Manila Standard - 2018 July 6 - Friday

HEAVY BURDEN. Militant groups lie Thursday on the tracks of the government’s rail system in España, Manila to symbolize the weighty burden caused by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. They said the ‘TRAIN wreck has caused untold sufferings on the poor, caused higher inflation resulting to the prices of even the most basic commodities such as rice, fish and all the Bahay Kubo vegetables increasing dramatically.’ Norman Cruz VOL. XXXII • NO. 141 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

A weak peso doesn’t mean a weak economy.

Inflation soars to 5-year high

It’s not alarming!

‘Strip search’ goes viral; 4 cops in trouble

ing inflation was higher because there was more money going around.

“There’s money from the free tuition. There’s money from taxes that [are] paid by those who HE 5.2-percent inflation [are] earning P250,000 [a year]. There’s money because of economic activity spurred rate recorded in June was by the ‘Build, Build, Build.’ But it is not higher than usual but was something to worry about. It’s within historino cause for alarm, the Palace said cal amounts. It’s higher than usual but it’s not something that we should be alarmed [about],” Thursday.

Roque said.

The PSA said the inflation which reached its highPresidential Spokesman Harry Roque assured the est level in five years, was primarily brought about public that they should not worry about the increase by higher prices for food and non-alcoholic beverreported by the Philippine Statistics Authority, say- ages.

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By Nathaniel Mariano, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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By Joel E. Zurbano FOUR police officers who were seen on a video frisking a naked female drug suspect inside a Makati City police station have been relieved, said Southern Police District director Tomas Apolinario Jr. “Those involved were relieved from their positions and unit. They will be investigated and appropriate administrative and criminal cases will be filed

Jeepney fare raised to P9 in Metro

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China mourns ‘psychic’ cat

By Rio N. Araja

JEEPNEY RATES. A barker in Manila holds a placard informing commuters on Thursday of a P1 increase in fare—P8 minimum is now P9—while calling for passengers at a jeepney terminal.

Norman Cruz

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has approved a P1 provisional fare increase for passenger utility jeepneys from P8 to P9.

The fare increase will cover Metro Manila, and Regions 3 and 4, said board member Aileen Lizada, but can only be implemented after LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra issues an order.

The LTFRB decided to grant a provisional fare increase after a series of hearings on the petition for a

A “ P S YCHIC” cat in China that correctly predicted the outcome of six World Cup games has met an untimely end, prompting thousands to pour out their grief on Chinese social media.

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Leptos outbreak spreads to 7 cities, 18 barangays in MM

By Macon R. Araneta HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday declared outbreaks in 18 barangays in seven cities in Metro Manila due to the rising number of leptospirosis cases during the last two weeks.

The outbreak of Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by contact with rodent urine, was declared in the following areas: Quezon City – Brgy. Bagbag (3

cases), Brgy. Silangan (5), Brgy.

Batasan Hills (9), Brgy. Commonwealth (7), Brgy. Novaliches Proper (4), Brgy. Payatas (5), Brgy. Pinyahan (3), Brgy. Vasra (4); Taguig City – Brgy. Lower Bicutan (5), Brgy. Maharlika Village (3), Brgy. Signal Village (4), Brgy. Western Bicutan (4); Pasig City – Brgy. Pinagbuhatan (4); Parañaque City – Brgy. BF Homes (3), Brgy. San Dionisio (3); Next page

Mayors’ murder probed for destab link

By Rey E. Requejo and Francisco Tuyay THE Department of Justice and the Philippine National Police have shifted gear to try to resolve the killings of two mayors—one from Batangas and the other the next day in Nueva Ecija—only this week, with authorities looking at all angles available to investigators.

The DoJ has tapped the National Bureau of Investigation to determine the possibility that the killings of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili and General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote were part of a grand plot to destabilize the Duterte administration.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevara said he had ordered the NBI to investigate this angle Next page

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Aussie cager admits fault SPORTS A8

‘Maria’ to usher in Team Du30 total lunar eclipse

gains PICC forum feature

THE first forum of the “Tatak ng Pagbabago” series, a presentation of the administration accomplishments in the past year and plans in 2019, will be conducted Friday at the Philippine International Convention Center.

The forum, titled “Tatak ng Pag-unlad,” will be led by the Economic Development and Infrastructure clusters of the Duterte administration led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

In related developments: • Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Next page

By Rio N. Araja A TROPICAL storm internationally named “Maria” is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday night or Monday morning, heralding a bigger weather event—a total lunar eclipse at the end of the month.

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News

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FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

SC unearths CamSur poll anomalies

By Rey E. Requejo HE Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has ordered the officials in Camarines Sur to explain the alleged anomalies in the ballots found in the precincts in the province during the ongoing revision of votes in the vice presidential race in 2016.

the various irregularities found by the revisors during the recount of the votes in their areas.

This was in connection with the resolution of the protest filed by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo.

Marcos filed the protest on June 29, 2016 claiming Robredo’s camp cheated in the automated polls in the May 2016 national polls.

Robredo won the vice presidential race with 14,418,817 votes or 263,473 more than Marcos’ 14,155,344 votes.

For Tinambac town, the tribunal directed the municipal treasurer to explain the “plastic seals found inside the ballot box already wet, election return envelope

not inside ballot box and cannot be found, envelopes for minutes of voting and torn ballots appear to have been previously opened, missing voter’s receipt box, and voter’s receipts found scattered inside ballot box.”

For Tigaon town, on the other hand, the municipal treasurer was also ordered by the PET to explain the questionable signature of the chairman of the board of election inspectors that “cannot be compared to any similar specimen in the other documents” and why several zip ties were not attached to the ballot box and already cut.

The PET also required the revision committee in San Francisco village in Iriga City to explain the questionable use of two MOV forms with substantial discrep-

ancies and the different signatures of the BEI chairman in the election documents.

The tribunal also required an explanation from the revision committee from La Purisima village in the same city on the discovery of two MOVs signed by different BEI chairmen.

The PET gave the local officials 10 days from receipt of notice to comply with the directive.

It was the second time the PET had acted and looked into the irregularities found in the ongoing recount.

Last April, the tribunal required the local officials in Bato, Sagñay, Garchitorena and Ocampo towns to explain why the ballots from their precincts were wet or damaged.

Ombudsman dares Duterte: Prove charges

Infl ation...

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Villarin said.

“It will likely increase hunger and move more people down the poverty threshold.

Coupled with a weakening peso, investor confidence will go down and with less investments, there will be [fewer] jobs,” he added. “With no jobs and costly living, this will drive people to crime.”

With inflation reaching the 5-percent mark in June, Senator Panfilo Lacson urged the government to review its projections amid remarks by Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno that the problem was not bad.

Speaking during the regular “Kapihan sa Senado,” Lacson noted that from 2.4 to 4, the country’s inflation rate is now 5.2.

In 2016, Lacson said the peso-dollar was at 47.3, but now, it’s 53.

“If you consuder the exchange rate right away, what we have been paying has already increased. We haven’t done anything but the debt we are to pay offshore already increases,” he said.

He added that many of the raw materials used by manufacturers are imported.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said

he hoped the President would announce the suspension of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law in his State of the Nation Address.

He said there was no justice in imposing an excise tax on fuel while fuel prices continue to go up.

“The public has alrdeady been drowning in the high cost of goods,” he said.

Lacson also agreed with the stance of Aquino about the negative impact of TRAIN on price hike.

“It has an effect, The first effect is on the excise tax on fuel. Everything will be hit and there was inflation,” said Lacson.

Asked if excise tax should be stopped, Lacson cited the need to review TRAIN, which he described as the biggest culprit.

On Tuesday, oil companies raised their pump prices by P0.65 per liter for gasoline, P0.55 for diesel and P0.70 for kerosene.

Starting this month, the electricity bills of Manila Electric Co. consumers will reflect a higher generation charge due to tight power supply and the further weakening of the peso.

‘Strip search’...

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said he was told that the woman was paid to take part in a demonstration of cops frisking a drug suspect.

“I’m really angry because what was shown on the video is really wrong,” Simon said in Filipino in an interview with radio dzMM. Just recently, the SPD sacked two police officers, also assigned in Makati City, for alleged mishandling persons arrested for violating local ordinances.

They were Senior Insp. Aaron Elago, commander of Makati City-Police Community Precinct-7, and SPO2 James Teano, desk officer of the same police precinct.

The two relieved officers were placed at the police station’s Holding Section “following a report of an alleged abuse of discretion of authority when they rounded up night idlers or tambay in their respective area of responsibility and brought them to their police precinct for verification even without any valid violation of city ordinances.”

The Gabriela Women’s Party on Thursday denounced alleged excesses committed by the Makati police in the strip search it conducts among arrested drug suspects, with females as the main targets.

With Maricel V. Cruz

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In a nine-page notice dated June 19, the PET ordered several officials of Tinambac town, Tigaon town and Iriga City to submit their respective explanations to

By Rio N. Araja OUTGOING Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Thursday challenged President Rodrigo Duterte to show proof she had been a corrupt government official.

She said she was hurt by the President’s accusations that she was corrupt.

“It hurts when he said I was corrupt.

Of course, it hurts because I know who I am. Unless he has the evidence to show that I am corrupt, then I accept that challenge,” Morales said in a television interview.

“Show me that I am corrupt. The burden is on him to come up with evidence.

We go by the evidence. This could not just be a guessing game. If he really wants to prove I am corrupt, show it. I welcome it.”

In other developments: • Morales on Thursday appealed to her successor to continue the reforms she introduced during her seven-year term as the government’s lead anti-corruption watchdog.

“If the next leadership would not turn the current order of the existing initiatives, please let it not be reinvented,” Morales told a forum in Pasig City.

“We believe in the reforms that have been instituted. To see them sustained until their impact can be harnessed is a dream for this transitioning leadership.”

Morales is retiring on July 26.

• The Judicial and Bar Council will come up on July 20 a shortlist of the aspirants for the post to be vacated by Morales.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, an ex-officio member of the JBC, said the seven-member council tasked to screen the nominees to posts in the judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman will come up with the shortlist after their voting on that day.

“JBC will vote on July 20 and send the shortlist to the President on the same date,” Guevarra said, in a text message.

Morales said she earned the wrath of the President when Japan’s NHK World asked her to comment on the President’s war on drugs, prompting her to reply that “he is goading people to kill.”

She said it was just her personal stance.

“That was my personal opinion. I cannot understand why he went berserk and told me that I am corrupt. He said he would disrobe me [and told me to] shut my mouth, [but] I’ll not shut my mouth,” Morales said. With Rey E. Requejo

Team...

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President Rodrigo Duterte would not be hobbled by reporting on the achievements of his administration.

Roque told a news briefing Thursday Duterte would rather deliver a message “straight from the heart” during his State of the Nation Address on July 28.

“I think they want it to be a message straight from the heart of the President not hindered by the need to report on the different achievements,” Roque said.

Roque explained that the pre-Sona briefings would be discussing the layout of the government’s achievements through the different clusters assigned, adding the president would be able to “say whatever he wants” during his address. * Malacañang has tapped Joyce Bernal to direct the third Sona of Duterte, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Thursday.

Bernal would be the second director to handle such event under the Duterte administration after award-winning Brillante Mendoza, who directed the previous two Sonas.

Andanar said it was actor Robin Padilla, a staunch Duterte supporter, who requested if Bernal could direct this year’s edition.

“And the President approved it,” the Palace official said.

But Roque said he could not confirm the report.

“I just requested if I could confirm and they said not yet, maybe because there’s no signed contract yet,” Roque said.

During the forum, Pernia is expected to deliver a socioeconomic report for the year 2017 followed by in-depth reports and presentations from Dominguez and Villar regarding their respective cluster’s accomplishments and plans of moving forward. PNA, with Evalea Casaljay

Abrupt price increases were also seen in alcoholic beverages and tobacco (20.8 percent), housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels (4.6 percent), furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house 3 percent, transport 7.1 percent, communication 0.4 percent, and education 4 percent.

Annual increases in rice (4.7 percent), corn (14.1 percent), other cereals, flour, cereal preparation, bread, pasta and other bakery products (2.4 percent), meat (5 percent), vegetables (8.6 percent), sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery (3.9 percent), and other food products (3.1 percent) were also observed.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin said despite government’s move to arrest inflation by increasing interest rates twice in succession, inflation rose to its highest level in five years.

“Rising prices of goods and services impact on the poor most and will affect their daily consumption of food and basic needs,”

against them. The PNP will not tolerate these illegal acts perpetrated by our personnel,” Apolinario said in a text message.

Relieved were Senior Insp. Valmark Funelas, Police Officer 1 Stephanie Limhap, PO1 Heizelle Maramag and PO1 Francis Intia.

The video, reportedly recorded in March 2017, also drew the ire of PNP chief Oscar Albayalde.

“I am deeply saddened by this viral video going around in the Internet of another alleged case of abuse committed by some of our personnel. Let me state this clearly— we strongly condemn this kind of deviant behavior in our ranks,” Albayalde said.

Metro Manila police director Guillermo Eleazar seconded Albayalde. “You can say that you are inspecting the bodies of the suspects but not in that way, that the woman herself is naked in front of men. And we can see that they were even laughing.”

The police officers involved claimed that the woman wasn’t actually a drug suspect and that the strip-search shown in video was actually a demo.

Makati City police chief Rogelio Simon

Mayors’...

From A1 after the Palace brought up such possibility.

“The NBI will look into the possibility of a bigger scheme in these killings—to destabilize the government,” Guevarra said in an interview.

“The NBI will look at all possible angles because we have to leave no stones unturned,” he added.

Authorities probing the killing of Halili have outlined another possible motive into the case, this time a land dispute between the slain mayor and a “retired general” prior to the shooting incident.

Malacañang, meanwhile, denied claims the killing of Halili was state-sponsored.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said allegations the government was behind the mayor’s killing remained an “unfounded” speculation considering that police had not thus far completed their probe.

The land dispute issue cropped-up as probers were digging deeper into the Halili slay during a flag raising ceremony at the grounds of the Tanauan city hall Monday morning.

In Camp Crame, Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said they were looking at the land dispute issue between Halili and

China...

From A1

The orange-furred tabby, named “Baidian’er,” which means “white spot” in Chinese, was a stray that prowled around the Palace Museum in Beijing’s Forbidden City.

He was offered two bowls of food, with the flags of competing World Cup teams stuck in the ground behind them.

Baidian’er correctly predicted the results of six World Cup games.

He achieved such fame that the Palace Museum even set up an account for him on China’s Weibo, a popular Twitter-like platform.

Unfortunately, Baidian’er’s correct prediction of an Argentinian win against Nigeria turned out to be his last.

The museum said the cat fell ill and finally announced its death on Monday, sparking almost 10,000 comments on Weibo.

“Every time I go to the Forbidden City, I have to go see Baidian’er, take a photo, play for a while, see him sleep on the grass in the sun,” wrote one distraught user. AFP

a ranking official he merely described as a “former general” as another motive, though probers were not discounting the motives on illegal drugs and political angle.

He could not say if the retired general was a police or a military man.

Guevarra issued the order after Roque said the successive murders of Halili and Bote could be perpetrated by certain groups to “erode confidence in the President.”

“We continue to adhere to the rule of law and consider the recent killings of high-profile figures as an attempt to erode confidence in the President, whose main platform of governance rests on fighting crimes,” Roque said.

This developed as the Armed Forces of the Philippines revealed that communist rebels were planning to oust Duterte by October as they expressed support for the total termination of peace negotiations.

AFP spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo revealed the ouster plot was allegedly contained in documents recovered by soldiers and confirmed by testimonies of communist rebels who have surrendered.

Nonetheless, Guevarra assured that the NBI would look into other possible angles, including the reported link of the illegal drug trade to the killing of Halili.

With Macon Ramos-Araneta, Pearl Gajunera and Patricia Marie Cabela

‘Maria’...

From A1

National Geographic previously reported the total lunar eclipse on July 28 “is the longest of the century” and is expected to last one hour and 43 minutes.

A total lunar eclipse happens when the whole moon enters Earth’s shadow, according to the United States National Aeronautical and Space Administration.

Some sunlight still reaches the moon, but first it goes through Earth’s atmosphere, NASA said. The Earth’s atmosphere filters out most of the sun’s blue light, so the moon looks red.

On Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration “Maria” was estimated at 2,050 kilometers east of South Luzon.

“If it enters the border of PAR, it would be named ‘Gardo.’ Based on its weather model, it is forecast to stay one to two days, but it is expected not to make landfall,” Weather forecaster Samuel Duran told the Manila Standard.

Jeepney...

From A1 fare hike from five transport groups— Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization, Land Transportation Organization of the Philippines, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines and Pangkalahatang Sanggunian Manila and Suburb Drivers Association Nationwide Inc. Last year, the transport groups filed a petition with the LTFRB seeking to increase the minimum fare of P8 to P10, saying the high prices of fuel have hurt the income of the drivers and operators.

The Palace on Thursday defended the P1 fare hike, saying it was due to the surge in world oil prices.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said adjustments would be made on jeepney fares once oil prices drop.

“It’s a result of the increase in price of petroleum but we assure you if the price of petroleum goes down, there will be corresponding adjustments as well,” Roque said.

Meanwhile, Roque said the government has measures in place to cushion the effects of the high oil prices and the government’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. Roque earlier said the government is looking at the purchase of cheaper oil products from countries that are not members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries such as Russia.

To date, the Philippines sources its fuel from Opec-member countries.

Roque said the negotiations to import diesel from Russia are ongoing and the government will urge the private sector to contribute to ensure energy security. With PNA

Leptos...

From A1 Navotas City – Brgy. North Bay Blvd.

South (3); Mandaluyong City – Brgy. Addition Hills (3); Malabon City – Brgy. Concepcion (3) From Jan. 1 to July 3, 2018, Duque said a total of 368 leptospirosis cases, with 52 deaths, were reported from Metro Manila.

He noted that a sudden increase in the number of cases was observed from June 10 to July 3.

“This is 38 percent higher compared to the average number of cases reported in the previous five years,” Duque said.

Reported cases clustered and exceeded the epidemic threshold in the following cities from June 10 to July 3 of this year: Quezon City (40 cases in 9 barangay), Taguig (16 cases in 4 barangay), Parañaque (6 in 2 barangay) and Pasig (4 in 1 barangay).

The following cities are advised to be on alert as cases are noted to cluster and risk of increase is high: Navotas (3 in 1 barangay), Mandaluyong (3 in 1 barangay) and Malabon (3 in 1 barangay).

Duque warned that if left untreated, Leptospirosis may cause kidney failure, brain damage, massive internal bleeding, and death.

Cases usually present with flu-like symptoms, followed by leg pain. Severe cases may experience yellowish discoloration of the eyes and skin and tea-colored urine.

“We advise those who have flu-like symptoms now and who had previously waded in floodwaters to seek immediate medical treatment in the nearest health facility,” urged Duque.

Rody insists on holding peace gab in PH

By Nat Mariano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is insisting on conditions, including the holding of the peace talks in the country, for the resumption of the negotiations with the communist rebels, an official said Thursday.

Peace adviser Jesus Dureza said the resumption of the peace talks with National Democratic Front of the Philippines were still open, but Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison claims Duterte is just laying down the conditions for declaring martial law nationwide.

Malacañang also said the door for the resumption of the peace talks with the communists was still open subject to the conditions set by Duterte.

“The door for peace talks remains open provided that [Duterte’s] conditions are met,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement following the command conference held Wednesday night.

Dureza said Duterte wanted a stop to the collection of the so-called revolutionary taxes by the communists, to make the venue of the talks in the country, and to have a ceasefire agreement in which the armed members of the New People’s Army were encamped in designated areas.

“In the meantime, localized peace arrangements may be pursued by the local government units with the insurgents in their respective areas of responsibility,” said Dureza, adding that the terms were decided during the command conference convened by Duterte.

Sison said Duterte was lying.

“This is a desperate PR stunt to obscure the fact that the government has repeatedly terminated the talks and made it appear that it is the NDFP which closed its doors,” Sison said in a statement Thursday.

According to Sison, Dureza’s statement did not mention the fact that Duterte signed Presidential Proclamation 360 declaring the termination of the peace negotiations with NPA, NDFP and Communist Party of the Philippines on Nov. 23, 2017.

IN BRIEF Seniority counts

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte should consider seniority in the Supreme Court when he appoints the next chief justice, Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said Thursday.

The post was left vacant following the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno through quo warranto proceedings on May 11.

Leonen, a known Sereno ally, said seniority was “a marker of experience” and “a marker of a person who knows his or her colleagues.”

He said he had a change of heart and now believed that the chief justice must be selected from the senior magistrates of the 15-member bench.

“Before I came to the Court, I thought that it [seniority] was not [needed in a chief justice]. But now that I have served close to six years in the SC, more and more I would think that seniority is a marker of something,” Leonen told ANC. “Seniority is important because you mature as you are in a deliberative body. It is normal if you are new in a court, a collegiate court that you will feel threatened if somebody disagrees with you.

“I think that’s normal, but as you go along, you learn to sit back a little and listen and be able to discern the points. A chief justice must be able to do that 10 times over. Ten times more than the colleagues.”

Leonen, the youngest member of the high court at 55, said he was not interested in the post of chief justice and urged her senior colleagues to accept their possible nomination to it. Rey E. Requejo

Palace acts on ERC

MALACAÑANG said Thursday it would take necessary actions to formally suspend the four Energy Regulatory Commission officials today for allegedly tolerating the misuse of bill deposits of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque confirmed the deferment of action against ERC commissioners Alfredo S. Non, Gloria Victoria C. Yap-Taruc, Josefina Patricia M. Asirit and Geronimo D. Sta. Ana. The decision was made in response to the defense of the four commissioners’ legal counsel Rolando B. Faller.

In a text message to media Thursday, Faller stressed that while there had not been any temporary restraining order issued by the Court of Appeals, there had been also no official directive from the Office of the Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

“The four commissioners will stand ready to comply with the directive if one is issued and served upon them. If they will abandon their office, then that constitutes abandonment of office, which is a crime,” stated Faller.

He added the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman was clear that the implementation of the suspension was coursed through the Office of the President.

Last June 17, Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang approved the recommendation of Graft Investigation to suspend the four commissioners.

In its 14-page resolution dated May 18, the OMB stated that the four commissioners failed to strictly implement rules on the nature of bill deposits.Nat Mariano

Manila

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FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

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SM FOUNDATION FETES 333 SCHOLARS

Henry “Tatang” Sy Sr. with this school year’s more than 300 SM scholar graduates

Text by Peter Paul Duran Photos by Charles Dantes

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ORE than 300 SM Foundation scholar graduates got the chance to meet their benefactors in a ceremonial gala at the SMX Convention Center recently.

To honor their scholars for school year 2017-2018, Henry Sy, Sr. and his family tendered a testimonial dinner on June 27, 2018 for their 333 scholars, their biggest number of scholar graduates to date.

A total of 149 scholars from the National Capital Region, 115 from Luzon, 57 from Visayas and 12

from the Mindanao region from 105 partner universities and colleges throughout the country, together with their parents or guardians, attended the short program to celebrate the 22nd batch and presentation of graduates by the foundation.

Loida Ongteco de Vera, the day’s Guest Speaker and part of the first

batch of SM Scholars herself, shared her memorable and inspirational journey from being a scholar-student to what she is now— giving back to SM as Operations Manager of SM Hypermarket.

“Congratulations for they finished the journey, and I want to welcome them to the real world,” said De Vera. “I encourage them to give back in any way they can, not necessarily to SM, but to their family, their community.”

Earlier in the day, the graduates, many of whom flew in from their respective regions, were offered jobs in various SM offices in Manila and the provinces, led by two Accountancy summa cum laudes Jedda Pascual from Ateneo De Davao and Danielle Francis Olsen from Universtiy of Negros Occidental-Recoletos.

A total of 105 scholars graduated with Latin honors, including the two with summa cum laude, 26 magna cum laudes and 50 cum laudes, while 27 scholars finished with academic distinctions. Among the achievers are the Yolanda scholars from Samar, Leyte who were heavily affected by the Category 5 typhoon. Yolanda scholars Lady Alpha Fermano, Ariane Nierves and Clarissa Buenvenida, talked with the Manila Standard during the event and relayed how they strived to achieve their dreams and continue their studies despite their experience, with Fermano narrating her story in front of her batchmates later in the evening.

“For now, my plan is to continue the philosophy of people helping people,” she stated.

Buenvenida said she’s “very thankful to (SM foundation),” as they helped her “develop my skills and learn to open up to others.”

SM scholars perform Jessie J’s hit “Flashlight” during the 22nd Presentation of Graduates at SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

“At our lowest point, nawalan ng trabaho ang papa ko, eh housewife lang naman nanay ko, but luckily SM came po at a very good time and napakalaking tulong po sa pag-aaral ko,” said Destiny “Des” M. Lamano, 22, from Cebu Institute of Technology.

“As an SM scholar, natutunan ko na ang kahirapan ay hindi hadlang para ma-achieve mo ang gusto mo,”

said Carl Abraham Castañares from UE-Caloocan, adding that he plans to shoulder the education of his younger siblings now that he has finished college.

SM Foundation maintains 2,000 college scholars yearly and another 2,000 tech-voc scholars.

So far, more than 3,000 scholars have graduated under the SM Foundation Education Program.

Left to right: Host Lingling Lansang, Manila Standard OIC-Operations Anita F. Grefal, SM Foundation Executive Director for Education Carmen Linda M. Atayde and SM Foundation PR Coordinator Neny P. Regino

Guest speaker Loida Ongteco de Vera was part of the first batch of SM scholars.

UE Caloocan scholar Carl Abraham Castañares poses with his proud parents

Yolanda scholars of the SM Foundation Lady Alpha Fermano, Ariane Nierves, Clarissa Buenvenida and Destiny “Des” M. Lazano of Cebu Institute of Technology

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Opinion

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sage advice to graduates of medicine Quid pro quo—something given or received in exchange for something else… What is given? It is the gift FR. RANHILIO given to you by Filipino patients for CALLANGAN they have given you the laboratory on AQUINO which you can hone your skills in the art and science of medicine.

TODAY, I reproduce in my column And as in any quid pro quo, there the commencement address of Com- is something to be given back in exmissioner Lilian de las Llagas of the change… and this is to live by the Commission on Higher Education to mission of your college. Whether you the Graduating Medicine Class of the are treating individual patients as a Cagayan State University, 2018. practicing physician and being serv“The poet William Butler Yeats ants to each individual patient’s life wrote: ‘Though the leaves are many, and survival: or delivering into the the root is one.’ mysteries of life as a bench health sciEach and every one of you should entist; learning which therapies work remember that while the leaves of best for particular diseases as a clinimedicine are cian researcher; many, the root is or addressing the one… that root broader issues is the mandatory and challenges of alleviation of huTo those who have public health, you man suffering received, it is now time have the opportufrom illnesses nity and responto give back. and burden of sibility to be part disease.

That of a whole that patient safety is is greater than foremost and the yourselves. practice of medicine should not be The word doctor comes from the commercialized as humans are not Latin word “docere.” Docere means commodities. to teach. And teach you shall do; On the same vein, though the leaves whether talking to a student of mediof the graduating class are many, the cine or talking to a patient or his famroot is only one… and that is the Col- ily members (or simply patient educalege of Medicine of CSU. The root is tion). Each patient has his own story summed up in the College’s mission: to tell. Let these be a teaching lesson The CSU College of Medicine shall in return. produce competent, compassionate, There is nothing static about the ethical and socially responsive medi- discipline which you have chosen. cal graduates who shall be health care The dynamism sometimes overtakes providers, health education research- you but you have to take the reign er, community leaders and social and live up to it. Medicine is a promobilizers as they practice holistic fession of life-long learning. CME medical care. is illustrative of this, a necessity to Quid pro quo—something given or update or enhance one’s skills in the received in exchange for something practice of diagnosis and treatment else… What is given? It is the gift of patients. Science and technology given to you by the Filipino people, change so rapidly that inevitably, the the gift of learning as provided for by knowledge and skills you have just the state, as provided by the state’s acquired become things of the past. constituents; the Filipino people.

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PENSEES

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

C

Faster inflation rate

ONSUMER prices in June rose at a pace faster than what the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and most economists expected. The June inflation rate climbed to a five-year high of 5.2 percent from 4.6 percent in May, and much higher than 2.5 percent registered in the same month last year.

The June figure brought the average inflation rate in the first six months at 4.3 percent, or beyond the Bangko Sentral’s target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2018. The higher rate indicates that certain assumptions made by government forecasters earlier were not met.

Data provided by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the higher annual price increases of 6.1 percent in the heavilyweighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index largely caused the inflation in June to spike.

The food index by itself climbed 5.8 percent in June, with higher

annual mark-ups observed in the indices of rice, 4.7 percent; corn, 14.1 percent; meat, 5 percent; and vegetables, 8.6 percent.

The country’s rice supply was understandably short until last month when the National Food Authority finally imported the commodity. The prices of commercial rice in the market rose to as much as P45 to P50 per kilo with the absence of NFA rice in the market since March of last year. NFA administrator Jason Aquino earlier conceded that the agency failed to comply with the 15-day buffer stock policy for almost one year.

The increase in petroleum prices, along with the weak peso, may have also contributed to the steeper increase in the prices of other food items like vegetables and meat. Rising transportation cost inflates the cost of food products, especially those coming from the provinces.

The surprise inflation rate in June, meanwhile, will prompt the Bangko Sentral to take a more aggressive approach in raising interest rates to curb rising prices. Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. described the higherthan-expected June inflation as a “setback.”

The government should also identify the artificial bottlenecks affecting the supply of goods and services. Unscrupulous traders and speculators may have already taken advantage of the high inflation rate by hoarding goods.

Cease talks Joma Sison came home for the peace talks in 1986 when then-President Cory Aquino ascended to power after the fall of Ferdinand Marcos. But the ALEJANDRO talks with the late Rep. Ramon Mitra DEL ROSARIO as head of the government panel failed THE Philippine government is going and Sison immediately left for his exto cease talking peace with the Com- ile in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

In a statement issued in Utrecht, Simunist Party of the Philippines of Jose son said that despite Duterte’s avowed Ma. Sison.

The Armed Forces of the Philip- independent foreign policy, he conpines got the word from President tinues a neo-colonialism path to perRodrigo Duterte that talking with the petuate Philippine dependence on the CPP/National Democratic Front is United States.

A meeting between Trump and Duuseless, adding that local government units would just deal with the insur- terte is being set up sometime this year. This was gency problem according to US and the New PeoAmbassador Kim ple’s Army. The Sung who made move, according the statement durto those following The President was ing the Fourth of the on-and-off ne- left with no choice July celebrations gotiations in the at the US embassy Norwegian capi- but to cancel the in Manila. Trump tal of Oslo, were negotiations. and Duterte met heading nowhere. at the sidelines President Duof the Associaterte has urged tion of Southeast CPP leader Joma Sison to come home and hold the talks Asian Nations summit in Manila last in Manila with the promise of safe November. *** passage and conduct while here with Meanwhile, in the wake of a series his peace panel. Sison rejected the offer leaving the President no choice but of killings that included three priests, Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio to scuttle the talks.

A recent survey showed that 90 Halili and General Tinio, Nueva Ecija percent of Filipinos were in favor of Mayor Ferdinand Bote, the League of scrapping the talks with the Reds who Provincial Mayors requested a diawith their armed wing, the NPA, are logue with President Duterte. Fearing now engaged in extortion of business- for their lives, the mayors are seeking es in rural areas, robbery and kidnap- protection from the executive branch.

In the Senate, Senator Panfilo Lacson ping for ransom.

“It’s just a waste of money every called on the government for tougher time the government sends its team to gun control following the high-profile Oslo,” said the President. Recall that Turn to A5

BACK CHANNEL

Facebook (2) VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ THE following is Part 2 of the excellent article written by my daughter Ivy Lopez Cabaltica, a US-based lawyer: In the first place, FB users volunteer all their personal information and posts. We fill out all the blanks and answer all the prompts. It’s easy to forget that we are talking to a machine when it seems so interested in us! FB wants to know more! So we

give it more information about our“When you publish content or inselves, because we are just so inter- formation using the Public setting, esting, right? it means that you are allowing everyone, including people off of Facebook, to access and use that information, and to associate it with you (i.e., your name and profile picture).” (FB Every user Terms) automatically allows But once you publish on FB, you give FB permission to use it. FB advertising with the Terms clearly state: use of his or her public “For content that is covered by profile. intellectual property rights, like photos and videos (IP content), you Turn to A5 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher

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

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Opinion

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018

Happy birthday, America!

End the debates, solve the killings CROSSROADS

JONATHAN DE LA CRUZ THE time to debate the spate of killings unrelated to the war on drugs and criminality over the last week or so is over. It is time to solve these and reassure the public that the government is on top of the situation. The perpetrators must be brought to justice. Under this peace-and-order administration, crime does not pay and the certainty of punishment is real—not illusory.

Up until the assassination of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili presumably by sniper fire, a first in the country, and the subsequent killings of General Tinio Mayor Ferdinand Bote and former prosecutor Salvador Solima, all in broad daylight, the public seems to have given the Duterte administration a kind of free pass as far as its iron-fisted approach in the fight against criminality is concerned.

Despite unceasing condemnation by critics, here and abroad, of what they termed heavy-handed, almost lawless crime fighting techniques especially in the war on drugs, the public has continued to support the effort.

It appears that the public has factored in, as the experts would say, the daily toll on lives—33 killings a day from July 1, 2016 to May 30, 2018— as part of the normal course of things under a regime that vowed to arrest the deteriorating crime situation by whatever means possible, fair or foul.

Such is the public response up until a few days ago. No longer. Now fear is creeping in and the public is hungry for action—real, honest-to-goodness action which not only bring the perpetrators to justice but prevent any more unwarranted killings happening.

The administration, especially the police, is thus put on notice: Solve the killings and prevent any further spike. Or else. On this note, Presiden-

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However, you understand that removed content may persist in backup copies for a reasonable period of time (but will not be available to others).”

Every FB user automatically allows advertising with the use of our public profile. Likewise, minors on FB are presumed to have their parents’ consent.

“Our goal is to deliver advertising and other commercial or sponsored content that is valuable to our users and advertisers. In order to help us do that, you agree to the following: “You give us permission to use your name, profile picture, content, and information in connection with commercial, sponsored, or related content (such as a brand you like) served or enhanced by us. This means, for example, that you permit a business or other entity to pay us to display your name and/or profile picture with your content or information, without any compensation to you. If you have selected a specific audience for your content or information, we will respect your choice when we use it. If you are under the age of eighteen (18), you represent that a parent or legal guardian also agrees to this section on your behalf.”

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spate of killings. Mayor Halili was killed by a skilled marksman who used a sniper rifle to shoot him in the chest on Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at the Tanauan city hall.

Some see the spate of assassinations

tial Spokesman Harry Roque need not debate with the usual critics about the state of affairs. There is no need for him and other Palace subalterns to insist that there is no culture of impunity in this country. Or even for him and other proadministration officials to say that there is no breakdown in our midst and that the rule of law is in place.

In fact, it is totally unnecessary for Secretary Roque to advise the Halili children not to worry over what they hear (possibly the President’s allusion to Mayor Halili’s drug links?) since “no matter what you hear if there are incidents of killings and violation of the right to life, it is the obligation of the state to do everything to investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators to strike fear in the hearts of killers.” There is really no need to

Crime does not pay and the certainty of punishment is real—not illusory.

point to the obvious. It is the state’s duty to do these things and more.

What is needed now is action and not simply the daily update on the killings. Or the seemingly haphazard manner by which the police have tried to wrap up investigations being conducted on the killings. The increasingly raw, contradictory statements coming from police sources about the killing of Fr. Richmond Nilo is an example on how not to undertake the investigation and resolve the issue.

What is needed now is thorough sleuthing to determine the truth on each and every killing especially the high-profile ones. Only by leaving no stone unturned beyond the glare of the cameras can proper and responsible resolution of these cases prosper.

The public, especially the families, do not need to be given daily bulletins about these killings especially if the same are in the nature of speculation.

Or bookish theories on what may have happened.

Haste is waste as they say. It is also harmful and painful on the victims’ families. What we need are facts and nothing but. If the same is not available, there is no need to broadcast anything at all just to meet the daily media deadlines.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief and himself a respected crime buster, has voiced concern over the recent spate of killings and offered sound advice for the police to regain the upper hand in this decidedly critical fight against criminality.

“The police should have more visibility and undertake round-the-clock surveillance in known crime infested areas,” Lacson noted. In addition, he advised the police to “now put in place stricter firearms control measures as there are too many people carrying guns in every place in the country.”

The police should wake up to a new criminal world, if we may call it such, which boasts of more sophisticated weapons and techniques, more brazen ways to waylay possible victims and the means to blindside the authorities on the violence now enveloping the country.

It is possible that the overwhelming focus and, might I add, seeming success on the war on drugs may have deadened the authorities to a point that we may have neglected the other sources of mayhem like illegal gambling, extortion and kidnapping, among others, all of which can lead to violence and killings. Perhaps it is really time for the police to reassess the situation and pro-actively readjust its ways before the situation gets out of control.

Bringing the real killers of Halili, Bote, Solima, Nilo, Paez and Ventura to justice the soonest time possible will be a good start.

“We do not give your content or information to advertisers without your consent.”

Opening a Facebook account is like filling out an application for a mobile carrier. We give them our data and the carrier likely shares our public information with interested businesses.

Credit card companies routinely sell cardholders’ data with their affiliates so they can advertise to specific income groups.

Even if we limit all our posts and shares to our circle of FB Friends, all our posts are considered published under the law since they are made known to a third person. The breadth of exposure is not what matters, it’s the fact of sharing it with another person. As with secrets, the moment we divulge it to someone, we can expect it to be eventually revealed and we can’t really control how it will spread.

And that’s the point of Facebook.

We want to share online and FB allows us to do that for free. We cannot expect much privacy when we use a network because it is necessarily interconnected and we need to leave a digital trail so we can use apps or go to other websites.

When FB shares our public profile, it seems a violation of our trust because our content is personal. But all our content came from us anyway.

How important is it for us to avail of FB’s free online service versus our claim to privacy?

We need to remember that anytime we are online, our movements can be tracked and we are digitally monitored.

“Keep in mind when you install an app, you give it permission to access your public profile, which includes your name, profile pictures, username, user ID (account number), networks and any info you choose to make publicly available. You also give the app other info to personalize your experience, including your friends

list, gender, age range and locale.”

(FB Terms) Every time you see the FB icon, FB Share, or Like icon, that is linked to FB’s tracking system. So your activity on that page is also seen by FB. You can also be tracked if you use FB products like Messenger and Instagram and if you download FB apps on your phone or device.

FB uses cookies to track us. “Cookies are small pieces of text used to store information on web browsers.

Cookies are used to store and receive identifiers and other information on computers, phones, and other devices.” (https://www.facebook.com/policies/cookies) “We use cookies if you have a Facebook account, use the Facebook Products, including our website and apps, or visit other websites and apps that use the Facebook Products (including the Like button or other Facebook Technologies).” (FB Terms) But even if we are not logged into FB, FB tracks us automatically “for security purposes” to make sure those not signed in to FB cannot scrape user information. It sounds bad, but it’s similar to the security measure of watching mall shoppers who don’t really enter any shop but roam around the mall. FB tracks us to secure our accounts from spam, phishing, malware, and prohibited acts. This cannot be turned off.

FB also uses cookies to observe our online behavior to improve their service, match us with suitable ads, and measure ad performance.

Zuckerberg should first have asked Congress how many were on FB because there were some questions that revealed ignorance about how FB works. One senator asked if FB can read and save his text messages. No, they are encrypted, MZ said. Another asked how FB makes money.

as adding to the escalation of tension in the runup to the midterm elections next year.

Will oppositions candidates be running scared or will they be helped by the political killing spree currently being employed by still-unidentified politicians?

Motives for the killing of the priests and local executives ranged from the

personal to drug-related reasons. The police are apparently in the dark. In Tanauan, Halili’s murder is being linked to drug trafficking. But his relatives dismissed these unsubstantiated allegations saying it was in fact Mayor Halili who became famous for his “walk of shame” when he paraded drug traffickers, thieves, rapists and other criminals on the city’s streets.

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E Pluribus Unum: From many, one; meaning that they don’t care where you are from. They don’t care about your blood origins, your ethnic origins, your racial origins, or your reliAMERICANS around the world cel- gious origins. They don’t care. From ebrated Independence Day on July 4 the many, one: You work with them to —the 242nd in US history. make America; you are one of them, The national holiday marks a huge whatever your age, color, creed, race, celebration for the country—with sexual preference, or what have you. many holding parties or flocking to You can come from Mars for all they see firework displays. care.

I lived in America for over 20 In God We Trust. America is years, and I can say that Independ- founded on the notion that God is the ence Day celebrates something really source of values. quite unique.

That’s why their Declaration of Ask almost any American what’s Independence says that we have indifferent about America. Why are alienable rights, but they’re not from American values different, let’s say, humans, kings, government, and than France’s values, Britain’s val- they’re not from great thinkers; they ues, the Philippines’ values, or any are from God. If there is no God, then other democratic country’s values? rights can be taken away by people, Is there anything unique about the because they were given by people.

United States and, especially, is there So God is central. anything unique about the American And the third of their American values system?

Trinity, is liberty. Now, you will say, Well, in fact, it is unique; it’s part “Well, during the French Revolution, of the reason some people talk about they said Liberty, Equality, Fraterniwhat is called American exceptional- ty; America is not the only one to enism, which means that America’s val- shrine Liberty.” That’s true, they’re ues have been exceptional. not the only ones to enshrine liberty; The uniqueness of the Ameri- they’re the only ones to enshrine Libcan values system, which has made erty, E Pluribis Unum, and In God We America unique, Trust. American has made the liberty is not American experthe same as the iment indeed the French underMay you live long experiment for stood it because and prosper. humanity. That’s the French unwhy people who derstood it in go there assimitheir revolution late faster than in as with equalany other country in the world. I’m ity. Notice equality is not part of the not disparaging any other country. American Trinity. That’s a European There are many wonderful people in value. every country, and, surely, many misWe are all born equal, that’s an erable people in America.

American value, but ending up equal, Nevertheless, the American experi- that’s a European value, and, arguament is unique. If you go to Germany, bly, Asian, African, and Middle Eastlet’s say, from Turkey where many ern as well. In America, where you people have emigrated from, you will end up, that’s your business. find that most Turks remain Turks for The business in America is to engenerations. They are not considered able you to have the liberty to end up fellow Germans, fellow Swedes, or wherever your talents, abilities, and, fellow Danes nearly as much as some- yes, luck bring you. So they don’t body from Turkey would be within a believe in equality as such because week in the United States. The same the truth is liberty and equality are with foreigners who come to the Phil- often in conf lict. If you want to enippines. They will always be consid- force equality then you have to tell ered foreigners and not fellow Fili- people how much they can earn, and pinos no matter how long they stay. that is one example of the removal Why is this? Why is America unique? of liberty.

They have a unique values system.

That’s the American Trinity. It has It is called the American Trinity. It’s worked for over 200 years. They are not to be confused in any way with fooling with it now though, because a the Christian Trinity, which is a doc- growing number of Americans, espetrine of Christianity. The American cially the young and well-educated, Trinity is the three pillars of Ameri- are getting attracted to and are endcan values. ing up subscribing to the European I discovered this uniqueness of system, and not the American system America by looking closely at an of values.

American coin one day. There it was E Pluribis Unum: From many, one; in front of me, in the palm of my hand, Liberty, not necessarily equality, the American values system on a coin. and in God We Trust—God is the They have all three values on every essence and basis of values. That’s coin and no other country, as far as the American Trinity.

I know, has these three: E Pluribus Happy birthday, America! May you Unum, In God We Trust, and Liberty. and your values, which benefitted As far as I know, no country in the humanity, live long and prosper. world has those three values as its essence. eric.jurado@gmail.com FROM WHERE I STAND ERIC JURADO

Sage...

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Innovations are often home of creative minds.

When the oceans rise, there are effects. There are effects on people living on low land areas. When there is global warming, resurgence of mosquito-borne diseases: dengue, chikungunya, malaria, and other infectious diseases arise and rise.

Overpopulation causes crowding, hunger, and water shortages, and predisposes humans to poverty, insanity, and death; Be part of this.

Be leaders and agent of change of your communities, the Filipinos, and elsewhere.

Despite what you have learned about the human body, a lot of mysteries still lurk inside it, a lot of secrets yet to be uncovered. Technology, in all its unending discoveries, just hopes to keep up with the mysteries

of evolving diseases. Be a curious physician, so go forth.

Do research which is translational and patient-focused. For it is for them that you have become what you are now. A pre-practitioner; and as future practitioner, be kind and compassionate to your patients, take time to show your interest in them.

Do not underestimate the impact you can make on individual patients, clients, and families.

Treat your colleagues well. Treat every one with full professionalism and respect. You are all in this, together.

Have a great ride in an automobile called Medicine.

Remember quid pro quo. You have received. It’s time to give back your best!” rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@outlook.com

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FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

MMDA to ban prov’l buses to enter Edsa starting Aug. 1

By Joel E. Zurbano STARTING August 1, the government will not allow provincial buses to enter Epifanio de los Santos Avenue during rush hours in a bid to improve the flow of traffic along the 23.8-kilometer highway.

Jose Arturo Garcia Jr., general manager of the Metro Manila Development Authority, said both northbound and southbound provincial buses will be banned from traversing along EDSA from Pasay City up to Cubao in Quezon City from 7 am to 10 am.and from 6 pm to 9 pm on weekdays.

“The changes were agreed during an emergency meeting with provincial bus operators and other stakeholders recently,” Garcia said.

The MMDA will conduct a dry run activity starting July 24 in connection with the new policy.

As an incentive, Garcia said all provincial buses passing along Edsa are exempted from the United Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or number coding scheme.

“Provincial buses plying C5 Road, streets of Manila, and elsewhere are not covered by the number coding exemption,” he clarified.

Provincial buses coming from the south that do not have terminals in Pasay City are advised to use the agencyoperated Southwest Interim Provincial Terminal in Parañaque City.

Constitutional expert warns public on Charter change

By Maricel V. Cruz and MJ Blancaflor AN EXPERT on Philippine Constitution has warned the public that the federal charter might allow President Rodrigo Duterte to run again in the 2022 elections, three days after the draft was unanimously approved by the consultative committee.

Lawyer Christian Monsod, a member of the commission that drafted the 1986 Constitution, said the document approved by the committee prohibits the term extension of the sitting president and vice president but not their candidacy under the new Constitution.

“If he wants to stay in power beyond 2022, the only legal way to do it is by charter change,” Monsod said during a policy forum in Pasig City, saying that he received parts of the draft from two reliable sources.

Monsod added that the term extension of Duterte could also be done through the suspension of 2022 elections if the transition process takes longer than expected.

He also noted that Duterte could change the rules for reelection for those who would be banned from staying in power, including himself.

Retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno, chairman of the committee, previously dismissed speculations the proposed charter would allow President Duterte to rule the country indefinitely, saying the 22-member ConCom acted independently.

The committee, formed through an executive order, would present the draft to the President on July 9 before the 78page document is to be made available to the media.

Monsod urged the public to do a thorough and objective study of the ConCom’s recommendations as well as the moves of the Congress in the weeks ahead.

Meanwhile, an opposition congressman assailed the “belated efforts” to push for federalism in light of regional consultations on the “Federal Constitution.”

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the Consultative Committee which reviewed the 1987 Constitution and unanimously approved the draft of the “Federal Constitution” for submission to the President on or before July 9, 2018 is belatedly holding regional consultations, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government, on the proposed new charter, like in the Bicol Region in Legazpi City on July 6, 2018.

According to Garcia, they predict a faster turnaround of provincial buses once the regulation is enforced during the morning and evening rush hours.

“We expect that the regulation would speed up travel of private motorists and passenger buses using the yellow lane along Edsa during peak hours,” he said.

The MMDA official said they are also coordinating with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on the reduction of passengers’ fare.

Garcia said the regulation will be effective until the three bus terminals being constructed are operational.

These are the bus terminal in Valenzuela set to be operational in August; Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange set to open on September and the bus terminal in Sta. Rosa, Laguna which is set to open in December.

The MMDA came up with the new scheme after members of the Metro Manila Council, the agency’s governing board composed of 17 mayors and local executives in Metro Manila, agreed to its proposal to ease traffic congestion in the metropolis caused by simultaneous road projects in the second half of 2018.

The government is targeting improving the traffic condition in Metro Manila by establishing modern transport hubs outside the metropolis and preventing provincial buses from passing through Edsa.

BIG SHABU HAUL. Top officials of the Philippine National Police led by PNP chief Oscar Albalyalde and NCRPO P/CSupt. Guillermo Eleazar held a press conference at the national headquarters in Camp Crame on Thursday, July 5, 2018 where they discussed the result of a buy-bust operation that netted seven kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) worth P47,600,000 in San Andres Bukid, Manila. The PNP identified the suspected pusher as Joshir dela Cruz, 29. Manny Palmero

PNP, PDEA seize P47.6-m ‘shabu,’ collar suspect

By Francisco Tuyay

C

OMBINED police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency anti-narcotics operatives busted an alleged conduit of a big-time drug peddler with the seizure of about 7 kilograms of suspected “shabu” in a densely populated area in Manila early dawn Thursday.

Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde and National Capital Region Police Office director Guillermo Eleazar said the seven kilos of shabu with an estimated value of P47.6 million were confiscated during a buy-bust operation at the suspected safe house of a drug pusher in Barangay 7799 Zone 57, San Andres Bukid, Manila at around 4 am the other day.

Albayalde identified the arrested suspect as Joshir Bernardo, alias “JS”, 29, who was with his live-in partner when he was arrested at their residence in Onyx Street in San Andres Bukid, Manila.

The police seized the illegal drugs after undercover operatives completed a buy-bust deal with Bernardo, who sold a big pack of shabu weighing about a kilo.

Upon payment, the undercover agent

immediately signaled a combined team of policemen from the NCRPO, the Manila Police District and PDEA agents, who arrested the suspect.

During the arrest of Bernardo, narcotics operatives recovered six more pieces of large plastics containing the suspected shabu weighing about six kilos worth P40.8 million. Also recovered from the suspect were a Sansung cellular phone, a gray Cefiro sedan bearing license plate XSA 507, which authorities said that Bernardo uses to deliver the illegal drugs.

Eleazar said that the suspect is one of the drug pushers employed by Loloy Hernandez, an inmate presently jailed at the Taguig City detention facility.

Eleazar said Hernandez’s operations extends to Metro Manila and Calabarzon, respectively.

OTC chief, 2 more suspended for graft

NEW MOTOR PLATES. Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go (right) and DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade are seen as the DOTr and the Land Transportation Office started releasing of new motor vehicle plates nationwide starting Thursday at the LTO main office in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

Paombong ex-mayor indicted for operating dump

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman has indicted an ex-Bulacan mayor for opeating an illegal dump.

Former Paombong mayor Isagani Castro, along with 10 other local officials, were charged with violation of Section 48(9) in relation to Sections 37 and 49(d) of Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Included in the indictment were then vice mayor Marisa Ramos; Sangguniang Bayan members Myrna Valencia, Luisito Arellano, Francisco Valencia, Maximo Tanghal, Reynaldo Sulit, Arnaldo Mendoza, James Jester Santos and Zoilo Estrella, and municipal environment and natural resources officer Marciana Tanghal.

“This is another significant achievement in our relentless crusade and drive against the proliferation of illegal drugs,” Albayalde said of Bernardo’s arrest.

The seized evidence was immediately brought to the Crime Laboratory Office in Camp Crame for qualitative examination while cases of violation of illegal drugs are now being readied against Bernardo.

Meanwhile, lawmen from the Quezon City Police District arrested three notorious armed robbery riding in tandem suspects along Barangay Project 6 in Quezon City past midnight Thursday.

Eleazar identified the suspects as John Christopher Liporada, 27, his still unidentified live-in partner and a certain Jaimeson Zhang, 27.

The NCRPO chief said the group was reportedly involved in the series of robbery incidents in Metro Manila and was planning to stage another robbery.

The suspects were cornered by policemen at the boundary of Road 10, along Mindanao Avenue hours after the group pulled a robbery at a steakhouse house in Barangay Bago Bantay at about 12:05 am.

In a related administrative case, the incumbent SB members—Mendoza, Santos and Estrella—and Tanghal were found guilty of gross neglect of duty and were ordered suspended for one year.

In its complaint, the special panel of investigators from the Environmental Ombudsman pointed out that respondents continued to allow the operation of an open dump in violation of RA No. 9003.

As early as 2011, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' regional office issued a notice of closure directing the Paombong local government to cease and desist from operating an open dump in Barangay San Isidro II, and cause its rehabilitation.

On July 3, 2015, inspectors from the Environmental Management Bureau inspected the waste disposal facility and

discovered that the municipality still maintained an illegal open dump.

On July 20, 2015, the DENR once again ordered the closure of the dumps and directed them to ensure its full closure before the end of July 2015. But on Nov. 20, 2015, an inspection and monitoring team found the dump was still operational.

In August 2016, members of Environmental Ombudsman team conducted a separate ocular inspection and discovered that the dump was adjacent to the Labangan Channel (now Angat River) and fishpond area located within a nearby residential area.

The team also found out that the trash was dumped without segregation.

A follow-up inspection was conducted on Oct. 6, 2016 which yielded the same results.

DEPARTMENT of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has suspended the chief of the Office of Transportation Cooperatives and two other officials over the alleged misuse of funds worth P3.3 million allocated for the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

A 90-day preventive suspension was imposed on OTC chairman Emmanuel Virtucio, executive director Eugene Pabualan, and Finance and Administration Division Chief/Special Disbursing officer Wilfredo Clave Jr. pending results of an investigation due to grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, according to a suspension order signed by DOTr Undersecretary for Administration Artemio Tuazon Jr. They were given 72 hours to respond to the charges.

In a statement Thursday, the DOTr said it has allotted P3.3 million to the OTC for the implementation of the PUVMP last Dec. 15, 2017.

However, the OTC immediately released the amount as cash advances: P2 million to Pabualan and P1.3 million to Clave, which they deposited to their personal accounts, according to a report of the Commission on Audit for 2017.

Only P33,000 had been liquidated by Pabualan, while Clave liquidated only P537,255.36, leaving an unliquidated balance worth around P2.73 million.

Tugade has ordered that there will be no further downloading of funds unless the P3.3 million released to the OTC has been fully liquidated.

“Bakit naman dineposito ang pera sa kanilang personal account? Pera ba nila ýon? Ipaliwanag nila kung ano ang ginawa sa three million. Kung hindi ay hindi na sila muling makakatungtong sa kanilang opisina [Why did they deposit the funds to their personal accounts? Is that their money? They should explain what happened to the P3 million. If not, they should no longer be working in their offices],” Tugade said. PNA

IN BRIEF PAL opens Manila to Sapporo flights FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines on Thursday announced that it will start operating the Manila-Sapporo commercial flight service this September using its newly acquired A321NEO aircraft.

“On our flights to Sapporo, PAL passengers can expect an ultra-comfortable travel experience with the improved cabin and seat features of our new airbus A321neo airplane,” said PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista.

Aside from ultra-comfortable travel experience, the plane also has Wi-Fi connectivity and excessive inflight entertainment options.

The 168-seater Airbus A321neo has 12 seats in business class and 156 seats in economy class. The business class cabin boasts generous seat pitch (legroom) of 60 inches and seats that are up to 23 inches wide and recline to become full flat beds, measuring 78 inches in length. The economy cabins offer ample stretching room with a seat pitch of 32 inches. Joel E. Zurbano

Confiscated wood used to aid Marawi THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources has donated to Task Force Bangon Marawi nearly 871,453 board feet of confiscated illegally cut wood valued at over P43.5 million for use in rehabilitating battle-scarred Marawi City.

“In our drive against illegal logging, DENR was able to donate lumber to help in rebuilding Marawi,” DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said Wednesday, July 4, at the agency’s 31st anniversary celebration.

Among the confiscated wood’s possible use are for manufacturing school furniture and repairing school buildings in the city. The DENR had previously donated confiscated wood to the Department of Education for the same purposes.

During the event, Cimatu signed the deed of donation formalizing the turnover of such wood of various tree species. TFBM head and concurrent housing and urban development chief Eduardo del Rosario acknowledged the donation and thanked DENR. PNA

PNP chief attends gun show opening THE 26th Defense & Sporting Arms Show opens its door to thousands of gun enthusiasts on July 12-16, 2018 at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City offering more exciting activities, surprises and raffle prizes.

World shooting champ Jethro T. Dionisio, president of the Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers Inc., said AFAD exhibitors will launch their latest array of firearms, ammunition and shooting paraphernalia that will likely make gun enthusiasts drool.

Philippine National Police chief Director Oscar Albayalde is guest of honor during the opening ceremonies for the country’s longest-running gun show, slated at 10 am on July 12, 2018.

In partnership with the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office, the DSAS will again conduct the PNP-Firearms Caravan to assist walk-in applicants of License to Own and Possess Firearms, renewal of gun license and Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence.

‘HNP’ is Du30’s party—Palace PRESIDENTIAL Spokesperson Harry Roque says that the President claims ‘Hugpong’ as his party-list in Davao.

In an answer to the media yesterday regarding the party called ‘Hukbong ng Pagbabago,’ Roque said that President Rodrigo Duterte claims ‘Hukbong’ as his party-list in Davao.

“The President has said, kasi iyong ‘Hugpong’ iyan amin talaga iyan. Iyan iyong local party niya sa Davao City,” Roque said.

The party-list is being led by the President’s daughter and current Davao City mayor, Sara Duterte-Carpio. The political group has been organized as a regional political party and has been accredited by the Commission on Elections.

In a text message, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that it was approved since it meets all requirements set by the law. Evalea Casaljay

Sports

A7

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Federer, Serena in easy wins; Wozniacki crashes L

ONDON—Roger Federer extended his flawless winning streak at Wimbledon to 26 consecutive sets as the defending champion crushed Lukas Lacko, while Serena Williams powered to her 16th successive win in Wednesday’s second round action.

While Federer and Serena strolled, Caroline Wozniacki suffered fresh Wimbledon woe as the world number two suffered a shock 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 defeat against Ekaterina Makarova.

Federer delivered a Centre Court masterclass lasting 89 minutes as the Swiss star hit 48 winners and 16 aces in his 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 victory.

The 36-year-old is now on his joint second longest streak of sets won at Wimbledon—his best was 34 between the third round in 2005 to the 2006 final.

Next up for Federer is a third round tie against German world number 64 Jan-Lennard Struff who came back from two sets down to defeat 39-year-old Ivo Karlovic 13-11 in the final set.

In his 20th Wimbledon appearance, top seed Federer, a 20time major winner, is bidding to become only the second player to claim nine singles titles at the All England Club after Martina Navratilova.

On the evidence of his ruthless demolition of Slovakian world number 73 Lacko, it will take

PHILRACOM TRIPLE CROWN. Jockey Oneal Cortez (5th from left) and trainer Danilo R. dela Cruz (right) raise their trophies after their horse Victorious Colt won the third and final leg of the 2018 Philippine Racing Commission-Triple Crown Series Sunday at the Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite. They are joined by the Philippine Racing Club Inc. Racing Manager AB Oyet Alcasid (right), Philracom Commissioners Wilfredo de Ungria (center) and Victor Tantoco (left), and a representative of Leonardo Javier Jr., who won the Breeder’s Purse. Charles Dantes

Koreans wrest control as Carlos slips CAGAYAN de Oro—Hot-putting Kim Joo Hyung mastered Pueblo de Oro’s backside for the second straight day on his way to a nine-under 63 and a two-stroke lead over fellow Korean Lee Song as Jobim Carlos barely recovered from a poor start with a blazing windup halfway through the ICTSI Pueblo De Oro Championship here yesterday.

Kim, out to redeem himself from a final round foldup that cost him a crack at the Del Monte crown last week, scorched the layout’s backside with five birdies in row from No. 11 for a solid sixunder 30, one stroke better than Kim Joo Hyung at it again, vows his first round feat. The 16-year-old to finish better, stronger shotmaker actually threatened to rip the course with three more birdnext and closing out with three ies in the first four holes at the front straight birdies for a 71. but settled for a two-birdie-twoWhile he dropped to third at bogey finish for that 63.

135, Carlos still stayed within But it proved enough to shove striking distance with still 36 him on top at 12-under 132 as the holes to play in the P3 million men of the Philippine Golf Tour event serving as the fifth leg of continued to pound the Robert the PGT and final stop of the Trent Jones II-designed layout Mindanao swing of the circuit under preferred lies rule with Lee, sponsored by ICTSI and orgajoint second at Del Monte won by nized by Pilipinas Golf TourCarlos, turning in a bogey-free 68 naments Inc. for solo second at 134.

“I knew I was already down “Every birdie putt I stroked (in the early going). But I told found the hole. I have never been myself to be steady coming this confident with my putting as home. I gave myself opportubefore,” said Kim, who used just nities for birdies to finish the 24 putts, including a pair of 10 round. That’s when birdies footers, a 25-footer on No. 14, a came,” said Carlos.

15-footer on the fourth and from Johvanie Abaño slowed down 16 feet out on the ninth. The rest with a 70 after a 67 and slipped were from inside eight feet. to fourth at 137 while veteran “When you putt like that is the Elmer Salvador fired a 70 and best thing that can happen to a tied Philippine Masters champlayer. But this is far from over pion Jerson Balasabas, who since there are still two rounds carded a 70, and another Korean to take care of,” added Kim, who Park Jun Sung, who turned in a has dominated the local amateur 71, at sixth at 138. scene the past two years before moving up to the pro ranks this year.

Carlos, whose leadgrabbing 64 Wednesday sparked hopes of another explosive week 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ for the former national champion, stumbled 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ with an uncharacteristic start of three bogeys in the four holes at the DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 back. Through he recovered with back-toback birdies from No. DIGITS 00-00-00 15, the Apo leg winner bogeyed Nos. 2 and EZ2 00-00 3 before birdying the

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 6/42 6 3 2

Federer

something special to stop Federer making more Wimbledon history.

“I played very well. I felt good out there, less nerves than in the first round,” Federer said.

“I’m happy how I am hitting the ball, good concentration on my

service games and able to mix it up with some slices.

“Of course, you sometimes play the percentages, but if you do that too much it becomes boring, so I like to mix it up.”

Federer wasn’t the only former champion in peak form on Centre Court as seven-time winner Serena routed Bulgarian qualifier Viktoriya Tomova 6-1, 6-4.

Williams brushed aside Tomova in just 66 minutes with 24 winners and four aces to extend her streak of consecutive match wins at the All England Club.

“It was better than the first round. I’m happy I’m going in the right direction,” Serena said.

“I’m getting there. I expect to get there, not only for Wimbledon but for the tournaments in the future.”

‘Eating bugs’ The 36-year-old, whose winning run encompasses her Wimbledon titles in 2015 and 2016, missed the grass-court Grand Slam last year while she prepared to give birth to daughter Alexis Olympia in September.

Serena, seeded 25th after her return from maternity leave, faces France’s Kristina Mladenovic for a place in the last 16.

Wozniacki, plagued by an invasion of flying ants during the Court One clash, saved five match points but has now failed to get past the last 16 in 12 visits to the All England Club.

It was a bitter defeat for the 27-year-old Dane, who was expected to challenge for the Wimbledon title after winning her maiden Grand Slam crown at the

Australian Open in January.

With flying ants stuck in Wozniacki’s hair and dive-bombing her throughout the match, the former world number one asked the umpire if there was something that could be sprayed to keep the bugs away.

“They’re in my mouth and in my hair and everywhere—we need to do something. Is there a spray?” she said.

“I want to be here to focus on tennis, not eating bugs.”

Five-time champion Venus Williams battled into the third round with a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 win over Romanian qualifier Alexandra Dulgheru.

Venus reached her ninth Wimbledon final last year, but the American star was denied a sixth title by Garbine Muguruza. AFP

Sports

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

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FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018

Ginebra battles for PBA survival

By Jeric Lopez TWO critical games which may well decide the final placing of teams before the Quarterfinals will be played today.

Plenty of things will be on the line when two key matches are featured in the penultimate playdate of the elimination round of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup tonight.

Both part of a three-way tie for the Nos. 6-8 seeds, the Gin Kings and the Batang Pier, both at 5-5, will fight tooth and nail at 7 p.m. at the Cuneta Astrodome to see who between them will formally enter the quarters.

Preceding that is an equally vital game at 4:30 p.m. between co-second placer Alaska (7-3) and Phoenix (4-6), who will be fighting for its tournament life.

So far, five teams, Rain or Shine, the Aces, TNT KaTropa, Meralco and San Miguel, are safely through to the quarters with three more open spots to be filled.

The cast might be completed today, depending on the results of the games.

Alaska, which will be parading a new import in returnee Diamon Simpson to replace Antonio Campbell, needs to win to boost its chance of ending up in the top two and earn a twice-to-beat incentive in the next phase.

The victor between Ginebra and GlobalPort will earn an outright seat in the next round.

On the other hand, the team which loses will be in danger of figuring in a playoff, depending on how the Fuelmasters fare in their game against the Aces.

Magnolia, also at 5-5, is another team that needs to win its final assignment to make a safe entry into the quarters and avoid complications.

If Phoenix loses, it gets eliminated and all the tickets to the next round will be taken.

Should it win, it can force a playoff against either the Hotshots or the loser of the Ginebra-GlobalPort tiff, depending on how the results of the final games and the quotient go.

GlobalPort Batang Pier point guard Stanley Pringle (front) protects the basketball against Barangay Ginebra defender Scottie Thompson.

Belgium not afraid of favored Brazil M

OSCOW, Russia—Veteran Belgium defender Vincent Kompany said on Wednesday Brazil are the best team at the World Cup but his side are not losing any sleep at the prospect of playing them.

The most talented Belgium team for decades face the ultimate test on Friday when they take on the five-time winners in Kazan for a place in the semifinals.

“Individually, Brazil are the strongest team in this World Cup,” Kompany, who made the last of his international appearances as a substitute in the 1-0 win over England, told reporters.

“That is a compliment but it doesn’t affect our chances against them. None of us are going to sleep at night thinking ‘We have already lost to Brazil’.

“Defensively they are solid, they win all their defensive duels and in attack, they are not scared to take people on one-on-one.

“They always have a key to unlock any situation.”

Manchester City stalwart Kompany, 32, said although Belgium boast their own outstanding individual players such as Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, the only way they will beat Brazil is to play as a team.

“We are going to look them in the eye. But if we make this a match of individuals, then we’ll lose,” he said.

Belgium, who came from behind to beat Japan in a thrilling last-16 match, have fast become the favorite team of many fans of countries already eliminated for their attractive style of f lowing football, a role their old rivals the Netherlands often occupied.

“We have developed an attractive style of football, we have scored a lot of goals and showed our good side,” said Kompany.

“If we play well against Brazil, we can attract even more supporters.

Neutral fans appreciate good football, like the Netherlands used to play.

“We’re constantly improving. We just have to step up to another level against Brazil. At least I hope we can.”

Belgium will have to find a way to stop Neymar, whose performances in Russia have attracted as much criticism as praise, for his alleged over-reaction to fouls.

Asked by a Brazilian journalist what he would do if Neymar fell theatrically in front of him, Kompany turned the question back on his questioner.

“What would you say to him? You are a Brazilian journalist? Ah, I see you’re too scared to reply. I don’t care (what Neymar does). If it becomes a match of individual performances we’ve got no chance.

“If we play as a team, if we fight for each other, we can do it and that’s what matters to me.” AFP

Creamline pursues finals slot Games today

1:45 p.m. – Creamline vs Pocari-Air Force 3:45 p.m. – PayMaya vs BanKo-Perlas

THE chase for the final berths in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Reinforced Conference comes down to a pair of rubber matches that could either go downto-the-wire or via straight-set romps.

But given the strength and talent of the protagonists and the weight of the matches today, Friday, one can expect only the best from Creamline, Pocari-Air Force, PayMaya and BanKo-Perlas as they go for the coveted slots and crack at the championship at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Cool Smashers and the High Flyers seized the momentum with their Game Two wins but the Lady Warriors and the Perlas Spikers have the experience needed to bounce back from tough setbacks, guaranteeing a pair of explosive matches capping the semis phase of the seasonopening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

The top-seeded Creamline and No. 4 Pocari dispute the first finals slot at 1:45 p.m. while the No. 2 PayMaya and third ranked BanKo-Perlas collide at 3:45 p.m.

Creamline rebounded from its straight-set back to Pocari in Game One with a 25-16, 26-24, 22-25, 25-17 victory last Wednesday, putting the Cool Smashers’ drive for a breakthrough victory in the backed by Mikasa and Asics back on track.

Unlike in the series’ opener, top spiker Alyssa Valdez drew solid backup from the team’s other stalwarts, including Michelle Gumabao, who atoned for a five-point output in Game One with a top-scoring 18-hit effort. Thai reinforcement Kuttika Kaewpin also scored 14 points after struggling for six and fellow import Laura Schaudt settled down from a measly onehit game last Sunday with 10 points.

Philippine Basketball Association players involved in the brawl that marred Monday’s FIBA World Cup qualifying match between Gilas and Australia are shown at the PBA office Thursday afternoon upon the invitation of league commissioner Willie Marcial. Also to attend the closed-door meeting are PBA chairman and POC president Victorico Vargas and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio.

Aussies, Kickert admit fault

By Peter Atencio AUSTRALIAN Boomer Daniel Kickert admitted that he “overstepped” during a bench-clearing incident when the Philippines and Australia clashed in a 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifier at the Philippine Arena at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan last Monday.

The 6’10” Kickert said this following his return to Australia with the rest of his teammates and the coaching staff the other day.

Kickert, in a statement to the New Zealand Herald, said he “overstepped” by elbowing Gilas Pilipinas guard Roger Pogoy in the face.

“I think I’ve overstepped a little bit with my response to the escalation in the game, I regret those things,” said Kickert.

Kickert’s action was considered by many to be the spark that led to the ugly third-quarter brawl with four minutes and one second left.

“I was put in a position where I obviously made an action which was regrettable and unfortunate,” Kickert told the New Zealand and Australian scribes in Brisbane.

The 35-year-old Kickert talked about the incident just as top officials from both the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and Basketball Australia issued a joint apology.

“We deeply regret the events that took place during the game. The actions displayed have no place on any basketball court. We wish to apologize to the entire basketball community worldwide—and in particular to our fantastic fans in the Philippines and Australia—for the behavior displayed by both teams and for bringing the game of basketball into disrepute.”

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Alfredo Panlilio and Ned Coten, president of Basketball Australia (BA), released their joint letter of apology following the incident.

FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, is now investigating the incident and has been sent a letter to all federations to send out a written report.

The disciplinary committee is expected to review its findings and make decision within the next two weeks.

Iniong continues climb up standings GINA Iniong tries to continue her climb up the ONE Championship standings when she takes on Istela Nunes at ONE: Battle for the Heavens on July 7, Saturday at the Tianhe Gymnasium in Guangzhou, China.

Iniong of Baguio City’s Team Lakay will try to follow up her dominant victory over one-time world title challenger Jenny Huang on the undercard of ONE: Heroes of Honor Heroes of Honor last April 20 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Iniong will try to improve her sevenwin, three loss card against the dangerous Nunes.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Muay Thai phenom Yodcherry Sityodtong of Thailand will take on “Killer Bee” Kai Ting Chuang of China for the inaugural ONE Super Series Kickboxing Atomweight World Championship in the main event of the card.

Sityodtong was confident that she would come out the victory against Chuang.

“I am a hundred percent ready to give the performance of a lifetime. I’m still young and my career in ONE Championship is just starting, but I have big plans and it all starts at ONE: Battle for the Heavens. Kai Ting Chuang is a worthy opponent and I am not taking her lightly.

This is going to be an amazing show,” said Sityodtong.

In the co-main event of the evening Tatsumitsu Wada battles Reece “Lightning” McLaren while Andre Meunier takes on Ibrahim El Bouni in a ONE Super Series Kickboxing match.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @ONEChampionship, and like on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/ ONEChampionship.

Filipina Gina Iniong (left) connects with a knee to the torso of Jenny Huang during their ONE Championship bout won by Iniong.

MPIC unit starts building P26-b Cebu expressway

By Darwin G. Amojelar CEBU CITY―Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp., a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., on Thursday formally started the construction of the P26-billion expressway linking this city to the town of Cordova in the island of Mactan.

“We’re finally starting construction of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Project. It’s a project that would take three years to construct and we expect completion by 2021,” MPTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said.

“This is very important for us because in the Philippines, it’s our first expressway outside Luzon.

But now we are expanding in Visayas. Hopefully, in Mindanao as well,” he said.

Franco said the toll for CCLEx would be around P89. The project is expected to help decongest the two existing Mactan-Mandaue and Marcelo Fernan bridges, where traffic is building up in both approaches particularly during peak hours.

CCLEC earlier awarded the P22.6billion design-and-build contract to Cebu Link Joint Venture, which is composed of Spain-based Acciona Construccion SA, First Balfour Inc. of the Lopez group and D.M. Consunji Inc. CCLEX is an 8.5-kilometer toll road that will connect mainland Cebu from the Cebu South Coastal Road to Mactan Circumferential Road in Barangay Pilipog, Cordova.

The project will have two lanes in each direction and will feature the main navigation span bridge, along with viaduct approach bridges, a causeway, roadway and toll facilities.

The span of the bridge allows for shipping traffic and the link is expected to serve at least 40,000 vehicles daily. It will give Cordova direct access to Cebu City.

IN BRIEF

Imported drinks to carry sugar label

BOTH locally-produced and imported beverages are required to indicate the total sugar content on their front label, the Trade Department said Thursday “We will require imported beverages to indicate the total amount of sugar content in the front of label. Manufacturers, both local and foreign, have the option to create new packaging that will show the total sugar content or they can use stickers placed on the front side of the current packaging to indicate the total sugar content of the beverage,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a news briefing in Makati City.

Manufacturers were given six months to comply with the recommendation.

The department recommended the inclusion of the information on the sugar content per pack and per serving as part of the front-ofpack label of any packaged beverage, whether liquid or powdered juice mix to raise public consciousness about excessive sugar intake.

Lopez said the regulation was a part of mandatory labelling as stated in Article 74 of the Consumer Act of the Philippines. Othel V. Campos

PAL readies flights to Sapporo, Japan

FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines said it will start operating the Manila-Sapporo route on Sept. 10 in response to the growing demand for direct flights to one of Japan’s popular travel destinations.

PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said in a news briefing the airline would fly thrice weekly every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, landing at Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport.

PAL will use its brand new Airbus A321neo aircraft for the six-hour direct flight.

“On our flights to Sapporo, PAL passengers can expect an ultra comfortable travel experience with the improved cabin and seat features of our new Airbus A321neo airplane, as well Wi-Fi connectivity and extensive inflight entertainment. As the country’s legacy carrier and the airline of choice for business travelers, in-flight comfort is crucial to passenger satisfaction,” Bautista said.

“We are proud and excited to tap the range, power and superior comfort of the new A321neos to pioneer the world’s first Manila to Sapporo air route. Truly, this new aircraft enables PAL develop new long-haul markets that were not previously accessible with older singleaisle aircraft,” he said. Jenniffer B. Austria

DICT to accredit two tower builders

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology said it expects to accredit a tower company by the first quarter of 2019 to build more cellular base stations nationwide.

“We are helpful that the accreditation will be achieved by the first quarter of next year, followed by a six-month buildup and consultative meetings with users regarding their requirements,” the agency said.

It said there would be no limitation in the ownership structure and foreigners can own up to 100 percent of the tower company.

The agency said the effectivity and start of rollout of tower company was projected

by August or September 2019, just about the same time the Facebook fiber optic would be activated providing free two terabyte-bandwidth.

“The maximum rollout of one tower company is 25,000 for a 7-year period, so two tower companies maybe chosen for a total of 50,000,” the agency said.

Each tower company is projected to invest $2 billion. Darwin G. Amojelar

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018

B1

Inflation hits 5-year high of 5.2% T

By Julito G. Rada

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Wednesday it will review its monetary policy, after inflation rate climbed to a five-year high of 5.2 percent in June from 4.6 percent in May.

The June figure was the highest inflation rate in more than five years since the Philippine Statistics Authority used the 2012 consumer price index. It was also faster than 2.5 percent registered in the same month last year.

Data showed that inflation averaged

4.3 percent in the first half, beyond the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent for 2018.

Bangko Sentral Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. described the higher-thanexpected June inflation as a “setback.”

“We will review and update our situational assessment and forecast inflation path. This will shape the strength and timing of our next monetary policy response to firmly anchor inflation expectations,” Espenilla said in a statement.

He said the Bangko Sentral “re-affirms its strong commitment to ensure that inflation returns to within the 2 to 4 percent target range as soon as possible.”

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said his agency would “consider a proposal to remove tobacco products

from the basket of goods.”

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the government remained hopeful that inflation would be kept at bay and taper off by year-end.

“While we recognize the public sentiment on rising prices, let us remind ourselves that the Train [Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion] law increased the take-home pay of 99 percent of income tax payers. And this should help in coping with the rising prices of goods,” Pernia said.

“We expect inflation to peak in the third quarter and taper off by October.

The government needs to implement necessary measures, both short-term and long-term, to address the impact of inflation,” Pernia said.

He said an important and urgent chal-

lenge to manage inflation was to increase the supply of goods and services, especially rice which was taking up a large chunk of the food budget of poor families.

Data from the PSA showed that the faster June inflation was primarily brought about by higher annual price increases in the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index at 6.1 percent.

Faster annual increments were also registered in the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 20.8 percent; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 4.6 percent; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, 3 percent; transport, 7.1 percent; communication, 0.4 percent; and education, 4 percent.

Foreign projects approved by BoI climb 29% to P7b

By Othel V. Campos

METROBANK’S AWARDS. Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company bags three major awards in the recently concluded Asian Banker Transaction Awards Programme 2018 held at the China World Hotel in Beijing. Metrobank is recognized as Best Transaction Bank in the Philippines, Best Foreign Exchange Bank in the Philippines and Best Trade Finance Bank in Philippines. Shown are (from left) The Asian Banker research analyst Siddharth Chandani, Metrobank first vice president and institutional transaction banking head Christian Paul Philippe Orlino, The Asian Banker international resource director Bill Chua, Metrobank senior vice President and markets sales group head Angelica Reyes and The Asian Banker international resource director Mathew Welch.

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, July 5, 2018

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

53.3430

Japan

Yen

0.009054

0.4830

UK

Pound

1.323500

70.5995

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127507

6.8016

Switzerland

Franc

1.007658

53.7515

Canada

Dollar

0.761093

40.5990

Singapore

Dollar

0.732762

39.0877

Australia

Dollar

0.738000

39.3671

Bahrain

Dinar

2.633103

140.4576

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

14.2236

Brunei

Dollar

0.730087

38.9450

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000070

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.030157

1.6087

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

14.5238

Euro

Euro

1.165800

62.1873

Korea

Won

0.000897

0.0478

China

Yuan

0.150761

8.0420

India

Rupee

0.014559

0.7766

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.247280

13.1907

New Zealand

Dollar

0.675900

36.0545

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032791

1.7492

Source: PDS Bridge

Power firms get deadline extension to offer 15% of shares to the public

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Energy Regulatory Commission said it extended by another six months the deadline for power generation and distribution companies to offer and sell to the public at least 15 percent of their common shares.

“Now therefore, the commission, after thorough and due deliberation, resolved to extend for a period of six months or until Dec. 29, 2018, for generation companies and DUs [distribution utilities] to offer and sell to the public a portion of not less than 15 percent of their common shares of stocks,” the ERC said.

The regulator moved the deadline from June 29, 2018 to get more time to evaluate the results of the series of public consultations held from May 2017 to May 2018.

The ERC said it was also waiting for the response of the Securities and Exchange Commission on the allowed modes of public offering under the existing rules in relation to Section 43 (t) of the Electric Power Industry Reform

Act of 2001.

Section 43 (t) of the Epira states that the ERC should perform its functions to ensure the successful restructuring of the power industry such as but not limited to the rules and guidelines on the listing of the shares of the generation firms and distribution utilities.

The ERC previously issued Resolution No. 9, Series of 2011 which provided a period of 5 years from its effectivity for generation companies and distribution utilities to offer and sell shares to the public.

The five-year period ended on June 29, 2016 but was extended by the commission to June 29, 2017 and then again to June 29, 2018.

The ERC said public consultations on the issue was delayed because of the Marawi armed conflict which forced the government to declare Martial Law in Mindanao last year.

It said generation firms, distribution firms or their respective holding companies listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange were deemed in compliance.

FOREIGN investment projects approved by the Board of Investments rose 29 percent in the first five months to P7 billion from P5.38 billion a year ago.

The growth in FDI pledges contributed to the overall 18.9-percent growth in BoI registrations to P207.48 billion in January to May from P174.47 billion recorded in the same period last year.

Actual FDIs compiled by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed $2.2 billion in net inflows as of the first quarter, up 43.5 percent from $1.5 billion in the same quarter in 2017.

Data from the BoI showed that Japan was the top source of investment pledges with P2.64 billion in the fivemonth period, followed by Italy with P485 million, China with P472 million, the United States with P463 million and Hong Kong with P206.82 million.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. was the top investor in May 2018 which invested another P2.56 billion in the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy program, including P899 million in body side member stamping. The body shell of Toyota Vios model is now manufactured locally from a previously purely welding operation.

Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. reported an investment of P820 million in the Cars program this year.

“The Philippines has a growing economy. In fact, our country is projected to grow more than five times its current economic size and become the 24th biggest economy in the world by 2030. Together with this growth, we see stronger demand for many projects on infrastructure, services, manufacturing, and utilities,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

“These figures are just preliminaries. We expect more foreign investments to come in as a result of the various presidential visits and investment promotion activities conducted in the past months,” said Lopez.

Manufacturing rises for 5th straight month MANUFACTURING posted its fifth straight double-digit growth in May, on strong production of food, petroleum products and transport equipment, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.

The Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries showed that the volume of production index rose 19.8 percent in May, following a 0.6-percent drop in the same month last year. The growth, however, was slower than the 29-percent expansion in April.

The value of production index also recovered with a 21.3-percent growth in May from a 2.6-percent decline a year ago.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said optimistic business sentiment and stable consumer confidence would likely support the further growth of the manufacturing sector in June.

“Higher demand due to school enrollment and harvest periods, expansion of businesses and new product lines, and ongoing rollout of public infrastructure projects are anticipated to further increase manufacturing production,”

Pernia said.

Data showed that of the 14 major sectors that exhibited increases in volume of production in May, seven sectors registered strong growth, led by printing with 117.8 percent.

Other significant increases were reported by petroleum products (33.3 percent), food manufacturing (32.5 percent), miscellaneous manufactures (19.2 percent), textiles (18.8 percent), electrical machinery (17.4 percent) and rubber and plastic products (12.6 percent).

Meanwhile, the 21.3-percent growth in value of production index in May was brought about by the expansion in 13 major sectors led by printing, with 107.2 percent.

Pernia said the manufacturing sector was also expected to benefit from the recently-ratified free trade agreement between the Philippines and the European Free Trade Association.

“This will provide additional boost to economic activities between the country and the EFTA member states,” Pernia said. Julito G. Rada

FRANCHISE EXPO. The Philippine Franchise Association, supported by the World Franchise Council and the Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation, announces the staging of Franchise Asia Philippines 2018 on July 18 to 22 at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City. At the media launch of the expo are (from left) Franchise Asia Philippines 2018 expo chair Rebecca Bucad, PFA chairman emeritus Samie Lim, PFA chairman Alan Escalona, PFA president Richard Sanz, Franchise Asia over-all chair Sam Christopher Lim and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president and PFA vice-chairman Ma. Alegria Sibal-Limjoco.

B2

Business

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks tumble; Jollibee, URC fall S TOCKS sank Thursday on a government report that the inflation rate in June surged to 5.2 percent, higher than the market consensus of 4.8 percent and above the target of 4.3 percent by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index plunged 114.85 points, or 1.6 percent, to 7,233.57 on a value turnover of P5.2 billion. Losers beat gainers, 113 to 75, with 60 issues unchanged.

Rising inflation will slow down consumption and affect the bottom line of companies. It could also lead to further rate increases from the Bangko Sentral, which in turn will raise the cost of production.

SM Investments Corp. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr., the biggest mall operator declined 3.8 percent to P890, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain, fell 2.2 percent to P254.

Universal Robina Cop., the biggest snack food maker, dropped 2.6 percent to P121.50, while Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second-largest lender in terms of assets, lost 3.8 percent to P71.75.

The rest of Asian stocks fell Thursday as investors fretted over US-China tariffs due to kick in within hours and which threaten to plunge the world’s top two economies into an all-out trade war.

The US is set to begin enforcing tariffs on more than $34 billion in Chinese imports from Friday.

Beijing has vowed to respond with its own tariffs immediately, arguing it has “no choice but to fight” and accusing Washington of “opening fire on the

whole world” with the trade restrictions.

But Washington has threatened to introduce even steeper US counter-measures, potentially covering another $400 billion in Chinese goods, if Beijing retaliates.

With a public holiday in US meaning no lead from Wall Street for anxious traders to follow, and amid ongoing concerns about the slowing Chinese economy, all eyes were on the looming tariff deadline and fears of escalation.

Hong Kong shares fell 0.2 percent, while Shanghai stocks closed at a twoyear low after shedding 0.9 percent.

The yuan lost ground against the dollar despite central bank chief Yi Gang’s pledge earlier this week to keep the exchange rate stable and avoid using the currency as a weapon in any trade war.

Elsewhere, Tokyo slipped 0.8 per cent, while Seoul, Taipei and Bangkok also posted losses.

Washington describes its tariffs as ret-

ribution for Beijing’s theft of American technology and other unfair trade practices.

Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader, said “there has been a subtle but distinct shift in the number of voices who are now saying this could all end up in a big global mess with a huge hit to global growth.”

Traders may have underestimated the resolve of the US administration to pursue President Donald Trump’s protectionist agenda, he said.

Energy and financial stocks were among the biggest losers in Asia. Shares in HKICIM–the Hong Kong-listed subsidiary of Chinese conglomerate HNA Group whose co-founder died after falling off a wall in France Tuesday—fell 3.7 percent.

Investors are also watching for key data from the US including payroll figures and Federal Reserve meeting minutes later this week. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

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 MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

58 88.1 2.89 128 1.55 33.4 7.99 16.4 14.78 3.41 8.71 825 0.52 74.5 1.1 11.9 48.25 194.5 116.8 28.8 201 1,855 87.2 1.18

59.6 88.1 2.89 128 1.55 33.45 7.99 16.44 14.84 3.41 8.71 825 0.54 74.5 1.1 11.9 48.25 195 117 28.9 203.8 1,910 87.45 1.18

58 86.1 2.76 126.9 1.48 33.25 7.8 16.4 14.64 3.41 8.71 820.5 0.52 71.7 1.07 11.9 47.9 190 116.8 28.6 201 1,851 87.05 1.18

FINANCIALS 59.6 3,010 86.3 4,404,840 2.76 3,000 128 3,152,960 1.48 9,000 33.25 191,400 7.8 900 16.44 9,000 14.74 1,414,200 3.41 1,000 8.71 200 820.5 70 0.54 105,000 71.75 3,215,380 1.08 806,000 11.9 1,200 47.9 34,500 191 970 117 600 28.7 32,400 203.8 668,090 1,910 140 87.45 52,090 1.18 3,000

179,133.50 381,038,363.50 8,540 402,904,884 13,510 6,381,200 7,115 147,948 20,871,578 3,410 1,742 57,570 55,700 231,928,542.50 871,390 14,280 1,656,065 185,365 70,152 930,885 135,900,370 260,225 4,544,871.50 3,540

173,869 -240,942,271 32,284,798 40,005 12,524,124 -160,699,173 -57,495 -186,745 -786,110 -

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

35.15 15.68 0.58 1.19 25.3 0.241 3.06 15.94 229.8 47.05 22.5 59.85 62.1 1.77 7.64 10.18 15.76 11 7.18 5.15 14.66 61.05 21.25 7.15 14.54 2.53 259.8 5.12 3.23 27.2 11.16 20.25 355 0.191 6.89 2.24 4.14 8.9 6.81 7.79 1.29 12.1 52.25 6 2.2 3.32 1.9 12.5 62.4 5.22 0.133 0.93 122 2.5 21 1.55

35.15 15.8 0.62 1.19 29.15 0.244 3.1 15.98 229.8 47.35 22.55 59.9 68.25 1.8 7.78 10.18 15.8 11 7.3 5.18 14.66 61.2 21.35 7.15 14.54 2.59 259.8 5.12 3.23 27.3 11.16 20.3 357 0.192 6.89 2.26 4.17 8.9 6.99 7.8 1.29 12.1 53.05 6 2.28 3.32 1.91 12.5 62.4 5.22 0.133 0.93 123.4 2.55 21 1.55

34.8 15.6 0.57 1.16 25.3 0.234 3.04 15.82 215 46.05 22.1 59.85 62.1 1.75 7.62 10.06 15.62 10.76 7.18 5.12 14.52 61 21.25 7.02 14.38 2.41 252.8 5.1 3.23 27.1 11.08 19.9 350 0.18 6.81 2.24 4.08 8.8 6.43 7.79 1.29 11.8 52.25 5.8 2.11 3.3 1.85 12.32 61.5 5.15 0.125 0.93 121 2.49 21 1.49

INDUSTRIAL 35.05 862,500 15.78 750,300 0.6 2,392,000 1.16 602,000 28.9 555,500 0.239 3,340,000 3.1 1,627,000 15.94 40,900 215 40 46.5 405,100 22.1 6,500 59.9 180 68.25 5,540 1.78 137,000 7.78 63,800 10.12 743,300 15.74 110,400 11 58,700 7.29 1,304,700 5.15 3,780,700 14.52 3,180,500 61.05 46,000 21.3 29,400 7.02 105,600 14.44 829,000 2.49 7,709,000 254 635,340 5.1 52,200 3.23 6,000 27.2 677,100 11.08 122,600 19.94 3,011,200 350 92,730 0.192 1,150,000 6.81 23,100 2.26 520,000 4.1 57,000 8.8 392,300 6.52 3,332,300 7.8 10,000 1.29 6,000 12.1 68,500 52.8 191,870 5.8 236,000 2.18 355,000 3.3 19,000 1.91 72,000 12.4 64,900 62 54,900 5.22 143,400 0.125 110,000 0.93 6,000 121.5 1,383,100 2.55 2,634,000 21 100 1.49 6,255,000

30,209,440 11,785,616 1,439,990 702,530 15,700,770 799,950 4,993,550 648,996 8,748 19,005,950 144,945 10,779.50 377,859 240,590 487,682 7,519,984 1,736,904 633,934 9,486,154 19,466,827 46,363,406 2,808,347.50 626,330 741,926 11,977,354 19,313,950 161,440,332 266,758 19,380 18,405,860 1,362,296 60,277,510 32,701,908 218,660 158,751 1,169,830 234,110 3,459,495 21,984,318 77,972 7,740 823,630 10,161,175 1,370,861 762,490 62,730 136,890 803,652 3,403,002.50 743,446 14,000 5,580 168,662,855 6,674,120 2,100 9,474,430

-9,111,810 3,827,450 -310,250 -582,160 112,950 590,660 -463,484 4,650 12,560 -351,440 -1,737,438 25,300 -2,977,539 -433,247 -44,507,234 -608,658 -519,801 698,080 -44,850.00 -13,244,518 -19,380 122,885 -14,454 11,922,829 7,446,616 24,610 -188,550 -2,270,809 -52,137 -174,240 1,597,477 -87,000 19,800 719,592 318,961 -217,980 17,881,391 63,710.00 348,790

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG KEPPEL HLDG B 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

0.244 54.9 11.7 0.95 6 0.69 0.7 915 5.97 11.1 7.1 4.25 0.198 900 6.01 51.05 5.5 5.36 0.55 3.59 17.8 0.77 4.68 0.038 1.18 2.63 2.76 137.5 910 0.77 1.62 495 255 0.25

0.249 54.9 11.7 0.95 6 0.72 0.72 916 6 11.12 7.1 4.25 0.207 941 6.01 51.05 5.5 5.36 0.56 3.59 17.8 0.81 4.69 0.039 1.18 2.7 2.76 137.5 912 0.77 1.62 500 257.8 0.265

0.242 54 11.6 0.95 5.98 0.67 0.69 906 5.9 11.02 7.1 4.25 0.195 886 5.98 50.05 5.5 5.36 0.53 3.58 17.7 0.75 4.61 0.038 1.16 2.63 2.75 136.3 890 0.77 1.62 495 255 0.246

HOLDING FIRMS 0.242 2,550,000 54.35 596,390 11.7 2,973,200 0.95 1,000 5.98 274,400 0.72 44,165,000 0.72 12,955,000 915 186,720 5.9 669,700 11.06 2,386,200 7.1 100 4.25 10,000 0.197 920,000 896 303,630 5.99 12,000 50.05 585,880 5.5 5,500 5.36 900 0.56 376,000 3.59 45,000 17.8 199,700 0.79 34,212,000 4.63 29,793,000 0.039 800,000 1.18 190,000 2.64 217,000 2.75 53,000 136.9 153,050 890 275,100 0.77 123,000 1.62 7,000 500 70 257.8 2,450 0.25 58,770,000

621,960 32,454,136 34,756,480 950 1,641,108 31,364,590 9,187,430 170,218,375 3,987,158 26,389,396 710 42,500 186,950 272,058,600 71,924 29,416,597 30,250 4,824 203,290 161,350 3,552,812 26,995,700 138,203,080 30,600 221,090 576,860 145,780 20,935,871 245,940,615 94,710 11,340 34,850 628,078 15,186,310

-172,910 -6,184,870.50 2,092,938.00 22,146 1,666,710 15,082,895 -1,999,668 -7,535,526 -21,300,120 -19,435,100.50 49,680 -53,710 -2,692,848 -1,889,450 -4,400,660 -6,805,447 -95,439,710 -43,690 -304,750

2,179,361 1,505,170 56,818 21,130 134,280 599,681,330 340,800 1,937,100 140,729 21,780 343,350 393,860 828,620 2,022,740 30,768,394 8,811,685 97,600 1,160 10,486,150 576,140 78,004,470 66,658,680 8,268,550 1,874,800 299,700

72,891 -85,260,140 -3,150 -28,272 -3,446,638.00 -397,520 4,579,650 23,800 -81,680 -6,834,810 28,750 8,700 9,800

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

7.4 0.95 14.2 1.93 0.78 38.2 3.17 4.55 5.63 6.6 0.435 0.97 0.89 0.228 10.2 25.3 0.61 0.116 1.45 1.2 1.6 4.46 0.57 0.435 0.48

7.45 0.96 14.34 1.93 0.78 38.2 3.17 4.55 5.75 6.6 0.435 0.98 0.91 0.23 10.2 25.6 0.61 0.116 1.46 1.2 1.76 4.46 0.58 0.445 0.49

7.3 0.94 14.1 1.92 0.74 37.5 3.15 4.47 5.62 6.6 0.43 0.97 0.86 0.221 9.78 25.25 0.61 0.116 1.44 1.18 1.58 4.33 0.56 0.43 0.48

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

NAME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

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

3.26 19.7 2 3.25 36.85 1.03 7.15 6.23

3.27 19.78 2.03 3.25 37 1.05 7.15 6.29

3.13 19.02 2 3.25 36.15 1.03 7 6.11

3.27 19.68 2.03 3.25 37 1.05 7.03 6.12

3,228,000 968,700 25,000 7,000 8,313,900 469,000 348,500 4,369,800

10,350,980 18,989,786 50,360 22,750 306,488,015 488,110 2,454,519 26,875,575

318,890 3,276,336 98,707,120 -41,600 -23,924 -16,952,431

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

15.16 24.4 1.38 0.465 0.043 14 5.03 10.22 0.052 67.45 8.88 7.09 6.86 19.9 1,640 5.4 264 11 3.17 2.07 79.5 12.7 8.01 0.142 2.95 3.85 14.66 4.2 1.05 24.25 0.43 4.35 5.23 2.64 2.7 2.55 17 9 11.1 8.49 3.3 121.5 5.13 1,299 0.85 45.65 81.4 7.96 1.9 1.14 0.44 4.95 0.77 11.9

15.16 24.4 1.38 0.47 0.043 14 5.04 10.22 0.054 67.45 8.88 7.09 7.35 22 1,680 5.41 280 11 3.44 2.11 79.8 12.7 8.01 0.142 3.04 4.07 15 4.2 1.07 24.7 0.43 4.35 5.23 2.65 2.7 2.93 17 9.19 11.1 8.49 3.3 125 5.19 1,299 0.86 46 82.95 8.2 1.9 1.15 0.46 5 0.79 11.94

14.8 23.5 1.38 0.46 0.043 14 5.03 10 0.052 66.5 8.88 7.03 6.86 19.9 1,640 5.37 263.4 11 3.17 2.07 78.7 12.7 8.01 0.137 2.77 3.67 14.66 4.05 1.03 23.85 0.43 4.05 5.14 2.58 2.59 2.55 17 9 11.1 8.3 3.24 120.5 5.11 1,273 0.84 45.6 80 7.8 1.85 1.14 0.44 4.87 0.77 11.82

SERVICES 14.82 23.5 1.38 0.46 0.043 14 5.04 10.04 0.054 66.5 8.88 7.05 7.35 21.3 1,650 5.37 274 11 3.38 2.11 79.2 12.7 8.01 0.138 2.92 4.07 15 4.16 1.03 24.7 0.43 4.25 5.14 2.61 2.63 2.85 17 9.05 11.1 8.3 3.28 125 5.18 1,279 0.84 45.8 82.95 8.2 1.88 1.14 0.455 5 0.77 11.92

10,300 75,200 40,000 1,580,000 500,000 11,100 1,100 1,794,100 10,970,000 337,670 500 848,000 7,200 280,300 18,270 107,200 5,970 300 2,383,000 10,000 686,630 19,100 15,100 14,640,000 20,223,000 988,000 900 314,000 1,011,000 723,600 60,000 149,000 434,600 1,112,000 951,000 75,000 1,800 1,195,300 10,000 1,600 64,000 630 315,400 77,130 740,000 357,300 115,370 48,400 562,000 1,079,000 29,180,000 4,230,000 1,444,000 497,100

153,134 1,792,735 55,200 731,650 21,500 155,400 5,543 18,066,812 581,320 22,621,408.50 4,440 5,982,790 50,813 5,875,353 30,242,595 578,233 1,641,232 3,300 8,042,050 20,920 54,415,947.50 242,570 120,951 2,018,590 58,826,390 3,804,290 13,466 1,285,700 1,048,790 17,550,675 25,800 622,010 2,238,221 2,889,200 2,496,120 205,780 30,600 10,838,932 111,000 13,375 209,450 76,595 1,622,635 98,658,565 625,210 16,375,220 9,479,715.50 385,105 1,053,180 1,230,560 13,285,850 21,051,060 1,124,240 5,906,982

-462,600 -2,320,502 10,800 -2,633,823 -507,523 -15,733,655 2,758 3,300 550,130 -230,190.50 -283,650 12,000 69,140.00 3,828,620 -323,138 -5,370 -44,920 -247,562.00 8,300 32,700 2,410 -120,201 -10,384,975 -340,520 -1,831,570 7,749,446.50 3,200 5,690 -1,135,660.00 -460,000 -64,880 3,569,502

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

0.0026 1.48 4.03 20 1.58 1.69 0.3 7.67 2.15 0.187 0.125 1.5 4.52 1.28 0.5 1.32 0.012 0.012 2.94 4.51 10.92 30.85 0.0059

0.0026 1.48 4.03 20.45 1.58 1.69 0.3 7.92 2.2 0.188 0.128 1.54 4.52 1.29 0.5 1.33 0.013 0.012 3.04 4.51 11.3 30.85 0.0063

0.0025 1.45 3.9 19.52 1.58 1.69 0.3 7.4 2.15 0.185 0.124 1.5 4.37 1.25 0.5 1.24 0.012 0.011 2.84 4.48 10.6 30.5 0.0059

MINING & OIL 0.0026 25,000,000 1.47 749,000 3.9 145,000 20.2 8,100 1.58 4,000 1.69 176,000 0.3 310,000 7.85 45,200 2.2 2,751,000 0.187 70,000 0.127 3,050,000 1.52 412,000 4.37 2,352,000 1.25 203,000 0.5 30,000 1.26 5,407,000 0.012 85,700,000 0.012 15,900,000 3.01 272,000 4.48 47,000 10.98 2,373,400 30.8 138,800 0.0063 13,000,000

63,100 1,092,980 579,710 162,491 6,320 297,440 93,000 338,798 5,993,550 13,050 383,670 627,390 10,378,310 255,890 15,000 6,860,840 1,028,700 186,700 802,170 210,900 25,786,558 4,252,610 80,700

21,900 -84,000 30,080 671,870 -3,162,970.00 283,730 -22,400 61,140 676,600 -

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

23.05 500 505 100.8 102.5 500 5.28 988 100.3 1.03 102.9 1,021 1,072 986 76.3 79.4 76.5 75.75 77

23.05 500 505 100.8 102.5 500 5.28 988 100.3 1.03 102.9 1,021 1,072 986 76.3 79.4 76.5 75.75 77

21.9 500 505 100.5 102.5 497 5.28 988 100.3 1.03 102.9 1,021 1,072 985 76.3 79.4 76.5 75.75 77

PREFERRED 21.9 528,500 500 500 505 40 100.5 9,620 102.5 100 500 11,790 5.28 50,000 988 1,010 100.3 15,350 1.03 122,000 102.9 20 1,021 500 1,072 10 985 210 76.3 50 79.4 9,110 76.5 120 75.75 13,300 77 6,520

11,739,190 250,000 20,200 969,594 10,250 5,894,970 264,000 997,880 1,539,605 125,660 2,058 510,500 10,720 206,860 3,815 723,334 9,180 1,007,475 502,040

-10,130,810 -

LR WARRANT

2.42

2.45

2.4

WARRANTS 2.42 48,000

116,140

-

4,359,703 6,395,610

-8,684 190,300

976,217

5,410

24,745

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.4 0.95 14.16 1.92 0.74 37.6 3.15 4.52 5.66 6.6 0.435 0.97 0.89 0.225 9.8 25.4 0.61 0.116 1.45 1.19 1.72 4.35 0.57 0.43 0.49

294,900 1,580,000 4,000 11,000 181,000 15,923,200 108,000 429,000 25,000 3,300 790,000 406,000 942,000 9,020,000 3,109,400 346,800 160,000 10,000 7,227,000 484,000 46,190,000 15,263,000 14,500,000 4,280,000 620,000

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

OPEN

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.23 3.36

5.24 3.43

5.04 3.29

FIRST METRO ETF

109.4

109.4

108.2

USD DMPL A1

10.1

TRADING SUMMARY

10.1

SHARES

FINANCIAL

14,109,348

INDUSTRIAL

52,076,226

HOLDING FIRMS

193,852,255

PROPERTY

158,254,005

SERVICES

101,467,312

MINING & OIL

158,310,096

GRAND TOTAL

680,838,347

10.1

5.12 3.41

SME

856,600 1,902,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 108.2 8,980 10.1

DDS

2,450

VALUE 1,776.03 (down) 22.56 1,188,060,964.20 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,327.84 (down) 138.03 921,535,023.09 HOLDING FIRMS 7,101.00 (down) 151.76 1,068,972,269.00 PROPERTY 3,598.11 (down) 27.13 1,409.06 (down) 9.21 1,487,280,031.995 SERVICES MINING & OIL 9,667.88 (down) 1.74 467,051,490.69 PSEI 7,233.57 (down) 114.85 59,526,871.869 All Shares Index 4,407.62 (down) 46.42 5,204,165,206.20 Gainers: 75; Losers: 113; Unchanged: 60; Total: 248

Gatchalian group can now pursue Ayala joint venture

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Gatchalian family may now pursue the planned development of its 17-hectare “Plastic City” estate in Valenzuela City in joint venture with Ayala Land Inc. The possibility emerged after the rehabilitation case against Wellex Industries’ subsidiaries was terminated and the loans with Philippine National Bank settled.

Wellex said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it received information that the rehabilitation case of its subsidiaries was terminated after the payment of a loan by the principal borrower.

“In this regard, the properties of its subsidiaries, marked with encumbrances due to the existence of the rehabilitation court case, will now be free from any lien and encumbrances,” Wellex said.

Wellex said the termination of the corporate rehabilitation case also enabled its subsidiaries to push an agreement with with Avida Land, the affordable housing brand of Ayala Land.

“It must be noted that the joint venture agreement with Avida Land has not been rescinded. In fact, the termination of the rehabilitation case and the subsequent lifting of the annotations on the titles covering the Plastic City properties are part of the responsibilities of the company under the (agreement) with Avida Land,” Wellex said.

“Now that the court case has been terminated, the annotations pertaining to the encumbrance can be lifted, paving the way for the aforementioned property development to take place,” it added.

Wellex said the property, once fully developed would generate cashflows to the subsidiaries involved in the project.

“It is, however, too early to make any comment on the financial impact of the Valenzuela project at this point,” it said.

Wellex’s unit Philippine Estates Corp. in 2012 signed an agreement with Avida Land to develop the company’s properties in Valenzuela.

The plan involves the development of the property into a mixed-use residential and retail development over a period of 10 years.

Ortigas set to invest P26b more in Pasig PROPERTY developer Ortigas & Company said it will infuse P26 billion into the development of Capitol Commons, a 10-hectare mixed used estate in Pasig City.

Ortigas & Company said in a statement the amount would finance the development of residential towers, offices and retail areas within the property.

Capital Commons will have three residential towers, namely Royalton, Imperium and Maven.

Ortigas & Company is also expanding the Estancia Mall to boost the leasable space to 76,000 square meters. The expanded mall will house state-of-the-art cinemas, new restaurants, global lifestyle brands and a department store by retail giant SM. The property firm has also earmarked 11,000 square meters of the gross floor area for office leasing.

“Capitol Commons is one of our key fully integrated developments in the Ortigas central business district. It is an enclave positioned as truly modern and global, and we are fully committed to unlocking its value. We are poised to complete our residential towers in the next three years and next year, we are going to unveil the Estancia Extension to add to the features of the property,” Ortigas & Company president and chief executive Jaime Ysmael said.

The firm company added Capitol Commons would become an increasingly valuable investment and benefit from the government’s infrastructure projects.

The company said the P1.6-billion BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project will connect Capitol Commons and the rest of the Ortigas CBD with another business hub, Bonifacio Global City.

Capitol Commons will also become the Ortigas South station of the P227billion Mega Manila Subway Project.

“Our masterplan for Capitol Commons takes into account not only today’s lifestyle, design, and construction trends, but also upcoming developments that involve the wider community. This investment will prepare us to become a truly integrated hub for livework-play on this side of Metro Manila,” Ysmael said. Jenniffer B. Austria

World

B3

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pamplona’s bull run festival overshadowed by rape case

ACCESS GRANTED. VIP bleachers sit empty as the LGBT youth support group Encircle”march past in the Provo Freedom Festival PreParade on July 4, 2018, in Provo, Utah. Encircle was denied access to march in the parade IN the last two years but after protests and threats to pull public funding from the Freedom Festival, the organizers reversed their decision and allowed Encircle to march in this year’s parade.

This is one of the largest parades in the country to celebrate the 4th of July, drawing over 300,000 people. AFP

IN BRIEF Pompeo sets off for nuclear talks WASHINGTON―US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo left Washington on Thursday bound for Pyongyang and his latest round of talks with Kim Jong Un on North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.

Washington’s top diplomat and senior aides took off shortly after 2:00am and were due in the North Korean capital on Friday, where Pompeo is to stay overnight for the first time.

President Donald Trump met Kim at a historic summit in Singapore last month and the US leader has been bullish about hopes for peace, boasting that the threat of nuclear war is over.

But the statement the leaders signed was short on detailed commitments and Pompeo has been tasked with negotiating a plan to achieve the “complete denuclearization” of the Korean peninsula.

This would involve Kim making a detailed declaration of the extent of his nuclear arsenal and enrichment program, and agreeing to a timetable for it to be dismantled and placed under inspection.

Washington hopes that the process can be underway within a year, but many expert observers and Trump critics warn that Kim’s summit promise meant little and the process could take years.

In the meantime, Pompeo and Trump have vowed to keep in the place the international economic sanctions that they believe forced the North to the negotiating table in the first place.

After talks late Friday and early Saturday in Pyongyang, Pompeo is due to fly on to Tokyo to brief his Japanese and South Korean counterparts.

His round-the-world diplomatic voyage will then take him on to Vietnam and then Abu Dhabi before he arrives in the Belgian capital Brussels to rejoin Trump for next week’s NATO summit. AFP

On trial for allegedly spying for Iran JERUSALEM―A former Israeli government minister went on trial on Thursday on charges of spying for arch-foe Iran in a case that has been kept under tight wraps on security grounds.

Gonen Segev, who served as energy and infrastructure minister from 1995 to 1996, is charged with “espionage against the state of Israel, assisting the enemy in time of war and passing information with the intention of harming state security.”

Journalists were excluded from the hearing, which was held behind closed doors, an AFP correspondent reported.

Most of the detailed charge sheet has been redacted in its published version.

Segev’s defense lawyers have complained that most details of the charges were under a state-imposed blackout and the little that had been released gave a misleading impression.

Segev is accused of providing Iran with “information related to the energy market, security sites in Israel, buildings and officials in political and security bodies, and more” while he was living in Nigeria between 2012 and his arrest at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport in May this year.

He is accused of traveling to Iran to meet his minders.

Segev, who served in the Labor government of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin after defecting from the far right to cast the decisive vote in favor of the Oslo II agreement with the Palestinians, has previously served prison time on criminal charges.

In 2004 he was charged with trying to smuggle 30,000 ecstasy pills into Israel from the Netherlands, using a diplomatic passport with a falsified expiry date.

The following year he admitted the charges as part of a plea bargain agreement.

He has also been convicted of attempted credit card fraud. AFP

MADRID―Pamplona’s famed San Fermin festival begins on Friday, overshadowed by a sexual abuse case that has tarnished one of Spain’s best-loved traditions.

This year, in an attempt to reassure the thousands of tourists who come to party and take part in the hair-raising runs, the city in the northern Navarra region has dubbed itself “a city free of sexist assaults”.

During the San Fermin festival in 2016, five men who called themselves “The Pack” filmed themselves having sex with an 18-year-old woman.

She said they had gang raped her while they claimed she had consented in a case that sparked a powerful feminist wave of indignation across the country.

An April court decision to sentence them for “sexual abuse” rather than the more serious offense of “sexual assault”, a category that includes rape, pushed thousands of Spaniards onto the streets in anger.

Further fanning the flames, the five men were freed on bail just two weeks before the start of the festival, which means they could―in theory―return this year.

Incidents of sexual harassment are not new to the festival. In 2013, photos of women being groped by men shocked Spain.

Until then, “there was very backward thinking that justified men assaulting others under the effect of alcohol and in the party context”, Laura Berro, in charge of gender equality at Pamplona city hall, told AFP. Since then, police and the authorities have at least been more alert to the issue, although the 2016 sexual abuse case is an indicator of the scale of the problem.

A phone number is available 24/7 for people to report sexual violence. Police then attempt to identify perpetrators using CCTV footage.

Since 2004, close to 95 percent of the complaints for sexual violence during the festival have resulted in the perpetrator being identified, according to a study by Navarra University.

“Over the past two years, there has been a huge rise in complaints. Is that because there are more assaults and abuse? No. It’s because they’ve been reported more,” says Paz Frances, who authored the study. AFP

Rain threatens Thai boys in cave M AE SAI, Thailand―Thai rescuers on Thursday said they may be prodded into a complex extraction of 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave if forecast rain hammers the mountainside and jeopardizes the rescue mission.

Thirteen sets of diving equipment have been prepared for the team, who have endured 12 nights underground in the Tham Luang cave complex in northern Thailand, a saga that has transfixed

a nation and united Thais in prayers for their safe return.

Water is being pumped out from the deluged cave round-the-clock, reducing the flooding by one centimeter an hour.

But with rain forecast to begin on Friday, the Chaing Rai provincial governor helming the unprecedented rescue effort conceded the mission was now “a race against the water”.

“Our biggest concern is the weather.

We are calculating how much time we have if it rains, how many hours and days,” Narongsak Osottanakorn told reporters, without providing further details.

In a sign of increased urgency, Narongsak said medics and Thai Navy SEAL divers are assessing whether the

boys are fit and well enough to be taken out early―apparently softening his instance on Wednesday that “no risk” will be taken with the evacuation.

The prospect of the stranded team diving out is fraught with risk.

It takes seasoned cave diving experts around six hours to reach the muddy ledge where the boys are sheltering.

Many of the youngsters―who are aged between 11 and 16―are unable to swim and none have diving experience.

Three days after contact was made with the group, Thai Navy SEAL experts continued to teach them the basics of diving.

But the areas where diving is still necessary are tight and may require the boys to swim through murky waters unaccompanied.

Human chain demands Ortega ouster MANAGUA―Thousands of Nicaraguans formed a human chain Wednesday to demand the departure of President Daniel Ortega and an end to months of violence that has left at least 220 people dead.

Waving blue and white Nicaraguan flags, the demonstrators lined one of the main roads leading from the capital Managua in the latest high-profile protest against the 72-year-old president.

“The people have risen up and we are telling Comandante Ortega to leave, to resign, the people are not afraid of him,” said a 27-year old protester with a flag in his hand.

Many of the protesters were employees of companies located next to the highway.

Earlier, Ortega’s younger brother, former army chief Humberto Ortega, called for early elections and the dismantling of violent pro-government paramilitary groups to help resolve 2.5 months of unrest.

Ortega made public his proposals contained in a letter to a Catholic Church-mediated national dialogue between government and opposition, meeting in a bid to end anti-Ortega protests and government repression that have wracked the Central American country since April 18.

The retired general, who has often taken a critical view of his brother’s administration, proposed bringing forward elections scheduled for 2021 to 2019―a key opposition demand he called a “peaceful solution to the tragic crisis we are suffering.”

By holding early elections, the president would “say yes to peace,” which will help the economy recover, as well as regenerate investment and tourism, said the younger Ortega.

He also urged the government to dismantle the paramilitary groups and called on the opposition to tear down barricades used to seal off parts of cities from the police, “no matter how righteous your reasons may be.”

The 72-year-old president has remained silent on an earlier proposal by the influential Catholic hierarchy to bring forward the elections to March next year.

There were no signs of a letup in the violence. Police forces and progovernment paramilitaries continued to clear barricades erected by antigovernment protesters. AFP

The looming rain has further tweaked anxiety among the relatives of the trapped team, who on Wednesday appeared smiling, wrapped in foil blankets and in good health in video footage circulated by the Thai Navy.

“Yesterday I felt hopeful... today I heard the rain is coming,” said Sunida Wongsukchan, great aunt of one of the boys Ekkarat Wongsukchan, 14, who goes by the nickname ‘Bew’.

“I’m very worried.”

In a two-pronged strategy, rescuers are also hunting for a chimney down to the boys, creating a potential second option for evacuation in the event heavy rains force their hand.

They have enlisted the help of expert bird-watchers attuned to finding hidden holes on forested mountainsides. AFP

PERFORMANCE. French actor Nicolas

Simeha (L) and Japanese actress Shigeko Hata (C) perform during the opera ‘Seven Stones’ by Czech composer Ondrej Adamek , directed by Eric Oberdorff and conducted by Leo Warynski during the International Festival of Lyric Art in the French southeastern city of Aix-en-Provence on July 4, 2018. AFP

Inequality drives migration crisis for Haiti, Dominican Republic QUANAMINTHE, Haiti―Chaos reigns at the Ouanaminthe bridge that separates Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where haphazard checks by border agents and the sight of people avoiding the gate by crossing a river instead are symptomatic of a growing migration crisis.

This is one of four official crossings where thousands of Haitians are being summarily deported each month as part of an immigration crackdown.

Rights activists say the expulsions are based on racial profiling and the darker skin of Haitians, with many native-born black Dominicans being caught up in the process, and families torn apart as a result.

“The vast majority of people being expelled are unable to prove their citizenship because they lack documentation,” even if they were born in the Dominican Republic, said International Organization for Migration head of mission Fabien Sambussy.

“And the biggest problem with these expulsions is that families are being split apart.”

Sometimes, adults are deported without their children. At other times, children sent back try to return to find their parents, while some Haitian chil-

dren are sent unaccompanied to the border to go and live with a relative in hope of a better life.

Many end up at Sainte-Therese center, a temporary home for children awaiting reunification with their families―a difficult if not impossible task when parents themselves are residing in the Dominican Republic without documents.

Driven by grinding poverty and high unemployment, Haitians make the eastward journey every year to their wealthier neighbor that shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.

Relations between the two countries have long been tense, but the influx of cheap labor was begrudgingly accepted, until the Dominican Republic launched a hard-line policy in 2015.

The numbers are startling.

In 2017, Dominican authorities recorded the expulsions of 57,687 Haitians. That sum has already nearly been matched in the first six months of 2018, with more than 11,200 in May alone.

“All the deportees arrive in a situation of extreme vulnerability,” said Martine Stephanie Louis, a Haitian psychologist who works with recent returnees. AFP

Manila

Standard NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC TODAY

This is to inform the public the incorporation of Sto. Cristo Construction and Trading.

Effective immediately, the Company will henceforth be known as STO CRISTO CONSTRUCTION AND TRADING INC. (MS-JULY 6, 2018)

NOTICE OF LOSS The Public is hereby notified that Proprietary Membership Certificate No. 2396 of the Manila Polo Club representing one (1) share therein registered in the name of Benjamin T. Romualdez has been declared missing and cannot be located as per Doc. No. 357; Page No. 73; Book No. I; Series of 2018; before Atty. LINA G. FERNANDEZ, Notary Public, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. After the expiration of one (1) year from the date of last publication of this notice on July 20, 2018, if no contest has been presented to Manila Polo Club regarding said certificate, the right to make such contest shall be barred and the Club shall cancel in its books the certificate of stock which has been lost, stolen or destroyed and issue in lieu thereof new certificate of stock unless the registered owner files a bond or other security in lieu thereof running for a period of one year, in which case a new certificate may be issued even before the expiration of the one (1) year period.

(MS-JULY 6,13 & 20, 2018)

LGUs

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

B4

friday, july 6, 2018

LocaL government units

CEZA-AIR FORCE PACT. Secretary Raul L. Lambino (center), Administrator and CEO of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, and Lt. Gen. Galileo Gerard K. Kintanar (left), Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force, seal a Memorandum of Agreement allowing the PAF to establish a 10-hectare military base inside Ceza that would beef up security at the adjacent Cagayan North International Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan. At right is Basilio Rodrigues, president and COO of Cagayan Premium Ventures Development Corp. that developed CNIA.

Erap shuns more bodyguards Make sensible plans, Herbert dares 1,000 village chiefs QuEzON City Mayor Herbert Bautista has advised barangay officials to make realistic developmental plans for their community.

“They should make it good. They have to because they only have a short term, just two years, so their plans should be fit for the two years they can use,” Mayor Bautista said after administering the oath of office to over 1,000 newly elected barangay officials at Quezon City Hall on Saturday.

Bautista emphasized that barangay officials should align their developmental plans with the vision of the city government. “[There should be] full cooperation with the city government, learn the plans of the city so whatever the city plans, that’s what they’ll do, and not stray too far from it. if they have an opinion or vision of what they can contribute for the whole of Quezon City, we’re very much open [to suggestions],” he said.

Meanwhile, 337 residents of different barangays in Quezon City have received their certificates after completing the three-month vocational skills training program offered by the Quezon City Social Services development department.

The graduates are residents of Barangays Bahay Toro, NS Amoranto, Payatas, Batasan Hills, Commonwealth, Holy Spirit, Socorro, Krus na ligas, Sta. Monica, Novaliches Proper, Nagkaisang Nayon, and Kaligayahan.

The Manpower Barangay-Based Skills Training Program conducted by the SSdd Vocational development division offers free skills training on food and beverage services, bread and pastry production, dressmaking, electrical installation and maintenance, cosmetology, home care provider, productivity skills and capability building, hilot wellness and massage, and housekeeping.

M

ANilA Mayor Joseph Estrada on Thursday said he doesn’t need additional bodyguards following the recent killings of two provincial mayors by still unidentified suspects.

The Manila chief executive said he fully understood that security measures need to be taken seriously, as he claimed that he has neither enemies in politics nor involvement in any illegal activities.

The former president is confident that he would not become a target of assassination like the late Mayor Antonio Halili of Tanauan, Batangas, who was shot dead by a sniper, or General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote, who was ambushed on his way to the municipal office.

Known as a pro-poor advocate, “Erap” said he will continue his regular duty to conduct inspections, attend meetings outside of the city hall, and visit barangays in Tondo, Malate, Sampaloc and other places in Manila.

The mayor claimed that he has no threats on his life, and his sworn duty is to protect and serve the residents of Manila, who needs more attention and financial assistance, rather than focusing on his own safety.

Estrada said his present bodyguards

are enough to secure his safety, and the former actor is confident that Manileños are ready to protect him from being harmed by unscrupulous persons.

“My duty is to improve the lives of Manileños, and a public servant always sacrifices his life to uplift the lives of the people,” he said.

As a government official, Estrada said it is part of his duty to be exposed to dangers, especially to criminal elements whose interest is to earn money through illegal activities.

To prevent such an event in Manila and to protect Manileños, the mayor instructed the police to be alert and do their duty, not just to protect him but every city resident and the public as well.

HIGH FIVE TAIWAN. MEET Taiwan executive director Jessie Tseng (ninth from left), Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Economic

Division director Alfred Y.H. Wang (beside Tseng), and Department of Information and Tourism Sr. Specialist Jiang Chuen-Huey (seventh from left) led delegates from Taiwanese and local MICE agencies at the MEET Taiwan Networking Event in Manila. It aims to promote Taiwan as a leading meetings, incentive travel, conferences, and exhibitions destination in Asia.

Bataan SP welcomes new SK Federation president BAlANGA CiTY, Bataan—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by Vice Gov. Cris Garcia warmly welcomed its newest member, Bataan Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Precious Manuel.

The vice governor formally introduced the new SK federated president to members of the provincial board dur-

ing their regular session at the Bataan Public library on Monday.

As the elected SK provincial federation president, Manuel sits as an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Manuel, 23, from Barangay Magsaysay in dinalupihan town, was elected SK municipal federated president on

Strong steps toward an HPV-free country A BROAd coalition of Filipinos has stepped up the fight to eliminate the Human Papilloma Virus and one of the dreaded diseases it causes, cervical cancer.

National and regional government officials, policymakers, medical societies, patient groups, and members of the private sector have gathered in Manila for the annual HPV Summit, first formed in 2012 as a determined response to the threat imposed by HPV infection and the rising burden of cervical cancer. led by the Cervical Cancer Prevention Network in the Philippines or Cecap, the forum was part of a series of activities that marked the Cervical Cancer Consciousness Month, in support of the World Health Organization’s global call to end suffering caused by HPV-related diseases.

Globally, one woman dies of cancer every two minutes—and that 85 percent of the deaths occur

May 29, and then SK provincial federated president on June 7.

She graduated from Columban College with a BS Accountancy degree and recently left her job at the SGV corporate services firm in Manila to focus on her SK duties.

Manuel is also a member of Victory Church dinalupihan. Butch Gunio

Vizcaya wants capitol to model solid waste management

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The provincial government is bent on transforming the provincial capitol as a model for the strict implementation of the Solid Waste Management Program.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Tito Tanguilig said an executive order has been signed by Governor Carlos Padilla to enhance the implementation and enforcement of the program within the capitol.

“We are going to strictly enforce the provisions of the SWMP as we will aim to make our provincial capitol as a role model on SWMP implementation,” he said in a press conference.

Tanguilig said his office has met with the administrative officers of local and national government agencies to discuss the new executive order, including the vendors within the capitol.

They have also proposed that agencies who are violators of the SWMP will be reminded during flag raising ceremonies on their role to improve their compliance with the program, or face the penalties that will be imposed under it.

Vendors who will be found violators of the SWMP will be banned from doing business within the capitol, Tanguilig said.

“They are free to do their trade within the provincial capitol, so they have also to abide and comply with the waste segregation system under the SWMP,” he said.

98 SMEs receive no-interest loans from Muntinlupa COMMiTTEd to assist budding entrepreneurs in the city, the local government of Muntinlupa has started distributing zero-percent interest loan assistance to 98 local SMEs dubbed as “Muntipreneurs.”

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi led the distribution of cheques amounting to P1.8 million to the beneficiaries of Tulong Negosyo program (formerly Dagdag Puhunan) facilitated by the Joint Resource Financing at Muntinlupa City Hall, Brgy. Putatan last Monday.

“The City Government of Muntinlupa vows to support grassroot players through additional capital loan assistance and other capacity building trainings for them to thrive their business in the city,” Fresnedi said.

The Tulong Negosyo program caters to SMEs and provides microfinance assistance, which ranges from P2,000 to P150,000, depending on the business’ capital ceiling and payment record.

The program has three categories: Simulang Kapital Pangkabuhayan for clients with capital ranging from P10,000 to P75,000; Asenso loan Program for those with capital from P75,000 to P100,000; and the Maunlad loan Program for clients with capital from P150,000 to P300,000 pesos.

Among the Batch 70 beneficiaries was Brgy. Poblacion rice dealer and fish supplier Ronnel Espinosa, who received P100,000 loan assistance.

A Savings Program has been incorporated in the loan assistance to teach clients about the importance of economizing and serve as protection to the clients and the program. in addition, entrepreneurial education through trainings and other related interventions was granted the beneficiaries.

On July, the Joint Resource Financing department is set to partner with CocaCola and Tesda to conduct the Sari-sari Store Training and Access to Resources program, a series of entrepreneurial lectures for Tulong Negosyo clients.

in low and middle-income countries, said Rubie Jean Olleras, Technical Support Officer of WHO Philippines, in the opening session of the forum This situation should not be the case, she said, as cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer if detected early and managed effectively.

Given these factors, the speakers and health experts emphasized during the forum that regular screening and immunization will be the keys to achieve the group’s overall health objectives. dr. Clarito Cairo Jr., doH Cancer Program manager, pointed out that coordinated actions are crucial in creating strong health systems, which will ensure that all women receive the HPV vaccination at the right time. it also enables increased access to screening and treatment facilities for Leaders from the government, private sector, advocate groups, and medical societies hold up paper dolls that they pre-cancerous lesions and cervical cancer. signed during the commitment ceremony to reinforce their support for an HPV-free Philippines.

Life

Bernadette lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardlifE

Culture and media

friday, july 6, 2018

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DELICATE COLORS. Kristine Barcoma's floral paintings using artist grade Tokyo Finds Bento Picasso paint boxes.

A splash of colors

Montblanc's special ink and refills inspired by the fox character in Le Petit Prince.

at stationery art fest A

rt enthusiasts of all ages recently gathered together to celebrate creativity and passion at the SM Stationery Art Fest at the SM Store in Makati and at the SM Megamall Mega Fashion Hall.

Now on its third year, the art fest showcased popular arts and crafts like Script Lettering, Brush Pen Calligraphy, Floral Watercolor Painting, Doodling, Etching, Oriental Pattern Collage, Psychedelic Art and Crunchy, and Glowy Slime Making.

Googly Gooeys blogger tippy Go, who co-released a Stick ‘Em Up Book in collaboration with Abbey Sy in 2016, gave doodling a new spin by using colors and cartoons in her doodles.

Calligrapher Carl Chua, on the other hand, shared his love for nibs Oriental Pattern collages that explore cultural facets of different patterns and colors. in brush pen calligraphy using Pilot Parallel Pens, while ABS-CBN Fron- same time highlighting its difference the Coffee Bean and tea Leaf, taught tEnd developer and illustrator Paolo from Calligraphy. the basics of wet on wet technique in tugano showed the different techVisual artist Avin del rosario, who Watercolor Nightscape Painting. niques and forms of Lettering, at the did murals for Neverland Manila and Art instructor Ian de Jesus, who is into fashion retail design and the creative director of Crafter’s Marketplace, gave tips on how to collage Oriental Art Patterns which include seigaiha, pattern of layered concentric circles creating arches, symbolic of waves or water; kiku, a flower pattern for beauty and longevity; and shippou, a traditional pattern which refers to the seven treasures of Buddhism.

Kids had fun making child friendly, crafty, and non-toxic slimes in the Crunchy and Glowy Slime Making activity with preschool teacher Jillian Dungo; while Sakura’s Evanna Chan taught kids and adults on how to do the Preschool teacher Jill Dungo plays Calligrapher Carl Chua uses Pilot Parallel Pens in basics of Psychedelic Art Cutout. with Crunchy Slime. doing his Brush Pen Calligraphy.

Learn the art of pressed flower

SuNSHINE Place brings Pressed Flower Master Back Mi-Kyoung to the country to share her expertise in a series of workshops at the senior recreation center.

Mi-Kyoung is the first Pressed Flower Master in Korea. She finished Complete Modern Art Course at Hongik university and is president of BackHyang Pressed Flower Organization. She has won several awards, including grand prize at the Pressed Flower Competition by Korea Modern Art Association in 2006. the workshop will be held in three batches, for two days each: on August 7 and 9, August 11 and 18, and August 13 and 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Workshop participants will get to learn Making Hand Mirror, Pressed Flower Set—lifetime use, and Making Letter on Day 1; and Folding Fan, Accessory Mak- Sunshine Place is hosting a Pressed Flower Art workshop in August. ing, and Mini Frame on Day 2.

Workshop kits, which include flowers available. Participants are encouraged to Call (02) 856-4144 or 0917-5155656 or and other materials from South Korea, are bring their own pincer and scissors. email seniorhubjupiter@gmail.com.

Montblanc pays homage to ‘Le Petit Prince’

tO CELEBrAtE the power of imagination and the importance of transmitting ideas and values to the ones we love, Montblanc is releasing a special edition Meisterstück inspired by the much-loved literary character of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Le Petit Prince.

One of the world’s most translated books with editions in more than 250 languages and dialects, the allegorical story about the chance encounter between a pilot and a little prince from a distant planet explores the universal themes of imagination, open-mindedness, and the value of human relationships.

According to the luxury writing instrument brand, the story of the little prince beautifully illustrates the power of the art of writing. the words and drawings of SaintExupéry have touched hearts and minds around the world and across generations.

With design elements based on Saint-Exupéry’s sensitive hand-drawn illustrations, the Meisterstück Le Petit Prince captures the book’s simple message that transmitting one’s dreams and values to others is what makes one’s life meaningful. the first series of Meisterstück Le Petit Prince edition, which was launched in June, features the inspiring and tender characters of the young prince and the fox who enlightens him about the importance of close bonds and human relationships, revealing the core wisdom learned from his own life’s experiences.

A first for Montblanc, the cap and the barrel of the Meisterstück Le Petit Prince Special Edition are made of night-blue precious resin evoking the deep blue sky of the universe around the prince. the milled cap is decorated with a fox face

pattern with platinum-coated fittings contrasting with the deep blue color of the writing instrument.

As a reminder of the laughter in the stars, a golden star adorns the clip of this edition. the delicate character of Le Petit Prince is immortalized along with his friend the fox, engraved on the handcrafted 14K rhodium-plated nib.

A sentence from the original novel is laser engraved into the crown of the Fountain Pen, roller Ball, and Ballpoint Pen: “Créer des liens? ...

Tu seras pour moi unique au monde” (“to establish ties? ... to me, you will be unique in all the world.”)

Meanwhile, the Meisterstück Le Petit Prince Doué Classique Edition pairs the deep blue color of the lacquer barrel with the luminosity of a platinum-coated cap elegantly decorated with engravings of the fox pattern. It is available as a Ballpoint Pen, a roller Ball, and a Fountain Pen with an 18K bi-color nib embellished with the outline of the little prince and the fox. the fox pattern covers both the cap and the barrel of the Meisterstück Le Petit Prince Solitaire, engraved on the deep blue lacquer. Contrasting with the blue, the fittings are crafted from platinum-coated metal. to extend the Meisterstück Le Petit Prince writing experience, the company has also created special ink and refills inspired by the fox character. A leather notebook, bound in fine Saffiano leather featuring a fox scenery print on its cover, completes the writing experience.

The nib of Meisterstück Le Petit Prince Solitaire features an engraving of the little prince and his friend fox.

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Entertainment

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018

nickie.standard@gmail.com

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor

MYX’s muse for JULY

Rising star Barbie Imperial takes the helm as this month’s MYX celebrity VJ.

A

RAW Gabi leading lady Barbie Imperial brightens the country’s number one music channel as she takes on the role of Celebrity VJ for the whole month of July.

Manny Pacquiao (left) with Argentinian boxer Lucas Matthysse

PACQUIAO-MATTHYSSE

fight on—MP Promotions THE Fight of Champions supermatch between 10-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Argentinian fighter Lucas Matthysse is definitely pushing through on July 15 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

MP Promotions issued the statement in light of rumors alleging that the bout is in danger of not taking place at all.

“Everything is being arranged and on schedule for the July 15 fight between Pacquiao and Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur,” confirms MP Promotions Head of Sales and Marketing Arnold Vegafria.

“We will be flying there early July to ensure that everything pushes through on schedule, and go full blast with our promotional campaigns in the region.”

“Both Pacquiao and Matthysse are training hard in their respective camps to give boxing fans an action-packed battle,” he added.

Watch the Pacquiao-Matthysse “Fight of Champions” bout live from the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 15 via GMA-7, ABS-CBN, ESPN5, Cignal TV, and Sky Cable.

Tickets are available at: https:// myticket.asia *** There is cash in trash.

Garbage disposal had, at some point, reached crisis proportions, and Senator Cynthia A. Villar was among the core of lawmakers who took action and pooled technical resources to find ways to address the problem of waste management.

Sen. Villar tapped government agencies and private enterprises and put in the Villar SIPAG Foundation to explore varied options in search of alternatives to put value in trash.

One of their brightest ideas is the recycling of plastic discards into plastic furniture such as school chairs, desks and benches, and other types of furniture.

Villar, way back in 2013, opened the first Waste Plastic Recycling Factory in Metro Manila. The project, which was launched by the Villar SIPAG Foundation with the cooperation of former Senate President Manny Villar and then Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar, turns plastic wastes into durable school chairs.

The first Waste Plastic Recycling Factory in Metro Manila is located in Barangay Ilaya, Las Pinas City. Two other factories have been set up by the Villar SIPAG in Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro cities to cover the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

The plants can produce about 1,000 armchairs in one month made with “soft

plastics.” These are made to look like wooden chairs with changeable parts and have a life span of 20 years. One school chair needs 20 kilos of soft plastics such as food wrappers to produce.

Thousands of school chairs have been produced by the factories and distributed for free to different schools all over the country. The bulk has been given to schools in the National Capital Region and the CALABARZON. Villar have also distributed chairs in some areas in the Visayas devastated by typhoons.

Sen. Villar notes the beauty and value of the undertaking: it promotes two of her primary advocacies - job creation for the poor and environmental protection.

Villar is a prime mover of plastic waste management in the country. As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, she has proposed amendments to the 17-year-old Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, or Republic Act 9003, to make companies and manufacturers more accountable for polluting the country’s water resources with plastic wastes.

Villar first made the proposal at the 12th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS-COP12), and said such public accountability can be patterned after the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) concept practiced in European countries where manufacturers are mandated to recover plastic wastes through buy-back or recycling program.

A University of Georgia study has ranked the Philippines as the third largest producer of plastic wastes that could potentially enter the seas and oceans.

Among 192 countries surveyed, the study also showed China and Indonesia as top plastic waste producers.

According to the UN Environment Programme or UNEP, eight million tons of plastic wastes are dumped in the ocean every year. The UNEP has warned that by 2050, there may be more plastic in the sea than fish.

“We need to come up with more innovative ideas to transform garbage into valuable materials, like these school chairs and other furniture manufactured from plastic wastes as raw ingredients,” Villar says.

See the lighter side of the young actress as she tries her luck in hosting, a brief respite from her dramatic role in the top rating Kapamilya Gold series. She ushers in cool new videos and hip music while bringing in life and love advice in various MYX’s programs.

Meanwhile, Jed Madela is the ringleader of jaw dropping performances as he stands as “MYX Headliner.” The powerhouse singer bagged Remake of the Year in the recently held MYX Music Awards for the single “I’ll Be There” with Darren Espanto.

Rising artist Tala also showcases her chart-topping songs as she shines under the “MYX Spotlight.” The 18-year-old singersongwriter debuted her single “Nothing Personal” last October, which rocketed into local hit charts.

Welcome two young ladies as MYX VJ Search winners Kaye Reyes and Samm Alvero are all set to officially parade in your favorite shows as the newest members of the MYX Squad. Watch out for VJ Kaye and VJ Samm this month as they start their new journey with MYX. Catch Celebrity VJ Barbie on “Pop MYX” until tomorrow, “Mellow MYX” on July 8 to 14, “Pinoy MYX” on July 15 to 21, and “My MYX” on July 22 to 28. Watch MYX on SKYcable channel 23 and SKYdirect channel 37.

WANGGO GALLAGA heads course in advanced screenwriting

IT IS a long and tedious road to craft your own screenplay– from conceptualizing the story to pitching it to the industry professionals.

The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPaCE) at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) will hasten all that as it offers the 2018 run of its Certificate Course in Advanced Screenwriting to be held on four Saturdays of July.

In the module, participants will discover their personal convictions and artistic statements, translate it into narrative structure and cinematic language, then weave it within a three-act film. The course will help the students in the creation of elements such as the plot, setting, and the personalities of the characters, and will nurture them on how to maximize and defend the use of symbolisms and metaphorical approaches.

Attendees will also be engaged in

Writer Wanggo Gallaga

various hands-on workshop sessions, which include brainstorming and breathing life to the idea, writing the story, giving life to the personalities, and settling on the conclusion of their tales. They will likewise be trained on how to package their short films.

The classes will be spearheaded by writer Wanggo Gallaga, who belongs to a family of renowned directors. The man behind the screenplays of Sonata (2013) and T’yanak (2014), and the web series Hanging Out (2017), Gallaga was formerly a reviewer for InterAksyon and Juice.ph, editor at Chalk Magazine and Metro Society magazine, and a segment producer for TXtube under GMA New Media. He is currently a film reviewer for ClickTheCity.

The four-day sessions are scheduled tomorrow, July 14, 21, and 28 from 12 nn to 6:00 p.m.

Fee of the entire program is P15,995.

For inquiries and registration, contact Lynn Garcia or Marlon Eusebio at 2305100 local 3802, 400-5425 and 400-7405, or email space@benilde.edu.ph.

SpaCE is located at the Fourth Floor, School of Design and Arts Campus, 950 Pablo Ocampo (Vito Cruz) Street, Malate, Manila.

‘KMJS’ most watched show nationwide; GMA posts wider ratings lead

By Clay Moreno WEEKLY magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) remained the most watched television program nationwide based on the latest data from ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Hosted by seasoned broadcast journalist Jessica Soho, the 14-yearold magazine show that presents different fun and fascinating stories on classic and current events, pop culture, foods, celebrities, health, and internet trends led all GMA shows in the numbers game for the month of June.

Joining KMJS in the list of most watched programs nationwide were the sitcom Pepito Manaloto, drama anthology Magpakailanman, primetime series The Cure and Inday

Will Always Love You, newscast 24 Oras and 24 Oras Weekend, and newly-launched program Amazing Earth.

Also included in the list were Lip Sync Battle Philippines, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, GMA Blockbusters, Imbestigador, Wowowin, Sunday Pinasaya, Bubble Gang, Eat Bulaga, Tadhana, and Contessa.

Kapuso programs also dominated the Urban Luzon and Mega Manila lists, respectively taking 23 and 25 spots out of the top 30.

In this respect, the network increased its nationwide ratings lead last month after tallying strong ratings performance across all timeblocks.

From June 1 to 30 (with June 24 to 30 based on overnight data), GMA posted a total day people audience share average of 41.6 percent in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM), which was ahead of ABS-CBN’s 38.3 percent.

Further, the network led across all day parts in NUTAM. In the morning block, GMA recorded a 37.2 percent people audience share versus ABS-CBN’s 37 percent.

GMA’s strong showing continued in the afternoon block with 42.9 percent, beating competition’s 38.6 percent.

In the evening block, GMA posted an av-

erage of 42.6 percent while its rival network only managed to get 38.6 percent.

The Kapuso Network 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.

In Urban Luzon, GMA registered an average total day people audience share of 46.4 percent; way ahead of ABS-CBN’s 32.6 percent.

Similarly in Mega Manila (with official data from June 1 to 23), GMA again dominated competition with an average total day people audience share of 48.1 percent versus rival network’s 29.5 percent.

Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media. With approximately 900 more homes surveyed in Total Urban and Rural Philippines compared to Kantar, Nielsen data is statistically considered more representative of the total TV population.

In 2017, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement increased its client pool to a total of 41 clients/subscribers consisting of 12 local TV networks including TV5, Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, Net 25, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Viva Communications Inc.,

among others; 5 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; 21 agencies (18 media agencies, 2 consulting agencies, 1 digital agency); and 1 advertiser.

Jessica Soho’s ‘KMJS’ ruled the numbers game in June. It is joined by newcomer ‘Amazing Earth,’ which is hosted by Dingdong Dantes (left photo).

Motoring

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018

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Three for the

V

road

OLKSWAGEN Philippines has added another compelling reason for buyers to go for either of its three models, the Santana MPI M/T Trendline, Lavida 230 TSI DSG Comfortline and Tiguan 280 TSI DSG Comfortline.

Its the value-for-money propositions these three new vehicles can offer in their classifications.

The Santana, which was among the 10 best-selling models in China in 2017, is powered by a 1.4-liter Multi-Point Injection (MPI) 4-cylinder gasoline engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, with maximum power output of 90 Ps at 5,500rpm and maximum torque of 132

Nm at 3,800rpm. For ride comfort and stability, the Santana features electronic power steering, front McPherson Independent Suspension, and rear composite torsion beam semi-independent suspension. Safety highlights include ISOFIX anchorage points (mounting fixture for two child seats on rear seat bench), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and immobilizer. Available exterior colors are

Polar White, Reflex Silver, Pepper Grey and Deep Black with an SRP starting at P686,000.

The Lavida, which is still the best selling sedan and second best-selling model for the entire Chinese car market, is equipped with a 1.4-liter Turbocharged Stratified Injection (TSI) 4-cylinder gasoline engine with BlueMotion Technology mated to a 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission, capable of 130 Ps of power at 5,000 rpm and 225 Nm of torque at 1,400 to 3,500 rpm.

The interior features and comfort amenities include leather seat material, cruise control, Climatronic air conditioning, and sunroof.

Safety highlights include the Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) with

Brake Assistant, ABS, Electronic Differential Lock and Anti Slip Regulation (ASR), hill hold control, Push Start, and Front and Rear Park Distance Control (PDC). Available exterior colors are Polar White, Reflex Silver, Deep Black, Limestone Grey, Sunset Red, and Opalsilver Metallic with an SRP starting at P1,171,000.

The Tiguan SUV, which has comfortably maintained its position as segment leader in China, has a 1.4-liter TSI 4-cylinder gasoline engine with BlueMotion Technology mated to a 6-speed DSG transmission. Maximum power output is 150 Ps at 5,000 rpm, while maximum torque is at 250 Nm at 1,750 to 3,000 rpm. Interior features and comfort amenities include “Vienna” leather seat ma-

terial, 2-zone Climatronic airconditioning, Panoramic sunroof, 8 speakers, and driver power 12-way seat adjustment.

Safety systems include ISOFIX anchorage points, ESP, ABS, brake assistant, ASR, EDS, EDTC, hill hold control, and rear PDC with acoustic warning signal. Available exterior colors are Polar White, Titanium Beige, Hunting Brown, and Deep Black with an SRP starting at P1,648,000.

The warranty coverage for the Santana, Lavida, and Tiguan are comprehensive.

Aside from the 3 years or 100,000-km general warranty, whichever comes first, Volkswagen Philippines also offers a 3-year warranty for paint and another 3-year warranty for through-corrosion of the main steel body structure.

Hyundai drives the voice of youth

At the ceremonial issuance of licenses plates held at the LTO main office on July 5, 2018 are (from left, backrow): House Committee chairman Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, Assistant to the President Secretary Christopher Lawrence ”Bong” Go, LTO Assitant Secretary Edgar C. Galvante together with the automotive dealers and owners. Manny Palmero

LTO farms out car license plates listed in July ‘16

By Aerol John Patena THE Land Transportation Office on Thursday started distributing license plates to car owners and dealers nationwide of motor vehicles registered in July 2016.

Vehicle owners may claim their plates at the Authorized District Office (ADO) or through their respective dealers.

“Today, we will start the release of the plates nationwide for vehicles registered in July 2016,” LTO chief Assistant Secretary Ed Galvante said in a statement.

Plates registered for the succeeding months of 2016 will be circulated in batches to the regional offices of LTO for distribution to district offices, which will then release them to vehicle owners.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said that the problem on the lack of vehicle plates will be resolved at the soonest time possible.

“Itong problema na ito ay matagal na inireklamo at idinaing ng mga kababay-

an natin. Sino ba naman ang matutuwa na nagbabayad ka ng tama tapos aabutin ng siyam-siyam bago makuha ang plaka. Kaya tulad ng ipinangako ng ating Pangulo, heto ho, inayos namin, heto ho, may plaka na kayo (Our countrymen have complained about this for such a long time. Would you be pleased if you have paid for it yet you have to wait that long before you get your license plate?

Just as the President promised, we have resolved this; we are now issuing plates),” Tugade said.

“Unti-unti po nating aayusin ang mga problema. Magtiwala lang po kayo sa amin lalo’t nagsisipag ng husto ang mga ahensya sa ilalim ng DOTr para guminhawa ang buhay natin. Utos po iyan ni Presidente Duterte kaya sisikapin nating matupad at masolusyunan (We are now taking steps to address these problems.

Just put your trust and the agencies under DOTr will do everything to ensure convenience to everyone. That is the directive of President Duterte that is why

we are committed to implementing it),” he added.

The LTO inaugurated its own platemaking plant last April 24 in Quezon City. The seven manual embossing machines of the LTO can produce at least 22,400 license plates daily.

As of July 4, 2018, the plate-making facility has produced a total of 231,332 pairs of motor vehicle plates, enough to cover the July to December 2016 requirements.

The license plate backlog from January 2015 to December 2017 reached 8.2 million. The new machines are expected to produce 3.4 million plates pending since July 2016.

Meanwhile, there are 4.8 million license plates for vehicles purchased from January 2015 to June 2016 under a PHP3.8-billion contract, which is still subject to a Notice of Disallowance by the Commission on Audit.

The LTO is still awaiting the COA resolution on the disallowance. PNA

HYUNDAI was the official mobility partner of the Philippine Inter-Collegiate Debate Championship (PIDC) 2018, held June 11-13, 2018 at the University of the Philippines-Diliman for the preliminary rounds, and at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the semifinals, championship rounds, and awards night.

This year, the Philippines’ largest national debate competition was hosted by the UP Debate Society. The 2018 competition, with the theme, “Take the Lead,” saw some 350 students from the country’s top educational institutions tackle the country’s hottest socio-political-economic issues in a clash of words, wit, and strategy.

The La Salle Debate Society bested UP-Diliman in the finals round, and emerged as the 2018 PIDC Grand Champion. During the Championship Dinner, the team received the special “People of Hyundai” award and a cash prize from Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) for exemplifying that the voice of the youth can have great social impact and can empower the Filipino through brilliant ideas and effective communication.

The People of Hyundai are individuals and communities who embody the values of Hyundai Philippines’ Gusto campaign: Gusto Ko, Kaya Ko, Sama Tayo. Hyundai, as the Filipino’s lifetime partner in mobility and beyond,

empowers people to pursue their dreams and to get more out of life.

“Being a debater has taught me that dedication and hard work are important. Where part of it is constant and consistent training, it is also about learning new ways to improve yourself. For me this is being empowered: to not be afraid of who you are and what you can possibly be,” said Patrich Lozano of the La Salle Debate Society.

The special “Hyundai Round,” sponsored by Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), saw Open Semi-finals frontrunners, the Ateneo Debate Society and the UP-Diliman Debate Society, go head-to-head discussing the Philippines’ pressing mobility concerns along with current and potential transport solutions built on innovation and technology.

Said HARI President Ma. Fe PerezAgudo, a former student leader and staunch advocate of youth empowerment, “We congratulate this year’s winners and applaud the PIDC for providing students with a venue for meaningful conversations about the country’s most pressing issues. Hyundai is all about empowering people to get more out of life, and we are happy to have been part of these young people’s continuing journey to become leaders in their respective fields. We welcome the PIDC to the People of Hyundai.”

Lucky charm. The Hyundai H350 ensured a comfortable and secure ride for the 2018 Philippine Inter-Collegiate Debate Championship in their journey from the preliminaries in University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman to the final rounds at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The La Salle Debate Society emerged as this year’s grand champion.

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

C4 FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2018

Motoring

FFF Racing pads lead in Lambo Super Trofeo Asia

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UZUKA—FFF Racing Team’s Andrea Amici and Artur Janosz scored their fourth victory of the 2018 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, winning the sixth race of the season at Suzuka to further strengthen their championship lead. Second on the podium was Clazzio Racing’s Kei Cozzolino and Afiq Yazid, the 2017 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Pro champions, who started from 15th on the grid to finish in the runner-up position. Third on the Pro podium was the sister FFF Racing Team car of Jack Bartholomew and James Pull.

In the Pro-Am category, it was a narrow victory for Leipert Motorsport’s Juuso Puhakka and Mikko Eskelinen, who finished just 0.479 seconds ahead of title rivals Evan Chen and Akihiro Asai of Gama Racing.

Bobby Suttiluck of True Visions Motorsport took the top spot on the Am podium, while the Lamborghini Cup victory went to 852 Challengers Paul Wong and Clement Li. Amici and Janosz now lead Bartholomew and Pull by 11 points. Leipert Motorsport’s Ben Gersekowski is third on the Pro leaderboard, a further 14 points adrift. Puhakka and Eskelinin’s victory today – their second of the season – puts them just two points behind Chen and Asai in the Pro-Am category, while Suttiluck’s win today has given him the lead in the Am title chase over FPC Racing drivers Ken Urata and Daisuke Matsunaga.

Having taken the chequered flag ahead of GDL Racing Team’s Gabriele Murroni by 0.458 seconds, Wong and Li have extended their lead in the Lamborghini Cup

by 4 points.

Max Wiser, yesterday’s Pro-Am winner along with Aylezo Motorsport’s Kumar Prabakaran, started today’s second 50-minute race from pole position. Lining up beside him was Janosz, determined to make amends today following a disappointing finish in Saturday’s Race 1.

As the lights went green, Janosz immediately began to pressure Wiser. The pair were side-by-side through Turns 1 and 2, before Wiser got away and Pull took the opportunity to get past Janosz.

By the end of the opening lap, Wiser had a narrow 1.4-second lead ahead of Pull, Janosz and Leipert Motorsport’s Frederik Schandorff, who was making his Asian debut this weekend. Having started from the back of the grid due to a penalty in qualifying, Cozzolino was eighth after the first lap and was battling with D1 Racing Team’s Anindith Reddy for position. Suttiluck was leading the Am category at the start, with Li ahead in the Lamborghini Cup. On Lap 2, Li went ahead of Suttiluck.

In the early stages of the race, Wiser continued to lead Pull, Janosz and Schandorff, with Cozzolino now in fifth but determined to close the gap to the young Danish driver.

As the pit window opened, Wiser, the pro driver in the team’s Pro-Am pairing, stayed out on track, while Pull came into the pits to hand off to Bartholomew.

Janosz soon followed, handing driving duties to Amici, and once the two FFF Racing Team cars were back out on track, they resumed their battle for position.

As the pit window closed, Wiser and Cozzolino dove into the pits, with Wiser handing off to Kumar Prabakaran and Cozzolino to Yazid. Prabakaran began his stint and soon found himself under pressure from Amici. A small error saw the Malaysian spin, prematurely ending the no. 98 car’s race. The resulting Safety Car saw the field close up, with Amici ahead of Yazid, Bartholomew, Chen and Puhakka.

When racing resumed, Amici got away cleanly and soon built himself a narrow lead ahead of Yazid and Pull. Puhakka found a way past Chen to slot into fourth place overall and to lead the Pro-Am category. Suttiluck continued to lead the Am class, while Wong was narrowly ahead of Murroni.

With the clock winding down, Yazid attempted to close the gap to race leader Amici, but the Italian ultimately took victory by nine-tenths of a second.

The Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia resumes in just three weeks’ time for a double header at Fuji Speedway. As the series heads into the second half of the season—and the title races as close as they’ve ever been—teams and drivers will be looking to maximize their points haul over the two highly anticipated rac-

Hamilton, Mercedes bidding to bounce back at Silverstone LEWIS Hamilton and Mercedes would be well advised to ignore all previous form and a pile of encouraging statistics as they bid to bounce back at their home British Grand Prix on Sunday.

After the debacle of their double retirement at last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, where they were previously unbeaten in four years, and Hamilton’s travails in Canada, where he was a clear pre-race favourite, the Mercedes team has lost its near-metronomic consistency.

Forecasts of their continuing supremacy on tracks where they have always seemed invincible are no longer as trustworthy as they have been.

Max Verstappen’s victory in Austria, his first this year, rewarded Red Bull’s opportunism, but his Milton Keynes-based team and Ferrari may face a struggle to match a resurgent Hamilton, reliability permitting, in front of his own fans.

The 33-year-old Englishman will be hunting a record fifth consecutive British triumph at Silverstone, and his sixth overall, on Sunday to regain the lead in the title race from fellow four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.

The German, who finished third in Spielberg, has a one-point advantage, following Hamilton’s first non-scoring finish in 34 races dating back to the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix, but expects a difficult weekend on a circuit that should suit Mercedes.

Much, however, will depend on the extent of the damage inflicted on the champions’ confidence after their

worst result since re-entering F1 in 2010.

“We tried to show the right character in defeat,” said team chief Toto Wolff. “We took full responsibility for our mistakes, which takes guts, and we will now analyse them and come back stronger from that learning. Both drivers were calm and showed true leadership.

“We have had the fastest and most reliable car in recent years and they reminded us of that fact. We come to Silverstone on the back of the worst weekend we’ve had in a very long time. We are determined to put up a hard fight on home turf and come back with a strong result.”

Hamilton compared his and the team’s feelings to that of a boxer. “When you get knocked down, to the ground, you can either stay on the floor or get back up and fight even harder,” he wrote on Instagram. “I am ready to fight.

In the current British heat-wave conditions, tyre wear could be a major factor again, in the outcome of Sunday’s race on a track that favours power and, as in Austria, this may upset all forecasts.

“These tyres are pretty sensitive to heat and that could be a really interesting variable that’s thrown in,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner.

It may also create a few incidents and a possible deployment of the safety car, or a virtual version, in circumstances that require the kind of instant tactical decisions that, last weekend, undid Hamilton’s bid for victory in the early laps. AFP

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton intends to return to winning ways at the British Grand Prix on Sunday.