon, settled the fine through a check.

The fine was equal to Uber’s average daily income of P10 million multiplied by 19 days of its suspension, LTFRB spokeswoman Aileen Lizada said.

The LTFRB ordered Uber’s one-month suspension on Aug. 14, which was to lapse on Sept.

14 for its defiance of a moratorium against accepting new drivers and operating 53,334 unregistered units.

The LTFRB cleared Uber to reactivate its mobile application Next page

Faeldon may be sued for planting evidence

By Maricel V. Cruz RESIGNED Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon could be charged with planting evidence for allowing the unauthorized “controlled delivery” of 100 kilos of shabu to a warehouse in Valenzuela City, a crime punishable by death under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said Tuesday.

The 100 kilos was part of a 604-kilo shipment of shabu that slipped past Customs in May, then recovered three days later in a raid

on a Valenzuela City warehouse owned by Hongfei Logistics.

Faeldon said he ordered 100 kilos from that shipment transferred to a second warehouse as part of efforts to build a case against the owner of the warehouse.

But Barbers said Tuesday Faeldon could be held criminally liable when he ordered the delivery of the contraband to a warehouse reportedly rented out by Jhu Ming-Jyun since May 2016 in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City, where the caretaker Fidel Anoche Dee was arrested.

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Ombudsman to probe Kian’s killing THE Office of the Ombudsman said Tuesday it is investigating the killing of 17-year-old student Kian Loyd delos Santos in a police operation on Aug. 16, even as the Justice department said the boy’s parents have been placed under its witness protection program Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-

Morales said her office is open to witnesses or interested parties who want to help in its investigation.

The probe by the Ombudsman would be the fourth into a case that has provoked public outrage. The Senate, the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation are also

investigating the case.

Police involved in the killing said Kian tried to flee arrest and opened fire on them, prompting them to shoot back, an account that was disputed by CCTV footage, eyewitnesses, and autopsy findings that showed the teenager Next page had not fired a gun.

Nokor fires missile over Japan, Tokyo furious SEOUL—Nuclear-armed North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan on Tuesday in a major escalation that triggered global alarm and a furious response from the Tokyo government.

A visibly unsettled Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said it was an “unprecedented, seri-

ous and grave threat,” while the UN Security Council called an emergency meeting at Tokyo and Washington’s request.

Sirens blared out and text messages were fired off across northern Japan warning people in the missile’s flight path to take cover.

Trains were delayed as passentwitter.com/ MlaStandard

gers were urged to seek shelter inside stations.

“All lines are experiencing disruption,” said one sign on Sapporo’s metro system. “Reason: Ballistic missile launch.”

The Philippines itself expressed grave concern over the ballistic

facebook.com/ ManilaStandardPH

PYONGYANG’S MISSILE. South Koreans in a railway station in Seoul watch Tuesday a television screen showing footage of a North Korean missile launch which flew over Japan and into the Pacific Ocean in a major escalation of tension in the region over North Korean weapons ambitions. AFP

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Digong gets ‘good’ ratings—SWS cent of those polled were satisfied with the national government, 13 percent were undecided and 11 percent were dissatisfied.

ANY Filipinos appeared Duterte’s public satisfaction ratings remained high at satisfied with the performance +64 despite being two points down from March’s “very of President Rodrigo Duterte’s good” +66.

The administration received “very good” marks in administration, with the public four out of 15 issues: helping the poor, protecting huapproval of the Senate outshining the man rights, defending the country’s territorial rights and providing jobs. others despite a one grade drop from Public satisfaction remained “good” in fighting terthe previous quarter, the latest Social rorism, foreign relations, fighting crime, eradicating graft and corruption, solving extrajudicial killings, Weather Stations survey showed. reconciling with Moro rebels, ensuring that no family The Second Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey, would ever go hungry and reconciling with communist conducted among 1,200 respondents, showed 75 per- rebels.

By John Paolo Bencito

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Palace: Iloilo mayor has nothing to fear THE Palace on Tuesday denied the assignment of Police Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido to Iloilo City was meant to single out its city mayor Jed Mabilog, who was included in a list of more than 150 government officials by President Rodrigo Duterte allegedly involved in the drug trade.

“I don’t think there is any need to single out Mabilog in that sense, but it is simply part of the President’s overall campaign against illegal drugs,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a Palace news briefing.

Malacañang’s denial coincided with Espenido seeking the dismissal of the criminal charges against him arising from the killing of nine suspected robbers during an operation last June.

Espenido appeared before the Depatment of Justice and submitted his counter-affidavit denying the murder and arbitrary detention charges filed by relatives of Francisco Manzano, one of the slain suspects killed during a reported shootout with the police last June 1 in Ozamiz City.

The police official denied the allegation of rubout in killing the suspects during the series of raids in Cabinti and Balintawak villages where six other suspects were arrested.

“I specifically deny all of her allegations. Obviously, her accusations are all fabricated and a product of the concoctions at the instance of her grandmother, who has been used by Mayor Parojinog and his group as a toll against me,” Espenido said in his affidavit.

“It is very unfortunate that complainant has succumbed to the pressure by the Parojinog group. Understandably, she is helpless. I know fully well that this case is sponsored by the Parojinog group because the suspects involved were members of their armed group, and, more importantly, to stop me from doing my job as a police officer,” he added.

According to him, it was a legitimate operation and that the robbery suspects were killed after they shot it out with the policemen.

“It was a legitimate police operation. In fact the complainant herself has a sworn statement that it was the group of the criminals who fired their firearms first even before the police could disembark from their vehicles,” Espenido’s lawyer Andres Fernandez said in an interview after the hearing.

While Abella did not justify the need to assign Espenido, who has earned a reputation of running after narcopoliticians, to Iloilo―which Duterte earlier described as the ‘most shabulized’ in the country, he said it was part of the President’s “plan of action” to counter the ill ef-

fects of the drug trade.

“Espenido is going to be part of the whole government approach which has something to do with prevention, rehab, and so it’s going to be a whole government approach. He is expected to work with the rest of the whole government,” Abella said.

Espenido’s new role, announced on Aug. 28, follows the bloody raid which led to the death of alleged narco politician and Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. and 14 others.

Espenido was also the chief of police in Albuera town, Leyte whose former mayor with alleged drug links, Rolando Espinosa Sr., was killed in November 2016.

Iloilo has been alleged to be a den of illegal drugs and its city mayor, Jed Patrick Mabilog, has been included in a list of more than 150 government officials allegedly involved in the drug trade.

Abella instead called on the public “to unite with the state in our campaign aginst drugs through both police action and drug prevention and rehab with full respect for law, for human rights, and the rule of law, which is the pledge of the President.”

Asked if the President would meet with Mabilog, his spokesperson simply stressed that Duterte would be “willing to sit with him.”

Duterte awarded Espenido for his contribution to the government’s war on drugs as chief of the Ozamiz City Police Station and as previous chief of Albuera, Leyte.

He led policemen in the killing of Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, his wife and 14 others during predawn raids in his house last July 30.

The slain mayor’s children, Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog-Echavez and Reynaldo Jr., were arrested during the raids and later on indicted on charges of drug possession and illegal possession of firearms.

Last Monday, President Duterte announced that Espenido would be assigned to Iloilo City following reports that Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog was protecting drug traders.

Asked if Mabilog would be the next mayor to be slain in the war on drugs after Espinosa and Parojinog, Espenido said he would not be able to say for sure. “[It will be] God’s will... Let’s just wait when I’m there in Iloilo already if the mayor will die,” he told reporters in the DOJ. However, Espenido again stressed that he is “pro-life.”

“I am pro-life, a professional law enforcer. Those who do no wrong have nothing to fear,” he said. John Paolo Bencito and Rey Requejo

Ombudsman...

From A1

them,” Aguirre said.

He said this development should silence critics who have accused him of prejudging the case in favor of the policemen involved in Kian’s death.

“This just shows that contrary to the unfounded allegations of bias hurled against me by some ill-motivated or ill-informed sectors, the parents of Kian Delos Santos have full faith and confidence with me and the DoJ in the handling of their son’s case,” he said.

Aguirre also rejected calls that he resign for showing bias in the case, saying he served at the pleasure of the President.

An eyewitness in Kian’s killing who is in the custody of the Public Attorney’s Office has submitted an affidavit to the Justice department.

The female witness, identified as alias Choleng, said Kian was already under the custody of the policemen before he was killed.

The Delos Santos family on Friday filed murder complaints against relieved Caloocan City Police Station 7 chief Chief Insp. Amor Cerillo, and the three officers tagged in the killing, PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jerwin Cruz, and PO1 Jeremias Pereda.

Oares, Cruz, and Pereda were also charged with violating the antitorture law.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte met with Kian’s parents, Saldy and Lorenza, and assured them that there would be no coverup in the investigation.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Kian’s parents were granted provisional coverage under the witness protection program after they went to the Justice department to apply for it.

“We immediately accommodated

“Moderate” scores were recorded in recovering the hidden wealth of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos and his cronies, resolving the traffic problem and fighting inflation.

The Palace welcomed the results of the latest survey.

“We appreciate the people’s recognition of the efforts and hard work of the current government as public appreciation of the Duterte’s administration continues to remain ‘very good’ at +64,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

“As a result, the Duterte administration posted the highest first four-quarter average net satisfaction rating ever recorded.”

The latest survey, conducted from June 23 to 26 via face-to-face interviews, had a margin of error of ±3 points nationwide.

Trillanes also alleged that the P6.4-billion shipment of shabu from China was smuggled in with the help of the two, since they supposedly asked for a “special nolook fee” from importers.

The senator said he will present witnesses to confirm Carpio and Paolo’s visits to Faeldon’s office.

Customs broker and fixer Mark Taguba, who was tagged in the smuggling in of 605 kilos of shabu, revealed in the same hearing that the Davao Group was involved in corrupt activities at the bureau.

Taguba testified that in January, he paid a P5-million enrollment fee to Davao City councilor Nilo Abellera Jr. and a certain Jack, who were introduced to him by a certain Tita Nhanie as members of the Davao Group.

After flying to Davao City, Taguba said he was fetched at the airport by Jack who brought him to Abellera then waiting for them in a restaurant in Davao City. He paid the group P10,000 per container or an estimated P1-million fee per week for his shipments.

Taguba said Abellera is a close friend of Paolo while Jack is the vice mayor’s handler.

Abellera later confirmed meeting Taguba and Jack but strongly denied any involvement in smuggling.

In a letter sent to the panel headed by Senator Richard Gordon, Abellera said he has no knowledge nor any participation in the shipment of shabu from China, which is the subject matter of the Senate investigation.

In a separate letter, Abellera said he was recovering from hypertension and was advised to rest for two to four weeks and to avoid stress.

In his affidavit, Abellera admitted to have “casually met” Jack “sometime late last year or early this year” when the latter requested for a meeting. He said Jack wanted

to arrange a meeting with Paolo.

“Knowing that the Vice Mayor does not involve himself with such matters, I politely told Jack that I could not arrange such meeting. It was then that Jack introduced me to his companion who turned out to be Mark Taguba. After about five to 10 minutes, I excused myself from the two gentlemen and left,” Abellera said.

“I never had any transaction or dealing of whatever nature with Mr. Taguba and I never saw or talked to him ever since,” he further stated.

“If it is true that I received millions of pesos from Mr. Taguba in connection with his Customs dealings, he should have called me to complain when his shipments were subsequently subjected to alerts.

The fact that he did not shows that I have no transactions or dealings with Mr. Taguba,” he added.

He also denied knowing anyone named “Tita Nani” or “Tita Nannie.”

Sought for comment about her nephew, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said she is not privy to the activities of her relatives.

In the Palace, Duterte said there was nothing wrong with his son-inlaw’s visits to Customs.

Earlier, the President disclosed that his son’s transactions at the Bureau of Customs arose from the buy-and-sell business of Paolo’s former wife, Lovely.

Morales vowed Tuesday to deal with any erring relative.

“Certainly, a complaint filed [against] any of my own relatives holding public office will be dealt with as with other similar cases... according to the applicable law and the evidence,” she said in a statement.

She also dismissed Trillanes’ accusations that her nephew received bribes to facilitate the entry and release of shipments at Customs.

be charged for bungling the chain of custody in handling of the drug evidence under the same law.

The Barbers’ panel is expected to release its final committee report on Wednesday.

Barbers said his panel will recommend the filing of administrative complaints by the Office of the Ombudsman and criminal complaints by the Department of Justice against concerned public officials and employees and private individuals.

Barbers said Faeldon also violated the law when he allowed the conduct of the raid without a search

warrant and for contaminating the evidence when he ordered the metal cylinders containing the drugs pried open without coordinating with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

While controlled delivery is allowed, Barbers said Faeldon failed to secure clearance from the directorgeneral of the PDEA. Barbers also said the panel will also recommend charges filed against importer Mark Taguba for violating laws on the importation of dangerous drugs, which is punishable by life imprisonment and a fine of P500,000 to P10 million.

fortune of $5 billion to $10 billion while in office, or up to 650 times more than his annual salary, based on an estimate by the Supreme Court and source documents provided by the Presidential Commission on Good Government.

Over the last 30 years, the government has recovered at least P170 billion (nearly $3.6 billion) in cash but

the total recovery efforts could reach over P200 billion ($4.2 billion), as the PCGG winds up its work to sell the remaining illegally acquired assets in its possession.

Members of the Marcos family still remains active in politics― his wife, Imelda is Ilocos Norte representative while daughter Imee is incumbent Ilocos Norte governor. His son and namesake, Ferdinand Jr., is contesting the results of the recent vice presidential race.

The President claimed that the Marcoses made the offer to help him deal with budget deficits.

To jump-start the recovery of ill-gotten wealth, Duterte said he is eyeing at someone “not identified with anybody to handle the negotiations.”

“I’m looking at a former Chief Justice. They can talk,” he said.

He said he was happy the Marcoses decided to “come clean and make something that is really worthwhile for the Filipinos.”

She said she saw the police officers fetch Kian from his house.

“I saw the policemen carrying Kian. One of them was holding Kian’s neck with his arms. They brought Kian to the lower basketball court of our barangay,” the affidavit said in Filipino.

Choleng said she even confronted the policemen after learning that Kian was shot dead.

“Why did you kill the kid? You shouldn’t have killed him. You should have jailed him instead,” she recalled telling the police.

PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said they would ask the Justice department to include the eyewitness under WPP coverage.

The eyewitness account was supported by CCTV footage.

A forensic exam conducted by PAO showed Kian suffered a gunshot wound to the back and two to the head while he was lying face down on the ground.

The PAO submitted these find-

ings to support the murder and torture charges against the policemen, citing the clear presence of treachery.

There are reportedly three other witnesses under the custody of Senator Risa Hontiveros The Palace on Tuesday said there was no attempt to manipulate public opinion on the government’s war on drugs after the President met Kian’s parents.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte simply heeded the couple’s request to meet, and merely offered a “humane” response to a “poignant” situation.

“The President does not want to manage his message so it’s not a question of, ‘Was this planned? It’s simply was an honest-to-goodness response to a particularly poignant situation that needed to be addressed in the most humane way possible,” he said.

“What is truly important is they were able to talk, to meet, and they

[Kian’s parents] were assured by the President that justice will be fully served.”

Abella also said the President will remain objective in the case, despite his repeated defense of cops engaging in brutal anti-drug operations.

Earlier, Aguirre rejected calls to transfer the investigation of the case to the Office of the Ombudsman, saying it can only handle cases that fall within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.

“The Ombudsman can only handle cases of public officials with salary grade of 27 and above, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan,” he said.

“In Kian’s case, the policemen who are named respondents have lower salary grades so the jurisdiction is with the RTC [regional trial court], not with Sandiganbayan,” Aguirre said. Rey E. Requejo, John Paolo Bencito, Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

‘Smuggling...

From A1 Trillanes said the testimony of former Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service director Neil Anthony Estrella confirmed the information he got that it was not only the President’s son, Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, who was involved in the Customs operation but also Carpio.

“So this is a family affair of the Duterte family,” Trillanes said on the sidelines of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing.

Earlier, Estrella said he had seen Carpio in former Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon’s office, but could not say what they talked about.

Neither Estrella nor Customs Deputy Commissioner Gerardo Gambal had seen Paolo Duterte at the BoC, however.

But in an interview with reporters, Trillanes said his informants told him Carpio visited Faeldon five times late last year to early this year. The senator said Paolo also visited Faeldon’s office twice.

“That was the information I got.

Mans Carpio and Paolo Duterte have been influencing Customs operations and they are part of the Davao Group or they are behind the Davao Group,” said Trillanes.

Trillanes, a staunch critic of Duterte, said Carpio had no business being at the BoC. Trillanes also said his informants told him that Carpio and Paolo received fees for general merchandise, as well as a “special no-look fee.”

Shipments covered by this fee passed through the Customs express lane where shipments could pass right through.

He said “players” at the BoC are aware that the Davao Group controlled by Carpio and Paolo is a “force to reckon with.”

Faeldon...

From A1 Barbers said planting of evidence is punishable by life imprisonment to death under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and said his committee would recommend these charges be filed against Faeldon.

Although the death penalty was abolished in 2006, the House has approved a bill on its reinstatement.

The Senate has yet to act on the bill, however.

Barbers said Faeldon could also

‘FM...

From A1

Duterte says revolutionary govt may solve PH's problems A REVOLUTIONARY government can be declared to rid the bureaucracy of its ills, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday, but insisted he would not declare one.

While he has been in office for more than a year, Duterte advised his would-be successor to follow the course of action done by then President Corazon Aquino, who declared a revolutionary government soon after coming into power.

“My advice to a President who wants to change, do not go for martial law, they’ll make it an issue [against you]. Go for a revolutionary government, so you can get rid of everything,” Duterte said in his speech before newlyappointed government officials at Malacañang.

“If Cory had done it, why couldn’t you? Is there any monopoly of love for the country?” he said.

Despite raising the suggestion himself, the President said he’s not inclined at declaring one.

Immediately after assuming the presidency, Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3, which established a revolutionary government, effectively abolishing the 1973 Constitution, drafted by a Constitutional Convention headed by former President Diosdado Macapagal, who succeeded former President Carlos Garcia as convention head.

Duterte said while declaring all positions of the government and changing them all was good, he said Aquino’s only mistake was giving the power back to politicians.

“It was the golden opportunity,” the President said.

In the same speech, Duterte again call on Congress to change the country’s procurement laws, which “tend to unduly delay or derail instead of hasten the implementation of government projects or programs.” John Paolo Bencito

Uber...

From A1 and resume operating after it paid the fine.

Lizada said Uber offered financial assistance to its drivers because if its suspension order had not been lifted, Uber would have had to pay its more than 36,000 drivers another P300 million for the remaining days of its suspension.

Earlier, lawyer Vigor Mendoza of the Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon said Uber must pay a P6-billion fine for operating more than 50,000 unregistered units in Metro Manila.

Under the law, a driver without a 45-day provisional authority is required to pay a P120,000 fine for each unit.

Nokor...

From A1 missile firing that flew over Japanese airspace.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano reiterated the recent Asean statement urging North Korea to comply with its obligations under the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

“We call on the DPRK to halt these dangerous and provocative actions, which heighten tensions, increase instability and the risk of miscalculation, and could possibly endanger lives,” Cayetano, who is the chairman of Asean for this year, said in a statement.

But in Malacañang, the Palace gave assurances there was no need for undue alarm following Pyongyang’s latest move to launch another missile through Japan’s airspace.

“It will be the task of the Office of Civil Defense to warn the people if need be. However, at this stage, there is no need for undue alarm,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella told a Palace news briefing.

Abella said the Philippines was closely working with its regional neighbors to quell concerns affecting the stability of the region, following North Korea’s provocative move.

“First and foremost, the direction really is towards Japan and it’s not necessarily targeted towards us,” Abella said.

The last time a North Korean rocket overflew Japan was in 2009, when Pyongyang said it was a satellite launch.

Washington, Seoul and Tokyo believed it was a clandestine test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Pyongyang last month carried out two overt ICBM tests that appeared to bring much of the US mainland within reach for the first time and heightened strains in the region. AFP, with Sara Susanne Fabunan and John Paolo Bencito

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF House to prioritize FOI bill THE leadership of the House of Representatives will prioritize the passage of the Freedom of Information Act of 2016 as this will likely get passed on third and final ready before the year ends, a House leader said on Tuesday.

Bagong Henerasyon PartyList Rep. Bernadette HerreraDy, chairperson of the House committee on public information, said the Lower House will attend to plenary deliberations on the proposed transparency measure once lawmakers are done with the discussion on the 2018 national budget.

“Hopefully, once we transmit the budget to the Senate on September 21, we can start discussing this and we can pass this bill early next year,” Herrera-Dy said at a news conference.

Herrera-Dy, who replaced Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio Tiñio as panel head after the latter voted against the passage of the death penalty bill, said her committee expects the House leadership to work on the bill’s swift passage.

“Let us keep our fingers crossed that it can be taken up on second reading in between the priority measures of the House,” Herrera-Dy said.

The FOI bill, which was approved last February, is currently pending at the House committee on appropriations chaired by Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles for funding requirement of the proposed law.

Maricel V. Cruz

‘Probe ex-R. Board officials’ THE Road Board has asked the National Bureau of Investigations to probe the misuse of funds of the previous officials of the agency.

“We have requested the NBI and other law enforcement agencies to investigate and file appropriate legal action against those individuals who have used spurious public documents to facilitate fund transfers,” the Road Board said in a statement.

“To prevent dissipation of MVUC funds and malfeasance in public office, the Office of the President is now exercising control and supervision over the Road Board,” it added.

The CoA audit observations on the alleged misuse of funds, referred to the transactions of the previous administrations from 2002 to 2013.

These audit observations were looked into by the new administration when it assumed office in August 2016.

The Road Board now has a new board members composed of Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Richard Necesario Sr. as representative of the private transport organizations.

Darwin G. Amojelar

PROTEST ACTION.

Farmers from Caraga region stage a protest action in front of the National Irrigation Administration in Quezon City against corruption even as they called on the government to provide free irrigation to their farmlands.

Manny Palmero

Taguiwalo says allegations against her ‘lies, baseless’

By John Paolo Bencito and Florante Solmerin

F

ORMER Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo on Tuesday denied that she diverted the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program funds to support the communist New People’s Army, calling reports received by President Rodrigo Duterte as “baseless accusations.”

“For the record and for the Pres- through my hands. The program ident’s own awareness, not a single funds are directly coursed through peso of the 4Ps program passed the LandBank and its conduits who

then make direct payout to the Pantawid beneficiaries. These transactions are recorded and CoA regularly audits this program,” she said.

“I have done my best as a member of the President’s Cabinet and his government and served the people with humility and full transparency. The least I asked of him is to not legitimize baseless accusations against me.” she added.

Taguiwalo said it is clear that the insinuations are being made to pass off as justifications for the rejection of her appointment by the President’s allies in the House of Representatives and the Commis-

sion on Appointments.

“Had the President’s allies questioned me regarding this issue during the CA hearings—or even during the congressional deliberations on the 2018 budget—I would have given them answers that are easily verifiable,”the former DSWD chief said.

Taguiwalo said that there could have been no chance for her to divert funds through the government’s conditional doleout as there have been no other additional beneficiaries aside from families of soldiers.

“When I first arrived in the DSWD, among my first declara-

tions and actions were to say that the 4Ps program would NOT be expanding. This means that the 4.4-million beneficiary-households of the program will not increase.

These members are from the Listahanan of DSWD based on a nationwide assessment of the poor.

The list was already in place when I became secretary,” she said.

“If there have been any additional members, they are the families of soldiers killed in action or those who have been wounded in action who have children aged zero to 18. This is in compliance with the President’s order,”she added.

‘HLI blocking Mariano’s confirmation’ ‘Morales FARMERS from Hacienda Luisita Inc. in Tarlac said on Tuesday the Cojuangco-Aquino kin is trying to block the confirmation of Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano for his “genuine agrarian reform.”

“This is not surprising,” said John Milton, Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura [UMA] secretary general.

He said businessman Martin Lorenzo was also behind the move to oppose Mariano’s confirmation.

According to UMA, the Cojuangco-Aquino clan sold the Central Azucarera de Tarlac to Lorenzo.

The Lorenzos, owner of the

Lapanday Foods Corp. in Mindanao, are now the majority owners of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac and owned two subsidiaries—the Luisita Land Corp. and Agrikulto Inc. “It would be wise then for the Commission on Appointments to take notice of these facts in their decision whether to confirm Ka Paeng as DAR secretary on Aug. 30, or not. The rejection of Ka Paeng as the secretary would only show that the present Duterte administration is no different with hacienderos and oligarchs like the CojuangcosAquinos-Lorenzos of Hacienda Luisita and Lapanday Foods Corp.

In a related development, Anakpawis Party-List Rep. Ariel Casilao rallied behind Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano whose fate to the Duterte administration will be ascertained today (Wednesday) by the Commission on Appointments, saying his confirmation will be crucial to President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise of an inclusive governance and for fundamental reforms.

“If the CA rejects Ka Paeng, we could wave goodbye to the presiden’t pledge for an inclusive governance, and say hello again deplorably to a rule of big hacienderos, oligarchs and militarists,” Casilao said.

Casilao said Mariano’s leadership in the department led to its positive and speedy response to farmers’ grievances on agrarian cases, and instrumental to the inclusion of the genuine agrarian reform via free distribution of land in the Philippine Development Plan and on the Comprehensive Agreement on Socioeconomic Reforms of the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

“Hence, his rejection would totally obliterate the already little optimism of the farmers in the government,” Casilao added. Rio N. Araja, Maricel V. Cruz, Bill Casas and John Paolo Bencito

September 1 a regular holiday, Palace declares

BOMB SCARE. Manila Police District Explosive and Ordinance Division neutralize the ‘MK2 hand

grenade’ found in front of the University of the East Recto, Manila on Wednesday morning, Aug. 30, 2017.

Norman Cruz

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday declared Sept. 1, Friday as a regular holiday throughout the Philippines in observance of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.

In his Proclamation No. 297 signed Tuesday, Aug. 29— President Rodrigo Duterte declared this year’s celebration of the Islamic feast as a regular holiday, upon the recommendation of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.

As the holiday falls on Friday, it means that Filipinos will have another long weekend after Ninoy Aquino Day last Aug. 21 and the National Heroes’ Day recently celebrated last Aug. 28.

Eid al-Adha commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened and provided him with a sheep to sacrifice instead.

Eid’l Adha, which has been a public holiday since 2002 in the

country, is one of the two greatest feasts of Islam—the other being Eid’l Fitr or the Feast of Ramadan, which was also declared as a regular holiday on June 26.

Republic Act 9849 states that Eid’l Adha, one of the Islam’s two major feasts along with Eid’l Fitr, shall be celebrated as a regular holiday.

Meanwhile, Manila Police District policemen recently arrested four suspects after they duped around 200 Muslims into paying thousands of pesos for fake discounted trips for the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, through alleged connections in Malacañang.

Facing charges of large scale estafa are Usman Adiltah, Salama Debarosan, Sheik Muhammad Imamando and Alma Carreon, who introduced herself as someone from Malacañang.

John Paolo Bencito and Bill Casas

practicing selective justice’ PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday accused Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales of administering “selective justice”for being unable to act on complaints with “cold neutrality” and “impartiality.”

The Office of the Ombudsman rightly stresses the importance of “due process of law.”

Yet it cannot act on complaints with the “cold neutrality of an impartial tribunal,” which is basically required in “due process.” It seems that the Office of the Ombudsman has mastered the art of selective justice,”the President said in his speech during the oathtaking of newly appointed government officials at Malacañang.

The Office of the Ombudsman, he continued, appeared to be “slow to act on complaints against the friendly but quick to decide against perceived hostiles.”

“The enemy of the Ombudsman’s friend is the Ombudsman’s enemy too, so it seems.

That is how I see it from where I stand,”Duterte said.

The President likewise accused Morales of not being entitled to a full seven-year-term, after simply replacing Merceditas Gutierrez who resigned after serving for six years.

“May I add, your hold to the office is very, very precarious. You’re supposed to serve the remaining terms of the guy who resigned, not to a full term, that is very clear under the law,” he said.

John Paolo Bencito

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

W

LTFRB needs a brain transplant

ILL somebody please put us out of our misery and replace the leadership at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board?

We address this plea in earnest to President Rodrigo Duterte, Congress or even some priests who might perform an exorcism in the executive offices on this blighted agency, whose sole purpose of late seems to be to make life miserable for commuters.

President Duterte, who fired 92 LTFRB and Land Transportation Office employees in December 2016, ought to do all of us a favor and include three more names to the roster: Martin B. Delgra III, the chairman, and Ronaldo F. Corpus, and Aileen Lourdes A. Lizada, board members.

We have already seen how these officials chose to flex their regulatory muscles at the expense of long-suffering commuters, when they cracked down on transport network vehicle service companies such as Uber and Grab, whose only crime seemed to be to provide commuters a cleaner, more hassle-free and more pleasant ride than the dirty, rundown taxis driven by abusive drivers who would bilk them for more money on top

of the metered fare if the destination did not suit them, or simply turn them away with a dismissive wave of the hand.

Up until recently, a prime example of the LTFRB’s distorted sense of priorities was its insistence on suspending Uber for a month over an administrative infraction, without considering the pain such a move would cause commuters and drivers.

At first, we wrote this off to luddites being uncomfortable with new technology they did not understand. But increasingly, something deeper seems to be at workers slammed Delgra for saying commuters should assert their rights to the taxi drivers snubbing passengers.

Delgra, never one to show any empathy with commuters, said the riding public should take steps to change the culture of taxi drivers who reject passengers or agree to take them if they pay extra.

“There has been a change of social behavior so that when you call a taxi, you anticipate that you will be rejected,” Delgra said. “Passengers have to demand service. You have to assert your rights as a passenger before you complain to the LTFRB.” Delgra also urged the public to file complaints against erring drivers.

But Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy said that as a law enforcement agency with specific responsibilities over transport service providers, it is the LTFRB “who should be going after all those taxi drivers… who have not been honoring the terms of the respective franchises issued by the LTFRB itself.”

Aangat Tayo Party-list Rep. Neil Abayon added that the LTFRB chairman’s statement was “incongruous,” as it is the taxi companies that must accommodate the needs of the riding public, not the other way around.

“So I do not see any sense to why the riding public has to be the one to “assert” their right,” he said.

“In Chairman Delgra’s mind, it seems taxis can get away with violations because we commuters are not assertive enough, but TNVS [transport network vehicle service] must be penalized outright by the LTFRB because they do not comply with the law and LTFRB directives,” he said.

Herrera-Dy added that Delgra seemed “misguided” when he urged passengers to file verified complaints against abusive drivers.

“He should be lawyering for the commuters, but it looks more like he is lawyering for someone else,” she said.

In the meantime, the LTFRB’s obsession with

Uber has caused it to order a stop to its joint project with the Pasig City government to develop an application that lets bus riders see on a map where all the Pasig buses are at any given time, so they decide when to walk to the nearest bus stop.

LTFRB board member Lizada said the agency must first know all the details of the project before it can go ahead—again putting bureaucracy first and commuters last.

But if the LTFRB is not looking out for commuters, who’s interest is it protecting?

We can only observe that in July, the owner of one of the biggest taxi companies in the country and the president of the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association, Bong Suntay, told a radio interview that the reason taxi drivers sometimes turn down passengers is that if the traffic is bad going to the destination, such as Divisoria, the taxi driver do some computations and decide that going there was not all that profitable.

The statement practically justified the practice—disallowed by the LTFRB--of taxi drivers turning down passengers. But did we hear a peep from the LTFRB? Perhaps this is something Congress should investigate, on the way to recommending a change at the top at the LTFRB.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Dead men walking

Saldy and Lorenza’s choice LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES IT WAS like the cliffhanger ending of a thriller, I was told, in that it could have gone either way at the very last moment. And early the other day, Saldy and Lorenza delos Santos had only a few minutes to decide their fate.

They could cast their lot with those who wanted to use them as Exhibit A and B in the campaign against extrajudicial killings that their slain son, Kian Loyd, had single-handedly reignited.

Or they could believe President Rodrigo Duterte, who promised them justice for Kian and punishment for his killers.

Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta was on her way to pick up the Delos Santoses from their home early on Tuesday, to take them to an audience with Duterte. Acosta would just be a few minutes ahead of another

group, which would parade Kian’s parents at the launching of a self-styled anti-tyranny movement in a Catholic seminary in New Manila, Quezon City.

When Acosta arrived first at the Delos Santoses’ home in Quezon City, Saldy and Lorenza had apparently already made up their mind, a source who was involved with the talks with the couple but who has not been authorized to speak for the spouses told me. And they went with the PAO chief, thus embracing Duterte—which Lorenza did literally some time afterwards —and repudiating those who wanted, as I described it in yesterday’s column, to politically weaponize their grief.

The rest, many already know.

Duterte met the Delos Santoses in a private audience for more than two hours, with only a handful of people in attendance; he also gave Lorenza a hug, upon the grieving mother’s request.

It was during the meeting that Duterte explained to the couple why he could not visit Kian’s

wake, which every anti-Duterte politician had already done. The President said he had to wait for the report of the National Bureau of Investigation on the incident, since it would not look good if he visited and appeared to be favor-

It’s up to Duterte now to prove that the trust given by the couple to him has not been misplaced. ing Kian prematurely.

“I am also the head of the police and I don’t want to prejudge them,” Duterte told the couple, according to the source. “I cannot look like I am punishing

them without basis.”

After the meeting, the slain young man’s parents urged everyone not to involve them in partisan politics. What they wanted, they said, was justice for their son, implying that they trusted Duterte (and Duterte alone) to give them what they sought.

It was also reported that Lorenza was an overseas Filipino worker and a member of a militant urban poor organization.

They were Duterte supporters, like most poor people, but it was really Kian’s grandfather who was the leader of a local proDuterte movement.

Yesterday, Kian’s parents went to the Department of Justice to begin the process of going into the government’s Witness Protection Program. There, safe in the government’s protection, they will most likely be able to talk freely about how they were courted by forces attempting to bring down the Duterte government by using Kian as the poster boy for the human-rights crowd—including reports that they had been offered

money to join the effort. *** My source said the Delos Santos couple was offered P2 million in cash by the anti-Duterte crowd for their “cooperation.” Their presence at the launching of the group calling itself the Movement Against Tyranny at the CICM seminary in New Manila, Quezon City was to be the start of what was probably envisioned as a long roadshow presentation, where they would appear and speak about their son and the bullet-riddled fate that befell him that fateful day in Caloocan City—and the beginning of their repayment of the money given to them.

I will not identify those who allegedly made the offer of money to the couple. The disclosure of that information will really be up to the Delos Santoses and the government prosecutors they are talking to at this point.

But as I’ve already written, the couple’s decision to believe Duterte’s promise took the wind out of the sails of those who

ILOILO City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is a dead man walking.

His fate was sealed Monday (Aug. 28), the National Heroes Day, when President Duterte announced the assignment of Police Chief Inspector (Major) Jovie Espenido to Iloilo City. The President minced no words in declaring that Mayor Mabilog remains a protector of illegal drugs.

Duterte had previously described Iloilo as the most “shabulized” city in the Philippines, meaning a place where illegal drugs are at their most rampant.

Previously, in two cities where Espenido was assigned, the mayors, Rolando Espinosa Sr. of Albuerra, Leyte, and Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, were killed by police raiders, both in alleged shootouts. The mayors were identified by Duterte as the “big fish” of illegal drugs.

So now that Espenido is going to Iloilo, Duterte has asked the relevant and urgent question about Mabilog’s future: “Mabuhay kaya siya?” (Will he live?).

Duterte solved his own query. Mabilog would die if he was still a drugs protector, implying he had given the mayor ample time to reform himself. Espenido has indicated a similar sentiment, saying anyone engaged in illegal drugs and resisting authorities would be killed.

Mayor Mabilog pretends to be puzzled by the assignment of Espenido to Iloilo. But he knows his fate is sealed. “I am puzzled that Chief Inspector Espenido is being assigned here, and that the President has again mentioned my name. But if that is his directive, then I will work closely and cooperate with Chief Inspector Espenido in completely wiping out the remnants, if there are still any, of the illegal drug syndicate in Iloilo City,” he said in a statement.

For his part, a political ally and second cousin of Mabilog, Senator Frank Drilon fretted that Espenido’s detail at Iloilo City “is a cause for concern.”

Mabilog is an award-winning mayor for his work as hizzoner (since 2010) of Iloilo City, giving him an aura of an absolutely confident but sometimes aloof public official.

Another person whose time is probably up, not in a deadly metaphor though, is Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.

In a rambling 50-minute speech yesterday at the presidential palace addressing newly inducted government officials, Duterte delivered his most scathing criticism yet

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Opinion TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Bautista’s only choice I DON’T know what’s in the mind of Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista.

He is now having marital woes such that his wife Patricia has accused him of amassing more than P1 billion in unexplained wealth, among other things.

If he does not tale a leave of absence or resign as his fellow Comelec commissioners are asking him to do, then he will have to face trial at the Senate once he is impeached by the House of Representatives.

That would be a circus, all right!

Trial at the Senate is a purely political exercise. Patricia can even be called to testify against him since the Rules of Court prohibiting spouses from testifying against each other would not apply to impeachment cases.

Andy was the classmate of my son Eric. I would advise him to heed what the other Comelec commissioners want him to do: Take a leave, or resign. And then he would have his day in court.

A very public impeachment trial would be bloody for him.

I would not want anybody to go through what the former chief of the Supreme Court did. Renato Corona died a broken man, my gulay!

As it is, Bautista is already a useless entity at the Comelec. He may have supporters there, but he can no longer function as the commission’s chairman, its leader.

Resigning would be for his own good.

There is much at stake here.

Already there are questions as to whether the integrity of the 2016 elections may have been compromised. Elections are the bedrock of our democracy. *** There are unconfirmed reports that one big reason why former Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo was rejected by the Commission on Appointments was that she diverted some of the funds for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to the New People’s Army of the Communist Party of the Philippines. In turn, the NPA used the money to buy firearms and ammunition to fight government forces.

This report is not new. It is known that some party-list representatives identified with the Left have all these years been diverting their pork barrel funds to the insurgency movement.

How else could they have lasted this long?

When President Duterte appointed officials from the Left to his Cabinet, there were a lot of misgivings. While the reports are unconfirmed, we can imagine why the NPA is becoming active again. It appears that they are not just funded by revolutionary taxes, Santa Banana! *** In a previous piece, I said that the killing spree committed by the police, which had about 80 casualties in just a few days, could be the tipping point in the President’s bloody war against drugs.

An almost universal condemnation of the killing of 17-yearold Kian Loyd delos Santos has prompted calls for President Duterte to end the killings.

For some time, people have become desensitized to the killing of thousand of drug suspects, all supposedly to rid the country of the drug menace.

Now it seems the people are protesting the indiscriminate killings. We have had enough!

We need to convince the President that the war on drugs is not the answer to a simple peace and order problem. It is rooted in poverty and health!

People go into drugs because of poverty.

And it is likewise a health issue since those who take drugs are affected psychologically and physiologically. *** I have also said that the most difficult aspect of the war against drugs is the rehabilitation of users.

According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, there are some three million to four-million addicts nationwide. Even when many of them become drug pushers, the President cannot kill them all.

I know this because I used to be vice president of DARE Foundation. It will take more than a column to tell how we at DARE rehabilitated addicts.

But it was hard, painstaking work!

Again I say: The drug menace will not end so long as there is demand. The supply will find a way to come in. *** I have been hearing complaints that credit card statements are received by the cardholders late, which in turn delays their payment and makes them subject to penalties. My RCBC Mastercard, for instance, never arrives on time.

Is this intentional or not?

Saldy...

From A4

It’s up to Duterte now to prove that the trust given by the couple to him has not been misplaced. Or they could once again start listening to siren song of the anti-Duterte gang—and make a small fortune besides.

Duterte has to show that he will punish those who killed Kian to the fullest extent of the law. And he must prove that he really meant it when he took Lorenza into his arms for a consoling embrace.

Justice, for Kian’s parents, is non-negotiable and does not carry a price tag. And these are the kind of people that Duterte must not disappoint, no matter how many many inroads he makes in his campaign against illegal drugs, corruption and all the other stuff that he says has kept us from being the great nation that we can be.

He should take a leave or resign, period.

thought that Kian’s killing was their

chance to bring down the President using that incident. And, according to my source, a pall of gloom has descended on these would-be crusaders for justice, “because they know they had the boy’s parents, and they many never get a chance like that again.”

When the people ordered by those who wanted to use Kian as a political battering ram against Duterte arrived to fetch Saldy and Lorenza, of course, the couple was no longer there. The couple had already decided that the President was not the bloodthirsty killer that those frantically whispering in their ears for an entire week said he was.

Dead...

From A4

against the feisty ombudsman.

Devoting about 20 of his 50-minute speech to the tenure and recent actuations of the Ombudsman, Duterte bluntly accused Morales of bias and partiality.

Duterte said he felt pity for jailed former Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla (although their names were not mentioned) who have repeatedly been refused bail by the Ombudsman. “The measure or standard of granting bail and other legal remedies-- give it to the others and to your enemies,” said the President who was himself

a prosecutor at the Department of Justice for nine years before becoming a politician who never lost an election.

To Ombudsman Morales, Duterte asked, “Why can’t we just we wind up the cases against the senators?” implying that the Ombudsman should expedite their anti-graft cases for the sake of due process and fairness.

Duterte said the Office of the Ombudsman has a batting average of conviction (in graft cases) of “two-to-8—8 acquittal.” The anti-graft prosecutor files “so many cases”, not really to seek conviction “but just to have an output at great expense on human emotion.”

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

A5

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Misuse of the road users’ funds BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO IT’S something everyone knows but don’t have the facts and figures of The Road Board , according to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who cited Commission on Audit report, has been losing an estimated P90.7 billion in government revenues siphoned off by officials handling the funds.

“It’s just another layer of government bureaucracy which serves as an avenue for graft and corruption,” said Alvarez, citing CoA findings. The Road Board officials are being ordered to account for missing funds from 2001 to 2012. A lifestyle check on these erring Road Board officials who filched the funds should be conducted. They chose the road to perdition; the law should not let them enjoy their ill- gotten wealth.

That’s a lot of money with not much to show in terms of road construction projects.

Motorists have been complaining all these years about traffic made worse by pot holes on major roads and thoroughfares.

The increase in the volume of vehicles every year outpaces the opening of new roads and skyways. Although there have been two or three elevated ex-

pressways built in the last two years of the Noynoy Aquino administration, the funds collected from motorists as road users’ fund did not match the government’s road building projects.

The elevated skyway from Naia terminal 3 cuts the trip to Roxas Boulevard and Macapagal Avenue by more than 30 minutes.

The more ambitious elevated expressway from Magallanes Village which is supposed to go all the way to nearby Bulacan . however, is taking longer to finish because the Aquino administration only started the project in the last two years of its term.

The public, particularly the motoring sector, rues that many road repairs are repeatedly done to cover the sub-standard asphalt and cement. These contractors who won bids for new roads use substandard asphalt and cement so they can continue doing repeat jobs for repair and maintenance. Often, road reblocking and tearing up asphalted roads are then left unfinished adding to the heavy traffic and misery of motorists in Metro Manila.

It’s not all brickbats for the Land Transportation Office. The LTO started issuing driver’s licenses with an expiration date of five years. This would lessen the long lines at the LTO for drivers renewing their licenses. Long lines translate to facilitation fees which applicants themselves have come to accept because they don’t have the time to spend

half a day at the LTO offices at the main office in Quezon City and the many branches in Metro Manila.

Two major cases unfolding We are going to witness the unfolding of two major cases.

The murder charges against three Caloocan policemen who allegedly shot drug suspect Kian delos Santos is going to proceed after President Rodrigo Duterte said the law must be allowed to take its course. It was a departure from his usual defensive stance to protect law enforcers accused of shooting drug suspects dead during police operations.

The impeachment case against Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista is also proceeding in the House of Representatives. The Comelec chief is in deep trouble after his wife, Patricia, provided the President and the National Bureau of Investigation documents showing Bautista had stashed away hidden wealth totaling more than a billion pesos not reflected in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. This is contrary to law which requires public officials to state their financial status truthfully. The Bautista are estranged with each side accusing the other of having lovers.

If impeached, Bautista will go the way of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona who was convicted by a Senate-convened impeachment court for not stating his true as-

sets in his SALN. Tension in Korean peninsula The fringe lunatic Kim Jong Un is escalating tension in the Korean peninsula. His latest mindless act was to fire three intermediate ballistics missiles over Japan while the United States and South Korea were holding military exercises.

Pyongyang has been protesting the US-ROK military games as a provocation. It says this is inimical to its security.

With this latest missile launching, Kim Jong Un is really inviting a preemptive military strike from the US because the North Korean missiles has a range that can reach Guam and the US West Coast.

Japan which is also threatened by the North Korean missile launch might take matter into its own hands to protect its people from Pyongyang.

“This latest missile firing poses a peril not only to Japan but also the stability of the entire Asia-Pacific region,” said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The US and treaty allies Japan, South Korea and Taiwan could already ready be talking about military options against North Korea.

No information is coming from inside Pyongyang. Will the military junta backing Jong Un and finally decide it’s time to topple the unhinged leader whose erratic actions could cause the junta’s own downfall?

Needed: A spokesperson for the economy

FOR almost the entire month of August, the conversation had been almost wholly on criminality and corruption. Not that these are unimportant, but pushed aside by the scandals of corruption allegations, including one mixed with purely private marital woes, and the most unfortunate murder of Kian de los Santos spotlighting the issue of drug-related killings, are issues on the Philippine economy.

Malacañang’s spokesperson, the very capable Ernesto Abella, has had to parry negative issues almost completely on the killings and the corruption scandals.

Hardly anything about the pending tax reform legislation, or the positive developments as well as difficulties facing the economy, aside from the usual businesspage relegated statements from Department of Finance, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Budget and Management or Department of Trade and Industry.

Because the economy is the nation’s lifeblood, and it affects the daily lives of our population of 104 million and counting, this space suggests strongly that we start moving the conversation to economic issues.

Sure, economic matters are hardly sexy, compared to stories of killings and grand larceny which shock. But a good spokesperson for the Philippine economy can always make it sexy, interesting. My point is, let’s veer the national debate more and more to what matters most—the economy.

Our economic managers are quite good and very professional, but we don’t want them to waste their precious time on meeting the press individually

and repeat the same things one or the other is saying. And let’s face it: if they aren’t natural or professional communicators, they can’t present their statistics or their policies in a sexy manner. Economic statistics to begin with are boring, unlike political popularity surveys.

The President himself eschews details on the economy, humble enough to admit publicly that economics to him is arcane, and statistics leave him cold.

But truly, there is so much on the economic departments, and I don’t mean just Dominguez + Pernia + Diokno + Lopez, because even agriculture, tourism, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the energy department, public works, important agencies like Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs, Bases Conversion Development Authority and others constitute parts of the whole economic raft.

Instead of a babble of messages, or a gaggle of spokespersons, most often the heads of departments or agencies themselves explaining their programs and policies, why not appoint a spokesperson for the economy who can coordinate the messages and synthesize these as the presidential vision?

This way, the man on the street gets to know what government is doing for him and his future where it matters: jobs, income, prices.

This way, the man on the street will get to realize that present sacrifices can mean a better future for him and his children. Or that sin taxes can cut down the prospects of him having cancer or some other deadly illness.

That postponing instant gratification and curbing “normal” consumption habits are good for his and his children’s health.

The economic managers can source the spokesperson from some of their own officers and staff, and recommend to the

President. A few have shown both competence and the appropriate personality to go with the requirements of the job. Or they can source from some of the “bright” and personable media people who have a good grasp of business matters and economics.

The Economic Intelligence Unit has of late rued that not enough attention is being given to Dutertenomics and the Build!

Build! Build! infrastructure program, as these play “second fiddle to the president’s security and law-and-order agenda.”

You can’t ask the President to take a crash course on economics, which is why, in a rare example of humility for a leader, he publicly declares that whatever Sonny Dominguez says goes as far as the economy is concerned.

But Dominguez has more things to attend to than be interviewed all the time, or speak on business forums or roadshows.

Take how media keep harping on the “falling” peso value visa-vis the dollar, as if exchange value is the be-all and end-all of economic well-being. BSP’s Nesting Espenilla or Ben Diokno can certainly dispel the fears, but isn’t that wasting their time, or for that matter, cannot Malacañang itself, through a spokesperson on the economy, be the message master?

Or take a very recent example.

The PEZA, through its Director-General, recently touted a one-time big-time foreign investment from a supposed “big” tycoon from Xiamen in China, who would put up a skyscraper in Roxas Boulevard. Plus a petrochemical plant, a deep sea harbor and industrial park, an international airport even, in Pangasinan, on land exceeding 3,000 hectares in a combination of municipalities along the west coast.

If we had a spokesperson for the economy in Malacañang, the information could have been properly vetted. After all, such a huge investment is something no

less than the Office of the President should announce.

It turns out of course, that not only are the announced potential investments more illusory (“drawing”, the media calls it) than real.

There are height restrictions in Roxas Boulevard, the planned site for the skyscraper, both because of proximity to the flight path around Naia or security considerations for Malacañang.

And more mind-boggling are the figures announced: 360 billion American dollars, or almost 19 trillion pesos! That’s the total budget of the Philippine government for the next five years, at 3.5 to 4 trillion average per annum.

And does anyone have that much money to invest, credit lines included?

A spokesperson for the economy would have instantly seen the incredibility. He would from institutional memory know that even Bill Gates and Warren Buffet and Mark Zuckerberg combined cannot put up that kind of money. Throw in Carlos Slim and the owner of the Zara retail chain as well. (Bill Gates net worth is 84.6 billion dollars, Warren Buffet is 60.8 and Mark Zuckerberg is 44.6 billion worth). Go figure.

There’s more: The US owes China 1.02 trillion dollars. So this prospective investor can put up a third of that? From where? Why, even the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is capitalized at 100 billion US dollars.

And the Philippine external debt, if memory serves me right, is just around 70 billion US dollars. And this Chinese guy will invest 360 billion US into the Republic?

Assume we can close our eyes to the provenance of the money, if money there indeed is. Did not the Roman emperor Vespasian, who wanted to tax toilets (only the rich in ancient Rome had toilets), rationalize his tax by saying “money has no smell”?

“I was once also accused before the Ombudsman,” he recalled.

Pausing, he exclaimed: “They are really corrupt! I am telling you. I can bring forth the record.” The then Davao mayor was asked for a bribe. “I did not agree to give,” he said. “I went up to the Supreme Court [to gain acquittal] but at great expense—for my lawyer.”

“The enemy of the Ombudsman’s friend is the Ombudsman’s enemy, too. This is how I see it from where I stand,” Duterte mocked of the Ombudsman.

He said Carpio-Morales’ brother is his balae, being the father-in-law of his daughter Inday Sarah Duterte, the incumbent mayor of Davao

City. The President reminded the Mrs. Morales “your hold to the office is very, very precarious. You’re so supposed to serve the remaining term of the guy who resigned, not to a full-term. That is very clear under the law.”

“The Office of the Ombudsman stresses the importance of due process of law. Yet it cannot act on complains with the cold neutrality of an impartial tribunal, which is specifically required in due process.

It seems that the Office of the Ombudsman has mastered the art of selective justice,” Duterte sneered.

“It is slow to act on complaints against the friendly but quick to decide against perceived hostiles,”

he added, using military terms in fighting terrorism.

Denouncing the justice system, Duterte exclaimed, “there is something terribly wrong with our country, very, very wrong!”

“The wheels of justice grind to a halt when those tasked to dispense [justice] have friends to serve and debts of gratitude to pay, no matter what. The lack of moral courage to do what is right and act beyond those twin feelings, end in inequitable decisions,” the President said, reading from a prepared portion of his speech.

“Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Here’s how some people describe it. It is to me de-

testable,” he lamented.

Duterte recalled his inaugural speech on June 30, 2016. “The one principle of governance I abide with in running the affairs of my administration is contained in the saying, thus: “I have no friends to serve, I have no enemies to harm. I am beholden to no one save my conscience.”

In yesterday’s speech, Duterte pleaded to Morales: “I can only wish that Ombudsman would go beyond friendship bonds and adopt [this] often-quoted principle as a governing rule in the performance of its constitutional mandate.”

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

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News

‘Preparations for SK, brgy elections to continue’ T

By Vito Barcelo

HE Commission on Elections said it continues to prepare for the Oct. 23, 2017 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections despite moves by Congress to postpone the local elections and the call for poll commissioner Andres Bautista to resign due to controversial issue of alleged P1-billion ill-gotten wealth exposed by his wife Patricia.

Comelec chairman Andres Bautista said the commission has bought forklift tractors for use at the national Printing Office for Comelec operations in connection with the Oct. 23,

2017 barangay and SK elections and preparing thousands of printed ballots to the provinces.

The Comelec bids and awards committee is bidding out two

contracts for the supplies and courier services needed in the elections.

One contract is for the special courier services for Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, Caraga and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which costs P4.1 million.

Printing of election ballots continues and will print 77,261,086 ballots, including 56,468,566 ballots for the barangay elections and 20,792,520 ballots for the SK, the Comelec said.

Should the barangay and SK elections are rescheduled, Bautista said the Comelec has two

options to recycle the official ballots.

Bautista, who insisted he would not yet resign from his post despite calls from six Comelec commissioners for him to take a leave of absence or resign, said that preparations continue even if it remains uncertain if the polls will push through.

“We have not yet been informed by Congress if it will push through or not in October,” he said in an interview.

He also denied that he is not performing well as the poll chief as earlier claimed by Comelec commissioners Rowena Guanzon,

Christian Robert Lim, Al Parreño, Luie Tito Guia, Arthur Lim, and Sheriff Abas, because of the controversy involving his wife.

“I wanted the public to know that I can effectively perform my duties as Comelec chief.

“I am always reporting for my work almost everyday,” Bautista said.

However, he admitted that it won’t take a long time before he decides to resign, adding he was waiting for a “sign from the above.”

“I am still praying for God’s guidance on what to do,” he added.

Don’t threaten Senate, DoF told

By Macon Ramos-Araneta INSTEAD of threatening Congress with a possible veto of a watereddown tax reform measure, the Department of Finance should instead work with the Senate and the House of Representatives in coming up with a version that will benefit the people, senators said Tuesday.

In a statement, Senate ways and means committee chairman Sonny Angara said the DoF’s strategy should be to “engage lawmakers positively.”

“It’s a bit early for that considering the Senate committee has yet to come up with a final version,” said Angara.

He noted that it is best to engage lawmakers positively because he believes that a majority of lawmakers wish to help the President in this regard.

“We note that the administration has a number of remaining reform packages it wishes to push, and a good working relationship with the legislators would be key going forward,” he added.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto told the DoF that it “does not have a monopoly” of knowing what is right for the country.

“It’s always better to work with both the House and Senate than to threaten Congress with a veto.

The Finance department does not have a monopoly on what is good for the country,” Recto said.

“I’s never easy to pass tax laws.

The representatives of the people are more sensitive to people’s concerns,” he added.

Senator Chiz Escudero said if consolidated—which means that the increase in tax exemptions and increase in taxes are in one bill— President Rodrigo Duterte cannot do a line item veto.

Earlier, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said one of the options for the DoF is to propose to the President to veto the proposed first package of the comprehensive tax reform if Congress passes a watereddown version.

CCTV AND CAMERAS BILL. Senator JV Ejercito, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Service, leads the inquiry into the proposed installation of CCTV monitors and dashboard cameras on public utility vehicles and all government patrol cars and the 2017 AntiOverloading Law as P/Chief Supt. Manolo Ozaeta, director, Legal Service of PNP and P/Chief Supt. Alfredo Valdez, Chief National Operation, stressed the importance of the proposed act. Ey Acasio

Du30 to sign EO to strengthen I-ACT mandate

By Joel E. Zurbano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign an Executive Order to give more teeth to members of the revived inter-agency group tasked to manage and control traffic in the National Capital Region, Metro Manila Development Authority general manager Thomas Orbos said on Tuesday.

The order, according to Orbos, will strengthen the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic to find solution to the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila and prevent billions in economic losses.

“It will strengthen I-ACT that would focus not only on coordination but would also have power to enforce, including the enforcing of local government units to implement a single ticketing system,” said Orbos in a television interview.

“We should have a central traffic authority and only one ticketing system, one traffic signaling scheduling and enforcement,” he added.

He said apart from Metro Manila, I-ACT, under the Executive Order, will also cover the neigh-

boring provinces of Laguna, Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan.

The government earlier reactivated I-ACT to supervise, control and manage the flow of traffic in Metro Manila while Orbos, who is the concurrent Transportation Undersecretary for Road, was designated as Council chief.

Aside from traffic management, I-ACT was also tasked to intensify its operations against illegally parked, colorum and out-of-line vehicles, and illegal terminals.

The Council is composed of MMDA, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, PoliceHighway Patrol Group and local government units.

The reactivation of I-ACT was deemed necessary by the government to ensure proper coordination among various agencies involved in traffic and infrastructure.

Antonio Gardiola of the Police-Highway Patrol Group, was the first I-ACT chief when the council was created in September 2016. It was formed to promote cooperation in the fields of

traffic congestion, commuters’ safety, anti-colorum operations, and enforcement of traffic rules.

The government is also considering removing all provincial bus terminals along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue to ease traffic on the 28.3-kilometer highway.

Buses coming from Southern Tagalog region will soon to be no longer allowed to enter Metro Manila and would travel only up to Sta. Rosa in Laguna.

Members of the Metro Manila Council, the MMDA’s policymaking body, agreed on this.

The plan, according to MMDA chairman Danilo Lim, is part of the Intermodal Transport Scheme initiated by the Department of Transportation.

“From Sta. Rosa, passengers can transfer to another bus or train going to Metro Manila. The consideration really is the Intermodal Scheme. The place there is located near the PNR [Philippine National Railways system] station. They can transfer and that is the main consideration,” said Lim. The MMDA chief, however, did

not give a timeline when the plan would start.

“We are hoping the soonest, we'll see,” he said.

MMC traffic committee chairman and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista expressed his support to the plan, saying that Metro Manila mayors has an intense relationship with government agencies like MMDA, Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in terms of finding solution to road congestion.

“The root cause of traffic on Edsa is really the buses,” he said.

In August last year, Bautista led the MMC in approving the removal of bus terminals along Edsa in line with the government’s solution to the worsening traffic situation in the metropolis.

Bautista and Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto, whose jurisdiction have the most numbers of bus terminals, were the first local executives who signed the MMC resolution entitled “Rationalizing the Operations of Provincial Buses and its Terminals Along Edsa.”

Toledo, Cebu mayor suspended

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman ordered on Tuesday a one-year suspension on a mayor from Cebu for grave abuse of authority.

Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales directed Interior and Local Government Secretary Catalino Cuy to implement her suspension order against Mayor John Henry Osmeña of Toledo City.

Charges of six counts of graft were also filed against Osmeña before the Sandiganbayan.

The raps stemmed from Osmeña’s consistent and undue refusal to release the quarterly real-property tax shares of Barangay Daanlungsod in Cebu.

The barangay was supposed to receive a total of P17,733,264.80 as part of its real-property tax share for the last two quarters of 2014 and for the fiscal year of 2015.

Morales gave no credence to the defense raised by Osmeña, saying “the boundary dispute between the two barangays had long been settled.”

A decision was already issued by the Sangguniang Panlungsod Aug. 1, 2008, and that it became final and executory in 2011 when a lower court denied the appeal of Barangay Sangi.

Citing the Local Government Code, Morales said “there is no question that the SP has the jurisdiction to settle or resolve boundary disputes."

“Respondent’s bad faith becomes evident when despite the foregoing circumstances, [Osmeña], without basis, withheld the release of the real property tax shares of the Barangay Daanlungsod which caused the latter undue injury.”

“The [RPT] share of each barangay shall be released, without need of any further action, directly to the barangay treasurer on a quarterly basis within five days after the end of each quarter and shall not be subject to any liens or holdback or whatever purpose.”

Osmeña claimed there was a pending boundary dispute between barangays Sangi and Daanlungsod and that there was an ongoing case entitled “Barangay Sangi versus City of Toledo” pending before the Court of Appeals.

“It is his duty to protect government funds and properties. Thus when his attention was called on a pending case regarding ownership of the real properties involved in the boundary dispute between the two barangays, he only thought of protecting the city’s public funds," he said.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman indicted another local executive in Bislig City, Librado Navarro, Surigao del Sur mayor and ordered the filing of a graft case against him before the Sandiganbayan for the questionable purchase of a hydraulic excavator worth P14,750,000 in 2012.

Also charged were bids and awards committee chairman Charlito Lerog, city administrator; BAC members—city treasurer Roberto Viduya, city planning development coordinator Aprodecio Alba Jr., general services officer Felipe Sabaldan Jr., city budget officer Belma Lomantas, city engineer Lorna Salgado and city legal officer Daisy Ronquillo; technical working group members—city accountant Raquel Bautista, Gilbert Abugan, Laila Manlucob and Estefa Mata, and Cesar Ner of RDAK Transport Equipment Inc.

Villanueva files ‘flexi’ working hours bill SENATOR Joel Villanueva has formally filed a bill on Tuesday that gives employees and employers an option to adopt flexible working arrangements.

Senate Bill No. 1571 espouses alternative working arrangements that allow both employer and employee to agree on a beneficial arrangement of work that works best for both parties. It amends Article 83 of the Labor Code which limits normal hours of work at 8 hours a day for five days.

Villanueva sees the proposal as one way to decongest traffic and lessen the hassle being faced by employees as they may opt not to go to work on a specific workday granting that they have already completed the required work hours.

“These would be helpful especially to our workers who are being caught in heavy traffic on their way going to the office or going home.

Instead of spending their time on commuting, they can be more productive and can give more time to their family with the four-day work scheme,” said Villanueva.

He said that the adoption of flexible working arrangements is voluntary on the part of employers and employees as well. Flexible working arrangements will also depend on the nature of work.

Among the countries which have already implemented flexible working arrangements are France and US (with 4-day workweek), and Sweden (with 6-hour workday under a two-year trial).

In the Philippines, some business process outsourcing companies like Convergys have carried out compressed workweek scheme.

The Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development chaired by Villanueva will conduct a hearing on the

said measure on Sept. 13, Thursday.

Under the filed measure, an employer has an option to implement any type of flexible working arrangement which includes: 1) Compressed Workweek, 2) Gliding or Flexi-Time, and 3) Flexi Holidays Schedule.

In a “Compressed Workweek” arrangement, the employee may opt to reduce the number of days dedicated to work, provided that the worker maintains the minimum number of rendered hours required. The bill sets a minimum of 40 hours a week and a maximum of 48 hours per week.

“Gliding or Flexi-Time” refers to work which may be completed within the establishment but where they can determine their arrival and departure time. It means an employee may choose to start his work at any time he wants but still needs to complete the required work hours per day. Macon Ramos-Araneta

GOOD FOR 5 YEARS. DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade shows samples of the first batch of driver’s licenses with

five-year validity during a press conference held at the Land Transportation Office in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

Sports Pacquiao to hold 1st Maharlika Cup caging

By Peter Atencio BASKETBALL at the grassroots’ level will be the thrust of the 1st Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League when it opens on Sept. 23.

Organizers of the tournament said this will provide opportunities to basketball players who never had an opportunity to play at the collegiate and professional level.

“Ito ay pagbibigay suporta sa mga kababayan nating mahilig sa basketball. From the grassroots’ level, we are supporting them,” said Senator Manny Paquiao, the founding father of the tournament.

Pacquiao, who spoke during the launch at the Aristocrat Restaurant in Malate, Manila, on Tuesday, drew inspiration in the formation of the league from a tournament he formed many years ago.

Around 12 teams are initially seeing action in the cagefest, which will have a home-and-away format.

These includes squads from Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon City, Marikina, San Juan, Makati, Paranaque, Manila and Malabon.

There will be five conferences which will be held, starting with the Rajah Cup in Mindanao, the Datu Cup in Luzon and the Lakan Cup in the Visayas.

Then, there’s the Mumbaki Cup in the Ifugao region, and the Urduja Cup in Pangasinan.

The Rajah Cup will have a top prize of P600,000, while the Datu Cup’s major purse is P700,000.

The champion of the Lakan Cup is P800,000, while the top team in the Mumbaki Cup earns P900,000.

A whopping P1 million will go to the winner of the Urduja Cup. The tournament is expected to give battle-ready streetballers a chance to follow the footsteps of their local basketball heroes.

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PH team assured of silver T AIPEI—University of Baguio wushu star Jomar Balangui saved the day for Team Philippines as he defeated Isiah Ray Enriquez of the United States , 2-0, and assured himself of at least a silver medal in the Taipei Universiade 2017 at the Hsinchu County gym.

Balangui’s lopsided 5-0, 3-0 triumph over Enriquez in the men’s sanda-52 kg event provided the brightest moment for the Filipino going into the final day of the competitions also

known as the ‘Olympics’ of university athletes.

In fact, Balangui’s silver medal may turn out to be a gold medal depending on the outcome of his final match.

The 19-year-old Balangui will dispute the gold medal with Peng Yuan of China.

Yuan outduelled Seongji Byron of South Korea, 5-0, 5-0 in the other men’s sanda 52-kg semifinal late Monday.

“This is another big achievement for our country. Win or lose by Jomar in the wushu final, we are already assured of a medal in Taipei,” said Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines president David Ong. “The wushu medal—be it a

gold or a silver— will be a good addition to our gold medal in chess by GM Wesley So in the 2013 Kazan Universiade and the silver medal in taekwondo

by Samuel Thomas Morrison in the 2011 Shenzhen Universiade,” added Ong. The rest of the seven-man Filipino wushu team also supported

by San Miguel Corp., Bestank and Garfield Sportswear, failed to make it to the medal round of the wushu competitions being included as an official sport in the Universiade calendar for the

Late surge nets Pauline Pradera lead

Officials of the Federation of School Sports Associations are shown with International University Sports Federation (FISU) president Oleg Matytsin (center) and FISU Legal Committee Member Maria Luz Arzaga-Mendoza (left) during the FISU General Assembly at the Taipei Grand Hyatt as part of the Summer Universiade in Taipei. They are (starting second from left) Atty.

Baldomero Estenzo, FESSAP Vice President for Corporate Affairs; Danilo Madlansacay, FESSAP Honorary Vice Chairman; Col. Ariel Querubin, FESSAP Deputy Secretary General and David Ong, FESSAP President.

Sharapova vows: I’m not going anywhere NEW YORK—It was a performance as dazzling as the crystal-encrusted black dress she was wearing as Maria Sharapova warned her US Open rivals that behind the glamour, there’s tons of grit.

The 30-year-old Russian star marked her return to Grand Slam tennis after serving a 15-month doping ban with a thrilling 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over second seed Simona Halep on Monday.

It was her 50th appearance at a major but first since the quarter-finals of the 2016 Australian Open and her first at the US Open for three years.

But it was like she had never been away as she took her night-time record on the Arthur Ashe Stadium to 18 wins in 18 matches.

Fittingly, Sharapova played in a black dress, just as she had done in 2006 when she was crowned champion, one of her five Grand Slam titles.

“Behind this little black dress and the Swarovski crystals, there is a girl with a lot of grit and she’s not going anywhere,” Sharapova said after seeing off Halep for the seventh time in seven meetings.

Sharapova only returned to tennis in April after her ban had run its course but she was refused a wildcard into the French Open while a thigh injury put paid to her hopes of playing Wimbledon qualifying.

With her ranking down at 146, she needed another wildcard to get into the main draw of the US Open but she was in danger of missing New York after picking up an arm injury at Stanford, where she played her only hardcourt match of the year.

“You try and think it’s another day, another opportunity but it was so much more,” said Sharapova, who fell to her knees in tears after securing a thrilling triumph on Monday. AFP

JENNY ORTUOSTE THE Philippine Racing Commission recently held a seminar on the implementing rules and regulations of the equine drug testing program that will be conducted shortly among all three racetracks—San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite; Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite; and Metro Turf Racecourse in Malvar, Batangas.

Philracom’s Executive Director Andrew Rovie Buencamino and Diagnostics and Laboratory head Alejandro Cambay, both veterinarians, held a consultative meeting at SLLP last Aug. 25 with trainers, racing club managers, and club and Philracom veterinarians.

“It was a briefing on the resolutions passed by Philracom on the IRR of drug testing,” said Buencamino, “as well as on the required speci-

fications for the drug testing facilities [in the clubs].

“Everything went well and everyone was in agreement [that] there will be a six-month dry run to start as soon as we get the reagents from Neogen.

Within those six months we will not impose any sanctions or penalties.”

Philracom has engaged the services of Neogen, a US-based drug testing company. Among the prohibited substances Neogen will screen for are downers (depressants or performance inhibitors) such as azaperone, etorphine, propranolol, detomidine, benzodiazepine, flunittrazepam, and promazine.

Painkillers such as acetaminophen, celecoxib, fentanyl, and phenylbutazone are not prohibited but they will be monitored and regulated.

“We are waiting for the reagents from Neogen,” said Buencamino. “The Elisa machine (drug testing equipment) is already here. [It] is the same as that used by St. Luke’s [Hospital] and all other first-class hospitals.

LUBAO, Pampanga—Pauline del Rosario blew a hot start but recovered from a wobbly midway stint with a sizzling backside rally as she shot a four-under 68 and seized a twostroke lead over Thai Tiranan Yoopan at the start of the ICTSI Pradera Verde Ladies Classic here yesterday.

Del Rosario, who tinkered with her swing during the break to maintain her strength, birdied three of the first seven holes to take charge early, only to drop off the leaderboard with three straight bogeys from No. 8 under scorching heat. But she rattled off four birdiesin-row from No. 11 to post a 35-33 card and upstage fancied Princess Superal and Cyna Rodriguez for the early lead in the P750,000 event at the sprawling Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club.

“I struggled with my long game a bit but I hope to play a more steady game in the next two days,” said Del Rosario, seeking to nail a third leg win after scoring a breakthrough at Orchard and then dominating the Baguio stop last June.

With Superal, who has posted emphatic wins as an amateur and pro in the country’s premier circuit put up ICTSI, and Rodriguez failing to get going, Yoopan took the challenger’s role with a 70.

“I should play a relaxed game, just enjoy it and try to lessen my missed putts,” said Yoopan, who went on a roller-coaster ride of three birdies against three bogeys in the first eight holes but put herself back in contention with birdies on Nos. 9 and 13.

Superal, who with Rodriguez are on a break from the Symetra Tour, blew her birdie bids on the first two par-5s but birdied the other two at the back, including the island green finishing hole to salvage a 36-36-72 card, four shots off Del Rosario.

Superal and Rodriguez groped for their putting form and rued the hot weather after coming from a stint in chilly playing condition in the US the last five months.

“I’ll try to hit more greens and make the most of my birdie opportunities,” said Superal, who last won on the LPGT in back-to-back fashion at Sherwood and Eastridge last year.

“It’s tough but we’re kind of having adjusted to the kind of weather after a few games.”

Power Innovation blasts Titorex in Mira Verde meet Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates winning her first round Women’s Singles match against Simona Halep of Romania on Day One of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. AFP

Philracom briefs trainers, vets, on equine drug test rules THE HOARSE WHISPERER

first time ever.

Barely losing their matches were Erick Earl Pasno (men’s sanda/60-kg); Kelly Marcelo (men’s sanda/70-kg); Elijah Sean Siy (men’s taolu -changquan); Gladys Sia (women’s taolu- changquan); Czarina Joy Hagos (women’s taolu- nanquan/nandao) and Abigail Faniega ( women’s taolu -jianshu/ qiangshu).

Wushu, a popular martial art of Chinese origin, is being held in the Universiade for the first time in its 58-year history.

The reliability is 99.8 percent.

“We are now training the [industry] veterinarians as to the collection protocol, both urine and blood samples, as well as [conducting] inspections on the progress of the construction of drug testing facilities of the racing clubs.”

During the dry run period, Philracom will test its procedures for loopholes or gaps and perfect them. This also allows industry stakeholders to get used to the new policy.

“We have to get everyone on board,” said Buencamino, “and after six months we will do a reassessment… We are in close coordination with the Hongkong Jockey Club and are applying what we learned from them [about equine drug testing] through the guidance of [chemist] Dr. Terrence Wan, the head of the HKJC drug testing laboratory.”

Dr. Wan, who I met during a visit to HKJC some years ago, has generously shared his expertise with Philracom through the years. HKJC has always opened its doors to Philracom

personnel for facility tours and race observations, in general sharing best practices.

The first demonstration of the drug testing procedure was held last July 30 at Santa Ana Park, after the conclusion of the third leg of the Philracom Triple Crown stakes race.

“We will do the same next at Metro Turf then at San Lazaro after they finish [building] their facilities,” Buencamino said.

Equine drug testing is a requirement that the industry has to comply with as part of its membership in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

The other objectives of the drug-testing program are: to establish a standard for testing race horses participating in all races for possible presence of prohibited substances; to safeguard the health and welfare of the horses; and to preserve the integrity of the races.

The much-debated policy was supposed to have been implemented two decades ago but met with resistance several times over the years.

Today, however, there is a consensus that such a policy is necessary for the sport here to meet international standards, a goal of many in the industry for so long. *** Philracom is looking for a chemist to help run the equine drug testing program. If you’re one and you’re looking to establish a career in the exciting and interesting Philippine Thoroughbred industry, this is a golden opportunity. Visit philracom.gov.ph for contact details. *** Upcoming events: Sep. 3, the Mayor Ramon Bagatsing Racing Festival at San Lazaro Leisure Park, featuring the Philracom 1st leg Juvenile S.; Sep. 10, Japan Racing Association Festival at Santa Ana Park; Sep. 17, Philracom Lakambini S. at Metro Turf. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste, and Instagram: @jensdecember and @artuoste

THE Power Innovation Edseca Team scored an opening-day victory, blasting Titorex Food Specialists, 98-90, in the Mira Verde Basketball League 1st MTV5 Basketball Tournament at the MV Gym, Fairlane in Marikina City.

Former Philippine Basketball Association star Bonbon Custodio, ex-pro Ray Alao, commercial league veteran Mark Lagrimas and playing coach Gio Caunca joined forces in dismantling strong title contender Titorex with their fluid offense and sticky defense, giving the win to the team owned by Engineer Eduardo Caunca.

“Teamwork and the expected explosive performance of our key players made the difference. Our opening-day win is a very positive sign in our goal,” said Energy Masters’ coach Jerry Caunca, who is preparing the team to a bigger challenge in the PBA D-League soon.

Other Power Innovation Energy Masters who contributed to the win were Joeperson Latag, Melvin Lucas, Lewis Tobias, Warren Ybanez, PJ Roxas, Emil Renz Palma and import Jimmy Brown.

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

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

Sports

Blackwater, Ginebra try to stretch run

By Jeric Lopez

Dines Dumaan of the Philippines is shown after winning the gold medal in the men’s tanding putra class A 45-50 kg division of the 29th Southeast Asian Games pencak silat competition Tuesday at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center in Kuala Lumpur. PSC Media

STREAKING teams Barangay Ginebra and Blackwater aim to keep their favorable runs alive as they face separate opponents in the continuation of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. The red-hot Gin Kings (4-1) eye a fourth straight win and a piece of the tournament lead when they face lowly Phoenix (2-6) at 7 p.m. in an intriguing encounter at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City today.

Blackwater (3-3), another team on the rise, also looks to win a fourth straight game, but it takes on a tough challenge from TNT KaTropa (3-2) at 4:14 p.m. in the opening tussle.

Defending champion Ginebra is reminding everyone why it is one of the teams to beat, racking up four straight victories after dropping its opening assignment.

The Gin Kings can tie Meralco (5-1) in first place should they keep their winning streak going and beat Phoenix.

Continuing its impressive showing, Ginebra crushed Alaska, 94-80, last Saturday in Cebu City in a comfortable wire-to-wire, out-of-town victory.

The well-oiled core of LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, Greg Slaughter, Joe Devance and import Justin Brownlee is clicking on all cylinders at this point as the team ascends in the standings.

While everything is going the Gin Kings’ way, the same can’t be said of the Fuel Masters, who have lost six straight games since winning their first two assignments to open the tournament.

Phoenix was outclassed by TNT, 100-81, in its last game last Friday as it was unable to end its agony.

After acquiring returning import Henry Walker, the Elite suddenly became a completely different team.

Pencak silat delivers lone gold for Team PH K

UALA LUMPUR—The Philippines scored a surprise victory in pencak silat, but it failed to serve as a balm to sooth the wounds of an ailing Philippine team headed into final stretch of the 29th Southeast Asian Games here.

A rookie form Capiz in Dines Dumaan came up with an impressive win as he battered Firman of Indonesia, 4-1, to capture the gold medal in the men’s tanding putra class A 45-50 kg event of the pencak competition at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.

The 22-year-old Dumaan was hit by a crisp attack by the aggressive Indonesian, but he refused to back off. Instead, he took him down thrice en route to the stunning victory that serves as the Filipinos’ first gold medal in pencak silat since the 2005

Manila SEA Games.

“I got dizzy when I got hit. I really had no idea if I could continue fighting,” said Dumaan, who claimed the bronze medal in the 5th Asian Beach Games and fourth place in the 17th World Pencak Silat Championship last year to gain a chance to compete in the biennial meet.

“But I didn’t lose hope. I didn’t want to quit and lose the chance of winning the gold medal for the country,” he said.

Also emerging victorious for the national pencak silat squad

were Princesslyn Enopia, Rickrod Ortega and Jefferson Rhey Loon, who bagged the bronze medal in their respective events.

Enopia finished third in the women’s tanding Class A division, while Ortega and Loon placed third in the men’s tanding Class C 55-60 kg and men’s tanding Class D 60-65 kg category, respectively.

Dumaan’s gold was the lone ray of sunshine in the Philippines’ gloomy campaign in the penultimate day of this 11-nation competition.

Its top player and flag-bearer —Rio de Janeiro Olympics campaigner Kirstie Elaine Alora— fared below expectations as she suffered a heart-breaking setback to a very familiar foe in Sorn Seavmey of Cambodia in the taekwondo competition.

A two-time SEA Games gold medalist, Alora’s prowess was no match to the height, length and

experience of the 6-foot Cambodian as she hammered a 13-6 victory to snatch the gold medal in the women’s -73 kg class.

Prior to that, another promising jin in Francis Aaron Agojo was shown the door and settled for bronze when he succumbed to Nguyen Van Duy of Vietnam in the semifinals of the men’s -63 kg match.

Alora said she did her best, but the breaks simply didn’t roll her way.

“Siguro kulang po ako sa follow-ups. But it’s a good fight and I did my best,” said Alora, who also questioned some of the referees’ decision.

“I don’t know with the officiating, but in the first and second rounds, I know that I was leading. But I had about five gamjeoms (penalties) and those did not help me.”

Alora’s setback perfectly

Maamo falls to no. 1 seed

underscores the Philippines’ frustrations.

So far, the country has only 24 gold medals, less than half of the 50 gold medals promised by chief of mission Cynthia Carrion at the eve of the Philippine delegation’s departure for this bustling Malaysian capital.

Its total production of 24 gold, 31 silver and 61 bronze medals is below than the 29 gold medals it won in the Myanmar and Singapore editions of the SEA Games and slightly above its wor s t f i n i sh of 20 gold medals in the Brunei edition in 1999 where only 233 gold medals in 21 sports were disputed.

This development would surely put tremendous pressure on the athletes, coaches and sports officials as they formally brace for the country’s hosting in 2019 when the biennial meet formally closes on Wednesday.

Fernandez: PSC will assess athletes’ SEAG performance

By Peter Atencio THE Philippine Sports Commission will assess the performance of the Filipino athletes, who participated in the 29th Southeast Asian Games.

Commissioner Ramon Fernandez said this after the Philippines won its 23rd gold medal on Monday and stayed in sixth place with its 23-30-55 gold-silver-bronze medal haul.

“I’m not surprised with the poor performance. Based on past SEA Games performances, pababa ang performance,” said Fernandez.

The Philippines got its latest gold medal from 46-year-old Floridabased John Colin Syquia and his mount, Adventure E, in the indi-

Fernandez

vidual showjumping event of the equestrian competitions.

The agency, according to Fer nandez, will size up the situation, and f ind out the cause of the country’s poor performance in the Games.

He said there is a need to do this because the PSC approved a big budget for the Games and all the

equipment requests of the national sports associations.

Last month, the PSC approved P86,777,500.00 to fund the 700-strong delegation to the Games in Malaysia this August.

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

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

“Binigay ng PSC lahat para preparations,” added Fernandez.

Aside from this budget, the PSC also took care of equipment requirements of the different sports.

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

Thunder turn back Dolphins Kirstie Elaine Alora of the Philippines (red) competes against Sorn Seavmey of Cambodia (blue) in the finals of the women’s -73 kg category of the 29th Southeast Asian Games competition Tuesday at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. Alora lost, 6-13. PSC Media

Red Lions notch 8th win, eye another duel with Pirates THE defending champion San Beda Red Lions are looking forward to another showdown with the unbeaten Lyceum Pirates.

Coach Boyet Fernandez said this after the Red Lions demolished the Arellano University Chiefs, 95-70, yesterday at the end of their first-round encounter in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

“We’re looking forward to winning more games and be ready for LPU. We know we’ll be playing LPU in our last schedule. I just hope the boys will step up in their coming games,” said Fernandez.

Robert Bolick Jr. finished with 23 points, including five triples that helped carry the Red Lions to their eighth triumph in nine outings.

This put them a game behind the Pirates, and three wins in front of the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers (6-3). It also boosted

its bid for the Top 2 Final Four seats.

The Red Lions silenced scoring ace Kent Salado midway in the third as they went on to overtake the Chiefs with a decisive 15-0 blast in the last 2:30.

Triples from Bolick and Ranbill Tongco helped provide the Red Lions a pivotal 70-52 spread at the end of the period.

Meanwhile, the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers overcame difficult moments with the Mapua Cardinals to post a 68-59 triumph.

Aaron Bordon fired 17 points, while Jed Mendoza added 12 for the Heavy Bombers, who finished the first round with their sixth win in nine games.

They led comfortably, 44-36, in the third quarter before the Cardinals came running back to threaten, 42-46.

But three turnovers in the final period allowed the Heavy Bombers to move back up,

HAMBURG, Germany—Dannel Maamo dropped his flyweight round-of-16 bout against Cuban top seed Yosvany Veitia Monday in the 17th AIBA World Championship at the Sporthalle.

All five judges from Algeria, Trinidad/Tobago, Canada, Germany and India awarded the decision to the 25-year-old southpaw, who settled for the silver two years ago in Qatar and ended up with the bronze in 2013.

Maamo’s quest was hit badly by the two points deducted by the Russian referee against the Filipino for two low blows in the second round alone.

Maamo dug to the body of Veitia in the first round and probably thought he was finding his range and rhythm.

But his desire to send Veitia packing overwhelmed him so much that Maamo’s two wicked blows went south of the border, sending the favored Caribbean fighter grimacing in pain, while holding onto his crotch.

Maamo actually started well as he scored on rapid-fire shots to the 25-year-old Veitia’s ribcage at ring center in the opening round.

Even in the third, sensing that he badly needs a knockout win, Maamo managed to land some punches.

Still, Veitia had too much experience for the 21-year-old Maamo, who is competing in his first worlds.

Maamo’s loss sent the Philippines without a fighter to watch out for in the remaining days following the early exit of fancied light-fly Rogen Ladon.

53-42, off Bordon’s layup.

“A win is a win. I’m not happy about it.

They thought they can easily beat Mapua,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses.

Earlier, the JRU Light Bombers stunned the Mapua Red Robins, 94-82, with Toby Agustin leading the way with 26 points and 16 rebounds.

Seldom-used Marwin Dionisio had 15 points and 11 boards as he joined hands with Ronnie Camua for 17 points to power JRU to a 48-37 halftime lead.

The Light Bombers, who improved to 2-7, held big man Warren Bonifacio to only 12 points and 19 rebounds. Will Gozum made only eight markers and eight boards for the Red Robins.

This put the Red Robins (7-2) in a share of the lead with La Salle Greenhills.

The scores:

First Game Jose Rizal 68—Bordon 17, Mendoza 12, Grospe 11, dela Virgen 11, Teodoro 7, Abdul Razak 5, Poutouochi 3, Mate 2, Sawat 0, David 0 Mapua 59—Bunag 15, Victoria 12, Gabo 8, Aquirre 8, Pelayo 6, Nieles 4, Raflores 4, Jimenez 2 Quarterscores: 19-16, 38-34; 49-42; 68-59 Second Game San Beda 95—Bolick 23, Mocon 19, Tankoua 15, Potts 6, Soberano 6, Noah 6, Tongco 5, Bahio 5, Cabanag 4, Doliguez 3, Carino 3, Abuda 0, Oftana 0, Adamos 0 Arellano 70—Salado 26, Flores 10, Concepcion 10, Enriquez 6, Canete 3, Ongolo 3, Meca 3, dela Cruz 2, Nicholls 2, Viloria 2, Alcoriza 2, Padilla 0, Filart 0 Quarterscores: 23-18; 48-30; 70-52; 95-70 Peter Atencio

CYRUS Tabi nailed two free throws with no time left as Rizal Technological University nipped Philippine Christian University, 69-68, in the battle of unbeaten teams in the NAASCU Season 17 men-s basketball tournament at the RTU gym in Mandaluyong.

Tabi went for the game-winner and drew a foul from Chris Okoronkwo of PCU as time expired, sending him to the free throw line and allowing the Blue Thunder to escape with their third win in as many matches Tabi finished with a game-high 26 points for the Johnedel Cardelmentored Thunder, who also won over City University of Pasay and St. Francis of Assisi College.

PCU suffered its first setback after two consecutive wins over defending champion St. Clare College and Lyceum of Subic Bay. In other matches, Philippine Merchant Marine School outsteadied AMA University, 79-70, for its first win in two matches in Group A; and New Era University outclassed De La Dalle-Araneta University, 7057, for its second win in three outings in Group B.

Maynilad allots P7b for upgrade B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

LBC seeks purchases to support expansion

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, August 29, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

51.0950

Japan

Yen

0.009154

0.4677

UK

Pound

1.293500

66.0914

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127823

6.5311

Switzerland

Franc

1.047120

53.5026

Canada

Dollar

0.799616

40.8564

Singapore

Dollar

0.738880

37.7531

Australia

Dollar

0.796200

40.6818

Bahrain

Dinar

2.651465

135.4766

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

13.6250

Brunei

Dollar

0.736160

37.6141

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.030111

1.5385

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.9125

Euro

Euro

1.198100

61.2169

Korea

Won

0.000895

0.0457

China

Yuan

0.151400

7.7358

India

Rupee

0.015649

0.7996

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.234412

11.9773

New Zealand

Dollar

0.725400

37.0643

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033205

By Jenniffer B. Austria

1.6966 Source: PDS Bridge

IN BRIEF Puregold acquires B&W stores in Capiz

SUPERMARKET chain operator Puregold Price Club Inc. said Tuesday it acquired five B&W stores in Roxas City, Capiz, a move that will bolster its presence in Western Visayas.

Puregold said with the acquisition, it would now have six stores in Panay and 11 stores in Negros for a total of 17 stores in the Visayas.

This will expand Puregold’s network to a total of 307 stores nationwide.

Puregold did not provide additional details on the transaction including the acquisition price.

The deal, the first acquisition made

by Puregold this year, is in line with the company’s move to expand to new geographic areas and expand to new store formats.

Puregold reported a consolidated net income of P2.49 billion in the first half, up 9.8 percent from a year ago, as consolidated net sales increased 10.8 percent to P56.6 billion.

Jenniffer B. Austria

SM plans to buy stake in Goldilocks

CONGLOMERATE SM Investments Corp. said Tuesday it is in talks for possible investment, joint venture or cooperation agreement with Goldilocks Bakeshop.

The planned investment will mark the conglomerate’s foray into the restaurant business.

The potential investment, however, is still pending and subject to regularity approval by the Philippine Competition Commission.

SM group will be the second company to have openly expressed interest in investing in Goldilocks, which is owned by the Go family. Pancake House Inc., which was then owned by the businessman Martin Lorenzo, expressed interest in acquiring majority stake in Goldilocks as early as 2005.

Pancake offered to acquire Goldilocks for P2 billion at that time, but the talks did not push through.

Established in 1966, Goldilocks has grown from a small bakery in Makati City to the country’s largest bakeshop with over 400 stores here and abroad. Jenniffer B. Austria

Cusi asks SMC to honor Ilijan deal

ENERGY Secretary Alfonso Cusi asked San Miguel Corp. to honor its contractual obligation to the government as the administrator of the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas power plant in Batangas province.

“We should collect it…. San Miguel has the capacity to pay for it,” Cusi told reporters.

Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., where Cusi sits as vice chairman, is in a legal dispute with San Miguel over unpaid generation payments.

“That is the contract, they have to pay. If they want the government to honor the contract, they also have to honor their contract,” Cusi said.

San Miguel is contesting the computation of its obligations with PSALM, which manages the assets and liabilities of National Power Corp. Cusi said the case was pending with the courts.

PSALM last year elevated the case against San Miguel’s power unit to the Court of Appeals to seek the termination of the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas power plant independent power producer administrator contract. Alena Mae S. Flores

LBC Express Holdings Inc. unveils a plan to strengthen its logistics business through acquisitions. At the annual stockholders’ meeting at Marriott Hotel in Pasay City are president and chief executive Miguel Camahort (right) and director Enrique Rey Jr. Lino Santos

PCC clears Mighty’s sale to Japan Tobacco

By Othel V. Campos

T

he Philippine Competition Commission said Tuesday it approved the acquisition by Japan Tobacco (Philippines) Inc. of Mighty Corp., and the joint venture of Rockwell Land Corp. and Mitsui Fudosan (Asia) Pte. Ltd. The commission said both transactions were not likely to result in anti-competitive effects in the market.

“There appears to be no ability nor incentive for the parties to engage in anti-competitive coordinated behavior.

Sufficient competitive constraints remain from other market participants after the sale,” it said in a statement.

The PCC is an independent, quasijudicial body formed to implement the Philippine Competition Act. It reviews mergers and acquisitions worth at least P1 billion.

Under the deal, Japan Tobacco will own the sales and distribution network, manufacturing and equipment and inventories of Mighty Corp., while JT International SA, an affiliate of Japan Tobacco, will own the trademarks and associated intellectual property of Mighty Corp. and Wong Chu King Holdings Inc. Japan Tobacco is a company engaged in the business of importation, manufacturing, distribution and marketing on wholesale basis of tobacco products, while JTI SA is a global company engaged in the manufacture and sale of tobacco products.

Japan Tobacco Inc. earlier said it would buy Mighty Corp., the Philippines’ No. 2 cigarette maker, for about $936 million.

The Finance Department said it expected

to receive about P30 billion from the deal, representing the tax liability of Mighty Corp.

Meanwhile, the PCC said that Rockwell and Mitsui Fudosan would engage in the development, construction and sale of real estate projects in the Philippines through the joint venture company, Rockwell MFA Corp.

Rockwell and Mitsui Fudosan shall purchase and subscribe to shares in RMFA, where 80 percent of the total outstanding shares of RMFA will be held by Rockwell and 20 percent of the total outstanding shares of Rockwell MFA will be held by MFA indirectly through the wholly-owned Philippine subsidiary, which is in the process of incorporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The PCC, the country’s anti-trust body, is mandated to review mergers and acquisitions to ensure that the deals will not prejudice the interest of the consumers.

LBC Express Holdings Inc. said Tuesday it is in talks with a local company and a foreign group for possible acquisitions to strengthen its logistics business.

LBC Express chief finance officer Enrique Rey said in an interview at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting the company was in an advanced stage of negotiations with a regional player and a local firm.

Rey did not identify the two groups, but said LBC Express was interested in acquiring additional logistics support to complete its supply chain.

“We are looking for companies that are similar to what we are doing and offering the service being provided,” Rey said.

LBC Express expects to surpass its 2017 net income and revenue targets, given the company’s strong first-half performance.

The logistics firm earlier set a net income target of P985 million and revenue target of P9.8 billion in 2017.

“We expect to overshoot our targets by 3 to 5 percent. We have exciting things that we are planning to do in the second half of the year to further boost numbers,” Rey said.

LBC Express posted a net income of P441 million in the first half, up 5.5 percent from P418 million recorded in the same period last year.

Revenues climbed 19.5 percent in the six-month period to P4.9 billion from P4.1 billion recorded a year ago.

Meanwhile, LBC Express said it was still planning to conduct a follow-on offering by the fourth quarter of the year.

Rey said the company was now in the process of amending the registration statement previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for re-submission.

The company said the terms of the follow-on offering, including the number of shares and the offer price, were still being finalized.

Ecozone investments surge 89% to P132.6b INVESTMENT pledges approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority jumped 89.4 percent in the first seven months to P132.6 billion from P70 billion it received a year ago, a top official said Tuesday.

Peza director-general Charito Plaza said the higher investments were led by an increase in the number of projects coming into the economic zones.

She said 363 projects registered with Peza as of July 2017, up from 308 projects recorded in the same period in 2016.

Direct employment in the economic zones also increased 6.4 percent to 1,357,684 million as of end-July, from 1,275,842 individuals a year earlier.

Data from Peza showed that investments in manufacturing increased 26.8 percent in the seven-month period to P21.55 billion from P16.98 billion a year ago, while investments in economic zone development surged 95 percent to P75.4 billion from P38.64 billion in 2016.

The agency said despite the notable increases in manufacturing and ecozone developments, investments in the information technology sector slowed 33.35 percent to P8.14 billion from P12.22 billion in the same period last year.

Investments in other sectors climbed 591 percent to P15.11 billion from P2.18 billion a year ago.

Plaza attributed the strong investment performance to the confidence of foreign and local investors in the present administration.

Othel V. Campos

BEST SCHOOL. Ricardo P. Cruz Sr. Elementary School, which is supported by the Aboitiz Group, is recognized as the Best Brigada Eskwela Implementer 2017 (Division Search, Mega School Category) by the Department of Education Division of Taguig City. Shown during the awarding ceremony are (from left) Aboitiz Foundation Inc. first vice president and chief operating officer Maribeth Marasigan, Office of the Schools Division Superintendent officer-in-charge Dr. Romulo Rocena and District 1 councilor Carlito Ogalinola.

Peza still keen on $360-b project of Taiwan-blacklisted businessman THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority said Tuesday the controversial $360-billion investments of a Filipino, Taiwanese and Singaporean conglomerate is above board, despite the group’s alleged links to businessman Chen Yu Hao whom Taiwan tagged as an “economic criminal”.

Peza director-general Charito Plaza said in a news briefing Xianglu Dragon Group owned

by Chen was not the investor in the project, although the company would act as the coordina-

B1

tor and consolidator of projects that would be located inside the proposed $360-billion mixed-use special economic zone in Pangasinan.

“While it may be true that Chen is an economic fugitive in Taiwan, we do not have any diplomatic relations, neither do we have extradition agreement with Taiwan. The Taiwan court can try his case in Taiwan but we are giving the project the rightful due diligence procedure. It will be up to the President [Rodrigo Duterte] if he will approve this in

the presidential proclamation,” Plaza said.

She said the government’s directive for Peza was to continue the due diligence on the project despite a letter from the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office warning the Philippine government of a possible fraud case by Chen.

“We do not want to be swayed by any biased statement saying Chen is a convicted criminal and fugitive from justice without any support proof or verifiable evidence. Otherwise, it will make

Peza biased as well if it will rely alone on mere allegations forwarded by a single party as its basis in denying the project.

At the rate this bad publicity by Teco is being carried out, it is like we are prejudging already the concerned party. We feel this not the proper way to treat a prospective investor,” Plaza said.

Teco, in a letter last week, said Chen was a wanted fugitive in Taiwan with several cases of fraud and capital usurpation.

The Pangasinan project is envisioned to bring in huge invest-

ments that will provide massive employment and economic opportunities to the country.

“Surely we do not see the same negative reaction and media expo in the US, Japan and Thailand which hold substantial investments of Xianglu and whose governments treat Chen in high regard despite the derogatory report as circulated in the Philippines and in social media,” Plaza said.

The project proponent for the Pangasinan ecozone is First Pangasinan Industrial Corp., a

consortium of Filipino and Taiwanese investors owning 60 percent of the project and a group of Singaporean investors with the remaining 40 percent, and not Xingalu as reported earlier, Plaza said.

The first phase will involve the development of the first 400-hectare land for $20.9 billion. It will host the petrochemical plant project of Xianglu.

The entire ecozone project that will cost $360 billion will be undertaken in a span of 30 years.

Othel V. Campos

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

PSE acquires additional stake in bond exchange

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange said Tuesday it signed a deal to acquire Investment Houses Association of the Philippines’ stake in PDS Holdings Corp.

Under the share purchase agreement, PSE will purchase IHAP’s 0.5831-percent interest in PDS Holdings worth P11.66 million. The deal will boost PSE’s stake in the operator of the country’s fixed income exchange to 53.36 percent.

The acquisition is a part of the planned unification of equities and fixed income exchanges.

“From a corporate standpoint, maintaining the business operations of both the PSE and PDS while reducing operational costs through synergies can result in greater business scalability and profitability,” PSE said.

“As the two companies have highly similar and integrated func-

tions, there should be synergies that could be realized particularly from an infrastructure standpoint, particularly on the technology side,” it said.

This is the third share purchase agreement signed by PSE pertaining to the acquisition of additional shares in PDS Holdings.

PSE signed an agreement in June to acquire Bankers Association of the Philippines’ 23.8-percent stake in PDS Holdings for P476.4 million.

It also purchased additional 500,000 shares in PDS Holdings held by Whistler Technologies for P160 million in July.

Other major shareholders of PDS Holdings are Singapore Stock Exchange., Tata Consultancy Services Asia-Pacific Phils. Inc., San Miguel Corp., Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines Research and Development Foundation, Development Bank of the Philippines, Social Security System and Citibank N.A.

Stock mart tumbles; Cosco, BDO advance S TOCKS tumbled Tuesday, following a three-day break, on rising tension on the Korean Peninsula after Pyongyang fired a missile over Japan, sinking Asian equity markets and boosting havens such as gold and the yen.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, fell 66 points, or 0.8 percent, to close at 7,948.39, as five of the six major sectors declined.

The broader all-share index also slid 28 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at 4,720.68, on a value turnover of P6.9 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 103 to 84, while 51 issues were unchanged.

Five of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Cosco Capital Inc., the holding company of tycoon Lucio Co, which rose 1.3 percent to P8.07 and BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender, which gained 0.6 per-

cent to P127.80.

Meanwhile, the Japanese yen rallied Tuesday and Asian equity markets sank after North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan, ratcheting up geopolitical tensions in the region.

The missile test is the latest in a series of recent provocations by Pyongyang, testing US President Donald Trump, his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and raising fresh fears of conflict with the nucleararmed nation.

Regional investors ran for cover soon after the opening, seeking out safe bets. The yen surged to four-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.59 13,000 59.4 4,730 103.7 1,793,330 3.95 1,000 127.8 2,060,650 1.33 35,000 35.6 19,100 16.1 5,700 31.4 1,401,800 1.65 3,000 0.7 2,375,000 88.45 3,039,050 0.95 1,807,000 13.16 10,000 60.95 46,400 237 2,360 115 30 51.5 49,470 252.8 934,930 1,800 35 86.65 42,280 1.35 6,000

59,810 280,012.50 186,369,687 3,950 263,547,470 47,520 678,425 91,186 44,590,120 4,950 1,666,370 269,008,077.50 1,745,210 131,600 2,812,239.50 559,370 3,450 2,545,941.50 237,528,446 63,000 3,661,852.50 8,250

207,319.50 -16,002,013 -70,323,115 27,570 -4,241,120 5,785,195 -1,126,221.50 722,510.50 76,604,704 1,633,244 -

39.15 9.32 0.8 1.37 22.9 0.24 130 6.18 17.26 32.1 23 64 79.9 1.91 5.34 11.18 10.3 15.38 13.14 7.06 6.8 1.8 16.82 67.5 13.92 12.4 14.5 1.79 237.8 60 3.64 3.4 30.3 18.86 17.58 269.2 0.238 10.7 2.96 6.7 9.43 7.49 10.1 1.8 12.08 65.45 6.51 305 4.28 2.45 12.64 4.49 0.143 1.24 147 3.74 2.07 0.99

INDUSTRIAL 39.5 2,427,800 9.37 1,045,100 0.8 1,760,000 1.4 956,000 23.9 13,100 0.24 1,440,000 148.9 1,360 6.24 10,222,200 17.28 1,285,000 32.95 591,000 25 122,100 64 2,910 80.85 250 1.95 120,000 5.35 27,800 11.24 14,800 10.4 2,377,200 15.38 2,462,300 13.16 68,300 7.11 705,000 6.8 13,586,900 1.8 2,000 16.86 1,411,200 68 22,380 13.96 29,600 12.44 70,600 15.68 5,185,600 1.83 481,000 238.8 1,024,340 60 640 3.81 165,000 3.4 155,000 30.9 694,600 19.88 555,300 17.68 7,213,000 269.6 323,310 0.241 1,700,000 11.32 30,100 2.99 675,000 6.7 1,018,900 9.5 2,852,600 7.74 7,100 10.1 18,400 1.84 630,000 12.2 280,500 65.55 116,350 6.69 189,200 308 38,800 4.28 50,000 2.54 393,000 12.7 1,937,800 4.49 61,000 0.143 860,000 1.26 24,000 147.3 1,053,650 3.74 62,000 2.1 4,605,000 0.99 20,000

95,576,130 9,791,376 1,410,960 1,329,720 309,710 345,970 190,106 63,979,749 22,210,154 19,368,830 2,983,980 186,240 20,112.50 232,740 148,955 165,822 24,953,632 37,925,898 899,358 5,018,864 92,719,579 3,600 23,771,736 1,521,000.50 413,688 878,354 79,584,122 870,610 244,929,668 38,407 617,070 549,110 21,431,610 10,887,718 127,098,202 87,149,238 408,620 333,804 2,018,870 6,951,895 27,102,432 54,560 185,840 1,141,750 3,422,858 7,657,857.50 1,244,050 11,874,294 214,000 990,040 24,615,448 274,500 123,620 30,010 156,730,505 232,890 9,626,740 19,900

26,867,175 -627,410 40,000 77,000 1,516,494 6,327,788 -5,000 185,600 49,250 671,430 5,326,870 -405,752 -991,160 -46,881,460 -14,961,442 1,134,360 4,188 -312,346 13,389,354 178,010 123,488,448 -123,750 -4,294,880 709,724 23,367,864 -12,744,742 -765,700 -67,240 10,453,100 248,630 -555,338 323,206 358,111 -6,055,400 -32,620 -3,189,444 26,360.00 -20,471,023 41,590 2,090 9,900

0.36 74.25 13.9 1.13 7.04 0.32 901.5 8.09 15.8 6.2 0.212 1,153 8 72.7 5.1 5.4 0.92 7.3 18 6.65 0.045 2.08 101 831.5 1.56 302 0.28 0.21 0.23

0.355 73.25 13.48 1.09 7 0.315 895 7.97 15.3 6.2 0.203 1,124 7.6 70.15 5.1 5.4 0.9 7.17 17.38 6.49 0.044 2.06 99.5 815 1.49 301 0.28 0.198 0.225

HOLDING FIRMS 0.355 1,050,000 74 757,370 13.5 10,265,200 1.13 11,000 7 60,900 0.315 670,000 899 608,750 8.07 19,605,900 15.5 6,175,000 6.2 2,000 0.203 410,000 1,130 154,005 8 23,200 72 1,986,720 5.1 3,200 5.4 20,000 0.91 411,000 7.29 1,017,700 17.62 976,700 6.55 12,970,700 0.044 7,400,000 2.08 186,000 100 51,150 816 346,110 1.49 1,268,000 302 1,340 0.28 120,000 0.198 490,000 0.225 2,350,000

373,400 55,851,717 138,815,348 12,030 426,720 211,200 546,989,360 157,843,140 95,582,196 12,400 85,690 174,462,015 181,727 141,575,843 16,320 108,000 372,580 7,372,223 17,226,728 84,676,908 326,700 385,560 5,114,835.50 283,777,205 1,916,370 404,466 33,600 98,460 534,200

-10,962,942 -39,174,708 172,985,865 3,368,906 -33,362,688 25,140 -39,171,830 -190,141.50 390,819 -1,888,494 -26,974,389 22,500 -1,774,606 -16,864,140 -90,600 25,200 -442,680

5.35 1.21 6.8 2.27 0.94 42.85 3.72 5.08 5.32 0.56 1.3 1.64 0.243 0.51 44.55 0.69 0.161 1.91 1.7 0.97 4.92 0.3 0.58 0.52

5.3 1.16 6.8 2.22 0.92 41.85 3.59 5.02 5.25 0.54 1.28 1.56 0.227 0.5 44.35 0.69 0.159 1.89 1.62 0.97 4.86 0.29 0.55 0.51

3,070,207 63,410,710 680 85,210 768,420 359,119,510 3,203,290 10,010,119 22,594 13,747,560 188,630 3,858,840 25,604,620 267,600 7,568,865 137,310 57,730 6,405,590 24,592,450 14,550 102,425,220 8,878,750 4,480,640 481,880

-2,540,946 2,360 -142,578,595 1,488,210 -68,181 -3,898,340 -193,960 -830,240 1,500 4,729,330 23,920 2,723,810 -1,678,580 8,422,190 -12,050 -34,100 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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 PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

4.64 59.3 105 3.95 128 1.36 35.4 15.9 32.55 1.65 0.71 89.1 1 13.16 60.65 237.2 115 51.4 257 1,800 86.5 1.38

4.64 59.4 105 3.95 128.6 1.39 35.7 16.1 32.85 1.65 0.71 89.1 1 13.16 61 237.2 115 51.6 258 1,800 86.65 1.38

4.58 58.05 103.5 3.95 127.5 1.33 35.4 15.9 31.3 1.65 0.7 88.2 0.95 13.16 60.4 237 115 51.35 251.4 1,800 86.45 1.35

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

40 9.38 0.82 1.39 24.5 0.24 145 6.37 17.28 32.6 23.5 64 79.9 1.92 5.34 11.2 10.66 15.6 13.14 7.15 6.85 1.8 16.84 67.5 14.2 12.44 14.8 1.79 240 60.05 3.64 3.52 31 19 17.78 270.6 0.24 10.8 2.99 7.03 9.48 7.55 10.1 1.86 12.3 66.15 6.51 308.8 4.28 2.53 12.9 4.52 0.147 1.24 152.9 3.8 2.1 1

40 9.44 0.82 1.4 24.5 0.241 148.9 6.4 17.32 33 25.5 64 80.85 1.97 5.4 11.56 10.72 15.6 13.2 7.2 6.86 1.8 17 68 14.2 12.46 15.72 1.83 240.4 60.05 3.84 3.64 31.05 19.88 17.78 270.6 0.244 11.36 3 7.2 9.53 7.8 10.1 1.86 12.38 66.15 6.69 310 4.28 2.55 12.94 4.52 0.147 1.26 153 3.81 2.12 1

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

0.355 73.65 13.9 1.09 7 0.32 901.5 7.97 15.8 6.2 0.209 1,140 7.6 72.35 5.1 5.4 0.92 7.29 17.98 6.6 0.045 2.06 100.5 820 1.55 302 0.28 0.198 0.23

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

5.35 1.2 6.8 2.22 0.94 42.85 3.59 5.08 5.32 0.55 1.3 1.56 0.235 0.5 44.35 0.69 0.159 1.89 1.65 0.97 4.92 0.29 0.56 0.51

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

5.29 23.4 1.78 3.24 34.2 1.01 0.89 5.95

5.43 23.4 1.81 3.25 34.3 1.02 0.89 5.96

5.21 22.9 1.78 3.21 33.7 1.01 0.89 5.84

5.24 23 1.8 3.25 33.8 1.01 0.89 5.88

2,056,800 3,140,900 778,000 462,000 15,843,200 107,000 19,000 4,035,900

10,912,361 72,451,475 1,406,380 1,485,260 536,439,340 108,930 16,910 23,850,837

-611,251 -9,991,180 270,480 -216,152,840 -1,004,332

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA 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 TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

19.3 41.95 1.62 0.59 0.039 10.94 0.076 107.5 10.72 8.45 2,040 6.13 16.44 2.36 3.02 105.9 12.38 8.57 0.174 1.33 15.4 4.55 1.58 10.58 2.45 8.98 4.21 23 2.32 11.1 5.19 167 10.78 1,743 1.61 0.395 47.95 90 5.91 4.22 1.44 1.84 3.4 1.2 8.78

19.74 41.95 1.69 0.59 0.04 11 0.078 107.8 10.76 8.45 2,042 6.13 17.3 2.36 3.04 105.9 12.38 8.57 0.174 1.36 15.4 4.55 1.6 10.9 2.46 9.12 4.28 23 2.4 11.12 5.19 172 10.78 1,743 1.61 0.395 48.05 90.05 5.91 4.5 1.45 1.92 3.43 1.23 8.79

19.06 41.6 1.62 0.57 0.039 10.56 0.076 106.2 10.42 7.98 1,990 6.08 16.42 2.32 3.01 103.1 12 8.5 0.171 1.33 15.4 4.49 1.49 10.58 2.4 8.88 4.13 23 2.32 11.1 5.19 167 10.48 1,700 1.59 0.395 47.7 88.8 5.91 4.13 1.41 1.84 3.4 1.19 8.69

SERVICES 19.4 41.7 1.68 0.58 0.039 10.76 0.077 106.2 10.42 7.98 2,000 6.12 17.24 2.32 3.04 103.1 12.38 8.5 0.174 1.36 15.4 4.5 1.49 10.68 2.46 8.99 4.28 23 2.39 11.12 5.19 170.1 10.54 1,700 1.61 0.395 47.95 89 5.91 4.5 1.43 1.92 3.41 1.2 8.7

102,200 27,200 12,000 11,314,000 8,200,000 11,047,400 34,880,000 142,640 5,127,200 361,400 75,075 245,500 464,600 448,000 35,000 888,190 8,200 321,000 4,770,000 128,000 100 371,000 2,286,000 729,500 27,000 2,128,600 2,463,000 900 765,000 2,200 18,500 500 1,037,500 77,185 1,626,000 640,000 1,814,300 263,570 169,500 8,517,000 13,341,000 3,000 344,000 5,708,000 2,372,800

1,988,628 1,137,525 19,760 6,585,510 323,500 119,007,154 2,672,230 15,287,261 54,462,826 2,939,951 150,825,575 1,497,603 7,878,936 1,045,280 105,410 92,440,233 101,478 2,746,000 819,650 172,120 1,540 1,674,850 3,525,360 7,785,616 66,120 19,110,222 10,359,670 20,700 1,816,660 24,444 96,015 84,972 10,983,350 132,409,040 2,613,530 252,800 87,028,100 23,572,234 1,001,745 37,449,240 19,058,180 5,600 1,170,530 6,899,230 20,699,109

35,140 -32,000 4,481,932 23,100 3,037,326 158,730 -853,230.00 -38,930,445 159,160 -263,490 -25,924,356 99,040 -166,920 1,679,650 -1,304,790 -473,750 800,390 -9,600 -1,677,686 -38,118,030 140,080 27,260,185 11,160,875.50 -41,370 -110,880 15,021,010 255,240 9,965,660.00

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING BENGUET A 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 1.68 4.97 1.9 1.9 1.19 0.39 8.38 2.54 0.275 0.185 0.193 0.01 0.012 1.92 7.32 1.96 0.51 1.1 0.013 0.014 0.013 2.69 8.76 4.2 169.5 0.0082

0.0029 1.75 5.08 1.9 1.92 1.21 0.405 8.8 2.59 0.28 0.185 0.194 0.011 0.012 1.97 7.4 1.96 0.54 1.14 0.013 0.015 0.013 2.69 8.84 4.45 169.7 0.0082

0.0028 1.67 4.9 1.83 1.9 1.18 0.39 8.38 2.52 0.27 0.18 0.192 0.01 0.011 1.92 7.04 1.89 0.51 1.09 0.012 0.014 0.012 2.5 8.61 4.2 168.2 0.008

MINING & OIL 0.0029 91,000,000 1.74 15,561,000 5.07 573,000 1.83 6,000 1.92 9,000 1.19 1,458,000 0.395 1,470,000 8.58 6,200 2.55 10,579,000 0.275 500,000 0.184 5,850,000 0.193 100,000 0.011 12,300,000 0.012 30,100,000 1.97 181,000 7.17 5,663,300 1.95 45,000 0.53 252,000 1.09 126,000 0.013 183,700,000 0.014 79,700,000 0.012 251,900,000 2.53 16,000 8.75 934,800 4.36 12,532,000 168.8 355,070 0.008 3,000,000

255,000 26,649,850 2,857,020 11,190 17,260 1,733,880 581,650 53,932 27,114,100 139,200 1,061,860 19,330 129,200 361,100 353,170 40,669,937 85,760 132,430 138,920 2,387,400 1,193,700 3,165,200 41,340 8,181,343 54,312,940 59,947,364 24,200

-991,100 -25,030 810,460 19,700 2,804,451 -38,530 -120,900 25,800 2,745,057 -718,150 669,816 16,000

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

41.3 517 520 106 105.5 112.3 517 5.82 1,020 1.06 106.1 1,059 1,016 104.2 112.9 77 81 77 81.8 79.9

41.85 517 520 106 105.5 112.3 517 5.83 1,020 1.06 106.1 1,065 1,016 104.5 112.9 77 81 77 81.8 79.9

41.25 515 520 106 105.5 112.3 517 5.82 1,020 1.06 106 1,059 1,016 104.1 112.9 76.6 81 77 81.8 79.9

PREFERRED 41.25 592,500 515 15,670 520 1,100 106 3,900 105.5 5,600 112.3 1,000 517 2,000 5.82 29,744,100 1,020 4,990 1.06 110,000 106 6,520 1,065 5,135 1,016 5 104.5 2,800 112.9 10 76.8 1,630 81 100 77 3,600 81.8 9,150 79.9 590

24,455,210 8,094,105 572,000 413,400 590,800 112,300 1,034,000 173,110,666 5,089,800 116,600 691,220 5,443,175 5,080 292,283 1,129 124,917 8,100 277,200 748,470 47,141

-1,515,875.00 490,675 -112,300 -1,356,060 11,660 277,200 -

LR WARRANT

2.54

2.56

2.5

WARRANTS 2.54 345,000

870,420

-5,000

4,391,250 173,795 14,717,648

170,510 -4,801,326

1,202,099

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 5.34 1.17 6.8 2.27 0.94 42 3.7 5.02 5.25 0.54 1.29 1.63 0.24 0.5 44.45 0.69 0.161 1.91 1.63 0.97 4.87 0.3 0.57 0.52

575,900 54,047,000 100 38,000 829,000 8,519,600 870,000 1,989,600 4,300 25,255,000 146,000 2,379,000 109,350,000 535,000 170,300 199,000 360,000 3,366,000 14,808,000 15,000 21,011,000 29,980,000 7,977,000 938,000

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

4.19 4.91 5.76

4.33 5.05 5.78

4.1 4.91 5.51

FIRST METRO ETF

121.3

121.3

120.3

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

13,881,811

INDUSTRIAL

75,058,253

HOLDING FIRMS

69,489,333

PROPERTY

309,823,455

SERVICES

165,149,366

MINING & OIL

708,126,410

GRAND TOTAL

1,345,247,354

4.15 5.04 5.56

SME

1,041,000 35,000 2,631,500

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.3 9,930

VALUE 1,987.79 (down) 3.70 1,074,303,076.91 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,018.85 (down) 109.88 1,361,633,140.99 HOLDING FIRMS 7,837.48 (down) 41.76 1,729,782,272.345 PROPERTY 3,733.60 (down) 32.66 SERVICES 1,698.10 (down) 25.83 1,286,119,735.718 MINING & OIL 13,118.55 (up) 61.85 1,169,695,933.54 PSEI 7,948.39 (down) 66.75 231,679,108.831 All Shares Index 4,720.68 (down) 28.38 6,873,703,523.88 Gainers: 84; Losers: 103; Unchanged: 51; Total: 238

month highs of 108.70 against the dollar from 109.26 in New York before easing slightly later in the day.

Gold climbed 1.9 percent to near 10-month highs of $1,322.

The greenback had already been suffering selling pressure as expectations for another Federal Reserve interest rate rise faded in recent weeks. The euro pushed above the $1.20 mark for the first time since January 2015 as traders bet on the European Central Bank soon winding in its crisis-era stimulus measures.

Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at CFD and FX provider AxiTrader in Sydney, said: “What’s important about the North Korean action is that it ratchets up the pressure on President Trump and Japan to respond.

And that may put them squarely in a face-off with China should they respond militarily.”

Stocks were in the red although initial sharp losses were pared, with Tokyo losing 0.5 percent to sit around four-month lows. Seoul ended 0.2 percent down, having lost more than one percent earlier. Hong Kong was 0.4 percent lower following five straight days of gains.

Sydney shed 0.7 percent while there were also losses in Taipei, Manila and Wellington, though Shanghai ended up 0.1 percent.

In early European trade, London fell 0.7 percent, Paris shed 0.9 percent and Frankfurt was off 0.8 percent.

With Bloomberg, AFP

Semirara increases capital to P10b

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the increase in authorized capital stock of Semirara Mining and Power Corp. to P10 billion from P3 billion.

Semirara said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the corporate regulator approved the higher capital on Aug. 18.

“It will permit the corporation to act urgently and appropriately on business opportunities and developments as they may arise in the future,” the company said.

The company’s stockholders approved, confirmed and ratified the amendment to Article VII of the Articles of Incorporation in May this year.

Semirara said early this year it would allocate P5 billion to increase the production capacity of its Antique coal mines to 16 million metric tons in the next two to three years.

The company received an approval under the amended environmental compliance certificate, allowing a maximum coal production of 16 million MT. The company plans to use the higher production capacity to supply the increasing domestic demand from coalfired power plants, which are due for commissioning and commercial operation from 2017 to 2020. The company produced 12 million MT of coal in 2016.

The company is deploying additional mining equipment to accommodate the increase in production, double the conveyor line, lengthen the pier and expand the coal storage area. The current facility can only accommodate 12 million MT.

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Maynilad allots P7b for upgrade

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

M

aynilad Water Services Inc., the utility that distributes water in the west zone of Metro Manila, is investing P7 billion to upgrade its La Mesa Water Treatment Plants 1 and 2 in Quezon City.

The facilities have a combined production capacity of 2,400 million liters per day and supply potable water for some nine million customers of Maynilad.

Maynilad said it would upgrade the plants’ treatment ca-

pacity, retrofit structures for improved earthquake resiliency, and automate processes for more reliable operations.

Set for completion in 2020, the LMTP 1 and 2 improvement project will enhance the treat-

ment technology used in the facilities to address the problem of increasing turbidity levels in raw water coming from Angat and Ipo Dams.

Maynilad is upgrading the treatment capacity of LMTP 1 and 2 from 300 NTU (nethelometric turbidity units) to 2,000 NTU. Turbidity level refers to the sediment content in the dams’ raw water, which increases either due to soil erosion in the watersheds after heavy rains or the scraping of mineral deposits from the dams’ bottom during drought periods.

“Investment in additional treatment technologies is necessary given the dramatic shifts in raw water quality brought on by climate change. With this upgrade, water service to our customers will no longer be affected whenever turbidity level in the raw water increases,” said chief operating officer Randolph Estrellado.

Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez said the project is part of the company’s P42-billion capital expenditure plan from 2013 to 2017 that aims to improve water infrastructure and address water security challenges.

Security Bank raising P20b

SECURITY Bank Corp. plans to raise up to P20 billion in fresh capital through the issuance of long-term negotiable certificates of deposit.

Security Bank said in a disclosure tho the Philippine Stock Exchange its board approved the issuance subject to regulatory approval.

Security Bank in April last year received P36.5 billion from Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. as payment for the acquisition of a 20 percent stake in the local bank.

BTMU is now the second largest shareholder of Security Bank, while

Security Bank is now an equity affiliate of BTMU. The Dy Group remains the biggest shareholder of Security Bank with majority voting control.

As a result of BTMU’s investment, Security Bank’s shareholder capital increased to P90.2 billion pro-forma as of April 1, 2016 from P53.2 billion as of Dec. 31, 2015.

Security Bank earlier reported a net income of P5.2 billon in the first half of the year, up 8 percent from a year ago, driven by a double-digit increase in net interest income.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Section 4. Subsection X174.2 of the MORB on Chief Risk Officer is hereby added as follows: OFFIce OF The GOveRNOR

Circular No. 971 Series of 2017

Subject: Guidelines on Risk Governance The Monetary Board, in its Resolution No. 1326 dated 3 August 2017, approved the following guidelines on risk governance for BSP Supervised Financial Institutions amending relevant provisions of the Manual of Regulations for Banks/Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Institutions (MORB/MORNBFI) as follows:

(2) Comprehensiveness - Reports should cover all material risk areas within the organization. The depth and scope of these reports should be consistent with the size and complexity of the BSFI’s operations and risk profile, as well as the requirements of the users of information.

Section 1. Section X174/4174Q of the MORB/MORNBFI on Risk Management Function shall now be renamed as Risk Governance Framework, and amended to read as follows:

(3) Clarity and usefulness - Reports should communicate information in a clear and concise manner. Reports should be easy to understand and comprehensive enough to facilitate informed decision-making. Reports should include meaningful information tailored to the needs of the recipients.

Sec. X174/4174Q Risk Governance Framework. The risk governance framework shall include policies, supported by appropriate processes and control procedures, designed to ensure that the risk identification, aggregation, mitigation and monitoring capabilities are commensurate with the Bangko Sentral Supervised Institution (BSFI)’s size, complexity, risk profile, and systemic importance. The risk governance framework shall consider the entities in the conglomerate and shall be applied on a group-wide scale. a.

Risk appetite. The BSFI’s risk appetite shall be clearly conveyed through a risk appetite statement (RAS) that can be easily understood by all relevant parties, e.g., board of directors itself, senior management, employees, the public, regulators, and other stakeholders. The RAS shall represent the individual and aggregate level and types of risk that the BSFI is willing to assume in order to achieve its business objectives and considering its capability to manage risk.

b.

Risk management policy. Risk management policies shall cover: (1) structure of limits and guidelines to govern risk-taking. These shall include actions that shall be taken when risk limits are breached, including notification and escalation to higher level of Management and corresponding sanctions for excessive risk taking; (2) clearly delineated responsibilities for managing risk based on the three lines of defense; (3) system for measuring risk; (4) checks and balances system; and (5) framework for risk data aggregation and risk reporting.

c.

Risk management processes and infrastructure.

The degree of sophistication of the risk management and internal control processes and infrastructure shall keep pace with developments in the BSFI such as balance sheet and revenue growth; increasing complexity of the business; risk configuration or operating structure; geographical expansion; mergers and acquisitions; or the introduction of new products or business lines, as well as with the external risk landscape; business environment; and industry practice. This should enable a dynamic, comprehensive, and accurate risk reporting both at the disaggregated (including material risk residing in subsidiaries) and aggregated level to allow for a BSFI-wide or integrated perspective of risk exposures.

In this respect, BSFIs shall ensure that their risk data aggregation capabilities meet the following principles: (1) Accuracy and Integrity – this refers to the capability to generate accurate and reliable risk data to meet normal and stress reporting accuracy requirements.

(2) Completeness – this refers to the capability to capture and aggregate all material risk data across the banking group. Data should be available by business line, legal entity, asset type, industry, region and other groupings, as relevant for the risk in question, and should permit the identification and reporting of risk exposures, concentrations, and any emerging risks.

(3) Timeliness - this refers to the capability to generate aggregate and up-to-date risk data in a timely manner while also meeting the principles relating to accuracy and integrity, completeness and adaptability. Timing shall depend upon the nature and potential volatility of the risk being measured as well as its criticality to the overall risk profile of the BSFI. Timing shall also depend on the BSFI-specific frequency requirements for risk management reporting, under both normal and stress/ crisis situations, set based on the characteristics and overall risk profile of the BSFI. (4) Adaptability - this refers to the capability to generate aggregate risk data to meet a broad range of on-demand, ad hoc risk management reporting requests, including requests during stress/crisis situations, requests due to changing internal needs and requests to meet supervisory queries. d.

e.

Risk identification, monitoring and controlling. BSFIs shall identify and assess all material risks including new and emerging risks, as well as hard to quantify risks, e.g., reputational risk, on a group-wide and entity specific levels. In this respect, BSFIs should use accurate internal and external data and consider the external operating environment in the risk assessment process to inform strategic business decisions and risk management approaches.

Risk Communication. BSFI shall promote an open communication about risk issues, including risk strategies across the organization. They shall adopt an effective information sharing and communication system enabling the timely, accurate, concise, and understandable transfer of information. This includes the risk reporting framework, which should accurately communicate risk exposures and results of stress tests and should promote robust discussion of risk exposures.

The risk reporting framework should be governed by the following principles: (1) Accuracy - Reports should accurately and precisely convey aggregated risk data and reflect risk in an exact manner. In this regard, relevant reports should be reconciled and validated.

Section 2. Subsection X174.1 of the MORB is hereby amended to read as follows: Subsec. X174.1 Risk management function. The risk management function shall be responsible for overseeing the risktaking activities across the BSFI, as well as in evaluating whether these remain consistent with the BSFI’s risk-appetite and strategic direction. It shall ensure that the risk governance framework remain appropriate relative to the complexity of risk taking activities of the BSFI. The risk management function shall be responsible for identifying, measuring, monitoring and reporting risk on an enterprise-wide basis as part of the second line of defense. It shall directly report to the Risk Oversight committee (ROc) or the board of directors, as applicable. Personnel in the risk management function should collectively have knowledge and technical skills commensurate with business activities and risk exposures of the BSFI. Universal/commercial Banks (UBs/KBs) shall create a separate risk management function that shall primarily assist management in meeting its responsibility to understand and manage risk exposures and ensure the development and consistent implementation of risk policies, processes, and procedures throughout the bank.

In case of group structures, there should be a board-approved policy that defines the risk management framework that shall apply to entities across the group. The policy shall provide the structure that shall be adopted by the group, either to establish the risk management function centrally at the parent bank or in each of the identified subsidiaries. Such policy shall also include the overall responsibility of the parent bank’s risk management function with respect to the management of risk exposures of subsidiaries/ affiliates.

The establishment of risk management function centrally by the parent bank in group structures shall not fall under the outsourcing framework as provided under Section X162 of the MORB. In this respect, the head of the risk management function of the parent bank shall define the risk management strategies, processes, and communication framework for the entire group: Provided, That this shall be done in consultation and coordination with the respective board of directors of the subsidiary or affiliate BSFI: Provided, further, That the board of directors of the subsidiary or affiliate BSFI, shall remain ultimately responsible for the management of risk exposures.

Branches of foreign banks may establish their own risk management function or may be covered by the parent/regional/ group risk management function: Provided, That all branches of foreign banks shall meet the applicable provisions set forth under this circular, and comply with the policies, practices, and systems of its head office related to the management of risks.

The board of directors of thrift, rural, and cooperative banks, may, at its own discretion, or as directed by the appropriate supervising department of the Bangko Sentral, create a risk management function, that shall report directly to the ROc or the board of directors, as applicable.

Section 3. Subsection 4174Q.1 of the MORNBFI on Risk management function is hereby added as follows: Subsec. 4174Q.1 Risk management function. The risk management function shall be responsible for overseeing the risk-taking activities across the BSFI, as well as the evaluation on whether these remain consistent with the BSFI’s risk-appetite and strategic direction. It shall ensure that the risk governance framework remain appropriate relative to the complexity of risk taking activities of the BSFI. The risk management function shall be responsible for identifying, measuring, monitoring and reporting risk on an enterprise-wide basis as part of the second line of defense. It shall directly report to the Risk Oversight committee (ROc) or the board of directors, as applicable. Personnel in the risk management function should collectively have knowledge and technical skills commensurate with business activities and risk exposures of the BSFI. BSFIs performing quasi-banking functions declared as complex by the Bangko Sentral shall create a separate risk management function that shall primarily assist management in meeting its responsibility to understand and manage risk exposures and ensure the development and consistent implementation of risk policies, processes, and procedures throughout the bank.

The board of directors of non-complex QBs may, at its own discretion, or as directed by the appropriate supervising department of the Bangko Sentral, create a risk management function, which shall report directly to the ROc or the board of directors, as applicable.

Subsec. X174.2 Chief Risk Officer (CRO). UBs/KBs shall appoint a cRO to head the risk management function. Other banks, may at their own discretion, or as directed by the appropriate supervising department of the Bangko Sentral, appoint a cRO, or any equivalent position to carry out the responsibilities of the position.

The appointment, dismissal and other changes to the cRO or its equivalent position shall have prior approval of the board of directors. In cases, when the cRO will be replaced, the BSFI shall report the same to the appropriate supervising department of the Bangko Sentral within five (5) days from the time it has been approved by the board of directors.

The CRO shall have sufficient stature, authority, and seniority within the BSFI. he shall be independent from executive functions and business line responsibilities, operations and revenue-generating functions, and shall have access to such information as he deems necessary to form his judgment. The cRO shall have direct access to the board of directors and the Risk Oversight committee without any impediment. he shall serve on a full-time basis and shall functionally meet/report to the board of directors or board-level committee: Provided, That in cases of branches of foreign banks, the cRO shall report to the regional/group risk function. Meetings with the board of directors or board-level committee shall be duly minuted and adequately documented. In this regard, the board of directors/board-level committee shall review and approve the performance and compensation of the cRO, and budget of the risk management function. a. Qualifications of the CRO. The cRO should have the knowledge and skills necessary to oversee the BSFI’s risk management activities. This will be assessed based on the ability of the CRO to influence decisions that affect the BSFI’s exposure to risk. The cRO should have the ability to interpret and articulate risk in a clear and understandable manner and, without compromising his independence, can engage in a constructive dialogue with the board of directors, chief executive officer, and other senior management on key risk issues. b.

Duties and responsibilities of the CRO. The cRO shall be responsible for overseeing the risk management function and shall support the board of directors in the development of the risk appetite and RAS of the BSFI and for translating the risk appetite into a risk limits structure. The cRO shall likewise propose enhancements to risk management policies, processes, and systems to ensure that the BSFI’s risk management capabilities are sufficiently robust and effective to fully support strategic objectives and risk-taking activities.

Section 5. Subsection 4174Q.2 of the MORNBFI on chief Risk Officer is hereby added as follows: Subsec. 4174Q.2 Chief Risk Officer (CRO). BSFIs, may at their own discretion, or as directed by the appropriate supervising department of the Bangko Sentral, appoint a cRO, or any equivalent position to carry out the responsibilities of the position: Provided, That the appointment, dismissal and other changes to the cRO or its equivalent position shall have prior approval of the board of directors. In cases, when the cRO will be replaced, the BSFI shall report the same to the appropriate supervising department of the Bangko Sentral within five (5) days from the time it has been approved by the board of directors.

The CRO shall have sufficient stature, authority, and seniority within the BSFI. he shall be independent from executive functions and business line responsibilities, operations and revenue-generating functions, and shall have access to such information as he deems necessary to form his judgment. The cRO shall have direct access to the board of directors and the risk oversight committee without any impediment. he shall serve on a full-time basis and shall functionally meet/report to the board of directors or board-level committee: Provided, That in cases of branches of foreign banks, the cRO shall report to the regional/group risk function. Meetings with the board of directors or board-level committee shall be duly minuted and adequately documented. In this regard, the board of directors/board-level committee shall review and approve the performance and compensation of the cRO, and budget of the risk management function. a. Qualifications of the CRO. The cRO should have the knowledge and skills necessary to oversee the BSFI’s risk management activities. This will be assessed based on the ability of the CRO to influence decisions that affect the BSFI’s exposure to risk. The cRO should have the ability to interpret and articulate risk in a clear and understandable manner and, without compromising his independence, can engage in a constructive dialogue with the board of directors, chief executive officer, and other senior management on key risk issues. b.

Duties and responsibilities of the CRO. The cRO shall be responsible for overseeing the risk management function and shall support the board of directors in the development of the risk appetite and RAS of the BSFI and for translating the risk appetite into a risk limits structure. The cRO shall likewise propose enhancements to risk management policies, processes, and systems to ensure that the BSFI’s risk management capabilities are sufficiently robust and effective to fully support strategic objectives and risk-taking activities.

Section 6. Effectivity. This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) calendar days following its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

For the Monetary Board: (Sgd.) NESTOR A. ESPENILLA, JR. Governor 22 August 2017

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

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

Business

Markets fall; euro, gold lead havens

H

EADWINDS stacked up for global markets on Tuesday, with stocks slumping across Europe and Asia and havens including gold jumping after North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan. Gasoline gained with oil as energy companies braced for another hit from Tropical Storm Harvey.

From London to Sydney equities retreated and volatility jumped amid classic risk-off moves, with US stock futures also tumbling. Japan called Kim Jong Un’s latest provocation an “unprecedented, grave and serious threat.” Gold surged to the highest this year, while the Swiss franc and the yen were the best performing major currencies. Gasoline added to its rally as storm Harvey picked up strength again after inundating refineries along the Texas coast.

The euro climbed above $1.20 for the first time since 2015.

The euro advanced to its strongest level in more than two years, hours after North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan. Core European bonds rallied as risk-off sentiment spread across the globe.

Europe’s common currency gained for a third day even as South Korean President Moon Jae-in ordered a show of force in response, which traders said highlighted its growing appeal as a haven. US Treasuries rallied and German 10-year bond yields hit a two-month low as investors sought the safest assets.

The euro has advanced more than 14 percent against the dollar this year on speculation that the European Central Bank will outline its intent to scale back its extraordinary package of quantitative-easing measures in the autumn. The currency has defied analyst predictions for weakness at the start of the year, where some even predicted parity with the greenback.

“The euro rallied as the dollar is no safe haven from the North Korean factor,” said Stuart Bennett, head of Group-of-10 strategy at Banco Santander SA. “It is overvalued by most quantifiable indicators at this level, but the market is likely to pull it higher in the same way they wanted to pull it lower at the start of the year.”

Leveraged and macro investors bought the euro in its latest push higher, according to foreign-exchange traders in Europe. Demand was also driven ahead of next week’s monetarypolicy review by the ECB, said the traders, who asked not to be identified as they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.

The euro rose 0.6 percent to $1.2045 as of 9:00 a.m in London. The currency is now trading above the psychological $1.2000 level for the first time since January 2015. From a technical perspective, traders are watching $1.2167, which marks the 50 percent retracement of the euro’s drop since 2014.

US 10-year Treasury yields declined seven basis points to 2.09 percent, while German 10year yields fell as much as five basis points to 0.32 percent, the lowest since June 27.

While ECB President Mario Draghi chose not to mention the euro’s appreciation in his Jackson Hole speech on Friday, European central bank officials expressed concern about the currency’s strength in the minutes from their last meeting on July 20. Bloomberg

A quotation board (top left) flashes the foreign exchange rate against the US dollar (top) and the Nikkei 225 key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (bottom) at a foreign exchange brokerage in Tokyo on August 29, 2017, after a missile was launched by North Korea earlier in the day.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on August 29 said North Korea’s launch of a missile over its territory was an “unprecedented, serious and grave threat” as he called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting. AFP

Juncker: Brexit terms first before trade ties BRUSSELS, Belgium―European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker warned again Tuesday that Britain must first agree its divorce terms with the EU before any discussion of post-Brexit ties can begin.

“It has to be ultra clear that we will not begin any negotiation on the future relationship... before all the separation issues are settled, that is the divorce of the UK from the European Union,” Juncker said.

Juncker, a life-long proponent of closer EU integration, told an audience of EU diplomats that he was disappointed by the British government’s approach to the Brexit negotiations.

“I have read with all necessary attention all the position papers drawn up by the UK government but none of them really give me satisfaction, so there is an enormous amount of questions that need to be resolved,” he said.

Juncker’s comments came as the two sides continued a third round of Brexit negotiations in Brussels which got off to a rocky start on Monday.

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier initially exchanged pleasantries with his British counterpart David Davis but swiftly changed tone to demand London come up with detailed responses to Brussels’ positions.

“To be honest, I am concerned,

time passes quickly,” Barnier told reporters ahead of a third round of Brexit talks in Brussels.

“We welcome the (recent) UK government papers and we have read them very carefully... but we must start negotiating seriously,” he said.

“We need UK papers that are clear. The sooner we remove the ambiguity the sooner we will be in a position to discuss the future relationship and a transitional period.”

For his part, Davis said the British position papers were “products of the hard work and detailed thinking that has been going on behind the scenes not just the last few weeks but the last 12 months.”

“They should form the basis of

Makeover for world’s oldest city drives India steel recovery

By Swansy Afonso THE world’s oldest living city is getting a makeover.

Varanasi, Hinduism’s holiest site on the Ganges River in northern India, is one of 100 places earmarked to receive trillions of rupees to transform their aging infrastructure and become ‘ Smart Cities,’ replete with affordable housing, improved sanitation, and better transportation. To build it all, India plans to triple its steel-making capacity, making it the world’s second-biggest producer, trumping Japan, and reviving an industry that a year ago was on its knees.

“India is one of the bright spots for the global steel industry,” said Bijoy Thomas, a senior analyst at India Ratings & Research, the local unit of Fitch Ratings, by phone from New Delhi. “We have a very low base of per-capita consumption and the nation is on the path to development.”

India used about 63 kilograms of steel per person last year, compared with 493 kilograms in China, according to the World Steel Association.

That low consumption base, and the promise of a government-backed boom in construction, has prompted a flurry of expansion plans as steel prices recover from a slump in 2015.

India’s biggest producer, JSW Steel Ltd., plans to build two new plants of 10 million tons each in the resourcerich states of Odisha and Jharkhand, and spend billions more expanding its existing mills in an effort to double its size by 2030. Rival Tata Steel Ltd. has sought environmental clearances to expand its two

JSW Steel’s Dolvi plant as India’s biggest steel maker. Bloomberg

plants in India by 4 million tons a year.

India’s ambitious plans could force the country increasingly to turn to global markets to get enough coking coal and iron ore, Thomas said.

Pink City Among the cities due for an upgrade are Jaipur, a favorite stop for tourists who come to view its pink stone palaces, and the nineteenth century battlegrounds of Kanpur and Lucknow. But Varanasi, also known as Benares, is especially symbolic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan to transform India.

Continuously inhabited since the 11th century B.C., the city of 1.2 million people is Modi’s political base. Its narrow lanes wind their way to ancient sandstone palaces above the famous ghats or riverfront steps, where the Hindu faithful burn funeral pyres or come to wash

Inside Jindal Steel & Power Ltd.’s productionplant

away their sins in the sacred river. About 6 million tourists visit the city every year, but it lacks basic urban facilities like a proper sewage system.

The local government has a 25 billion rupee ($390 million) plan to build affordable houses, bury the millions of wires and cables that clutter the streets, install solar panels and upgrade the ghats by 2020-21. There are

also plans for a metro system, part of a new urban rail policy approved this month that would bring new subways to 15 Indian cities and expand networks at 12 others.

All of it will require millions of tons of additional steel.

India’s steel consumption could almost triple to as much as 240 million tons by 2030, with the majority being used

in construction, according to Sanak Mishra, secretary general of the Indian Steel Association.

He predicts India will overtake the US. as the world’s secondbiggest consumer next year.

“The Indian steel story is a growth story,” said Mishra, who previously ran the Indian projects of ArcelorMittal, the world’s biggest producer.

“India is one of the few major economies where steel use has not matured.”

Shares of Tata Steel have surged 61 percent this year in Mumbai while JSW Steel has climbed 51 percent. The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex Index has gained 19 percent.

Even so, like many of Modi’s ambitious plans, the National Steel Policy has a challenging target. To meet it, capacity would need to grow at a 6.4 percent annual rate, requiring around $140 billion of investment, according to ICRA Ltd. Given the weak financial health of many domestic players, and the central bank’s efforts to clean up bad loans, banks may be reluctant to lend the money, the local unit of Moody’s Investors Service said on Aug. 24.

‘India Growth’ The growth in demand will come with a caveat “that the government’s policies are supportive of all these investments,” said Vishal Kulkarni, a Singapore-based analyst at S&P Global Ratings.

Steel demand will rise, “but it will not be like China growth, it will be more like India growth.”

The government has earmarked a total of 1.9 trillion rupees ($30 billion) for 90 cities so far, with some money coming from the federal government and an equal amount contributed by state or local governments, the Ministry of Urban Development said in June. Bloomberg

what I hope will be a constructive week of talks between the European Commission and the UK,” he said.

Progress would depend on “flexibility and imagination,” he added.

The European Union says there has to be “sufficient progress” in three key areas―EU citizen rights, Northern Ireland’s border and the exit bill―before considering London’s demand to talk about postBrexit arrangements.

EU leaders are due to decide in October whether that has been achieved but there has been growing speculation the decision will be put pack to December as the gulf between the two sides shows no sign of narrowing. AFP

Facebook to restrict fake news, bans ads

SAN FRANCISCO―Facebook on Monday said that pages that make a habit of linking to bogus news stories will no longer be able to advertise at the world’s leading online social network.

The move is the latest shot fired by Facebook in its war against ‘fake news’ used to deceive instead of enlighten.

“If Pages repeatedly share stories marked as false, these repeat offenders will no longer be allowed to advertise on Facebook,” product managers Tessa Lyons and Satwik Shukla said in a blog post.

“This update will help to reduce the distribution of false news which will keep Pages that spread false news from making money.”

The social network already didn’t allow ads that link stories determined to be false by third-party fact-checkers.

“False news is harmful to our community,” Lyons and Shukla said.

“It makes the world less informed and erodes trust.”

Fake news became a serious issue in last year’s US election campaign, when clearly fraudulent stories circulated on social media, potentially swaying some voters.

Concerns have been raised since then about hoaxes and misinformation affecting elections in Europe this year, with investigations showing how “click farms” generate revenue from online advertising using made-up news stories.

“We’ve found instances of Pages using Facebook ads to build their audiences in order to distribute false news more broadly,” Lyons and Shukla said. AFP

LGUs

Disaster resilience agency proposed ALBAY Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has filed House Bill 6075, proposing the creation of an independent Department of Disaster Resilience or DDR to fortify the country’s calamity defense program and help ensure the country’s development and inclusive growth.

The proposed DDR will exclusively handle the encompassing tasks of disaster risk reduction, response, reconstruction and recovery, Salceda proposed.

“It will have initial budget of P10 billion, and will be solely accountable and responsible for overseeing, coordinating and implementing a comprehensive disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management program and finally redirect existing policy drifts among agencies handling these tasks,” he said.

Salceda said DRR is the answer to President Rodrigo Duterte’s call in his July 24 State of the Nation Address, for “both houses of Congress to expeditiously craft a law establishing a new authority or department that is effectively and efficiently responsive to contemporary disaster realities, and empowered to best deliver [an] enhanced disaster resiliency and quick disaster response.”

The proposed agency, he said, will be equipped with the necessary resources and competency to engage new actors, particularly in risk transfer and insurance, built with the necessary structure to manage broader climate-disaster governance arrangements.

The department would spearhead the continuous development of a massive “strategic and systematic approaches to disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation,” involving all sectors from the national government down to individual families in communities.

Salceda said the DDR should ideally take in at least four government entities critical to an effective disaster planning and operation -the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology under the Department of Science and Technology; the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and the Bureau of Fire Protection under the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

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Makati: No tax hike in 2017 T

By Joel E. Zurbano

HE city government of Makati on Tuesday assured its constituents there will be no tax increase this year even as the Commission on Audit recommended the updating of the city’s schedule of fair market value, which according to its 2016 annual audit report, had not been updated since 1997.

Lawyer Michael Camiña, city legal chief and spokesperson of Mayor Abigail Binay, said the city government is dealing with the CoA recommendation to adjust the fair market value of properties in a judicious manner.

“Such an important decision requires in-depth study and thorough consultation with all the

concerned stakeholders. Any adjustments in the FMV will affect tax rates and Mayor Abby would like to ensure that such adjustments, if and when implemented, will not prejudice the private sector and residents,” he said.

Camiña pointed out that Makati under the administration of Mayor Binay has seen

its highest revenue collection in years without increasing taxes.

In fact, he said, in just the first six months in office of the mayor, the city government topped by over P600 million the total revenue collection from July to December 2015 under the previous administration.

Based on the latest report of the Office of the City Treasurer, the total revenue collection of the city government as of July 31 has reached P12.65 billion, which is 87 percent of total revenue target for 2017. It is also higher by nine percent than the collection during the same period last year under the previous administration.

“We are focused on ensuring that proper incentives are in place for investors, as part of our push to be the first digital city,” Camiña said.

The latest financial report issued by City Treasurer Jesusa Cuneta shows the bulk of the P12.65billion collection came from Business Tax with P6.6 billion (eight-percent increase), followed

by Real Property Tax with P4.43 billion (nine-percent increase).

Other local revenue sources for the said period included Fees & Charges (P546.2 million), Economic Enterprises (P123.4 million). In all, collections from local revenue sources amounted to P11.73 billion.

Revenue collected from other sources included Interest Income (P135.4 million), Internal Revenue Allotment (P620.7 million), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (P160.4 million), and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp./Philippine Char-

ity Sweepstakes Office (P3.0 million).

Makati is among a few local government units in the country that are not dependent on the IRA. Few months after Mayor Binay assumed office, several reforms and innovations were made in the systems and operations of the city government to make its services more efficient, accessible and convenient to residents and taxpayers.

These include the convergence of all frontline offices involved in tax payment and renewal of business permits at the ground floor of Makati City Hall Building II, which relieved taxpayers of the burden of going from one building or floor to another. The absence of fixers was also noted by satisfied taxpayers.

HERO FORESTER. Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu (left) has awarded Joselito Eyala (bedridden), a forester at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Puerto Princesa City, the Medalya ng Bayani ng Kalikasan (Medal of Heroism for the Environment) for his ‘remarkable dedication to public service, bravery and leadership’ as they are surrounded

by Eyala’s family and DENR officials.

Cimatu visited Eyala at the Philippine General Hospital, where the forester was awaiting surgery to remove bullets lodged in his palate and back, on Aug. 28 as the country celebrated National Heroes’ Day.

Estrada leads dental mission for Manila children Inmates receive Tesda training

By Bill Casas

WITH oral disease remaining a serious public health problem in the country, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has led a dental mission aimed at preventing tooth decay among children aged one to threeyears-old.

Estrada underscored the importance of oral healthcare, saying dental caries (tooth decay) and gum diseases, if left unchecked, could lead to more serious illness-

es and infections such as arthritis, heart disease, endocarditis, gastro-intestinal diseases, and ocular, skin or renal diseases.

“Children at this young age are more vulnerable to tooth decay, so it’s important that we exert efforts to ensure their oral health,” Estrada said during the recent launch of Fluoride Varnishing program at Tayabas Health Center in Molave Street, Tondo.

“We must ensure now that their teeth are healthy,” Estrada

stressed, adding that this program is part of the city government’s “from womb to tomb” services to the Manileños.

According to the Philippine Dental Association, Estrada said 78 percent of children under the age of 12 and 97 percent of children aged six and below has some form of tooth decay In partnership with the Department of Health, the Manila Health Department treated 200 toddlers to a free application of fluoride var-

nish, a pale-yellow gel applied directly to the teeth that provides extra protection against tooth decay.

MHD Director Dr. Benjamin Yson said scientific studies have shown that fluoride varnish gives added protection to teeth against decay when used in addition to brushing teeth regularly with fluoride toothpaste.

Citing a study by the American Dental Association, Yson said fluoride varnish reduces the risk of dental caries to children by about 43 percent.

“Children aged one to three have a 93 percent risk of developing tooth decay so with this fluoride varnish program, we will be able to protect children’s teeth from decaying and developing dental caries,” Yson pointed out.

The MHD chief said Estrada chose to prioritize children of poor families since they are financially unable to avail of expensive dental health services; fluoride varnish application costs no less than P500 in private dental clinics.

QCPD getting 1k Glocks, 800 vests

By Rio N. Araja THE 36-member Quezon City council has given Mayor Herbert Bautista the green light to procure 1,000 Glock pistols and 800 bullet-proof vests for the Quezon City Police District.

Under City Resolution 71202017 introduced by District 2 Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica, the city government shall be allowed to purchase 1,000 pieces of Glock 17 9mm Gen 4 pistols and 800 vests.

The measure will beef up police’s capability, and ensure the safety and welfare of the residents by providing their police force with the necessary support to ensure operational efficiency, Ludovica said.

City Resolution 7119 of 2017, introduced by Councilors Franz Pumaren of District 3, Godofredo Liban II of District 5, Alexis Herrera of District 1, Raquel Malañgen of District 4

and Ranulfo Ludovica of District 2, also authorized Bautista to sign a deed of donation to pave the way for the distribution of the guns and vests to the QCPD. The city government under Bautista is fully supporting the QCPD by increasing its capability through the acquisition of patrol vehicles, modern police equipment and improvement of precinct facilities.

According to QCPD head Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, the crime rate in the city dropped by 26 percent in July.

Meanwhile, the City Council also passed Resolution 7062 allowing the mayor to donate five computer sets and desktop printers to Barangay Bagbag in District 5.

“The donation of five units of computer sets aims to improve the delivery of administrative services in District V, Quezon City,” the resolution read.

HOOP LIFE. Dave Almarinez, president and CEO of the Philippine International Trading Corp. (center, in red jersey), hosted a basketball exhibition game between his team and the Siniloan All-Stars in Siniloan, Laguna for the 15th Guilingan Festival. Joining him were Siniloan Mayor Eduardo R. Tibay (fourth from left) and Laguna League of Municipalities president and Sta. Maria Mayor Tony Carolino (third from left). Roy Tomandao

By Jun David ALMOST 3,400 inmates received free skills training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, as the program aims to give them a new lease on life.

In a previous memorandum of agreement signed by Tesda Director General Guiling Mamondiong and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the skills training program for the inmates started last Dec. 13.

The same program was launched jointly by Tesda and BJMP at the Makati City Jail last Jan. 18. It was also launched at Puerto Princesa Jail on Feb. 8 and at Cebu City Jail last March 7.

The skills training in Region I reached 271 inmates; Region II, 245; III, 250; IV-A (Calabarzon), 582; IV-B, 322; V, 201; VI, 75; VII, 180; VIII, 122; IX, 358; X, 60; XI, 141; XII, 213; Caraga, 8; CAR, 27; NCR, 311. ARMM has yet to submit its list of inmates who received skills training.

Information was based on records submitted to Tesda Deputy Director General for Operations Alvin Feliciano.

Mamondiong encouraged prison personnel to disseminate the free skills training to the inmates to prepare them to become contributing members of the society after their release and live better lives.

LGUs

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Republic of the Philippines Standard

TODAY GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM GSIS Building, Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City 1308

GSIS ACQUIRED ASSETS FOR DISPOSITION PROVINCE District

/Subdivision

City /Municipality

Property Location

TCT/CCT No.

Lot Area (sqm)

Minimum Acceptable Offer / CMV ( ₱ )

Property Occupancy Bidding Date Place of Bidding Classification Status

1

Pampanga EL ROSARIO I

Mabalacat

B003 L015

141362 R

192

614,400.00

Lot Only

Unoccupied

06-Nov-17

GSIS Pampanga Branch Office

2

Pampanga EL ROSARIO I

Mabalacat

B005 L038

141966 R

193

656,200.00

Lot Only

Unoccupied

06-Nov-17

CSF Pampanga

3

Pampanga EL ROSARIO I

Mabalacat

B009 L028

141972-R

211

717,400.00

Lot Only

Unoccupied

06-Nov-17

4

Pampanga DIAMOND SUBD., Bo. Balibago

Angeles City

B014 L020 Doña Gemang St.

57239

437.5 7,426,500.00

House & Lot

Occupied

06-Nov-17

5

Bulacan

FRANCISCO HOMES III, Muzon

San Jose Del Monte City

B009 L018

T-368322 (M)

100

568,333.33

House & Lot

Unoccupied

17-Oct-17

Level 8, Narra Room, GSIS Building,

6

Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B149 L011 Ph 5A (A214) 4th/12th St.

T-146441 (M)

140

1,938,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard,

7

Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B151 L012 Ph 5A (A317) 6th/12th St.

T-157738 (M)

153

1,175,700.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

Pasay City

8

Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B152 L004 Ph 5A 8th St.

T-157740 (M)

120

1,044,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

9

Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B152 L012 Ph 5A #A225 12th/8th St.

T-157744 (M)

166

1,775,400.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

10 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B156 L029 Ph 5A (A300) 12th St.

T-165402 (M)

120

1,232,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B161 L004 Ph 5A

T-145128 (M)

145

1,630,500.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

12 Bulacan

11

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B162 L003 Ph 5A (A178) 9th St.

T-156391 (M)

110

1,093,500.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

13 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B162 L007 Ph 5A 7th cor. 9th St.

T-145129 (M)

122

980,400.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

14 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B163 L003 Ph 5A 33rd St.

T-156392 (M)

130

1,236,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

15 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B164 L004 Ph 5A (A118) 11th St.

T-145136 (M)

129

1,292,400.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

16 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B167 L011 Ph 5C (C424) 32nd St.

T-14653P (M)

120

1,716,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

17 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B169 L003 Ph 5C 30th St.

T-14655P (M)

145

1,175,400.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

18 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B171 L007 Ph 5C (C637) 26th St.

T-16574P (M)

134

1,031,400.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

19 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B171 L010 Ph 5C (C623) 24th St.

T-14663P (M)

134

1,164,400.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

20 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B179 L003 Ph 5C (C437) 20th St.

T-16671P (M)

120

1,305,333.33

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

21 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B179 L012 Ph 5C 18th St.

T-14710P (M)

120

1,305,333.33

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

22 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B182 L005 Ph 5B (B392) 32nd St.

T-174335 (M)

210

2,296,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

23 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B182 L010 Ph 5B 32nd St.

T-187821 (M)

145

1,576,666.67

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

24 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B182 L016 Ph 5B (B402) 32nd St.

T-179437 (M)

155

1,595,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

25 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B184 L001 Ph 5B (B554) 32nd cor. 31st St.

T-187823 (M)

121

1,338,900.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

26 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B185 L001 Ph 5B (B556) 29th cor. 32nd St.

T-182577 (M)

136

3,233,400.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

27 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B189 L002 Ph 5C 32nd/21st St.

T-183046 (M)

120

1,260,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

28 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B191 L004 Ph 5B #B610 19th St.

T-174355 (M)

139

1,372,400.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

T

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B191 L009 Ph 5B (B525) 17th/21st St.

T-182584 (M)

145

2,260,500.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

Level 8, Narra Room, GSIS Building,

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B193 L011 Ph 5B Main St.

T-174360 (M)

120

1,261,333.33

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B193 L017 Ph 5B (B49) Main St.

T-182589 (M)

120

1,156,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B193 L021 Ph 5B (B53) Main St.

T-179456 (M)

120

968,400.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17 17-Oct-17

33 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B194 L010 Ph 5A (B42) Main St.

T-182593 (M)

120

1,233,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

34 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B194 L012 Ph 5B Main St.

T-179458 (M)

120

1,023,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

35 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B195 L003 Ph 5C (C494) 16th St.

T-186881 (M)

120

1,331,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

36 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

37 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bahay Pare Meycauayan

B195 L010 Ph 5B #B502 16th St.

T-179460 (M)

120

943,200.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

B203 L005 Ph 7A Purity St.

T-190751 (M)

120

1,356,666.67

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

38 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bahay Pare Meycauayan

B209 L013 Ph 7A Love/Peace St.

T-190776 (M)

122

1,009,800.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

39 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Pantok

B006 L005 Ph 2A (7) Neptune St.

T-54.363 (M)

180

1,631,666.67

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

Meycauayan

40 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Pantok

Meycauayan

B009 L002 Ph 2A Jupiter St.

T-54.379 (M)

203

1,540,700.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

41 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B001B L013 Ph 3B (47) Aquarius St.

T-70.756 (M)

240

4,056,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

42 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B004A L006 Ph 3A (12)

T-59.959 (M)

201

2,170,900.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

St. Peter/St. Bernadette St. 43 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B004B L010 Ph 3B (27) Capricorn St.

T-70.770 (M)

204

2,138,400.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

44 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B005 L004 Ph 3D #12 King St.

T-108418 (M)

120

846,600.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17 17-Oct-17

45 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B008 L016 Ph 3D Isaiah St.

T-126856 (M)

116

901,200.00

House & Lot

Occupied

46 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B016B L002 Ph 3B St. Jude St.

T-66.224 (M)

192

1,324,800.00

Lot Only

Unoccupied

17-Oct-17

47 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B031 L001&L003 Ph 3C Aries St.

T-94.739 (M)

467

3,726,300.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

48 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B128 L013 Ph 4D (29) Economics St.

T-126867 (M)

120

1,198,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17 17-Oct-17

49 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B129 L004 Ph 4D

T-126870 (M)

120

868,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

50 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B130 L007 Ph 4D (7) Geology St.

T-127889 (M)

120

1,163,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

51 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B130 L015 Ph 4D (15) Geology St.

T-129284 (M)

130

1,331,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

52 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B140 L025 Ph 4D (25) Calculus St.

T-134211 (M)

126

1,293,600.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

53 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Perez

Meycauayan

B143 L021 Ph 4D (35) Botany St.

T-134250 (M)

126

1,251,600.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

54 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B152 L007 Ph 5A

T-157742 (M)

120

1,019,500.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

55 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B155 L008 Ph 5A (A159) 11th St.

T-168570 (M)

130

1,299,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

56 Bulacan

LAS VILLAS DE STO. NIÑO, Bagbaguin

Meycauayan

B158 L001 Ph 5A Barangay Rd. cor. 1st St.

T-186864 (M)

160

1,888,000.00

House & Lot

Occupied

17-Oct-17

DILG Regional Director Jonathan Paul Leusen Jr. said the recipient-LGUs of the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance were assessed based on their performances in implementing child-friendly programs and instituting measures that promote a child’s right to survival, development, protection and participation.

Ponciana Condoy, DSWD regional director, congratulated the recipient-LGUs for their efforts and initiatives in the various projects and programs in their respective localities that promote and observe children’s rights.

The top performing LGUs include Penablanca, Sta. Teresita, Buguey and Alcala in Cagayan; Itbayat in Batanes; Alicia, San Guillermo, Sta. Maria, Burgos, Jones and San Mateo in Isabela; Aglipay and Nagtipunan in Quirino; and Villaverde, Bagabag and Ambaguio in Nueva Vizcaya, Condoy said.

Condoy also urged other LGUs in the region to follow suit and to make their municipalities child-friendly.

In the same venue, at least 88 LGUs in the Cagayan Valley region were also awarded with Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance by the DILG.

Odyssey Foundation trains 2,500 parents

GENERAL GUIDELINES: 1.

Disposal of GSIS Investment Properties – Retail Units (IP-RUs) is through a competitive public bidding process. Acceptance of Purchase Offer shall start on the scheduled bidding date and time.

2.

Dropping of bid envelopes inside the designated bid box will be on the date of auction from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Opening of Bids will immediately follow.

3.

Disposal of GSIS IP-RUs is on “As-Is Where-Is” basis. Interested bidders are enjoined to personally inspect the GSIS IP-RUs for sale. “As-Is Where-Is” is defined as the present physical condition of the retail unit that GSIS is selling and the buyer is buying, “with all attendant faults, if any,” whether or not immediately apparent and without any express or implied warranty. The buyer takes this condition at his or her own risk, without recourse against the GSIS as to their condition. This includes knowledge by the buyer of the presence of occupants in the retail-unit being purchased.

4.

Strictly, “One bidder, One specific property” only, which means that a bidder cannot submit two (2) or more bids for one property. A bidder may submit one bid each to as many properties as he wants to buy, as long as, he posts a bidder’s deposit for each property in an amount provided below. The bidder must present valid government IDs upon registration on the date of public bidding.

5.

Purchase offer may either be in Cash or through External Financing Institution.

6.

A downloadable bid form shall be properly accomplished with the following data: a. Name and complete address of the bidder b. Exact address of property you are interested to bid c. Transfer Certificate of Title No. d. Amount of bid (in numbers and in words) e. 10 % Bidder’s Deposit equivalent to 10% of the total amount of bid offer f.

Signature of the bidder/representative

7.

Bid proposal shall be written in words and in figures and shall not be lower than the Minimum Bid Price of the property published in the newspaper or posted in the GSIS website. Should there be a difference in the amount in words and in figures, the amount in words shall prevail.

8.

Bidders’ deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer shall be in the form of MANAGER’S CHECK payable to the Government Service Insurance System

9.

The following shall be inserted on the sealed bid envelope: a. the properly accomplished downloadable bid form b. Manager’s Check payable to Government Service Insurance System representing deposit equivalent to at least 10% of the Bid Offer c. the Special Power of Attorney (SPA), if the bidder is an authorized representative d. pre-conditional approval from PBCOM, if applicable e. proofs of occupancy (see No. 12.c.1 and c.2)

10. The following information shall be clearly written outside the sealed bid envelope (mailing envelope) Address of Property you want to bid) Block No. ______ Lot. No. ______ Phase No.____ Name of Subdivision Address of Subdivision TCT NO. _______ Mode: __________ Cash __________ thru External Financing Institution

(

Name of Bidder: Mailing Address: 11. Interested bidders planning to purchase the GSIS property through External Financing Institution (EFI) shall first secure certification from accredited banks stating that he/she is qualified to avail of a loan from External Financing Institution and insert inside the bid envelope.

12. The existing tenant or occupant or his duly authorized representative through a valid Special Power of Attorney (SPA) has the right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, provided: a. he/she is present during the bidding b. participated in actual bidding c. presently occupying the property subject of bidding supported by the following proofs of occupancy: c.1 Barangay certificate that he/she is occupying or residing in the subject property c.2. Any valid government identification document with his/her address similar to the address of the property he/.she is bidding.

13. If the occupant will exercise his/her right to match the offer of the declared highest bidder, he/she need not secure another bank pre-qualification corresponding to the matched offer. Instead, he/she shall pay the equity in cash as stated in Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS). The equity shall be computed as the difference between the Letter of Guarantee from the bank and the offered bid amount.

14. The declared highest/winning bidder shall submit within the day of the actual bidding, the following documents: (a) duly accomplished Personal Profile/Company Profile/Corporate Profile, whichever is applicable (downloadable); (b) photocopies of two valid IDs (one should be a government-issued ID); (c) Articles of Incorporation/Partnership, By-Laws and current General Information Sheet, for corporation/partnership, if applicable; (d) Registration Certificate from SEC for corporation/partnership, DTI for sole proprietorship and CDA for cooperatives, or any proof of such registration, if applicable; (e) current Mayor’s permit issued by the city or municipality where the principal place of business of the winning bidder is located, if applicable.

15. A Notice of Approval of Sale (NOAS) shall be issued to the highest/winning bidder on the day of bidding.

16. In case the bid is in CASH, the 90% balance of the bid amount shall be paid either in cash or manager’s check within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of NOAS, without privilege of extension.

17. In case the bid is thru EFI, the equity shall be paid in cash within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of Letter of Guarantee (LOG) by the GSIS. The equity is the amount corresponding to the difference between the LOG and the Offered Bid Amount.

18. Upon issuance of the NOAS to the highest/winning bidder, the Bidder’s Deposit of the other non-winning bidder/s shall be returned immediately.

19. Non-compliance with the terms and conditions stated in the NOAS shall result in the forfeiture of the bidder’s deposit.

20. In case the highest/winning bidder fails to comply with the requirements within the specified time, the GSIS shall write the second highest bidder to confirm if he/she is still interested to acquire the property. If still interested, GSIS will require him/her to pay the non-refundable deposit equivalent to ten percent (10%) of his/her previously submitted bid amount and will be issued NOAS. 21. GSIS reserves the right to waive any formality or to reject any or all bids received. The list of properties available for sale may be updated without prior notice.

22. For inquiries, you may call Real Property Accounts Management Department at telephone nos. 479-3536 or 976-4619.

Cagayan Valley LGUs honored as child-friendly UGUEGARAO CITY—The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development recently recognized at least 20 local government units in the region as top performers in the delivery of social services that promote children’s wellbeing.

29 Bulacan 31 Bulacan

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

By Jessica M. Bacud

30 Bulacan 32 Bulacan

C2

(MS-AUG. 30, 31/ SEPT. 1, 2017)

CLOSE to 2,500 parents have received training under a livelihood project initiated by food company CDO Foodsphere Inc. over the past six years.

Odyssey Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of CDO Foodsphere, said that as of July 2017, some 2,500 individuals, mostly parents of undernourished children in poor communities, have graduated from a livelihood assistance program called Gabay Hanapbuhay.

OFI President Jerome Ong said Gabay Hanapbuhay was launched in Barangay Maysan, Valenzuela City in August 2011 to promote productivity and develop livelihood skills among selected participants in a chosen community.

Parents of undernourished children in Valenzuela City, where the headquarters of CDO Foodsphere is, were the initial beneficiaries to complement OFI’s supplemental feeding program called Gabay Nutrisyon.

Gabay Hanapbuhay aims to equip parents with entrepreneurial skills so that they can earn additional income for their families. It trains beneficiaries on cosmetology, facial treatment, food processing, fancy jewelry making and dishwashing liquid and soap making.

Other skills trainings include massage therapy, cosmetology, fancy accessories design, beads making, water lily weaving and producing dishwashing liquid, powder detergent and fabric conditioner.

OFI also provides started kits to selected participants following assessment and evaluation. It also develops programs concerning children nourishment, child education, environment and other social services.

Twenty-five batches of beneficiaries have completed the training programs under Gabay Hanapbuhay since 2011. OFI partnered with local government units and non-government organizations to implement the various training programs in over 25 communities on their subject of interest.

Ong said because of the overwhelming demand from local government units and several NGOs to bring the training program to their localities, OFI decided to expand the type of beneficiaries to include the unemployed and the marginalized member of the community.

Ong said the latest batch of beneficiaries were residents of Barangay Malanday, Valenzuela City. Beneficiaries were trained in making siomai and empanada, skinless longganisa and tocino, embotido and burger patties.

OFI hopes that the new skills will help beneficiaries generate additional income. Ong said Gabay Hanapbuhay seeks to empower unemployed members of the community by providing them knowledge and skills to put up small-scale enterprises.

“CDO Foodsphere allocates a certain portion of its corporate profit to fund OFI’s social projects.

This is our way of sharing our company blessings,” Ong said.

The founders of CDO-Foodsphere agreed to sustain the operations of OFI in order to help more people. The foundation is led by CDO-Foodsphere founders Corazon D. Ong and Joseph J. Ong as chairwoman and vice chairman, respectively and Joseph Jerome D. Ong as president.

Bugkalot tribe village in NV town energized

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya —Members of the Bugkalot tribe in the upland and remote village of Dupax del Norte town recently received electrification project from the National Electrification Administration.

Barangay New Gumiad, one of the strongholds of the Bugkalot tribe in the province has been one of the targets of NEA through its electrification project in the country.

Bobby Pasigian, barangay captain, said the electrification of their barangay has been a long dream for the villagers as they have long been purchased their

power-based appliances and other household needs.

“Now we can use our stored appliances so that they will not be destroyed. Our children can now be comfortable in studying their lessons well. We thank Governor Padilla, the NEA and our power cooperative for this,” he said.

Pasigian also said they can now conduct their tribal events with proper preparations and equipment because of the electrification project.

The approval of the electrification projects in the province has been facilitated by incumbent Gov. Carlos Padilla who was then the representative of the province to the Congress.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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 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

K-23

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 turn- over 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 18,2012

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

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:

January 9,2012 January 9, 2012

requirements for ECC;

THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION

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

DATE OF DOC.

K-17 K-17-a

2)

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.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set my hand this 26th 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.

K-8

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)

World

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

C3

Houston floods to test Trump W

ASHINGTON―The floodwaters deluging Houston―America’s fourth largest city and a major global oil hub―also present Donald Trump with a significant long-term test of his presidential leadership.

Facing tropical storm Harvey, Trump plans to travel to “The Lone Star State” on Tuesday, a demonstration that he is on top of a disaster that is already posing a fierce challenge for local and federal responders.

The full impact of the ongoing storm is unknown, but up to 30,000 people are expected to need emergency shelter as― thanks to plant-shutdowns―gasoline prices surged four percent in early New York trade.

Since the crisis began on Friday, Trump has seized on his role marshaling the federal response, issuing a disaster declaration for Texas and neighboring Louisiana and deploying 8,000 officials throughout the flood zone.

During a busy weekend, the White House released photos of the president -- decked in a USA cap -- huddling with aides, liaising with cabinet secretaries to discuss what he called a “once in 500 year flood.”

A steady stream of tweets have sought to show that the president, who spent the weekend at the bucolic presidential retreat of Camp David, was well apprised and in control.

“They’re providing everything we’ve asked for” Texas’s Republican governor Greg Abbott said describing Washington’s response.

Trump’s trip to Texas comes much more quickly than other presidents may have dared. Along with a high-impact presidential trip comes the risk of hampering recovery efforts and tying up resources.

First Lady Melania Trump is also expected to travel.

With the rain still falling, they will have to avoid the area around Houston that has been hardest hit.

But the president seems determined to show leadership on the ground.

In responding to Harvey, Trump appears cognizant of the political pitfalls his predecessors

found in their flawed responses to Hurricanes Katrina and Andrew, when the federal government came up short.

Images of George W. Bush looking safely from the window of Air Force One down at ravaged New Orleans in 2005 became an indelible image of his presidency.

Trump’s display of decisiveness comes in stark contrast to Trump’s prevarications in the face of a white supremacist rally that turned deadly two weeks ago in Charlottesville, Virginia.

His failure to condemn the extreme right shook an already fragile administration.

And despite his hands-on response, Trump has already been pilloried for making a series of controversial announcements just hours before Harvey hit.

As the storm barreled towards the Gulf Coast, Trump pardoned a sheriff who had been accused of racism and convicted of defying the courts and banning transsexuals in the military.

Post-Katrina reforms give Trump more levers to manage the crisis, but he will still have to coordinate several agencies and work with Congress to unblock funds.

That could be made more difficult by Trump’s poor relationship with Republican members of Congress and a contentious and already jam-packed legislative agenda in September.

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, a large number of Republican senators blocked relief to the devastated and predominantly Democratic northeastern states.

Grudges over that episode remain, and could be exacerbated by tensions over the need to raise the government’s debt ceiling and a vote on the 2018 budget.

Trump has demanded Congress provide funds for his unpopular border “wall,” something many lawmakers are reluctant to do. AFP

More Rohingya men fighting in Myanmar COX’s BAZAR, Bangladesh— Heavily pregnant and confined to a squalid Bangladeshi refugee camp, Ayesha Begum does not regret that her husband will miss the imminent birth of their sixth child as he fights alongside Rohingya militants in Myanmar.

Begum, 25, joined the exodus of Rohingya fleeing troubled Rakhine State in recent days as fresh violence erupted between Myanmar’s security forces and militants fighting for the stateless Muslim minority.

But like many, her husband stayed behind in Myanmar to join the growing ranks of Rohingya men answering the call to arms against security forces, say relatives and community leaders.

“He took us to the river and sent us across,” Begum told AFP in Kutupalong camp, describing crossing the Naf River by boat with her children into Bangladesh.

“He bid us farewell, saying if I live he’d see us soon in a free Arakan [Rakhine state] or else we’ll meet in heaven,” she added, breaking down in tears.

The Rohingya largely eschewed violence despite years of suffocating restrictions and persecution.

That dramatically changed last October when a nascent Rohingya militant group launched surprise attacks on border posts.

Myanmar’s military reacted

with a violent “clearance operation” to sweep out the militants.

The UN says that crackdown could have amounted to ethnic cleansing.

Despite the sweeps, the violence continued as remote villages were hit by near-daily killings of perceived state collaborators attributed to operatives of the Arakan Rohingya Solidarity Army (ARSA).

The militants struck again on a large scale on Friday, with scores attacking around 30 police posts in pre-dawn raids, killing at least a dozen security force members using knives, homemade explosives and some guns.

This time the security response has seen more than 100 people, including some 80 militants, confirmed killed and prodded thousands of Rohingya civilians to dash for Bangladesh.

But the country, which already hosts tens of thousands of refugees from the Muslim minority in the Cox’s Bazar area, has refused entry to any more.

Those unable to sneak in are stranded along the “zero line” border zone, where Bangladeshi officials have noticed a conspicuous absence of men among the civilians crowding the checkpoints.

“We asked them what happened to their men. They said they all stayed back to fight,” a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) commander told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

World

IN HAPPIER DAYS. This file photo taken on August 19, 1995, shows Prince Charles, Princess Diana and their children William (second right ) and Harry attending an event in London. Twenty years ago on August 31, 1997, Britain’s Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a high-speed car crash in Paris. AFP

Monarchy, royalty to grace Venice film festival VENICE―Hollywood royalty, in the shape of George Clooney, Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, will share the limelight with a 19th-century British monarch at this year’s Venice film festival, which kicks off Wednesday.

The world premiere of “Victoria & Abdul”, Stephen Frears’ big-screen adaptation of the true story of the elderly Queen Victoria’s friendship with an Indian clerk, is set to be a highlight of the 74th edition of the world’s oldest cinema festival.

The 2017 festival gets under way with Oscar-winning US director Alexander Payne’s sci-fi comedy “Downsizing” in an opening slot that, in recent years, has been a trampoline to future international success for the films involved.

The beach-side bash runs until September 9, when the winner of the Golden Lion for the best of the 21 films entered in the main competition, and a string of other prizes, will be announced.

Silver screen legends Redford, 81, and Fonda, 79, are due on the Lido, the sandbar island that hosts the festival, on Friday to receive lifetime achievement awards, before an out-of-competition showing of their latest film, “Our Souls at Night”.

Produced by Redford for Netflix and directed by India’s Ritesh Batra, the film sees the one-time sex symbols play elderly widowed neighbours pursuing a friendship that becomes increasingly intimate.

British director Frears is to be honored on Sunday for his innovative contribution to cinema, ahead of the premiere of “Victoria & Abdul”, in which Judi Dench stars opposite Bollywood actor Ali Fazal.

The subject of much pre-release excitement, the film is billed as a wry look at issues of race, religion and power at a time when the British Empire was at its peak and India was its “Jewel in the Crown”.

Coming at a time when Britain and India’s post-Empire relationship is being recast by the former colony’s economic growth, the film sees Frears return to the theme of royal comportment he addressed, to much acclaim, in “The Queen” (2006).

Dench, meanwhile, is portraying Victoria on-screen for a second time, 20 years after the release of John Madden’s equally praised “Mrs Brown”.

The likes of Matt Damon and Michelle Pfeiffer are also expected to be spotted hopping off and on gondolas during an industry gathering that has become an important launchpad for Oscar contenders. AFP

Bomber kills four in Kabul KABUL―A suicide bomber blew himself up on a busy shopping street near the US embassy in central Kabul Tuesday, killing four people and injuring several others, officials said.

It was the latest in a series of deadly attacks to hit the Afghan capital, and comes three months after a massive truck bomb aripped through the same area, killing about 150 people.

Najib Danish, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s interior ministry, told AFP the explosion happened outside a private bank.

The blast happened Tuesday morning at a time when many officials were expected to be collecting their salaries ahead of this week’s Eid holiday.

Kabul Bank, the private institution hit by the blast, usually pays the salaries of security forces personnel and government employees.

Images broadcast on Afghan television showed the bank’s mangled exterior.

Waheed Majroh, a health ministry spokesman, said one dead body and eight wounded people had been brought to Kabul hospitals so far.

The blast occurred on a street lined with shops and banks leading to Massoud Square, near the United States embassy and Kabul’s diplomatic area.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Taliban insurgents are currently at the peak of their summer fighting season, and have launched several deadly assaults around the country in recent weeks.

Since NATO forces ended their more than a decade-long combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014, Afghan troops and police have struggled to beat back the resurgent Taliban, while facing the growing menace of the Islamic State group.

It was the latest explosion to rock the war-weary Afghan capital, and comes a week after United States President Donald Trump committed American soldiers to Afghanistan indefinitely. AFP

Japanese warned against missile from North Korea T OKYO―Millions of Japanese awoke to ominous text messages Tuesday warning them to take cover as a North Korean missile flew overhead, with one train operator bluntly explaining its halted service as “Reason: Ballistic missile launch.”

Sirens blared out in northern communities that were on the flight path of the ballistic missile as it soared over Japanese territory for two minutes before crashing into the Pacific.

“Missile passing. Missile passing.” warned an official text message sent to people across the north of Japan.

“A short time ago, a missile apparently passed above this area.

“If you find suspicious objects, please don’t go near them and immediately call police or firefighters.

“Please take cover in secure buildings or underground.”

North Korea’s launch towards neighboring Japan―a key US ally and Korea’s former colonial overlord―marked a major escalation by Pyongyang amid the tensions over its weapons ambitions.

And for the first time in the most re-

cent round of weaponized brinkmanship from the North, it brought real worries to people in Japan.

Morning commuters in northernmost Hokkaido were greeted by warning signs at train stations―bringing many rail services to a halt.

At one metro station in Sapporo, a major city of nearly two million, passengers were warned there would be delays.

“All lines are experiencing disruption,” said one sign. “Reason: Ballistic missile launch.”

Commuters took the government messages to heart.

“Some passengers came down to take cover in a couple of subway stations,” a Sapporo subway spokesman told AFP. Others had little choice but to carry on with their usual schedule, including the crews aboard some 15 fishing vessels that

had already left port off southern Hokkaido in an area under the missile’s path.

“I was surprised that it went above our area. This has never happened before,” Hiroyuki Iwafune, an official at the local fishery co-op, told AFP. “I was worried. Everyone felt the same. But what can you do? Hide? But where?

“We called those who were at sea. But then they said, ‘Even with this [warning], what are we supposed to do?’”

Iwafune added.

In Tokyo, more than 700 kilometers south of the missile’s flight path, some train services were temporarily halted.

“Currently, a North Korean missile is flying above Japan,” said announcements at Tokyo stations handling bullet trains, minutes after the launch.

“It is very dangerous. Please take cover at the waiting areas or inside the trains.”

Yoshiaki Nakane, a retired government worker, said he feared Pyongyang’s provocative launch would aggravate already tense US-North Korea relations.

“North Korea repeatedly launches missiles and don’t seem to take any

warnings seriously,” the 68-year-old said.

“I’m hoping that the United States will not react too strongly to it and cause trouble. It would be Japan and South Korea that get damaged.”

At a US military base in Tokyo on Tuesday, Japan deployed a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile defense system as part of a previously scheduled drill.

The last time a North Korean rocket overflew Japan was in 2009, when Pyongyang said it was satellite launch.

Washington, Seoul and Tokyo believed it was a clandestine test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Japan has previously aired public service TV ads and held emergency drills―with schoolchildren ducking on the street, covering their heads and running for cover―to prepare for the everpresent threat from its erratic neighbor.

Tokyo university student Julia Kotake said she was scared that North Korean missile may strike Japan one day.

“But I don’t think there is anything that we could do,” the 18-year-old told AFP. AFP

‘Miracle grain’ could see Sahel region prospering ARUSHA, Tanzania―A Senegalese chef is one step closer to turning an ancient grain found in his country―glutenfree and burstaing with nutrients and amino acids―into the next trendy super food.

Pierre Thiam, one of Africa’s bestknown chefs, told the TEDGlobal conference in Tanzania on Monday night of his dream to see “fonio” turn around the fortunes of the arid Sahel region which stretches just south of the Sahara The grain is a nutty-tasting cross between couscous and quinoa which has been cultivated on the continent for some 5,000 years.

Thiam said he stumbled across it several years ago in south-eastern Senegal while doing research for a cookbook.

He discovered it was once so popular it was found in Egyptian tombs, accompanying people to the afterlife, and that Mali’s ethnic Dogon people believe the entire universe sprung from a grain of fonio.

Now however, it is only produced in the western part of the Sahel in places like Kedougou, one of the poorest regions of Senegal.

“Desertification and lack of job prospects means much of the youth have left, they choose the deadly path of migration in search of better opportunities,” said Thiam “This is the reality of Kedougou and much of the Sahel today. A scary future, scarce food and no opportunities to change their situation.”

Fonio cultivation is “great for the environment”, says Thiam.

“It tolerates poor soil and needs very little water. It thrives where nothing else will grow.”

And with the developed world’s multibillion-dollar gluten-free industry and its obsession with super foods and healthy eating, Thiam wonders if “bringing fonio to the rest of the world could be the answer”.

Last year he secured a commitment from US health food giant Whole Foods to carry the grain, with fonio appearing on New York shelves in July.

However, fonio is extremely laborious to husk, pound and turn into food, and having the grain readily available at a consistent quality for commercial users remains a challenge. AFP

SPIN-OFF. Christina Grasso, left, and Liana Rosenman attend the Summer Spin-Off hosted by Natalie Zfat at Spin New York on August 28, 2017, in New York City. AFP

Life

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

FASHION & BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

D1

Leading leather brand shoots new ad campaign in Montreal

MCJIM IN MONTREAL. Leather brand McJim showcases its products via a photo shoot in the cultural city of Montreal, Canada.

L

EADING leather brand McJim Classic Leather took its international campaign to the next level with a photo shoot in the historic and cultural city of Montreal in Canada, brandishing its world-class products against a spectacular metropolitan backdrop and further solidifying its status as a global brand.

A team from Modeles LCP, a boutique modeling agency that exclusively represents male models in North America, brought its expertise and creativity to the cobblestone streets of VieuxMontréal (Old Montreal), reintroducing McJim to the world as a brand that is at par with its international peers.

“Part of the allure of Old Montreal is its classic and timeless vibe—the same attribute that defines McJim’s classic leather products. A city that has preserved its old-world heritage and a brand that has withstood the test of time—it’s a perfect tandem for McJim’s new ad campaign as it sets a new global stage for the brand that is renowned for premium quality and design,” McJim said in a statement.

“McJim’s high-quality real leather belts with unique metal buckles, trendy and functional leather bags, and welldesigned authentic leather wallets truly complement the classic Montreal setting. The chosen locale, which featured revered historical landmarks, served to highlight the traditional yet stylish design aesthetic of a brand like McJim. It

presented three- category looks for the modern career man, namely the Business Look, Casual Chic, and Work and Play. McJim accessories from these collections lend class to any man’s wardrobe—whether at formal events and official business functions or in casual gatherings.”

Modeles LCP’s creative director Sands Palabrica, on the other hand, defined the men who would wear McJim as refined but with a fearless attitude. “They are thrill-seekers who live for the moment and embrace a zest for life notwithstanding demanding careers,” she said.

The ad campaign was the culmination of a series of rigorous yet exciting studies and consultations on how McJim accessories would stand out in a classic location like Old Montreal, one of the oldest areas in the city and the entire North America, with some buildings dating back to the 17th century.

The shoot was done on two locations: the Old Courthouse, an Ionic style building that perfectly captures Victorian architecture, and the prestigious Centaur Theatre Building (the pil-

The timeless vibe of the city complements the classic leather products of McJim, modeled by Pierre Moreau and Philippe Desjardin

lars), formerly the Old Stock Exchange Building of Canada, which is famous for its elegance and sobriety in style.

“From Toronto to Montreal, the creative director, photographer, and stylist held several production meetings to come up with concepts, looks, and directions that will showcase the accessories and the career-oriented men of McJim Classic Leather,” Palabrica related.

The man behind the lens is Nick Merzetti, the official photographer of the Toronto Men’s Fashion Week for various seasons—the same lens man behind a slew of global campaigns for

designer and fashion brands.

Stylist extraordinaire Benoit Brûlé, meanwhile, took the helm in creating the look that made McJim stand out on international models Pierre Moreau and Philippe Desjardin, who imbued the project with grace and professionalism. Pierre has walked the runways of New York Men’s Fashion Week, Toronto Men’s Fashion Week, and Manila fashion festivals, among others, while Philippe, who is currently in Asia for extended projects, has graced the fashion editorials of many local and international designers.

Other notable professionals behind the success of the shoot were makeup designer Adam Bechir Snoussi, hairstylist-groomer Cathy Lee, and videographer Alexandre Paskanoi.

McJim’s fruitful shoot in Montreal, Canada marks another milestone for a brand that is world-class that can be seen as at par with international fashion brands. With a classic and timeless look and a premium value for function and durability, McJim puts the global Filipino in his best form and style wherever part of the world he is, through its quality leather products.

Jazzing up sneakers at SM SNEAKERS have gone a long way from the gym to the disco, and to the runway. And today, with the growing athleisure trend, it seems that the sneaker culture is indeed here to stay.

After all, this popular street style encompasses both fashion and comfort, allowing us to pull off a cool girl vibe while still moving around. Walking the line between form and function, they come in different styles, allowing wearers to have different forms of self -expression.

Kicks, a new line of SM Shoes and Bags, showcases comfy, yet stylish sneakers at really affordable prices. The designs range from the crowd favorite

white sneakers to even colorful slip-ons.

There also sneakers which come in pastel hues, bow-accents and various patterns.

Kicks came up with an idea to jazz up classic white sneakers by teaming up with artists who shared DIY tips at the Step UP with Kicks event recently held at SM Makati. It is a joint project of SM Shoes and Bags in coordination with Sharpie, which is available at SM Stationery.

Talented artists Anina Rubio, Mansy Abesamis and Soleil Ignacio discussed how anyone can harness their creativity and express it through something they use on a daily basis: their

pair of white sneakers. They showed how white Kicks sneakers can be reinvented with colorful pens, glitter glue and even paper cutouts which anyone can do themselves.

Bloggers and style influencers Ava Te, Cher Lui-Pio and Ida Anduyan meanwhile shared how Kicks can be injected in everyone’s wardrobe.

Jazz up your sneakers and step with Kicks available at the Ladies Shoes Department of SM Stores nationwide.

Get connected with Kicks through SM Shoes and Bags on Facebook and @SMShoesandBags on Twitter and Instagram.

Mansy Abesamis included magazine cutouts in her Kicks design

Artists Mansy Abesamis, Soleil Ignacio and, Anina Rubio share creative design tips on how to Step Up with Kicks.

Soleil Ignacio shows how fashion is bright

Kicks Color and Pattern Mix by Anina Rubio

Life

D2

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Biggest wedding fair

offers P500,000 to soon-to-wed couples

T

O CAP 2017 wedding fair season, Themes & Motifs will announce the winner of its Half-A-Million Grand Raffle promo for soonto-weds in Asia’s Biggest Wedding Fair, Wedding Expo Philippines (WedExpoPhil) on Sept. 9 and 10.

The fair occupies the entire at the ground floor of SMX Mall of Asia.

Known as Asia’s biggest wedding wonderland, Wedding Expo Philippines will celebrate its 31st edition as the biggest and most comprehensive wedding fair in the country. Free e-tickets for all-day access to the exhibits and grand sale of wedding-related products and services are available to soonto-weds pre-registered through www.themesnmotifs.com.

WedExpoPhil is produced and organized

by Themes & Motifs, the country’s most prestigious wedding fair organizer.

City of Dreams Manila, Nice Print Photo, and Goldenhills Jewelry are WedExpoPhil’s premier presenters.

Henry Pascual, official event stylist, will weave his magic in creating a wedding wonderland ambiance in the two-day grand event. Event partners are harana.ph, Paper Elegance World Class Invitations, Business Mirror, and Sound Level Professional Lights & Sounds Provider.

Wedding Expo Philippines will open its door to thousands of soon-to-weds from all over the country and the rest of the world.

The SMX Convention Center ground floor will be converted to a 10,000 sqm wedding wonderland with the most creative and most popular wedding suppliers showcasing only the finest and the best wedding ideas for the upcoming nuptial season.

More than 400 of the country’s top wedding professionals will be gathered in this two-day grand celebration with a comprehensive showcase of the latest trends and the newest ideas in walking down the aisle.

Wedding related products and services professionals, such as fashion designers, caterers, photographers, videographers, limousine providers, invitation makers, hotels, venues, florists, and others will offer new promos and great deals to soon-toweds visiting the event.

Five exciting sub-events will put the spotlight on the most popular supplier categories: Wedding Banquets Manila – The Philippines’ biggest food tasting festival dedicated to the weddings will feature the country’s top four wedding caterers in a free sampling session of wedding menus – Hizon’s, Josiah’s Juan Carlo The Caterer, and Richgold Weddings. The wedding banquet experts will create an ambiance of wedding day grandeur and offer their wedding culinary delights in this exclusive sub event. Pre-register online to avail of free

Event stylists and florists will be present at the Wedding Expo Philippines The event will feature the country’s top four wedding caterers in a free sampling session

seat/s with your favourite caterer/s.

Wedding Fashion Extravaganza – Wedding gowns, suits, barongs, and fineries for the entourage will be showcased in this catwalk-inspired sub-event in Wedding Expo Philippines.

I Do HMU – Hair & Makeup Artists take center stage in this sub-event with free trial make up offered by participating exhibitors.

Floral Fete – Event Stylists and florists will wield their magic.

As an added treat for soon-to-weds, every P1,000 worth of purchase in Wedding Expo Philippines is entitled to a raffle coupon for a chance to win half a million pesos (Per DTI FTEB Permit No. 0414, Series of 2017.)

All soon-to-weds visiting Asia’s Biggest Wedding Fair, Wedding Expo Philippines will be given the all-new Themes & Motifs eco-friendly loot bag.

This ecobag will come in handy for all the flyers and freebies at the event including token prizes for guests in the hourly raffle draw.

Also, soon-to-weds will be given a free copy of the latest issue of Inspirations for Weddings magazine, the country’s most gorgeous wedding publication for both the bride and the groom. Now on its milestone 10th issue, Inspirations will present a thousand and one wedding ideas as brought to life by the country’s most trusted wedding professionals creatively expressing their passion including Soon-to-wed couples can choose their garb or get an idea what to wear on their special day from the Wedding Fashion a feature on the popular Infinity Dress.

Extravaganza showcase

Homegrown skin care leader FRONTROW International, a 100 percent wholly owned Filipino company established in 2008, enjoys a unique status as the bold, new face of multi-level marketing through its line of health and wellness products.

It has successfully carved a niche for itself in the highly competitive industry of beauty.

Today, it enjoys a lead as a forwarddriven company that has over 800,000 active distributors across the globe.

Headed by the dynamic duo RS Francisco and Samuel Verzosa, it has made it its mission to empower every Filipino to live their life to the fullest.

Despite being a young company, Frontrow International has already received numerous awards from its peers

in the business sector.

As celebrity host Boy Abunda attests, “Truly, it pays to be in Frontrow.”

Other game-changers in showbiz such as James Reid, Bianca Manalo, Tim Yap, Phoemela Baranda and Fabio Ide have also hitched on, living the high-life with Frontrow.

From its small operations in Pacific Century Tower in Quezon City, it has over 40 offices in Davao, Cebu, Tuguegarao, Iloilo and Pampanga, as well as international offices in key capitals such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and India.

“We are all so very proud and excited to have our brand grow and be accepted with such enthusiasm - not only in the Philippines but around the world. We

Fabio Ide, Bianca Manalo, and Tim Yap attest to Frontrow International

pride ourselves in inspiring and leading a new breed of entrepreneurs. And with our award-winning products, we believe that we can truly change lives,” shares Francisco.

For almost a decade, Frontrow has been inspiring others to achieve their dreams by becoming dynamic entrepreneurs. But more than the multi-level marketing opportunities, FRONTROW is also changing lives of others through its renowned products, which all aim to help you achieve your most beautiful self.

The Luxxe White Enhanced Glutathione Health Supplement delivers superior skin whitening results, helping to reveal a more radiant you. This enhanced formula utilizes and maximizes the glutathione naturally produced in our bodies and boasts the highest absorption rate among all other capsules of its kind. Hailed as the “Most Effective Whitening Supplement” for several years and recently recognized at the 2017 Philippine Social Media Star Brand Awards, it cleanses the liver and other body organs for the ultimate detoxification. Achieving a fair and flawless complexion is just one of benefits of this miracle capsule.

The potent Luxxe Protect Pure Grape seed Extract, on the other hand, is a supplement that energizes the mind and body.

This powerful anti-oxidant is noted to reduce the risk of heart disease, and allows you to look refreshed and well rested. The grape seed oil, one of its major components, is very popular thanks to its skin benefits, which includes its ability to speed up the healing of wounds.

For those who wish to achieve a leaner physique, Luxxe Slim L-Carnitine &

Frontrow changes the lives of people through its line of health and wellness products

Green Tea Extract offers the perfect solution. It helps to convert fat into energy, improves muscle strength and provides maximum vitality. Recognized as the “Most Effective Weight Loss Supplement” at the Consumers Choice Global Awards, this slimming wonder does not hold you back from your day, and, in fact, supplies higher energy.

Another groundbreaking health supplement by Frontrow, the Luxxe Renew 8 Berry Extract is a “super” anti-oxidant supplement that combines eight of the most powerful ingredients into one mega-capsule. Awarded the “Most Effective Anti-Aging Supplement” and “Best Detoxifying Anti-Aging Product,” the Luxxe Renew 8 Berry Extract has raised the bar for health and beauty products, winning the trust of consumers because of its detoxifying and preventive properties. It contains eight key berry extracts: Pomegran-

ate, Noni Fruit, Blackberry, Cranberry, Acai Berry, Mangosteen, Goji Berry and Blueberry. Feel beautiful from the inside out!

In addition to health supplements, Frontrow also offers a line of soothing soaps, available in three variants – Skin Whitening, Oatmeal Exfoliant and Orange Papaya. Created in the early ‘80s, these three hyper-lightening soaps are infused with Glutathione and the best vitamins to help improve skin imperfections. This renowned skin renewal system is safe for the face and body.

Finally, make another statement with Frontrow’s signature scents - Bling and Glitz – which add that perfect touch of sophistication. Find yourself feeling more confident with just one spritz.

For more information, visit the Frontrow International’s official website: www.frontrowofficial.com, www.luxxereveal.com

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

Was Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino a success?

The winners of this year's Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards

Actors (from left) Enzo Pineda, Carlo Aquino, and Rocco Nacino in a scene from Kip Oebanda's “Bar Boys”

If you ask Film Development Council of Philippines (FDCP) Chairman Liza Diño, it would be a resounding “yes.” In fact, she announced last week that the film festival grossed P149.5 million in its run from Aug. 16 to 22.

And, due to popular demand, the theatrical run of the films 100 Tula Para Kay Stella by Jason Paul Laxamana, Patay na si Hesus by Victor Villanueva, and Bar Boys by Kip Oebanda was extended for a second week as part of the regular play date in several cinemas around the country. The rest of the films are being screened in select movie houses until tomorrow.

Audience Choice Award winner 100 Tula Para Kay Stella was the festival’s top grosser earning P95 million during its first week. That means, by doing simple Math, 11 films collectively earned around P55 million or P5 million each, that is if we are to equally distribute this figure among the remaining films. But, we have the “sleeper hits” Patay na si Hesus (the fest’s Jury Prize winner) and Bar Boys, which according to our source both earned around P10 million each. So, using these figures, can we really call the Pista ng Pelikulang Pili-

pino a success?

The answer is both a yes and a no. “Yes” for the films that obviously benefitted from this FDCP initiative to let cinema houses screen Tagalog films for a week.

And “no,” because obviously only one film got the lion’s share.

In an interview with Manila Standard, during the film festival’s planning stage and when the 12 entries were still unknown, Diño said that they wanted to ensure each entry’s commercial success.

She underscored the importance of the films’ box office success because it will address the economic aspect of local filmmaking as well as contribute to the development of the industry.

“Our main goal is to give more platforms for films to screen exclusively. We know the competition between foreign films and locally produced ones. So, this festival aims to highlight Filipino films and give them the right amount of exposure they deserve,” Diño expressed.

The FDCP chairman also added the films they chose for the festival were selected based on their “outstanding audience appeal and their universal theme that will not just appeal to local

audience but also to international audience as well.”

“We’re looking for genre films that can be the answer to the imbalance of the kinds of films we see commercially,” Diño said.

FDCP is commendable for this remarkable initiative but it wasn’t successful in finding the films that they planned to showcase. Apart from 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, which is the box office performer (by commercial cinema standard), PPP featured relatively small-budget independent flicks, which are not crowd-pleasing blockbusters.

As announced by Diño during the film fest’s thanksgiving party, PPP will be back next year, possibly with just six to eight featurelength entries. Reason being, most of the malls only have a maximum of four cinemas, and they can only accommodate so much films per day.

At least this aspect of the festival will be addressed. But it isn’t entirely the number of cinemas that they need to focus on, it’s the kind of films they want to project on those screens. For this year’s edition of PPP, they got 700 screens to begin with. Since choosing commercially viable flicks is their main goal, then they should start walking the talk.

Bella Padilla and JC Santos in Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino top grosser “100 Tula Para Kay Stella”

The cast of the festival's “sleeper hit” “Patay Na Si Hesus” led by Jaclyn Jose (center)

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, August 30, 2017

ACROSS 1 Riviera city 5 Ship’s boom 9 Farm animals 14 The Bard’s river 15 Prefix for “trillion” 16 Declare invalid 17 Soft mineral 18 Per 19 Subway in Paris 20 Request but not yet delivered (2 wds.)

22 Slope conveyance (2 wds.)

24 Raises one’s voice 26 Pasture 27 Have a taste of 30 Downcast 35 Silk or linen 36 Quilt stuffing 37 Ireland 38 Galley slave’s tool 39 Put on a pedestal 42 Bronze or Iron 43 FitzGerald’s poet 45 Woes 46 In the wake of 48 Allow 50 Elegant 51 Coiled hairdo

52 Speckled horses 54 Worldly 58 Feed 62 Summon 63 Moby Dick pursuer 65 Cuzco founder 66 Kitchen gadget 67 Blast furnace fuel 68 Were rivals 69 Tooth cleaner 70 By Jove!

71 Hostess — Maxwell DOWN 1 Alliance acronym 2 — the Terrible 3 Nebr. neighbor 4 Scramble 5 Addison’s partner 6 Oyster treasure 7 Rainbow 8 Football cheers 9 Stronger-tasting 10 Narrow, as a road (hyph.)

11 Debate side 12 Domain 13 One-armed bandit 21 Raj headquarters 23 Clumsy sort

25 27 28 29 31

Not as big Rush off Historic shrine Virtuous Elevator inventor 32 Edicts 33 Prevails upon 34 Distrustful 36 Leave hastily 40 Goddess of the hunt 41 Yields, as interest 44 Takes to task 47 Joyous

49 Yardsticks 50 Smeared 53 Port near Kyoto 54 Vassal 55 Fiendish 56 Chanel’s nickname 57 Compete at Indy 59 Dye-yielding plant 60 Frozen desserts 61 Nothing, to Pedro 64 Greedy sort

Educator of young Badjaos named 2017 Bayaning Pilipino Fructuosa Alma “Neneng” Olivo, a social worker who has devoted three decades of her life educating young Badjaos in far-flung communities in Davao City, was named Bayaning Pilipino for 2017 in the 14th Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards held recently at the ABS-CBN’s Dolphy Theater in Quezon City.

“To everyone who believes in what I do: It is very common, very simple… All of us are called to be heroes. When we give, let’s give until it hurts,” Neneng said in her short but emotional acceptance speech.

The Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards, established by the late Eugenio Lopez Jr., is a search for modern-day heroes. It recognizes ordinary folks doing extraordinary deeds--a fitting tribute to fine Filipino values of humanitarianism, industry, determination, and dedication to public service.

“Heroism can mean a lot of things. Not all heroes have grand titles nor do they enjoy vast resources at their disposal. What true heroes possess is their capacity to go beyond their limits and own flaws, passionate at what they can to improve the human condition.

Their accomplishments are not the results of grand gestures but of small acts of selflessness done consistently and wholeheartedly,” said ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III in his opening remarks.

Aside from Neneng, midwife John Mark Odani was also recognized with the Bayaning Kabataang Pilipino award for his dedication in providing healthcare to indigenous people of Barangay Batian in Sarangani, while the Psoriasis Philippines Online Community, Inc. (PSORPHIL) won the Bayaning Samahang Pilipino Award for its advocacy to remove the stigma against people with psoriasis and to help psoriasis patients deal with depression.

The Bayaning Pilipino Awards also recognized awardees from North America, South Korea, and Qatar for being unsung he-

roes in their own ways despite being in a different country In North America, the Bayaning Kabataang Pilipino sa North America award was given to Loizza Aquino, founder of “Peace of Mind 2014,” a youthled organization devoted to promoting awareness on mental health issues and help those who suffer from mental illnesses.

The Bayaning Samahang Pilipino sa North America, on the other hand, was given to Building Lives for a Better Future, a non-profit organization that offers financial assistance to students in need.

Katherine Corteza won the Bayaning Pilipino sa South Korea award for using her voice and speaking up about relevant issues such as labor abuse, inequality, and migration problems among

Filipinos.

Last but not the least, Noli Perez named Bayaning Pilipino sa Qatar for his selfless efforts to save overseas Filipino workers in the midst of danger and labor injustice in the Middle East.

A special citation was also given to Darlito Palermo of Tagum City.

Hosted by Julius Babao, Robi Domingo, Judy Ann Santos, and Angel Locsin, the ceremonies had performances by KZ Tandingan, Iñigo Pascual, Ylona Garcia, JK Labajo, Froilan Canlas, Voltz Vallejo, and Ogie Alcasid.

Nash Aguas, Alex Ilacad, Enchong Dee, Michelle Gumabao, Marielle De Leon, and Rachel Peters also graced the event as presenters.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017

RnB royalties (from left) Jay-R, Billy Crawford, and Kris Lawrence reaffirm their brotherhood in “Soul Brothers,” a concert at the Kia Theater happening on Sept. 15.

Soul brothers ISAH V. RED

Jay-R, Kris Lawrence, Billy Crawford in concert

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OCAL RnB royalties Jay-R, Kris Lawrence, and Billy Crawford have always treated themselves as soul brothers ever since they met each other – Jay-R and Kris in the US when they were in high school and Billy after meeting in a television studio right after his return to the Philippines from the US where he tried his luck as a recording artist.

The three are bonded tightly, like three pieces of wooden blocks held together not by nails but by glue.

On Sept. 15, Jay-R, Kris, and Billy reaffirm their brotherhood of soul in the much-awaited Soul Brothers concert at Kia Theater.

Aside from showcasing their Original Music Only hits, the show serves as a delightful throwback to the timeless catalog of soul,

Motown, and other RnB classics. In this digital age, it sometimes surprises many music aficionados to hear them back on the airwaves or redone by contemporary artists.

Among their guest performers are close friends of the three – Daryl Ong, Sam Concepcion, Jay Durias, and Gloc 9.

With their combined knack as singers, songwriters and producers, the three continue to enthrall fans with their magnetic stage dynamism and commanding presence; Jay-R with his regular A.S.A.P. “Soul Sessions,” Kris with his HomeWorkZ gigs and recordings, and Billy with his regular It’s Showtime, Little Big Shots and forthcoming Pilipinas Got Talent Season 6 hosting stints.

More than their respective musical talents, it’s actually their long-standing friendship and tightly knit camaraderie that have kept them glued together through the years. It’s no coincidence that they are all under Arnold Vegafria’s management outfit, ALV Talent Circuit.

Their recent TV promo sorties showed how Jay-R, Kris, and Billy could be quite a riot with their wacky antics and hilarious pranks. But they

***

Brace for a more fun-filled Sunday night as GMA Network brings back All-Star Videoke twice the fun and twice the excitement, beginning Sept. 3.

The grand return of the musical game show hosted by the two of the Network’s versatile artists – multi-talented actress and TV host Solenn Heussaff and funny comedian Betong Sumaya – should affirm the Kapuso network’s leadership in Sunday night entertainment.

Solenn revealed that because of her love for music and singing, she is more enthusiastic for the show to begin.

“Ito talaga yung first hosting gig ko sa GMA Entertainment

IN CHARACTER. Betong Sumaya (left) and Solenn Heussaff team up for GMA-7's revamped “AllStar Videoke”

can also mesmerize and enthrall as soon as they burst into a spine-tingling three-part harmony a capella number.

The Soul Brothers concept actually has a long history. Jay-R explains, “The first Soul Brothers show was in Guam. We were all part of that first show. Then, the second Soul Brothers show was in New York, but only Kris and I were able to go.”

The reigning Pinoy RnB King promises to make this edition more memorable.

He says, “This edition will be special because we are home in Manila. We have more room to play around with our stage and concepts.

For sure, there will be duets and collabs with the three of us. I’ll be singing my new single “Kabilang Dako.” Bill and Kris will also be performing their new songs.”

Despite having championed his Original Music Only (OMO) cause in the months past through his HomeworkZ bar tours, Jay-R is willing to work on some covers for the show.

He reiterates, “I’m still all about Original Music.

My whole set is mostly my original stuff. But at the same time, Billy, Kris and I have the same favorite songs, which we want to perform for

so iba yung feeling kasi sobrang bongga yung preparations sa lahat. Nandun yung pressure but the excitement is there for me kasi I really like music and singing so dito magagawa ko talaga yun,” the Kapuso star said.

On the other hand, Betong shared how grateful he is to be part finally of the program that has become one of the Filipino viewers’ favorite TV programs.

“Natutuwa ako kasi kami ni Solenn yung pinagkatiwalaan ng GMA dito sa napakalaking project na ito. As we all know, inaabangan talaga ito ng viewers noon, di ba? Sobra yung excitement ko kasi following (in) the footsteps of Allan K., Jaya and Arnell Ignacio, ang laki ng shoes to fill in so I feel blessed and challenged at the same time,” he said.

The game features six celebrity contestants or Videoke stars vying to outwit one another by

*** Two of GMA-7’s homegrown artists – Vaness del Moral and Jake Vargas renewed their exclusive contracts with the Kapuso Network.

During the contract signing, Vaness shared that she is very contented with the way GMA is handling her career all these years, “Nagsimula ako sa Starstruck 11 years ago. Batch 3 ako.

At simula noon hanggang ngayon, feeling ko, dito ako sa GMA 7 tatanda at dito na rin ako magre-retire. Ramdam na ramdam ko ever since Starstruck hanggang ngayon, hindi ako napabayaan. At tuloy-tuloy ang pagalaga sa akin ng Artist Center.”

At present, she is in Impostora as Crisel.

Meanwhile, Jake said he is very pleased to renew his contract with the Kapuso Network, “Salamat sa pagtitiwala nila sa akin. Dito talaga ako nagsimula sa GMA. 7 years na akong Kapuso. Nag-start ako sa Walang Tulugan with The Master Showman at pagkatapos nun, sunud-sunod na ang mga shows ko dito. Ang dami nilang naitulong sa career ko. Kaya, Kapuso talaga ako. At ang sabi sa akin ni Tatay (German Moreno) hanggang marami kang naipapakita sa kanilang maganda, huwag kang aalis, [sa] 7 ka talaga. Kaya gusto kong pasalamatan ang GMA Network sa pagtitiwala, at sa pagmamahal.”

Jake is currently in Pepito Manaloto.

our audience.”

Despite being friends for a long time, why did it take this long for them to do a show together?

Jay-R explains, “Maybe it just wasn’t the right time before. Now is the perfect time for us to come together and push out a major concert. It’s in line with all the original music we’re putting out in the future.”

The boys are excited about their recording collaborations.

Jay-R disclosed, “We have a song with all of us together called ‘Habang Buhay.’ It will be part of my upcoming album. We will launch the song digitally very soon.”

Plans are also underway for a Soul Brothers concert tour abroad.

Jay-R confirms, “We already have a Soul Brothers show in San Francisco on Oct. 6, Los Angeles on Oct. 7, San Diego on Oct. 8, and we’re finalizing a few more cities in the U.S. and Canada, and possibly UAE.” Soul Brothers is produced by ALV Events International, in cooperation with HomeWorkZ Music.

Tickets are available at ticketnet.com.ph.

Showtime is 8:00 p.m.

filling in the missing words in a song in a videoke-type of presentation.

In the event that the player correctly fills in the words in each song, a pair of celebrity laglagers will choose one player who will be out of the competition.

The two remaining contenders will proceed to the semi-final round for a chance to play in the jackpot round. The winning contestant becomes the All Star Videoke Champ! and wins a cash prize of up to P100,000.

A “Super Oke” prize is also up for the win if the winner decides to continuously play in the succeeding weeks.

All-Star Videoke is under the helm of esteemed director Louie Ignacio and pilots on Sept. 3 after 24 Oras Weekend on GMA Sunday Grande.

Kapuso star Vaness del Moral renews her ties with her mother network

*** Gabriel (Gerald Anderson) and Bianca (Kim Chiu) remain ach other’s source of strength amid the challenges they face in their relationship and careers in the Kapamilya morning series Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin.

No longer the country’s top triathletes, the couple is determined to build a future together after Gabriel swore to marry Bianca.

This came after Bianca chose Gabriel over endorsing Tiger Shark – a decision Carlos (Jake Cuenca) asked her to make, proving that love is more important to her than money. She also continues to provide for her family by working as an office clerk.

However, problems continue to come their way.

Gabriel is being given a hard time by Roman (Michael De Mesa) getting the money that Victoria (Ayen Laurel) had promised to give Gabriel in her last will and testament.

Meanwhile, Isabel (Coleen Garcia) has her eyes set on ruining Bianca’s life after the latter exposed Isabel’s illegal transactions in their company.

Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin airs on ABS-CBN and ABSCBN HD (Sky Cable ch 167) before It’s Showtime.