Manila Standard - 2018 June 5 - Tuesday

RODY’S KISS EXCITES CROWD, NO MALICE THERE—OFW

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Filipino woman that President Rodrigo Duterte kissed on the lips during a meeting with the Filipino community in Seoul said there was no malice in act.

“There was no malice there,” said Bea Kim, speaking in Filipino in a video posted on the Philippine News Agency Facebook page.

BEA KIM

“The kiss was like a twist to get the audience excited. It meant nothing, I promise, to him or to me.”

After his speech Sunday, Duterte called the woman to the stage to receive a copy of the book entitled “Altar of Secrets” that exposes corruption in the Catholic Church.

Duterte asked her if she was married, and she said she was.

Then he gestured to her, asking if she would kiss him on the lips.

“Can you tell your husband that this is just a joke,” he said in Filipino.

The crowd cheered as the President kissed her.

“Don’t take it seriously. It’s just for fun, a gimmick,” he told her afterward.

In Congress, the he Gabriela Women’s Party, represented by Arlene Brosas and Emmi de Jesus, said what the President did was wrong. “[The] kiss was disgusting theatrics of a misogynist President who feels

entitled to demean, humiliate or disrespect women according to his whim,” the group said in a statement.

The women’s group said it was also saddened by the fact that “the woman found it her obligation to publicly defend the act as having ‘no malice.’”

“It is the President who is duty-bound to explain not only because it was upon his prodding but he is bound, as a public official, by rules of ethics to explain his unruly conduct,” Gabriela said.

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 110 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Workers dun BIR for P20-b refund

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE country’s biggest labor federation on Monday demanded the return of P20 billion that they say was illegally collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue from minimum wage earners for seven months in 2008.

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade goods and services.

Union Congress of the Philippines said ALU-TUCP president Michael Menthe cash would help workers’ families doza cited a Jan. 24, 2017 Supreme cope with the rapidly rising prices of Court ruling that nullified two provi-

sions of a BIR revenue regulation that disqualified minimum wage earners from tax exemptions on income above P30,000.

This developed as a party-list lawmaker backed the proposed 25-percent increase in the statutory minimum wage for the 190,000 Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong.

ACTS-OFW Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III said: “If Hong Kong wants to stay competitive and keep on attracting dependable and educated Filipino household staff, it has to bump up at a faster rate Next page their minimum pay.”

OFFERING. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte offers incense as part of the wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the fallen soldiers at the National Cemetery in Seoul, Republic of Korea on June 4, 2018. Presidential Photo

Manila, Seoul firm up 4 deals

Curry’s dazzlers lift Warriors

By Vito Barcelo

FIRST DAY JITTERS. Grade 1 pupil of Marcela Agoncillo Elementary School in Manila appears hesitant to attend the first day of classes on Monday June 4, 2018. Norman Cruz

TRAIN subsidy for poor must be given out—Poe

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Grace Poe on Monday asked the Department of Finance and other concerned agencies to immediately release the guidelines for subsidies for poor families and low-wage earners under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public services, said poor families, students, drivers, commuters and others are already feeling the effects of the rising prices of fuel, commodities and services.

“We need to give our people the help they deserve under the law,” Poe said in Filipino.

Section 82 of the tax reform law grants fuel vouchers to jeepney franchise holders and fare discounts, rice discounts and free skills training to minimum-wage earners and the poorest 50 percent of the population. A total of 10 million lowincome households will also received P200 per month this year and P300 a month in 2019 and 2020.

“Let us give out the subsidies right away because they have approved the Next page

Dengvaxia gains outweigh risks—Noy FORMER President Benigno Aquino III said Monday the benefits of an antidengue vaccine that was administered to 830,000 children under his watch outweighed the risks.

He said the vaccine was effective for 30 months after it is given and only 0.2 percent of those who did not have previous dengue infections would likely suffer from a severe infection.

“To this day, nothing has shown that Dengvaxia caused deaths,” Aquino told reporters after he faced a preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice.

Aquino showed up before the department and sought the dismissal of the charges against him arising from the deaths of schoolchildren inoculated with Next page the Dengvaxia vaccine.

VACCINE PROBE. Former President Benigno Aquino III and two of his former Cabinet members, Janette Garin and Florencio Abad, attend the preliminary investigation on the controversy involving the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia at the Department of Justice in Manila on Monday, June 4, 2018. Norman Cruz

THE Philippines and South Korea signed four agreements, including a $172.64-million loan for the new Cebu international port, during President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Seoul, Malacañang on Monday said.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said the signing of the accords on agriculture, trade, transportation and science and technology, were witnessed

by Duterte and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

“With the MOU on agricultural cooperation signed today, various activities are now being lined up, including technology transfer on mechanization and irrigation,” said Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol.

In a speech before Filipinos at the Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul, Duterte said the Philippines is considering buying helicopters from South Korea to boost the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Duterte is on a three-day visit to Seoul to further strengthen Philippine-South Korean bilateral ties, especially on trade, investments and defense and security.

GOLDEN State sharpshooter Stephen Curry delivered a performance for the ages Sunday with an NBA Finals record nine 3-pointers powering the defending champion Warriors over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Airport capacity crisis looms amid passenger boom

Pregnant fiscal dies of stabbing

SYDNEY—Governments need to urgently tackle a capacity crisis facing airports as demand for international travel grows, but they should be cautious about private sector involvement, airline industry group IATA warned Monday.

With passenger levels projected to nearly double to 7.8 billion by 2036, infrastructure such as airports and air traffic control systems were not keeping pace, the International Air Transport Association said.

Major airports have sought to address the crisis by managing slots— iving airlines specific operating rights at particular times.

But there was still a need for new airports, IATA chief Alexandre de Juniac said at the body’s annual meetNext page ing in Sydney.

Ex-sex worker to NZ honors list

NEWS A6

A FORMER sex worker was made a dame in the Queen’s Birthday honors list in New Zealand on Monday, in recognition of her services to the sex industry.

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News

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TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

First day a success, DepEd insists T

HE first day of classes for school year 2018-2019 was generally peaceful and successful, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Monday.

“Our assessment here―and many have agreed―is that it [the reopening of classes] was generally peaceful and successful because we prepared for it,” Briones said.

In other developments: • Two lawmakers on Monday voiced concern over the perennial problems in the public education system aggravated

by the “ill-planned and haphazardly” implemented Kindergarten to 12 years of basic education or K to 12, which they said had resulted in the alarming increase in the number of out-of-school youth.

Citing the 2016 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority, ACT Teachers Party-list Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro said 3.8 million or one in 10 children aged 16 to 24 were not in school.

“Most of them, or almost 3.3 million, are aged 16 to 24 years old who are supposed to be in senior high school or college level already. More than half or about 53 percent of them belong to the

poorest families,” Tinio said.

• Senator Nancy Binay on Monday urged local government units to work closely with the Department of Trade and Industry to strictly monitor the prices of school supplies.

She said this was to prevent unscrupulous traders who may take advantage of the opening of classes in public schools on Monday to sell school supplies at much higher prices.

She said many students were yet to buy school supplies since they were still waiting for their parents to receive their pay.

Briones said her department had prepared for the opening of classes and had assessed the preparedness of schools

since the last quarter of 2017.

More than 27 million students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 went back to public and private schools for the resumption of classes.

Earlier, Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said they had not received any reports on untoward incidents in any schools.

He also said they had put up police assistance desks in several schools.

The Department of Education activated an action center to receive and handle complaints. It provided the following numbers: 0919-4560027, 6387529, 638-7530, 638-7531, and 635-9817.

Maricel V. Cruz and Macon RamosAraneta

Sereno ouster up at SC en banc meet

Ex-DFA chief presses for action vs China

By Rey E. Requejo

FORMER Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario joined the clamor for the Philippine government to file a diplomatic protest against China’s landing of bombers on Woody Island within the disputed areas of South China Sea/West Philippine Sea. “Granted that there is a divergence of views on responding to the developments in South China Sea, the landing of bombers in Woody Island serves, at the very least, to raise tensions and destabilize our region,” the former official said. “ It is in our interest to file a protest as we should be endeavoring to galvanize the support of countries that, like the Philippines, are strongly opposed to the militarization of the South China Sea,” he stressed.

On the question of territory lost during the incumbency of the Duterte administration, Del Rosario said he believed that Sandy Cay is within the territorial sea of Pag-Asa. Under the Baselines Law, PagAsa is Philippine territory, he said.

The Philippines lost control of Sandy Cay in late 2017 when President Duterte ordered the cessation of construction there due to vehement reaction from China, Del Rosario said. Chinese coast guard vessels have since then surrounded Sandy Cay at all times, effectively seizing physical control of Sandy Cay from the Philippines. “I think that a very strong protest then should have been filed,” Del Rosario said.

THE Supreme Court will resolve today the motion filed by ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno seeking a reversal of its May 11 decision that removed her from her post.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio said Sereno’s motion for reconsideration filed last week was included in today’s en banc agenda.

An insider said the high court could take either of two actions: approve Sereno’s motion or require Solicitor General Jose Calida, who filed the quo warranto petition, to submit his comment on the motion.

On May 11, the high court, voting 8-6, disqualified Sereno as chief justice for her failure to comply with the Judicial and Bar Council’s requirement to file her 10-year Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth when she applied for the post of chief justice.

The high court ruled that Sereno’s failure to submit her SALNs meant “her integrity was not established at the time of her application,” hence she was not eligible to hold her position.

The tribunal also required Sereno to explain why she should not be sanctioned for violating the Code of Professional Responsibility and the Code of Judicial Conduct for transgressing the sub judice rule and for casting aspersions and ill motives on the members of the Supreme Court.

The seven other magistrates who concurred with the ruling ousting Sereno were Justices Teresita J. Leonardo de Castro, Diosdado M. Peralta, Lucas P. Bersamin, Francis H. Jardeleza, Samuel R. Martires, Andres B. Reyes Jr. and Alexander G. Gesmundo.

TRAIN...

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collection of new taxes but have not come out with any help to the poor,” she said. “We have to speed this up because it’s been half a year and people are hurting because of the rising prices.”

During the hearing of Poe’s panel in Albay last week, the Transport Department admitted that they have yet to firm up the guidelines for fuel voucher assistance to jeepney drivers. Of the 10 million low-income households qualified for the targeted cash assistance, it was reported that only 4.4 million families have so far been given the financial subsidies.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, meanwhile, said he was concerned that some poor families would sacrifice the education of their children in the face of rising prices of goods and services due to the TRAIN Law. “Due to the increase in prices, many students can no longer go to school,” said Aquino, one of the senators who voted against TRAIN. The high prices even cut the value of the government’s assistance programs such as the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps), Aquino said.

During a Senate hearing on the TRAIN Law in Legazpi City, Aquino also pushed for the full implementation of a Pantawid Pasada program, which aims to help jeepney operators and drivers cope with the increase in fuel prices.

For 2018, the government has earmarked P977 million for 179,000 jeepney operators under the Pantawid Pasada program.

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“We are in a capacity crisis. And we don’t see the required airport infrastructure investment to solve it,” he said, adding that cash-strapped governments were increasingly turning to private firms to increase airport capacity.

But he cautioned against privatized airports, warning that they have “not lived up to airline expectations” with many carriers having “far too many bitter experiences.”

“Travellers also sense the problem. According to [global rating system] Skytrax, five of the top six traveler-preferred airports are public,” he said.

“Privatized airports are definitely more expensive. But there is little difference in efficiency or investment levels compared to airports in public hands.”

IATA Monday projected global air passenger traffic to rise by 6.5 percent this year to 4.36 billion, after increases of 7.0 and 7.3 percent in 2016 and 2017 respectively. AFP

OLD TIES, NEW ALLIES. President Rodrigo Duterte (left) reaches for a hand

shake with South Korean President Moon Jae-in after a meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul June 4, 2018. Duterte and Moon met for the first time. AFP

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Hong Kong families are under pressure to hold on to their Filipino domestic workers amid the lure of greener pastures in mainland China, Bertiz said.

“There is pent-up demand for Filipino household staff in mainland China, primarily from the growing number of wealthy Chinese families with a second child and from the expatriates there,” he said.

The TUCP had challenged the BIR regulation before the Supreme Court, which ruled in its favor when it found that minimum wage earners should not be taxed under Republic Act 9502.

While the law became effective June 17, 2008, the BIR issued its revenue regulation and collected income tax from workers for seven months before suspending the collections.

“Minimum wage earners need this additional cash, which they rightfully own,” Mendoza said. “We urge the BIR… to return the money, including legal interest, now. Until now, the BIR and the DoF [Department of Finance] have not complied with the high court order for them to make a cash refund.”

The ALU-TUCP estimated that the refund, including the interest earned from 2008 to 2017, would reach P20 billion.

“We cannot understand why the BIR and the DoF is quick to squeeze money from the workers but it takes forever for them to return what they illegally collected. Mahiya naman kayo! [Shame on you!],” said Alan Tanjusay, ALU-TUCP spokesman, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino.

“The workers worked hard for that money.

Give it back!”

According to Bertiz, affluent families in China want their children to learn English at an early age to prepare them for future higher education in America, Britain, Australia and elsewhere.

“This is why they are willing to offer

higher pay for English-speaking Filipino staff to help around the house,” the lawmaker said.

Hong Kong’s Labor department periodically reviews the minimum wage and other benefits for foreign domestic workers, and is expected to announce improvements in September.

Advocates for domestic workers’ rights in Hong Kong are pushing for a HK$5,500 (about P36,800) monthly minimum wage, which is 25 percent higher than the current floor pay.

At present, foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong are entitled to a “minimum allowable wage” of HK$4,410 (about P29,500) per month, plus a food allowance of at least HK$1,053 (P7,050) per month if they are not provided free meals by the employer.

Filipinos account for 53 percent of the 360,000 foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong, Bertiz said.

Hong Kong has acknowledged it could lose up to 50 percent of its Filipino domestic workers due to superior pay in the mainland ranging from the Chinese yuan equivalent of HK$8,600 (P57,600) to HK$15,500 (P103,900).

Even without the mainland demand factor, Hong Kong would still need an additional 240,000 foreign domestic workers in the years ahead, partly to help look after its growing number of seniors, according to the autonomous Chinese territory’s Labor and Welfare Bureau.

The number of Hong Kong residents aged 65 or older is projected to double from 1.16 million in 2016 to 2.37 million by 2036.

Filipino workers in Hong Kong, including professionals, sent home US$735.2 million (P39.59 billion) in 2017, based on data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. They sent home another US$188.7 million (P9.92 billion) from January to March this year.

The amounts do not include money transferred via non-bank channels, such as through other Filipino workers who come home for vacations.

Rody’s...

Manila,...

Opposition Reps. Tom Villarin of Akbayan and Gary Alejano of the Magdalo partylist held similar views.

“It s literally using the coercive powers of the state to force a woman to succumb to President Duterte’s wish for a kiss. It was a clear ‘set-up’ that the Office of the President did make to acquiesce his lust for public adulation and even personal desires,” Villarin said.

Alejano said it was the President’s “act of disrespecting women and the presidential office.”

“Just when we thought the President could not go any lower, Duterte pulls off another act disrespecting women and the presidential office. The President kissing an OFW in South Korea—at an official public event, behind the presidential seal—is a display of how he sees women and how he uses his power to subject them,” Alejano said.

“Duterte should start thinking about how his stunts resonate and set a new low standard for people in public service. The crowd forgot that it was the President who was with them. Instead of engaging in critical discussions about policy and development, they simply start waiting for the president’s next show,” he added.

“The people have the tendency to put their government leaders on a pedestal. Duterte in this position opts to spread misconduct rather than use his position to encourage a brand of service centered on dignity and good Filipino values.”

The Philippines was supposed to purchase 23 helicopters from Canada but Duterte ordered the cancellation of the $234-million deal in February after the Canadian government set conditions that the choppers should not be used for combat operations.

“You know, originally we had them. We ordered Bell [helicopters] from Canada.

They said they will deliver Bell helicopters but you cannot use it against you own citizens,” the President said.

The Canadian government said the choppers should be used only for “air ambulance” but Duterte said the Philippines has to protect its citizens from enemies of the state.

“My citizens are joining the New People’s Army, the communists, and they are fighting [against the] government and killing my soldiers and my policemen and civilians. It’s a dirty war and the people are dying,” he said.

Duterte said the country is also facing the problem of terrorism, which he predicted would remain in the next 10 to 15 years.

The President thanked the South Korean government for treating well the more than 66,000 Filipinos living and working in Korea.

“I would like to thank [the South Korean] government for hosting so many Filipinos here and keeping them safe here,”

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Dengvaxia...

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Aquino, along with former Health secretary Janette Garin and former Budget secretary Florencio Abad, submitted before the department’s prosecutors their counter-affidavits to the complaint filed by anti-corruption groups Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. in February.

With Congress going on sine die adjournment without passing the measure proposing to allocate a special fund for assisting the more than 830,000 recipients of the Dengvaxia vaccine, Senator Richard Gordon advised the Department of Health to use its current resources and operations pending the approval of the P1.2-billion fund.

Though admitting to being a bit disappointed that the bill, which President Rodrigo Duterte had certified as urgent, was not passed before the Senate adjourned, Gordon said the Health department could take steps to ensure that the recipients would receive assistance without delay.

Aquino said only 10 percent of those who got Dengvaxia had not been infected with dengue before they got the drug.

French drug-maker maker Sanofi Pasteur admitted last year that Dengvaxia might cause severe dengue symptoms if given to those who had not had the disease before.

The Justice department is investigating a complaint that cited Aquino, Abad and Garin for criminal negligence, among other charges. Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta Duterte said.

Accompanied by his Cabinet members, Duterte was welcomed by nearly 2,000 flag-carrying and cheering Filipinos who chanted his name after the President was introduced by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.

Philippine Ambassador to Republic of Korea Raul Hernandez said most of the Filipinos are based in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and the surrounding towns in the Gyeonggi province.

He also noted that Filipinos are given equal coverage and protection as locals and enjoy the same wages, working hours, privileges, as well as insurance, benefits, and other support programs.

Duterte used part of his speech to apologize for his attacks on Kuwait.

“I’d like to even thank the government of Kuwait. And for the first time, I would say that I was harsh in my language. Maybe because that was a result of emotional outburst. But I’d like to apologize now. I’m sorry for the language that I was using,” Duterte said.

He said he was satisfied with the way Kuwait responded to the problems besetting Filipino workers in the Gulf state.

Duterte said the relations between Kuwait and the Philippines were returning to normal following the granting of the conditions protecting the welfare of Filipinos working there. These include a guaranteed seven-hour sleep period and one dayoff a week, and the non-confiscation of cellphones and passports. With PNA

'Fund lack hampers bid to upgrade military defense'

By Francisco Tuyay DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Monday the military’s territorial defense capabilities will stay below par unless Congress allocates more funds for its defense modernization program.

He said despite the country’s armaments, its defense capability was still considered weak.

“We don’t have any capabilities to even demonstrate to others that we are capable because we are not,” Lorenzana said.

Defense analysts say a P300-billion budget is needed to modernize the military, and that it needs warships, attack aircraft and other equipment.

At the Congressional hearing on the South China Sea issue, the security sector led by Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon and top military officials and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano urged lawmakers to allocate more funds for the defense and development of the Philippine territories fronting the West Philippine Sea. President Rodrigo Duterte has promised to allocate P140 billion to boost the capabilities of the military in its external and internal defense missions.

The Philippine Air Force has acquired 12 Korean FA-50 fighter jets intended for internal defense patrol missions, replacing the old US F-5 while the Philippine Navy has no destroyer or submarine in its inventory.

The FA-50 has participated in the campaign against the terrorists in the Marawi City siege and in the maritime patrol in the country’s Western frontier to guard against any potential invasion

by China that has so far militarized some of the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea. “We don’t have the capital ships, and we don’t have the weapons,” Lorenzana said, adding even the development of an airstrip on Pagasa Island was taking time due to budgetary constraints.

Curry’s...

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Curry’s 33 points on 11-of-26 shooting, including 9-of-17 from beyond the arc, lead Golden State to a 122-103 triumph and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven finals that continue Wednesday in Cleveland.

Teams that win the first two games have won the NBA title 88 percent of the time, a good omen for a Warriors club seeking a third crown in four seasons.

Curry, who already owns NBA 3-pointer records for a season and consecutive games among others, delivered deflating blows time and again to the Cavaliers.

The 30-year-old maestro scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, answering a LeBron James 3-pointer with back-to-back 3s for a 96-83 lead.

“It was big,” Curry said. “Any of those moments when you can come down and answer and keep the momentum on our side, it’s big.”

Curry added an epic desperation heave as the shot clock expired, a corner 3-pointer while being fouled and the record-setter with 3:30 remaining from the left wing.

Curry broke the old mark of eight 3-pointers in a finals game set by Boston’s Ray Allen in 2010.

“That’s a pretty cool deal to accomplish, knowing who has held the record for eight years,” Curry said.

“But at the end of the day, it’s all about trying to get a win and doing whatever you can to make that happen. If we focus on that, good things happen individually all across the board. AFP

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Catherine Healy was instrumental in bringing about New Zealand’s 2003 decriminalizing of sex work and the introduction of some of the most liberal prostitution laws in the world.

But the 62-year-old said she was surprised at the honor, which officially makes her a dame companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

“It’s not something I would have expected,” she told Radio New Zealand.

“In fact, I always say I expect to be arrested at dawn, not to have this kind of tremendous honor and I was just very affected, very touched.”

Healy has led the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective since 1989 and her honors citation said she had built it “into a globally respected public health provider.”

She spearheaded the campaign for the 2003 law reform which allowed brothels and street workers to operate legally.

The reform meant sex workers were covered by employment, health and safety laws, giving them rights they had never previously enjoyed.

Healy said her new title showed how much attitudes had changed.

“This honor, and to have it given to me, is about saying, ‘Okay, it’s okay, you can come in from the cold, you and yours’,” she told the national broadcaster.

New Zealand awards honors twice a year—at New Year and to mark the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II in early June.

Other recipients honored on Monday included former prime minister Bill English, who was made a knight. AFP

News

tuesday, juNe 5, 2018

POLICE VISIBILITY. Police officers beef up security for young grade schoolers at the Epifanio delos Santos Elementary School in Singalong, Manila on the opening day of school year 2018-2019. Ey Acasio

Du30 sacks PhilHealth chief for excessive travel

By Vito Barcelo PResiDent Rodrigo Duterte named Dr. Roy Ferrer as acting president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Health insurance corp. (PhilHealth) in place of celestina Ma. Jude Dela serna for alleged excessive travel expenses from tagbilaran to Manila. executive secretary salvador Medialdea signed the order dated June 1, 2018, stating that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the nomination of Ferrer as PhilHealth chief.

Ferrer, who hails from Davao, said “i will do my best to be an effective public servant and to carry out the mandate.”

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has previously said the President is putting top most priority to provide the public quality health service by cleansing the ranks of PhilHealth.

Only last month, PhilHealth hugged the limelight under Dela serna’s leadership for the unpaid P700 million to private hospitals.

Duterte replaced Dela serna following reports of alleged anomalies in Philhealth, including Dela serna’s supposedly excessive expenses on trips and hotel accommodations. the commission on Audit earlier questioned Dela serna’s P627,000 travel expenses to and from tagbilaran and Manila. this included plane fares, terminal fees, and hotel and lodging accommodations.

Police general in Kian case appointed PNP-HPG chief t

He police general who was fired as Northern Police District chief after defending his policemen following the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos santos in caloocan has come out of the freezer, and has been named as chief of the PnP-Highway Patrol Group. chief superintendent Roberto Fajardo, who was heavily criticized for defending his cops in the the Delos santos case, replaced chief superintendent Arnel escobal as PnP-HPG chief Fajardo formally took over on Monday, June 4. in his speech during the turnover ceremony at the traffic management office, Fajardo urged his men to do their best under his leadership, aiming to ease traffic along edsa and to end carnapping incidents.

Fajardo, a one-star general, made the head-

lines when he was quoted as saying in Filipino, “People used to call him [Delos santos] an addict and a pusher, but now that he is dead, he is now being described as kind.”

“People are riding on this, that he was kind and practically a saint. But before that, it seemed he was an addict and a pusher,” he added.

Delos santos was killed during a drug raid conducted by caloocan cops, who shot dead the teenager after Delos santos allegedly drew a gun and tried to shoot at them.

But investigations revealed that Delos santos was killed while kneeling in a dark, damp corner of their neighborhood.

Fajardo was subsequently sacked to prevent influencing probes.

Meanwhile, Philippine national Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde defended the recent reshuffle in the organization’s top brass, explaining that the reshuffle is being done to ensure the right person will be at the right post. “the reshuffling in the PnP last Friday is due to the recent and upcoming retirement of some senior officials this month. this reassignment is still based on the assessment of their performance of the officers and how they can contribute to the main thrusts of the PnP and is not of my personal choice,” Albayalde told reporters in camp crame Monday.

VEHICULAR ACCIDENT.

The fatalities in a vehicular accident in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur are seen being carried by funeral personnel. Rescue workers had brought the wounded in a hospital on Sunday, June 3, 2018. At least 14 workers of the American flour miller company based in the town of Sta. Cruz, were killed, authorities said. Those killed were on board their service vehicle, a Hino UV utility van, which accidentally collided with a 10-wheeler truck as they tried to overtook another vehicle along the national highway in Barangay Astorga, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Mark Navales

DAR to dispose 25.7658-hectare Boracay land for agricultural use

By Rio N. Araja tHe Department of Agrarian Reform on Monday said at least 25.7658 hectares of lands in Aklan’s Boracay island would be disposed of for agricultural use in its first phase of distribution within 90 days.

At a news conference at DAR’s main office in Quezon city, undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Research Of-

fice David erro, the agency’s spokesperson, said some 80 Aetas would be the first beneficiaries of the land to be placed under the agrarian reform program through an executive order. “if President Rodrigo Duterte gives us the green light to remove structures within the hectares, we will do so [so we could be able to convert the land into an agricultural area],” he told reporters.

DAR eyes the full distribution process in 90 days “or shorter than that,” he said. the agency has already submitted a draft executive order to the Office of the President, he said.

When asked if any legal case could block DAR’s implementation, he said “only a supreme court order could stop us.”

He, however, said the 90-day dead-

line may get extended should a restraining order is issued.

According to erro, DAR’s phase of the land reform in Boracay island would cover 220 hectares of land with existing structures. under phase 3, another 623 hectares of land shall be placed under the agrarian reform program to be awarded to 200 displaced residents of Boracay island.

Zubiri defends anti-political dynasty provision in Senate’s BBL

By Macon Ramos-Araneta sAYinG they are essential to Bangsamoro, senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri defended on Monday the anti-political dynasty provision and the enumeration of the powers of the Bangsamoro under the senate’s version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Zubiri, chairman of the upper chamber’s subcommittee on the BBL, said the issues on political dynasties has long been a problem in Mindanao so he put a provision that

prohibits political families within second degree of consanguinity in the Bangsamoro parliament.

He said this would ensure that not only one family would sit in the Bangsamoro parliament. under the senate version, he said, they also removed the provision stating that the Bangsamoro has reserve concurrent and exclusive powers in a bid to make the BBL organic Act simple. the senate version prohibits a party representative from being related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to a district representative

or another party representative in the same Parliament. there is no counterpart provision in the House version.

He noted that all powers that are not stated in their proposed BBL would automatically be exclusive to the national government.

He likewise renewed his earlier statement that their version would “pass the test of constitutionality in the supreme court” and that the congress would finish crafting a unified version of the BBL in time for its ratification and signing into law on July 23.

Last Wednesday, the House over-

whelmingly approved on final reading House Bill 6475 or the chamber’s version of the BBL. senate also did the same with senate Bill 1717.

Representatives of the senate and the House are set to meet on July 9 to 13 in a bicameral conference to craft a unified version of the BBL which seeks to abolish the ARMM and establish a new Bangsamoro government. senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, meanwhile, identified significant differences between the senate and the House of Representative’s versions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

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Police arrest Parojinog’s live-in partner MenA Luansing alias “Meme,” “Madame,” the common-law partner of Ozamiz city councilor Ricardo “Ardot” Parojinog has been presented before newsmen at the Philippine national Police Monday. considered as a high-value target, the 34-year-old Luansing was arrested sunday by Parañaque police and the PnP Directorate for intelligence working with agents of the national intelligence coordinating Agency in san isidro, Parañaque. the PnP is currently working for the extradition back into the country from taiwan of Ardot, a sibling of Ozamiz city Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog—who was killed in a police raid on the drug cartel’s lair last July.

Luansing, the PnP said, had two children with Ardot and added the arrest will help police go after the Parojinog family’s coddler.

“Based on the testimony of their househelp, we will still discover that many people are still helping them,” PnP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said.

Luansing was arrested through a warrant of arrest issued by executive Judge edmundo Pinlac of the Ozamiz city Regional trial court Branch 15 for gun charges with no bail recommended.

A second individual, Jonas cablinas, 48, was likewise arrested during the operation for coddling Luansing. PNA

In BrIef PH’s Justice Ho named judge in Calgary court Justice Bernette Ho was declared by the Department of Foreign Affairs as the first Philippine-born and newest judge in the court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta in calgary, canada.

Philippine consul General to calgary Gilberto Asuque, who attended Ho’s swearing-in ceremony, said that it was a great honor and pride to have a Filipino lawyer in canada. “i would like to express the great honor and pride not only of Filipinos in canada but also in the Philippines and all over the world for having Justice Ho as the first Philippine-born canadian to hold a high judicial position,” Asuque said.

Ho took her oath of office and allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen in a swearing-in ceremony in May 2018 before Associate chief Justice John Rooke and the other justices at the calgary courts center.

Asuque said, Ho was only seven months old when her Filipino parents and four siblings migrated to calgary, canada in 1971.

Ho completed her early education in cochrane, Alberta and completed her BA communication studies from the university of calgary in 1992 served, and her law studies from the university of Alberta in 1995. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Jinggoy chided for badmouthing Luy tHe sandiganbayan on Monday chided former senator Jinggoy estrada for badmouthing whistleblower Benhur Luy, who testified against the former legislator in the plunder case in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam. estrada blurted out, “gago” while Luy was being cross examined by defense lawyer Paul Mar Arias.

Associate Justice Rafael Lagos heard estrada said the cuss word, prompting him to tell the former senator, “Mr. estrada, do not make any side comment. i will cite you in contempt.” “i am sorry, sir,” replied estrada, who attended his first hearing after returning from a 31-day trip in the united states. Maricel V. Cruz

DFA vows to help family of slain OFW tHe Department of Foreign Affairs assured the family of murdered Henry John Acorda, an overseas Filipino worker in slovakia, that it will do everything to make sure that his murder will be brought to justice. in a statement, the DFA also assured that the agency has already provided a lawyer to handle the case and assist the family in preparing for the repatriation of Acorda’s remains. “the consulate has already discussed Acorda’s case with local lawyers,” the DFA said. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

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Opinion

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The war on corruption

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

getting allowances of more than 50 percent of their annual salaries. This is a clear violation of the law.

A lawyer, one Adel Abillar, put it so well when he wrote a commentary that WHEN former President Benigno small fry were indeed not in the same Aquino III started going after his polit- league as the big fish.

The lawyer said it did not seem to be ical enemies but protected his allies, we derided him for selective justice. For enough that Jurado was fired. The way example, he had former Chief Justice it was done was akin to burning him at Renato Corona impeached and tried, the stake.

It’s on record that Jurado turned using the so-called Disbursement Acceleration Program to ensure the con- down the P500,000-per-month offer for him to keep silent on the CoA’s findviction.

We also said Mr. Aquino dispensed ings on the lawyers’ violations. If Juselective justice when he had his po- rado had accepted that bribe, he would litical enemies Senate President Juan have received more than what Calida Ponce Enrile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada did. And yet the President says Calida is good. and Senator Bong Revilla jailed.

The fact that Calida’s security agenI hate to say this, but is President cy had more than P200 million in conRodrigo Duterte any different?

What we are seeing now is the same tracts with various government agenthing—selective justice and double cies without him divesting his holdings is a clear conflict of interest because he standards.

When Mr. Duterte launched his war enjoys Cabinet rank.

If Calida had any self-respect left, on corruption, we hailed him as a decisive leader who could, for the first he should resign now. Or, the President time, occasion the change we desper- should fire him. Mr. Duterte should realize that this case ately need. He damages the credlooked like someibility of his war body who had on corruption. the resolve to do The campaign’s ( Disclosu re: things at which Rudolf Philip Juhis predecessors credibility is at stake. rado is my nephhave failed. ew, the son of my But now I am late older brother, not so sure. When former Court of it came to the likes of former Tourism Secretary Wanda Appeals Justice Desiderio Jurado.) *** Tulfo Teo, or Cesar Montano, and My sources tell me that the eight jusnow Solicitor General Jose Calida, the President appears soft. He tells us that tices who voted to oust Chief Justice Calida was only doing what was right, Maria Lourdes Sereno have decided and that he is good at his job. In effect, against reversing their judgment on in justifying what Calida has done, Sereno. The majority ousted Sereno on the President seems to be telling us, the basis of the quo warranto petition “What’s wrong with somebody getting filed against her by Calida.

Sereno did not submit a complete set into business?”

Did the President exhibit the same of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and attitude when he fired a small fry like Net Worth, starting from when she was Rudolf Philip Jurado on national tel- a professor at the University of the Philevision and even called him son of a ippines College of Law. This amounted whore? What was Jurado’s fault? He to a violation of the Constitution, a beexpressed an opinion that the Aurora trayal of public trust.

The majority decision disregarded Economic Zone can operate outside its jurisdiction under certain conditions Sereno’s argument that she could only that its operation shall only be with a be ousted through impeachment.

From the start, there have been Peza-authorized zone. He was of the opinion that a casino within the zone doubts that the motion of reconsideration filed by the Sereno camp would can have a franchise for 75 years.

In any case, the Commission on Au- succeed, according to my sources. dit fired the lawyers under Jurado for Turn to A5

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

‘No malice’

S

UCH were the words of now-United States President Donald Trump in 2005, as he talked about how fame allowed him to get his way with women.

He was not yet a politician at that time, just a very lucky businessman and a famous reality television star.

“It’s like a magnet. Just kiss.

I don’t even wait,” his voice, caught on tape, told Access Hollywood Billy Bush.

“When you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything,” he boasted.

Overseas Filipino worker Bea Kim certainly let President Rodrigo Duterte kiss her on stage, when he was speaking with the Filipino community in Seoul over the weekend.

“There was no malice in it,” Kim said in a video. “For him, for me, it did not mean anything.”

He did ask permission, too, asking Kim whether she could

tell her husband that it was just a joke.

Kim added that the gesture was just some twist for the audience. Duterte said it was gimmickry. And how the audience cheered.

Whatever the reaction, the gesture does not help disprove the perception that Mr. Duterte is a misogynist. He has been known to kiss women when he was just campaigning. He uttered a distasteful remark about wanting to be the first in line to rape an Australian missionary in the 1980s. He has also spoken about shooting female insurgents in the genitals and giving his blessing to soldiers in Mindanao, should they rape women at the height of martial law.

He also said he does not want the next ombudsman to be a woman, because women were easily intimidated.

Despite these, he insists he is in fact pro-women, causing the enactment of laws protecting them when he was still mayor.

Of course by this time, for bet-

ter or worse, the public knows better than take its President seriously. This is how he is able to get away with the most incendiary statements and despicable acts. It is easy for him to say later on that everything was a joke, that he did not mean what he said or did, and yes, that there was no malice in his act. He is a maverick, and should we not make room for a maverick’s quirks?

Not all the time. Not in this.

Definitely we do not cheer the President’s latest antic, even if Kim was apparently all right with it. Then again, how could one utter anything than agreement when one is standing beside the most powerful man in the country?

Nobody can judge the presence or absence of malice when Mr. Duterte did what he did. But if we can speak in terms of appearances, then this latest act does not look good at all. In fact, it is appalling because it shows a belief —no, an entitlement—that he can do anything and get away with it.

Sereno decision as teaching moment again, the length of the decision may be justified for the case is unprecedented and as the Court is wont to say —the case is of transcendental importance given what is at stake.

Aside from Justice Tijam, seven othI START today a series of articles on ers joined him to oust Sereno as chief Republic vs. Sereno, the decision of the magistrate, with Teresita de Castro, Supreme Court on the quo warranto Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, petition filed by the Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, Samuel Martires, against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Andres Reyes, and Alex Gesmundo Sereno. This is an important teaching concurring for a total of eight votes in moment not just for lawyers and the majority.

There were six dissenters from the law students but for all government officials and for the general public. To majority decision. Associate Justices the best of my ability, I will provide Antonio Carpio, Presbitero Velasco, objective and independent analysis of Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlasthe decision and its implications. I will Bernabe, Marvic Leonen, and Benjaof course be respectful of the Court min Caguioa voted to deny the grantand its members even as I provide my ing of the petition, although not all own perspective on the decision they of them are necessarily supportive of Chief Justice rendered.

Sereno in the I will start in opinions they rethis column with leased. the majority deAt its core, the I continue to respect cision followed main decision baby my analysis those who decided sically declared of the dissenting respondent Chief opinions before with the majority, Justice ineligible concluding the se- especially those I to hold the highest ries with my legal personally know and post in the Judicianalysis. In this ary for failing to series, I will also hold in high esteem. regularly disclose look at both the her assets, liabilipast (in particular ties and net worth the 1973 decision Javellana vs Executive Secretary and as a member of the career service how it compares to this decision) and prior to her appointment as an Associthe future (exploring options the Chief ate Justice, and later as Chief Justice, Justice might want to consider in the of the Supreme Court, in violation of event her motion of reconsideration is the Constitution, the Anti-Graft Law, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical denied).

Written in 153 pages, the Supreme Standards for Public Officials and Court main decision is kilometric. It Employees.

In arriving at its decision, the gives the impression that Associate Justice Noel Tijam’s ponencia was try- Court tackled the following issues, ing tortuously to plug all loopholes to namely: (a) Whether the Court can Turn to A5 ensure public acceptability. But then

In war-torn Syria, ‘cat man’ starts rare animal clinic

By Omar Haj Kadour AT AN unlikely cat shelter in rebelheld northern Syria, Mohammed Alaa al-Jaleel gently holds a feline patient on her back as an ultrasound probe is rolled across her pregnant belly.

In a time of war, she is one of hundreds to have received medical attention at the makeshift animal clinic in Kafr Naha, an opposition-held town in Aleppo province.

“If you want to show mercy to people, start by showing mercy to everything else,” says Jaleel, who runs Ernesto’s Cat Sanctuary—named after his favorite furry friend.

The 43-year-old, who grew up in

Syria’s second city Aleppo, has been mad about cats since he was a boy.

As a young adult in the city, he would drop by the butchers on his way home from work as an electrician to ask for scraps to feed street cats in his neighborhood.

When war broke out in 2011, he put down his tools to become an ambulance driver to help ferry the wounded—but never stopped bringing food to his feline friends.

As the war raged on and cat lovers fled the city, Jaleel was left with 170 cats to feed and a new nickname: the Cat Man of Aleppo.

With the help of donations from friends and social media fans, he set up

his first cat sanctuary in the city.

But in late 2016, the regime ramped up its deadly bombardment of Aleppo’s opposition-held neighbourhoods as it sought to regain control of the whole city.

“We started fleeing from neighbourhood to neighbourhood until, in the end, we escaped the city altogether,” Jaleel recalls.

Sukhoi, the cat Determined not to leave them behind, he and fellow feline fans managed to save 22 of the city’s cats.

“We gave each family two cats in a plastic vegetable basket,” Jaleel says.

Among them was Sukhoi, named Turn to A5

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Opinion ‘Episode V’ FORMATION GARY OLIVAR AS ANY real Star Wars fan knows, that’s the episode when “the Empire strikes back.” It’s the episode that the embattled Solicitor General Jose Calida may feel he’s trapped in, as the yellow empire built over more than three decades descends on him with a vengeance over his audacious unseating of an improperly seated Chief Justice whom the empire was counting on to carry the yellow banner all the way to 2030.

It started with the filing of misconduct charges against Calida over an alleged extramarital affair and related diversion of public funds, which he’s dismissed as a “big fat lie.” If the court agrees with him, there ought to be consequences for the plaintiff, one Jocelyn Niperos, a founder of the oppositionist Silent Majority.

Then an adverse CoA ruling was breathlessly reported, stating that Calida received over P7m in excess honoraria and allowances in 2017. The basis for this was a CoA memorandum circular that such allowances should not exceed 50 percent of a government official’s salary.

The issue, however, is that such circulars must yield when in conflict with established law. In this case, according to RA 9417 (the “OSG Law”), EO 292 (the Revised Administrative Code), and PD 478, lawyers under the Office of the SolGen are “authorized to receive allowances and honoraria for their legal services to government offices WITHOUT QUALIFICATION, in addition to their regular compensation.”

This is why at least two previous SolGens, both under President Aquino, were also charged by CoA with receiving excess allowances: P4.6m to Florin Hilbay for the first half of 2016, and P1m to current SC Justice Francis Jardeleza in 2012. In short, it’s an unsettled and legitimate difference of opinion between auditor and audited—a situation quite familiar to managers in both the private and public sectors. *** What may be more troublesome to Calida are revelations that the familyowned security agency where he retains a majority share was able to bag hundreds of millions of pesos worth of contracts with various government offices.

Nobody is claiming that Calida improperly intervened in the awarding of any of those contracts. And Calida points out that what the law requires is for him to divest his shareholdings OR (not “and”) give up management control, following which he chose to take the latter course of action.

Unfortunately, the law often isn’t a sufficient guide to action. Public per-

Sereno...

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assume jurisdiction and give due course to the instant petition for quo warranto; (b) whether the petition is outrightly dismissible on the ground of prescription; (c) whether respondent is eligible for the position of Chief Justice. Corollary thereto, the ponencia explained the lack of basis for the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court to inhibit because there was no showing as basis to support for compulsory inhibition. As to voluntary inhibition, the mere fact that some of the Associate Justices participated in the hearings of the Committee on Justice determining probable cause for the impeachment of respondent does not make them disqualified to hear the instant petition. Their appearance thereat was in deference to the House of Representatives whose constitutional duty to investigate the impeachment complaint filed against respondent could not be doubted. Their appearance was with the prior consent of the Supreme Court en banc.

On the first issue the Court believed Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over an action for quo warranto.

To the Court, it is apparent that the instant petition is one of first impression and of paramount importance to the public in the sense that the qualification, eligibility and appointment of an incumbent Chief Justice, the highest official of the Judiciary, are being scrutinized through an action for quo warranto. The Court’s action on the present petition has far-reaching implications, and it is paramount that the Court make definitive pronouncements on the issues herein presented for the guidance of the bench, bar, and the public in future analogous cases.

ception can also loom large, especially so soon after former Tourism Secretary Wando Teo had to leave on account of government contracts awarded to her famous Tulfo brothers.

It would be straightforward for Calida to simply divest himself from ownership as well as management of the family business, even if it isn’t strictly required by the law. But how he responds to the optics of the matter is entirely up to him.

And of course he should under no circumstances give the yellows the pleasure of seeing him leave office.

The pugnacious SolGen, when asked about all of this, replied, “As a lawyer, I’m prepared for such attacks. The question is this: Are they prepared for my counter-attack?” We wish him well as he launches Episode VI: the return of the Jedi.

Unfortunately, the law often isn’t a sufficient guide to action. Public perception can also loom large.

*** Many people weren’t really surprised when the Irish voted last month to repeal the 8th amendment to their constitution, which had provided equal protection to the life of the woman and her unborn baby. From now on, the protection is no longer equal. Irish babies will have to fend for themselves; they’re no longer safe even in their mother’s wombs.

This leaves the Philippines as one of only six countries in the world with a total ban on abortion. And since we’re the only large country among the six, this makes us an especially tempting target for the abortionists.

One of them is Clara Rita Padilla, a lawyer and founder of a group called EnGendeRights. Let’s meet the other groups who’re pushing abortion together with her: the Phil Task Force CEDAW Inquiry, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and IWRAW-Asia Pacific.

“CEDAW” stands for the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. In a thought piece for Rappler, Ms Padilla argues for adopting CEDAW’s recommendation in 2015 to amend our Revised Penal Code in order to: “Legalize abortion in cases of rape, incest, threats to the life and/or health of the mother, or serious malformation of the fetus” “Decriminalize all other cases where women undergo abortion” “Adopt necessary procedural rules to guarantee effective access to legal abortion” *** Okay, item one at least appears to be an honest statement of principle, by enumerating specific instances where abortion is deemed justified. In fact, Ms. Padilla admits that our current laws do allow abortion when the mother otherwise risks death or serious disability.

But item two is where the dishonesty of her whole case is exposed. Why even bother with itemizing what should be legalized, when in fact her intention is to decriminalize every other kind of abortion as well?

Evidently it’s so that she—and CEDAW—can slip in a blanket endorsement of abortion on demand under the cover of smooth and slippery language about favoring only this or that kind of abortion. It’s a time-honored piece of rhetorical trickery resorted to in the absence of anything that is factually, logically, or morally redeemable.

Try again, Ms Padilla. It may be true, as you say, that illegal abortion is shameful and can be dangerous to the mother. But if you’re trying to protect unborn babies with no other means to defend themselves, shouldn’t it be that way?

*** A welcome piece of news for local businessmen is the President’s recent signing of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB)/Efficient Government Act, which promises to make government much more user-friendly to businessmen, especially at the LGU level.

The new law amends the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, perhaps in response to the sting of the country’s recent drop by several notches in a global business competitiveness index. Among the important reforms sought: Mandatory deadlines for government to finish processing transactions: three working days for “simple” transactions; seven for “complex” ones; and twenty working days for “highly technical” transactions.

Replacement of the confusing forms required by different agencies, with the implementation of unified business application forms.

Establishment of business one-stop shops by LGUs, while barangay clearances and permits will now be issued at the city or town level.

Creation of a Central Business Portal to capture all data from business-related transactions, and a Phil Business Databank for the reference of national agencies and local governments.

Of course, in this country a law isn’t taken seriously until its implementing rules and regulations are finally issued.

Here’s hoping that the IRR in this case will be issued in time for the EODB law Readers can write me at gbolito “go live” no later than next year. var1952@yahoo.com.

Moreover, aside from the difference in their origin and nature, quo warranto and impeachment may proceed independently of each other as these remedies are distinct as to (1) jurisdiction (2) grounds, (3) applicable rules pertaining to initiation, filing and dismissal, and (4) limitations. Hence, they can proceed independently and simultaneously. It therefore goes without saying that impeachment is not an exclusive remedy.

On the second issue, the Court said that the Petition is not dismissible on the ground of prescription. The Court reasoned citing People v. Bailey, when it ruled that because quo warranto serves to end a continuous usurpation, no statute of limitations applies to the action. Needless to say, no prudent and just court would allow an unqualified person to hold public office, much more the highest position in the Judiciary. In this case, according to Justice Tijam. the Republic cannot be faulted for questioning respondent’s qualification· for office only upon discovery of the cause of ouster.

Finally, as to whether respondent is eligible as a candidate and nominee for the position of Chief Justice, the Court ruled in an unqualified negative. On this score the Court reasoned that the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) cannot waive or bargain away the qualifications under the Constitution. One who fails to file his or her SALN violates the Constitution and the laws; and one who violates the Constitution and the laws cannot rightfully claim to be a person of integrity as such equation is theoretically and practically antithetical, the Court adds. Faithful compliance with the requirement of the filing of SALN is rendered even more exacting when the public official concerned is a member of the Judiciary. Moreover, the Court said the offense is pe-

nal in character and is a clear breach of the ethical standards set for public officials and employees. It disregards the requirement of transparency as a deterrent to graft and corruption.

According to the majority opinion, the respondent chronically failed to file her SALNs and thus violated the Constitution, the law and the Code of Judicial Conduct. A member of the Judiciary who commits such violations cannot be deemed to be a person of proven integrity. The Court insisted that JBC required the submission of at least 10 SALNs from those applicants who are incumbent Associate Justices, absent which, the applicant ought not to have been interviewed, much less been considered for nomination. For failing to submit her SALNs means that her integrity was not established at the time of her application; and this, according to the Court, cannot be cured by her nomination and subsequent appointment as Chief Justice.

I am particularly aware that the Justices in the majority in this decision have been attacked in social media using memes and other means. I do not share those personal attacks. I continue to respect them, and especially those I personally know and hold in high esteem like Justices Jardeleza and Gesmundo.

The arguments of the Sereno majority should rise or fall on its merits. That is why, in the next column, I will write about the dissenting opinions. This approach would allow my readers to compare the arguments of both sides of the case. In a latter column, before I present my analysis of the decision, I will also highlight the arguments of Chief Justice Sereno in her motion for reconsideration.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

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Next Ombudsman: Non-controversial, non-partisan it was because of their partisan political activities or because of any questionable personal actions they had taken or because of bad professional decisions RUDY they had made, all of the predecesROMERO sors of Conchita Carpio-Morales either AS I contemplate the coming retire- were regarded as unsuitable for the poment of Conchita Carpio-Morales sition of Ombudsman or were regarded from the position of Ombudsman, I with disdain.

In contrast, the current Ombudsman find myself thinking about the origin and history of the Ombudsman con- came to her position with no credible cept and this country’s experience opposition from any quarter of Philipwith this embodiment of good govern- pine society. Indeed, her appointment ance. Justice Morales will retire next was greeted with near-universal approbation. That was because Justice month.

The concept of a government official Morales possessed all the attributes of vested with the exclusive authority to a Scandinavian-type Ombudsman: no investigate and punish civil servants taint of personal or professional conoriginated in Scandinavia, particularly troversy, an unblemished career record, in Sweden and Norway. Today’s Scan- no active affiliation with any political dinavians are descendants of the once- group and, last but not least, a demonpowerful Vikings, and Viking life strated dedication to duty.

It is not an exaggeration to say that placed a high premium on discipline and personal accountability. It is there- the issue of the succession to Conchita fore not surprising that the Ombudsman Carpio-Morales is generating a great deal of apprehenconcept subsisted sion across the naand flourished in tion. International the Scandinavia, institutions and which was the foreign governJustice Morales’ home of the Viments are watchkings. successor must ing the situation During the pewith no less conriod following the be a person in cern than domestic end of the Mar- the Scandinavian groups. That is not cos regime—a surprising, bearregime that had ombudsman mold. ing in mind the seen the misuse present Ombudsand abuse of govman’s six-year reernmental power cord and considrise to unprecedented levels—some people within ering the backgrounds and records of and outside the government thought the individuals whose names are being of the Scandinavian concept of a suf- mentioned in connection with the sucficiently empowered individual whose cession to Justice Morales.

To restate what I have already said sole responsibility would be to go after erring civil servants. Thus was the bill above regarding the acceptability seeking the creation of an Office of the of the Ombudsman-to-be, whoever Ombudsman crafted and in due course President Duterte appoints to succeed Justice Morales must be a person in approved by the Congress.

The Scandinavian countries’ expe- the Scandinavian Ombudsman mold. rience with the Ombudsman concept The individuals whose names have over the decades has been uninterrupt- been floated thus far need not apply— edly felicitous. That is entirely due to not Justices Teresita de Castro and the fact that the Scandinavian parlia- Samuel Martires (controversial) and ments have invariably selected for the not Silvestre Bello III (controversial position of Ombudsman individuals and partisan) and certainly not any absolutely untainted by controversy PDP-Laban member or Rex Talionis and possessed of universally accepted fraternity member (partisan). The reputations for personal and profes- announcement of the new Ombudsman should be received by the nation with sional integrity.

Until Conchita Carpio-Morales came pleasure and without reservation.

President Benigno Aquino III’s sealong, this country’s experience was the opposite. The explanation was that lection of Conchita Carpio-Morales as all of Justice Morales’s predecessors Ombudsman is regarded by most Filiwere all individuals widely perceived pinos as an important part of Noynoy’s —this is the operative phrase—to be legacy to the Filipino people. It is my either tainted with controversiality of hope that the same thing will be said one kind or another or lacking in per- about President Duterte’s choice of the sonal or professional integrity. Whether new Ombudsman.

BUSINESS CLASS

In war...

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after the stealth fighter jets of regime ally Russia.

“He would zip in and grab food from right under the noses of the other cats, just like a Sukhoi jet,” he tells AFP. Syria’s war has killed more than 350,000 people and displaced more than half its prewar human population, as well as many of its domestic animals.

After fleeing Aleppo, Jaleel set up his second shelter—named after Ernesto —in early 2017 and housed 18 of the 22 smuggled cats in the animal oasis.

“The cats don’t just stay in just one house. They swap with each other and sleep in all of them,” Jaleel says, referring to rows of marble cubes with cat-sized entrances, engraved with names like Pouncer and Rose.

Nearby, a grinder churns out streams of bright pink mincemeat that is then scooped out onto plates spread out on the ground for lunchtime.

Eyes closed, a cat with a stripy, light ash coat dips its snow-white nose in, nibbling away.

But the shelter, financed by online crowdfunding campaigns, does more than provide twice-daily meals: it also serves as an animal clinic with its in-house vet.

“We treat all sorts of animals here for free: horses, cows and even chickens,” Jaleel says.

During an inventory in January, he and his colleagues discovered they had handed out 7,000 medical prescriptions for free in less than a year.

The war...

From A4

*** That President Duterte kissed an overseas Filipino worker on the lips when he met with the Filipino community in Seoul has gone viral. Netizens are lambasting the President for conduct unbecoming.

I agree, even as the President insisted he had no malice in mind.

Mr. Duterte is seen as a maverick, disregarding protocol. But this is different. *** The proposal of San Miguel to extend the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway to Ilocos Sur or Ilocos Norte is being

‘Really beautiful’ Mohammad Watar was blown away when he brought in his cat for treatment after food poisoning.

“There are no vets where I live. I asked people and they pointed me to the sanctuary,” he says.

“I was so surprised to find this kind of thing existed during this war we’re all living,” says Watar.

“I saw them treating all sorts of animals.

It’s really beautiful.”

Still, war is never far away: the sanctuary’s main building bears the marks of gun fire.

Last month, it canceled a children’s party after a young boy was shot near the shelter, according to its English-language Facebook page.

Footage posted online depicted a man in a cat sanctuary t-shirt carrying a child with blood streaming down his calf.

Even the shelter’s cats are treated for war wounds, says the centre’s vet, Mohammed Yusuf.

“Just like many people are wounded by all the different weapons in the area, animals too suffer the same injuries,” he tells AFP. Some stay under observation at his clinic for weeks, but not all get the treatment they need.

“We’re living in a war and facing severe shortages of veterinary medicines for wounds as well as vaccines,” Yusuf says.

In a time of death and destruction, the pride of the sanctuary is its ability to carry out sonograms of animal mothers-to-be.

“We examine them and diagnose how many foetuses there are and when they are due, and we prepare to welcome the new births,” Yusuf says. AFP welcomed by Ilocanos. It will be a boost to business and tourism.

Incidentally, to make Boracay more accessible to mainland Aklan, Ramon Ang is also building a 1.5-kilometer bridge to provide Caticlan Airport immediate access to Boracay. San Miguel also has plans of putting up an 800-room hotel.

With this bridge, Ang plans to bring potable water and build a sewerage system so that waste can be taken out of Boracay. *** Public schools opened yesterday with the same problems facing some three million enrollees. Every year, the Department of Education is faced with the same problems every year. Why does it seem that nothing is being done about them?

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

News

A6

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pregnant prosecutor stabbed, dies in QC

By Rio N. Araja

P

OLICE are looking into the motive behind the killing of an assistant special prosecutor of the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City on Monday.

Authorities said prosecutor Madonna Joy Tanyag, 33, who was five months pregnant, was walking in front of a lottery outlet on Visayas Avenue in Barangay Vasra when unidentified men stabbed her to death at 11:20 a.m.

Tanyag suffered three stab wounds.

She was on her way back to the Office of the Ombudsman after buying at a milk tea store when the attack happened.

A barangay councilor, Oliver Pascasio, and Segundo Antenor took the prosecutor to East Avenue Medical Center, where she was declared dead on arrival.

Tanyag was handling graft cases in her tenure at the Ombudsman.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales requested the Philippine National Police to thoroughly investigate Tanyag’s death and ensure the perpetrators are immediately caught.

“The Office will leave no stone unturned in solving the case,” Morales said.

“The Office extends its deepest condolences to the family of ASP Tanyag,” she added.

The attack came two weeks after TURNOVER. Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar (right) receives the symbolic saber of command from Police Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario, the Philippine National Police deputy chief for administration, as the new National Capital Region police chief Justice YELLOW Secretary BLACK Menardo Guevarra CYAN MAGENTA during the turnover ceremony at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Monday. Manny Palmero ordered the National Bureau of InvesSCN FORM NO. 1 (R.A. NO. 9139)

001 189

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION

13. It is my true and honest intention to become a citizen of the Philippines and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly, to INDIA of which at this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside continuously in the Philippines from the date of the filing of this petition up to the time of my admission to Philippine citizenship.

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF PRATIK HARISH ABICHANDANI to be naturalized as Filipino citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 9139.

SCN CASE NO. x------------------ x

PETITION Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139, petitioner hereby submits a petition for naturalization to become a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and respectfully declares: 1. My full name is PRATIK HARISH ABICHANDANI, but I have also been known since childhood as N/A, or I have been N/A . judicially authorized to use the alias name(s) 2. My present place of residence is 1 JORDAN ST., MULTINATIONAL VILLAGE, BRGY. MOONWALK City/ Municipality of PARAÑAQUE Province of METRO MANILA ,and all my former places of residence are (please indicate periods of residence): UNIT P144 Cityland 5, Makati City (1991-1993) 12 Hamburg St., Merville, Parañaque City (1993-2004) Scarlet Homes Brgy. Moonwalk, Parañaque City (2005-2006 29 Giorgio St., Camella Homes, Parañaque City (2007-2015) 3. I was born on FEB. 7, 1991, in MAKATI MEDICAL CENTER MAKATI, Philippines. I have been a resident of the Philippines since birth. At present, I am a citizen or subject of INDIAN. 4. My father's name is HARISH KUMAR ABICHANDANI and he was born on 12 JANUARY 1958, in NEW DELHI, INDIA. He is a citizen or subject of INDIA. My mother's name is MANJU H. ABINVHANDANI and she was born on 14 DECEMBER 1964 in PUNE, INDIA. She is a citizen or subject of INDIA. 5. My trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is PURCHASING OFFICER IN CHARGE and from which I derive an average annual income of P180,000, inclusive of bonuses, commissions and allowances. My wife's/husband's trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which she derives an average annual income of P N/A .

(Where the above does not apply): I am exempt from the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation and from submitting income tax returns for the past three (3) years because I am a college degree holder [please state (1) degree obtained:N/A, (2) name of school: N/A and (3) years graduated: N/A who cannot practice my profession (the practice of which requires a government licensure examination) by reason of my citizenship.

6. My civil status is SINGLE, I was married on N/A in N/A. My wife's/husband's name is N/A and she/he was born on N/A in N/A. She/he is a citizen or subject of N/A and presently resides N/A 7. I am legally separated from my spouse; my marriage was annulled, per decree of legal separation/annulment dated N/A granted by N/A. (please indicate the particular court which granted the same). I am a widower/widow and my spouse died on N/A in N/A. 8. I have N/A child/children, whose names, dates and places of birth and residences are as follows: Name

Date of Birth

N/A

N/A

Place of Birth N/A

teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from any incurable contagious disease. The country of which I am a citizen or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

14. My character witnesses are JOHN MATTHEW ANGELES and RAY MAR ROSARIO both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at MAKATI CITY and MAKATI CITY respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; (b) detailed statements on the dates they first came to know me, the circumstances of our initial acquaintance and the reasons and extent of our continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization.

15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the duplicate originals or certified photocopies of the following documents (please check the appropriate box): [ ] a. Petitioner's birth certificate [ ] b. Petitioner's alien certificate of registration (ACR) [ ] c. Petitioner's native-born certificate of residence (NBCR) [ ] d. Petitioner's marriage certificate, if married [ ] e. Death certificate of his/her spouse, if widowed [ ] f. Court decree annulling his/her marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact [ ] g. Birth certificates of petitioner's minor children [ ] h. ACRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] i. NBCRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] j. Affidavits of financial capacity by the petitioner, duly supported by bank certifications, passbooks, stock certificates, or proof of ownership of other properties [ ] k. Affidavits of at least two (2) credible witnesses who must be Filipino citizens of good reputation in petitioner's place of residence [ ] l. Medical certificate from a government hospital stating that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug dependent and that he/she is not afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or any incurable contagious disease. [ ] m. School diploma and transcript of records of the petitioner from the school/s he or she attended in the Philippines [ ] n. Certifications stating that petitioner's minor children are enrolled in public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the DECS, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality [ ] o. Petitioner's income tax returns for the past three years [ ] p. Petitioner's receipts of payment of income tax for the past three years 16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of his/her petition: CLEARANCE: NBI, BARANGAY, POLICE, RTC, MTC & OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No, 9139.

Dated at Makati City, Metro Manila, this day of ________

Residence N/A

9. I received my primary and secondary education from the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Place of Dates of Highest Grade School Study Completed D O N B O S C O MAKATI 1997-2004 ELEMENTARY TECHNICAL INSTITUTE D O N B O S C O MAKATI 2004-2008 HIGHSCHOOL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE D E L A S A L L E MANILA 2008-2011 COLLEGE UNIVERSITY

PRATIK HARISH ABICHANDANI Name and Signature of Petitioner Address: 1 JORDAN ST., MULTINATIONAL, PARAÑAQUE CITY Telephone Number: 8239671/09228719548

Right Thumbmark of Petitioner

Name of School

10. I am able to read, write and speak Filipino and/or any of the following dialects of the Philippines: TAGALOG. 11. I have enrolled my minor children of school age in the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philipine History, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Name of Child

Name and Place of School

Date of Enrollment

N/A

N/A

N/A

12. I shall never be a public charge. I am of good moral character. I believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which I am living. I mingled socially with Filipinos and have evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139.

I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated with any association or group of persons who uphold and

Petitioner's signature and right thumbmark

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF MANILA) S.S. I, PRATIK HARISH ABICHANDANI of legal age and a resident of 1 JORDAN MULTINATIONAL VILL., PARAÑAQUE CITY after being duly sworn, depose and say that I am the petitioner herein, that I have read the foregoing petition and know the foregoing petition and known the contents thereof, and that the same is true of my own knowledge.

PRATIK HARISH ABICHANDANI Name and Signature of Petitioner SUBCRIBED AND SWORN to before me at CITY OF MAKATI this 22 day of MARCH, 2018.

Doc. No. 463 Page No. 94 Book No. 716 Series of 2018 (MS-MAY 29, JUN 5 & 12, 2018)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 211, MANDALUYONG CITY PACITA COSME CARIASO, LINDA COSME SISON and ELIAS U. COSME, Plaintiff, -versusCIVIL CASE NO. R-MND-18-00265-SC For: Partition ASUNCION COSME BALTAZAR Defendant. x---------------------------------------x

ORDER

being siblings and in defiance of the wish of the majority of the co-owners/plaintiffs had effectively denied that the letter of their right to use, enjoy and dispose of the property which are all important attributes of ownership.

10.The above-described conduct of the defendant respectfully prays that after notice and hearing, this Hon. Court order the partition of the subject real property among the parties herein.

Other legal and equitable reliefs are also prayed for.

Mandaluyong City February 9, 2018.

(Sgd.) ROBERTO C. BERMEJO Counsel for the Plaintiff Unit 2-B Jejomar Bldg., 344 Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City IBP No. 1062680/01-03-2018/PPLM PTR No. 3387812/01-04-2018/Mand. City MCLE IV-0019899/4-06-13 Roll No.-27214 Tel. No.: (02) 534-1530

Finding merit in the Ex-Parte Motion for Service of Summons by Publication filed on April 5, 2018 VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION by plaintiff’s counsel Atty. Roberto C. Bermejo, the I, Elias U. Cosme, of legal age, after being duly sworn, same is hereby GRANTED. hereby depose and state: 1. I am one of the plaintiffs and also the attorney-in-fact of SO ORDERED. my co-plaintiffs in the above-entitled case; April 13, 2018, Mandaluyong City 2. I caused the preparation of the above-amended complaint; (Sgd.) OFELIA L. CALO 3. I have read the contents thereof and the allegations Judge therein are true and correct of my own personal knowledge and based on existing and authentic documents; and Republic of the Philippines 4. I hereby certify that I have not commenced any other REGIONAL TRIAL COURT action or proceedings involving the issues raised herein NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION before any court, tribunal or agency, and should I thereafter BRANCH 211 learn of the pendency thereof, I shall immediately notify this Hon. Court within five (5) days therefrom.

MANDALUYONG CITY

PACITA COSME CARIASO, LINDA COSME SISON and ELIAS U. COSME, Plaintiff, -versusR-MND 18-00265-SC For: Partition

ELIAS U. COSME Affiant SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 8th day of February 2018 at Mandaluyong City, affiant presented acceptable ID bearing her picture and signature, attesting to his true identity as the same person who executed the foregoing.

ASUNCION COSME BALTAZAR Defendant. x---------------------------------------x

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION

TO: ASUNCION COSME BALTAZAR 21R TOWER 2 ST., FRANCIS PLACE, SHANG, MANDALUYONG CITY GREETINGS: You are hereby required to enter your appearance in the above-entitled case within SIXTY (60) days after the publication of this Summons upon you, exclusive of the day of such publication and answer the plaintiff’s Complaint as provided by the Rules. If you fail to appear and answer within the time aforesaid, the plaintiff will demand in this Court the relief applied for in said Complaint.

WITNESS, the Honorable OFELIA L. CALO, Presiding Judge of this Court, this 9th day of May, 2018.

(Sgd.) ATTY. MA. ELENA G. DIMAGUILA Branch Clerk of Court

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 211 MANDALUYONG CITY PACITA COSME CARIASO, LINDA COSME SISON AND ELIAS U. COSME, Plaintiffs, -versusR-MND 18-00265-SP For: Partition ASUNCION COSME BALTAZAR Defendant. x---------------------------------------x

AMENDED COMPLAINT

PLAINTIFFS, by counsel, respectfully allege: 1. Plaintiffs are all of legal age and for purposes of this suit maybe reached at the residence of plaintiff ELIAS U. COSME at 5942 Gloria corner Jacobo, Poblacion, Makati City. The other plaintiffs are represented by ELIAS U. COSME as shown in their Special Power of Attorney, Annex A hereof.

Defendant is also of legal age and resides at 21R Tower 2 St. Francis Place, Shang, Mandaluyong City, where she maybe served court processes.

2. Plaintiffs and the defendants are registered owners of an undivided parcel of land measuring 997 square meters situated at Lawson, Mandaluyong City as evidenced by TCT No. 7808 of the Registry of Deeds for Mandaluyong City, photocopy of which is attached hereto as Annex B. The corresponding Tax Declaration still in the name of the parties’ predecessor is attached hereto as Annex B-1.

3. Each of the plaintiffs and the defendant own the following shares in the aforementioned property: CO-OWNER SHARE Linda Cosme Sison 1/5 Pacita Cosme Cariaso 1/5 Asuncion Cosme Baltazar 1/5 and Elias U. Cosme 2/5 4. Plaintiffs who own a combined portion equivalent to 4/5 or a total of 797.60 square meter of the subject lot want said portion segregated from the 1/5 share of the defendant which measures 199.40 square meters.

5. Plaintiffs who are legally entitled to terminate the co-ownership and obtain their aforesaid combined shares measuring 797.60 square meters have, on numerous times, demanded upon the defendant to agree to voluntary partition but to no avail as the defendant continues to unjustifiably ignore said demands.

6. Sometime November 2017, plaintiffs commissioned a geodetic engineer to subdivide the subject property into two (2) parts, the combined 798 square meter-portion for herein plaintiffs and the remaining 199 square meter for the defendant as shown in the subdivision plan attached hereto as Annex C. 7. In the partition, plaintiffs propose to allot to defendant the 199 square meter-portion with a new residential house while the bigger part with old ancestral house was proposed to be assigned to the plaintiffs.

8. Plaintiffs’ had communicated with the defendant their desire to subdivide and partition the property with an invitation/demand that they sit down together to effect voluntary partition which demands were nixed by the defendant. Copy of plaintiffs’ letter to the defendant is attached as Annex D. 9. The refusal of the defendant to agree to a partition despite earnest effort for amicable settlement the parties

Doc. No. III; Page No. 23; Book No. I; Series of 2018;

ANNEX “A” Republic of the Philippines City of Mandaluyong

} } S.S.

SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY That We, PACITA COSME CARIASO, married and LINDA COSME SISON, widow and with address at 7682 W. Mesa Verde Lane, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, do hereby make, appoint and constitute our brother ELIAS U. COSME, likewise of legal age and residing at 5942 Gloria corner Jocobo, Poblacion, Makati City, as our true and lawful attorney-in-fact, in our names, places and steads, to do for us and in our behalf, any of the following acts and deeds: 1.

To commence and prosecute a complaint for partition or any other appropriate action against our sister ASUNCION COSME BALTAZAR for the settlement, division and or partition of our common lot measuring 997 square meters situated at Lawson, Mandaluyong City, covered under TCT No. 7808 of the Registry of Deeds for Mandaluyong City; 2. To assign, execute, deliver and file the appropriate complaint, petition or motion, pursuant to the authority above given; 3. To assign, verify, execute and deliver any ancillary or related petition or complaint before the appropriate court including the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court; 4. To participate in any mediation or Judicial Dispute Resolution or pre-trial with concomitant power to enter into compromise agreement and stipulation of facts as well as to consider any matter proper during pre-trial.

HEREBY GIVING AND GRANTING unto said attorney-infact full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and deed which maybe requisite or necessary in the successful pursuit of the above authority as fully to all intents and purposes as we might or could lawfully do if personally present and HEREBY RATIFYING AND CONFORMING all that said attorney-in-fact shall do or cause to be done in or about the premise.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto affixed my signature this 08th day of December 2017.

PACITA COSME CARIASO Principal

LINDA COSME SISON Principal

SIGNED IN THE PRESENCE OF: __________________

___________________

ACKNOWLEDGMENT BEFORE ME, a Notary Public for in the City of Mandaluyong, personally appeared the above-named exhibiting to me their valid/government identification cards with pictures and signatures to prove their true indentities, photocopy of which is attached hereto, known to me and to me known to be the same person who executed the foregoing SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY, consisting of two (2) pages including that on which this acknowledgment is written and who acknowledged to me that the same is their free and voluntary act and deed.

WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL this 08 day of December 2017 at Mandaluyong City.

Doc. No. 300; Page No. 60; Book No. 15; Series of 2017; ANNEX “B”

ANNEX “C”

ANNEX “B-1”

ANNEX “D”

(MS-June 5, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

tigation to probe the slaying of retired Ozamiz prosecutor Geronimo Marabe Jr. Marabe was gunned down by unidentified men while driving in Barangay 50th District, Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental on May 22.

He was the 14th prosecutor killed in the last 26 years, according to the National Prosecution Service, which condemned his killing and called for prosecutors to be armed and given self-defense training.

Police spokesperson Chief Supt. John Bulalacao previously said Marabe was a public prosecutor in several cases, including those involving the Parojinog family in Misamis.

That family’s patriarch, the late Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, was tagged by police as involved in the illegal drug trade.

Parojinog and 14 others were killed in a police raid in July last year. His son and daughter were arrested.

According to the NPS, other prosecutors killed since 1992, mostly in the line of duty, are Macario Balansag, Antonino Ruiz, Julio Talomo, Godofredo Paceno Jr., Mscadatar Marsangca, Akilali Balt, Alexander Sandoval, Rolando Acido, Johanne Noel Mingoa, Diosdado Azarcon, Maria “Kit” Ronatay, Reymund Luna and Rogelio Velasco.

IN BRIEF PNP: 12 bike-riders die in shootouts A DOZEN suspects have been killed and 51 others apprehended in 880 shooting incidents involving motorcycle-riding attackers across the country, the Philippine National Police said Monday.

Citing their own data starting from Oct. 11, 2017, the PNP said 812 of the incidents were on murder cases, with the remaining 68 in homicide cases involving a total of 927 victims.

Only 291 of these cases were solved and cleared, police said, with 1,008 motorcycleriding suspects still at large.

The PNP said 358 suspects have been identified among these suspects, with the remaining 650 still unknown.

Drones to aid MMDA in managing traffic THE Metro Manila Development Authority announced on Monday it will take traffic, flood and disaster management help from the sky using new remote-controlled drones donated to the agency.

MMDA chairman Danilo Lim said the four new drones will also be used in managing vehicle traffic during the opening of classes and monitoring flood situations in the coming months.

“These drones are significant tools to help us in our decision-making since real-time footages of ongoing events can be provided,” said Lim. Meanwhile, authorities arrested a bogus MMDA traffic enforcer victimizing motorists along Andrews Avenue in Pasay City on Sunday.

The suspect, identified as Marlon Berame, 35, a resident of Muntinlupa City, is now detained at the Pasay City Police Station and will be charged with usurpation of authority before the city prosecutors office.

At present, MMDA’s traffic monitoring is done on ground at the Metrobase using closed circuit television cameras installed all over the metropolis.

“These drones will now give us a bigger picture for faster and orderly traffic management on congested areas.” Joel Zurbano

NIA-Bukidnon staff sacked over fertilizers THE Office of the Ombudsman has sacked three officials of the National Irrigation Authority regional office in Bukidnon for multiple irregularities in the procurement of fertilizers worth P9.45 million in 2009.

Found guilty of gross neglect of duty were NIA division manager Editha Abdon, administrative and finance head Adelina Calonge, and principal engineer Leonila Tenestrante.

The Ombudsman imposed on them the penalty of dismissal from the service, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, forfeiture of retirement benefits, barred from taking the civil service exam and cancellation of civil service eligibility.

In June 2009, NIA-Bukidnon received P10 million for the implementation of the Department of Agriculture’s bio-organic fertilizer program.

From this fund, NIA purchased thousands of bags and liters of organic fertilizers and pesticides from 3K & C Enterprises, Dating Bayan Agro Industrial Corp., MLB Enterprises and EMP Feed Mix Manufacturing.

But the Ombudsman said the suppliers failed to meet the required product specifications and quality standards, projects were awarded without the benefit of public bidding, and supplier 3K was a business firm owned by Regina Salazar, wife of then NIA administrator Carlos Salazar. Rio N. Araja

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Seoul monitoring military reshuffle in North Korea SEOUL-Seoul is monitoring developments in the North’s military, it said Monday after reports Pyongyang replaced three of its top military officials ahead of a summit with the United States.

President Donald Trump is due to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore with Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal high on the agenda and reports said that the reshuffle could be aimed at taming the military.

Late last month the North’s state media revealed that Kim Su Gil had been appointed as director of the military’s powerful General Political Bureau (GPB), replacing Kim Jong Gak. According to Yonhap news agency, which cited intelligence sources, the chief of the general staff Ri Myong Su has also been replaced by his deputy, Ri Yong Gil. And defense minister Pak Yong Sik has been succeeded by No Kwang Chol, previously first vice minister, it added.

The wholesale reshuffle would be unusual if confirmed, Seoul’s unification ministry said.

“We will monitor related developments,” ministry spokesman Baik Taehyun told reporters.

Pyongyang’s military, known as the Korean People’s Army, is immensely influential in the North and a center of power in its own right, symbolized by the way Kim is habitually flanked by generals on one side and civilians on the other when attending major ceremonial events.

According to researchers at NK Leadership Watch, the change at the top of the GPB “represents a continuation of a tightening Party control over the KPA”.

The political bureau could be in a position to resist policy decisions by the leadership or try to profit from future South Korean economic aid, it said.

But new GPB director Kim Su Gil was a “highly trusted” lieutenant of leader Kim Jong Un, it added, who appointed him to the Pyongyang party committee―once a power base for his uncle Jang Song Thaek―after having the older man executed for treason in 2013. AFP

Guatemala volcano eruption kills 25 G UATEMALA CITY―At least 25 people were killed when Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupted Sunday, belching ash and rock and forcing the capital’s main airport to close.

SUMMER FESTIVAL. People visit stands at the Bueckeburg Renaissance castle during a summer festival on June 3, 2018, in Bueckeburg, near Hanover in Germany. The castle has been in the family ownership of the Earls of Holstein-Schaumburg and later Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe for over 700 years. AFP

The volcano expelled hot muddy material that caused the deaths―including of several children―in the El Rodeo and Las Lajas communities located on its southern slope, disaster agency spokesman David de Leon said in a WhatsApp group.

Search and rescue operations for the missing and dead have been suspended due to low light and dangerous conditions, and will resume early on Monday morning, he said.

The eruption of the 12,346-foot volcano sent ash billowing over the surrounding area, turning plants and trees gray and blanketing streets, cars and people.

Farmers covered in ash fled for their lives as civil defense staffers tried to relocate them to shelters during the event.

National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) chief Sergio Cabanas said earlier that the eruption also left 20 injured and affected more than 1.7 million people.

President Jimmy Morales announced a red alert for Escuintla, Chimaltenango and Sacatepequez, the areas most affected by the eruption, and an orange alert throughout the country.

The president said he and his government would determine whether to ask Congress to declare a state of emergency in the areas, while at the same time appealing to the population for calm.

Hundreds of personnel from the police,

NEW DELHI-A sea of plastic spreads through the New Delhi slum of Taimur Nagar, a symbol of the grime and waste that makes the Indian capital one of the world’s most polluted cities.

The plastic bottles, bags, food wrappers and other detritus have gushed out of a drain that ends in the shanty, leaving stinking sewer water clogging the roads.

Stray dogs, goats and cows munch the plastic waste as toddlers run around trying to retrieve footballs and water bottles.

7.

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES, INC. GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE (GCC) (Passenger and Baggage)

8.

9.

10.

11.

(AS AMENDED) Article 5 RESERVATIONS Section 1. RESERVATION REQUIREMENTS (a) A reservation is not confirmed until: 1. It is entered on the appropriate Flight or Electronic Coupon, by PAL or its Authorized Agent; 2. You have paid for your Ticket; and 3. A Ticket has been duly issued to you, or in the case of an Electronic Ticket, when it has been duly created in PAL’s database.

4. A reservation that does not comply with any of these requirements may be cancelled

by PAL at any time without notice. (b) As provided in PAL’s Tariffs, certain fares may be subject to conditions which limit or exclude your prerogative to change or cancel reservations.

12.

13.

14.

15.

India is to be the focus of World Environment Day on Tuesday, but it is far from the minds of the long-suffering inhabitants of Taimur Nagar.

“You can see how bad the conditions are here. It’s completely choked with plastic,” said Bhola Ram, shaking his head.

Taimur Nagar is one of many slums in Delhi and countless other Indian cities struggling to cope with waste, particularly the plastic pollution that is the main theme of World Environment Day. India is to organize beach cleanups,

an exhibition of green technology and art installations―symbols of its growing economic clout. One engineer, Rajagopalan Vasudevan, has developed a process where plastic waste is shredded up and used in new roads.

But a sweeping look over Taimur Nagar underlines the challenges the country faces with its waste.

India generates around 5.6 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, according to government figures, with Delhi among the worst cities for plastic consumption.

and drugs; When you tamper with the smoke detector or any other safety-related device on board the aircraft; When you fail to comply with safety regulations, including fastening seatbelts when required; When you use portable electronic device when such is prohibited; When you are not properly clothed; When you have a contagious disease which may be transmitted to others during the fight; When the Passenger who may have been required to present medical clearance in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and government regulations, failed to submit said medical certificate and where it appears that he/she cannot complete the flight without requiring medical assistance; When your conduct is disorderly, abusive, offensive or violent; When your conduct results or may result to a risk of annoyance, offense or disturbance to other Passengers; When you have made a hoax bomb or other security threat;

Sec. 2. CONSEQUENCES OF REFUSAL OF CARRIAGE AND OF REMOVAL OF PASSENGER If you commit any of the acts enumerated under Section 1(g) of this Article, and conduct yourself aboard the aircraft so as to endanger the aircraft or any person or property on board, PAL may take such measures reasonably necessary to prevent continuation of your conduct, including restraint. You may be disembarked and refused onward carriage at any point.

If you have not paid or made credit arrangements for the Ticket with PAL prior to the specified ticketing time limit as advised by PAL or its Authorized Agent, PAL will cancel your reservation without prior notice.

If, for the reasons enumerated under Section 1 of this Article, PAL has refused to carry you, or removed you en route, PAL may cancel the remaining unused portion of your Ticket and you will not be entitled to further carriage or to a refund either in respect of the sector subject of the refusal of carriage or removal, or any subsequent sectors covered by the Ticket. PAL reserves the right to prosecute offences committed. PAL will not be liable for any consequential loss or damage alleged due to any such refusal to carry or removal en route.

Sec. 3. PERSONAL DATA

Sec. 3. GENERAL INDEMNITY

You recognize that your personal data have been given to PAL for the purposes of: making a reservation, purchasing a Ticket,for obtaining ancillary services, facilitating immigration and entry requirements, complying with regulatory requirements of government authority and making available such data in connection with your travel. For these purposes, you agree and authorize PAL to retain and process or use such data and to transmit them to its own offices, Authorized Agents, government authorities, other carriers or the providers of the above-mentioned services. In booking your travel, you provide PAL your consent to be added to PAL’s email list that will be used to contact you occasionally with commercial electronic messages such as offers and promotions that PAL feels will be of interest to you.

If you conduct yourself in a manner described in Section 1 of this Article, you will indemnify PAL for all claims or losses, including, but not limited to, all costs arising from the diversion of the aircraft for the purpose of offloading you and all losses suffered or incurred by PAL, its Authorized Agents, employees, independent contractors, Passengers, and any third party in respect of death, injury, loss, damage or delay to other persons or to property, arising from such conduct.

Sec. 2. TICKETING TIME LIMIT

Sec. 4. OTHER LIMITATIONS ON CARRIAGE (a)

Acceptance for carriage of unaccompanied children, persons with disability, pregnant women or ailing persons may be subject to prior arrangements with PAL, in accordance with these Conditions of Carriage and any applicable laws, rules and government regulations.

(b)

Acceptance for carriage of persons requiring special assistance such as but not limited to medical oxygen for use on-board the aircraft, packaging of wheelchair and wheelchair batteries, stretchers and other similar assistance, may be subject to advance notice and prior arrangements with PAL, in accordance with these Conditions of Carriage, PAL’s Tariffs and any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations.

(c)

If PAL believes that the aircraft weight limitation or seating capacity would otherwise be exceeded, PAL will decide in its reasonable discretion which persons or articles shall be carried.

Sec. 4. SEATING PAL will endeavor to honor your advance seating requests. However, PAL does not guarantee to provide any particular seat in the aircraft and you agree to accept any seat that may be allotted on the flight in the class of service for which your Ticket has been issued.

PAL reserves the right to assign or re-assign seats at any time, even after boarding of the aircraft. This may be necessary to comply with laws, rules, and government regulations, or for operational, safety, or security reasons.

PAL reserves the right to charge for more than one seat in cases where the physical condition of the Passenger require additional seat.

Sec. 5. RECONFIRMATION OF RESERVATIONS Your reservation may be subject to the requirement that it be reconfirmed not later than seventy-two (72) hours before flight departure. Your reservation with other carriers involved in your travel must be reconfirmed with the carrier whose Airline Designator Code appears on the Ticket, and in accordance with their respective reconfirmation requirements.

Sec. 6. CANCELLATION OF RESERVATIONS If you do not use a reservation and fail to advise PAL, your reservation, including onward or return reservations, may be cancelled without prior notice.

Article REFUSAL AND LIMITATION OF CARRIAGE Section 1. RIGHT TO REFUSE CARRIAGE PAL will not refuse carriage to any person based solely on race, sex, color, nationality or religion.

Further, as a matter of policy, PAL will not refuse carriage to any person based solely on disability subject to exceptions that may be allowed by applicable laws, rules, and government regulations.

PAL may refuse to carry you or your Baggage, or may remove you from the aircraft at any time, for any of the following reasons: (a)

You fail or refuse to comply with these Conditions of Carriage;

(b)

(i) The applicable fare or any charges or taxes payable have not been paid, or credit arrangements with PAL have not been complied with; (ii) the payment is done through fraudulent means; (iii) when the credit card used for payment could not be authenticated upon booking or is subsequently reported to be lost or stolen; or (iv) when the credit card used for payment is not presented for validation, if so required by PAL; The refusal to transport or removal from PAL’s aircraft is necessary to comply with any applicable laws, rules, and government regulations of any country to be flown from, to or over; Such action is necessary or advisable by reason of weather or other conditions beyond PAL’s control including, but not limited to: acts of God, force majeure, strikes, civil commotions, embargoes, wars, hostilities, terrorist activities, or disturbances, whether actual, threatened, or reported; (i) You appear to be improperly documented; (ii) you cannot prove, when so required that, you are the person named in the Ticket; (iii) the Ticket has been acquired or reported to have been acquired unlawfully or has been purchased or reported to have been purchased from an entity other than PAL or its Authorized Agent; (iv) your Ticket is acquired illegally, (v) if you’re Ticket is a counterfeit Ticket or has been altered, torn, damaged or tampered with; (vi) when the immigration authority of the country you are traveling to, or of a country in which you have a Stopover, informed PAL (either verbally or in writing) that it has decided not to allow you to enter that country, even if you have, or appear to have, valid travel documents; (vii) when you destroy your travel documents during the flight; (viii) when you have refused to allow PAL to photocopy your travel documents; (ix) when you have refused to give your travel documents to a member of the crew of the aircraft, when PAL asked you to do so; You are a person in the custody of law, unless you are sufficiently escorted; Such refusal or removal is reasonably necessary for the security, safety or comfort of other Passengers or PAL’s employees; or to prevent damage to the property of PAL or of its Passengers or crew or employees, including, but not limited to the following instances: When you assault, intimidate or threaten, whether physical or verbal, any of PAL’s ground staff, crew members or other Passengers; 1. When you create a disturbance which interferes with the duties of the ground staff, flight crew or when the disturbance necessitates the pilot-in-command or any member of the cockpit crew to leave the cockpit to attend to the same; 2. When you refuse to follow a lawful instruction given by the pilot-in-command, or on behalf of the pilot-in-command, or by a crew member for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the aircraft or of any person or property on board or for the purpose of maintaining good order and discipline on board; 3. When you commit an act of physical violence, sexual assault, or child molestation, against other persons; 4. When your conduct results or may result to a risk of harm or damage to the aircraft, or properties belonging to PAL, its Passengers, or employees; 5. When you refuse to submit to a security check; 6. When you refuse to follow PAL’s policy on smoking and use of alcoholic beverages

(c) (d)

(e)

(f) (g)

Red Cross and military have been dispatched to support emergency operations, Morales said.

Cabanas said that the dead included a civil protection official.

More than 3,000 people were evacuated due to the eruption, which affected rural communities around the volcano as well as Antigua Guatemala, a colonialera town very popular with tourists in the Central American country, he said.

Cabanas did not rule out the number of dead increasing, as there are “missing persons, but we do not know how many.”

Dense ash blasted out by the volcano shut down Guatemala City’s international airport, civil aviation said.

People were working to clean ash off the runways to get the airport operating again.

The eruption is the second major one this year from the peak, following another that subsided at the beginning of February after sending ash towering 1.7 kilometers into the sky.

A September 2012 eruption of the volcano saw 10,000 people evacuated, while another in February 2015 forced the closure of the capital’s main airport.

Apart from the Fuego volcano, there are two other active volcanos in Guatemala. One of them, Pacaya, is just 20 kilometers from Guatemala City. AFP

Delhi slum drowning in plastic as Environment Day focuses on India

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Philippine Airlines

A7

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sec. 5. MEDICAL CLEARANCE REQUIRED Subject to applicable laws, rules, and government regulations, PAL may require a medical clearance when, in good faith and using its reasonable discretion, PAL determines there is reasonable doubt that a Passenger can complete the flight safely without requiring extraordinary medical assistance.

Sec. 6. BANNING NOTICE In addition to its right to refuse carriage under any of the grounds in Section 1 of this Article, PAL reserves the right to ban any person from all its flights and from availing of any of its services for the following reasons: (a)

Such person is a serious or habitual offender under any of the instances enumerated in Section 1;

(b)

When records support that you habitually and in bad faith, filed unwarranted complaints against PAL and its employees.

Sec. 7. ATTENDANT’S REQUIRED For reasons of safety, Passengers in the following categories may be required to travel with a safety assistant: (a)

A Passenger with a mobility impairment so severe that the individual is unable to assist in his/ her own evacuation:

(b)

A Passenger with severe hearing and severe vision impairment who is unable to establish some means of communications with PAL’s personnel adequate to permit the Passenger to receive PAL’s safety briefing as may be required by the applicable law, rules, and government regulations;

(c)

A Passenger who is traveling on a stretcher or in an incubator or who requires administration of certain medical services during the flight (e.g. medical oxygen, respirator, intravenous injections, etc.) which he/she cannot administer on himself/herself;

(d)

A Passenger who because of a mental disability, is unable to comprehend or respond appropriately to safety instructions from PAL’s personnel, including safety briefing required by applicable laws, rules, and government regulations.

ARTICLE 9 SCHEDULES, CANCELLATION OF FLIGHTS

Section 1. SCHEDULES The flight times shown in timetables may change between the date of publication and the date you actually travel, as shown in the Ticket. PAL does not guarantee these schedules and they do not form part of your Conditions of Carriage.

Sec. 2. CANCELLATION, CHANGES OF SCHEDULE, ETC. (a) Subject to applicable laws, rules, or government regulations, PAL may, when circumstances so require, cancel, terminate, divert, postpone, delay any flight, alter or omit stopping places shown on the Ticket or in schedules and may without notice substitute alternate carriers or aircraft and PAL assumes no liability for making connections. (b) If due to circumstances beyond its control, PAL cancels or delays a flight, is unable to provide previously confirmed space, fails to stop at a Stopover or point of destination, or causes you to miss a connecting flight on which you hold a confirmed reservation, PAL shall not be liable for losses or damages including any indirect, special or consequential loss, expense or damage.

ARTICLE10 REFUNDS Section 1. GENERAL Refund of a Ticket or any of its unused portion, including taxes, fees, or any other amount collected for or on behalf of any third party, shall be subject to these Conditions of Carriage and PAL’s Tariffs.

Sec. 2. WHEN TO FILE FOR REFUND AND TO WHOM REFUND WILL BE MADE (a) Refund of a Ticket or any of its unused portion, including taxes, fees, and or any other amount collected for or on behalf of any third party, shall be applied with PAL within the period of the validity of the Ticket and thirty (30) days thereafter.

The city banned plastic bags in 2009 and later expanded it to all plastic packaging and single-use disposable plastic.

But the ban is rarely enforced. Plastic bags are still the staple for carrying vegetables, fruit, meat and restaurant takeaways.

Taimur Nagar’s residents know little of the hazards of non-biodegradable plastic to the water supply and the animals sat around.

Used to the filth, residents say they are resigned to their fate. AFP

(b)

Except as provided in this Article, refund shall be made either to the Passenger, or to the person who has paid for the Ticket upon presentation of satisfactory proof of entitlement to the refund. (c) If a Ticket has been paid for by a person other than the Passenger, and PAL, upon instruction of such person, has so indicated on the Ticket that there is a restriction on refund, PAL shall make a refund only to that person paying for the Ticket or to that person’s order. (d) A refund made to anyone holding himself or herself out as a person to whom refund may be made in terms of (a) above shall be deemed a proper refund and shall discharge PAL from liability and any further claim for refund. (e) Refund due to Tickets, including taxes, fees, or any other amount collected for or on behalf of any third party, paid for with credit cards will only be charged back to the credit card accounts originally used for the Ticket purchase. The refundable amount to be charged back to the credit card account of the card owner may vary from the originally debited amount due to differences in the exchange rate. Such variances do not entitle the recipient of the refund to a claim against PAL. PAL shall not be held liable for any damages that may result from the ticket cancellation. (f) If the credit card used is not under Passenger’s account name, Passenger warrants that the he/she and the credit card holder both agreed that: 1) either the Passenger or credit card holder may apply for online refund; and 2) the refund will automatically be charged back to the credit card account originally used.

Sec. 3. INVOLUNTARY REFUNDS If PAL cancels a flight, or fails to operate a flight reasonably according to schedule, or fails to stop at a point to which you are destined or ticketed to Stopover, or is unable to provide previously confirmed space, the amount of the refund shall be subject to these Conditions of Carriage, PAL’s Tariffs, and applicable laws, rules, and government regulations.

Sec. 4. VOLUNTARY REFUNDS If you are entitled to a refund of your Ticket or any of its unused portion, including taxes, fees, or any other amount collected for or on behalf of any third party, for reasons other than those set out in Section 3 of this Article, the amount of the refund shall be in accordance with PAL’s Tariffs.

Sec. 5. RIGHT TO REFUSE REFUND (a) PAL may refuse refund when your application is made thirty (30) days after the expiry of the validity of the Ticket. (b) PAL may refuse refund on a Ticket, including taxes, fees, or any other amount collected for or on behalf of any third party, which has been presented to PAL or other carriers or to government officials of a country as evidence of intention to depart from such country, unless you are able to establish to PAL’s satisfaction that you have permission from the government to remain in the country or that you will depart such country by another carrier or by another means of transport. (c) PAL may refuse refund in the circumstances covered by Article 7, Section 2 of these Conditions of Carriage.

Sec. 6. CURRENCY All refunds will be subject to applicable laws, rules, and government regulations of the country in which the Ticket was originally purchased and of the country in which the refund is being made. Subject to the foregoing provision, refunds will normally be made in the currency in which the Ticket was paid but may be made in another currency in accordance with PAL’s Tariffs.

Article 13 LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS These Conditions of Carriage and applicable laws, rules, and government regulations govern PAL’s liability to you.

Sec. 2. LIMITS ON LIABILITY ON INTERNATIONAL CARRIAGE Unless otherwise stated in these Conditions of Carriage, International Carriage, as defined in the Convention, is subject to the liability rules of the Convention.

Sec. 3. LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE Where your carriage is not subject to the liability rules of the Convention, our liability provisions are as follows: (a) PAL will not be liable to you for any loss or expense incurred due to your failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Conditions of Carriage. (b) PAL is not liable if it proves that it or any of its agents have taken all necessary measures to avoid the damage or that it was impossible for it to take such measure. (c) In the carriage of Baggage, PAL is not liable if it proves that the damage was occasioned by negligence in the handling of the aircraft or in navigation and that, in all other respects, it has taken all necessary measures to avoid the damage. (d) PAL assumes no liability for pre-existing damage, and damageas a result of normal wear and tear, such as minor cuts, scratches, and broken zippers. (e) PAL is liable only for damage occurring on its own line or air services. When PAL issues a Ticket or Baggage Tag over the lines or air services of another carrier, PAL does so only as agent for such other carrier and assumes no responsibility for the acts or omissions of such other carrier. Nevertheless, with respect to Checked Baggage, you shall have a right of action against the first or last carrier. (f) PAL is not liable for damage to Unchecked Baggage unless such damage is caused by the negligence of PAL. If there has been contributory negligence on your part, PAL’s liability shall be subject to the applicable laws, rules, and government regulation relating to contributory negligence. (g) PAL is not liable for damage arising from its compliance with any laws, rules, and government regulations, orders or requirements, or from your failure to comply with the same. (h) If in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and government regulations, different limits of liability are applicable such different limits shall apply. If the weight of the Baggage is not recorded on the Baggage Tag, it is presumed that the total weight of the Checked Baggage does not exceed the applicable free baggage allowance for the class of service concerned.

If in the case of Checked Baggage a higher value is declared pursuant to Article 8, Section 7, the liability of PAL shall be limited to such higher declared value. (i) PAL’s limit of liability shall not exceed the amount of proven damages. PAL shall furthermore not be liable for indirect or consequential damages. (j) PAL is not liable for injury to you or for damage to your Baggage caused by property contained in your Baggage. In the event that your property causes injury to another person or damage to another person’s property or to PAL’s property, you shall indemnify PAL for all losses and expenses incurred by PAL as its result. (k) PAL is not liable for loss or damage to fragile or perishable items, money, jewelry, precious metals, silverware, negotiable papers, securities, or other valuables, business documents, passports and other identification documents or samples. Carriage of the foregoing shall be allowed only under special arrangements with PAL. (l) PAL is not liable for any consequence resulting solely from your state of health. (m) The aggregate amount you may claim from PAL, including from Authorized Agents, employees, or representatives shall not exceed the limits of liability as prescribed in these Conditions of Carriage. (n) Unless so expressly provided nothing herein contained shall waive any exclusion or limitation of liability of PAL under the Convention or applicable laws, rules, and government regulations. (o) In the Domestic Carriage of persons, the limit of liability for death or injury of persons attributable solely to the act, omission or negligence of PAL and not due to any cause beyond its control, shall be governed by the relevant local law or regulation. (p) In the Domestic Carriage of Checked Baggage, the limit of liability for loss, damage or delay of the Checked Baggage or of any object contained in the Baggage, attributable solely to the act, omission or negligence of PAL and not by any cause beyond its control, shall be governed by the relevant local law or regulation.

(MAY 29 & JUNE 5, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

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TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

Sports

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors reacts to a play in Game Two of the 2018 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Calano captures javelin gold I

LAGAN CITY—Melvin Calano and Kenny Gonzales, alongside their mentor Danilo Fresnido posted a rare 1-2-3 finish in the men’s javelin throw to highlight an actionpacked last day of the 2018 Ayala Philippines Athletics Championships at the City of Ilagan Sports Complex here in Isabela.

Calano, 27, exacted some sort of vengeance on his playing coach Fresnido, who was hailed as Javelin King in last year’s National Open, also held here in Ilagan City, by throwing the spear by a distance of 63.55 meters to win this year’s edition.

His teammate Gonzales followed at second place with a 62.29-meter mark, while the multi-titled javelin thrower-

turned coach Fresnido had a throw of 61.31 meters to complete the podium.

“Bawi lang. Tinalo po kasi ako ni coach last year,” said the Camarines Norte-native Calano, who finished behind Fresnido and Gonzales, respectively, in the 2017 National Open.

This time, the 2017 Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Calano finally turned the tide on his teammate and coach to continue his strong showing heading into the biennial meet next year here in the country.

Prior to the huge win in the APAC, Calano hauled three bronze medals this past month in invitational opens hosted

by Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan under the tutelage of Fresnido.

Holding a personal-best of 68.95 meters, Calano looks forward to his upcoming stints in Thailand and Korea national opens next month to inch closer to breaking his mentor’s standing national record.

Fresnido, also a Sergeant of the Philippine Army, still owns men’s javelin record of 72.93 meters he set during the 25th SEAG in Laos back in 2009.

“Magandang makipag-compete sa mga

mas batang athlete para ma-inspire sila,” beamed Fresnido, who still put on a gallant stand against his protégés despite being already 45 years old.

More than his responsibility to guide and inspire athletes, Fresnido is also warming his up for his upcoming World Masters Athletics Championships this September in Spain.

“Medyo may edad na tayo, pero kaya pa,” beamed Fresnido, who was a threetime SEAG gold medalist and two-time Asian Games’ participant.

For the meantime though, he will pour his time gradually training his players under his wing for them to finally set a national record and dominate internationally like him during his heyday.

“Matagal kasi ang progress ng thrower.

Mahaba ang training ng javelin throw.

Unti-unti. Pero tingin ko, mga three years, aabot na itong mga batang ito sa 70 (meters),” the Sorsogon-native concluded.

Meanwhile, Philippine Army dominated the women’s shot put with Narcisa Atienza and Rosie Villarito completing a 1-2 finish after registering 13.10 meters and 11.68 meters, respectively.

CARMONA, Cavite—Premium will be on shotmaking with the long hitters from the crack international field expected to lead to assault on the Legends course in today’s (Tuesday, June 5) start of the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Golf Championship here.

Jobim Carlos sets out for a second crown in as many weeks, Tony Lascuña seeks to finally nail the elusive win and Angelo Que aims to make a mark in a rare stint on the Philippine Golf Tour Asia. With the rest of the stellar 115-player cast, including 59 foreign aces, all primed up for the $100,000 event, expect a shootout right in the opener of the third leg of Season 2 of the region’s newest circuit.

The bunker-laden 7,171-yard course could be there for the taking for the tour’s power hitters with cloudy skies and wind speed estimated at 8km/hr in the next two days. But the course’s last line of defense could bring out the best—or the worst—from the elite bidders with pin placements expected to be placed in strategic spots in all four days of the championship put up by ICTSI. The young Carlos hopes to cash in on his good form that netted him a breakthrough victory in the PGTA ICTSI Riviera Classic last weekend but the former amateur hotshot, who had earlier won a team crown in the National Pro-am, sees a tougher outing this time with the rest eager to foil his drive for another crown.

By Peter Atencio

Melvin Calano hurls the javelin to a distance of 63.55 to win the APAC gold.

GIN KINGS JOIN GSM 3-ON-3. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings Jervy Cruz, Greg Slaughter and Arth dela Cruz graced the Ginebra San Miguel 3-on-3 Tournament at the Tenement Basketball Court in Taguig. The winner will go against the winning teams from Caloocan, General Santos City, Iloilo, Davao, Cebu, Palawan, Leyte, Albay, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Bulacan, Laguna, Tarlac, Pampanga and Quezon Province in the finals on June 15 at the Robinsons Place Manila. The final two winners will meet in the Championship on June 17 at the Araneta Coliseum. For more updates, check out GSM’s official Facebook page www.facebook.com/barangayginebra or log on to www.ginebra.com.ph.

So stuns world champion Carlsen WESLEY So scored his first-ever classical game win over world champion and no. 1 woodpusher Magnus Carlsen.

So won in 36 moves of the Slav Variation of the Queen’s Gambit Declined and because of this, he shook up the standings at the Altibox Norway Chess tournament, putting him in a share of second spot with Levon Aronian with three points.

They are now half a point behind the world champion after six rounds.

After meeting Carlsen, So will play three more games.

“I finally managed to catch him on his off day,” Wesley So in an online interview.

So’s triumph came at a time when Carlsen has not been playing well, while the Filipino grandmaster is.

It was also the first loss for Carlsen in 2018 as he saw his streak of 37 games without a loss come to an end. Peter Atencio

DeChambeau wins Memorial; Woods in share of 23rd

Jobim Carlos

DUBLIN—Bryson DeChambeau birdied the second extra hole to beat South Korea’s An Byeong-hun and capture the biggest title of his career on Sunday at the Memorial.

DeChambeau, 24, thrust his arms skyward in no less than seven double fist-pumps after rolling in his winning 12-foot putt at the 18th hole at Muirfield Village.

DeChambeau, An and Kyle Stanley had ended regulation play tied on 15-under par, but only after the two Americans each bogeyed the 72nd hole.

Stanley, 30 was eliminated with another bogey on the first playoff hole— the 18th. An and DeChambeau returned to the 18th tee for the second playoff hole, with An’s second shot coming to

OAKLAND—Defending champion Golden State moved to two wins from a third title in four seasons Sunday with Warriors guard Stephen Curry sinking an NBA Finals record nine 3-pointers in a 122-103 rout of Cleveland.

Curry scored 33 points on 11-of-26 shooting from the floor, hitting 9-of17 from 3-point range, with seven rebounds and eight assists as Golden State seized a 2-0 lead in the best-ofseven championship series.

“To be on top of that 3-point list is pretty special,” Curry said.

“Pretty special night. And hopefully some more special things happen when we get two more wins.”

The Warriors, who never trailed, can sweep the series with wins in Cleveland on Wednesday and Friday.

Curry, a 30-year-old guard, broke the old mark of eight 3-pointers in a finals game set by Ray Allen of Boston in 2010.

“He was tremendous,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Nine threes and seemed to hit the big shot every time we needed one. Yeah, he was fantastic.”

Curry scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, including a corner 3-pointer, a desperation heave from 35 feet and the record breaker from the left side with 3:30 remaining.

“He makes tough shots. That’s what he does,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Once he releases it, (if) he sees the basket, he usually makes it.”

Kevin Durant added 26 points, Klay Thompson had 20 and JaVale McGee added 12 to spark the Warriors.

Cavaliers superstar LeBron James netted 29 points with 13 assists and nine rebounds while Kevin Love added 22 points and 10 rebounds, but Cleveland came no closer than five points in the second half.

“It sucks to lose,” a grim-faced James said. “It sucks when you go out there and you give it everything that you have and you prep and your mind is in it and your body is in it and you come out on the losing end.” AFP

Cebu kid leads qualifiers to Allianz camp

Power hitters Batangas expects tougher Maharlika season favored at ICTSI Southwoods AFTER winning 10-team Anta Rajah Cup, the Batangas Tanduay Athletics expects to encounter a tougher time in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball.

That’s because in the second conference, known as Datu Cup, the Athletics’ squad will now be pitting guts and skills with 25 other squads for the top honors when the tournament begins on June. 12.

Coach Mac Cuan said the addition of three more players to their original roster has given them more weapons.

“It’s hard. Ang daming new teams na pumasok. But we are prepared,” said Cuan, who discussed the team’s chances during yesterday’s presentation at the Sheraton Hotel in Malate, Manila.

With him were former Batangas Mayor and team owner Dondon Dimacuha, Rep. Marvey Marino, manager Gerry Tee, co-managers Gerry Ong and Marc Ngo. They will be reinforced by former collegiate standouts Sandy Cenal, Jayson Ocizo and Bong Galanza.

Along with Lucas Tagarda, the four played in the Philippine Basketball Association D-League and are expected to provide the needed experience for the team in their coming campaign.

They won’t have the prolific Kier “Bong” Quinto, who has committed to play his last season for Letran in the coming National Collegiate Athletic Association.

And Cuan said the players will have to be ready for action, considering that the Datu Cup will be a long season.

Peter Atencio

Curry carries Dubs to 2-0 lead over Cavs

rest against a spectator’s umbrella.

After a free drop he found the green but DeChambeau settled things with his birdie effort, saying his second career US PGA Tour title was even more special coming in the Jack Nicklaushosted event.

Tiger Woods went out of bounds at 13 en route to an even par 72 for a share of 23rd place on nine-under par. AFP

A KID from Cebu City joined a list of eight qualifiers to the Allianz Junior Football Camp Team Pinas Selection.

With dreams of becoming of professional player someday, Richard Jacob Ernest Songalia III expressed his elation of going to a training camp in Bangkok, Thailand this July.

“I will just train hard and hope for the best,” said Songalia, a 10th grader from Don Bosco Cebu.

Songalia, whose dad Richard is a DJ for Y101 FM in Cebu, was accompanied by his mom Chanie, and his two sisters to the Allianz National Youth Futsal Invitational Finals at the Laguna Sports Complex in Bgy. Bubukal, Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

After the 16-under boys’ championship game between Global FC and Jaro Iloilo FC, the young Songalia heard his named announced by organizers.

Also in the roster were Juan Miguel Basmaryor of Global FC, John Mar Barsonilla and Justine Marie Mamon.

For the first time, female players will join them in the trip, where three will be selected to go to Munich in September to train under FC Bayern coaches.

Among the female players named were Catherine Angelica Bradborn, Miyuki Takamoto, Ivy Paster and Melona Rafil.

Richard said he was influenced by his father Chad to go into the game at age 7. Chad was team captain of his team while in college.

“I want to be a professional someday.

Training in Bangkok will help me improve my skills and meet new people,” said Songalia, who was chosen during the regional meet in Bacolod.

Earlier, two standouts from La Salle Zobel and University of Santo Tomas scored quick goals in the first half to power Global FC to a 3-1 triumph over Jaro Iloilo FC yesterday The tournament and the selections were done by Allianz PNB Life, Inc., in partnership with the Henry V. Moran Foundation and in coordination with the Philippine Football Federation.

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

IN BRIEF

MB approves new liquidity safety nets

THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, approved the adoption of the net stable funding ratio for commercial and universal banks, an additional measure to strengthen lenders’ ability to withstand liquidity stress.

“The NSFR is a measure of the ability of a bank to fund its liquidity needs over one year. It complements the liquidity coverage ratio [LCR] which covers a shorter period of over 30 days in which a bank shall hold sufficient high quality liquid assets that can be easily converted into cash to service their liquidity requirements,” the board said in a statement Monday.

It said both ratios were aimed at strengthening the ability of banks to withstand liquidity stress and promote resilience of the banking sector.

Recognizing the importance of proportionality in its supervision approach, the Bangko Sentral requires only bigger banks and select types of their subsidiaries to comply with the LCR and NSFR standards.

The smaller institutions comprising of stand-alone thrift banks, rural banks, cooperative banks, and quasi-banks are subject to the minimum liquidity ratio requirement which better suit their simpler risk profile. Julito G. Rada

Business

Group appeals ERC ruling on FIT-All rate

LABAN Konsyumer Inc. appealed Monday the decision of the Energy Regulatory Commission to increase the in feed-in-tariff allowance granted to renewable energy producers.

The consumer group said “the assailed decision is null and void and without legal effect... ” LKI president Victorio Dimagiba said the decision must be reconsidered because it granted a higher FIT-All rate of P0.2563 per kilowatt-hour despite the lower FIT-All rate of P0.2291/kWh requested by National Transmission Corp.

It said the ERC ruling was an “act of grave abuse of discretion tantamount to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of this Honorable Commission.”

“It is evident that Transco failed to comply with the notice... requirements of the Commission when it recalculated and asked... for a higher FIT-All rate of P0.2481/kWh. Such re-computation should have been republished as it was a substantial change to the application filed by Transco,” he said.

Othel V. Campos

PROJECT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION. The

information technology-business process management industry launches Project D&I to promote “diversity and inclusion” in the workplace. The project, a collaboration among prime movers in the IT-BPM sector, aims to employ 18,000 persons with disability in the BPO workforce by 2022. Shown during the launching are Project D&I lead and Edulynx chief executive Raymond Ang (fifth from right); Contact Center Association of the Philippines operations director Jay Santisteban (fifth from left), Unilab Foundation operations director Jophie Contreras (second from left), Project D&I program manager Grant Javier (fourth from left) and Edulynx chief finance officer Alfie Bondoc (fourth from right).

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

B1

By Julito G. Rada

ONLINE PAYMENT PORTAL. Clients of the Professional Regulation Commission and Insurance Commission can now experience convenient and secure payment of fees with LandBank LinkBiz Portal following the signing of a memorandum of agreement between LandBank and the two institutions. The portal allows online payment of fees not only of LandBank account holders but also of PRC and IC clients maintaining accounts with participating BancNet-member bank and those using Globe G-Cash.

At the signing of the agreement (left photo) are LandBank president and chief executive Alex Buenaventura (left) and Insurance Commission chairman Dennis Funa. Also shown (right photo) are Buenaventura and PRC chairman Teofilo Pilando.

Andrew Tan turns over AGI management to son B

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ILLIONAIRE Andrew Tan is stepping down as chief executive of conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc. and will be replaced by his eldest son Kevin Andrew Tan.

The elder Tan, 65, will remain chairman of the board of AGI, which has investments in real estate, liquor, food, leisure and gaming businesses.

“Kevin’s vast exposure and professional experience in the various companies under Alliance Global Group for almost two decades brings him to the pedestal of this new leadership role,” Andrew Tan said in a statement about his son.

As the new CEO, Kevin Tan, 38, will spearhead the conglomerate’s strategic direction, financial opera-

S&P upgrades PH banks’ risk assessment DEBT watcher S&P Global Ratings revised its banking industry country risk assessment on the Philippines to Group ‘6’ from Group ‘7’ previously amid the improvement of the domestic banking system’s credit fundamentals.

S&P, in a report titled ‘Banking Industry Country Risk Assessment: Philippines,’ classified the local banking sector at par with those of Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, China, Colombia, Hungary, Oman, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay.

“We believe that credit fundamentals of the Philippine banking system have improved with the establishment of a centralized credit registry and credit bureaus, and improvement in banks’ underwriting practices in the consumer loans segment,” S&P said.

It said corporate sector profits remained healthy and credit losses from this segment would remain low. Consumer loans, which formed about 18 percent of banking sector loans, have

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

LandBank’s income rose 26% to P5b in 4 months

PH, Azerbaijan seek bilateral opportunities

THE Philippines and Azerbaijan are looking for bilateral opportunities in cross-border trade, including an alternative fuel source for the Philippines and the supply of halal food and fruits.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez met with Azerbaijan Ambassador Tamerlan Garayev in the last day of May to discuss a possible trading cooperation.

“Our meeting with Consul Garayev is part of the government’s strategy to seek out non-traditional trading partners. We see a lot complementation between our countries,” said Lopez.

The Philippines is keen on exporting tropical fruits, like bananas and mangoes, to Azerbaijan to expand the country’s market for Halal products.

Azerbaijan has a predominantly Muslim population.

The Philippines sees the Eurasian country as an alternative source of fuel since oil and natural gas account for around 90 percent of Azerbaijan’s total exports.

Othel V. Campos

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor

historically had higher delinquencies than corporate loans.

“However, we expect the quality of consumer loans to improve due to better availability of data on the credit history of borrowers. The nonperforming assets in the banking system remain low indicating an upswing in the credit cycle amid robust macroeconomic conditions,” it said.

S&P said it expected the impact of the transition to Philippine Financial Reporting Standard 9 to be moderate and manageable, given favorable credit conditions. It said Philippine banks were well prepared for adoption with adequate capital buffers (common equity tier 1 ratio of about 14 percent) and provision coverage ratio of 120 percent built up in recent years.

S&P said, however, that the Philippines’ resilience was weak due to the country’s low income levels. It said the country’s weak payment culture and rule of law resulted in high credit risk.

Julito G. Rada

tions, investments and acquisitions.

He will also take the lead in implementing programs and business strategies to expand the company into becoming one of the most diversified conglomerates in the country.

Prior to the appointment, the younger Tan who studied Business Administration at the University of Asia and the Pacific has been the conglomerate’s executive director since September 2016. He also hold directorships in other AGI companies such as Emperador Inc., Global-Estate Resorts Inc., Empire East Land Holdings Inc. and Golden Arches Development Corp., the holder of the master franchise of McDonald’s Philippines.

As AGI’s executive director, Kevin Tan was in charge of the company’s external affairs, representing the conglomerate in various private and public functions.

Keven Tan has been recognized for his great contribution in catapulting Eastwood City, Megaworld’s first town-

ship development, to fame. With this, he also successfully led the masterplanning of other townships and mixed-use communities around the country, as well as land acquisition and property investments, over the last two decades.

He currently heads Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, the property giant’s own brand for mall and commercial developments. Under his leadership, the company was able to launch 15 full-scale malls in its various townships all over the country.

Kevin Tan was the executive director of Emperador Inc. where he was actively involved in its overseas expansion.

Kevin Tan was also appointed last year as president of the conglomerate’s newly-formed infrastructure arm, Infracorp. Development Inc. which obtained the original proponent status for the proposed Skytrain monorail system which will connect the business districts of Makati City and Taguig City.

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

PAL seeks permit to resume Manila to New Delhi flights

Monday, June 4, 2018

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.5940

Japan

Yen

0.009137

0.4806

UK

Pound

1.334200

70.1709

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127466

6.7039

Switzerland

Franc

1.011941

53.2220

Canada

Dollar

0.772022

40.6037

Singapore

Dollar

0.747217

39.2991

Australia

Dollar

0.756000

39.7611

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652872

139.5251

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

14.0243

Brunei

Dollar

0.744435

39.1528

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.031260

1.6441

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

14.3214 61.3299

Euro

Euro

1.166100

Korea

Won

0.000934

0.0491

China

Yuan

0.155775

8.1928

India

Rupee

0.014928

0.7851

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.251446

13.2246

New Zealand

Dollar

0.697900

36.7054

By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Airlines is seeking a permit from the Civil Aeronautics Board to resume flights between Manila and New Delhi, India.

The flag carrier controlled by tycoon Lucio Tan filed with the CAB a request for resumption of flights to India, in accordance with the existing air services agreement between the governments of the two countries.

PAL flights to New Delhi were stopped in June 2013 amid low demand from local travelers. No Philippine carriers fly between Manila and New Delhi at present. PAL also plans to mount flights to Mumbai, India.

PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said the airline would deploy A321 NEOs for New Delhi and possibly Mumbai flights.

PAL’s six new Airbus A321 NEO longrange aircraft are scheduled to be delivered between May and December 2018.

“We eagerly anticipate the entry into service of our first four Airbus A350900 aircraft in the second half of 2018.

The fuel-efficient A350s will feature our most advanced tri-class cabin ever, designed for long-haul non-stop flights to London and New York,” Bautista said.

He said two more A350-900s arriving in 2019 would enable the airline to serve other US cities and/or a second destination in Europe.

“We will take delivery of five more Q400 NGs in 2018, for further domestic expansion and refleeting. PAL will continue retiring older A340s and Q400s, a process that began in 2017,” Bautista said.

STATE-RUN Land Bank of the Philippines, the fourth-largest lender in terms of assets, said Monday net income in the first four months climbed 26 percent to P5.068 billion from P4.038 billion it earned a year ago.

LandBank president and chief executive Alex Buenaventura said in a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III the bank’s four-month net income also exceeded the P5.042billion target for the period by 1 percent, or P26 million.

“The bank’s robust performance provides us the tools in fulfilling our goal of providing financial services to more borrowers in the countryside, particularly in the agricultural sector.

We will continue to expand lending opportunities for small farmers, fishers and micro entrepreneurs to help make growth truly inclusive for all Filipinos,” Buenaventura said in his report.

Gross revenues went up 30 percent in the four-month period to P20.43 billion from P15.77 billion registered in the same period last year.

Interest income on loans increased 30 percent to P10.553 billion as of endApril from P8.132 billion a year earlier. This accounted for the significant growth in LandBank’s net income.

Total loan portfolio expanded 37 percent or P197 billion.

LandBank said it also posted a higher income from investments at P6.425 billion, up by P301 million or 5 percent from last year’s P6.124 billion.

Interest income on government and private securities reached P1.302 billion, while gains from the sale, redemption or derecognition of non-trading financial assets amounted to P123 million.

Dividends received from equity investments declined P196 million, while income from financial assets held for trading decreased P928 million.

Del Monte cuts IPO price to get more investors

DEL Monte Philippines Inc. reduced the price for its initial public offering to as low as P18 apiece from the original target of P29.88, according to one of the underwriters handling the deal.

BDO Capital and Investments Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said in a text message DMPI’s adjusted offer price range was now between P18 and P23 per share.

DMPI, at this price range could raise between P10.5 billion and P13.5 billion in proceeds from the sale of up to 587.437 million in secondary shares. The final offering price will be set on June 6.

The offering period will be on June 8 to 18 and the listing date tentatively scheduled on June 25.

DMPI said the shares consist of secondary shares to be sold by shareholder Central American Resources Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Del Monte Pacific Resources Limited.

Del Monte Pacific Resources is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Del Monte Pacific Ltd., which is already a listed company.

Net proceeds from the offering will be used to partially prepay/repay certain facilities extended by DMPL and to refinance certain financial obligation of the DMPL group to significantly reduce its leverage position.

Aside from BDO Capital, DMPL also tapped BPI Capital Corp. and China Bank Capital Corp. as the joint domestic lead underwriters and DBS Bank Ltd. and Nomura as joint international lead underwriters.

DMPL plans to sell up to 70 percent of the offer shares to domestic investors and the remaining 30 percent to foreign institutional and retail investors.

DMPI is primarily engaged in the production and sale of food and beverage products in the Philippines under the Del Monte brand such as fruit juices and juice drinks, packaged pineapple and mixed fruit, various tomato, spaghetti sauces and culinary mixes and the export of these products under other brands. Jenniffer B. Austria

B2

Business

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market retreats; URC, Jollibee fall

T

HE stock market fell Mon- driven by higher food prices on supply problems. day on cautious trading SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon ahead of the release of the Henry Sy dropped 3 percent to P879, inflation data for May.

The Philippine Stock Exchange declined 50.65 points, or 0.7 percent, to 7,579.61 on a value turnover of P5.5 billion. Losers beat gainers, 113 to 72, with 58 issues unchanged.

Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, slumped 6.2 percent to P120.80 on concerns higher consumer prices would crimp sales, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain, lost P1.2 percent to P280.40.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will release today the inflation rate figures. The Finance Department said over the weekend inflation rate in May likely accelerated to a new five-year high of 4.9 percent from 4.5 percent in April,

while banking unit BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, shed 2.3 percent to P128.

The rest of Asian markets, however, rallied Monday following a forecastbusting US jobs report that reaffirmed the world’s top economy is improving, while investors were also cheered by the formation of new governments in Italy and Spain.

However, while the week has got off to a positive start, there are lingering worries about a possible global trade war after the US hit Canada, Mexico and the European Union with steel and aluminum tariffs.

Focus is turning to a Group of Seven summit in Quebec later in the

week, where US President Donald Trump is expected to go head-tohead with other world leaders over the levies, while China has warned Washington off imposing any measures against it.

The EU and Canada have filed complaints at the World Trade Organization, while the US Treasury Secretary faced severe criticism at a G7 finance ministers’ gathering at the weekend.

All three main indexes on Wall Street ended sharply higher Friday after data showed the US created more jobs than expected in May, while the unemployment rate is at a near five-decade low. Separate figures showed US factory activity also beat estimates.

The gains in New York filtered through to Asia, where Tokyo ended 1.4 percent higher, while Hong Kong was

up 1.7 percent and Shanghai finished 0.5 percent higher.

Sydney rose 0.6 percent, Seoul gained 0.4 percent and Taipei put on 1.5 percent, with Singapore more than one percent higher.

The dollar also built on Friday’s surge against the yen as the strong jobs report also lifted expectations for another interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve next week.

The euro held its gains after Italy’s populist parties agreed to form a government, ending days of uncertainty that had fueled fears of another election that would essentially be considered a referendum on its euro future.

A change of government in Spain also provided some support to the single currency, with the unpopular and corruption-plagued Mariano Rajoy replaced

by Socialist Pedro Sanchez. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 8,650 98.65 816,750 2.91 101,000 128 1,845,390 1.55 112,000 34.15 158,900 6.7 300 16.52 31,100 15.3 616,000 3.59 4,000 9 800 1.51 2,000 900 750 0.52 848,000 79.8 4,985,320 1.06 618,000 11.98 5,600 20.6 800 50.85 293,360 208 260 105.3 50 86 300 37.5 86,200 191 165,680 1,940 50 89 9,600

510,273 80,565,318.50 281,510 239,396,356 167,850 5,413,690 2,010 514,208 9,369,100 14,200 6,773 3,020 675,000 440,260 399,940,786 660,320 67,996 16,525 14,920,353 54,080 5,265 25,800 3,233,170 31,683,119 97,000 854,454.50

383,500 6,995,479 -51,747,571 -293,160 -4,461,080 -25,564,580.50 -11,710 -14,353,459 -2,966,250 -8,675,607 -68,537.50

38.5 14.06 0.58 1.24 19.52 0.224 114 3.1 16.3 49.5 23.9 52.05 61.2 1.9 5 8.8 10.86 15.8 11.5 7.15 5.25 1.65 14.72 61.8 19.96 8.75 15.14 2.01 279.2 4.99 27 12.3 21.9 333 0.18 6.55 2.2 4.19 8.77 5.75 7.74 1.39 12 48.1 6 4.61 2.52 3.62 1.78 12.8 66.6 5.5 0.13 0.9 120.5 2.51 2.91 0.79

INDUSTRIAL 38.8 495,800 14.16 748,000 0.59 607,000 1.29 565,000 19.98 48,700 0.228 4,140,000 114 560 3.19 33,506,000 16.3 2,581,800 49.95 470,150 24.15 6,700 53 26,910 61.2 120 1.92 140,000 5 7,000 9.3 41,900 10.86 505,200 16 745,200 11.6 3,700 7.17 217,000 5.34 521,700 1.77 6,000 14.98 157,900 62 150,000 20.65 175,600 8.8 5,900 15.2 1,713,600 2.09 362,000 280.4 1,839,120 5 235,300 27 26,400 12.32 30,900 22.3 733,000 334 333,520 0.18 550,000 6.55 21,000 2.3 11,239,000 4.37 77,000 8.95 574,000 5.95 133,400 7.74 70,500 1.39 71,000 12 335,800 48.15 388,500 6 39,300 4.61 22,000 2.69 1,391,000 3.7 123,000 1.85 421,000 12.86 221,500 66.95 45,600 5.5 1,435,600 0.13 9,360,000 0.93 65,000 120.8 1,638,270 2.65 37,000 2.94 3,776,000 0.8 1,490,000

19,227,975 10,649,928 354,410 715,270 958,655 945,010 64,088 105,390,730 42,083,340 23,471,576 161,395 1,426,192 7,344 267,420 35,000 376,211 5,501,696 11,947,972 42,684 1,556,328 2,777,961 10,500 2,357,018 9,321,322 3,683,914 51,780 26,254,126 737,950 519,499,114 1,177,320 713,945 381,920 16,383,125 111,381,974 99,000 137,563 26,063,650 335,500 5,129,628 784,789 548,891 98,990 4,059,996 18,822,925 235,800 101,420 3,618,500 454,400 771,140 2,852,888 3,049,726 7,901,397 1,223,170 59,360 200,895,421 95,270 11,207,940 1,195,060

2,079,490 1,135,986 62,000 199,800 -5,478,500 21,190 -1,401,320 -324,492 -2,609,856 3,302,726 -53,864 1,202,291 426,350 -174,978.50 -18,480 -3,087,054 -42,992,568 2,735 10,874 -466,740 36,531,380 34,590 2,027,075.00 -89,857 -542,648 59,970 -3,345,130 -14,412,640 72,000 50,710 -18,300 704,328 382,144 17,050 -131,576,979 40,160.00 883,610 8,000

0.218 62.65 13.12 6.17 0.69 0.71 968 6.38 10.92 7.65 0.196 985 6.5 58.05 5.2 5.72 0.57 4.2 20.35 0.58 5.03 0.037 1.41 2.92 2.66 142.5 905 0.8 1.6 570 266 0.231 0.22

0.2 60.6 12.98 6.15 0.67 0.68 945 6.2 10.7 7.52 0.196 970 6.5 56.1 5.2 5.72 0.55 4 19.8 0.55 4.84 0.036 1.25 2.85 2.66 140.7 875 0.8 1.6 515 260 0.219 0.22

HOLDING FIRMS 0.2 19,960,000 61.05 1,309,580 13 5,173,200 6.16 46,400 0.67 2,562,000 0.69 341,000 968 165,210 6.3 1,535,200 10.92 2,597,700 7.65 4,000 0.196 300,000 979 40,440 6.5 1,000 58.05 1,076,040 5.2 2,100 5.72 3,600 0.56 395,000 4.15 20,705,000 19.82 872,600 0.58 205,000 5.03 20,887,000 0.036 9,400,000 1.39 12,755,000 2.87 554,000 2.66 15,000 141 169,280 879 178,650 0.8 20,000 1.6 36,000 520 140 266 190 0.228 980,000 0.22 10,000

4,095,700 80,135,944.50 67,399,328 285,819 1,738,670 235,390 158,638,590 9,668,391 28,120,340 30,574 58,800 39,504,945 6,500 61,800,244.50 10,920 20,592 219,710 84,916,960 17,511,837 116,790 103,329,530 338,500 16,455,780 1,591,010 39,900 23,900,297 157,723,305 16,000 57,600 73,970 50,040 218,300 2,200

259,010 -13,946,643 -21,536,288 -206,920.00 31,426,565 -84,695 5,052,538 9,154 -11,549,150 7,411,206 257,630 -3,671,998 37,636,210 -126,000 -83,500 -8,694,380 -42,274,575 -

7.33 1.02 2.05 0.79 41.15 3.45 4.71 5.9 6 0.44 0.96 0.226 0.44 29.45 1.63 1.28 1.14 4.92 0.63

7.26 1 2.01 0.78 40.2 3.37 4.68 5.8 6 0.43 0.96 0.223 0.42 28.2 1.58 1.25 1.08 4.85 0.61

2,280,632 2,413,520 79,130 395,510 232,118,120 157,540 1,775,890 6,438 12,000 672,650 30,720 704,270 30,600 20,943,750 11,654,220 750,860 4,030,870 34,082,930 11,964,270

102,236 -28,338,305 -6,800 -94,170 -30,450 -2,158,290 1,338,960 75,600 7,938,660 51,850

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

57.8 98.3 2.75 130.9 1.49 33.9 6.7 16.56 14.92 3.51 8.39 1.51 900 0.53 79.85 1.07 12.38 20.65 50.8 208 105.3 86 37.95 194.5 1,940 89

59 99.05 2.91 132 1.58 34.15 6.7 16.56 15.32 3.59 9 1.51 900 0.53 80.6 1.08 12.38 20.7 51.25 208 105.3 86 37.95 195 1,940 89.2

57.8 98.05 2.75 127 1.49 33.8 6.7 16.52 14.92 3.51 8.39 1.51 900 0.51 79.15 1.06 11.98 20.6 50.75 208 105.3 86 37.45 190.2 1,940 89

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LMG CHEMICALS 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 ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SMC FOODANDBEV SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

39 14.4 0.58 1.28 20.05 0.228 114.6 3.1 16.3 49.9 23.9 53 61.2 1.91 5 9.3 10.94 15.98 11.5 7.17 5.35 1.65 14.98 64 20.95 8.75 15.6 2.05 284 5.03 28 12.6 22.3 334.6 0.18 6.57 2.22 4.19 8.77 6.07 7.81 1.4 12.72 49.7 6 4.61 2.7 3.65 1.78 12.8 66.8 5.56 0.132 0.97 129 2.62 2.99 0.81

39 14.4 0.6 1.29 20.05 0.232 114.6 3.23 16.3 50 24.15 53 61.2 1.92 5 9.6 10.98 16.2 11.86 7.3 5.36 1.77 14.98 64 21.8 8.8 15.6 2.09 284.2 5.08 28 12.6 22.45 334.6 0.18 6.57 2.34 4.39 8.98 6.07 7.81 1.4 12.72 49.7 6 4.61 2.7 3.78 1.87 13.1 67 5.6 0.132 0.97 129.9 2.65 3.04 0.81

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

0.21 61.5 13.04 6.17 0.69 0.69 955 6.2 10.8 7.65 0.196 985 6.5 57.9 5.2 5.72 0.57 4.1 20.35 0.58 4.84 0.037 1.37 2.92 2.66 142.5 905 0.8 1.6 570 261 0.231 0.22

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CEBU PROP A CENTURY PROP CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED

7.33 1.02 2.01 0.79 40.65 3.37 4.71 5.8 6 0.44 0.96 0.225 0.44 29.05 1.62 1.27 1.1 4.91 0.63

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.46 0.52 2.69 20.7 2.01 3.29 37.2 1.08 10.56 0.8 6.94

0.46 0.52 2.84 20.8 2.05 3.29 37.55 1.1 10.58 0.83 6.94

0.425 0.5 2.6 20.3 2 3.25 36.8 1.08 10.1 0.79 6.69

0.435 0.51 2.6 20.5 2.05 3.26 37.45 1.1 10.2 0.79 6.9

2,040,000 3,488,000 9,555,000 2,186,800 134,000 28,000 9,466,300 275,000 978,300 27,000 3,503,300

892,500 1,773,440 25,997,560 44,848,155 269,520 91,370 352,346,600 300,330 9,981,552 21,630 23,985,503

-80,980.00 -14,605,260 48,140 39,000 106,039,055 118,904.00 -12,459,174

2GO GROUP ABS CBN APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN BRIA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER 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 PHIL RACING PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

15.2 26.6 0.46 0.046 12.98 10.5 0.054 88.9 8.8 7.5 7.29 2.27 18.42 950 1,598 5.69 311 3.8 2.15 83.35 0.112 1.36 3.65 15.5 4.29 1.05 25.65 3.96 5.88 3 2.2 2.98 17.12 9.9 11.34 9.56 8.11 129 5.48 1,295 1.01 0.355 47 89 8.2 2.14 1.17 0.43 4.78 0.81 11.46

15.6 26.7 0.475 0.047 13 10.74 0.054 89 8.8 7.57 7.5 2.27 18.42 994 1,605 5.69 311 3.8 2.15 85.55 0.114 1.38 3.79 15.5 4.29 1.08 25.75 4.1 5.88 3.05 5.5 5.45 18.78 9.92 11.78 9.56 8.11 129 5.48 1,320 1.01 0.365 47.1 89 8.68 2.16 1.19 0.435 4.81 0.83 11.76

15.1 26.2 0.46 0.045 12.98 10.3 0.053 88.3 8.8 7.26 7.29 2.27 18 950 1,561 5.63 302.2 3.67 2.15 82.85 0.112 1.36 3.65 15.5 4.12 1.04 25.5 3.94 5.6 2.99 1.51 2.76 17.12 9.74 11.34 9.13 8.11 125 5.4 1,283 0.99 0.35 46.75 88.5 8.01 2.12 1.17 0.425 4.78 0.81 11.46

SERVICES 15.2 26.6 0.475 0.045 13 10.32 0.054 88.5 8.8 7.26 7.5 2.27 18.24 994 1,605 5.68 310 3.68 2.15 85 0.112 1.38 3.75 15.5 4.17 1.06 25.55 3.94 5.6 3 3.5 3.4 18.78 9.81 11.76 9.2 8.11 125 5.46 1,302 0.99 0.365 47 88.5 8.25 2.13 1.18 0.425 4.8 0.83 11.7

11,000 23,900 2,080,000 2,900,000 216,700 12,540,900 8,700,000 77,560 2,600 474,000 500 1,000 110,300 8,300 24,295 336,500 12,030 588,000 2,000 4,863,450 870,000 22,000 17,000 100 485,000 587,000 199,800 40,000 1,266,000 208,000 33,207,000 5,288,000 1,000 4,052,900 1,700 44,800 200 54,130 402,100 51,450 2,230,000 530,000 997,600 166,940 802,400 531,000 137,000 8,020,000 12,519,000 965,000 4,557,100

167,180 632,185 969,500 132,700 2,813,200 131,390,958 467,370 6,866,945.50 22,880 3,515,521 3,708 2,270 1,997,340 7,967,040 38,902,120 1,900,491 3,690,140 2,180,650 4,300 408,734,664.50 97,640 30,320 63,730 1,550 2,008,950 616,310 5,104,085 160,720 7,180,754 623,890 125,031,800 18,668,580 18,614 39,768,155 19,874 410,292 1,622 6,766,400 2,188,596 67,162,115 2,230,690 187,650 46,883,020 14,851,024.50 6,632,378 1,134,100 162,080 3,435,050 60,098,060 784,190 53,201,698

3,060 37,644 -37,599,506 -2,757,179 14,550 -3,676 -28,500 25,843,830 -260,070 -12,478,208.50 -133,590.00 2,692,555 -5,324,678 -6,020 -609,240 -614,493 -308,414 -1,873,750 -262,492 24,109,150 -77,800 23,404,520 -572,282 -103,790 -54,860,800 30,713,890

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK CENTURY PEAK FERRONICKEL LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

0.0029 1.61 4.29 19.98 1.7 2.44 0.134 0.135 0.0082 1.51 4.82 1.15 0.54 0.88 0.012 0.012 0.011 5.29 13.02 28.75 0.0062

0.0029 1.66 4.29 21.5 1.7 2.44 0.137 0.135 0.0082 1.52 4.82 1.15 0.54 0.89 0.012 0.013 0.012 5.4 13.98 29.2 0.0062

0.0027 1.58 4.14 19.5 1.68 2.25 0.134 0.132 0.0081 1.51 4.74 1.07 0.54 0.87 0.011 0.012 0.011 5.29 12.72 28.5 0.0062

MINING & OIL 0.0029 20,000,000 1.63 3,731,000 4.2 45,000 21.5 80,400 1.7 2,744,000 2.39 2,253,000 0.135 730,000 0.135 680,000 0.0081 3,000,000 1.52 214,000 4.74 1,245,000 1.1 17,000 0.54 18,000 0.89 324,000 0.012 2,800,000 0.013 1,000,000 0.012 4,300,000 5.31 44,300 13.78 7,368,400 29 1,890,100 0.0062 7,000,000

57,300 6,068,690 192,810 1,652,789 4,661,340 5,363,980 97,960 91,770 24,400 324,100 5,934,010 18,420 9,720 282,240 33,200 12,900 51,300 235,550 100,353,054 54,793,490 43,400

-8,340 -98,400 -1,668,660.00 9,997,586 -12,492,930 -

PREFERRED AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FPH PREF C GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SFI PREF SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

499 515 101 515 5.45 970 982 97.5 1.05 1,021 103 111 2 992 79 75.35 76.4 76.25 78

499 515 101 515 5.46 970 982 97.5 1.05 1,021 103 111 2 992 79 75.35 76.5 76.25 78

499 515 100.5 515 5.45 970 980 97.5 1.03 1,021 103 111 2 992 79 75.3 76.4 76.25 78

499 515 100.5 515 5.46 970 980 97.5 1.05 1,021 103 111 2 992 79 75.3 76.4 76.25 78

3,517,950 8,554,150 1,035,175 3,553,500 5,037,915 58,200 98,100 48,750 822,490 1,021,000 1,030 1,776,000 2,000 5,456,000 3,950,790 632,652.50 2,179,800 190,625 546,000

-5,012,280 0 -

LR WARRANT

2.48

2.51

2.4

WARRANTS 2.5 531,000

1,294,090

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.09 3.24

5.09 3.25

4.99 3.2

5 3.23

2,943,845 943,970

-25,338 28,870

FIRST METRO ETF

116.5

116.8

116

519,642

44,289

USD DMPL A2

10

10

10

7,000

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.27 1.01 2.05 0.79 41 3.4 4.69 5.9 6 0.43 0.96 0.225 0.42 28.4 1.6 1.26 1.09 4.92 0.62

313,600 2,392,000 39,000 502,000 5,681,600 46,000 378,000 1,100 2,000 1,550,000 32,000 3,140,000 70,000 729,000 7,237,000 595,000 3,610,000 6,967,000 19,380,000

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SHARES

10,892,531 84,713,973 102,656,413

PROPERTY

90,486,118

SERVICES

114,377,514

MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

60,501,216 464,512,923

SME

7,050 16,610 10,250 6,900 922,700 60 100 500 791,000 1,000 10 16,000 1,000 5,500 50,010 8,400 28,500 2,500 7,000

587,600 293,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116.1 4,470 10

DDS

700

VALUE 1,872.27 (down) 17.49 812,721,258.75 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,657.83 (down0 196.34 1,221,890,195.163 HOLDING FIRMS 7,477.87 (down) 85.73 1,095,511,100.17 PROPERTY 3,799.81 (up) 21.63 SERVICES 1,479.24 (up) 7.48 1,013,308,912.51 MINING & OIL 10,041.19 (up) 99.72 1,150,860,064.20 PSEI 7,579.61 (down) 50.65 180,334,645.957 All Shares Index 4,615.18 (down) 23.54 5,479,034,378.25 Gainers: 72; Losers: 113; Unchanged: 58; Total: 243

D&L seeking tie-ups with multinational companies

By Jenniffer B. Austria FOOD ingredients and plastics producer D&L Industries Inc. is seeking more partnerships with large multinational companies planning to establish a regional presence in Asia.

D&L president Alvin Lao said during the annual stockholders’ meeting the partnerships similar with that of US food manufacturer Ventura Foods would allow the company to expand the export business faster than its rapidly growing domestic operations.

“There are large multinational food companies who want to have a presence in, or plan to expand to Asia, but they do not want to invest in putting up manufacturing plants or maintain local offices. We can represent them. We can be the distributor for their products in Asia or we can manufacture their products for them,” Lao said.

D&L earlier planned to secure half of the revenues from its overseas business from the current 22 percent.

Lao said achieving this goal had been a challenge since the group’s domestic business had also been expanding significantly amid the strong Philippine economy.

Lao said D&L’s partnership with Ventura enabled it to export products to China, Hong Kong, Japan and other countries in the Asia Pacific region. Its other partnerships also export to the US and Europe in addition to Asia.

Meanwhile, D&L declared a regular cash dividend of P0.205 per share plus a special cash dividend of P0.055 to shareholders of record as of June 20. It set the record date on June 15 and the payment date on July 9, 2018.

Shareholders will receive a total of P0.26 in dividends per share, or a yield of 2.4 percent based on the company’s June 1 closing price of P10.94.

This year’s dividend, amounting to P1.86 billion or an increase of 11 percent from last year’s P1.68 billion, is equivalent to 64 percent of last year’s recurring income.

ABS-CBN, GMA both claim higher television ratings

By Darwin G. Amojelar ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. both claimed higher television ratings nationwide in May. ABS-CBN said it continued to draw more viewers nationwide compared with other TV networks in May, as it garnered an average audience share of 45 percent against GMA’s 32 percent, according to data from Kantar Media.

ABS-CBN also claimed leadership in all areas such as Metro Manila, where it scored an average audience share of 41 percent against GMA’s 26 percent and in Mega Manila, where it gained 36 percent against GMA’s 34 percent.

ABS-CBN, which airs on Channel 2 on free TV, also topped other networks in Total Luzon where it got 41 percent against GMA’s 35 percent, in Total Visayas where it garnered 54 percent against GMA’s 25 percent, and in Total Mindanao where it hit 52 percent against GMA’s 30 percent.

ABS-CBN remained undisputed in the primetime block, where it scored an average audience share of 49 percent, beating GMA’s 32 percent.

Meanwhile, GMA said it continued to post higher television ratings in May compared with rival ABS-CBN based on the latest data from the industry’s widely-trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

For the full month of May (with May 27 to 31 based on overnight data), GMA remained as the viewers’ preferred channel after posting a total day people audience share average of 39.8 percent in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM), beating ABS-CBN’s 38.3 percent.

The network, which airs on Channel 7 on free TV, managed to top NUTAM’s morning block with 35.9 percent people audience share versus ABS-CBN’s 33.2 percent. GMA also led in the afternoon block with 42.1 percent, ahead of competition’s 38.8 percent.

GMA likewise ruled across all day parts in the viewer-rich areas of Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 72 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country.

Entertainment

Songs that defined JANINE BERDIN’s ‘Tanghalan’ victory

B3

Dingdong Dantes shares a sweet photo of him and daughter Zia during their recent trip to Spain.

Dingdong’s turn to work behind the camera

S

IXTEEN-YEAR-OLD student Janine Berdin of Cebu earned a standing ovation from the judges and the madlang people at the Aliw Theater after she sang a medley of songs by Bamboo namely “Noypi,” “Tatsulok,” and “Hallelujah.”

Prior to that performance, she sang Sampaguita’s “Nosi Balasi” before being praised and dubbed by judge and pop rock princess as “the new sound of OPM.” The youngest in the competition, Janine was also the first to enter Saturday’s grand showdown during the week-long grand finals, and was an early favorite of viewers and netizens to win the singing contest. Her performances were also frequently raved by the judges, and have racked up millions of views on YouTube.

During the “Tawag ng Tanghalan’s” grand finals over the weekend, Janine shone the brightest and became the latest singer to be named the grand champion in It’s Showtime singing competition.

Janine recorded the highest total average score of 96.11 percent from the combined hurado scores and text and online votes, thrashing other grand finalists Ato Arman (74.27 percent) of Bukidnon and Steven Paysu (61.80 percent) of California, USA. As the grand champion, Janine won an ultimate vacation package from 2GO, a musical gadgets package from JB Music, a livelihood package from Siomai house, premium television sets from HKTV, management contracts, a brand new house and lot from Camella, P2 million, and a trophy created by renowned Filipino visual artist Toym Imao.

Meanwhile, second placer received P500,000, while third placer Steven was awarded P250,000.

Many Filipinos watched “Tawag ng Tanghalan” name its newest grand champion, as it immediately topped the list of trending topics on Twitter worldwide. Janine’s name also made it to the second spot on the list.

Netizens also watched the competition on YouTube. Its livestreamed video on the site racked up more than 100,000 concurrent views – the highest-ever recorded by a Kapamilya program or an ABS-CBN news coverage on YouTube.

This is after the singing competition’s official Facebook page recently earned one million likes.

The votes amassed by this year’s week-long “Tawag ng Tanghalan” grand finals also exceeded the figure recorded by last year’s grand finals, as Filipinos all over the country and around the world campaigned for, supported, and voted for their favorites to win the latest season.

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018

Diminutive chanteuse Janine Berdin of Cebu sings her way to be this year's 'Tawag ng Tanghalan' grand champion.

Four classic Lino Brocka films you can livestream now IWANT TV takes you on a trip down the annals of Filipino cinema with four of the late great director Lino Brocka’s films in honor of his death anniversary on May 21.

His 1976 film Insiang was the first Filipino film shown at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. His succeeding films followed its lead and earned various nominations in the festival in the coming years. In 1986, he served as a jury member for the same award-giving body.

Brocka passed away in 1991 and was posthumously awarded as a National Artist for Film, but his legacy lives on in his films and left an impact on Philippine Cinema.

1. Jaguar (1979)

Philip Salvador plays Poldo, a humble young man who works as a security guard to support his family but dreams of a richer, more lavish life in higher society.

He is dragged into the world of corruption, power, and crime, when Sonny, a rich playboy, hires him as his bodyguard after Poldo saves him. Things take a turn for the worst when Poldo falls for his boss’ girlfriend, despite his loyalty to him.

The film was nominated for the Palme d’Or award at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival, the highest prize awarded at the festival. It also won Best Picture and Best Director at the 1980 FAMAS Awards and the Gawad Urian Awards in the same year.

2. Ang Tatay Kong Nanay (1978) The legendary Comedy King Dolphy plays Coring, a transvestite, in Brocka’s Ang Tatay Kong Nanay and brings his signature comedic timing. Coring becomes father and mother when he adopts his ex-lover’s son Nonoy.

He tries to mask his homosexuality and true self to spare Nonoy from shame and embarrassment.

Watch Dolphy’s emotional portrayal as he navigates parenthood until he loses Nonoy to his bio-

logical mother who promises to give him a better life.

The critically acclaimed movie gained fame and attention for Brocka’s portrayal of homosexuality, and the movie won three FAMAS awards: Nino Muhlach for Best Actor, and Dolphy and Melissa Delgado for Best Supporting Actor and Actress.

3. Kailan Mahuhugasan ang Kasalanan? (1989) Lorna Tolentino, Richard Gomez, Eddie Garcia, Helen Gamboa, and Pilar Pilapil star in this lesser known Brocka film on family and its complicated dynamics. Monica (Tolentino), a young attorney, grew up as the apple of her parents’ eyes, despite their strained relationship with each other.

When Dona Beatriz is mysteriously killed, their new cook Adora (Gamboa) is accused of her murder, but Monica’s fiancé Robert steps up to defend her, believing in her innocence, while Monica takes the role of prosecutor. As the case unravels, family secrets are revealed and they discover Adora is Monica’s mother.

4. Burgis (1981) Gabby Conception is Juni, a spoiled, rich young man who has once again flunked out of a prestigious school. His exasperated parents send him to an “ordinary” college (the only one that accepts him, after a bribe) to teach him a lesson and give him his last chance to prove his worth. He starts to fall for a classmate Nedy, (Amy Austria) despite already having a rich and snobby girlfriend, Sheryl (Isabel Rivas).

Catch these movies and more on iWant TV. Viewers can watch anytime, anywhere by creating an account on iwantv. com.ph and by downloading the latest iWant TV App version from Google Play and the App Store. iWant TV is available to all ABS-CBNmobile, Smart, Sun, Talk ‘n Text, PLDT Home, Globe and TM subscribers.

Visit iwantv.com.ph to access iWant TV’s content.

AFTER his movie Sid and Aya opposite Anne Curtis, Dingdong Dantes is excited with his upcoming projects.

From entertaining viewers on the big screen and the boob tube, the 37-year-old actor will work behind the camera by directing an episode for Tadhana, the drama anthology hosted by his wife Marian Rivera on GMA. Also, he’ll produce a number of films under his own production outfit, Agosto Dos Pictures.

“It’s been awhile since our last offering. This time around, I’m in partnership with other producers so it’s something to look forward to,” he says.

In spite of this development, the actor stresses that his prime focus for the year is his adorable daughter, Zia. “She’ll be turning three by November so I plan to spend more quality time with her and Yan. Actually, it still boils down to family no matter what. No matter how busy I am, my life surrounds around them. Whether it’s showbiz-related or community work, my family remains my priority. That’s how much I value them,” Dingdong states.

Many admire him and Marian’s decision to take turns in taking care of Zia. “We make it a point that there’s one left with our daughter when the other is busy with work. Like now, Yan has many projects. We’re grateful when there are offers for us. We support each other. It’s just a matter of setting your priorities without sacrificing your job. It’s very important that a couple talks and agrees on issues where then family is concerned,” avers Dong.

Curiously, does he and Marian consider the idea of having another baby at this point?

“Well…hopefully. Although there’s no rush or cause for alarm. If God will give us, then Marian and I will be very thankful. As of now, we’re just enjoying the moments we have with our cute bundle of joy.”

This early, many ask if he and Marian will allow their daughter to enter show business since this early, signs show that Zia has lots of potential.

“First things first—she has to study.

Maybe she can try showbiz at a certain stage.”

Meanwhile, Dingdong has been reaping accolades of late for his performance in the Star Cinema offering Seven Sundays. He has already won Best Actor and Film Actor of the Year, respectively for the said vehicle in the recent Gawad Pasado and Guillermo Mendoza Box-office Awards while in the upcoming FAMAS, he is one of the favorite Best Actor nominees.

“I’m happy and proud of course. A nomination is already a huge thing for me. I owe it to our director and the whole cast, particularly Aga Muhlach. While shooting that movie, he let us feel that he’s our eldest brother in each scene which made things more realistic. For me, he’s the best actor,” ends Dingdong. *** Kapuso tween star Jillian Ward announces that she’s already prepared to be in a love team now that she’s 13.

“Yes, I’m ready since I know that it’s part of my job as an actress. But that’s just professionally. I don’t want to have any romantic involvement with anyone as of now,” she says.

Does she have any specific male young star in mind whom she prefers to become her love team?

“I’m not really that choosy. As long as he knows how to act and our chemistry is evident from the start. I want to experiment on many characters that would bring out the best in me.”

Jillian admits she opts for older actors than stars of her age. One of these is the Pambansang Bae Alden Richards “I want to work with him. We’ve known each other for so long now. We were able to work in some guest appearances in programs but not really on a regular soap so I hope we’ll be able to star in one soon,” Jillian states.

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MstandardLIFe

B4

tuesday, june 5, 2018

Life

health and environment

A pregnant lady’s experience drinking coffee

A then-pregnant Jessica Tan Gan enjoys a delicious cup of her own mix of Almond Milk Kaffea Latte.

p

ReGNaNT women are often told to drastically cut down on their coffee intake, while some are advised against drinking it altogether.

Jessica Tan Gan likes to indulge in a cup of joe and she was able to regularly enjoy it even during her pregnancy.

She gave birth last may and her pregnancy certainly didn’t hinder her from enjoying Kaffea, which is safe for pregnant women. It is vegan, gluten-free, chemical-free, paraben-free, siliconfree, and halal certified. “pregnant women can have a cup of coffee a day. I don’t normally drink coffee habitually but I do drink Kaffea every other day or when I feel like it,” shared Jessica.

She first got a taste of Kaffea at a friend’s house a few months ago. “This is so yummy!” were Jessica’s only words after her first taste of Kaffea. “I treat it like a dessert or treat when I’m looking for something sweet.”

Kaffea packs the aroma of brewed coffee especially when hot water is poured into a cup of the blend. The smell stays with you as you put the cup to your lips and experience the bittersweet coffee mixed with coconut sugar and creamer.

It is so tasty that Jessica even made a delicious drink based on this homegrown coffee blend brand.

“I’ve created a recipe called the almond milk Kaffea Latte. Recipe is on my website www.jestangan.com. It just came organically. I wanted to make my own homemade almond milk. Then I decided to add healthy fats like Laurin CocomCT and Flax Oil for added nutri-

tion and to keep me full longer,” related Jessica.

“Then when I started drinking Kaffea and the summer heat started to turn on, I experimented and added a sachet or two to taste. That’s how I created my almond milk Kaffea Latte—it’s the perfectly delicious, creamy, healthy, and filling breakfast drink.” and like all Kaffea drinkers Jessica likes it not just because of its taste but for its health benefits as well.

“I like Kaffea because it uses low glycemic coco sugar and healthy ingredients. I hope the collagen CoQ10, grape seed oil, and glutathione help my skin stay elastic and avoid stretch marks during my pregnancy,” said Jessica.

In addition, Kaffea is infused with agaricus mushroom which boosts the immune system, prevents heart diseases, strengthens weakened bones, and alleviates chronic and acute allergies.

The ganoderma in Kaffea has anticancer properties, balances the good and bad cholesterol, and helps prevent bronchitis and asthma as well as urinary tract infections.

Kaffea is available nationwide at SM Kultura, Rustan’s Supermarkets, Marketplace, Shopwise, Wellcome, SM Supermarket Market Street, CityMall GoLokal stores, and online at lazada. com.ph and beautymnl.com. Call (02) 477-9920 for inquiries and orders.

Local coffee blend label Kaffea is infused with agaricus mushroom that helps boost the immune system.

VRP Medical Center opens its state-of-the-art Lymphedema Center that offers top-notch treatments administered by experts.

VRP Medical Center opens Lymphedema Center Lymphedema is a debilitating disease that if left unchecked can impede a patient’s movement. It refers to swelling that generally occurs in the arms and/or legs due to damage to the lymphatic system. according to the mayo Clinic’s website, a leading medical research institution, “Lymphedema is most commonly caused by the removal of or damage to one’s lymph nodes. It results from a blockage in one’s lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system.

The blockage prevents lymph fluid from draining well, and the fluid buildup leads to swelling.”

VRp medical Center, a leading hospital in the country, seeks to address the growing number of lymphedema cases in the philippines when it recently opened its Lymphedema Center. a state-of-the-art clinic, the center promises to address lymphedema cases by offering top-notch treatments administered by professional and highly trained medical personnel and doctors such as dr. diana Jean Roxas.

“VRp is one of the few hospitals that has a Lymphedema Center in the country. We adopt the Gold Standard of treatments and therapies which are also prescribed in developed countries such as the US, europe, Japan, and australia. In VRp, we have 18 doctors who can treat lymphedema,” Jason Francis Roxas, the Nurse Consultant of the clinic, said in an interview for the VRp medtalk FB Live Series.

The center was inaugurated on march 16 after VRp’s 45th founding

According to experts, most lymphedema cases are breast cancer and cervical cancer patients

anniversary. It offered free consultations for the first 10 patients. “most lymphedema cases are breast cancer and cervical cancer patients. age ranges are diffused, from as old as 84 years to as young as 6 months old and mostly women,” said Roxas. he continued “There are three stages of the disease. Stage 3 is the most serious and where swelling is present.

Stage 0 is where patients normally suffer from early symptoms such as heaviness and tingling sensation in the affected area.” he said the clinic prides itself in the quick recovery of its patients. “Normally, a patient can already see positive results after three or more therapy sessions.”

“The center does not only treat the disease but also wants the public to be aware on how to prevent the disease,” said VRp medical Center president Virma Vergel de dios.

VRp recently did groundbreaking ceremonies for its new tower building which will house new and innovative services.

It also renovated and spruced up its old building; it refreshed its entire facade and logo which represented its new and improved image. It added 43 new rooms, mostly private rooms, which feature contemporary and eco-friendly designs like Led lights, inverted air-conditioning, and low-flow water valves.

The improvements also include a refurbished event & Conference hall, a new Chapel, four Clinical department Offices, a bigger physician’s Center, and an Open Wellness area meant to give recuperating patients a place to exercise and commune with nature.

For inquiries on the Lymphedema Center, visit the VRP Medical Center at 163 EDSA, 1501 Mandaluyong City, or call (02) 464-9999 or go to www.vrp.com.ph.

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By Peter Paul Duran

N

O words ring true other than the following in our ever-growing world – plastic pollution has become a global epidemic.

In truth, people throw away plastic waste each year that could encircle the earth four times over!

What doesn’t ends up in our already brimming landďŹ lls ultimately reaches our oceans, thereby affecting more biodiversity and natural resource.

The alarming part is that plastic waste is responsible for killing up to 1M seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals every year, but the saddening part to all this is that those numbers compose only a measly amount compared to the devastating and long-term effect (think 1000 years per piece) each plastic waste we throw away.

In the Philippines, numerous stakeholders have gradually adapted measures to become less reliant on plastic products.

Local government units in the country, especially in Metro Manila, have passed and are now Turn to C2

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Beating...

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implementing ordinances banning the use of plastic bags.

Malls, supermarkets, and retail establishments have shunned the use of plastic bags as well and have encouraged people to use “eco bags” while putting your purchase in a paper bag (you know, just like how they do it in the movies).

Restaurants and fast food chains have also pitched in, replacing disposable cups with paper ones and offering stainless utensils for every dine-in meal. Large manufacturing companies, especially in the food industry, have also opted to replace plastic packaging on their products with biodegradable material.

And it’s high time to do so, as a recent report suggests Pasig River is one of the biggest contributors of plastic waste in the world.

According to the Ocean Conservatory, the Philippines is part of five nations producing as much as 60% of waste found in seas worldwide!

So, for the good of the planet and the benefit of all living organisms in the face of the earth, it’s time to rethink how we use plastic.

It’s time to lock arms and join forces to beat plastic pollution!

Here are some of the interesting facts about plastic pollution and ways how we can beat it through this infographic from United Nations Environment Program.

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NTENSE rainfall persisting over days, droughts threatening the farmlands and the farmers’ livelihood, continuously rising sea levels and alarming flashfloods – these are only some of the negative effects that the mankind has done to put the foundation of all life on Earth in the danger zone.

Facing climate change Every day, our planet’s diversity of life is being threatened as climate change brings an imminent danger to the places, species and people that we care about. It has become the biggest environmental challenge that the new generation has to face with.

Because of our inconsiderate actions towards nature, the Earth’s atmosphere is warming faster than before. Manmade activities such as the excessive burning and use of fossil fuels, deforestation, intensive livestock farming, and industrial processes build up the greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

As a result, the usual weather patterns are now changed.

In the Philippines, Filipinos appear to neglect such environmental struggles.

And as a result, drastic weather changes in the country bring various diseases such as malaria, dengue, and even severe colds.

Tropical typhoons are also expected to be more catastrophic than Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). And by 2020, the temperature will rise by 0.9°C to 1.1°C. The ocean surface warms as it absorbs heat from the sun. The ocean, in return, releases some of the heat into the atmosphere, producing wind and rain clouds above the surface. However, as the ocean’s temperature drastically increases because of climate change, a lot of heat is released into the atmosphere. This additional heat generates stronger and more frequent storms – which is exactly what environmentalists have observed in the

country for over a decade.

Companies’ help to the environment Starbucks is one of those firms that care for the environment as it comes up with strategies on tackling climate change.

According to the known coffee shop, farmers are reporting shifts in rainfall and harvest patterns that affect their livelihood, not to mention the increased soil erosion and infestation by pests.

“Addressing climate change is a big priority for Starbucks. We believe now is the time to increase our investments in solutions and strategies that address this crisis. The steps we’re taking not only address our environmental footprint – they help to ensure the supply of high-quality coffee that our customers expect from us into the future,” said Starbucks on its website.

The American coffee company has been implementing a climate change strategy since 2004, focusing on renewable energy, energy conservation and collaboration, and advocacy.

“We are working to significantly shrink our environmental footprint by conserving energy and water, reducing the waste associated with our cups, increasing recycling and incorporating green design into our stores,” said Starbucks.

“Gulp instead of sip. Think of the environment,” said American fast food giant KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) in its mission to support the no-plastic campaign.

Improper disposal of garbage, caused by plastic items and straws, is one of the many causes why the Philippines expe-

riences severe flooding. There has been reports online where even turtles were affected by plastic straws.

Meanwhile, by collecting and recycling 100 percent of its plastic bottles, the Coca-Cola company announced last Jan. 20 that it will reshape its approach to packaging by 2030.

“This goal is the centerpiece of the company’s new packaging vision for a ‘World Without Waste,’ which the CocaCola system intends to back with a multiyear investment that includes ongoing work to make packaging 100-percent recyclable,” the company said in a report.

The known soda provider worldwide said that it is investing dollars and skills to design better bottles “whether through more recycled content, by developing

plant-based resins, or by reducing the amount of plastic in each container.”

Coca-Cola Philippines is supporting the group called Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability.

Meanwhile, Ayala Land Inc., the property development arm of the Ayala Group, is dedicating nearly 500 hectares of its planned carbon forests to its project.

In line with the plans to augment the company’s total carbon emission reduction by 20 percent year-on-year, the ALI chose five different sites in the country, covering a total of 450 hectares, to serve as “carbon forests.” This forest regeneration and preservation plan also implements the passive cooling design in energy efficiency and renewable energy sourcing to reach carbon neutrality.

The five sites are in Lio in Palawan, Sicogon in Iloilo, Alaminos in Laguna, Kan-Irag in Cebu and Talomo in Davao.

With all the environmental setbacks happening in the country, the Philippines remains one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. But if we work together and start executing the plan like what the mentioned companies have done, then maybe we can all make a difference.

Sources:

http://www.starbucks.ph/responsibility/environment/climatechange https://businessmirror.com.ph/coca-cola-bares-recyclingproject/ https://www.rappler.com/brandrap/climate-change https://www.ecowatch.com/how-is-climate-change-affectingthe-philippines-1882156625.html http://www.philstar.com/business/2018/02/01/1783259/aliallots-450-hectares-carbon-neutrality

Hordes of trash and garbage pile up at the Manila Bay in Roxas Boulevard during a storm surge- an adverse effect of climate change.

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waste-free

By Angelica Villanueva

T

HE planet where we live today is already in its endangered phase.

knees being sorry for destroying our With various environmental is- surroundings. sues that destroy our water and land Manila Bay along Roxas Blvd. is a resources, we will soon be on our murky body of water filled with trash

and human and animal excreta. The same is true of the Pasig River, which may be considered as one of the most contaminated rivers in the country.

But all hope is not lost.

The Philippine government and its local government units, together with several organizations and private companies are doing their best to conserve our environment.

A primary example is Boracay. One

over the world are taking the steps for a better world.

Green Cities Makati and Pasig are making their cities environment-friendly, teaching their citizens the value of discipline by positioning their trash bins (labeled non-biodegradable and biodegradable) in every street corner and in front of fast-food chains. Though there are still people who cannot discipline themselves by throwing their trash any

There are many unique ways that you can reuse plastic bottles such as DIY irrigation storage for urban farming (Above), quirky pencil cases (Above right), or as cute ornaments for your desk (below right).

LISTED Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) and its dockworkers planted nearly 1,000 trees at the La Mesa Watershed over the weekend, sustaining its commitment to protect and preserve Metro Manila’s last natural forest cover and source of potable water.

ATI’s employee volunteers trekked three kilometers into the forest reserve located in Novaliches, Quezon City to plant endemic narra and bignay saplings across a two hectare area.

Coinciding with the GO GREEN global environmental campaign of its foreign shareholder partner DP World, ATI’s annual tree planting initiative helps revitalize La Mesa’s critical

ecosystem. The activity also gives employees an opportunity to be in commune with nature as the play an active role in protecting the environment.

As a responsible port operator, ATI follows global standards on environment management aligned with its ISO 14001:2007 certification. Apart from tree planting, ATI also spearheads coastal cleanup drives in partnership with likeminded companies, government agencies and other port stakeholders.

To date, ATI has protected over 20 hectares of the forest reserve and planted nearly 25,000 trees since the start of its institutional partnership with ABS-CBN’s Bantay Kalikasan back in 2001.

of the world’s most-visited tourist spots, Boracay Island was shut down and is currently undergoing a rehabilitation for six months on orders of President Rodrigo Duterte, who believes that this is the best way to restore the damaged forests and wetlands of the island paradise.

More than this action, a lot of nongovernment organizations and private sectors are also raising the alarm for everyone to open their minds and face the reality that the world needs our help.

In this year’s World Environment (WE) Day, the main goal this time is to eradicate the plastic scourge with its theme: Beat the Plastic Pollution.

Living in a plastic-free world Plastics are convenient to use, yet is very dangerous to the environment In an article written by the Greener Ideal, it was emphasized that “They (plastic bags) get into soil and slowly release toxic chemicals. They eventually break down into the soil, with the unfortunate result being that animals eat them and often choke and die.”

Three years ago, a video posted on Facebook trended and served as a warning to all that the use of a straw, yes, a piece of a straw, can be very dangerous to sea turtles. A group of researchers doing some data collection about sea turtles found an Olive Ridley turtle having a hard time breathing due to a straw being stuck on its nostril. The team spent 10 minutes removing the straw from the nose of the turtle and when they did, blood dripped from the nose of the poor animal.

Meanwhile, Chile became the first South American country to ban retail businesses from using plastic bags, an initiative aimed at protecting the country’s 4,000-mile coastline.

“We have taken a fundamental step to take better care of Chile and the planet. Today, we are more prepared to leave a better planet to our children, grandchildren and the generations to come,” said President Sebastián Piñera, who expanded the scope of a bill introduced last year by his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet, that sought to prohibit the use of plastic bags in more than 100 coastal towns.

This proves that governments all

which way they like, the LGUs’ action has helped raise the awareness of its residents and the youth to become more responsible with their garbage disposal.

The said cities have also banned the use of plastic.

Meanwhile, Baguio and Cebu have also taken the initiative of reducing the use of plastic bags. In 2007, a local law called as ‘The Bayong Ordinance’ prohibits private businesses from using plastic bags and containers and instead encourages the use of a recyclable bag made of bayong or cloth.

Private companies Last year, a private company has launched an advocacy that has helped and taught the residents of Manila, Pasig and Taguig to keep their soft plastic wastes such as sachets, tetra packs and chips’ plastic waste on their pockets.

Unilever Philippines Vice President for Sustainable Business and Communications Ed Sunico shared the advocacy “Misis Walastik Program,” which prompted members of the household to collect their soft plastic wastes. In return, Unilever Philippines gave them incentives, such as a coupon worth P5.00 for every one kilo of these plastic wastes.

The coupons can be used to purchase Unilever products.

Meanwhile, two of the leading fast-food chains in the Philippines, Jollibee and McDonald’s, have also shown their support by banning plastic straws. Jollibee branches in local cities prohibit the use of plastic straw for their beverages. Meanwhile, McDonald’s branches in Makati have shown their support by having paper-made straws for their floats and drinks.

SM Supermall has also shown some initiatives as they encourage their customers to use ecobags instead of plastic bags when shopping, offering a fashionable yet functional ecobag made of durable, non-woven fabric.

A collective effort is needed to sustain the gains made by LGUs and private firms. If we are to save this world from the plastic scourge, then it’s high time we became eco warriors not just for ourselves, but to our children’s future as well.

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As it develops sustainable mixed-use estates, Ayala Land supports activities that raise awareness for the environment.

At Seagrove, its leisure estate in Mactan, volunteers united for ‘Paddle for the Planet’ to highlight the importance of protecting the ocean.

Ayala Land’s Seagrove ‘paddles for the planet’

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ADDLERS across Cebu united for the annual “Paddle for the Planet” movement in the mangrove shores of Seagrove, Ayala Land’s leisure estate in Mactan, Cebu last June 2.

that will be developed into to a sustainable mixed-use estate. It is envisioned to be a future tourist and eco fun destination given its varied outdoor recreation components.

In line with Ayala Land’s commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability, Vera Alejandria, Division Manager of Com-

munity Relations, CSR and Sustainability also shared: “We are extremely grateful to all the hardworking volunteers who share our passion and took part in cleaning up our shores.

With our natural ecosystems as the first line of defense against extreme weather conditions, we all have a responsibility to be aware and be involved, to help shape the market in terms of protecting and conserving our marine and coastal ecosystem.”

Paddlers were welcomed with a short program before taking off to the waters for the paddling and surface clean up activity.

Some of the topics discussed during the event include practicing responsible recreation, reducing the use of plastic that usually end up in our oceans, and opportunities to volunteer in clean-ups.

All of these efforts are considered important to climate resilience and to raise the standard of sustainable living in the communities where we are present. Participating in this event is one of Ayala Land’s ways to express Alagang Ayala Land, the company’s commitment to social development and environmental stewardship.

Paddle for the Planet is a global event inviting paddlers around the world for one official day to paddle. This is an effort to raise environmental awareness by giving back to our oceans.

Buzzy Budlong, a renowned Visayan paddler and owner of Island Buzz Philippines, was one of the volunteers and organized this paddling and coastal clean-up event.

“This was a very fun way for us to give back to our oceans. It was such a great experience to paddle around the mangroves since they are very important to our ecosystem and this is something unique to Seagrove. We hope we made an impact in our own way to spread the word on the importance of protecting our oceans,” Budlong said.

Seagrove is a 14-hectare coastal project

Globe, Hineleban Foundation lead advocacy to replenish remaining 1.5% primary rainforests in PH THE Philippines is blessed with natural resources the rest of the world could only marvel at. Our flora and fauna could be seen anywhere, under our pristine seas, among the highest peaks of our mountains, even deep inside our thick rainforests.

Considered as a melting pot of plant and animal species, the Philippines does not shy away from the various mentions of historians, scientists, and biologists of yore, on how this country of many islands in the South East have been favored with many natural gifts.

If only the same could still be said today. The Philippine rainforests that were once haven for biodiversity in this part of the world, has rapidly declined and suffering a dwindling state. In fact, according to recent numbers, only 1.5% of the Philippine Primary Rainforest cover remains, and majority is located in Mindanao. Data from the National Forest Management Bureau shows that forest cover in the Philippines declined from 21 million hectares, or 70% of its land area in 1900 to about 6.5 million hectares in 2007.

The conversion of forest cover in recent years had been going on in an alarming rate due to the burgeoning growth of agricultural plantations.

Then again, poaching of trees in the remaining forests still prevail despite efforts from the government to arrest it.

Only 1.5% of our primary rainforest is left, majority of which is in Mindanao

The monumental loss of our prized natural resource could be attributed to numerous reasons, but the causes have not changed since we first read about it in elementary textbooks.

Years of Kaingin fires due to slash and burn farming had its debilitating impact to our forest lands which according to the Philippine Forestry Statistics from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Forest Management Bureau number 15,805,325 hectares.

Add to that, the rising number of human settlements in forest areas brought about by increasing population have converted lands which are naturally rainforest before.

Globe and Hineleban Foundation’s rainforestation efforts went underway in December 2016 and have vamped up this year which now covers 34 hectares

Filipinos can do something to lend a hand and sustain the 3,270,146 hectares of established forest reserves

The growth of argricultural plantations also contribute to the decline of primary forest cover

Rainforests have since then been converted into agricultural lands.

Then again, the rampant and massive illegal logging activities have prevailed despite efforts from the government to ultimately halt such destructive act.

Despite the almost dead numbers, there is still hope and Filipinos can do something to lend a hand and sustain the 3,270,146 hectares of established forest reserves.

Go paperless. The act of receiving your monthly billing electronically rather than receiving a hard copy is one simple act to help.

Buy sustainable products. Integrating your love for nature into your lifestyle is one way to contribute to the environment while reducing your environ-

mental footprint.

Everyone can do their part. In fact, organizations like leading telecommunications company, Globe Telecom partnered with the Hineleban Foundation in advocating for a sustainable environment through an effective and scientific way to restore our primary rainforests.

Hineleban Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit organization based in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. The group is composed of individuals focused on the restoration of the environment and sustainable livelihood for the Indigineous People of Bukidnon, the Lumads, and the Bangsamoro people of Lanao del Sur, through Transforma-

tional Business Partnerships, with the objective of fostering peace through inclusive development. The foundation believes that “rainforestation” of the mountains of Mindanao is the only long-term solution to reducing the effects and risks of climate change and to attaining food self-sufficiency, bringing back three crop cycles per year.

Globe and Hineleban Foundation’s rainforestation efforts went underway in December 2016 and have vamped up this year which now covers 34 hectares of Brazilian, Caribbean Pine trees, along with Almon, Bagtikan, Mayapis, Apitong, Red lauan, Palosapis, White lauan, Nato, and other indigenous tree species. As former Regional Executive Director of DENR Regions 6 and 10, Raoul T. Geollegue explains the choice of tree species in his article The Hineleban Restoration Approach, “Calliandra, Brazilian and Caribbean pine trees introduced here are simply interim in nature, but they serve the twin purpose of provid-

ing economic returns and ecological services which hastened forest restoration. When the interim tree species are harvested, what remains is an assemblage of trees with the floristic composition and canopy structure of a tropical rainforest, hence the term rainforestation.”

In 2015, Globe also launched its paperless billing campaign to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Life on Land centered on protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Today, its customers now have an option to simply receive their monthly billings via email.

In this collective effort, customers can help plant one tree at a time, one tree back into our rainforests. For every P100 donation, you will be able to name your own tree, know its location via GPS and monitor its growth online! To donate, visit http:// hineleban.org/donate/.