Manila Standard - 2018 April 11- Wednesday

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Recount: Voters’ receipts missing

By Rey E. Requejo

REVISORS conducting a recount of votes in the 2016 vice presidential race have uncovered another poll irregularity—missing voters receipts from several ballot boxes from Balatan town in Camarines Sur, the home province of Vice President

Leni Robredo.

Requesting anonymity for lack of authority to speak for the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, an insider revealed that this irregularity could mean that the votes cast by the voters are not the results transmitted by the vote counting machines.

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 55 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

Duterte seeks China help in war on crimes

By Vito Barcelo

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (6th from right) and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio pose for a souvenir photo with other leaders from the participating countries in the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2018 at the BFA International Convention Center in Boao, People’s Republic of China on April 10, 2018. Presidential Photo

Dinosaurs’ skeletons up for auction PARIS—The skeletons of an allosaurus and a diplodocus are up for auction in Paris this week, marketed as hip interior design objects— for those with big enough living rooms.

“The fossil market is no longer just for scientists,” said Iacopo Briano of Binoche et Giquello, the auction house that is putting the two dinosaurs under the hammer on Wednesday. Next page

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said the Philippines and China will stand and work together to fight criminality, the illegal drug trade and terrorism in the region.

In a speech delivered at the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan, China, President Duterte did not mention the longstanding territorial dispute in the South China Sea, but said instead that the Philippines is ready to work with China and all nations in the region to seek friendship and cooperation.

“With China, we stand together in the war on criminality and the illegal drug trade. We are shoulder to shoulder in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. Make no mistake: There can be no progress without stability in Asia’s lands and waters,” he said.

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Feuding justices spark ‘verbal fireworks’ at SC

By Rey E. Requejo

O At 112, Japanese man world’s oldest person TOKYO—Masazo Nonaka from Japan was recognized Tuesday as the world’s oldest man at the ripe old age of 112, as his family revealed his secret: Sweets and hot baths.

Nonaka, who was born on July 25, 1905—just months before Albert Einstein published his theory of special relativity—received a certificate from Guinness World Records at home on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.

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RAL arguments on the quo warranto case against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno turned into a shouting match Tuesday, as she and Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro traded barbs at the Court Session Hall in Baguio City.

Sereno had suffered a setback earlier when the Supreme Court rejected her motion to have five of her colleagues on the bench—including De Castro—recuse themselves from hearing the quo warranto petition against her because of their bias and animosity toward her.

The decision, announced by acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, means that Associate Justices De Castro, Noel Tijam, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin and Francis Jardeleza will participate in proceedings to determine if Sereno’s appointment as chief justice in 2012 was valid, and if she should be removed from office for her failure to file all her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth as the petition filed

by Solicitor General Jose Calida seeks.

During Tuesday’s session, De Castro grilled Sereno, who was compelled by the Court en banc to answer questions under oath, on the SALNs she submitted to the Judicial and Bar Council when Next page

Supreme Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (R) stands next to Associate Justice Teresita de Castro during the annual convention of the country’s judges, in Manila on March 8, 2018 as shown in this file photo. They figured in a shouting match in Baguio City on April 10, 2018 after De Castro began questioning Sereno on the issue of SALNs.

Filipinos, not Facebook, won the day Bitcoins scam for Duterte, Palace belies HK paper suspects nabbed

By Vito Barcelo MALACAÑANG on Tuesday denied Cambridge Analytica’s key role in the election campaign of Davao mayor Rodrigo Duterte that led to his landslide victory in the 2016 presidential elections.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte received his votes “fair and square” because of the trust and confidence put in him by more than 16-mil-

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PH-Kuwait flights put on hold—PAL

‘‘

MASAZO NONAKA

By Joel E. Zurbano

That conversation never happened. I’m going to prove that.

—Associate Justice Teresita Leonardode Castro, denying allegations that she vowed never to forgive Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno for accepting the post of chief justice

lion Filipinos.

Roque, in quoting Finance secretary Carlos Dominquez III, who was then Duterte’s election campaign manager, said “no money was spent to seek any advice from the political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica.”

“The Secretary of Finance, in his capacity as treasurer of the PRRD campaign, assures [the public] that he did not

SUMMER RAIN? Children frolic in the rain during a sudden downpour and thunderstorm in Quezon City on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, a day after weathermen announced the dry season was about to set in. Manny Palmero

LEGACY carrier Philippine Airlines said it is suspending its flights to and from Kuwait, saying the ongoing slowdown in overseas Filipino worker travel to the Gulf state has made regular operations economically unsustainable.

“Philippine Airlines will temporarily suspend its PR-668 Manila to Kuwait and PR-669 Kuwait to Manila flights effective May 16, 2018,” the airline management said in a statement.

PAL had maintained flights to Kuwait despite difficult market conditions.

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in Ilocos—police

By Francisco Tuyay A FILIPINO couple who duped nearly P900 million from 50 investors through electronic cash system called “Cryptocurrency Bitcoin” were arrested by authorities Tuesday.

Outgoing PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa said Arnel Ordonio, 27 and his wife Leonady Ordonio, registered owners of NewG, a company soliciting investments from unsuspecting investors, were arrested by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Vigan City.

Dela Rosa said the Ordonios amassed through deceit about P900 million from the victims who were lured by the prospect of earning huge amounts of interest in a short span of time.

Police Director Roel Obusan, CIDG chief, said the couple fronted their method through their company that is structured similar to a pyramid scheme but in electronic form.

He said the couple would seek investment capital from prospective clients promising high returns of interest in a span of 16 days, in which an investor would earn P300,000 from a P1- million investment.

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News

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Sandigan junks Napoles bid for DoJ safehouse

By Maricel V. Cruz THE Sandiganbayan’s First Division has rejected the plea of alleged pork-barrel-scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles to be transferred to a safe house of the Justice Department’s Witness Protection Program from a regular jail in Taguig City.

In a resolution promulgated on April 5 and released to reporters on Tuesday, the anti-graft court invoked a provision of the WPP Law that prevents the department from taking custody of a detained witness.

The anti-graft court quoted Section 1, Article IX of the implementing rules of RA 6981 that says “the WPP shall not take into its protective custody a witness who is in detention for any lawful cause. However, it shall direct the custodian of the witness take necessary measures to ensure safety of the witness.”

“To place Napoles in the custody of the WPP despite being in detention for a lawful cause is contrary to the clear and express import of Article IX, Section 1 of the IRR of RA 6891,” the Sandiganbayan says in the resolution.

Napoles is detained in a facility of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

She has filed motions to move out of jail before the three divisions of the Sandiganbayan that have been handling her case following the move of then Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to have her accommodated to the WPP. The Third and Fifth Divisions have to rule on the motions, too but even if these ruled in her favor, she would still be detained at the BJMP facility.

Recount:...

From A1 The source said the missing voters’ receipt could raise serious concerns because the said election material is required by law to be part of the documents to be included in the ballot boxes.

“Their absence in some of the ballot boxes is an indication that they were removed or really not included because the votes there will not tally with the machine count,” the source added.

The source said the absence of voter’s receipts could be serious affront to the Supreme Court, which ordered the Comelec to include the voter’s receipts in the election system.

During the first week of recount, several wet ballot boxes were found from Bato and Baao towns as well as Naga City in Camarines Sur. Some unused or excess ballots with shaded votes for Robredo and ballots cut into half were also discovered.

Audit logs from clustered precincts in Bato town were also found to be missing.

The camp of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. claimed that these discoveries could be proof of election fraud. But Robredo’s lawyer alleged that the former senator was only trying to taint the results of the recount and twisting the developments to favor his protest.

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

In his protest, Marcos contested the results in a total of 132,446 precincts in 39,221 clustered precincts covering 27 provinces and cities. He sought for a recount in Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental covering a total of 5,418 clustered precincts.

Robredo filed her answer in August 2016 and filed a counter-protest, questioning the results in more than 30,000 polling precincts in several provinces where Marcos won.

She also sought the dismissal of the protest for lack of merit and jurisdiction of PET. Robredo won the vice presidential race in the May 2016 polls with 14,418,817 votes or 263,473 more than Marcos’ 14,155,344 votes.

Ilocos Norte Gov Imee Marcos, meanwhile, assailed Robredo for maligning her province in saying that it consistently ranks in the Top 20 poorest provinces since 2004 although it belongs to those with the highest dynastic share in the 2016 election.

“Was it a simple case of misreading an official data, or an intentional political overture against her political rivals just to score points against them,” the governor said.

In her speech at the London School of Economics last Friday, Robredo said that based on a recent study by the Ateneo School of Government, the 10 provinces with the highest dynastic share in the 2016 election consistently rank in the Top 20 poorest provinces since 2004. These are Maguindanao, Sulu and Lanao del Sur in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Batangas and Rizal in Calabarzon region; Pampanga, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon; and Pangasinan and Ilocos Norte in Ilocos region.

Marcos, however, said the provinces that Robredo named were at the top 20 richest ones based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

“She can easily check her data with experts, especially government agencies like the National Economic and Development Authority or the Philippine Statistics Authority if she wants a more accurate readings on the state of poverty in the provinces,” Marcos said.

“For the record, Ilocos Norte has been one of the provinces with the lowest poverty incidence estimates in the past decade and not one among the t op 20 poorest provinces,” she added. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Five kidnap suspects, cop killed in Laguna skirmish

By Francisco Tuyay

Dinosaurs’...

From A1 “Dinosaurs have become cool, trendy— real objects of decoration, like paintings,” the Italian expert told AFP, citing Hollywood actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicolas Cage as fans of such outsize prehistoric ornaments.

Cage, however, did hand back the rare skull of a tyrannosaurus bataar, a close cousin of T. rex, that he bought in 2007 after it was found to have been stolen and illegally taken out of Mongolia.

Dinosaur bones are increasingly gracing collectors’ cabinets, with another huge skeleton, that of a theropod, expected to fetch up to 1.5 million euros ($1.84 million) when it goes up for auction in June.

Chinese buyers “For the last two or three years the Chinese have become interested in palaeontology and have been looking for big specimens of dinosaurs found on their soil, for their museums or even for individuals,” Briano said.

The new buyers are now bidding against multinational corporations as well as ultrarich Europeans and Americans, the “traditional” buyers of dinosaur skeletons, Briano added.

In 1997, McDonald’s and Walt Disney were among donors stumping up $8.36 million to buy Sue—the most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever found— for the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

“Millions of people come to see it, it’s incredible publicity for companies,” said Eric Mickeler, a natural history expert for the Aguttes auction house. AFP

Four of the armed suspects were killed on the spot while the other was critically wounded and was brought to a nearby hospital but died an hour later, said Senior Supt.

Rhoderick Armamento, head of the Quezon provincial police.

He said policewoman Sarah Andal and four other policemen were wounded during the shootout and were taken to the San Pablo Hospital, where Andal died while undergoing treatment.

The encounter took place after operatives of the Quezon and San Pablo City police and the Camp Crame-based Anti-Kidnapping Group

responded to a reported abduction of Ronaldo Arguelles, who was taken somewhere in Candeleria town in Quezon on Monday.

Armamento said before the shootout, they received reports that Arguelles was herded by the suspects outside his house around 6 p.m. Monday, prompting them to call for assistance from the Anti-Kidnapping Group.

Two hours after the kidnapping, negotiations between the armed men and Arguelles’ family regarding the pay-off area was reached for the eventual release of the kidnap victim in exchange for P700,000.

As the suspects on board an Izuzu Spor-

tivo proceeded to the pay-off area, one of the suspects, upon seeing the policemen, fired at them and that forced the operatives to retaliate.

The firefight took place along Maharlika Highway in San Nicolas village in San Pablo City, and it resulted in the killing of all four suspects. The fifth kidnapper died later in hospital.

Arguelles and a bystander were also wounded during the shootout.

Armamento said all the slain suspects were wearing fatigue uniforms similar to the PNP. However, he denied that they were members of the police force.

Armamento said they had yet to establish the true identities of the suspects.

Recovered from the suspects were one Thompson rifle, two cal. 45 pistols, two hand grenades and ammunition.

Armamento said the suspects had pretended to be policemen purposely to get the P700,000 from Arguelles.

Feuding...

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be a major violation that would constitute a “lack of proven integrity.”

He said integrity should involve bigger allegations such as corruption.

Arguing his case, Calida emphasized that Sereno did not meet the eligibility of proven integrity due to her false and incomplete SALNs. “Sereno was a permanent faculty member of the University of the Philippines College of Law from 1986 until 2006. She deliberately failed to file her SALN 11 times in her 20 years as a law professor. Based on the UPHRDO Certification and Letter of Director Escoto, she selectively filed her SALNs for the years 1985, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 2002,” he said.

“It is demanded by no less than our Constitution that a public officer or employee shall, upon assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law, submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities, and net worth. The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards is no less emphatic: It behooves every government official or employee to accomplish and submit a sworn statement completely disclosing his or her assets, liabilities, net worth, and financial and business interests,” Calida said.

Calida justified the filing of quo warranto petition seeking the ouster of Sereno from the top judicial post, saying Filipinos “deserve a better chief justice.”

In his opening statement, Calida called Sereno a “usurper” who “unlawfully” holds the position of chief justice.

“In all candor, the Filipino people deserve a better chief justice. The Court must not allow a person who lacks integrity and has questionable qualifications to sit at the pinnacle of the judicial department,” Calida said.

“It would seem unseemly for the members of this Court to permit such a person to sit among them despite her ineligibility. This would spell the beginning of the end of this venerable institution,” the chief state lawyer argued.

Calida filed the petition seeking to nullify the appointment of Sereno as chief justice and her removal from office for allegedly failing to completely disclose her wealth in accordance with the law.

Sereno has sought the pleading’s dismissal for lack of jurisdiction and merit, insisting that she can only be ousted through impeachment.

Calida said his petition was not detrimental to the independence of the judiciary.

“This case is not about singling out Sereno; it is about ensuring that only those of proven integrity occupy the highest position in the judiciary. This is not about weakening the Supreme Court. It is about strengthening it by making sure that it acts as a collegial body in accordance with the nature of its functions,” the chief state lawyer said.

“This case is not about eroding the independence of the judiciary. It is about preserving the honor and dignity of the Supreme Court as an institution,” he said, even as he expressed confidence that the magistrates would decide on the matter in favor of “what is lawful and what is right.”

Sereno’s lawyer Alex Poblador, on the other hand, argued for the dismissal of the quo warranto petition on technical grounds.

Poblador said the case was belatedly filed since such a petition has a prescription period of only one year and that the solicitor general should have instead filed a petition for certiorari because he was questioning the action of the JBC. Calida’s petition wants the SC to void Sereno’s appointment as chief justice in 2012 and remove her from office for allegedly failing to fully disclose her wealth in compliance with the law.

Calida on Tuesday denied that President Rodrigo Duterte was behind the quo warranto petition against Sereno, as the chief justice had claimed.

“The President never instructed me to file a quo warranto case against respondent Sereno; that’s not his style,” he said, in an interview before the oral arguments began.

The chief state lawyer said he filed the quo warranto petition on his own, “without the President’s instruction.”

“I can look at you straight in the eye and say the President has nothing to do with this,” he said.

Sereno’s latest accusation provoked an angry response from Duterte, who said she could now count him as her enemy.

But Sereno’s spokesman, Carlo Cruz, said the question Sereno raised during her speech only echoed the question many people were asking about who was behind the attempts to oust her.

“I think the question is reasonable and I think the reasonable response would have been to address the question. You do not face it, hopefully, with anger. These are men and women in the highest positions of government,” he said.

“Are we as citizens no longer free to express what is in our minds? I would like to think that we are still free in that regard and who better than the chief magistrate, the chief justice to precisely display this freedom of expression,” Cruz said.

Cruz also said that “vocal efforts seeking to oust Chief Justice Sereno” started during the Duterte administration and “the nation knows who actually started this thing.”

In oral arguments, Poblador told the justice hearing the quo warranto case that favoring Calida’s petition would hurt public policy that preserves the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers among the three co-equal branches of government.

“It is not difficult to see that allowing the solicitor general to remove a sitting justice by quo warranto will set a dangerous precedent that will destroy this public policy,” Poblador said while urging the SC justices during the oral arguments to dismiss Calida’s petition.

“If allowed to do so, what will stop the solicitor general from filing similar petitions against any sitting justice, based on any offense, whether impeachable or not, on the theory that such offense can somehow reflect on his integrity and probity?” he said.

Bitcoins...

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Filipinos,...

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“At the start, they would give the said interest during the first and second tranches, but after that they would then disappeared,” Obusan said.

“This is a simple case of estafa and pyramiding because they have an upline and downline,” Obusan said.

Obusan said on YouTube, the couple can be seen at the second floor of their house throwing P500 bills, which could have enticed more victims to invest.

“That’s how they present themselves as earning so much by way of Bitcoin, but they are not connected to Bitcoin,” he said.

After receiving many complaints, the CIDG launched a manhunt and arrested the couple in an entrapment operation.

“It took many days and months before we finally arrested them,” Obusan said.

About 50 complainants trooped to Camp Crame on Tuesday asking the couple for the return of their investment.

The CIDG had filed syndicated estafa charges against the couple before the Department of Justice.

pay anything to Cambridge Analytica nor did he transact with them,” Roque said.

The South China Morning Post newspaper linked Strategic Communications Laboratories, the parent company of Cambridge Analytica, to Duterte’s associates and some members of his campaign team.

Roque said there was no need for Duterte to seek help from Cambridge Analytica to win the 2016 elections as insinuated by a report published in the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.

The report was triggered after Facebook admitted that about 1,175,870 Filipino users might have had their Facebook information improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica.

But Roque said Duterte won the 2016 elec-

tions because of the support of the grassroots level, and that there had been no need to buy any information from Cambridge Analytica.

“Support for the former Davao City mayor was from all sectors and not just from Facebook or online; thus the Duterte campaign did not have to purchase information,” Roque said.

“We should respect the President’s landslide victory, which was the result of the trust and confidence of the Filipino people and not undermine it with unsubstantiated allegations.”

The political consultancy firm is being linked to the alleged tapping of around 50 million Facebook users’ date to aid Donald Trump in the 2016 US presidential campaign.

Facebook ranked the Philippines as the second most affected country by Cambridge Analytica’s data breach, with at least 1.175 million accounts of Filipino users believed to have been stolen.

“The Philippines has made considerable headway in improving the peace and order situation under this administration,” Duterte said.

China and the Philippines have long sparred over the South China Sea, but relations have improved considerably under Duterte.

Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and Vietnam also claim some or all of the South China Sea and its myriad shoals, reefs and islands.

China claims most of the waterway and has been aggressively building and militarizing artificial islands.

Duterte said that “bilaterally, the Philippines has shown how complex relations are,” but said this is not a bar to positive and mutually beneficial engagement.

Also in his speech, Duterte said the Philippines has dreamed of a comfortable life for its citizens, envisioning a society with opportunities for all and a nation of hard working, talented, and law-abiding people.

“We are slowly making the Filipino dream a reality. As we strive to push our economy forward, we encounter challenges. But we will not be deterred. We seek to partner with responsible businesses— homegrown and foreign based—to drive the progress we envision,” Duterte said.

The President noted that his administration has improved the peace and order situation and sustained the battle against corruption.

“We are strengthening the policy framework for businesses to thrive,” he added, as he vowed not to tolerate corruption in his administration.

Duterte noted that his administration has ambitious goals, as he underscored plans to spend 5 to 7 percent of the country’s GDP on infrastructure.

He also noted the target of reducing poverty from 22 percent in 2015 to 14 percent by 2022.

Duterte said his administration’s flagship program, the “Build, Build, Build,” is expected to provide the solid backbone for growth and will upgrade infrastructure, connect more people and communities, and create more jobs. With PNA

has repatriated free of charge nearly 900 distressed Filipino workers from Kuwait to Manila, in response to the call of President Duterte and the Philippine government to assist our OFWs in Kuwait,” PAL said.

“With the repatriation effort now complete, the ongoing slowdown in OFW travel to Kuwait has made regular operations economically unsustainable, hence the need to suspend these flights to Kuwait until such time that market conditions on the route improve.”

PAL, instead, will continue to serve Kuwait through its flight operations to Dubai,

Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

Passengers with flights beginning May 16 may refund their tickets or rebook their flights to travel on or before 16 May, or reroute their PAL Manila—Kuwait journey to fly on PAL to Abu Dhabi or Dubai or Doha, and then on Other Airlines for the connecting flight to Kuwait.

Affected air travelers may also avail reroute their PAL Kuwait—Manila journey to fly on Other Airlines to Abu Dhabi or Dubai or Doha, and then take the PAL flight home to Manila.

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IVE suspected kidnappers and a policewoman were killed in a firefight between uniformed armed men and police operatives in San Pablo City, Laguna, on Tuesday morning, an official said.

she applied for associate justice in 2010 and chief justice in 2012.De Castro asked the chief justice why she submitted a false SALN in 2010 and incomplete SALNs in 2012.

De Castro said the chief justice did not meet the requirement under the Constitution when she filed only one SALN in 2006 when she taught in the UP College of Law, and when she submitted it only in 2010, when she applied for a position in the Supreme Court.

“When you resigned from UP in June 2006, you should’ve filed two SALNs—one in April 2006 for 2005 and then another in June 2006 when you resigned. But you only submitted one for 2006 and executed it in 2010, which was not even notarized,” De Castro told Sereno.

But the chief justice denied the allegation, describing the questioning by De Castro as “absurd, unreasonable and oppressive.”

Sereno said she was unable to submit her SALN for 2006 in 2010 because she was required by the JBC to submit the requirement on a Friday afternoon.

“I only submitted a downloaded form and dated it 2010; it’s not [the] SALN,” she said, adding that it was accepted by the JBC. Sereno argued that she did not violate the SALN law by failure to comply with the requirement unless there is an allegation of corruption against her.

But De Castro cited Sereno’s previous opinion, where she held that “under the law, failure to comply [with the SALN law] is prima facie evidence of unexplained wealth.”

De Castro also confronted the chief justice over her allegation that De Castro had told her she would never forgive Sereno for accepting the post of chief justice.

“That conversation never happened. I’m going to prove that,” De Castro said.

De Castro along with Peralta, Bersamin, Jardeleza and Tijam, rejected Sereno’s motions seeking their inhibition.

Carpio, who presided over the oral arguments, said the five justices would explain their reasons for refusing to recuse themselves from the case in their respective opinions when the Court issues its decision.

Jardeleza and Tijam shared the view of De Castro that Sereno was merely offering several excuses for why she failed to present her missing SALNs. “You filed but couldn’t find them, you were not reminded, or the others also did not also file…The filing of a SALN is a constitutional and statutory requirement.,” Tijam said.

Sereno failure’s to submit her SALNs for the past years is the major basis of Calida’s quo warranto petition asking the Court to nullify Sereno’s appointment as chief justice.

Sereno maintained that she consistently filed her SALN as required by law.

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, like Sereno an appointee of former President Benigno Aquino III, said the failure to comply with the SALN requirement did not appear to

PH-Kuwait...

From A1 President Rodrigo Duterte, however, earlier decided to suspend the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait following the gruesome murder of domestic helper Joanna Demafelis.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport officials are now preventing the departure of OFWs bound for Kuwait following the ban.

In 2016 around 105,000 OFWs were deployed to the Gulf state.

“Since earlier this year, the flag carrier

At 112...

From A1 The supercentenarian lives with his family, which manages a hot springs inn.

“He needs a wheelchair to move but he is in good condition,” said Yuko Nonaka, his granddaughter.

“He loves eating any kinds of sweets— Japanese or western style,” she told AFP. “He reads newspapers everyday and often soaks in the hot springs.”

He has seven brothers and one sister who live nearby in the town of Ashoro on Hokkaido.

He married Hatsuno in 1931 and the couple had five children, according to Guinness World Records.

Nonaka has officially taken the title after Francisco Nuñez Olivera from Spain died in February aged 113, the organization said.

Guinness World Records is currently investigating possible contenders for the title of oldest living person as no one has been recognized since Violet Brown from Jamaica died in July 2017, aged 117.

Japan, known for the longevity of its people, has been home to several oldest title holders, including Jiroemon Kimura, who died in June 2013 at the age of 116.

There are around 68,000 people aged 100 or older in the country, the government said last year. AFP

Duterte...

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News FDA warns vs Korean cosmetic products with toxic content FILIPINAS better stick with K-pop, and forget about Korean-made beauty products, at least those which did not pass rigid standards.

This after the Food and Drug Administration found out that several Korean cosmetic products contain high levels of antimony.

The FDA subsequently issued a warning against these cosmetic products that were banned and recalled by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea.

The FDA said at least 12 Korean cosmetic products should not be allowed for distribution and sale in the Philippines, including products from Aritaum, Etude House, XTM Style, Black Monster, Skeda, Skinfood, 3CE, and Makeheal, brands that contain dangerous amounts of antimony.

The FDA said exposure to high amounts of antimony “can result to damages to the lung, heart muscles and liver.”

Its symptoms include skin irritation, headache, nausea, vomiting, insomnia and abdominal pain, among others.

The FDA urged Filipinos to refrain from purchasing “unnotified and verified counterfeit cosmetic products,” which could pose serious threats to their health.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Ex-BI commish Argosino, Robles detained for plunder

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE Sandiganbayan on Tuesday ordered the detention of former Immigration deputy commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles in connection with the plunder case leveled against them.

The anti-graft court issued the order hours after Argosino and Robles posted bail. The two were both implicated in the P50-million bribery scandal at the BI. The order was issued after the courts found probable cause against the former BI officials.

Sixth Division clerk of court Ruth Ferrer said the warrants for plunder were only released on late Tuesday because the anti-graft court’s commitment order that was finished last week had not been signed by an associate justice who was out-of-town.

Argosino and Robles had posted the P60,000 bail at the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division, one working day after it was re-raffled to the division following the recusal of the Fourth Division chairperson, Associate Justice Alex Quiroz.

The bail is for one count each of

violation of Section 3(e) of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery, and violation of Presidential Decree 46 which punishes public officials for receiving gifts from private individuals.

Retired police officer Wally Sombero is their co-accused in the plunder case.

He has sought the dismissal of the case, saying there is no “main plunderer” on the charge of the Ombudsman prosecutors.

Chinese casino mogul Jack Lam, meanwhile, faces one count of violation of PD 46.

The Ombudsman charged Argosino, Robles, and Sombero with the nonbailable offense of plunder; and one count each of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, direct bribery, and violation of

Presidential Decree 46.

Investigations from Ombudsman revealed that Argosino and Robles have acquired ill-gotten wealth worth P50 million when they conspired with Sombero, then-president of Asian Gaming Service Provider Association Inc., in exchange for assistance in the release of 1,316 illegal Chinese workers at Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga owned by Lam. The Ombudsman said Argosino and Robles showed their alleged “manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence” when they conspired with Sombero for the multimillion bribe.

The Department of Justice had earlier dropped the plunder charges against Argosino and Robles since the money recovered from them was P1,000 short for a plunder case.

But the Ombudsman said Argosino and Robles are still liable under the Plunder Law, or Republic Act 7080, despite the missing P1,000.

“It cannot excuse them from being indicted for plunder” since Robles himself admitted that “they took possession of all five bags containing the P50 million,” the Sandiganbayan said.

PAF allots P14.7m to acquire FA-50 flight simulator facility for training IN LINE with efforts to improve the proficiency of Filipino jet pilots, the Philippine Air Force, through its Bids and Awards Committee, has allocated the sum of P14,721,500 for the procurement of an FA-50 Flight Simulator Facility which will be used in the training of military aviators selected to operate the Mach 1.5 capable aircraft.

Pre-bid conference is slated on Wednesday, 2 p.m. at the PAF Procurement Center Conference Room, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, while the Submission and opening of bids is slated on April 27, 9 a.m. at the same venue.

“All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, PreBidding Conference/s, Evaluation of Bids, PostQualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR),” PAF BAC chairman Brig. Gen. Fernyl G. Buca said in a bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System.

The PAF presently operates 12 FA-50PH jet aircrafts acquired from the Korea Aerospace Industries for P18.9 billion.

These jet aircraft are being used for air defense as well as ground attack missions as proven in the five-month Marawi City siege. PNA

RALLY FOR CJ. Members of various cause-oriented groups from Northern Luzon and Metro Manila show their support in a rally for embattled CJ Sereno who is facing ouster in the Supreme Court and impeachment in Congress in Baguio City. The summer court sessions are held in Baguio City annually. The rallyists demanded that they be allowed in the Supreme Court premises to air their grievances but were not allowed by PNP and Supreme Court Security to enter the court premises. A program was instead held near the SC Court. Dave Leprozo Jr.

Group alarmed over increasing ‘Dengvaxia deaths’ HEALTH groups under the banner of the Coalition for People’s Right to Health expressed alarm over the recent pronouncements of the Department of Health that 62 deaths of children are linked to the botched Dengvaxia program of the government.

The CPRH conducted a protest-action on April 10, 2018 (Tuesday) at the DoH Main Office in Rizal Avenue, Manila where they called for the DoH to step up efforts in monitoring the vaccinated children to prevent further escalation of deaths, push for indemnification from Sanofi and the government for all vaccinated children, and cooperate in seeking accountability from present and former government officials that perpetrated this fiasco.

Dr. Julie Caguiat, co-convener of CPRH, said “The DoH pronouncements should be enough to convince the Duterte government to prioritize this situation by formulating plans to fully address the needs of Dengvaxiavaccinated children and fully funding the appropriate programs such as giving of “immunization cards” to all vaccinated children, monitoring at the grassroots level, medicines, laboratory testing equipment and hiring of health personnel. The DoH can also push the Duterte administration to pressure Sanofi into putting up an indemnification fund for all the victims because of the multinational company’s late announcement of the danger of Dengvaxia. Because of the events, the government must not put up another

program to refacilitate the continuation of the Dengvaxia vaccination, even in the guise of another name.”

“The DoH must fully cooperate in the accountability seeking process from the Dengvaxia fiasco frontrunners such as former officials, President Benigno Aquino III, Secretary Butch Abad, Secretary Janette Garin and other government and Sanofi officials,” Dr. Caguiat concluded.

Launched in 2016, CPRH is a broad formation which brings together service-oriented groups, individuals, non-government organizations, academic institutions, religious groups involved in health apostolate/health ministry, grassroots health activists, patients’ organizations and people’s organizations nationwide.

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Tuesday said special patents for over 3,000 public schools nationwide have been issued for the title of their sites.

Secretary Roy Cimatu said the effort is a joint undertaking with the Department of Education.

As of December 2017, the agency was able to transmit for registration with various registers of deeds a total of 3,467 approved patents for public schools across 16 regions.

“This is a big accomplishment in land management and the public school system. It only shows the DENR, particularly the Land Management Bureau, is actively working to secure public school sites where the education of the future generation of this country rests,” Cimatu said.

DENR Region 2 has the most number of special patents approved and

transmitted at 450, followed by Region 10 with 434 patents and Region 1 with 343.

The total number of approved special patents represented the accomplishments of three memoranda of agreement entered into between the DENR and DepEd in 2007, 2010 and 2013 for the survey and titling of public elementary and secondary schools exclusively used for educational purposes through the issuance of special titles and presidential proclamations.

“Education is a basic right of every Filipino. The DENR will continue to pursue efforts to award land ownership to public schools so that these learning institutions are secured from ejection in the land they have occupied for decades,” the DENR chief said.

The sites identified by the Education department have been occupied continuously by the schools for decades and have been transferred through deeds of donation.

By Joel E. Zurbano INTER-AGENCY Council for Traffic chief Thomas Orbos on Tuesday appealed to shopping mall operators in Metro Manila to help the government in its fight against colorum and other outof-line public utlity vehicles.

Orbos will convene all mall operators in Metro Manila in a meeting this Thursday to ask for their cooperation on the government’s drive against bogus public utility vehicles. He will also remind them regarding harboring colorum vehicles in their respective terminals.

“We need to remind the mall operators of their responsibility not to allow colorum vehicles in their terminals, otherwise, they will be made answerable for this,” warned Orbos.

The I-ACT chief is referring to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Memorandum Circular Number 2017-030 that pertains to the accountability of establishments allowing colorum vehicles within their terminals.

Orbos said mall owners and operators should not allow colorum vehicles to operate in their establishments. He added business establishments should prioritize the safety and security of their customers.

“This is shared responsibility and we have to reject colorums. Don’t allow them to use your establishments for their illegal terminals,” he said.

To date, there are 195 malls in Metro Manila, 16 of which are located along Epifanio de los Santos Aveue. These malls also serve as transport hubs as they house terminals for UV Express, taxis, buses, and jeeps.

“We are assuring the public that there won’t be any let-up in this campaign so we are seeking the support of mall operators to have their terminals compliant to the LTFRB guidelines for off-street terminal operations and making it colorum-free,” Orbos said.

Also expected to attend the meeting is LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra.

Over the weekend, I-ACT team apprehended more than 2,500 motorists in separate operations against colorum and dilapidated PUVs in Quezon City and Bulacan province.

Grab owes users P1.8b—solon A PARTY-LIST lawmaker on Tuesday said Transport Network Service provider Grab should refund its customers some P1.8 billion due to overcharging.

At the same time, Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles questioned Grab’s recent merger and acquisition of Uber Philippines as he noted that this is a clear violation of prevailing anti-trust laws particularly the provisions of the Philippine Competition Act. In an interview over CNN Philippines’ morning show “The Source,” Nograles said that based on his research, Grab has been “illegally” charging its customers P2 per minute of travel time despite its public declarations and collaterals that they are not making any per-minute charge. This is on top of its flagdown rate of P40 and charging P10 to P14 per kilometer.

“The LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] should impose a refund. Otherwise, they are liable to graft,” Nograles said.

Maricel V. Cruz

Expect hotter days in May—Pagasa

DENR issues land patents for 3k schools

By Rio N. Araja

Malls urged to report ’colorums’

SCAM. Bitcoin scam victims held a press conference in Manila on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 with the help of VACC officials to clarify to the media that they are victims and not accomplices. Norman Cruz

EXPECT hotter days until May due to the termination of the northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan.”

Shelley Ignacio, PhilippineAtmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster, said provinces in the western side of the country, such as Ilocos province, Zamboanga province, and Region 4-B’s Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (Mimaropa) will experience lesser rains or drier days, while Tuguegarao province and some parts of the country will sizzle at a much higher temperature.

Pagasa on Tuesday declared the end of the northeast monsoon and the onset of the dry season, or colloquially called “summer.”

Based on the weather bureau’s observations, there was a gradual increase in the daily temperature in most parts of the country with the weakening of the Siberian high pressure area and the establishment of another high pressure over the North Western Pacific Ocean. Rio N. Araja

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Deepening cooperation

By H.E. Zhao Jianhua SPRING is a season teeming with vitality in picturesque Hainan Province, China, where Annual Conference 2018 of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), themed “An Open and Innovative Asia for a World of Greater Prosperity,” would be unveiled as the first international pageant to be hosted by China this year.

H.E. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte of the Republic of the Philippines will be attending the opening ceremony of BFA Annual Conference 2018. H.E. President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China would also hold bilateral talks with President Duterte on the sidelines. The two leaders will exchange views on seizing important opportunities to jointly build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, so as to advance the synergy between the development strategies of our two countries, deepen all-around practical cooperation and secure common development. This upcoming summit between our two Presidents, the first of its kind since the election of a new leadership of the Chinese government in March, bears vital significance of carrying forward China-Philippines traditional friendship and opening up a new vista for this great partnership in the future.

Over a period of more than one year, under the guidance of our two leaders, China-Philippines relations have achieved an overall turnaround, enjoyed a sustained growth with strength and depth, and surged forward along a fast track. The practical cooperation between our two countries has garnered steady support from three main pillars of political and security affairs, economic relations and trade, and people-to-people exchanges, which keep yielding more fruits with each passing day.

The two countries have consistently deepened our strategic mutual trust. Up till now, President Xi Jinping and President Duterte have met each other for four times on both bilateral and multilateral occasions, setting the course for a win-win and sound growth of China-Philippines relations. H.E. Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of China, paid an official visit to the Philippines in November 2017, further boosting the strong momentum to promote good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the Philippines.

The two countries have also enhanced sharing of governance experiences between our two ruling parties, resumed a series of bilateral dialogue and cooperation mechanisms covering foreign affairs, defense, economy and trade, established the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea, and launched the Joint Coast Guard Committee on Maritime Cooperation. The two countries are also having closer coordination and rendering mutual support on regional and international affairs.

The two countries have unleashed great potential for cooperation and reaped rich outcomes. The two countries have signed more than forty cooperation documents since 2016. In 2017, China-Philippines trade volume exceeded USD 50 billion for the first time, making China the Philippines’ top trading partner, top import origin and the fourth largest export market.

China’s investment to the Philippines reached USD 53.84 million in 2017 alone, representing a year-onyear increase of 67 percent. Such infrastructure and industrial capacity cooperation programs as Chico River Pump Irrigation Project, Kaliwa Dam Project, two bridges over the Pasig River and Chinese industrial parks are making steady progress.

Our cooperation in combating illicit drugs, poverty alleviation, antiterrorism campaign, disaster relief and prevention as well as militaryto-military cooperation have also produced gratifying results.

The two countries have witnessed booming exchanges between our two peoples. China now stands as the second largest tourist origin to the Philippines. In 2017, the number of Chinese tourists visiting the Turn to A5

Desperate times

C

HIEF Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno asserts that the quo warranto case filed against her before the Supreme Court is a sign of desperation because those who seek to oust her have a weak case if they try to impeach her.

From where we sit, however, it seems it is the chief justice herself who is desperate, raising her voice to whoever will listen about a grand conspiracy to remove her from office, and portraying herself as the lone defender of judicial independence.

In a speech this week, she also chided the solicitor general for filing the quo warranto petition against her.

“Surely you must explain this unconstitutional act,” she said, insisting that under the Constitution, she can be removed only by impeachment. “What

you’re doing is so evil.”

But the petition asserts that Sereno was unqualified for the post from the start, when President Benigno Aquino III appointed her in 2012, and may be removed for that reason by the Supreme Court.

Her colleagues in the Supreme Court—the final arbiter of legal questions—clearly disagree with Sereno on the constitutionality of the quo warranto petition. Otherwise, they would have dismissed the petition outright for lack of jurisdiction. Instead, they have chosen to hear oral arguments this week—and to order her to testify under oath—a sign that the petition may not be as unconstitutional or as “evil” as Sereno would have us believe.

In the meantime, the impeachment process will move ahead, spurred on by the President, who has grown exasperated by Sereno’s continued accusations that he is behind the

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

moves to oust her.

“I’m putting you [Sereno] on notice that I am now your enemy and you have to be out of the Supreme Court,” Duterte said before flying to China for an economic forum.

“I held my temper before because she’s a woman. This time I’m asking the congressmen and the Speaker: ‘Do it now. Cut out the drama, or else I will do it for you,’” he added.

With little or no support from any of the three branches of government, it is Sereno, not her critics, who is in desperate straits.

We have seen before what happens when the government goes to war against a sitting chief justice. The same fate that befell Chief Justice Renato Corona now faces Sereno, who said nothing about judicial independence years ago, when her benefactor went after the chief with hammer and tongs— and crushed him in the end.

Pasig River, Baguio need help A RECENT survey of safe cities in Asia showed Singapore to be the safest, followed by Valenzuela City, Chang Mai (Thailand), Davao City, Makati City, Baguio City, Bali (Indonesia), Cebu City, Penang (Malaysia) and Bangkok (Thailand).

The inclusion of five Philippine cities in this list is a tribute to their local officials.

As a resident of Makati, I commend Mayor Abigail Binay. She has done so much for the city and its residents.

She gave meaning to the Binay tradition of making Makati a premier city, being the financial and business center. She has not only raised the income to high levels, but also assured citizens that in the event of disaster, the city can respond effectively. She has returned the city’s sidewalks to pedestrians.

Makati is my city. I would not have it any other way. *** The cesspool that the island paradise of Boracay has become has opened a can of worms on the neglect and indifference of local officials of the resorts in their areas.

Now Boracay Island will be closed for six months.

President Duterte should start kicking some butts to make local officials aware of the magnitude of the problem.

Findings of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Tourism show that many tourist destinations have violated environmental laws blatantly. Some establishments have been constructed so near the beach.

Now the closure of Boracay brings its own downside like the loss of jobs and income from tourism.

It can be done.

Officials just need some willpower.

The gloves are off BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO NO MORE pretensions to niceties and rules. The gloves are off. This was made clear by President Rodrigo Duterte when he said “You are now my enemy!” referring to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. He added emphatically “you have to be out of the Supreme Court.”

The norm is for the House judiciary committee to determine probable cause for impeachment \and not the Chief Executive to endorse and make public his

sentiment about the issue.But then this is a President who makes public utterances of his strong feeling about issues and people. After Duterte made known his intense dislike of Sereno, he then professed he “loves Chinese President Xi Jinping.” Strange.

Anyone critical of the President is deemed an enemy, Sereno’s lawyers say.

Duterte unleashed his latest no-holds barred remark just before taking a flight to Hainan, China for an economic conference. The Chief Magistrate drew the mercurial President’s stinging rejoinder when she said in public that Mr. Duterte is behind the impeachment move against her including an unprecedented quo warranto case filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

But then, anyone critical of the President is considered as an enemy, according to Sereno spokesman and law professor Carlo Cruz. Speaking on the failure of Sereno not filing her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, Cruz clarified the non-filing was during Sereno’s stint as UP law Turn to A5

There are many beach resorts where tourists can go this season. But many of these destinations also cry out for government attention. *** The Pasig River, for one thing, needs cleaning and rejuvenation. The President said Boracay had become a cesspool. He overlooked the fact that just outside his office, there is a bigger cesspool.

With so many squatter colonies along the river banks, Pasig River has become a big toilet.

The President must be made aware of the fact that ferry service along the river can become an alternative means of transportation. Then again, cleaning of the Pasig cannot be done just like that. Still, with enough willpower, it can be done.

Another thing that the DENR, DILG and DoT can do during these summer months is to set up a factfinding commission to look at what ails Baguio City, which is choking to death.

While the city has between 250,000 and 300,000 residents, it easily swells to 1.5 million given the lowlanders who come there to escape the heat.

My gulay, going to Baguio during the summer months is no longer fun!

Going to Burnham Park or even Session Road has become a chore.

And try going to the SM Mall where you will fight your way through the crowd. It seems everybody is there.

Horseback riding? It’s a drag.

Mines View Park is occupied by ambulant vendors.

I can go on and on. I am sad at what Baguio has become.

Turn to A5

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Opinion

THE die is cast for chief justice jus- SALN 11 times. Now, that’s what I call tice (on leave), Maria Lourdes Sereno. serial impunity of the worst kind.

Here is what Duterte said April 9 Before or after summer this year, two things could happen to her—she keeps when asked by a newsman in Davao about Sereno: her job or she is ousted.

“Sereno. Sinabi ko na sa iyo, hindi The odds are that she will be ousted, either by the Supreme Court itself, or the ako nakialam. If you are insisting, then Senate acting as an impeachment court. count me in. Count me in. And I will By the Supreme Court for her being un- egg (on) Calida to do his best. Ako na qualified in the first place (through a mismo maglakad rin kalaban sa iyo. quo warranto case), or by the Senate, for Sinasabi ko na sa iyo na hindi ako naany or all of the six articles of impeach- kikialam.

“Now sige ka diyan daldal nang ment against her which come under four categories—culpable violation of the daldal. O sige, upakan kita. I will help Constitution, betrayal of public trust, any investigator. Talagang uupakan kita.

“So I’m putting you on notice that graft, and abuse of power.

Sereno’s removal will be processed I am now your enemy. And you have on two fronts—before an impeach- to be out of the Supreme Court. I will ment court at the Senate after the see to it that after that, then I’ll request House plenary endorses the articles of the Congress, go into the impeachment impeachment, and before the Supreme right away.

“Because the two entities can hear it Court itself, where Sereno, at this simultaneously. writing, in an unThey can proceed precedented spectawith the quo warcle, was facing her ranto. Ang quo own peers (most of warranto is Suthe 13 now sitting Only two things can preme Court eh; en banc are hostile impeachment is to her) to defend happen to the chief Congress. herself from allega- justice before or after “So that I’d like tions of the govern- summer. to ask Speaker ment (represented Alvarez now,

by Solicitor Generkindly fast-track al Jose Calida) that the impeachment she was not qualiof... she is bad for fied to be a chief justice in the first place, having vio- the Philippines.”

President Duterte minced no words lated, before her appointment, the law and the Constitution on the rudimen- in declaring Sereno is an enemy. In tary requirements for applicants for military terms, that is like a death senchief justice. One requirement is reli- tence. In political terms, you are guilty gious and timely filing of statement of as charged and should be removed from office. assets, liabilities and net worth.

Allow me, however, to quote from Quo warranto is swifter and more surgical and requires the vote of just a much admired law dean, Tony La eight justices. An impeachment could Viña’s column, on his thoughts on Serbe prolonged and messy and requires eno’s travails: “For the first time in history, a sitting the three-fourths vote of all 23 sitting chief justice will argue her case as a resenators.

To me, Sereno’s chief failing as chief spondent, not as a sitting judge, before justice is that she antagonized so many her peers.

“Can the [Supreme] Court be depeople for two reasons. One, something is wrong with her psychologically, and pended on to pass judgment with impartwo, she has had too much power trip. tiality and competence considering the For someone who is very young and to perceived hostility and rumored squabmany, a very unqualified chief justice, bles which have been going on for years between Sereno and some of her colthose are fatal character flaws.

Sereno antagonized the most impor- leagues? That there is bad blood among tant person in this country—President the members has been reinforced when Rodrigo Roa Duterte. He has declared some justices—Associate Justices Terher his enemy if not an enemy of the esita de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Noel Tijam and Francis people.

Per Rep. Rey Umali, chairman of Jardeleza—testified against her before the House Committee of Justice which the House Committee on Justice.

“The quo warranto decision, which conducted hearings for five months (a record for an impeachment complaint) could come soon, absolutely could on her case, Sereno failed to file her change our constitutional system radiSALNs 17 times, including the years cally. The Corona impeachment … re1996 to 2006. Umali says Sereno filed leased destructive forces on the judicionly three SALNs and in two of them, ary. This [Sereno] case could unleash she did not even subscribe to their au- even more dreadful consequences on the institution…” thenticity.

According to SolGen Calida, the chief biznewsasia@gmail.com on an indefinite leave failed to file her

Deepening...

From A4

in a spirit of joint consultation, building and sharing, the Philippines is destined to be one of the most important participants, contributors and beneficiaries.

China and the Philippines will surely become good neighbors helping each other, good friends supporting each other, and good partners benefiting each other. This not only serves both present and long-term interests of our two countries and peoples, but conforms to our common aspiration to safeguard peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

As a Chinese poem reads, “The water is calm and wind fair. To the vast sea let’s set sail.” I am convinced that, under the wise leadership of our two leaders, China-Philippines strategic mutual trust is bound to be much stronger, economic cooperation and trade much closer, and people-to-people exchanges much richer. Riding winds and breaking waves, China together with the Philippines will continue to steer the ship of building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road towards an even brighter future.

Philippines doubled that in 2016, topping one million already. Each week, there are around 300 flights shuttling between the Chinese and Philippine cities. We’ve also seen thriving interaction, exchanges and cooperation between China and the Philippines in terms of sisterhood provinces and cities, media agencies, think-tanks, universities, youth affairs, education, science and technology, culture and arts. The hearts and minds of our two peoples are interlinked more closely than ever before and the centuries-old friendship between our two countries are blessed with greater dynamism.

Ever since the ancient times, China and the Philippines have been profoundly defined by a history of friendship and cooperation thanks to our geographic proximity, kinship amity and cultural affinity. Looking out to the future, as China and the whole world H.E. Zhao Jianhua, is the Chinese stand at a fresh historic juncture to materialize the “Belt and Road” Initiative Ambassador to the Philippines.

Pasig...

From A4

The question is whether it can still be saved. I say of course it can! But as in the case of Pasig River, it will need a lot of willpower. *** If Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will be impeached and disqualified as pri-

mus inter pares—the first among equals— at the Supreme Court, she only has herself to blame.

When Sereno pointed to President Duterte as the architect of the quo warranto proceeding against her at the Supreme Court—Solicitor General Jose Calida is after all his alter ego—the President had no recourse but brand her as the enemy.

With the awesome powers of the President, members of Congress will surely fast-

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Why not go the whole hog?

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Duterte: Sereno is bad for the Philippines

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018

This, as it has been shown through the years, is a difficult if not impossible balancing act. The result, after more than 45 years, are huge financial losses that all taxpayers subsidize. In 2010, NFA’s legacy debt was 178 billion pesos, which then President Aquino decried in his first Sona. We were able to trim that down to 143 billion in two years, but, per Senator Ralph Recto, the Senate’s resident economist, it is now back to 172 billion.

Government cannot continue to foot the bill, because it is like a bottomless pit of debt. And the solution is something that is already imposed upon us by our accession to the World Trade Organization in 1995. Last June 30, 2017, the last of our successive quantitative restriction privilege on rice (QR, which gives NFA the monopoly on rice importation in order to “protect” palay farmers) expired. What is now needed is for Congress to pass soonest a Rice Tariffication Law that would impose tariffs on rice imports instead of the quantitative restrictions that NFA alone could determine and implement.

What will this mean?

Not the abolition of NFA, as some mistakenly state. Instead, NFA will (1) no longer have a rice import monopoly, and the private sector can import subject to the payment of tariffs; (2) move out of its commercial functions, and thus will cease to actively participate in the market, it’s share of which has been reduced through the years anyway; and (3) confine itself to buffer stocking, or rice reserve functions.

Thus, NFA will buy palay or import rice, as necessary, to ensure that the country will have enough reserves (normally 15 days worth of national consumption, or about half a million tons or 10 million sacks of 50-kilo weight each) to tide us over in case of natural or man-made emergencies.

The fear that leaving the rice supply in the hands of the market will be detrimental to the consumers, and allowing the private sector to import rice while paying taxes, will impoverish the palay farmers is also an unfounded fear.

The oft-stated “greed” of the rice “cartels” is more figment than market reality. The truth is that all staple commodities and basic services lend themselves to few rich players, or oligopolies which can and should be properly regulated by government.

Whether in the domestic or international market, there are only a handful of grains purveyors, or sugar traders, or oil producers and refiners, or power generators, transmitters and distributors, or even water system managers.

In this modern world, even high tech is cartelized, such as telecommunications.

The reason is simple: All these business pursuits require a lot of capital.

But market forces should be able to determine pricing. In times of emergency, government has the power to step in and regulate, but otherwise, it should allow market forces to operate. And government can increase the players in an oligopolistic environment, such as what President Duterte is now doing with the two telcos.

Note that even with the NFA around, the market is offering P22 per kilo of palay to the farmers, except in marginal areas such as some islands where logistics is difficult and therefore non-profitable. That perhaps is where NFA or any other government agency so mandated, can operate.

The present situation simply proves that the law of supply and demand is both immutable and ever-operative.

The issue of rice is not, we submit, an issue of government subsidizing prices, but of market forces determining the same. By allowing the private sector to import the staple, we stabilize prices for the consumer.

What we in turn should do for the farming sector is bring down production costs to make our palay production competitive. Protect the farmers from weather vagaries such as typhoons and floods through adequate crop insurance.

Invest in irrigation, the production of better-yielding seeds, and post-harvest facilities as well as farm infrastructure.

It will of course take more than just this combination of programs, but the bottomline is: make the farmers more productive. Enable them to earn more.

Only then can we have food security in the real sense of the word (and not only in rice, but in vegetables, fruits, fish and poultry as well). We likewise ensure that farmers will continue farming (instead of migrating to the cities, selling fishballs and sleeping in karitons along with their children. We also encourage a young generation of food producers, who will find farming profitable and for want of a better term, “sexy.”

professor, before she was appointed and assumed the position of chief magistrate. This he added can be remedied by filing a SALN upon assumption of the government post. Cruz was interviewed by Karen Davila on the ANC program “Headstart.”

President Duterte also made known his impatience with House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for dragging his feet in forwarding the Articles of Impeachment against Sereno to the Senate. After weeks of trial by publicity in the House justice committee chaired

by Rep. Reynaldo Umali, CJ Sereno remains steadfast, dismissing suggestions she should resign or be ousted.

Despite her back against the wall, Sereno is standing firm that a chief justice can only be removed through the impeachment process.

Sereno is fully aware that if impeached, she could lose all her financial benefits such as retirement pay. She could be barred from holding any public office in the future. This she is willing to risk to protect her name even as her detractors continued their attack. Ser-

eno has asked that Associate Justices Teresita Castro, Francis Jardeleza et al who testified against her in the House hearing be inhibited in testifying anew in the quo warranto proceedings as they have appeared biased against her.

If impeached, however, Sereno, like the late Chief Justice Renato Corona, won’t be imprisoned. The primary purpose of impeachment is the removal of the official from public office.

The Sereno camp, with the chief magistrate herself appearing in public events, has warned against the creeping totalitarian state allegedly being planned by the Palace. Supporters of Sereno claim the House, the Senate and government agencies are already under the administration’s control. Taking hold of the Supreme Court which is known the “court of last resort” would make government control total—and the country would be a totalitarian state.

There is also a Malacañang move to unseat Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales for allegedly being partisan in prosecuting cases against former President Benigno Aquino III and cabinet members Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. Abad is allegedly behind the conceptualizing of the

Disbursement Acceleration Program while Abaya is facing graft charges for awarding Metro Rail Transit’s service maintenance contract to a company without any track record in train servicing, and for buying incompatible equipment from China.

Sereno’s impeachment, once in the Senate, would most likely be held in May. This constitutional process will be held in the backdrop of rising rice prices , the six-month shutdown of Island resort Boracay which means the loss of livelihood for the island resort and tourism workers. The closure of Boracay starts on April 26 and business establishment owners are in a quandary on how to keep their employees during the lockdown. The President announced he will turn parts of Boracay into a land reform area. He ruled out the operation of casinos in the island resort. Dutere has also threatened to revoke the permit of mining companies who continue to pollute the environment due to open-pit mining operations.

Amid these economic challenges, the Duterte administration has to deal with the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines/ National Democratic Front plus the pending passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

track the trial at the Senate.

Just which will come first, conviction at the impeachment court or ouster by quo warranto, is a matter of speculation. Either way, her goose is cooked!

It’s too late for Sereno to be a martyr crying persecution.

I think she is just pathetic when she says that something will happen if she is ousted as chief justice. And what exactly will happen? Is she hallucinating?

She has nobody to blame but herself.

She has made so many enemies among her colleagues. *** The Senate race next year will be dominated by women, if my sources are right.

The re-electionists will be led by Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar and Nancy Binay. There will also be Pia Cayetano, who wants to go back to the Senate, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, transgender Geraldine

Roman, and even former Environmental Secretary Gina Lopez.

The most surprising development is that former President Gloria Arroyo may also run. She will win, hands down, and may even become Senate President.

Among the men, there are JV Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada and Francis Tolentino.

My gulay, let’s not elect minions and apologists of the President. We need independent lawmakers so badly!

SO I SEE LITO BANAYO FIRST, on Boracay’s closure.

Since the President has ordered the island “paradise” closed to visitors for the next six months, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should implement what the Supreme Court in 2008 had long decided on the land ownership issues on the island.

In very simple terms, the Supreme Court, in upholding President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Proclamation 1084, stated that most of the island is “owned” by the Republic, they being occupied by whoever on the basis of tax declarations. Only the Tirol family holds a valid title to portions of the island. So only they, their assigns as well as those who bought from them hold valid private property rights. The rest are merely allowed by the government to use these while they pay real property taxes.

Aside from clearing the island of (1) obstructions to the declared easement rules from the shore; and (2) violators who constructed illegally ab initio in no-build areas, such as the wetlands and the declared forest areas, government can go the whole hog, and remove within a certain reasonable time frame all other properties, commercial or residential that will not be in line with the new re-development plan that it should conduct.

Within the six-month time frame, the easement line can be strictly enforced.

Within the same six months, demolition of clear violators of environmental restrictions should be demolished.

Within the same six months, all establishments should be compelled by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and DENR to connect to the sewerage pipes connected to the wastewater treatment facility put up by the Philippine Tourism Authority and managed by Boracay Water, a joint venture between government and the Ayala conglomerate. Or TUBI, the other private water supplier in the island which has yet no sewerage system. The Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority, which is the successor of the defunct Philippine Tourism Authority under the Tourism Act of 2005, should be able to implement this. After all, Mr. Lucio Tan, who bought TUBI from its original owners, has volunteered financial resources for this.

During and beyond those six months, but within strictly observed timelines, TIEZA should be able to complete their drainage system, which has actually been bidded out and awarded even before President Duterte raged against the “cesspool” of an island.

Within the same six-month time frame, Jun Palafox or whoever has been assigned to do a redevelopment plan for Boracay, should have been able to submit the detailed plans, which government agencies must then implement.

Based on the plan, government could then impose its will on the non-titled

The gloves...

From A4

commercial or residential establishments, with a by-then established Boracay Management Authority (or whatever name they decide upon) determining which are in conformity with the plan and which are not. One vital component should be the widening of the single arterial road that connects south to north of the 1,032 hectares of the island.

Go the whole hog, Mr. President.

Let’s redo Boracay once and for all.

After all, government owns most of it, and private “rights” therein are not protected under our constitutional definition of private property. *** Second, the National Food Authority.

Again, let’s take some systemic measures that go the whole hog.

Created by Presidential Decree No. 4 during the earliest days of martial law, the National Grains Authority, later the National Food Authority, was given the cross mandate of making sure that staple food, particularly rice, should at all times be available and affordable to the Filipino consumer, while similarly protecting the interest of our palay farmers.

Make the farmers more productive.

Enable them to earn more.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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News

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

BI nabs Korean siblings wanted for swindling P15m in Mandaue

By Vito Barcelo

STILL VIGILANT. Members of the Coalition for People’s Right to Health protest at the Department of Health office in Manila, wearing masks of officials linked to the previous Aquino administration, on Tuesday. They called on the agency to intensify its efforts to monitor children vaccinated with the anti-dengue drug Dengvaxia and seek accountability from present and former officials that were involved in circulating the controversial vaccine. Norman Cruz

Lawmakers seek voluntary resignation of NFA’s Aquino

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE minority bloc at the House of Representatives on Tuesday called for the voluntary resignation of National Food Authority Administrator Jason Aquino amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement at the food agency.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, the bloc’s leader, said Aquino “obviously mismanages” the NFA, as proven by the dwindling stocks in its warehouses.

“What are you waiting for?” Suarez asked Aquino at a news conference.

“Isn’t it obvious that the importers are raking in huge sums of money out of this ‘artificial rice crisis’, and even the rice hoarders as well are cashing in?”

“We do not have the rice shortage, but they created this scenario that we are running out of rice stocks,” the lawmaker added.

Suarez said Aquino “should not wait a

moment soon but go.” He said Aquino’s incompetence in handling the agency is showing.

“Voluntary [resignation]... he should not wait anymore. The masses have become the casualties of the skyrocketing price of rice,” the Quezon solon said.

“The price of rice is expensive. We want to plant more, we can produce more, but it will be expensive. The reason why we need NFA [rice], the buffer stocks are sold to the masses at an affordable price,” he added.

Senior Deputy Minority Leader and

BUREAU of Immigration agents have arrested two Koreans wanted in Seoul for swindling their compatriots of 360 million won or more than P15 million.

The Koreans, who were brothers, were identified as Choi Sung Hyun and Choi Sungmin. They were arrested in Mandaue City, Cebu by members of the bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said.

Morente said the brothers are subjects of red notices from the Interpol, as they are wanted by the Korean police for fraud.

“The fugitives will be sent back to Korea as soon as the BI board of commissioners issues the order for their summary deportation,” Morente said.

Information provided by the Korean Embassy revealed that between February and April 2011, Choi Sung Hyun received from his victim a total of 360 million won.

Japanese man rescued, 3 kidnap suspects captured

By Francisco Tuyay

Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza of Buhay backed Suarez’s view.

“There is no reason why we find ourselves in a serious rice problem if not for the incompetence and possibly corruption [of Aquino],” Atienza said.

Administration ally Surigao Rep. Robert Ace Barbers also demanded Aquino’s resignation.

“NFA officials do not seem to agree whether there is rice shortage or there is none, if there is a need to import or not as shown in their conflicting announcements,” Barbers said.

Reports on the rice shortage spread last month when the NFA said it would temporarily stop issuing rice to accredited retailers due to low supply.

However, conflicting government reports on the status of rice supply in Metro Manila have alarmed the public, prompting President Rodrigo Duterte to step in and order both the NFA and its council to stop issuing statements.

POLICE Anti-Kidnapping Group operatives on Tuesday successfully rescued a Japanese national and subsequently arrested three suspects, including another fugitive Japanese who held the victim last month, in an operation in Plaridel, Bulacan.

Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa identified the rescued kidnap victim as Mr. Yuji Nakajima, 32, a tourist and resident of 3-15-9 Higashimukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo.

Dela Rosa did not provide the circumstances behind the kidnapping and rescue, except that the Japanese Embassy in Manila sought the assistance of the AKG upon learning of the whereabouts of Nakajima.

He said that on April 5 at 2 p.m., Japanese police Supt. Takayashi Nakayama and three representatives from the Japanese Embassy coordinated with the AKG to relay the location of a certain Mr. Sumida-ku.

An hour after, the AKG teams

rePuBlIc of the PhIlIPPIneS dePartment of ScIence and technology doSt comPound, gen. SantoS ave. BIcutan, taguIg cIty

for the

The Department of Science and Technology, through the General Appropriations Act for CY 2018intends to apply the sum of THIRTEEN MILLION TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-NINE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY PESOS (Php13,279,980.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Security Manpower Services of DOST for CY 2018. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The DOST now invites bids for the Security Manpower Services of DOST for CY 2018 for a period of 7 months. Delivery of the Services shall commence within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act” Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.

4.

5.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from DOST-Bids and Awards Committee, Secretariat and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours or from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. from Monday to Friday except during holidays.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on April 11, 2018 up to 1:50 P.M. of May 02, 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the Php10,000.00 as applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The DOST Bids and Awards Committee (DOST-BAC) will hold a PreBid Conferenceon April 19, 2018 at 2:00 PM at OASEC Administration Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Platinum Building, Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City, which shall beopen to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before 1:45 PM of May 02, 2018. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be on May 02, 2018 at 2:00 PM at OASEC Administration Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Platinum Building, Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

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

9.

For further information, please refer to: DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY General Services Division-Procurement Section 2nd Floor, Platinum Building, Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City Tel. No. (02) 837-2071 loc. 2049 or 2090 Email: ccrivera@dost.gov.ph and dostprocurement@gmail.com (Sgd) TEODORO M. GATCHALIAN, Ph.D. Assistant Secretary for Administration and Chairperson, DOST-CO BAC (MS-APR. 11, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

together with embassy personnel safely rescued Nakajima and another supposed kidnap victim, Verhel Lumague, in Plaridel.

In a statement, the PNP reported that three of the suspects behind the kidnapping were arrested separately along Evangelista St. in Santolan, Pasig City and in Parañaque City.

One suspect was identified as Miyashita Takashi, a Japanese fugitive and resident of Koiwa Edogawa, Tokyo, presently residing at 1711 East Rio, Azure Condominium in Paranaque.

He had a Japanese passport that was canceled on Sept. 11, 2015.

The others were Roberto Reyes, alias “Obet,” 54, a businessman, and Reggie Reyes, 47, a sales representative, both residents of 177A Evangelista St., in Santolan, Pasig.

The PNP said the AKG is still on a manhunt for other suspects in the abduction of Nakajima, while appropriate charges are being readied against the arrested culprits.

‘Inadequate’ HIV tests to blame for OFWs’ epidemic

InvItatIon to BId Procurement of SecurIty manPower ServIceS for doSt for cy 2018 (DOST-CO-PB NO. 2018-04-006)

1.

Sung Hyun allegedly promised the victim that his money would earn a 3-percent profit if it were invested in his business.

On the other hand, Choi Sungmin is wanted for defrauding and enticing his victims to invest US$40,000 in a nonexistent business venture. Instead of returning the money, he used it to settle debts he owed to other individuals.

BI-FSU chief Bobby Raquepo disclosed that the brothers are both overstaying and undocumented aliens in the Philippines, as their passports were already canceled by the Korean government.

Raquepo also said that while in Cebu, the Chois owned and operated a diving center business in Punta Engaño in Mactan town.

He said Choi Sungmin was earlier issued a deportation order by the BI in 2015, while his brother was charged with immigration law violations before the bureau’s board of commissioners on the same year.

BETTER WHEELS. A group of persons with disability rally in front of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board office in Quezon City on Tuesday, asking the Duterte administration to fast-track accessible and PWD-friendly public utility vehicles. Manny Palmero

Building Code to be major engineering text THE House of Representatives has backed a measure mandating the integration of the National Building Code of the Philippines as a major subject in the higher education curriculum of Architecture and Engineering courses and as a topic of licensure exams.

The proposed National Building Code Integration Act is embodied House Bill 7422 authored by Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga.

The bill, approved on second reading, provides that the State must ensure future engineers should have sufficient knowledge in the construction of buildings and non-building structures to minimize safety incidents and ensure the safety of the public.

“This is in the interest of protecting citizens, safeguarding their life, health, property, and public welfare, consistent with the principles of sound environmental management and control,” Gonzales said.

The NBCP, enacted into law on August 26, 1972, provides for all buildings and structures a framework of minimum standards and requirements by guiding and controlling location, siting, and design.

The Building Code also establishes standards for quality of materials, construction, use, occupancy, and maintenance, including environment, utilities, fixtures, equipment, and mechanical, electrical, and other systems and installations.

In line with the mandate of the Commission on Higher Education under Republic Act 7722, Gonzales said the CHED shall be responsible for the development and integration of a course on the NBCP as a major subject in the higher education curriculum of Architecture and Engineering courses.

Bachelor of Science degrees specified by the bill include Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Sanitary Engineering and Architecture.

Meanwhile, the Profession Regulation Commission shall be mandated to include the NBCP as a topic in the respective licensure examinations.

The implementing rules and regulation of the Act shall be formulated by the CHED and PRC, in consultation with other relevant stakeholders. Maricel V. Cruz

THE rising number of overseas Filipino workers with Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV have reached 5,537 owing to the inadequate medical examinations being conducted by some government accredited clinics for overseas employment.

Migration and recruitment expert Emmanuel Geslani said Tuesday some Department of Health-accredited clinics were involved in the “rampant practice” of giving illegal rebates to recruitment agencies, which resulted in “cutthroat competition” among clinics and insufficient medical examinations of Filipinos bound for work abroad.

Geslani cited some cases of OFWs who were sent back to the Philippines after a second medical exam in the host country after being discovered with illnesses such as Hepatitis B, HIV, malaria, and even faulty X-ray results.

“Some medical clinics are also not performing the required I-Clinical Lab Results as required by the DoH,” he said.

Geslani urged the DoH to ban clinics found violating the medical tests and to ensure the integrity of all lab tests performed on OFWs, which may result in their deportation by their host countries if they are found to have infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases or tuberculosis.

Geslani, who owns ESG Consultancy Services, said some recruitment agencies receive certain amount or rebates from their favored clinics for every applicant they referred.

“Under Circular No. 1, series of 1990, the Bureau of Licensing and Regulation of the DoH prohibits the giving of rebates and considers it a ‘violation of its rules and regulations which shall be dealt with severity,’” he noted.

At present, the regulated fee for DoH accredited medical clinics for overseas applicants is P3,500.

However, some clinics are charging as low as P1,800 to capture a large portion of the applicants, or are given rebates of P500 for every applicant to the recruitment agency.

“These result in inferior medical examinations,” Geslani said. “Over 800,000 new hires including seafarers are being deployed to the Middle East and other countries every year.”

Vito Barcelo

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

Batang Gilas in tough World Cup U-16 group

Army donates 10 wheelchairs to soldiers

By Peter Atencio IT’S mission accomplished for Batang Gilas.

Coach Michael Oliver said this after the Philippine national junior basketball team returned home from their successful campaign in the Fiba Under-16 Asian Championship in Foshan, China.

“We are happy that we have accomplished our goal,” said Oliver.

For now, Batang Gilas will be a man short when they prepare for another challenging campaign ahead in the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup in June in Argentina as RC Calimag is recovering from an injury.

The Kai Sotto-led quintet found themselves in a tough group in the coming World Cup. The 31st-ranked Philippines is in Group D, along with 7th-ranked Argentina, 8th-ranked Croatia and 9th ranked France.

The World Cup will be from June 30 to July 8 in Rosario and Santa Fe, Argentina.

But whatever happens to Batang Gilas in the group stage, they are already seeded in the Round of 16.

For now, the condition of the 6’2 ½ Calimag, the son of retired PBA player Ricky Calimag, is among their main concern.

Calimag suffered from a hyperextended knee injury during their quarterfinal game with Japan and will miss some of the practices.

“He will have his knee checked so that we will know the damage and when he can start practicing,” said Oliver.

According to family members, Calimag missed Tuesday’s homecoming celebrations after he had his knee checked by sports medicine specialist Dr. Raul Canlas.

According the bracket released by FIBA, listed in Group A are Australia, Puerto Rico, Turkey, and the Dominican Republic.

Included in Group B areMali, China, the United States, and Serbia.

In Group C are Canada, New Zealand, Egypt, and Montenegro.

A7

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

JRO CUP. Former President Fidel V. Ramos leads the ceremonial tee off during the JRO CUP II Invitational 2018 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, as LPGA Tour golfer and participants cheer him on. Sonny Espiritu

La Salle eyes payback

D

E LA SALLE hopes to complete another payback, this time against Adamson University, as it shoots for the first twiceto-beat slot in the Final Four today in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre.

Lady Spikers’ coach Ramil de Jesus is looking forward how his troops will perform their 2 p.m. grudge match with the Lady Falcons.

“Isa sa mga goals namin ay balikan ‘yung mga tumalo sa amin. Siguro, gusto naming matapos itong season na lahat nabawian namin kung sino man ‘yung tumalo sa amin and then, ma-correct ‘yung mga pagkakamali during that time. ‘Yung mga mistakes na ginawa nila noong Adamson game. So dapat ma-realize nila at ma-correct ang mga iyon,” said De Jesus, who is eyeing to steer De La Salle to a third straight crown.

The Lady Spikers haven’t tasted defeat since that shock 18-25, 25-15, 19-25, 22-25 loss to the Lady Falcons last Feb. 24, as the defending champions are now performing at a higher level.

Aside from assuring themselves of a top

two slot, a win by De La Salle over Adamson University will hand idle National University the remaining Final Four berth.

Far Eastern University seeks to level with Ateneo in the race for the second twiceto-beat slot in the semifinals as it plays already-eliminated University of the East in the day’s other match at 4 p.m.

At 10-2, La Salle actually has already assured of a playoff for the coveted No. 2 slot.

The Lady Eagles, who are now one-anda-half games behind the Lady Spikers, are precariously holding the second spot with a 9-4 card, just half-a-game ahead of the third-running Lady Tamaraws (8-4).

Not even by sweeping the last two matches will guarantee the Lady Falcons (5-7) of at least a playoff for the remaining semis berth. A win by NU (7-6) over FEU in the final day of elims on Sunday will bundle

Games today (Filoil Flying V Centre) 8 a.m. – Ateneo vs UE (Men) 10 a.m. – UST vs FEU (Men) 2 p.m. – DLSU vs AdU (Women) 4 p.m. – FEU vs UE (Women)

Adamson out of contention.

If it losses to Adamson University, De La Salle still has another shot of nailing the semifinals bonus against Ateneo in a rivalry game to cap the double-round eliminations on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Tamaraws are on a mission of making it to the top two after three seasons of being a lower-ranked team in the Final Four.

Ateneo’s 26-28, 23-25, 24-26 setback to University of the Philippines opened the gate for FEU to move closer in achieving its goal of clinching the twice-to-beat incentive.

“Every game, same character, same attitude. Step by step, ganoon ang mindset namin. Siyempre, mas intense kasi mas kailangan naming manalo,” said Lady Tamaraws’ mentor George Pascua after last Saturday’s 25-22, 25-27, 14-25, 25-22, 15-11 victory over the Lady Falcons.

Maharlika cage league now open to VisMin teams

Milo Rivera of Tough Gear Racing continued his dominance in the National Slalom series by clinching the best and production time of the day.

Rivera rules National Slalom opener MILO Rivera of Tough Gear Racing Team ruled the opening leg of the 2018 Race Motorsports Club Phoenix Pulse Technology National Slalom Series as he won the overall and production best time of the day with his 43.06-second clocking.

Rivera’s youngest rival, 13-year-old Inigo Anton timed 43.68 at second place.

Coming in third was Milo’s younger brother and teammate Estefano Rivera with 44.04.

Dr. Peewee Mendiola of Team Big Chill placed fourth with 44.28, while Richard Gallardo of JAF Racing Team came in fifth with 44.60.

Ronz Yuzon from Cabanatuan Auto Club (45.00) and Douglas Maningding of Speedmode (45.06) placed sixth and seventh, respectively.

Meanwhile, Anton captured the Front Wheel Best time with 43.68, followed by Richard Gallardo (44.60), Ronz Yuzon (45.00), Vegil Calayo (45.58), Ryan Ablang (46.54), Powee Base (46.66) and Ram Rafanan (46.80).

Vegil Calayo of JAF Racing Team Bulacan brought home the Novice Best time of the day with 45.58, followed by Powee Base of PMMS/ Rennsport Racing Team with 46.62. Third was Ram Rafanan of Globe Spade Baguio City with 46.80 and Rainier Tinio from Cabanatuan Auto Club with 46.88.

The 2018 RACE Motorsports Club Phoenix Pulse Technology National Slalom Series with enhanced power and acceleration is also supported by major sponsors Federal Tyres and 3K Batteries, New SR KYB Special Shock Absorbers, Robinsons Novaliches and Robinsons Malls and supported by Starbright Body Kits, Auto Transporter, media partners Stoplight TV, C! Magazine, Auto Car Magazine, Power Wheels Magazine and Medical Team AEROMED. The event was participated in by Team Big

Chill, Tough Gear Racing Team, Team Orthodox, JAC Racing Team, Speedmode Racing Team, G Sport Racing Team, Globe Spade, Autoforce Racing Team, RODLEA Racing Team, JIMBIG Racing Team, Kuhol Garage Racing Team, MLPH, Cabanatuan Auto Club, Seishin Racing Team and Mark Young Cars.

The second leg will be held on April 15 at Robinsons Starmills Pampanga, while the third leg is on May 6 at Robinsons Novaliches.

For details, contact Bing Bang Dulce at 09178119337, or like the organizers’ Facebook page Racemotorsportsclub.

Some of the official results: Novice Stock Injected: 1st Kevin Kurt Cruz 50.24; 2nd Gelo Ovilla 50.94; 3rd JP Polintan 52.66; 4th Miguel Cachuela 56.72; 5th Gabriel Lara 58.40; 6th John Balmes 58.90 Novice Stock Carburated: 1st Alfie Bince 57.62; Novice Modified A: 1st Ram Rafanan 47.06; 2nd Rod Chang 49.70; 3rd Kevin Kurt Cruz 52.64; 4th Jonathan Biglang-awa 52.72; 5th Jayvee Lazaga 59.92 Novice Modified B: 1st Vegil Calayo 4 5 . 8 0 ; 2nd Powee Base 47.56; 3rd Ram Rafanan; 48.50; 4th Jahan Kalam 54.22; 5th Karl Sena 56.36 Novice Modified C: 1st Vegil Calayo 45.58; 2nd Ram Rafanan 47.68; 3rd Powee Base 47.80 Novice 1A: 1st Vegil Calayo 45.98; 2nd Rainier Tinio 49.74; 3rd Powee Base 49.86; 4th Rod Chang 50.30 Novice 1B: 1st Vegil Calayo 46.06; 2nd Rainier Tinio 48.64; 3rd Powee Base 50.22 Pro Stock A: 1st Milo Rivera 43.80; 2nd Dr. Peewee Mendiola 44.28 Pro Stock B: 1st Milo Rivera 43.84; 2nd Dr. Peewee Mendiola 47.04 Pro Stock C: 1st Milo Rivera 43.06; 2nd Dr. Peewee Mendiola 44.30; 3rd Estefano Rivera 46.78; 4th Douglas Maningding 46.98.

FIVE expansion teams from Metro Manila have signed up to the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, increasing the roster of participating teams to 15.

This time, the fledgling regional basketball league is now ready to accept applicants from the Visayas and Mindanao and immediately And few cities have already heeded the call.

Victorias City, Bacolod in the Visayas and General Santos City and Davao Occidental in Mindanao have expressed interest in joining the MPBL, even as three cities in Cebu are also keen on taking part in the fastest growing regional basketball league in the country.

Senator Manny Pacquiao, the founder of the MPBL, announced the news, saying league officials will meet with the interested participants in Cebu right after the Anta Rajah Cup finals.

“Maraming gustong sumali at mayroon na ring nag-confirm. ‘Yung Bacolod sa Visayas, tapos tatlong cities sa Cebu, ‘yung isa LapuLapu, gusto talagang sumali. Kaya nga gagawin namin, magpupunta kami sa Cebu para kausapin sila,” said Pacquiao.

“Sa Mindanao, ‘yung Gen San Warriors (GSW), parang Golden State Warriors, gusto rin sumali pati ‘yung Davao Occidental, papasok,” added Pacquiao.

Five additional Metro Manila teams have already signed up to join the MPBL starting next conference, which starts June 12 – Pasig Rios Pirates, San Juan Knights, Laguna, Manila and Team Rizal.

According to Pacquiao, a few more squads from the metropolis and Greater Manila Area are also lined up to join.

“Marami rin dito sa Manila gustong sumali, ‘yung Makati and Bacoor, Cavite, sasali rin,” added Pacquiao.

LOTTO RESULTS

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

PAY it forward.

Philippine Army-Bicycology Shop members, who finished a strong second overall in the recent Ronda Pilipinas, donated 10 brand-new wheelchairs from their collective earnings to their fellow soldiers confined at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center in V. Luna, Quezon City.

Army-Bicycology Shop rider Sgt. Alfie Catalan, Sgt. Merculio Ramos Jr., Agt. Alvin Benosa, Sgt. Reynaldo Navarro, Cpl. Lord Anthony del Rosario, Pfc. Marvin Tapic, Pfc. Kenneth Solis, Pfc. Chris Joven, and coaches SSG Paterno Curtan and SSG Jhomilodin Lucman personally delivered the 10 wheelchairs, accompanied by Col. John Divinagracia, PA Director and Brigadier General Roy T. Devesa, Camp Commander, Phil. Army.

“Our victory is theirs, too,” said Philippine Army-Bicycology Shop team manager Eric Buhain. “And I’m very proud of this team, who agreed to share their winnings to their brothersin arms. Indeed, this is the spirit of the Araw ng Kagitingan” In a simple ceremony witnessed by fellow soldiers and officers of the AFPMC, Buhain’s team made the event commemorating the heroics of Filipino soldiers more memorable with their unselfish act and concern to their injured comrades.

Colonel John Divinagracia (far right) joins members of the Philippine ArmyBicycology Shop in donating 10 new wheelchairs at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center in V. Luna, Quezon City.

InvItatIon to BId for SERVICE CONTRACT FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF DATASETS FOR THE LAND PARCELS AND AS-BUILT SURVEY OF THE EXISTING TRANSMISSION LINES AND SUBSTATION IN LUZON, VISAYAS & MINDANAO AREA Reference No. PB180131-RM04 1.

The National Transmission Corporation, through the 2018 Corporate Budget approved by the TransCo Board intends to apply the sum of PHP 193,765,500.00, being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF DATASETS FOR THE LAND PARCELS AND AS-BUILT SURVEY OF THE EXISTING TRANSMISSION LINES AND SUBSTATION IN NORTH LUZON, SOUTH LUZON, VISAYAS & MINDANAO AREA Ref. No. PB180131-RM04. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The National Transmission Corporation, now invites bids for the SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF DATASETS FOR THE LAND PARCELS AND AS-BUILT SURVEY OF THE EXISTING TRANSMISSION LINES AND SUBSTATION IN NORTH LUZON, SOUTH LUZON, VISAYAS & MINDANAO AREA.1 Delivery of the Goods is required to be completed within One Hundred Fifty (150) calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within the last ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project.

The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

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

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

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during working days from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on April 11, 2018 up to May 8, 2018 from the address below upon payment of the prescribed nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by GPPB. Note: For lot procurement, the maximum fee for the Bidding Documents for each lot shall be based on its ABC, in accordance with the Guidelines issued by the GPPB; provided that the total fees for the Bidding Documents of all lots shall not exceed the maximum fee prescribed in the Guidelines for the sum of the ABC of all lots.

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

6.

The National Transmission Corporation will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 25, 2018 / 10:00 AM at TransCo Boardroom 2nd floor TransCo Main Building, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before May 9, 2018 / 10:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening shall be May 9, 2018 / 10:00 AM at TramsCo Boardroom 2nd floor TransCo Main Building. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

8.

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

9.

For further information, please refer to: Ms. Rossana F. Paguio BAC Secretariat Manager, General Services Division National Transmission Corporation (Transco) Power Center Complex BIR Road corner Quezon Avenue Diliman, Quezon City Telephone 902-1520 and Fax No. 921-3306 rfpaguio@transco.ph (SGD) ATTY. LEON T. TAPEL, JR. BAC Chairperson

For details on the description of the type(s) of Goods refer to the posted bidding document in the TransCo and PhilGeps websites.

1.

(MS-APR. 11, 2018)

Sports

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

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018

Westbrook lifts Thunder to playoffs LOS ANGLES—Paul George scored 27 points and Russell Westbrook bagged a triple-double as the Oklahoma City Thunder overcame an 18-point deficit to clinch a playoff berth with a 115-93 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday.

Westbrook finished with 23 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists in a dynamic performance which assured the Thunder of a postseason berth and kept them in the hunt for home-court advantage in the first round.

The Thunder improved to 47-34 with the win, leaving them level on wins in the Western Conference standings with fourth-placed Utah, who have played a game fewer.

George and Westbrook were backed by Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 11 points, while Jerami Grant contributed 17 off the bench as the Thunder overcame a determined Miami side.

Meanwhile, the Thunder were joined in the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs, who sealed their 21st consecutive appearance in the postseason with a 98-85 win over the Sacramento Kings.

The Spurs advanced after strong performances off the bench, with Manu Ginobili chipping in with 17 points and Rudy Gay 18 points.

It remains to be seen where San Antonio will start in the playoffs however, with the Spurs one of four teams locked on 47 wins heading into the final rounds of the regular season.

New Orleans were the other team to clinch on Monday, with the Pelicans trouncing the Los Angeles Clippers 113100 at the Staples Center on the back of a 28-point display from Anthony Davis.

Elsewhere Monday, Kevin Love and LeBron James combined for 54 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers kept alive their hopes of snagging third place in the Eastern Conference with a 123-109 win over the New York Knicks.

With just one regular season game remaining, the Cavaliers will likely need to defeat New York again on Wednesday if they are to have any chance of sneaking past the in-form Philadelphia 76ers for the third seeding. AFP

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (center) tries to drive past a pair of Miami Heat defenders on April 9, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. AFP

Top PH tracksters prepare for Asiad T

HE country’s top tracksters warm up for the coming Asian Games in Indonesia by competing against some of the best in the region during the 2018 Ayala Philippine Athletic Championships in Ilagan, Isabela next month.

Fil-Ams Eric Cray and Anthony Beram are expected to banner the country’s campaign in the May 31 to June 4 meet which the City of Ilagan will be hosting for the second straight year.

The 22-year-old Beram was a double gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games last year in Kuala Lumpur (200m and 400 m), while the 29-year-old Cray represented the country in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics, and like Beram, also won two gold medals during the 2015 edition of the SEA Games in Singapore (200 m and 400 me hurdles).

“Eric, we expect him to come as he normally does. And Beram will come because he’ll be training here (for the Asiad),” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) president Philip Ella Juico in the weekly Philip-

pine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Tapa King Restaurant at Farmers Plaza in Cubao on Tuesday.

Around 14 to 15 countries are seeing action in the five-day tournament led by traditional powers Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

“We sent invitations to all (45) Asian countries,” according to Juico.

Also gracing the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corporation, Tapa King, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

(Pagcor), were Patafa secretary general Renato Unso, Jan Bengzon and Jimmy Villegas, both representing corporate backer Ayala Corp., and former City of Ilagan Mayor Jay Diaz.

Diaz said the City of Ilagan will observe the same time frame it had last year as far as holding the different

events are concerned in order to spare the participants from running action under the searing heat.

“Just like what we did last year in coordination with Patafa officials, we’ll start (the event) at 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. then from 4:00 p.m. until what time matapos na sa gabi para hindi masyadong mainitan (yung mga atleta).”

The event comes two months before the Asiad in the cities of Jakarta and Palembang, where Cray, Beram, EJ Obiena, among others are the country’s top bets for a medal.

Juico disclosed in the same session the inclusion of female Fil-Am athletes in the track and field roster for the quadrennial meet, although he’d rather not name them at the moment.

“There are some athletes we’re looking at but I don’t know strategically if we should mention their names because it might get into the radar of the opposition. In other words, meron tayong hugot diyan,” he said.

“Were keeping them on the sides, we’re not exposing them here locally, but they are being exposed abroad.”

24th Fr Martin Cup starts Saturday THE 24th Fr. Martin Cup summer tournament will begin on April 14, Saturday at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San Beda Manila campus in Mendiola with 39 school teams set to join.

Organizer Edmundo Badolato said the defending champion Diliman College Blue Dragons were among the 12 squads expected to join the senior division.

Commissioner Robert de la Rosa added that there are nine squads, including current champion National University that have tentatively signed up in the women’s division.

And the San Sebastian College Staglets, which took the high school crown, will be among 18 quintets that are initially in the junior division list.

Joining the Blue Dragons are the reigning UAAP champion Ateneo Blue Eagles, NCAA titlist San Beda University Red Lions and University of Santo Tomas.

Arellano University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Letran, AMA Computer University, San Sebastian College, Mapua University, University of Perpetual Help and La Salle are also joining.

In the women’s side, UST is included with Enderun, Adamson, University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, De La Salle University, NU and Centro Escolar University.

The San Beda Red Cubs are fielding two squads, and are mentioned in the junior division with Adamson, EAC, Xavier School, PACE, and Paco Catholic Foundation.

NCAA junior titlist La Salle Greenhills is also joining Kidshots, Diliman Preparatory School, Chiang Kai Shek School College, St. Patrick School and UAAP champion NU. Peter Atencio

FINALLY A CHAMPION. Unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov (right) throws a right hand to the head of Al Iaquinta during their UFC lightweight championship bout at UFC 223 at Barclays Center on April 7, 2018 in New York City. Nurmagomedov finally won a UFC title after beating Iaquinta by unanimous decision. AFP

Apayao girls beat Baguio to win title

By Peter Atencio A SELECTION known as the Eagle Spikers of Apayao are expected to give their best shot in the secondary girls volleyball games of the 2018 Palarong Pambansa when action begins this Monday in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. The Eagle Spikers stood their ground and claimed a three-set 2519, 25-22, 25-22, win over Baguio City. They clinched their third championship in a row during the regional meet at the Bangued East Elementary School in Bangued, Abra.

This is the third time that they have beaten the the Baguio team since the 2017, and after the stopping the same squad from the Mountain Province in 2016.

“Holding a title is not an easy task. It needs dedication, passion, and wise time management between teaching loads, family responsibilities, and coaching sports,” said Ronaldo A ntoli n i n a st atement.

The Eagles Spikers will face opposition from the Southern Tagalog Region, which snatched the crown from the National Capital Region in last year’s finale.

The Apayao Eagle Spikers went on to claim awards in the recent regional meet, with eleventh grader Ricka Mae Ulidan, the team captain from Pudtol Vocational High School (PVHS), claiming the Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors.

Fevie Janine Illustrado, who is also from PVHS, took the Best Server award and Karllete Lianne Patta was declared as the Best Libero.

As part of the training, the squad attended tune-up games in Tuguegarao City, Batac City, and Laoag City in order to gain enough confidence and experience when the Games come along.

The same squad had earlier won the First Northern Invitational Volleyball League held in Claveria, Cagayan.

China blanks PH Malditas in Asian Cup THE Philippine Malditas national women’s team took their first loss in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after China shut them out, 3-0, on Monday evening.

Li Ying and Ma Jun showed the way in the first half by scoring early in the 17th and 31st minute of their game at the King Abdullah II Stadium in Jordan.

The Chinese booters took the opening goal after they got past a lapse in the Malditas defense.

On the other hand, Ma unleashed a volley near the edge of the Filipinas’ penalty area for China.

The Chinese were in control from the first half onward and were in ball possession 70 percent of the time.

Despite the loss, the Philippines still put on several defensive stops to keep the score respectable.

Ryley Bugay and Hali Long were able to make key stops during the match.

On the offensive end, Jesse Shugg and Leah Larot threatened the Chinese defenders, but were off target.

After outshooting the Philippines in attempts, 13-1, the Chinese got another goal from Li in the 57th minute.

The Malditas return to action on Friday against Thailand.

They will for fight for a place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup that is still at stake.

A win against Thailand on Friday (Philippine time) will allow them to join China.

Thailand will also need a win when they face Jordan. Peter Atencio

San Miguel Beermen hungry for more PBA crowns

By Jeric Lopez WINNING four straight Philippine Cup championships is apparently not enough as the San Miguel Beermen aim on cementing their dynasty further in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Still fresh from their historic AllFilipino title conquest, the Beermen are still on cloud nine and celebrating their unprecedented accomplishment of racking up four straight Philippine Cup titles.

But make no mistake about it. San Miguel Beer isn’t tired of winning at all.

In fact, it is already looking forward to defending its Commissioner’s Cup crown as well.

“We’re still overwhelmed with what the team accomplished,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria. “It’s the time to celebrate for us now but we’re also excited for next conference. The possibility of winning a championship will always be there.”

The already deadly and deeply-talented line-up of San Miguel will only be upgraded come the second conference as top overall pick Christian Standhardinger is finally expected to make his debut as well as new import Troy Gillenwater.

“It just so happens now that we will have an import [Gillenwater] and another one who can play like an import [Standhardinger],” added Austria with excitement.

Does that make San Miguel even more unbeatable? As per Austria, not necessarily.

“Every conference, you still have to work hard because talent is not enough.

Our attitude is. If we continue working hard and keep our focus and camaraderie, we will always have a chance at a championship,” said Austria.

San Miguel still has about a month, more or less, to celebrate its historic feat before plunging back to action in the Commissioner’s Cup. The mid-season tournament starts on April 22.

Before San Miguel, no team in league history had won four straight All-Filipino crowns.

IN BRIEF FIT payment dues hit nearly P8b—Transco STATE-RUN National Transmission Corp. wants the Energy Regulatory Commission to act on its pending feed-in tariff allowance petitions, saying the renewable energy payment backlog is now nearing P8 billion.

“I was hoping that before the suspension takes effect, they (ERC) can take action,” TransCo president Melvin Matibag said.

TransCo estimates the backlog for payment to renewable energy developers at around P7.9 billion to date.

TransCo manages the FIT-All rate that is used to pay eligible renewable energy developers under the FIT system, an incentive scheme that, among others, gives priority to connections to grid, priority purchase and transmission of, and payment for generated and fixed tariff for not less than 12 years to be determined by the ERC. The FIT guarantees all eligible renewable energy plants an entitlement to the applicable FITs for a period of 20 years.

TransCo has pending applications with the ERC for the FIT-All adjustment for 2017 and 2018.

TransCo asked ERC to increase the FITAll by another P0.1051 per kilowatthour for 2017 from the current rate of P0.1830 per kWh. Alena Mae S. Flores

BSP: Investments to increase further BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. expects the growth momentum of foreign direct investments to be sustained this year, citing a number of drivers for expansion, such as the country’s solid macroeconomic fundamentals and strong partnerships with traditional and non-traditional trading partners.

At the sidelines of an event in Makati City on Tuesday, Espenilla said it made sense to look at the Philippines as an investment destination from an investment standpoint.

“We’re certainly hopeful because there are many drivers for more FDI. Among other things, the growth momentum is strong, we are opening new relationships across borders beyond Asean and Greater Asia so we have more expectations of increased FDI.,” Espenilla said.

He said the ambitious “ Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration was expected to create private sector demand. Julito G. Rada

Business Govt rejects Aboitiz’s P148-b airport offers

By Darwin G. Amojelar

T

HE government turned down the unsolicited proposal of the Aboitiz Group to modernize four airports in the Visayas and Mindanao for P148 billion over a 35year concession period.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures said in a disclosure to the stock exchange infrastructure arm Aboitiz InfraCapital received an official response from the Department of Transportation stating that the agency adopted a policy to publicly solicit bids for the operations, maintenance, improvement and expansion of Iloilo International Airport, BacolodSilay Airport, Laguindingan Airport and New Bohol International Airport (Panglao).

AEV said given the policy, the DOTr

“cannot accept the proposal” of AIC for the provincial airports.

“While AIC believes its proposal is a very efficient solution to address the immediate need of the airports in the most expedient and comprehensive way, we understand the DOTr’s decision to take a different course,” AEV said.

AEV said AIC remained committed to supporting the Philippine government in its efforts to advance infrastructure within the country, particularly in the aviation sector.

“We look forward to receiving the final details of the upcoming tender and will continue supporting the development of the regional airports,” AEV said.

The government earlier identified the regional airports modernization as a critical infrastructure project and launched a tender for a public-private partnership for five airports under the Build-Operate-Transfer Law in 2014.

The plan was canceled in 2017.

The five regional airports include the P20.26-billion Bacolod-Silay Interna-

tional Airport, the P30.4-billion Iloilo International Airport, the P14.62-billion Laguindingan Airport, the P2.34-billion New Bohol (Panglao) Airport and the P40.57-billion Davao International Airport.

The Department of Transportation earlier pre-qualified Maya Consortium led by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Philippine Airports Consortium of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., San Miguel Holdings Corp-IIAC Airport Consortium and Filinvest-Jatco-Sojits Consortium for the five regional airports.

AIC undertakes all of the infrastructure and infrastructure-related investments of the Aboitiz Group. Aside from AIC, the Aboitiz Group’s other infrastructure units are Republic Cement and Building Materials Inc., AEV’s partnership with CRH Plc. and Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc., a joint venture between AEV and J.V. Angeles Construction Corp. that will build one of the country’s largest private bulk water supply projects.

Consumer group hits LTFRB on Uber case CONSUMER group Laban Konsyumer Inc. on Tuesday said Filipino riders deserve better public service from the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board after Uber left the Philippine market.

The abrupt migration of the transport operations of Uber Systems Inc. to Grab Services Inc. did not give consumers reasonable time to adjust and explore other ride sharing options.

Consumers lost their right of choice in booking and riding, and correspondingly, the availability of alternative services and rates, the advocacy group said.

Consumer group president Victorio Dimagiba said LTFRB should stop meddling in the review of the Uber and Grab agreement by the Philippine Competition Commission.

“The Competition Act vests in the PCC the primary power to review and decide on the deal in accordance with the law. Let the PCC complete the review of the deal. Any public statement supporting the shutdown of Uber by LTFRB could undermine the PCC review processes,” he said.

Othel V. Campos

CASHLESS PAYMENTS. Fruitas Holdings Inc., the leading group in the food cart industry in the Philippines, now accepts payments using the GCash scan-to-pay feature in its pilot stores in Metro Manila. By the end of 2018, Mynt, the mobile financial service company of Globe, is targeting to enable Fruitas Holdings Ito accept GCash payments in all its stores nationwide. Shown are (from left) Fruitas Holdings chief financial adviser Calvin Chua, Fruitas Holdings founder and chief executive Lester Yu, Globe Telecom president and chief executive Ernest Cu and Mynt president and chief executive Anthony Thomas.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018

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Gaming stocks plummet after Duterte rebuffs Boracay casinos

By Jenniffer B. Austria SHARE prices of gaming stocks plunged Tuesday, after President Rodrigo Duterte rejected plans to build casinos on the resort island of Boracay.

Leisure & Resorts World Corp. which teamed up with Macau-based Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited to build a $550-million world-class beach resort and casino in Boracay fell 10.1 percent to close at P5.35. LRWC warrants also declined 12.8 percent to P3.40.

Analysts said with the planned development facing strong opposition from various sectors, share price of LRWC would likely continue to go down unless some clarification was made regarding Duterte’s pronouncement.

Duterte’s negative comments on the proliferation of casinos in the country also hurt other gaming stocks like Bloomberry Resorts Corp. and Premium Leisure Corp.

Bloomberry dropped 3 percent on Tuesday to P13.10 while PLC declined 0.9 percent to P1.05.

“Negative sentiments on casino operations in Boracay spilled over to other gaming stocks on uncertainty that casino operations as a whole will be out under scrutiny,” Papa Securities said.

Duterte said Monday no casinos would be built in Boracay, one of the top tourist destinations in the country. Staterun Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. earlier issued a provisional license to Galaxy Entertainment and LRWC for the $550-million casino resort on the island.

Pagcor chair and chief executive Andrea Domingo said the awarding of the provisional license would enable the project proponents to jumpstart the process of securing all necessary permits and clearances prior to the construction of the planned casino.

GEG and LRWC earlier said the planned Boracay facility would not be a “mega casino” but an integrated resort development targeting Asian families.

Under the plan, the bulk of the gross floor area would be allocated for premium hotel rooms and other amenities like wellness centers, bars, lounges and fine dining restaurants.

Only 7.5 percent of the project total gross floor area would be dedicated as casino and gaming area.

DTI wants to probe 5-hectare lease of exporters group PAL swung to a net loss of P6.47b in 2017 on higher prices of jet fuel

By Othel V. Campos

THE Trade Department is set to investigate the lease contract between the agency and the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. over a five-hectare prime property in Pasay City.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said his agency would review the deal which could be putting the government at a disadvantage.

Two congressmen filed House Resolution No. 1188 calling for an investigation into the lease of the 50,642-square-meter DTI property by the exporters’ organization for only P1,000 per year for a period of 50 years, renewable by another 25 years.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone and party-list 1-Ang Edukasyon Rep. Salvador Belaro Jr. asked the House committee on good government and public accountability to investigage the lease contract.

Both solons also sought a review of the reported non-performance by

PhilExport and Manila Exposition Complex Inc. of their obligations under the contract.

Under the contract of lease signed Jan. 23, 1996, the Trade Department leased the 50,642-square-meter lot to PhilExport for just P1,000 per year for a period of 50 years, renewable by another 25 years.

The deal also allowed PhilExport to sub-lease the property to MECI based on a fixed rate or on the latter’s earnings, whichever was higher.

The contract required MECI to establish the World Trade Center complex which included world-class exhibition halls with office spaces for government agencies in the building.

The solons claimed that the government appeared to have been shortchanged because the leased property was not developed in accordance with the intent of the contract and R.A.7844 otherwise known as the Export Development Act of 1994.

The congressmen said the liberal term of lease was intended to promote export development to transform the Philippines into an exporting nation. They said that while the government held up its end, the private partners under-delivered on their commitments.

“The rental of P1,000.00 per annum for a period of 50 years is grossly disadvantageous to the government resulting in substantial loss in possible revenue considering the prime location of the property,” said Evardone.

PhilExport president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said the law allowed the export organization not just to develop the world trade center but also to sub-lease the property for the development of the world trade center and other trade related promotion activities.

He said the property was supposed to be given to PhilExport, but the process was so complicated, resulting in the leasing arrangement.

THE parent firm of Philippine Airlines said it posted a net loss last year on higher operating expenses due to costlier jet fuel.

PAL Holdings Inc. said the net loss reached P6.47 billion in 2017, a reversal of the P4.92-billion net income realized in 2016.

Consolidated revenues climbed 13.2 percent in 2017 to P129.5 billion from P114.5 billion in 2016.

“The increase in revenues was attributable mainly to higher passenger revenues brought about by the growth in volume of passengers carried and number of flights mounted,” PAL Holdings said.

PAL started flights between Clark and Seoul, Cebu and Chengdu, Kalibo and Chengdu, Kalibo and Guangzhou and Cebu and Bangkok and daily service to

Kuala Lumpur last year.

The airlines said that on the domestic network, it also introduced route sectors originating at Clark Airport in Pampanga, Cebu and Davao.

PAL said it flew 14.5 million passengers in 2017, up from 13.4 million in 2016.

Consolidated expenses jumped 26.7 percent in 2017 to P136 billion from P107.3 billion in 2016.

The main drivers for the growth are attributable to flying operations expenses, maintenance, passenger service, aircraft and traffic servicing, and reservation and sales, it said.

Flying operations expenses increased 31.7 percent to P67.3 billion last year from P51.1 billion in 2016.

Darwin G. Amojelar

BSP: National ID system needed to fight money laundering

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said Tuesday the government’s move to push for a national ID system is a very significant step to address issues on money laundering.

Espenilla said the regulator had great expectations for the national ID system.

“BSP anticipates that this will address many pain points on money laundering compliance,” Espenilla said during the national convention of the 55-member Chamber of Thrift Banks in Makati City.

“I hope it does not get any political derailment… The Philippines is the only country in Asean that does not have a national ID system yet,” Espenilla said.

He said the ID system would not

mean the government was going to create a physical ID. He said “what we are going to build is an identification system, which is platform based and digitally enabled.”

He said the ID system would contain biometrics that could be verifiable digitally.

Espenilla said the Bangko Sentral would require the financial system, including banks, to recognize the information of each individual in the ID system. He expressed hope that the national ID system would be enacted into a law soon.

The House of Representatives earlier approved its own version of the bill last year. The Senate, voting 17-2, approved on third and final reading the bill last month.

The Senate measure aims to institute a single official identification card for all Filipinos and foreign residents in the country, making it easier for people to transact business with government and private institutions.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said the national ID system would help deter criminality. Under the measure, every Filipino and foreign resident in the country would have an identification based on a PhilSys number, or PSN, a randomly generated, unique and permanent ID number.

The country already has a unified multipurpose ID issued to members of the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the Home Development Mutual Fund.

OFW ASSISTANCE. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. strengthens its collaboration with Kabalikat ng Migrateng Pilipino Inc., allowing the bank’s OFW clients a chance to receive the proper assistance and guidance to attain financial security. At the opening of the pre-departure orientation seminar extension center are (from left) RCBC first vice president and global Filipino banking segment head Alvin Antonio, vice president Harris Jacildo, first senior vice president and global transaction banking head Emmanuel Narciso, Kampi president Luther Calderon, and RCBC first vice president and product development and marketing division head Rey Peñaranda.

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Business

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market dips; GT Capital falls

T

HE stock market fell Tuesday to erase gains in early trading, with companies linked to casino operations taking a hit after President Rodrigo Duterte said he will not allow any casino to be built in world-famous Boracay Island despite the approval from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 10.98 points, or 0.1 percent, to 7,934.68 on a value turnover of P7.6 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 137 to 70, with 45 issues unchanged.

Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which operates a casino on a reclaimed part

of Manila Bay, dropped 3 percent to P13.10, while Leisure & Resorts World Corp., which is teaming up with Macau’s Galaxy Entertainment Group and Leisure to develop a casino in Boracay, slumped 10 percent to P5.35.

GT Capital Holdings Inc. of tycoon George Ty tumbled 3.5 percent to P1,100, while Bank of the Philippine Islands, the third-biggest lender in terms of assets, declined 2.9 percent to P105.

The rest of Asian markets rallied Tuesday after Chinese President Xi Jinping eased worries over a simmering US trade conflict by promising new measures to open his country’s massive economy “wider and wider.”

In a closely watched speech at the Boao Forum—dubbed the Asian Davos—he pledged a “new phase of opening up,” adding that Beijing “does not seek a trade surplus” and wants to boost imports.

After starting the day cautiously, deal-

ers pounced on the comments as a sign that a possible trade war between the world’s top two powers can be averted.

Shanghai climbed 1.7 percent and Hong Kong jumped 1.9 percent.

Tokyo added 0.5 percent, Sydney— where a number of firms are listed that rely on China trade—rose 0.8 percent, Singapore put on 0.6 percent and Seoul added 0.3 percent.

There were also healthy gains in Wellington, Taipei and Indonesia.

Markets have been roiled in recent weeks as the White House has announced a series of tariffs mostly on Chinese goods as part of his “America First” protectionist agenda, fueling fears of potentially devastating tit-for-tat measures that could hammer the global economy.

China’s massive surplus with the US is a key complaint of Trump’s who accuses the country of unfair trade practices that hurt American jobs.

His latest measures on Friday battered US stocks, though hopes the issue can be resolved saw Asia post gains on at the start of this week.

But on Tuesday Xi said he would move to liberalize automobile investment, significantly reduce tariffs on cars this year and protect intellectual property—all areas that have been high on the list of demands by Washington.

The measures have been high on Trump’s list of grievances against China.

“Xi’s speech sends a positive signal to the market since he backs globalization and the opening up of China market,” Linus Yip, a strategist at First Shanghai Securities, told Bloomberg News.

“Investors were very worried about trade disputes, while his speech calms the nerves a lot. The concern about trade disputes in near-term are still here however, since what Xi pictures is a very long-term picture.” With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59 73,390 105 2,373,110 3.1 18,000 136.7 2,701,560 1.68 163,000 35.3 191,700 16.22 37,400 19 909,600 3.49 40,000 8.71 1,200 0.64 13,000 1.56 8,000 850 100 0.56 110,000 83.5 2,140,190 1.2 1,615,000 21.6 200 55.85 40,420 230 610 110 3,020 44.35 16,800 231 317,880 91 24,590

4,329,941.50 249,897,819 55,750 369,146,394 275,320 6,766,010 605,150 17,265,290 136,150 10,452 8,320 12,460 85,000 61,400 176,419,528.50 1,934,570 4,320 2,252,643 140,180 337,266 748,485 73,481,778 2,234,158

-2,232,548.50 -63,807,551 -26,823,993 3,667,265.00 388,154 5,916,920 85,000 -37,945,511 -606,250 465,743 -138,060 -39,991,724 2,063,992.50

38.15 13.8 0.62 1.28 19.42 0.23 148 3.57 16.98 48.55 25.15 61.85 76 1.98 10.2 10.7 15 10.9 7.25 5.42 1.67 16.88 65.35 24.5 9.6 16.58 2.31 275.2 55 4.8 3.3 27 15.84 21.1 318 0.192 7.81 2.76 4.9 9.09 5.25 8 1.51 12.28 52.8 5.9 4.6 2.17 3.5 2.14 14.22 66.6 5.4 0.136 1 143 2.04 0.86

INDUSTRIAL 38.8 1,248,900 13.98 742,500 0.63 23,384,000 1.28 190,000 19.98 17,700 0.23 11,310,000 173 260 3.58 4,082,000 17.08 657,700 50.5 509,840 27.3 178,600 61.95 320 79 2,340 2.03 612,000 10.48 151,200 10.7 3,563,900 15.4 5,541,000 12.02 916,400 7.27 459,200 5.44 697,400 1.67 2,000 17.04 928,200 65.4 145,580 24.7 31,000 9.6 35,000 17 663,000 2.35 1,722,000 284 1,189,830 55 2,590 4.9 197,000 3.31 7,000 27.2 443,700 15.86 121,200 21.45 2,147,300 323.6 380,220 0.192 270,000 7.99 2,200 2.76 1,232,000 4.91 139,000 9.2 583,300 5.49 94,300 8 7,000 1.63 3,808,000 12.28 39,300 52.8 990,070 5.9 4,800 4.62 5,061,000 2.2 270,000 3.5 1,000 2.15 1,165,000 14.38 106,100 66.6 623,340 5.4 44,000 0.136 40,000 1.05 2,000 145 1,222,750 2.31 82,801,000 0.97 26,605,000

48,255,375 10,358,346 15,777,220 243,200 349,718 2,650,150 40,080 14,655,250 11,234,514 25,664,318 4,804,320 19,794 180,320 1,223,730 1,568,870 38,675,324 85,320,376 10,867,028 3,342,184 3,807,430 3,340 15,813,968 9,521,755.50 774,660 336,375 11,194,382 4,032,700 334,949,782 154,065.50 953,540 23,120 12,067,690 1,926,984 46,140,720 123,202,984 51,850 17,405 3,489,260 685,050 5,343,406 502,947 56,000 6,001,850 482,604 52,420,388.50 28,620 24,492,870 594,690 3,500 2,510,230 1,524,638 43,126,912.50 240,510 5,440 2,050 177,477,837 186,844,040 24,929,940

-1,374,570 -202,656 3,360 39,805 115,000 -4,481,850 861,406 29,820 -14,000 -1,332,206 -27,934,356 42,046,928 3,113,828 48,979 2,103,163 -1,279,638 7,858,088.50 -57,700 -2,743,324.00 390,260 -17,802,602 3,243,335 -174,328 12,406,450 14,256,566 38,400 -378,780 172,620 3,214,120 210,400 -16,000 -60,450 -9,824,675 -242,000 -666,750 -149,554 7,430,557 -11,598,181 4,079,480.00 100,770

0.3 66 13.64 0.9 6.3 0.63 0.65 916 7.14 12.02 7.4 4.4 0.197 1,100 6.88 62.35 5.3 0.65 4.78 19.5 0.7 5.13 0.043 1.12 3.06 2.54 139.1 970 0.8 1.71 605 266 0.245 0.197 0.195

HOLDING FIRMS 0.3 1,630,000 66 1,420,000 13.82 4,246,800 0.9 297,000 6.6 21,100 0.64 5,010,000 0.65 2,305,000 938.5 561,320 7.15 309,000 12.2 7,147,500 7.4 547,400 4.5 181,000 0.2 1,770,000 1,100 145,100 6.88 14,600 63.25 2,708,720 5.3 1,000 0.66 909,000 4.85 800,000 19.7 1,964,500 0.72 17,702,000 5.14 30,053,800 0.045 2,300,000 1.14 825,000 3.12 3,214,000 2.54 1,000 142.5 338,110 983 315,940 0.8 419,000 1.75 235,000 618 860 270 650 0.246 180,000 0.198 1,290,000 0.195 370,000

489,200 94,655,550 58,643,668 267,460 133,060 3,194,980 1,498,260 523,358,810 2,215,304 87,271,068 4,103,456 808,710 353,570 162,889,375 100,798 171,919,013.50 5,300 602,350 3,879,720 38,639,174 12,992,430 155,609,739 100,100 938,720 10,054,760 2,540 48,076,046 310,459,640 343,920 402,770 538,890 174,130 44,360 265,110 72,200

-117,000 -16,068,548 5,401,254 -83,730 975,000 53,747,745 244,167 -11,413,554 -88,320,215 -2,387,360.50 -786,890 361,314 51,850 -69,894,114 21,500 723,610 5,351,648 13,460,970 -52,430 68,400 18,894 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59 108.5 3.1 134 1.69 35.3 16.16 18.92 3.4 8.71 0.64 1.55 850 0.54 83.9 1.21 21.6 55.8 230 114 45 229.8 89.95

59 108.5 3.1 138.5 1.73 35.55 16.22 19.08 3.5 8.71 0.64 1.56 850 0.57 83.95 1.24 21.6 55.85 230 114 45 232 91

58.2 104.8 3.09 133.9 1.61 35.2 16.14 18.78 3.3 8.71 0.64 1.55 850 0.54 80 1.18 21.6 55.7 229 110 44.35 229.6 89.9

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

38.85 14 0.68 1.28 19.52 0.235 148 3.62 17.18 51.45 29.4 61.85 80 2 10.24 11.28 15.16 11.7 7.36 5.51 1.67 17.2 65.65 24.5 9.7 16.9 2.35 278 57.95 4.8 3.3 27.45 16.02 21.75 318 0.193 7.82 2.85 4.95 9.25 5.45 8 1.51 12.28 53.5 6 4.84 2.21 3.5 2.18 14.5 71 5.47 0.136 1 143.1 2.09 0.93

38.85 14 0.72 1.28 20.4 0.242 173 3.62 17.18 51.45 29.4 61.95 80 2.04 10.5 11.28 15.5 12.06 7.36 5.51 1.67 17.2 65.65 25.85 9.7 17 2.49 285 60 4.95 3.31 27.45 16.02 21.75 326 0.193 7.99 2.89 4.98 9.25 5.5 8 1.64 12.28 54 6 4.84 2.23 3.5 2.18 14.5 71.9 5.48 0.136 1.05 146 2.49 1.01

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 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 UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.31 67 13.9 0.93 6.3 0.64 0.65 917 7.21 12.6 7.59 4.45 0.198 1,150 6.91 63 5.3 0.67 4.93 19.74 0.76 5.28 0.043 1.14 3.21 2.54 139.1 971 0.83 1.71 650 270 0.245 0.2 0.195

0.31 68 13.96 0.93 6.6 0.65 0.66 941.5 7.28 12.62 7.59 4.5 0.2 1,153 6.91 64.15 5.3 0.68 5.1 19.74 0.77 5.28 0.045 1.17 3.21 2.54 143.3 988.5 0.85 1.75 650 270 0.255 0.216 0.196

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

6.45 0.99 15.3 0.9 41.1 3.63 4.62 6.19 6.05 6.05 0.475 1.06 0.99 0.29 32.2 0.69 0.123 1.78 1.45 1.23 4.58 0.62 0.42 0.56 4.08

6.53 0.99 15.72 0.91 41.45 3.65 4.71 6.19 6.05 6.05 0.48 1.09 0.99 0.295 32.2 0.69 0.123 1.79 1.45 1.28 4.62 0.64 0.42 0.57 4.19

6.45 0.97 15.14 0.84 40 3.61 4.58 6.02 6.05 6.05 0.46 1.06 0.98 0.28 31.75 0.68 0.123 1.74 1.37 1.15 4.5 0.59 0.41 0.55 4.08

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

19.6 1.95 3.26 33.8 0.99 16.4 0.82 6.7

19.7 1.96 3.26 34.6 1.03 17.18 0.82 6.87

19.1 1.95 3.17 33.35 0.99 14.5 0.82 6.6

19.1 1.96 3.24 33.85 1.03 15.8 0.82 6.7

1,425,100 108,000 17,000 10,723,600 1,787,000 764,000 52,000 11,669,700

27,449,446 211,630 54,450 365,834,450 1,794,670 12,020,996 42,640 78,124,067

-7,443,932 101,920 -30,961,920 -5,650 49,905,050

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CHELSEA DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD EASYCALL FAR EASTERN U 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 JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

19.7 29 1.31 0.495 0.05 12.22 13.5 0.064 94 7.79 7.5 2.24 27.8 905 1,630 6.4 315 13.02 5.17 2.5 100 13 8.25 0.12 1.47 3.32 15.2 5.01 1.14 27.7 5.22 7.82 3.47 16.9 8.04 11.5 9.7 3.09 121 6.76 1,490 1.08 0.435 52 89 7.21 2.62 1.46 0.44 4.6 0.93 10.84

19.7 29.2 1.35 0.52 0.05 12.28 13.5 0.066 94.95 7.8 7.5 2.37 28.8 905 1,631 6.51 318.8 15.72 5.2 2.5 100 13.1 8.3 0.122 1.47 3.42 15.2 5.35 1.2 27.8 5.32 7.9 3.47 18.1 8.1 11.88 9.7 3.09 121 6.76 1,490 1.08 0.435 52.1 89.35 7.28 2.63 1.47 0.44 4.94 0.94 10.86

18.02 28.75 1.27 0.49 0.047 12.22 12.96 0.062 92.55 7.54 7.25 2.2 27.2 900 1,580 6.4 303 13.02 5.05 2.5 96.6 13 8.25 0.12 1.47 3.32 14.62 4.71 1.09 26.9 5.06 7.7 3.23 16.9 7.65 11.5 9.2 3.09 120 6.5 1,438 1.05 0.425 51.3 87 7.02 2.6 1.45 0.43 4.49 0.89 10.68

SERVICES 18.06 28.9 1.34 0.5 0.048 12.28 13.1 0.063 92.9 7.68 7.3 2.37 27.4 900 1,580 6.4 310 15.72 5.16 2.5 97.2 13.1 8.3 0.12 1.47 3.42 14.62 5.35 1.11 27.55 5.23 7.9 3.38 18.1 7.95 11.5 9.49 3.09 120.9 6.5 1,442 1.05 0.43 52 87 7.27 2.6 1.46 0.435 4.86 0.92 10.78

238,700 169,900 314,000 9,210,000 41,310,000 1,700 21,420,900 29,360,000 172,110 920,900 34,400 130,000 101,400 160 67,380 1,794,300 14,610 1,700 1,550,200 22,000 1,611,950 10,000 23,000 900,000 17,000 22,000 10,000 46,776,700 4,883,000 1,194,000 485,900 166,800 1,190,000 1,800 7,334,700 5,200 22,900 1,000 7,420 533,100 83,550 1,553,000 2,130,000 594,310 875,100 247,600 1,932,000 991,000 6,140,000 19,218,000 6,396,000 842,300

4,394,580 4,900,350 414,600 4,634,850 1,970,860 20,834 280,548,168 1,857,670 16,111,905.50 7,005,521 251,235 293,200 2,785,030 144,100 106,804,960 11,544,378 4,506,474 22,674 7,952,613 55,000 157,316,203.50 130,740 190,750 108,200 24,990 74,910 146,290 235,389,343 5,570,000 32,667,445 2,506,217 1,302,491 3,978,070 31,116 57,988,856 59,838 212,645 3,090 893,578 3,510,051 120,827,495 1,649,790 917,150 30,815,247.50 76,147,357.50 1,768,305 5,028,450 1,442,840 2,658,050 93,126,160 5,858,700 9,078,842

226,344.00 -126,750 16,800 -48,985,794 6,575,453 242,459 -8,350 -144,100 -40,603,315 24,800 232,081 -48,554,363 20,400 -46,784 3,265,165 15,446,045 45,013 373,742 1,109,030 708,420 815,178 16,334 -13,443,605 -36,930 1,507,744 -27,058,044.50 305,433 1,779,780 656,520 341,950 -5,728,640.00 -33,520 -5,394,892

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

0.0028 1.83 4.6 19 1.63 1.66 1.63 0.32 8.3 2.41 0.209 0.149 0.154 0.0093 1.5 6 1.2 0.58 0.9 0.014 0.013 0.013 6.06 15.7 32.35 0.0066

0.0028 1.87 4.63 19.9 1.68 1.66 1.64 0.32 8.3 2.43 0.209 0.149 0.154 0.0093 1.5 6 1.21 0.59 0.92 0.014 0.013 0.013 6.06 17.02 32.5 0.0066

0.0027 1.76 4.6 19 1.6 1.66 1.62 0.32 8.22 2.4 0.201 0.144 0.152 0.0093 1.43 5.86 1.12 0.54 0.87 0.013 0.013 0.012 5.93 15.7 31 0.0066

MINING & OIL 0.0027 849,000,000 1.77 24,910,000 4.6 123,000 19.5 1,500 1.6 75,000 1.66 53,000 1.62 668,000 0.32 50,000 8.22 7,800 2.41 1,897,000 0.206 780,000 0.145 15,230,000 0.152 1,650,000 0.0093 3,000,000 1.43 95,000 5.86 1,409,400 1.21 78,000 0.57 1,920,000 0.87 401,000 0.014 22,700,000 0.013 5,000,000 0.012 30,800,000 5.95 1,157,200 16.2 17,728,400 31.7 3,813,400 0.0066 6,000,000

2,319,600 45,566,030 566,680 29,090 123,560 87,980 1,084,650 16,000 64,657 4,570,920 159,280 2,220,530 251,770 27,900 137,680 8,318,527 90,140 1,083,020 355,990 301,400 65,000 378,400 6,940,136 293,130,024 120,295,380 39,600

-412,730 -50,600.00 -49,800 -204,880 -2,826,982 -26,000 -11,700 -2,008,878.00 72,809,788 -63,954,430 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF F GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

28 510 510 100.1 107.9 504.5 6.3 988 1,000 102.1 980 77 78.9 75.5 75.3 78.3 76.25 75.5

28 510 510 100.3 107.9 504.5 6.35 988 1,000 107.4 980 77 79 75.5 75.3 79 76.25 76

27.7 510 510 100 107.9 504.5 6.22 988 1,000 102 980 77 78 75.5 75.05 78 76 75.25

PREFERRED 27.7 69,000 510 1,020 510 320 100 39,010 107.9 40 504.5 2,800 6.32 272,800 988 30 1,000 10 107.3 9,520 980 880 77 200 79 90,390 75.5 11,300 75.05 13,250 79 9,470 76 3,870 76 48,660

1,924,505 520,200 163,200 3,902,324 4,316 1,412,600 1,722,041 29,640 10,000 972,182 862,400 15,400 7,136,930 853,150 994,935 741,933 294,145 3,666,084

-786,505 -1,460,127 -1,302,664 73,990 -

LR WARRANT

3.3

3.47

2.9

WARRANTS 3.4 7,214,000

23,135,720

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

5.68 3.48 3.41

5.68 3.48 3.46

5.38 3.3 3.33

5.64 3.45 3.44

7,699,443 193,790 6,434,980

130,759 -309,990

FIRST METRO ETF

121.4

122.4

120

2,902,143

-229,211

7,752 71,400

7,752.00 -

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 6.49 0.98 15.5 0.85 41.25 3.62 4.71 6.18 6.05 6.05 0.47 1.09 0.99 0.28 31.95 0.68 0.123 1.76 1.38 1.18 4.5 0.63 0.41 0.56 4.14

135,500 3,359,000 18,200 3,580,000 13,894,900 295,000 699,000 32,900 900 300 9,960,000 88,000 76,000 16,000,000 199,400 795,000 630,000 3,470,000 12,905,000 22,144,000 24,469,000 57,400,000 3,030,000 1,534,000 793,000

876,643 3,290,700 280,798 3,095,590 568,654,015 1,069,310 3,259,100 202,036 5,445 1,815 4,663,150 95,890 75,130 4,589,800 6,385,175 544,090 77,490 6,147,190 18,043,210 26,794,390 111,347,830 35,433,380 1,258,300 849,120 3,295,290

-54,073 63,700 84,150 -85,471,695 167,760 126,483 0 -64,350 194,900 526,095 2,715,250 923,580 1,915,000 5,183,490 -217,180 20,750 -80,850 -512,920

USD DMPL A2 USD TECH B2

10.2 1.02

10.2 1.02

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

10,799,671

INDUSTRIAL

189,197,624

HOLDING FIRMS

89,452,492

PROPERTY

203,113,997

SERVICES

220,735,743

MINING & OIL

989,369,679

GRAND TOTAL

1,706,045,359

10.2 1.02

SME

1,390,500 57,000 1,902,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 121.7 23,890 10.2 1.02

DDS

760 70,000

VALUE 2,017.63 (down) 6.78 906,230,671.77 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,218.39 (up) 61.91 1,857,107,549.60 HOLDING FIRMS 7,997.95 (up) 10.33 1,709,611,902.90 PROPERTY 3,646.57 (up) 2.07 1,628.33 (down) 32.10 1,330,891,124.37 SERVICES MINING & OIL 11,155.20 (down) 151.95 1,335,927,564.95 PSEI 7,934.68 (down) 10.98 488,247,891.937 All Shares Index 4,817.47 (down) 11.03 7,645,256,482.91 Gainers: 70; Losers: 137; Unchanged: 45; Total: 252

Filinvest’s ‘17 profit climbed 21% to P10.3b

By Jenniffer B. Austria FILINVEST Development Corp., the listed holding company of the Gotanun Group, registered a net income of P10.3 billion in 2017, up 21 percent from the 2016 level, boosted by the strong contribution of the banking and property businesses.

FDC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange consolidated revenues climbed 15 percent in 2017 to P67.6 billion, with banking contributing 42 percent and property adding 40 percent. This was followed by contributions from power (15 percent) and sugar (3 percent).

FDC’s banking unit East West Banking Corp. registered a net income of P5.1 billion in 2017, up 48 percent from P3.4 billion booked in 2016. The increased profit was driven by growth in net revenues, which reached P25.6 billion, up 17 percent from 2016.

“We are delighted to see a 48-percent increase in net income even after the 70-percent increase in 2016,” FDC chairman Jonathan Gotianun said.

The group’s property Filinvest Land Inc. also booked a net income of P5.8 billion, up nine percent from a year ago, on the back of a record P20.3 billion in revenues.

Meanwhile the conglomerate’s power generation business under FDC Utilities Inc. delivered revenues of P9.9 billion in 2017, up 32 percent from P7.51 billion in 2016, mainly due to the full-year operation of the FDC Misamis coal plant which started commercial operation in the last quarter of 2016.

“We are happy to support Mindanao’s growth through our power plant and look forward to serving more people in 2018,” said FDC president Josephine Gotianun-Yap. FDC’s hotel business generated revenues of P2.17 billion in 2017, up 37 percent P1.58 billion a year ago, due mostly to Quest Hotel and Conference Center and Mimosa Golf, Clark which began contributing revenues in the third quarter of last year. The company also attributed the increase to higher occupancy and average room rates across all hotels.

Shakey’s hikes net income by 15% to P762m SHAKEY’S Pizza Asia Ventures Inc., the leading chained full-service restaurant, increased net income in 2017 by 15 percent to P762 million despite higher operating costs.

Shakey’s said in a disclosure to the stock exchange systemwide sales hit P8.3 billion, up 14 percent from a year ago, driven by store network expansion and a healthy five-percent same store sales growth.

“Our strong top line performance, underpinned by healthy same-store sales growth and record new store openings last year, demonstrates the strength of the Shakey’s brand even in a highly competitive environment,” Shakey’s president and chief executive Vicente Gregorio said.

“Despite higher raw material prices and the current inflationary environment, synergies realized post-acquisition of the Century Pacific Group, inventory strategies, and various operating efficiencies have supported our above average margins and allowed us to invest in capability-enhancing initiatives,” added Gregorio.

Shakey’s in 2017 opened 24 stores ahead of its earlier target of 20, bringing the total Philippine store network to 208 at the end of 2017.

The pizza chain last year also signed two area development agreement involving the construction of 10 Shakey’s stores in Kuwait and another 10 in Dubai.

The company earlier announced plans to open another 20 net new stores in the Philippines this year, which will bring the nationwide outlet count to 228 at the end of 2018.

“Aside from opening several new stores in locations outside of typical first tier cities, we are also upgrading the look and feel of existing stores to enhance our guests’ dining experience. Parallel to these activities meant to strengthen our dine-in presence, we are likewise beefing up delivery systems to support our guests’ growing need for convenience,” Gregorio said.

“While we face a tougher comparable period during the early part of this year, with Filipinos’ consumer confidence high coupled with the various initiatives we have lined up, we are looking forward to another banner year in 2018,” he said. Jenniffer B. Austria

Standard

TODAY

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018

World

Manila

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Facebook’s founder contrite ahead of grilling in Congress WASHINGTON―Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg placed the blame for privacy and security lapses at the world’s largest social network squarely on himself as he girded for appearances this week on Capitol Hill before angry lawmakers.

In prepared remarks released by a congressional panel, Zuckerberg admitted he was too idealistic and failed to grasp how the platform―used by two billion people―could be abused and manipulated.

The 33-year-old is to testify before senators on Tuesday and House lawmakers on Wednesday amid a firestorm over the hijacking of data on millions of Facebook users by the British firm Cambridge Analytica, which worked with Donald Trump’s campaign.

On Monday, Zuckerberg ditched his trademark T-shirt for a suit and tie as he made the rounds on Capitol Hill with his assistant Andrea Besmehn for private meetings with lawmakers ahead of the hearings―a key test for the Facebook founder.

WALKING IN THE RAIN. Indian Kashmiri children walk to school in the rain on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar on April 10,2018. AFP

“We didn’t take a broad enough view of our responsibility, and that was a big mistake. It was my mistake, and I’m sorry,” Zuckerberg said in his written testimony released by the House commerce committee.

“I started Facebook, I run it, and I’m responsible for what happens here.”

In his written remarks, Zuckerberg called Facebook “an idealistic and optimistic company” and said: “We focused on all the good that connecting people can bring.”

But he acknowledged that “it’s clear now that we didn’t do enough to prevent these tools from being used for harm as well. That goes for fake news, foreign interference in elections, anad hate speech, as well as developers and data privacy.”

Zuckerberg said he has called for more investments in security that will “significantly impact our profitability going forward,” adding: “I want to be clear about what our priority is: protecting our community is more important than maximizing our profit.” AFP

Trump vows action after Syria attack

W

ASHINGTON― US President Donald Trump was poised Tuesday to decide on possible military action against the Syrian regime, after vowing to respond “forcefully” to the latest alleged chemical atrocity in the country’s bloody civil war despite strong warnings from Damascus-ally Russia.

to act with or without support from the United Nations, where the Security Council was to vote as early as Tuesday on rival US and Russian proposals to probe chemical attacks in Syria.

Trump met his cabinet and then dined with top generals Monday, telling reporters “we have a lot of options militarily and we’ll be letting you know pretty soon... probably after the fact.”

Washington and Moscow set out starkly different positions at a stormy emergency session at the UN Security Council, where Russia’s ambasThe United States, backed by Brit- sador Vassily Nebenzia warned that ain and France, has said it is ready the possibility of US military action

was “very, very dangerous.”

Nebenzia rejected a US call for the world body to set up a probe to identify the perpetrators of what rescuers called a “poisonous chlorine gas attack” late Saturday in the enclave of Douma, near Damascus.

But US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the “world must see justice done.”

“History will record this as the moment when the Security Council either discharged its duty or demonstrated its utter and complete failure to protect the people of Syria,” Haley declared.

Diplomats said the United States was pushing for a vote on Tuesday

IN BRIEF Lula’s arrest leaves volatile Brazil stumbling RIO DE JANEIRO―The imprisonment of ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has given already chaotic Brazil another push down an ever more unpredictable future.

His arrest on Saturday took place against a backdrop of impassioned speeches, crying supporters, demonstrations and tear gas fired by riot police. It was not the picture of a country at ease with itself.

“The climate of polarization and radicalization... worries us all,” warned Public Security Minister Raul Jungmann.

With six months to go before a presidential election, Lula’s imprisonment for corruption has created ever deeper divisions.

He is the front runner, according to polls, yet is hated just as much as he loved, known alternately as “warrior of the Brazilian people” and simply “bandit.” Some ask whether an election without such an outsize player can be considered fair.

“Brazil is going through a democratic crisis, a crisis that reveals that the political and judicial systems are exhausted and under huge tension,” said Christophe Ventura, at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations in France.

Lula’s almost certain exit from the election has sent the other candidates scrambling.

His own Workers’ Party is in the lurch, since he is by far their most popular fig-

ure. He’ll keep on being a candidate, even from behind bars―and hoping to get out―but it’s clearly a risky strategy.

“The imprisonment of Lula symbolizes the end of an era,” said Andre Cesar at Hold consultants.

Ventura argues that Lula’s conviction for accepting a seaside apartment as a bribe from a huge construction company was not convincing enough to merit knocking the leftist out of the race.

“The country has been through some unstable and crazy times but this is unprecedented. Never in Brazil has a former president been imprisoned on such a controversial conviction,” he said.

The Supreme Court could change a law in a vote this week that would effectively win Lula’s release. If that happens it would signal “total uncertainty and volatility in Brazilian political life,” Ventura said.

Adding to the tension, the head of the army, General Eduardo Villas Boas, made a call last week that appeared to demand Lula’s imprisonment―a rare and, some say, disturbing intervention into politics by a top officer.

It comes at a time when the army is playing an ever higher profile role after President Michel Temer ordered the military to take over security in Rio de Janeiro, where police struggle to cope with violent crime. AFP

Indonesia seizes alleged slave ship after chase JAKARTA―Indonesia seized an alleged “slave ship” following a dramatic high seas chase sparked by an Interpol alert after the vessel escaped capture in China and Mozambique, authorities said Tuesday.

Interpol tipped off Indonesian authorities that the stateless STS-50, a vessel with a notorious maritime rap sheet, would be entering the Southeast Asian nation’s waters with authorities concerned the crew were being forced to work.

The boat, captured on Friday some 95 kilometers from Weh Island in Aceh province, had 20 Indonesians, two Ukrainians and eight Russians aboard, including the captain, a senior navy official said.

The crew have been detained and are now being questioned.

The Indonesian sailors said they were not paid and that their passports and other documents had been taken away as soon as they boarded the ship nearly a year ago, the navy said.

“These Indonesians had been sailing for 10 months without being paid so that’s why we suspect there was slavery happening,” Indonesian navy deputy

chief Achmad Taufiqoerrochman said.

The 850-foot-long vessel, which was flying the flag of tiny African nation Togo, has previously flown flags from a string of countries including Japan, South Korea and Mozambique, authorities said.

It was on the run after escaping detention in China and also fleeing seizure in Mozambique.

Before it was caught in Indonesia, the vessel used several other names including Sea Breeze, Andrey Dolgov, and Aida, according to the fisheries ministry.

The vessel was equipped with some 600 gill nets―banned in some waters― targeting cod species and Antarctic tooth fish. It is also suspected of involvement in “organized transnational crime”, the ministry added without elaborating.

Two years ago, Indonesian warships detained a Chinese trawler wanted by Interpol in Argentina.

Jakarta has launched a tough crackdown on illegal fishing which involves sinking foreign vessels caught fishing without a permit after impounding the boats and removing the crews. AFP

on its draft resolution setting up a Syria gas attacks inquiry, but Russia could veto the measure.

Trump slammed the “horrible attack” and vowed to respond “forcefully.”

“We’re going to make a decision tonight or very shortly thereafter,” he told reporters.

Rescuers and medics in Douma say more than 40 people died after the suspected poison gas attack in the last rebel-held pocket of the onetime opposition stronghold of Eastern Ghouta.

France warned it would retaliate against the Assad regime if evidence emerges that it was behind the attack.

“If the red line has been crossed, there will be a response,” government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said.

He added that intelligence shared

by President Emmanuel Macron and Trump “in theory confirms the use of chemical weapons.”

Access to the area, which has faced weeks of regime bombardment, is limited and AFP has not independently verified the accounts.

In April last year, Trump launched a cruise missile strike against a Syrian air base after a previous chemical weapons attack UN monitors later pinned on Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

AFP

Voluntary Partial Recall of 330-milliliter Bottles of Stella Artois April 11, 2018 – Stella Artois is announcing a voluntary partial recall of 330-milliliter bottles of Stella Artois beer, impacting less than 2% of the bottles sold in Philippines, marked with the best before dates listed below, that may contain particles of glass. The potentiallyaffected bottles were manufactured by a third-party which is one of many supplying Stella Artois with glass bottles. We made the decision to recall the 330-milliliter bottles as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of our consumers Brand Name

Size

Code(s) on Product

Stella Artois

330 ml

Best before date: 26 April 2018 Package code: Time Stamp: 0:00-4:00

Stella Artois

330 ml

Best before date: 25 April 2018 Time Stamp: 22:00-23:59

Stella Artois

330 ml

Best before date: 03 June 2018 Time Stamp: 9:00-21:00

Stella Artois

330 ml

Best before date: 15 September 2018 Time Stamp: 23:00-23:59

Stella Artois

330 ml

Best before date: 16 September 2018 Time Stamp: 0:00-18:00

Any consumers who currently have potentially-affected Stella Artois beer in Philippines within the scope of this recall are requested to contact our distributor, Booze-Online at 63917.621.0724 or +632.216.2218.

Arrangements will be made for replacement. Consumers are advised not to consume or allow others to consume the potentially-affected product.

How to read the bottle label: Consumers are requested to look for the black-colored box appearing on the lower right corner of the label. The first line appearing inside this box is the Best Before Date, which is read as day/month/year: e.g., 01/02/2019 = February 1, 2019 The second line appearing inside this box is the time stamp. It consists of four digits, and is read as hour: minute: e.g., 09:59

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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

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wednesday, april 11, 2018

Cabie extols ‘balikbayans’ as culture ambassadors PINILI, Ilocos Norte—Manila Standard night editor Honor Blanco Cabie Tuesday extolled balikbayans—returning Filipinos who are working and living abroad—for their role in uplifting the living standards of their families back home.

“There is in fact another crucial role balikbayans play aside from the financial help they provide and the boxes they send home to their families,” Cabie, award-winning journalist and poet, told his audience at the Pinili Amphitheater during the first night of the five-day town fiesta in honor of San Isidro Labrador.

Cabie, who wrote the first comprehensive historical book on the 17th town of Ilocos Norte, was welcomed by balikbayans and leaders of the Local Government Unit headed by retired Col. Samuel Pagdilao Sr. and Vice Mayor Rommel Labasan as well as former Mayor Anunciacion Pagdilao.

He told his audience who packed the amphitheater they “are the guardians of the Filipino culture abroad and played a crucial role in preserving that savoir-faire” as they hacked out a living in countries in the different continents.

Cabie noted that the balikbayans, more than their annual physical homecoming, had formed abroad various organizations to realize the vision to preserve the culture of their roots.

In BrIef Davao City lauded for women’s work DAVAO CITY—The City Government was recognized Tuesday as a Gender and Development Learning Hub from 2018 to 2020 by the Philippine Commission on Women for its programs championing gender mainstreaming.

The Philippine Commission on Women is a national agency under the Office of the President.

On Tuesday, the Local Learning Hub plaque was presented to city officials led by Mayor Sara Duterte.

Davao City has previously been awarded a certification on gender mainstreaming in the year 2015. Before the end of 2017, the awarding committee came to visit Davao to validate the city’s practice of gender mainstreaming. F. Pearl A. Gajunera

LGUs LocaL government units

Clark Development Corp. vice president for Business Development and Business Enhancement Group Evangeline Tejada (fourth from left) briefs the media during the Areromart Summit Press launch in Clark with (from left) AIAP chairman John Lee, manager Damien Damperon, Trade Secretary and BOI chairman Ramon Lopez, CIAC assistant vice president Darwin Cunanan, and CAAP Maj. Gen. Ricardo Banayat (right).

2 killed, 6 hurt as tower crane falls in Pasay TWO persons were killed while six others were seriously injured after a tower crane at a construction site suffered structural failure and collapsed in Pasay City Tuesday afternoon.

Police said the incident, which happened around 12:50 pm at the ongoing construction site of STI Building on Epifanio delos Santos Avenue Corner P. Celle Street, also damaged at least three vehicles and caused the heavy traffic and power interruption in the area.

Southern Police District director Tomas Apolinario identified one of the fatalities as Jonathan Diserdo, 32-year-old crane operator of Monocrete Construction.

Apolinario said Diserdo was rushed to the San Juan de Dios Hospital along Roxas Boulevard but attending physicians declared him dead on arrival. He added the other fatality died on the spot.

Both victims died of severe head and body injuries. Joel E. Zurbano

Clark emerging as next Asian aerotropolis hub C

LARK FREEPORT—This Freeport is now being recognized as the “next Aerotropolis in Asia,” as it is now becoming a leading aircraft repair hub in the Asia Pacific region.

During the media launch of the Aeromart Summit here Friday, Trade Secretary and Board of Investments Chairman Ramon Lopez expressed the potential of Clark as a platform to help recognize Philippine aviation-related businesses globally.

“Clark is being recognized as another next aerotropolis in Asia and it definitely will put the country in the global stage as one of the manufacturing repair and overhaul hubs of planes and aircraft in the Region,” Lopez said.

The first Aeromart Summit in the Philippines to be held from June 4 to 6 will prove the country is getting recognized as a big player in the aviation industry. This is the first time the Philippines is hosting the event, the secretary added.

The summit will also give more opportunity for the local aerospace industry to be recognized, Lopez said.

Cash gifts for 7,000 Taguig seniors

By Joel E. Zurbano

Food parks eyed for illegal vendors QUEZON City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte is batting for food parks for the city’s illegal vendors.

She said she wants to legitimize the livelihood of illegal vendors by putting up food parks that have become popular in the city and other areas in Metro Manila.

“The recurring problem of illegal vending would not be effectively dealt with if poor sidewalk vendors would not be provided with alternative sources of income, or at least a place where they can legally sell their goods,” Belmonte said.

“I want to make a program where we can ‘level up’ what they’re selling.

Those selling street foods, for example, maybe we can put up food parks for them,” she added. Rio N. Araja

Herbert vows more aid for QC students QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista on Tuesday encouraged students to pursue their dream professions and vowed to extend more help to them.

He called on the students to do what they think is best for them, most especially now that the city government is doing its best to provide more school buildings and facilities for senior high school as well as college scholarships.

“The government and I myself, too, would want that there would be no more reason why a senior high school student and the rest of our youth could not go to college amid a free college education,” Bautista said. Rio N. Araja

“This hosting of the Aeromart Clark therefore aims to launch the local aerospace industry in a wider scale and create greater awareness of our industry as recognized partner in MRO and aerostructures manufacturing in the AsiaPacific region,” the Trade chief said.

John Lee, chairman of the Aerospace Industry Association of the Philippines, said Clark is the ideal place for holding the Aeromart Summit.

“We are lucky, of course, with the help of Secretary Lopez and DTI, that finally Aeromart in Clark will happen. I believe that this is the best place as an aerotropolis. We are quite fortunate because this can introduce the Philippines into the world not only in manufacturing, but of course, as an MRO [maintenance, repair and operating supply] hub,” Lee said.

The Aeromart Summit aims to promote the Philippine capabilities in aero-

space parts manufacturing, aircraft MRO, and aviation training.

It is also expected to maximize the investment and outsourcing opportunities in the Philippines, especially in Clark for aerospace and aviation by serving as the platform to expand the reach of the local aerospace industry players through business-to-business meetings.

During the press launch, Clark Development Corp. vice president for Business Development and Business Enhancement Group Evangeline Tejada gave brief updates on the development of the former American air force base, while Clark International Airport Corp. assistant vice president Darwin Cunanan discussed updates about Clark Airport.

The summit is made possible by the BOI, in cooperation with CDC and various government agencies, industry associations and players.

Clark is currently host to various aerospace and aviation firms such as SIA Engineering Philippines, JAMCO Philippines, and Dornier Technology, among others. Romeo Dizon

GOOD CATTLE. Senator Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate committee of

Environment and Agriculture, examines cattle at the DV Boer Farm in Lian, Batangas with Marianne Villamin, co-owner of the farm and wife of DV Boer president Dexter Villamin.

Manny Palmero

ABOUT 7,000 elders in Taguig have benefitted from the city government’s cash gift program for senior citizens in the first three months of 2018.

One of them was 76-year-old Nelita Amores, who could not contain her happiness upon receiving her birthday cash gift.

The P4,000 she received was eight times the amount she used to get on her birthdays since 2008.

“I’m happy…I’m just really happy,” Amores, a resident of Barangay Ususan, said, as she claimed the amount with her grandson at the City Social Welfare Development Office.

For Nanay Nelita, who no longer works, the cash gift could be one of the best gifts she could ever receive. She said the money, after all, could be used for the purchase of her medicines, and to address her other needs.

The cash gift distribution is done all year round.

Ramonita Jordan, head of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs, said the birthday cash gift has been increased under Ordinance No. 25 series of 2017.

Under the ordinance, senior citizens are now receiving P3,000, P4,000 and P5,000 as birthday cash gifts, depending on the age bracket they fall under—the 60-to-69 bracket, the 70-to-79 bracket, and the 80-and-above bracket, respectively.

The increase is the second since the City Council, through City Ordinance No. 09, made compulsory the distribution of P500 monetary gifts to the elderly during their birthdays in 2008.

The first was in 2013, when the P500 was increased to P1,000.

Aside from the birthday cash gifts, the senior citizens are given a P1,500 social pension that is distributed quarterly.

Jinggoy shares life lessons to UDM grads FORMER senator Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito Estrada was the keynote speaker during the 20th Commencement Exercises of Universidad de Manila, where he imparted to the graduates several life lessons he realized after spending three years in detention.

The occasion at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City was marked by the theme “UDM @ 22: Patuloy na Naninindigan sa Katotohanan [Still Standing for the Truth].”

In his speech, Estrada recalled the hardships he and his family endured during the height of the pork barrel controversy and shared what kept him going during those difficult times.

“Until now, we still have our share of detractors and attacks thrown at me and my family,” the former lawmaker told the graduates.

“I admit, at first I found it so difficult, and lost faith [in being released] especially when I was detained at Camp Crame. But eventually we endured because we are on the side of the truth,” he added.

Estrada, son of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, was joined on stage by UDM president Atty. Ernesto Maceda Jr., vice president for Academic Affairs Dr. Ronald Herrera, and other university officials.

UDM, formerly the City College of Manila, is one of two city-run universities, the other being the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila or PLM. The former senator, who was granted bail by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division last September, turned introspective as he enumerated realizations about the importance of family, forgiveness and courage.

MOTORCYCLE PROBLEM. The Calabarzon Regional Police Office recently hosted

the Technical Working Group meeting against Motorcycle Riding Suspects at Camp Vicente Lim in Canlubang, Laguna. In photo are (from left) Quezon City Police District Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, Calabarzon Regional Director Chief Supt. Ma. O Aplasca, National Capital Region Police Office Chief Supt. Roberto B. Fajardo, represent NCRPO Chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, Police Regional Office 3 Director Chief Supt. Amador V. Corpus, and Manila Police District Director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel. Roy Tomandao

Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE wEdnESday, aprIL 11, 2018

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Life

fashion and beauty CHEERS TO SUMMER. Kids will have more fun under the tropical sun in pieces that are as bright and sunny as the season.

A tropical summer

K

ids are sure to have more fun under the summer sun in clothes with fresh and bright tropical prints.

How to sun-proof your look Your makeup look is only as good as the length of time it stays on your face.

And ensuring our makeup last all day long is way harder during summer.

Here’s a few tips on how you can put your best face forward without it sliding off before noon.

From left: Brow Tattoo in medium brown, Powder Matte Lipstick in Touch of Nude, Fit Me Matte + Poreless in natural beige

sM Kids rolls out its summer collection featuring colorful pieces with pineapple and palm prints, as well as tropical, foliage, and rainforest scenes.

There’s a burst of color and energy for girls, with citrus deep orange, lime green, sunflower yellow, and tomato red palettes.

Vivid hues contrast with fruit and floral prints on flowy dresses and off-the-shoulder ensembles. There are also ruffles and pompoms that exude a boho vibe.

For boys, the tropical trend is expressed in graphic shirts, bold T-shirts, and buttondown polos worn with printed shorts, distressed denims, and brightly colored solid basics. Neon colors burst with fashion energy; while tones of blue highlight summer’s calm and cool side.

The SM Kids’ summer collection is available at The SM Store.

SM Kids’ summer collection features, among others, colorful clothes with fruit and floral prints for girls and graphic shirts and printed shorts for boys.

For oily to normal skin

Achieve a natural and seamless finish for your face using Maybelline’s Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation, whose mattifying formula features micro-powders that control shine and blur pores. This foundation is perfect for those with oily to normal skin as it offers a breathable, and sweat and oil-free look. dip in the pool while keeping your brows intact with Maybelline’s Brow Tattoo Gel Tint. This gel tint ensures your brows will be smudge-proof and waterproof even on a three-day beach break with your barkada.

Finish off your fresh look by swiping Maybelline’s Powder Matte Lipstick on your lips.

From left: Lash Sensational Mascara, Creamy Matte Lipstick in Touch of Spice, Super BB Cream in fresh

For normal to dry skin

it is important that you keep your skin hydrated during a hot day. Maybelline’s super BB Cream Fresh provides a bright and healthy looking complexion that is lightweight and non-greasy. This is Maybelline’s first high coverage BB Cream with uV Protection sPF 50 to keep you protected from the sun.

Lay off the eye liner and brighten up your eyes with a few coats of Maybelline’s Lash sensational Mascara instead. No need to worry about chapped lips due to summer heat when you use Creamy Matte Lipstick which keeps your lips moisturized.

Maybelline Master Fix Setting Spray

Keep your look in place

Make sure your hard work lasts all day by setting it with Maybelline’s Master Fix setting spray. This setting spray provides a lightweight, oil-free, translucent, and long-lasting finish to your makeup look.

The good news is, you can achieve a sun-proof look this summer as Maybelline New York offers its lipsticks, liquid foundations, powders, and other products at discounted prices, up to 35 percent off, during the sun-Proof summer sale ongoing until April 30.

Go to Maybelline counters in beauty stores and department stores nationwide.

Life

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wednesday, apri apriL 11, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Swimwear for all

Refined swimwear from Tomas Maier and Uniqlo design collaboration

Princess tam.tam swimsuit with floral prints

S

ummer is here, which means it’s time to bring out the swimsuits and hit the beach.

Japanese fashion label uniqlo offers more choices as it expands its swimwear collection for 2018 spring/summer, with high-quality and affordable pieces.

Along with the popular Princesse tam.tam collaboration and uniqlo u lines released last year, this season includes items from uniqlo’s tomas maier and uniqlo design collaboration.

Feminine floral designs

The swimwear collection created in collaboration with Princesse tam.tam, a French lingerie and swimwear brand and subsidiary of Fast retailing, launches on April 13. This collaboration combines the fashion sense and sophistication of a French brand celebrating feminine beauty, together with uniqlo’s signature blend of high quality and affordability. The lineup includes floral items in botanical and polka dot patterns reminiscent of French vacations, along with chic solid colors to accentuate the wearer’s beauty. A girls swimwear line is also new for this season.

Minimal seams and bright colors

Uniqlo U’s latest swimwear line is created by Christophe Lemaire-led design team

A program that makes life more beautiful L’OréAL Philippines marks the first year of L’Oréal’s Beauty For a Better Life, which provided training for three batches of beneficiaries.

Led by the L’Oréal Foundation and implemented in 27 different countries across the world, Beauty For a Better Life is one of the foundation’s key programs to help women (and in some cases, men) in vulnerable situations regain a renewed sense of dignity and allow them better chances for livelihood opportunities.

Since its launch in April 2017, beneficiaries from the Philippines has been given an opportunity to go into jobs and even own businesses in the field of hairdressing.

For its first run, L’Oréal Philippines, along with its partner organization Philippine Business for Social Progress decided to focus on training women within one barangay to allow for growth within the community and co-empowerment among themselves.

The program was first brought to Brgy. Sto. Niño in marikina.

To date, 62 individuals have completed the program, 22 of which come from the third batch that graduated this month.

each batch of beneficiaries underwent daily classroom sessions in the Barangay Hall for three months, wherein they were taught hairdressing skills such as customer service, blowdrying, hair coloring, haircutting, rebonding, and application of hair treatments under the tutelage of L’Oréal Philippines hair professionals.

They were also exposed to a one-week internship in L’Oréal’s partner salons across metro manila to expose them to actual hairdressing jobs and potentially further their career options.

“We believe in the power of beauty to change lives, and Beauty For a Better Life expands the definition of beauty by using it as a way to provide skills and livelihood opportunities to those most in need,” said L’Oréal Philippines corporate communication manager Carmel Valencia.

She added, “A renewed sense of self-confidence, dignity, and motivation are fundamental changes that we see in our graduates and it is our hope and vision that Beauty For a Better Life empowers these women to gain a better of life through livelihood opportunities.”

L’Oréal Philippines corporate communication manager Carmel Valencia, Philippine Business for Social Progress executive director, Rey Laguda, Office of the Vice President of the Philippines spokesperson Georgina Hernandez-Yang, Barangay Sto. Niño barangay captain Rizaldy Jose, Marikina City tourism head Ponchie Santos with the Batch 3 graduates from Brgy. Sto Niño

Discounts on diamonds in the Diamond Month IN CeLeBrATION of Diamond month, my Diamond is offering up to 40 percent off on one carat diamond jewelry until April 30.

Dazzle in a pair of 18K white gold earrings each with 300 pieces of 3.29 carat diamonds and 295 pieces of 1.68 carat diamonds. make a statement with an 18K white gold ring with 55 pieces of 1.51 carat diamonds. Or put a stun-

ning punctuation to your ensemble with an 18K white gold ring with 2.23 carat diamond set on four prong crown.

My Diamond concept stores are located at Ayala Center Cebu, Gateway Mall, Greenbelt 3, Glorietta 4, Lucky Chinatown Mall, SM Megamall, Robinsons Place Manila, Festival Supermall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier, and SM Lanang Premier Davao.

This season’s lineup of uniqlo u swimwear line, created by a design team led by Christophe Lemaire at the uniqlo Paris r&D Center, is composed of pieces in colors inspired by the natural world that shine brightly in the summer sun. These include blues that evoke the sky and sea, and greens that call to mind the forest and flowers. Special production techniques were used in the design to minimize the number of seams. When combined with the highly stretchable material used in the collection, this provides a comfortable fit, even during periods of active movement. This line also launches on the 13th of April.

Refined resort wear

Careful attention has been paid to materials, functionality, and design details in order to realize designer Tomas maier’s “time off” philosophy, an escape from mental strain and the pressures of time. This simple yet high-quality and refined swimwear helps people relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Pieces from this swimwear line is scheduled to launch on may 18.

Celebrate the month of April with a stunning diamond jewelry piece

Go to www.uniqlo.com for more details on these collections.

SWISS luxury fashion label Bally brings back its best sneaker styles over the past decades.

The throwback collection includes four replications of Bally’s most successful lace-ups, from hip-hop era classics to smashing tennis shoes and sporty runners.

The Competition (1983)

The original Competition has been replicated with the same shape, lining, and sole as the original shoe from 1983. Featuring a technical shock absorbing polyurethane sole, flexible rocker heel, cushioned tongue, and an extra inner sole, the sneaker is finished with Bally’s signature side stripes and a sporty rubber-gum sole. Taking cues from its predecessor, it blends the old sneaker’s appeal with a more modern sensibility. The upper stays true to the original 1983 Competition but the angular sole and curved toe cap clearly channel 2017. The replica in white is available for both men and women alongside one additional derivation for men in suede snuff grey.

The Galaxy (1983)

Retro sneakers collection The new Vita-Parcours comes in its original, 1974 form

Keeping with Bally’s origins in elevated sportswear, the Galaxy mixes luxury suede with a breathable canvas, while a sporty treaded sole provides traction. The original runner is Bally’s lightest sneaker and perfectly complements any outfit with its universal and unisex style. The original model in garnet has been reproduced for both men and women with the original running sole. Two new versions in Kodak yellow and black are available for men, and a more feminine blush derivation for women, crafted in canvas with suede and plain leather details.

The Vita-Parcours (1974)

A more urban shoe, the Vita-Parcours retains its checkerboard motif, keeping the spirit of the iconic shoe intact. made with a modernized sneaker sole, (also used in Bally’s Heimberg collection) the sneaker comes in its original form and seasonal colors for men in ocean, curry, and snuff grey, and for women in ocean and peach.

The Super Smash (1965)

Bally’s most popular plimsoll from the ‘60s has been reissued with a vulcanized sole, making it more robust while maintaining comfort. Featuring the same Bally logo on the side, these canvas shoes are available as exact replicas for men and women, in both high and low top versions. The women’s collection includes the original canvas shoes as well as leather derivations in black and white with metallic trimmings. High top styles are also available with heart, lightning bolt, and edelweiss details on the side. The men’s collection includes original low and high top canvas styles in black as well as leather low top versions in white, black, and terra brown.

Bally has stores at Greenbelt 5, Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-La Plaza, and Newport Mall.

Bally presents a throwback collection featuring four of its best sneakers styles: the Competition, the Galaxy, the Vita-Parcours, and the Super Smash.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

STARS, METRO’S MOST STYLISH

‘Don’t Blink’ is a docuseries that airs 7:25 p.m., Monday to Wednesday on AXN.

come together for charity event

M

ETRO.STYLE and QuadX proudly launched the first online celebrity charity event for the benefit of ABSCBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. (ALFKI).

Titled “Signed, Sold, Delivered,” the new charity campaign will have the biggest stars of ABS-CBN, as well as society’s most fashionable, donating coveted pieces from their personal collections.

These items—ranging from bags to dresses, watches, accessories and the like—will be up for sale on May 15 on the Metro.style website. Now, fans and the online shopping community can own a piece of their favorite celeb’s collections and participate in a greater, inspiring initiative.

“We are very excited for this initiative as Metro.style and QuadX join forces to further help spread awareness, boost support, and raise funds for the respective programs and projects of ALFKI,” said ABS-CBN Publishing president Ernie Lopez. “All proceeds of the charity event will go to ALFKI’s Operation Sagip, Bantay Bata and Bantay Kalikasan.”

Sharing the same enthusiasm, ABSCBN Lifestyle Ecosystem head Paolo Pineda added, “Metro.style places itself at the forefront of innovation by merging lifestyle content, retail shopping, and philanthropy. As we have always strived for, we aim to elevate the online experience—whether that be through the articles that we create, the videos that we produce, and the campaigns that we initiate.”

Bagani actor Matteo Guidicelli, who was present during the launch, also shared his excitement about the project and pledged one of his bikes as donation. He said, “I’m very ex-

Simply Red...

From C4

‘Bagani’ star Matteo Guidicelli pledged one of his bikes as donation.

cited to be part of this. This is not the usual celebrity bazaar. This is online and makes everything so much easier.

Each preloved item of ours has a story and will have a story that comes with it.”

To take part in “Signed, Sold, Delivered,” fans and shoppers can check out the gallery of items for sale on Metro. style. New items from celebrities will be posted weekly so be sure to check out the site regularly.

To purchase the item, simply click on the photo and complete the details for your transaction on the CheckMeOut platform. Once CheckMeOut confirms your payment and delivery address, you can expect your item to be delivered

within 3 to 4 working days.

“We promise to make this charity event a success by ensuring the smooth payment and delivery of items, from the celebrity’s homes to your doorstep.

We strive to deliver better experiences, changing the way people buy and sell online, as well as come together for a good cause,” said QuadX CEO Dino Araneta.

For more information and the complete mechanics, visit Metro.style. Items for sale will be posted on the site and the official shopping event will be held on May 15 (Tuesday). Items will be considered sold to those who complete payments through QuadX’s CheckMeOut portal.

Delightful summer at the Shang BRACE yourself for a scorching summer heat wave with Shangri-La Plaza’s lineup of sizzling events this April. From live musical acts to travel fairs and bazaars, the metro’s premier lifestyle destination is the hottest place to visit this season.

From April 6 to 8, mallgoers visited the blazing Spectrum Fair at the Grand Atrium and the East Atrium for all things hip from a specially curated roster of merchants.

Planning a trip this summer? Then don’t miss the ShangriLa Hotels and Resorts Voucher Sale in the East Wing and the Cathay Pacific Voucher Sale at the Grand Atrium from April 20 to 22 and get the best deals for a memorable summer adventure. To complete trip preparations, make sure to go to the Rustan’s Travel Fair from April 27 to 29 at the Grand Atrium, for the finest travel essentials like luggage, apparel, and beauty must-haves.

Then, enjoy free musical performances for a perfectly sound-tracked summer and enjoy the greatest hits of the different decades while shopping and dining. Reminisce with Shang’s Throwback Thursdays featuring the music of Air Supply, Earth Wind and Fire, the Beatles and Journey.

Get an extra dose of nostalgia as one of the country’s most popular bands, True Faith, takes the stage at the East Atrium on April 14 at 7 p.m., to perform their original chart-toppers.

On April 28, catch multi-awarded band Up Dharma

Down (UDD) as it perform its greatest hits 7:00 p.m. at the East Atrium.

For inquiries, call 370-2597/98 or visit www.facebook. com/shangrilaplazaofficial. Follow the Shang on Instagram: @shangrilaplazaofficial.

Up Dharma Down will perform its greatest hits at Shangri-La Plaza’s East Atrium on April 28.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, April 11, 2018

ACROSS 1 Period of time 6 Dips in liquid 10 Decides 14 Socrates’ hangout 15 Corker 16 Operator’s number 17 Court case 18 Nefertiti’s god 19 Environs 20 Mollusk (2 wds.)

22 Smell really bad 23 Cook in an oven 24 Reaction to a mouse 26 Nags 30 Where baby rides (2 wds.)

34 Books inspection 35 Octopi have eight 36 Bronze or Iron 37 Jockey’s brake 38 VIP wheels 40 Slippery — — eel 41 Conscious being 42 Do housework 43 Thin pancake 44 Most promising

46 Circular 48 After expenses 49 Yellow jacket 50 Slumps 53 Affirmed again 59 Entice 60 Bluesman — Redding 61 Turnpike 62 Dickerson of the NFL 63 A law — itself 64 Body joint 65 Have a yen for 66 Get smart with 67 Koontz and Martin DOWN 1 School subject 2 Monster 3 Roulette color 4 Cable car 5 Fish buy 6 Informal attire 7 Shocking 8 Earnest request 9 Light rays 10 Arkansas mountains 11 Paris papa 12 Bird abode 13 Steep 21 — kwon do 25 Sounds of hesitation 26 Cook’s gadget 27 “Hasta —!”

28 Farewell 29 Martini base 30 — -Magnon man 31 Three-legged frame 32 Dumbfounded 33 Doctrine 35 Oz. or tsp.

38 Glowing 39 Hobby ender 40 Pound sound 42 “Gidget” actress 43 Gamboled 45 Bug

46 Rodeo gear 47 Winding curve 49 Sticks around 50 Knocked off 51 Distinctive air 52 Mischievous look 54 Sight from Messina 55 Audition hope 56 Helicon 57 Bond’s alma mater 58 Morning moistures

This April on AXN, magic hits the streets while thrilling adventures continue to unfold. Explore the world of underground street magicians in the magic show Don’t Blink; and America’s favorite hero embarks on her most dangerous mission in the new season of the drama thriller Quantico.

Don’t Blink takes viewers inside the world of underground street magicians as they mesmerize onlookers, including stars from favorite films and television shows.

This half-hour docuseries features some of the greatest masters of magic in the world - experts who have perfected the nuanced art of sleight of hand and understand what it takes to wow their fans. For the first time, these renowned magicians will stun and amaze without the veil of secrecy, uncut and unfiltered.

The world of secrets and spies continues in season three, as Alex Parrish (Priyanka Chopra) is forced to leave behind a peaceful and anonymous life somewhere in Italy to join Ryan (Jake McLaughlin) in rescuing Shelby (Johanna Braddy) from a notorious international arms dealer known only as The Widow, who is holding her hostage.

To help them in their cause, they recruit their former colleagues in the CIA - Owen (Blair Underwood) and Harry (Russell Tovey) to rescue their friend and defeat their common enemy. Owen even brings in former FBI agent Jocelyn Turner (Marlee Matlin), who has her Faced with their most daunting challenge yet, Alex and her newly-formed elite black-ops task force work together as a team to uncover another conspiracy, while a whole new future lies ahead of them.

Quantico Season 3 premieres on April 27, and airs every Friday at 9:45 p.m., first and exclusively on AXN. AXN is available on Cablelink Channel 38, Cignal Channel 121, Destiny Cable Channel 49, G Sat Channel 51, and SKYCable Channel 49. AXN HD is available on SKYCable Channel 247. *** If you are heading down south with family and friends for a fun-filled quality time together, then consider visiting Enchanted Kingdom in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Home to the famous Anchor’s Away, Flying Fiesta, Rio Grande Rapids, and Wheel of Fate, the theme park’s newest attraction, Agila: The EKsperience, offers a “lifelike flying sensation” that will surely keep guests in admiration with its 6-minute presentation of the Philippines’ beautiful tourist destinations.

Moreover, with Enchanted Kingdom’s investment on the latest technology, guests can experience soaring above the wonders of nature through its 544-square meter screen which is known to be the largest in Southeast Asia today.

Agila: The EKsperience takes entertainment to greater heights with its multi-sensory feature that sets it apart from any other theme parks. In its venture on taking a step further, Enchanted Kingdom envisions its guests to experience flying like an eagle.

Like one, guests can feel the tropical breeze amidst the mountain tops and can also swing against the bodies of water. Guests will be surprised to see that the Philippines has so much beauty and the thrill of flying above and beyond such stunning views is definitely a first of its kind.

Not only does Enchanted Kingdom satisfy our sight through Agila: The EKsperience, but it also aims to inculcate the value of taking responsibility over the local tourism industry. It is a creative channel in causing awareness on how Filipinos

should nurture and protect the tourist destinations of the country. As such, Agila: The EKsperience is a representation of the Philippines’ honor and pride, and in return, Filipinos must partake in taking action in sustaining the beauty of our country’s treasures.

Plan your trips today and experience the best interactive adventure with Enchanted Kingdom’s Ride-All-You-Can with Agila: The EKsperience available at TravelBook. ph! Discounted rates await so hurry and book now. *** SKY and Knowledge Channel continue their advocacy to help uplift the lives of public school children around the country through a partnership with Nestlé for “NutriTALK,” a two-part series of talks that aims to educate parents and teachers on proper nutrition.

Close to 100 parents and teachers from SKY partner schools attended a talk on proper nutrition conducted by a Registered nutritionist dietician affiliated with Nestlé on March 20 at Paltok Elementary School in Quezon City, and on March 23 at Estanislao Villanueva Elementary School in Imus, Cavite.

The participants also attended a disaster preparedness seminar led by the SKY Emergency Response Team (ERT) in line with Fire Prevention Month. They were informed of the latest fire prevention measures together with preparedness tips during natural calamities and other personal medical emergencies.

Nestlé, through various programs, conducts nutrition education sessions to millions of Filipinos across the Philippines in line with Nestlé’s purpose to enhance the quality of life and contribute to a healthier future. According to Misha Rabat, Corporate Affairs executive at Nestlé, the nutrition education sessions aim to advocate good health by educating more people about proper nutrition.

“Good nutrition cannot happen overnight. It is a daily decision we have to make.

We cannot make these decisions though if we do not know anything about nutrition.

At Nestlé, we believe that the start to being healthy is knowing how to live a healthy life,” said Rabat.

SKY continues to support Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) in its mission to uplift the lives of public school children by providing their stakeholders with rich learning and informative content.

“By engaging parents and teachers through these talks on proper nutrition, we hope to help improve students’ overall development,” said Antonio Ventosa, President and COO of SKY. In 2017, SKY and KCFI teamed up formally to give students all over the country access to Knowledge Channel’s multimedia educational materials created with the Department of Education. Over the years, SKY has provided more than 1,000 schools with access to Knowledge Channel and its learning materials.

Following its service donations in 2017, its employees reinforced the efforts through engaging its employees for a book drive that benefited its partner schools. The project “BOOkas Palad” enabled students from the participating schools get their own copies of Philippine literature books as seen on Knowledge Channel.

SKY Cable Corporation, a subsidiary of ABS-CBN, is a leading cable and broadband technology provider in the Philippines.

It introduced cable television to Filipinos in 1990, and has been a frontrunner in technology and cable TV content by being the first to design a highly customized viewing experience among subscribers, and offering the most number of HD channels.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018

‘Divide’ unites thousands of

ED SHEERAN FANS MANILA! The 27-year-old pop star posted a photo on Instagram showing his Manila tour’s massive crowd.

Nathalie Hart sizzles as MYX April celebrity VJ THINGS are about to get sweeter and spicier in the country’s number one music channel with Nathalie Hart joining in the summer fun as MYX Celebrity VJ this April.

The Sin Island star takes on a brand new role as she ushers in the hottest tunes from the local and international scene for all music lovers. Nathalie will also entertain through various MYX shows sharing pieces of love advice and witty insights.

Pop-rock superstar Yeng Constantino leads awesome lives performances in the music channel as “MYX Headliner.” After her four-year hiatus from recording, the singer-songwriter is on a roll with the recent release of her muchawaited “Synesthesia” album under Star Music.

Young singer John Roa also showcases his finesse as a solo artist under the “MYX Spotlight.” The ex-“Tawag Ng Tanghalan” contender now rises on his own after his projects under the Filipino hip hop collective Ex Battalion.

Meanwhile, MYX, in partnership with Cinema One, will bring great sounds to La Union on April 14 with “Music and Movies Under the Stars” featuring the film “Love You to the Stars and Back,” and live performances from acoustic duo Leanne and Naara and indie-alternative rock band Autotelic.

MYX’s very own VJs Robi Domingo, Turs Daza, Sharlene San Pedro, Ai Dela Cruz, Sunny Kim, and Iñigo Pascual, along with John Lapus, will also be in attendance as they host the event happening at Kahuna Beach Resort.

Catch Celebrity MYX VJ Nathalie on “Pop MYX” until April 14, “Mellow MYX” on April 15 to 21, and “My MYX” on April 22 to 28.

MYX is on SKYcable channel 23 and SKYdirect channel 37. For updates and more information, log on to www. myxph.com, like @MYX.Philippines on Facebook, and follow MYX on Instagram (@myxph) and Twitter (@MYXPhilippines).

‘Sin Island’ star Nathalie Hart is this month MYX celebrity VJ.

By Nickie Wang

A

FTER playing three nights at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, which has a capacity of 40,000, in Dunedin, New Zealand, British pop star Ed Sheeran finally returned to Manila on Sunday to stage a one-night concert in support of his third studio album, ÷ (Divide).

The “Thinking Out Loud” singer was supposed to return to Manila for his second concert last November, but it was pushed back to April this year after he was injured in a cycling accident.

Wearing black shirt, dark blue jeans and black sneakers, the 27-year-old artist came on stage at 9:00 p.m. with “Castle On the Hill” to a deafening roar from the 25,000 fans who flocked to the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds.

Although he started the show an hour late, Sheeran was a crowd-pleaser, he knew exactly how to draw loud cheers and applauses from his fans who waited five months just to see him again live.

“Philippines is a country which is so passionate about music.

There’s nowhere else in the world that has this sort of pandemonium and I love it. It really makes me feel special,” he told the crowd making the concert intimate amid the massive size of the audience.

“I have just found out that my album went 8X Platinum here in the Philippines. In my hometown, it also went 8X Platinum.

That’s an equal amount of love you have for me,” he added.

Armed with a small-scale acoustic guitar and looping effects pedal, and standing alone on a stage brightened by eclectic visuals on giant LED walls, Sheeran strummed furiously and sang vigorously as if his world tour has only just begun. Before and after every song, he would thank the crowd and give them a short background of the music he composed.

“My favorite experience in attending a concert is leaving without my voice because I sing too much,” he told the audience complimenting them for their active participation singing along with him most of the time.

Similarly, he praised the crowd by saying, “Thank you so much. You sound wonderful,” before delighting them with the chart-topping “Perfect.”

Sheeran was vocally consistent and reliable. He’s so impressive that’s why you cannot blame some people who accused him of lip-syncing and using backing tracks in his previous shows.

Every song played in the Manila show was loud and crisp given that the Concert Grounds is an open-air venue. The

Sarah G’s ‘This 15 Me’ concert will have (top to bottom) James Reid, Daniel Padilla, Billy Crawford and Xian Lim as special guests.

Heartthrobs in Sarah G. concert British singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran charmed his fans on Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. (Photo credit: Ovation Productions)

100-minute set finished on “Sing,” followed by an encore of “Shape of You” and “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You.” Sheeran began his tour in March 2017 in Turin, Italy. The Manila leg presented by Smart Music Live was the 132nd date on his world tour, which is set to culminate in Atlanta in November later this year.

The show on Sunday was sold out and if he had a second show the following day, which was a holiday, no doubt it would have been another successful concert with fans uniting for a few specific reasons: to see Sheeran who is currently one of the biggest mainstream pop stars on the planet; and sing along with his charting hit songs.

KidZania celebrates with lucky one millionth visitor KIDZANIA Manila embraced the summer season with a bang as it recently welcomed its one millionth visitor Carlo “Thirdy” Santos, and surprised him with amazing prizes to celebrate the play city’s latest milestone.

Lucky Thirdy received round trip tickets to Singapore for four people, an overnight staycation package from Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, a P5,000-pesos BPI Jumpstart account, a 1,000-peso Kidzania merchandise gift card, and unlimited paZZ to KidZania Manila (valid for 1 adult and 1 kid) for one year.

The play city also welcomed Thirdy and his family with an exciting celebration, immediately after hitting one million at the counter by its entrance.

KidZania Manila’s CEO and Governor Cookie Salvador-Bartolome shared that the merriment extends not only to Thirdy but to everyone who has helped the play city since its launch.

“We’re happy to have reached a great milestone in creating one-of-akind experiences to all our visitors in KidZania Manila. This wouldn’t be possible if not for everyone who has made this dream of ours a reality - our industry partners, Zupervisors, staff, and communities who have continuously supported our vision to build a

better world for the Filipino children,” she said.

Opened in August 2015, KidZania Manila is the 20th metropolis in the KidZania Nation around the globe.

The educational family entertainment facility for kids ages 4 to 17 years old is a replica of a real city scaled down

to kids’ size—with its own history, culture, language, and even currency.

For more information on KidZania Manila and the play city’s various offerings this summer, visit manila.kidzania.com or follow the play city’s social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) @kidzaniamanila.

Young kid Thirdy Santos (center) is KidZania Manila’s lucky one millionth visitor.

ISAH V. RED

FOR the first time on the concert stage, four of the country’s leading heartthrobs will be performing together.

This is a feat not likely to be repeated.

And they are Billy Crawford, Xian Lim, Daniel Padilla and James Reid.

All acclaimed singers, actors and box-office stars, these heartthrobs will join pop star Sarah Geronimo in several numbers as she celebrates her 15 years in show business with the arena show This 15 Me. This is Sarah’s first in five years and, already, being touted as one of the major entertainment events of the year.

The show is directed by Paul Basinillo with Teacher Georcelle as dance director and Louie Ocampo as musical director.

Produced by Viva Live, the concert and events subsidiary of Viva Communications Inc., This 15 Me will be at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, April 14.

It is a rare show that will showcase Sarah’s myriad of talents and her accomplishments as a singer, actress and the country’s foremost concert draw in the last 15 years.

Sarah was discovered by Viva when she won the Star for a Night singing contest in 2003.

At present, she is busy filming the musical comedy Miss Granny, her follow-up to last year’s I Finally Found Someone. Directed by Joyce Bernal, the motion picture also stars James Reid and Xian Lim. She is also finishing work on her new album, her first after The Great Unknown of three years ago. Her latest single titled “Sandata” is now available on-line.

Tickets to This 15 Me at: VIP P4770; Patron, P3710; Lower Box Premium, P2968; Lower Box Regular, P2120; Upper Box, P1272; and General Admission, P424 are available at TicketNet online or call 911-5555 or Viva Live 687-7236.