Manila Standard - 2018 May 22 - Tuesday

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VOL. XXXII • NO. 96 • 3 SECTIONS 18 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY,, MAY 22, 2018 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@manilastandard.net

ONE COURT. Supreme Court employees wear red shirts again at their flag ceremony on Monday, this time to call for unity among their ranks and to ask the public to respect the tribunal’s decision to unseat erstwhile Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Norman Cruz

Court judges unite vs Sereno Support SC’s quo warranto ruling

China no threat to PH security, says Duterte

By Rey E. Requejo

J

UDGES and court employees on Monday rallied behind the May 11 decision of the Supreme Court to boot Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno out of office, even as the ousted magistrate clung to the hope of a reversal of the ruling against her.

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte does not see any immediate threat to the Philippines’ maritime security from the deployment of Chinese longrange bombers on an island claimed

by Manila, citing the country’s “newfound friendship with China.”

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that the Foreign Affairs has already taken note of the China’s fresh action and will deal with the matter “quietly.”

“Right now the President does not see any immediate threat. As I said,

Again wearing red during the flag ceremony Monday, judges and court employees urged the public to respect the Supreme Court decision to grant the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida and nullify Sereno’s appointment in 2012.

“The Supreme Court has spoken. Let us accept this decision with full respect and compliance. Let us follow the rule of law,” the organizations of judges and court employees said, in a joint statement read during the flag ceremony.

“The interpretation and application of the Constitution, laws and rules exclu-

Next page

DoTr Asec fired; Montano quits TOURISM Promotions Board chief operating officer Cesar Montano has resigned from his post days after newly-appointed Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat suspended the P80-million Buhay Carinderia project of the TPB for not going through proper bidding.

As this developed, President Rodrigo Duterte fired Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Tolentino for initiating deals with his sister for the Mindanao Railway Project.

In a press conference, Presidential Spokesman

‘‘

sively belong to the Supreme Court. Not to the Executive Department. Not to Congress. Not to media. Not to the practicing lawyers and law students. Not to the clergy. Not even to the people,” they said.

The groups also expressed support for the 14 magistrates of the Court who voted 8-6 to remove Sereno, whom they earlier asked to resign to spare the judiciary of further damage from the ouster cases against her.

“We believe that our 14 justices were able to demonstrate their freedom to decide and vote, either for the majority or Next page

Senate revamp: Sotto takes over

By Macon RamosAraneta SENATE Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III was named Senate President Monday to replace Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, who nominated him as his replacement.

“I do this nomination without any

DONE DEAL. Senator Aquilino Pimentel III (right) congratulates Senator Vicente Sotto III after the latter was unanimously elected by their peers as the new Senate President in yesterday’s session at the chamber in Pasay City. Ey Acasio

reservation because I know with my close association with him, he is deserving,” Pimentel said in his manifestation, which went unchallenged.

Pimentel also said Sotto is an institution not only in the Senate, but in the fields of show business, music, and sports.

The minority bloc composed of Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Antonio Trillanes, and Leila de Lima abstained from voting.

Next page

Big-time oil price hike: P1.60/liter

Next page

By Alena Mae S. Flores

Con-Com: Revise impeachment process INSTEAD of Congress having the sole power to remove all impeachable officials from office, the Consultative Committee to review the 1987 Constitution on Monday said

Maybe, as soon as I go down the airport, I’ll be smelling Philippine scents and hearing Philippine —CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. sounds.

Sison on the possibility of returning to That would the Philippines this year be a joy.

it was studying a proposed provision that would allow the judiciary to participate in the impeachment process.

This was the consensus reached

by the Con-Com Sub-commitee on the Structure of the Federal Government last week, which is still subject to a final vote in the ConCom’s en banc session. Next page

Coalition eyes six-man senatorial lineup in ‘19 THE so-called Resistance Coalition will field at least six candidates in the 2019 senatorial elections, Senator Francis Pangilinan said Monday.

Pangilinan, who is president of the Liberal Party, said the list of opposition candidates include reelectionist Senator Bam Aquino, former Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada, FLAG chairman Chel Diokno, Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano,

and former Akbayan Party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez.

He said they were still trying to convince actress Agot Isidro to run.

“We initially talked to her, but she is still firming up her decision if she will proceed or not. She is very opinionated, brave and we need strong women Next page candidates,” Pangilinan said.

CONSUMERS will have to brace for fuel prices to go up by as much as P1.60 per liter this week, the biggest increase this year to reflect the soaring cost of oil.

Next page

A2

News

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Robredo wants Iloilo City out of recount

By Rio N. Araja THE camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday insisted Iloilo City should not be included in the retrieval of ballot boxes from Iloilo province in connection with the election protest filed by ex-senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Marcos filed his protest with the Commission on Elections, challenging Robredo’s victory in the 2016 vice presidential elections in which he also ran for vice president.

“The pilot province protested by Bongbong Marcos is the province of Iloilo, and we know for a fact that Iloilo City is separate and independent from the province of Iloilo,” Emil Marañon III, a consultant for Robredo’s legal team, said in a statement.

He said they would look into the possibility of clarifying before the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, the coverage of the retrieval of the ballot boxes in Iloilo.

On the basis of the schedule prepared by the PET ad hoc committee, municipal treasurers in the province and the city treasurer of Iloilo City supposedly have from May 21 to 25 to deliver around 2,318 ballot boxes from Iloilo province, and 430 ballot boxes from Iloilo City, to the staging area in Balabago, Jaro, for eventual transport to the PET headquarters in Ermita, Manila.

Last Monday, ballot boxes from municipalities of Guimbal, Miagao, Oton, Tigbauan, San Joaquin, Igbaras and Tubungan were expected to be recovered.

On May 22, ballot boxes from Alimodian, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Pavia, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Zarra, Iloilo City and Mina would be expected to be delivered.

On the other hand, ballot boxes from Badiangan, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Calinog, Janiuay, Lambunao, Maasin and Pototan will be retrieved on May 23, while those from Passi City, Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Duenas, Dumangas and San Enrique will be recovered on May 24.

On May 25, ballot boxes from Ajuy, Balasan, Barotac Viedo, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Estancia, Lemery, San Dionisio, San Rafael and Sara are expected to arrive at the staging area at the Philippine Span Asia Containers Inc. in Balabago, Jaro, Iloilo City.

Marcos identified three pilot provinces in his election protest: Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

Big-time...

From A1 The oil firms raised the price of gasoline

by P1.60 per liter, biodiesel by P1.15 per liter and kerosene by P1 per liter effective 6 a.m.

Tuesday (May 22).

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the Oil Utilization Management Bureau has called for a meeting with the oil companies to discuss the surging oil price and what measures can be adopted to reduce its impact.

“It [oil price increase] is a burden to all of us. We need to conserve and use energy efficiently,” Cusi said.

Cusi said there is a mechanism on the implementation of excise tax when oil price reaches a certain level which serves as mitigating measure to consumers.

“We are studying options like suspension of excise tax on fuel, increase in existing fuel discount to public utilities [land], expedite price unbundling, energy conservation and efficiency, [and the] development of indigenous sources,” Cusi said.

World oil prices soared due to tight supply levels amid geopolitical concerns and strong demand.

A worsening crisis in Venezuela and worries about the US nuclear deal with Iran and sanctions on Tehran pushed up oil prices to new heights.

Data monitoring from the Energy Department showed that world oil prices was affected by US announcement of a possible sanctions on Iran.

US oil importers were advised to look for alternative suppliers to replace oil coming from Iran. Iran owns 12 percent of the Opec supply amounting to 32 million barrel per year. With Macon Ramos-Araneta

DoTr...

From A1

Harry Roque said Tolentino’s firing serves as a lesson that no one must engage in any government dealings with the President’s relatives.

“If you speak to any of the President’s relatives, that’s a basis for you to be fired,” Roque said in Filipino.

Montano, for his part, submitted his resignation letter to the President in a letter antedated May 22.

“I am truly grateful for the trust and the opportunity you have bestowed upon me to serve our country through the Tourism Promotions Board,” Montano said.

Romulo-Puyat said she was not comfortable with the practice of the TPB under Montano as she ordered all existing projects that never went through a proper procurement process to be discontinued.

She earlier summoned Montano after a report came out that he paid P80 million in full for the Buhay Carinderia project to Marylindbert International Inc. president and owner Erlinda Legaspi.

Romulo-Puyat then wrote a letter to the Commission on Audit and asked it to look into the Buhay Carinderia project.

Roque, for his part, said the President is

Joma upbeat on homecoming C

OMMUNIST Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison hopes to come home to the country this year after over three decades in exile in The Netherlands, ahead of the anticipated resumption of peace talks between the government and the leftist National Democratic Front on June 28.

“Yes... I’ve always been optimistic,” Sison said in a wide-ranging interview with ABS-CBN News posted Monday about the possibility of returning to the Philippines, which canceled his passport in 1987.

Home, he told ABS-CBN, is still the Philippines.

“Maybe, as soon as I go down the airport, I’ll be smelling Philippine scents and hearing Philippine sounds,” Sison said.

“That would be a joy.”

The 79-year-old writer and activist, who has been living in Utrecht with his wife Julie de Lima, said he is ready to go home as soon as there is “substantial progress” in the negotiations between the CPP-NDF and the government.

President Rodrigo Duterte, Sison’s former

student, has repeatedly asked the communist party founder to return to the Philippines to continue the peace negotiations.

But the CPP chief said this would mean giving up the “advantages of negotiating in a foreign neutral venue,” which is Norway.

Duterte’s “volatile nature” is also a factor, Sison told ABS-CBN, as the President “could easily order the resumption of talks just as easily he could end them.” He did so earlier following continued attacks by communist rebels on government troops despite ongoing negotiations.

Despite being criticized by his colleagues as someone who has opted to enjoy life abroad while comrades do the actual battle back home, Sison said he was “not absolutely against” returning to the Philip-

pines but “at the proper time.”

“Of course, I would prefer to be with compatriots,” he told ABS-CBN News. “It was not my choice to get political asylum here.”

An interim peace agreement, Sison said, is expected to be signed when formal talks between the government and the NDP resume late next month. Both sides were expected to announce a “stand-down” agreement two weeks before that.

“So, by June 14, plantsado na [it’s all ironed out],” he said. “Of course, I may be proven wrong because everything depends on that joint announcement... but I don’t see any problem because there may be some misunderstanding, but they can be solved.”

A copy of the stand-down agreement obtained by ABS-CBN News calls for a “temporary cessation of hostilities in which the contending armed units and personnel” of both sides “stay where they are.”

They will take “an active defense mode” but will “not commit any offensive action or operation against combatants and civilians.”

An “as is where is” provision seeks to avoid “any kind of movement... which may be con-

Court...

From A1

Court... Move Forward!” was signed by Judge Felix Reyes, president of Philippine Judges Association; Maria Fe MaloloyOn, president of Philippine Association of Court Employees; Rene Enciso, president of Supreme Court Assembly of Lawyer Employees; and Erwin Ocson, president of SC Employees Association.

The same groups earlier staged “Red Monday” protests and called on Sereno to resign to insulate the judiciary from her ouster cases.

In an interview, Ocson said it is time for the Court to move forward from the episode of Sereno’s ouster and for court personnel to stand together to protect judicial independence.

“Our statement today is a statement of unity. We may have been divided on the impeachment issue against Chief Justice Sereno that ended up in this quo warranto case, [but] in the end we have to stand together,” he said.

Meanwhile, SC spokesperson Theodore Te was asked to resign by anti-corruption groups Citizens’ Crime Watch and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption following Sereno’s ouster.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, counsel for CCW and VACC who led their members in holding a rally of support outside the SC compound for the eight magistrates who voted to oust Sereno, urged Te to have delicadeza and leave his post after he criticized the Court’s ruling by posting “I dissent!” on his Twitter account.

“Who is he to dissent when he is the spokesman of the Court? He speaks for the Court so he should not intersect his own opinion. He should resign immediately,” Topacio demanded.

“He has no business being spokesperson if he does not support the Supreme Court...

You’re supposed to speak for the majority [(of justices]—not for the chief justice and not for the minority... If you cannot abide by the decision of the institution that you’re supposed to speak for, you should resign,” Topacio said.

Te has not responded when asked for comment on the resignation call.

Sereno and her supporters have repeatedly criticized the quo warranto ruling, accusing those who voted in favor of it of bias and engaging in politics following President Rodrigo Duterte’s public pronouncements against her.

The case stemmed from Sereno’s non-filing of Statements of Assets, Lliabilities and Net Worth for 11 years during her stint at the University of the Philippines’ College of Law and her failure to comply with the Judicial and Bar Council’s mandatory requirement for submission of 10 SALNs for applicants to the top judicial post in 2012.

Sereno has 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration. Should she fail to do so, the decision becomes final and the JBC can then open the period of applications and nominations for the chief justice post.

Opposition Senator Francis Pangilinan, meanwhile, said some senators wanted to convene an impeachment court, not to try the case against Sereno, but to render an opinion against the quo warranto decision that ousted her.

“As an impeachment court, if you ask me, we are supreme in our power to remove and this is unprecedented,” he said.

He admitted, though, that the minority did not have the numbers to act on the proposal.

With PNA

minority... The existence of the six dissenting opinions only showed that the overall decision of the High Court went through deep and extensive discussion and process,” they said.

“The interpretation and application of the Constitution, laws and rules exclusively belong to the Supreme Court... And the justices of the Court must be free to decide impartially, in accordance with the proven facts and the applicable law, inspired conscience, without regard to what the people may desire, and without fear or reprisal, intimidation, threats of impeachment, corrupting influence of political groups and other unworthy motives.

This is the real essence of judicial independence,” they added.

The judges and court employees also pointed out that while the decision was immediately executory, Sereno may still file a motion for reconsideration, which the justices could still resolve as mandated by the Constitution.

Sereno’s camp is expected to file the motion on May 30 when the 15-day period for filing an appeal lapses.

The judges and employees called on the critics of the Court and the public to be responsible in their statements.

“We respect the freedom of speech of everyone, but all of this has its limit. It does not include threatening, disrespecting and shaming of justices and efforts to weaken the whole of the Supreme Court. We will fight those who will try to divide or weaken it,” they said.

The statement entitled “One Supreme

Senate...

From A1 Drilon manifested on record their abstention to maintain their position as minority and opposition.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri was elected Senate Majority Leader, assuming the post vacated by Sotto.

With his new position, Zubiri automatically became the chairman of the Senate committee on rules. He relinquished chairmanship of the Senate committee on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship, which Pimentel will now chair.

Except for the two highest posts, there was no other movement in the chairmanship of committees.

Asked about the timing of the leadership turnover, Pimentel said it was “a good time” to give the new Senate president the opportunity to achieve something.

Fifteen senators out of the 23 senators signed a draft resolution that sought the reorganization of the Senate and the election of Sotto as Senate president.

Those who signed the resolution were Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Francis Escudero, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan II, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Manny Pacquiao, Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, Zubiri, and Grace Poe.

“It has been an honor and a privilege for me to serve the Senate as its President, a position once held by my father,” Pimentel said. “He served the Senate with dignity, always staying true to his principles and consistently putting the interests of our nation before his—and it was his example I had tried to emulate during my time at the helm of the Senate.”

Pimetnel said that he would promote federalism, a key initiative of President Rodrigo Duterte’s PDP Laban.

“I will go around the country, on my personal time, to help explain to the people what Federalism is all about and how the country will benefit from it,” he said.

As the president of PDP Laban, Pimentel said it is also his duty to prepare the party for its participation nationwide in the 2019 polls.

The president of PDP-Laban said the party was still finalizing its roster of 12 senatorial candidates.

Responding to a query, Pimentel said his achievements include the passage of laws that delivered on Duterte’s campaign promises, including free tuition, free irrigation and higher pay for uniformed personnel.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Monday wished Sotto the best of luck.

“We from the House of Representatives wish him luck and we are hoping for an improved passage of legislation,” Alvarez said.

Pimentel was replaced, some senators said, because he did not stand up for the Senate when Alvarez attacked it over a proposal to amend the Constitution.

giving five government officials until Tuesday (today) to resign before he fires them.

Duterte said on Sunday that he will fire five more government officials, including the head of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, for their alleged involvement in graft and corruption.

Duterte made the announcement in Cebu days after he asked Justice Assistant Secretary Moslemen Macarambon Sr. and Public Works Assistant Secretary Tingagun Umpa to resign or be fired.

Roque explained that Duterte may be wanted to give his “best and brightest” political appointees a chance to voluntarily leave their positions before firing them.

Two weeks ago, Tourism secretary Wanda Teo resigned after the Commission on Audit released a report that she appropriated an amount of P60 million for commercial spots in her brother’s TV show in a governmentowned station.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Noel Puyat also resigned quietly on May 2.

Reports said that he did this due to alleged irregularities in the P647 million used for an information caravan during the country’s chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2017.

He denied the accusations, however, and

said he resigned because his father asked him to manage the family business.

Also on Monday, the Palace accused the current husband of Lovelie Sangkola Sumera, former wife of presidential son Paolo Duterte for using the President’s surname to fix judicial cases.

Roque also warned all judges and justices not to entertain any “judicial fixers” name dropping the Duterte name to negotiate pending cases.

“We are also warning the public, including judges and justices. The husband of the ex-wife of a child of the President’s is using the name of the President’s grandchild to fix cases,” Roque said.

Roque did not divulge the name of the fixer but said that it was obvious who he was referring to as there is only one partner of a presidential child’s ex-wife.

RJ Sumera, who is a businessman, married Lovelie after her marriage with Paolo Duterte was annulled by a sharia court in 2005.

“He has no authority to use the name of the President or the name of the President’s grandchild,” Roque said.

Lovelie was accused of using the Duterte surname for her own interests in 2016.

Also in 2017, Paolo posted in his official Facebook account that Lovelie had been using the Duterte surname even after their marriage had been long annulled.

Con-Com...

From A1 The impeachable officials include the President, the Vice President, the members of the Supreme Court, the members of the Constitutional Commissions and the Ombudsman.

In other developments: • Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Monday thumbed down the Con-Com’s proposal to split the powers of impeachment between Congress and the judiciary under a new draft Constitution.

“That is only the proposal of the ConCom. I do not subscribe to it personally [because] the balance of power [will be jeopardized],” Alvarez told reporters.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Tom Villarin said the Con-Com proposal would legitimize the decision of the Supreme Court to rule in favor of the quo warranto petition filed against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

“The Duterte-appointed Con-Com proposal hews closely to what the present Supreme Court has done to Sereno, who was removed by her peers at the instigation of the President’s Solicitor General,” Villarin said.

• The Con-Com is also proposing provisions that will allow the creation of three high courts under its draft federal Constitution to have a “more efficient” judiciary.

Con-Com Senior Technical Assistant and spokesman Conrado Generoso said this was the consensus reached by the Con-Com Sub-commitee on the Structure of the Federal Government last week, which is still subject to a final vote in the Con-Com’s en banc session.

Con-Com chairman and former Chief Justice Reynato Puno said the subcommittee wanted the impeachment process to be a joint jurisdiction of Congress and the judiciary.

Puno said while the indictment will be left to Congress (both the Senate and House of Representatives), the trial will be a “strictly judicial proceeding” when it goes to the proposed Federal Constitutional Court.

“The process of impeachment should be both political and judicial in nature,” Puno told reporters at the Philippine International Convention Center.

“In other words, it’s a joint power to be exercised by both Houses and there is an impeachment body created where the composition is 12 members will come from the Senate, 12 will come from the House and the body is presided over by the Senate President.”

Puno said the decision of the joint body would not be voted upon separately by each House. PNA, with Maricel V. Cruz

sidered as a provocative and/or hostile act.”

A member from each of the negotiating panels will serve as coordinators to “work on measures to prevent the escalation of hostilities that may arise from certain incidents.”

“No retaliatory act shall be taken by either party,” according to the draft agreement, which both sides hope to replace with a coordinated unilateral ceasefire later.

The wider interim peace accord hinges on agreements now being ironed out by both sides on a ceasefire, amnesty proclamation, and major portions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms or CASER, which is considered the “heart and soul” of the peace negotiations.

The rebels are pushing for CASER to address the root causes of the armed struggle, with provisions on genuine agrarian reform and rural development, and nationalization of certain industries. ”I think within one round, we can finish CASER and that would be a signal for me to return to the Philippines,” Sison said, noting that an agreement on political and constitutional reforms could also come soon afterward.

China...

From A1 we do not consider China to be a threat to our security right now because of our newfound friendship with China,” the Palace official said.

Although it does not see that Chinese missiles as a threat, Roque said that they are still a serious concern in the South China Sea, where some Asean members have overlapping claims.

“Even if we don’t feel that China is a security threat to us, for as long as there are weapons there, there could be mistakes in the discharge of these weapons and any threat of the use of force in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes, which happens also to be the sea lane where our oil supply passes through and bulk of our exports and imports pass through is a reason for concern to us,” Roque said.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said there would be no expression of “condemnation or concern” over the latest Chinese actions.

“While appropriate language, whether expressions of condemnation or concern, over certain developments are clearly conveyed through diplomatic channels, it is not our policy to publicize every action taken by the Philippine government whenever there are reported developments taking place in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea,” he said.

He said that the Philippines has “gained much” from its renewed friendship with China.

“Fighting for our rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and under our present strategy, we intend to achieve much more, including, but not limited to, an effective comprehensive Code of Conduct that will promote peace, cooperation, and stability in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea,” Cayetano said.

“Moving forward, we are taking a different approach to avoid any drawbacks and challenges,” he added.

“We reiterate our commitment to protect every single inch of our territory and areas which we have sovereign rights over,” he said.

“In professionally and prudently advancing our interests in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, we will always be guided by our patriotic duty to protect the Filipino people and defend our sovereignty,” he added.

Roque, on the other hand, added it was up to President Rodrigo Duterte to heed the call of former national security adviser Roilo Golez to convene the National Security Council to assess how to handle the latest developments in the South China Sea. The DFA issued this statement after two days of silence on the landing of Chinese bombers on the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. With Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

Coalition...

From A1 “Hindi matatawaran ang galing at paglingkod sa bayan ng nasa listahan ng mga tatakbo sa ilalim ng bandera ng tunay na oposisyon. Dati nang tumaya para sa bayan ang anim na ito, at sa kanilang pagtakbo ay muling tataya para sa buhay at kabuhayan nating mga Pilipino.

“Bottomline is, the resistance to what?

The resistance to the encroachment of China on our sovereignty, in our sovereign waters.

The resistance to extra-judicial killings, which is still happening. Of course, resistance to corruption. And resistance to the lack of emphasis on creating jobs and addressing the rising prices of goods.

“Haharapin ng anim at ng koalisyon ang mga government policy and action na hindi nakakabuti sa bayan at taumbayan.”

Pangilinan said the challenge for the candidates was to bring these issues to the people.

“So hamon sa atin ito. Kinakailangan ipaabot sa taumbayan ‘yung mga issues na palagay natin ay dapat tinutugunan na hindi natutugunan,” he said.

Asked about the possible inclusion of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno in the opposition slate, Pangilinan said: “We have to have strong women in our ticket.”

The coalition of opposition parties includes the Liberal Party, Akbayan and Magdalo, and the organization Tindig Pilipinas. Macon Ramos-Araneta

News

A3

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

House to ask Duterte to certify BBL as urgent

By Maricel V. Cruz

S

FIRST ‘IFTAR’. Members of the Canda family from Davao City gather around the table to break their first ‘Iftar’ during the holy month of Ramadan after surviving their fasting beside the majestic Grand Mosque in Kalangangan, Cotabato City. The iftar meal is announced every evening by striking the bedug, a giant drum, in the mosque. Common greetings during the holy month are ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ or ‘Ramadan Kareem’ that wish the recipient a blessed or generous season. Mark Navales

‘Murder is murder,’ Caloocan bishop tells Du30 MURDER is murder, whatever the motive is.

That’s what Caloocan Bishop Virgilio David said Sunday as he called for justice for Father Mark Ventura, who was slain last month in Cagayan province—yet whose death was justified by President Rodrigo Duterte, who said the priest had several illicit affairs.

Ventura was killed by motorcycleriding gunmen on April 29 as he was blessing children after a Mass in Gattaran, Cagayan. He was the second priest to be killed in the country in four months; last December, Father Marcelito Paez, 72, was slain in Jaen, Nueva Ecija, also by unidentified gunmen.

Police earlier said they were

investigating “serious personal grudges” as a motive in Ventura’s murder. The news service of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines also said the priest was known for his anti-mining advocacies and for helping indigenous peoples in the province.

However, Duterte, who spoke in Tabogon, Cebu, on Sunday, linked the cleric to several supposed illicit affairs, even showing a matrix of the 37-yearold priest’s alleged involvement with at least four women.

The President did not name the priest in his speech but the title of the matrix he showed was “Shooting to Death of Father Mark Anthony Ventura.”

Villar hits gov’t agencies tasked to rehab, preserve Manila Bay

By Macon Araneta SENATOR Cynthia Villar on Monday scored the government agencies mandated by the Supreme Court to rehabilitate Manila Bay for failing to do their job.

She questioned, in particular, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for issuing an environmental compliance certificate for the rehabilitation works at Manila Bay. She said this was contrary to the continuing writ of mandamus issued by the Supreme Court ordering 13 government agencies “to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay and restore and maintain its waters to make them fit for swimming, skin diving, and other forms of contact recreation.”

“A decade after the Supreme Court ordered the cleanup, there is still no indication that the quality of the waters of Manila Bay has significantly improved,” Villar said.

“Manila Bay is a historical landmark. It is known in the world because of its breathtaking sunset.

Over 300,000 fishermen depend on it for livelihood. We owe it

to our children to rehabilitate and preserve it so that they will continue to reap its benefits,” she added.

In yesterday’s hearing, Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, also slammed the Philippine Ports Authority for failing to do its mandate.

Under the writ of mandamus, PPA was given the specific duty “to immediately adopt such measures to prevent the discharge and dumping of solid and liquid wastes and other ship-generated wastes into the Manila Bay waters from vessels docked at ports and apprehend the violators.”

“Given its duties, it is also the responsibility of PPA to ensure that the operation of the port of Manila and the structures built within its environs are consistent with the effort to revive Manila Bay,” Villar said.

“The burgeoning informal settlement on the Manila Bay coastal area at the port of Manila, particularly near the Manila International Container Terminal, not just affects the efficacy of the operation of the port, but actually hampers the efforts towards the cleanup,” she added.

Ombudsman Morales richer

by P17.7m in 7 years in office

By Rio N. Araja THE net worth of Conchita Carpio-Morales has increased by P17.778 million after spending seven years as head of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Based on her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, Morales’ net worth totaled P58.527 million as of December 2017, or P17.778 million more than her P40.479million net worth in 2011.

Her SALN in 2016 reached P54.13 million.

In her latest SALN, Morales declared P58.615 million worth of assets, including a memorial lot bought in 1977 and three residential lots in Muntinlupa City in 1977.

She was also able to acquire a house in Muntinlupa City, a house and lot in Lemery in 2001, a memorial lot in 2003, and condominium units in Manila, Taguig City, Baguio

City and Makati City in 1999, 2008, 2011 and 2013, respectively.

Based on her recent SALN, she had assets in cash investments of P35.028 million, including cash on hand, retirement benefits, pension and cooperative investments.

She had P88,000 in outstanding balance as liability from Rustan’s for a “personal item.”

At her SALN, she declared that her son, Eugenio Morales III, was a Register of Deeds land examiner, brother Emmanuel Carpio was a Davao City judge and nephew Waldo Carpio was a Department of Agriculture assistant secretary.

Morales is retiring on July 26 after serving a full seven-year term.

Then President Benigno Aquino III appointed Morales to head the Office of the Ombudsman in 2010.

In reply, the bishop said: “If Fr. Mark’s case is a ‘DUI,’ i.e. a death under investigation, it remains unresolved for as long as the murderers are not being brought to justice.”

The Caloocan church leader, arguably the most outspoken bishop against extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration, said he preferred to believe the testimony of Tuguegarao Archbishop Sergio Utleg— who supervised the area where Ventura served—and the people who knew the priest better.

“I will hold on to the words of the archbishop, priests, and lay people of Tuguegarao who have vouched for the integrity of Fr. Mark,” David said.

PEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Monday said he would request President Rodrigo Duterte to certify as urgent the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law so Congress can approve the measure before it goes into its sine die adjournment on June 1.

“I would [ask the President to certify it as urgent],” Alvarez said in a news conference after emerging from a threehour all-member caucus of the House of Representatives on the BBL to discuss concerns on several provisions of the proposed law.

Alvarez said he would relay his request to the President to certify the measure as urgent at the soonest possible time.

Duterte earlier urged Congress to pass the BBL by May 30, saying the government is “racing against time” to enact the measure that could help keep peace in Mindanao amid threats of the spread of radical Islamic movement.

“Definitely, the House can meet the May 30 deadline. We would pass that before our sine die break,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said what was tackled during the caucus were proposals to resolve “objections” raised by several members of the House on the current draft of the proposed BBL that was approved on May 16 by the committees on Local

Government; Muslim Affairs; and Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.

The lawmakers, however, decided to defer taking action on the proposed amendments pending a dialog with the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.

“Today [Tuesday] we will sit down with the BTC to look at the concerns raised and how we can address these issues. It’s important to involve them [BTC] so we could lessen disagreements when it reaches plenary debates,” Alvarez said.

Apart from Alvarez, other House officials who would meet with the BTC include Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas and the chairpersons of the three concerned committees: Rep. Pedro Acharon of Local Government, Rep. Mauyag Papandayan, Jr. of Muslim Affairs, and Rep. Ruby Sahali of Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.

Fariñas, for his part, said the House would hold another caucus after the meeting with the BTC.

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Justices need not inhibit in quo warranto case (Part 2)

tion Pictures to ban the public exhibiHAIL TO tion of the Marcos biographical film THE CHAIR “Iginuhit ng Tadhana.” As the legal counsel of then Senator Marcos, TeeVICTOR AVECILLA hankee argued the case in court and succeeded in getting the ban lifted.

Before his appointment by PresiAS POINTED out in the first part of dent Marcos to the Supreme Court, this essay, the historical precedents Teehankee was Marcos’ secretary of do not support Sereno’s insistence Justice. That appointment, of course, that Justices Teresita Leonardo-de made Teehankee an alter ego of MarCastro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Ber- cos. samin, Samuel Martires, Noel Tijam Like Fernando, Teehankee did not and Francis Jardeleza should have inhibit himself in the numerous coninhibited themselves from further stitutional cases filed in the Supreme participating in the resolution of the Court against the Marcos adminisquo warranto case filed by Solicitor tration—despite Teehankee’s having General Jose Calida against her in the been a Marcos alter ego.

Supreme Court.

Another precedent pertains to JusTo continue, there are many other tice Vicente Abad Santos. Prior to his precedents which ought to be cited. appointment to the Supreme Court in Before he was appointed Associ- 1979, Abad Santos was the secretary ate Justice of the of Justice of PresiSupreme Court dent Marcos. in 1967, Chief Despite his Justice Enrique having been the M. Fernando was alter ego of MarSereno is not the the legal councos, Abad Santos sel of President Supreme Court, and she did not inhibit Ferdinand Mar- is not the entire judicial himself in any cos. Despite his of the many condepartment of the obviously close stitutional cases ties with Marcos, government. filed against the Fernando did not Marcos adminisinhibit himself tration. in the numerous Again, if the constitutional cases brought against Sereno argument were to be susthe Marcos administration before and tained, Fernando, Teehankee and during martial law. Even the most Abad Santos should never have parrabid anti-Marcos litigants did not ticipated in any of the constitutional seek his inhibition. cases filed against the Marcos reUnknown to many, Fernando even gime. voted against the validity of the 1973 If accepting an invitation from the Constitution, despite his close ties House of Representatives to testify with Marcos. Fernando was also before the justice committee of the a staunch defender of the Supreme House, as the six justices in Sereno’s Court’s power of judicial review, a must-inhibit list did, is a ground for position that went against the views demanding the inhibition of the same of known pro-Marcos justices. six justices in the quo warranto petiChief Justice Claudio Teehankee tion, then there was more pronounced was appointed Associate Justice of ground for Fernando, Teehankee and the Supreme Court in 1968. Prior to Abad Santos to inhibit themselves in that, he served as the personal lawyer the anti-Marcos cases in the Supreme of Ferdinand Marcos even before the Court because they were either the latter was elected president. personal lawyers of Marcos (like FerDuring the 1965 presidential cam- nando and Teehankee) or his politipaign, the Macapagal administration cal alter egos (such as Teehankee and Turn to A5 ordered the Board of Censors for Mo- Abad Santos).

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Weeding out

M

ORE government officials are being shown the door, as President Rodrigo Duterte weeds out those who appear engaged in irregular or questionable activities.

Most recently, an assistant secretary of the Department of Transportation was fired for initiating deals with a presidential sister. The Palace said the case of Mark Tolentino serves as a warning that no official should attempt to have dealings with relatives of the President.

There are five other officials who stand to lose their jobs in announcements today, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said. These officials will be axed for alleged graft and corruption.

These add to the list of officials, including the Tourism Secretary and an

undersecretary of the communications office who have recently exited the Duterte administration for ad placements in programs owned by relatives and irregularities in expenses during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.

Finally on Monday night, Tourism Promotions Board chairman Cesar Montano stepped down after the new Tourism Secretary, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, suspended his P80-million Buhay Carinderia Program. The program did not go through public bidding.

It’s heartening to see that

the administration does not coddle its own appointees when they are involved in activities that would put the government’s anti-corruption drive in a bad light. We expect, and hope, that this practice continues until the President’s term ends.

We also expect that this practice be applied evenly, whether or not the official is personally known to the President, and that those who were shown the door in the first place are not transferred to other offices. Then, the drive would be a sham.

The challenge then would be to improve the vetting process such that those appointed to government posts are not inclined to commit irregularities in office. And then even the inconvenience of a transition can be avoided.

Scaring off the scalawags FORMATION GARY OLIVAR

discriminately dropping Duterte’s name.

Duterte has clearly developed an allergy to this kind of name-dropping, much as PNoy in his time, and to his credit, developed an allergy to “wang-wang.” Small things like this ought to be noted and felicitated.

But the President isn’t done yet. As of writing, he was reportedly preparing to put five more heads on the chopping block, including two more Cabinet secretaries and the Government Corporate Counsel. He’s taken to referring to miscreant officials as “scalawags,” a term that used to be reserved for rogue policemen. He obviously sees no difference between the two.

THE President has been on a firing tear since last week.

First to go was former Justice Assistant Secretary Moslemen Macarambon, allegedly for intervening on behalf of gold smugglers at Naia. Keeping him company was former DPWH Assistant Secretary Tingagon Umpa, allegedly for extorting commissions from contractors on projects being built in the ARMM region.

Next was a Cabinet-level official, no less, former Tourism secretary Wanda *** Tulfo-Teo, on account of a lucrative adWith all this frenetic cleaning-up of the vertising contract from her department proverbial Augean stables, I was amused that was awarded to a media outfit owned to come across a by her famous social media post brothers. referring to DuHer replacement terte as “the king was Berna Romuloof corruption.”

It must be the Puyat, the leggy and Against all the evibrainy daughter of current heat wave dence we’ve just former GMA-era that’s going to discussed, this is Finance Secretary the screed that the people’s heads and Bert Romulo. But yellows still hold despite her long stint frying some brains. on to. as an undersecreIt’s a way of tary of Agriculture, thinking that’s Puyat was reportshared by the likes edly moved to tears of Senator Trilby the depth of the corruption she had lanes who invented a non-existent COA encountered inside her new agency. report just to malign the President’s comNot surprisingly, she has moved im- munications staff, or former CJ Davide mediately to suspend all DoT projects who thinks that changing the Constitupending CoA audits, question all foreign tion is a “descent into hell,” or the human trips by her subordinates, and—borrow- rights activists who insist that the number ing a page from the new Justice Secretary of alleged EJKs exceeds 20,000, a statisMenardo Guevarra—requested the cour- tic that they simply pulled out of thin air. tesy resignations of all the senior officials Yellow-think and yellow-speak are a under her. bizarre mix of fantasy, illogic, and simAs of writing, Department of Trans- ple idiocy. But it’s what’s being pushed portation Assistant Secretary Mark To- now on at least three fronts by the yellentino was in the process of also being low horde, who are reportedly wallowfired by the President, allegedly for inTurn to A5

Subordinating truth to political ends IN THE world of politics, is truth always subordinate to political ends?

Because pinning down the truth can take time or because the truth can in fact be complex, given the need to make decisions and to convince publics to support decision, is it logbutical then that truth should be subordinated to whatever political objectives that leaders or vested interests might already have in mind?

In my Ramon C. Reyes lecture last

We are in that moment for these great freedoms.

February, I sought answers to these questions from Doc Reyes and applied his insights to the issue of fake news.

Fake news has always been with us.

Fake news and politics have always been intertwined. One of the most famous maxims of Sun Tzu’s Art of

War, written in the 5th century BC, is: “All warfare is based on deception.

Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.” More concisely, he says: “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

Sun Tzu is echoed a thousand years later, in the 16th Century, by Niccolo Machiavelli in The Prince when he suggested how to win battles: ““Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.” This Florentine thinker, still very influential among Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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Opinion On South China Sea: Let us help our President

By Ambassador Albert del Rosario

“CHINA LANDS BOMBERS ON SCS ISLES” were the headlines that greeted us yesterday.

These landings took place in a reclaimed feature in the Paracel Islands which is within our neighborhood, bringing full militarization closer and working itself with certainty into our own backyard.

Following our earlier suggestions on what we may consider doing to advance our lawful position in the West Philippine Sea, we were again asked what else could be done.

As a reminder, the Philippine Constitution mandates our president to defend what is lawfully ours. Our government should also be mindful that as early as 2016, a Pulse Asia survey indicated that more than eight in ten Filipinos took the position that we should assert our rights as awarded by the arbitral tribunal.

Need to revisit our foreign policy Since an early decision was made by the incumbent government to shelve the arbitral outcome, not only did we lose opportunities to advance our position, but we also found ourselves being thrown into reverse gear, thus allowing ourselves to be fully disadvantaged.

That said, is it timely for us to take stock of our situation? Should we be more helpful to our government as a proud people of a sovereign democratic nation? Would it make a difference if we all speak loudly, clearly, and with one voice in promoting our national security? For obvious reasons, we must do so.

Our government needs to listen to its people.

Our northern neighbor needs to listen to the Filipino people.

And finally, all our traditional partners and friends—who are waiting for a united voice—need to hear from us.

As we speak, to begin with, nearly all Filipinos will agree that our foreign policy should be revisited. Let us say so.

Is it high time for our government to assert our rightful position by utilizing the experience and diplomatic expertise of our DFA? If we believe this, let us say so.

Is it, moreover, high time for our government to assert our rightful position by relying on the skill, courage and patriotism of our AFP who are capable of developing a credible minimum defense posture against any bully or aggressor, whoever that might be? If we believe this, let us say so.

As we have previously said, we are opposed to war —as we should be. But if threatened by the use of force, we should be ready to inflict, at the very least, a bloody nose on any attacker who is out to harm us.

For example, it is my understanding that this capacity, which may be delivered by Bramos Missiles, may be acquired by our

AFP from India and would be a good starting point.

Should we then undertake to stand more firmly in defending what is ours thereby, upholding the future security of all our people? If we believe this, let us say so.

With the President’s thoughtful leadership and with the coordinated execution by our DFA and our AFP under Secretary Cayetano and Secretary Lorenzana, respectively, we can still do so.

Filipinos must take a united and vocal stand What else can we do? Solita Monsod suggests that all of us take a few minutes to write our president. I humbly suggest that we all ask him to be more proactive and assertive in defending what is ours.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, a learned and patriotic advocate, believes that a diplomatic protest should be urgently filed and that we should take our assertive and lawful stand to the doorsteps of our northern neighbor’s embassy. I fully agree with the aforementioned suggestions and trust that many others will share the same sentiment.

The President believes, however, that those of us who endeavor to speak in the spirit of being helpful are not prepared to sacrifice ourselves.

It truly behooves us then to ask our leadership to have more confidence in our people.

To support our President, to secure our nation and to ensure the future of all Filipinos, it must be believed that indeed there are those of us who are prepared to make the supreme sacrifice for our country, especially when called upon.

Finally, all of us want to be helpful; all of us must be helpful.

Let us therefore, respectfully convey to our President that we eagerly await his inspirational leadership by doing what is right.

Subordinating...

From A4

politicians (at least those who still read) had a very cynical view of human beings: “Men are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived.” Macchiavellians find “double pleasure” in deceiving the deceivers.

Our current president is said to be a practitioner of the Art of War and The Prince. True or not, he certainly likes to stir conflict, putting all of us on our toes, igniting fires everywhere. Whether he has a grand plan, I do not know. But only the fool would assume that he is completely transparent when he promises to resign for this or that reason or that he will not extend his term of office.

Is there an alternative view to politics for men and women of good will?

Thankfully, Doc Reyes taught us Eric Weil’s political philosophy who had such a positive view.

For Weil, as explained by Reyes “Reason knows itself to be historical and political and politics acts in view of reason.” Moreover, “taken within the context of modern historical development, the government is by necessity the bearer of the common interest or the universal.” But this does not happen overnight, this convergence of the moral and the political. “Thus, while it is the modern empirical state that has led to the concept of State of law and justice, the distinction and tension remain between the formal, ideal, universal concept and the given, empirical state, consequently issuing in

continuous contestation and action.” In other words, its not a perfect world and politics can in fact be dirty, deception a part of it. But in typical Hegelian fashion, Weil sees this as a necessary movement.

In the Budhi monograph, Doc Reyes has this great quotation from Weil: “Wisdom is not the truth . . . wisdom is that which leads to it. The universal exists and is one, but reveals itself to the category in the attitude, to discourse in situation . . . under two aspects, that of Liberty and of Truth. This is the most profound duality of discourse, duality which is always reconciled but which always remains to be reconciled.

You have to be Hegelian or Marxian to understand that phrase. But actually, it’s very simple: truth can only be discovered as truth when confronted with untruth. Justice will not emerge until injustice is exposed and overturned. Human beings cannot be truly human until they face their own alienation and revolt against its roots.

The issue of fake news is personal and political for me. As an individual, I like my freedom and would want to be always free to express my opinion. As a law and philosophy professor for many decades, I have seen how freedom of thinking and speech, which includes the freedom to have the wrong opinion and to make mistakes in appreciating events, is critical for a vibrant society. As a practitioner of governance and politics, I have also witnessed how the ability to speak, write, and publish freely is important for dialogue and consensus. This ability

is also important in the search for the truth as defined by Reyes as the constant dialectic of reflection and praxis.

In addressing fake news, defined as deliberate fabrication and dissemination of false facts, my overriding concern is that we do not throw out the baby with the dirty bath water. Fake news and their promoters would have won if we sacrifice in any significant way the great freedoms of speech and press.

Freedom of speech, expression, and press are all necessities of a modern state. They come with risks though, of abuse and misuse, but I do not think there is a way around that. This is not to say though that we are helpless against fake news.

In “Philosophy in a Crisis Situation,” Reyes pointed out how “In the course of this process of negation and trans-formation, we eventually shall have to create a renewed vision of man, thus, for example, pose new norms for a legal framework that would provide tighter guarantees for human rights, new norms for an economy that would be more equitable in the sharing of the burdens as well as of the benefits, and for a political system more participative, more effectively representative of the various sectors and interests of the people.”

I think we are in that moment for these great freedoms; we need to re-affirm them while creating new norms to overcome the fake news challenge.

Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

Justices...

From A4

Considering that Fernando, Teehankee and Abad Santos did not inhibit themselves, then with greater reason the six justices assailed by Sereno should not do so.

Even from a practical perspective, Sereno’s insistence that the six justices should recluse is untenable.

With Chief Justice Sereno on compulsory leave, only 14 justices actively participated in the deliberations in the quo warranto petition against Sereno.

That means the vote of at least eight justices will be necessary to grant the petition. If the six justices questioned by Sereno were to inhibit themselves, that will leave only eight justices to decide the case. That also means a unanimous vote of the eight will be needed to grant the petition, inasmuch as a minimum of eight votes are needed for a doctrinal ruling in Constitutional Law. Thus, one dissenting vote in the eight is all Sereno will need in order to defeat the petition.

If Sereno were to have her way, then that one dissenting vote, one in 15, and which is not even a tenth of the entire

membership of the Supreme Court, will be enough to shape Philippine jurisprudence on this controversial issue involving the Constitution and the highest judicial office in the land.

Certainly, that will not be good for jurisprudence. In fact, that will be the baldest form of tyranny of the minority—something that should not exist in a functioning democracy. In Constitutional Law, as in other fields of Law, the participation of as many justices as possible is the ideal option.

Being lawyers, Sereno and her legal advisers ought to know that.

As it is, the vote in the quo warranto case is a close eight-six. Had the six justices in Sereno’s must-inhibit list inhibited themselves, that would have resulted in a six-two vote against the petition, thus causing its dismissal. The dismissal, in turn, will not be a doctrinal (legally binding and precedent setting) ruling because it does not have the concurrence of a majority of the justices of the Supreme Court. A dismissal of a case done not on the merits of the case but on a mere technicality will not help

Sereno, and the issue regarding the validity of her appointment will continue to haunt her.

On its face, the inhibition argument raised by Sereno looks convincing. Not everything that is apparent, however, is real.

In the long run, however, the argument regarding inhibition in the quo warranto case is devoid of weight and merit. It also underscores the fact that the Sereno camp has run out of substantial arguments and has resorted to technicalities.

One columnist put it succinctly —Sereno is not the Supreme Court, and she is not the entire judicial department of the government. Her misplaced insistence on mantras like “the independence of the judiciary” and her self-serving repudiation of existing procedural remedies like quo warranto, which is authorized under the Constitution and the rules promulgated by the Supreme Court, brought her to the end of her road..

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Excise taxation perpetuates wealth maldistribution ucts translate into electricity generation and transportation prices, which cause household expenses and manufacturing costs to rise.

Of course, the planners could exclude things RUDY like petroleum products from their excise-tax ROMERO planning, but, as indicated above, that would not be a good idea if the object of the exercise THERE IS no country in this world where was to generate the maximum revenue.

That excise taxes have a bias toward inwealth is distributed equally among its citizens, with the degree of wealth disparity flation is being shown by the inflation is varying widely from country to country. being shown by the inflation rate rate as Since the tax system is non-authoritarian measured by the consumer price index. governance’s approach to attaining a more After staying within the 2-4 percent annual even distribution of national wealth, demo- increase range set by the Bangko Sentral cratic governments try to structure their ng Pilipinas, the inflation rate rose by 4.5 tax systems so as to make their rich citizens percent in April. The monetary authority and the Philippine Statistics Authority have less rich and their poor citizens less poor.

The way to do that in a non-confiscatory attributed the upward movement to the tax way is to make the government revenue hikes on the so-called sin products, i.e., system rely more on taxes that target what alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. citizens earn and less on taxes that target I’m not a statistician, but I have to express what citizens buy. In other words, let the a degree of skepticism about the principal tax system be directed more toward in- role attached to the sin products in the oncomes (income tax) and less toward con- going inflationary movement. Drunkards, smokers and related sinners comprise a sumption (excise taxes).

The reason for the profitability of taxes minority of this country’s population, but on income to taxes on consumption should the higher electricity, transportation and production-f uel be obvious even to those who are not costs associated considered as taxawith higher taxes tion specialists. The on sales of petroleum products aftax rates embodied Let the tax system be fect every Filipino in the income tax directed more toward to one degree or table of the National another. Am I Internal Revenue incomes and less toward implying that the Code (Tax Code, for consumption. ongoing inflationshort) tax incomeary movement is earners according mainly attributable to the magnitude of their income— to the raised prices more heavily as of petroleum prodincome rises—whereas an excise tax on a ucts? With all due respect to the PSA and piece of merchandise or a service has the the BSP, I most certainly am.

The Department of Finance has been same financial impact on all consumers, whether they belong to D/E group or live in selling Part I of its Tax Reform and Inclugated communities. In short, income taxes sion program as essentially a trade-off between the scrapping of the taxes on annual differentiate; excise taxes don’t.

This is why the adjectives “progressive” incomes below P250,000, on the one hand, and “regressive” are used to describe taxes and higher taxes on sales of petroleum on income and taxes on consumption. By products and a number of other goods. My taxing high incomes more heavily than view is that it is an uneven tradeoff. The low incomes, taxes directed at incomes number of people adversely affected by promote progress toward reduction of higher product prices—be it fares or elecwealth maldistribution. Taxes directed at tricity charges or manufactured goods—far consumption produce the opposite result; outnumber the number of people benefited by effectively taking more money from the by the tax exemption on annual incomes poor than from the wealthy, excise taxes re- below P250,000. The tax exemption for the gress away from the wealth-redistribution favored income-earners does not directly goal. The tax on a liter of LPG or 10 kil- give rise to an inflationary surge; excise owatt-hours is more hurtful to the pocket tax increases do.

In the end, what concerns me most is the of Juan dela Cruz than to the pocket of adverse impact of excise taxation on the Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Their being conducive to the perpetuation drive to reduce the incidence of wealth inof wealth maldistribution—and to social in- equality. If only it were easy to implement, stability—is the socio-economic argument excise taxation should be progressive too, against a tax system that relies heavily on with the wealthy praying higher sales taxes excise taxes. The purely economic argument than the poor for the goods and services such a system relates to its tendency to be that they consume. But that isn’t the case. inflationary. This tendency arises from the Filipinos living in gated neighborhoods pay fact that governments desirous of generating exactly as much as Filipinos belonging to maximum revenue from excise taxes invari- the D and E income groups.

Socially and economically, that isn’t ably target goods and services consumed by the masses, who by definition account for right. That is why I am against a tax system the bulk of consumption spending. Petro- that is oriented toward excise taxes, such as leum products—gasoline, diesel and LPG TRAIN. Tax administrators should be as—are among the favorites of government sisting the effort to reduce wealth maldistax planners. Unfortunately, petroleum prod- tribution, not derailing it.

BUSINESS CLASS

Scaring...

From A4

ing these days in a trough of money, courtesy of certain non-Chinese tycoons, among others.

The first front is the beatification of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as the yellow movement’s latest martyr, inheritor of the somewhat soiled mantle from Leila de Lima. She’s been taking to the streets and campuses, comparing Duterte’s rule to the martial law years, daring him to resign, and yelling “Tama na, lalaban po tayo!” Shades of Cory, indeed—and is that Cory’s son again hiding under her skirts?

The second front is lawyers like Christian Monsod and former CJ Davide— him again?—who’ve been egging on the senators to protest over being denied their God-given right to impeach Sereno.

Perhaps to make the senators feel better, some of these provocateurs are even calling for the impeachment instead of the eight justices who voted against Sereno.

But even if this unlikely scenario happened, we think the senators are well aware that it would be a less—shall we say?—rewarding exercise.

The third front is, unsurprisingly, on the campuses, where it’s getting increasingly difficult to tell the faculty apart from the students based on comparable maturity. Ateneo’s president Fr Jet Villarin wants the Supreme Court to reconsider its Sereno ruling “because Jesus criticized the Pharisees for their blind and narrow obedience to the law.” Huh???

fleets, they recently landed one of their H-6K bombers for the first time. The H-6K is a top of the line, nuclear-capable bomber that, with upgrades, can fly up to 1,900 miles, putting the entire Southeast Asia within its reach.

But scary though it may sound, is this piece of news really a surprise that should send us scrambling to review our defense plans? Chinese missiles already in position from mainland Asia can also hit anywhere in the region. And the Chinese have made it clear from the start that their forward island bases provide a strategic naval deterrent that is of existential value to the Middle Kingdom.

It will be a cold day in hell before they dismantle those missiles or those bases.

And so our own strategic thinking on an unwinnable war doesn’t change: We shouldn’t invite Chinese reprisal by hosting or aiding their strategic rivals.

Our second example of illogic is much closer to home and very different indeed.

Jeepney operators who modernized their fleets want to charge “rush hour rates” that add one to two pesos per fare during peak hours. Clearly they’re imitating the “surge pricing” of transport network vehicles (right now that’s just Grab).

However, unlike Grab drivers who can opt out of service, jeepney drivers are franchised to ply fixed routes on fixed schedules. If “surge pricing” is thoughtlessly expanded to include every form of public transportation, we will simply be *** heating up inflation at a time when we’re Unfortunately, illogic isn’t confined trying to dampen it down. to lawyers, politicians, or woolly-headed It must be the current heat wave that’s academics of the yellow persuasion. Let’s going to people’s heads and frying some close with two very different examples of brains. Let’s hope it cools off before too how illogic can take us unawares. much more damage is done.

Out in the Paracels where the Chinese have been beefing up their defenses Readers can write me at against the US carrier and submarine gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

News

A6

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IA told to explain stockpiling of artworks and artifacts

By Rio N. Araja THE Intramuros Administration has a lot of explaining to do after it was discovered that it had stockpiled of 5,552 artworks, artifacts and antiques since 2011.

The Commission on Audit chided the IA, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, for keeping 74 percent of the total 7,554 collections at store rooms, instead of exhibiting them for public viewing.

An audit report said only 1,997 of the collections had been displayed for the public to see.

“Various museum antiques, artifacts and collections were not displayed/exhibited and just kept idle in the storage rooms of the agency since June 30, 2011 in view of the absence of exhibit areas/places; thereby, defeating the purpose of collection and preserving artifacts in order to promote deeper appreciation of Philippine culture,” the findings read.

Some 2,440 artworks were kept in storage at the Casa Manila Museum on Real Street, Intramuros.

At least 3,112 pieces of artwork, meanwhile, were kept at the Intramuros Administration's offices based at the Palacio del Gobernador building.

“The collections were not displayed or exhibited… thereby defeating the purpose

ASG frees kidnapped engineer in Jolo, Sulu

By Francisco Tuyay A FILIPINO engineer who was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf Group on Valentine’s Day was released from captivity somewhere in the hinterlands of Jolo, Sulu Monday.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana identified the freed kidnap victim as Engineer Enrico Nee, district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Sulu.

Sobejana provided no details of the release of Nee except that the Abu Sayyaf bandits set him free at about 8 a.m. the other day.

Reports said engineer Nee was taken near his house in Barangay Kasalamatan, Jolo at around 7:45 a.m. on Valentine’s Day. The victim was waiting for a tricycle few meters away from his house when armed men believed to be ASG bandits on board a vehicle alighted and took him at gunpoint and hurriedly fled towards Barangay Anuling, Patikul.

Sobejana said ASG commander Hayan Sawadjaan, the most senior leader of the terrorist group and the group of Mujir Hadiada were responsible in the abduction of Nee. He hinted that Nee’s captors were forced to set him free due to the tremendous pressure applied by the military against the terrorist group.

The involvement of Sawadjaan and Hadiada was attested by the kidnapped policemen who averred that indeed the ASG was pressured in letting Nee’s liberty.

“He was released because out of the pressure of our combat military operations. As you know we really focus in employing three brigades in Sulu under the task force,” sobejana said.

“This validates the information shared to us by the two female personnel that the bandits are in limbo inside and the kidnap victims are delaying their movement and believing that the military will not stop in their manhunt until such time the last KV is released,” Sobejana said.

He said the ASG are still holding at least nine kidnap victims consisting of a Dutch national, three Indonesians, a Vietnamese and four Filipinos.

of collecting and preserving artifacts in order to promote deeper appreciation of Philippine Culture,” the Commission said.

It called for an urgent intervention by restoration experts to save 5,557 works of art, antiques, archeological finds and other historical pieces dating back to the Spanish colonial period at the turn of the 16th century.

Despite the plan to transfer the 5,557 artworks, artifacts and antiques to the Museo de Intramuros upon its completion for public exhibit, CoA expressed alarm that the historical items could rot due to the absence of sufficient storage rooms and restoration materials.

“Although these items were maintained and stored in different locations, they are still subject to further deterioration because of non-conducive storage, fluctuating temperature, humidity, dirt, insects and the like,” CoA said.

“Verification and inquiry also revealed that conservation measures being performed were limited only to the examination of the condition of an artifact, maintenance, storage, and fumigation of documentary materials.”

According to CoA, there were only six staff with two of them holding regular appointment at the Cultural Properties Conservation Division of the Intramuros Administration.

BRIEFING. President Rodrigo Duterte is given a briefing on the facilities of the Vista Alegre Homes by National Housing Authority general manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chairman Eduardo del Rosario during its grounbreaking ceremony at Barangay Dos Hermanas in Talisay City, Negros Occidental on May 20, 2018. The Vista Alegre Homes is part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police Housing Program. Also in photo are PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde, AFP Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez Jr. and Secretary Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President. Presidential Photo

Another worker dies from fatal fall in Hanjin shipyard T

HE fatal Hanjin shipyard accident claimed another victim on Monday, as Valian dela Cruz, one of three workers who sustained injuries after falling from the scaffolding they were resting on, died at the Baypointe Hospital here.

Dela Cruz and eight others were taking a break while working at one of the project vessels of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines at the Redondo Peninsula.

The 39-year-old Dela Cruz worked as a general worker of Binictican I-Tech, a Hanjin subcontractor.

Dela Cruz’s death followed that of Ferdinand Leuterio, 38, a foreman from Leyte, who was the first fatality of the accident. Leuterio died due to internal organ injuries.

Two other co-workers—Johnny

Alegre, 39, and Gerry Bayuta, 34—are reportedly still at the intensive care unit of the hospital.

Alegre suffered a head injury while Bayuta had a fracture on his lower back after the fall.

The Department of Labor and Employment and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority ordered that Binictican I-Tech be suspended indefinitely.

Song Suk Bae, president of the subcontractor company, expressed regret over the fatal incident and said it has adopted corrective measures to prevent

Fake MMDA enforcer arrested

By Joel E. Zurbano

FLOWER BOUQUET. Leyte (1st District) Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez (left) gives a flower bouquet to Miss Philippines Earth contestant Gabrielle Camile Celada Basiano (center) after finishing 18th place during the coronation night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Basiano, who represented Tacloban City, visited Romualdez at the House of Representatives to express gratitude for the support of the Lady Solon and a former beauty queen.

Also in photo is Basiano's mother Mrs. Mary Basiano (right). Ver Noveno

PNP nabs big-time drug trader in Lipa City raid

By Maricel V. Cruz A BIG-TIME shabu supplier in Makati City was arrested in an anti-drug operation in Batangas early Monday.

In a statement, the Philippine National Police Regional Office 4-A said the suspect, Marcial A. Orbigoso, a.k.a Tan Tan was arrested in Purok 6, Barangay Pangao, Lipa City during the implementation of a search warrant by police authorities.

Orbigoso is identified as one of the socalled “Big Three” suppliers of shabu in Guadalupe Viejo in Makati City.

Confiscated from the suspect were two big plastic sachets and 12 medium size plastic sachets of suspected shabu weighing about 300 grams with an estimated market value of P2 million, one weighing scale, two rolls of aluminum foil and one bundle of empty plastic sachet.

Arresting officers also seized from the

the repeat of similar incidents.

In all, Leuterio and Dela Cruz are the 39th and 40th fatalities from industrial accidents inside the Hanjin since it began its shipbuilding operations in Subic in May 2006.

SBMA chairman and administrator Wilma Eisma described the latest fatal accident “deplorable” and added that “the SBMA is now in close coordination with the DOLE Occupational Health and Safety on this.”

She added that the Public Health and Safety Department of the SBMA will conduct a probe and will possibly impose appropriate fines and penalties.

“But more importantly, I want measures passed the soonest, for stricter and prohibitive safety measures,” Eisma said.

suspect an Armscor brand .45 caliber pistol with one magazine loaded with seven pieces of ammunition.

Orbigoso was previously detained at the Makati City Jail from 2003 to 2009 for frustrated homicide.

He was detained again from 2013 to 2015 at the Southern Police District detention cell for drug charges.

The suspect claimed that after his release in 2015, he was utilized as an asset by rogue police officers in illegal activities.

Meanwhile, newly-elected barangay and youth officials must activate Barangay Peace and Order and Public Safety units and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils under pain of facing criminal and administrative charges, a lawmaker warned on Monday.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, said the village officials

have only 60 days to do so from the time they assumed office.

“I enjoin all our newly-elected Barangay officials to immediately formulate their anti-drug abuse action plan in their respective localities within 60 days after assumption of office,” Barbers said.

“Otherwise, our House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, would initiate moves to compel the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Dangerous Drugs Board to file criminal and administrative actions on non-compliant barangay officials,” he added.

Barbers said Section 3 of Executive Order 366 series of 1996; DILG memorandum circular No. 2015-130 dated November 3, 2015; and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 4 dated September 19, 2016 require the officials to prepare the action plan within the specified time frame. With PNA

AUTHORITIES on Monday arrested a bogus Metro Manila Development Authority traffic enforcer who victimized motorists along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City.

Operatives from Central Police District-Galas Police Station 11 caught Reynante Marasigan Pascasio, 40, acting as MMDA traffic constable in a dimly lighted area in Araneta Avenue and Palanza Street, Barangay Santol, Quezon City at 1:30 a.m.

Police Officer II Roel Rue said Pascasio was wearing a complete MMDA uniform bearing the MMDA logo and Philippine flag patch. He added that the suspect was caught standing beside his motorcycle with blinker and with plate number 7968 XT. “Our personnel approached Pascasio and asked for pertinent documents to prove that he is indeed an MMDA officer but he failed to show any,” Rue said.

The MMDA, through Traffic Operations Officer Elpidio Tañeca, verified that Pascasio, who is now under police custody, is not an employee of the agency.

Tañeca also said that the uniform used by the suspect was fake.

“Our enforcer’s uniform doesn’t bear the flag and the name cloth should bear the enforcer’s initials,” said Tañeca.

Tañeca also said that Pascasio’s motorcycle also has some violations as it has blinkers which are allowed only if it is a government-issued vehicle. The motorcycle was confiscated and was placed under the police’s custody.

Pascasio was charged with usurpation of authority, illegal use of uniform and insignia, and illegal use of sirens and wang-wang before the Quezon City prosecutors office.

MMDA chairman Danilo Lim, for his part, warned enterprising people to stop using the agency’s name for their personal advantage.

“We strongly condemn these kinds of illegal acts. The MMDA’s campaign to clean our roster will be continuous and relentless. We won’t let those with ill motives taint the honest image of the agency that we are constantly building,” he said.

IN BRIEF PCSO opens Iloilo, Cavite for STL bidders PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander Balutan on Monday said they are now accepting applications for prospective bidders of Small Town Lottery for the provinces of Iloilo (excluding Iloilo City) and Cavite.

Applications for both provinces will be opened until June 15, 2018, 5 p.m.

Interested applicants must submit complete documents to the STL Advisory Committee located at the 4th Floor, Sun Plaza Building, 605 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

Balutan said that STL revenues have already contributed almost P8 billion in the P20.8-billion sales of PCSO from January to April this year that includes Lotto products, Keno and Sweepstakes, an increase of 29.30 percent from the same period last year.

It can be noted, however, that compared with last month’s earnings where STL earned P2 billion, it only earned P1.9 billion this April.

‘Not all domestic flights in Naia-2’ FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines on Monday clarified not all of its domestic flights are operating at terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“In view of queries if PAL has started operating all domestic flights [from Manila] from Naia Terminal 2, the answer is no,” said Ma. Cielo Villaluna, PAL corporate communications head and spokesperson.

Villaluna said PAL still operates the following flights from Naia Terminal 3: Manila-Dumaguete, ManilaOzamiz, Manila-Roxas, Manila-Tacloban and Manila - Zamboanga.

“The rest of PAL’s domestic services operates out of Terminal 2,” she added. Joel E. Zurbano

Mayor acquitted on ‘terminal’ case MAYOR Jefferson Soriano of Tuguegarao City, who was accused allegedly issuing a provisional permit to a private company to operate the city’s parking and transport terminal in 2013 illegally, has been aquitted of the graft case by the Sandiganbayan First Division.

“Parenthetically, the court fails to see how the accused mayor gave unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference through manifest partiality in favor of OWPTI when, ultimately, the granting of the franchise to operate the parking terminals was lodged with the Sanggunian,” the anti-graft court said in its decision.

The Ombudsman accused Soriano, a former police deputy director general, of allegedly giving unwarranted benefits to One Way Parking Terminal, Incorporated.

It claimed that Soriano issued a provisional permit to OWPTI without prior authorization from the city council in violation of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code. Maricel V. Cruz

Sports

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018

Angels snap spell to rally past Perlas Spikers PETROGAZZ fought back from the brink with a spirited Games Wednesday (Flying V Center) charge in 10 a.m. – IEM vs Vice Co. the middle 4 p.m.

– BaliPure vs BanKo-Perlas sets then 6:30 p.m. – Iriga-Navy vs Pocari-Air Force banked on its superb blocking in the decider to frustrate BanKo-Perlas, 15-25, 18-25, 25-18, 2520, 15-9, and snap a three-game slide in the Premier Volleyball League Season 2 Reinforced Conference before a big weekend crowd at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum.

Probing Thai Jutarat Montripila’s game all throughout, Anastasia Trach finally got the better of the power-hitting BanKo reinforcement in the fifth, coming through with back-to-back kill blocks that set the tone for the Angels’ strong start, 4-0, on their way to their very first victory after yielding to the Creamline, Tacloban and BaliPure sides.

A fourth defeat actually loomed for PetroGazz as it dropped the first two sets in lopsided fashions. But the Angels regrouped and unleashed strong finishing kicks in the next two frames to force the decider where Trach simply got untracked.

A kill and two blocks by the Ukrainian hitter and a BanKo set miscue gave PetroGazz a 4-0 cushion and the Angels, who bucked the absence of injured top local scorer Rachel Austero, defended every Perlas Spikers’ charge with Trach coming through with another gem of a block that made it 7-4.

Mar y Ann Me n d r e z also s t e p p e d up and fired three straight hits, including t wo a ces, after the Perlas Spikers threatened last at 6-8 and Trach fittingly capped the Angels’ stirring come-from-behind victory by delivering the last two points, including a power hit into an unguarded spot in the middle.

Trach, who finished with 23 hits and four blocks, also drew solid support from the rest, including Stephanie Mercado and Cherry Nunag while Wensh Tiu, who sustained a right foot injury late in the fourth, delivered quality minutes for the Angels.

Though the win only tied PetroGazz with its victim at seventh in the eight-team field, it revived the Angels’ bid in the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Asics and Mikasa. The Angels take on the Iriga-Navy Oragons on Saturday.

UFC to hold debut event in Russia

WUGC CHAMPS. Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines Honorary President David Ong and Japan’s Dr. Akama Takao present the top three teams their medals in the 2018 World University Golf Championships at the Pradera Golf and County Club in Lubao, Pampanga. The men’s champions are from Japan, namely Daiki Imano, Yuto Katsuragawa and Taisei Shimizu. Korea bagged the silver, while Chinese Taipei settled for the bronze.

Curry silences critics as Dubs rout Rockets O

AKLAND—Stephen Curry silenced his critics with a 35-point display as the Golden State Warriors thrashed the Houston Rockets 126-85 to take a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Western Conference finals on Sunday.

Curry, targeted relentlessly by Houston as the Rockets leveled the series in game two, overcame a sluggish first-half display to lead a Warriors blowout in game three.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player exploded for 18 points alone in a devastating spurt of scoring in the third quarter that took the game away from Houston.

The reigning champion Warriors now have the opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 lead with a further victory in front of their home fans in game four on Tuesday as they chase a fourth straight NBA finals appearance.

Curry was relieved to have rediscovered his scoring touch, even if he had been unfazed by the criticism of his game two performance.

“That’s what I expected to do,” Curry said afterwards. “My approach to every game is the same—you don’t get too high on the highs, or too low on the lows.

“I’m just thankful I managed to hit some shots tonight, eventually. But there’s a long way to go. I’m just going to stay focused on that.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr meanwhile said he had never doubted Curry even after a shaky first half display.

“We’ve seen this so many times with Steph,” Kerr said. “All it takes is one. I was never concerned.

This guy’s a two-time MVP and he bounces back from bad games as well as anybody I’ve ever seen. It didn’t surprise me.”

The win was a record 16th straight playoff victory at home f o r t h e Wa rriors

at Oracle Arena. Perhaps more significantly, the 41-point margin of defeat was Houston’s heaviest in a playoff game.

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni admitted his team had been battered—but insisted they could recover.

“They gave us a haymaker and we went down,” D’Antoni said. “We’ve got short memories, it’s 2-1. We’ve got to get one up here and this next one we’ve got to go get it.

“We played soft, actually, and you can’t do that with these guys.”

As well as Curry, every other Warriors starter made double figures, with Kevin Durant finishing with 25 points and Klay Thompson 13.

Rockets star James Harden meanwhile was kept relatively quiet, with 20 points, while Chris Paul finished with 13.

AFP

PBA delegation troops to Davao BASKETBALL extravaganza takes the spotlight anew as the PBA invades Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for the staging of the annual All-Star game that gets underway starting this week.

Led by Commissioner Willie Marcial, delegates and officials, including members of the Mindanao All-Star and the Smart All Star Philippine team, will troop to Digos, Davao del Sur beginning Tuesday for the May 23 kickoff leg of the mid-season classic with Phoenix Fuel with Phoenix Pulse Technology as major sponsor.

The Davao del Sur Coliseum hosts the 7p.m. match pitting the national team mentored by Norman Black against the Mindanao selection of coach Tim Cone.

As an added treat, a Legends shootout will be held before the game featuring four shooting tandems in Allan Caidic/ Secretary Bong Go, Kenneth Duremdes/ Senator Manny Pacquiao, Peter June Simon/Presidential son-in-law Mans Carpio, and Scottie Thompson/Major Michael Sabsal.

Governor Mark Cagas will be a special guest at ringside to open the initial leg of the three-phase event also backed

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sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

by Peak Sports Apparel, Molten, PBA Rush-Cignal, Nature’s Spring, TAGHeuer, Gatorade, and Rain or Shine.

“It’s an honor and privilege to be the host of the 2018 All-Star game opener.

We hope to give PBA fans a treat and set the perfect stage for another exciting week of basketball ahead,” said Cagas.

From Davao, the contingent travels up north in Batangas City for the meet’s second leg on May 25.

As appetizer to the 7 p.m. game at the Batangas City Coliseum between coach Leo Austria’s Luzon All-Star against the national team to be handled by Yeng Guiao, are the various skills competitions such as the Obstacle Challenge, Three-Point shootout, Slam Dunk, and the Shooting Stars will be held.

It’s back down south on May as AllStar week culminates in Iloilo City with the Visayas All-Star of coach Chito Victolero tangling with Nash Racela and the Philippine squad at the San Agustin gym.

Various clinics, courtesy calls, motorcades, outreach program, and meet and greet activities will mark the staging of all three legs of the All-Star.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) goes to the basket against the Houston Rockets during Game Three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 20, 2018 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Nadal eyes 11th French Open title

Spain’s Rafael Nadal sprays Champagne to celebrate after winning the Men’s final against Germany’s Alexander Zverev at Rome’s ATP Tennis Open tournament at the Foro Italico, Rome. AFP

ROME, Italy—Rafael Nadal insisted Sunday that his stunning 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 comeback win over Alexander Zverev which delivered an eighth Rome Masters title will have no impact on his campaign to lift an 11th French Open.

German second seed and defending champion Zverev was 3-1 up in the deciding set in Sunday’s final before two rain stoppages halted his momentum at the Foro Italico.

Nadal came back on court re-energized to sweep the final four games and claim victory for his 32nd Masters trophy.

Nadal, who will return to the world number one ranking on Monday, remains the best claycourter of the Open Era with an astonishing 40836 record.

He will next seek an 11th French Open crown to match the 11 he already owns from Monte Carlo and Barcelona.

However, the 31-year-old insists that his impeccable clay court credentials will mean little when he heads to Paris for the second major of the season starting next Sunday.

“Conditions in Paris are completely different. I

don’t believe that what happened, even if I lost— even with the victory—creates a big impact about what can happen in Paris,” said the Spaniard.

“But, winning always is winning. And, of course, the victories help more than the losses.”

For Zverev, it was a fifth defeat in five meetings with Nadal.

“You are an amazing champion and you proved that today,” said the 21-year-old German who had been on a 13-match winning streak which included back-to-back clay titles in Munich and Madrid.

“You are the greatest clay player of all time, we all saw that. I’m disappointed that my streak is over, but I did lose to Rafa, so maybe it’s OK.” “There’s nothing I can do about it,” the second seed added. “Next time, I have to find a way to come out better after the rain and play better tennis.

“He came out way faster and played much more aggressive than I did. “(Because of) the fatigue I had over the last few weeks, it took me a very long time to get activated again and to get going. Obviously, it wasn’t enough time.” AFP

PARIS, France – The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) said Wednesday it would hold its debut mixed martial arts event in Russia in September.

“Russia is a key part of UFC’s international expansion strategy,” said senior UFC official David Shaw.

“The demand from our fans to bring a live event to Russia has been overwhelming, and with the vast potential this market holds for us, we knew this was the perfect time to bring UFC Fight Night to Moscow” at the Olympic Arena on September 15.

The Las Vegas-based UFC estimates a fan base in Russia of more than 22 million, partly due to the recent success of Russian fighters such as lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, heavyweight Alexander Volkov and rising featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov, who has extended his overall record to 15-1, including a three-fight win streak in UFC. Meanwhile, US mixed martial arts star Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone vowed Wednesday to make short shrift of his British opponent in June, saying he is excited at the prospect of notching up the most wins in UFC history.

But the 35-year-old welterweight said the record would just be a bonus and his main aim is to defeat up and coming fighter Leon “Rocky” Edwards, who is nine years his junior, during their match in Singapore.

“I’m just going out there for the win,” Cerrone, number 11 in the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight rankings, told reporters in the city-state.

“Winning the record for the most wins just comes with it, but it’s pretty cool... I’m excited about it.”

Cerrone is currently in a threeway tie for the most wins in UFC history with former champions Michael Bisping and Georges StPierre at 20 victories each.

With the UFC expanding into the Asian market, Cerrone said he would like to build a fan base in the region and expressed his desire to fight in the Philippines, Japan and Thailand. AFP

CamSur ready for TRI-Factor TRIATHLETES, wannabes and weekend runners gear up for a fun but competitive race when the TRI-Factor Asian Championship Series stages its third leg at the CamSur Watersports Complex on May 26-27.

From Singapore to China, the circuit resumes in the Philippines with Camarines Sur, which has successfully hosted a number of triathlon and multi-sport events the last few years, putting up a course at par with international standards while guaranteeing a race to remember for the big international cast.

“I’m sure Tri-Factor in CamSur will not just be a competitive race but also a fun and exciting triathlon race,” said CamSur Gov. Migs Villafuerte. “Our province has been home to many triathlon and other sports events but the Tri-Factor Phl race is something that should not be missed since it will be one of the highlights of our Kaogma Grand Festival.”

The TRI-Factor is a four-leg mass participation series composed of individual swim, bike and run events and a finale triathlon in a number of countries throughout Asia. It is held to provide kids, multi-sport beginners, enthusiasts and veteran triathletes a venue to polish their skills in swimming, biking and running.

For details, visit www.trifactor.ph.

Participants can actually take part in one or more events, giving them the opportunity to swim, bike or run or do all three to complete a triathlon.

“This race series is designed for all capabilities and ages, starting from the kids triathlon all the way up to the long distance triathlon,” said TRI-Factor founder and managing director of the organizing Orange Room Pte. Ltd Elvin Ting.

The host and organizers are preparing a grand welcome for local and international participants with the race kit collection set on May 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The race kit includes event tee, swim cap, timing chip, race bib, drawstring bag and finisher medal.

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

Sports

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

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TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018

Lap winner Ronald Oranza of Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance crosses the finish line at Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya during Stage 2 of Le Tour de Filipinas. Lino Santos

Ababa wants to end slump at PH Masters JHONNEL Ababa hopes to break a three-month slump with a solid game this week, seeking no less than a crack at the coveted ICTSI Villamor Philippine Masters crown when the P3 million event is fired off tomorrow (Wednesday, May 23) as its home at the Villamor Golf Club.

Like the rest of the elite international field, Ababa has spent the past month training and honing up for the event with focus on his iron game and putting needed on a tight, tree-lined hazard layout where small mistakes could lead to big scores.

Ababa actually started out the new season with back-to-back victories on the Philippine Golf Tour Asia at Eagle Ridge and Pradera Verde last January. But the former amateur hotshot suddenly turned cold in his next tournaments, ending up tied for 15th in the Centennial Solaire Philippine Open, and sharing seventh place at The Country Club Invitational, both at the TCC layout last February. He tied for 12th in the PGT Eagle Ridge Challenge last March and wound up joint 10th in the kickoff leg of the second PGT Asia at Luisita last month.

But heading to the Masters, the 33-year-old Ababa exudes confidence of recalling his fierce form but remains wary of the tough field bracing for a spirited chase for the top P550,000 purse in the event sponsored by ICTS and hosted by the VGC. Like the rest, he hopes to join the elite roster of Masters winners, including Clyde Mondilla, who ruled the revival of the fabled event last year after a 17year wait.

Ababa, along with Tony Lascuña and American Nicolas Paez, actually fell short by one in last year’s Masters finale and he believes he got what it takes to contend again for this year’s championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. So do Mondilla, Lascuña and the rest of the 110-player strong cast that includes the likes of Zanieboy Gialon, Erwin Arcillas, Tonton Asistio, Jerson Balasabas, Ferdie Aunzo, Jay Bayron, Rufino Bayron, Jun Bernis, Michael Bibat, Marvin Dumandan, Jelbert Gamolo, Keanu Jahns, Rene Menor, Mars Pucay, Justin Quiban, Joenard Rates and Orlan Sumcad.

Jobim Carlos, who nailed his first pro win but in a team championship in the National Pro-am with DJ Padilla at Splendido early this month, is also upbeat of finally securing the elusive individual crown in the event backed

by BDO, KZG, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Sharp, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and PLDT.

Hidilyn grabs gold at National Games C

EBU City – Hidilyn Diaz capped her returned to the 58-kg class with a bang.

The 27-year-old Diaz lifted 90 kg in the snatch, and 115 kg in the clean and jerk to grab the gold medal in the women’s open competition of the 2018 Philippine National Games weightlifting meet at the Naga City covered courts.

This was Diaz’s best effort after missing action in the 58-kg class for the last two years.

Her feat is below the national clean and jerk record of 123 kg which Diaz set in the 2012 PNG. “Happy ako. Dahil target ito ni coach (Tony Agustin), said Diaz, who is among five national bets that are being groomed to compete in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

Fellow Zamboangena Dessa de los Santos took the silver, along with Jane

Hipolito, also from Zamboanga.

Zamboanga Province went on to get four golds, two silvers and four bronzes.

Meanwhile, Anfernee Lopena stumbled at the starting block and recovered just in time to grab the gold medal in the junior boys 100-meter sprint finals of the 2018 Philippine National Games athletics meet at the City Sports Complex oval here.

The 23-year-old Lopena, who is seeking a slot with the national team to the Asian Games, caught up with the main pack midway in the race and still came up with a decent clocking of 10.96 seconds.

Lopena could have surpassed his best time of 10.46 seconds if not for his misfortune, but he is still within range of his best performance since the National Open last year.

“Nasubsob ako. Muntik na ako mag false start. Buti na lang at nakahabol,” said Lopena, a member of the national 4x100 meter relay team.

Negros Occidental’s Michael Mana-ay finished second to Lopena in 11.01 seconds,

Folayang back as ONE title contender FORMER ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang didn’t just want to win. He wanted to show that he was as good as, if not better than he’s ever been.

After losing the title six months ago, the Filipino stormed into the Singapore Indoor Stadium and wanted to make a statement.

On May 18, he made that statement, with a decisive unanimous decision victory over unbeaten Russian sambo champion Kharun Atlangeriev at ONE: Unstoppable Dreams.

In the opening round, Folayang attacked the Russian with fierce striking, and inflicted heavy ground and pound whenever the action hit the canvas.

Not to be outdone, Atlangeriev powered his way out of a bad position near the end of the first round, before landing a few shots of his own on the former lightweight king.

That brief flurry of offense was about all the sambo expert was able to muster, as Folayang took over as soon as the second round began.

The Team Lakay veteran was methodical with his offense. Folayang chipped away at the Russian’s legs with blistering kicks, and punched with

Eduard Folayang unloads a powerful kick at previously unbeaten Russian sambo champion Kharun Atlangeriev at ONE: Unstoppable Dreams. ONE Championship

surgical precision. Also, every time Atlangeriev attempted a takedown, “Landslide” sprawled and brawled his way back to the feet.

As time ticked away in the third round,

Bloodied Tiu leads Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to win

By Jeric Lopez THERE’S a saying that a bloodied warrior is more courageous. That was certainly the case for Rain or Shine Elasto Painters guard Chris Tiu. Wounded but definitely not out, Tiu, who was bloodied midway the fourth quarter after a tough forearm from GlobalPort import Malcolm White, returned and delivered clutch baskets to enable Rain or Shine to put away GlobalPort after a nip-and-tuck battle throughout.

The steady guard’s timely hits in the final three minutes of play, when things got

followed in third by William Galceran of Mandaluyong City (11.11 seconds).

Lopena’s contribution gave Team Pilipinas a 4-3-0 gold-silver-bronze total, and they are now in third place in the general medal race.

Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Marco Vilog clocked 1:56.05 in the men’s 800-meter finals for the national team’s fourth gold, with his time around seven seconds off his performance in the Malaysian meet last year.

His rival, fellow national teammate Elbren Neri settled for the silver in 1:57.22.

Overall, General Santos City took the lead in the medal race after snatching two golds in swimming at the City Sports Complex pool and a gold-silver-bronze tally of 6-4-6.

Eighteen-year-old Nino Owen La Torre showed the way for General Santos City after ruling the men’s 400-m individual medley in 5:08.81. Kelsey Claire Jaudian added another one in the women’s side in 5:37.46.

heated the most, proved to be the insurance the Elasto Painters needed to chalk up another one in the win column.

Tiu finished with 10 points, on 4-of-6 shooting, and six assists as the stability he provided down the stretched proved to be the difference for Rain or Shine.

“I wanted to win the game. I guess that’s the best revenge to give that person (Malcolm White) who did that to me,” said Tiu, who was advised to go to the hospital after the hit he took but refused, after being named Best Player of the Game.

In probably the most heated and physical game of the conference thus far, Rain or

Shine emerged victorious because of Tiu. The Elasto Painters weathered the game’s physicality and proved steadier in the payoff period to post a tough 96-90 win over GlobalPort in a highly-physical encounter in the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

The victory enabled Rain or Shine to regain solo leadership at 5-1 heading into the All-Star break while GlobalPort fell to 3-3.

With the game heating up, the game was temporarily halted with 3:20 remaining and Rain or Shine ahead, 84-79, after a multi-player scuffle.

the Filipino hero maintained control by using his signature kicks to keep Atlangeriev at distance. At one point, he even caught the tiring Russian by surprise with a lightning quick heel kick.

Oranza tows Navymen to Le Tour Stage 2 win BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya— Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance skipper Ronald Oranza and his in-form teammates took full advantage of their familiarity of the challenging Stage 2 route as they stamped their class in the 2018 Le Tour de Filipinas under a bright Monday sunshine.

Oranza, 26, attacked like a hungry cheetah in the mountainous part of Santa Fe popularly known as Dalton Pass while his fellow Navymen sustained the pressure in the homestretch as they stood at the forefront of the local charge in the 157.9-kilometer journey that started in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, and finished just entering the town proper here.

Oranza whopped it up as he crossed the finish line in three hours, 48 minutes and 34 seconds before he looked back at the 15-man chase group that included all of his four fellow Navymen with a big smile, savoring his breakthrough lap victory in the annual bikathon copresented by Air21, Cignal and Cargohaus Inc. The Villasis (Pangasinan) native became just the fourth Filipino stage winner in the only International Cycling Union-calendared road race in the country after veteran riders Oscar Rendole, Arnel Quirimit and 7-Eleven Cliqq RoadBike star Mark Galedo, the 2014 champion.

Oranza admitted that his familiarity of the tricky route, made tougher

by Category 4 and 2 climbs in the dreaded Dalton Pass, proved decisive because he and his fellow Nayvmen negotiated the same course with relative ease during their unstoppable run to a domestic tour crown last March.

“Malaking tulong na pamilyar kami sa ruta kasi ma-survive lang namin ‘yung Dalton Pass, ‘yung daan papunta dito, rolling na,” said Oranza, who also topped the pair of KOM challenges to claim the red polka dot jersey given to the best climber.

But he will still wear the coveted yellow jersey given to the general classification leader for today’s Stage 3, the longest at 185.20 kms from Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, to Lingayen, Pangasinan, in what could be another decisive lap.

Eagle Ridge soars with two WGAP titles EAGLE RIDGE snapped a run of mediocre stints with a solid showing at home, winning two divisions even as Villamor stretched its overall lead with two runner-up finishes in the second leg of the 2018 WGAP Circuit at Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Gen. Trias, Cavite recently.

Erlinda Goble and Lita Samson scored 36 and 33 points, respectively, while Arlette Dizon and Rosemarie Johnsen shot 32 points apiece under the Stableford scoring system, powering Eagle Ridge to Class B victory with a 133, five ahead of Wack Wack, which pooled a 128 behind Monique Arroyo’s sizzling 49 points.

Camp Aguinaldo, led by Grace Montilla’s 37 points, snatched third place with a 123, nipping Sta. Elena in the countback via lower handicaps.

The hosts also imposed their will in Class C, assembling a whopping 146 behind Nina Kersey, Teresita Rutherford and Richilda De Groot’s identical 37 points and Judith Jackson’s 35 points for a big 14-point romp over Villamor, which scored a 132, led by Helen Ambrose’s 36 points.

Sta. Elena, with Cheese Ong and Calene Ong’s firing identical 35 points, also pooled a 132 but lost again in the countback and settled for third in the second leg of the threedivision circuit organized and conducted by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Aguinaldo and Villamor, meanwhile, provided the thrilling battle in Class A with the former edging the latter in the countback after turning in identical 121s in the 18-hole tournament featuring the leading golfing ladies of the country’s top golf clubs.

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters guard Chris Tiu (right) hacks GlobalPort Batang Pier counterpart Ryan Arana who tries to drive into the paint.

IN BRIEF Peso drops to fresh 11-year low of 52.465 THE peso fell to a fresh 11-year low against the greenback on Monday due to the widening trade deficit, higher oil prices and an array of global developments that affect financial markets.

The peso lost P0.13 to close at 52.465 from 52.33 Friday. It was its weakest level in over 11 years, or since 52.745 on July 19, 2006. Total volume traded reached $705 million, higher than $691 million Friday.

The peso fell to an all-time low of 56.45 in August 2004 ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng earlier said the factors pulling down the peso were higher crude oil prices due to political risks surrounding the withdrawal of the US from the Iran nuclear deal and the recent Israeli attacks on Iran installations in Syria.

“Net oil importing economies like the Philippines are affected and partly seen in 9the peso),” Cuyegkeng said.

He also said that the Philippines had returned to a situation of twin deficits— fiscal and current account. Julito G. Rada

Business FRANCHISE ASIA. PLDT

Enterprise re-affirms its partnership with the Philippine Franchise Association as it co-presents the 26th edition of Franchise Asia Philippines to be staged on July 18 to 22 at the SMX Convention Center, Manila.

Sealing the partnership are (from left) PFA chairman emeritus Samie Lim, PLDT Enterprise core business segment marketing and retail industry category head Debbie Ledesma, business development community engagement services head Sabrina Aguado and PFA chairman Dr. Alan Escalona.

Aboitiz Equity sees higher cement output CONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. expects the financial performance of its cement business to register significant improvement starting this year as demand started to pick up both in the public and private sectors.

Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz said in an interview Monday the de-bottlenecking of Republic Cement & Building Materials Inc. and additional investment in new kiln were expected to improve the company’s margins.

“Last year was the bottom. As we invest in new plants which what we are doing right now, that will improve our margins,” Aboitiz said.

AEV earlier said it would invest up to $300 million to add another 1.5 million metric tons through de-bottlenecking of cement plants and the construction of a new kiln.

He said the additional cement capacity of 150,000 MT would start coming in by the last quarter of 2018, while the bulk would boost output by 2019.

Jenniffer B. Austria

PAL, Lufthansa sign 12-year agreement PHILIPPINE Airlines signed a 12-year maintenance agreement with Lufthansa Technik Philippines for its incoming A350s and A321 Neos effective May 31 this year.

The volume from the 12-year agreement is estimated to be worth over $260 million.

LTP started preparing for the servicing of the A321neo and the A350-900 as early as 2016.

“To be ready for the entry into service of these new planes, LTP is investing about $15 million to cover for the training of mechanics, facility adjustments and for tooling and materials,” LTP said.

PAL this year expects to get four A350900s, six Airbus A321neos and five Bombardier Q400s.

PAL expects to end the year with 98 aircraft in its fleet from the current 89. Its move to modernize the fleet, with LTP’s help, is part of the initiatives being implemented to achieve a five-star rating for PAL by 2020.

Parent PAL Holdings Inc. earlier reported a lower net loss of P201.67 million in the first quarter from P533.97 million year-on-year. Total revenues in the first quarter rose 12.7 percent to P36.79 billion from P32.65 billion a year ago.

Darwin G. Amojelar

8 groups buy bid papers for Clark airport contract E

By Darwin G. Amojelar

IGHT groups bought bid documents for the 25-year operation and maintenance contract of Clark International Airport in Pampanga province, according to state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

BCDA said Megawide-GMR Consortium, Metro Pacific Investment Corp., Filinvest Development Corp., San Miguel Holdings Corp., Prime Assets Venture, Central Luzon Infrastructure Consultancy Inc. Consortium, GVK Airport Developers Ltd. and Groupe ADP purchased bid documents for the 25-year contract to operate and maintain the airport.

Twenty two other bidders attended the pre-bid conference Monday, but they had not yet procured bid documents.

They included Zurich Airport, Sojitz Philippines Corp., Deloitte, VCorp

Holdings, Udenna Corp., Malaysia Airports, Ayesa Engineering, Clarkfield Aviation Services, Mitsubishi Corp., Macquarie, JG Summit Holdings Inc., Halder and Associates, PAL Express, Samsung, Aboitiz Infra Capital, PSI Air, Air Asia, Evercon Builders, Miescor Logistics Inc., Century Properties and AviAlliance.

“The government intends to partner with a world-class international airport operator for the O&M, which is expected to be awarded by Aug. 30,” BCDA president and chief executive Vivencio Dizon said.

BCDA said it would hold one-onone meetings with prospective bidders on May 21 to 23. Bid submission was scheduled on July 20, to be followed by a post-qualification on Aug. 7. The target awarding of O&M contract is on Aug. 30, 2018.

It said the selection of the concessionaire would follow a competitive bid in accordance with the Build-OperateTransfer law.

Clark International Airport is the second main gateway in Luzon, and the new 100,000-square-meter terminal

would double its capacity to eight million passengers a year, easing the strain on Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City and boosting development of Central Luzon.

Clark International Airport is envisioned to be Asia’s next premier gateway.

It now has an annual capacity of four million passengers. Airlines operating in Clark include Qatar Airways, Cebu Pacific, Tigerair, Jin Air, Asiana Airlines, Dragon Air, AirAsia Berhad, Philippine Airlines and Emirates Airlines.

These airlines mount flights to Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Macau, Pudong, Incheon, Doha, Dubai, Davao, Cebu and Kalibo.

Megawide-GMR earlier won the bidding for the construction of a new passenger terminal in Clark Airport, when it submitted the lowest financial proposal of P9.36 billion on Dec. 14.

Megawide-GMR also won a 25-year concession agreement in December 2013 that involved the renovation of Terminal 1 of Mactan Cebu airport and the design, financing, construction and operation of a second terminal. It submitted the highest bid of P14.4 billion.

Rural banks asked to take advantage of digital technologies

By Julito G. Rada

MARAWI REBUILDING. The Energy Department holds recognition rites at Mindanao State University-Marawi for partners and donors who have helped rebuild war-torn Marawi City. Representatives of various groups receive recognition from Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi for their heroic efforts. Among these donors and partners were Task Force Bangon Marawi, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Association of Mindanao Electric Cooperatives, Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc., National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, National Power Corp., National Electrification Administration, Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, One Meralco Foundation, Aboitiz Power Corp., Liter of Light, Pepsi Philippines, Phinma Energy Corp. and the United States Agency for International Development.

Govt declares Visayas-Mindanao power link as a project of national significance THE Energy Department declared the P52-billion Visayas-Mindanao Interconnection Project of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines as an energy project of national significance under Executive Order No. 30.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said he signed the application of NGCP to consider VIMP as a nationally significant project that would speed up the construction of the transmission facility connecting Visayas and Mindanao.

“This will make permitting faster from all agencies involved,” Cusi said.

The VIMP project involves the interconnection of Visayas and Mindanao via Cebu and Zamboanga.

The project is estimated to be

completed in 46 months after the start of construction with an estimated cost of P51.697 billion.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed EO 30 in June last year, creating the Energy Investment Coordinating Council to streamline the regulatory procedures affecting energy projects of national importance.

Cusi said another project nearing approval was the 1,200-megawatt Atimonan ultrasupercritical coal-fired power plant of Atimonan One Energy Inc., controlled by Meralco PowerGen Corp.

“We have not issued it because we still have to clarify with the ERC because they have a problem with the rate,” the energy chief said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Ban gko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, May 21, 2018

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

52.3200

Japan

Yen

0.009016

0.4717

UK

Pound

1.346800

70.4646

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.127398

6.6655

Switzerland

Franc

1.003512

52.5037

Canada

Dollar

0.776820

40.6432

Singapore

Dollar

0.745156

38.9866

Australia

Dollar

0.752000

39.3446

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652872

138.7983

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

13.9512

Brunei

Dollar

0.742390

38.8418

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000071

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.031075

1.6258

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

14.2453 61.5963

Euro

Euro

1.177300

Korea

Won

0.000926

0.0484

China

Yuan

0.156821

8.2049

India

Rupee

0.014709

0.7696

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.251889

13.1788

New Zealand

Dollar

0.691900

36.2002

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033428

1.7490

Source: PDS Bridge

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. on Monday asked rural banks to take advantage of digital technologies to widen their reach and become vital vehicles for greater financial inclusion.

Espenilla said rural banks proved their invaluable contribution to countryside development through financing or rural communities.

“Given RBAP’s [Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines] strategic role and familiarity with rural communities, it is crucial for the industry to leverage on innovative technologies and liberalized branching rules that BSP has initiated. This will further expand market reach and enhance existing service delivery channels in the rural areas,” Espenilla said during the 65th annual convention of RBAP in Davao City.

“With the digital transformation of the banking system, we, at the BSP, are optimistic that the rural banking industry can emerge as a strong and dependable delivery channel in the provision of banking services. It can do so by taking advantage of available technology,” Espenilla said.

He said with RBAP’s extensive network of 2,745 banking offices nationwide, the industry was strategically positioned to be a catalyst for greater financial inclusion.

“Your close ties and familiarity with the rural communities you serve make you effective providers of rural financing and other corollary microfinance products and services. Almost 97 percent of the industry’s network is spread across provinces,” Espenilla said.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018

B1

Aboitiz Power spending P62b to construct, acquire plants

By Alena Mae S. Flores ABOITIZ Power Corp. is spending P62 billion this year to build power projects led by the 1,336-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Diningin, Mariveles and acquire more energy assets.

The company said it was looking at acquisition opportunities locally and internationally to expand its generation portfolio.

“More than half [of the capital expenditures] is for Diningin,” Aboitiz Power president Antonio Moraza told reporters after the annual stockholders’ meeting.

Moraza said parts of the budget would be spent for the Therma Visayas coal plant (340 MW), Pagbilao unit 3 (420 MW), capital expenditure of its distribution utility unit and other purposes.

Moraza said the company were looking at opportunities overseas, especially in Myanmar and Indonesia, while evaluating local investments.

“We are always on the lookout for opportunities. If there is something available and for sale, we will definitely look at it,” he said.

“For Myanmar and Indonesia, we have the sites. We know where we want to be…but it’s too early,” the executive said.

Moraza said the company was interested in hydro and solar opportunities in the two Southeast Asian countries.

Moraza did not say whether the company was interested in the sale of AC Energy Inc.’s 50-percent stake in coal assets valued at around $1 billion.

“As to the deals, our standard answer for many years now is, Aboitiz Power will look at any potential deals that are available. Unfortunately, there are potential deals that may or may not carry NDA [non-disclosure agreement] in which case, we are not free to comment. I can’t really comment on deals,” he said.

Emperador sees foreign units posting more revenues

By Jenniffer B. Austria EMPERADOR Inc., the liquor arm of tycoon Andrew Tan, expects the international liquor business to boost overall revenues in the coming months following a string of overseas acquisitions.

Emperador president Winston Co said in an interview following the annual stockholders’ meeting its scotch whiskey business under Whyte and Mackay, which it purchased in 2014, was now on a growth phase.

Co also said the brandy business in Mexico, which it acquired in 2017, was expected to be on the growth phase by 2019.

The group’s whiskey scotch business accounted for 30 percent of total revenues in the first quarter, while brandy business contributed 70 percent.

“We are happy with the growth of Whyte and Mackay because its growth trajectory has been in line with our projection and forecast for the brandy in Spain is also positive,” Co said.

“So overall, significant part of revenue and margin moving forward will be coming from international,” Co said.

Co said the company was also bullish on the prospects in the domestic market, given the country’s strong consumer spending.

“We are excited about the Philippines because there is consumption story in the country.

People are in spending mode,” he said.

Meanwhile, Co said the company was taking a pause in terms of acquisitions this year as it was still in the process of integrating recently acquired Domecq brandies and Pernod Ricard wines in Mexico.

B2

Business

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks slip; BDO, Jollibee decline T he stock market fell Monday in thin trading, with investors looking for new catalysts to shore up share prices.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 14.23 points, or 0.2 percent, to 7,658.05 on a value turnover of P4.2 billion. Losers beat gainers, 105 to 83, with 55 issues unchanged.

BDO Unibank Inc., the biggest lender in terms of assets, declined 2.2 percent to P129.40, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain, slipped 1.8 percent to P280.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. of retail tycoon Henry Sy Sr. bucked the trend, gaining 1.3 percent to P37.80, while Megawide Construction Corp. advanced 4.8 percent to P21.85. Megawide said Monday net income in the first quarter

of the year rose 16 percent to P635.8 million from P549 million year-on-year on the strong growth of its Cebu airport business.

The rest of Asian and European markets mostly rose Monday and the dollar extended gains after the US and China said they had agreed to hold off imposing tariffs, averting a potentially damaging trade war.

After high-level talks in Washington the two economic superpowers revealed a deal had been hammered out, ending months of tension that have sent financial markets into a frenzy.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Fox News on Sunday “right now we have agreed to put the tariffs on hold” while Xinhua reported China’s Vice Premier Liu He as saying “the two sides reached a consensus, will not fight a trade war, and will stop increasing tariffs on each other.”

While short on detail, the announcement provided much relief to investors, who had been fearing the imposition of levies on billions of dollars of exports between the two sides.

“The latest statement on the ChinaUS trade suggests both parties are happy to avoid the dreaded tit-for-tat escalation while working towards a more marketfriendly bilateral trade agreement,” said Stephen Innes, head of Asia-Pacific trade at OANDA. “The intentional vagueness delivered by both parties’ statements suggests a great divide, but there’s a hint of a consensus, none the less, to bridge that gap. So given the possible worst-case scenario was avoided the market should view the latest trade discussions as a favorable.”

Hong Kong rose 0.8 percent and Shanghai was up 0.6 percent. Tokyo

added 0.3 percent as the weaker yen helped Japanese exporters.

Singapore added 0.8 percent and Seoul gained 0.2 percent, while Taipei rallied 1.3 percent. However, Sydney dipped 0.1 percent and Wellington shed 0.5 percent.

The positive news also lifted the dollar, which had faced some selling pressure after Donald Trump earlier in the year imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

The greenback was sitting at its highest level against the euro since December, while it was at a four-month peak against the yen.

“After the US-China agreement on backing off from imposing trade tariffs on each other, one risk-off factor was removed, which pushed the dollar up against the yen,” Marito Ueda, senior dealer at FX Prime in Tokyo, told AFP. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 58.5 2,200 97.7 746,510 2.98 1,000 129.4 1,098,440 1.46 61,000 34.6 44,200 7.11 300 16.7 37,200 15.4 789,500 3.78 82,000 1.62 1,000 0.57 734,000 81.95 1,110,300 1.08 373,000 12.2 6,100 20 7,000 52 20,460 211 4,230 106 780 38 900 200.6 384,410 1,946 85 89 40,140

128,650 73,767,200.50 2,980 142,983,691 86,610 1,532,525 2,133 621,068 12,271,284 302,190 1,620 406,630 91,125,335.50 402,260 74,420 144,895 1,064,019.50 893,866 82,790 34,250 77,154,421 166,110 3,572,460

-16,412,100 -80,062,924 -65,860 526,256 -4,236,930 5,500 -2,095,133.50 -23,670 -241,800 -19,776,236 -128,160

38.15 14.48 0.57 1.22 20 0.223 3.01 16 50.65 23.8 57 81.15 1.98 5.1 9.38 11 16.02 11.6 7.12 5.11 1.78 14.76 62.5 18.62 8.88 16.46 2.22 280 5.08 3.37 17.82 27 13.28 20.85 320 6.6 2.36 4.3 9.34 5.6 7.95 1.4 12.24 51.1 6.19 4.66 2.09 3.55 1.8 13.2 65 5.4 0.136 135.3 3.05 0.81

INDUSTRIAL 38.15 439,800 14.6 920,800 0.61 2,936,000 1.24 18,000 20.85 51,700 0.226 1,530,000 3.02 4,129,000 16 187,200 51 432,490 24 20,800 57 50 81.15 320 1.99 104,000 5.16 87,800 9.38 6,000 11.1 5,000,800 16.22 1,438,400 12 24,300 7.18 293,800 5.24 295,500 1.78 1,000 15 164,400 62.55 15,060 18.94 31,400 8.9 116,100 16.5 1,417,200 2.29 4,386,000 280 355,840 5.25 303,000 3.4 18,000 17.82 100 27.2 1,249,600 13.28 102,400 21.85 3,805,700 321 101,440 6.65 83,900 2.43 5,328,000 4.32 80,000 9.5 1,016,000 5.81 80,900 7.95 9,600 1.42 307,000 12.6 137,200 51.2 232,790 6.19 100 4.66 430,000 2.13 343,000 3.55 1,000 1.85 139,000 13.24 1,554,200 65.1 453,200 5.44 127,500 0.136 200,000 135.5 517,480 3.22 21,065,000 0.82 1,701,000

16,897,080 13,411,538 1,737,170 22,160 1,044,290 344,440 12,517,240 3,103,400 21,971,472 512,395 2,850 26,763 207,420 448,259 56,381 55,504,374 23,228,356 285,300 2,101,716 1,520,349 1,780 2,459,326 948,267.50 590,458 1,033,209 23,498,028 10,044,850 100,732,294 1,581,000 62,310 1,782 33,869,745 1,363,680 81,640,995 32,632,926 556,972 12,859,700 345,140 9,573,690 454,890 76,486 430,200 1,708,616 11,928,475 619 2,062,960 726,120 3,550 253,750 20,605,060 29,492,044 695,832 27,400 70,349,740 66,653,250 1,391,960

-5,273,610 1,354,670 -1,880,060 538,724 -85,634 -2,850 -2,855.00 7,096,006 -1,208,104 -77,870 -1,201,847 980,353 727,514 -560,820 -617,810 -5,214,906 -39,040 29,752,084 8,945,000 -47,826,755 -16,992,770 -1,454,820 2,535,991 5,850 -15,914 309,400 835,976 -4,365,482.50 4,620 -14,900 -15,338,834 12,633,269 -5,627,924 817,230 -28,700

0.26 62.75 13.22 0.97 6.59 0.75 0.75 947 6.5 10.44 7.68 1,031 59.65 5.87 0.62 4.34 21.7 0.59 5.05 0.039 1.15 3.24 144 2.56 900 0.85 1.63 534 262 0.248 0.192

0.25 62.45 13.1 0.94 6.26 0.69 0.7 932.5 6.35 10.18 7.5 1,012 58.5 5.8 0.6 4.23 21.2 0.57 4.85 0.038 1.11 3.19 139.7 2.56 882.5 0.8 1.62 532 255 0.243 0.191

HOLDING FIRMS 0.255 2,540,000 62.45 1,071,440 13.16 1,307,500 0.95 242,000 6.58 80,600 0.73 57,379,000 0.74 10,012,000 940 152,430 6.4 1,517,800 10.18 2,196,600 7.5 1,400 1,015 32,210 59 1,038,470 5.8 17,000 0.62 81,000 4.24 1,567,000 21.65 6,756,000 0.58 586,000 4.85 23,063,000 0.039 19,800,000 1.14 75,000 3.2 1,799,000 144 425,670 2.56 18,000 884 235,190 0.85 319,000 1.62 75,000 532 200 262 3,790 0.243 2,910,000 0.191 20,000

641,650 66,939,201 17,213,926 230,810 522,944 41,500,430 7,277,920 143,358,830 9,701,996 22,650,430 10,734 32,806,190 61,185,895.50 98,950 48,620 6,719,470 145,336,210 337,450 113,636,160 764,000 84,500 5,757,110 60,583,633 46,080 208,470,755 262,840 122,050 106,470 976,526 712,000 3,830

-42,643,460 -10,581,714 269,510 712,750 -6,657,950 -2,752,455 -5,990,692 -15,734,110 -25,169,700 29,350 -1,634,780 -3,640,550 -29,412,870 -76,960 11,735,710 -144,294,115 -4,150 -512,560 -

7.25 1.09 15.5 2.08 0.84 42.35 3.47 4.94 5.98 6.14 0.46 1.1 0.98 0.249 31.45 0.64 0.119 1.66 1.3 1.13 4.65 0.73 0.465 0.54 3.14 19.74

7.04 1.05 14.22 2 0.82 41.9 3.44 4.8 5.98 6.14 0.45 1.04 0.96 0.24 30.75 0.62 0.119 1.63 1.26 1.07 4.55 0.69 0.42 0.53 2.87 19.4

25,553,966 7,248,420 26,230 316,960 627,070 134,557,175 3,672,620 4,046,460 598 12,894 5,231,050 317,730 270,900 1,338,410 9,541,030 408,460 4,760 14,755,460 1,754,070 2,955,720 23,088,790 76,647,150 9,199,450 1,606,330 37,690,630 15,673,838

-12,853,348 -5,454,215 -2,099,350 -1,330,400 -4,686,500 -653,655 -3,200 -9,502,900 -4,782,380 701,340 21,500 -1,132,810 -4,346,150

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

57.65 99.4 2.98 132 1.4 34.85 7.11 16.72 15.84 3.75 1.62 0.55 83 1.11 12.2 21.2 52 211.6 106.3 38.65 199.5 1,960 89

58.85 99.4 2.98 132 1.47 34.9 7.11 16.72 15.84 3.8 1.62 0.57 83 1.11 12.2 22.95 52.1 213 106.3 38.65 202 1,960 89

57.65 97.7 2.98 129.4 1.4 34.6 7.11 16.4 15.4 3.62 1.62 0.55 81.95 1.06 12.2 20 51.95 211 106 37.95 199.5 1,946 89

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO 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 UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VULCAN INDL

38.85 14.64 0.6 1.22 21.9 0.226 3.1 17.1 51 24.85 57 81.2 1.99 5.16 9.45 11.12 16.2 11.6 7.12 5.14 1.78 14.9 63.9 18.76 8.9 16.8 2.23 284 5.08 3.37 17.82 27.4 13.68 20.85 320 6.68 2.43 4.33 9.34 5.63 7.97 1.44 12.48 51.35 6.19 4.66 2.09 3.55 1.85 13.68 65.05 5.47 0.138 139.3 3.21 0.83

38.85 14.7 0.62 1.24 21.9 0.228 3.1 17.1 51 25 57 89 2 5.16 9.45 11.24 16.28 12 7.18 5.24 1.78 15.18 63.9 18.98 8.93 16.8 2.34 286.6 5.25 3.52 17.82 27.4 13.68 22 324.2 6.7 2.44 4.37 9.5 5.85 7.97 1.44 12.6 51.55 6.19 4.8 2.17 3.55 1.86 13.68 65.15 5.48 0.138 139.3 3.25 0.83

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

0.26 62.45 13.1 0.96 6.58 0.69 0.71 937 6.5 10.28 7.68 1,031 59.65 5.87 0.6 4.3 21.65 0.58 4.96 0.039 1.14 3.22 140 2.56 882.5 0.8 1.63 534 255 0.245 0.192

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

7.04 1.09 14.22 2.03 0.84 42 3.46 4.89 5.98 6.14 0.46 1.05 0.96 0.247 31.05 0.64 0.119 1.66 1.3 1.07 4.55 0.7 0.45 0.53 3.01 19.5

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

2.07 3.26 37.45 1.12 10 0.78 6.42

2.07 3.31 38.45 1.14 10 0.78 6.48

2 3.2 37.4 1.09 9.68 0.78 6.31

2.04 3.31 37.8 1.13 9.85 0.78 6.31

714,000 60,000 9,693,900 2,575,000 326,100 2,000 2,477,000

1,432,270 196,040 368,496,780 2,868,090 3,185,526 1,560 15,691,943

166,000 33,212,185 -84,670 -3,679,574

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

15.8 26.6 1.33 0.465 0.046 13.06 12.5 0.059 89.85 8.8 7.43 7.6 2.2 20.4 1,640 5.64 300.2 4.08 83 13 8.25 0.114 1.38 3.72 15.48 4.75 1.03 25.45 0.5 4.19 5.6 3.04 18.78 8.8 11.64 9.45 2.9 11.8 131 6 1,386 1.01 0.38 47 90 7.1 2.25 1.3 0.42 4.82 0.84 11.48

15.8 26.8 1.33 0.465 0.048 13.06 12.7 0.059 89.85 8.8 7.76 7.99 2.2 20.4 1,672 5.69 306 4.08 83 13.08 8.25 0.116 1.41 3.73 15.66 4.78 1.03 26.6 0.5 4.35 6.45 3.1 18.78 8.97 11.7 9.45 2.9 11.8 132.5 6 1,386 1.16 0.38 47.9 90 7.2 2.25 1.3 0.445 4.82 0.86 11.9

15.54 26.3 1.33 0.46 0.046 13.02 12.24 0.054 87 8.8 7.4 7.6 2.2 18 1,630 5.58 300.2 3.83 81 13 8.2 0.114 1.38 3.57 15 4.61 1 25.45 0.5 4.19 5.45 2.94 18.78 8.57 11.64 9.45 2.9 11.8 131 5.96 1,365 1.01 0.36 47 87.15 7.1 2.17 1.25 0.42 4.77 0.84 11.14

SERVICES 15.6 26.5 1.33 0.46 0.047 13.02 12.24 0.056 87.95 8.8 7.53 7.99 2.2 18.58 1,630 5.68 306 3.87 82 13 8.2 0.114 1.41 3.57 15.66 4.64 1.03 26.55 0.5 4.21 6.43 2.94 18.78 8.66 11.7 9.45 2.9 11.8 132.2 5.99 1,366 1.16 0.375 47.8 90 7.15 2.2 1.27 0.445 4.81 0.86 11.52

10,400 106,400 1,000 3,990,000 3,000,000 44,500 2,439,400 19,000,000 108,330 6,000 1,093,800 200 10,000 152,600 17,080 208,800 4,760 2,992,000 6,118,740 102,300 3,000 1,390,000 63,000 137,000 14,800 516,000 352,000 962,800 3,000 31,000 16,772,900 1,925,000 3,000 11,116,700 53,700 2,800 1,000 400 5,350 390,800 29,615 32,537,000 3,630,000 417,100 44,380 25,700 1,132,000 921,000 18,870,000 563,000 1,531,000 2,130,800

162,136 2,829,425 1,330 1,837,500 140,600 580,252 30,361,628 1,064,740 9,536,617.50 52,800 8,279,743 1,559 22,000 2,841,816 27,958,195 1,180,152 1,443,970 11,697,540 500,821,043 1,330,032 24,700 159,100 86,970 496,150 227,188 2,407,640 354,840 25,338,010 1,500 130,240 102,506,160 5,761,980 56,340 97,589,349 626,714 26,460 2,900 4,720 706,485 2,337,006 40,655,775 35,910,340 1,335,800 19,884,720 3,979,123.50 184,344 2,489,510 1,169,010 8,297,400 2,693,430 1,298,970 24,528,498

23,250 2,969,954 -4,708,741 -1,629,896 -15,224,340 312,360 -6,886,480.50 -46,032 14,000 -4,000 12,281,125 9,405,420 -1,412,780 1,325 1,890.00 93,767 3,600 -17,657,005 -107,940.00 111,000 -2,998,245 304,231 -609,430 -95,520 -385,200 246,470 255,000 -403,792

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 PHINMA PETRO PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON

0.0028 1.67 4.37 18.76 1.65 0.3 7.3 2.28 0.19 0.139 0.142 0.0086 0.009 1.46 4.94 1.22 0.51 0.95 0.013 0.013 0.012 2.06 5.43 12.7 28.65 0.0063

0.0028 1.67 4.37 18.76 1.67 0.3 7.79 2.33 0.195 0.14 0.142 0.0086 0.009 1.46 5.02 1.22 0.51 0.96 0.013 0.013 0.013 2.06 5.59 13.1 29.65 0.0063

0.0027 1.63 4.3 18.76 1.64 0.3 7.2 2.28 0.19 0.139 0.142 0.0086 0.009 1.46 4.84 1.18 0.51 0.88 0.013 0.013 0.012 2.06 5.39 12.68 28.55 0.0063

MINING & OIL 0.0027 18,000,000 1.65 1,524,000 4.3 17,000 18.76 100 1.65 406,000 0.3 2,090,000 7.75 1,800 2.32 2,361,000 0.19 610,000 0.14 550,000 0.142 300,000 0.0086 4,000,000 0.009 2,000,000 1.46 1,000 4.94 2,245,000 1.2 516,000 0.51 9,000 0.9 679,000 0.013 502,900,000 0.013 70,000,000 0.012 5,500,000 2.06 10,000 5.39 458,400 12.7 960,200 29.65 1,300,400 0.0063 3,000,000

48,800 2,507,090 73,590 1,876 669,100 627,000 13,180 5,449,060 116,060 76,680 42,600 34,400 18,000 1,460 11,042,800 618,960 4,590 611,140 6,537,700 910,000 66,100 20,600 2,478,954 12,348,012 37,544,175 18,900

4,370 -409,200 1,092,600 -4,830,140 -595,201 -596,780 -26,773,690 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B HOUSE PREF A LR PREF MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

26 510 100.4 101 504.5 5.7 988 100 1.05 105 102 77.1 75.2 75.6 76.4 76.95 76.5

26 510 100.4 101 504.5 5.7 988 100.5 1.05 105 103 77.1 75.2 75.6 76.5 77 76.5

26 510 100.4 101 504.5 5.49 987 100 1.05 105 102 77.1 75.2 75.6 76.4 76.2 76.5

PREFERRED 26 215,100 510 20 100.4 10,000 101 8,100 504.5 1,890 5.49 31,500 987 3,210 100.1 28,190 1.05 15,000 105 1,280 103 210 77.1 7,720 75.2 1,300 75.6 6,000 76.5 26,190 76.2 99,650 76.5 500

5,592,600 10,200 1,004,000 818,100 953,505 173,065 3,168,500 2,828,370 15,750 134,400 21,620 595,212 97,760 453,600 2,003,525 7,661,683 38,250

-2,152,800 -166,800 -

LR WARRANT

2.82

2.82

2.67

WARRANTS 2.7 172,000

471,210

-

ITALPINAS XURPAS

5.27 3.22

5.27 3.35

5.1 3.21

5.16 3.28

1,208,801 2,457,240

-524 -36,200

FIRST METRO ETF

118.5

118.8

118.1

912,025

130,350

USD DMPL A1

10

10

10

92,000

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.19 1.06 15.48 2.08 0.83 41.9 3.47 4.82 5.98 6.14 0.455 1.08 0.96 0.24 30.75 0.64 0.119 1.64 1.27 1.09 4.59 0.72 0.45 0.53 2.9 19.4

3,564,700 6,797,000 1,800 158,000 761,000 3,199,600 1,059,000 833,000 100 2,100 11,500,000 295,000 281,000 5,540,000 308,600 658,000 40,000 8,999,000 1,382,000 2,671,000 5,016,000 107,753,000 20,860,000 3,030,000 12,710,000 801,400

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SHARES 5,545,215

63,817,599 135,853,448

PROPERTY

214,137,430

SERVICES

135,631,099

MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

619,965,155 1,175,945,691

SME

234,000 753,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.1 7,700 10

DDS

9,200

VALUE 1,895.75 (down) 25.84 406,843,915.18 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,897.01 (down) 54.19 680,614,760.57 HOLDING FIRMS 7,514.16 (up) 22.92 1,223,678,547.18 PROPERTY 3,820.58 (up) 17.30 SERVICES 1,526.64 (down) 7.59 773,131,552.515 MINING & OIL 10,147.54 (up) 106.40 1,017,884,553.45 PSEI 7,658.05 (down) 14.23 81,895,450.9054 All Shares Index 4,662.73 (down) 2.21 4,188,630,122.80 Gainers: 83; Losers: 105; Unchanged: 55; Total: 243

Megawide’s Q1 income climbed 16% to P635.8m

By Darwin G. Amojelar MEGAWIDE Construction Corp. said Monday net income in the first quarter of the year rose 16 percent P635.8 million from P549 million year-on-year on the strong growth of its airport business.

The company said the robust growth of the airport business segment, which now contributes 62 percent to the consolidated net earnings, drove the double-digit increase in net profit. The construction business segment accounted for the balance of 38 percent.

Consolidated revenues reached P4.4 billion, down 7 percent from P4.8 billion in the same period last year.

“We are optimistic about the company’s growth prospects in 2018 with the increasing contribution from our airport business and the expected pick up of our construction business towards the end of the year,” Megawide chairman and chief executive Edgar Saavedra said.

The construction business segment posted P3.7 billion in revenues, down 11 percent from a year ago. Megawide the lower revenues were due to projects in varying stages of construction in the order book and the scheduled start of new projects booked toward the end of 2017, such as Hampton O&P, Cold Storage Caloocan, 8990 Ortigas, Ascott-DD Meridian Park and Double Dragon Tower Phase 3.

New contracts bagged during the first three months of the year amounted to P13.3 billion, pr 124 percent of the total new contracts booked in the full year of 2017.

The majority of awarded projects are from the private sector, including the big-ticket infrastructure project involving the expansion of Clark International Airport. New projects also include Gateway Mall 2 Hotel, Golden Bay Tower, Taft East Gate and Space Ubelt.

“The push of the government’s Build, Build, Build program is a key revenue driver for our construction business.

Given our competitive advantage as a Quadruple A contractor, a concession operator and a fully integrated engineering company, we are in the best position to participate in these projects,” Saavedra said.

Aboitiz Group bullish, bares expansion bid THE Aboitiz Group expects a busy year ahead, with growth and expansion to continue, while developing communities.

“Our outlook remains positive and we remain committed to grow and expand our businesses while keeping within our financial and risk parameters. We aim to deliver on our brand promise of advancing business and communities through the various products and services we provide,” Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. president and chief executive officer Erramon Aboitiz said in a statement.

AEV and its strategic business units this year aim to spend P77.6 billion in capital expenditures this year amid vibrant growth opportunities at home and abroad.

Aboitiz Power Corp. will continue its balance strategy, developing a mix of technologies that will allow it to deliver energy reliably, reasonably and responsibly. With over 500 megawatts of incoming capacity this year from the Pagbilao Unit 3 facility which came online early this year, to the Manolo Fortich hydropower and Therma Visayas baseload plants scheduled to operate later this year, AboitizPower is on track to hit its goal of 4,000 MW in sellable capacity by 2020. The current net attributable capacity stands at 3,003 MW. Fueled by local and global accolades, Union Bank of Philippines, meanwhile, plans to sustain its digital innovation initiatives, focusing on the transformation of existing branches.

The bank this year is studying the possibility of building 10 “lite” versions of The ARK, UnionBank’s fully-digital concept branch.

Pilmico Foods Corp. will promote the growth of the backyard sector, including venturing into the retail market through the firm’s egg and meat depot in Tarlac, which opened in the fourth quarter last year. Two more depots are currently in the pipeline, with the aim of giving customers direct access to quality Pilmico Farms products.

Standard

TODAY

IN BRIEF 12 civilians killed in Mali market attack BAMAKO, Mali―At least 12 civilians were killed in northern Mali in an attack on a market that also involved the shooting of a Malian soldier, military sources said on Sunday.

The attack took place Saturday in the town of Boulekessi near the border with Burkina Faso.

“Malian troops under the G5 Sahel command are at the center of this incident,” a military source from the joint force of soldiers from five Sahel countries told AFP. “One of the soldiers had been attacked by an armed man at the market in Boulekessi. Afterwards, in circumstances not yet clear, at least 12 civilians at the site were killed,” the source said.

A Malian military source added that it was difficult to contact the region by phone and that an investigation was under way “to find out exactly how many civilians were killed and who shot the soldier.”

Contacted by AFP, a former Malian minister, who comes from the region, said that witnesses had claimed the incident was due to military “blunders” and that “more than 15 civilians were killed”.

“According to two witnesses, an armed man shot a Malian soldier who was now fighting for his life,” the ex-minister said, adding that he was waiting for confirmation of the details of the incident.

Mali’s defense minister Tienan Coulibaly could not been reached for comment.

The Malian army is often accused of making arbitrary arrests and carrying out extra-judicial executions in its fight against jihadists in the north of the country.

France intervened militarily in Mali in 2013 to help government forces drive Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists out of the north.

But large tracts of the country remain lawless despite a peace accord signed with ethnic Tuareg leaders in mid2015 aimed at isolating the jihadists.

The violence has also spilled over into both Burkina Faso and Niger. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018 CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

World

Manila

B3

Maduro to rule for six more years C ARACAS―One year ago few could see crisis-beset Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro re-elected for a second term―and yet on Sunday he powered to another six-year mandate, giving him a stranglehold on the presidency until 2025.

This despite presiding over the South American country’s ruined economy, where food shortages are the norm and the protests last year left 125 dead.

“We won again! We triumphed again!

We are the force of history turned into a permanent popular victory!” he cried

out to a crowd of supporters, claiming that he won a “record” victory.

Maduro’s nearest challenger, Henri Falcon, took just over 22 percent of the vote―and said that he did not accept the final results.

Maduro, a 55-year-old former bus driver and union leader, and ex-foreign minister, never doubted that he would be re-elected in a vote that he himself moved forward from December to May. Yet the president has struggled to gain respect as the legitimate successor to Hugo Chavez, who led Venezuela from 1999 until his death in 2013 and who anointed Maduro as his successor to perpetuate his own populist leftist ideology.

“His authority was born out of the legacy of Chavez, but now we have a different Maduro, who knows that he is strong and is more aggressive,” Felix Seijas, head of the polling agency Del-

phos, told AFP. Maduro’s first term in office was turbulent: the economic crisis, rising poverty and crime, violent street protests, international sanctions, and millions of Venezuelans fleeing their country.

“Five years ago I was a novice,” he said recently. “Now I am a standup Maduro, with battle experience, who has confronted the oligarchy and imperialism. I have arrived, stronger than ever.”

Maduro’s critics accuse the president―first elected by a razor-thin margin in 2013―of grossly mismanaging the economy and becoming an all-powerful “dictator.”

To sideline the opposition and strengthen his grip on power, last year Maduro created a Constituent Assembly packed with loyalists that has authority over the opposition-controlled legislature, the National Assembly.

Nazi hunters in final race against time

Palestinian president Abbas still in hospital RAMALLAH―Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas remained in hospital Monday, a spokeswoman said, a day after being admitted with complications following an ear operation.

A spokeswoman for the Istishari Arab Hospital near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank said the 83-yearold was doing well but there was no time frame for his discharge as yet.

Abbas’s health is the subject of regular speculation, with no clear successor identified.

Senior official Saeb Erekat downplayed fears about his condition late Sunday.

“The president is suffering from an inflammation of the ear that developed following the operation he undertook recently,” Erekat told AFP. A source familiar with his condition had earlier said he was suffering from chest pain and a high fever.

It is the third time Abbas has been in hospital in a week, initially for the ear operation on Tuesday then for tests on Saturday.

In February, he underwent what was then described as routine medical tests in the United States.

Abbas won a four-year term as president in 2005, but he has remained in office in the absence of elections.

Abbas argues the split between his Fatah party and Islamists Hamas, who control the Gaza Strip, has made elections politically impossible.

A moderate, he has been involved in decades of negotiations with Israel but is unpopular among Palestinians, with the majority wanting him to step down.

AFP

Chavez considered Maduro “a pure and hard revolutionary.” But some former Chavez supporters are skeptical.

“He is perhaps a Madurista, but not a Chavista,” Ana Elisa Osorio, a former minister under Chavez, told AFP. Maduro claims he is “a democratic president” battling an “economic war” launched by the political right with US support.

“He has been underestimated, not only by the opposition but also by a lot of Chavistas,” said Andres Canizalez, an expert in political communication.

“But he has benefited from mistakes by others, managing also to neutralize his adversaries” within the socialist movement in power since 1999.

Canizalez said that Maduro “went through a metamorphosis and these elections are the culmination of that process.” AFP

MASS WEDDING. This photo taken on May 20, 2018, shows couples taking part in a mass wedding at Northeastern University in Shenyang, China. AFP

Monet sister paintings reunited for the first time

WASHINGTON―For the first time since they were painted more than a century ago, two oil paintings of Claude Monet’s garden in Vetheuil have been reunited, in Washington.

Monet moved to this village in the Paris suburbs in 1878 with his sick wife Camille and their two young children as they faced financial difficulties, along with the family of onetime patron Ernest Hoschede.

The period that ensued was one of the most prolific for the French Impressionist, who produced in just three years nearly 300 paintings, including “The Artist’s Garden at Vetheuil” (1881).

Until August 8, the National Gallery of Art is presenting two of four known works of this lush summer scene with huge sunflowers, including its own, larger piece and another temporarily on loan from California’s Norton Simon Museum.

“It’s a turning point in terms of his career, his struggles, he’s turning more toward landscape, he’s becoming more interested in atmospheric effects,” National Gallery curator of 19th century French paintings Kimberly Jones said in an interview.

The Norton Simon’s version, believed to have served as a model for its companion, is more heavily worked in most areas.

“Before these two pictures were together, we always described the handling of this one as quite loose because we didn’t have another example, and we had always believed ours was a study for the larger picture,” said Norton Simon assistant curator Emily Talbot.

“All of the things that have been published about these two pictures we’re starting to question just by having them in the

same space.”

Where Monet layered meridian green thickly on top of cobalt blue to give more interest to the sky in the Norton Simon’s picture, in the companion piece it’s defined instead by contrasts of thick and thin, and patches of exposed canvas ground.

The National Gallery’s senior conservator of paintings Ann Hoenigswald spent months removing a discolored natural resin varnish from the museum’s masterpiece that had flattened the work visually.

“The minute I got the varnish Republic of the Philippines off, it just soared,” she said.

Province of Ilocos Sur “What I find really exciting is Municipality of Narvacan the energy of the brushwork. You BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE see the richness of the impasto and INVITATION TO BID the speed at which he moves his brush across, and all the bristles THE MUNICIPALITY OF NARVACAN, through its Bids and Awards Committee invites suppliers/manufacturers/distributors/contractors to bid for of the brush, or a little lip of paint (BAC), the hereunder contract: that just comes straggling there.” : Provision of Farm Inputs It was not until almost 10 years Name of Contract : Narvacan, Ilocos Sur later, in 1890, that Monet began Location Brief Description : Supply/Delivery of In-Organic Fertilizers painting formal series each com- Approved Budget prised of dozens of works depicting for the Contract (ABC): P 15,650,000.00 Contract Duration : 45 Calendar Days a single subject―the Rouen Cathe- Source of Fund : RA 7171 dral, London’s Houses of Parliabidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project ment or water lilies―at different Prospective with an amount of at least 50% of the ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary seasons or times of the day usually pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids. The BAC will conduct post qualification of the lowest from the same vantage point. AFP

Hunt for bodies goes on nearly a year after Mosul’s fall MOSUL―Atop an enormous mound of rubble under a blistering sun in Iraq’s second city Mosul, fire crews and police chip away at a grim but vital task.

Some 10 months after dislodging the Islamic State group, they are still extracting bodies from the ruins of the shattered Old City.

“Over three days, 763 bodies have been pulled from the rubble and buried,” Lieutenant Colonel Rabie Ibrahim tells AFP. Despite the overpowering stench, the men work relentlessly, braving unexploded munitions in an area devastated by the nine-month battle.

“The operations will continue until all the corpses are extracted” from the heart of the city, Ibrahim says.

Civilians’ bodies that can be identified are handed to their families, while the remains of IS combatants are buried in a mass grave on the western outskirts of Mosul.

Some of the petrified corpses are sent to Nineveh province’s health services, Ibrahim adds.

The workers, their faces covered with masks or scarves, move with great caution.

The bodies of jihadists are sometimes still clad in suicide belts.

Grenades, homemade bombs and other crude contraptions left by IS fighters during their retreat to Syria pose a constant threat.

The improvised booby traps are hidden under multiple layers and obstacles―the rubble of collapsed homes, disemboweled furniture and uprooted trees, in some places subsiding into the waters of the Tigris that meander murkily below.

Where a maze of cobbled streets was once lined with homes and market stalls, there is now a formless mess populated by stray animals, insects and disease.

The destruction is so great that some residents cannot pinpoint the remnants of their homes or even their street as they try to direct salvage workers to the remains of loved ones.

The rubble makes it impossible to bring in heavy construction machinery, says General Hossam Khalil, who leads Nineveh province’s civil defense force.

His men therefore have to rely on smaller vehicles, but Mosul “only has a few,” he says.

There is a pressure to work as quickly as

LUDWIGSBURG―Tucked away in the picturesque German city of Ludwigsburg, a tiny team of investigators tracks the last surviving Nazi war criminals across the globe and through the better part of a century, in an urgent race against time.

“We put together the smallest pieces of information, like the pieces of a puzzle, to work out who was employed in what role, from when until when” in Adolf Hitler’s totalitarian killing machine, says prosecutor Jens Rommel.

He has, since 2015, led the eightstrong Central Office for the Investigation of National Socialist Crimes, at a time when the last perpetrators, accomplices, witnesses and survivors are finally vanishing.

Once all the perpetrators are gone, Germany will close the judicial side of its coming-to-terms with the Nazi government’s extermination of six million Jews and hundreds of thousands of others in the Holocaust.

In the meantime, the spectacle of frail defendants aged in their 90s appearing in courtrooms to answer for crimes dating back to 1945 or earlier has renewed a vigorous debate about the country’s dark history.

For decades after the war, the German government and justice system showed little haste to track down many of those involved in the organized mass murder. AFP

conditions will allow: residents are exhausted by three years of IS rule, nine months of brutal urban combat and now the slow pace of reconstruction.

“But it’s impossible, with this stench, this pollution and the epidemics they can cause,” says Othmane Saad, an unemployed 40-yearold whose home in the old city is entirely destroyed.

Another resident, 33-year-old Abu Adel, wants the authorities “to clear all the corpses as quickly as possible” and to “compensate residents so they can rebuild, then establish public services”.

But the task is titanic.

Since Mosul was retaken in July, “2,838 bodies, including 600 IS members, have been retrieved from the rubble,” governor Naufel Sultane tells AFP. Even after the corpses are taken away and buried, they leave harmful bacteria which the Tigris can carry far beyond the old city.

The authorities insist drinking water stations are unaffected and that they pump water from the Tigris’ central depths, avoiding the banks and other shallows.

But gastroenterologist Ahmed Ibrahim advises caution. AFP

calculated bid.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The schedule of BAC activities are as follows: BAC Activities / Schedule 1. Issuance of Eligibility Documents 2. Issuance & availability of Bidding Documents 3. Pre-bid Conference 4. Receipt and Opening of Bids (includes submission of Eligibility Requirements and Eligibility Check) 5. Bid Evaluation 6. Post Qualification 7. Approval of BAC Resolution/ Issuance of Notice of Award 8. Contract Preparation and Signing 9. Approval of Contract 10.Issuance of Notice to Proceed

- May 22-June 11, 2018 - May 22-June 11, 2018 - May 29, 2018–2:30 PM/BAC Office - June 11, 2018 - 2:30 PM/BAC Office - June 13, 2018 - June 14, 2018 - June - June - June - June

15, 18, 19, 20,

2018 2018 2018 2018

The BAC will issue prospective bidders Eligibility Forms and Bidding Documents at the Office of the BAC Chairman, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, upon their payment of a non refundable amount of P 25,000.00 to the Municipal Treasurer’s Office, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. The Local Government Unit of Narvacan reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of Bidding, or not to award the contract and assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expense incurred in the preparation of their bids.

May 22, 2018 (SGD) ELEUTERIO G. INES BAC Chairman NOTED: (SGD) ZURIEL S. ZARAGOZA Municipal Mayor (MS-MAY 22, 2018)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

LGUs

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

B4

tuesday, may 22, 2018

Davao ramps up testing drive for HIV-AIDS cases

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAo CItY—the City health office has urged barangay councils to strengthen campaign on the importance of testing for human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency syndrome (hIV-AIDs) amid the alarming increase in cases of the disease in the region.

According to Pricilla senoc, health education and Population officer of the Cho, it was important for community leaders to participate in the awareness and prevention program on hIV-AIDs. “We have 182 barangays and if these barangays will engage in the hIV prevention program, we can reverse the [rise in] cases of hIV in Davao,” she said. out of the 182 barangays, the Cho has so far covered 50 barangays in the campaign for hIV-AIDs prevention. senoc revealed that as of January 2018, there are already 2,330 cases of hIV with 109 deaths in Davao City based on the report of the epidemiological Bureau of the Department of health.

Currently, the Davao region ranks 6th among regions with the most number of hIV cases in the country. the National Capital region, region 4-A, region 7, region 3 and region 6 are on top 1,2,3,4, and 5, respectively.

“In the Philippines, an average of 32 cases of hIV infections are recorded per day,” senoc added.

QC dads support bill granting P80k to octogenarians the Quezon City Council has passed a resolution supporting the enactment into law of house Bill No. 6137, granting an P80,000 incentive to senior citizens who have reached the age of 80.

City resolution 7403-2018, introduced by Councilor Melencio “Bobby” t. Castelo, Jr., is in support of the improvement of welfare of senior citizens by providing them various benefits under the republic Act No. 7432, as amended by rA 9257 and rA 9994. the City Council said it wants more senior citizens to receive benefits and incentives as it is the Quezon City’s policy to extend full support to its elderly. “senior citizens were able to benefit from republic Act No. 10868 that grants an additional benefit of P100,000 to centenarians, but only very few senior citizens reach 100 years old. house Bill No. 6137, if enacted into law, will grant monetary benefit to all senior citizens in the amount of P80,000 upon reaching the age of 80 years old which is more beneficial to numerous senior citizens,” the resolution read.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor herbert Bautista has signed an ordinance declaring June 15 as the Quezon City elder Abuse Awareness Day. City ordinance 2670-2018, also known as the Quezon City elder Abuse Awareness Day ordinance, is in accordance with resolution No. 66/127 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly designating June 15 as the World elder Abuse Day. the annual event aims to call attention to growing global opposition against abuse of the elderly. Rio Araja

SAFER SURGERIES. To mark their collaborative commitment of providing better safety for patients during surgical procedures, members of multi-stakeholder institutions, medical groups, and advocate organizations gathered in a press conference Friday at Taguig City to discuss the patients’ full surgical journey, to make surgeries safer, and save more lives.

In photo are (from left) Dr. Alejandro Dizon, president, Philippine College of Surgeons; Dr. Erlinda Oracion, Clinical Quality director, The Medical City; Dr. Claudia Rafanan, chairman of the Anesthesia Department, Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu; Maria Fatima ‘Girlie’ Garcia Lorenzo, president of the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations; and Charisse Abriz, Anesthesia product manager, MSD in the Philippines. Manny Palmero

LocaL government units

LIGHTING MANILA. Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada prepares to flip the switch for brand-new LED lampposts along Arlegui St. from P. Casal to Quezon Boulevard to C. Aguila St. from Nepomuceno St. to Carcer St. in Quiapo in a ceremony on Thursday, May 17. ‘No single street will be left unlighted,’ Mayor Estrada said to the crowd (inset) as he assured continuous funding for the street lighting project.

Makati hands out gear for coming school year

By Joel E. Zurbano

t

he city government of Makati has started distributing free school supplies and uniforms to students in all public elementary and high schools in the city in time for the opening of classes next month.

“We have scheduled the distribution of free school supplies and uniforms before the opening of classes in June. We want our students to be equipped with the things they need as early as their first day in school,” Mayor Abigail Binay said.

Binay said the government’s Brigada eskwela program was an opportune time for the distribution since it brings together students and their parents,

along with other volunteers from various sectors, to conduct clean-up and repair of school facilities in preparation for the opening of classes.

Brigada eskwela is an annual school maintenance activity to help ensure that public elementary and high schools nationwide will be ready in time for the school opening. teachers, parents, pupils, civic groups, volunteers and even police and

military personnel members picked up brooms, paint brushes, washed walls and started cleaning the surroundings and classrooms in public schools nationwide. this year’s theme “Pagkakaisa Para sa handa, Ligtas at Matatag na Paaralan tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan”, aims to bring together all education stakeholders to participate and contribute their time, effort, and resources in helping schools become conducive to learning, in time for the opening of the school year.

“I encourage students to participate in Brigada eskwela this week. this way, they will be able to help get their classrooms ready, and at the same time receive their free uniforms and school supplies,” Mayor Abby said.

CRIMES STOPPED. Calabarzon Regional Police Director Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, Batangas Provincial Director Senior Supt.

Edwin A Quilates (left, left photo) and Lipa City Barangay Captain Juana Litan (right) present Marcial Orbigoso, an illegal drugs and illegal firearms suspect (in red shirt) and tagged as one of the top drug pushers in Makati City, on Monday. Earlier, Eleazar also inspected the tools used by the dreaded Termite Gang (right photo) to rob Burgos Pawnshop in Poblacion, Noveleta, Cavite. Combined police forces managed to arrest nine members of the gang after a monthlong surveillance operation. Roy Tomandao

Navotas opens new Tanza park, multi-use hall

By Jun David Brothers rep. toby tiangco and Mayor John rey tiangco recently led the blessing and inauguration of the new playground and multi-purpose hall at the NavotaAs homes-tanza at Brgy. tanza 2.

“Play is an integral part of a child’s development. through play, a child learns how to socialize, build friendships and treat others well. that’s why it is important that we give our children a safe place where they could play with other kids and have fun,” Mayor tiangco said. he lamented that there are children who engage in gambling because they have no access to other forms of entertainment and they imitate what adults do. “to the parents, be good role models to your kids. our city strives to give you a community complete with facilities, so you could build and live a life of dignity,” he added, reminding residents that gambling and drug use are strictly prohibited and grounds for eviction.

Meanwhile, Cong. tiangco advised residents to keep NavotaAs homes clean and orderly. “this area was once a fishpond. We endeavored to improve this site, so we could give you decent homes. In return, we hope you will take care of your new community and all its facilities,” he said. the lawmaker also urged parents to ensure their children’s education.

“Let us keep our children in school. they should not be wandering in the streets or doing manual labor. Let us give them the chance to better themselves and create a bright future through education,” he added.

Philex to spend P109m for social development projects this year

By Dexter A. See tUBA, Benguet—Philex Mining Corp. has allotted a total of P109.32 million for this year’s programs on infrastructure, information dissemination, and research and development, following several community-based consultations and planning workshops conducted in the outlying com-

munities of its Padcal mine, in this province.

Noting that the company “believes that the community knows what is best for them,” Padcal mine’s Community relations Department said a team composed of representatives from Philex Mining as well as from the local government units municipal and barangay had conducted site as-

sessments and technical evaluation of the proposed community projects. “the results of the site assessments and technical evaluation were then presented to the local government units resulting in the proper prioritization of proposed projects per area,” Philex Comrel said in a 95-page report, entitled “2018 Annual social Development and Management

Program,” submitted to the regional MGB, or Mines and Geosciences Bureau, in Baguio City. the total allocation of P109,317,925.29, as mandated by the MGB, a government agency that regulates the mining industry and operates under the Department of environment and Natural resources, is 1.5 percent of the company’s 2017 total operating costs of P7,287,861,686.

Gov’t eyes more citrus production

By Butch Gunio sAN MAteo, Isabela—the government wants to increase citrus production across the country through science and technology to meet local demand, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural resources research and Development said Monday.

“PCAArrD has been funding research projects for citrus production in Cagayan Valley particularly in Nueva Vizcaya,” said Marita Carlos, director of the agency’s Applied Communication Division, when she was guest speaker in the opening ceremony of the 10th Balatong Festival here.

“there is great potential to boost citrus production in this region and in the whole country. We have funded research projects with the Nueva Vizcaya state University,” she added.

PCAArrD is currently funding the Citrus resources research for Development in Cagayan Valley program with NVsU Dr. elbert A. sana as program leader. the program includes projects on value chain analysis; gene bank and database profiling of citrus genetic resources; establishment of a production system for quality planting materials; and development of pest and disease management systems.

Life

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

health and environment

@mstandardLIFe tuesday, may 22, 2018

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AN ‘IRON QUEEN’.

Binibining Pilipinas World 2005 Carlene Aguilar-Ocampo continues to push herself to prove that even moms like her can be fit and an accomplished athlete.

Carlene trains in the pool

Celebrity triathlete

shares fitness tips l

iVing a balanced life these days is not easy, especially for mothers who wear many hats on a daily basis. But Binibining Pilipinas world 2005 winner-turned-triathlete Carlene Aguilar-ocampo proves that it is, even for moms with three kids like her, possible. Here are her tried and tested tips on how moms, or even those who are not yet mothers, can be healthy and fit.

Make it a family affair

“My three boys and i love spending time together in action. not only do we eat out, watch movies together, or go to the mall, we enjoy being on the move as well. Activities like wall climbing, swimming, and fun runs are just some of the things we love to do as a family,” shared Carlene.

This way, she said, her kids can take their eyes off their gadgets and look forward to doing engaging activities that not only keep their body healthy and fit but also make them closer.

Challenge yourself

For this relatively newbie to the triathlon world, a larger than life transformation is possible when you push yourself harder and stronger. She related, “i started the sports in 2016 with losing weight as the ultimate reason in mind.

But as time passed by, i realized that this was something i wanted to be seriously part of, so i joined an aquathlon and unexpectedly bagged the 3rd place.

And as they say, the rest is history!”

“My point is that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams in life as long as you’re ready to tackle them with determination,” she emphasized. Carlene proves that mastering the elusive work-life balance can be tricky, but getting out of your comfort zone is one of the secrets to ensure we’re always on top of our game.

by small beginnings, with getting that foot out of the door as the first step. “obstacles are a fact of life, but if we focus on what we’re not or what we can’t do, we wouldn’t have the time, energy, and even the motivation to move towards our goal,” said the 36-year-old beauty queen. “where do you want to go? what should you start now or stop doing? Do you want to think why you don’t have time to get moving or are you going to shift your focus on how you can get up 30 minutes early so you can set yourself towards your goal? what is it worth to you?”

Find something that motivates you

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to getting fit; what works for others may not work for you. while many think that hitting the gym is the only way, the easiest way, to shed those extra pounds, Carlene does other things.

“Triathlon brings out the best in me, and i’m pretty jazzed about the challenge of becoming better every race,” she said. it doesn’t also hurt that she’s got three fun-loving kids who keep her motivated. “i want to be able to keep up with their strength and energy year after year, so getting fit and healthy is an absolute must to make it happen for me.”

Get up in the morning

not a morning person? Carlene said being a morning person starts at night, in your bedroom. “Set boundaries at Set a goal and stick to it Carlene’s triathlon career was marked work, social media, and other areas of

your life that may cause restlessness.

And have a consistent bed time schedule. it’s a discipline with tons of benefits—more time to prepare for the day, increased productivity, and better performance at work,” she shared.

Carlene believes that working out in the morning provides greater advantage than doing it at night. “Exercise is an instant energy boost and a great way for the body to release the happy hormones, endorphins. whether it’s a run, swim, bike, yoga, or gym, it’s a surefire way to get pumped for the day ahead!”

Love yourself

The most important, but perhaps the most neglected, part of keeping yourself healthy and fit is taking care of yourself. “loving yourself in a balanced way won’t only be beneficial for yourself but for people around you. The old adage ‘You can’t give what you don’t have’ can’t be truer,” asserted Carlene.

“Besides, if you won’t take care of yourself, who else will? looking good and feeling better is just the beginning, i know that my choice of keeping myself in excellent shape allows me to be an effective conduit of love and strength for other people.” one of the ways she takes care of herself, especially with her active life, is by choosing the right sanitary pad that provides all-around protection. “i’m partial to Jeunesse Anion that provides a reprieve from odor, stain, and leaks. Most importantly, it stays where it should be. in fact, my daily musthave is the panty liner to keep me fresh and worry-free. All variants, especially with wings are also consistently reliable for my day-to-day grind whether at work, home, or on the run,” she shared.

Jeunesse Anion is available at leading drugstores, supermarkets, and groceries nationwide.

Carlene with husband Yo Ocampo and three sons (from left) Hunter, Marcus, and Calix

Protein powder to fuel your day wHolESoME foods label Bob’s Red Mill offers premium quality plant protein powders which help boost strength and build muscles.

Bob’s Red Mill Plant Protein powders are made with fiber, probiotics, and chia seeds. They come without added sweeteners, flavors, and colors. They can be taken in as a shake or smoothie, or added to hot cereals. Flavors include Vanilla, Chocolate, Chai, Pea Protein, and unflavored Protein & Fiber.

Until June 30, Healthy options will give a stainless steel protein shaker for every single receipt purchase worth P3,500, which includes at least one Bob’s Red Mill Plant Protein Powder.

Bob’s Red Mill Plant Protein Powder

Racing for more smiles

By Danielle Macadangdang

Smile Train’s officials and Team EMPOWER (from left) Coach Bing Benares, Smile Train Philippines country director Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Andres Philip Mayol, Rojan Pajarin, Carlene Aguilar-Ocampo, Dr. Levi Maliwat, and Dr. Gene Tiongco

Following the success of Smile Train’s Team EMPowER in last year’s Cobra ironman in Cebu, the nonprofit organization for cleft lip and palate, has gathered once again the former and current athletes of the team for the upcoming ironman event in Subic.

Team EMPowER’s unprecedented effort in the Cebu race in 2017 was able to raise enough funds to perform at least 100 surgeries in the Philippines. “we recognize that more people want to contribute their time and talents for good causes. Through Smile Train Team EMPowER, athletes can continue to do what they love most, and in the process, create a brighter future for children born with clefts,” said Smile Train Philippines country director Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano.

Racing in June are former beauty queen and Smile Train Philippines’ celebrity ambassador Carlene Aguilar-ocampo, neurosurgeon Dr. levi Maliwat, and endurance racers Riz Estrada and Sheila gagui. They will race together with Rojan Pajarin who was born with cleft lip and palate.

Pajarin shared he was bullied because of his condition; he hid behind the shadows and refrained from

socializing with others. His experience with Smile Train, however, has opened his eyes to more opportunities and to becoming an inspiration to others. He trains hard to help put a smile on others’ faces.

“To the extent of what i saw, i encourage everyone with clefts to go out there and not be shy. There are many things that you can do. Continue to do what you think is right and what you think will help you—us,” Pajarin shared with Manila Standard.

Much like Pajarin, some of the triathletes joining this year are eager to help empower the beneficiaries of Smile Train.

“Sometimes the conditions are rough—it’s too cold, it’s too hot. But they say the reason they were able to finish the race was because they were not doing it for them, they were doing it for Smile Train,” shared Coseteng-Flaviano.

Team EMPowER is a global endurance fundraising program of Smile Train. it gives athletes all around the world the opportunity to make their race count by providing high quality surgery and comprehensive cleft care for children. Since 2013, Team EMPowER has helped more than 14,700 children.

Visit smiletrain.org to know more about Smile Train’s global efforts.

Life

C2

tuesday, may 22, 2018 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

A closer look into the most prevalent

mental health disorder in PH

Superbods category winners Maureen Montagne and Jules Aquino

How to be a real

B

‘fitspiration’

eING physically fit doesn’t have an age limit; anyone can be strong and sexy at any point of their lives. These four individuals, who recently won in a fitness competition, prove that anyone, at any age, can become better versions of themselves.

To those saying that a mother can’t be sexy, 40-year-old hot momma Angel Jones begs to disagree.

Jones’ strong and slender body earned her the Century Tuna superbods Ageless crown (female category). The Ageless category, which only opened in this year’s edition of superbods, recognizes fit and sexy individuals aged 38 to 50.

“I want to show every woman that it’s possible to have kids, have a career, and survive all the struggles but still look fantastic and gorgeous,” says Jones.

Her typical day starts at 6:00 a.m. when she makes breakfast for her actor son Tony Labrusca, she then works out at 8:00 a.m., cooks lunch for her daughter at 10:00 a.m., does errands and meetings in the afternoon, and enjoys a quiet and cozy evening with kids.

The male winner in the Ageless category, Johann Ludovica, is a person who’s disciplined and determined enough to keep his body fit. The 42-year-old makes sure his daily activities include basketball, weight lifting, and regular workouts at the gym. He remains disciplined, responsible, and driven despite the stress caused by his work as a BPo (business process outsourcing) trainer.

“Believe, because you can. And if you need help, ask me,” said Ludovica.

Although she grew up in the Us, female superbods winner maureen montagne had

Discipline and determination are big factors in helping Johann Ludovica get his ‘Ageless’ body. (Right) Hot momma Angel Jones shows that you can be sexy at 40

always been proud of her Filipino roots. she shows her appreciation for her heritage by helping and inspiring Filipino children.

The 24-year-old Fil-Am model said, “I hope to use my new found resources to continue volunteering and be able to give back to others.” montagne stays fit by going to the gym three to four times a week and doing exercises on a yoga mat at home. meanwhile, superbods male winner Jules Aquino believes in setting goals, may it be for keeping your body healthy or for other things.

His advice for achieving a healthy physique is to stay consistent and do something fun. “When you enjoy the activities and have a positive outlook in life, you will reap countless benefits,” said the 24-year-old.

Aquino’s varied fitness routine includes olympic lifting, calisthenics, plyometrics, high-intensity interval training or HIIT, animal flow, yoga, stretching and mobility work, running (long distances or short sprints), and gymnastics.

The superbods category is open to fit and sexy individuals, 18 to 37 years old.

Jones, Ludovica, montagne, and Aquino’s stories show that whatever the age or the circumstances, there is no limit to what you can do to be fit, sexy, and healthy.

“Through Century Tuna superbods Ageless, we do not only recognize fit and sexy individuals but also promote healthy lifestyles for everyone regardless of age, gender, and status in life,” asserts Greg Banzon, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Century Pacific Food, Inc.

As more people come out to share their mental health stories, the stigma attached to mental health issues has started to diminish. However, of the top three mental illnesses in the country, schizophrenia remains to be the least understood, compared to depression and anxiety. schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental illness characterized by hallucinations and delusions that affect language, perception, and motor behavior. According to the World Health organization, about one in 250 people in the world suffers from this disorder. In the Philippines, it is the top brain disorder, affecting at least 42 percent of patients who seek psychological treatment and consultation, according to the latest data from the Philippine Health Infor mation system.

The PHIsm H is the country’s first public-private mental health information system.

Launched by Johnson & Johnson Philippines in 2014. The system aims to improve data gathering on mental health and provide the Philippine government with the necessary information to help them adequately address mental health issues in the country. To date, PHIs-mIs has been able to gather approximately 2,500 data entries from 10 government and four private hospitals and healthcare facilities and institutions nationwide.

“Among Filipinos, mental illnesses are more prevalent than commonly believed, and unfortunately, their psychological symptoms are often linked to insanity,” said Dr. erwin Benedicto, senior manager, scientific Affairs and medical Compliance of Johnson & Johnson Philippines Inc. “We should tear down this thinking in order to support people with this disease, and encourage them and their families to seek professional help.” mental health disorders rank third in the most common disabilities in the country, affecting one in every five Filipino adults, according to the WHo. Furthermore, PHIs-ms data

show that majority of the patients diagnosed with schizophrenia are of working age (20 to 44 years); this does not bode well for Filipinos afflicted with schizophrenia, as it is most common during their most productive years. schizophrenia could adversely affect patients’ lives in terms of work or academic performance, along with peer and familial relationships.

This deterioration in performance and relationships could in turn negatively impact their daily activities, and even lead those suffering from the disease to neglect their a needs, such Schizoprenia is vere as nutrition, chronic and se mental illness hygiene, and characterized by self-care. and hallucinations Treatment . ns sio lu de for schizophrenia does exist to help patients lead productive and healthy lives, said Dr. Benedicto. Anti-psychotic medication, is readily available at accredited clinics and hospitals, he said.

“As a global leader in healthcare, we want to make sure that every Filipino has the right tools and information to allow them to live happy, healthy, and productive lives,” said Dr. Benedicto He continued, “That is why we develop initiatives and continue to partner with local organizations who share our advocacy to create a healthier Philippines.”

In 2013, Johnson & Johnson Philippines, Inc., through its pharmaceutical arm Janssen Pharmaceuticals, had coproduced a short film entitled “mga Anino ng Kahapon,” a full-length independent feature that challenges stereotypes associated with schizophrenia. Written and directed by Alvin Yapan, the short film was part of the 2013 metro manila Film Festival New Wave program where it won Best Actress for lead actor Agot Isidro, as well as a special Jury Prize. “mga Anino” continues to be shown in schools, hospitals, and other patient support activities to promote understanding of the disorder, and spread awareness on the availability of treatment for people with schizophrenia.

Mental health disorders rank third in the most common disabilities in the country, affecting one in every five Filipino adults.

The fight against multi-drug resistant superbugs

IN HeALTHCAre, superbugs refer to pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics. They are a daunting healthcare problem as they threaten lives with simple infections that would not heal.

The global healthcare burden posed by superbugs is known as antimicrobial resistance (Amr)—a condition where infectious microorganisms previously susceptible and responsive to a certain treatment become resistant to it.

In a recent healthcare forum, dubbed, “Fighting multi-Drug resistant Infections” held at manila Diamond Hotel, the multistakeholder group composed of the Department of Health, Philippine College of Physicians, and global healthcare company msD in the Philippines reiterated its commitment to fight Amr by espousing the country’s Antimicrobial stewardship Program and development of new antibiotics.

An example of superbug

superbug Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the focus of the event discussion as it is highlighted by the World Health organization as critical priority pathogen that is resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Pseudomonas infections cause more

From left: Dr. Adrian Brink, Dr. Regina Berba of the Department of Health, MSD Philippines’ Allan Ancheta, MSD’s Dr. Maria Carolina Emilia Villanueva, and MSD’s Dr. Beaver Tamesis

deaths compared to other pathogens, and are highly-resistant to most types of antibiotics like carbapenem which is often referred to as “antibiotic of last resort.” It is the leading cause of pneumonia, the third top cause of urinary tract infections, and eighth leading contributor to bloodstream infections.

At risk of Pseudomonas infections are

elderly patients, people being treated with antibiotics, diabetics, burn or immuno-compromised patients, residents of healthcare facilities, and those with previous histories of infection.

The Philippines, being a country in southeast Asia, in more of a threat to to at risk of being threatened by carbapanem-

resistant Pseudomonas given that the prevalence in the region is from 31 to 50 percent.

Dr. Adrian Brink, founding president of the Federation of Infectious Diseases societies of southern Africa, described Pseudomonas as “the most sophisticated bug you can find in the hospital.

The size of the DNA of Pseudomonas is double the size of e. coli.” He added, “The specie has many ways to overcome antibiotics and it can survive most harsh circumstances.”

“If I swab your kitchen or your bathroom or your car, I probably would find Pseudomonas,” revealed Dr. Brink. “If you flush the toilet, the spray from the toilet water can colonize a patient or, indirectly, through the hands of the doctor or nurse, or equipment like a stethoscope.”

How to fight this superbug

Getting rid of Pseudomonas requires a lot of effort and resources. According to Dr. Brink, one effective practice is washing of hands before and after touching a patient and when leaving the patient’s room. many hospitals around the world also use ultraviolet light to decontaminate patient rooms.

moreover, a novel anti-Pseudomonas cephalosporin, ceftolozane paired with tazobactam is now available as treatment for Pseudomonas infections. The drug was initially indicated for complicated urinary tract and intra-abdominal infections, but had a broader coverage of combating other disease-causing pathogens.

In the fight against Amr and Pseudomonas, the forum highlighted the crucial need to handle antibiotics with care. Amr is largely and often caused by misuse or abuse of anti-microbial drugs as it allows bacteria to develop immunity from antibiotics. “every prescription needs to be correct so that every patient is assured they are getting the right antibiotic, right dose, right route of administration, right timing, and right duration,” emphasized Dr. regina Berba, head of the DoH Antimicrobial stewardship steering Committee and chair of the Philippine General Hospital Infection Control Unit. she continued, “It’s only with this concept that we would be able to optimize patient outcomes, prevent the emergence of Amr, minimize adverse drug reactions, and reduce healthcare costs.”

Entertainment

LA AUNOR

to star in ‘ONANAY’ SUPERSTAR Nora Aunor is both happy and proud that she has a new project under GMA. With a working title Onanay, it will replace Kambal, Karibal once the supernatural drama wraps up after given another extension due to its consistently high ratings.

“I’m simply grateful to the Kapuso for giving me another good project.

My last with them was Little Nanay in 2015. GMA has been supportive of me all these times.

They would always give me good material. This is the reason why they’re my priority in accepting TV offers,” she admits.

The actress has already started taping for the soap which is under the helm of her fellow awardwinning thespian Gina Alajar and stars Cherie Gil, Gardo Versoza, WenSuperstar Nora Aunor dell Ramos, Adrian Alandy and Mikee Quintos.

“It’s a nice experience working with Gina. We did numerous films in the past. She’s kind as well as the rest of the cast,” she says and adds, “We’re like one big, happy family on the set.

We help one another in mounting the scenes. I’m glad that in my comeback soap, I’m with this cast.”

Asked about the clamor for her to become a National Artist considering her impressive contributions to the entertainment industry, the legendary screen icon humbly says that there are other people who deserve it more than she does.

“To be honest, it never occurred to me that I’ll become a National Artist.

For me, if it’s really for you, then it will just come. There’s no guarantee that it will be given to you finally. I think, there are still those who are ahead of me in the ‘biz whose contributions cannot be underestimated and therefore deserves it more than I do.”

Meanwhile, depression and burnout among celebrities are a hot issue in showbiz these days. Given her long tenure in the field, did she also experience it?

“Yes, there were phases in my career that I also felt such. First was when I lost my father whom I love so dearly.

I really got depressed then. But what’s important is you learn to fight, go with the flow and continue living life to the fullest,” Ate Guy ends. *** Kyline Alcantara recounts that it wasn’t easy during her initial days as a GMA talent. As everyone knows, she’s originally from ABS-CBN and just moved to the Kapuso ground in the last quarter of 2017 after being cast as the main antagonist in the hit soap opera Kambal, Karibal.

“I was still new in the network then since for the longest time, I was with the rival camp,” she avers. “I guess, it was understandable during those times if I felt awkward. But all’s well now. I remarkably adjusted to my new envi-

ronment.”

The young actress, who was part of ABSCBN’S “Star Circle

Quest’s Magic Circle of 10” years back and did the soaps Ina, Kapatid, Anak, Lumayo Ka Man sa Akin, Pangako Sa ‘Yo and Born For You feels grateful to her fellow young stars in current soap for making her feel at ease all the time.

“They welcomed me warmly and sincerely. I’m happy because I was able to build new friendships with them.

They were the first ones to reach out to me since I’m basically shy.

As days went by, we became more comfortable and closer with one another. I eventually warmed up to them,” she reveals.

She was a Kapamilya for seven years.

How did she arrive to the decision of transferring to GMA? “It was a hard decision to make.

The good thing is that there’s no bad blood between me and ABS-CBN when I left. I’m vocal in saying that I owe them a lot. They are instrumental why I’m here in the ‘biz. I learned a lot from them; from the discipline they’ve instilled in me as an artist.

So I left with a light feeling.”

With the phenomenal success of Kambal, Karibal, Kyline is both grateful and excited.

“I guess it goes not only for me but to all of us who are involved in the production. The public’s support is tremendous. In fact, we were given another extension due to the clamor of the fans. I hope the viewers will continue to patronize us until the end.”

Kyline Alcantara

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

61 Backward, at sea 62 Needing rain 63 Civil War side 65 Receptions 66 Winslet or Moss 67 Horse’s sound 68 Toledo’s lake 69 Verve 70 Gentles 71 Bumper mishap

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

D

EADPOOL comic creator Rob Liefeld is a fan of his character’s movies. He said an artist who wanted to write because I got control of the content of my visuals.

Apart from giving Deadpool and Cable life, Liefeld also created Domino, introducing her in New Mutants #98, the same issue in which Deadpool debuted.

Liefeld says, “Deadpool took everybody down in the course of 10 pages, and Domino took Deadpool down in one page. She’s capable.

She can go toe-to-toe with anybody, especially Deadpool and Cable. She is a badass combatant with a unique power. It’s an unknown power of probabilities, kind of a luck power. She’s wonderfully unpredictable in that way.”

Also, the American comic book creator was delighted with the casting of Zazie Beetz as Domino.

“I cheered the day they cast her. I thought, ‘she’s perfect,’ because who else is going to stand toe-to-toe with Ryan Reynolds and take none of his crap? And Zazie as Domino has achieved that.

It’s just a great dynamic,” he exclaims.

On the other hand, Beetz feels honored for the positive feedback she’s getting for playing the role. She’s explained who Domino is and what she can be in the future.

“I think that because she’s sort of jaded, she takes it for granted. She’s sarcastic and sardonic.

She goes head to head with Deadpool, and doesn’t take his shit. She’s not really a sidekick. She’s a mercenary and does her job and then heads out,” she says.

She further explains that because the character had a tragic past she finds it an interesting juxtaposition.

“She’s lucky, but to what extent? If everything just works out for you, then what’s the point in even being motivated to do anything? She struggles with that a lot,” she states.

From 20th Century Fox, Deadpool 2 is now on its second week in Philippine cinemas nation- Zazie Beetz as the breezy assertive Domino in the second installment of comedy acwide. The movie is available in IMAX screens. tion superhero film, 'Deadpool.'

Domino of luck in ‘DEADPOOL 2’

Stephen Bishop tonight at Resorts World Manila GRAMMY-NOMINATED singersongwriter Stephen Bishop is resuming his round of successful concert tours in the US and the international scene, including the Philippines.

Bishop who popularized such unforgettable songs as “Separate Lives,” “It Might Be You,” “Something New In My Life,” and “On and On and Save It for a Rainy Day” returns to entertain Filipino audiences in Love Rocks, a one-night concert at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila.

It promises to be a night of fun and sweet memories, “I am very excited about going back to Manila where I have so many friends” says Bishop.

The American singer and actor will

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop

sing the blues, pop, rock and light rock in his inimitable way that has charmed his millions of fans of all ages.

Joining him are Grammy-nominee Bobby Wilson, who sang “Your Love Has Lifted Me Higher,” “Get the Sweetest Feeling,” and “Lonely Teardrops,” and J Michaels who recorded “Wildflower,” “Smoke from a Distant Fire,” and “I Just Can’t Help Believing”.

OPM artists also performing in the concert include “Prince of Jazz” Richard Merk, Milet Abrenica and Janis Cagara.

Love Rocks is an MGM Global Entertainment Productions offering to be directed by Maestro Danny Favis. Tickets are available through www.ticketnet.com. ph andwww.ticketworld.com.ph

McCann Philippines makes Filipino brands shine globally

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Break 5 Cute 10 Two quarters 14 Sort 15 Old cattle town 16 Internet fan 17 Earthen pot 18 Harsh-voiced bird 19 Mathematician — Descartes 20 Relax 22 Add explanatory comments 24 Come later 25 Dinosaur bone 26 Cat’s-paw 28 Percolate 32 Fitness centers 35 Profile 37 2000 Olympics site 38 Pound sound 39 Disney site 41 Unmatched 42 Sharply 45 Water-power org.

46 Nudge, perhaps 47 Georgia university 48 Wrinkle remover 50 Lei flower 54 Pal 58 Shared a frontier

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018

33 Baby carriage 34 Dated hairdo 36 World Series mo.

37 Bright object 40 Exiled Roman poet 43 Crushed, as grapes 44 Orpheus’ harp 46 Made bootees, maybe DOWN 49 Rubber-stamps 1 Took unlawfully 51 Hard outer 2 Drip-dry fabric layer 3 High mark 52 Auburn tint (hyph.)

4 Oil source 5 Stadium roof 6 “Pulp Fiction” name 7 Chocolate tree 8 Kublai and Genghis 9 Opens wide 10 Rushed past 11 Off shore 12 Pre-Easter time 13 Without cost 21 College maj.

23 Greasy 25 Toss 27 Do as told 29 Ever’s partner 30 Yield territory 31 Jekyll’s alter ego 32 Satisfy fully

53 Expression 55 Steel plow inventor 56 Flow out 57 First sign 58 Swelter 59 Aloud 60 Beatles’ meter maid 61 Formic acid producers 64 Source of metal

MCCANN Worldgroup Philippines had a very successful year at the global awards arena. It has hauled an impressive record number of local and international wins.

From a rare Gold Lion at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity to its gold wins at the recently concluded APAC Effie Awards in Singapore.

McCann Worldgroup Philippines made an indelible mark at the international awards circuit with two of the most awarded radio campaigns in the world for 2017. For creativity, McCann’s big winner for the year was Fully Booked “LIVES,” awarded a Gold Lion at the Cannes and the First Prize Tower at the recently held New York Festivals.

The Fully Booked campaign also consistently won at the most prestigious global creative awards shows like the Clio Awards, the London International Awards

and Spikes Asia. It also took home the most amount of trophies at these international award-giving bodies for the Philippines.

The agency that made waves locally for the phenomenal campaign hailed as the most viral campaign in Philippine history, Jollibee’s “Kwentong Jollibee.” The campaign is known to have defined digital marketing in the country; it holds the record for the most organic views, shares and engagement amongst all campaigns.

Last month, out of 157 finalists, the iconic Kwentong Jollibee’s “Valentine’s Joy for the Heartbroken” series brought home 5 metal wins for McCann Worldgroup Philippines at the APAC Effie Awards: 2 Golds - Asia Pacific Brands & Social Media Marketing Categories, a Silver—Restaurants Category and a Bronze - Seasonal Marketing & Small

Budget—Products Categories.

The Effie Awards started in 1968, these are marketing awards given yearly by Effie Worldwide to honor the most effective marketing communications ideas. Effie Worldwide’s mission is to encourage effectiveness among the marketing communications industry through education and recognition.

“A marketing campaign is a valuable investment and we are very glad to have won an award at the Effies for our client Jollibee. This means that aside from the viral aspect of the campaign, it has truly made the client reach its marketing goals, making the investment worth it,” Raul Castro, CEO of McCann Worldgroup Philippines said McCann was the only agency Philippine to bring home a gold award from the APAC Effie Awards.

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

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TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018

Entertainment

Top Philippine love teams according to Twitter FILIPINOS love a good pairing. The undeniable chemistry, kilig scenes, and cute interactions are what makes fans thrive.

Even though these pairs are always on the TV, people are not content on just seeing them on the boob tube, they still take their fanatism online.

The increasing number of these diehard fans are all over Twitter. Hence, the micro-blogging site tracked down the county’s top love teams based on the number of fanboys and fangirls that talked about them online. Here’s the list of the top Philippine love teams according to Twitter Entertainment Index (Q1): 1. Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza The #AlDub fever continues to reign on Twitter with top trending hashtags like #AlDub145thWeeksary and #AlDubKeepInspiring. The AldDub fandom remains loyal to the couple despite the pair’s decreased on-screen interaction. Keeping the blurred lines between reel-life and real-life, fans also refer to the love team as #MaiChard, a play on the couple’s actual names. Whichever the pair is called, fans

await for what’s next for Twitter’s top love team.

2. MayMay Entrata and Edward Barber One of the newest and youngest love teams, #MayWard, holds the Top 2 spot.

Former PBB housemates MayMay and Edward Barber are making a name for themselves as they take on significant projects this year like their recent magazine cover for MEGA and MayMay’s first

ing hearttrob Tony’s love team #KissTon makes it to the Top 3 list of love teams on Twitter. Although Kisses has other possible partners, this pair is making it difficult for the audience on Twitter to ignore them.

4. Kisses Delavin and Dony Pangilinan Another Kisses Delavin love team partner is one of the newest stars in the Star Magic roster Donny Pangilinan.

With competition aside, #DonKiss is already prepping for their upcoming movie with Regal Films called ‘‘Walwal.’’ Though a rank lower than KissTon, DonKiss is off to a lineup of projects together.

5. James Reid and Nadine Lustre #JaDine is the loveteam that never shys away from the spotlight. James and Nadine’s latest movie Never Not Love You brought in new fans in appreciation of their undeniable chemistry. From reel-to-real, Jadine fans all over the world are contented with the relationship that they have, going all out support for James and Nadine’s individual achievements as well.

solo concert where Edward performed as her special guest.

3. Kisses Delavin and Tony Labrusca Former PBB housemate Kisses and ris-

Snapshot

MARGIE MORAN is new CCP board chair

Janella Salvador and Jameson Blake showcase their undeniable chemistry in Regal Films' 'So Connected.'

Testing the untested connection in

‘SO CONNECTED’

M

EG Ryan and Tom Hanks (Sleepless in Seattle, 1993), Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant (Notting Hill, 1999), and Julia Roberts and Richard Gere (Pretty Woman, 1990, and Runaway Bride, 1999) are just few of the big Hollywood team-ups that prove that lead stars don’t necessarily have to be romantically involved with each other to have a palpable onscreen chemistry.

Case in point, in Regal Films, Inc. upcoming movie So Connected, Jameson Blake and Janella Salvador are pairing up for the first time. And just like their Hollywood counterparts, they don’t have any romantic involvement but as soon as the film’s trailer hit social media, fans, in millennial parlance, have started “shipping” their team-up.

In the movie, Jameson plays Karter (Jameson), a video editor for a web channel whose phone got stolen by a crook. By twist of fate, the phone falls into the hands of Trisha (Janella), an independent young woman trying to support her family.

Through modern technology, Karter gets a glimpse of Trisha’s life in videos and photos uploaded online. Then eventually, he finds himself slowly falling for her until he decides to look for her using clues on the photos and videos he’s been seeing.

In an interview, Jameson was more vocal about the undeniable chemistry between him and Janella. He says, “I met her sa set. Nakita ko na may chemistry, yung feeling na di kailangan magexert ng effort, kusang lumalabas, that’s what I noticed.”

As early as 2015, Jameson has been consistent in naming Janella as his celebrity crush in various interviews.

Asked how his first meeting with Janella was, Jameson describes, “More than I expected. She was really ap-

proachable and nice to talk to. Nagkwentuhan kami. I got along with her.”

He recounts that he exerted effort to reach out to his crush after their meeting for the first time.

“We talked about stuff we’re both interested in.We just eventually started talking. And I was happy that she’s actually nice.”

Janella, on the other hand, knew that it would not be hard to establish rapport with her new leading man. The Kapamilya actress enthuses that working with Jameson in So Connected was a breeze.

“He’s very nice, actually. I have no problem working with him at all because sobrang light lang ng aura niya. He’s fun to work with,” she says.

However, their team-up did not come without challenges. But the young actress is up to the challenge to make her team-up with Jameson work, regardless if they are not a real-life couple.

“It’s always nice to try something new and I think it’s a good growth for me as an actress,” she explains.

Joining Jameson and Janella in So Connected are Paulo Angeles, Krystal Brimner, Cherise Castro, Ruby Rodriguez, Rolando Inocencio. Directed by Jason Paul Laxamana, the romantic film opens in cinemas tomorrow.

‘American Idol’ finale live on Sony Channel GET ahead of the internet spoilers and watch the excitement directly from the US with Sony Channel’s live broadcast of American Idol’s finale result shows.

After an exciting and unpredictable journey, America has voted for the top three hopefuls who will be performing to

MARIA Margarita Roxas Moran-Floirendo, also known as Margie Moran, was formally introduced as the new Chairman of the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Board of Trustees, succeeding advertising maven Emily Abrera, during a turnover ceremony held recently at the CCP. She was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as a member of the CCP Board of Trustees in January 2018 and was elected as CCP Chairman during the board meeting held in April.

Moran was the president of Ballet Philippines, a resident company of the CCP, from 2009-2018. She likewise undertook social and civic works in promoting peace and livelihood in Mindanao.

The former Miss Universe (1973) hosted Margie on Mindanao on ABS-CBN News Channel and produced the multi-awarded film Bagong Buwan. In 2009, she hosted The Red Carpet, a cultural show of the CCP which aired on Net 25. She published two books, Mindanao, A Portrait and Mindanao in the Mend.

take this season’s American Idol crown.

They are Gabby Barrett, Caleb Lee Hutchinson, and Maddie Poppe.

Barrett’s magnetic personality and powerhouse vocals have received high praise from the judges, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.

Country singer, Hutchinson has been

‘American Idol‘ top 3 (from left) Caleb Lee Hutchinson, Gabby Barrett and Maddie Poppe

the hot favorite this season with his deep, soulful vocals and boyish charms.

Poppe is a 20-year-old student who has a very distinct voice, stood out from the rest of the competitors with her unique take on popular songs.

American Idol’s results show airs today at 9:00 a.m. on Sony Channel.