Manila Standard - 2018 July 4 - Wednesday

VOL. XXXII • NO. 139 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

BLOOD-SOAKED TUESDAY. Presidential ally Ferdinand Bote (inset left), mayor of General Tinio in Nueva Ecija, has become the second local chief executive to fall from gunmen’s fire when his car was pelted with more than a dozen bullets (top right) in Cabanatuan City, 47 kms away northwest of his hometown, by what appeared to be at least two black-dressed gunmen who had, CCTV footage suggested, waited for Bote who had just emerged from the National Irrigation Administration Office. On Monday, Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili was himself gunned down during a flag ceremony at the city hall. NIA CCTV

Another mayor shot dead ‘Dead’ woman saved by fridge JOHANNESBURG, South Africa—A South African woman who paramedics had declared dead after a horrific car crash was later found alive in a mortuary fridge, emergency services said on Monday.

Ambulance service Distress Alert confirmed that the unnamed woman had been certified dead by paramedics at the scene of the pile-up outside of Carletonville, southwest of Johannesburg, in the early hours of June 24.

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Belgium eager to face Brazil as WC underdogs SPORTS/A8

Found but not out MAE SAI, Thailand—Twelve boys and their football coach trapped in a flooded Thai cave for nine days were found alive late Monday after a painstaking search by specialist divers who finally discovered the emaciated group on a mud embankment.

There had been no contact with the boys, aged between 11 and 16, since they went missing with their 25-year-old coach on June 23. (Related story on B3)

Du30 ally killed by gunmen in Cabanatuan

NBI agents fan out to dig into Halili murder

By Francisco Tuyay, Ferdie G. Domingo and Macon RamosAraneta

By Rey E. Requejo AGENTS of the National Bureau of Investigation have been sent to Tanauan City, Batangas, to start a parallel investigation of the assassination of Mayor Antonio Halili, who was killed by a sniper during a flag ceremony at city hall Monday.

“We are ready to assist the police in solving this case,” acting Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday.

He said he would discuss the case further with NBI Director Dante Guerran.

Probers said they would look into the possibility that the killing was related to the illegal drug trade, as President Rodrigo Duterte suggested.

Halili, who gained notoriety for parading drug suspects through the streets in a “walk of shame,” was later tagged himself as a narco-politician by the President, who said he probably got what he deserved.

Duterte compared Halili to other mayors who had alleged links to illegal drugs and were killed, such as Reynaldo Parojinog of Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental and Rolando Espinosa of Albuera in Leyte.

Halili was stripped of his supervisory powers over local police in October last year due to a proliferation of illegal drugs in the city, amid allegations WIDOW’S GRIEF. Angelina Halili tries to control her emotions while grieving over by the national police that he may have the body of her husband, Antonio Halili, only hours after he was slain Monday during been involved. He vehemently denied the flag-raising ceremony at the city hall—in a case condemned by senators and other Next page officials. Mosh Lafuente the allegations.

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MAYOR and ally of President Rodrigo Duterte was shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, Tuesday afternoon, one day after Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan City was killed by a sniper during a flag ceremony in Batangas.

Military finds oust plot credible, takes measures to thwart rebels

By Francisco Tuyay THE Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday said it has taken appropriate measures to quell any communist plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

AFP spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo considered the threat to topple the Duterte administration as credible and

IT’S A MIRACLE. This handout video grab taken from footage released by the Royal Thai Navy on Monday shows missing children inside the Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai province. Twelve boys and their football coach trapped in the flooded Thai cave for nine days were found alive after a painstaking search by specialist divers who found the emaciated group in a mud embankment. AFP

THE 22-member Consultative Committee, which was formed by President Rodrigo Duterte nearly five months ago, on Tuesday unanimously approved the final draft of the proposed Federal Constitution, allaying fears of a term extension for Duterte.

Former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel initially moved to approve the ConCom’s proposed Federal Constitution that was unopposed.

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Duterte-bishop meeting all set

By Evalea Casaljay and Maricel V. Cruz

said they were taking measures to thwart any attempts by the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, from carrying out their plot.

Arevalo declined to disclose the security measures, however, saying they would not reveal any operational details.

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Con-Com OKs final draft of Federal Charter

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde said Mayor Ferdinand Bote, 57, of General Tinio town was ambushed while on board his Toyota Fortuner.

He was declared dead on arrival at the MV Gallego Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.

“He was a party-mate. This is hurtful news for us,” said PDP-Laban president Senator Aquilino Pimentel III. “The police must be visible. They must be able

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte will meet next week with Archbishop Romulo Valles, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, after drawing a firestorm of criticism for calling God “stupid.”

The meeting is scheduled on July 9, at the Palace, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing Next page Tuesday.

Meanwhile, former Chief Justice Reynato Puno said Tuesday there was no time line for a plebiscite on the draft Federal Constitution, noting that was for Congress to decide but the best time to hold it would be in May 2019.

“We have no time line. It’s up to Congress to deliberate on this draft Constitution,” Puno said in a chance interview on the sidelines of the Consultative Committee’s en banc session to vote on the draft of Next page

Justice Reynato Puno

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News

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Twin quakes jolt parts of Luzon, Mindanao A MAGNITUDE 5.2 earthquake rocked Nasugbu in Batangas, and was felt at lower intensities in parts of Luzon and Metro Manila on Tuesday afternoon.

Another quake of magnitude 5.6 jolted Sarangani province and other cities in Mindanao, had a depth of 103 kilometers and was located 10 kilometers northeast of Malungon town.

The quakes caused no damage.

The first quake, of tectonic origin, struck at 12:25 pm some 54 kilometers west of Nasugbu, Batangas and had a depth of 124 kilometers.

Intensity 4 quake was felt in Lubang and Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro.

The quake was felt at intensity 3 in Buco, Talisay, Tumaway and Calatagan in Batangas, in Quezon City and Mandaluyong City, Clark in Pampanga, Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro, Looc and Mamburao in Occidental Mindoro, and Tanza and Maragondon in Cavite.

Intensity 2 quake was felt in Parañaque City, Manila and Plaridel and Malolos in Bulacan. Rio N. Araja

Former Malaysian PM Najib arrested for corruption FORMER Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was arrested by anti-corruption investigators Tuesday, officials said, the latest dramatic development in a widening graft probe that has engulfed the ex-leader.

Najib will be charged Wednesday, a task force set up to investigate corruption involving Malaysian state fund 1MDB said in a statement.

“1MDB’s Task Force confirmed the arrest of Datuk Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak,” it said.

It said the arrest “was made at his home” in the upmarket Jalan Langgak Duta district in Kuala Lumpur.

He will be “charged on July 4, 2018 at 8:30 am at the Kuala Lumpur Court,” it added.

Earlier, a security source said that agents from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission arrested Najib.

“They came in three to four unmarked cars,” the source, a senior security official familiar with the arrest, told AFP. AFP

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The massive international rescue effort had for days been hampered by heavy rains that flooded the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand, blocking access to chambers where it was hoped the group would be found alive.

But late Monday Chiang Rai provincial governor broke the news of their rescue by naval divers, delighting a nation which has anxiously followed every twist and turn of the dramatic effort to save them.

“We found all 13 safe... we will take care of them until they can move,” Narongsak Osottanakorn told reporters, who broke into spontaneous applause and cheering.

“We will bring food to them and a doctor who can dive. I am not sure they can eat as they have not eaten for a while.”

The condition of the group was not immediately clear after days underground.

But dramatic footage shared on the official Facebook page of the Thai Navy SEALS showed the skinny boys in oversized, mud-slicked football jerseys crowded together on a small mud cliff surrounded by water as rescuers finally found them. (Related story on B3) AFP

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CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison, irked by the aborted resumption of peace talks on June 21, said that they would rather support moves to oust Duterte than talk peace with him.

Arevalo said the CPP/NPA plan to oust the President by October was included in recovered documents, validating claims

by NPA rebels who recently surrendered to the military.

“They have particular plans. I don’t have the details, as of now but what is important to us to say at this point was there is such plan, they hatched during the period where there is a lull in operations because of the ongoing ceasefire,” Arevalo said.

Asked if they have identified other groups supporting the CPP/NPA plot, Arevalo declined to respond.

Earlier, polticial strategist Pastor “Boy” Saycon said the Liberal Party was reportedly behind the destabilization moves against Duterte, a charge the opposition party has denied.

Saycon said he also did not discount the possibility that the Catholic Church might be used as a vehicle against the President.

Church officials have denied Saycon’s allegations.

Probe Roxas, Purisima for patrol cars, Poe urges

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATOR Grace Poe said Tuesday former Police chief Alan Purisima and former Interior secretary Manuel Roxas II should be summoned to the Senate probe on the police procurement of P1.8 billion worth of defective Mahindra patrol cars in 2014.

She assured the push for an investigation of the India-made cars purchased by the Philippine National Police and flagged by the Commission on Audit to determine the culpability of the two officials.

“I know that we have already cleansed several deals here but we must not forget that because of these [Senate] hearings, these became the basis for charges like the MRT. It became the basis of the Ombudsman,” Poe said.

She recalled that they were able to make Purisima appear in the Senate hearing because he was among those involved in the MRT mess.

“We need to summon the DILG head [Roxas] because this would not be that big―the PNP would not approve it if it was

not favored by the DILG,” Poe said.

“And then we will see if General Purisima will accept all liability or accountability or he will pinpoint somebody who influenced him to approve the procurement,” Poe said.

A CoA report showed that 57 percent of the 1,278 police respondents in a survey were unsatisfied with the 2,054 Mahindra patrol cars, and whose complaints against the vehicles included high fuel consumption, low engine performance and heavy smoke emission.

CoA noted that Columbian-Mahindra of billionaire Pepito Alvarez, a campaign supporter of Roxas, still won the bidding for the PNP patrol cars despite complaints having been raised four months after the first

batch of the vehicles were delivered.

Poe said she had expressed “serious concerns” about the bidding process being rigged in favor of Mahindra as early as 2014.

“These CoA findings validate my concerns to a large extent,” she said.

She recalled she expressed serious concern in 2014 about the way the terms of reference for bidding for the PNP patrol jeeps were crafted. She said they were tailor-fitted for Mahindra.

She said that effectively eliminated all the other more known brands with track records and countrywide presence from competing.

Senator JV Ejercito said the PNP and AFP with their meager resources, should acquire vehicles and equipment that were durable and reliable.

“We cannot afford to waste public funds on vehicles and equipment that are not reliable,” Ejercito said.

Senator Chiz Escudero earlier questioned the India-made CAC Mahindra’s Enforcer patrol cars, saying they’re “defective and dangerous.”

FIBA investigates PH-Australia ‘basketbrawl’ AUSTRALIA’S bruised and battered basketball team left Manila late Tuesday fearing for their safety as they sought embassy help to leave the country after a brutal on-court brawl involving players, fans, and officials during their World Cup qualifier against the Philippines Monday night.

Basketball’s governing body FIBA opened disciplinary proceedings against both teams after the astonishing melee, where players and officials kicked and pounded a prone Australian player and both sides exchanged flying kicks and punches.

Thirteen players were ejected after the all-in fight between the Gilas Pilipinas and the Boomers in the third quarter, which was hashtagged #basketbrawl as footage and condemnation went viral.

Malacañang termed the incident at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan “regretful” and “unsportsmanlike” and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said both sides

should take steps to ensure that such an “unfortunate” incident would not happen again.

“The basketball players showed unsportsmanlike conduct and must accept whatever sanctions to be imposed by FIBA authorities. We found the whole incident unfortunate,” Roque said.

“It was of course the height of being unsportsmanlike, but at the same time we appreciate that it’s something that we have to be sorry about because it should never have happened,” he added.

The spokesman said the Palace “understood the feelings of our fellow Filipinos, but this should not justify their conduct.”

Roque also suggested to “have better referees” that will intervene when players make a hard foul, if ever the Boomers and Gilas meet again.

Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas that hosted the game, said it was “unfortunate

that things got out of hand.”

It could have been prevented if the referees had tightened officiating to better control the game,” said Angara, who also plays on the Senate team in a local intergovernment league.

The senator stressed that he stood by the Gilas team on the altercation.

“One may criticize how the game ended, but the true test of a fan is to stick with his team win or lose, through thick and thin,” he said.

In the heat of the moment, Angara said the players on both sides “had to stand up for each other.”

What was already a bad-tempered game erupted in the third quarter when local player Roger Pogoy knocked Australia’s Chris Goulding to the ground and Daniel Kickert retaliated by flattening Pogoy with a flying elbow. Vito Barcelo, Evalea Casaljay and Macon-Ramos Araneta, with AFP

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Last year, Halili said he backed Duterte’s campaign but believed drug kingpins should be the main targets, otherwise thousands of people would be killed.

He expressed concern over the way police conducted the war on drugs and the reliability of their intelligence.

Despite Duterte’s statements, the Palace said a proper investigation would take place.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the President merely expressed “a suspicion.”

In his speech, President Duterte presumed that Halili was involved in illegal drugs and that’s the reason he was killed.

“So that’s how it is. I heard today that Halili has died. But we’re suspecting that it’s drug-related. It’s just a suspicion. But you’ll know the reason eventually. I will know,” he said.

Roque said Duterte’s statement would not affect the police investigation or the public perception of Halili.

The Palace official said they were concerned and alarmed by the incident, which took place at broad daylight.

Calabarzon police chief Chief Supt. Edward Carranza, meanwhile, said no clues could be derived from the bullet found in Halili’s body as it disintegrated upon entry.

Bullet jackets, however, from the ammunition used to kill Halili were recovered and are now under examination, he told the program Unang Balita.

Police said they were unable to find evidence from the clearing they believe the sniper used to fire his single shot.

He said the meeting was “not really unusual” because the President and the archbishop have had open communication.

Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go had earlier told reporters about the upcoming meeting and said the archbishop often contacted him if he had concerns.

Earlier, the Palace formed a four-man group to meet with religious leaders to improve relations strained by the President’s tirades against the Catholic Church.

In a rambling speech in Maasin, Leyte, the President lashed out at those who criticized him for his attacks on God, saying people should believe in the new religion, the Iglesia of Duterte.

“Why do you get mad if I hit your god? God is what you conceive him to be. We all have different gods,” Duterte said.

Duterte denied allegations that his administration had anything to do with the killing of three priests in a span of six months, and said one of the victims was a womanizer.

“Based on our investigation, he had women, lots of women. In the phone, there were messages: ‘Are you naked now?’ Dirty talk,” the President said, then made moaning sounds to simulate sex to the laughter of the crowd.

Roque said both sides needed to act to stop the word war.

“If there is going to be a cessation of

hostile language, I think it has to be from both institutions,” Roque said.

He added that it was the clergymen who were attacking the President.

Both Duterte and Valles are natives of Davao with the latter serving as its archbishop prior to his election as CBCP president in July 2017.

Roque is a member of four-man team tasked by Duterte to hold talks with religious leaders following the President’s negative remarks against the Catholic Church.

Other members of the presidential panel are Cabinet Secretar y Jun Evasco, Foreign Affairs Undersecretar y Er nesto Abella and Edsa People Power Commission Commissioner Pastor “Boy” Saycon.

Two lawmakers on Tuesday called for a ceasefire between the President and the Catholic Church, and welcomed the upcoming meeting.

“That is a welcome development. Both sides should sit down and discuss issues of cooperation for development,” Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, chairman of the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries, said.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin, an opposition lawmaker, said the Palace has to show sincerity.

“A ceasefire needs sincerity and a principled agreement on basic moral grounds from which the Palace has to show first. The church has consistently followed the path to peace and nonviolence. But it is harder to make the President shut his mouth than asking the bishops [to do the same],” Villarin said.

Con-Com...

approval the document should have some impact on Congress, which is dominated by Duterte’s allies.

The shift to a federal form of government was one of the advocacies and promises of Duterte when he was campaigning for the presidency in May 2016.

The final draft mandates that there will be no term extension for Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo, allaying fears that a charter change would prolong their stay in power.

Based on the final draft, Duterte and Robredo’s term of office will end on June 30, 2022, and the transition to the new federal constitution also takes effect on this day.

This means Duterte will be bound to the 1987 Constitution until the end of his term, a Constitution that allows no reelection or term extension for the President.

The heart of the proposed Federal Constitution involves the giving of more power to the regions to govern themselves instead of leaving such powers to the often distant central government in Metro Manila.

Under the final draft, the current 17 re-

gions, plus a new Negrosanon region, will become federated regions that have the power over socioeconomic planning, land use, and financial administration and management, among others. The central government, called the federal government in the draft, will retain powers over national security and defense, international relations and diplomacy, customs and tariffs, federal crimes, and the justice system, among others.

Instead of the current 24 senators, there will be 36—two senators from each federated region.

There will also be 400 members of the House of Representatives instead of the current 297.

The draft also provides that the regions will be divided into districts, with each district electing one representative.

Of the total number of representatives, 40 percent or 160 representatives will come from proportional party representation. Of this, half or 80 of the seats will be reserved for representatives of the marginalized sectors. With PNA

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the proposed Federal Constitution in Pasay City.

“It should be by the middle of next year or May 2019, so there will be time for the people to understand this new [Federal] Constitution,” Puno said.

Puno, chairman of President Rodrigo Duterte’s committee proposing a draft Constitution, also said Filipinos had “nothing to fear” about the country’s possible shift to a federal form of government.

Con-Com spokesman Ding Generoso said the Con-Com hoped to submit the final draft to the President on or before July 9 in time for Duterte’s State of the Nation Address on July 23.

He said the submission was a crucial step as Duterte is expected to endorse the ConCom’s output to Congress, the body that will ratify a new constitution.

Congress is not bound to adopt the ConCom’s final draft, but if it bears Duterte’s

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From A1 to solve these crimes. They must lessen the number of firearms in the country and start going after the unlicensed ones.”

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque assured the public the state would discharge its obligation in each murder.

“We will spare no effort in getting to the bottom of this latest violent crime,” he said.

He also expressed confidence that Albayalde would find the culprits and bring them to justice.

Police checkpoints were set up around Cabanatuan City as police investigated the killing.

Also on Tuesday, one of two motorcycle-riding men shot dead an escort of a lawmaker in Davao City’s Buhangin District.

Police said Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Assemblyman Sidik Amiril of Maguindanao’s Second District, was in a black Mazda pick-up truck, when a gunman on a motorcycle opened fire.

Amiril and two other civilian escorts survived the attack, but Berry Adas, seated in the back, was killed.

In the Senate, Duterte critic Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said there was no justification for Halili’s assassination, regardless of his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

He said the Philippines has become the “murder capital of Asia” after a spate of killings involving drug suspects, priests and public officials.

“President Duterte’s culture of violence is upon us. No one is safe now,” Trillanes said.

“Now, for someone who promised to restore peace and order in our country during the campaign, it is ironic for a lot of people that Duterte has actually turned the Philippines into the murder capital of Asia,” he said.

“But I am not surprised,” he said, noting that Duterte did the same thing in Davao City when he was mayor.

He called on decent members of the Philippine National Police to fulfill their mandate to protect citizens from criminals and to follow only legal orders.

“I also call on the CIDG and NBI to leave no stone unturned and bring to justice the perpetrators of this gruesome crime,” he further said.

Another opposition senator, Risa Hontiveros, condemned Halili’s assassination.

She called on the PNP to launch a full investigation and bring all those responsible to justice.

“This is another murder that possibly rode on the wave of killings in the country.

It could be directly attributed to the climate of killing and impunity created and nurtured by President Rodrigo Duterte, which has disturbingly devalued human life,” she said.

Political assassinations, like extrajudicial killings, are direct assaults on democracy, she said.

“They abandon modern procedural justice in favor of satisfying the lust for blood and violence. The President has brought us back to the dark ages,” she said.

“We are less safe than ever before.

In fact, we are not safe at all. If mayors, other local government officials and even priests can be killed in broad daylight, the threat to ordinary civilians is that much greater,” Hontiveros added.

Senator Leila de Lima, also a member of the minority bloc related that first Duterte came up with a narco-list of mayors and Local Government officials.

“Then he warned them that he would go after them and kill them. After that the police came and killed one mayor inside his jail cell, and another inside his own home.

His whole government goaded his tough talk and the killings,” said the detained senator.

Last week, she said Duterte told vice mayors who want to be mayor to save on their election campaign and just kill their mayor.

“Yesterday, a mayor was shot in broad daylight during a morning flag ceremony.

Before the body even turns cold, he proclaims in a speech that the mayor who was shot dead was a suspected drug lord and saw it coming,” she said.

“Duterte may not have fired the gun that killed Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan, Batangas, but he most certainly murdered him with his words,” she said.

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Mortuary technicians then found her alive in a morgue fridge several hours after the crash in which the victims’ car rolled, throwing all three occupants clear of the vehicle, killing two of them.

“We followed our procedures—we’ve got no idea how it happened,” Distress Alert operations manager Gerrit Bradnick told AFP. “The crew is absolutely devastated— we’re not in the business of declaring living people dead, we’re in the business of keeping people alive.”

The woman, who was taken to Carletonville hospital after being found alive in the mortuary, had shown no signs of life when she was attended to by first responders, added Bradnick.

“All the right checks were done— breathing, pulse—so the patient was declared deceased,” he said.

The company has now launched an investigation. AFP

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DoLE stops work permit for aliens temporarily

BI deports overstaying Zimbabwean missionaries

By Vito Barcelo

By Vito Barcelo THE Department of Labor and Employment has temporarily suspended the issuance of alien employment permits to foreign nationals in Boracay Island.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued Labor Advisory No. 11, temporarily prohibiting foreign nationals to engage in gainful employment in the island of Boracay and those with valid AEP who intend to renew their employment permits.

However, foreign nationals who are either commissioned or authorized by the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force are exempted from the temporary suspension, Silvestre said.

Exempted are foreign nationals who come to Boracay to conduct research studies or undertake work related to the island’s rehabilitation.

Also exempted from the temporary suspension are permanent resident foreign nationals and probationary or temporary resident visa holders.

All foreign nationals who are exempted from securing an AEP, are likewise exempted from the suspension.

The advisory, signed on June 26, shall take effect until the temporary closure of the Boracay Island has been lifted.

Ombudsman lawyer-witness to challenge Sula’s claims

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday said it will present its former lead lawyer to challenge the recantation of pork barrel whistleblower Marina Sula’s claim against former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in the plunder suit he is facing.

Ombudsman’s Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval said the prosecution panel would present former director Joefferson Toribio, now a judge in Tarlac City, to be a rebuttal witness in August.

He said they are just waiting for Revilla, who has been detained at Camp Crame for almost four years, and the other accused to complete their formal offers of evidence.

“We’ll call him and present him as rebuttal witness. I understand...

The witness [Sula] all the while thought he [Toribio] was no longer with us, and that he was in a far away place. Maybe, that’s what she thinks. She said she was coached but we will see when Judge Toribio testifies,” he said.

Earlier, Sula accused the Ombudsman’s lead prosecutor of coaching her previous testimonies in the plunder trial of Revilla.

During last week’s hearing at the Sandiganbayan’s First Division, Sula claimed it was whistleblower Benhur Luy who falsified Revilla’s signature on several documents, such as endorsement letters, that had paved the way for the release of the senator’s Priority Development Assistance Fund to finance ghost projects supposedly organized by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.

She said Toribio coached her to corroborate the testimony of Luy to prevent conflicting statements against Revilla over his alleged receipt of P224 million worth of kickbacks from Napoles.

To prove his innocence of graft and plunder, Revilla presented Sula, Merlina Sunas and Mary Arlene Baltazar as hostile witness.

Sandoval, for his part, said the prosecution remained unfazed by Sula’s recantation, saying they have a strong case against the former senator.

“The documentary evidence is very overwhelming, although I’m refraining from discussing it because it’s sub judice,” he said.

REPAINTING JOB. Workers start repainting the logo of the House of Representatives helipad in Quezon City in preparation for the 2nd State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte. Manny Palmero

Judges, court employees back Marquez for SC post

By Rey E. Requejo

J

UDGES and court employees in the country on Tuesday gave their endorsement to the nomination of Court Administrator Midas Marquez for associate justice in the Supreme Court.

In separate letters sent to the Judicial and Bar Council, three major organization of judges in the country —Philippine Judges Association, Philippine Trial Judges League and Metropolitan and City Judges Association of the Philippines— backed the appointment of Marquez to the 15-member bench.

The Philippine Association of Court Employees also submitted a similar letter to the JBC, backing the appointment of Marquez as successor of Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. who is retiring in August.

The PJA cited the “integrity, competence, work ethic and dedication to the judiciary” of Marquez as his qualifications to become a member of the Court in place of Velasco, who himself was a court administrator before being appointed as justice.

“He is firm, courageous, loyal to the institution, and truly a man of principles, who works hard for the intersect and welfare of judges. More, as a person, he is humble, but strong in character.

He is approachable but firm and uncompromising in his decision. His exemplary performance, dedication to service and commitment to work, as well as in all his undertakings, are qualities that placed him above the rest,” said the PJA led by Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Judge Georgina Hidalgo, who was recently appointed as Sandiganbayan associate justice.

The judges’ group said that Marquez brought about significant innovations and reforms in the dispensation of justice in the first and second level courts.

The PTJL cited Marquez’ “reputation for being apolitical and for having a deeply ingrained sense of moral uprightness

befitting the other constitutional-required traits of independence and integrity.”

MetCJAP added that the appointment of Marquez as a justice would “ensure the continuity and realization of all the projects and efforts to maintain and uphold excellent judicial service.”

For its part, PACE believes that the court administrator “will be an effective pillar of the judiciary dispensing justice with wisdom and with a heart” just like Velasco.

The group’s endorsement was signed by their national president lawyer Maria Fe Maloloy-on.

The JBC has shortlisted Marquez for the SC post to be vacated by the retirement of Velasco in August after he obtained six votes.

The others in the shortlist are Court of Appeals Associate Justices Jose Reyes Jr., Amy Lazaro-Javier, Ramon Garcia, Associate Justices Apolinario Bruselas, Rosmari Carandang and Ramon Hernando; and former Ateneo law school dean Cesar Villanueva.

Marquez was one of those who testified in the impeachment cases against Sereno in the House of Representatives, along with several justices of the high court.

Metro crime incidents down by 25% in first 6 months

By Joel E. Zurbano THE number of crime incidents in Metro Manila went down to 25 percent during the first six months of the year, the National Capital Region Police Office announced on Tuesday.

The NCRPO also reported that the crime rate for the first two years under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte as compared with the last years under the Aquino administration decreased by 49 percent.

Metro Manila police director Guillermo Eleazar attributed the significant accomplishment to the NCRPO’s continuing war on drugs campaign and six other identified key factors.

“First, the government’ s war on drugs has been considerably very effective.

Since July of 2016 to June 2018, the

NCRPO has recorded a total of 233,896 drug users and pushers who surrendered to the authorities,” said Eleazar.

NCRPO also arrested and jailed 48,886 individuals while 1,590 were neutralized during various police operations.

“Evidently, the less number of drug addicts on the street equates to lesser criminal activities and criminal incidents. The drug addicts as expected will always find ways to get money in order to satisfy their physical and psychological craving on illegal drugs,” Eleazar said.

“To some extent, they are forced to steal, rob shops and innocent people on the streets, barge into homes, in worst cases have to assault, hurt and even kill their victims to get money to buy illegal drugs. Consequently, the government’s effort to intensify its campaign against

illegal drugs through the PNP has been an effective tool to lessen such crime,” he added.

Secondly, Eleazar said, police presence and the aggressive drive against criminality and illegal drugs has led to more arrests, neutralization of criminals and confiscation of illegal drugs which will be considered as a significant accomplishment. This factor, he added, serves as deterrent to potential criminals to pursue their nefarious ways and evil designs against the innocent people.

“Accordingly, media and information dissemination as the third factor played a very important role in enhancing community engagement, in bringing the police closer to the people, and in soliciting the support of the public to the undertakings of the police, especially the Team-NCRPO,” Eleazar said.

THE Bureau of Immigration has ordered the deportation of a Zimbabwean missionary and two of its members for overstaying and engaging in political activities, a violation of their stay in the country.

Ordered deported was Zimbabwe United Methodist Missionary Tawanda Chandiwana who was also the subject of a government intelligence report for his alleged involvement in leftistorganized activities.

The two United Methodist Church members, American national Adam Thomas Shaw and Malawian citizen Miracle Osman, were likewise ordered deported.

BI Spokesperson Dana Krizia Sandoval said that Chandiwana, Shaw and Osman are detained at the BI Warden Facility in Bicutan, Taguig.

“Chandiwana was apprehended last May 9 in Toril, Davao, pursuant to a valid Mission Order from the Commissioner. Upon inspection, it was confirmed that he is an overstaying alien as his missionary visa expired last April 6. He also admitted to have been working in the country since October 2016, but sought a visa only in 2017,” she said.

On the other hand, Shaw arrived in the country in 2011, and admitted to have engaged in missionary works without a visa from 2011 to 2013.

He was granted a missionary visa upon his return to the Philippines in 2017, which expired last April 26. He was also ordered to leave for engaging in missionary works without a visa, overstaying, and for involvement in leftist activities.

DDB, DILG vow to renew ties to strengthen anti-drug efforts

By Rio N. Araja THE Dangerous Drugs Board and the Department of the Interior and Local Government vowed to renew their partnership in the regular conduct of training and orientation to strengthen anti-drug abuse councils of every local government unit.

Now on its fourth leg, the training is still being conducted in Cebu City starting July 3 until July 5 for local government officers from Regions 6, 7 and 8.

Assistant Secretary Walter Besas cited the significant role of anti-drug councils in drug prevention and control.

“We place communities at the center of all our anti-drug efforts.

The DDB believes the most effective interventions are the ones that emanate from the community, carried out by the community, for the community,” he said.

The program is part of the series of training orientation for local government operations officers in line with the implementation of DDB-DILG Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2018-01 on the implementing guidelines of the functionality and effectiveness of local anti-drug abuse councils.

All local governments are required to have their own anti-drug abuse councils to ensure that all programs of drug prevention and control are implemented down to the barangay level.

Stratbase Institute to hold forum on WPS INDEPENDENT think tank Stratbase ADR Institute will hold a major forum on the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) and the need for a rules-based international system to resolve the regional conflict over the area.

Stratbase ADRi president Victor Adres “Dindo” Manhit said the forum titled “The South China Sea Arbitration Award 12 July 2016: Promoting a Rules-Based International System?” will be held on July 12, 2018, from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.

“Two years have passed since the Philippines scored a decisive victory against its northern neighbor. Yet, while the ruling should have transformed the strategic milieu in terms of maritime security and should have reshaped the state actors’ strategies and actions, there remains uncertainty on the future of maritime commons,” Manhit said.

“Claimant and non-claimant states alike should work hand-in-hand in promoting peace and security within the bounds of

established international law,” he said.

The forum will be divided into three sessions. First session will focus on the observance of a rules-based order in the South China Sea, while the second session will focus on the opportunities and challenges of a rules-based international system in the maritime commons.

The third session involves the presentation of the Pulse Asia Survey results which could provide basis for policy makers to revisit the country’s foreign policy that is reflective of the Filipino people’s sentiment.

Manhit said the government’s top officials and diplomats as well as policy and academic experts were invited to shed light on the important issue involving the country’s territorial waters.

Invited key speakers include Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, acting Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

GLOBE REPLICA. Environment advocates share light moment as they hand a globe replica to Senate committee on Energy chairman Senator Win Gatchalian shortly after a forum organized by the Senate committee on Environment and Natural Resources where former Department of Science and Technology Balik Scientist and expert on waste management warned that Filipinos should prepare for the worst impacts of dirty disposal technologies if the government decides to repeal the ban on waste incineration. Ey Acasio

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Loose firearms are a big problem

EDITORIAL

I can only predict more killings.

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO HAVE you noticed that there does not seem to be the same level of excitement over the upcoming bout between local boxing icon, Senator Manny Pacquiao, and Argentine boxer Lucas Marthysse?

The fight will be on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur.

In Pacquiao’s previous fights, newspapers and broadcast stations were abuzz early on.

Now, if it were not for the advertisements, people would not notice at all.

This means that Pacquiao’s popularity among Filipinos is waning. He is, after all, already 39 years old. He should retire.

*** Santa Banana, I read this report about an inmate of the New Bilibid Prison being the mastermind of a kidnap-for-ransom gang, who kidnapped the owner of a steel shop.

This raises two questions. How did this convict get to be involved when he is supposed to be in jail? And, what is former PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa, who is now in charge of the Bureau of Corrections, doing about it?

This is really nothing new at the NBP. Convicts can slip out of prison when they want to, because of corruption among NBP officials and guards.

I thought Dela Rosa would be able to stop these shenanigans at the NBP but it seems nothing has changed.

If convicted criminals could slip out when they want, how can we feel safe in our homes and on the streets?

*** Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili was assassinated Monday morning. *** He was famous for Education Sechis anti-crime and retary Leonor anti-drug “Walk Briones and Philof Shame.” He ippine Drug Enmade suspects paforcement Agency They will turn our rade through city d i rector-general streets with plac- country into The Wild Aaron Aquino are ards identifying West. at odds over the who they were. random drug testThe shot which ing of students. killed him could The disagreement stems from the age only have been made by a sniper trained in jungle war- at which the students can be tested— fare. Only military personnel would Grade 4? High school? have access to an M-16 rifle.

Because of my stint as vice presiThe shooter hid in a grassy area 150 dent of the DARE Foundation, I know meters from the mayor. The assassin that pushers had victims as young as then left the weapon there.

10 years old. They are most vulnerDoes the killing have anything to do able and can easily be persuaded to with the war against drugs? experiment with drugs. Grade school The death of Halili also raises the is- pupils are especially easy to sway. The sue of loose firearms, which have been favorite places of drug pushers are the used in the killing of those involved periphery of exclusive schools like Atin the drug trade, judges, prosecutors, eneo or La Salle. School children here journalists and even clergymen. have money to spare.

With firearms in the possession of Public and private schools should killers, and with the President wanting regularly meet with parents to find out to arm barangay officials, the Philip- how they are doing at school. There are pines will indeed become the Wild, numerous signs, such as failing grades, Wild West! frequent absences, increasing isolation.

I join Senator Panfilo Lacson, former Parents should get to know their chilchief of the Philippine National Police, dren’s friends. in urging the administration to go after loose firearms and the private armies that *** use them. They make a mockery of the The Duterte administration, particularly government’s peace and order program.

Turn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

A

Enemies at every corner

LL of a sudden, this government is seeing enemies at every corner. It is a state of affairs that hardly inspires confidence, particularly when the enemies are imagined.

This week, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the real reason the government terminated peace talks with the communist rebels was that they were plotting to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte as early as 2017, if he refused to join them in a coalition government.

The Defense secretary said during a lull in the fighting due to a unilateral ceasefire from 2016 to January 2017, the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front called a People’s Congress during which they created a threeyear plan that included the ouster of Duterte if he rejected a coalition government—which he has.

What’s more, Lorenzana said, an ongoing review of all peace documents and agreements forged with the communists showed that they were laying the foundation for power-sharing under a coalition government.

The Defense chief also accused the communists of using the lull created by the peace talks to regain

lost ground and rebuild their base, as well as to obtain the release of top party members who were detained.

Of course, numerous administrations have used communist plots as a bogeyman in the past—to distract the public from their failures, or to condition people to the coming of draconian security measures.

This is no surprise, since the stated goal of the CPP, after all, is to overthrow the government through armed revolution and to seize power. Sporadic peace talks have done nothing to change this overall objective.

Mr. Lorenzana’s statement that several peace documents and agreements lay the foundation of a coalition government is a little more surprising, however, because it suggests that government negotiators have been hoodwinked by the communists all along, and that they unwittingly agreed to share power with the rebels.

Even more surprising was the Palace saying it would not rule out the possibility that Catholic Church leaders were conniving

with the communists to oust President Duterte.

This possibility was raised by Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, who had earlier declared that the Church was not part of any destabilization plot.

“Maybe many of them do not accept the President so it’s not farfetched to say they could unite with the CPP-NPA to oust President Duterte,” the spokesman said in Filipino.

In offering this serious accusation, the Palace spokesman offered no evidence, only conjecture.

Roque also claimed that Catholic leaders only became outspoken in their criticism of Duterte when “their candidate” in the 2016 presidential elections was defeated by Duterte.

This is patently untrue, of course, as the Catholic bishops began to criticize Duterte when he was still running for office and cursed Pope Francis in November 2015 for causing traffic during his visit to Metro Manila.

Of course, verity seems to be in short supply these days, as the administration makes a show of holding a dialogue with Catholic and other religious leaders, even as the President continues to mock their faith.

Liberation theology posed the dialogue after a backlash from the Church and Christian groups for the President “stupid god” blasphemy. Expletives against God, the Church, Pope Francis, as well as the deportation of AustralALEJANDRO ian missionary Sister Patricia Fox, have DEL ROSARIO added to Mr. Duterte’s sins.

The verbal attacks of the Dutertes and SOME of the clergy are working with the Roques of this world are really nothcommunists and leftist militants to oust ing new. They and others in power before President Rodrigo Duterte. This was ac- them often see shadows where there are cording to Presidential Spokesman Harry none. Historically, Christian missionarRoque days before Malacañang officials ies were vilified and some even burned and leaders of the Catholic and Christian at the stakes when spreading the word of groups set to hold a dialogue to thresh out God. This was seen in Latin America and Africa. differences between Church and State.

The missionary work by priests in What is give-‘em-hell Harry up to?

Clearly his statement during a press developing and third-world countries briefing in Leyte burns bridges instead of became known as liberation theology. building them. These words were uttered Because exponents of liberation theology prior to the dialogue to be held between were making conversion to Christianity difficult, the VatiPalace officials can admonished and leaders of the the missionaries Catholic Bishops’ to lessen their zeal Conference of the in other countries Philippines. Roque Sometimes the because of the miscan well be considconception about ered one of the bet- consequence is the their spiritual ter spokesmen of the departure of an unjust and humanitarian President. Being an ruler who does not take work. articulate lawyer, And so it was however, he cannot care of his own people. in the case of Sisseem to desist from ter Fox, who was making controversial remarks. This accused by the makes him attract administration of criticism more than the man he is sup- engaging in partisan politics. Like other persons of the cloth, missionaries unposed to defend.

Roque loves the sound of his own dertake work not to topple a president voice. Observers have come to see him or ruler of a nation. Liberation theology, competing with his own boss, the Presi- carried out by the clergy, is not to ignite dent. Is Roque’s constant mouthful mode a revolution but to liberate people from laying the groundwork for his seeking a poverty, hunger and injustice. Yes, someSenate seat in the 2019 mid-term elec- times the consequence is the departure tions? After the Senate, maybe he wants of an unjust ruler who does not take care of his own people. But then, if and when to be president, too.

The dialogue between Church and a despot is toppled, it can only be of his Palace officials is still pushing through own making. despite diatribes from Duterte’s spokesman. Malacañang was the one who proTurn to A5

BACK CHANNEL

Facebook, the friend that likes to share VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

(FB) users’ data.

MZ appeared tense, as anyone would who faces two days of questioning from 99 members of con-

TODAY, I again use an excellent material written by my daughter, Ivy Lopez Cabaltica, a US-based Ateneo-educated lawyer: Facebook’s founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, 33, testified before the US Congress to answer questions about the improper use of 87 million Facebook

It has become an ego-preening machine where we post our best versions of ourselves.

gress. Instead of his iconic Silicon Valley hoodie, T-shirt, and jeans, MZ donned a suit and tie similar to every other Washington politician. What set him apart? He was the only millennial billionaire in the room.

In 2010, FB launched Open Graph API (application programming interface) that allows external developers to contact FB users and seek permission to access their personal and friends’ data like: name, gender, birthday, location, education, page, posts, and likes. Developers need this data to develop applications (apps) that seamlessly connect with FB and Turn to A5

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Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018

56% and counting CROSSROADS

JONATHAN A. DE LA CRUZ PERPLEXED is how media reported Albay Congressman Edcel Lagman’s reaction to President Duterte’s continued popularity after two years in office.

In the latest Social Weather Stations survey taken from March 23 to 27, Mr. Duterte’s net satisfaction rating stood at +56, just a 2-percentage point drop from his +58 rating last December. Both ratings, as the SWS noted, are considered very good. Better still to the anti-Duterte group’s chagrin, it remains the highest among the top officials of the land.

“It is a puzzle,” Kuya Edcel reportedly said, “that despite the failure of President Duterte to deliver most of his campaign promises, his irreverence to established institutions including the Catholic Church, his unpatriotic surrender to China’s expansionism in the West Philippine Sea, his policy equivocation and his anti-human rights record, he still enjoys high popularity rating across classes in his second year in office.”

Well, given the anti-Duterte group’s continuing frustration and, yes, fascination with surveys, it may indeed be time for Lagman and his Magnificent 8 colleagues at the House of Representatives to recalibrate their thinking and metrics, if not their rhetoric and grasp of the situation on the ground.

For how can one so accustomed to public adulation like Lagman and his anti-Duterte colleagues, whose every utterance or antic gets to be front-page material in major dailies, be so wrong with their assessment?

How can they be so wrong when almost every international organization and persons with global networks and resources have lauded every diatribe they have hurled against this man and his administration? How can they be so far out of step with the people, as it were, when this lowly local executive has been condemned and is about to be tried even in absentia by the denizens of some of the highest organs of international bodies such as the UN Human Rights Commission and the International Criminal Court for his brutal campaign against drugs?

Perhaps Lagman and company are really missing something. They are terribly miscalculating the sentiments

of the folks out there without realizing so. Perhaps they are so consumed with their antipathy towards President Duterte they have substituted their feelings with that of the people.

Perhaps they are listening to themselves instead of hearing the voices of the people who continue to seem to have gotten used to Duterte’s ways that they have factored the same in determining whether they are better off now with him in Malacañang than before. Perhaps they are more hopeful of the future despite the Chief Executive’s failings.

Perhaps, the brutal ‘war on drugs’, one of the key promises of then candidate Duterte, has produced some results albeit at the cost of lives. Maybe they remain hopeful that the other promised changes will still come to pass. In a word, a solid majority of Filipinos believe that President Duterte

The Duterte administration must be doing something good.

will not let them down.

Well, the facts and figures do not lie. As Lagman himself admitted, President Duterte’s approval ratings have been consistently high in all income classes and regions in the country. On the drug war, for example, the latest survey show that despite the strident anti- voices, a majority of Filipinos have found it a positive step forward. On this matter, a clear majority want the aggressive, in-yourface efforts of the administration to continue no matter the number of deaths being attributed to Duterte.

Then, there is the matter of red tape and corruption which the survey says remain manageable. Again, the public seems to agree with his brusque style and public dismissals—another point in his favor.

On many occasions, his continuous dismissal of laggards, presumably corrupt and traveling officials while haranguing his audiences with tips on dealing with corrupt government officials with his trademark “sampalin niyo”(slap them) for even just a whiff of extortion has apparently had a chilling effect within the bureaucracy.

Which adds up to his positive public

standing.

Even the Chief Executive’s handling of the economy has been met with approval among analysts and financial institutions. While the expected lifting of a substantial number of the poorest of the poor has yet to materialize, the anti-Duterte groups cannot deny that indeed there have been marked improvements in many sectors of the economy.

For one, revenue collection especially in the two most critical agencies, Customs and BIR, has increased dramatically since Duterte assumed office. For the first time since the 1980s, the Bureau of Customs has met its collection targets. On the other hand, the BIR has been able to increase its collection efficiency and doubled its disposal of cases, many of which have been languishing in limbo for years.

Our sources say that this delaying tactic (codenamed parking practice by lawyers and BIR insiders) has been netting BIR scalawags hundreds of millions if not billions of pesos for years. One remembers that during PNoy’s time a shameless campaign similar to that of the late Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili was launched by then-BIR commissioner Kim Henares.

At first, the public welcomed such a move as a means to keep the public informed and for the tax evaders to finally turn on a new leaf. They soon found out though that the delays and shameless campaigns were only for show as a lot of the cases filed were parked at the DoJ for preliminary investigation. The quid pro quo was for the BIR and DoJ to keep the same parked while the unscrupulous inside operators and their bosses collected “parking fees.”

In addition to the increase in collection efficiency in the short period that President Duterte has been in office, his centerpiece Build, Build, Build program has spurred economic activity to new highs. Construction has been on a roll, direct investments in manufacturing and services not just in the stock market have been pouring in, and tourist arrivals have been spiking.

Despite the continuing efforts of anti-Duterte groups to pour cold water on the economy’s strides, the public appears to be more tolerant of the administration than the critics had expected. The Duterte administration must be doing something good and the public approves of it, warts and all.

Facebook...

From A4

other sites.

In 2013, a University of Cambridge professor Aleksandr Kogan created a survey app to study online presence and personality. The 270,000 FB users who answered the survey unknowingly gave permission for Kogan to access their friends’ FB data. This access to extended users ballooned the data pool to 87 million.

In 2014, FB changed API rules to limit a developer’s access to user data. Now a third party needs a user’s consent before they can access his friends’ data. Developers now need to get FB approval before they could request any sensitive data from users.

But this change was not retroactive.

So Kogan did not delete the data he collected in 2013.

Kogan later worked for a political data firm Cambridge Analytica, funded by Donald Trump backers. CA was hired to help with Trump’s presidential campaign and used Kogan’s FB data to target specific voters with tailored campaign messages.

In 2015, when FB found out about CA’s use of Kogan’s data, it banned Kogan’s app and CA and ordered the two to delete the data. CA claims it did.

Yet on March 17, 2018, a CA whistleblower said that CA used Kogan’s data to build psychographic profiles to target voters during the 2016 US elections.

Three days later the Federal Trade Commission launched an investigation of FB. No word from FB. During FB’s silence, its stock fell over 5 percent worth over $4 billion.

Four days after the leak, MZ posts on his FB page that it will limit developers’ access to users’ data and audit all API developer apps who accessed data before 2014. “It is against our policies for developers to share data without people’s consent.”

Eight days after the leak, FB buys seven full page ads in US and UK to apologize for a breach of trust. “We have a responsibility to protect your in-

formation. If we can’t, we don’t deserve it.”

FB is the world’s largest online social media and networking site where its 2.1 billion monthly users post their own content to share with the public or their friends. Even if just half are active, that is still over a billion monthly users.

Just like with a friend, users share with Facebook what they care about: birthdays, celebrations, achievements, vacations, houses, cars, hobbies, jobs, get-togethers, fashion, and even grief and tragedy. FB is the first to know about events in our lives and is also the first to share any news with others.

Posts are uncensored as long as it doesn’t violate FB’s Community Standards of decency and is not illegal, prohibited, dangerous, or discomfiting.

FB has become an ego-preening machine where we post our best versions of ourselves. It’s the digital equivalent of our mom showing off our awards and pictures to guests. If we have nothing to brag about, there’s always our food.

Like an intimate friend who knows us better than we know ourselves. FB stores our user behavior and data, sees our real-time online activity, and can even predict when we are sad, happy, healthy, or looking to buy. Based on what we like, share, and click, FB knows our hobbies, habits, and interests. What we like in movies, music, food, and clothes; where we shop; what we read online; how often we go on vacation; when we are sick; and even if we are gay.

MZ repeatedly told Congress that FB users own their content, quoting FB Terms of Service (Terms). “You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook, and you can control how it is shared through your privacy and application settings.”

Like a good friend entrusted with our cherished memorabilia, FB keeps all

our pictures, comments, conversations, activity, and videos on its data centers around the world so that it is readily available for users who want to retrieve it anytime online in seconds.

FB maintains at least seven data centers worldwide to store user data.

Each facility is 300,000 square foot or the size of 23 Olympic-size swimming pools. One facility is 500,000 sq ft, the same size as an Apple server farm.

These sprawling centers are located where land and electricity are cheap.

They are well-designed and custombuilt by FB with an open-air evaporative cooling to keep the non-stop hardware from overheating.

Facebook costs billions to run. Managing FB’s eternal ocean of data takes massive computing power, land, electricity, technical skills, and manpower.

In 2017, FB only had a net profit of $15.9 billion, out of its $40.7 billion revenue.

So how is FB supposed to maintain such a tremendous system without charging its users?

Like any media, FB needs advertisers to operate. Historically, advertisers seek consumers who are interested in their products, otherwise they just waste money on ignored ads. Using the only thing it has, FB monetizes its user’s online behavior and profile by specifically targeting users who will likely be interested in a particular product.There is a pervasive notion that FB sells our data. “We don’t sell user data,” MZ clarified. “We sell ads.”

MZ told congress that FB places ads on a user’s page that are relevant to them. So a luxury car manufacturer will pay FB to show its ads on the pages of users who have shown an interest in luxury cars, as revealed by their profile, content, shares, clicks, and likes.

FB can time it perfectly that a user will see an ad for a new car just after the user searched for one. This is meaningful advertising because FB offers a product to a consumer looking for it. biznewsasia@gmail.com

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Travel costs SO I SEE LITO BANAYO

could only mutter that it must have been the seasonal variation, as Chinese New Year is peak season. But truth to tell, I was quite embarrassed.

I myself find our travel costs in my own country too expensive compared to Bangkok, or Cambodia, or Hanoi, or Taiwan. Even the fabled Bali is decidedly more affordable.

This is something our Department of Tourism should look at. Not everybody who wants to visit our islands is an oilrich sheik. Most everybody else wants value for money.

NOW that Taiwan has extended its visa-free travel attraction, expect more Filipinos to visit this island the Portuguese once called “Ilha Formosa”— beautiful island.

The visa requirement was lifted November 2017, and was supposed to last until the end of July this year. It has *** been extended for another year, not We just concluded as of this writing, only for the Philippines, but for Thai Food Taipei, the annual exhibition of and Brunei nationals as well. the food, pharmaceutical, packaging But why do more Filipinos and Thais and other country food products affair come to visit Taiwan? Surely it’s not for held at the cavernous Nangang Exhibithe convenience of not having to file for tion Hall. entry permits alone.

One thousand thirty-nine compaTaiwan is very nies and countryclean and very exhibitors pargreen, as our good ticipated, which friend and veteran required the pharjournalist Ellen maceutical and Why is the Tordesillas, who biotech nolog y visited recently to Philippines not faring exhibitors to use attend a confer- better? the World Trade ence, observed.

Center hall in The terrain downtown Taipei. helped to make it We had our green, a Taiwanown Filipino food ese diplomat modestly explained once. booth, side by side with Belgium and “Very mountainous, which is why peo- Korea. Seventeen Filipino food compaple cannot build, so they only stay in nies joined this year, with such brands the plains and coastlines,” he said. as Mama Sita (whose barbecue mariI did not want to tell him about our nade was a hit), Distileria Limtuaco Baguio City, and other mountains and with its fine liquors from mango and hillsides nonetheless populated by a cacao, virgin coconut oil and muscohuge army of slums. He has not yet vado, and Century tuna, among others. been to our country, and I told him to Thanks to Department of Trade and visit Palawan, or Cebu and Bohol, or Industry’s efforts, our products are now Siargao. I also told him to skip Metro packaged quite well. Secretary Mon Manila, lest he waste his time in hor- Lopez and Undersecretary Nora Terrendous traffic. rado have been reaching out to Filipino But apart from being clean and green, food processors and exporters and tellTaiwan, even the capital, Taipei, whose ing them about the importance of propnational museum contains most of the er and attractive packaging. The results artistic treasures of China, is quite in- are noticeable. expensive. Certainly, the hotel rates Our food exporters must graduare lower than Metro Manila’s, or even ate from selling to Filipino stores and Boracay or Mactan. And there are a lot catering to our OFWs, and becoming of inexpensive two-star and one-star more competitive in the real export hotels that are spartan but clean. These, market. I advised the exhibitors about despite high real estate costs. the potentials in Taiwan, and how they And unlike other regional capitals should tweak their flavors to attract where staff are aloof, Taiwan’s are Taiwanese consumers. Too sweet, too friendlier, even if they speak English salty, too sour are not applicable here. haltingly. They are quite solicitous and The Pinoy spaghetti (I won’t mention helpful. the popular brand) will not sell here, The food is good almost everywhere, except to OFWs. even in their street food stalls. And As of this writing, we are hoping to Taiwan health and sanitation officials top last year’s immediate export sales are so strict that street food is quite safe of almost 22 million US dollars, not to eat. counting the potential for repeat orders.

Why is the Philippines not faring better? *** Among other things, traveling to the When Department of Tourism Seccountry is quite expensive. retary Berna Romulo-Puyat was in the A diplomat assigned to Taipei told Department of Agriculture, together me recently that he wanted to bring his with Assistant Secretary Dax Gazmin, family for a four-night holiday in Bohol they were slowly but surely making inlast February during the Chinese New roads in getting more and more FilipiYear holiday here. But he balked at the nos into high-value crops with export travel agency’s quotation of US $8,000, potential. Whoever has succeeded her excluding airfare. The guy comes from at DA now should follow through, and a rich country, but found the price out- coordinate with DTI. There is a huge rageous. potential, and we just need to adopt to A European diplomat and his wife specific markets, cardinal rule that this chimed in a similar observation. I is in marketing.

Loose...

From A4

Spokesman Harry Roque, should stop talking about alleged attempts of certain sectors to connive with communists to oust the President.

At this point, when surveys continue to show the President’s popularity among the people, moves to remove him from office would be an exercise in futility.

While President Duterte has not delivered on the change he has promised, at least not yet, I don’t see a reason for his ouster.

For one, there is no credible leader from the opposition. I do not count Vice President Leni Robredo as a uni-

fying force that can provide an alternative to the status quo. The opposition senators? Not them, too.

Even the so-called media critics of the President are so few. In print media, for instance, Duterte apologists abound.

Still, Roque insists that the Catholic Church is so critical of Duterte because its candidate lost in 2016. I wonder— was that Mar Roxas or Grace Poe? I thought the miscommunications office was bad enough, but having a spokesman like Roque makes things worse! www.emiljurado.weebly.com

Liberation...

From A4

The memory of an outstanding missionary comes to mind. His name is Fr. Luis Halasz. a Hungarian priest who did missionary work in the hinterlands of Mindoro. I was then the Philippine ambassador to Hungary but did not know of his missionary work in Mindoro until members of the small Filipino community in Budapest told me about it.

Fr. Halasz celebrated Mass for us at the Philippine embassy and sometimes at a small chapel in a home for the elderly run by Hungarian nuns. Fr. Halasz who passed away several years ago was wellloved by the Filipino community in Budapest for his compassion and dedication to his work even when he was already in

his eighties. Imagine, he commuted by train from his parish so many miles from the capital to celebrate Mass at the Embassy. I sent the Embassy van to pick him at the Nyugati train station.

In Mindoro where he learned to speak Tagalog and even the Mangyan tribe dialect, Fr. Halasz with his own hands helped build small classrooms and health clinics. In appreciation of his humanitarian work, Fr. Halasz was given award by the Philippine government during the time of then-President Joseph Estrada. He must have said a prayer for Erap that made him survive a plunder conviction and even win the Manila mayoralty.

News

A6

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Honest cab driver returns cash, other valuables

SKID ROW.

Personnel from the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission and the Metro Manila Development Authority start dismantling the informal settler shanties along Estero De Magdalena in Tondo and those uprooted started to be relocated to Trece Martirez, Cavite on Tuesday.

Norman Cruz

By Joel E. Zurbano AN HONEST taxi driver returned a pouch containing P150,000 worth of cash and valuables owned by an American traveler he picked up at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, official sources said Tuesday.

Belen Zaza Swegler, 66, praised taxi driver Romnick Espiritu of Peoples Network Transport after she received the black pouch she left unnoticed inside the taxi last Monday.

The pouch contained P50,000 cash, $2,000, credit cards, different identification cards and Iphone 8 mobile gadget.

Reports from the Manila International Airport Authority-Media Affairs Division showed that Swegler arrived at the Naia Terminal 2 on board PAL flight PR-2748 from Palawan and took the accredited yellow taxi going to Newport City Hotel in Pasay City.

Later at the hotel, Swegler discovered that her pouch was missing.

She immediately returned to Naia and asked for assistance from the Airport Police Department Office.

Meanwhile, Espiritu was on his way back to Terminal 2 when he noticed a black pouch inside his cab, the sources said.

He then proceeded to the APD where he met Swegler who thanked him.

Swegler expressed elation over the recovery of her pouch. She also thanked the MIAA employees and the police for their assistance.

The foreigner returned to Newport City with driver Espiritu bringing her to her hotel.

MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal praised Espiritu for his honesty.

“I am proud to have the likes of Mr. Romnick Espiritu among the ranks of Naia-accredited taxi drivers,” said Monreal.

Five months ago, Transportation Secretary Arturo Tugade visited Naia and personally commended two airport employees and a regular taxi driver who returned big amount of money they found while performing their duty.

The three workers were Antonio Infanta, driver of Bram regular white taxi; Rizalde Ocde of Integrated Workers Service Coop and security guard Alfredo Baldoza.

Tugade gave them P10,000 each as a reward for their honesty and good deeds.

PCSO-authorized STL dubbed jueteng ‘killer’ “S

MALL Town Lottery or STL may not be appreciated now but it is actually a jueteng killer. All the illegal number games are there—jueteng, masiao, pares, suertres, and others. STL is their generic name.”

This was how Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Alexander Balutan explained the issue on illegal gambling vis-à-vis the government’s campaign to promote and protect STL as a “jueteng killer.”

“This is why we launched STL in 2006 and we strengthened laws on this that year. Reason we got a major income.

We are looking at P24 billion by the end of 2018,” Balutan said in a statement.

STL is a regular game by PCSO authorized by the national government through Section 1 of Republic Act 1169; while AACs are corporations or cooperatives duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or with the Cooperative Development Authority, respectively, that applied, been duly qualified and expressly authorized by the PCSO to conduct STL in a particular area.

“Jueteng has become a way of life of

Filipinos since Spanish period and it is being controlled by gambling lords who do not remit taxes to the government.

STL being supervised by the government through PCSO and they remit taxes to the government,” Balutan said.

According to Balutan, the expanded STL had provided 309,436 jobs for those who could not pass the nitty-gritties of job fairs because of their lack of education, old age, or they are physically impaired.

At present, these “kubradors (collectors)” are earning more than P7,000 a month, which is good enough to feed their families.

By the end of the year, STL workforce is projected to double by 600,000.

“We saved them from vices—example drugs—and from being exploited by criminals. At least we are giving our countrymen the opportunity to have a clean and decent job, and it’s

not coming from illegal,” said Balutan.

In time, these people who are into illegal numbers game will be arrested because of the Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine National Police.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Bureau of Investigation are also helping to stop illegal gambling.

STL has also generated P2 billion a month for President Rodrigo Duterte’s medical program for the poor.

Apart from providing economic activity to the province, the established and existing STL corporations provide regular medical mission and educational assistance to their towns and municipalities.

The PCSO Charter, or RA 1169, particularly on revenue allocation, provides that the revenue of the PCSO shall be allocated to 55 percent for prize fund (payment of prizes), 30 percent for charity fund (various charity programs and service) and 15 percent as operating fund (maintenance and operating expenses).

“Instead of tolerating jueteng, it’s better to support and strengthen STL,” said Balutan.

Ex-mayor of Labangan charged by Ombudsman

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to charge an ex-mayor from Zamboanga del Sur with 10 counts of malversation of public funds and 10 counts failure of accountable officer to render accounts before the Sandiganbayan over a P1.2-million unliquidated fund in 2011.

Former Labangan mayor Wilson Nandang allegedly violated Articles 217 and 218 of the Revised Penal Code.

From January 2011 to August 2011, Nandang received 10 cash advances amounting to P1,250,000.

Despite demand from the Commission on Audit, Nandang was not able to liquidate and account for the cash advances.

The Ombudsman asserted under CoA Circular No. 97-002, cash advances for local travels must be liquidated within 30 days upon return to official station.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman said the Sandiganbayan found La Libertad former mayor Anjanette Sulit of Zamboanga del Norte guilty of failure to render accounts of P92,476.13 in cash advance for travel expenses from July 2, 2010 to Oct. 15, 2012.

She was ordered to pay a P6,000 fine.

Gordon wants strong PH capability in sea dispute

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Richard Gordon on Tuesday noted that unless the Philippines showed readiness to help itself by investing in building up a credible defense capability, nobody will help it in connection with the South China Sea dispute.

Gordon reiterated his call for substantive increases in the budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines because undermining the country’s defense capacity could not continue.

“It is a folly for the Philippines to remain weak, dependent and reliant. To continue to undermine our defense capacity is an absolute folly and makes allies and ill-minded countries to look at us with derision. It makes us lose our dignity and self-respect,” said Gordon.

“Let’s be friends with our neighbors, build up our alliances in Asia, but build up a credible defense capability,” he added.

Gordon said no other country will help us if they see we are not

serious about helping ourselves with a reliable defense in air, and naval assets,” he said.

He stressed that by investing in strengthening the military, the government was fulfilling the Constitutional provision which mandates that the AFP is the protector of the people and its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the state and the integrity of the national territory.

“We cannot continue to afford making a mockery of our Constitution’s claim that the AFP is the protector of the people and its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the state and the integrity of the national territory. I am not saying we go to war.

Far from it. But it is a conditio sine qua non for every state to have a capable defense force,” Gordon said.

He said the government could make all its allies near and far realize that by investing in the country’s defense forces with the modicum of credible equipage the Philippines would be showing its preparedness to fulfill the Constitution’s mandate.

“He cited the need to be prepared

to do everything and more for the sake of national security. “We must do this ourselves,” he said.

“By doing so, the whole world will respect us and prospective supporters will support us because we are showing our commitment to help ourselves,” he added.

Other countries—Singapore, Israel, Taiwan, South Korea, among others—built up their defense forces and capabilities early in their development.

China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei are claiming, in whole or in part, groups of islands in the South China Sea, which include the Paracels and the Spratlys.

Aside from the island chains which may have reserves of natural resources around them, there are dozens of rocky outcrops, atolls, sandbanks and reefs, such as the Scarborough Shoal.

The sea is also a major shipping route and home to fishing grounds that supply the livelihoods of people across the region.

‘Beware of sugar price manipulators’ SUGAR prices have shot up to 50 percent in the past few months—despite efforts by the Sugar Regulatory Administration to bolster domestic supply by removing allocation for the world market.

There is no sugar shortage in local markets but the unreasonable price increases are causing consumers to suspect that suppliers are squeezing supply to trigger the price hikes, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos said in a recent interview.

“The latest macro supply and demand data show there is no shortage,” Marcos added.

The April 15 bid price for sugar—that would have to be turned up by September 2018—for the local market was at P1,685.88 per 50-kilogram bag, higher by nearly 20 percent than the bid price of P1,432.56 for the same period in the 2017 crop year.

By April 22, the bid price went up to P1,694.33, which leaves many wondering if sugar prices have no way to go but up, she said.

SRA had projected raw-sugar production at 2.38 tons for the 2017/2018 crop year.

The tonnage output is seen by the Manila-based USDA Foreign Agriculture Service to go higher due to expansion in areas planted to sugarcane.

FAS cites sugarcane areas will reach 424,000 hectares.

To the man in the street, such increased hectarage, following economies of scope/scale, translate to higher yields, or ample supply for the local market—which can only mean reasonable prices, Marcos said.

She added: “But reality tells us that sugar price is on an upward spiral that would baffle, even anger our consumers. Did sugar pricing defy the common buyer’s common sense?”

Or such price spirals have been manipulated by suppliers to rake in higher profits at the expense of Filipino buyers, she added.

FIREARMS PROFICIENCY. A member of the Manila Police District Special Weapons and Tactics shows the proper handling of firearms to the new police in the rank of PO1 undergoing Firearms Proficiency Training at the MPD Headquarters in Manila on Tuesday. Norman Cruz

Zubiri: Same-sex marriage faces rough waves in Senate SENATE Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday admitted same sex marriage would have a very difficult time in the Senate.

Zubiri disclosed he personally asked several of his colleagues in the Upper Chamber about it in the past.

“And almost all of them have signified their opposition to it,” said the Senate leader.

“I personally have serious reservations on it and I’m inclined not to vote for it for personal and religious beliefs,” he added.

Senator JV Ejercito believed it would be an uphill battle or

it would be quite a challenge to have it passed.

He stressed the Senate was “very sensitive to the pulse of the Filipino people” when it comes to controversial legislation.

“Definitely the pulse will play a factor in our decision towards controversial and sensitive issues such as same-sex marriage,” he said.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara echoed Ejercito’s sentiments on same-sex marriage, saying he expected “vigorous debates” on the proposal.

He noted that senators were quite sensitive to public opinion

so that might play a role.

“I also expect some senators who are members or close to some religious groups to be not in favor of this,” he said.

The recent nationwide Social Weather Stations poll showed that 61 percent of Filipino people are opposed to the legalization of same-sex marriage.

The survey also showed 44 percent of 1,200 respondents said they “strongly disagree” with the proposed law legalizing same-sex marriage while 17 percent said they “somewhat disagree” with it.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Sports

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Shootout looms in ICTSI golf CAGAYAN de Oro—From the tight Apo to the mountaintop Del Monte course, the men of the Philippine Golf Tour shift their battle to the rolling Pueblo De Oro layout beginning today (Wednesday), all geared up for a four-day test of power and putting in the ICTSI Pueblo De Oro Championship here.

Jobim Carlos rallied to win by four on an eight-under 280 total at the start of the circuit’s Mindanao swing two weeks ago in Davao then Nicolas Paez broke through with a 10-under effort for a twoshot victory in Bukidnon.

Observers note a tighter, fiercer finish this time with majority of the stellar international field coming into the P3 million event sponsored by ICTSI in top form, most specifically Paez, who exudes confidence and enjoys some kind of momentum following his breakthrough triumph over the weekend.

“I’ll play aggressive,” said the powerhitting Paez, who spiked his Del Monte romp with three eagles in the first three rounds. “If I can easily shoot an eagle at Del Monte, I’ll try to do it again here (at Pueblo).”

The 29-year-old VenezuelanAmerican said the course is good with not so many hazards and bunkers but with deep ravines and narrow, tree-lined fairways and unpredictable surface.

“The course is good and my confidence is high. So I think my chances for backto-back is possible,” added Paez, who drew Carlos and Englishman Joshua Grenville-Wood in the featured 7:20 a.m. flight on No. 1.

That should guarantee a shootout right in the opening round with the rest of the starting 81-player field also going all out for a strong start, including James Ryan Lam, joint runner-up last week who will play alongside veteran Tony Lascuña and former PGT Asia leg winner Justin Quiban at 6:50 a.m., also at the frontside.

Federer, Serena breeze thru heat L

ONDON—Eight-time champion Roger Federer and seventime winner Serena Williams shrugged off 30-degree heat to breeze into the Wimbledon second round Monday.

Federer, the defending champion and seeking a 21st major, marked the start of his 20th successive Wimbledon with a new look and a comfortable 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 win over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.

Williams, like Federer, 36-years-old but chasing a 24th Slam title, enjoyed a hardfought 7-5, 6-3 victory over Holland’s Arantxa Rus. It was the American’s first match at the All England Club since lifting the 2016 title.

She missed the 2017 edition as she prepared for the birth of her first child.

Top seed Federer marched out on Centre Court dressed for the first time in gear designed by Japanese giant Uniqlo in a deal reported to be worth $300 million after a two-decade association with Nike.

But everything else was familiar for the

Swiss star who cruised past world number 57 Lajovic in just 79 minutes.

It was the second successive year that Federer had knocked out the Serb at Wimbledon.

“I’m very happy, I felt good from the start too which was nice and that was not the case last year against him. I remember I struggled early on a lot,” said Federer.

After just 20 minutes to complete the first set, Federer went on to fire 35 winners past Lajovic, breaking serve five times, setting up a second round encounter against Lukas Lacko of Slovakia.

Out on Court One, Serena, seeded 25 this year despite a ranking of 181, had too much power for Rus, the world 107.

Williams, looking to move within one title of Martina Navratilova’s Open era

From A8

With 4:01 left in the third period of the game, Roger Pogoy went for a layup and collided with his defender Christopher James Goulding, who fell to the floor due to the impact. Tension escalated when the Australian’s teammate Daniel Kickert retaliated with a forearm to the Filipino’s face.

Gilas players, led by Andray Blatche and Jason Castro rushed to Pogoy’s aid, as players and coaching staff of the home team rushed into the court, either to join the fray or pacify those involved.

It was only after police, security guards, arena bouncers, and more officials were able to come in to stop team members from both sides from exchanging more blows.

A total of 13 players were tossed out in the game, four from the visiting team and nine from Gilas, leaving three Filipinos on the court, namely JuneMar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood and Baser Amer to carry the fight for the home team. But it looked

Kim Joo Hyung eyes a big rebound from Del Monte foldup.

Advertising Department 832-5547

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Estate of the late NORBERTO C. CASTILLO who died intestate on March 15, 2017, has been settled by his heirs as evidenced by the Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate of Norberto C. Castillo dated September 13, 2017 as per Doc. No. 176; Page No. 37; Book No. 71A; Series of 2017 of Notary Public for Quezon City, Atty.

Benjamin F. Alfonso.

MS-JUNE 20,27 & JULY 4, 2018)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

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record of nine Wimbledon titles, fired 23 winners past Rus. Victory was sealed on a fifth match point and next faces Bulgarian qualifier Viktoriya Tomova.

“I don’t know if I’m relieved, more motivated, but I am happy to get through that,” said Williams, whose return to Slam tennis after pregnancy at Roland Garros last month ended in a fourth round injury withdrawal.

US Open champion and fourth seed Sloane Stephens became the tournament’s first big name casualty when she slumped to a 6-1, 6-3 loss to Croatia’s world 55 Donna Vekic.

For Stephens, fresh from making the French Open final last month, it was her second successive first round loss at the tournament.

“There isn’t too much I can do—I’m not going to go and cry. Life goes on,” said Stephens, who was followed out of the tournament by Bulgarian sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov. AFP

US player Serena Williams returns against Netherlands’ Arantxa Rus during their women’s singles first round match on the first day of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. AFP

SBP: Gilas...

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A7

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

InvItatIon to BId for tHE EStaBLISHMEnt of doH dISaStEr rECovErY SItE at rEGIonaL offICE III IB no. 2018-267 The Department of Health (DOH), through the General Appropriations Act of 2018 intends to apply the sum of Twenty Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Philippine Pesos (PhP23,500,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Establishment of DOH Disaster Recovery Site at Regional Office III under IB No. 2018-267. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The DOH now invites bids for the procurement of the above-captioned project. Delivery of the Goods is required within period specified under Section VI. Schedule of Requirements. Bidders should have completed, within the past five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project, equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the COBAC Secretariat, G/F, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given above during 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 04 – 25 July 2018 from the address above and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Philippine Pesos (PhP25,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The DOH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 11 July 2018, 10:00 A.M. at the COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manila, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

Bids must be duly received by the COBAC-B Secretariat at the address below on or before 25 July 2018, 9:00 A.M. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on 25 July 2018, 9:00 A.M. at the COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The DOH reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: COBAC-B Secretariat Department of Health San Lazaro Compound Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. Nos. 651-7800 local 1625 to 1627; 1650 to 52 Facsimile No.: 741-9775; 740-6830 (SGD) MARIA ROSARIO S. VERGEIRE, MD, MPH, CESO IV Assistant Secretary of Health COBAC-B Chairperson

(MS-JULY 4, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

to be a futile attempt and Fajardo and Norwood were forced to intentionally foul out, leaving Baser as the only Filipino on the court and forcing game officials to hand the win to the Boomers, who were ahead, 89-53, with seconds left third period.

Coach Chot Reyes said after the post-game huddle said tensions have been escalating right before the game.

“The reality was Kickert was hitting our players during the warmups. He hit Cruz, Wright, Pogoy and Abueva during the warmups... And he was the one who came in and decked Pogoy,” said Reyes in citing what happened.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has sent its apology to Filipino basketball fans and to the basketball community for the incident.

“As hosts, we regret having breached the bounds of traditional Filipino hospitality. As the national team representing flag and country, we likewise extend our apologies to the Filipino people,” the SBP statement said.

On the other hand, Basketball Australia chief Anthony Moore said the Boomers have accepted responsibility for their part in a disturbing incident.

Racing clubs amend popular betting options THE country’s t h r e e horseracing clubs wrote JENNY the Philippine ORTUOSTE R a c i n g Commission r e c e n t l y informing it that they are changing the schedule of certain betting options in order to fight illegal bookie operations.

The letter dated June 27, 2018 was addressed to Philracom Chairman Andrew Sanchez and was signed by the three clubs—Manila Jockey Club, Philippine Racing Club, and Metro Manila Turf Club. It states in full: “The racing clubs in its [sic] effort to remain viable has [sic] agreed to adopt the following measures effective July 3, 2018.

“1. The Daily Double (DD) event will only be available for betting during the penultimate [second to the last] race.

“2. The Forecast (FC) event will only be available for betting during the last race.

“3. The Extra Double (XD) event will be the basis for substitution for late scratching of horses for all races except the last 2 races.

“The above measures were initiated to fight the illegal betting operations in the country.”

The letter was signed by MJC Chairman Atty.

Alfonso Reyno Jr., PRC Chief Operating Officer Santiago Cualoping III, and MMTC Chairman Dr. Norberto Quisumbing Jr. As of presstime (6:30 p.m. last night), there has been no formal reply from Philracom, because they received the letter only on July 2, at 3:15 p.m.—a little over 24 hours before the implementation of the racing clubs’ scheme. It is expected that the Commission will meet on it today.

Industry sources confirm that the initiative is fully supported by the three racing clubs. This is being done, they say, to reduce bookie incentives to policeman who are protecting their illegal operations.

“The system is the bookies from the start [of the betting] get some money from the little bets they have and give these to the policemen. If you take that away in the early part [of the raceday], you take away the incentive that bookies give to the police.”

According to an insider of 30 years’ standing, “[This move] is a consensus of the three clubs which have decided [to do something] because

THE HOARSE WHISPERER

government [in this case, law enforcement] is not doing anything” to stop the bookies.

“Bookies proliferated after the TRAIN law was passed” because the law increased taxes on winnings and the documentary stamp tax.

“After TRAIN,” my source said, “racing fans turned to bookies, who got more mileage and their efforts are depleting the clubs. We [the industry] have to fight back.”

The races last night were held at MJC’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite. All industry sectors were invited by MJC management to attend a meeting there and observe the outcome of the new betting scheme.

As of 6:00 p.m., already present at SLLP were Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing, Games and Amusements Board Chairman Baham Mitra, as well as representatives of the racing clubs, trainers, and jockeys.

Several of the attendees told me they intended to observe all the races last night in order to gauge the impact of the new scheme.

I remember some years ago, when I was still commentating races on air, that the same or a similar scheme was initiated for the same reason— mid-2000’s, I think. Back then, the DD had sales of about P1 million each time. When the DD was returned to its regular schedule, sales for the event never reached those heights again.

What needs to be done is for law enforcement to do its job to suppress bookies. They can start by policing their ranks for the coddlers of bookies. I heard there was supposed to be a racing industry meeting with new PNP chief Oscar Albayalde about this matter, but it did not push through because he had another engagement the day of the meeting.

The racing industry has been around for over 150 years and provides employment and business opportunities to thousands of people. It has customs, traditions, and a unique culture all its own. It even has its own language (salitang karera)!

It should not die just because of bookies and erring policemen. It is brave of and right for the the three racing clubs to stand up against the illegal bookie menace.

This event is still developing, and we’ll get back to you with an update of this matter. *** Dr. Ortuoste, a writer and researcher, has a PhD in Communication. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and @DrJennyO, Twitter: @drhoarsewhsprr and @ DrJennyO

E-Sports now legal under GAB THE Games and Amusement Board recently signed a resolution allowing the professionalization of E-Sports in the Philippines—a first in Asia.

GAB Chairman Abraham Kahlil ‘Baham’ Mitra, together with Commissioners Eduard Trinidad and Mar Masanguid, said that legitimizing E-Sports as a duly recognized professional sport in the country, also ensures the protection of e-sports athletes and organizers.

“This new endeavor is GAB’s effort to promote responsible gaming,” said Mitra, a former Palawan Governor and two-time member of the House of the Representatives.

“E-Sports is here to stay. It is part of technological evolution and a reality that has evolved into a new kind of sport, not only in our country but in the other parts of the world as well,” added Mitra.

Mitra said that GAB actually started to sanction E-Sports a year ago.

During the span of six months, seven E-Sports games, including the Galaxy Battles 2 were held locally.

“In the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2017, 107 professional E-Sports athletes were licensed by the Board. These permits and licenses brought in a total of P92,340.00 additional revenue for the government for 2017 alone,” claimed Mitra.

“Total permits and licenses issued for E-Sports in 2018 reached 207 for a total of P403,890 additional revenue,” he said.

The GAB chairman claimed that future E-Sports tournaments are expected not only to promote tourism, with foreign E-Sports participants coming into the country, but also to increase revenue shares of the government, through issued licenses and permits as well as GAB shares from the tournament tickets.

Nayre banners PH tablenetters in SEA tourney FIRST Filipino Youth Olympic Games qualifier Jann Mari Nayre will banner Team Philippines’ quest for glory as hostilities in the 24th Southeast Asian Junior Cadet Table Tennis Championship fires off today at the Robinsons Place in Naga City.

The 18-year-old national junior top member, who ruled the recent ITTF Road to Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games Qualifying held in Cook Island in New Zealand, will be joined by other talented Filipino shuttlers like Mari Andrei Ramos Reynaldo Templado, Andrew Uy and Daniel Gabriel Marcelo.

In the girls’ division, Filipina champion Stephanie Reign Villanueva of Bago City will lead the distaff chargers against ranking SEATTA tablenetters in the four-day event organized by Philippine Table Tennis Federation Inc. president Ting Ledesma and hosted by Naga City Mayor John Bongat, a certified Bicolano table tennis enthusiast.

Ledesma said host Philippines can field as many qualified Filipino young bets against the cream of the crop junior cadet players from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei and Laos who are already in town as of yesterday.

Brief but colorful opening rites highlighting the parade of colors of the participating Southeast Asian nations will usher in the tournament.

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

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

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018

SMB seeks quarterfinal berth

By Jeric Lopez

THE 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup returns a day after the infamous fight-marred FIBA Qualifiers’ game involving Gilas Pilipinas and Australia.

While the attention remains on what happened with the National team Monday night, the PBA plunges back to action after more than a week of break with two critical games that are bound to dictate the fate of two teams.

San Miguel Beer (5-4) will be heavily favored when it faces ousted cellar-dweller Blackwater (1-9) at 4:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City as it looks to formally secure a quarterfinals berth and stay inside the top six.

In the second game, Magnolia (45) faces the same situation as it is in a must-win situation when it takes on also ousted NLEX (2-8) at 7 p.m.

Currently in fifth place with a twogame winning streak, the Beermen look to continue their resurgence and hope to lock in a ticket in the quarters with another win.

A victory will not only send them to the playoffs, it will also ensure them a top six finish and allow them to avoid a twice-to-win disadvantage in the next round.

In its last victory, San Miguel smashed the Road Warriors, 125114, as it showed the league that it is gearing up for the playoffs.

As for the Hotshots, they need to win their remaining two games to secure their own spot in the top eight.

Right now, Magnolia holds the No. 8 seed but it needs to win against NLEX to keep its position.

Cousins joins stacked Dubs LOS ANGELES—DeMarcus Cousins, who is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, has reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with the defending champion Golden State Warriors, US media reported on Monday.

Cousins is expected to sign a $5.3 million deal which will allow him to join a team that was already a heavy favourite to repeat as champions and now boasts a starting lineup that would rival many starting all-star game squads, American broadcaster ESPN reported.

When he is ready to return, Cousins will take the court with two-time reigning playoff MVP Kevin Durant, two-time regular season MVP Stephen Curry, three-time NBA champion Klay Thompson and three-time NBA all-star Draymond Green.

“The 3rd splash Brother .... Let’s go @boogiecousins,” Curry tweeted on Monday night.

Players cannot officially sign contracts with teams until Friday under NBA free agency rules.

In 48 games with the New Orleans Pelicans last season, Cousins averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists.

He suffered a severe left Achilles tendon injury on January 26 against the Houston Rockets. AFP

Belgium’s players celebrate their second goal during the 2018 World Cup Round of 16 football match between Belgium and Japan at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On-Don. AFP

Belgium eager to face Brazil as WC underdogs R

OSTOV-ON-DON—Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said his side should accept they will be the underdogs in their World Cup quarter-final against star-studded Brazil on Friday.

Belgium booked a last eight berth to face the Selecao with a last-gasp 3-2 win over Japan in Rostov-on-Don on Monday when Nacer Chadli scored the 94thminute winner as the Red Devils came from 2-0 down.

Martinez’s side will face Brazil in Kazan and he says Belgium must embrace their role as underdogs who have nothing to lose.

“When you play against Brazil, you need to accept they are the best team in the competition, you need to accept your role,” said Martinez after beating the Japanese in the last 16.

“They have players who can decide

the game on their own like (Philippe) Coutinho and Neymar.

“When we went 2-0 down (against Japan) there was the psychological feeling of ‘ok, we have nothing to lose’, which freed us up.

“That’s like how it will be against Brazil, except we can feel like that from the first second.

“This is the sort of game you dream about as a little boy and we can enjoy it from the first second.”

Martinez said he was deeply proud after his team hit back from 2-0 down to beat Japan and claim a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Substitute Nacer Chadli slotted home in

the fourth minute of injury time to complete a memorable comeback and seal a 3-2 win in the last-16 match in Rostov-on-Don. Belgium were stunned after Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui gave Japan a two-goal advantage early in the second half.

But Jan Vertonghen and Marouane Fellaini pulled them level and Chadli’s winner means they will play Brazil in the last eight.

“That was a test for the team and its character,” said Martinez after Belgium become the first team in 48 years to overturn a 2-0 deficit in a World Cup knockout match.

“We survived it, we have gone through and that is the most important thing.”

“No negatives today, it was about getting through,” Martinez added. “It is a day to be very proud of these players.

Keep believing in Belgium. AFP

Victorious Colt claims Triple Crown 3 leg rd

VICTORIOUS Colt lived up to its name and claimed the third and final leg of the Philippine Racing Commission’s Triple Crown series at Santa Ana Park, Saddle and Clubs in Naic, Cavite on Sunday.

It was the biggest win yet for Victorious Colt as the JA G. Zialcitaowned stallion got its second wind to zoom past the favorites halfway through the long 2,000-meter race, crashing the two-horse party of Smart Candy and Wonderland and taking a comfortable five-length lead in the last 200 all the way to the finish.

First-leg winner Smart Candy went down the wire with another Triple Crown victor in Wonderland to complete its second TC runner-up finish.

Wonderland finished third place, while Prosperity landed in fourth.

Oneal P. Cortez proved to be the perfect jockey for Victorious Colt as they both managed to dominate the wet track for the horse’s biggest jewel yet in its young career.

“Wala namang ipinagbago sa takbo namin, ganu’n din ang itinakbo niya nu’ng umuulan din,” said Cortez when asked about how they managed to give a triumphant run on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

“Sa umpisa, okay siya, humahatak. Sa tingin ko hanggang diretso, kayang kaya.

Kaya ni-rektahan ko na lang.”

From the start, it was a tense battle between the two favored horses of the SC Stockfarm-raised Smart Candy and the Herminio Esguerra-owned Wonderland, but Victorious Colt made a big run at the middle turn, caught up with the two and fought them a short battle

Victorious Colt sprints to the finish for a five-length win in the third and final leg of the Philracom Triple Crown series. Angelica Villanueva

before hitting its stride and breaking away from the pack.

Victorious Colt bagged the hefty top prize of P1.8 million and the trophy handed by Philracom Commissioners Wilfredo de Ungria and Victor Tantoco. The Breeder’s Purse of P100,000 went to Leonardo M. Javier Jr. Smart Candy got the P675,000 runnerup purse for SC Stockfarm, while Wonderland collected P375,000 for Esguerra.

Leonardo Javier’s Prosperity was rewarded with P150,000.

In the P1-million 2018 Philracom Hopeful Stakes Race, Talitha Koum (jockey RG Fernandez, George R. Raquidan) bagged the P600,000 champion’s purse, with Eli Brassous (Ro Niu Jr., Running

Rich Racing, Inc.) and The Best Ever (PR Dilema, Herminio S. Esguerra) finishing second and third, respectively.

On the other hand, the P500,000-3YO Locally Bred Stakes Race was ruled by the The Barrister (JT Zarate, Daniel C. Tan), followed by Smell My Tail (MB Pilapil, Mark Vincent A. Geron) and Courageous (JB Hernandez, Narciso O. Morales); Misha (JB Guce, Leonardo M. Javier Jr.); Perlas ng Silangan (FM Raquel, Herminio S. Esguerra).

The three-leg series is patterned after the United States’ Triple Crown, with its three legs comprised of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, also with progressively longer distances. Charles Dantes

SBP: Gilas ready to accept FIBA fate

By Peter Atencio STIFF sanctions are expected to be handed out by FIBA, the world basketball federation, on the players involved in the “basketbrawl” that happened between Gilas Pilipinas and the Australian Boomers late Monday in the third quarter of their 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifier at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

FIBA said in a statement that it will open disciplinary proceedings against the Philippines and Australia following their bench-clearing incident.

SBP Chairman, Sen. Sonny Angara said they will be ready to accept the sanctions.

“In the heat of the moment, the players on both sides had to stand up for each other. It is not only a universal human reaction in a team sport, but for those who have played the game, looking after each other is part of the brotherhood among team members.

But let me make this crystal clear: sanctions must be meted out, apologies extended as true sportsmen would, nonplayers who joined the melee should be punished, and above all, lessons learned so that this should not happen again,” said Angara.

Apologies have also been made from both camps, even as players from Gilas Pilipinas and the Australian Boomers voiced out their right defend teammates who get into trouble during games.

Filipino cager Terrence Romeo and Australian pro Thon Maker said this when they took to Twitter yesterday to justify their actions in the fracas.

Romeo, who plays for TNT Katropa in the Philippine Basketball Association, and Maker, who is with the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA, made their feelings known in the aftermath of their teams’ full-blown riot.

“Kahit anong sabihin niyo, naglalaro kami para sa isa’t isa, para sa kapwa natin, Pilipino higit sa lahat para sa bayan. Hindi niyo alam ang sacrifice namin. Kung para sa inyo mali tulungan namin ‘yung kakampi namin (na) sinasaktan, problema niyo na ‘yun basta kami walang iwanan tapos!!!,”wrote Romeo.

“I take responsibility for my actions, knowing that these were the results of my desire to protect my teammates and myself,” stated Maker, who was seen in slow motion leaping for a kick to Romeo but badly missed.

Turn to A7

No more foreign imports in NCAA after Season 95

NCAA coaches, led by Frankie Lim (center), link hands during the NCAA press conference Tuesday at the MOA Arena lobby in Pasay City. Season 94 opens on July 7 with theme: Unparalleled Heights in Sports Development, hosted by University of Perpetual Help System DALTA. Dennis Abrina

THE possibility of recr uiting and allowing foreign athletes to play again will be up for consideration in the future.

For the meantime, letting import-students see action in the National Collegiate Athletic Association will end after next season.

Policy board chairman Antonio Tamayo of season 94 host University of Perpetual Help said this as competitions in the men’s and junior basketball start this Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“That decision will done by other policy board members. But for now, this is the stand of the policy board,” said Tamayo during yesterday’s press conference at the Mall of Asia Arena lobby.

Tamayo explained that this year, they are committed to bringing the level of competition to a higher level, showcasing the talent of homegrown athletes.

Among the imports still eligible to play under the new rule are Perpetual’s Prince Eze, Arellano University’s Eli OngoloOngolo, College of St. Benilde’s Clement Leutcheu, Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Hamadu Laminou, Lyceum of the Philippines University’s Mike Nzeusseu, and San Beda University’s Donald Tankoua, Arnaud Noah and Eugene Toba.

This means that after Season 95, none of the imports recruited since 2013 will no longer play in the league, nor any recruit-

ment will take place.

When the season begins this Saturday, the defending champion San Beda Red Lions start their bid to extend their reign when they take on the University of Perpetual Help Altas at 2 p.m.

Last year’s runner-up Lyceum will clash with the San Sebastian Stags at 4 p.m.

The Red Lions are among the favorites with Robert Bolick, Javee Mocon and Tankoua, the season MVP last year, coming back to play.

Former San Beda coach Frankie Lim, now head coach of Perpetual Help, will make the game interesting as the Altas take on the Lions, who won four championships under him.

IN BRIEF

IC updates rules covering directors

THE Insurance Commission revised the rules on the appointment of independent directors of insurance companies, insurance brokers, mutual benefit associations, preneed companies and health maintenance organizations to ensure good governance and protect their clients.

The policy change set enhanced requirements on the membership qualifications and disqualifications of an individual to become an independent director of IC-regulated entities, change in term limits of independent directors and sanction for non-compliance.

The new circular set new minimum qualification requirements of independent directors who should be at least a college graduate or have been engaged or exposed to the business of the corporation for at least five years. Another requirement is that he or she should possess proven integrity, probity and independence.

“The engagement of independent directors would encourage objectivity in the decision making process of a corporation,” Insurance commissioner Dennis Funa said in a statement. Julito G. Rada

Businessmen still want PH to join TPP A GROUP of businessmen still want the Philippines to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership despite the bloc’s reduced economic size from 40 percent of global economy to 14 percent after the United States left the group.

CPTPP, previously known as the TransPacific Partnership, is a fee trade bloc comprised of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

“These may help us gain preferential access from economies we do not have like Chile, Mexico and Peru,” Apec Business Advisory Council member Guillermo Luz said.

Economic experts said Philippine goods could face stiff competition from Malaysia and Vietnam, which also export similar products to CPTPP economies such as Australia and Canada.

Abac Philippines also called on the government to reach out to Pacific Alliance, which is composed of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Othel V. Campos

DusitD2 to open in La Union in 2020

Business Consortium submits $3-b bid for Cebu LRT

By Darwin G. Amojelar

A

CONSORTIUM of Chinese, Singaporean and Filipino investors formally submitted an unsolicited proposal to construct a $3-billion light rail transit system with a subway component in Cebu City, according to the Transportation Department.

The agency said the LRT system in Cebu would be constructed above the ground from Talisay to Carcar and from Mandaue to Danao, with an airport line from Mandaue to the Mactan Cebu International Airport complex.

“The LRT will become the main arterial backbone of Cebu’s mass transportation, with other ITS [Integrated Terminal System] components as feeder lines serving internal peripheries,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

Tugade did not identify the members of the consortium, but earlier reports

named Udenna Corp. of businessman Dennis Uy, SAA Group of Singapore and Guangzhou Metro China as among the parties involved in the proposal.

Tugade said the construction of the LRT would start earlier than other ITS components, as it would take more years to build than the rest.

He said the government would soon implement the ITS to synchronize various transportation solutions to address the worsening traffic congestion in Metro Cebu.

“There is no single solution to address transportation issues. It needs a basket of solutions. That is why we are pursuing the implementation of the Integrated Transportation System in Cebu in the next two years,” said Tugade.

The components of the ITS are a point-to-point bus system similar to MyBus, which is already operational in the city; a monorail in Lapu-Lapu City; the Bus Rapid Transit on three-lane roads; and the Light Rail Transit lines from Carcar to Danao and the Mandaue to airport lines.

“The ITS was developed after due consideration of Metro Cebu’s road pro-

THE developer of dusitD2 Waves Hotel at Waves Beach Club and Residences in San Juan, La Union said that in just a little over a year since the official groundbreaking of the project, 46 percent of the total units have already been reserved by prospective unit owners, pushing the opening date closer.

“We have already allotted a total of 99 units out of the 216 units available in dusitD2 Waves Hotel for prospective clients. We are looking to start operations by the first quarter of 2020,” Waves Beach Club and Residences chairman Fausto Liriano said.

He said that since the groundbreaking a year ago, excavation works were already completed. The developers are working on the fabrication of concrete pile driving for the foundation of the building, which is already 40-percent done, he said.

Dusit International teamed up with RCL Realty and Consulting Services Inc. and Brightbeam Corp. for the development of Waves Beach Club and Residences in 2016.

The seven-hectare Waves Beach Club and Residences is a premium residential resort complex that offers top-notch and worldclass lifestyle amenities, villas named after different types of waves, modern beachfront apartments, and a luxurious condotel to be managed by Dusit International which is dusitD2 Waves Hotel.

file, and the fast-growing need of efficient mass transport systems in bigger, inter-connected cities,” Tugade said .

Tugade said among the ITS components, the P2P bus system would be the fastest to implement. “There’s already an established system which the DOTr sees its potential to complement with other mass transit systems. All we need to do is to add more units,” he said.

Meanwhile, the monorail project would become Mactan Island’s main transport system, connecting Mactan Cebu International Airport to different hotels and resorts in the tourist island.

He said for Metro Cebu, the LRT system would be the major component of the ITS as it would stretch from Carcar to Danao.

The metro-wide mass transit program will converge at a common station. Passengers will be ushered to an inter-link terminal where connecting transit systems of all the components (bus-to-LRT, bus-to-BRT, or BRT-to-LRT) are located. The agency said it was studying two areas where the common station would be put up―one in a coastal district and another in a city center.

URBAN PLANNING.

Bacoor, Cavite Rep. Strike Revilla (left) holds a meeting with Scott Dunn, vice president for strategy and growth in Southeast Asia of Aecom in the Singapore office of the multinational engineering company. Aecom is a global leader in urban planning and smart community design. Revilla said they discussed how to build more smart, green and sustainable communities in the Philippines.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018

B1

Tight supply, weak peso to raise power rates in July

By Alena Mae S. Flores POWER rates in the franchise area of Manila Electric Co. may go up in July because of the tight power supply that led to power outages in June and the impact of the peso depreciation, an executive said Tuesday.

“There are indications of a higher generation charge this July,” Meralco head of utility economics Lawrence Fernandez said.

“For one, we recall that the Luzon grid experienced several yellow alerts in the first half of the June supply month, when demand in Luzon reached a new high. Meanwhile, in the second half of the month, more capacity went on outage and both conditions may have affected spot market prices,” Fernandez said.

Power rates historically go up in the second quarter because of the tightness in supply amid increase in demand.

Fernandez said the peso depreciation to 53.34 a dollar in June from 52.52 in May would increase the peso equivalent of dollar-denominated costs of power generation.

“There is high likelihood of higher overall rates, as higher gen cost will generally lead to higher taxes [value added tax and local franchise tax],” he said.

Meralco announced rate reduction in June and May. Consumers enjoyed lower rates of P0.1252 per kilowatthour in June, as generation and transmission charges declined.

Meralco’s generation and transmission charges dropped P0.1556 per kilowatt-hour last month, which more than offset the P0.0733-per-kWh increase in the feed-in tariff allowance or FIT-All, the fund used to pay renewable energy developers.

The adjustment in June brought down the overall rate to P9.8789 per kWh from May’s P10.0041 per kWh. This translated into a decrease of around P25 in the monthly bill of a residential customer consuming 200 kWh. The generation charge alone went down to P4.9828 per kWh in June from P5.0523 per kWh in May.

Inflation likely accelerated to 4.9% in June—DoF PCC asks Chelsea to pay P22.8m,

By Julito G. Rada INFLATION rate in June likely accelerated to 4.9 percent from 4.6 percent in May because of base effects, education expenses and the increase in vegetable prices, the Finance Department said Tuesday.

Finance undersecretary Gil Beltran said in an economic bulletin the monthon-month inflation adjustment could be due mainly to the 2.43-percent rise in education costs during the opening of classes and 2.27-percent rise in vegetable prices that usually accompanied incessant rains at the onset of the wet season.

“Food prices contributed to the year-on-year uptick mainly due to vegetables while month-on-month inflation of fish and rice price moder-

ated to 0.11 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively,” Beltran said.

He said the price increase from sin products (alcohol and tobacco) continued to be double-digit year-on-year, even as the month-on-month rate declined to 0.3 percent from 0.81 percent in May. He said since products likely contributed as much as 0.46 percentage points to the June inflation rate.

“Non-food price also sees 0.33 percent month-on-month increase, driven by education and petroleum products but tempered by the decline in electricity rates,” he said.

The inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee on Monday adjusted upward the inflation forecast in 2018 to a range of 4 percent to

4.5 percent, taking into account the turnout in consumer prices in the first five months of the year.

“It is based on the year-to-date average inflation rate of 4.1 percent,” Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said in a text message.

The DBCC kept the inflation target at 2 percent to 4 percent from 2019 until 2022.

Diokno said despite the adjustment in 2018 forecast, there were signs that inflation was decelerating, with the month-on-month rate actually slowing down.

“With world price of oil slowing down and with rice importation done, we expect inflation rates in the second half of the year to start to taper off,” Diokno said.

voids deal with Trans-Asia Shipping

By Othel V. Campos THE Philippine Competition Commission said Tuesday it nullified the acquisition by Dennis Uy-led Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. of Trans-Asia Shipping Lines and imposed a P22.8-million fine for the two parties failure to notify the antitrust body about the transaction in December 2016.

The nullification of the Trans-Asia deal also led to the commission’s conditional clearance of a related transaction―the acquisition by Chelsea Logistics Holding Corp. of KGLINM Holdings Inc. which in turn controls shipping and logistics company 2Go. “Every M&A [merger and acquisition] notification subjected to PCC review is evaluated in a fair and transparent manner with the public’s welfare as foremost con-

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

4 big coal plants set to open next year

By Alena Mae S. Flores FOUR coal-fired power plants are expected to start commercial operation in the Luzon grid next year and contribute 1,550 megawatts, the Energy Department said Tuesday.

The department, in its latest report, named the four plants as GNPower Diningin Coal Plant Ltd. Co.’s 600-MW coalfired power plant in Mariveles, Bataan; San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co.’s 500-MW coal plant in Mauban, Quezon; AES Masinloc Power Partners Co. Inc.’s 300-MW expansion in Zambales; and SMC Consolidated Power Corp.’s 150MW project in Barangay Lamao, Limay, Bataan.

The projects are contained in the committed list of projects for the Luzon grid.

Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc.’s 600MW coal fired power plant in Subic Bay, Zambales is also included in the list of committed projects which were supposed to start commercial operations last year.

The company, however, has yet to start its

construction.

RP Energy is still waiting for approval of its power supply agreement with Manila Electric Co. which is pending with the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Energy undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said the government continued to woe investors to invest in the power sector to increase power reserves.

Fuentebella said additional reserves were needed to avoid instances of yellow alerts especially in the Luzon grid.

The department also said the country’s aging power plants put the country’s power supply situation at risk.

Energy Department director Mylene Capongcol earlier said the age of the power plants along with increasing demand and changes in temperature were affecting power supply.

Capongcol said the supply was at risk because of the “aging of the power plant, increasing demand, sudden increase or decrease in the temperature that affects the ambient performance of the power plant.”

cern. There are sanctions for violations, there are clearances when there are no competition concerns,” said PCC chairman Arsenio Balisacan.

The latter transaction involves the acquisition by Chelsea Logistics of shares in KGLI-NM to consolidate its majority ownership in KGLI-NM and gain a 52.98-percent stake in the 2Go group.

The PCC’s investigation initially found that control of both 2Go and Trans-Asia by Chelsea would lead to a substantial lessening of competition affecting the roll-on/rolloff passenger shipping services in CebuCagayan De Oro, Cagayan De Oro-Cebu, Cebu-Ozamis, Ozamis-Cebu, Cebu-Iligan and Iligan-Cebu legs and the cargo shipping services in the same areas plus the CebuZamboanga leg.

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

PAL FLIES A321NEO TO BRISBANE. Philippine Airlines starts deploying the highly sophisticated Airbus A321neo jet on a fourth weekly flight to Brisbane, Australia, the fastest non-stop service on the route. The maiden flight on July 2 carried 151 Brisbane-bound passengers, arriving July 3, 15 minutes ahead of schedule. The return flight had 155 (on a 156-seater aircraft). The flag carrier’s first A321neo, fitted with two powerful engines (Pratt & Whitney GTF), covered the more than 5,800-kilometer distance between Manila and Brisbane in less than eight hours. PAL flies four times weekly from Manila to Brisbane, capital of Queensland and gateway to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

53.3900

Japan

Yen

0.009018

0.4815

UK

Pound

1.314500

70.1812

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127473

6.8058

Switzerland

Franc

1.006644

53.7447

Canada

Dollar

0.758495

40.4960

Singapore

Dollar

0.730460

38.9993

Australia

Dollar

0.733900

39.1829

Bahrain

Dinar

2.637757

140.8298

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

14.2362

Brunei

Dollar

0.727802

38.8573

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.030193

1.6120

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

14.5366

Euro

Euro

1.164200

62.1566

Korea

Won

0.000895

0.0478

China

Yuan

0.150015

8.0093

India

Rupee

0.014554

0.7770

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.247647

13.2219

New Zealand

Dollar

0.671400

35.8460

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032756

1.7488

Source: PDS Bridge

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises; Globe, Megaworld up

S

TOCKS rose for a third day amid thin trading, following overnight gains on Wall Street and as economic managers affirmed the medium-term growth target at 7 percent to 8 percent.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, climbed 39 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 7,267.34 Tuesday. Despite this week’s gain, the bellwether was still down 15.1 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also rose 11 points, or 0.3 percent, to settle at 4,409.83, on a value turnover of P4.8 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 97 to 88, while 50 issues were unchanged.

Ten of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Globe Telecom

Inc. which went up 3 percent to P1,648 and developer Megaworld Corp. which advanced 2.3 percent to P4.40. Universal Robina Corp., a leading snack food manufacturer, also gained 2.3 percent to P124.80.

Meanwhile, Asian markets were mixed Tuesday. While they were up from earlier lows, investors continued to fret over looming China-US tariffs that bring a potential trade war a step closer.

Wall Street provided a positive lead but the day began with another selling frenzy that saw Hong Kong plunge more than three percent at one point before bargain-buying provided a small bounce.

Still there are particular fears for Shanghai, which has plunged more than 20 percent from its January high as the colossal Chinese economy shows signs of slowing, even before Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs kick in Friday.

The yuan extended losses and has fallen around eight percent since the end of March—it is now at an 11-month low—adding to fears about the mainland as leaders struggle to cap a debt mountain while also supporting growth.

Analysts dismissed some claims that authorities are allowing the Chinese currency to weaken in order to offset the impact of any tariffs.

“We have already seen the impact on Chinese investors’ anxiety over a weaker currency and subsequent capital outflow in 2015-16,” said Tai Hui, JP Morgan Asset Management chief market strategist for Asia-Pacific.

“This is not a can of worms that Beijing wants to open again,” Hui said.

The US Commerce Department on Monday added to the standoff by recommending against the approval of China Mobile’s seven-year-old application to

enter the US market, citing national security concerns.

The call comes as US lawmakers debate reimposing a ban on US firms selling to Chinese telecoms equipment maker ZTE over security considerations, putting its survival in peril.

In share trading, Hong Kong sank more than three percent at one point as traders returned from a long weekend break to play catch up with the rest of Asia’s retreat on Monday.

The Hang Seng then edged back to sit 1.3 percent lower. China Mobile’s shares were down more than two percent in late trade.

Shanghai rose 0.4 percent and Singapore lost 0.2 percent, while Tokyo ended 0.1 percent lower.

Sydney added 0.5 percent, Seoul rose 0.1 percent and Wellington jumped more than one percent. Taipei and Jakarta fell but Bangkok rose. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.05 530 88.2 2,907,760 2.89 7,000 126 967,350 1.47 62,000 33.45 1,187,400 16.64 12,500 14.46 212,600 3.53 87,000 0.68 1,000 0.54 47,000 75 2,815,010 1.12 758,000 48.3 230,900 195 9,730 117.5 100 28.95 102,900 200.2 397,960 1,851 135 87.45 19,780 1.18 100,000

30,770 256,455,770.50 20,280 122,626,748 91,060 39,576,220 206,172 3,071,444 304,760 680 24,750 208,652,284 851,660 11,198,100 1,897,595 11,750 2,937,930 79,795,458 249,885 1,729,700.50 118,000

-1,742.50 -118,700,106.50 -43,102,301 -636,515 224,226 45,886,226 36,160.00 -766,000 66,300 364,770 -48,515,804 224,820 -

34.65 15.68 0.57 1.2 25.8 0.228 3.11 15.92 47.4 21.95 65 1.79 7.63 10.12 15.64 10.7 7.16 5.12 14.52 61 21.3 7.12 13.4 2.32 259.6 26.4 5.1 3.23 27.1 11.1 20 353.2 0.176 6.9 2.2 4.11 8.75 7.05 7.78 1.26 11.7 51.4 5.9 4.6 2.14 1.85 12.22 61.1 5.2 0.127 120.5 2.46 20 1.42

INDUSTRIAL 34.75 699,800 15.74 4,305,000 0.58 786,000 1.2 2,000 26 140,000 0.238 7,040,000 3.11 2,899,000 15.92 31,900 47.5 513,900 22.1 13,000 65 4,570 1.82 445,000 7.63 20,600 10.14 1,672,600 15.78 74,900 10.8 4,000 7.18 787,800 5.13 14,736,400 14.8 813,700 61.1 3,080 21.4 3,700 7.15 28,600 14.2 805,200 2.37 1,278,000 260 925,680 26.4 100 5.17 57,000 3.25 16,000 27.45 133,800 11.12 91,400 20.3 737,800 355 265,810 0.176 10,000 6.95 17,100 2.2 1,609,000 4.15 23,000 8.99 642,500 7.15 7,075,300 7.78 1,000 1.31 58,000 12.2 166,200 51.4 3,044,130 5.9 11,800 4.6 1,731,000 2.23 206,000 1.91 21,000 12.32 393,500 61.3 70,710 5.2 13,900 0.127 10,000 124.8 3,365,120 2.49 2,983,000 20 2,200 1.45 6,169,000

24,301,050 67,749,212 448,730 2,400 3,713,080 1,651,370 9,120,310 508,300 24,611,740 292,090 300,487 806,330 163,727 16,971,108 1,180,260 43,176 5,653,239 75,726,438 11,975,082 188,265.50 78,860 206,249 11,225,996 3,008,560 240,920,150 2,640 291,159 52,370 3,663,760 1,022,660 15,054,170 94,364,898 1,760 118,595 3,539,820 95,140 5,718,814 51,162,303 7,780 74,900 1,981,412 157,620,451 69,705 7,963,200 450,120 39,680 4,848,500 4,352,314.50 72,764 1,270 410,294,303 7,468,110 44,000 9,033,990

-19,701,825.00 59,141,048 26,000 1,931,370 324,848 2,422,970 18,350 -1,913,380 -89,100 64,906,249 -7,710,558 -41,059.50 -24,845 892,876 -192,660 -1,602,006 -3,375,705 2,316 -4,309,550 54,187,864 -6,580 -5,280 -92,486 -4,762,327.50 -2,965 -382,400 -1,307,780 1,541,297 5,493,075 -117,130 324,300

0.25 54.45 11.7 0.95 6.1 0.69 0.7 916.5 6.04 10.92 7.1 4.25 0.21 937 5.98 51 4.47 0.56 3.61 18.08 0.74 4.72 0.039 1.18 2.68 138 2.55 915 1.63 500 257 0.24 0.204

0.239 52.6 11.56 0.92 5.98 0.66 0.68 905 6.01 10.64 7.08 4.25 0.21 918 5.98 49.5 4.47 0.54 3.58 17.84 0.68 4.61 0.038 1.15 2.62 136.3 2.55 886.5 1.57 500 251 0.234 0.204

HOLDING FIRMS 0.246 2,790,000 54.45 826,900 11.62 3,205,800 0.92 78,000 6 77,700 0.67 11,877,000 0.69 1,258,000 915 125,900 6.04 5,376,600 10.92 4,287,600 7.08 1,400 4.25 10,000 0.21 200,000 923 97,600 5.98 16,000 50.5 1,024,280 4.47 2,000 0.55 87,000 3.58 313,000 17.96 1,884,000 0.7 16,279,000 4.67 9,299,000 0.039 600,000 1.18 64,000 2.63 117,000 137.5 216,420 2.55 75,000 915 290,650 1.59 16,000 500 60 251.2 2,010 0.234 1,570,000 0.204 20,000

687,650 44,415,027 37,278,382 72,240 465,193 8,035,100 863,640 114,847,225 32,471,791 46,465,598 9,924 42,500 42,000 90,155,240 95,680 51,633,064.50 8,940 47,220 1,124,040 33,817,848 11,512,780 43,368,830 23,000 73,920 306,810 29,691,921 191,250 265,121,920 25,590 30,000 510,314 370,130 4,080

-26,562,063 -25,347,420 200,865 -81,600 -43,355,290 -30,880,059 -3,033,186 21,244,005 -10,823,806 -96,610 -7,333,006 -34,500 -17,550,820 -7,517,765 6,763,675 -79,440 -

7.49 0.97 14.24 1.98 0.78 38.4 3.17 4.57 5.84 0.435 1.01 0.94 0.234 10.4 26.15 0.63 1.44 1.2 1.69 4.43 0.59 0.435 0.485 3.2 18.88

7.3 0.93 13.5 1.95 0.76 37.65 3.1 4.52 5.64 0.43 1 0.9 0.208 10.1 24.95 0.63 1.4 1.18 1.53 4.3 0.56 0.435 0.475 2.94 18.4

6,568,745 4,635,090 2,732,958 62,760 134,570 303,876,740 174,350 1,150,750 36,226 1,127,450 80,300 268,470 6,895,140 30,242,584 29,138,295 630 5,729,340 1,731,290 71,655,580 82,442,230 5,590,170 239,250 186,900 16,047,790 9,347,032

-1,287,511 -157,100 -28,240 -70,575,595 -3,140 100,540 -5,082 271,500 4,012,948 975,995 -2,969,100 -228,700 26,897,390.00 -114,000.00 -99,690 -2,818,054

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

58.05 87.5 2.9 126 1.48 33.5 16.46 14.3 3.45 0.68 0.54 74 1.13 48.55 198 117.5 28.5 202 1,851 87.2 1.18

58.15 88.8 2.9 129.8 1.48 33.55 16.72 14.5 3.57 0.68 0.54 75 1.15 48.55 198 117.5 28.95 202 1,851 87.5 1.18

58 87.35 2.89 126 1.46 33.25 16.46 14.28 3.38 0.68 0.52 72.9 1.09 48.3 195 117.5 28.1 200 1,851 87.15 1.18

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT 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 RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

34.8 15.7 0.58 1.2 26.15 0.231 3.2 16.48 48.45 22 65 1.85 8 10.16 15.64 10.7 7.16 5.15 14.52 61.1 21.3 7.35 13.4 2.4 260 26.4 5.1 3.3 27.7 11.4 20 355 0.176 6.95 2.2 4.12 8.99 7.3 7.78 1.27 11.82 51.5 5.95 4.6 2.19 1.91 12.5 61.5 5.37 0.127 122 2.49 20 1.47

34.85 15.78 0.58 1.2 27.6 0.24 3.21 16.48 49.65 22.95 66.2 1.85 8.26 10.18 15.84 11 7.21 5.19 14.86 61.8 21.4 7.35 14.38 2.4 262.4 26.4 5.17 3.3 27.7 11.4 20.6 356 0.176 6.95 2.22 4.15 8.99 7.6 7.78 1.33 12.2 52.2 5.95 4.65 2.25 1.91 12.5 61.9 5.37 0.127 124.8 2.54 20 1.52

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

0.243 53.15 11.7 0.95 5.98 0.68 0.69 915.5 6.04 10.64 7.1 4.25 0.21 930 5.98 50.65 4.47 0.54 3.61 18 0.73 4.62 0.039 1.18 2.68 138 2.55 886.5 1.57 500 257 0.234 0.204

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 DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND

7.39 0.95 13.52 1.98 0.76 38.4 3.1 4.57 5.65 0.43 1.01 0.91 0.21 10.2 26.05 0.63 1.44 1.2 1.63 4.38 0.57 0.435 0.48 2.97 18.84

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS VISTA LAND

2.02 3.2 36 1.07 7.11 6.11

2.05 3.2 36.3 1.07 7.44 6.23

2 3.19 35.4 1.04 7.05 6.08

2.05 3.2 36 1.07 7.05 6.09

308,000 110,000 4,225,700 544,000 1,249,300 4,551,600

617,670 351,990 151,904,605 574,670 9,038,378 27,737,064

426,000 -39,337,650 42,000 1,070,202 -21,277,050

2GO GROUP ABS CBN APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

15.18 25 0.465 0.042 13.5 9.89 0.054 68.2 7.45 6.83 2.16 19.9 1,600 5.4 241 11 3.08 79.5 12.98 8.02 0.138 3.23 4.08 15 4.1 1.12 24.8 4.05 5.22 2.6 2.58 2.68 17.1 9.13 11.1 9 3.48 125.2 5.18 1,257 0.87 0.355 47 79.5 8.17 1.86 1.15 0.42 4.85 0.78 11.88

15.18 25.2 0.465 0.043 13.5 9.94 0.054 69.2 7.47 7.48 2.16 19.9 1,648 5.4 250 11 3.13 79.5 12.98 8.02 0.143 3.37 4.1 15 4.17 1.16 24.8 4.16 5.22 2.67 2.78 2.89 17.1 9.24 11.1 9 3.52 125.2 5.22 1,275 0.87 0.36 47 81.5 8.17 1.9 1.15 0.435 4.87 0.78 11.88

15.16 24.8 0.46 0.042 13.5 9.75 0.052 66.5 7.25 6.82 2.16 19.7 1,599 5.35 240 11 3.08 77.85 12.98 8.02 0.138 3.11 3.85 15 4.05 1.08 24.3 4.05 5.11 2.59 2.5 2.68 17 9.02 11.04 8.5 3.29 120 5.15 1,257 0.84 0.355 46 78 8.12 1.83 1.14 0.415 4.85 0.76 11.68

SERVICES 15.16 24.8 0.46 0.043 13.5 9.75 0.054 66.8 7.25 7.39 2.16 19.86 1,648 5.39 250 11 3.1 78.5 12.98 8.02 0.142 3.18 4.04 15 4.12 1.11 24.3 4.15 5.15 2.59 2.74 2.86 17.1 9.02 11.04 8.5 3.35 120 5.17 1,268 0.84 0.36 46 79.7 8.13 1.85 1.15 0.43 4.86 0.76 11.7

6,900 460,800 490,000 4,300,000 200 1,835,500 1,790,000 302,100 1,912,500 21,900 1,000 24,500 46,575 95,300 8,400 1,000 361,000 1,224,430 600 15,000 5,960,000 31,385,000 1,053,000 1,000 137,000 5,101,000 193,000 1,098,000 2,236,900 341,000 1,644,000 40,000 3,700 1,646,200 1,100 3,000 164,000 29,310 139,500 59,965 4,280,000 200,000 958,600 455,100 21,500 1,317,000 443,000 7,990,000 2,443,000 728,000 9,095,500

104,626 11,513,480 225,500 183,900 2,700 17,963,348 94,890 20,529,475 13,962,956 151,407 2,160 483,862 75,437,385 513,589 2,076,250 11,000 1,119,720 95,989,542.50 7,788 120,300 838,890 101,469,650 4,187,180 15,000 564,960 5,741,550 4,716,935 4,448,900 11,540,786 889,120 4,431,390 112,360 63,210 14,934,436 12,162 25,750 569,100 3,625,541 723,513 76,091,275 3,639,750 71,350 44,181,100 36,232,577.50 174,963 2,438,570 508,580 3,404,650 11,872,110 554,590 106,460,300

7,580 -4,415,065 -10,702,320.50 -3,139,172 138,200 27,919,125 -12,300 11,000 68,280 -26,351,186.50 -16,958,610 15,000 342,630.00 48,160.00 3,027,060 -447,266 217,950 -5,720 -281,725.00 7,120 -297,649 15,510 -31,397,735 -1,248,480 -40,396,010 -5,169,773 -97,840 -140,210 -9,054,680 -85,463,116

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

0.0026 1.44 4.04 19 1.7 0.3 7.87 2.18 0.183 0.128 0.135 0.0078 1.54 4.63 1.23 1.39 0.013 0.012 2.62 4.79 10.66 30.95 0.006

0.0026 1.49 4.09 19.26 1.7 0.3 7.9 2.18 0.186 0.13 0.135 0.0078 1.58 4.63 1.33 1.45 0.013 0.013 3.17 4.8 10.74 30.95 0.006

0.0025 1.44 4.02 18.72 1.7 0.3 7.55 2.15 0.183 0.128 0.127 0.0075 1.53 4.56 1.2 1.33 0.012 0.012 2.62 4.7 10.56 30.3 0.006

MINING & OIL 0.0026 13,000,000 1.48 83,000 4.02 36,000 19 14,400 1.7 371,000 0.3 500,000 7.7 30,100 2.17 1,531,000 0.186 20,000 0.128 1,480,000 0.127 790,000 0.0075 10,000,000 1.53 606,000 4.56 767,000 1.29 716,000 1.36 14,456,000 0.012 3,400,000 0.012 93,000,000 3.17 1,641,000 4.7 64,000 10.72 400,000 30.55 934,600 0.006 2,000,000

33,100 121,830 144,990 272,818 630,700 150,000 230,252 3,317,120 3,690 189,610 102,720 76,600 931,990 3,523,800 911,820 20,158,740 42,900 1,149,100 4,927,390 304,760 4,258,240 28,538,490 12,000

-4,440 -132,720.00 -613,700 -3,000 798,560 -100,100 -717,330 988,780 48,200 15,000 -10,680 -5,638,525 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SFI PREF SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H

24 505 100.8 100.1 5.25 997 100 1.04 102.8 108.5 1.96 999 76.3 79.4 75.3 76.1 76.5

24 505 100.9 100.1 5.25 997 100 1.04 102.8 108.5 1.96 999 76.3 79.5 75.3 76.5 77.5

24 505 100 100.1 5.06 997 99 1.04 102.8 108.5 1.96 999 76.3 79.4 75.3 76.1 76.5

PREFERRED 24 100 505 400 100 50,420 100.1 4,000 5.07 413,300 997 2,000 99 23,630 1.04 80,000 102.8 500 108.5 2,300 1.96 3,000 999 1,370 76.3 30,000 79.5 25,010 75.3 5,000 76.5 30,700 77.5 53,200

2,400 202,000 5,059,774 400,400 2,157,083 1,994,000 2,358,096 83,200 51,400 249,550 5,880 1,368,630 2,289,000 1,987,475 376,500 2,346,950 4,084,996

-2,138,903 -

LR WARRANT

2.49

2.49

2.34

WARRANTS 2.4 122,000

292,180

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.08 3.47

5.15 3.5

5.03 3.31

5.15 3.4

1,630,757 9,402,140

100,026 266,460

FIRST METRO ETF

108.7

108.9

108.5

172,991

-

USD DMPL A1

10.1

10.1

10.1

3,939

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.49 0.96 14.22 1.95 0.78 38 3.15 4.55 5.84 0.43 1 0.94 0.232 10.34 25.05 0.63 1.4 1.18 1.55 4.4 0.57 0.435 0.485 3.19 18.88

883,200 4,896,000 194,300 32,000 176,000 7,991,300 56,000 253,000 6,400 2,620,000 80,000 297,000 30,370,000 2,946,400 1,144,700 1,000 4,070,000 1,457,000 44,698,000 18,805,000 9,713,000 550,000 390,000 5,131,000 497,400

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

10,727,303

INDUSTRIAL

68,475,829

HOLDING FIRMS

66,905,735

PROPERTY

151,904,473

SERVICES

92,701,414

MINING & OIL

145,952,458

GRAND TOTAL

539,760,725

SME

319,800 2,770,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 108.5 1,590 10.1

DDS

390

VALUE 1,787.61 (up) 6.09 788,692,023.25 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,447.47 (up) 61.56 1,464,008,143.415 HOLDING FIRMS 7,181.17 (up) 65.43 960,937,224.21 PROPERTY 3,563 (up) 11.1 SERVICES 1,391.44 (down) -7.57 799,424,904.55 MINING & OIL 9,711.8 (down) -36.6 687,604,415.63 PSEI 7,267.34 (up) 39.38 70,042,941.46 All Shares Index 4,409.83 (up) 11.68 4,781,922,565.2 Gainers: 88; Losers: 97; Unchanged: 50; Total: 235

Metro Pacific taking over Indonesian infra company

By Darwin G. Amojelar METRO Pacific Tollways Corp. said it raised its stake in an Indonesian infrastructure company to more than 50 percent that would require them to conduct a mandatory tender offer.

Metro Pacific said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange that MPTC, through Indonesian subsidiary PT Metro Pacific Tollways Indonesia, acquired an additional equity interest of 4.99 percent of the total issued capital stock of PT Nusantara worth P600.4 million.

It said that together with PT MPTI’s earlier share acquisitions, the group was now holding 53.26 percent of the total issued capital stock of PT Nusantara on a fully-diluted basis.

Metro Pacific said that as a result of the acquisition, PT MPTI was required to conduct a mandatory tender offer in favor of the minority shareholders of PT Nusantara who collectively held 44.21 percent of the outstanding capital stock of PT Nusantara.

The remaining 2.53 percent was held as treasury shares by PT Nusantara.

“The tender offer price, which is still subject to approval by the Indonesian Financial Services Authority, is expected to be set at IDR 211 or about P0.79 per share,” MPIC said.

The total tender offer would amount to P5.29 billion for all of the remaining shares in PT Nusantara.

“The funding for the additional acquisition and the tender offer shall be sourced from bank loans,” MPIC said.

“PT MPTI will soon be submitting the mandatory tender offer plan to the Indonesian Financial Services Authority for its review and clearance,” the company said.

PT Nusantara’s infrastructure portfolio in Indonesia includes toll roads, ports, energy and water projects. It holds the concession of Jakarta Outer Ring W1 section of Kebon JerukPenjaringan, BSD Toll road section of Pondok Aren-Serpong, BMN toll road Makassar for Soekarno Hatta SeaportPettarni and JTSE toll road for TalloHasanuddin Airport toll section.

Century Pacific allocates P1.8b for 2018 capex

By Jenniffer B. Austria CENTURY Pacific Food Corp., the largest producer of canned foods in the Philippines, said Tuesday it will allocate P1.5 billion to P1.8 billion for 2018 capital expenditures to expand its tuna processing facility and introduce new products in the market.

CNPF president Christopher Po said in an interview following the company’s annual stockholders meeting the current tuna and tin can manufacturing facilities were about to hit full capacities as sales growth remained at double-digit.

“Vast majority of our capital expenditures will be for capacity expansion.

In 2017, we were going more than 20 percent and we continue to grow at that pace now. So some of our factories are hitting their capacities. So we need to expand the capacity of our plants,” Po said.

The planned expansion of the company’s tuna production facility in General Santos City will add another 50 to 100 metric tons of tuna per day.

“The expansion will satisfy our tuna requirements for the next three to five years,” Po said.

The CNPF’s tuna facility currently has a daily production capacity of 300 to 350 MT. The plant expansion is slated for completion by the third quarter of 2019.

Po said that for 2018, the company expected a mid-single digit growth in net income, on rising cost pressures brought about by increasing fuel costs, higher cost of raw materials, and depreciation of the peso against the US dollar.

“All these are cost pressures that we will have to manage. We will find ways to be more efficient but at the same time pass on these cost pressures to consumers,” Po said.

Sales revenues are expected to grow by “mid-teens”, he said.

Meanwhile, Po said the company was not practicing “endo” or illegal contractualization of workers.

World 12 months for conceiling child abuse SYDNEY—One of the highest-ranked church officials convicted of covering up child sex abuse was Tuesday sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, but Philip Wilson could avoid jail after a court ordered he be assessed for home detention.

The Adelaide archbishop, 67, was found guilty in May of concealing the abuses by notorious pedophile priest Jim Fletcher in the Hunter region of New South Wales state during the 1970s by failing to report the allegations against him.

He denied the charges and his legal team made four attempts to have the case thrown out, arguing Wilson suffered from Alzheimer’s and so should avoid trial―even though the diagnosis did not prevent him retaining his position in the church.

Newcastle Local Court magistrate Robert Stone found him guilty of concealing a serious indictable offense of another person, concluding his primary motive was to protect the church.

The same court on Tuesday sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of six months.

But Stone adjourned the matter until August 14 to assess whether Wilson was suitable to serve the sentence at his sister’s home. The maximum sentence for the crime was two years in jail.

In sentencing, Stone said “there is no remorse or contrition showed by the offender”.

“I am of the opinion the sentence should not be suspended. It does not support the terms of general deterrence,” he added.

“On that basis, the only available remaining option is full-time imprisonment or home detention.”

He justified the home detention option due to Wilson’s age, prior good record and that he was unlikely to reoffend.

There was no dispute during the trial that Fletcher, who is now dead, sexually abused an altar boy, with the hearing focused on whether Wilson, then a junior priest, was told about it. AFP

B3

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Long rescue ahead for cave boys M AE SAI, Thailand―Rescuers braced for a long and difficult evacuation for 13 members of a Thai youth football team found alive in a cave nine days after they went missing, as food and medicine was shuttled to them though muddy waters on Tuesday.

The 12 young boys and their football coach were discovered rake thin and hungry on a mound of mud surrounded by water late Monday, ending the agonizing search that captivated a nation.

But the focus quickly shifted to the tricky task of how to evacuate them safely from the still-flooded caverns.

Much-needed food and medical supplies―including high-calorie gels and paracetamol―reached them Tuesday as rescuers prepared for a prolonged extraction operation.

The Thai military said it is providing months’ worth of food and diving lessons to the boys to help them

out of the waterlogged Tham Luang network in the country’s monsoon-drenched north. “[We will] prepare to send additional food to be sustained for at least four months and train all 13 to dive while continuing to drain the water,” Navy Captain Anand Surawan said.

He refused to say how long they might be trapped, but experts said it could take weeks or even months.

The astonishing rescue sparked jubilation across the country after the country mounted a massive and grueling operation beset by heavy downpours and fastmoving floodwaters.

“We called this ‘mission impossible’ because it rained every day... but with our determination and equipment we fought nature,” Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osottanakorn said Tuesday.

The boys were discovered at about 10:00 pm Monday by British divers some 1,300 feet from where they were believed to be stranded several kilometers inside the cave.

In the video, posted on the Thai Navy SEAL Facebook page, one of the boys asks the rescuers to “go outside”.

In response the British diver says: “No, no not today... many, many people are coming...

we are the first,” in reference to the vast and complex rescue operation that has taken over the mountainside.

The harrowing task of getting the boys out is complicated by the fact that they are in a weak state and are not experienced divers.

The rugged and wet kilometers-long course toward the entrance take a healthy SEAL diver six hours.

If diving proves impossible, there is an outside chance they can be drilled out or wait for waters to recede and walk out on foot.

But the clock is ticking with heavy rains forecast to return this week as the monsoon season bites deeper.

The priority is to get the team’s strength up before they start the tricky journey out, officials said, reluctant to offer a concrete time line.

Relatives―and much of Thailand―exploded with relief and jubilation on getting the news the team were alive and safe.

“I’m so relieved, though I still don’t have the chance to see him... I want to tell him I’m still here waiting,” Kieng Khamleu, said of her son Pornchai Khamleung inside the cave.

Another parent said he could hardly believe the good news. AFP

IN BRIEF Science hope for threatened Koalas

OPENING DAY. Fans of Swiss player Roger Federer pose as they queue for tickets outside The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 2, 2018, on the first day of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament. AFP

Woman confronts EPA chief Pruitt at Washington restaurant WASHINGTON―A woman confronted EPA chief Scott Pruitt at a Washington restaurant and called on him to resign― the latest official from President Donald Trump’s administration to come under fire while dining out.

Kristin Mink posted a video of the encounter with the Environmental Protection Agency administrator on her Facebook page Monday, writing that he “was 3 tables away as I ate lunch with my child. I had to say something.”

“This man is directly and significantly harming my child’s―and every child’s―health and future with decisions to roll back environmental regulations for the benefit of big corporations, while he uses taxpayer money to fund

a lavish lifestyle,” wrote Mink, whose Facebook page identifies her as a high school teacher.

In the video―which has been viewed more than 100,000 times―she walks up to a seated Pruitt and tells him: “I just wanted to urge you to resign because of what you’re doing to the environment and our country.

“We deserve to have somebody at the EPA who actually does protect our environment, somebody who believes in climate change and takes it seriously for the benefit of all of us, including our children,” she said, holding her toddler as she spoke.

“I would urge you to resign before your scandals push you out,” said Mink,

who at times glanced at a piece of paper as if reading notes.

Pruitt, who has come under fire for allegedly using his position to seek employment for his wife and receiving a discount on a condo rental linked to a lobbying firm, did not respond to Mink during the video, and a text at the end said that he “fled the restaurant before I got back to my seat.”

The EPA chief was not the first Trump administration official to face a public backlash at a restaurant.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders was asked to leave a restaurant in Virginia, while senior White House aide Stephen Miller was branded a “fascist” by an angry patron during a visit to

a downtown Mexican eatery.

And Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen made a quick exit when protesters marched into another Mexican restaurant chanting “Shame!” She also confronted angry activists at her home in the suburb of Alexandria.

Representative Maxine Waters has urged people to “show up wherever we have to show up” to protest Trump’s policies.

“If you see anybody from that cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd, and you push back on them, and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere,” she said. AFP

‘Jurassic’ dinosaurs shake earth, boost North American box office LOS ANGELES―The big-grossing films “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” and “Incredibles 2” dominated the North American box office this weekend, but two new entrants beat expectations to place third and fourth, according to industry data released Monday.

Universal’s latest earth-stomping dinosaur movie took in $60.9 million for the three-day weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported.

The superhero-family-next-door of Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” animated sequel earned $46.4 million.

Together they helped estimated industry receipts to the end of June rise 15 percent against the same month last year.

“Fallen Kingdom,” featuring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, is nearing the $1 billion mark globally, while “Incredibles 2” is set to become the second-biggest domestic animated release ever, after “Finding Dory.”

Two new releases, Sony’s “Sicario: Day of the Saldado” and Lionsgate’s “Uncle Drew,” easily outperformed industry expectations to place third and fourth.

The “Sicario” sequel, an action thriller starring Benicio Del Toro and Josh

Brolin, took $19 million, outperforming the well-reviewed original film by $7 million.

Its highly-topical premise has CIA agent Brolin teaming up with hitman Del Toro to fight drug cartels smuggling terrorists across the Mexican border.

On a lighter note, “Uncle Drew” draws on the talents of basketball stars present and past―Kyrie Irving, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, Lisa Leslie and Reggie Miller―with a court-full of others in cameo roles.

Hard-luck streetball team manager Uncle Drew (Irving, in a role that originated in a Pepsi ad) rounds up his old crew ahead of a big tournament in Brooklyn. The film took $15.2 million.

“Ocean’s 8” from Warner Bros. slipped two spots to fifth place, taking in $8.3 million in its fourth week out.

The female-centric heist film stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway.

Rounding out the top 10 were: “Tag” ($5.9 million) “Deadpool 2” ($3.6 million) “Sanju” ($2.7 million) “Solo: A Star Wars Story” ($2.7 million) “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” ($2.4 million) AFP

PARIS―Australia’s koalas, their very existence imperiled by disease, bush fires, car strikes and dog attacks, face a more hopeful future thanks to scientists cracking its genetic code, a study said Tuesday.

A mammoth effort by more than 50 researchers in seven countries uncovered 26,558 koala genes, yielding vital DNA clues for vaccines against diseases such as sexually transmitted chlamydia, which blinds the cuddly critters and leaves them infertile.

“The genome has allowed us to understand the koala immune genes in detail for the first time,” said Rebecca Johnson of the Australian Museum Research Institute, a co-author of the study published in Nature Genetics.

“These genes [are] directly contributing to vaccines for koalas,” she told AFP. The DNA code should also boost koala breeding programs.

It revealed that inbreeding was higher among koalas from Victoria and South Australia states than among their cousins from Queensland and New South Wales.

The discovery “allows us to make recommendations for how to preserve the populations with high genetic diversity and how animals might be translocated to improve the diversity of inbred populations,” Johnson said.

From between 15 and 20 species some 30 to 40 million years ago, a single species of koala survives in Australia today―some 330,000 individuals in all, most living in protected areas. AFP

Akihito cancels duties for second day TOKYO―Japan’s aging Emperor Akihito canceled his official duties for a second day Tuesday, after being treated for insufficient blood supply to the brain.

The 84-year-old shocked the country in 2016 when he signaled his desire to step down after nearly three decades on the job, citing his age and health problems.

Akihito has previously had surgery for prostate cancer and heart problems, and the state of his health is carefully watched in Japan.

A palace spokesman on Tuesday said the monarch “has a mild stomachache in addition to symptoms of vertigo”.

“He will rest today... and postpone his official duties” he added, without elaborating on when Akihito would return to public life.

On Monday, a government spokesman said the monarch had been treated for cerebral anemia, a condition resulting from insufficient blood flow to the brain, which caused vertigo and nausea.

Akihito is set to be the first emperor to retire-on April 30, 2019―in more than two centuries in the world’s oldest imperial family.

The status of the emperor is sensitive in Japan―a legacy of the massive Pacific war waged in the name of Akihito’s father Hirohito, who died in 1989.

Akihito has embraced the more modern role as a symbol of the state that was imposed on the royal family after World War II ended. Previous emperors including Hirohito had been treated as semi-divine. AFP

Pompeo to return to North Korea

RAINY DAY. Indian Sikh devotees walk through rain water amid showers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on July 3, 2018. AFP

WASHINGTON―US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo heads back to North Korea this week to flesh out the bare bones nuclear agreement between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un. Pompeo will leave Washington on Thursday for Pyongyang at the start of a round-theworld diplomatic mission that will bring him to Brussels and a key NATO summit, officials said.

Trump has boasted that a statement he signed with Kim in Singapore last month resolved the old foes’ nuclear stand-off, but Pompeo has been tasked with nailing down details.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders refused to confirm or deny reports that Kim’s regime has stepped up its nuclear program since the Trump summit, rather than beginning to disarm.

“To continue the ongoing and important work of denuclearization on the Korean peninsula, Secretary Pompeo will be leaving for North Korea on July 5 to meet with the leader and the team,” she said.

“I think a number of things have happened.

One, in the last eight months you haven’t seen missile launches,” she added, referring to North Korea’s former habit of provocatively testing ballistic missiles.

“You haven’t seen nuclear detonations. And again, these conversations are continuing to evolve. I’m not going to get into the details but I can tell you that progress continues to be made.” AFP

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

B4

wednesday, july 4, 2018

LocaL government units

NutriAsia abides with workers, service providers FOOD condiment maker NutriAsia Inc. on Tuesday expressed solidarity with all its workers and its six service providers “who have contributed much to the company and the country.”

At the same time, the firm welcomed the decision of the Department of Labor and Employment Region 3 office, which confirmed that NAI and its service provider, the B-Mirk cooperative, is not involved in “endo” or contractualization.

Thelma Meneses, NutriAsia head of human resources and official spokesperson, appealed to all parties to put an end to the labor dispute.

“We welcome DoLE Region 3’s ruling about B-Mirk’s striking employees, who are still barricading our gates [of the factory in] Marilao [Bulacan] on its 31st day,” Meneses said.

“We also respect DoLE Region 3’s ruling regarding AsiaPro. As reiterated by [Labor] Usec. Joel Maglungsod, the regional level’s decision is not final and executory. We will invoke our right to appeal at the Office of the Secretary of Labor,” she added.

“Through our collective prayers, we humbly ask that all parties put this difficult chapter behind us, so we can all move forward,” said Meneses.

The six service providers of NutriAsia called on their striking employees to return to work, with Meneses expressing high hopes their operations will normalize again once the employees return.

As part of its humanitarian efforts, NutriAsia said it will provide financial assistance to help employees affected by the dispute.

DOLE-3’s decision found that NAI’s four other contractors—B-Mirk Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BMPC), Fast Services Corporation, Bison Security and Investigation Agency, City Service Corporation, and Manchester Engineering—were found to be generally compliant with labor laws.

BMPC was found to be compliant with general labor standards after submitting proof of compliance and refunding the unauthorized deductions for uniforms from 519 workers’ salary amounting to P806,353.11 on March 15, 2018.

NutriAsia also assured the public it will work hard to bring the labor dispute to a peaceful resolution.

A Pasigueña dance troupe performs during the street-dance competition held in front of the M. Eusebio Quadrangle in Pasig City on Monday. MJ Blancaflor

Pasig marks 445th year with parade, activities

By MJ Blancaflor and Dexter Tilo

P

ASIg Mayor Bobby Eusebio urged his constituents to support the programs prepared by the local government in line with Pasig City’s 445th founding year.

“We want all the sectors in the community to participate in the activities, so they can appreciate it,” Eusebio said in an interview during the festivities.

Along with Rep. Ricky Eusebio and Vice Mayor Iyo Bernardo, the mayor led thousands of Pasigueños in a grand parade that opened the celebrations.

The city government closed major roads to give way to the parade and asked drivers to take alternate routes instead.

A showcase of the respective festivals by the city’s 30 barangays followed the parade in a dance competition held at M. Eusebio Quadrangle.

Pahiyas sa Pasig Organic Harvest Festival was also held on Caruncho Avenue, Brgy. San Nicolas, while discounts were offered to Pasigueños on a Mega Wide Sale of various establishments starting from 6 am.

To ensure participation in the events,

Malacañang released Proclamation No. 523, declaring July 2 as a special non-working holiday in Pasig City.

Eusebio said the city council is working for the benefit of their constituents but underscored the importance of participation in the programs.

“We are here to help and to advance the interests of our city, but we need support, too,” he said.

Different activities such as medical and dental missions, tree-planting activities and a photo tilt would also be held next week on various barangays.

Pasig was established as a municipality on July 2, 1572 and was officially converted into a city on 1994.

KOREAN INVESTORS.

Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez (right) presents a coffee table book to Kim Hong-kon, Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, during the delegation’s recent courtesy call to discuss investment opportunities for Korean businessmen in the city. In photo are (from left) Jeon Hyoung-son, vice president of the Korean Community Association in the Philippines; Korean embassy secretary Lee Tae-eun; and Na Sungsoo, president of the Korean Community Association in the Philippines.

Muddy road puts Villaba school in annual bind

By Ronald O. Reyes PALO, Leyte—Rainy days don’t bring happiness to the students and teachers of Sulpa National High School in the interior village of Sulpa in Villaba, Leyte.

“Every time it rains, many of our students will be absent. Worse, many of them got foot diseases due to the muddy road leading to our school,” said Sulpa NHS head teacher Eleanor Cariño.

In the recent week alone, Cariño said that at least five of their students failed to show up in their classes because their foot got infected.

“The road, which is muddy until now, brings so much inconvenience to us. I hope that this will be cemented soon,” she added.

The school official said that her school, about 12 kilometers away from the poblacion, has only about 200 meters of the road paved so far, while the rest of it is dusty during summer and muddy during this rainy season.

“When it rains, animal urine mixed with fecal matter are carried by water into the middle of the road, bringing diseases to everyone,” Cariño illustrated as their school is in the middle of a farm area where carabaos and other domestic animals are commonly found and tied at the side of the road.

Lucky are those who can ride the habal-habal (an improvised motorcycle) because at least they would not be wading in muddy waters during rainy days, she added.

As Cariño appealed for the cementing of the road the soonest possible time, she said that they are looking for any donors who can provide their students with some rain gears specifically rain boots.

She added that most of the students cannot afford to buy one.

Joy: Village chiefs urged to help manage ‘tambays’

By Rio N. Araja QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday urged newly elected barangay officials to get involved in disciplining “tambays” or loiterers.

Belmonte said the barangay officials could be the helping arm of the police officers to implement disciplinary actions on those who loiter in the streets at night.

“Actually, disciplining community members should be in the hands of the barangays,” she said.

The vice mayor strongly believes that collaboration between police and barangay officials could be instrumental in lightening the already heavy burden of the police.

Disciplinary measures can already be “implemented at the barangay level and no longer at the level of the police officers,” she said.

According to Belmonte, she is now talking to Quezon City Police District Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr. to clarify the nationwide directive on “tambays.”

“He said the campaign is not actually against loiterers per se but against violators of city ordinances, including for example walking around in public places naked, or gambling publicly, or smoking publicly, or violating disciplinary hours,” she said.

Meanwhile, a total of 337 residents of different barangays in Quezon City received their certificates for completing the three-month vocational skills training program offered by the Quezon City Social Services Development Department.

The Manpower Barangay-Based Skills Training Program conducted by the SSDD Vocational Development Division offers free skills training on food and beverage services, bread and pastry production, dressmaking, electrical installation and maintenance, cosmetology, home care provider, productivity skills and capability building, hilot wellness and massage, and housekeeping.

DENR office in Bataan sets health, wellness program for workers BALANgA CITY, Bataan—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Bataan office is promoting the wellness and fitness of its employees.

“We need healthy and fit employees to be able to efficiently serve the public,” pointed out Provincial Environ-

ment Officer Raul Mamac during their physical fitness activities at the Bataan People’s Center on Friday.

“We conducted zumba and basketball exhibition game between DENR Bataan and DENR Central,” he added.

“DENR Usec. Ernesto Adobo ordered

DENR Central personnel to join us in our activities here in Bataan,” Mamac said.

There is a CSC [Civil Service Commission] memorandum ordering the promotion of wellness and fitness of government employees, he said.

“We will regularly conduct physical

fitness activities at DENR Bataan,” Mamac added.

The staging of DENR Bataan wellness activities on Friday was also in celebration of Philippine Environment Month 2018 with theme “Beat Plastic Pollution”. Butch Gunio

Women bring aid to Isabela

By Abe Almirol

POPPING IT. SM City East Ortigas, in partnership with Davies, presented ‘ART EAST

LIVE!’ featuring three celebrated young artists—Jerome Choco, Paula Esteron and Jappy Agoncillo. The artists join in popping confetti SM executives headed by SM COO Steven T. Tan, partners, and the local government. Their art works come to life by using the Zappar app, and the exhibit will run until July 31. Norman Cruz

SAN PABLO, Isabela—A consortium supporting Avance Isabelina, a newly formed women’s health and rights group in this province, was able to reach out to 367 individuals needing medical services in the remote village of Barangay San Vicente here.

“It is amazing that young organization like Avance Isabelina has been able to reach this far flung place at the foot of Sierra Madre. It is a living proof that women are waking up to work together to provide health needs,” said Rose Delos Angeles, Avance Isabelina provincial chairperson.

The medical mission was jointly supported by ANAC-IP Party List and the office of Rep. Napoleon S. Dy of the

3rd District of Isabela.

Medical professionals from several Metro Manila hospitals and clinics joined hands with a group of volunteers from a Seventh Day Adventist group, forming a team that provided dental, optical, medical, and obstetrics-gynecology services.

More than 200 reading eyeglasses were given free.

Avance Isabelina took charge of preparing the medical mission site and assembling a group of Barangay Health Workers who helped in the registration and taking of vital signs of patients.

A community of Agta-Dumagats who are living in a nearby core shelter project also availed of the medical mission’s services.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife

fashion and beauty

Strappy sandals for weekends at home.

Loafers are perfect for casual days at work.

@MStandardLIFE wEdnESday, juLy 4, 2018

C1

Trendy flat sandals put a punch to a simple outfit.

Give a girl

the right,

everyday shoes

I

t has been said that aside from diamonds, shoes are a woman’s best friend. they let her express herself, walk with pride and grace, and, even to some degree, conquer the world.

shoes are the finishing touch on any outfit reason why it’s important to have the right pair. they are also the only piece of clothing that carry the weight of their wearer thus their durability and fit are a priority as well. simply shoes, an affiliate of sM Retail, offers a wide selection of women’s shoes, from pumps to sandals to slip-ons that are comfortable and affordable. there are timeless pumps for work, drinks, dinners, and random semi-dressy occasions; ballerina flats for date nights; and classic loafers and slip-ons for casual days at the office or weekends at home. alongside classic footwear are trendy pairs. there are fun flats with lots of personality, fancy party heels, strappy sandals, and of the moment styles. Rounding out the collection are sneakers that can be worn at the gym or dressy occasions. simply shoes opened its first branch at Waltermart tanauan, Batangas in september 2014. today, it has 39 branches across the country: from as far north as sM Center tuguegarao Downtown in Cagayan to as far south as Citymall Koronadal in south Cotabato.

Go to Simply Shoes PH on Facebook or @SimplyShoesOfficial on Instagram to know more.

Nude for 16 hours

Pastel sneakers can be worn at the gym or at semi-dressy occasions.

Sebastian Stan shows who the boss is RoManIan-american actor sebastian stan appreciates a good jacket, a nice pair of leather shoes, and a sharp three-piece suit “once in a while for a special occasion.”

But when it comes to clothes he feels most comfortable in, nothing beats the good ‘ol tee for Bucky.

“I’m definitely more of a crew neck t-shirt guy rather than a V-neck t-shirt guy,” shares stan. he adds, “I certainly wear a lot of black jeans [too]. they are a very essential piece of clothing.” stan shows his easy, relaxed style in the digital campaign for the spring/ summer 2018 collection of German luxury fashion brand Boss.

Dubbed “summer of Ease,” the campaign presents video content and images following stan through an easy and relaxed season. he represents the modern, driven man with a fast-paced lifestyle, whose downtime is now as important to him as his successful career. “[For me] ‘Ease’ means just feeling okay about yourself, your values, who you are, and what you bring to the table,” says the 35-year-old actor. the dream-like video is set against dramatic coastal backdrops and elegant architecture, moving from early

Sebastian Stan stars in BOSS’ spring/summer 2018 campaign

summer by the dock to conclude with relaxation on the beach. Each situation comes with a wardrobe to match— characterized by a more relaxed approach to Boss sartorialism than ever before, perfectly balancing ease with the elegance the house is known for. stan wears refreshed outerwear such

as sporty anoraks and loose-cut trench coats, and softened Boss tailoring including relaxed double-breasted shapes.

In the Philippines, Boss is located at City of Dreams, Greenbelt 5, ShangriLa East Wing, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Cebu, and 158 Designer’s Blvd. Newport Mall.

noBoDy likes to put on a nice shade of its formula, it delivers non-drying and lip color only for it to smudge and fade ultra-comfortable long-lasting matte. faster than you can say “long-lasting.”

“We’re excited to finally bring in hence, when Maybelline new york Maybelline new york’s superstay Unlaunched superstay Matte Ink Liquid nudes collection to the Philippines,” Lipstick, which promenthuses Bianca sing, ised to stay on lips for 16 Maybelline Philiphours, earlier this year, pines’ product managthe 10-shade collection er for Lips Category. instantly became a cult “With nudes being a favorite, flying off the big trend locally, Filshelves of beauty counipinas would be just ters nationwide. as excited as the UnIts unmatched fornudes offer a wide mula allows intense selection of different pigmentation with one and beautiful nude easy and precise applihues to choose from.” cation lasting up to 16 In an attempt to hours. Beauty critics break away from the and junkies from all usual shades of nude, Maybelline Superstay Un-Nude over the world attest to colors range from beige collection arm swatches its long-lasting, waterto purple gray. the colproof, and non-drying matte finish. lection consists of Driver (light beige), Following the success of the initial Poet (pink beige), seductress (dusty rose collection, Maybelline goes further as beige), amazonian (caramel brown), it launches 10 highly-pigmented, ul- Fighter (dark brown), Ruler (pinot red), tra-wearable neutral nude shades that Protector (deep brown), huntress (dusty promise to flatter Filipina skin tones. gray), Visionary (purple gray), and Phithe latest lipstick collection, dubbed losopher (dusty lavender). superstay Un-nude, contains the MayThis lipstick collection is now availbelline-patented “Elastic Ink technol- able at Maybelline counters nationogy.” Completely having zero clay in wide for P299 each.

The Un-Nude collection consists of 10 highly-pigmented, ultra-wearable nude shades that range from light beige to purple gray.

Life

C2

wednesday, ju juLy 4, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

The Möbius shoe, which has a lone strip for the sole and heel, is the first and most successful design of United Nude.

United Nude’s iconic Möbius shoes

The brand incorporates architectural design techniques in creating each shoe.

Architectural shoe brand to open first PH store

d

uTcH footwear brand united nude, known for its architectural and avant-garde shoe designs, is set to open its first store in the Philippines.

architect Rem d Koolhaas, together with galahad clark, established united nude in 2003. With no fashion background, the young architect incorporated his knack for designs to revolutionize the way shoes are made.

“We ended up breaking the rules of shoe design, not for the sake of breaking them, but simply by not knowing them,” shared Koolhaas.

Because of this, he has successfully elevated the art and business of shoemaking by making the shoe as the centerpiece rather than just being a supporting accessory in an outfit.

Koolhaas made use of architectural design techniques to create unique

and iconic shoe shapes that combine form and functionality. diagonal lines and clean geometric shapes, among many other architectural concepts, have become a trademark in united nude shoes. united nude’s iconic Möbius line is an example of the brand’s design principles; it features a lone strip for the sole and heel.

The Möbius is the first and most successful design of united nude, and it has then followed by other footwear designs whose unique shapes are inspired by innovative pieces of architecture as well as avant-garde styles made in collabo-

Things to consider before getting semi-permanent brows Rem D Koolhaas

ration with high profile creatives such as Iris van Herpen, Zaha Hadid, and Issey Miyake.

IndIvIduals not gifted with full, healthy-looking brows or those who can’t be bothered lining and shading their arches everyday have a “semipermanent” solution in the form of permanent makeup. a number of makeup artists and beauty salons now offer this service. But before you book an appointment, here are things you need to consider according to makeup artist Bianca Festejo.

Cleanliness of the clinic, artist

Festejo emphasizes the importance of having good hygiene practice on the part of the artist. “Even if the artist is the best in creating your brows, if they have bad hygiene practices then the client will suffer,” she says. since permanent makeup is actually a tattoo, it means that needles are used and ink is deposited into the skin. Festejo advises to check with the artist if they use brand new needles as well as disposable and sterilized tools. “We’re dealing with blood here so it’s very easy to pass on diseases.”

The perfect match

The first edition of Rustan’s Circle features (from left) Mich Araullo, Happy Andrada, Mark Bumgarner, Patty Ang, and Rossana Ocampo.

5 local designers team up for a pop-up exhibit sHOWcasIng the talent and brilliance of top Filipino designers, Rustan’s launches the first edition of Rustan’s circle—a pop-up exhibit featuring fashion creations exclusively designed for Rustan’s Makati.

The Rustan’s circle aims to provide shoppers an avenue to discover new and fresh offerings from local designers, as well as give these designers an avenue to showcase their pieces in a retail outlet alongside top luxury brands from around the globe.

Mark Bumgarner, Rosanna Ocampo, Patty ang, Happy andrada, and Mich araullo come together for the first edition of the Rustan’s circle pop-up exhibit.

Each of them has put together a new collection of stylish pieces that marry their signature styles and silhouettes with the brand’s classy and elegant flair.

Mark Bumgarner

This formula-car-racer-turned-fashion-designer took inspiration from the 1960s new York for this special collaboration. “I have recently discovered the Tv series Mad Men, and I loved how the women from that era were dressed

up in simple yet elegant silhouettes, Happy Andrada with dramatic patterns or prints making The pieces that andrada is contribthe pieces stand out,” says Bumgarner. uting to the exhibit feature a balanced mix of edge and elegance. as with all Mich Araullo of her creations, her ready-to-wear Minimum fuss, maximum impact, designs for this collaboration features chic, and easy—these are the key char- intricate detailed creations, elaborate acteristics of araullo’s designs. staying detailing, intriguing mix of materitrue to her pretty but functional philos- als, and her genius sense for texture ophy, she created a collection that’s fun and cut. But what makes this collecand relaxed yet channels the timeless tion unique are the intricate cut works old world sensibility. ladies would en- inspired by a kaleidoscope, and the joy the pieces from her range, which are materials that used digitally printed all inspired by long, balmy summers aerial view of Metro Manila. in the Italian Riviera. “Think tie-print sundresses, crisp linen button-downs, Patty Ang ‘50s-style cinched-waist styles, and wo“For this, I just let my creativity ven fabrics with bow details.” and spontaneity flow while I observe the various places that I went to, and Rosanna Ocampo combine them with the trends, culKeeping in line with her signature ture, and lifestyle that I see from the contemporary and feminine aesthetic, people that I encounter during my reOcampo created a botanical-inspired cent travels.” Her pieces for this colcollection for Rustan’s circle. “You laboration sure are as interesting and can count on florals and foliage to be a diverse as her adventures. perennial focal point in our pieces, as is the wildlife that surrounds it,” she says. The Rustan’s Circle collections are ex“colors, contrast prints, layers of texture, clusively available at the Ladies’ floor in and embroidery are also all present.”

Rustans Makati, from now until Sept. 30.

The shape, color, and intensity of your brows will play a huge role in how you look. Thus, it’s better to go to someone you can trust and will listen to your wishes. “someone who understands what you want and need is best,” says Festejo. she adds, “You want to be comfortable enough with your artist to give feedback on how you want your brows to look. don’t go for someone who will dictate how he or she wants you to look. You have to be involved in the process.”

Their previous work

Most artists will have their portfolio available online or in the salon. look through the before and after photos of their previous work. This should give you a clue on their skill and style.

“semi-permanent makeup is not a skill learned overnight,” points out Festejo. “It takes a lot of practice and a lot of experience to master it.” This, she adds, is also why some artists charge higher. You’re paying for their skill, expertise, and the hours they put into practicing to make sure you get perfect brows.

For instance, Festejo traveled to five different cities in three continents to master the craft. after gaining Master diplomas from Phibrows, Baltic Brows, and Keratin lash lift, she opened her own permanent makeup studio and academy in the Philippines. as an expert, she advocates learning from highly skilled mentors to ensure quality work. “Every artist learns from a master. If the master is really good and experienced, the artist will be too,” she says.

How much you trust the artist

“When choosing an artist, going for a consultation is necessary to get to know more about them,” says Festejo. “You’re entrusting your brows with this person so it’s definitely important to establish trust.” during your consultation, you can also ask about the style that would fit you perfectly. Is it Microblading or Ombré Brows? according to Festejo, Microblading is not for those with oily skin. It’s also a bit more traumatic to skin and it fades earlier. Ombré Brows, on the other hand, are recommended for Filipinas since they last longer—for about one and a half year. They also look fuller, and adapt well to oily skin.

Your artist should also inquire whether you’re pregnant, lactating, or keloidal.

Bianca Festejo owns Bianca Festejo Beauty Lounge, a one-stop hair, skin, and body treatments salon located in three Metro Manila branches. Go to www.permanentmakeupstudio.co or www.biancafestejo.com to know more.

Before and after Ombré Brows service by Bianca Festejo

Entertainment

Journos tell stories behind internationallyawarded docu

G

ETTING an award for their work was the last thing Raffy Tima and Marisol Abdurahman were thinking when they went to Marawi last year to make their documentary “Combat Camera Team.”

The episode of GMA News TV program Brigada recently took home a bronze medal from the prestigious New York Festivals Television and Film Awards for the Current Affairs category. This was followed by a Certificate of Creative Excellence from the US International Film and Video Festival (USIFVF).

In the documentary, Abdurahman featured members of the Combat Camera Team of the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion who were tasked to document the operations of the Philippine Army’s combatant units. Tima, on the other hand, followed the internally displaced residents who dream of bringing their beloved Marawi back to life.

We were just doing our job,” Tima says nonchalantly about the win.

“Kung may award, [I’m] thankful,” adds the Balitanghali anchor, who is considered a veteran in terms of reporting about wars here and abroad.

He covered all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), as well as the war in Afghanistan in

2001 and Iraq in 2004.

Like Tima, Abdurahman is not a newbie when it comes to reporting conflict stories and military operations.

As a field reporter for GMA News, she has been covering stories in conflict areas, particularly in Mindanao. She has been sent abroad to cover the peace talks between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Prior to becoming a reporter, she taught in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), thus her familiarity with the military.

For the winning Brigada episode, it also helped that Abdurahman’s sources were her former students. Her team was just supposed to focus on how the Armed Forces were able to kill Maute group leaders Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon. But when they were already in Marawi, Marisol’s team discovered that the Armed Forces had captured videos of the actual battle.

As someone whose family is from Mindanao, doing the Combat Camera Team story was quite personal for the

Raffy Tima and Marisol Abdurahman with their Bronze Medal award from New York Festivals Television and Film Awards.

Kapuso reporter.

I empathize with my fellow Muslims. I know that I have students fighting. It’s different when you think that andun yung mga taong apat na taon mong tinuruan. Every day I pray: Please, God, keep them safe.

Keep them away from harm,” says Abdurahman.

Aside from his Brigada story, Tima also made the “Inside Marawi: A Report on 360 Video,” which earned him a Silver Award in the Craft/ Production Techniques: 360 Video category at the USIFVF. Using his 360-camera and a regular camera, Tima captured some of the crucial areas where encounters between the Maute group and the Armed Forces took place. He also showed in his 360-video the residence which was turned into a sniper house, the tunnel system created by the terrorists, the mosques that were used as escape routes, as well as the exact area where Maute and Hapilon were killed.

He was the first journalist given the access to these areas. “Ang nakatutuwa doon ay yung hobby ko lang dati at yung passion ko ay na-recognize,” he shares, referring to his use of the 360-video technology.

Abdurahman reveals that her contacts welcomed the news that the Combat Camera Team documentary won. “They were very happy in the sense na nakita ‘yung effort ng military kung paano tinapos yung giyera, ‘yung sacrifices ng mga sundalo, ‘yung sitwasyon ng ating mga kababayan na hindi nakikita ng civilians, at kahit naming mga tagamedia.”

Tima believes anything can be a good story. “I’m an old school journalist, hindi ako ‘yung masyadong forward thinking na magandang story ito kasi mas mare-recognize ako. If there’s a big coverage I would grab that opportunity.”

Still, he says no story is worth dying for. As such, he makes it a conscious effort to prioritize his team’s safety.

“A dead journalist is a dead journalist.

Maraming paraan para mailabas ang katotohanan na hindi mo kailangang mapahamak.”

For Abdurahman, whose Marawi coverage was also recognized by Rotary Manila, honesty in work is important. “I like to maintain my dignity as a reporter. Gusto ko kahit saan ako makita wala silang masasabi sa akin,” she ends.

Resorts World Manila recognized by regional CSR body RESORTS World Manila (RWM) recently received the Asia Responsible Enterprise Award (AREA) for Social Empowerment for its LOVE Dish Project during the 2018 International CSR Summit held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

The LOVE Dish Project was one of RWM’s CSR initiatives for 2017. By putting together Filipinos’ love for food, celebrities, and charity, the project gave RWM members and guests the opportunity to experience the culinary expertise of select celebrity chefs

while allowing them to contribute to the greater community.

Seven celebrity chefs, led by former MTV Asia VJ Donita Rose, developed new recipes that were donated to RWM for inclusion in the menus of its signature restaurants. Proceeds of every order from the LOVE Dish lineup were donated to three partner charities: COR Foundation, Right Start Foundation, and the Pasay Social and Welfare Development Department (PSWD).

It’s a great honor to be recognized by one of

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, July 4, 2018

ACROSS 1 Mama’s boy 4 Indian ruler 9 Fire starter 14 Before, in combos 15 Part of PABA 16 Interlaced 17 Give it the gas 18 Shish — 19 Without company 20 Century plants 22 Candidate 24 Twig junctures 25 Part human, part machine 27 Annoying insect 28 Holland export 29 Harvard rival 33 Fills with joy 35 Torn piece 36 Ogled 39 Foot, slangily 40 Posh hotel lobbies 41 Electrify 44 Soup ingredient 45 Vaccine 46 Kind of prize 50 Swear to 52 Condor’s abode 53 Least remote 56 Frescoes 57 Sgt. — York 58 Surfer slang

61 Twice LI 62 Argue earnestly 63 Languor 64 Took by the hand 65 Holds down a job 66 Gave out cards 67 Before, to poets DOWN 1 Leaped 2 Crater Lake locale 3 Carson City’s state 4 Does a fall chore 5 ISU location 6 Crane arm 7 Collection of tales 8 Schmoozes with 9 Hindu sage 10 Premium payer 11 Cosmetics brand 12 Actress Russo 13 Patch locale 21 Zoo staffer 23 Switch positions 25 However 26 Seine vista 28 Naughty 30 Special knack

31 Liszt’s “— Preludes” 32 Ben & Jerry rival 34 Meadow 35 Earth’s star 36 “CSI” setting 37 When Paris sizzles 38 Age 39 Robbins or Conway 41 Developed fangs 42 Paycheck abbr.

43 Wheel track 45 Peter and Paul 47 Sibyl 48 Slicker 49 Have a domicile 51 Watches over 52 Listen in 53 Ponytail site 54 Miss Cinders of old comics 55 Say it’s so 56 Handle roughly 59 Undivided 60 Molecular biology topic

the foremost business organizations in Asia,” says Stephen Reilly, COO for RWM. “This is actually the third time that we’ve received an AREA for our CSR initiatives and it’s a huge encouragement and validation for the work we do in helping our communities win.”

The AREA is an annual awards ceremony that recognizes and honors Asian businesses that champion sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship. It highlights the sincere and sustained commitment of corporate leaders to ethical and responsible business practices.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018

C3

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Jennylyn finds comfort in family

Jennylyn Mercado JENNYLYN Mercado recounts that it wasn’t easy for her to bounce back from grief due to the loss of her adoptive mother two years ago. It can be remembered that Lydia Mercado passed away due to pneumonia.

Honestly, that was one tough period in my life,” she states. “The healing didn’t happen instantly. It was a process. It’s good that I didn’t undergo total depression though.”

According to the Kapuso star, it was really hard at first.

Yes, to return to the old Jen. I couldn’t bring back my same old happy self. The sadness was always there haunting me. It’s almost two years that I’ve been in that state.”

Her late mother had left precious life lessons that The Cure female lead continues to practice in her day-to-day existence.

She always reminded me the value of establishing good rapport with fellow workers, being understanding at all times and remain God-fearing. She also taught me how to be thankful for all the small and huge blessings that come my way especially to people who became instrumental for my success.”

One positive aspect of her life at present that keeps Jennylyn going is the fact that despite the loss of Mommy Lydia, her family and loved ones are there to act as a support group.

I’m thankful that they’re by my side. As

Simply Red… From C4

When the drive is long, the view becomes monotonous, and the activities wind down, road trips can get pretty tedious. It can get even worse for kids as they tend to grow restless and rowdy during these car rides.

Thankfully, we can now bid goodbye to boring road trips as DisneyLife is now here so we can enjoy our all-time Disney favorites anytime, anywhere.

DisneyLife lets you experience all the wonders of Disney in one app, with over 350 movies, 5,000 series episodes, and 6,000 songs from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. Through the app, you can watch your favorite movies and TV shows, along with shorts, behind-the-scenes, and other special content. Enjoy all of these awesome content, even when you’re on the go, with the larger than life data from Globe Postpaid ThePLAN. Prepare for your next road trip movie marathon with these five recommended family-friendly themes: 1. Girl Power Celebrate the age of equality with films focused on girl bosses. Start with the liveaction adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, which follows Alice as she explores a world of fantasy with a mad hatter, quarreling queens, and a talking rabbit. Continue the adaptation streak with Maleficent, the origin story of the fearsome villain in Sleeping Beauty. Go back in time with Brave and meet Merida, a young princess who is set on redefining what it means to be a Disney Princess. Go inside the mind of a girl in Inside Out, quite literally, where her five emotions help her navigate teenage life. Then close your marathon with Frozen and sing your heart out with two sisters in an ice kingdom.

2. #FriendshipGoals If you’re traveling with a group of friends, you can watch friendship-themed movies and strengthen your bond before you get to your destination. Start with the Toy Story trilogy and see how a group of toys become good friends. Follow that up with the friendship of Mike and Sully in Monsters Inc. and its prequel Monsters University, where they’re monsters who scare kids to harness energy.

Next on the list is A Bug’s Life, about a group of cute insects who must save an ant’s

everyone knows, my biological dad (Noli Pineda) is already here. I encouraged him to stay with us after being based in South Korea for so long. Now, we get to spend quality time together along with Jazz and of course, Dennis (Trillo).”

For the Kapuso actress, the unconditional love and support she gets from them helped a lot in her healing process.

I think, it’s very important that you feel you’re not alone and that you have people who will stick it out with you come hell or high waters,” ends Jen. *** Kiko Estrada is happy with the fact that despite his being a contract star of GMA, he still gets the opportunity to work with talents from the rival network. Proof is his latest potboiler Walwal under Regal Entertainment in which he shares stellar billing with ABS-CBN stars Elmo Magalona, Donnie Pangilinan and Jerome Ponce.

That’s the reason why I’m so grateful to Mother Lily (Monteverde) and Tita Roselle (Monteverde). Before Walwal, they already cast me in projects where I worked with stars from the other camp like in Pwera Usog and My Fairy Tail Love Story. I’m glad that they continue to give me the chance to work with quality people. I believe that to become the best, you have to be surrounded as well by the best people in the industry,” he says.

In his case, the young actor cannot do soap operas with rival stars since he is a contact star of the Kapuso.

Yes, with soaps, I think it’s impossible.

My contact with GMA would end in October though.”

Does he see himself renewing his contact again with the station?

I can’t answer for that since it’s my management’s decision. But personally, if you’re being taken care of, there’s no reason for switching networks. You have to think of what’s best for you, right?”

What’s good about the lad is his positive outlook when it comes to changing home studios.

I only have love in my heart. I don’t burn bridges. I love ABS-CBN, the same thing with GMA. As I’ve said, I have nothing but love for everyone,” states Kiko.

colony. After that, travel to France and meet Remy, a rat who can cook delicious meals in Ratatouille, as he befriends the human Alfredo Linguini. Lastly, visit the prehistoric times in The Good Dinosaur and discover the friendship between a dinosaur and a human.

3. Life in the Outer Space If space is more your thing, there’s a galaxy far, far away perfect for your taste. Explore the galaxy with the Star Wars franchise and rediscover the fight between good and evil in a galaxy far, far away. Start with The Empire Strikes Back and follow it up with Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith.

4. Heroes in Action For something a little more action-packed, superhero films are for you! Watch Big Hero 6, and see how a young robotics prodigy forms a team to fight a masked villain. Stream Bolt, a young dog who rescues his human. Of course there’s also the Marvel Cinematic Universe where you meet Tony Stark in the Iron Man trilogy; the god of thunder in Thor and Thor: The Dark World; Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain America: Winter Soldier; and, Star-Lord and his crew in Guardians of the Galaxy. Watch them get together to defeat villainous forces in The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron!

5. A Taste for Adventure Get hyped for your trip even before you arrive! Start your marathon with Up, which follows Carl as he goes on a mission in South America accompanied by the ever-lovable Russell. Complete the marathon with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, where the pirate Jack Sparrow goes on a series of swashbuckling quests in Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End, and On Stranger Tides.

Wait, there’s more. Get to know your favorites even further―how they are filmed or created, trivia and fun facts among others― by watching their behind-the-scenes, shorts, extended reels and other special content only on DisneyLife.

Enjoy DisneyLife and its lineup of content with Globe Postpaid’s ThePLAN. All existing Globe Postpaid subscribers and new or recontracting subscribers on ThePLAN or ThePLAN PLUS 999 and above get a free 6-month subscription to DisneyLife. Promo is valid until Aug. 31.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

Entertainment

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2018

How to achieve a

Sofia glitters at Sangyaw Fest

piping hot bod like Derek Ramsay?

Recording artist Sofia Romualdez (third from right, back row) with her dance crew at the Sangyaw Festival in Tacloban.

By Robbie Pangilinan RISING recording artist Sofia Gonzales Romualdez, daughter of former actress and now Mayor of Tacloban City Cristina Romualdez and Alfred Romualdez, stunned 3,000 people with her performance at the annual Sangyaw Festival.

The 19-year-old Viva Records recording star wowed the audience at the Sangyawan Music Festival with her original songs and dashing dancing moves.

Young people from the audience swooned as she sang her debut single “Pikit Mata,” which she wrote herself and was included in the movie FanGirl FanBoy starring Julian Trono and Ella Cruz.

“I am blessed to have a wonderful and supportive family.

Thank you to my dancing team and my fans,” said an obviously giddy Sofia after her performance.

Rap artist Denial and DeadKey did the front act of the event. The Waray rap artist sang a Waray rap from their hit album.

ISAH V. RED

Certificate of Excellence from Tripadvisor for Kidzania Manila

By Michie Galanida and Bianca Grajo

T

WO Saturdays ago, actor Derek Ramsay shared his secret on staying in shape during the third “Test of Will Urban Fitness Challenge” at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall.

On staying disciplined, Ramsay said that the easiest thing to do is to find something that you actually enjoy.

“It is all about will power, you have to get over that laziness, being lethargic, you have to get out of bed, you download all these fitness videos but you never use them, these are all walls. Once you get over that wall, it becomes a routine and it becomes a part of your life,” he shared with MS Entertainment during the Under Armour event.

The actor

turned fitness enthusiast continued to express his thrilling journey of developing a fitness discipline that he said started when he was only 3 years old. He elaborated that patience is the key when one seeks to attain fitness goals.

“We really need to find time. Before you go to work, before you eat breakfast, that’s a great start and you’ll see results. In a week, if you do it properly it may not be physically, but you will feel better. It’s a slow process, but you have to trust the process and get there. Set goals that are realistic and then go for it,” he shared.

He shared his daily workout routine by performing a circuit of judo push-ups, squats, and ab workouts for at least 10 to15 minutes per day according to one’s phasing.

Moreover, he claimed that the best workout is merely proper posture.

“If you sit down properly you’re engaging your abs, your core is the most important series of muscles in the body. And if you sit up properly, keeping your body maintained, that means muscles are firing which means your burning calories. So even doing nothing just sitting properly, you’re burning calories,” he said.

The “Test of Will” is an annual Southeast Asia-wide fitness challenge in celebration of human performance functional fitness and the training lifestyle.

The two-day event, joined by over 300 athletes and fitness enthusiasts, competed in an intense four-minute circuit challenge that consists of dead ball squats, bear crawls, kettle farmer walks, and over and under (hurdles).

Joining Ramsay in gracing the lifestyle and fitness event were Under Armour celebrity brand ambassadors JC de Vera, Robi Domingo and Kylie Versoza.

The brand’s competition tested the challengers’ endurance, stability, strength, flexibility and motion according to Marketing Director of Under Armour Sports in Southeast Asia, Yvonne Tey.

Team Yey kids enjoy an activity in the interactive city located in BGC in Taguig.

CONGRATULATIONS to Kidzania Manila!

The world’s largest travel site Trip Advisor has awarded KidZania Manila, together with 14 other KidZania metropolises around the world, the 2018 Certificate of Excellence.

The prestigious honor acknowledges the play city’s consistent great service in the leisure industry based on reviews given by TripAdvisor users. This is the second consecutive year KidZania Manila received the accolade as it has consistently achieved great reviews from visitors.

KidZania Manila opened in August 2015 and has, since then, accommodated Filipino families to experience the educational entertainment facility for kids ages 4 to 17 years old. It welcomed its one millionth visitor in March, a huge milestone as more and more children get to explore real-life role play activities for their learning and enjoyment.

Apart from the Manila hub, KidZania in Bangkok, Cairo, Cuicuilco, Delhi, Dubai, Jakarta, Koshien, Lisbon, Monterrey, Moscow, Mumbai, Santiago, Sao Paulo, and Tokyo also received the excellence recognition from the trusted travel reviews website. KidZania Dubai also got recognized as a Hall of Famer, a special category given to businesses that have received a Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years.

Since 2011, TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence honors hospitality businesses, world-class attractions, restaurants, and vacation rentals that constantly deliver great service across the globe.

KidZania Manila is at Park Triangle, Bonifacio Global City.

Continued on C3

Derek Ramsay maintains that keeping fit and active is a form of lifestyle.

Cosmo PH

HOLLYWOOD

‘Jurassic’ dinos shake earth, boost N. American box office BIG-GROSSING films Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Incredibles 2 again dominated the North American box office this weekend according to industry estimates on Sunday.

Universal’s latest earth-stomping dinosaur movie took in $60 million for the three-day weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported.

The superhero-family-next-door of Incredibles 2, a Pixar/Disney animation, earned $45.5 million.

Together they helped estimated industry receipts to the end of June rise 15 percent against the same month last year.

Jurassic, featuring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, and Incredibles, with voice actors Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter, were expected to do well. The former is nearing the $1 billion mark globally, while Incredibles is set to become the second-biggest animated film ever in North America, after Finding Dory. AFP

Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and Justice Smith encounter a voracious dino in a scene from the latest installment of Jurassic film.

Game Nigthts are on with AXN Freedom Fridays Bar Tour GET ready to break free and unwind with exciting games and surprises as AXN visits the best night spots in Manila featuring special guest star and TV host, Sydney Crespo.

AXN Freedom Fridays Bar Tour kicks off on July 6, invading Makati’s hippest bars including Rue Bourbon Salcedo, Poblacion: The Wild Poppy and H&J Sports Bar & Restaurant.

AXN fans should bring their A-Game as they’ll be challenged in a series of fun activities and games to win awesome prizes. Bar chow, drinks and AXN giveaways will be on tap.

“AXN is all about redefining action, so the Freedom Fridays Bar Tour will redefine your Friday night. It’s about getting together with friends, celebrating the end of the week and having fun responsibly,” said Armi Malaluan, Director and Business Head, AXN Networks Philippines.

AXN Freedom Fridays is presented by San Miguel Pale Pilsen, with official radio partner Wave 89.1.

Actor and fitness enthusiast Derek Ramsay (center) celebrates endurance, functional fitness and training lifestyle with Under Armour ambassadors Kylie Versoza (fourth from left) and JC de Vera, and Robi Domingo (not in photo).