A2
News
THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018
mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Health warns of sharp rise in Dengue cases By Macon Ramos-Araneta THERE has been a 25-percent increase in dengue cases in Metro Manila since the onset of the rainy season this year, an official said Tuesday. Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo told dzMM radio they had listed more than 7,200 cases in Metro Manila during the period. That compares with the 5,800 dengue cases recorded in the area in the same period last year. Domingo said there was also an 80and 66-percent increase in dengue cases in the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley regions, respectively. He said other regions including Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao had also registered spikes in dengue cases. “The peak season for dengue is beginning because there is a lot of water around that are breeding places [for mosquitoes],” Domingo said, but he assured the public that his department was prepared to attend to the patients’ needs.
Grab insists P2 charge ‘legit’ By Maricel V. Cruz GRAB Philippines owes the riding public more than P4 billion thanks to its illegal P2 per minute fare charge that it imposed over a 10-month period, an official said Wednesday. Rep. Jericho Nograles made his statement after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board ordered the transport network company giant to reimburse its passengers through rebates. “The LTFRB Order confirms that Grab Philippines has engaged in illegal overcharging affecting 67-million total rides from June 2017 to April 2018,” said Nograles who exposed the allegedly illegal charge. “They have lied to and cheated their riders and have also endangered the livelihood of their partner-drivers. Their illegal acts are also tantamount to largescale estafa.” Nograles made his statement even as Grab Philippines head Brian Cu cited a 2015 Transport department order that he said allowed transport network companies to change fares on their own. “We stand by the legality of the P2 per minute fare component and we are disappointed by the order of the LTFRB. We would like to reiterate that it is legal,” Cu said. “We are studying our legal options regarding the LTFRB’s order.”
Japanese... From A1 collector’s item once the former eight-division world champion announces his retirement—on July 15 after “Pacman” battles Matthysse for the Argentinian’s World Boxing Association welterweight title. The company will also sell 88 limitededition casts at the fight venue, KL’s Axiata Arena, for just $2,800 (about P150,000). The surface of the limited model, Castem said, “is made with special ion plating, resulting in a unique finish with an even greater sense of quality than the standard models.” Calling the figurine “History of Manny Pacquiao,” Castem said it used technology developed in Japan “to accurately recreate… the veins, wrinkles, and even the pores” of the boxer-senator’s southpaw, which the native of General Santos City used to claim fame and fortune in sports -and later a political career. The company said it made a mold with Pacquiao’s actual left hand during his visit to Tokyo in February this year in cooperation with MP Promotion Japan. He sunk his left hand in casting materials for about 10 minutes, “and then Castem produced the original mold by applying its precision casting technology.” Part of the revenue from the product will be donated to Pacquiao’s charitable institution, the Emmanuel & Jinkee’s Heart Foundation, said Castem—which is a featured sponsor on the boxer’s trunks. The cast itself, the company said, was created out of “Silzin bronze,” which gives off a golden luster and “possesses outstanding presence and an authentic feeling.” The stand for the cast is printed with Pacquiao’s signature, Castem said. Made from cherry wood, it is painted in a blue hue “that resembles the flag of the Philippines.” Pacquiao’s logo was turned into stainless metal, using Castem’s metal injection technology, onto which a serial number is laser-etched. The surface is finished with ion plating, and its golden color enhances the premium quality appearance, the firm added. The box for the metal fist contains a certificate that guarantees the product, the company said, with a red background. The fist “is golden yellow, the base is blue, and the sign is white: together, they represent the colors of the Philippine flag,” it added.
Rody revamps Justice, sacks 3 fraternity brods By Rey E. Requejo
P
RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has replaced three more fraternity brothers holding key positions in the Justice department following the resignation of Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II in April. He made the decision after accepting the courtesy resignations of Justice Undersecretaries Raymund Mecate, Erickson Balmes and Reynante Orceo, who are fellow brothers of Aguirre in the Lex Talionis fraternity. Mecate, Balmes and Orceo joined the department in 2016 along with Aguirre. Duterte filled the vacancies with the appointment of lawyers Adrian Sugay, Mark Parete and Emmeline Aglipay-
Villar, a former party-list representative and wife of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar. Duterte also accepted the resignation of Assistant Secretary Juvy Manwong and designated lawyer Neal Vincent Bainto as his replacement. All four appointees were recommended by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. Villar, daughter of former Philippine
National Police chief Edgardo Aglipay, obtained her law degree from the University of the Philippines, where she joined the Order of the Purple Feather Honors Society. Perete has worked for the multinational company Coca Cola and taught law subjects in several universities. Also a product of the UP College of Law, he has served as assistant secretary for legal affairs at the Office of the President. Sugay and Bainto are graduates of the Ateneo law school. Sugay, who has had years of experience in litigation, served as special assistant to the corporate head of the Philippine Ports Authority, while Bainto was senior associate in the Villaraza and Angangco law offices. With Evalea Casaljay
‘PH inadequate defense a dark cloud in horizon’ By Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte expressed concern about the country’s inadequate defense capabilities when he graced the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Summit in Clark, Pampanga. He said the government was giving priority to financing the country’s defense program. “I see dark clouds ahead, so I want matters that will make us strong,” Duterte said in his speech at the Asean Convention Center in Clark. He did not elaborate on the country’s poor defense capability but said he
Leni... From A1 Gutierrez also took a dig at the President for his refusal to assert the rights of Filipinos to fish in Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea and the continuing spate of killings. In an interview with reporters in Clark, Pampanga, Duterte said: “I dont’ think she [Robredo] will be ready to govern a country. Reason? Incompetence. She is not capable of running a country like the Philippines.” Robredo, who is working to unite the opposition for next year’s elections, shot back: “I don’t want to dignify his statement, but I would just say that instead of him insulting me or God, he should just focus on our economic woes.” The Palace on Wednesday compared the President’s almost 30 years in government against Robredo’s limited exposure. “That assessment by the President that the VP is incompetent, we cannot take that away [from him] because he has been serving the government for 30 years and maybe he has his own standards and guidelines on who’s competent and who’s not,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque in an inter-
Marcos,... From A1 for the 2016 vice presidential race were joined by Robredo’s revisor, Osmundo Abuyuan. But Robredo’s camp said both sides were invited to the outing, and that Marcos even sent food for the trip, an allegation the Marcos camp denied Wednesday. The Robredo camp said CCTV foogate would show a Marcos staff member leaving a bag of snacks at the fourth floor of the revision venue just before the outing. A Marcos spokesman, lawyer Vic Ro-
Ratings... From A1 Roque said the latest survey showed that despite several challenges the adminis-
tration has encountered, the majority of Filipinos still managed to put their confidence in the President. “President Duterte still enjoyed the confidence of the majority of Filipinos with a ‘good’ net satisfaction rating in Metro Manila, Balanced Luzon, and the Visayas and ‘excellent’ net satisfaction rating in Mindanao,” said Roque. Roque said that despite the recent decline, Duterte’s net satisfaction rating remained the highest compared to his last three predecessors. Opposition Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said Duterte’s recent ratings were a “cry for help” amid the rising prices for basic commodities. “This is a warning to the President by the people who are drowning from the rising prices to hear their call to pause
would do everything to at least make it better. He said the country was not yet done with its fight against terrorism despite its victory in the five-month war against the ISIS-inspired terrorists in Marawi City last year. “Just be put on notice that we are not yet over the hump in our troubles with the law and order particularly in some parts of the Philippines. Mindanao is one area which you have to look with guarded eyes,” Duterte said. “But maybe next year I will pour more to the SMEs to serve the poor.” The Trade department said the National MSME Summit was aimed at
providing a venue for the MSMEs to become more innovative and competitive in their businesses. This year’s summit presents various opportunities and initiatives in gearing up for MSME competitiveness under the 7Ms framework―Mindset, Mastery, Mentoring, Money Access, Machines, Markets and Models of Business―which was introduced and supported by the Asean Economic Community in 2017, the department said. Duterte also underscored his “burning desire” to end the 5-6 lending scheme. “Either I stop the 5-6 or I will stop the collectors,” he said.
view on Radyo Pilipinas. “He just voiced out his opinion. We should respect it because that is an observation from a person who has been in government service for such a long time,” he added. Robredo earlier said uniting the opposition would make their voices better heard. Duterte, who is pushing for a shift to a federal form of government, said Robredo’s term should end before the transition to the federal charter. Earlier, he said he was willing to step down before his term ends once the federal constitution is approved. But he ruled out Robredo as a leader during the transition, saying she was incompetent. Liberal Party president Senator Francis Pangilinan also came to Robredo’s defense. “Two years since she has been elected, VP Robredo has focused her attention on helping the poor help themselves. Without a Cabinet position, she has marshaled partners from the private sector to extend P252 million worth of aid for 155,000 families through her Angat Buhay program,” Pangilinan said in a statement Wednesday. Pangilinan emphasized that Robredo
displayed her capability through compassionate, empowering, and responsible leadership, tagging Duterte’s remarks as “unfortunate given that they are untrue and more so because they digress from the core issues that hound Filipinos every day.” Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, said it was difficult to measure Robredo’s performance since she was removed from the Cabinet fairly early. “In short, she was relegated to a mere spare tire, waiting for the President to die or be incapacitated, which is unfortunate considering that she was elected along with the President, So regardless of party affiliations, they should be working together for our country’s sake,” Lacson said. Lacson also said Robredo should have defined her role much earlier or right after she was taken out of her appointive position, which is to be the acknowledged and undisputed leader of the opposition. “I thought she was somehow tentative in assuming that role, and the people, even those opposing the administration could see through that,” he said. With Vito Barcelo
driguez, dismissed the charge. “We challenge Mrs. Leni Robredo to go ahead and produce such footage provided it is authentic and not another product of her many lies,” he said. Marañon, on the other hand, said an investigation of the outing had already been held, and that the moves by Marcos to have it investigated were just “a PR stunt.” “Protestant Marcos conveniently omitted these facts in order to suit his narrative that he was a victim during the 09 May 2016 National and Local Elections,” it said. “Thus, if only to confirm that the revisors of protestant Marcos were not only aware, but even donated snacks to the outing, the CCTV footage
must be released.” Rodriguez shot back: “Her claim that we know of her sponsored pool party and even sent food is a big lie. We have shown pictures of how she has corrupted PET Head Revisors and pictures don’t lie. To date, all she has are alibis and more lies. Huling huli na nagpapalusot pa,” he said, in a text message. Marcos filed an election protest on June 29, 2016, claiming that the camp of Robredo cheated in the automated polls in the May 2016 national polls. Robredo won the vice presidential race in the May 2016 polls with 14,418,817 votes or 263,473 more than Marcos’ 14,155,344 votes. The recount is ongoing.
Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law,” said Aquino in a statement Wednesday. A constant critic, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, said the 11-point decline showed that “the Duterte myth” is gone. “The novelty of his crass behavior is gone too,” also said the opposition senator. Trillanes said the people have finally seen the light. “It took the rising cost of living to expose Duterte as nothing more than a one-trick pony,” he said. House leaders played down the 11-point drop in President Duterte’s net satisfaction rating. Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, Luis Raymund Villafuerte of Camarines Sur and Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said the SWS survey result was expected, given the controversies that beset the administration. They added that the ratings will improve when the tax reform program begins to bear fruit. “The administration has taken bold
steps to eliminate poverty and fix whatever that ails the country with the end in view of making life more comfortable for the Filipino,” Albano said. Villafuerte said he is optimistic that President Duterte’s satisfaction rating will recover, given his “well-planned anti-poverty initiatives, and his gamechanging move to shift the country’s foreign policy focus to Asia.” Villafuerte said the President has shown his tough and determined drive to curbing corruption by firing top officials suspected of abusing their positions, even if they happen to be his close political allies. The survey, released Tuesday, July 10, showed that 65 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the performance of the President while 20 percent were dissatisfied and the remaining 15 percent were undecided. Results of the second quarter poll show that Duterte’s net satisfaction rating reached his all-time low of +45, which is categorized as “good” by SWS.
Rody... From A1 said he would only apologize to God and nobody else. “Sorry, God. I said sorry, God. If God is taken in a generic term by everybody listening then that’s well and good,” Duterte said in a video posted on the official Facebook page of the Presidential Communications Operations Office. “I only apologize to God and nobody else. If I wronged God, then he would be happy to listen to my apology. Why? Because my God is all-forgiving. He does not remember past hurts. Why? Because God created me to be good, not bad,” he added. Duterte, meanwhile, reminded Villanueva and other religious leaders about the separation of church and state, saying it is wrong to use God to personally attack him and his administration. “Remember that there is a division between church and state. You can criticize us anything at all— from the garbage collector to generals and even to vice president and senator,” Duterte said. “But never, never use the name of God as a front to attack government because that is not the proper way to do it. There is a separation of state and church. Do not use God to attack me. That is not proper and I’m sure that is not what God wants,” he added. Duterte earlier formed a four-man panel to hold discussions with Catholic Church and other religious leaders to improve their strained relations. Panelo said the meeting in the Malago Clubhouse with Villanueva lasted for twoand-a-half hours. “They discussed various issues including the remarks of the President on God,” said Panelo who arranged the meeting weeks after Villanueva urged the President to apologize to God in public, adding that the Jesus is Lord founder expressed dismay over the President’s recent remarks.
Sixth... From A1 Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, for his part, said it was unlikely that the spate of killings was part of a grand plot to destabilize the Duterte administration. Guevarra said the National Bureau of Investigation failed to establish that the killings of Halili, Bote and Lubigan were interrelated.
Alvarez... From A1 By end of the year, Alvarez said it would be hard for Congress to attend to the proposed shift to a federal system through Charter change, even if legislators prepare a timetable for this. Alvarez confirmed receiving a copy of the draft federal charger prepared by the consultative committee, headed by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno. Puno had handed Alvarez a copy of the 91-page document at his office. Fariñas, for his part, said the Con-Com’s function in preparing the draft charter was merely “recommendatory” and said Congress will have the final say. “[The Con-Com knows that its function is] just recommendatory. They are only advisory,” Fariñas said. “It is only the Congress that can propose amendments to the Constitution. Precisely, they are called the advisory commission,” he added. Fariñas said the House would take up the matter as soon as it receives the copy of the proposed draft from the Office of the President. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, meanwhile, said he saw no need to earmark a budget for a plebiscite on the new charter, since it would be held alongside local elections. Also on Wednesday, a group of bishops opposed a shift to federalism, saying it would pave the way for one-man rule. “There is a monstrous threat to democracy and human rights unfolding in our midst. This comes as President Rodrigo Duterte’s government forcefully rams into the Filipino people’s throat the proposed Federal Charter that will supersede the 1987 Philippine Constitution,” the Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum said in a statement. The group said it was “alarmed and highly apprehensive” at the way the government appeared to be rail roading Charter change, and said it suspects “something sinister” behind the rush to form a federal system.
Pinoy... From A1 coach was almost like an impossible mission. “I was called in to help as the cave entrance attempt was becoming quite a challenge due to rising water level. People were becoming restless and angry at the slow progress. So they sought another way in,” Aquino said in an interview with ABS-CBN News. Along with other volunteers from different parts of the world, Aquino was part of the “Camp Geo” team composed of rock climbers, cave experts and paramedics all looking for a way to extract the boys out of the Tham Luang cave complex. “Was there a trail? No. Is climbing limestone in wet conditions difficult? F*** yeah! Is climbing limestone on trad gear in wet conditions more challenging? F***ing suicide,” he recalled. “Nonetheless we did it.” Aquino, who admitted feeling the pressure in “single-handedly representing an entire country,” said he does not consider himself a hero. “Heroes are six feet under. If you knew you could make a difference, wouldn’t you do something? I was just at the right place at the right time in a really bad situation,” he said.