Manila Standard - 2019 October 2 - Wednesday

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DAGGER LOOK. Former PNP-CIDG chief Benjamin Magalong, now chief executive of Baguio City, (right), testifies during a Senate inquiry Tuesday on the ‘ninja cops’ issue where he said PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde (left) allegedly intervened in the dismissal order of Pampanga cops over non-declaration of 160 kilos of shabu worth P648 million in 2013. Ey Acasio

VOL. XXXIII • NO. 230 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Hunt for GCTA fugitives resumes

By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice has paved the way for the police to resume their manhunt for 19 heinous crime convicts prematurely released due to the misapplication of the Good Conduct Time Allowance Law.

Justice Secretay Menardo Guevarra said he transmitted a list to the Department of the Interior and Local Government containing 19 names of convicts who did not heed President Rodrigo Duterte’s warning to turn themselves in.

“The first partial list containing 19 Next page

Showdown in Senate: PNP chief draws flak

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

A

FORMER police official testified Tuesday that Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, then a provincial director, intervened in the dismissal of Pampanga policemen for failing to declare 160 kilos of shabu worth P648 million from a drug raid in Mexico, Pampanga in November 2013.

Testifying during a Senate hearing, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, former chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, quoted Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino as saying Albayalde called him up when he was still a regional police director of Central Luzon, asking him not to carry out the dismissal order.

When he asked why, Albayalde said that the policemen in question were his people.

Magalong said Aquino repeated the story to President Rodrigo Duterte in a recent meeting about the “ninja cops” controversy in which crooked policemen recycle drugs seized in police raids to resell for personal profit or to plant as evidence to improve their record of accomplishments.

Aquino, testifying at the same hearing, said he received Albayalde’s phone Next page

Celebrities tapped vs. vaccine scare ASF hits QC

By Macon Ramos-Araneta village; Agri warns raisers MANILA Health Department chief Dr. Arnold Pangan said the city would enlist the help of the national government and popular celebrities to convince mothers to have their children vaccinated.

Pangan issued the statement after a Health department official said in a TV interview that about 11 percent of mothers refuse to have their children immunized.

“The mothers were saying that they

don’t need it,” Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told ABSCBN News.

“It has been reported ever since 2016 that a lot of mothers are refusing vaccination,” she said.

The Manila City government, in partnership with the DOH, launched a mass polio immunization program on Aug. 19 to intensify efforts to prevent the disease.

At present, Pangan said the percentage

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Duterte-Putin meeting on agenda

By MJ Blancaflor PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is set to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to discuss bilateral relations between the Philippines and Russia during his sixday visit there.

The President left the country aboard a chartered plane Tuesday night and ar-

rived at the Vnukuvo Military Base Airport in Moscow.

The President, based on his tentative schedule, will hold a Wednesday meeting with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow. Igor Sechin, head of Russian oil giant Rosneft, is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call with the President on that day.

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Manila faces climate threat

‘‘

—Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 70th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party

AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar said Tuesday those transporting pigs from the areas affected by the African Swine Fever will be dealt with accordingly.

“The full force of the law will descend upon you,” Dar said.

“There are existing laws to follow and we hope that you will cooperate.”

Dar made his statement even as some pigs in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City had been found positive of the African Swine Fever.

“That’s true. ASF is now in Tatalon,” said Anamarie Cabel, the city’s chief veterinarian.

“We have already culled 82 pigs,” she told the Manila Standard.

The Agriculture department confirmed that Tatalon had been affected by the ASF. Cabel Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte had provided P3,000 in financial aid for each culled pig.

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‘Pork-free’ budget sent to senators

MANILA and five other areas have been identified as facing the most severe consequences of climate change, a Time magazine report showed.

“Climate change is expected to affect every country in the world, but its impact will not be felt equally across all regions and some will be worse hit than others because of a range of different threats.

Developing countries, places with widespread poverty, and countries with ineffective governments sometimes face the gravest risks from the changing climate, and are usually poorly equipped to find ways to prepare for and prevent environmental threats,” the report said.

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There is no force that can shake the foundation of this great nation.

By Rio N. Araja

By Maricel V. Cruz

LOVERS’ BRIDGE. Three fishing boats and two vehicles including an oil tanker are damaged Tuesday when the 1998-built Nanfang’ao Bridge in Yilan county, Taiwan, dubbed the ‘lovers’ bridge,’ smashed down onto the vessels, with at least 14 people, including six Filipinos, injured and six crew trapped. Authorities have set up an emergency center, with navy and marines helping in rescue efforts. (Story on A2) AFP

Luxury condoms

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday morning transmitted to the Senate the Palace-proposed P4.1- trillion national government budget for 2020, a House official said Tuesday.

The transmittal came a day after the chamber finalized its P9.5-billion institutional amendments to the money measure, which the House leaders said was “pork free.”

“Again and again, we contend that it is a pork-free budget as we strictly confined ourselves to the decision of the Supreme Court which declared the PDAF [Priority Development Assistance Fund] unconstitutional and prohibited the post-enactment identification Turn to A5

Sugar daddies, sugar babes

IT IS the ultimate tight-fitting—one hopes—outfit that no man wishing to impress can do without.

French fashion house Saint Laurent is now selling luxury gilt-wrapped condoms.

Having made fashion history with “le smoking” tuxedo and skin-tight dresses, it is moving into sheaths of a latex variety.

TEACHERS in the United States are now turning to “sugar daddy” dating website SeekingArrangement.com to supplement their salaries, a Yahoo Lifestyle report showed.

“I can go on a date, I can have steak

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News

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Six Filipinos, 8 others hurt in Taiwanese bridge mishap RESCUERS were scrambling on Tuesday to reach six people they feared were trapped after a bridge collapsed in Taiwan, smashing onto a group of fishing boats moored underneath At least 14 including six Filipino workers were hurt.

Dramatic CCTV images captured the moment the 140-meter long single-arch bridge came crashing down in Nanfangao, on Taiwan’s eastern coast.

In the images, the road gives way and tumbles down onto at least three fishing boats as a petrol tanker that was crossing also plunges into the water.

The National Fire Agency said they believed six people were unaccounted for and could be trapped in the boats underneath the collapsed structure.

“The rescue operation is ongoing,” the agency said in a statement, adding at least 14 people were injured, including six Philippine and three Indonesian fishing workers as well as the Taiwanese driver of the petrol tanker.

“We hope to safely rescue all in the shortest time to minimize the damage,” Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen told reporters.

The petrol tanker burst into flames at some point after it hit the water, sending a thick plume of black smoke into the air.

It is not clear what caused the bridge, which was built in 1998 and spanned a small fishing port, to collapse.

Taiwan was skirted by a typhoon on Monday night, which brought heavy rains and strong winds to parts of the east coast.

But at the time of the bridge collapse the weather was fine.

Taiwan has a huge fishing industry and many of those who work on its boats are low-paid migrant workers from countries like the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam. AFP

Celebrities...

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of children who have been immunized is at a low 55 percent.

The Philippines has been declared polio-free since 2000, but was recently considered at “high-risk” due to low vaccination. An outbreak was declared on Sept.19, after two cases of polio were confirmed.

Vergeire said children up to five years old must be given the polio vaccine.

“We are going to provide immunization irrespective of their immunization status. It has no side effects, no bad taste for this oral polio vaccine. It is safe and has been used ever since the 1970s,” she said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III called on parents to ensure that their children receive the complete dose of all recommended vaccines in their first year of life.

Apart from the measles and poliomyelitis outbreaks that have been declared by the DOH, Duque said parents must equally protect their infants and young children from other vaccinepreventable diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis (or whooping cough), and tetanus through immunization.

Cases of diphtheria and other infectious diseases are being monitored by the Epidemiology Bureau regularly.

From January 2019—September 2019, there have been 167 cases and 40 deaths compared to 122 cases and 30 deaths cases in the same period in 2018. The reasons for the trend are being investigated.

Aside from heightened immunization, the anti-toxin for diphtheria is available in the country, through the assistance of the World Health Organization.

Antibiotics for diphtheria, namely penicillin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin, are locally and commercially available.

“Now more than ever, the importance of protecting our infants and children from vaccine-preventable diseases remains paramount,” Duque said.

Hunt..

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names was transmitted to the DILG yesterday (Monday). So, the PNP may now resume the search for heinous crime convicts prematurely released,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.

“Secretary [Eduardo] Ano is expected to give the go-signal to the PNP to start the search at midnight,” the DOJ chief added.

The Bureau of Corrections, assisted by the Department of Justice, is reviewing the individual case records of over 2,000 inmates prematurely released since the

PMA chief calls for war vs. hazing B AGUIO CITY―Newly-installed Philippine Military Academy Supt. Allan Cusi on Tuesday appealed to those involved in hazing activities and those who have been treated badly to come out and support the war against hazing.

In his speech during the PMA’s change-of-command ceremony here, Cusi said he could not eradicate hazing solely, and that he needed the help of the PMA alumni and Armed Forces of the Philippines officials.

“The challenge of totally eradicating maltreatment is a burden I alone cannot bear,” Cusi said.

“Declaring an all-out war is not enough to eradicate hazing, it is a burden that must be carried by all PMA

Phoenix and Isla join bandwagon, raise LPG prices

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines and Isla Petroleum also raised the price of their cooking gas to reflect the movement of the contract price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in the international market.

Phoenix Petroleum said it raised the price of its Phoenix Super LPG by P4.50 per kilo and auto LPG by P2.50 per liter from 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1.

Isla Petroleum also raised the price of its Solane LPG by P3.98 per kilo from 6 a.m. on Oct. 1.

The two companies issued separate advisories after Petron Corp. said it will raise the price of its LPG by P4.50 per kilo or P49.50 per 11-kilogram tank starting at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. Petron also raised the price of its auto LPG by P2.50 per liter.

“These reflect the international contract price of LPG for the month of October, said Petron, the Philippines’ biggest oil company.

The price of LPG now ranges from P599.50 to P744.50 per 11-kilogram tank.

The oil companies adjust LPG prices monthly and pump prices weekly.

According to the Energy department’s latest report, Petron supplied 29.05 percent of the total LPG demand in the first half.

Liquigaz followed with 21.6 percent, South Pacific with 16.4 percent, and Isla Gas and Prycegas with 12.9 percent and 10.6 percent, respectively.

ASF...

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Tatalon village had at least nine backyard hog-raisers, she said, adding the city government would now strictly prohibit raising animals in the backyards under the city’s land use plan and zoning regulation.

Dar urged hog raisers to immediately report possible ASF cases.

“I would like to appeal to the traders to please do not transport pigs from ASF-affected areas. Let us not play hide and seek. Please help the government, both national and local,” he said.

He threatened to take legal action against any hog raiser violating the quarantine measures.

He blamed the transportation of infected pigs to the spread of the ASF virus in the country.

“We have now asked local government units to further strengthen their checkpoints,” Dar said.

He confirmed Quezon City’s Barangay Tatalon had also been hit by the ASF. “You know what the problem is. And this is the same case as in Bulacan.

From Bulacan, hogs are transported to Pangasinan. That’s the big problem here,” he said.

Two villages in Quezon City— Bagong Silangan and Payatas—had been previously affected by the ASF infection.

Republic Act 10592 or the Expanded Good Conduct Time Allowance became a law.

However, the BuCor list included those who have been acquitted, granted parole and given conditional pardon.

President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the freed inmates to surrender or be subject to a manhunt.

Due to the errors in the previous BuCor list, Guevarra said they would produce a cleaned-up list that will guide the PNP in its search of fugitives.

Guevarra said more names will be released in batches “every week or as soon as reviews of individual case records are completed.”

alumni and all officers of the AFP.” Cusi made his statement even as the Baguio City Police Office said Monday it is ready to file criminal charges against seven PMA cadets and two doctors of the PMA Station Hospital who were tagged in the death of Cadet Fourth Class Darwin Dormitorio on Sept. 18.

BCPO Chief Allen Rae Co identified the seven cadets as Cadet First Class Axl Rey Sanopao, C3CL Shalimar Imperial,

C3CL Felix Lumbag Jr., C2CL Christian Zacarias, C3CL Julius Carlo Tadena, C3CL Volante and C3CL Manalo.

Co did not reveal the first names of the last two cadets.

At a separate press conference, Cusi said the PMA alumni who would be visiting the military school should “treat cadets and officers with respect.”

He also said changing the heart and soul of a cadet could be achieved if PMA officials set a good example to the cadets.

“It’s very critical to have the best assigned here in PMA. I cannot do this alone, Cusi said.

He vowed to instill discipline among all cadets in the military school.

He said humility was very important inside the military school, and that the culture of entitlement should be

Showdown...

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call in response to questions from the senators.

Magalong, who was sitting beside Aquino, urged Aquino to tell the senators what he had told him.

“Tell them what you told me.

Who talked to you?” Magalong told Aquino.

Aquino told the joint hearing chaired by Senator Richard Gordon the incident happened in 2016 when he was regional director for Central Luzon and Albayalde was assigned to Metro Manila.

He said Albayalde, former Pampanga provincial chief, told him to ask for a review of the case because he wanted to know what really happened based on the results of the investigation.

Admitting that the phone conversation took place, Albayalde said he merely asked for the status of the case because the relatives of the policemen were asking him about the case.

“It’s normal but never in one time did I ask for any favor. I was asking for the status [of the case],” Albayalde said.

He emphasized that he could not possibly influence a regional director or an upperclass.

Heeding Albayalde’s request, Aquino said he ordered a review of the case and assigned the erring cops to Mindanao as a form of punishment.

Then PNP chief General Alan Purisima ordered the relief of Albayalde over “command responsibility” in March 2014.

The 13 policemen implicated in the irregular drug operation were charged with grave misconduct and were ordered dismissed.

But Region 3 police chief Amador Corpuz signed an order instead demoting the 13 by one rank in 2017.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the 2013 case was pending automatic review by the Department of Justice.

Since the records are all with them, Guevarra hopes that within a month’s time, a resolution will be issued by the DOJ one way or another.

Before making public his disclosure on Albayalde’s alleged links to illegal drugs, Magalong named the supposed ninja cops in a Senate executive session.

They are Supt. Rodney Raymundo Baluyo IV, Senior Inspector Joven de Guzman Jr.; Senior Police Officer 1 Jules Maniago, Senior Police Officer 1

Donald Roque, Senior Police Officer 1 Ronald Santos, Senior Police Officer 1 Rommel Vital, Senior Police Officer 1 Alcindor Tinio, Senior Police Officer 1 Eligio Valeroso, Police Officer 3 Dindo Dizon, Police Officer 3 Gilbert De Vera, Police Officer 3 Romeo Guerrero Jr., Police Officer 3 Dante Dizon; and Police Officer 2 Anthony Lacsamana.

The 13 were members of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force of the Pampanga Provincial Police Office Except for Santos and Dizon, the other policemen, then assigned at Pampanga Provincial Police Office, were present during the hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon and justice committees.

Magalong told the Senate panel that then PNP chief Alan Purisima directed the PNP-CIDG to investigate the antidrug operation in Mexico, Pampanga, after getting information that several intelligence officers of the PPPO suddenly acquired new sports utility vehicles.

“He told me, ‘Benjie, investigate this. Just recently there was an operation in Pampanga, 30 kilos of shabu. Suddenly they all have new cars all at the same time,” he said.

Magalong said they investigated the 13 policemen who were directly involved in the drug operation at 10 a.m. on Nov. 29, 2013 in Woodbridge Subdivision, Lakeshore View.

But the raiding team maintained that the raid was carried out 4:30 p.m. of the same day, which caused Gordon to flare up. He said he had three affidavits stating the drug raid was conducted in the morning, contrary to their testimony.

Magalong said they later learned that the volume of shabu seized was about 200 to 238 kilos, not 30 as reported.

Magalong said the street value of shabu at the time was P5,000 to P6,000 per kilo.

He added that after the shabu went missing, the drug flooded the market and prices went down significantly.

Magalong said witnesses said the shabu was stuffed in an oversized luggage that was carried by four men.

“The witness could see shabu leaking out. It was all over the stairs.

This shows there was no proper handling of evidence, according to our witnesses,” Magalong said in Filipino.

“They were also carrying out a box full of cash and bringing it to their vehicle.”

Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, then Region 3 police director, sacked Albayalde, but the case filed against

Duterte-Putin...

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On Thursday, Duterte will hold talks with Putin to strengthen bilateral relations between the Philippines and Russia as they witness the signing of agreements on health, culture, and basic research.

He is also expected to meet with Jordanian King Abdullah II, whom he last met in September 2018.

The President is also expected to speak before the Valdai forum at the Polyana Hotel in Sochi. He will be among the five leaders that will talk with the theme “The World Order Seen From the East.”

It will be attended by politicians and experts across the world.

This is the first time that a Philippine president has been invited by the prominent think tank forum.

From Sochi, he will return to Moscow to speak before a Philippine-Russia business forum on Friday afternoon.

He will also lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor the memory of fallen soldiers and will also be given a walking tour of the Kremlin.

The President will also attend the Philippine cultural gala performance featuring the Bayanihan Dance Company and the Philippine Madrigal Singers at the Four Seasons Hotel in Moscow.

During the last day of his visit on Saturday, he will receive an honorary doctorate degree from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations University.

eradicated.

“Ranks have privileges but you have to remember that outside, when you graduate, you have to humble yourself.

It’s a different ball game, Cusi said.

Meanwhile, Cusi said he had yet to talk with the PMA cadets as he only assumed his post on Tuesday, Oct. 1. He acknowledged the importance of letting cadets voice their ideas and sentiments.

He said he would have to talk to the cadets before making any sweeping changes in the academy.

“Alam mo, madali lang kausap basta if you will level with them, napakaimportante na to give them that psychological safety. Bibigyan mo sila ng chance na kahit ano’ng sabihin nila, kahit na gaano ka-ridiculous, there is no fear of reprisal,” Cusi said. PNA the policemen was weak, Magalong said.

“We conducted our investigation and we made sure we would have a strong case against these respondents.”

Magalong said he retired from the police force with the case still pending.

In 2017, he learned that Baluyo and his men were merely demoted.

He said they also found out that the drug trafficker arrested in the raid, Johnson Lee, paid P50 million for his freedom.

The police could not say where Lee is now.

Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police on Tuesday ordered a probe on rogue police officers who “interfered” in the drug case filed against alleged drug queen Guia Gomez-Castro, which was eventually dismissed.

Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO director, said he already tasked the NCRPO intelligence unit, drug enforcement unit and the legal service to work together to investigate the case.

“We want to identify all the policemen who conducted the operation, how the case was filed and who served as witnesses on this case.

We will also get the court records on this particular case because from there, we would be able to find out if there was sabotage in the handling of this case,” Eleazar said when sought for a comment.

Castro was arrested for violating the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972.

An arrest warrant was issued against her on March 1, 2002 but the case was dismissed in 2009.

“We want to know what happened because if this ‘drug queen’ has links with ‘ninja cops’, then it is highly possible that the case was sabotaged in her favor,” the Metro Manila top cop said.

He said erring cops could deliberately file a weak case or policemen serving as witnesses would purposely snub the hearing to pave way for the dismissal of the case.

In exchange, the erring cops would be paid a huge sum of money.

“We have reasons that this modus was also used in favor of the ‘drug queen’.

By getting the court records, we can also find out who could be held liable and we assure that we will take action,” Eleazar said.

Castro was allegedly buying confiscated shabu from erring cops.

Castro has a standing arrest warrant for drug charges. She also has warrants of arrest in 2003 and 2011, both for issuing bouncing checks, Eleazar said.

With PNA

He is also expected to deliver a speech at the prestigious university, which has been known as the training ground for budding Russian diplomats.

The President’s final activity in Moscow will be a meeting with the Filipino community.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra will act as the officerin-charge to take care of the operations of the Executive Department.

Cabinet members Teodoro Locsin Jr. (Foreign Affairs), Salvador Medialdea (Executive secretary), Carlos Dominguez III (Finance), William Dar (Agriculture), Silvestre Bello III (Labor and Employment), Delfin Lorenzana (Defense), Karlo Alexei Nograles (Cabinet secretary), Ramon Lopez (Trade and Industry), Roy Cimatu (Environment), Eduardo Año (Interior and Local Government), Fortunato dela Peña (Science and Technology), and Alfonso Cusi (Energy) are joining him on the trip.

Communications Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo and Ambassador Carlos Sorreta are also part of the 16-member delegation.

The Chief Executive is scheduled to return to his hometown, Davao City, on Sunday.

Lorenzana said Tuesday Russia is likely to offer the Philippines various defense equipment—inlcuding transport and attack helicopters, multi-role fighters, ships, drones and tanks—during the President’s visit.

Lorenzana, however, said he is not privy on whether this offer will include Russian diesel-electric submarines which it had offered earlier. With PNA

News House sets inquiry into ‘disappearance’ of P30-m bounty

By Maricel V. Cruz LAWMAKERS on Tuesday demanded an accounting of the P35-million reward money offered to speed up the solution of the Batocabe killing.

In House Resolution 384, House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr. said he was disturbed by reports that several witnesses had not received their share of the bounty and were now in fear due to lack of financial capacity to secure themselves and their families against bodily harm.

Similarly, Party-list Rep. Michael Defensor said the reward money should be accounted for.

“The reward money is intended to hasten the arrest of the suspects in the Batocabe killing,” Defensor said at a news conference Tuesday. He expressed support for the congressional inquiry into the matter.

Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe, 52, and his security escort, Senior Police Officer 2 Orlando Diaz, were shot dead by unidentified assailants shortly before Christmas last December 2018.

Earlier, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. voiced concern over the reported disappearance of the millions of pesos reward money offered for the capture of Batocabe killers.

Abante’s resolution noted that several personalities and institutions raised a bounty totaling to P35 million: P20 million from the Office of the President, P13 million from the House of Representatives under the 17th Congress, and another P2 million from the Province of Albay.

“This bounty was intended to incentivize witnesses to come forward and assist in the prosecution of those behind the murder and to cover the legal fees of lawyers engaged to prosecute the case. More importantly, the bounty was intended to ensure the safety of those who would come forward and testify against the assailants and the masterminds,” Abante said in the resolution.

But sadly, a congressional inquiry on the matter is necessary in light of the reported disappearance of the reward money, Abante said.

He said the House must be able to exercise its oversight function, in aid of legislation, to look into the disbursement of the bounty intended for witnesses for the prosecution, in relation to the Batocabe killing.

“Witnesses have already expressed their reluctance to testify for their alleged failure to deliever the bounties which were promised to them,” Abante said in the resolution.

The suspects were arrested early this year but the Philippine National Police has not accounted for the funds despite reported complaints from witnesses that all they received was P8 million.

To make matters worse, the witnesses allegedly complained that those who facilitated the release of their reward even asked for “commissions.”

Batocabe was about to board his vehicle when four armed men on motorcycles fired shots at him near the Burgos Elementary School in Daraga, Albay.

Metro Manila crime incidence down by 62% CRIME incidence in the national capital region went down by 62 percent in the first three years of the Duterte administration compared to the last three years of its predecessor administration, according to the chief of the National Capital Region Office.

During a peace and order council meeting Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the crime incidence reports included cases of homicide, physical injuries, rape robbery, theft and carjacking.

At the same time, murder cases in Metro Manila, which has a population of 13.6 million, which goes up to 15 million at daytime, increased by 60 percent in the first half—2016-2019—of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term compared to the last three years of the previous administration of then President Benigno Aquino III, according to Eleazar.

There were 4,295 murder cases in Metro Manila from July 2016 to September 2019, up from 2,682 cases from April 2013 to June 2016, said the region’s police chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

“We saw that in the first six months of this administration, the murder cases spiked because we know for a fact that these groups, these syndicates, were killing off each other,” Eleazar said during a regional Peace and Order Council meeting.

He ascribed the murder cases rate to police rogues “who are trying to silence these groups.”

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PET defers action on Marcos’ protest

By Rey E. Requejo and Rio N. Araja

T

HE Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, deferred taking action on Tuesday on former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s electoral protest questioning the proclamation of Vice President Leni Robredo in the 2016 polls.

During its en banc session, the PET resolved to reset its deliberation on the report submitted by Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa, the justice-incharge of the case, which contained the result of the examination of ballots.

“I would like to inform you that the Presidential Electoral Tribunal has deferred action on the report of Justice Caguioa,” SC’s Public Information Office chief and spokesman lawyer

Brian Keith Hosaka said.

Last Sept. 9, Caguioa submitted his report to the PET on the results of the revision of ballots.

Resumption on the deliberation on the matter is set on Oct. 8, according to a source.

Robredo is hoping the Supreme Court would rule in her favor over Marcos’ electoral petition.

While she could not speculate what

the PET decision would be, she said she was still confident to get a favorable decision.

“Actually, we have waited for the decision. A few months ago, we filed a motion, asking the court to act on the electoral protest since the recount has already been finished,” she said.

She added she wanted the electoral protest be resolved so that critics would have no other way to spread propaganda, “which most of the time is fake news.”

“This [case] is a test. It is not just a fight between the two of us. This is a test of the entire electoral process, a test of the justice system, so the main issue here is bigger than both of us that’s why it is important,” the vice president said.

Marcos lost to Robredo by about 200,000 votes in the 2016 presidential polls.

In his poll protest, Marcos had claimed that “massive cheating” caused him to lose to Robredo in the 2016 vice presidential race. which she denied.

Marcos sought to nullify the proclamation of Robredo and called for the recount of votes in the vice presidential race.

The high court earlier announced that it has finished its manual recount of ballots in three provinces Marcos chose, which supposedly best exemplified cases of fraud.

The pilot recount covered 5,417 voting precincts in Iloilo, Camarines Sur, and Negros Oriental.

In his electoral protest, Marcos said he could prove that irregularities marred the conduct of the 2016 polls in the said provinces. Marcos has chosen three pilot provinces—Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

My beef with pork

Taking on the ninja cops

Lacson, charging him not only with parliamentary discourtesy, but with disparaging the image of a co-equal legislative chamber.

Having approved in plenary the budget for 2020 amounting to more than P4 trillion, and with Congress soon to recess until they reconvene after Dia de los Muertos, it will be the turn of the Senate Finance Committee under THREE hundred congressmen, elected to of- Senator Sonny Angara to look over the budfice to represent the people of a particular con- get. That is when the hostilities re-open, with gressional district or a party under the party- Senator Lacson and some others looking for list system, have an allocation of funds from the slabs of pork hidden in the woodwork.

Technically, the congressmen have a point the General Appropriations Act passed each when they, and even Speaker Alan Peter Cayyear, for “projects” in their district.

Twenty-four senators, except for one who etano insists that what they passed is a “porkhas publicly abjured “pork,” also get a particu- free” budget. There are no lump sums; instead lar amount for projects they identify wherever they itemized the projects for funding, most of in the country. The distinction is territorial: which in fact were discussed with the DBM members of the House for their district; mem- and supposedly incorporated in the President’s bers of the Senate, for anywhere in the country budget. Incorporated, not inserted.

Still, the over-arching principle in the allosince they have a constituency at-large.

The senator who has declined pork bar- cation for each congressional district is “hating rel allocations after his first year in the upper kapatid” which means everyone gets the same chamber has now become a crusader against amount, whether 100 million each, or 400, or the budgetary practice. Year in and year out, even 700 (but that’s way too much not to be he has been scrutinizing the budget submitted detected by the eagle eyes of some senators).

And that’s my beef with pork. by the House to the Senate and exposed what Some districts are wallowing in cash and he perceives as interstices of fat inserted into the budget of several departments but clearly completed infrastructure since they are amply earmarked for the entitlements of the House funded by their internal revenue allotments and collections from real estate and other members, or his colleagues.

After the Napoles scandal blew over along taxes. They are rich and well-developed, verwith the Disbursement Acceleration Program sus so many districts that are poor and under(DAP) which was attributed as a “reward” developed.

Why should Metro Manila districts get the for the senators to vote for the expulsion of PNoy’s hated Chief Justice Renato Corona, same pork barrel allocation as say, Kalinga or the Supreme Court ruled that inserting pork Apayao, or Zamboanga Sibugay or Samar? in lump sum allocations was unconstitutional. Equal distribution in this case means rich districts get more “deIn a unanimous developed” to the point cision with one abstenwhere enterprising tion (Justice Presbitero congressmen destroy Velasco because his Hating kapatid well-paved roads so son was a member of they can be re-paved?

Congress) penned by perpetuates the While in many truly Justice Estella Per“countryside” areas, las Bernabe, released unequal distribution no roads exist to conNov. 19, 2013, the of government nect hinterlands to the high tribunal nullified center; people ford the “all laws and provi- resources, and thus rivers via rafts or bansions of pat and pres- also the disparity in cas because there are ent Congressional development. no bridges.

Pork Barrel laws.”

Hating kapatid perA lot of financial petuates the unequal sleight-of-hand tactics distribution of governhave been ingenuously utilized, better yet, invented and thence inno- ment resources, and thus also the disparity in vated upon, both by the leaderships of Con- development. The rich get richer, and the poor gress and their Finance Committee in the Sen- stay poor, or get marginally better off.

Senator Ping and the public of course are ate and the Committee on Appropriations in the House, as well as or in conspiracy with the wont to highlight the “commissions” that legDBM to hide these slabs of pork in the Gen- islators get from contractors who they identify eral Appropriations Act. Along with these tac- with the connivance of the DPWH district tics, a different name for what is nothing else engineers whom the legislators themselves but pork barrel, whether the countryside de- have caused to be assigned to their districts. In velopment funds (CDF) or Priority Develop- some cases, the congressmen themselves own ment Assistance Fund (PDAF), Food Security the construction companies through dummies.

When the Senate finishes their pruning of Fund, Lingap para sa Mahirap, etc. and generically, as “hard” or “soft.” This has been go- the House-approved budget, and likely put ing on through all those years, whether under in their own re-alignments, to augment this Cory all the way to her son Benigno Simeon. agency or that, for purposes either noble The Bernabe-penned decision chronicles the or self-serving, then approves their version in plenary, the case now goes to the “third” Philippine history of pork barrel.

For the executive department, compro- chamber of Congress, the Bicameral Conmises have to be made to the demanding ference Committee.

That’s where the bloody confrontation belegislators in order to pass the NEP or President’s budgetary submission on time, as gins, albeit with less legislators, but extremely well as to protect the president’s economic powerful. Last year, because the change in plans and priorities. The budget after all, as House leadership also brought about a lastexplained by one of the country’s brightest minute insertion of some P95 billion in “new” fiscal minds, of revered memory, Senator pork, the GAA was derailed, and the impact and former Finance Secretary Dominador on the 2019 economic growth figures was devAytona of Bicol, is “nothing more than the astating.

I hope that will not be the case this time. country’s economic program in numbers.”

There are so many urgent needs that have This time around, Senator Lacson could not hold his horses on the pork, and exposed to be funded, from universal health care to free an alleged attempt by House leaders to al- tertiary education that the same Congress ratilocate P700 million per member and P1.5 fied last year, which is why the appropriated billion each for 22 deputy speakers. This he amount is more than P4 trillion.

Will these and other priorities now suffer from did after the House passed the budget with under-funding due to the hating kapatid of relandmark speed.

Assuming 700 million each, with some 300 sources reserved for legislators’ pork barrel?

Abangan ang mga susunod na kabanata representatives, that amounts to 210 billion pesos, plus an incremental 800 million for 22 in the annual teleserye, the saga of pork bardeputies which total 17.6 billion, or a whop- rel. Like Ang Probinsyano, never ending. But more significantly, it's our—each and every ping, nay, mind-boggling 227.6 billion!

Now the House is on the warpath against one of us Filipinos—hard-earned money.

T

HERE was a time the President liked to say he would not tolerate even the whiff of corruption from any of his people. Now, as the stench of the so-called ninja cops scandal wafts from hearings at the Senate, the President is uncharacteristically silent. everybody dies in this world but you will go ahead first,” he said.

“Remember that.”

Outside of that threat, however, the President has let others speak for him. A senator who still acts as a close aide of the President, says Mr. Duterte will release the list of names after he has validated them with “his own resources” when he returns from a five-day visit to Russia on Oct. 5.

The Palace spokesman could not say when the President would make the list public, insisting only that he eventually would.

What are we to make of the President’s apparent reticence?

While we applaud his stated goal to get things right, we re-

In testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, a former police official and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, revealed disturbing details about crooked policemen who recycle illegal narcotics seized in drug raids—either to resell for profit or to plant as evidence to bolster their “success rate.” In an executive session, the mayor also turned over to the Senate a roster of ninja cops still in the service, a list that the senators have since turned over to the President.

In a speech a week ago before a group of Chinese businessmen, the President warned the ninja cops who “think they are the lords of this country.”

“Well, I’m sorry to tell you,

call he showed no similar compunction when he named without hard and credible evidence opposition politicians, journalists and even clergymen in an alleged plot to overthrow his government back in April, producing only a convoluted diagram to show how they were supposedly linked.

The ninja cops are a whole different matter entirely, because they cut into the heart of the President’s two core campaign platforms: to rid this country of illegal drugs and to eradicate corruption in the government. The notion that law enforcement officers can be so corrupt that they are reselling illegal drugs flies in the face of the President’s anti-crime promises and makes his administration appear weak, at best.

This is not the time for aides and spokesmen to field questions and make vague promises while the President flies off to a foreign land. This is the time for the President to act.

Good conduct = jailbreak YOU cannot say the Philippines is not a kind and caring society.

Hardened criminals—murderers, serial rapists, drug lords and of course, plunderers—are given a second lease on life, literally and figuratively.

Under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippines long ago did away with imposing death penalty. Under the old system, plunderers would have been subjected to lethal injection, just like murderers, rapists, and drug lords.

Under the present setup, life-termers, usually the dregs of society, are released even before their full terms in prison are served. They “graduate” before finishing their terms on the lame excuse of “good conduct.”

Ignore the fact that hardened criminals and good conduct are a contradiction in terms.

The policy of kindness to cloistered animals of the two-legged variety was started by the unlamented President Benigno Simeon (BS) Cojuangco Aquino III. The original idea, it seems to me, was to set free jailed communist leaders who wanted to take over the government. To avoid looking like a piece of class legislation, the law on kindness to prisoners was applied to everyone.

You can say our kind of justice is democratic and egalitarian.

President Aquino signed Republic Act 10592 or the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) Law on May 29, 2013. His secretary of justice, Leila de Lima, issued the implementing rules and regulations on Dec. 12, 2014.

Data compiled by the office of Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, is very revealing. Our government people, especially those who are supposed to dispense justice or wear “justice” on their lapels on blouses, are very kind, indeed.

A former human rights official, Lima worked hard in favor of the hardened criminals behind bars. During her watch as DOJ chief, in 63 months, or five years and three months, the largest display of humanity towards humans of a different kind took place—a total 20,198 convicts were released, largely on the ground of “good conduct.”

The large-scale releases of prison internees ground to a virtual halt under De Lima’s successor, Alfredo Caguioa. Only 1,211 prisoners were released during Caguioa’s four months in office, from Oct. 12, 2015 to Jan. 21, 2016.

The mass prisoner breakout picked up

pace under Aquino’s last justice secretary, Emmanuel Caparas—2,278 let loose in five months, from Jan. 22, 2016 to June 30, 2016. Caparas’s average per month—455.6 prisoners, the highest monthly average releases among Aquino’s three DOF chiefs from July 2010 to June 30, 2016.

Freedom has a price.

President Duterte’s two justice secretaries were not remiss in their display of humanity towards prisoners, either. State-sponsored jailbreaks continued even more feverishly.

Under the controversial Vitaliano Aguirre, the second largest batch of GCTA releases, 9,294, was recorded, from July 2016 to March 2018, or an average of 442.5 prisoner releases per month in 21 months.

The incumbent Menardo Guevarra was not to be outdone. In his first 17 months as DOJ chief, from April 2018 til today, 8,571 prisoners were released on good conduct allowance, a monthly average in 17 months of 504.1—the highest among the five most recent justice secretaries. In fact, Guevarra’s monthly average number of releases is the highest ever on record.

Thus, under Duterte’s two DOJ heads, Aguirre and the incumbent Menardo, 17,865 prisoners were freed on GCTA in just three years.

That’s more than the number released by De Lima in her first three years as justice secretary.

This makes Duterte a very kind president— towards prisoners. It is ironic, considering that the former Davao mayor of 23 years has a reputation of being a killer president.

The official figures on drug killings, under Duterte, are about 5,500 in three years. That means Duterte has released over three times more prisoners than the number killed in the

state’s anti-drugs war—5,500 vs.17,865. The 5,500 dead should have been convicted and made to serve time in prison.

The moral in this narrative: If you are being arrested for being an illegal drugs suspect or being a suspect for some equally heinous crime, 1. surrender, 2. do not fight back, 3. get yourself convicted, and 4. don the prison orange uniform. Inside a penal colony, life could be better than life as a fugitive from justice.

Inside the national penitentiary, try to be good. Don’t hobnob with your fellow drug lords. Do not continue to conduct your illegal drugs racket inside, no matter how tempting it is, no matter how lenient your jailers are (they are recidivist coup plotters themselves), and no matter how rampant the susceptibility to temptation of prison officials.

If you insist on doing drugs, try not to be obvious. Surely, your “good conduct” won’t go unnoticed. You will be released sooner than you think, after complying with tedious paperwork and payment of some customary “fees.”

Hey, freedom has a price. In the Philippines and anywhere else. biznewsasia@gmail.com

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher ManilaStandard

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

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News

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019

CTA grants PAL’s P402-m tax refund plea

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HE Court of Tax Appeals ordered the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs to refund P402.8 million in taxes to Philippine Airlines Inc.

In a 20-page amended decision promulgated on Sept. 26 and released to media Tuesday, Associate Justice Esperanza R. Fabon-Victorino of the tax court’s Special Third Division, granted the petition for

review filed by PAL in connection with the sum representing specific taxes on its importation of jet fuel for its domestic operations.

The aggregate sum was paid under protest by PAL at various

dates in 2009.

Associate Justice Ma. Belen M. Ringpis-Liban concurred in the decision.

In October 2015, the court originally denied PAL’s petition for insufficiency of evidence, citing that PAL failed to prove the imported jet fuel was used for its transport and non-transport operations and likewise failed to prove that at the time, jet A1 fuel was not locally

available in reasonable quantity, quality or price.

In June 2016, the court, upon motion of the PAL, allowed the reopening of the case for the presentation of additional evidence.

PAL then presented the testimony of its fuel supply and operations manager Roberto R. Razal and the court-appointed Independent Certified Public Accountant Joel C. Romano to assert its case. PNA

LET’S GIVE PEACE A CHANCE. Warm

exchange among Moro leaders who had distanced themselves from each other for decades highlighted the culmination of the National Peace Consciousness Month and the 26th Anniversary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process on Monday at the Philippine International Convention Center. (from left) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. presidential peace adviser; Nur Misuari, founding chairman, Moro National Liberation Front; Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri; Ahod Balarawag Ebrahim, chairman, Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Interim chairman, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and Muslimin Sema, chairman, MNLF Bangsamoro People’s National Congress.

Luxury condoms...

Du30 extends BI guidelines for salary increase

Its designer Anthony Vaccarello unveiled the latest creation on his Instagram account, with the ripped and heavily tattooed New York artist David Alexander Flinn apparently modelling one.

He appears in a daring new advertising campaign for the label called “The Love Affair” standing in the buff in front of Polish model Anja Rubik.

She is fully dressed—in Saint Laurent of course—admiring his manhood.

The cheeky campaign appears to be an attempt by Vaccarello to wipe away the lingering memory of his “porno chic” ads for the brand in 2017, which the French regulator and feminists branded as degrading to women.

Many of the posters were torn down or had “Sexist” stickers plastered over them.

By MJ Blancaflor

From A1

Rebuff to ‘new puritanism’ Saint Laurent was later forced to alter images of painfully thin girls in rollerskates bending over a stool and spreading their legs provocatively.

Rather than the “male gaze” of that shoot, this campaign is intended to be seen from the woman’s point of view, taking in the full splendor of the naked male.

Vaccarello has heavily sexed up the iconic label since he took charge in 2016 with ever shorter miniskirts and leather hotpants.

But the Belgian admitted that his look, which has upped sales, has not gone down well with everyone. “They keep telling me, ‘It’s too short, or too transparent’,” he said.

“I hate this new puritanism that judges everything,” he added on the eve of Paris fashion week, which ends Tuesday.

“It has become impossible to have an opinion that goes against” the herd, he said, complaining of a “witch-hunt atmosphere.”

The new gold-wrapped condoms, which Vaccarello also credited on Instagram to London-based German photographer Juergen Teller, are selling at Saint Laurent’s new flagship boutique in central Paris.

No one at the store was able to tell AFP how much the condoms were or how they were selling.

Vaccarello, 37, is far from the first major fashion designer to want to wave their magic wand over condoms.

Last year, American Alexander Wang did a collaboration with the condom brand Trojan under the hashtag #ProtectYourWang.

And earlier this year the bad boy of Paris fashion, Georgian Demna Gvasalia, sent a black and fuchsiastriped condom to fashion editors as an invitation for what would turn out to be his last show for Vetements, the rebel brand he founded. AFP

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has extended the validity of the Bureau of Immigration’s guidelines to use its revenues for the salary increase of its personnel.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed Memorandum Order 39 “by

Manila...

From A1

Manila’s dense population, in particular, makes it “more difficult to evacuate, requires more social services and makes it more challenging to rebuild after a disaster.”

“Poor infrastructure, including ineffective drainage and sanitation systems, has been blamed for the toll of floods in the city, including a 2009 flood (Typhoon Ondoy) that submerged 80 percent of the city.”

Aside from Manila, the other areas named in the report are as follows: • Lagos, Nigeria, which has been marked as at “extreme” risk on Maplecroft’s Climate Change Vulnerability Index; • Haiti, an island nation that is located in the so-called “Atlantic Hurricane Basin,” • Yemen, where hundreds of thousands of people have been killed as a result of an ongoing civil war and due to the subsequent famine, poor sanitation, and lack of clean water;

Pork-free...

From A1

of projects,” Deputy Speaker Neptali Gonzales II said.

• Senator Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday he was not picking up a fight with any member of the House, and that he was merely up against the pork barrel.

“My fight is against pork and corruption, and nothing more, Lacson said.

• Rep. Lito Atienza on Tuesday admonished Lacson against making sweeping statements about the resurgence of pork barrel in the 2020 National Budget that was recently approved by the House of Representatives.

• Senators want to cut by half the proposed P261-million budget for

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the authority of the President” allowing express lane fees be used to augment the pay for BI employees.

There is a need for an interim measure to augment the salaries of BI employees in recognition of the “indispensability” of their roles, the order read.

The same memorandum was issued last year to supplement the salaries of

BI personnel for that fiscal year.

The new order is effective until the last day of this year or until the passage of an immigration modernization law which upgrades the current compensation system of the bureau.

Medialdea signed the order on Sept.

27 but copies of the memorandum were given to Palace reporters Tuesday.

• Kiribati, which is at risk of being wiped off the map entirely in the coming decades amid rising sea levels; and • United Arab Emirates, which is facing an “extreme risk” of water stress and will need to spend a lot more energy on cooling.

But according to Christina Chan, the director of the World Resources Institute’s climate resilience practice, the Philippines is in fact on the “forefront of climate change adaptation.”

She cited the Flood Management Master Plan for Metro Manila launched in 2012 as well as the creation of a Climate Change Commission.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who lamented that climate change affects the “poorest of the poor” in developing countries such as the Philippines, has been very vocal in questioning international policies on the issue.

“Vulnerabilities are not equally shared by all nations. Developing countries that have contributed the least of global warming, like my country, the Philippines, suffers the most from this horrendous conse-

quences,” he said in his keynote address in May at the 25th International Conference on the Future of Asia held in Tokyo.

“Year in, year out, we suffer double when typhoons strike. The poorest of our poor bear the brunt of damage, becoming even poorer in the aftermath.

Government with limited resources and capabilities have to contend with a spiral of suffering on top of the urgent development priorities,” he added.

Despite having a very small carbon footprint, the Philippines, which deals with an average of at least 20 typhoons annually, is among the nations most vulnerable to climate change.

Duterte questioned the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, saying it favored industrialized countries with its aim of slashing greenhouse gases and keeping global temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius.

“What is the system? What is this conference of climate change for? Is it just talk? Because there is no body, no entity to enforce the laws governing climate. There is not even a sanction,” the President said.

2020 of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, which President Rodrigo Duterte wanted to dissolve because it was impossible to clean up the Pasig River.

Gonzales said the Senate, through its finance committee, was expected to go through the budget, and that congressmen were ready to sit down with the senators even if Congress went on a break starting Oct. 5.

“Now the Senate can finally see for themselves, Gonzales said.

Rep. Michael Defensor said the House would also look into the proposed changes of the Senate to the budget bill as part of the budget process.

He assured the public and the senators that the House-approved budget was pork free and that no parked funds were inserted in it. He even expressed optimism that the proposed

2020 General Appropriations Bill would be approved on time.

He said he believed the senators, especially Lacson, would find the House’s proposed realignments acceptable.

“I would like to assure the good senator and the Senate of the Philippines, and even the House is happy with the work we have accomplished, Defensor said.

On Sept. 20, the House approved the 2020 GAB on third and final reading, which legislators said was a record time.

The chamber then created a small committee to work on the proposed amendments to the money measure.

The House realigned P9.5 billion to augment the budget of 12 agencies, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said on Monday.

With Macon Ramos-Araneta

Bikoy denies perjury raps filed by FLAG

By Rey E. Requejo PETER Joemel “Bikoy” Advincula on Tuesday denied the perjury charge filed against him by Free Legal Assistance Group accusing him of lying when he implicated FLAG lawyers Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, Erin Tañada and Theodore Te in the “Project Sodoma” plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a three-page counter affidavit, Advincula sought the dismissal of the perjury complaint by the three FLAG lawyers.

Advincula insisted he issued factual statements in his sworn affidavit in the sedition complaint filed by the Philippine National Police- Criminal Investigation Detection Group before the Department of Justice.

“Contrary to the allegations of the complaint, all factual matters which the undersigned stated in his affidavit-complaint constituting the sedition, inciting to sedition, cyber, liber, and harboring criminal/ obstruction of justice are duly supported by evidence, and equipped with necessary details connecting the actions and participations of the various individuals in conceptualizing the ‘Ang Totoong Narcolist’ [videos],” said Advincula, who is the lone witness, as well as one of the 35 respondents, in the sedition complaint filed by the PNP-CIDG. Advincula along with PNP-CIDG Lt. Col. Arnold Thomas Ibay were named respondents in the perjury complaint.

The respondent believed the perjury filed against him was nothing more than a harassment suit, to deter him from testifying against them in the sedition complaint.

“Clearly therefore, the present complaint is a vain attempt to mislead, or confuse the authorities in the investigation on the case referred to the DOJ by the CIDG-PNP, and that to charge the undersigned with violation of Articles 183 and 184 is clearly a nuisance or harassment suit,” he stressed.

According to him, the FLAG lawyers were given the opportunity to air their side on the sedition case by filing their own counter-affidavit, and to refute the allegations he made against them.

Advincula also argued that the FLAG lawyers were unable to meet the elements of perjury, so the complaint against him should be dismissed.

“The veracity of the truthfulness of my testimony and statements will rest within the jurisdiction of the courts for determination once a complaint for sedition or inciting to sedition is filed in court. Thus, this present complaint will compromise the resolution of the aforesaid case,” he said.

Last July 18, the PNP-CIDG filed a sedition case against Vice President Leni Robredo and 34 others, including the three FLAG lawyers, before the DOJ. The complaint was based on the testimony of Advincula who claimed that the respondents allegedly conspired to implicate family members and friends of President Duterte in the illegal drugs trade and remove him from Malacañang.

He claimed that he met with Diokno and Tañada at the Ateneo de Manila University last March 4, and met Te reportedly on May 2 and discussed his press conference at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

Sugar daddies,...

From A1

and lobster, be gone for three hours after my kids are already asleep and come home with $500,” said Nolah, a Nevada-based teacher who used to serve weeknights at a lobster restaurant.

The website, which advertises itself as “the world’s largest Sugar Daddy dating site,” sets people up with “mutually beneficial relationships.”

SeekingArrangement “prohibits any unlawful use of the site, including escorting, prostitution and human trafficking” but at least two of those interviewed by Yahoo Lifestyle said they had sex.

“That is something that was built over our time together and based on chemistry and our relationship,” said one of the sugar babies.

News

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF New app introduced in ‘Gabay Guro’ bash GABAY Guro pays homage to Philippine teachers through the Grand Gathering and launch of a new app Gabay Guro, PLDT-Smart Foundation's flagship advocacy program for teachers, recently celebrated its 12th anniversary with a prize-filled and all-star Grand Gathering, along with the launch of the Gabay Guro app on Sept. 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

This year's event, Gabay Guro gathered over 20,000 teachers from all over the country to experience a historical Teachers’ Tribute, which was headlined by the country's biggest stars such as Aegis, Angeline Quinto, Christian Bautista, Eat Bulaga's Jose and Wally, BakClash and Broadway Boys, Erik Santos, Ian Veneracion, Jaya, Jay-R, Jayson Dy, Jed Madela, Jona, K Brosas, Klarisse De Guzman, Kyla, Kuh Ledesma, Martin Nievera, Moira dela Torre, Ogie Alcasid, Piolo Pascual, Pops Fernandez, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Zephanie Dimaranan, and Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta, who were reunited by a performance on-stage after a very long time. In support for the Gabay Guro, talent managements Cornerstone Entertainment Inc. and Eat Bulaga enlisted their celebrity talents to perform for the Grand Gathering as volunteers.

In addition to all the artists that entertained the teachers during the event, Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones also graced the evening with her presence.

PDEA nabs British, Pinoy drug fiends THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has nabbed a British national, a Filipino drug den maintainer and a drug den visitor in an upscale condominium in Barangay Bel-Air, Makati City and dismantled P490,000 worth of shabu and gamma-butyrolactone.

Director General Aaron Aquino identified the suspects as Elden Kent Chamberlain, 58, from Britain; Bruce Patrick Castro Alabado, 29, a den maintainer and a high-profile drug personality, and Joseph Ryan Yabut Lumba, 32, drug den visitor.

Last Sept. 27 at about 10:45 p.m., operatives of PDEA-National Capital Region Office arrested the suspects inside Unit 2720 Tower A SMDC Jazz belonging to Alabado.

According to Aquino, Alabado has already been arrested for violation of Republic Act 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) in Mandaluyong City on Feb. 10, 2018 but was released on bail just last Sept. 17.

The suspects yielded shabu worth P340,000 and gamma-butyrolactone, a recreational depressant, worth P150,000.

Rio N. Araja

AWARDEES. The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino honored seven teachers with the annual Ulirang Guro sa Filipino 2019 Award for using Filipino as a medium in teaching. They are (from left): Joshua E. Oyon-Oyon, Sharon A. Villa Verde, Nina Christina L. Zamora, Rodel B. Guzman, Julieta C. Cebrero, Rodello D. Pepito and Maria Eliza S. Lopez. Norman Cruz

Du30 throws full support to 10th ASEAN Para Games P

By MJ Blancaflor

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered all government agencies and local government units to support the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Paralympic Committee for the country’s hosting of the 10th ASEAN Para Games.

All departments, bureaus and agencies, including govenment-owned and controlled corporations and state universities, are directed to render full support and assistance for the regional games to be held early next year.

Signed on Sept. 26, Memorandum

Circular No. 67 also encourages nongovernment organizations, the business sector and educational institutions to support the upcoming games.

Patterned after the Paralympics, the biannual multi-sport event will be held from Jan. 18 to 25 next year for ath-

letes with physical disabilities from 11 countries in Southeast Asia.

This will be the second time that the country will host the regional Para Games.

The 2020 ASEAN Para Games will be hosted in three hubs: Subic, Manila, and Clark.

Brunei was initially selected to host the games but withdrew later due to lack of government support, sporting facilities, and preparation of their athletes.

In 2017, the Philippine Olympic Committee announced that the country will host the regional games and the preparations began in April 2018.

BI uncovers new ‘trafficking’ modus THE Bureau of Immigration uncovered a modus operandi of a trafficking syndicate after two Filipino women were barred from leaving the country for misrepresenting their age and admitted to stay in a syndicate’s safehouse where they were trained for two months before being deployed abroad.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said the two women alleged that they were kept by their handlers in a safehouse in Paco, Manila for two months before they were booked for their flights.

Morente instructed the bureau’s port operations division and travel control and enforcement unit to conduct strict profiling and inspection of departing passengers to ensure that no underage OFWs are able to leave.

According to BI Port Operations Division chief Grifton Medina, the two women, aged 19 and 20, were intercepted at the NAIA Terminal 2 in their attempt to board a connecting flight from Dubai to Saudi Arabia.

Medina said the passengers both presented valid passports, visas, job contract, and overseas employment certificates but the birth dates in their documents were intentionally altered to make it appear that they meet the age requirement for Household Service Workers which is 23 years. Vito Barcelo

HAZING A HEINOUS CRIME. Law student leaders from the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and parents of hazing victims all agreed that hazing should be considered a heinous crime during a forum held at the Manila Hotel. Norman Cruz

CAAP launches Cybersecurity Summit

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has initiated a Cybersecurity Summit last week, which aimed to prevent cyberattacks.

The forum, held at the Civil Aviation Training Center in Merville Access Road, Pasay City, was organized amid reports that Philippines moved up to the fifth place from ninth in Kaspersky Lab’s global list of countries with the most online threats detected in the second quarter of 2019.

As cybercrimes continue to evolve, it poses to become one of the biggest challenges that major establishments identified as Critical Information Infrastructures will face.

Among these CIIs include the Energy, Water, Banking and Finance, Healthcare, Transport, Information Communication, Media, Security and Emergency Services, Government, and Aviation sectors, which means these sectors have a significant need to have its cybersecurity systems updated and equipped in dealing with the threat of cyberattacks.

CAAP chief information officer and spokesperson Eric Apolonio said the forum discussed a wide range of topics on cybersecurity, including the Philippine government’s cybersecurity initiatives with regard to the national cybersecurity plan, the cybercrime threat landscape in the country, the best practices on cybersecurity, and the malware defense methods in the age of artificial intelligence.

“After each talk, the participants and instructors for an open forum where they raised important questions on cyber safeguarding and shared their insights as information technology (IT) practitioners,” said Apolonio.

New bill also protects husbands from abuse

By Maricel V. Cruz BROWBEATEN husbands, or ‘ander de saya’ in local parlance, will be protected from spousal abuse once a bill filed by a neophyte congressman is enacted.

House Bill 4888, or the Anti-Violence Against Partners and their Children (Anti-VAPC) bill, filed by Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles aims to equalize the coverage of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 or Republic Act 9262, to include husbands and other partners under the remit of persons afforded protection by the said law.

Nograles, a lawyer, earlier revealed his plan to file his bill during the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel forum.

The bill also expands the coverage to members of the so-called third sex or the LGBTQ community.

In his explanatory note, Nograles said: "This bill shall prohibit all forms of violence against partners and their children, in private and public life, and provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders."

He added that "the bill also expands the covered acts under RA 9262 to include electronic violence done against partners and their children."

Nograles, vice chairman of the House committee on justice, said the bill's main objective is to weed out violence and abuse in relationships regardless of gender.

“We must recognize that there are also male partners who are victims of abuse, yet are unable to report such incidents because of prejudice,” the lawmaker said.

Nograles also seeks to include as an act of violence the creation of fake social media accounts to sow intrigue and inflict harm.

“Any act of violence perpetuated as hate crimes against partners and their children would also be considered a special aggravating circumstance, which would impose the maximum penalty on the violator,” the bill provides.

“The bill is really just a tweak to improve what has been an excellent mechanism to protect the Filipino family,” he added.

US rolls out new ‘Food for Progress’ project

By Rey E. Requejo THE United States Department of Agriculture has launched a new “Food for Progress” project focused on strengthening sanitary and phytosanitary regulatory systems in the Philippines.

In a ceremony last Friday (Sept. 27), visiting US Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney met with Philippine Undersecretary of Agriculture Rodolfo Vicerra and Undersecretary of Health

Rolando Enrique Domingo to discuss the fouryear project, which will be funded with the proceeds of donated U.S. agricultural commodities sold in the Philippine market.

Food for Progress is a USDA program that partners with developing countries and emerging democracies committed to introducing and expanding free enterprise in the agricultural sector.

USDA has selected Winrock International through a competitive award process to implement the project with an estimated $8.5-million operating budget. The project will pursue activi-

ties to strengthen Philippine regulatory agencies’ SPS systems through the adoption of risk-based and international standards to facilitate agricultural trade, the statement released by the US Embassy in Manila said.

The most recent Food for Progress project in the Philippines used US soybean meal as the donated commodity, it added.

McKinney explained that the project aims to boost the Philippines’ food security by giving consumers and agricultural traders access to safe and affordable foods.

DOE, ERC told to comment on Bayan Muna suit vs. power suppliers THE Supreme Court has directed the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission to comment on the petition against a circular that allows power distribution utilities to select their own third party to supervise the conduct of competitive selection process on all power supply agreements.

In a resolution dated Sept. 17 but released on Tuesday, the SC acted on the petition filed by Bay-

an Muna Party-list which argued that Energy Department Circular 2018-02-003 effectively allowed the DUs to designate a third party to conduct competitive selection process on PSAs. “Acting on the petition for certiorari and prohibition (with application for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction and/or temporary restraining order), the Court resolved, without giving due

course to the petition, to… require the respondents to comment thereon within 10 days notice hereof,” stated the SC resolution.

Aside from the DoE and ERC, also named respondents in the petition and also ordered to file their comments are the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), Bantayan Island Electric Cooperative, Inc., (Banelco), Isabela II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Iselco II), Marin-

duque Electric Cooperative Inc. (Marelco), Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (Omeco) and Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative Inc. (Soreco II).

Circular 2018-02-003 amended certain provisions of Circular 2015-06-0008 which mandated the selection of a third party which is recognized by the ERC and DoE or the National Electrification Administration. Rey E. Requejo

Sports

Manila

Standard

TODAY

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Pinay aces aim high in Taiwan M

IAOLI County, Taiwan—Five Filipinas drew starts in sequence, each ready to slug it out with some familiar faces and new rivals making up the crack LPGA Tour of Taiwan (TLPGA) roster at the start of the Party Ladies Golfers Open at the National Golf and Country Club here today (Wednesday, Oct. 2).

The Ladies PhilipHwang Min-Jeong, pine Golf Tour also a very familiar rival co-sanctioned this back home who ac$100,000 event with tually won the last TLPGA last year, LPGT leg at Sumthe former’s first mit Point in Lipa tournament abroad City, Batangas last as part of Pilipinas August.

Tournament, Inc.’s Rodriguez tees commitment to off 9:20 a.m. with develop and boost Ching Ling Chang Phl ladies pro golf, of Taiwan and although the then Wannasiri Sirisamfive-player group Pauline del Rosario pant, also a former wavered in the end LPGT winner and with Princess Superal ending up one of the Thai aces tipped to contied for 16th after crowding the tend in the 54-hole championship leaders with a 70 start. which also serves as the final leg of But Pauline del Rosario, the busy seventh season of LPGT, Cyna Rodriguez, Daniella Uy, which featured four other TLPGA Marvi Monsalve and rookie pro co-sanctioned tournaments, inChanelle Avaricio all expressed cluding the inaugural The Country confidence while stressing the Club Invitational which headed by need to come up with a strong no less than former world No. 1 start on the rolling layout with Sung Hyun Park of South Korea. reachable par-5s but with tough Uy, who failed to break par putting surface where the title with 77-74-73 and wound up tied chase could be decided on Friday. at 45th here last year, is also rarDel Rosario is first to set out at ing to go against Thai veteran 9 a.m. on No. 1 with the former Saraporn Chamchoi and Taiwanthree-time LPGT Order of Merit ese Hsin Lee, the No. 6 ranked champion facing off with local am- player in the current TLPGA ateur Fei-Chien Yang and Korean OOM standings.

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

Biomass Power Plant to be in accordance with the results of the SIS conducted by NGCP, is hereto attached and an made integral part hereof as Annex “J-1”; 14. The proposed connection to the Luzon Grid via tap connection along the existing NGCP 69 kV Cabanatuan-Pantabangan Line is more reasonable, economical and beneficial than VSGPC’s other option of connecting directly to SAJELCO substation. The latter requires a longer transmission line route of approximately 0.952 km. It is, thus, costlier to construct as it will take around PhP 4.3M and much financially challenging to manage and operate.

A copy of the Transmission Line Project Options is attached hereto to form an integral part herein as Annex “K”;

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP AND OWN OR OPERATE DEDICATED POINT-TO-POINT LIMITED FACILITIES TO CONNECT VS GRIPAL POWER CORPORATION’S (VSGPC) 6 MW BIOMASS POWER PLANT PROJECT TO THE NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES’ LUZON GRID THROUGH TAP CONNECTION TO THE EXISTING CABANATUAN - PANTABANGAN 69 KV LINE, WITH PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELIEF

15. Consequently, a Connection Agreement was entered into between NGCP and VSGPC regarding herein proposed dedicated point-to-point limited facilities. A copy of which is attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex “L”.

16. Upon the completion of the proposed connection assets and commercial operation of 6 MW Biomass Power Plant, VSGPC’s Consultant, MN Electro Industrial Supply & Services, Inc. (MN Electro) shall be responsible for its operation and maintenance in a non-discriminatory manner. MN Electro’s company profile, list of personnel and their technical qualifications to operate the proposed dedicated limited facilities are herewith attached and made integral parts hereof as Annexes “M” and “N”, respectively.

ERC CASE NO. 2019-021 MC VS GRIPAL POWER CORPORATION (VSGPC), Applicant. x------------------------------------------------------------x NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

17. In further support of this Application for approval of the development and ownership or operation of the proposed dedicated point-to-point limited facilities, the following documents are also submitted for the Honorable Commission’s consideration;

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on 06 September 2019, VS Gripal Power Corporation (VSGPC) filed an Application dated 29 August 2019, seeking the Commission’s approval for authority to develop and own or operate dedicated point-to-point limited facilities to connect VSGPC 6 MW Bio Mass Power Plant Project to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Luzon Grid through the tap connection to the existing Cabanatuan-Pantabangan 69 KV line, with prayer for the issuance of provisional authority or interim relief.

ANNEX

“O-1” “O-2” “P” “Q”

In its Application, VSGPC alleged among others, the following: Nature of the Application 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

“R”

VSGPC is a corporation duly created and existing under Philippine laws, with principal office address at Tulat Road, Barangay Calaocan, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija. It may be served with pleadings, notices, orders and other legal processes through the undersigned Firm;

“S” “T”

VSGPC is a corporation engaged in the . development and utilization of renewable energy resources such as biomass, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and ocean energy, including hybrid systems. A copy of the VSGPC’s Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Incorporation and ByLaws, and Amended General Information Sheet for Year 2018 are herewith attached and made integral parts hereof as Annexes “A”, “B”, and “C”, respectively;

“U” “V”

“W”

As a registered Renewable Energy (RE) Developer, VSGPC was granted by the Department of Energy (DOE) a Biomass Renewable Energy Operating Contract (BREOC) to develop, construct, install, commission and operate a 6 MW Biomass Power Plant situated in Brgy. Calaocan, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija that will generate electrical power from Combustion (Boiler-Steam Turbine-Generator) Technology using rice husk and napier grass. A copy of the RE Developer Certificate of Registration, BREOC and Certificate of Confirmation of Commerciality issued by the DOE are attached hereto to form integral parts hereof as Annexes “D”, “D-1”, and “D-2” respectively;

18. VSGPC reserves the right to submit additional documents as may be required by exigencies or when so ordered by the Honorable Commission.

PRAYER FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY OR INTERIM RELIEF 19. The foregoing allegations are re-pleaded by reference to substantiate and support herein prayer for the issuance of a provisional authority or interim relief;

Furthermore, VSGPC has secured relevant Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) permits for its project, particularly, the Environmental Compliance Certificate for its 6 MW Biomass Power Plant and a Certificate of Non-Coverage for its Transmission Line, herewith attached and made integral parts hereof as Annexes “E” and “E-1”;

20. Rule 14 of the ERG’s Rules of Practice and Procedure provides that the Honorable Commission may issue a provisional authority or interim relief when the facts and circumstances provided in the application or petition justify the issuance of the same prior to the final determination of the case;

Out of the 6 MW installed capacity, 0.6 MW shall be for own use by the Biomass Energy System, while the excess capacity of 504 MW shall be exported to the grid! to be sold under the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) System at a rate of PhP6.5969/kWh2;

21. VSGPC intends that by November 2019, it can qualify and be eligible for the existing degressed Biomass FIT Rate of PhP6.5969/kWh duly approved by Honorable Commissions;

As of July 2019, the construction status of the 6 MW Biomass Power Plant is around 76.65% while the Interconnection Facilities is at 80.60% completion. VSGPC’s target commissioning of the project is in October 2019 and to be qualified for FIT by November 2019. A copy of the Progress Report for the 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project, submitted by VSGPC to the DOE based on the latter’s

22. Section 6 of DOE Department Circular No. 2013-05-0009 on the selection of RE projects under FIT System and the award of Certificate for FIT Eligibility provides that: “Section 6. Issuance of Certificate of Endorsement for FIT Eligibility

Criteria for Quantitative Accomplishments of Biomass Projects under FIT System is herewith attached and made an integral part hereof as Annex “F”; 7.

8.

DOCUMENT Document showing that the 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project is an awarded Biomass Project as of 31 March 2019 Portion of the Transmission Development Plan for 2019-2040 showing inclusion therein ofVSGPC’s 6M Biomass Plant Power Development Plan 2016-2040 showing Demand Supply Outlook for Luzon Staking Map of the 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project Conceptual Engineering Design and Drawings Brief Project Description of the 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Proposed Limited Point-to-Point Transmission Line Facility Gantt Chart/Work Schedule Timeline for the Proposed Dedicated Point-to-Point Limited Facilities Financial Analysis Model for the 6MW Biomass Power Plant which “T” assumed Biomass FIT of PhP6.5969/kWh as energy payment to compute Project Financial Performance, with Project Investment Cost and Projected Cash Flow Key Mana,gement Officials of VSG PC Affidavit of Compliance with the Philippine Grid Code and Philippine Distribution Code Secretary’s Certificate attesting to the resolution of VSGPC’s Board of Directors authorizing the development and ownership or operation of the proposed dedicated point-to-point limited facilities; the filing of an application with the Honorable Commission for authority to undertake the same; designating a representative to said application; and engaging the services of Diccion Law Firm therefor

“O”

In order to transmit and export capacity to the Luzon Grid, VSGPC shall connect along the Cabanatuan-Pantabangan3 69 kV Line of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) using a 0.1 km 1-336-4 MCM ACSR line. The tapping point of the proposed project is located approximately 400 meters from San Jose City Electric Cooperative (SAJELCO) 69 kV substation and the power generated from the 6 MW generator unit will be stepped-up from 13.8 kV to 69kV utilizing a 10 MV A transformer;

a.

The RE Developer shall inform the DOE that it has attained the Electromechanical Completion of the project to which the latter shall, within fifteen (15) working days from receipt thereof. conduct a site validation and inspection of the project including the interconnection facility.

b.

Electromechanical Completion is deemed attained if the construction phase is at least eighty percent (80%) completed as may be determined from the RE Developer’s Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract or construction and development time line under the approved Work Plan.

c.

Not later than fifteen (15) working days from the last day of validation, the DOE shall issue the confirmation or denial of the Electromechanical Completion, including the existence of interconnection facility.

d.

In the event the DOE confirms Electromechanical Completion of the project, it shall, within a period of five (5) days from the issuance thereof. nominate the eligibility of the project under the FIT system to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the processing of Certificate of Compliance (COC) under FIT System, provided that the interconnection facility is fully in place.

The DOE nomination to the ERC shall not be constructed as giving right to the RE Developer to be included in the FIT eligible projects.” (Emphasis supplied.)

Below are Single Line Diagrams (SLD) of the proposed connection: Simplified Single Line Diagram

23. Accordingly, the validation and inspection of the project, as well as the DOE confirmation of the Electromechanical Completion necessarily includes the requirement and existence of an interconnection facility. Thus, the Honorable Commission’s approval of VSGPC’s proposed dedicated pointto-point limited facilities is highly necessary; 24. Since VSGPC intends to be eligible for FIT by November 2019, it must immediately secure authority from this Honorable Commission, even on a provisional or interim basis, to develop and own or operate the proposed dedicated point-to-point facilities, and thereafter finish its construction so it can timely declare Electromechanical Completion pursuant to the aforesaid section; 25. The urgency in seeking the Honorable Commission’s provisional approval is made apparent by the fact that the installation target approved for biomass energy resource is only at 250 MW, which must be subscribed until December 2019 only. Since qualifying for FIT is on a first come, first served basis among projects that are fully commissioned and 100% connected to either the grid or a distribution system, any delay in the approval of VSGPC’s proposed connection facilities means an additional risk for its 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project to get into the installation target and be entitled to the PhP6.5969/kWh degressed Biomass FIT rate;

Single Line Diagram, with Technical Configuration

26. Pending hearing on the merits and considering urgent necessity, a provisional authority or interim relief to develop and own or operate the proposed dedicated point-to-point limited facilities to connect VSGPC’s 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project to NGCP’s Luzon Grid through tap connection to the existing Cabanatuan-Pantabangan 69 kV Line is herein prayed for;

CAGE MVP. Dominic Valdellon receives his trophy as Most Valuable

27. Likewise, the subject of herein Application is analogous to the Honorable Commission’s approval of electric capital projects as provided in ERC Resolution NO.13, Series of 2006, as amended, to wit:

Player of the Paete Physical Fitness 45-Year- old-and-Above Basketball Championship. Congratulating valdellon are the officials, headed by Eric Basa, founder of the Paete Physical Fitness tourney.

“ARTICLE II APPLICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS 2.3 Evaluation and Approval

UST, Ateneo share net honors UST rallied to stun Ateneo in the men’s team finals and foil the Katipunanbased school’s sweep bid in the PPS-PEPP Actifit National Students Open at the KCDA Actifit Sports Center in Valenzuela City over the weekend.

Christian Fel Lopez and Mart Cabahug wore down Julian Dayrit and Luke Flores in a pressure-packed duel, 8-7 (4), in doubles play then Jose Maria Pague pulled off the same score-line escape over Marcen Angelo Gonzales in the other singles match to complete UST’s stirring comeback.

Gabriel Tiamson bested Dave Mosqueda, 8-6, in the first singles to give Ateneo a 1-0 edge in the title clash of the inaugural all-students tournament presented by MCF Global and backed by Kap. Eli Demafelis.

National U also turned back De La Salle U, 2-1, to claim third place honors in the three-weekend event that featured the leading and rising players from the country’s top colleges and universities.

Earlier, Ateneo dominated the women’s team championship as Melanie Faye Dizon routed UP-A’s Bianca Pica, 8-2, in the first singles then Tracy Llamas and Janelle Llavore held off Nica Alanis and Danna Uy, also of UP-A, 8-7(4), in the doubles. The Lady Eagles swept the tie with a walkover win in the other singles duel of the event sanctioned the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. Tiamson, meanwhile, subdued Gonzales, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, in an all-Ateneo finals to capture the men’s singles crown while Dizon thwarted UP’s Patricia Velez, 6-3, 6-4, to secure the women’s singles diadem and complete Ateneo’s domination of the individual competitions of the event.

Cignal completes Pool A sweep STA. ROSA, Laguna—Cignal made quick work of Sta. Lucia, 25-18, 25-23, 25-14, to complete its sweep of Pool A in the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference Tuesday at the Sta. Rosa Multi-purpose Sports Complex here.

The HD Spikers continued to show their strong connection as they scored another three-set win after dominating the Lady Realtors in 80 minutes to stay perfect in three games.

National team member Mylene Paat shone as she delivered 12 points off nine kills, a pair of aces and a block, while Rachel Anne Daquis had 10 points and 16 digs to boost the HD Spikers’ semifinal bid.

Do-it-all setter Alohi RobinsHardy also paced the team with

14 excellent sets on top of eight markers while Jheck Dionela protected the floor with 17 digs and eight excellent receptions.

After sweeping a 3-0 start, Cignal skipper Daquis said they couldn’t let their guards down as they join Petron, PLDT and Marinerang Pilipina in Pool C for the next round, where the top two squads advance to the knockout semifinals “We can’t be complacent because every game is important in this short conference,” said Daquis, who led a strong second set comeback from a 16-22 deficit.

“After we realized it in the second set, the team woke up and became motivated to try to finish it in straight sets and give our best.”

After a convincing opening set,

xxx Upon filing of the application, the Commission may, on its own or upon motion, grant the issuance of a Provisional Authority (PA) based on the allegations of the application and on such other documents attached thereto or submitted by the parties.

The Commission, if necessary, may schedule a hearing for the issuance of a PA not later than thirty (30) days from the filing of the application. Thereafter, the Commission shall issue a ruling either granting or denying the PA stating clearly the reasons therefore, within seventy five (75) days from the filing of the application. xxx “ (Emphasis Supplied) 28. Accordingly, as patently demanded by the foregoing circumstances, a Provisional Authority or Interim Relief for VSG PC to construct and own or operate the proposed dedicated point-to-point limited facilities is imperative for it to get into the 250 MW Installation Target and avail the existing degressed Biomass FIT Rate of PhP6.5969/kWh, thus, ensuring the viability and sustainability of VSGPC’s 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project under the FIT System.

Copies of the SLDs are also attached as Annex “G” hereof.

9.

The aforesaid proposed dedicated point-to-point limited facilities shall be used solely by VSGPC and only for the purpose of connecting to the NGCP’s Luzon Grid System along the Cabanatuan-Pantabangan 69 kV Line, to dispatch power from its 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project;

10. The total cost of engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of the proposed dedicated point-to-point limited facilities is estimated at PhP29M, consisting of the project cost for the transmission line at around PhP2M, and for the substation at about PhP27M. A copy of the Price Schedule for the Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) of 69kV Lines and 10/12.5 MVA Substation are herewith attached and made integral parts hereof as Annexes “H” and “H-l”, respectively.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, in view of all the foregoing, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission that prior to and/or pending hearing on the merits, a PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY or INTERIM RELIEF be issued to immediately allow the development and ownership or operation of the proposed dedicated point-topoint limited facilities to connect VSGPC’s 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project to NGCP’s Luzon Grid through tap connection to the existing Cabanatuan-Pantabangan 69 kV line, and that after due notice and hearing, a FINAL AUTHORITY be issued to permanently authorize the same.

11. VSGPC shall fund the construction of the proposed interconnection facilities. It is financially capable to support its 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project as shown in its Annual Income Tax Return with Audited Financial Statements as of December 2018,a copy of which is herewith attached to form an integral part hereof as Annex “I”; 12. The instant Application is hereby filed to seek the Honorable Commission’s authorization to develop and own or operate the proposed dedicated pointto-point limited transmission facilities pursuant to Section 9 (f) of Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA), which states that: “A generation company may develop and own or operate dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facilities that are consistent with the Transmission Development Plan: Provided, that such facilities are required only for the purpose of connecting to the transmission system, and are used solely by the generating facility, subject to prior authorization by the ERC: Provided, further, that in the event that such assets are required for competitive purposes, ownership of the same shall be transferred to the TRANSCO at a fair market price: Provided, finally, that in the case of disagreement on the air market price, the ERC shall determine the fair market value of the asset.”

13. According to NGCP’s System Impact Study (SIS) Final Review Report, it is technically feasible to connect the 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project to the Luzon Grid based on the following favorable assessments: a.

Simulation results show that the Cabanatuan-Masiway4 69 kV Line is sufficient to transmit the full capacity of the proposed 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project. It is observed that there will be a back flow of power to the grid through Cabanatuan’s 300 MVA 230/69 kV Transformer in year 2019 peak/off-peak load condition and 2024 off-peak load condition. Upon connection of the proposed Biomass project, no overloading was observed in 230 kV and 69 kV transmission lines during normal (intact network) and N-1 contingency condition during peak and off peak loading scenario for years 2019 and 2024;

b.

No voltage problems were identified as a result of connecting the proposed 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project. The study confirms voltage levels of the monitored substations are within the 0.95 and 1.05 p.u. during normal and N-1 contingency condition;

c.

The increase in fault level in the 230 kV and 69 kV substations associated to the entry of the proposed 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project was found to be marginal. The three resulting threephase short circuit current remained relatively unchanged upon interconnection of the project;

d.

With the connection of the 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project, transient stability study connected showed that there will be no stability problem identified from three-phase faults during normal and delayed fault clearance time for years 2019 and 20124 peak load condition;

e.

The results of frequency assessment show that the loss of the 6 MW Biomass Power Plant Project while supplying full capacity to the grid will not cause the frequency of the system to drop below 59.2 Hz which will trigger Automatic Load Dropping (ALD) to maintain acceptable system frequency.

A copy of the NGCP’s SIS Final Review Report is herewith attached as Annex “J”, while NGCP’s Review of the Facilities Study finding the facilities for the interconnection of the 6 MW

Other reliefs as may be just and equitable under the premises are, likewise, most respectfully prayed for.

The Commission has set the Application for determination of compliance with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, Pre-trial Conference, and presentation of evidence on 22 October 2019 (Tuesday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 PM) at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the instant case may become a party by filing with the Commission a verified Petition to Intervene at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure, indicating therein the docket number and title of the case and stating the following: 1)

The petitioner’s name and address;

2)

The nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and

3) A statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the case may file their Opposition or Comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before Applicant rests its case, subject to the requirements under Rule 9 of the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure. No particular form of Opposition or Comment is required, but the document, letter, or writing should contain the following: 1)

The name and address of such person;

2)

A concise statement of the Opposition or Comment; and

3)

The grounds relied upon.

All such persons who wish to have a copy of the Application may request from Applicant that it be furnished with the same, prior to the date of the initial hearing. Applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the Application and its attachments, subject to the reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Any such person may likewise examine the Application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the standard office hours.

WITNESS, the Honorable Commissioners ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN, CATHERINE P. MACEDA and PAUL M. CERVANTES Energy Regulatory Commission, this 18th day of September 2019 in Pasig City.

JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT Oversight Commissioner for Legal

1 2 3

4 5

See Annex “D-2” hereof pertaining to the Certificate of Confirmation of Commerciality issued by the DOE; Prevailing Biomass FIT per Order dated 23 November 2018 in ERC Case No. 2018-007 RM; Also referred as Cabanatuan-Masiway in NGCP’s System Impact Study (SIS) Final Review Report and NGCP’s Review of the Facilities Study for the 6 MW Biomass Power Plant and Cabanatuan-Fatima in Connection Agreement.

Also referred as Cabanatuan-Pantabangan in this Application.

Order dated 23 November 2018 in the ERC Case No. 2018-007 RM MS-OCT. 2, 2019)

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@manilastandard.net sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019

Sports

EQUESTRIAN CHAMP. Team Philippines stands at the champion’s spot on the podium, with Team Malaysia as runners-up in the inaugural Equestrian Philippines Riders Tour 2019 held at the Manila Polo Club.

Perasol suspended for 3 games

By Peter Atencio

T

HE University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons will miss head coach Bo Perasol in three important games coming up at the start of the second round in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.

Perasol was handed a three-game suspension yesterday by the UAAP’s technical panel.

The sanctions were handed down following an incident during the Fighting Maroons’ game against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles last Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

“After thorough review and careful

deliberation made by the technical committee, we deemed it fit that the penalty of three-game suspension handed to coach Bo Perasol for his actions in the game between Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines last Sunday,” said UAAP Basketball Commissioner Jensen Ilagan.

The incident took place with 6:23 left in

the third period when Perasol entered the playing court to confront Jaime Rivano over what he believes were a series of non-calls and the technical foul which was slapped on UP big man Bright Akhuetie.

While Perasol was being restrained by members of the team, he was handed two technical fouls for his unsportsmanlike behavior, leading to his disqualification.

Ilagan said that based on Art. 9.2.1 of the UAAP General Tournament Guidelines, 2019, “a student-athlete, coach, trainer, or team manager, team official or any accompanying delegation member who is disqualified, thrown out of or ejected from unsportsmanlike behavior from the game by the concerned game official shall not

be allowed to play in the immediately succeeding game. Should said game be canceled, the suspension will be served in the game that immediately follows.”

The two technical fouls translated to an automatic one-game suspension and Ilagan explained that an additional twogame suspension was meted on Perasol for committing “continuous flagrant acts of aggression” towards the game official after being restrained repeatedly by the UP Fighting Maroons team members.

Because of this, Perasol won’t be around when UP plays against Far Eastern University (October 6), University of the East (October 12), and University of Santo Tomas (October 16).

Tan confident Aboitiz champ joins hunt as PGT starts of delivering medals for PH BOWLING World Cup qualifier Merwin Tan has expressed high hopes of sustaining his charge in this year’s Southeast Asian Games hosting.

Known for his consistency and great attitude, the 20-year-old is expected to make it to the Philippine Bowling Federation’s national team of four men and four ladies,who will play in the biennial meet set November 30 to December 11 at Merwin Tan the Starmall Bowling Center in Mandaluyong City.

Tan, also supported by Prima Pasta Chairman Alex Lim, believes he will harvest the fruit of his labor once the competition begins.

“I am very determined because this year was a learning experience for me. All the tournaments that I have won made me more confident.

I am determined to do my best in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games,” said Tan “In my opinion, it was not magic. It is pure hard work and dedication.”

Tan captured the gold medals in the 51st Singapore International Open last June and the 20th Asian Youth Tenpin Bowling Championship in Malaysia last May. He also seized the men’s open masters crown of the Philippine International Open in Mandaluyong City.

Tan had a bronze medal finish in the Under-22 event of the 5th Fukuoka Summer Cup Bowling tourney last August before recently winning two titles in the first METBA-Davao Kadayawan Bowling Open Championships in Davao City.

Despite those accomplishments, Tan sees more improvement needed from him. He says he does not feel at the top of his game yet.

“I feel I’m not in my peak yet, because I am just doing my best in every competition I play.”

Besides Tan, Kenneth Chua, Alexis Sy, Lara Posadas, Patrick Nuqui, Liza Del Rosario, Frederick Ong and Raoul Miranda, among others, are also determined to secure spots for the SEA Games.

American Tarik Can shoots for a first PGT win after nailing his maiden PGT Asia title in Aboitiz Invitational

TARIK Can hopes to bring his winning act to the home of the country’s premier players as the power-hitting American braces for a grueling four-day battle with the country’s best in pursuit of a second championship in the ICTSI Apo Golf Challenge which gets today (Wednesday) at the Apo Golf and Country Club.

Can edged Thai NIrun Sae-Ueng in sudden death to snare the Aboitiz Invitational crown of the Philippine Golf Tour Asia at Wack Wack last month with the bearded former Augusta State mainstay beefing up the formidable cast all coming into the P3 million tournament sponsored by ICTSI in top form.

They include Reymon Jaraula, who bucked the odds, including veteran Tony Lascuña in the playoff to nail his maiden win at Pueblo de Oro three weeks ago; Jhonnel Ababa, who dominated the ICTSI Del Monte Championship the following week; and Lascuña, who snapped a long spell with a tough victory in PGT Asia leg in Taiwan last Sunday.

That guarantees a fiery chase for

first day honors in the 72-hole championship serving as the third of the four-stage Mindanao swing of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. with the homegrown talents, aside from Lascuña and Ababa, also raring to cash in on their local knowledge of the quaint layout which hosted the Philippine Open in 1995.

They include Elmer Salvador, Elmer Saban, Mhark Fernando, Rufino Bayron, Ferdie Aunzo and Jay Bayron, who hopes to end a string of so-so finishes here and abroad with a strong start and a stronger finish in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology.

Reigning Philippine Open champion Clyde Mondilla is also confident of crowding the fancied names with an equally fine showing at Del Monte while young Ira Alido also hopes to cap a string of Top 5 finishes with a victory this week.

READY FOR SEA GAMES. Top riders of Phil-

ippine Navy-Standard Insurance Cycling team, led by Jan Paul Morales, will represent the country in road racing, individual time trial and team trial categories in the coming 30th Southeast Asian Games from November to December at the New Clark Sports Complex in Clark, Pampanga.

The members of the cycling squad in the biennial meet are Ronald Oranza, El Joshua Cariño, Junrey Navarra, George Oconer and John Mark Camingao. The multi-awarded national team recently placed first runner-up under the general team classification—a mere 10 seconds behind the Vietnam’s Bike Life Team during the VTV International Cycling Tournament held in Hanoi. The national team is coached by Bernie Llantada and Reinhard Gorrantes and managed by Marine Col. Noel Beleran under the auspices of PhilCycling, headed by Tagaytay Rep. Bambol Tolentino.

KaTropa seek piece of PBA lead

By Jeric Lopez TNT KaTropa looks to gain a piece of the early tournament lead as it shoots for a third straight victory in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup. The Tropang Texters (2-0) tangle with Phoenix Pulse (1-1) at 7 p.m. after the 4:30 p.m. clash between Columbian Dyip (1-1) and NorthPort (1-1).

Led by prolific import KJ McDaniels and his all-around game, TNT is off to a rousing start.

The Tropang Texters blew by Rain or Shine, 103-91, last Saturday to stay unscathed.

McDaniels was tremendous with team-highs of 37 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the victory.

Still, TNT coach Bong Ravena said that the team is still looking to improve more at this stage.

“We still have a lot to improve on,” said Ravena. “We love our start and we’re hoping to sustain it as we get better.”

TNT will play a Phoenix side that is coming off a morale-boosting 103101 win over Barangay Ginebra, also last Saturday.

With a win, the Tropang Texters can tie current league-leader NLEX (3-0) at the top.

Both splitting its first two assignments, the Dyip and the Batang Pier are both looking for win no. 2 when they go head to head.

Also, they are looking to bounce back after suffering losses in their previous encounters.

NorthPort bowed to defending champion Magnolia, 96-80, while Columbian was taken down by the Elasto Painters, 96-90, both last week.

Lions coast to 15th win FOR coach Boyet Fernandez, the Letran Knights are a dangerous team.

That’s why the defending champion San Beda Red Lions took no chances and repulsed the Knights, 75-63, yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in what could be a preview of what’s to come in the Final Four semifinals of the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.

The Red Lions took control midway in the third period and coasted to their 15th straight triumph.

Calvin Oftana took charge with 16 points, including two of three treys during a big scoring run in the third period.

Oftana’s triples came during a 20-0 run, which San Beda unleashed after the Knights tied the contest, 42-all behind an 8-0 blast with 6:21 left in the third quarter.

From that big spurt, the Red Lions went on to nurse a 62-42 spread when the fourth quarter got under way.

“It’s really the players who worked hard for this. Our defense really started to pop up after they had an 8-0 run in the start of the third,” said Fernandez.

Oftana made seven points in the second canto as San Beda took a 42-34 halftime edge, and the Red Lions scored a 21 points in the first 20 minutes out of a season-high 25 fastbreaks points.

With their victory, the Red Lions are three wins closer to an automatic finals slot, while the Knights, who drew 13 points from Larry Muyang, have already secured the third Final Four slot with their 9-6 slate.

The Red Lions, who got 13 points from Clint Doliguez, are five wins ahead of the Lyceum Pirates, who trail in second at 10-3. The Pirates are within range of the second twice-to-beat bonus.

Earlier, Jethro Mendoza shot 22 points to lead the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals to an 80-76 win over the University of Perpetual Help Altas.

Peter Atencio

AFP Cavaliers shoot for 3rd straight victory DEFENDING champion Armed Forces of the Philippines goes for a third straight win while former titlist Philippine National Police tries to rebound from an opening game setback in the 8th UNTV Cup today at the Pasig City Sports Center.

The AFP Cavaliers go into their 3:30 p.m. showdown with the SSS Kabalikat fully rested from a weeklong break in the annual tournament for public servants that offers P4 million to the chosen charity of the champion team.

Clashing in the other Group I elims at 5 p.m. are Department of Agriculture and Philippine International Trading Corporation with the former

Games Today

(Pasig City Sports Center) 2 p.m. – PNP vs DENR 3:30 p.m. – SSS vs AFP 5 p.m. – Agriculture vs PITC

looking to notch their second straight win following a 78-73 win over the Ombudsman Graftbusters on Sept. 22.

The PNP Responders, winners of the event organized by UNTV through its president and CEO Dr. Daniel Razon, collide with the DENR Warriors in the lone Group II elims at 2 p.m. determined to make up for their 85-81 defeat to the NHA Builders on Sept. 15.

Bannered by former PH team member Eugene Tan, Willy Casulla and Dave Cordero, the AFP Cavaliers opened their bid for a fourth title with a 90-70 beating of the PITC Global Traders before downing the PhilHealth Plus, 91-80, eight days ago.

The Kabalikat suffered a crushing 110-75 defeat to the Graftbusters in their debut on Sept. 15.

Out to lead the Responders are former University of the East player Olan Omiping, Arturo Tolentino and Mariano Flormata.

The DENR Warriors, however, are no pushover as mirrored by their 10198 win over the GSIS Furies that saw Olan Omiping hoping to lead PNP to its first UNTV Ralph Lansang explode for 51 points. Cup win against DENR today.

IN BRIEF BSP adds channels for 'Lending Act'

THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, said it expanded the mode of disclosing relevant information under Republic Act No. 3765 or the “Truth in Lending Act".

It said the enhanced mode now allows disclosure through various channels of communication, including educational videos and social media to encourage BSP-supervised financial institutions to be more creative, efficient and effective in disseminating the salient TLA information, while adhering to consumer protection standards and social media risk management guidelines.

"It also emphasizes full disclosure and utmost transparency, particularly on the cost of credit granted by the BSFIs, as critical elements that empower consumers to make objective comparison of banking products and informed financial decisions," it said.

The enhanced disclosure requirement applies to banks, quasi-banks, non-stock savings and loan associations, pawnshops, non-bank financial institutions and banks/non-banks operating as credit card issuers. Julito G. Rada

AC Energy, UPC form solar venture

AC ENERGY Inc. said it is raising $20 million via a development loan to partially finance the development of more than 1,000 megawatts of solar projects in the Asia Pacific region in partnership with UPC Solar Asia Pacific Ltd. AC Energy and UPC Solar Asia formed a joint venture company called UPC-AC Energy Solar to develop, construct and operate solar projects across the region.

The joint venture company said it was aiming to build a portfolio of over 1,000 MW in the next few years, with an initial focus on India, South Korea and Taiwan.

Patrice Clausse, AC Energy chief operating advisor and AC Renewables International director, said the company was on its way to achieving a balanced energy mix.

“AC Energy is very excited to invest in another partnership with UPC Renewables. Our move to enter into a large and bankable solar market like India is consistent with AC Energy’s goal to exceed 5,000 MW by 2025, with at least 50 percent to be sourced from renewables,” said Clausse. Alena Mae S. Flores

Business POGO allowed to reopen after agreeing to pay P1.3b

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue said Tuesday it lifted the closure order against Philippine offshore gaming operator Great Empire Gaming and Amusement Corp. after the latter agreed to settle P1.3 billion in tax liabilities.

BIR chief Cesar Dulay said in a statement that Great Empire’s total tax obligation was P1.3 billion. The firm offered to pay a down payment of P250 million and settle the balance in three months up to end of December in post-dated checks.

Dulay also said that Great Empire was required to update the withholding tax payments and the registration of its employees. The company reportedly has more than 8,000 employees in three facilities in Metro Manila and Zambales.

BIR deputy commissioner for operations group Arnel Guballa announced the lifting of the closure order.

“By virtue of the power vested in me under Section 115 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 [as amended] and upon compliance of Great Empire Gaming and Amusement Corp. to comply with the requirement under Section 236 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, order is hereby given lifting the closure of the business establishments

of the abovementioned taxpayer,” Guballa said in a statement.

Guballa said the business establishments include the one located in Gateway Hub Bldg., Lot C-3, Active corner Humility Streets, SBGP Phase 1 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone; second floor, Aseana Hub, Bradco Avenue, Aseana City, Macapagal Blvd., in Baclaran, Paranaque City; and 5th to16th floors, Eastwood Global Plaza, E. Rodriguez Avenue, in Bagumbayan in Quezon City.

Great Empire’s operations was closed down by the BIR on Sept. 25 after the agency found out that the firm was violating tax laws in the country.

The BIR said the closure of the taxdodging POGO was in compliance with the earlier directive of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to close down online gaming operations found to be violating Section 115 (b), in relation to Section 236 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

“Results of the investigation showed that GEGAC is not registered for VAT purposes violating the Section 108 vis-a-vis with Section 115 of the Tax Code as certified by the Revenue District Office 019— SubicBay Freeport Zone,” BIR said. The closure order was issued by Guballa.

Dominguez said in a message to Finance reporters that the number of foreign employees in Great Empire’s Eastwood location was around 8,100, “with a few hundred more in Parañaque and Subic.”

Dominguez earlier threatened to close down “as soon as possible” offshore gaming operations that were not complying with the country’s tax laws.

He said the crackdown would be led by the DOF, in partnership with other government agencies such as the BIR, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Justice, Bureau of Immigration and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The Chinese embassy urged the Philippine government in August to crack down on POGOs, saying several Chinese citizens were illegally recruited and hired in offshore gaming operations in the Philippines.

State-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. then stopped accepting new applications for offshore online gaming licenses.

ICTSI named best transport company

PORT operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. was named the Philippines’ Most Outstanding Company in the transportation sector by Asiamoney.

ICTSI joined 11 other companies in the Philippines and 153 companies in the region recognized at the yearly Asia Outstanding Companies Poll for excellence in financial performance, management team excellence, investor relations and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

ICTSI Global corporate head Christian Gonzalez thanked Asiamoney and the investors who were polled and reiterated ICTSI’s commitment to providing efficient port services, a key element in the seamless transport of cargo while ensuring sustainable operations.

ICTSI operates 10 ports, including flagship Manila International Container Terminal that serves as the company’s benchmark in implementing improvements in its ports worldwide. Connectivity and synergies are being implemented in these ports to provide a more seamless and integrated mode of cargo transport.

“Amid global headwinds, the diversity of the ICTSI Group’s portfolio and our strategy to make all our ports drivers of positive and sustainable growth have been key to delivering strong performance,” Gonzales said.

CLARK’S STRATEGIC PLAN. The board of directors of Clark Development Corp. chaired by Jose De Jesus (center) leads the review of CDC’s strategic plans for the next few years. Joining him are vice chairman Benjamin Defensor, directors Ana Liza Peralta, Nestor Villaroman, Jon Castro, Luisito Clavano, Ernesto De Vota, Manuel Gaerlan, Arturo Ortiz, CDC president Noel Manankil and members of the management committee. The activity presented the accomplishments of CDC such as the $6.1 billion worth of exports and 122,973 jobs in 1,038 locators-firms as of end-2018.

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019

B1

Alabang traffic seen to ease

by November

By Darwin G. Amojelar SKYWAY O&M Corp. said Tuesday it expects the traffic congestion in the southern part of Metro Manila to ease by November before the Christmas rush.

SOMCO president Manuel Bonoan said the company had to immediately start construction of the more than P10-billion project as soon as it got the go-signal from both the national and local governments to ensure that initial works would be completed before the busiest time of the year.

He said that by the end of November, motorists would be able to use the third lane that was closed due to preliminary works for the project.

“We ask for understanding and patience from our motorists for this temporary inconvenience. We understand your frustration but given that the holiday season is fast approaching, we have to be aggressive with the schedule as it is our best ‘window’ to complete preliminary road works before peak traffic season,” Bonoan said.

He said the present “window” also gave them a better chance to complete the project by iearly December 2020 again before the Christmas rush.

“Again, our aggressive target to complete Phase 1 [Muntinlupa to Susana Heights] is by December next year. There are possible causes of delay: right-of-way issues, moving of pipelines, power lines, and the like,” Bonoan said.

“However, with the leadership and full support of government, we’re confident we can still fast-track and complete it in a relatively shorter period of time,” he said.

Bonoan said the project is a part of Phase 1 of the Skyway extension masterplan which is designed to decongest traffic along South Luzon Expressway and Skyway which serve populous areas in Metro Manila such as Cavite, Laguna and Batangas.

This will add some 4,500 vehicles per hour to the northbound expressway and around 3,000 vehicles capacity per hour, southbound.

Phase 2 and 3 will involve the expansion of the Bicutan, Sucat and Alabang-Zapote Road access points to decongest traffic in those areas.

NEDA-ICC clears Lack of financing forces Maguindanao banana firm to shut down P102-b NAIA rehabilitation THE Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority Board said it approved the unsolicited public-private partnership project of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to increase its capacity and improve passenger experience in the country’s main gateway.

NAIA Consortium, which is composed of Ayala Corp., Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Alliance Global Group, Inc., Asia Emerging Dragon, Filinvest Development, JG Summit and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., submitted a P102billion unsolicited bid to rehabilitate the main gateway in line with the Clark International Airport operations and maintenance (O&M) contract.

The NAIA rehabilitation is one of the several projects approved by the NEDA committee which also included six new undertakings and the extension of financing of other projects. The approval to the NAIA project was given on Sept. 27, 2019.

NEDA said the ICC-CabCom also approved the Pasacao-Balatan Coastal Tourism Highway which would be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The project involves the construction of a 40.69-kilometer four-lane coastal tourism highway along the west coast of Camarines Sur that will provide access to various tourism sites and a direct link between the municipalities of Pasacao and Balatan.

The P14.97-billion project will be funded through DPWH’s budget allocation under the General Appropriations Act. Julito G. Rada

A BANANA plantation in Maguindanao is stopping its business operations after it failed to secure loans from Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines.

Al Sahar Agri Ventures which has 1,500-hectare banana plantation in its business plan in Maguindanao said it ceased business operations last week.

Al Sahar chairman and chief executive John Perrine announced before thousands of employees, half of whom were rebel-returnees the difficult deci-

sion to close down the business which started in November 2014.

Credited with the successful handling of La Frutera, a 1,200-hectare banana plantation which similarly employed former rebels of the Muslim separatist groups, Perrine said he had to bite the bullet after both LBP and DBP stopped processing the loan applications for undisclosed reasons.

Al Sahar invested more than P500 million and was harvesting export quality cavendish bananas in its initial

400-hectare banana plantation.

Perrine said the project was earlier provided assurance of financial support for a concessionary loan from the financing facility to be established with financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency which saw merit in granting low-interest loan to the Al Sahar banana plantation carved out of the municipalities of Talayan, Budon and Datu Odin Sinsuat.

He said the JICA lending program, dubbed “Harvest Fund” was meant to

push the return to normal lives of rebel returnees especially in conflict areas.

However, the fund was allegedly reduced from $125 million to $40 million because of the realignments with the change in administration.

The $40 million was apportioned to other conflict areas, forcing Al Sahar to seek the financial support from the government banks.

The company, however, said it was not able to secure loans from LandBank and DBP.

Angkas sees govt legalizing motorcycle taxi service soon

HOYA LENS EXPANSION. Hoya Lens Philippines Inc. managing director Jennifer Rayala (left) and EHS Lens Philippines Inc. president Alberto De Los Reyes Jr. announce that their parent firm Hoya Corp. is investing $15.77 million in EHS Lens PH in fiscal year 2019. The investment will result in an increase in the plant’s capacity for prescription lenses to 1.2 million units monthly and support HLPH’s expansion in the local market.

Hoya will launch in the Philippines the Seiko Sensity (changeable) and Seiko Polarized lenses by the fourth quarter with a first-year sales forecast of P22 million.

RIDE-HAILING service provider Angkas said it is optimistic the government will permanently legalize the operations of motorcycle taxis in the country within the year as the ongoing trial run proceeds smoothly.

“I’m always optimistic. The pilot is running very smoothly. We’ve been sending reports to the Department of Transportation. We will be meeting with TWG [technical working group] in a couple of weeks,” Angkas chief transport advocate George Royeca said.

“Based on the pilot, we can now craft a better law,” he said.

Angkas was granted by DOTr a sixmonth trial run that allowed the service to operate in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu in June this year. There are 27,000 riders enlisted in the Angkas network.

“We at Angkas are dedicated to providing a safe and affordable option for every-

one, and we will do whatever it takes to continue doing so,” Royeca said.

“Angkas is not the be-all solution to traffic—no single agency or company can do that. But because of our current partnership with DOTr, we’ve shown that we can at least ease the traffic by providing an inclusive transport option,” he said.

All 27,000 bike-partners were swiftly trained on new safety protocol to comply with the mandated requirements of the DOTr TWG. Angkas said it maintained a 99.997-percent safety record despite the initial speculation from government bodies on its safety.

“Financial losses incurred from delays caused by traffic affect both individuals and institutions. Before people even get to work, they are already exhausted from their commute,” Royeca said. Darwin G. Amojelar

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market slumps; SMIC bucks trend

S

TOCKS fell for a third day, dragging the benchmark index to a four-month low after credit watcher S&P Global Ratings cut its growth forecast for Asia-Pacific for 2019 and 2020 amid the slowing growth in China.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, shed 39 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 7,739.86 Tuesday.

The broader all-share index also tumbled 25 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at 4,687.04, on a value turnover of P5.4 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 135 to 52, while 50 issues were unchanged.

Data showed that three of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by conglomerate SM Investments Corp. which climbed 1.6 percent to P987. Property developer Megaworld Corp. rose 0.7 percent to P4.40, while BDO Unibank Inc. gained 0.4 percent to P143.50.

A report published by S&P said AsiaPacific’s economic slowdown showed

no sign of letting up but policymakers in many countries were easing in response.

“We have cut our Asia-Pacific forecasts by 0.2 percentage point to 4.9 percent for 2019, and 0.3 percentage point to 4.8 percent for 2020,” said Shaun Roache, S&P Global Ratings’ Asia-Pacific chief economist.

“The downward revision for 2019 mostly reflects weaker second-quarter data. In 2020, we now expect growth below 6 percent in China as downward pressure remains unrelenting, and we have revised our forecasts lower for India and South Korea,” said Roache.

Other Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday after Wall Street finished a volatile quarter on a positive note, while China began a week-long break to celebrate the 70th birthday of the

People’s Republic.

Following Wall Street’s lead, Tokyo closed 0.6 percent higher, helped by a drop in the yen and as investors shrugged off a Japanese survey that showed business confidence continued to fall.

Buyer sentiment was boosted by comments from the Trump administration denying the likelihood of new US restrictions on Chinese investment, analysts said.

“US stocks rebounded and the dollar topped 108 yen” in a positive development for Japanese exporters, said Seiichi Suzuki, senior market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute.

Taipei jumped 1.3 percent and Singapore climbed 1.0 percent, with gains also seen in Wellington and Seoul. Bangkok and Jakarta were both down.

Investors are looking ahead to the resumption of trade war talks between Beijing and Washington next week, said Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist of Prudential Financial.

The latest discussions set for Oct. 10

are “clearly a positive for the markets because the effect it has on the world economy is paramount going into the last quarter,” Krosby said.

Markets in China and Hong Kong were closed for a public holiday as anniversary celebrations were held in Beijing and pro-democracy protesters took to the streets in the southern financial hub.

In early European trade London edged up 0.1 percent, and Paris and Frankfurt also made slight gains.

Sydney rose 0.8 percent and the Australian dollar dipped after the Reserve Bank of Australia announced it had cut interest rates to a historic new low.

Amid fears about the flagging domestic economy, the central bank slashed rates by another 25 basis points to 0.75 percent.

Resource-rich Australia dodged the worst of the financial crisis but the economy recently recorded its weakest annual growth in a decade, expanding just 1.4 percent in the year to June. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2019

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 92.1 1,721,280 143.5 1,042,010 1.11 13,000 25.05 149,300 18.66 400 11.94 253,100 5.2 118,200 780 10 0.415 390,000 67.75 2,279,460 0.92 88,000 13 9,500 43.6 140,600 58 1,980 26.3 4,700 190 994,900 1,860 450 59 50,040 1.15 90,000

157,747,666 148,729,296 14,430 3,733,955 7,428 3,019,172 610,226 7,800 162,300 154,716,725 80,700 123,500 6,130,865 115,025.50 124,365 189,202,095 836,975 2,953,336 101,920

8,381,100 4,860,050 225,015 -948,938 -3,150 -41,578,309 0 -1,474,015 -41,401,043 -1,052,098.50 -

38.3 15.68 0.66 0.241 108.9 2.44 14.02 8.23 18.5 31.6 68 75 2.03 6 5.9 8.84 15.14 10.3 7.06 23.8 80 46.05 2.42 14.14 7.96 1.51 219.6 5.35 3.31 8.26 19.94 13 18.26 363.6 0.189 1.65 4.28 4.99 10.04 2.22 10.86 32.4 5.3 5.1 1.91 2.33 1.01 11.38 88.8 7.35 0.124 1.02 149.3 1.11 16 1.01

INDUSTRIAL 38.45 841,000 15.9 104,900 0.68 304,000 0.247 360,000 109 610 2.47 4,181,000 14.18 58,900 8.52 2,025,200 18.9 16,300 31.6 300 68 1,550 75 570 2.05 33,000 6 100 5.9 21,600 8.87 27,731,100 15.6 183,500 10.9 637,500 7.11 4,102,700 24.8 1,505,600 80 1,639,570 47.4 13,200 2.42 4,225,000 14.48 118,600 8 575,400 1.55 216,000 220 453,570 5.39 85,600 3.53 3,000 8.26 1,600 20 2,433,000 13 796,000 18.5 518,300 369 181,040 0.189 100,000 1.73 7,472,000 4.28 3,000 5.02 834,600 10.1 26,100 2.26 11,111,000 11.06 15,900 32.5 360,600 5.3 124,000 5.1 2,000 1.98 6,096,000 2.33 1,000 1.01 77,000 11.4 782,500 89.1 112,780 7.35 81,700 0.124 640,000 1.03 972,000 150 1,494,710 1.15 1,150,000 16 1,000 1.07 33,180,000

32,350,430 1,660,196 202,560 87,400 67,458 10,448,920 832,694 17,172,738 301,590 9,480 105,760 42,750 67,090 600 127,440 246,247,948(1, 2,783,702 6,898,880 29,140,278 36,555,840 131,174,219 626,015 10,475,660 1,714,310 4,599,283 332,260 99,895,446 461,182 10,150 13,216 48,899,445 10,357,934 9,691,594 66,331,548 3 18,900 12,723,760 12,840 4,174,826 264,038 25,271,570 174,832 11,719,840 658,302 10,200 12,247,640 2,330 78,410 8,936,314 10,063,568 604,122 79,360 1,010,310 225,101,070 1,309,680 16,000 35,194,470

-22,476,910 202,148 -59,060 1,349,760 -121,116 -9,480 612,344.0003) 65,212 5,261,656 -11,097,664 353,715 -88,627,811 227,595 1,212,820 -293,718 2,225,336 36,936,944 -11,877,286 -3,118,844 -1,178,084 ,917,119.9999 -376,830 -324,534 -203,870 4,083,115 3,060 496,098 -8,408,997 333,450 51,500 -116,229,072 -27,160.00 -122,500

0.92 53.6 11 0.77 6.97 13.44 1.18 1.2 885.5 3.52 6.74 8.4 13.5 4.01 847 5.73 72.7 5.79 5.78 5.23 0.51 4.39 14.4 0.59 4.99 0.039 1.33 171.9 992 0.89 1.28 225.8 0.228 0.24

0.89 52.1 10.76 0.7 6.65 13.04 1.12 1.13 871 3.47 6.5 8.15 13 4.01 836.5 5.72 71.3 5.08 5.5 5.23 0.5 4.37 13.92 0.57 4.88 0.038 1.28 170.4 981 0.85 1.27 223.6 0.224 0.233

HOLDING FIRMS 0.91 7,455,000 53.6 1,048,860 10.8 8,021,500 0.72 2,274,000 6.65 41,000 13.32 4,900 1.13 3,111,000 1.15 66,000 879.5 257,310 3.48 539,000 6.74 644,000 8.24 16,409,700 13.4 523,400 4.01 1,000 844 30,840 5.72 201,400 72.2 1,710,460 5.79 5,100 5.78 200 5.23 100 0.51 166,000 4.38 814,000 13.96 4,448,900 0.59 280,000 4.92 11,238,000 0.038 3,200,000 1.33 121,000 170.6 325,330 987 350,790 0.89 170,000 1.27 72,000 224.4 90 0.224 110,000 0.24 170,000

6,741,340 55,967,169 86,884,448 1,631,700 272,842 65,538 3,557,810 76,130 226,454,900 1,881,230 4,215,372 135,366,274 6,876,120 4,010 26,008,840 1,152,083 123,474,540.50 28,836 1,128 523 83,770 3,565,430 62,028,844 163,780 55,356,200 124,100 157,630 55,530,038 346,219,160 145,030 91,450 20,210 24,680 40,040

695,100 -9,044,748 -34,194,812 -98,823,075 -129,340 1,362,738 -30,701,744 0 6,849,935 -219,698 2,835,293.50 -1,046,780 -10,261,588 8,930 -12,188,667 -880,890 -15,704 -

15.04 0.85 1.91 0.9 49.7 2.1 4.71 6.2 0.55 0.86 0.216 0.395 9.75 20.4 0.45 1.58 1.2 4.47 0.31 1.38 0.385 2.05 24.85

15.02 0.81 1.91 0.87 48.15 2.08 4.61 6.02 0.53 0.86 0.214 0.385 9.5 20.1 0.445 1.53 1.19 4.37 0.3 1.33 0.375 2 24.1

PROPERTY 15.04 149,700 0.82 1,152,000 1.91 105,000 0.89 908,000 48.15 6,863,500 2.08 487,000 4.66 234,000 6.04 71,000 0.55 11,331,000 0.86 3,000 0.214 280,000 0.395 20,000 9.7 36,700 20.4 97,200 0.445 460,000 1.55 21,245,000 1.2 326,000 4.4 42,013,000 0.3 7,250,000 1.34 2,175,000 0.38 70,000 2.04 687,000 24.55 767,800

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

BANK PH ISLANDS BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FERRONOUX HLDG MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK VANTAGE

92.3 143 1.11 25 18.3 11.92 5.2 780 0.42 68.4 0.94 13 43.55 60.65 27 195.8 1,855 59.1 1.12

92.3 144 1.11 25.2 18.66 11.98 5.3 780 0.42 68.65 0.94 13 43.7 60.65 27 195.8 1,860 59.95 1.15

91 141 1.11 24.95 18.3 11.9 5.12 780 0.415 66.95 0.91 13 43.55 58 26.3 188.9 1,855 59 1.12

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

38.35 16 0.67 0.242 108.9 2.61 14.2 8.58 18.5 31.6 68.05 75 2.03 6 5.9 8.9 15.22 10.74 7.1 24.55 80.05 47.5 2.52 14.5 8 1.51 222 5.35 3.31 8.26 20.25 13.18 19 365 0.189 1.71 4.28 5 10.2 2.34 11.08 32.4 5.31 5.1 1.97 2.33 1.03 11.42 91 7.45 0.124 1.09 155.3 1.14 16 1.02

38.65 16.02 0.68 0.247 125 2.62 14.2 8.68 18.9 31.6 70 75 2.05 6 5.9 8.9 15.6 10.92 7.18 24.8 80.1 47.6 2.53 14.5 8.02 1.55 222.8 5.4 3.53 8.26 20.25 13.18 19 369 0.189 1.77 4.28 5.02 10.2 2.36 11.08 32.6 5.43 5.1 2.11 2.33 1.03 11.6 91 7.45 0.124 1.09 155.4 1.16 16 1.12

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ASIABEST GROUP ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP AYALA LAND LOG COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG KEPPEL HLDG A KEPPEL HLDG B LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.92 53.2 10.92 0.77 6.97 13.4 1.18 1.2 884.5 3.51 6.53 8.36 13.5 4.01 840 5.72 72.5 5.3 5.5 5.23 0.51 4.39 14.4 0.59 4.99 0.039 1.33 171.5 981 0.86 1.27 225.8 0.228 0.235

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DM WENCESLAO DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL INFRADEV PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND

15.04 0.85 1.91 0.9 49.7 2.1 4.7 6.03 0.55 0.86 0.215 0.385 9.74 20.1 0.45 1.57 1.2 4.38 0.305 1.35 0.385 2.01 24.5

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

2.31 3.18 37 2.56 0.93 7.71 5.84

2.32 3.18 37.2 2.64 0.94 7.72 5.84

2.3 3.18 36.45 2.54 0.89 7.66 5.68

2.3 3.18 37.1 2.55 0.89 7.72 5.68

428,000 11,000 5,430,500 956,000 1,033,000 2,247,200 84,400

986,340 34,980 200,142,200 2,468,870 930,000 17,326,029 481,660

-53,360.00 34,980 48,645,705 17,990 17,800 -716,943 -

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

10 18.34 1.79 0.61 0.045 2.29 10.8 0.057 92.5 7.19 6.89 6.17 2 9.65 1,830 5.2 432 14 1.58 1.77 120.1 0.11 5.08 13.56 3 0.92 18.84 0.445 3.4 2.36 1.14 2.7 2.83 8.25 5.75 3.07 1,131 0.71 0.55 39 76.1 9.15 2.83 0.69 0.33 0.69 16.5

10.1 18.34 1.79 0.63 0.048 2.29 10.8 0.057 92.5 7.19 7 6.17 2 9.65 1,834 5.22 432 14 1.59 1.77 120.2 0.113 5.08 13.56 3.05 0.93 19 0.445 3.46 2.36 1.14 2.75 2.9 8.25 5.75 3.08 1,132 0.72 0.57 39 78 9.15 2.83 0.69 0.34 0.69 16.52

10 18.14 1.65 0.6 0.045 2.28 10.38 0.052 89 7.19 6.8 6.17 2 9.32 1,826 5.16 422 14 1.54 1.75 116.7 0.11 4.94 13.56 3 0.9 18.24 0.44 3.4 2.34 1.14 2.65 2.82 7.8 4.8 3.02 1,120 0.7 0.55 36.3 76.1 9.08 2.78 0.68 0.325 0.66 16.5

SERVICES 10 18.24 1.73 0.6 0.047 2.29 10.78 0.054 89.7 7.19 6.81 6.17 2 9.35 1,828 5.16 428.6 14 1.58 1.75 120 0.11 4.97 13.56 3.01 0.9 18.64 0.44 3.46 2.36 1.14 2.65 2.89 7.9 4.8 3.03 1,128 0.72 0.56 38 78 9.1 2.78 0.68 0.33 0.66 16.5

6,500 202,500 305,000 13,256,000 22,900,000 128,000 5,536,300 90,530,000 190,520 1,500 902,600 100 2,000 78,700 22,840 184,400 1,720 200 899,000 44,000 1,285,620 420,000 1,070,300 500 71,000 49,000 77,300 240,000 28,000 185,000 7,000 3,053,000 19,000 14,500 10,000 491,000 66,215 1,290,000 12,409,000 2,673,900 79,760 12,300 1,146,000 283,000 7,010,000 3,241,000 1,151,400

65,030 3,684,230 514,040 8,041,170 1,073,400 292,840 58,994,450 4,854,990 17,163,353.50 10,785 6,190,276 617 4,000 741,050 41,758,680 956,379 735,316 2,800 1,396,850 77,060 152,679,566 46,830 5,343,872 6,780 214,170 44,740 1,433,752 105,800 96,280 434,810 7,980 8,198,100 54,070 115,316 51,950 1,491,550 74,662,650 919,120 6,943,250 101,462,490 6,218,756 112,140 3,205,060 193,610 2,327,750 2,146,870 18,998,332

166,000 -960,000 6,948,168 106,000 -957,172 -486,788 -8,639,640 22,750 7,911,334 311,324.00 -3,040 192,408 -61,120 -99,740 -2,890 47,400 5,400 -140,240 -8,852,505 266,560 -9,901,910 -503,590 354,580 16,250 -1,340 8,707,192

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 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

0.002 1.17 2.51 11.72 1.2 2.64 7.7 1.65 0.239 0.106 0.009 0.01 1.15 3.93 1.09 0.5 0.9 0.012 0.012 0.011 8.55 3.76 11.86 22.6

0.002 1.17 2.51 11.9 1.2 2.64 7.8 1.65 0.241 0.107 0.009 0.01 1.15 3.93 1.14 0.5 0.9 0.012 0.012 0.011 8.77 3.76 11.86 22.6

0.002 1.12 2.5 11.12 1.15 2.61 7.48 1.61 0.224 0.105 0.009 0.01 1.11 3.76 1.09 0.5 0.9 0.012 0.011 0.01 8.52 3.69 11.36 22.1

MINING & OIL 0.002 16,000,000 1.13 960,000 2.5 30,000 11.78 19,600 1.15 8,000 2.61 1,148,000 7.75 41,400 1.61 3,653,000 0.234 1,440,000 0.105 960,000 0.009 6,000,000 0.01 32,000,000 1.14 67,000 3.81 14,361,000 1.13 148,000 0.5 4,000 0.9 1,000 0.012 5,100,000 0.012 1,200,000 0.011 55,800,000 8.6 389,400 3.69 1,759,000 11.4 962,500 22.1 294,400

25,700 1,091,730 75,230 226,826 9,250 3,014,280 315,193 5,923,500 328,670 101,320 54,700 320,000 75,140 54,892,590 164,820 2,000 900 61,200 13,400 563,800 3,349,959 6,533,120 10,991,022 6,527,670

-8,000 7,980.00 -235,200 533,000 -8,209,740 -289,319 794,514 -4,401,015

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FPH PREF C GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR HOUSE PREF A LR PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 3B PNX PREF 3B SMC FB PREF 2 SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

17.6 501 505.5 101.9 490 500.5 5.14 97.05 0.99 1,028 1,063 109 995 78 74.95 75.6 75.9 75.5 75.5 76.6

17.6 501 505.5 101.9 490 500.5 5.14 99.5 1 1,028 1,081 109 995 78 75 75.6 76 75.5 75.5 76.6

17.36 501 504 101.5 490 500.5 5.08 96.25 0.99 1,028 1,063 108 995 77.8 74.9 75.5 75.9 75.5 75.5 76

PREFERRED 17.36 82,300 501 500 504 60 101.5 110 490 10 500.5 50,000 5.08 8,100 99.5 34,200 1 62,000 1,028 10 1,081 25 108 4,030 995 890 77.9 89,300 75 43,500 75.6 17,650 76 122,680 75.5 5,000 75.5 5,000 76.6 145,540

1,441,866 250,500 30,315 11,205 4,900 25,025,000 41,351 3,293,885 61,700 10,280 26,935 435,250 885,550 6,953,553 3,262,006 1,333,840 9,313,813 377,500 377,500 11,064,364

-335,746 7,195 167,776 -

LR WARRANT

1.52

1.52

1.52

WARRANTS 1.52 19,000

28,880

NAME

MS 2,248,738 952,270 200,550 800,850 335,033,725 1,016,650 1,091,450 430,276 6,117,980 2,580 60,030 7,800 354,434 1,973,480 204,750 32,946,210 388,850 185,479,530 2,185,000 2,923,600 26,700 1,375,660 18,711,900

-238,932

133,700 -95,086,085 -14,550 -102,640 88,912 -454,610 -21,400 -8,730.00 939,680 -15,331,330 -12,000 -87,737,420 309,000 46,900 -4,327,595

ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH XURPAS

6.83 10.06 0.92

6.9 10.06 0.94

6.61 9.58 0.9

FIRST METRO ETF

117.4

117.4

116

USD TECH B2

1

1

0.95

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

15,521,076

INDUSTRIAL

122,052,714

HOLDING FIRMS

68,578,623

PROPERTY

127,411,440

SERVICES

171,892,539

MINING & OIL

142,927,437

GRAND TOTAL

652,789,642

6.61 9.6 0.91

SME

628,900 546,100 3,217,000

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116 13,760 0.96

DDS

214,080

-

4,180,207 5,320,338 2,934,230

66,150 58,120 -122,850

1,602,540

335,610

207,271.20

-

VALUE 1,792.44 (down) 12.33 1,235,062,102.5 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,432.82 (down) 132.31 1,184,989,790.986 HOLDING FIRMS 7,631.29 (up) 35.96 1,379,889,944.9 PROPERTY 4,051.66 (down) 49.61 1,517.9 (down) 8.6 976,576,421.63 SERVICES MINING & OIL 8,724.67 (down) 286.02 560,714,842.2 PSEI 7,739.86 (down) 39.21 94,680,906.5636 All Shares Index 4,687.04 (down)25.83 5,445,951,636.48 Gainers: 52; Losers: 135; Unchanged: 50; Total: 237

Zap Cove drops plan to buy into Vulcan Mining

By Jenniffer B. Austria PAMPANGA-BASED businessman Dennis Uy, founder of Converge ICT Solution, dropped a plan to acquire Vulcan Industrial & Mining Corp., a listed company owned by the Ramos family.

Vulcan said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it was informed by major shareholder National Bookstore Inc. that the planned buy-in by Uy’s Zap Cove Development Corp. into the company would no longer push through.

The decision was finalized after Zap Cove’s due diligence procedures on the company ended on Sept. 30.

“National Book Store Inc. advised the company, in a letter received...Sept. 30, 2019, that Zap Cove Development Corp. indicated its decision to no longer proceed with its proposed transaction,” Vulcan said.

“In light of this development, management will explore other business opportunities and will present the same to the board of directors for consideration in due course,” it said.

Vulcan reported in October last year that NBS received a letter of interest from Zap Cove for the acquisition of around 3 billion shares equivalent to 75.9-percent interest in Vulcan.

Uy was reportedly planning to transform Vulcan into a holding company that would venture into the telco sector.

At that time, the government was bidding out the license of the third major telecom operator in the country.

This caused the share price of Vulcan to surge to a 52-week high P2.95 in October 2018.

Uy, who was supposed to team up with Korea Telecom, backed out from the bidding.

Uy’s namesake Dennis Uy of Davao City eventually bagged the third telco license in partnership with China Telecom.

Uy’s Converge ICT last month obtained $250 million in capital funding from the US-based private equity fund Warburg Pincus.

The fresh capital will help Converge expand its broadband business.

Incorporated in 1953 as Vulcan Manufacturing Corp., the company engages in finding, developing and producing oil and gas reserves and other mineral properties.

Sta. Lucia, Araneta unveil Bulacan joint venture project Property developers Sta. Lucia Land Inc. and Araneta Properties Inc. are teaming up for a 58-hectare residential project in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.

SLI said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the project would involve the joint development of a 580,154-squaremeter land in Barangay Tungkong Mangga in San Jose del Monte.

Under the joint venture, Araneta Properties owns the land while SLI will develop it into a residential subdivision.

SLI said the joint venture partnership is a part of the company’s expansion in Bulacan province.

It said that under the agreement, 60 percent of the net saleable area would be owned by SLI, while 40 percent would go to Araneta Properties.

SLI’s obligation to develop the project will start immediately upon the turnover of the property by Araneta Properties. This would follow the procurement of a conversion or exemption clearance from the Department of Agrarian Reform and the issuance of the development permit.

SLI said it was aiming to complete the project over the next four years, starting from the date of procurement of the development permit.

SLI said it was ramping up its expansion program with previously announced P20 billion in capital spending over the next three years.

It said at least P16 billion of its capital spending budget would be used to develop a robust pipeline of projects in key locations within and outside Metro Manila, including Bulacan, Rizal, Batangas, Iloilo, Pangasinan, Palawan, Cebu and Davao.

SLI is set to launch 28 residential and commercial projects and five condominium/hotel projects this year. These projects are expected generate some P20 billion in reservation sales over the next three years. Jenniffer B. Austria

Manila

Standard WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019

World

B3

TODAY CESAR BARRIOQUINTO, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

China toasts 70 years even as HK seethes BEIJING―President Xi Jinping declared Tuesday that “no force” can shake China as he oversaw a huge military parade to celebrate 70 years of Communist Party rule, shadowed by protests in seething Hong Kong that threatened to steal the spotlight.

Some 15,000 troops along with tanks, new nuclear missiles and a supersonic drone paraded down the Avenue of Eternal Peace as Xi and other Communist Party leaders watched from a rostrum overlooking Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

The event was meant to extol China’s journey from a poor nation broken by war to the world’s second largest economy, but Xi faces a clutch of challenges from a US trade war to months of unrest in Hong Kong.

Xi, who wore the distinctive “Mao suit,” delivered a speech invoking the “Chinese dream” of national rejuvenation―his grand vision of restoring the country to a perceived past glory.

“There is no force that can shake the foundation of this great nation,” Xi said from the Tiananmen rostrum where Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949.

“No force that can stop the Chinese people and the Chinese nation forging ahead,” the country’s most powerful leader since Mao said before reviewing troops in an openroof car.

Helicopters flew in a “70” formation over the city as troops goosestepped across Tiananmen Square in what state media described as the country’s biggest ever military parade, featuring 580 pieces of armament and 160 aircraft. AFP

SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY. The Liaoning Province float featuring a giant winged robot passes through Tiananmen Square during a military parade in Beijing on October 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. AFP

HK defies China’s 70 anniversary H ONG KONG―Strife-torn Hong Kong on Tuesday marked the 70th anniversary of Communist China’s founding with defiant “Day of Grief” protests and fresh clashes with police as pro-democracy activists ignored a ban on marches and took to the streets.

Activists are determined to overshadow Beijing’s festivities, using the anniversary to step up their nearly four months of protests pushing for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability.

Thousands marched through the streets of Hong Kong island on Tuesday afternoon, despite authorities rejecting an application to hold a rally there as police warned people “to leave the scene as soon as possible.”

Smaller crowds rallied in a number

of other districts with clashes quickly breaking out.

In Tsuen Wan, masked protesters used umbrellas and sticks to beat riot officers after they made a series of arrests. The officers retreated into a nearby town hall after they came under a barrage of projectiles.

In Wong Tai Sin, police fired brief volleys of tear gas against protesters who had blocked nearby roads.

The biggest march remained on Hong Kong island, a frequent battle-

th

field between police and protesters where multiple malls and shops remained shuttered for the public holiday.

“Three months on and our five demands have yet to be achieved. We need to continue our fight,” a protester, wearing a mask from the cult film and comic book “V for Vendetta”, told AFP. The protests came as lavish celebrations were taking place in Beijing, including a huge military parade through Tiananmen Square under the gaze of China’s strongman President Xi Jinping.

Among those watching the parade was Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, who has historically low approval ratings at home as public anger boils over Beijing’s increased control of the

semi-autonomous city.

Millions have hit the streets in record-breaking numbers while hardcore activists have repeatedly clashed with police, in the biggest challenge to China’s rule since the city’s 1997 handover by Britain.

In a vivid illustration of the political insecurity now coursing through Hong Kong, city officials watched a morning harbor-side flag-raising ceremony from the safety of the nearby convention center.

Since the 1997 handover, officials had always attended the Republic of the Philippines Capital Judicial Region ceremony outside, even during National REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 112, PASAY CITY torrential downpours.

RE: In the MATTER of But popular protests that erupt- INCANCELLATION Of ENTRIES in the ed in June have made it increas- CERTIFICATE of LIVE BIRTH Of ROLAND HENRI MARTINEZ LAZA, ingly risky for officials to appear UNDER REGISTRY NO. 2000-5833 of the CIVIL REGISTRY of PASAY in public. AFP CITY, ROLAND HENRI MARTINEZ LAZA ROLANDO ASUNCION MALLARE, And NELY MARTINEZ LAZA, Petitioner,

IN BRIEF

SPEC. PROC. CASE NO. R-PSY-19-03693-CV FOR: CANCELLATION OF ENTRIES

Russian alcohol consumption down MOSCOW―Russia might still have a reputation as a nation of hard drinkers, but a report by the World Health Organization published Tuesday showed alcohol consumption has dropped by 43 percent since 2003.

The WHO put the decrease down to a raft of measures brought in under sportloving President Vladimir Putin, including restrictions on alcohol sales and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

“The Russian Federation has long been considered one of the heaviest-drinking countries in the world,” the report said, adding that alcohol was a major contributor to a spike in deaths in the 1990s.

“However, in recent years these trends have been reversed.”

The study showed a 43 percent drop in alcohol consumption per capita from 2003 to 2016, driven by a steep decline in the consumption of bootleg booze.

The authors said this trend was a factor in increased life expectancies, which reached a historic peak in 2018, at 78 years for women and 68 years for men.

In the early 1990s, male life expectancy was just 57 years.

Last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev led an anti-alcohol campaign with partial prohibition, which brought down consumption from the mid-1980s until 1990. AFP

Peru president dissolves parliament LIMA―Peru’s president dissolved parliament and called for fresh elections Monday, prompting a vote by lawmakers to suspend him, deepening a long-running institutional crisis.

The announcement by President Martin Vizcarra came after he warned Congress he would dissolve the body if it continued to block a raft of anti-corruption reforms and changes to the way judges are appointed to the country’s Supreme Court.

Vizcarra called new parliamentary elections for January 26, according to a decree published in the official gazette.

Shortly after his televised statement, 86 of Congress’ 130 members voted to suspend Vizcarra for one year on the grounds of “moral incapacity” and nominated Vice President Mercedes Araoz as acting head of state.

The chamber will meet Friday to consider a motion to dismiss the president, House Speaker Pedro Olaechea said.

“We are facing a coup d’etat,” opposition legislator Jorge del Castillo said of Vizcarra’s move. “I hope the armed forces and the police will stay out of this charade.” AFP

-versusCIVIL REGISTRAR of PASAY CITY And ALL PERSONS/ENTITIES which May be affected thereby, Respondents. x------------------------------------------------x

ORDER

In the present recourse, petitioners are praying for a directive for the City Civil Registrar, Pasay City, and all persons/entities which maybe affected thereby to: 1) cancel, revoke and rescind the remarks/annotation of legitimation and the registered “Affidavit of Legitimation” in the

Certificate of Live Birth of petitioner Roland Henri M. Laza; and 2) direct the Civil Registrar of Pasay City and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to cancel, amend, and/or correct in their Book of Birth the foregoing appropriate cancellation, revocation, and rescission.

The Court hereby resolves to set the petition for hearing on November 12, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. in its sala located at the 3rd Floor, Room 305 RTC, Branch 112, Hall of Justice Building, Pasay City, at which date, time and place any interested person may appear and show cause why the petition should not be granted.

Let this Order be published in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for three consecutive weeks to be selected by raffle pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1079 and posted by the Branch Sheriff in three (3) conspicuous public places in Pasay City.

Also, furnish the Office of the Solicitor General, with copies of this Order and of the Petition.

SO ORDERED. September 9, 2019, Pasay City.

(Sgd.) JESUS B. MUPAS Judge (MStandard-Oct. 2, 9 & 16, 2019)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Quezon City, Metro Manila Branch LXXVIII (78) IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF MINOR AND CHANGE OF NAME OF THE FLORES DONGETO TO TRIXIE FLORES LEEMAN SP. PROC. CASE NO. R-QZN-19-07368-SP GARETH JAMES LEEMAN AND XYRA FLORES-LEEMAN, Petitioners. x----------------------------------------------------x

ORDER

AFTER THE BURIAL. The tomb of former French president Jacques Chirac is seen a day after his burial at the Montparnasse cemetery in Paris on October 1, 2019. Jacques Chirac died on September 26, 2019, at the age of 86. AFP

Posing for selfies at Kalashnikov exhibition MOSCOW―Dozens of youngsters from Russia’s Youth Army have been getting up close and personal with perhaps the world’s most iconic firearm as their country prepares to mark the centenary of the birth of Mikhail Kalashnikov, maker of the legendary rifle.

Children from the roughly half a million-strong patriotic movement, which Russians can join from the age of eight, have been thronging to an exhibition at Victory Museum in western Moscow, getting a chance to assemble Kalashnikovs and pose for selfies next to the famous automatic weapon.

Russia will next month celebrate the life of Kalashnikov, designer of the AK-47, with a number of events, including the museum display and a biopic.

Kalashnikov, who died in 2013 at the age of 94, is seen in Russia as a national hero and symbol of the country’s proud military past.

His AK-47 has become a weapon of choice for both guerrillas and governments the world over.

It is also a staple of early military education in Russia.

Maxim, a young cadet, said he learned to put together and take apart an AK rifle at school.

“At first your fingers hurt, but then it’s quite easy,” he told AFP. The exhibition was put together by the Kalashnikov museum in Izhevsk, an industrial town in the Ural mountains, where the inventor worked at the Izhmash weapons factory until his retirement.

Alexander Yermakov, the museum’s deputy director, said he hoped the inventor’s story would inspire “the next generation of Kalashnikovs.”

Kalashnikov was showered with every possible major prize in the Soviet Union, and the Kremlin in 2009 gave him the highest honor―Hero of Russia.

In 2017, authorities unveiled a monument to Kalashnikov holding his weapon in central Moscow.

Born in a Siberian village on November 10, 1919, Kalashnikov had a tragic childhood during which his father was deported as a “kulak” (prosperous peasant) in 1930.

Wounded during a bloody battle with

Nazi forces in 1941, Kalashnikov was given a leave during which he thought up the first versions of the rifle.

In 1945, a prototype was entered into a competition and the design was eventually recommended for use in the Soviet army.

It quickly became prized for its simplicity, cheapness and sturdy reliability.

AK-47’s name stands for “Kalashnikov’s Automatic” and the year its final version was designed, 1947.

More than 100 million Kalashnikovs have been sold worldwide and about 50 armies use the AK-47 including those in Iraq and Somalia.

Although Kalashnikov said he created the rifle to “defend the fatherland’s borders,” Moscow first used the gun internationally to put down riots in East Berlin in 1953 and the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, journalist C.J. Chivers wrote in his book “The Gun.” Chivers challenged the official narrative according to which a lone maverick inventor came up with a genius design. AFP

A verifies position for adoption was filled by the petitioners, spouses Gareth James Leeman and Xyra Flores-Leeman, through counsel, praying that upon due notice and hearing, this petition for Adoption be granted and; (a) Judgement be entered adjudging that the minor child Trixie Flores Dongeto, to all legal intents and purposes, the child of the herein petitioners; and (b) That the last name of TRIXIE FLORES DONGETO be changed to LEEMAN, which is the last name od the petitioners.

Petitioners are husband and wife. Petitioner Gareth James Leeman is of legal age, British National, with address at 67 Killerton Park Drive, West Bridgford Nottingham NG2 7SB, United Kingdom and Xyra T. Flores-Leeman, also of legal age, Filipino citizen with address at Block 33, Lot 11, Cornelius Street, North Olympus Subdivision, Novaliches, Quezon City, but presently working in the UK with address at 67 Killerton Park Dive, West Bridgford Nottingham NG2 7SB, United Kingdom. They can be served with orders pleadings, and other court processes to the CABOCHAN Law with office address at M-1 FSS Byuilding II, 18 Scout Tuason Street, Brgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City.

Petitioners desire to adopt a minor, named Trixie Flores Dongeto, Filipino, having been born on January 7, 2005, in Quezon City, Illegitimate child of petitioner Xyra Flores-Leeman. The minor I currently residing at Block 33, Lot 11, Cornelius Street, North Olympus Subdivision, Novaliches, Quezon City. That the illegitimate father of said minor, named Kei Andrei Q. Dongeto, is alive, not insane, nor intemperate, and with full knowledge of petitioner’s intention hereby expressly gives his written consent to the adoption.

Moreover, petitioners are birth in possession of all the above qualifications required by law in order for them to seek adoption under Articles 183-186 of the Family Code of the Philippines, as amended by the provisions of Republic Act No. 9552, the Domestic Adoption of 1998. That petitioners have been married for more than two (2) years, the ceremony having been held in Singapore on April 18, 2016.

Petitioners further allege that they are also very much capable or providing for the adoptee considering that spouses petitioners are both gainfully employed as follows: Xyra is currently working as floor staff at Cote Brasserie at 4-6 Central Avenue, West Bridgford Nottinghamshire; while Gareth works as an adult administrator for SDL Group. A property service group, located at 3-4 Regan Way, Chetwynd Business Park Chilwell, Nottingham, NG9 6RZ. Petitioners are also qualified as to age to adopt the minor considering that petitioner husband is thirty-seven (37) years old and petitioner wife is thirty-one (31) years old.

Petitioners have not been convinced of a crime involving moral turpitude.

They are qualified to adopt the said minor, and will be able financially and morally, to bring up and educate said minor, properly and adequately. They have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications prescribed by law to adopt subject minor adoptee.

That the minor sought to be adopted does not own any real, personal, tangible and intangible property. This adoption is for the best interest and security of the said minor if she would be considered as true and legal child of the petitioners. It will make her life normal, Productive and to be a good person in the community.

IN VIEW THEREFORE, and finding the petition to e sufficient on form and substance the same is given due course.

Accordingly, let the instant petition be set hearing on November 20, 2019 (Wednesday), at exactly 8:30 o’clock in the morning at Rooms B13-B14, Basement, Hall of Justice Building, Quezon City. Notice is hereby given that anyone who has any objection to the petition should file his/her opposition hereto within fifteen (15) days from the last date of the publication of this Order or appear in Court on the above-scheduled date of hearing and show cause, if any, why the petition should not be granted.

Let this order be published, at the expense of the petitioners, once a week for the three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of national circulation, to be chosen by raffle under the supervision of the Executive Judge. Regional Trial Court, this city pursuant to P.D. 1079. The Court Social Worker, Ms. Mariebec Cariaga, is hereby directed to conduct a case study on the petitioners and the minor subject of the adoption and to submit her report on or before the scheduled hearing.

Petitioners are hereby directed to coordinate with the Court Social Worker, Ms. Mariebec Cariaga, to facilitate the preparation of the case study.

Petitioners are further required to furnish a copy of the petition, together with its annexes, the Office of the Solicitor General, Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City, the Philippines Statistics Authority. The Local Civil Registrar of Quezon City, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR), and to submit compliance therewith to this Court immediately.

SO ORDERED. QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA, MAY 28, 2019.

(Sgd.) FERNANDO T, SAGUN, JR. Presiding Judge (MStandard-Oct. 2, 9 & 16, 2019)

Manila

Standard

TODAY

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018

B4

Dipolog City’s “First Love” Dipolog City is one of the country’s fastest growing cities in terms of revenue, infrastructure and population, and yet still manages to maintain its pristine environment amidst the progress. Dubbed as the “Orchid City” of the Philippines, this 13,628-hectare paradise is home to several tourist destinations for nature-lovers who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Metro living without being too far away from the comforts of civilization.

Strategically located in Western Mindanao, the city is the center of legislation and education. Though it is basically an agricultural city in concordance with the neighboring towns, it is now enjoying the same economic growth and the modernization trend that the whole country is experiencing.

DXFL-FM, the “First Love Radio” came into being June 24, 1993.

Being the first radio station to be established in Dipolog City, DXFLFM has made it possible to cater to a diverse people from all over the province of Zamboanga del Norte with its distinct programming that offers hours of pleasurable listening and segments on current headliners. It is birthed from personal fondness for music, a young man’s desire to be able to play pure and unadulterated hometown entertainment. More than two decades later, DXFL-FM is still widely known for its music variety, from alternative, sentimental to pop music.

Fact is among the six (6) FM stations in the area, DXFL tops the survey with a whopping 43.8% audience share per Kantar Survey.

Network’s Mission Dubbed as “First Love Radio,” DXFL-FM broadcasts in full spectrum of advanced audio technology.

“We exist with the best interest for our listeners at heart: a commitment to uplift Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and a goal to connect the Filipino people through excellent music and unbiased information programming.”

Purpose DXFL-FM’s programming concept is designed to respond to every listener’s heart’s desires. Established on the principle that every “Dipolognon” has the right to preferences, it continues to provide superior airwave content. It also features intellectual discussions anchored by respected new commentators and credible resource persons on a day-to-day issues.

State-of-the-Art Technology DXFL-FM uses state-of-theart technology with its US-made equipment and transmitters and a stand-by generator to ensure uninterrupted streaming feed. These facilities have enabled the company to be on the frontline of local radio entertainment, catering to both regional and national advertisers.

It operates daily, from Sunday to Saturday, from 4 o’clock in the morning until 11 o’clock in the evening. It operates on an eclectic programming with both AM and FM formats under the same frequency.

Its morning programming is mostly dedicated to news, commentary, and other blocktime services (public service, herbal products, and religious organizations).

Music programs run throughout the rest of the day until sign-off.

For more than a decade now, a Makati-based marketing outfit, NDBCMedia Marketing represents First Love Broadcasting Network Inc. in Manila to cater to national advertisers.

Meanwhile, its music programming adheres to the regulations set by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) where the station is a member and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

On April 17, 2019, Republic Act (RA) 11341 lapsed into law. An act renewing for another twenty-five (25) years the Franchise granted to First Love Broadcasting Network, Inc. under Republic Act 8100 entitled “An act granting the First Love Broadcasting Network Inc. A franchise to construct, establish, operate and maintain commercial FM and AM radio stations and Television stations in the Visayas and Mindanao.” This gives Dipolog’s “First Love” to continue serving the people in the areas it covers.

Life

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

FASION AND BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019

C1

GARDEN OF SPRING. Kate Spade New York unveils its spring 2020 collection that features safari-inspired silhouettes reimagined in ultra-feminine fabrics, prints, and colors.

Safari in the city

W

HAT does a city girl wears when going on an adventure?

Nicola Glass, creative director of Kate Spade, envisions her in safari-inspired silhouettes reimagined in ultra-feminine fabrics, prints, and colors. Think green and lavender, tote bags with floral prints and cross body in mustard yellow for spring 2020.

“I wanted to find the balance between functionality and style using luxe fabrics but in relaxed silhouettes and cross body handbags in unique materials and whimsical shapes,” said Glass.

For her fifth collection for Kate Spade since taking the creative helm, Glass continues to focus on the brand codes she established in 2019 by always keeping with the core DNA in mind and staying true to the brand promise of optimistic femininity.

“I love how no two women ever wear the same thing the same way. This season is an homage to that: To be blossoming wherever you’re planted,” she enthused.

This season’s presentation was unique for the brand, as, for the

VANITY CORNER

The pieces are unveiled in an immersive fashion show.

Kiehl’s Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask and Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

Avo-good day Avocado is not only great on toast, it’s great on skin, too.

Kiehl’s launches its new Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask whose innovative creamy texture mimics that of the original fruit. This results in a richly replenishing, deeply hydrating treatment mask that helps revitalize and refresh skin in just a matter of minutes.

This nourishing mask is powered by avocado fruit extract whose lipid soluble components revitalize skin, avocado oil that is a rich source of unsaturated essential fatty acids that deeply hydrate skin, and evening primrose oil that contains a high source of unsaturated fatty acids that help improve skin quality.

To effectively get the benefits of the Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask, simple scoop up a generous amount, warm between fingers, apply in upward motion, and leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing skin.

For added benefits, use a pea-sized amount of Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado and gently apply on the orbital bone.

first time ever, Kate Spade New York diversified its runway by inviting globally recognized actresses, influencers, and models across a range of body types and ages to walk the show and unveil the spring 2020 collection.

Actresses Debi Mazar along with her daughter Evelina Maria Corcos, and Molly Godron; models Karen Elson, Lindsay Ellingson, Chloe Vero, Dusty Rose Ryan; influencers Vanessa Hong, Lyn Slater, Molly Blutstein, Reese Blutstein; writer Karley Sciortino; and many more all walked the runway held at Elizabeth Street Garden, a community sculpture garden in Nolita.

The Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask is available at 28ml for P950 and at 100ml for P2,100. The Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado comes at 14ml for P1,825.

Turn to C2

BYS Malibu Blush and Bronzer (left) and On-The-Go Face and Eye Palette

The colors of Malibu

American actress Molly Gordon walks the runway

Actresses Anna Kendrick (carrying Romy croc-embossed chain wallet in cherrywood), Sadie Sink (Remedy small top handle in iris bloom), and Emma Roberts (Remedy bikini dot small top handle bag in optic white multi) grace the Kate Spade New York spring 2020 runway show at the Elizabeth Street Garden.

Playful hues made for a beach city shine in BYS Malibu Collection.

The Australian beauty brand’s collection is composed of BYS Malibu Eye shadow consisting of 12 blendable and richly pigmented shades; Malibu OnThe-Go Face and Eye Palette, a complete compact with highlighter, bronzer, and six eyeshadows.

Also included in this collection are the Malibu Edition Keepsake Brush Set in Tin (complete with powder, blush, foundation, eye and brow, and eyeshadow brush) and Makeup Brush and Blender Kit (with mini and micro mini blender), Malibu Mascara, Blush and Bronzer, and Highlighter in Santa Monica.

This collection is available at Watsons and SM Beauty Stores nationwide.

Life

C2

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019 manilastandardlife@gmail.com

Holiday makeup trends A

LOCAL cosmetics label has identified the looks that will be a hit this coming holiday season.

Sparkles

‘Tis the season to pull off those glittery lippies and eyeshadow and highlighter.

For a simple but still sparkly look, maximize the use of highlighter like Careline’s Best Selling Strobe Stick, which blends into the skin for a “glow from within” look. Glide it on areas that are usually hit by the light like cheek bones, bridge of the nose, and temples for a more natural glow.

Unique, glossy lip color

Bold eyeshadow

Gearing up for the annual holiday party? Sport bold eyeshadow like orange and red shades then tone down the rest of your makeup look by wearing a light lipstick shade or blush on to draw more attention to your eyes. Careline Play To Slay Palette features 12 varieties of pigmented eyeshadow with four shimmer, eight matte, two blush shades, and one highlighter.

This resurfacing lip trend complements a simple matte makeup look and may even spice up nude lipstick for a more radiant look.

Careline Stain Gloss is a non-sticky magic lip gloss that adapts to skin’s PH level giving every girl a unique lip color.

My face but better

The “My face but better” look is popular even on the international runway. Achieve this with Careline Oil Control makeup line. Try the Liquid Foundation that leaves a flawless and natural finish. Set it with the Face Powder to keep skin oil-free all night. Then apply a light amount of Careline Oil Control Blush On to complete the look.

Red lips

Metallic bronze lipstick

This trend lets beauty junkies go go all out with their lips and keep the rest of their makeup minimal. Take that best holiday selfie by glamming up with Careline Melted Metallic Lipstick in Bling or Luster. Bonus: It can be used as an eyeshadow, too!

A red lipstick always does the trick to achieve a classy, glam, or edgy look. This holiday season, look party-ready all day with Careline Matte Liquid Lipstick in the shades of In Bloom or Upper Hand. Feel like a star by pairing it with strong eyebrows and a simple cat eye or go for a less fiesty look by wearing little to no eyeshadow and adding highlighter in the inner corners of the eyes.

The aforementioned products are available at The SM Store, Robinsons Department Store, Landmark, Watsons, Mercury Drugstore, Puregold, or through Lazada.

Zara opens ‘green’ store at One Bonifacio High Street

Zara opens its eighth and largest store in the country at One Bonifacio High Street.

The store features a sleek white surface that spans the ceiling and walls, creating an illusion of space.

FASHION retailer Zara brings its latest global concept to its newest store in the Philippines at One Bonifacio High Street.

The newly opened store features over 2,600 square meters of sales area, housing its latest collection of Woman, Man, and Kids in two floors.

This is the eighth and largest Zara store in the country.

This new store incorporates all the green building criteria stipulated by Zara’s parent group Inditex. As an eco-efficient store it consumes 20 percent less energy and 40 percent less water compared to a conventional store.

Its energy use is regulated by a central control center at the company’s headquarters in Arteixo, northwest Spain. All Zara stores in the world are expected to be eco-efficient this year, one year ahead of target.

In addition to green features, the One Bonifacio High Street branch sports a sleek white surface that spans the ceiling and walls, which helps create the illusion of space and freedom while creating a backdrop that enhances the beauty of the apparel and accessories.

Eco-friendly footwear HOMEGROWN footwear label Annie & Lori joins the sustainable fashion movement by launching its chic and eco-friendly VegetableTanned Leather collection.

“We wanted to use the platform that Annie & Lori has built through the years to promote sustainable fashion and to do our share in reducing our impact on the environment,” says Faith Mijares, the brand’s founder and head designer.

Vegetable tanning refers to the process of turning cowhide into leather using natural materials and without the harmful chemicals typically used in this process. The products of vegetable tanning are biodegradable and are proven to be highly durable. With proper care, they can last a lifetime.

Annie & Lori’s Vegetable-Tanned Leather collection features four stylish slip-on sandals with extra sole cushion for added comfort and a

Kryz Uy enjoys a day out in the sun (left) wearing Keds Scout Boots in olive (right).

From sunny Africa to rainy Manila STYLE blogger Kryz Uy was seen enjoying her honeymoon in Africa decked in cozy layers of autumn colors and olive ankle length boots.

The weather-proof pair Uy was wearing as she toured the African safari was Keds’ Scout Boots from the brand’s Weatherized collection.

This weatherized line features the classic boot silhouette that can battle the elements—from the dessert to the rainy streets—in style.

Featuring soft flannel plaid lining,

durable rubber bottoms, and treated with the all-new Dream Shield water and stain repellent coating, these chic yet rugged boots can go the distance.

It comes in matte canvas in olive and black and matte twill in burgundy.

The shoe also features the Dream Foam footbed for added comfort.

Keds claims it is the ideal pair to wear through puddles and rugged terrain.

The Scout Boot is available at Keds outlets nationwide.

Safari...

Guests were seated in the open air on existing benches within the park, as well as café tables and chairs that will be recycled for events around the world.

Models walked down the pathway and wove throughout the sculptures and foliage to highlight the existing beauty of the space itself. Finally, the show notes were printed on seed paper allowing guests to plant them after the show.

On the spring 2020 runway, the brand also debuted its footwear collaboration with Dr. Scholl’s arriving in stores in April.

From C1

Anni & Lori’s VegetableTanned Leather Collection

black in-sole for easy maintenance.

Esther, Naomi, Phoebe, and Atarah are all available in both natural and maroon colors.

The natural-colored sandals are available at Annie & Lori’s pop-up stores in

Alabang Town Center and Eastwood Mall, at Retail Lab Powerplant in Makati, and at www.annielori.com. The marooncolored sandals will be exclusively available at Common Thread in Greenbelt and Powerplant Mall.

The fashionable affair was attended by notable actresses and influencers, including Anna Kendrick, Julia Garner, Sadie Sink, Emma Roberts, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Sun Yi, Luna Maya, Julie Estelle, Tong Bing Yu, and our very own Laureen Uy, among others.

In addition to celebrating inclusive beauty, the show celebrated nature and the beautiful garden, which been in danger of being taken over by developers. According to Kate Spade New York, 100 percent of the venue rental fee was given directly to the protection of the garden for the local community and general public to enjoy.

Kate Spade is located at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Central, Greenbelt 5, Power Plant Mall, Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La, and Rustan’s Cebu.

Entertainment Sandara Park live at Paris Fashion Week TWITTER is the best place to find out what’s happening in the world and especially on K-POP scene. If you’re K-POP fan, the familiar #TwitterBlueRoom Live took place in Paris for the first time during Paris Fashion Week.

The heroine is Sandara Park, a member of legendary K-Pop band 2NE1.

Sandara’s one-hour-long live Q&A started at 1:00 p.m. (Paris time) or 7:00 p.m. PHT on Monday Sept.30 via the K-Pop star’s very own Twitter account @Krungy21. K-pop fans in the world tweeted questions with hashtag #AskDara.

Sandara visited Paris for Paris Fashion Week and attended brand shows such as Balmain, Vivian, and Tom Brown. She Tweeted stylish photos and videos in realtime and got a lot of attention from K-POP fans and fashion people.

Yeonjeong Kim, Global Kpop Partnership at Twitter said, “The influence of K-POP extends beyond music to various cultural fields such as fashion and beauty. It is a great opportunity to share cultural contents to the world through TwitterBlueroom Live. We expect to boost various conversations around K-POP and fashions on Twitter.” #TwitterBlueRoom is an exclusive live content on Twitter, Twitter invites celebrities from various fields, such as K-POP, politics, and sports to the Twitter Blueroom to conduct live Q&A with Twitter users. Anyone can tweet questions using the #Ask hashtag, and the celebs freely select questions to answer.

Twitter Korea invited more than 250 K-pop artists to the #TwitterBlueRoom this year.

Sandara Park in France for Paris fashion Week

engage with one another.”

In 2018, the founding edition of Dreamanila International Film Festival showcased over 30 films – 15 shorts and 15 films – both screened live and online among jurors and attendees at the then newly installed CBRC Dream Theater in España, Manila. This year, Dreamanila will be projected and carpet-rolled in its new home.

Tapped as the Creative and Marketing Director, filmmaker and entrepreneur Charliebebs Gohetia, whose film competed last year, made a throwback to the inaugural film event.

“Filmmakers from USA to Iran, and as far and as exotic as Nigeria to homeland Philippines participated last year. On our 2nd edition, we intend to triple our selections and multiply our venues with the help of sponsors and hosts,” Gohetia said.

Award winning filmmaker Joselito Altarejos assumed the position of Head Programmer and Cultural Exchange Director. He shared, “the heart of the Festival continues to beat in order to establish a wider reach in discovering more independent filmmakers with ardency of collective, fundamental, and original visions. We will greatly appreciate your support so this massive and significant endeavor can push through with its advocacies.”

Dreamanila International Film Festival, which will hold its second edition in May next year, celebrates the best in world cinema.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, October 2, 2019

ACROSS 1 Slangy guys 6 Mantel 11 Sitcom alien 14 Greek alphabet ender 15 Type of bear 16 Actor Mineo 17 Eva or Zsa Zsa 18 Excuse 19 Mont. neighbor 20 Quote from 22 Hackneyed 24 Hug 28 Beach huts 30 Mud protection 31 Like city lots 32 Principle 33 Dead-end road (hyph.)

36 Racket 37 Pewter or brass 38 Vexation 40 Labyrinth monster 43 Crossed a creek 45 Wrinkle removers 46 Abate 47 Smoothing wood 50 J.R. attire 51 Ms. Zellweger 52 Low-pitched 53 Auric’s creator 54 Synthetic fabric

57 Teen faves 62 Novelist Umberto — 63 Works hard 64 At no time 65 Not outgoing 66 Winner’s look 67 Persona non — DOWN 1 Family pet 2 Thurman of “Gattaca” 3 New socialite 4 Arrogance 5 Cutting remarks 6 Sudden downpour 7 Golf course unit 8 Cotton gin name 9 Science room 10 Park toy 11 Lake Nasser’s dam 12 Derek & the Dominos hit tune 13 Arctic sights 21 I, to Fritz 23 Kids 24 I say!

25 Adage 26 Deli crepes 27 Aussie jumper

28 Dye 29 Devine or Warhol 31 Bantu people 33 Ringing sound 34 Helpers 35 Tenet 37 Nile sun god 39 First orchard?

41 Cat’s lives 42 Familiarizes 43 Oozing 44 Statute 46 Rural addr.

47 Gets nosy

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nickie.standard@gmail.com

Butuan City native caps off ‘TNT’ journey as new grand champion

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Dreamanila International Film Fest holds second edition THE Dreamanila Group will hold the second edition of the Dreamanila International Film Festival, which celebrates the best of world cinema, on May 22 to 24, 2020.

Currently, the festival still accepts film entries worldwide online via Filmfreeway – considered the world’s most trusted film submission platform. Films (shorts and feature length) produced from 2017-2019 are eligible to join. Revered filmmakers and industry players will be invited to select winners among intensively programmed entries.

Founder and Festival Director Archie Del Mundo said that Dreamanila does not just exist to provide screening venues, but it also fosters creative and professional support to masters and emerging filmmakers to showcase their films to the world with the purest and most creative visions and intentions. The Festival features a host of screenings, symposium panels, educational programs and workshops, Q&A portions, and marketing and distribution assistance.

Del Mundo added, “Manila, as the Philippines’ most exciting historical capital, will provide sociocultural exchange of ingenuity, concepts, and market-building potentials for cultural artists and workers.

Dreamanila will guarantee a conducive place for audiences and filmmakers to

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019

48 Filter 49 Drive crazy 50 Have a premonition 52 Well-behaved kid 55 — Kippur 56 52, to Livy 58 Van — Waals force 59 Eggs, to Ovid 60 Grant approval 61 Tijuana “Mrs.”

LAINE Duran of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte was named the latest grand champion of “Tawag ng Tanghalan” on It’s Showtime on Saturday (Sept.

28), capping off an illustrious journey that began when she became the singing competition’s first-ever ten-time daily defending champion or “TNT record holder.”

An early fan favorite, the 20-yearold singer sealed her victory in the grand finals’ last round by performing a medley of Basil Valdez songs “Saan Ka Man Naroroon,” “Sana ay Ikaw na Nga,” and “Ngayon and Kailanman,” which she finished with a perfect whistle note. Her performance gained her the highest combined average score of 41.18 percent from the “madlang people’s” votes and judges’ scores.

She also thrilled the audience at the Caloocan Sports Complex and triggered positive reactions on social media when she performed her ethnicpop-rock rendition of Shanti Dope’s hit song “Nadarang,” which showed off her rapping skills.

As the newest “Tawag ng Tanghalan” grand champion, Elaine won a family vacation package, custom in-ear monitors, a business franchise, a talent management contract with ABSCBN, a recording contract under TNT Records, a brand new house and lot, and P2 million.

Elaine edged out fellow grand finalists John Mark Saga, who was declared the second placer and received P500,000, and John Michael Dela Cerna, who placed third and won P300,000. The other top six grand finalists Kim Nemenzo, Shaina Mae Allaga, and Jonas Oñate were awarded with P100,000 each.

Many Filipinos watched “Tawag ng Tanghalan” name its newest grand champion, as the grand finals’ official hashtag #TNT3AngHulingTapatan topped the list of trending topics on Twitter worldwide. Also making it to the list of trending topics related to the event were Elaine, John Mark, John Michael, “Nadarang,” December Avenue, Kim, and Shaina,to name a few.

After the vocal showdowns in “Tawag ng Tanghalan,” It’s Showtime is set to commemorate its biggest anniversary celebration to date this October as the country’s number one noontime show marks its tenth year on air.

'Tawag ng Tanghalan' Year 3 grand champion Elaine Duran

Boyz II Men to return in Manila for a one-night concert in December FOUR-TIME Grammy Awardwinning group Boyz II Men is heading back to Asia and performing in Manila, returning from a U.S. tour and residency in Las Vegas at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

The group, consisting of founding members, Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris, will bring a lively show, including fanfavorite songs like, ”I’ll Make Love to You,” “Motownphilly,” ”End of the Road” and more, along with new show elements on stage.

“We’re so excited to be going back to Manila and bringing the Boyz II Men show to the fans who always greet us with so much warmth and we look forward to showing them some of the new skills that we’re bringing to the stage,” the group said in a statement.

For their Manila concert, the legendary R&B trio will be performing on Dec. 12 at Resort World Manila’s Newport Performing Arts Theater.

Boyz II Men holds the distinction of being the most commercially successful

R&B vocal group Boyz II Men

R&B group of all time with three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, selling over 64 million albums worldwide. They had engraved three of the longest-running No. 1 pop singles in history— ”End of the Road,” spending thirteen full weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100, which historically concluded the decadesold record held by Elvis Presley, subsequently followed by ”I’ll Make Love To You” with a 14week reign. The third No. 1 is ”One Sweet Day” with Mariah Carey which ruled the Billboard chart for a total of sixteen weeks, an all-time record they had held until August of this year.

In September 2019, Boyz II Men commemorate the 25th anniversary of the record that cemented their status as music royalty, the 12x platinum, triple Grammy Awardwinning album II. Although the Boyz have consistently toured across the United States and around the globe, performing a mix of their latest tracks and treasured classics, venues continue to sell out to the rim. The reason is abundantly clear—for the past two decades, Boyz II Men have given fans a rich catalogue of hits filled with soothing harmonies and unparalleled vocal excellence.

More accomplishments lead the iconic a capella group to pop culture ubiquity, along with 3 Billboard Music Awards, 9 American Music Awards, 9 Soul Train Awards, a 2011 MOBO Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, and in 2012, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Boyz II Men’s other chart-topping hits are ”On Bended Knee,” ”Water Runs Dry,” “A Song For Mama,” and ”4 Seasons of Loneliness,” among others.

Boyz II Men Live in Manila 2019 is presented by Ovation Productions on its 40th Year Promoting the Biggest Names in Live Entertainment, in cooperation with TAP Edge: The Home of Live Action Sports. Tickets available starting Friday, Oct. 4 at 10:00 a.m. via www.ovation.ph, www.ticketworld. com.ph and all TicketWorld outlets.

For inquiries, call (02)891-9999 or (02)532-8883.

Entertainment

Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com

C4

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019

SNAPSHOT

‘One Summer Night’ with Jung Hae In

K-DRAMA fans were thrilled as Korean actor Jung Hae In came back to Manila on Saturday, Sept. 28, for his ‘One Summer Night’ Fan Meeting Tour 2019 at the New Frontier Theater,presented by Wilbros Live.

The award-winning Korean actor flew to Manila In June last year to spend time with his well-loved fans in the Philippines. The Saturday event was Jung’s second Philippine fan meet. The first event was held at the same venue.

At the One Summer Night, fans of the K-Drama star got to know him more through the question and answer segments and some fun games participated by the audience.

“There’s nothing I can imagine doing besides being an actor, so, I think I would be an actor regardless. First of all, as an actor, I am so happy and honored that I have fans around the world who appreciate and love my work,” he said.

The 31-year-old star made his K-drama

debut in 2014 via the series Bride of the Century. He eventually gained more popularity in 2017 with his performances in the fantasy romance series While You Were Sleeping and black comedy series Prison Playbook.

Jung bagged his first starring role in Something in the Rain, a 2018 Netflix original series. This year, Jung took on the lead role of another Netflix original and romance drama series, One Spring Night. Clay Moreno

MILES and ROCCO

‘WRITE ABOUT LOVE’

K

APUSO talent Rocco Nacino and Kapamilya actress Miles Ocampo are the stars of TBA Studios’ Write About Love, a romanticcomedy about characters who are struggling to write a romance film.

In the story, Rocco plays a “veteran” writer who teams up with a newbie s(Miles) to create the perfect romantic movie.

“But they have clashing views,” Rocco told Manila Standard in an interview.

“We must work together to create a love story. However, our personalities, views, and styles make things difficult for us.”

Though the film’s main premise revolves around the romance that blossoms between the lead cast, Rocco said that the project is a perfect tribute for writers, the unsung heroes of every story that comes alive on the small and big screens.

“When we watch a good movie, we always ask ourselves, ‘How did they do it? How did they think of that? How were they able to weave the story like that?’

That’s what the movie wanted to answer.

The movie shows how it’s done,” shared Rocco.

On working with a much younger female costar who’s apparently from a different network, the 32-year-old actor had nothing but good words for Miles especially on how she was on the set.

“We have a good working relationship.

I manage to keep up with her despite the age difference. And she’s a pro, we didn’t encounter any problem because she’s very cooperative like everyone on the set,” he said. “ I think this is a good opportunity for all artists, not just for me. Excited ako sa proyekto na pagtutulung-tulungan ng mga artist from both networks to make quality films. That’s the goal of TBA kaya laging successful ‘yung mga film nila because they produce more quality films that touch the hearts of people through storytelling,” he added.

The film also stars Yeng Constantino and Joem Bascon as the characters of Mile and Rocco’s project. *** TBA Studios signs film marketing deal with celebrity PR firm TBA Studios, a leading commercial film outfit in the Philippines and producers of critically-acclaimed films Heneral Luna, Goyo and Birdshot, has signed leading Entertainment and Celebrity PR

According to Rocco Nacino, Jerold Tarog is his character's peg in 'Write About Love.'

firm Publicity Asia to head all marketing activations and campaigns.

The agency is set to lead both terrestrial and worldwide branding, marketing and communications for TBA Studios leading to its brand build up as a “premiere commercial film company in the Philippines committed to producing highcaliber and relevant films that resonates not just to its primary Filipino audience but also to a wider, global market.”

Part of the deal includes the development and execution of datadriven, creative campaigns to solidify TBA Studios’ reputation of producing high quality films that offer Filipino audiences the alternative from traditional selections, increasing its fan base, working on studio branding and staying current on the OTT and

TBA Studios' 'Write About Love,' a romantic film that follows the story of writers struggling to create a beautiful romantic film, stars Miles Ocampo, Rocco Nacino, Joem Bascon, and Yeng Constantino.

Jung Hae In greets his adoring fans during an affair held on Saturday at New Frontier Theatre.

user acquisition landscape, growth trends, best practices, and competitor strategies to serve as the subject matter expert on growth and business development.

Publicity Asia was previously contracted to Sony Pictures Entertainment Network in Singapore for a decade handling the PR of SPE channels AXN and ANIMAX from 2004 to 2014.

The agency is also known for pioneering the trend of bringing in foreign celebrities to Manila and signing them for lucrative deals and projects and has worked with top tier agencies CAA, WME and ICM. In a statement on the deal, Publicity Asia Founder and Lead Strategist Joyce A. Ramirez took the opportunity to thank TBA Studio Heads Eduardo Rocha, Vincent Nebrida, and Fernando Ortigas for giving the agency the opportunity to help champion the award-winning film outfit.

“I am thrilled and honored to work and learn alongside industry legends whom I admire and respect,” said Ramirez. “Ed Rocha (Buchi Boy Entertainment) in particular have been a steadfast supporter and believer of my body of work and discipline since we first worked together in the film Bonifacio in 2014.”

Publicity Asia is also the lead PR agency of TV5 Network. Under CEO Jane Jimenez Basas, Ramirez led the worldwide promo of Cignal Entertainment’s “Ang Babaeng Allergic Sa WiFi” on Netflix. To date, the agency has represented the works of some of the Philippines’ top film directors including Brillante Mendoza, Erik Matti, and Jun Robles Lana.

Publicity Asia is also an active supporter of the Film Development Council of the Philippines under Chairman Liza Diño Seguerra.

EXTRA INTERNATIONAL

'Abominable' freezes out ‘Downtown Abbey’ to take box office lead ANIMATED film Abominable froze out Downton Abbey to take the top spot in the North American box office on its first weekend in theaters, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations estimated Sunday.

The story of a teenager and her friends working to help a young Yeti —whom they nickname Everest— reunite with his family and avoid the clutches of a wealthy man intent on capturing one of the magical creatures took in $20.9 million.

It beat out Downton Abbey, the movie follow-up to the hit TV series about a British upper-class family and their stately home, which fell to second place at $14.5 million in its

second weekend.

The Jennifer Lopez movie Hustlers—based on a true story about strippers who plot to steal from their wealthy clients in recession-hit New York—came in third, with $11.5 million.

Horror flick IT: Chapter Two— which features the grown-up versions of the kids who battled the terrifying, shape-shifting clown Pennywise 27 years earlier and now must do it again— placed fourth with $10.4 million.

And Ad Astra, in which Brad Pitt plays an astronaut sent on a dangerous mission at the edge of the solar system, was fifth at $10.1 million. AFP

'Abominable' is the story of a teenager and her friends working to help a young Yeti—whom they nickname Everest—reunite with his family and keep out of the clutches of a wealthy man intent on capturing one of the magical creatures.

GMA Network wins first Gold at Cannes

Reel Time’s Program Manager Nowell Cuanang receives the Gold Dolphin award at the 10th Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards in France.

BESTING other entries from around the globe, Reel Time’s “Batang Maestro” won the highly-coveted Gold Dolphin award under the Current Affairs, Human Concerns and Social Issues category at the 10th Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards in France on Sept.

27. This serves as GMA Network’s firstever Cannes award, which recognizes the very best in corporate media and TV. “Batang Maestro” is an episode of GMA News TV’s Reel Time, which featured the story of 12-yearold Dagul and his fellow volunteer ‘little teachers’ in the province of Sorsogon.

Dagul and the other volunteers cross the river of Donsol on board a bamboo raft just to reach fellow children in remote areas who have difficulty reading because they are often absent from classes. Despite his own struggles at home, Dagul pursues his volunteer work to bring pride and honor to his mother, his very first teacher.

Receiving the award for Reel Time was its Program Manager Nowell Cuanang.

Giving honor to the country as well is the bimonthly documentary program The Atom Araullo Specials, which was shortlisted for its “No Leftovers: A Food Waste Trail” episode. “No Leftovers” showed that food wastage remains a big problem in the Philippines by tracing how food is wasted from production to consumption.

GMA Network is widely regarded as home to the most internationallyawarded Philippine documentary programs. This year’s Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards listed almost 1,000 submissions from 51 countries.