Manila Standard - 2018 June 12 - Tuesday

US MAKES NOKOR PRE-SUMMIT OFFER SINGAPORE—The US has offered North KoThe talks were advancing faster than expectrea “unique” security guarantees to try to per- ed but were still ongoing with little more than suade it to give up its nuclear arsenal, Secretary 12 hours to go before Kim Jong Un sits down of State Mike Pompeo said Monday ahead of with Donald Trump, Pompeo told reporters.

Tuesday’s crucial summit in Singapore.

The meeting, long sought by Pyongyang,

PIONEERING DISH. This photograph, taken on June 6, 2018, shows a man taking a photograph of a poster offering a ‘TrumpKim Chi’ nasi lemak, a popular local dish, outside a restaurant in Singapore, ahead of the June 12 summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. AFP

will be the first ever between a serving US president and a North Korean leader, and will focus on the nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles the North has spent decades developing.

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Nadal takes 17th major wins SPORTS A8

VOL. XXXII • NO. 117 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

PH deals China rare rebuke Demands stop to unacceptable acts vs fishermen

By Vito Barcelo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

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HE Philippines on Monday demanded that China stop confiscating the catch of Filipino fishermen in the disputed South China Sea, calling the practice “unacceptable.”

The remarks by President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman were a rare public rebuke from Manila, which has taken a non-confrontational approach with Beijing over the resource-rich waterway.

China controls several reefs in the sea including Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing seized from Manila in 2012 and which is just 230 kilometers from Luzon.

China claims almost the entire resourcerich sea, through which $5 trillion in Next page

LOUD AND CLEAR. Filipino fisherfolk and members of the militant Akbayan gather in front of the Chinese Embassy in Makati City under a cloudy sky on the eve of Philippine Independence Day to protest the recent incidents involving Chinese and local fishermen in Scarborough Shoal. Norman Cruz

Golez, ex-NSA, passes away ROGELIO “Roilo” Golez, a former Navy captain, congressman and national security adviser who became an outspoken authority on the West Philippine Sea, died Monday of a heart attack.

He was 71.

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Another Ecija priest shot dead, 3rd in 6 months

By Ferdie G. Domingo ZARAGOZA , Nueva Ecija—A parish priest here was shot dead Sunday afternoon before celebrating mass inside a chapel in barangay Mayamot here, police reported.

Senior Superintendent Eliseo Tanding, Nueva Ecija police director identified the victim as Fr. Richmond Nilo of Diocese of Cabanatuan .

He suffered multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies that caused his instant death.

Investigation disclosed that the shooting took place at 5:00 pm yesterday, while he was officiating mass in the chapel of Barangay Mayamot here when the suspects shoot.

The suspect fled after the shooting to Next page unknown direction.

Morales: Backlog of PDAF cases ‘overpowering’

By Rio N. Araja

Airline heiress under scrutiny SEOUL—The matriarch of the troubled Korean Air dynasty was grilled Monday over allegations she used company resources to illegally hire foreign housekeepers, as a probe into the scandalhit family widened.

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OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio-Morales said she would be unable to investigate and file charges against those involved in the third batch of pork barrel scam suspects before she retires in July because of her heavy case load.

“Unfortunately, given the volume of cases that the office is handling, I am afraid we may not be able to finish all PDAF cases,” she said, referring to allegations of the misuse of pork barrel, official known as Priority Development Assistance Fund.

Morales said there are over 6,000 docketed cases as of Dec. 31 last year, and said the heavy workload was “overpowering.”

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BUDGET Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Monday blamed higher prices of goods on the “incompetence” of the National Food Authority.

At the Samahang Plaridel forum at the Manila Hotel, Diokno said higher inflation could not be completely blamed on the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, but on higher world oil prices, over which the government has no control, and the NFA, which declared a rice shortage.

“The price of rice went up, not because of TRAIN, but due to the incompetence of the people at the NFA,” Diokno said in Filipino.

In April, the NFA said its rice buffer stock had been depleted and called for imports.

But the NFA did not heed the advice of economic managers to let Next page

Police warning: 1000 rogue cops armed, dangerous DRESS REHEARSAL. Members of the Philippine Marines hoist the tricolors during the Independence Day dry run at the Luneta Park on Monday. (Story on A2) Norman Cruz

15 BIFF men killed; bomb expert arrested PIKIT, Cotabato―Composite government troops and the extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters clashed on Sunday, leading to the capture of a bomb expert and the killing of 15 suspected terrorists in South Liguasan

Diokno: NFA incompetence sent prices up

Marsh, the military said Monday.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Sixth Army Infantry Division in Maguindanao, said the military accounted for the 15 terrorists killed, eight wounded and the arrest of a bomb

expert and his wife after a pre-dawn raid on the terrorists’ lair.

Sobejana said the operation backed by a satellite-guided air strike resulted in the destruction of a workshop producing Next page

ABOUT 1,000 policemen are deemed “armed and dangerous” as the Philippine National Police have them under surveillance for suspected illegal activities like protecting crime rings or engaging in extortion.

Meanwhile, the PNP wants to publish names of its new recruits to allow the public to report those with pending criminal cases who still want to join the force, Director General Oscar Albayalde said Monday.

The PNP’s Counter-Intelligence Task Force said it received complains through text messages of supposed “rogue” cops, who Albayalde said he would give a chance to surrender peacefully if they are indeed being arrested.

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News

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TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PH gains to mark Freedom Day

By Vito Barcelo

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday highlighted his continuing campaign against illegal drugs and his promise to get rid of corruption in his message to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Philippine independence.

“The patriotic fervor shown by our forefathers, we have freed ourselves from colonial subjugation and proved to the world that we stand united as

Lawyers’ group backs Sereno cause

By Rey E. Requejo THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Monday urged the Supreme Court to reverse its decision last month ousting Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno from her post.

In a motion for reconsideration the IBP, the mandatory organization of lawyers, filed a motion seeking a reversal of the high court’s ruling even if it is not a party to the case.

The high court did not grant the IBP’s earlier petition for intervention on the quo warranto case against Sereno.

The group submitted its motion even as Sereno on Monday described the Philippines as a country marked by the “worst kind of misogyny in public conversations.”

In a seeming reference to President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been criticized for several “misogynistic” acts and statements, Sereno also said a public official’s seemingly pro-women acts do not excuse all other public behavior.

“It used to be that the previous dispensation and the previous atmosphere was we lauded strong women, we celebrated their successes,” Sereno said at an event at the University of the Philippines Integrated School.

“But now we have seen the worst kind of misogyny in public conversations.”

The IBP backed Sereno’s argument that the matter of removing a chief justice was a political question that should be left to Congress through impeachment proceedings.

The group said the high court ruling should be reconsidered because it was tainted with “political considerations and personal biases.”

Diokno:...

From A1

private companies import rice, which would have cut prices by about P7 a kilo, Diokno said.

“They didn’t listen to us. The wrong announcement also triggered a panic in the market,” Diokno said.

Diokno said prices should normalize by the second half as fuel and rice prices have already begun to drop.

Despite the rise in inflation from 4.5 percent in April to 4.6 percent in May, Diokno said month-on-month rates have been going down.

In the face of calls to suspend TRAIN, Diokno said tax reform should not be suspended simply because of inflation.

The Department of Trade and Industry, however, said TRAIN has also raised the prices of canned goods.

Based on the latest suggested retail price issued by the department on June 8, the prices of canned products such as corned beef, meat loaf and sardines marked an increase of 55 centavos to 90 centavos.

Morales...

From A1

The next Ombudsman must immediately act on the pending cases and prioritize those involving the PDAF, the Disbursement Acceleration Program and the P900-million Malampaya fund scams.

She maintained there was no selective justice when the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict former opposition senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada and charge them for their involvement in the P10-billion PDAF scam allegedly orchestrated by businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles.

“Why were these cases prioritized? First, they are high-profile cases. Second and more importantly, you’d recall that Napoles executed an affidavit naming them, detailing the circumstances that gave rise to these cases,” she said.

“It was easier for us to pass upon these cases because there was this confession of Napoles and of course, independently of that, we have the testimony of Benhur Luy and we have documentary evidence sourced from Luy and sourced elsewhere.”

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Carpio also admitted she was hurt by President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades.

She angered the President when she said his war on drugs was “goading people to kill.”

She also apologized to Duterte if he thought he was the one whom she was referring to when she recently spoke before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and said that “great countries do not need strong men but strong institutions.”

the pioneer of republican democracy in Asia,” Duterte said in a statement.

In other developments: • The Labor department on Monday said the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan job and business fairs across the country will push through today, Independence Day, despite the rainy weather.

“They will push through unless a strong typhoon will come and flooding will set in,” Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras said.

He said they were hoping for fine weather during the occasion.

“We’re praying that the rain won’t come because the purpose of this job fair is to help our countrymen find jobs,” he said.

• In time with the commemoration of Independence Day, the Children for Peace Alliance, Unity of Child Rights Advocates Against Inhumane Treatment and Neglect of Children, Save Our Schools Network and various children-focused organizations will gather in a forum, “Filipino Children Amid the Storm: A Unity Gathering of Child Rights Advocates for Justice and Peace,” to discuss the current state of children under the Duterte administration’s policies, including his deadly allout war against illegal drugs.

The parents of slain lumad student Obello Bay-ao will also share their situation particularly in Mindanao.

At the end of the forum, child rights

advocates will sign a manifesto of unity to signify their call for justice and condemn the Duterte administration over the spate of killings and violence affecting children.

In joining the country in celebrating its independence, Duterte said “may the solidarity exhibited by ancestors fuel our desire to spur the meaningful and lasting change in our communities as we collectively battle the social ills of corruption, illegal drugs and criminality that impeded the nations progress.”

Duterte said Filipinos should value the hardship suffered by our heroes and be inspired by their sacrifices to defend our democratic ideals now and in the years to come. With PNA

PH...

cipline its “erring” personnel.

He said President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jingping had agreed when the two leaders met that Filipino fishermen can fish in the disputed region.

“Without the President ordering [it], [Foreign] Secretary Alan Cayetano on his own has relayed the information to Ambassador Zhao, and this was divulged publicly,” Roque said., Roque said he was present when Cayetano informed Zhao of the incident in an event that marked the 43rd anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral ties between the Philippines and China.

“Zhao assured the Philippine government that it will investigate the alleged confiscation by the Chinese Coast Guard of the fish caught by small Filipino [fishermen],” Roque said.

“The Philippine government will be relying on the word of Chinese President Xi that the Chinese government will not harass Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.

Scarborough Shoal is located 124 nautical miles from Zambales, and falls within the 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economical Zone of the Philippines.

This means that while other countries have freedom of navigation, only the Philippines has sovereign rights over the maritime resources in Scarborough Shoal.

The international Permanent Court of Arbitration’s 2016 ruling nullified China’s historical claims over the island. China has since rejected the decision and continues to patrol the area.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the government must exhaust all possible diplomatic means to settle the issue.

In a text message to reporters, Sotto noted that the President is the architect of our foreign policy.

“We are no longer United States-focused. We are now gearing towards friendly ties with all nations,” said Sotto.

He noted that we became target of Japan during the Second World War due to our friendship with the US. “The same day the Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese, it was also the same day the Japanese bombed Baguio and Clark. Almost 1 million died in that war. They fought within our backyard,” he said.

Sotto also appealed to the media not to swallow everything the doomsayers say.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said if Malacañang will not side with the Filipino people on this issue, then the Senate can take the lead in defending the country.

Aquino lamented that China continues to harass our fishermen, militarize the seas and threaten the country’s sovereignty.

He said a strong and independent Senate can and should investigate all the country’s dealings with China, especially when the rights and livelihood of Filipinos are at risk.

“If continued, this defeatist mentality will just lead to even more abuses,” he said of the administration’s soft approach toward China.

The Liberal Party has slammed the Duterte administration for again taking an apathetic stance on the harassment and theft by Chinese coast guard instead of filing a protest.

It said this was made worse by the government-sponsored “troll machinery” that attacked the hapless fishermen and painted them as liars.

“For these fishermen to be called liars and paid hacks by internet trolls is something so outrageous,” said the Liberal Party. The party’s vice president Erin Tanada said fishermen in the country live a hand-to-mouth existence with little help from the government. Abused by the Chinese in the high seas, he noted that these fihsermen were left without their catch and now attacked by their own government’s propaganda machinery.

“These Filipino fishermen can expect nothing from a morally bankrupt administration, led by the President and his spokesman, Harry Roque, who are both China fanatics,” he said.

“It’s clear that China violated the rules in the traditional fishing grounds. The Duterte administration should show it is not a pushover and take action to protect the interest of the Filipino fishermen,” he further stated, Senator Gregorio Honasan underscored the need to verify and discuss internally Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano’s claim that Malacañang has ordered the military to stop patrolling the West Philippine Sea. He said Alejano’s claim, which he said came from a “high-ranking official” of the military, should be verified and coordinated with authorities.

A leftist lawmaker on Monday called on the administration to take concrete action to protect Filipino fishermen from harassment and illegal confiscation of their catch.

cused of coddling slain drug lord Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz. The official was killed after allegedly firing at CITF officers in Cebu City on Monday.

Meanwhile, publishing the names of would-be policemen was part of the PNP’s plan to scrutinize recruits seeking to join its ranks, Albayalde said.

Citing the more than 1,176 policemen on the CITF’s watch list of rogue law enforcers, the PNP chief said these policemen “are more lethal than criminals.”

The proposed reforms in the recruitment process, Albayalde said, include replacing the “OJT” or On The Job phase of recruitment with commando training, similar to the PNP’s elite Special Action Force.

“Unlike before, when they are in the OJT phase, their officers see where is it good for

them to be assigned,” the police chief explained.

Under the proposed recruitment reform, an officer who conducted and signed off on the background investigation of a would-be policeman—who later turns out to have pending criminal cases—will also be sanctioned, Albayalde said.

“We will also indicate who conducted the BI [background investigation]. If they have a record, we will get back at the police officer who conducted the BI,” he added.

Continued police operations will be undertaken with programs to weed out misfits and scalawags, Albayalde said. “Unbridled” police operations without monitoring of police personnel tend to promote bad habits such as recycling of evidence and drugs, he added.

PNA

From A1 trade passes annually, despite competing partial claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque on Monday confirmed a report that Chinese Coast Guard personnel seized the catch of Filipino fishermen in the shoal in May in violation of an agreement between the two nations allowing Filipinos to fish there.

“We have addressed this issue to the Chinese and we are demanding that the Chinese take steps to stop the coast guard from doing these acts,” Roque told reporters.

“That is unacceptable. That is why we informed the Chinese we will not allow fish to be taken from our countrymen.”

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Duterte’s administration rejects criticism that its response to Chinese activities in the hotly contested waters has been weak.

China in May reportedly deployed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles on the Spratly Islands and flew nuclear-capable bombers to a base in another disputed part of the sea.

Duterte’s aides have said previously the Philippines is taking “all diplomatic action” to protect its claims while insisting it would not anger China by engaging in “megaphone diplomacy.”

Manila, which has pursued trade deals and investment from China, instead holds regular talks with Beijing on the dispute.

On Monday Roque refused to describe the latest incident as harassment, adding the Chinese Coast Guard gave the Filipino fishermen noodles, cigarettes and water in exchange for their catch.

The fishermen, who appeared with Roque in the news briefing, said they were powerless to stop repeated seizures by the Chinese.

“The [Chinese Coast Guard personnel] board our boats, look at where we store the fish and take the best ones. We cannot do anything because their huge vessels are there,” said Romel Cejuela, one of the fishermen. He said the fish taken from them by the Chinese Coast guard was worth P4,000.

Roque said the incident was considered “unacceptable” and there is a need for China to dis-

Police...

From A1

“Remember, these are armed [men] because they have been issued firearms. These [cops] are considered armed and dangerous, especially since they are into illegal activities,” Albayalde said.

Last week, the CITF said it filed complaints against 194 officers, 74 of them arrested in various operations, since the unit headed by Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat was founded four months ago.

Caramat said all his units’ operations were done “by the book,” but agents would defend themselves if the suspects resisted arrest.

One incident involved a police official ac-

US...

From A1 The Trump administration will only accept complete denuclearization, Pompeo stressed.

In return, he said, Washington would offer “different and unique” guarantees “to provide them sufficient certainty that they can be comfortable that denuclearization is not something that ends badly for them”.

He refused to go into details. But the North has long sought an end to the US military presence in the South, where Washington has around 28,000 troops stationed to protect it from its neighbor.

Pyongyang has demanded the end of what it calls a “hostile policy” towards it, but in public has only pledged to pursue the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula—a euphemism open to wide differences of interpretation.

Washington is eager to see if the North’s pledges were “sincere,” Pompeo said, adding: “The United States has been fooled before.”

Verification would be key, he went on, saying many deals had been signed before only to find “the North Koreans did not promise what they said.”

Trump and Kim will first meet one-onone in a closed session, before a larger meeting with key advisers, US officials said.

A senior White House official said Trump was “feeling good” and that the summit was open-ended, adding: “They will talk for as long as they need to.”

Pompeo signaled there would be more discussions to come, adding that Tuesday’s meeting “will set the framework for the hard work that will follow. We will see how far we get.”

In Seoul, President Moon Jae-in had a 40-minute phone call with Trump, after telling key aides that it could take “one year, two years or even longer to completely resolve the issues concerned.”

Fire and fury Tuesday’s summit is an extraordinary turnaround from last year, when Trump threatened the North with “fire and fury” and Kim dubbed him a “mentally deranged US dotard,” sending fears of conflict soaring.

The summit has also raised hopes of progress towards a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War, the last festering legacy of the Cold War, after hostilities only stopped with an armistice.

But critics have warned it risks becoming more of a media circus than an occasion for substantial progress.

The US leader has whipsawed on expectations for the meeting, signalling that it could be the beginning of a “process” of several meetings, only to call it a “one-time shot” for peace as he embarked for Singapore and saying he would know “within the first minute” whether an agreement would be possible.

“I just think it’s going to work out very nicely,” said Trump at a working lunch with the prime minister of Singapore.

The North, which has been subjected to increasingly strict sanctions by the UN Security Council and others, has made promises of change in the past, such as at the lengthy Six Party Talks process, only for the agreements to collapse later.

The previous US stance, said Bruce Klingner of the Heritage Foundation, was that “we don’t deploy a president to negotiate a treaty, we deploy a president to sign a treaty where we know where every piece of punctuation is on that piece of paper.”

“One of my worries is that we come out of this Singapore summit with something that looks remarkably like the Six Party Talks or anything that the president has previously criticized but it is hyped as something that’s historic and new and groundbreaking,” he added.

Separate planes The North’s official KCNA news agency called the summit “historic,” saying it would take place in a “changed era” and “under the great attention and expectation of the whole world.” AFP

Philippines...

From A1

Parañaque City Vice Mayor Jose Enrico Golez confirmed his father’s death on Monday morning.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio grieved over the passing of the elder Golez, whom he described as “a true patriot.”

Carpio and Golez were kindred spirits in advocating the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, especially when the Chinese started building military installations on islands within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines also expressed its condolences to the family of Golez, who was born on January 9, 1947 in Looc, Romblon.

“The AFP sincerely condoles with the family and friends of former congressman and National Security Adviser Roilo Golez for his untimely demise,” military spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo told reporters.

The House of Representatives’ Protocol Office said Golez’s wake will be held at Heritage Park in Taguig City. His interment will be on Friday, June 15.

Golez was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland before entering the Philippine Navy, retiring with a rank of captain like his father. He also earned his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines.

He served as the National Security Adviser to then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2001 to 2004 and was Postmaster General of the Philippine Postal Corp. under President Ferdinand Marcos from 1981 to 1986.

Golez made his mark nationally as a six-time congressman representing the second district of Parañaque. In the House of Representatives, he served as chairman of Committees on National Defense and Public Order and Security and headed the House contingent to the powerful Commission on Appointments. Maricel V. Cruz and Rey E. Requejo with PNA.

‘Maliksi’ exits PAR; monsoon rain to persist SEVERE Tropical Storm “Maliksi,” formerly Typhoon “Domeng,” left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday but continues to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing moderate to heavy rain to most parts of the country on Monday.

The inclement weather moved the Supreme Court to order the suspension of work in all courts in Metro Manila on Monday afternoon.

The high court ordered the work suspension at 12 noon “due to inclement weather arising from continuous monsoon rains.”

In its bulletin issued at 4 am on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said “Maliksi,” which had been affecting Luzon and Western Visayas, was last observed at 1,770 kilometers northwest of Basco, Batanes.

It had maximum winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour with gustiness up to 120 km/hr and moving east-northeast at 23 km/hr.

Weathermen said rain will pummel Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon due to the southwest monsoon and warned of possible flooding and landslides in some areas.

Western Visayas will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms.

Mindanao and the rest of Visayas will have cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.

Strong gale winds from the southwest is affecting central Luzon, the northern and eastern sections of Northern Luzon and the western and southern sections of Southern Luzon, bringing rough to very rough coastal waters.

The temperature in Metro Manila will range from 24 to 27 degrees Celsius; in Tuguegaro City 26 to 32 degrees Celsius; in Baguio City 17 to 19 degrees Celsius; in Metro Cebu 27 to 33 degrees Celsius, and in Metro Davao 26 to 33 degrees Celsius. PNA with Rey E. Requejo

Airline...

From A1

Lee Myung-hee, 69, who was questioned by police twice last month over multiple assault allegations, was interrogated by immigration authorities over suspicions she hired more than 10 Filipina maids to work at her family home on false pretenses, by claiming they were working for Korean Air. Korean law permits only ethnic Koreans or those married to Koreans to work as housekeepers.

The authorities suspect Lee had the airline’s human resources department and its Manila branch recruit the housekeepers and provide the Filipinas with documentation.

“I didn’t,” she replied to questions on whether she ordered Korean Air officials to hire the housekeepers, removed evidence by letting them leave the country after the allegations emerged, and had bought their silence.

“I will cooperate closely,” she told journalists after she appeared at the Korea Immigration Service. AFP

15...

From A1 improvised explosive devices run by the Daesh-inspired terrorists.

A “Daesh-inspired” group is one that is influenced by the social media-based propaganda and recruitment activities of the Islamic State group.

Military field reports identified the arrested bomb expert as Ustadz Anwar Ali, 22, who surrendered with his wife Asnaya Ali, 20, after an hour-long encounter.

Sobejana credited the 33rd Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Harold M Cabunoc, the Fourth Special Action Force Battalion led by Police Supt. Darwin Padla, and the 61st Division Reconnaissance Company under First Lt Ruel Fortuna.

“The terrorists traded fire with the 33rd Army Infantry Battalion troopers, but they were out-maneuvered after about an hour of firefight,” Sobejana said.

Sobejana, a rare Valor awardee for gallantry in a past engagement, said the soldiers had also confiscated a cal .50 Sniper Rifle and cal 5.56mm M4 Carbine from the extremists.

He showed satellite-generated images of the target and the final blow of an air strike in cross-axes of precision to prevent unnecessary casualties on non-combatants. Nash B. Maulana and Francisco Tuyay

Another...

From A1

Nueva Ecija Governor Czarina D. Umali, condemned the killing of priest , she order Nueva Ecija police director Supt.Tanding to conduct a manhunt operation for the arrests and identification of assailant.

Nilo was the former president of the College of Immaculate Conception in Cabanatuan City.

Nilo was the third priest who was killed in a span of six months.

Activist priest Fr. Marcelito Paez was also gunned down in Jaen, Nueva Ecija last Dec. 4. With Sara Fabunan

News

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018

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Muslim group seeks to restore BBL provisions

SHOW OF FORCE. An Armed Forces of the Philippines officer checks the armoured personnel carriers and tanks deployed at the Rizal Park in Manila in preparation for the 120th Philippine Independence Day celebration and parade on June 12, 2018. Lino Santos

Gov’t workers happy at jobs —Jobstreet GOVERNMENT employees are relatively happy and fulfilled at their jobs, a new study by JobStreet Philippines has found. This runs contrary to the popular belief that government workers are unhappy, as well as the unfounded stigma that the government isn’t beneficial to work for.

In a study, 1,008 government employees—257 government employees and 751 from JobStreet’s database —were asked to rate their happiness in various criteria related to work environment, such as management/ leadership team, job security, and work-life balance. They would rate their happiness in each category on a scale of 1-7, with 7 being the highest.

Government employees recorded an average of 4.85 points on this scale.

Indeed, in 2017, government emerged as one of the top three happiest sectors, alongside hotel/hospitality and food and beverage/restaurant workers.

The biggest drivers of government employees’ happiness were reputation of government agency, relationship with immediate boss, and the mission, vision, and values of their agency.

Meanwhile, pain points included lack of travel opportunities, lack of performance bonuses, and low salary.

Job happiness is an important element of work performance and employee health—happier employees are 12 percent more productive, physically and mentally healthier, and stay with their jobs longer.

The purpose of the study was to inform JobStreet’s government partners what makes jobs in the government attractive to those who work in the private sector, determine the factors that contribute to job happiness in the government, and help partners form strategies to maintain current employees and secure new ones.

Teachers’ group rejects bag, locker inspections A

COALITION of teachers has expressed opposition to the proposed random bag and locker inspection in schools, saying it is a threat to students’ privacy and a burden to teachers.

The objection came after National Capital Region Police Office’s director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar proposed the implementation of surprise inspections in schools to nip the nationwide drug problem in the bud.

In an interview, Quezon City Public School Teachers Association vice president Ruby Ana Bernardo said on Monday the inspections could create a traumatic experience on students because “they are treated as suspects instead of mere learners.”

Bernardo explained that the inspections also pose grave threat to the safety and security of teachers in the community

“as some students and their gangs might take revenge on the teachers” who would be at the forefront of the proposal.

“This proposal is an additional burden on part of the teachers. There are tons of paperwork already outside the actual classroom instruction,” she said.

F.G. Calderon High School principal Araceli Bondoc said that students, being minors, are entitled to their own privacy and school heads have to be childfriendly and protect and safeguard them while in school.

“Added to this is the possibility that notorious policemen might plant pro-

hibited drugs in the lockers just to have a ‘catch’,” she said.

Warren Galang, father of a junior high school student, said he agrees with the proposal provided that the inspections must be done by the teacher and not the police.

“Just to ensure safety and evidence drugs won’t be planted on the students’ belongings,” he said.

Alyssa Datario, a senior high school student, said the inspections are key in maintaining the safety in schools and discipline among students.

“Sa pamamagitan po nito hindi makukunsinti ang mga mag-aaral na gumagamit ng droga at maiiwasan madamay ang mga kamag-aral [Through this, students who are using drugs won’t be condoned and students who don’t use drugs won’t be involved], she said. PNA

MMDA personnel led by its chairman Danilo Lim inspect the cleanup drive on Monday at the Estero de Magdalena in Tondo in Manila where flooding occurs due to the garbage which clog the metro’s waterways.

Norman Cruz

Oil firms cut pump prices by as much as P0.60 per liter on Tuesday

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE oil firms cut pump prices for the second consecutive week by as much as P0.60 per liter starting 6 am Tuesday to reflect the movement of world oil prices in the domestic market.

“Petron will implement the following rollbacks effective 6 am tomorrow, June

12: P0.55 per liter for Blaze 100 Euro 6, XCS and Xtra Advance, P0.60 per liter for Turbo Diesel and DieselMax and P0.60 per liter for kerosene,” it said.

Aside from Petron, other oil firms also cut prices namely Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Seaoil Philippines, Flying V, PTT Philippines, Total Philippines, among others.

This is the second oil price rollback at the big time rollback implemented last week of as much as P1.40 per liter.

The rollback ended three weeks of consecutive oil price hikes due to volatilities in the world market.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi had earlier asked the oil firms to implement early the rollback due to the softening of

world oil prices to benefit the consumers.

Cusi has been pushing to come out with a policy on unbundling petroleum product prices to promote transparency.

“We need to unbundle the prices. It has to happen,” Cusi said, adding that this will provide the consumers more information about the petroleum products that they buy.

Pro-life group loses legal battle against spread of 51 contraceptives

By Rey E. Requejo THE Court of Appeals has denied the appeal of Alliance for the Family Foundation of the Philippines Inc. to stop the Food and Drug Administration from recertifying 51 contraceptives as safe and non-abortifacient on ground of technicality, particularly for failure to exhaust administrative remedies.

In a resolution, the CA’s Former Special Seventeenth Division through Associate

Justice Nina G. Antonio Valenzuela ruled that AFFPI failed to appeal FDA’s rulings before the Office of the President as required by Section 32 of Republic Act 9711 otherwise known as the “Food and Drug Administration Act of 200” and Section 9 of Executive Order No. 247 or Prescribing Guidelines and Establishing A Regulatory Framework for the Prospecting Biological and Genetic Resources, their By-Products and Derivatives, for Scientific and Commercial Purposes, and For Other Purposes.

The appellate court explained that RA 9711 and EO 247 mandate that the orders, rulings and decisions of FDA are appealable to the Secretary of Health and the latter’s decisions may be appealed to the Office of the President.

The CA said that in line with a decision of the Supreme Court, if the Secretary of Health is a respondent in the case the issue should be appealed directly to the Office of the President.

“We deny the petitioner’s motion for reconsideration for failure to exhaust

administrative remedies. The petitioner should have filed the appeal with the Office of the President to assail the 51 resolutions of the FDA,” the appellate court ruled.

“Applying the Supreme Court pronouncement in the Garin case to this case, since the Executive Secretary is not a party in this case, the remedy to question the 51 FDA resolutions is to file the appeal with the Office of the President, and not via petition for review with this Court,” the CA said.

THE Bicameral Conference Committee of Congress should restore essential provisions stricken off the Bangsamoro Basic Law by lawmakers, a broad-based coalition of Bangsamoro civil society organizations said.

On Sunday, the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organizations has conducted a series of consultations with varying sectors of peace stakeholders for a tri-people’s alliance to call on Congress to restore provisions either deleted or were toneddown.

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo of the United Nations Development Program field unit in Mindanao said that if the government succeeds in changing the 1987 Constitution, there have to be changes also on the BBL. But the Senate version deleted the provision of the BBL on the conduct of periodic plebiscite every five years for possible changes in the law in the next 25 years.

Sammy Maulana, CBCSO secretary general, said a manifesto for the cause in Congress would be the least that they would want to come up with, aside from rallies, before members of Congress meet for the Bicameral Committee Conference in mid-July to pass the substitute BBL into law.

Sinarimbo said Section 11 Article XII of the BBL reduces to only 50-50 the sharing of tax revenues, fees and charges collected in the Bangsamoro, whereas the original BBL provision based on the CAB is 75-25 in favor of the Bangsamoro.

IN BRIEF Pag-IBIG housing loans up 10% in January-May PAG-IBIG Fund reported that it released over P26 billion worth of housing loans in the first five months of 2018, which is 10 percent or over P2.44 billion higher than the loans released during the same period in 2017.

The housing loans helped 32,274 families acquire their own homes.

Of these, 33 percent or 10,502 are homes acquired by minimum- and low-wage income earners.

Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Chairperson Eduardo D. del Rosario said that he is pleased to report that Pag-IBIG is exerting all efforts to support the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to help uplift the lives of Filipino families through sustainable social development programs, including the provision of decent, yet affordable housing, which also contributes greatly to the BALAI Filipino (Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable and Inclusive Filipino Communities) program of the government’s housing sector.

Inhibit from PSA decision, ERC chief asked LAWMAKERS on Monday appealed to Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Agnes Devanadera to inhibit from the decision-making process on the alleged seven questionable power supply agreements filed before the body for “consumers’ welfare and protection.”

Representatives Sherwin Tugna of Cibac party-list and Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao made the appeal citing the need “to protect consumers” in the midst of rising prices of basic commodities.

“For propriety and for good governance, we in Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption Party-list strongly urges Chairwoman Devanedara to inhibit herself in making judgments about Meralco’s [Manila Electric Co.] petitions for hike and other related matters,” Tugna said. Maricel V. Cruz

DoH launches app on health of Pinoys IN A landmark move, the Department of Health on Monday took advantage of an innovative technology to understand more about how Filipinos keep themselves healthy through a mobile phone survey.

According to the World Health Organization-Western Pacific Regional Office, a significant proportion of Filipino adults continue to be exposed to non-communicable diseases risks of tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity; making millions of Filipinos vulnerable to developing NCDs in the future. In the Philippines, NCDs are the top killers.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The war that is now a joke TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

And indeed, all these affect the psychological state of the viewer or reader.

For instance, if the viewer or reader falls under the “A Type,” one who is anxious and who worries about everything, he or she could be prone to depression. This can even lead to suicide.

Thus, the news we see on TV are likely to exacerbate our personal worries and anxieties.

By bombarding people with sensationalized news, broadcasters tend to “catastrophize” the negativity in a person.

I CAME across a report on the psychological effects of TV news. It talked about how the news affects our health, mood and experiences, and many other aspects of our thinking and behavior.

If the TV program generates negative moods like sadness, anxiety, anger and disgust, then these experiences will affect how we interpret events in our own life, *** what memories we recall, and how much Santa Banana, it is sad that many secwe worry about the present and the future. tors are now describing President DuThere is good reason to believe that terte’s war against government corruption negative sensationalism in the news has as selective and given to double standards. been gradually increasing over the past For example, President Duterte’s allies 20-30 years. and supporters who are involved in graft According to the report, there are many and corruption seem to be able to get bad things happening in the world, and away with murder. Those who are not on this is why negative the right political sensationalism has side, however, are become so prevathrown under the lent. bus.

These bad things Even allies who I used to think include crime, famhave been disPresident Duterte was ine, war, violence, missed for having a political unrest and the best leader to carry whiff of corruption injustice, to name out a campaign against about them are just a few. As a result, getting recycled there has been in- corruption. into other agencies. creasing tendency I remember commending Presfor broadcasters to ident Duterte for “emotionalize” their reporting. They do so by emphasizing po- having the political will to really wage a tential negative outcomes of a story—no war on corruption. matter what the risks of those outcomes But now I am not so sure. Take the case might be. of Solicitor General Jose Calida, who has The report says it is scaremongering. a clear conflict of interest with his job, He Because we now have a 24-hour news remains the majority shareholder in a secoverage, gone are the days when the curity company, which has snagged juicy journalist’s role was to describe, and im- contracts with various government agenpartially, what is happening. Because of cies. technology we now have an almost-imCalida is also accused of getting almediate visual record of what is happen- lowances in excess of what is lawful. The ing throughout the world.

Commission on Audit found that Calida, The journalist’s job then becomes one like his predecessor Florin Hilbay, got alof “evaluating” the story. And there is a lowances in excess of 50 percent of their thin line between evaluating and sensa- annual salary. tionalizing a report.

And yet, the President says Calida will There is also the aspect of TV news stay on because he is good. competing with entertainment programs.

By contrast, President Duterte fired To do this, broadcasters emphasize emo- former Dangerous Drugs Board chairman tionally relevant material.

Dionisio Santiago for criticizing the plan This is also true for the rest of main- for a giant rehabilitation center in Nueva stream media. Reporting has evolved Ecija. Santiago said that rehabilitation from objective to subjective. The days of centers should be community based. the five Ws (who, what, when, where and The President was supportive of former why) are over.

Turn to A5

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

I

A strange independence

NDEPENDENCE Day is when we commemorate our country’s assertion of freedom and selfdetermination. We celebrate the fact that we are no longer any other country’s property, puppet or stooge.

Or are we?

No less than the person who speaks for the President makes us doubt this every so often. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque dismissed claims that Filipino fishermen were being bullied by the Chinese in Scarborough Shoal off Zambales.

The shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal, is 124 miles east off Masinloc town, well within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

A television report showed the Chinese Coast Guard asking for fish from local fishermen.

Initially Roque said the video was inconclusive and that he saw

no actual instance of bullying. A protest will be duly filed, he said, once bullying is established.

The only thing Roque establishes, however, is his reputation for instinctively siding with the Chinese at practically every issue.

In fact, after ascertaining the truth of the fish-taking, Roque points to the magnanimity and fairness of the Chinese Coast Guard, who he says give noodles, cigarets and water to the Filipino fishermen.

Water is the most important, Roque says, because fishermen always lack water when they are out at sea We wonder why we put up with this kind of thinking and speaking from a ranking official in the Palace. And then we remember that Roque speaks for the President and enjoys Cabinet rank, which makes him an alter ego of Mr. Duterte.

Suddenly, everything makes sense.

Our President is enamored with the Chinese, not asserting a prior victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, and welcomes China’s loans, investments,

aid—and other complicated designs. Here he is supported by his foreign affairs secretary, Alan Peter Cayetano, who is not budging an inch, either, to say we are not happy with what the Chinese are doing. And no, the 85 “diplomatic actions” he says his department made do not count. The number sounds too random – and too contrary to evidence.

We now hear that our officials brand the seizing of catch as “unacceptable,” and that they will not take the gesture siting down. Unfortunately, nothing in their past actions give us confidence that they will follow through or that this is not mere lip service.

By all means, let us mark this historic day. Let us hear our officials deliver speeches and unfurl flags. Let us listen to them invoke the fight that our ancestors put up and endured against our series of conquerors.

And then let us all cringe at how all that we are seeing happen between our country and China goes against our very notion of what independence is.

Is Duterte’s Philippines heaven or hell? to be fair, making mime and putting on the shoes of the protagonists in our country (Duterte, his supporters, the opposition) as it were, and using their words so they can speak for themselves.

Repeating the words of the President I WRITE this column while preparing and showing his actions, and repeating for a presentation I am giving in the the words of his spokesperson and his San Carlos Seminary this week. The supporters (collectively described here original title of the talk, something I as the Diehard Duterte Supporters or deliver almost weekly to audiences all DDS), are the best way to understand over the Philippines, was “Responding this President and those who support to Duterte’s Philippines: Issues, Op- him. For some, and that includes me, tions, and Scenarios.” they are painful to listen to, and diffiBut on Sunday Fr. Richmond Nilo of cult to watch. the Diocese of Cabanatuan, an alumnus But Digong Duterte is our President of this Makati seminary that has edu- and his supporters, who do not find cated many of our bishops and priests, his words and actions objectionable at was shot and killed while about to cel- all but revel in what they consider as ebrate the Eucharist in Zaragoza, Nue- his humor and trolling of his critics, va Ecija. Surely, I are our countrycan’t come before men. In my case my audience with those supporters a policy-wonkish are my relatives, lecture, pretendThis is a temporary townmates, feling that everylow Mindanastate. thing is well in the wons, classmates, country. and friends, not to The new title of mention Facebook my national situand Twitter folation briefing is: “Is Duterte’s Philip- lowers. I will certainly not break with pines heaven or hell?” them over politics.

Depending on the audience, I cover a But the truth must be told. An acute range of topics and highlight different state of impunity is upon us, wreckmatters in these presentations—from ing havoc in our communities and the the economy to foreign policy to hu- killers in our midst has gone berserk, man rights, etc. Lately I have been talk- to paraphrase Bayan Muna Rep. Caring more about constitutional change los Zarate. and federalism.

I knew Fr. Richmond personally. He Since I have been doing these nation- was our partner when he was president al situation briefings, I have labored of the College of Immaculate Concepto be objective and independent, non- cion of Cabanatuan City and I was dean partisan for sure, even as I have not of the Ateneo School of Government. compromised my views on basic prin- We implemented together a Master in ciples like human rights, social justice, Public Management program and coland democracy. But I have always tried Turn to A5

Hong Kong golf course row exposes city’s social divide

By Elaine Yu ITS sprawling greens and woodland have made Hong Kong’s historic Fanling golf course a favorite with homegrown and international stars, but it is now under threat after being listed for potential housing development.

As the government seeks solutions for the space-starved city’s lack of decent homes, the club argues that sacrificing a world-class sports venue is a short-sighted move.

But grass roots campaigners say the prime spot in the north of Hong Kong should not remain a playground for the wealthy elite.

Located near the border with mainland China, the colonial-era course is part of the Hong Kong Golf Club and has hosted the Hong Kong Open, a mainstay of the European and Asian

Tours, every year since 1959.

Leading players including former world number one Rory McIlroy, Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Hong Kong golfing star Tiffany Chan have spoken out against bulldozing the site, which is one of 18 options earmarked by the government for affordable housing as it scrambles to find new land.

“Losing even one golf course would severely impact Hong Kong’s ability to develop talent and provide opportunities for youngsters to learn and play the game,” said Ian Gardner, general manager of the Hong Kong Golf Club.

Surrounded by urban hustle, the Fanling complex is an oasis of ancient trees and diverse wildlife, including turtles, owls and butterflies.

The oldest of its three 18-hole courses was

built in 1911 on land that was home to the centuries-old graves of indigenous clans, whose descendants now have to skirt the greens to pay tribute to their ancestors.

Its clubhouse features a men-only bar and a plush members’ lounge where old photos and maps as well as a letter from Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary adorn the walls.

The club faithful say Fanling’s history should justify its survival.

Members received a letter earlier this year assuring them that the club was working “very hard” to protect their interests.

“The trees and all the layout, and the history behind it with all the well-known golfers that played here—it’s irreplaceable,” said Tim Tang, 32, a former professional golfer who coaches at the club.

Turn to A5

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Opinion

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018

A peek into the new Constitution FORMATION GARY OLIVAR OVER the weekend I was privileged to be a moderator at a conference on “managing devolved transition in the Philippines” sponsored by DILG and the International Forum of Federations.

The objective was really to learn from the experiences of Australia, Brazil and Kenya in downloading authority and responsibilities from national to sub-national levels of government. This in fact is what is being contemplated in the proposed replacement of a unitary Philippine state with a federal one.

Where the conference got really interesting, at least for local attendees, was the preview offered into the current working draft of a new federal constitution for the country, courtesy of several members of the President’s 22-man consultative committee: Businessman and economist Art Aguilar; retired General Danny Bocobo (my second cousin); lawyer Rodolfo Robles; professors Eddie Alih and Edmund Tayao.

The Con-Com aims to vote en banc on its final draft, item by item, at its final plenary session on July 9, after which the document has to hurdle three more decision-makers: President Duterte, whose version based on the Con-Com draft will hopefully be done in time for his July 23 Sona; Congress, whether voting jointly or separately, who’re expected to work closely from Duterte’s version when they write the actual final document hopefully by yearend; The people themselves, perhaps by voting a simple “yes/no” on Congress’ document in a referendum scheduled for no later than the May 2019 mid-term elections. *** The Con-Com’s working draft is similar in many ways to the version originally submitted to them by the PDP-Laban Study Group, where I was privileged to sit. But there are also important differences, not to mention open or ambiguous issues that may have to be left to future legislation or the workings of the political process itself. Today, Independence Day, seems like a good time to take a peek at the proposed new Charter: The biggest disappointment for us in the Study Group was the Con-Com’s decision, by just one vote, to retain the presidential system instead of shifting to parliamentary. Like every other official, the president and vice president will now serve two four-year terms, and must be

elected in tandem. To placate the mischievous, the term of the current President will explicitly not extend beyond 2022.

In addition to some 240 congressmen now elected by district, the Lower House will add another 160 elected by proportional representation. This replaces the current halfling called party-list system, under which the likes of security guards and home fuel dealers got to be classified as marginalized sectors.

The Senate retains all its current powers, but will now be regionally elected, two from each “federated region.” This unwillingness to clip redundant senatorial powers is an unfortunate instance when the objective of law-making efficiency had to yield to political exigency, i.e. passing the new Charter by keeping the current senators happy.

Here are some of what we can expect.

courts” in order to unclog its docket and finally put an end to the days of “justice delayed, justice denied”.

One of the most interesting innovations of the Con-Com is the creation of an 11-member Federal Inter-Governmental Commission, to be chaired by a Presidential appointee and include the Secretaries of Finance and the Budget ex officio. The other eight members will be appointed equally by Congress, and by the 18 regional governors sitting together as a Council.

FIGC members must have expertise in constitutional law, public administration and finance, and/or local government. The new body will enjoy quasi-judicial powers in carrying out two key mandates: to administer the revenue equalization fund that equalizes opportunities between richer and poorer regions; and to resolve interregional disputes.

It’s evident that this FIGC will be a most powerful body. Together with the Administrative High Court (to whom its decisions are appealable), the Council of Regional Governors, and a regionally elected Senate, these are the key mechanisms by which the federalization process is intended to be institutionalized over the long term.

Including Metro Manila, those feder*** ated regions (not “states”) will initially Other bits and pieces from the working number 18, but will be allowed to consolidate later into fewer regions if they draft of the new Charter: wish. The Bangsamoro might be de• The Commission on Human scribed as a “super-region,” with the Rights will join CoA, Comelec, Bangsamoro Basic Law serving as its and the Civil Service Commisregional constitution—a privilege that sion as constitutional bodies with won’t be enjoyed by other regions. representation in every region.

The proposed BBL now being reviewed Leftists will be pleased that the

by Congress obviously has to conform CHR will also cover “sociowith the current unitary constitution. But economic” and “environmental” at a later time, the newly created Bangsamrights, while rightists will weloro parliament may pass regional legislacome the inclusion of non-State tion to expand the BBL’s powers under a actors as potential human rights more expansive new federal constitution. violators.

We can only hope that this piece of leger• Self-executory prohibitions against demain will be appreciated and supported political turncoats and political by our Bangsamoro brethren. dynasties. This is part of the rafter of reforms earlier recommended *** by the Study Group in order to Within the judicial system, the Constrengthen our party system and Com has differentiated the judicial process make democratic participation into four different workflow streams, each meaningful for a change. one headed by its own “high court”: • Citizens military training will A Constitutional Court to rule on conmake a comeback, starting in stitutional issues, including opining on the Grades 11-12 on a compulsory constitutionality of new laws still being basis. To all those armchair war considered by Congress; freaks who keep agitating the rest An administrative high court to rule on of us to go to war with China over questions of government administration, this or that island, now’s the chance including inter-regional disputes; to get your own kids involved in An Electoral High Court to rule on isthat adventure and put their lives on sues of electoral process; the line for you.

And the present Supreme Court to rule on all cases brought up on appeal, which Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@ will be farmed out to “regional appellate yahoo.com.

Is Duterte’s...

From A4

laborated on Gawad Kalinga projects in Nueva Ecija. He was a good priest, a great Filipino, and a wonderful human being. The Church, the faithful, the people of Nueva Ecija, and the country lost a good man in Fr. Nilo as we did with Fr. Mark Ventura and Fr. Marcelito Paez a few months ago.

Unfortunately, Fr. Nilo will not be the last priest that will be murdered.

It’s killing season against priests as it is with lawyers and the poor, as it has been for many years now with journalists and activists. As always, it starts first with words and curses, threats from the powerful but quickly it escalates to shootings and massacres as some of those who hear the words understand them as orders to be heeded.

With still another priest killed while about to celebrate the Eucharist, a killing season of God’s servants is on. It is not a coincidence that the killing season of priests is happening in the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons.

One can only be consoled that the history of the Christian faith has only been enriched by its martyrs.

In my usual national situation briefing, I am objective enough to look at the pros and cons of the Duterte government’s actions and decisions. While strongly opposing, among others, the massacre of the poor in the war against drugs, the persecution of Senators De Lima and Chief Justice Sereno which has undermined the rule of law in our country, the misogyny of the President, and the failure to defend our national territory from Chinese intrusions, I am on the other hand generally supportive of TRAIN, Build Build Build, the Boracay clean up, the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the peace negotiation with the communists, and the work of the Constitutional Law Committee.

And so are we in heaven, the best years ever for this country, as the DDS would

like to portray? Or are we in hell now, bound to suffer for four more years?

We are in neither. We are, like it or not, on earth. And believe it or not, things could get worse, much worse.

Many more priests, lawyers, journalist, activists, poor people, etc could get killed. We could descend in chaos very quickly. We could be fighting each other in the streets, leaving our social media enclaves, abandoning words and curses, and using guns and knives this time to settle scores. It has only been because of the grace of God that Edsa 1, 2 and 3 did not explode into extended violence.

Or we could take a deep breath, understand what we are faced with, discern our options, and act decisively.

What we are faced with is political and legal anomie, where the old rules no longer apply and there are no new rules. Only power seem to matter in a time like this. Law is useless because it will be bent, twisted by those who hold power. But this is a temporary state.

But how fast we can get out of here will depend on how we respond individually, as families, and as communities of faith, values, work, and practice.

It will depend on those good people in government, and no doubt there are many of them that I continue to work with, whether they can use their power always for the good, never abusing it for their benefit and to oppress others.

It will depend on the private sector, whether they will acquiesce, permanently wave a flag of surrender, afraid that they might be targeted next. They would also have to reach out to their workers, in solidarity in this time of economic challenges.

It will depend on the youth and all citizens actually, whether they are willing to take risks and carry on the strong tradition of protests we are known for.

A sine qua non for that is unity among all groups based on shared commit-

ments to human rights, democracy, and social justice. Personally, as one of its convenors, I am joining the Manananggol Laban sa Extra Judicial Killing (Manlaban) delegations in mobilizations. We will be there in full force this afternoon in the HINDIpendence Day in Liwasang Bonifacio.

It depends on the opposition and our other politicians. Can they rise up to the occasion and give us an alternative to Duterte’s Philippines?

It depends on the Catholic Church and other religious communities in the country. Can they give us the moral leadership by speaking truth to power and providing sanctuary, support, and guidance to those who would take the lead in leading us out of an earth that is more hell to one that is more heaven?

Surely, our bishops can influence the manner we conduct our national discourse and enable us to have a better dialogue with each other.

Once again, let’s remember as we celebrate Independence Day, it depends on each of us what kind of country we want to live in.

In her book Stitches, Anne Lamott, quoting a Pastor Veronica, tells the story “of a sparrow lying in the street with its legs straight up in the air, straining. a warhorse walks up to it, and says, “What on earth are you doing?” The sparrow replies, “I heard the sky was falling, and I wanted to help.” The warhorse sneers— ”Do you really think you’re going to hold back the sky, with those scrawny little legs?” And the sparrow says, “One does what one can.””

Let’s all do this, through action and prayer—to make our country a better place, for there to be more kindness, for justice and peace to reign. We should know that it will not be because of our efforts mainly that will get us there.

Still, one does what one can.

Facebook: tonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Dependence Day 2018 Philippine territory and (3) that it would not drive Philippine fishermen away from their historic fishing grounds and (4) that in general it would maintain the status RUDY quo. That can hardly be characterized as ROMERO a display of independent action by a sovereign country.

Consider, next, the situation with regard JUNE 12, 2016 marked the 118th anniversary of the day on which the leaders of the to the relations between the Filipino peoFilipino people, unafraid of challenging a ple and the rest of the international compowerful foreign adversary, declared this munity. The citizens of a country that calls country’s independence from its longtime itself a democracy should have the indecolonial master, Spain. Like the other June pendence to maintain friendships with 12s since 1963, June 20, 2016 truly was a other well-intentioned and freedom-lovday of national independence: The Philip- ing peoples. But the present government pines was completely free to chart its own of this country has chosen to maintain a course, was independent of any external foreign policy that makes Filipinos disdain entanglements other than the interna- the peoples of countries that have done tional and bilateral treaties—especially the Philippines no harm and that have in the United Nations Charter—into which it fact been its allies. On the other hand, the had entered and was respected and loved Filipino people have been directed to be by members of the entire international friendly with the peoples of countries that community, whose norms and rules it had do not have a history of closeness to and partnership with the Philippines. And Filichosen to accept.

June 12, 2016 was a day of independ- pinos are supposed to consider themselves ence for this country, like the 53 June 12s independent on a day that is meant to celthat preceded it. The same cannot be said ebrate independence?

Finally, there is of June 12, 2018. the state of PhilipToday should be pine relations with observed as Dethe leading institupendence Day, not tions of this world.

Independence Day. Consider the Were the Filipino Why do I make people free to dethis seemingly out- situation in the West cide for themselves rageous statement? Philippine Sea. the international Because, while the institutions with Philippines may which they desired factually and legalto have friendly rely be an independent nation, the reality is that it has over the lations, they would today be on the best last two years become a servient State, a of terms with the United Nations and the vassal, a country incapable of freely exer- organization of 27 European nations, the cising its rights as a sovereign member of European Union, and similar institutions.

But under the present administration that the international community.

Consider the situation in West Philip- choice is no longer the Filipino people’s to pine Sea. If this country still possessed the make. It has been taken away from them will of a fully sovereign state, and if today by a President who, claiming to be acting were still Independence Day, it would on behalf of the citizens of this country, has have taken all the necessary and feasible insulted, badmouthed and demeaned those steps to assert the rights confirmed by a institutions and their representatives. The UN-sponsored international arbitral tribu- Filipino people wish to be good citizens of nal. But the Philippine government, like a the world and to have friendly relations with veritable wimp, has not taken those steps. all well-intentioned institutions and peoples.

Until June 12, 2016 the citizens of this Instead, it has, in true un-independent fashion, accepted China’s so-called under- country could celebrate a day of true natakings (1) that it would make no more en- tional independence and wish one another croachments on Philippine territory in the Happy Independence Day. Two years later West Philippine Sea, (2) that it will make they no longer can.

Happy Dependence Day, everyone. no more militaristic moves on or against

BUSINESS CLASS

The war...

From A4

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo and Justice Secretary Vitalino Aguirre III as well.

And yet he fired Rudolf Phillip Jurado just because the former government corporate counsel issued two opinions involving him that the President did not like.

Rudolf, by the way, is my nephew. He is the son of my brother, the late Court of Appeals Justice and pre-Bar lecturer in civil law, Desiderio Jurado.

The talk in coffee shops and boardrooms is that nothing will happen to the President’s war on corruption because he lacks the sincerity to implement it evenly.

In fact, it has become a big joke. *** Is the Duterte administration serious in protecting our reefs and shoals, which China has already occupied and militarized?

I ask this question in the wake of reports that Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal are being harassed by the Chinese

Coast Guard. The Chinese also reportedly seized their catch.

Despite all these, the President has adopted the policy of passive consent, or acquiescence, to anything China does in the South China Sea. The biggest joke is the statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano that the administration is taking diplomatic action against all these incursions

by China.

But what action?

I support the suggestion of Acting Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonio Carpio that the Duterte administration should now file a case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration since all of China’s actions defy a prior ruling. That decision, handed down by the PCA in 2016, said that China’s so-called nine-dash line claim has no basis in law.

This is the least the Duterte administration could do.

Hong Kong...

From A4

Symbol of inequality Some critics say the government is underusing space in Hong Kong which is already vacant or has been hoarded by developers as land banks for potential future projects.

They argue there is plenty of existing room available for affordable housing without touching green areas and that the small group of influential real estate giants in the city prioritize building profit-making upmarket units.

But for others the golf course is fair game and a visceral symbol of Hong Kong’s inequalities, set against the backdrop of spiraling property prices and rents which force many residents to cram into tiny homes.

Chanting “Land belongs to the people!” and “The grass roots don’t want elite golf courses!”, protesters filled up holes on the course in March using mud scooped from a nearby village where demolition work has begun for a controversial development plan.

Joining one of the city’s numerous private sports and recreational clubs can cost hundreds of thousands, even millions, of Hong Kong dollars. Some are said to have decades-long waiting lists.

Although Fanling’s Gardner pointed out the club offers special access for promising junior athletes each year, playing a round there is out of reach for the majority.

Non-members can use the Fanling course Monday to Friday, but have to pay a fee of HK$1,100 ($140) for 18 holes.

A corporate membership for the Hong Kong Golf Club goes for HK$17 million, according to one agent.

The club refused to divulge its individual joining fees or the length of its waiting list but

said monthly fees for members to access its two properties range from HK$700 to HK$3,000.

‘Privileged members’ Private clubs are too exclusive and depend on a “system of privileged memberships” while benefiting from low rents on their swaths of prime land, says Mark Mak, senior researcher at environmental group Green Sense.

Mak says low government rents mean the golf club is “subsidized by public resources while not actually serving public interests”.

He proposes partially redeveloping Fanling for housing or turning it into a park or public golf course.

Private sports clubs originally paid only a token premium or nothing at all when land was granted to them by the government through leases which offered generous terms to develop sports and recreational facilities.

The government typically charges clubs an annual rent of three percent of their property’s rateable value, according to the city’s home affairs bureau.

The Fanling golf course says it paid HK$2.53 million ($322,410) in annual rent last year to the government for 170 hectares, which amounts to HK$0.14 per square foot.

By comparison, the average rental price per square foot for a residential property in Hong Kong is HK$35.9, according to Centaline Property Agency.

But Gardner justified the low rents by saying sports clubs were not for profit and had ploughed their wealth into earning “international renown”.

“For many, many decades they have continued to pour money into developing these world-class facilities,” he told AFP. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

News

Standard TODAY JUNE 12, 2018 TUESDAY, A6 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Authorities seize P120m worth of shabu in Clark

By Joel E. Zurbano

G

OVERNMENT agents seized 17.7 kilos of shabu worth more than P120 million, the second smuggling attempt by criminals, at the Clark International Airport this month, officials said Monday.

SMUGGLED ONIONS. Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña (2nd from left) inspects Monday the P4.5 million worth of smuggled onions from China declared as ceramics at the Bureau of Customs in Manila. Norman Cruz SCN FORM NO. 1 (R.A. NO. 9139)

001 189

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION

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

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

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

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

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

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

Date of Birth

N/A

N/A

Place of Birth N/A

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

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

15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the duplicate originals or certified photocopies of the following documents (please check the appropriate box): [ ] a. Petitioner's birth certificate [ ] b. Petitioner's alien certificate of registration (ACR) [ ] c. Petitioner's native-born certificate of residence (NBCR) [ ] d. Petitioner's marriage certificate, if married [ ] e. Death certificate of his/her spouse, if widowed [ ] f. Court decree annulling his/her marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact [ ] g. Birth certificates of petitioner's minor children [ ] h. ACRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] i. NBCRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] j. Affidavits of financial capacity by the petitioner, duly supported by bank certifications, passbooks, stock certificates, or proof of ownership of other properties [ ] k. Affidavits of at least two (2) credible witnesses who must be Filipino citizens of good reputation in petitioner's place of residence [ ] l. Medical certificate from a government hospital stating that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug dependent and that he/she is not afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or any incurable contagious disease. [ ] m. School diploma and transcript of records of the petitioner from the school/s he or she attended in the Philippines [ ] n. Certifications stating that petitioner's minor children are enrolled in public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the DECS, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality [ ] o. Petitioner's income tax returns for the past three years [ ] p. Petitioner's receipts of payment of income tax for the past three years

Retired cops press PNP to end loan deductions

By Francisco Tuyay ONLY one month after President Rodrigo Duterte acted on the appeal of Philippine National Police retirees to stop the automatic loan deduction on their monthly pension, many retired policemen strongly pressed the PNP hierarchy to permanently end the financial mess and honor the President’s intervention.

The retirees said the automatic pension loan collection scheme involving Savings and Loans Association Inc. were still occurring and must be stopped due to abuses in its collection system.

The retirees want the PNP leadership to immediately revoke PNP Memorandum Circular 2016-038 and the PNP Standard Operating Procedure 002-16 by the Committee on Accreditation of Automatic Deduction, and to move for the suspension and eventual abolition of the Automatic Pension and Deduction Scheme.

These MCs and policies serve as bases for the implementation of the APDS.

INVITATION TO BID FOR Supply, Delivery and Installation of Face Recognition and Body Camera NPDC-2018-ITB-012 1.

The National Parks Development Committee through the General Appropriations Act of 2018 intends to apply the sum of Twenty-Four Million Nine Hundred FiftyThree Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty-Seven Pesos and 11/100 (Php 24, 953, 987.11) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Supply, Delivery and Installation of Face Recognition and Body Camera. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The National Parks Development Committee now invites bids for Supply, Delivery and Installation of Face Recognition and Body Camera. Delivery of the Goods is required ninety (90) days upon receipt of 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”.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No, 9139.

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

Residence N/A

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

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

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.

PRATIK HARISH ABICHANDANI Name and Signature of Petitioner Address: 1 JORDAN ST., MULTINATIONAL, PARAÑAQUE CITY Telephone Number: 8239671/09228719548 4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the National Parks Development Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during Monday to Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on June 8– July 2, 2018 from the address below and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php 20, 000.00)

Right Thumbmark of Petitioner

Name of School

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

Name of Child

Name and Place of School

Date of Enrollment

N/A

N/A

N/A

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

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

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.

Petitioner's signature and right thumbmark

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF MANILA) S.S.

6.

The National Parks Development Committee will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on June 20, 2018, 1:00 pm at NPDC Conference Room, National Parks Development Committee, T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila, which shall be open to prospective bidders.

7.

Bids must be duly received by the BAC Secretariat at the address below on or before July 02, 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.

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

Bid opening shall be on July 02, 2018, 11:00 am at NPDC Conference Room, National Parks Development Committee, T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila. 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.

Bids shall be prepared in one (1) original and four (4) copies using the appropriate Bid forms provided in Section VIII of the Bidding Documents furnished in strict compliance to the requirements of RA 9184. Any erasure, correction, or changes shall be initialed by the bidder or his authorized representative. All pages must be signed on the space provided for. Any unsigned page of the bidder’s tender shall be a ground for disqualification.

9.

The National Parks Development Committee 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.

10.

For further information, please refer to:

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

Last May 10, Duterte acted the appeal of the group, an urgent matter that Interior Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Ano and PNP Chief Oscar Alabayalde vowed to stop.

They said the PNP should have also honored a Department of Justice opinion dated June 6, 2017 “which set aside DoJ Opinion No. 10 and determined that Section 7 of RA 8367 (Revised Non-Stock Savings and Loan Association Act of 1997) only covers loans contracted by members of SLAIs during their employment.”

The retirees pointed out that just like multi-purpose cooperatives which also provide loans to both retired and active policemen in service, the PNP automatically deducts excessive monthy dues based on the computation of these SLAIs. Among the reported abuses of these SLAIs include charging excessive interest rates, some of the SLAIs reportedly increased the monthly amortization and number of remaining installments without the knowledge and consent of the borrowers with some having listed as having 870 NRIs on their loans.

Department of Tourism National Parks Development Committee

16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of his/her petition: CLEARANCE: NBI, BARANGAY, POLICE, RTC, MTC & OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR

The contraband, according to Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña Jr., was hidden in parcels described by its owners in the manifest as chairs and bar tools.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs also announced the seizure of P4.5 million worth of smuggled onions from China declared as coffee mugs, saucer and decors at the Port of Manila.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the goods, contained in three 40-footer containers vans were discovered after Customs authorities after X-ray scanning revealed suspicious image different to the declared items.

The containers declared as mugs, saucer, and decors made of ceramics, came from China, and consigned to Precious Prince Enterprises with office address in Parañaque City.

“These containers were subjected to a nonintrusive inspection by the X-ray Inspection Project, however, scanned image showed other items that do not correspond to the declaration which are mugs, saucer, and decors,” Lapeña said.

Lapeña said four packages bearing the same description as the parcels seized on June 2 arrived

FLORIZZA P. BUCLATIN NPDC-BAC Secretariat National Parks Development Committee Rizal Park, T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila TeleFax. No. (02) 302-7118 fpbuclatin.npdc@gmail.com

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

(MS-JUNE 12, 2018)

(original copy signed) ROLANDO T. MAMARADLO BAC Chairman

from California in Clark on June 5.

He added the parcels were consigned to Christian Santillan Frias, Robert Alejandro Nazareno, Dominic Espinosa Gallardo, all of Quezon City, and Gina Fernandez Santiago of Taguig City.

The senders were identified as Rania Frias, Maria Nazareno, Vanessa Gallardo, and Rania Fernandez.

“With the heightened border control against illegal drugs, the customs examiners conducted a profiling on the incoming shipments with description of goods and country of origin strikingly similar to the scheme of Port of Clark’s latest seizure,” said Lapeña.

The X-ray examination and K9 units and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency sniffing dogs all pointed to positive results for organic substances.

“After close coordination with PDEA, the four packages were subjected to 100-percent examination where the Customs examiners and PDEA agents found two packs of crystalline substances in each of the four boxes.

The PDEA agents utilized a drug meter reader detector which registered positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride,” Lapeña explained.

The Customs operatives applied a controlled delivery scheme leading to the arrest of Everlyn Lunzaga who received the parcel consigned to Nazareno.

“We are suspecting that the sender of these packages is international drug cartels. Only recently, we put up several X-ray machines at the three terminals of Naia [Ninoy Aquino International Airport] to stop incidents of airport smuggling. Because of the stricter border protection in Naia, perhaps the drug smugglers are now diverting their smuggled and contraband goods in other airports such as Port of Clark,” Lapeña said.

BI arrests Norwegian fugitive A NORWEGIAN fugitive wanted for killing his own brother two years ago in Olso, Norway, was arrested by Immigration authorities in Laguna, according to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morenta.

Helge Stensland, ranged against a corner at his house in Sta. Cruz Laguna, was being sought by Norwegian police for the death of his brother, Audun, whom he allegedly stabbed to death inside his home in the town of Hellvik in southwestern Norway on Oct. 16, 2016.

Stensland fled to Manila last April 11, three months after a Norwegian court sentenced him to seven years in prison for homicide.

Aside from his jail sentence, Stensland was also ordered by Norwegian authorities to pay his victim’s widow and his four children more than 1.7 million Norwgian Krones (US$220,000) in damages, Morente said.

According to BI-Fugitive and Search Unit Chief Bobby Raquepo, Stensland had been frequenting the Philippines for the past two decades as he was married to a Filipina with whom he has two children.

Stensland’s crime was ruled as a homicide as the court held that he did not intend to kill his brother when he stabbed him during the incident.

Reports said the siblings had just arrived at Stensland’s home from a party, when they had an altercation and a fistfight.

MMDA asks leaders to address garbage CHAIRMAN Danilo Lim of the Metro Manila Development Authority has urged community leaders and local government units to unite to address the garbage problem and clogged waterways that cause massive flooding in the metropolis.

Lim made the appeal during the inspection of Estero de Magdalena in Tondo, Manila on Monday.

“We will coordinate with the local government units, city and barangay officials. We will schedule ‘Bayanihan Days’ where everyone in the community will participate in the cleanup operations as often as needed,” said Lim. The term Bayanihan is a Filipino custom and refers to the spirit of communal work and cooperation to reach a common goal.

“With the cooperation of the community, we believe our efforts will help eradicate the causes of flooding in their areas. We will involve everyone in the cleanup,” said Lim. During the inspection, Lim expressed dismay over the amount of garbage clogging the Estero de Magdalena despite the agency’s relentless cleanup operations. Joel E. Zurbano

Anthony Eymart Macapagal, 48 ANTHONY Eymart Philipp Manalac Macapagal, of Manila and Valenzuela City, and Baras, Rizal and Candaba, Pampanga, died due to a massive heart attack while on official duty at the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s main offices at Ermita, Manila last June 9. He was 48.

He is survived by wife Raquel, son Caloy, father Antonio ‘Tonymac’, parents-in-law Roland and Noemi del Monico, brothers and sisters Raffy and Mayjay Ramos, Jason and Arnellia, Joann and Vladi Lado, and Roda and Ferdie Lim; nephews and nieces Bea, Pamela, Vinton, Carl, Khym, Nicolas, Vince, Jana, Evans, Blessy and Bianca; cousins, aunties, uncles and other relatives.

His body lies in state at the St. Peter Chapels along General T. de Leon St., in Karuhatan, Valenzuela City.

Interment is on Thursday, June 14, at 1 pm at the Valenzuela Memorial Park, Malinta, Valenzuela City, after the noon Holy Mass.

Anthony’s family members and co-employees at Pagcor, where he started to work in 1991 and until his demise, are appealing to those whose lives he had touched during his lifetime, to please offer prayers for the eternal rest of his soul.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018

Go scores 44, carries Kamao to 1st triumph in UNTV Cup SPECIAL Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go scored 44 points, highlighted by five 3-point shots to carry the Malacañang-PSC Kamao to its first win, a 105-79 victory over the GSIS Thunder Furies in the UNTV Cup Executive Face-Off at the Pasig City Sports Center.

With his career-high performance, Go was hailed as the Best Player of the Game.

“Salamat at naka-tsamba po kami for our very first win in the Executive Season. Masaya po ako, ang daming fans ng UNTV na nandito na napa-pump-up and team namin. Congratulations din po sa UNTV management, kay Kuya Daniel Razon, sa napakagandang ideya. At least, nakakalaro po namin lahat ng heroes ng gobyerno,” Go said.

Meanwhile, the Senate Sentinels were handed their first loss as the Ombudsman Graft Busters pummel them with their tight defense en route to a 6651 win.

“Ang ginawa lang namin is we adjusted doon sa trap nila. Ina-anticipate ko na gagawin nila ‘yun sa amin. So siguro nakita nila hindi nagwo-work, hinintuan nila kaya kami in return ibinalik lang namin ‘yung ginagawa nila,” said Graft Busters’ head coach Ricky Alcantara “We got outrebounded, siguro 15 plus din. ‘Yun ng naging difference, so sa offensive rebounds na makuha nila, the more chances of scoring. Doon kami nagkaroon ng lapses sa rebounding,” said Senate coach Mike Fermin.

Hailed as the Best Player of the Games were Director Nikki Laure with 26 points, 11 rebounds and Atty. Armando Sanchez Jr. with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals.

Summit Point ready to test ladies’ golf cast SPRUCED up to championship condition, the Summit Point Golf and Country Club course will test the shot-making skills and mental toughness of the ladies of the Philippine Golf Tour when The Women’s Championship is held tomorrow (Wednesday, June 13) in Lipa City, Batangas.

For one, each hole replicates the famous golf holes in the world and changes in character in every swirl of the wind, particularly at this time of the season with forecast of showers and thunderstorm in spots in the next four days.

Despite the rains spawned by Typhoon Domeng, the par-72 layout remains in top form, ready to challenge the field right at the start of the P1.5 million championship serving as the ninth leg of the Ladies PGT put up by ICTSI. “Our course maintenance, VMJ, has been working very hard to give the participants a very good course,” said Vic de Guzman, general manager of Summit Point, which will also host welcome cocktails for the participants today (Tuesday).

Forty-four players from five countries are all primed-up for the 54-hole tournament with powerhouse Thailand seeking a fifth win in the circuit organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang and Onkanok Soisuwan each shoot for a second victory this year while the rest of Thailand’s crack 21-player contingent are also aiming to grab the spotlight and build some momentum heading to the two Taiwan LPGA-sanctioned events.

A7

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Great course awaits XTERRA participants

Special Assistant to the President Christopher ‘Bong’ Go is heavily guarded by Officer Romeo De Luna Jr. (8) and VP Leopoldo Casion (10).

Johnson reclaims no. 1 spot after Memphis win L

second US Open after his victory at OS ANGELES—Dustin Johnson warmed up for the US Open Oakmont in 2016. by reclaiming the world number one ranking on Sunday, cruising “I have high expectations going in to a six-shot victory at the Fedex St.Jude Classic. every week,” Johnson said. “But I feel

Johnson, who started the day alongside Andrew Putnam at the top of the leaderboard, held his nerve to close with a fourunder-par 66 at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.

The 33-year-old sealed his win in emphatic style, holing out for a sensational eagle two on the 18th to roars from the gallery.

Johnson finished the tournament with a four-round aggregate 261, 19 under par.

“What a cool way to end the day to hole that shot on 18,” Johnson said afterward.

“A lot of good things happened this week. I knew coming in this week I was swinging really well and I had confidence in my game.”

Putnam’s challenge wilted after a disastrous double-bogey on the par-four first which left Johnson with sole possession of the lead.

The win ensures Johnson will return to the top of the rankings as the golf world prepares for the second major of the season at next week’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills, New York.

Johnson had ceded his number one spot to Justin Thomas last month following a 64-week reign at the top of the standings.

Sunday’s victory was the 18th PGA Tour win of Johnson’s career, and his first since a triumph at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii in January.

“It was nice to be back in the hunt, to get the lead and to get the juices flowing a little bit,” Johnson said.

“It feels like it’s been a long time (since my last win), even though it’s only been six months.”

Johnson admitted he couldn’t be happier with his form as he aims to claim a

Pacquiao’s bout on SKY Pay Per View

AXA SUPPORTS ATHLETE’S DREAM. AXA, official

insurance partner of the National Basketball Association in the Philippines, was one of the marketing partners of the Jr. NBA Philippines 2018 presented by Alaska National Training Camp.

The program attracted the most promising and aspiring basketball players aged 10-14 from different parts of the country. One of the participants, Jam Lachica, 12, made it to the NTC with support from AXA. The insurance company provided apparel and training to Lachica for the Manila Regional Selection Camp prior to the NTC. For more information on AXA’s partnership with the NBA, visit www.axa. com.ph.

Burmese Python defends crown in Yangon YANGON, Myanmar—The largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship, has just announced additional bouts for ONE: Spirit of a Warrior, which is set for June 29 at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar.

In the main event, reigning two-division world champion, Aung La “The Burmese Python” N Sang of Myanmar, will defend his ONE Middleweight World Championship against Ken Hasegawa of Japan.

Ticket information is available at www. onefc.com.

The 33-year-old Aung La N Sang is Aung La N Sang Myanmar’s most successful athlete in history, whose impressive submission skills have earned him the moniker of “The Burmese Python”. Born in Myitkyina in the mountainous Kachin State, he belongs to an ethnic minority known as the Kachin. Aung La N Sang captured the ONE Middleweight World Championship with a unani-

like my game’s in good shape.

“I’m driving really well. I’m hitting my irons well, and my wedges are really good. I’m really looking forward to it.

“I haven’t seen the golf course yet but I’ll go there tomorrow and get 18 holes in and we’ll see.”

Putnam, meanwhile, who has yet to win on the PGA Tour, said he would take positives from the way he managed to steady his round after dropping three shots in his opening five holes.

The 29-year-old played went one under for the remaining 13 holes to close on 13 under par, four shots clear of J.B. Holmes in third.

“I had a lot of fun,” Putnam said. “I felt like I handled myself better than my score looked. The first couple of holes were a little rough, but overall, I had a great time.

“I’ll definitely learn from this experience.” AFP

mous decision victory over Vitaly Bigdash in June 2017. In his most recent bout, he defeated Brazil’s Alexandre Machado to be crowned the new ONE Light Heavyweight World Champion.

The 31-year-old Ken Hasegawa of Kanagawa, Japan is a martial arts veteran set to make his ONE Championship debut.

The middleweight contender has stopped four of his last five opponents, showcasing the undeniable submission skills and thunderous knockout power that he has become known for competing in Japanese martial arts promotions Deep and Rizin.

With a professional record of 16-2, which includes four submissions and six scintillating knockouts, Hasegawa will step into the ONE Championship cage for the first time in the event.

He is set to challenge Aung La N Sang for the ONE Middleweight World Championship.

WITNESS Manny Pacquiao return to the ring to challenge Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse for the World Boxing Association welterweight title live on July 14, 9 a.m., via SKY Sports Pay-PerView. Early sign-ups on SKY Sports Pay Per View get a discount.

Pacman expressed his enthusiasm to face the Argentine Boxer, saying: “I am excited. The fans are excited. Malaysia is ready. Let’s get on with this fight,” in an article posted by sports.abs-cbn.com.

He also said that age does not matter for him and he still wanted to be a champion again.

“I don’t think about my age. My motivation going to this fight is I want to be a world champion again,” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo.

Boxing experts emphasized this fight will be a dangerous one for the Filipino superstar because the Argentinean boxer is riding a hot streak in his career, with Matthyse publicly announcing he is aiming to knock out the boxing icon in a push to punctuate the legend’s career.

This is the 69th fight of Pacquiao (597-2,38 KOs), and the first under new head trainer Buboy Fernandez, who replaced legendary coach Freddie Roach.

For all SKY digital subscribers nationwide, don’t miss the chance to catch the action live as the pioneer in Cable TV is giving away an early bird price discount for the “Fight of the Champions: Pacquiao vs Matthyse” on SKY Sports PPV. SKY subscribers who will be getting the PPV until June 15 will only have to pay an early bird rate of P850. This is available to all SKYcable, One SKY, and SKYdirect subscribers nationwide.

By subscribing to the Pacquiao vs Matthysse PPV, subscribers will have access to the live, commercial-free and in high or standard definition viewing of the Fight of the Champions: Pacquiao vs Matthysse and a replay on the same and day right after the live event.

MORE than the majestic Mayon Volcano as finish line backdrop, the elite cast of pros and the entire field will be in for a tough outing when the XTERRA OffRoad Triathlon makes its grand return to Albay, Legazpi City this Sunday.

The mountain biking and trail running stages, for one, offer a new set of unique challenges and thrills with the 28km bike course featuring wide and open trails and providing breathtaking view of Mayon. It will be a two-loop course for swim, bike and raun race passing through fire roads, grass roads, sands and rocky trails.

The closing 8km run follows the ATV route in Mayon passing through rocky and sandy areas, riverbed and grasslands with the finish line set at the famous Cagsawa Ruins.

Action fires off with the 1.5km swim in the shores of Embarcadero Blvd. with calm but deep water and the sands are black, giving no one an edge over the rest and ensuring a gripping battle for top honors in the event presented by the City of Legazpi and produced by Sunrise Events.

Three-peat seeking Bradley Weiss, for one, has said racing along the slopes of Mt. Mayon remains one of his most memorable experiences with the South African ace expressing his eagerness to do it again.

“Our number one goal is to give our athletes the best possible race experience. We want them to remember that they had a wonderful time coming to the Philippines,” said Wilfred Uytengsu, founder of the organizing Sunrise Events, Inc., which incidentally marks its decade-long staging of triathlon events in the country.

Spicing up the event is the duathlon (2km run, 14km bike and 4km run) and the lite XTERRA 750km swim, 14km bike and 4km run. For details, visit www.albay.xterraphil.com or hashtags #XTERRAAlbay or social media accounts facebook /XTERRAAlbay, twitter @XTERRAAlbay or instagram @XTERRAAlbay.

Maharlika cage opener live on ABS-CBN S+A MAHARLIKA Pilipinas Basketball League returns to national television this Independence Day (June 12) on ABSCBN S+A and S+A HD, loaded with new teams and new players in the Datu Cup. The country’s fastest-growing basketball league, now bigger and stronger with 26 teams, will start its second season with an opening ceremony at 7 p.m., followed by the showdown between newcomers General Santos Warriors and the Marikina Shoemakers at 7:30 p.m. Completing the double-header are Mandaluyong El Tigre and 2017 Rajah Cup runner-up Muntinlupa Cagers at 9:30 p.m.

Inaugural champ Batangas City Athletics’ path to another title conquest looks to be a difficult one with the entry of 16 new teams and a whole slew of deadly ballers that just came on board to pump more star power and adrenaline to the fledgling league founded by Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

Among them are two-time ASEAN Basketball League MVP Bobby Ray Parks Jr. who is suiting up for Mandaluyong, veteran pros Rey Guevarra (Muntinlupa), Jondan Salvador (Cebu), and John Wilson (San Juan), former collegiate stars Jai Reyes (Laguna), Kelvin Gregorio (Rizal), Jojo Duncil (Quezon City), Ronjay Enrile (Pasig), and celebrity basketball players Andre Paras (Imus) and Gerald Anderson (Marikina).

Don’t miss the MPBL Datu Cup on S+A and S+A HD starting June 12 at 7 pm. For news and updates, visit sports. abs-cbn.com or follow @abscbnsports on Facebook and Twitter. For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visit www.abscbnpr.com.

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

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

A8

TUESDAY, JUNE 12. 2018

Sports

IPC chief boosts Asean Para Games launching

By Lito Cinco

Spain’s Rafael Nadal raises the Mousquetaires Cup (The Musketeers) after his victory over Austria’s Dominic Thiem, after the men’s singles final match, on day fifteen of The Roland Garros 2018 French Open tennis tournament in Paris. AFP

Nadal insists beating Federer’s record 20 Slams not on agenda P

ARIS—Rafael Nadal insists that he has no desire to become locked into an arms race with Roger Federer to surpass his great rival’s 20 Grand Slam titles.

Nadal clinched an 11th French Open with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory against Dominic Thiem on Sunday to take his majors total to 17.

That’s three behind Federer who is more than four years older.

However, the 32-year-old Nadal said such targets do not concern him, believing his caution is well-placed after an injury-hit career which has seen him sit out nine Grand Slam tournaments.

“I have never been crazy about this kind of stuff,” said Nadal. “You can’t always be frustrated if somebody has more money than you, a bigger house than you, if somebody has more Grand Slams than you. You can’t live with this feeling. Of course I would love to have 20 like

Roger in the future or even more but it’s not something that is on my mind.”

Even this year, injury has continued to hound Nadal with a hip problem forcing him to quit his Australian Open quarterfinal against Marin Cilic.

He missed the North America hardcourt season and only returned in time for the European claycourt season.

On Sunday, he even halted play in the third set due to cramping in his finger that affected his blood circulation.

“It was scary,” he admitted.

Nadal plans to return to Paris in 2019 and try and clinch a 12th title at Roland Garros.

But he remains philosophical about the rest of his career which has so far yielded

17 majors, 79 titles in total as well as more than $100 million in prize money.

“You can’t fight against age and you can’t fight against the watch. The watch keeps going always. So that’s it.

“If you tell me seven, eight years ago that I will be here at 32 years old having this trophy with me again, I will tell you that is something almost impossible, but here we are.

“So I am not much worried about the future. Tennis is a very important part of my life, without a doubt, but is not everything.”

Next on the campaign trail for Nadal is Wimbledon where he was a two-time champion in 2008 and 2010.

However, his recent record at the All England Club has been dispiriting.

Last year, he lost 15-13 in the fifth set of his last-16 tie against Gilles Muller.

Since his last title in London eight years ago, he has also suffered a first round exit as well as two defeats in the

second round.

“I would love to be playing in as many places as possible, but you understand I need to check how I feel in the next couple of days,” said Nadal as he pondered his preparation for Wimbledon which gets underway in three weeks’ time.

He is currently entered to play the Queen’s Club tournament next week.

“It is a drastic change from clay to grass. And I did it in the past when I was much younger, quicker, because I played back to back.

“But it’s time to check how I feel in the next couple of days.”

Victory on Sunday meant that Nadal became just the fourth man of the modern era to win three or more Grand Slam titles after turning 30, joining Federer, Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall.

Australia’s Rosewall was in the crowd on Sunday to see the final, 50 years after he won the title in Paris. AFP

THE presence of current International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons at the launching of the 10th ASEAN Para Games scheduled in Manila in January 2020 certainly gave a boost to the event, which the Philippines is hosting only for the second time.

Parsons cited the Asian and the South East Asian region specifically as a priority are for development by the IPC. “We should be seeing more Asians in the Paralympics and as such, we will award points in the 10th ASEAN Para Games for the winners to improve their chances of qualifying in the 2020 Paralympics set in Japan,” he added.

“I feel like a Filipino already even with my short stay here,” said the Brazilian official after tasting local delicacy balut and trying out the tinikling dance at the welcome dinner hosted by the organizers at the Shangri-la at the Bonifacio Global City, where the ASEAN Para Sports Federation also held its meeting with Parsons as the special guest.

The ASEAN Para Games will be following the SEA Games, which the Philippines is also hosting with the event to be played in three separate hubs --Metro Manila, the new Clark City and Subic, with around a thousand para athletes from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sngapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Timor Leste and host Philippines expected to participate.

Philippine Paralympic Committee and PHILSPADA President Mike Barredo is looking at a Top 4 finish for the Philippines.

“In the last two editions of this event, we improved from seventh to fifth. Now that the event will be held here, we stand a good chance of improving on our performance anew. We have not finalized the members yet since the events to be played were just finalized, but we are looking at around 200 local athletes in both the individual and team events,” said Barredo.

He singled out the events of athletics, swimming boccia, table tennis, and powerlifting, with Paralympics bronze medal winners in the past Josephine Medina in table tennis and powerlifter Adeline Domapong, expected to lead the Philippine charge.

The event is also fully backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, with an initial P5 millions earmarked by the agency for the games.

World will be watching: Pacquiao vs Matthysse

On the eve of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup kickoff at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Team Davao Occidental-Cocolife Tigers held their motivational meeting at the Function Hall of team sponsor Cocolife yesterday in Makati City. The team, also backed by Global Power Power and HNP [Hugpong na Pagbabago Party), was led by team owner Claudine Bautista [center], Cocolife President Elmo Nobleza, Vice President Maricor Mangulabnan, FVP Joseph Ronquillo [standing at center], AVP Rico Rona, AVP Rowena Jael-Asnan, AVP Janus Dellava and Winfred Endozo. They were also joined by team manager Bhong Baribar, Assistant Ray Alao, head coach Don Dulay, assistant coaches Rob Wainwright, Arvin Bonleon, Manu Inigo, Nonoy Bonleon, Matt Makalintal and players Alex Asis, Arnol Adormeo, Billy Ray Robles, Bob Ombecan, Bogs Raymundo, Bonbon Custodio, Edrian Jao, Emanuel Calo, James Regalado, Jarold Cabanog, Joseph Terso, Leo Najorda, Led Paller, Louie Medalla, Mark Yee, Miko Estrollante, Paul John Siarot and Ronald Lamocha.

Marikina-GenSan battle kicks off MPBL Datu Cup MANDALUYONG and Muntinlupa, two teams which figured in a bitter tug-of-war for the services of highly touted Ray Parks, will square off in the Independence Day opening of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League at the Araneta Coliseum.

After winning the Parks sweepstakes, the El Tigre worked on tinkering their line up and this early, they are considered as among the early favorites in the tournament that will be known as the Datu Cup. The two will battle it out at 9:30 p.m.

Marikina takes on General Santos City in the other game at 7:30 p.m.

The Shoemasters made Gerald Anderson as the face of their franchise.

The popular movie and television personality was signed up by head coach Elvis Tolentino, who coached the celebrity baller in one of the recreational leagues several years ago.

But Anderson isn’t the only celebrity baller in the roster of play-

Schedule today

7 p.m. — Opening Ceremonies 7:30 p.m. — Marikina vs General Santos City 9:30 p.m. — Mandaluyong vs Muntinlupa

ers seeing action in the MPBL this season.

Xian Lim, another popular actor/ model, will also play in the fastest growing regional cage league for the Muntinlupa Cagers.

A former varsity player himself, Lim will be joining a stacked El Tigre squad beefed up by ex-pros and top amateur players.

Parks, is no doubt, the star of the El Tigre. The son of seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Sr., is fresh from a championship stint playing for Alab Pilipinas in the Asean Basketball League and will be joined in the line up by teammate JR Alabanza, former pros Mark Andaya and Jeff Javillonar, who were recruited from previous MPBL team Valenzuela Classic, ex-

Quezon City Capitals forward Gian Abrigo, brothers Thomas and Axel Torres of La Salle, National University standout John Paul Cauillan, and collegiate star Rashleigh Paulo Rivero, among others.

But the El Tigre will be facing a team that is no pushover—the Cagers of Muntinlupa, which finished runner-up to Batangas City in the inaugural tournament of this league put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

Brief but colorful opening ceremonies, which will be highlighted by the parade of teams and their respective muses, will usher the start of the new league, whose participation has gone up to 26 teams from the original 10-member cast.

Throughout the activity, 26 motor bikes and a brand new car will be raffled off to lucky ticket holders.

COVERAGE to the “Fight of Champions” mega-showdown between belt holder Lucas Matthysse and challenger Manny Pacquiao is already pegged at 170 countries and is fast shaping to become a blockbuster of an event.

From Asia to South America, to Europe and Africa, to the Middle East, Asia Pacifica, Oceania and the Far East and the Caribbean, fans all over the world will be treated to a whole day of sports festivities on July 15 starting in the morning and throughout the afternoon.

The Pacquiao Vs Matthysse event will be beamed live at 12 noon from the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur (around 8 p.m., July 14 in the US and Mexico) via satellite.

With World Cup fever undeniably in the minds of many, boxing also has its version of the World Cup, with the Philippines and Argentina vying for the World Boxing Association welterweight belt in the main event featuring the legendary Pacquiao and Matthysse.

Other championship bouts presented by

promoter Manny Pacquiao of MP Promotions include the WBA world title matches between Venezuela and China, (Carlos Canizales Vs Lu Bin for the WBA light flyweight belt), as well as South Africa (Moruti Mthalane) against Pakistan (Muhammad Waseem) for the International Boxing Federation flyweight crown.

In the main supporting bout, it will be Mexico against the Philippines as the WBA, through president Gilberto Mendoza Jr. and ratings chairman Jose Oliver, has just sanctioned the fight between Mexican Edivaldo Ortega (26-1-1) and Jhack Tepora (21-0, 16 KOs) of the Philippines for the WBA featherweight title.

Host Malaysia will feature its best fighters Muhammad Farkhan, Theena Thayalan and Alman Abu Baker battling fighters from Thailand and 2 Indian boxers, respectively, in the undercards stacked deep by the organizers, who are trying to impress a worldwide audience.

Other countries represented in the event include Australia and Japan.

DUNK CHAMP. Guy “Frequent Flyer” Dupuy of France was the top dunker in the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2018 Slam Dunk Contest qualifiers on Day 3. Fiba.Basketball

IN BRIEF DOTr to decide on bid of NAIA Consortium THE Department of Transportation said it may grant the original proponent status to NAIA Consortium for the rehabilitation and operation and maintenance of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport this month.

“We will have a decision soon. At this time, we are still evaluating it.

Maybe this month,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The consortium earlier revised its concession period for NAIA 3 to 15 years from the original proposal of 35 years.

NAIA Consortium said it was committed to spend P100 billion for the first phase of the project and P250 billion for the second phase.

The consortium’s members are Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Alliance Global Group Inc., AEDC, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Darwin G Amojelar

Business

Treasury issuing retail bonds worth P121.8b THE Bureau of the Treasury will issue P121.8 billion worth of three-year retail treasury bonds following the successful offering period from May 30 to June 8, 2018.

The Treasury said in a statement Monday the first offering of RTBs for 2018 was met with strong demand from the investing public, with the total issue size over four times higher from the initial planned issuance of P30 billion.

It awarded P66 billion during the auction set on 30 May and an additional P55.8 billion was raised during the public offering period from May 30 to June 8. The BTr conducted roadshows in key cities nationwide to inform interested investors on the terms and benefits of the investment product.

“As with the past issuances of RTBs, we are glad to have generated strong and continued support from the general investing public,” National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said. Julito G. Rada

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, June 11, 2018

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.6500

Japan

Yen

0.009150

0.4817

UK

Pound

1.341700

70.6405

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127460

6.7108

Switzerland

Franc

1.015744

53.4789

Canada

Dollar

0.769349

40.5062

Singapore

Dollar

0.748783

39.4234

Australia

Dollar

0.758900

39.9561

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652872

139.6737

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

14.0396

Brunei

Dollar

0.745990

39.2764

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.031192

1.6423

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

14.3359

Euro

Euro

1.177600

62.0006

Korea

Won

0.000932

0.0491

China

Yuan

0.156031

8.2150

India

Rupee

0.014810

0.7797

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.250815

13.2054

New Zealand

Dollar

0.701700

36.9445

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033518

1.7647

Source: PDS Bridge

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018

B1

Holdings Co. Ltd., or Phillips Electric Car, a Korean electric car manufacturer, plans to expand its operations to the Philippines. The expansion is set to bring 10,000 jobs and $10 million in investments.

Phillips Electric Car chairman Bang Seung Ho (rightmost) and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (second from left) signed the letter of intent in the presence of President Duterte and Phillips Electric Car president Enoch Han (left). The deal is among the 22 business agreements signed during President Duterte’s visit to Korea on June 3 to 5.

The agreements are worth $4.8 billion in investments and translate into 50,800 jobs.

Foreign investments surge 27% N

By Julito G. Rada

ET inflow of foreign direct investments in March this year jumped 27 percent to $682 million from $537 million a year ago, on investors’ positive outlook on the Philippine economy, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Monday.

“FDI inflows rose during the month as net equity capital increased markedly on the back of higher gross placements of equity capital ($351 million from $51 million) and lower withdrawals ($33 million from $42 million),” Bangko Sentral said in a statement.

Equity capital infusions came mostly from Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, and Sweden. These were channeled largely to manufacturing, real estate, art, entertainment and recreation, and financial and insurance activities.

Non-residents’ investments in debt instruments issued by local affiliates (or intercompany borrowings) posted net inflows of $301 million, albeit lower by 36.1 percent compared to its year-ago level.

Meanwhile, reinvestment of earnings increased 12.6 percent to $63 million in March 2018 from $56 million in March 2017.

FDI net inflows in the first quarter of 2018 totaled $2.2 billion, an increase of 43.5 percent from $1.5 billion in the comparable period last year.

“This reflected investors’ continued positive outlook on the Philippine economy on the back of sound macroeco-

nomic fundamentals and robust growth prospects,” the regulator said.

Net equity capital for the quarter increased more than six-fold to $887 million from a year ago as gross placements of $996 million more than compensated for the withdrawals of $109 million.

Equity capital placements originated mainly from Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, and Taiwan. The bulk of the placements were invested in manufacturing, financial and insurance, real estate, arts, entertainment and recreation, and electricity, gas, steam and airconditioning supply activities.

Net investments in debt instruments reached $1.1 billion, down 8.2 percent from $1.2 billion in the previous year.

Reinvestment of earnings was steady at $193 million.

Earlier, Bangko Sentral Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said he was expecting 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 nontraditional trading partners.

“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.

Espenilla said the ambitious “ Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration was expected to create private sector demand.

“Also, independent analysts recognize that there are real changes happening.

From those angles, I think we have a fairly optimistic outlook on FDI,” Espenilla said.

DM Wenceslao pegs final IPO price at P12 per share

By Jenniffer B. Austria

TNCs, TNVs placed under LTFRB control THE Department of Transportation issued an order giving full authority to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to regulate and supervise Transport Network Companies and the Transport Network Vehicle Service units that operate under them.

The DOTr recognized the establishment of the roles of TNCs and TNVS in providing transport services to the public, as well as in promoting safe, reliable, and efficient land transportation services in the country.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the regulation was seen to benefit all parties. Darwin G. Amojelar

business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

PHILLIPS CAR EXPANSION. Phillips

MPIC completes buy-in of Vietnam water firm CONGLOMERATE Metro Pacific Investment Corp. completed the acquisition of a 49-percent stake in one of the largest water companies in Vietnam for P2 billion.

Metro Pacific said in a disclosure to the stock exchange wholly-owned unit MetroPac Water Investments Corp. finished the purchase of 37.926 million shares in Tuan Loc Water Resources Investment Joint Stock Company.

The transaction allows Metro Pacific to enter and expand into the Vietnam water market.

Tuan Loc Water is one of the largest water companies in Vietnam, with 310 million liters per day of installed capacity and a billed volume of approximately 87 MLD as of end 2017.

Majority of Tuan Loc Water’s 310 MLD of operating capacity will be supplied to industrial parks. It has three main project assets, including Song Lam Raw Water Treatment Plant with an installed capacity of 200 MLD and expandable to 300 MLD. Jenniffer B. Austria

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

HALL OF FAME AWARDEE. Philippine Airlines president Jaime Bautista (third from left) receives the Tourism Hall of Fame Award from the Rotary Club of Manila for his long-standing contribution to tourism promotions as prime mover of PAL’s efforts to pioneer tourism markets all over the world. Presenting the award (from left) are Rotarian Farid Schoucair, general manager of New World Makati Hotel; Rotarian Bobby Joseph, chairman of the Rotary Club of Manila Tourism Award Committee; and Rotary Club Manila president Jimmie Policarpio.

Peso dives, nears 53:$1 level THE peso again posted a fresh low against the US dollar and neared the 53 level on Monday, pulled down mainly by investors’ anticipation of what will transpire during the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Wednesday.

The local currency lost P0.25 to close at 52.95 from 52.70 on Friday.

It was its weakest level in almost 12 years since 52.98 on July 3, 2006. Total volume traded reached $653 million, lower than $724 million on Friday.

“Investors are playing safe ahead of the FOMC meeting which strengthened the greenback,” Astro del Castillo, president and managing director of First Grade Finance Inc., a finance and investment company, said in a phone interview.

Del Castillo also said the peso’s weakness could also be traced to the possible strong demand for the US dollar because of the two holidays this week—the Independence Day on June

12 and the Feast of Ramadan on Friday.

“Investors will remain cautious ahead of the central banks meetings this week,” he said, referring the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank.

But Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. downplayed the peso’s current level, saying the “FX market is naturally volatile.”

Economists earlier predicted the US Federal Reserve might increase interest rates again within the year, a scenario that has been affecting most currencies, including the peso.

Earlier, Espenilla was unperturbed by the peso’s decline, saying it was natural for the currency to move up and down.

“That is market... It goes up and down. What can I say,” Espenilla said in reply to a query. He added that he was not worried on the current level of the peso. Julito G. Rada

DM Wenceslao & Associates Inc. pegged the final price for its planned initial public offering at P12 per share that will enable it to raise P8.15 billion in proceeds.

The final price is 47.6 percent lower than the initial indicative price of P22.90 when DMWAI filed its IPO prospectus with the corporate regulators in March.

DMWAI is expected to raise P8.15 billion from the sale of 679.2 million common shares at P12 per share.

The total proceeds could go up to P9.37 billion if the sale of 101.87 million in over-allotment shares is exercised.

BPI Capital Corp president Reginaldo Cariaso said in a mobile message DMWAI was well covered at P12 per share “Institutional tranche was well covered by high quality domestic and international investors at that price level,” Cariaso said.

At least 70 percent of the shares, or 475.27 million, will be sold to foreign investors and 30 percent equivalent to

203.9 million shares will be offered to local investors.

The company plans to use the net proceeds from the IPO to expand its real estate development footprint through a mix of commercial and residential projects within the 204-hectare Aseana City.

The company tentatively set the offering period on June 18 to 22 and the listing date on June 29.

DWMAI is pushing through with the IPO even as Del Monte Philippines Inc. opted to defer a P13.5-billion offering pending an improvement in market conditions.

Aseana City is a 107.5-hectare master planned reclamation being positioned to become the next major mixed-use or “live-work-play” CBD in Metro Manila, anchored by tourism, recreational developments and retail mall.

The company at the endof 2017 had seven completed investment properties, including six in Aseana City, with a total land area of 42,464 square meters and a leasable floor area of approximately 59,027 sq. m.

B2

Business

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks rise; second-liners advance T HE stock market rose Monday in thin trading in step with the most of Asia, with secondliners providing a lift.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 30.56 points, or 0.4 percent, to 7,771.30 on a value turnover of P4 billion. Gainers beat losers, 103 to 84, with 49 issues unchanged.

Conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei advanced 2.8 percent to P61, while International Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator, rose 1.8 percent to P88.50.

Chelsea Logistics Corp. of businessman Dennis Uy surged 5.9 percent to P8.07, while Semirara Mining and Power Corp. of the Consunji Group, the

biggest coal miner, climbed 4.7 percent to P31.40.

The rest of Asian markets mostly rose Monday as traders brushed off the chaotic Group of Seven meeting, with investors looking ahead to Donald Trump’s summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and key central bank decisions.

Trump pulled out of endorsing a joint communique after the G7 meet finished on Saturday in a row over trade, accusing the summit’s chairman, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, of dishonesty.

The shock decision followed a testy gathering in Quebec, where the US president came under fire for his “America First” protectionist drive that has fueled fears of a global trade war.

He had left early for Singapore, only to take exception to comments by Trudeau at a news conference.

“One thing that we do know for sure is the president’s uncontrollable need to defend his status is more apparent than any strategy when (it) comes to bilateral trade negotiations,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. “But the far from harmonious Quebec summit confirmed deep-seated... expanding policy fissures on a plethora of significant concerns including climate change, the Iran nuclear deal and, of course, trade,” he added.

“While expectations were not exactly high going into the meeting, the result was a bit worse than even the markets’ dismal presuppositions.”

Despite the weekend’s problematic meeting, Tokyo ended 0.5 percent up, Hong Kong added 0.5 percent and Seoul gained 0.8 percent.

Singapore and Wellington also rose, while Taipei was flat. Shanghai, how-

ever, ended 0.5 percent down.

Sydney was closed for a public holiday.

All eyes are now on Singapore, with the leaders of North Korea and the United States due to meet for the first time in history, with Pyongyang’s nuclear program top of the agenda.

Tai Hui, JP Morgan Asset Management chief market strategist for AsiaPacific, said in a note: “Although the... summit in Singapore is capturing public attention, the direct impact on markets is likely to be limited.”

“Ongoing dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang is positive, since this implies military action is on hold, limiting any economic implication for South Korea and surrounding region.

Investors will hope to see steady progress with opportunities for more discussion in coming months.” With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 59.35 25,240 98.9 555,990 3 83,000 137.5 760,860 1.55 329,000 34.45 175,000 16.5 17,900 14.76 403,700 3.6 65,000 895 40 0.53 763,000 79.2 3,603,730 1.12 1,796,000 20 6,200 52 516,870 206.8 70 114 50 86 3,140 32.9 294,900 201.8 190,260 1,955 115 88.95 118,500

1,489,426 55,106,998 247,860 104,046,155 515,320 6,032,865 298,124 5,958,562 232,340 35,800 405,270 285,924,542.50 2,032,490 124,175 26,861,427 14,476 5,710 270,040 9,713,965 38,423,464 225,325 10,545,576

1,291,500 -18,452,776 920,713.00 -47,400 -1,631,670 96,514 -4,415,520 -112,821,106.50 -14,860.00 -265,142.50 10,340 243,530 19,026,786 -587,080

38.2 13.94 0.6 1.27 19.82 0.227 3.28 16.12 260.8 48.8 23.7 54 61 1.92 8.7 10.58 15.98 11.48 7.17 5.25 1.76 14.62 62 20 8.79 15.2 2.25 282.8 48.05 5.02 3.3 26.95 12.26 22.5 336.6 0.184 6.5 2.27 4.3 9 5.74 7.79 1.34 12.06 48.5 6.1 4.6 2.42 3.65 1.99 13 66 5.13 0.135 0.96 128 3.03 1.15

INDUSTRIAL 38.2 637,000 14.06 747,500 0.61 355,000 1.28 1,222,000 20.05 23,900 0.231 12,610,000 3.28 1,978,000 16.5 16,900 260.8 110 50.5 505,940 23.85 77,900 56.7 1,760,560 61 130 1.95 159,000 8.71 30,300 10.58 4,573,700 15.98 285,400 11.5 3,200 7.18 247,800 5.26 2,715,900 1.76 5,000 15 78,300 62.4 3,510 20 983,600 8.79 21,100 15.34 652,900 2.26 798,000 285 487,600 48.05 350 5.1 18,200 3.3 14,000 28 276,100 12.28 168,700 22.5 1,458,000 339 281,980 0.189 3,760,000 6.5 19,500 2.37 6,886,000 4.31 26,000 9.1 269,100 5.89 146,300 7.8 10,900 1.35 1,754,000 12.5 156,000 48.7 552,400 6.1 10,200 4.6 7,711,000 2.61 942,000 3.65 2,000 1.99 233,000 13.36 376,300 66.4 177,940 5.14 84,300 0.135 130,000 0.96 46,000 131.2 394,900 3.12 7,205,000 1.19 56,030,000

24,525,785 10,481,742 214,490 1,563,890 478,119 2,928,350 6,577,510 273,402 28,698 25,186,931 1,882,765 96,831,380 7,930 306,710 266,398 48,561,402 4,571,578 36,826 1,777,351 14,323,406 8,800 1,160,036 220,424 20,306,710 186,814 10,007,482 1,823,840 138,959,844 16,827.50 91,378 46,560 7,541,595 2,072,082 33,314,325 95,361,012 723,310 128,218 15,838,300 113,580 2,441,792 847,082 85,035 2,451,280 1,946,792 26,899,490 62,220 35,470,600 2,416,030 7,300 470,420 4,926,218 11,815,656 433,717 17,620 44,230 51,415,968 22,396,400 67,046,890

8,957,160 1,326,220 -1,107,310 200,500 262,480 -4,950 13,050 -1,630,768 24,000 12,420 -214,072 -9,394,204 1,679,300 742,392 -683,386 -574,260 79,752 -19,331,335 -3,433,888 33,900 4,079,046 3,505,195 1,218,210 3,561,870 49,504,412 -108,170 401,119 131,480.00 -1,099,484 -17,962,495 -2,440 -4,554,000 -363,820 449,570 -5,928,114 5,150 13,570 16,323,661.00 1,596,160 569,620

0.275 62.6 12.96 6.11 0.67 0.68 961 6.32 11.14 7.01 1,000 59.2 5.5 5.39 0.56 4.03 20.75 0.57 5.02 3.36 0.037 1.27 2.91 139.6 903 0.8 1.65 513 258.8 0.21

HOLDING FIRMS 0.3 11,190,000 64 602,010 12.96 2,382,600 6.11 31,700 0.68 2,588,000 0.7 68,000 978 131,940 6.4 1,492,500 11.26 2,302,300 7.4 58,700 1,027 78,715 61 1,060,810 5.5 14,700 5.39 3,500 0.57 381,000 4.03 263,000 20.95 633,800 0.59 875,000 5.05 21,158,400 3.36 4,000 0.037 7,000,000 1.28 1,736,000 2.92 489,000 140 56,040 928 123,540 0.8 91,000 1.67 21,000 592 7,030 264 1,680 0.22 220,000

3,224,350 38,144,674 30,940,084 195,089 1,748,360 46,300 128,531,800 9,549,500 26,037,002 434,391 80,533,085 64,144,065.50 81,420 18,865 217,170 1,063,210 13,274,285 512,250 107,275,243 13,440 259,000 2,233,740 1,433,650 7,839,950 113,972,450 72,800 34,860 4,166,985 438,934 47,400

-9,000 2,911,703.50 253,266 -23,453,345 -254,224 5,636,310 133,200 19,346,895 44,221,844.50 5,600 -549,230 -456,440 1,260,444 11,780 -3,193,746 -4,403,340 -385,850 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

59.35 99.5 2.97 136 1.59 34.45 16.68 14.8 3.55 895 0.54 80.7 1.14 20.15 51.9 206.8 115 86 33.5 202 1,965 89

59.35 99.55 3 137.5 1.59 34.5 16.68 14.86 3.6 895 0.55 80.7 1.17 20.15 52 206.8 115 86 33.5 203.2 1,965 89

58.05 98.9 2.97 135 1.55 34.4 16.5 14.7 3.55 895 0.53 79.15 1.12 20 50.7 206.8 114 86 32.7 201 1,955 88.95

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT 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

38.5 14.1 0.61 1.28 20.1 0.228 3.35 16.12 261 50 25.6 54 61 1.94 9.22 10.6 16.2 11.56 7.19 5.37 1.76 14.62 63.15 21.95 8.99 15.38 2.34 284 48.1 5.02 3.39 27.25 12.42 22.9 338.6 0.188 6.81 2.27 4.55 9 5.94 7.81 1.42 12.06 48.5 6.1 4.6 2.54 3.65 2.07 13.12 66 5.15 0.135 0.96 131.2 3.14 1.19

38.85 14.1 0.62 1.3 20.1 0.24 3.39 16.5 261 50.5 25.6 56.7 61 1.95 9.22 10.7 16.2 11.56 7.22 5.39 1.76 15 63.15 21.95 8.99 15.4 2.34 286 48.1 5.1 3.39 28 12.42 23.5 339 0.197 6.81 2.37 4.55 9.13 5.94 7.81 1.44 12.6 49.15 6.1 4.6 2.62 3.65 2.07 13.36 66.9 5.15 0.137 0.97 131.4 3.15 1.26

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

0.285 62.6 13 6.2 0.68 0.68 962 6.35 11.28 7.01 1,000 59.5 5.69 5.39 0.6 4.05 20.9 0.59 5.06 3.36 0.037 1.29 2.94 140 919 0.8 1.67 514 264 0.21

0.305 64 13.08 6.24 0.69 0.7 985 6.4 11.6 7.5 1,030 61.9 5.69 5.39 0.6 4.05 21.4 0.61 5.16 3.36 0.037 1.32 2.96 140 929.5 0.8 1.67 634 264 0.22

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

7.34 1.03 15.5 2.02 0.8 41 3.38 4.81 6 0.465 1.03 0.97 0.229 0.42 27.8 0.64 1.65 1.3 1.09 4.9 0.65 0.43

7.34 1.03 15.5 2.03 0.81 41.15 3.4 4.9 6.03 0.47 1.03 0.98 0.232 0.43 28.3 0.64 1.65 1.3 1.13 4.92 0.66 0.45

7.16 1.01 15 2.02 0.8 40.55 3.38 4.8 5.98 0.46 1.03 0.95 0.227 0.42 27.6 0.64 1.62 1.28 1.07 4.78 0.64 0.43

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.53 2.63 29.05 20.35 2.08 3.25 37.5 1.08 10.08 0.8 6.72

0.53 2.63 29.05 20.8 2.2 3.29 37.5 1.1 10.28 0.8 6.89

0.51 2.57 29.05 20.05 2.08 3.25 37 1.08 9.95 0.8 6.72

0.51 2.59 29.05 20.8 2.18 3.29 37 1.1 10.02 0.8 6.85

1,974,000 1,002,000 100 1,106,200 3,266,000 97,000 6,048,400 748,000 625,300 22,000 1,603,400

1,012,240 2,595,110 2,905 22,893,445 7,043,560 315,870 225,044,685 813,060 6,310,828 17,600 10,962,788

-133,620 20,760 15,581,780 -198,340 185,450 -66,763,715 -130,151 -7,376,392

2GO GROUP ABS CBN 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 HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

15.86 26.4 0.52 0.045 12.8 11.02 0.056 87.2 7.85 6.93 2.15 20.35 940 1,659 5.59 306.2 3.9 2.19 86.95 13.3 0.116 1.58 3.96 15.06 4.09 1.04 25.35 4.3 5.52 2.98 2.87 2.78 18.78 9.47 9.1 3 127 5.24 1,317 0.99 0.35 48 87.4 9.11 2.11 1.25 0.43 5.09 0.84 11.96

15.86 26.5 0.53 0.045 12.8 11.1 0.058 88 8.14 7.52 2.15 20.35 940 1,691 5.64 313 3.9 2.29 88.5 13.3 0.117 1.75 4.18 15.38 4.15 1.09 25.55 4.3 6.03 2.99 4.24 4.2 20 9.48 9.15 3 127 5.24 1,317 0.99 0.365 48 88.9 9.5 2.15 1.28 0.44 5.1 0.85 12.2

15.64 26 0.495 0.044 12.8 10.62 0.054 86.7 7.81 6.93 2.15 18.52 940 1,648 5.54 305.2 3.75 2.18 86.5 13.3 0.114 1.5 3.65 15.04 4.07 1.04 25.2 4.16 5.52 2.96 2.8 2.78 17.5 8.88 9.08 3 124.5 5.13 1,298 0.96 0.35 47.5 87.4 9 2.08 1.24 0.42 4.94 0.83 11.96

PROPERTY 15.8 26 0.51 0.044 12.8 10.74 0.056 87.3 8.07 7.45 2.15 19 940 1,690 5.63 313 3.75 2.29 88.5 13.3 0.115 1.73 4.13 15.38 4.07 1.05 25.4 4.26 6.01 2.96 3.58 3.66 19.98 9.1 9.15 3 124.5 5.2 1,312 0.97 0.365 48 87.8 9.28 2.1 1.26 0.43 4.95 0.84 12.2

9,100 44,900 11,789,000 2,300,000 59,600 8,363,600 2,780,000 288,130 9,578,500 13,000 5,000 159,400 200 10,465 90,400 6,190 446,000 24,000 1,035,670 300 1,390,000 4,462,000 604,000 2,500 320,000 558,000 385,700 29,000 7,966,800 640,000 20,475,000 1,875,000 8,300 17,371,800 2,900 21,000 16,760 111,900 31,520 9,407,000 290,000 302,400 167,730 1,181,200 3,167,000 304,000 4,900,000 2,578,500 1,506,000 6,030,400

143,694 1,179,740 5,995,535 103,400 762,880 90,470,124 153,560 25,143,183 76,858,152 93,770 10,750 3,055,154 188,000 17,644,595 503,860 1,924,178 1,690,920 53,020 90,237,316 3,990 160,300 7,435,560 2,362,010 38,350 1,304,950 584,220 9,796,970 121,410 46,565,986 1,899,600 74,447,160 6,785,100 160,322 159,236,095 26,460 63,000 2,088,905 581,692 41,325,180 9,155,900 102,550 14,511,930 14,725,989.50 10,881,070 6,661,310 381,850 2,100,900 12,965,554 1,259,980 73,119,766

15,640 -44,400 762,880 -22,212,932 -3,884,576 -5,692,194 38,920 9,538,720 -3,970 -24,118.50 -94,880 -44,000 77,550 4,281,240 3,098,383.00 -20,800 -514,530 366,347 -10,980 0 12,566 450,180 -71,030 5,469,685 -4,472,677.50 -9,280 1,130,570 -98,850 -5,429,960 65,862,732

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

0.0028 1.6 4.5 28.7 1.69 0.295 7.29 2.3 0.195 0.134 0.134 0.0088 0.0081 1.51 5.05 1.12 0.52 0.88 0.012 0.012 0.011 5.3 13.18 30.25 0.0061

0.0029 1.6 4.5 30.8 1.7 0.295 7.3 2.31 0.21 0.134 0.136 0.0088 0.0081 1.52 5.05 1.12 0.52 0.93 0.012 0.012 0.012 5.3 13.18 31.65 0.0062

0.0027 1.58 4.5 26.5 1.68 0.295 7.25 2.27 0.195 0.131 0.134 0.0088 0.0081 1.49 4.92 1.08 0.52 0.88 0.012 0.012 0.011 5.21 12.56 30.1 0.0061

MINING & OIL 0.0029 355,000,000 1.58 1,474,000 4.5 6,000 27.65 303,300 1.7 363,000 0.295 40,000 7.3 300 2.29 1,772,000 0.201 270,000 0.134 1,620,000 0.136 260,000 0.0088 2,000,000 0.0081 4,000,000 1.52 712,000 4.95 44,800 1.1 14,000 0.52 95,000 0.92 60,000 0.012 18,100,000 0.012 6,400,000 0.012 4,800,000 5.21 144,700 12.58 1,201,700 31.4 2,961,100 0.0062 3,000,000

994,000 2,338,260 27,000 8,482,040 615,620 11,800 2,184 4,054,440 54,250 216,200 35,260 17,600 32,400 1,073,700 222,358 15,280 49,400 54,920 217,200 76,800 55,400 756,497 15,308,562 92,278,685 18,500

15,900 -1,494 1,200 1,100 -5,786 -228,296 -9,101,120 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F GTCAP PREF A HOUSE PREF A LR PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2F

25.1 508 105 100.7 107 962 100 1.05 77 79.9 76 77

25.1 508 105 100.7 107 962 100 1.07 77 79.9 76 77

24.8 500 105 100.7 107 961 100 1.05 77 79.9 76 77

PREFERRED 24.8 61,900 500 520 105 1,900 100.7 870 107 10 961 1,350 100 900 1.07 36,000 77 9,370 79.9 5,340 76 2,500 77 270

1,546,290 261,600 199,500 87,609 1,070 1,297,430 90,000 37,820 721,490 426,666 190,000 20,790

-1,298,120 50,000 199,500 190,000 -

LR WARRANT

2.4

2.48

2.38

WARRANTS 2.39 309,000

743,310

-19,200

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.12 3.29

5.38 3.31

5.12 3.25

5.35 3.31

6,911,999 2,406,110

80,667 100

FIRST METRO ETF

115.8

116

115

1,084,167

-219,320

11,000 260,000

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.18 1.02 15.36 2.03 0.81 40.8 3.38 4.82 6.03 0.465 1.03 0.98 0.231 0.43 27.85 0.64 1.62 1.28 1.12 4.78 0.65 0.45

143,800 2,708,000 11,300 4,000 471,000 4,461,800 50,000 828,000 6,100 50,940,000 20,000 100,000 1,770,000 170,000 383,600 102,000 363,000 1,540,000 4,120,000 8,813,000 27,276,000 1,100,000

1,039,805 2,750,260 172,978 8,090 378,020 182,035,810 169,730 4,019,230 36,511 23,458,700 20,600 95,850 405,450 71,900 10,706,990 65,280 593,530 1,982,460 4,514,360 42,622,350 17,715,000 486,500

-73,060 4,608 -16,736,140 44,220 -1,113,540 -19,927,600 -550,460 -197,850 -29,440 21,800 -20,436,850 -159,900 -

USD DMPL A1 USD DMPL A2

10 10

10 10

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

11,713,024

INDUSTRIAL

120,151,757

HOLDING FIRMS

61,905,826

PROPERTY

122,993,964

SERVICES

124,891,184

MINING & OIL

405,669,738

GRAND TOTAL

849,383,695

10 10

SME

1,315,400 732,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116 9,400 10 10

DDS

1,100 26,000

VALUE 1,923.73 (down) -2.16 747,536,109.6 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,909.9 (up) 44.5 14,251,615.98 HOLDING FIRMS 7,760.23 (up) 95.37 43,934,867.78 PROPERTY 3,769.11 (down) -35.11 1,506.78 (up) 4.01 11,534,362.67 SERVICES MINING & OIL 10,321.51 (up) 126.38 953,474,544.21 PSEI 7,771.3 (up) 30.56 127,023,636.794 All Shares Index 4,704.54 (up) 14.44 4,008,162,591.08 Gainers: 103; Losers: 84 Unchanged: 49; Total: 236

Phoenix not interested in coal assets of Ayala unit

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines Inc. is not keen on bidding to acquire 50 percent of the coal assets of AC Energy Holdings Inc., a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp., and will instead focus on efforts to develop the liquefied natural gas industry.

“While we always welcome business opportunities, at this time however, this may not be, given our LNG project,” Phoenix vice president for external affairs Raymond Zorrilla said.

AC Energy’s coal-fired power plants produce 1,300 megawatts, or 80 percent of its total energy assets totaling 1,600 MW. Its coal assets include investments in South Luzon Thermal Corp., which owns the 244-MW coal plant in Calaca, Batangas; the 632-MW-GNPower Mariveles coal plant in Mariveles, Bataan; the 1,336-MW GNPower Dinginin coal plant also in Mariveles; and the 540-MW GN Power Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte province.

Phoenix signed last week an agreement with CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corp., China’s largest LNG importer and terminal operator, to study, plan and develop an LNG receiving terminal project in the Philippines.

“We prefer a change in mix in favor of LNG and away from coal,” Zorrilla said.

Phoenix said the agreement with CNOOC would broaden its portfolio of new businesses, which now include liquefied petroleum gas, convenience retailing, asphalt and e-transactions.

Zorrilla earlier said the LNG opportunity would be an addition to the company’s expanding portfolio of new ventures that complemented and strengthened its core fuel business.

“As one of the largest LNG players in the world, CNOOC has the breadth of expertise and experience in the industry,” Zorrilla said.

Aboitiz wins shipbuilding deal in Cebu

By Jenniffer B. Austria ABOITIZ Construction Inc., a unit of the Aboitiz Group., recently recently received the award to design and build the expansion of the shipbuilding facilities of Austal Philippines Pty. Ltd. of Australia in Balamban, Cebu province.

ACI said in statement the scope of the project involved the civil and building works, electrical and pre-fabrication of steel materials to more than double the shipyard’s capacity.

ACI has formed a 670-man team to complete the project by February next year.

Austal Philippines is an integral partner of the Austal Group in building revolutionary high-speed ships for governments, navies and ferry and offshore operators around the world.

“This expansion will more than double the capability of the shipyard in terms of output and size of vessels it can manufacture. It will also generate hundreds of additional employment,” said Austal Philippines project manager Mitch Barnett.

“With the rapid growth of Austal Philippines reputation and confidence from clients around the world, it is expected that the Philippines will become Austal’s center of excellence for commercial vessel manufacturing. Aboitiz Construction is playing a key role in helping us achieve this,” he said.

Austal in 2012 bought the shipyard and contracted ACI to refurbish it.

“Once again, a repeat client has placed its trust in Aboitiz Construction.

As a reliable contractor that upholds integrity, we will not fail them,” said ACI president and chief operating officer Alberto Ignacio Jr. ACI is one of the most reliable and respected industrial contractors in the Philippines with a wide range of experience in major engineering an construction projects. It is capable of doing work from conceptualization to execution and commissioning, from earth moving to marine structures, petrochemical to word-class resorts and from warehouses to office buildings.

World

B3

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Trump’s bust-up shows risks for N. Korea summit

IN BRIEF Trump slams allies in Twitter rant WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump lashed out at US allies Monday in a Twitter rant focusing on trade following a contentious G7 summit of economic powers in Canada at the weekend.

“Fair Trade is now to be called Fool Trade if it is not Reciprocal,” Trump tweeted, as he criticized Canadian tariffs on imports of US milk.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then “acts hurt when called out!” Trump wrote.

Trump pulled out of endorsing a joint communique after the G7 meet finished on Saturday with the US president accusing Trudeau, the summit’s chairman, of dishonesty.

His Twitter rant on Monday continued: “Why should I, as President of the United States, allow countries to continue to make Massive Trade Surpluses, as they have for decades, while our Farmers, Workers & Taxpayers have such a big and unfair price to pay? Not fair to the PEOPLE of America!”

Adding to the US trade deficit is “the fact that the U.S. pays close to the entire cost of NATO-protecting many of these same countries that rip us off on Trade (they pay only a fraction of the cost-and laugh!).”

He said the European Union “should pay much more for Military!”

AFP

Indian billionaire seeks asylum in Britain MUMBAI—Indian billionaire jeweler Nirav Modi, wanted over an alleged massive bank fraud, has fled to Britain where he is seeking asylum, according to a report Monday.

Modi, whose celebrity clients have included actress Naomi Watts and Kate Winslet, is accused of involvement in a $1.8 billion scam against Punjab National Bank (PNB), India’s second-largest state-run lender.

The 47-year-old has been on the run since the scandal broke in February, rocking India’s corporate world.

The Financial Times newspaper cited officials in India and Britain as saying that Modi had sought asylum in Britain for what he called “political persecution”.

Indian officials were not immediately available to comment.

A spokesman for Britain’s Home Office said: “We do not comment on individual cases.”

It comes as India’s government seeks the extradition of liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya over unpaid loans to his beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines after he absconded to Britain in 2016.

Indian investigators are probing allegations that Modi and his uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi, also a diamond merchant, defrauded PNB of 2.8 billion rupees ($43.8 million).

This figure is said to be just a part of the total losses.

PNB said in February that Modi and Choksi had defrauded it by raising credit with international branches of other Indian banks, using illegal guarantees provided by rogue PNB employees. AFP

Japan criticizes Russia for laying cables TOKYO—Japanese officials criticized Russia on Monday for its plans to lay fiber-optic cables to the islands disputed by Tokyo and Moscow, calling the construction work “deplorable” and “without legal basis.”

Ties between Japan and Russia have been strained for decades over the four islands, which were occupied by the Soviet Union in the closing days of World War II but are claimed by Tokyo.

They are known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kurils.

“It is extremely deplorable that such a project is being carried out under the Russian occupation that has no legal basis,” government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told reporters The Japanese Sankei Shimbun newspaper reported over the weekend that Russia plans to lay the cables between the disputed islands and Russia’s Pacific island of Sakhalin.

The newspaper said Moscow had notified Tokyo of the project, which will be implemented by Chinese company Huawei Technologies.

“We’ve lodged protests via diplomatic routes with Russia and China,” Suga said, adding that Japan “will patiently negotiate with Russia.”

The dispute over the islands has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty to formally end wartime hostilities. AFP

MEETING. This handout picture released by the Saudi Royal Palace on June 11, 2018, shows Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah (L) attending a meeting in Mecca to discuss the economic crisis in Jordan. AFP

Leading independence activist jailed for 6 years H ONG KONG―Hong Kong’s leading independence activist was jailed for six years Monday for his involvement in some of the city’s worst protest violence for decades.

Edward Leung was convicted in May of rioting during the 2016 running battles with police, when demonstrators hurled bricks torn up from pavements and set rubbish alight in the commercial district of Mong Kok. Handing down his jail term, Judge Anthea Pang said Leung actively participated in the riots and described his actions as “wanton and vicious”.

The 27-year-old was already in custody after pleading guilty in January to a separate charge of assaulting a police officer during the clashes. He was sentenced to one year in jail on that count, with the two terms to be served concurrently.

The 2016 protest began as a seemingly innocuous rally to protect illegal hawkers from health inspectors, but it quickly morphed into an outpouring of anger against authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing.

At the forefront of the clashes were young “localists”, a term coined for the radical groups promoting a split from mainland China that grew out of the failure of the massive pro-democracy rallies in 2014 to win concessions from Beijing on political reform.

At the time, Leung was the head of localist group Hong Kong Indigenous and a rising star on the political scene as the

fledgling independence movement gathered momentum, infuriating Beijing.

Pang said the protesters appeared to be “sincere, earnest but wrong-headed people” with strong convictions.

They “will stop at nothing to impose those views” on society, she said, which Hong Kong cannot tolerate as it poses “extremely great danger”.

Leung looked calm throughout the hearing and waved at supporters―some of whom reacted emotionally to the sentence―before being led away.

Two other protesters were sentenced alongside Leung to seven years and three and a half years in prison.

Chris Patten, Hong Kong’s last colonial governor, slammed Leung’s sentence, which was handed down under the public order ordinance. He said “the vague definitions in the legislation are open to abuse and do not conform” with international standards. AFP

SINGAPORE―Donald Trump’s spectacular bust-up with America’s closest allies at the G7 raises the already high political stakes for Tuesday’s summit with Kim Jong Un, and highlights the dangers of the US leader’s self-serving diplomacy.

Many analysts suggest Trump is perversely more at ease with traditional foes―contrasting his treatment of the likes of Canada’s Justin Trudeau to the red-carpet welcome he recently gave Kim’s right-hand man at the White House.

Former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul summed it up: “If Trump can’t negotiate a deal on milk with one of our closest allies, how is he going to get a deal on nuclear disarmament with one of our greatest foes?”

Heading into the G7 summit in Canada in characteristically bullish mood, Trump had promised he would pull off the sort of trade deal that only he, the world’s greatest deal maker, could make.

It will be “easy”, said Trump, but the reality was anything but.

Despite diplomats’ best efforts, and unusual personal involvement from leaders huddling in alcoves and sun rooms of a chateau by the Saint Lawrence river, the draft communique was barely enough to paper over the cracks.

So each leader, Trump and Trudeau included, left the summit and went off to tell their publics how hard they had fought for the national interest.

Watching Trudeau’s press conference from Air Force One on his way to Singapore, Trump took umbrage at the Canadian leader’s voter-tailored message and angrily rejected the communique.

Only hours earlier, Trump had performed his own victory lap in front of the cameras, declaring the summit a success and America’s relations with its allies a “10” out of 10.

And faced with a choice between tarnishing his deal-maker credentials and throwing an ally under the bus, Trump’s choice was never in doubt.

“He was angry about Trudeau’s press conference,” said one aide, on condition of anonymity.

So his aides rushed to turn the tables on Trudeau, painting the quiet-spoken Canadian PM as a back-stabber and the cause of the breakdown.

“There’s a special place in hell for any foreign leader that engages in badfaith diplomacy with President Donald J. Trump and then tries to stab him in the back on the way out the door,” said US trade advisor Peter Navarro.

A flight across the world later and Trump was in Singapore, preparing for an unprecedented summit with Kim that has raised hopes of bringing peace to the Korean peninsula. AFP

Tired and hungry Afghans walk hundreds of kilometers for peace GHAZNI, Afghanistan―Hobbled by blisters and stalked by hunger, dozens of Afghan protesters are marching hundreds of kilometers across the war-torn country demanding an end to the nearly 17-year conflict.

Nine people began the weeks-long antiwar march in May, but their numbers have since swollen to around 50, organizers say, as their demands for an end to fighting gain traction among ordinary Afghans increasingly fed up with years of bloodshed.

The arduous journey began in the southern province of Helmand, a Taliban stronghold.

The group hopes to reach the capital Kabul, some 700 kilometers away, before the end of the holy month of Ramadan this week where it plans to present a list of demands for peace to Afghan leaders.

Among the protesters is Zaheer Ahmad Zindani, who was blinded in a roadside explosion several years ago that also killed his sister.

“We are tired of this war and bloodshed,” Zindani told AFP as the group arrived in Ghazni, the capital of the southeastern province of the same name, over the weekend.

“Both sides should sit down for peace talks. We want a permanent and sustainable peace.”

The group is also calling for a ceasefire―but longer than the ones announced by the Afghan government and Taliban for the Eid holiday that follows Ramadan―and a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.

After weeks of walking along asphalt roads in the heat, sleeping under trees or in mosques, and weakened by fasting for Ramadan, the group is now within 200 kilometers of the Afghan capital.

Initially ridiculed for their plan to walk to Kabul, the protesters now enjoy growing support as more Afghans pay attention to their cause and take to social media to cheer them on. AFP

Koreans in UK tackle north-south divide LONDON―When Kim Song-ju escaped North Korea through China he opted to head to Britain 10 years ago instead of South Korea, hoping to avoid discrimination.

But while he found work and a family home in a well-established Korean community in southwest London, he also encountered the social stratification he had traveled thousands of miles to evade.

“Most of my friends here are North Koreans,” he told AFP through a translator in the offices of a dissident newspaper in New Malden, where he helps out during time off from his job at a Korean supermarket.

The former electrician said when he spoke to people from the south, “it’s about golf or New Malden, but when we

talk about life experiences it becomes difficult to understand each other”.

As US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hold a historic summit in Singapore Tuesday, many here are wondering if it could herald the first tentative step towards the eventual reunification of the Korean peninsula.

But this quiet corner of southwest London provides a rare window on the complexities of trying to reunite two countries severed through six decades of acrimony.

“We’re separate communities,” said another local exile, Choi Joong Wha, a father-of-three and former soldier in North Korea who arrived in Britain around a decade ago. AFP

PARTY. Indian Bollywood actress Anjana Sukhani attends the politician Baba Siddiqueís Annual Iftar party in Mumbai on June 10, 2018. AFP

LGUs

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

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Makati defends not suspending classes despite ‘Domeng’ rains

LocaL government units

tuesday, june 12, 2018

By Joel E. Zurbano

CHEERS TO MAKATI. Makati Mayor Abby Binay (fifth from left) and other city officials raise their glasses for a toast during the Grand Salu-Salo on Sunday, the grand finale for the 10-day

‘Makati Makisalo’ fest, which marked the city’s 348th Foundation Day. Over 1,000 city residents and employees braved the rain to join in the revelry at the stretch of Lawton Avenue in the city’s second district. Binay called on Makatizens to continue supporting the city’s programs and advocacies geared towards promoting inclusive progress. With Mayor Abby in photo are (from left) City Councilors Armand Padilla, Luis Javier Jr., Iony de Lara-Bes; Rep. Luis Campos, Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, and City Councilors Divina Jacome, Evelyn Villamor, Ma. Arlene Ortega, Shirley Aspillaga, and SK Federation president Rodolfo San Pedro Jr.

Bautista to lead Independence Day rites in QC

By Rio N. Araja QUeZON City Mayor herbert Bautista will spearhead today’s 120th celebration of Philippine Independence with a theme of “Kalayaan 2018: Pagbabagong Ipinaglaban, Alay sa Masaganang Kinabukasan.” he said the 37-member city council and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte will also take part in the commemoration of the freedom of the Filipino people from 400 years of Spanish rule.

Undersecretary Martin Diño of the Department of the Interior and Local Government is a guest of honor.

Chief Supt. Joselito esquivel Jr. will welcome the guest of honor and lead in the hoisting of the Philippine flag.

Bautista has tasked retired general elmo San Diego, Department of Public Order and Safety chief, to ensure the orderliness of the wreath-laying ceremony and smooth flow of traffic in the compound.

The Boy Scouts of the Philippines representatives will lead the oath of allegiance.

Meanwhile, Belmonte is batting for a 24/7 suicide helpline to prevent the increasing number of Filipinos committing suicide, especially youngsters.

She reacted to the suicide of American celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and fashion designer Kate Spade in the United States, saying these should serve as a wake-up call to address the sensitive issue of mental health, particularly depression that often leads to suicide.

“We in the Philippines are not spared from this increasing global trend. Perhaps, our city can establish a helpline like the ones in the US and other countries with growing suicide rates,” Belmonte said.

LTFRB chides erring bus operators in N. Vizcaya

By Ben Moses Ebreo

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AYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board regional office has warned bus operators refusing to convey passengers in Cagayan Valley and demanding additional fares from the public that they face fines of up to P15,000 or the cancellation of their franchises.

Nasrudin Talipasan, LTFRB Region 2 Director, said these practices are in gross violation of a joint administrative order issued by the Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Office, and LTFRB. “We are encouraging you to file complaints against bus companies who ask for additional fare or refuse to convey commuters travelling from Manila to Nueva Vizcaya. You can file this to our LTFRB provincial office,” Talipasan told the public.

Meanwhile, LTFRB and the provin-

cial government here will put up a temporary bus terminal to cater to Manilabound passengers.

Gov. Carlos Padilla said the Pasalubong Center, along the national highway in barangay Busilac, has been agreed to by both the LTFRB and provincial government as the bus terminal area.

“This is just a temporary area for our bus terminal while the franchise application of the Vizcaya Liner bus for Nueva Vizcaya-Manila route is being processed by the LTFRB,” he said.

Talipasan made the statement during a recent consultation with provincial government officials regarding numerous complaints on the alleged discriminatory actions of bus drivers and conductors.

The alleged acts of bus drivers and operators plying the national highway here also drew the attention of Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Luisa Cuaresma, who has filed a bill seeking for an investigation of the allegations in Congress.

Cuaresma said she did this to facilitate the resolution of the allegations and come up with remedies to prevent a repeat of the incidents.

The identification of a temporary bus terminal came up during a recent consultation by provincial, transport sector and LTFRB officials to address the alleged discrimination of Manila-bound passengers in the province by several bus operators in Cagayan Valley.

DRESSED-UP BARBIES. A

student shows off her Barbie dolls designed to reflect the municipality of Morong as 13 towns and one city in Rizal provinces competed in dressing up the iconic doll in line with the celebration of 117th Araw ng Lalawigan ng Rizal on Monday, spearheaded by SM City Taytay, Mattel, Toy Kingdom, Richprime Global Inc., and the Association of Tourism Officers of Rizal.

Norman Cruz

Taguig city vet offers free pet spaying, neutering to fight rabies The city government of Taguig urged residents to avail of the free services for pet animals being offered by the City Veterinary Office in line with its program in fighting rabies and ensuring a safe community.

“We included spaying and neutering in our program against rabies because one of

the ways in eliminating rabies in our city is to control the population of our pets,” said CVO officer-in-charge Dr. Alexis Siblag.

Siblag said neutering takes only three to eight minutes and spaying just 15 to 25 minutes. Residents who avail of the program are also given antibiotics and pain relievers for their pets, he added.

P95-m road to boost west Vizcaya

By Abe Almirol AMBAGUIO, Nueva Vizcaya—This cool upland town near Mount Pulag will soon be minutes away from the Cagayan Valley road upon the completion of a 7.8-kilometer-long, 6.10-meter-wide provincial road.

“May this blessing bring forth the most awaited progress for the Kalanguya indigenous cultural communities,” remarked Nueva ecija Gov. Carlos M. Padilla during the groundbreaking ceremony held on Monday morning.

The P95-million road upgrading project includes a 0.2-meter thick plain concrete slab, 70 lineal meters of 900mm diameter reinforced concrete pipe

culverts, and 321.80 lineal meters of stone masonry.

The fund came from the Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces administered by the Department of the Interior and Local Government for local governments. The project was awarded to the construction firm Delta earthmoving, Inc. With a population of about 15,000, Ambaguio straddles the northern face of Mt. Pulag, Luzon’s highest peak, and the provincial boundary with Ifugao province. It has remained relatively isolated due to its steep mountainous terrain.

Once completed, it will ease land transportation from Ambaguio’s Poblacion to the public market in the capital town of Bayombong.

Interested Taguigeños can visit the CVO at the city’s Model house on Cayetano Boulevard in Barangay Ususan to register and submit requirements that include a barangay residency or voter’s identification card to prove they are bona fide residents of the city.

If all the documents submitted are

proven accurate and complete, CVO personnel will contact them for the schedule of the operation. They will also be asked to sign a waiver prior to the operation.

“Instead of going to a private clinic and paying P3,000 for your pets’ operation, let’s take advantage of this free service,” Siblag said. Joel E. Zurbano

The Makati City government on Monday reminded its constituents of protocols on suspension and cancellation of classes as school opening and the rainy season begins this June.

“I would like to remind Makatizens that the city strictly follows protocols in suspending or cancelling classes, contained in City Ordinance No. 2017-024. This will allow us to make timely announcements which will spare the students from exposure to possible dangers posed by inclement weather, such as being trapped in flashfloods,” Mayor Abigail Binay said in a statement.

Makati was the only local government in Metro Manila not to declare a suspension of classes despite heavy rains and flash floods caused by Tropical Storm “Domeng” as it exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Sunday. however, the Office of the executive Secretary suspended all work in the executive branch of government and classes in all school levels in the National Capital Region—including Makati—at 3pm as the downpour continued throughout the day.

“The safety of the students remains of paramount importance to us. however, we will only suspend and cancel classes if necessary. Again, may I just remind Makatizens that the strict protocols we follow are supported by reliable weather monitoring and flood monitoring systems we have put in place in Makati, aside from weather bulletins issued by the national government,” Binay added. enacted in February 2017, City Ordinance No. 2017-024 adopted protocols to be followed in the suspension or cancellation of classes in the absence of a typhoon warning signal.

Over 500 bikers show Davao’s Paquibato safe for motorists

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—Over 500 bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts gathered Sunday for the Ride for Peace caravan, which aimed to showcase the safety of Paquibato area, which is known as a conflict area here.

The bikers traveled from Panabo City to Malagos using the Paquibato Road.

Mayor Sara Duterte said the event was an eye-opener for investors and tourists that the road in Paquibato District is now open to everybody.

“This is a way to show to everybody that Paquibato is now ready for tourists and investors, now that we have a good road connectivity,” the mayor said.

Duterte also thanked the 10-O-3rd Infantry Brigade for highlighting the challenges in Paquibato District and showing to the public the area is now open for investment and development.

The event is a big opportunity for the residents of Paquibato as well, since it only means that the area already has a good road network, the mayor said.

10-O-3rd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. ernesto Torres thanked all the participants who showed trust and confidence in the military and the city government in showing they can ride safely in Paquibato.

“I think because of what we have done we are able to send a message to the public that Paquibato District area is already ready for peace and development,” Torres said.

LAGUNA COMMENCEMENT.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar delivers her keynote address to the graduates of Laguna University (inset) in their 11th commencement exercises at the Laguna Provincial Cultural Center inside the Laguna Province Capitol last Friday. Roy Tomandao

Life

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

health and environment

tuesday, june 12, 2018

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A healthy digestive system helps boost your body’s immune system.

How to take care of your digestive system

Sprint off

Don’T take your digestive system for granted.

The digestive system, which consists of mouth, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, gall bladder, intestines, colon, and rectum, is responsible for breaking down the food we eat into nutrients our body needs and forming a bacterial balance within the digestive tract. When these levels are balanced, your digestive tract protects the immune system by boosting your body’s natural defenses.

Poor digestion, fatty liver, and gastrointestinal diseases like constipation and chronic inflammation are all signs of an unhappy and unhealthy digestive system. Having an unhealthy digestive system can lead to various health issues, including liver cirrhosis, diabetes, thyroid, and colon problems, among many others.

In observance of World Digestive Health Day on May 29, digestive health products Dulcolax and Essentiale Forte P joined hands in a campaign to make our digestive system happy and healthy. Here are some habits three brands shared to help us take care of our tummies.

• Ditch heavily processed carbohydrates, like white rice and white bread as they can cause inflammation. Go for whole grains like oats and quinoa.

• Try to remove refined sugar from your diet. Use a sugar substitute if you need to. Refined sugar is believed to cause constipation and slow down food transit time in the digestive system.

• Snack on raw almonds instead of chips. nuts, along with vegetables, seeds, and beans, are healthy, natural sources of fiber.

• Instead of getting coffee or bubble tea (both of which contain caffeine), drink more water. Water helps keep your intestines smooth and flexible, so that your stools will be soft and easy to pass.

• natural sources of probiotics like cultured foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and atchara are all rich in or-

STAY ACTIVE. SM brings Sprint Shoes, a collection of on-trend and functional footwear made for men who lead an active lifestyle.

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new breed of performance shoes and sneakers is ready at the starting point to take men who lead an active lifestyle to the finish line.

Move without a hitch in stylish and functional footwear

SM brings Sprint Shoes, a collection of on-trend and functional footwear made affordable for every guy on the go. The collection consists of a wide variety of shoes for men who like to run, play, and just move— and do all of it in style.

Keep running with eye-catching and lightweight shoes made for the fitness conscious.

Made for the track or the trail, these shoes makes active men go longer and further.

The Gio running shoes and the Dallas white running shoes are both durable and stylish enough to take men from the track to the streets. who says good performance shoes have to be expensive? Keep playing with affordable basketball shoes from the Sprint collection.

Jump higher, run faster, and look better in Zeke or Tyson basketball shoes.

Men always on the move can keep moving in Sprint’s stylish and trendy shoes that promise to match anything on their wardrobe.

The Marion and Dallas shoes are both great for walking the city streets. While the Howard, in either classic black low cut or on trend brown, is best for casual date nights.

The Sprint collection is available exclusively at The SM Store.

Zeke

Raw almonds are a better snack alternative to chips as they are a natural source of fiber.

ganic acids which support the growth of good bacteria. Miso, which is used for soups and sauces, is likewise rich in probiotics. Yogurt, of course, is the most popular source of probiotics.

• Instead of steaks and fried chicken, opt for salmon, which is rich in good fats, to skip on the bad fats that can lead to having too much fat stored in the liver. A fatty liver is a sign of an unhealthy digestive system and will affect your entire health. Keep your liver in check with essentiale Forte P, which contains essential phospholipids that repair damaged liver cell membrane, regenerate lost phospholipids and restore normal functions of the liver.

• Your gut is filled with good and bad bacteria. However, poor food and beverage choices, antibiotics, and stress are killing off good bacteria.

Instead of your daily fix of flavored fries, which is full of carbohydrates, fats, and sodium, take a daily probiotic supplement, which can help with digestion and stimulate the immune system. Consult your doctor to learn more about probiotics.

• Aloe Vera, olive oil, coconut water, figs, prunes, and dates are laxative-rich foods. You can also take Dulcolax, which stimulates bowel movement and treats constipation and other bowel irregularities.

Essentiale Forte P helps repair damaged liver cell membrane.

Dulcolax helps stimulate bowel movement and treats constipation.

Tyson

Dallas

Howard

Yogurt is rich in probiotics which are good for digestive system.

Life

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tuesday, june 12, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

5 habits to practice to be financially savvy

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eInG financially savvy means spending, saving, and investing wisely on things that will matter even in the future. But a lot of Filipinos show a lack of commitment when it comes to financial literacy and competence.

According to a survey by rating agency Standard & Poor’s, only one out of four Filipino adults is considered financially literate.

Having the financial security and the financial freedom to make choices contributes to overall financial wellbeing.

Handling finances right is a vital factor in achieving a healthy financial status.

Philippine Savings Bank shares these five tips to help individuals, especially young ones, get a grasp of their finances.

Use your credit card wisely. Using your credit card, without considering your personal balance sheet is a bad habit, especially if you don’t pay your credit card bills in full each month. If you cannot control your spending behavior, you’ll end up with an unmanageable debt that might lead to more debts.

Do not let your wants overcome your needs. Buying a fancy dress or eating out in a posh restaurant can be done as a little “pat on the back” for your hard work. But doing it every payday may impede your money-saving strategy and put a dent on your bank account. Prioritize needs versus wants. Live beyond your means; don’t exchange financial security for little indulgences.

Find an additional source of income. For millennials starting off in

Look for other sources of income especially when your day job’s pay is not enough to make ends meet.

the workforce, a day job may not be enough to make ends meet. Mounting bills, pitching in at home, starting your savings, and other “adulting” concerns might be hard to handle on a rookie yuppie’s salary. Look for other opportunities such as tutoring high school students, going on part-time sales, or investing in the stock market.

Prepare for a rainy day. Always expect the unexpected: emergency health and housing problems, layoffs, and other setbacks. Make sure to have a cushion of six months’ worth of your living expenses to survive any kind of challenge.

Seek advice. even smart people ad-

mit that they need help at some point, and it’s no different when it comes to financial literacy. Whether you’re having trouble keeping control or looking to add more to your nest egg, it pays to get an expert opinion.

“Financial literacy—whether you are a minimum wage earner, a student, or a veteran executive—is something that we all need to take seriously,” said PSBank senior vice president for marketing group noel tuazon. “our advisors will assist you on budgeting, investing, and setting goals to ensure you are able to make informed decisions and grow your hardearned money or investments.”

MMA fighter Rome ‘The Rebel’ Trinidad is one of the first members of Sante Fight Team

‘The Rebel’ fights with Sante Don’t let her pretty face fool you, because Filipino model Rome “the Rebel” trinidad is currently out to prove herself in the mixed martial arts scene as she prepares for bigger bouts this year. the 21-year-old athlete began her martial arts journey by learning one of the Philippines’ homegrown forms of martial arts called “Sikaran,” marked by its foot-fighting component. From Sikaran, she eventually became interested in MMA, especially with her interest in learning self-defense.

“I started with Sikaran by joining national and regional tournaments. then I persevered since I wanted something more. that is when I decided to learn and go pro in MMA,” shared trinidad.

Following her last fight in the one Championship cage in Indonesia in May, trinidad has been introduced as one of the first members of Sante International’s Sante Fight team.

Joey Marcelo, the president and chief executive of Sante Internation-

al, said the company saw trinidad’s potential as an athlete. He likened the athlete’s passion to that of the company, which is also blazing its trails abroad.

“We saw Rome’s tenacity and passion towards what she is doing. I even told her that she can be the country’s Ronda Rousey, and I know that she can do it. We will be supporting her through thick and thin,” said Marcelo.

Sante Fight team is an initiative of the company to support more athletes in other sports, which in turn aims to inspire more distributors.

“We’ve been supporting triathletes for the past five years and Sante is looking to support athletes in another sport,” added Marcelo.

Marcelo related that his conversations with Louie Sangalang, one of Sante tri team’s members who is also an MMA fighter, made him realize that “there is a great potential for Filipino athletes in the MMA arena, especially now that it is gaining popularity in our country.”

It pays to get an expert opinion to help you make informed decisions and grow your hard-earned money or investments.

Truth vs Myth: What you need to know about energy drinks tHe emergence of energy drinks has given active people a lifeline to get more things done. However, this beverage and its consumption have long been marred by wrong information.

But if there is one truth about energy drink is it that you can control what you consume, and knowing the facts versus the fictions will allow you to maximize its benefits when you need it most.

From left: PCW chief for corporate affairs and information resource management division Honey Castro, PUP vice president for student affairs and services Dr. Zenaida Sarmiento, Modess assistant brand manager Jessica Bodo, DDB Group Philippines chief culture officer Anna Chua-Norbert, and PCW executive director III Emmeline Verzosa

Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine

MYTH: A 240ml bottle of the leading energy drink contains about 90mg of caffeine, while a medium or largebrewed coffee has three times more caffeine content. energy drinks also have added ingredients such as B-vitamins, ginseng, and inositol which also help further boost your energy and mental alertness. Bottomline: It is always best to check the label of the product to know how much caffeine it has.

Energy drinks are also sports drinks

TRUTH and MYTH: While there is no difference between sports drinks and energy drinks, it is more accurate to say that energy drinks can be used as sports drinks. they are both categorized as water based flavored drinks which may or may not contain electrolytes, vitamins, and other nutrients. the ingredients energy drinks provide are intended to enhance physical performance especially before workout as it keeps you more stimulated for exercise. However, keep in mind that energy drinks are diuretics because of the caffeine content, which is why it’s important to drink them with water.

Sanitary pads brand

Cobra’s line of energy drinks contains safe levels of caffeine as well as B-vitamins, taurine, ginseng, and inositol.

es of experiencing the effects. It is not because the ingredient is not safe for the body, but solely because the body adTRUTH: As caffeine being an in- justs to this added stimulant. gredient of energy drinks, it is best to Energy drinks are not keep these beverages away from chilregulated dren. there are also high caution given MYTH: Cobra, the leading energy to people with caffeine sensitivity, and most especially pregnant women as this drink in the country has been in the market since 2006, and for more than a decmay affect fetus development. ade has continuously passed the strictest standards of the Food and Drug AdminEnergy drinks cause palpitations and difficulty in istration. Cobra energy Drink contains breathing safe levels of caffeine and sugar as safe MYTH and TRUTH: the main bad stimulants for instant energy boost and reputation of energy drink derives from increased mental alertness. It also conthe issue of experiencing heavy palpi- tains high quality B-vitamins that help tations that may result in breathing dif- the body get more energy from the food ficulties. Caffeine is present in most of that we eat. It also has taurine, which is an what we consume: energy drinks, so- amino acid that aids the body’s metabolic das, teas, and even chocolates and nuts. process; ginseng that boosts memory, People who are not used to consuming concentration, and performance; and inothis ingredient, will have higher chanc- sitol that aids in nerve functions.

Energy drinks are not for children or people with caffeine sensitivities

raises awareness of menstrual health DeSPIte being a normal occurrence for women, conversations about menstruation are still often considered a taboo.

In an effort to help break myths and misconceptions about women’s red days, and raise awareness about proper menstrual hygiene, Johnson & Johnson Philippines through its sanitary pads brand Modess, partnered with the Philippine Commission on Women and its partners Polytechnic University of the Philippines and DDB Group Philippines, to stage “From Womb to tomb: A Forum on Women’s Health” held on May 28 at PUP Sta. Mesa. the event was held in observance of the global Menstrual Hygiene Day. In front of students, government, and nGo workers who were present at the event, Jessica Bodo, assistant brand manager for Modess, highlighted the brand’s commitment to encouraging

women to do their moves even during monthly periods.

“We all know that at the time a girl starts to have her period, it is also the time when she starts to face new and bigger roles ahead of her. there are exciting physical activities she can’t let pass and big opportunities that fall on her lap. Her world is changing, leading her to the exciting stage of womanhood. She must not be stopped. So there’s definitely #NoPeriodOnLife with Modess,” shared Bodo.

Bodo said initiatives, such as their partnership with PCW, are part of the company’s thrusts to help equip and empower women to take charge of their period.

“As a company committed to health and wellness, we make sure that we hold the right programs and offer the right products that will promote a healthier Filipino society—especially for women,” she concluded.

Entertainment

Miguel with his fellow 'StarStruck Kids' alumni reunite in a small get-together as seen in this Instagram post.

Miguel wishes for

‘STARTSTRUCK KIDS’ reunion project

ACCORDING to Miguel Tanfelix, he is looking forward to working with his fellow StarStruck Kids alumnus Paul Salas now that the latter is back as a Kapuso after his stint with ABS-CBN. The last time they worked together was in Majika, which starred Angel Locsin and Dennis Trillo.

“It’s been awhile since our last soap together. That was ages ago.

It’s exciting that he’s back in the Kapuso lot which spells possibility that we can do a show together,” Miguel says.

During their StarStruck Kids days, Miguel emerged as the first runner-up while Paul was the fifth one to be eliminated.

In 2008, Paul decided to move to the rival camp and did a number of programs there as well.

“The idea of working with Paul once again thrills me. How I wish we can have a reunion, all of us in StarStruck Kids.

I’m sure it will be a blast. It would be fun to reconnect with the likes of Sam Bumatay, Ella Guevarra, Sandy Talag and of course, Bea Binene and Paul. This time around, we won’t be talking on kid stuff like what we used to. We’re more mature now and the reunion will surely pave the way for us to know one another better as adults.”

Meanwhile, because their hit soap Kambal, Karibal was given an airing extension due to its consistent high ratings, Miguel’s supposedly vacation in Japan with leading lady Bianca Umali got bumped off once again and needs to be reset to another period.

“We have to postpone our vacation. I haven’t booked our flights because of Kambal Karibal’s rigid tapings and now, it got extended once again. For me, it’s favorable since I can save more for that trip [laughs]. I promised Bianca I will treat her for this one. Actually, with

what I saved, I might be able to bring her to Europe.

“But of course, Japan remains a top priority since it’s one of Bianca’s dream destinations even before. So when ae are already able to fix our schedules in the coming days, we will pursue the travel…of course, with some other people.”

Despite their present closeness, the matinee idol maintains that he is not yet formally courting Bianca.

“I’m not in a hurry. For one, her grandmother hasn’t given her approval yet. According to her, we should wait for the right time and I respect that. I believe she’s right because we’re still young. There’s the right time for everything. Anyway, I’m willing to wait,” ends Miguel. *** Julie Ann San Jose is very vocal in saying that among local singers, she looks up to Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez.

“And who won’t, right? She’s Regine Velasquez. She has set the bar for female belters in the country. I’ve always dreamt to be like her. Over the years, her accomplishments in the field are impressive. She has lots of hit songs, jam-packed concerts and box-office projects,” she says.

For the young chanteuse, the support Regine gives to newcomers like her is an inspiration.

“It really humbles me that someone of her stature would take time to promote the upcoming shows of junior singers like me. She would post it in her social media accounts and it’s so heart-warming. No wonder she’s on her pedestal as Asia’s Songbird. She knows how to give back.”

Julie Ann recalls how at a young age, she was already a Regine fan.

“She’s really my idol even when I was young. All her songs I sing and record on cassette tape for my dad to hear since he is working in Taiwan.

That’s how much I idolize her,” she states.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, June 12, 2018

ACROSS 1 Large lizard 7 Arthurian knight 10 White-water transport 14 Portugal capital 15 Lemon cooler 16 Arab chief 17 Conceited one 18 Nonsense!

19 Wind indicator 20 Makes unsteady 23 Agreed 26 Country addr.

27 Wolfish looks 28 Sts. 29 Fannie — 30 Attorney’s forte 31 Ostrichlike bird 32 Razor brand 33 Treadmill user 37 “It’s freezing!”

38 Chatter away 39 Collection of tales 40 Malt beverage 41 Computer networks 43 Calendar divs.

44 Corn on the — 45 Kimono fastener 46 Method 47 Poet Alexander — 48 Fib

51 Printemps month 52 Van Gogh’s stand 53 Connections between 56 Grocery buy 57 Time divs.

58 Garden favorites 62 Comedian — King 63 John Wayne’s “— Lobo” 64 Garden root 65 Furtive summons 66 Vast stretch of time 67 Prime DOWN 1 Land in “la mer” 2 Band’s booking 3 Canteen initials 4 Puts up with 5 Pushed ahead 6 Aardvark’s diet 7 Dojo activity 8 Hacienda material 9 Bigfoot’s kin 10 Movie critiques 11 Dazzle 12 Less coarse 13 Lock or curl 21 Footprints 22 Camel kin

23 Door posts 24 Off-white 25 Tolerates 29 Marlins’ city 30 Ungracefully tall and thin 32 Farewell (hyph.)

33 Luau site 34 Burrito alternatives 35 Marry secretly 36 Break the rules 42 Rushing stream of water 46 Sherlock’s friend

47 Sweet roll 48 Toss out 49 Works hard 50 Killer whales 51 Nintendo hero 52 Follow as a consequence 54 Early harp 55 Solemn declaration 59 Bring to a conclusion 60 Narrow inlet 61 CIA operative

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Renowned acting coach back in Manila to facilitate workshop N EW York City-based acting coach Anthony Vincent Bova flew to the Philippines last February to facilitate a new round of workshops for the talents of GMA Artist Center.

Also an actor, writer, and artistic director, Bova is a protégé of famed acting coach Eric Morris, who has taught some of the best actors in the Philippines, including Armida Siguion-Reyna, Leo Martinez, Michael de Mesa, Joel Torre, and Pinky Amador.

Bova is the only instructor in New York endorsed by Mr. Morris to teach the Eric Morris System of Acting, one of the most popular, effective, and credible acting methods in the world.

Bova’s credits include Reading Rainbow with Levar Burton, The Emperors Club directed by Michael Hoffman with Kevin Kline (The Pink Panther, Beauty and Beast) and Patrick Dempsey (Grey’s Anatomy), and the national tour of Cats The Musical.

In August last year, the acting coach visited the country for the very first time and gave a workshop for s e lected talents of GMA Artist Center.

“They’re beautiful kids,” Bova describes his students. “A lot of the actors here, in general, are very grounded, very connected. They’re not detached from them-

selves and that’s a nice thing.”

This year’s attendees included some of Artist Center’s hottest young artists.

Asked to differentiate this year’s workshop from last year’s, Bova said: “I focused on just a few areas. This year, I focused on different parts of the actor’s life, different tools and techniques, and many different ways to apply those tools and techniques. The first workshop was just a fraction of that.”

Actress Ana Feleo, Bova’s co-teacher, added that last year’s workshop was all about empowerment. “It was a short but very intense workshop that helped the actors become more confident, freer emotionally, physically, and mentally and ready to fulfill the needs of their characters.”

GMA Artist Center has tasked the two to come up with a one-year program to train and supervise more thoroughly the education and growth of artists from its talent pool.

Bova and Feleo emphasized the importance of acting workshops, even for working artists.

“I think it’s vital for an artist to truly understand and have a dependable toolkit. Working as an artist doesn’t mean you have a dependable toolkit; it just means you’re being employed, and that’s a good thing. But it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a high level of artistry in your work,” said Bova.

“I believe that actors, especially the new ones, should take acting classes regularly. They should find the right teacher that will make them feel that they are safe, encouraged, and not scared to fail or make mistakes,” said Feleo.

Bova will be back in the Philippines on July 16 to continue his series of workshops.

Step into the movieverse with SM Cinema Telabastagan

SM CITY Telabastagan, the third SM mall in San Fernando City, after SM City Pampanga and SM City San Fernando Downtown, has opened its doors for to moviegoers last month.

SM Cinema takes moviegoers to greater heights with the newest movie destination that features six digital theatres with comfy seats, optimum surround-sound system, and delectable snacks.

Guests received a double cinematic treat from SM Cinema Telabastagan as they experienced the advance special screening of Solo, A Star Wars Movie, from the iconic franchise Star Wars, and Truth or Dare, a horrorslasher movie with a twisted take on the classical game.

There were galactic fan cosplayers and a display of Avengers: Infinity War characters to celebrate the opening of the cinema. These blockbuster movies were shown in From left: Councilor Harvey Quiwa, Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin, Mayor state-of-the-art digital cinemas located at the second level Edwin Santiago, SM Prime Holding's Hans Sy, and SM Cinema's Anicia of the SM City Telabastagan.

Naval.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018

Independence120:

A Celebration of Filipino Identity

Maine Mendoz shows her quirky side with fellow ‘Sugod Bahay’ hosts Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros, otherwise known as JoWaPao.

Popular rapper Shanti Dope performs his hit song 'Nadarang' at the Araneta Center today.

TODAY, the Araneta Center holds a street concert in celebration of the 120th anniversary of the declaration of Philippine Independence happening at Manhattan Row along Malvar Street in Araneta Center.

Billed Tugtugang Malaya, it showcases the best local acts representing select musical genres. Kicking off the concert at 4:00 p.m. is Silent Sanctuary, followed by R&B artist Quest, and by rising rapper a Shanti Dope.

But Independence Day isn’t all about fun and barkada gimmicks.

Araneta Center’s “Independence 120: A Celebration of Filipino Identity” highlights several things that are tied to who we are as a people.

An ongoing exhibit in Ali Mall’s activity area features several paintings from local artists in partnership with Sining Kamalig. The set-up there also highlights Philippine history with replica images of some of Gateway Gallery’s “Sining Lakbay” Philippine history collection with Augmented Reality (AR) feature that triggers a video when you scan with the free app called Layar.

Pinoys are a proud and hardworking people, and a huge part of who we are is tied to providing for our families. As such, the Independence 120 event also highlights activities at the Farmers Plaza, including the Trabahong Pinoy job fair today. Employers like Microcadd, Specified Contractors, Capitol Steel, Wilcon, XTI Shell, Vibal Publishing, Bayanihan and many more will be looking to fill their ranks.

Also happening on Independence Day are free movie screenings in Gateway Gallery at the 5th level of Gateway Tower, featuring Apolinario Mabini: Talino at Paninindigan at 4:00 p.m., and Ang Kababaihan ng Malolos at 5:00 p.m.. The gallery also holds free guided tours of their “Sining Saysay: Philippine History in Art” collection.

Meanwhile, a 60-foot x 120-foot Philippine flag adorns Cyberpark 1, one of the tallest buildings in Araneta Center, facing EDSA. It is hoped that the giant flag would be a reminder to everyone that we are all Filipinos and the only way to progress is through unity.

HOLLYWOOD FANS of Game of Thrones could be treated to a prequel series set thousands of years before the hit fantasy saga, network HBO announced.According to a statement released to US media Friday, HBO has ordered a pilot episode of the spinoff -- one of five such projects in the works -- created by the author of the original book series George R.R. Martin along with British screenwriter Jane Goldman.

The statement added that the prequel, if picked up, will give viewers the chance to see “the world’s descent from the golden Age of Heroes into its darkest hour.”

No Game of Thrones spinoffs, however, will be broadcast until after the much-anticipated eighth and final season of the phenomenally popular show, expected in 2019.

Martin has said that fans should not expect to see any of the current cast involved in those projects, according to entertainment website Variety. AFP

MAINE MENDOZA VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

I

in touch with reality

STARTED following Maine Mendoza’s ’s Dubsmash compilation videos three years ago. It was summer and she wasn’t part of the noontime show Eat Bulaga yet.

To say her videos, which mostly featured impersonations of Kris Aquino, were funny is an understatement, they didn’t become viral for no reason.

When she began appearing on TV as Yaya Dub and subsequently as the other half of the phenomenal love team, AlDub, people who religiously followed her videos and shared them online were glad. At the same time, they accepted the fact that they wouldn’t be able to see her Dubsmash videos quite often. None of them complained, they even welcomed this new change with open arms since they would be seeing more of Maine, not just on social media, but on national TV as well.

Next month, Maine will celebrate her third year in the longest running noontime variety program. Looking back, it’s nice to see how Maine has evolved from the timid Yaya Dub of “Kalyeserye” into a spontaneous and engaging host in “Sugod Bahay” segment of “Juan for All, All for Juan.”

“At first I was really nervous but they gave me enough time to absorb everything. It’s a big adjustment for me but I received a lot of help and good advice from the people I work with. They know when to intervene and to give support when I am having a hard time,” the 23-year-old TV personality recalled.

She further said that when she was just starting in the business, during the time when she did not do talking lines for three months and only communicated through songs that she lip-synced on national television, it somehow prepared her for the job ahead. She was able to observe how co-hosts Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Paolo Ballesteros, collectively known as JoWaPao, work together on screen.

Obviously, Maine has found her niche in hosting. From Monday to Saturday, she and JoWaPao are out in different barangays and other locations to deliver special gifts and cash prizes to lucky dabarkads. They’ve

been out in the sun, crossed rivers, and even traveled to remote places.

Now, the question is: How long will she provide this kind of “isang isang libo’t isang tuwa”” to the show’s loyal following?

Maine said her regular hosting gig in “Sugod Bahay” gave her a newfound passion for hosting. She sees herself doing this profession for a long time and is looking forward to meeting more people and making the audience happy.

“I want to be in touch with reality and this is one way of doing it. I also want to try other things and I’m excited with what I’ll be doing in the future. Right now, I see myself doing this for a long time.

This is what I want to do -- hosting. I can’t imagine myself leaving ‘Juan for All’ or Eat Bulaga.. I see myself doing this every day because I love my job and the people I work for and work with,” she stated.

According to her, being out every day and meeting new faces from different walks of life were all new to her. “To be honest, I’m not used to this new environment but I love connecting with people. I want to know their stories and what they are going through.”

Maine added that the people she meets made her re-evaluate what’s important in life and also taught her the value of hard work and to be grateful always.

“I learned that life is hard and sometimes extra difficult for some. I’ve seen the real picture and I realized that I am so blessed to have been given a complete family, supportive friends and a career. We all know that this blessing came by me so fast, so I try to be grateful always,” she concluded.

HBO orders ‘Game of Thrones’

SPINOFF PILOT

Maine Mendoza says it's her hosting job that keeps her on her toes, and it something that she sees herself doing for a long time.

HBO's most-watched original program, 'Game of Thrones' has already scooped up a record 38 Emmy Awards.

Channels on ‘a la carte’ for SKYdirect subscribers SKYDIRECT subscribers nationwide now can choose what channels to add to their basic plan using SKYdirect Select.

Available to all prepaid and postpaid plans, SKYdirect Select lets subscribers design their channel lineup by adding individual channels that they want to include in their basic subscription.

This ‘a la carte’ option allows SKYdirect subscribers to choose and add channels according to the viewing needs of each member of the family.

Movie aficionados can binge blockbusters on PBO, TMC, and Blue Ant Entertainment, each at P20/month. Dads can have access to daily news updates on ANC (P20/month), as moms can enjoy great cooking tips or travel hacks via the Metro Channel and TLC, each at P20/month.

Meanwhile, kids can watch the best of Nickelodeon (P50/month) or Nickelodeon Jr. (P50/month), while fans of all things Korean can unleash their inner fanatic by tuning into KBS World (P50/month).

Other channels available on SKYdirect Select include SLTV for sabong viewers (P1,000/ month) and History HD (P50/ month).

“SKYdirect Select gives our subscribers the flexibility to build their channel listing by adding specific channels for the family’s better viewing experience,” Abigail Ng Sy, SKYdirect Product Head said.

SKYdirect is the direct-to-home television service of SKY that uses satellite technology to reach Filipino homes across the country. It currently offers prepaid and postpaid plans ranging from Plans 99, 150, 250, and 450.

To view the list of available channels on the Select, prepaid subscribers can text SELECT LIST to 23667 to check the channel list codes. After picking a specific add-on channel, subscribers can text SELECT (space) (CHANNEL CODE) (space) (BOX ID) to 23667.

Meanwhile, postpaid subscribers need to text SKY to 23668 to avail of SKYdirect Select.

Visit mysky.com.ph/skydirectselect for more details on SKYdirect Select.