Manila Standard - 2020 September 25 - Friday

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House ‘supermajority’ to decide Speaker’s term-sharing—solon

By Maricel V. Cruz A SENIOR lawmaker on Thursday agreed with the pronouncement of Malacañang that the speakership is a numVOL. XXXIV • NO. 203 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

bers game and going by the numbers, a “supermajority” of the lawmakers wanted Alan Peter Cayetano to stay on as speaker despite his term-sharing agreement with Marinduque Rep. Lord Next page

THEY NEVER LEARN. Traffic constables check the site of a road accident involving

an SUV that turned on its side after ramming through concrete barriers along the northbound lane of EDSA-Kamuning flyover on Wednesday midnight. The driver was rushed to a nearby hospital after sustaining minor injuries. At least 40% of accidents that happen along Edsa involve drivers who are under the influence of liquor despite a law prohibiting drunk driving, according to the MMDA. Norman Cruz

‘No-El’ or three-day polls?

Lawmaker proposes to reset ‘22 elections; Comelec for 3-day voting period

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta

A

PAMPANGA lawmaker on Thursday urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to consider postponing the May 2022 presidential elections, saying turnout might be low because people would be afraid to vote “due to possible exposure to COVID-19.”

The poll body told Congress it is looking into a possible two to three-day voting period to minimize the number of voters inside precincts.

“The plan is to hold elections on May 9, and then perhaps another two days if

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM SEPTEMBER 24)

296,755 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

2,180 63,700 NEW

ACTIVE

5,127

36

231,928

580

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

Shan Saeed

needed to continue the elections. It is as if we just extended the voting hours.

But that’s still being studied by our law department,” said Comelec executive director Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. Next page

Police disown fake accounts on Facebook

By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Philippine National Police on Thursday denied owning fake accounts taken down by Facebook due to “coordinated inauthentic behavior.”

PNP spokesperson Col. Ysmael Salonga Yu said in an interview on Balitanghali, heard nationwide, that PNP chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan had ordered the Information Technology Management Service to look into the accounts of the police organization’s sub-offices and Police Regional Offices.

Next page

TEACHERS’ TOOLS. Teachers from a public school in Quezon City distribute a batch of 2,500 pieces of learning modules for the distance education system which will formally open on Oct. 5, 2020 if plans don’t miscarry.

US legislator: Suspend aid to PH; Wild idea—Roque

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

security assistance to the Philippines until the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte institutes reforms in A LAWMAKER from Pennsylvania the military and police to end human has introduced a bill in the US Con- rights abuses.

In her sponsorship speech Sept. 17, gress seeking to suspend American

PH still economic powerhouse in SEA—economist A KUALA Lumpur-based economist said the Philippines remains an economic powerhouse in Southeast Asia amid the challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Juwai IQI chief economist Shan Saeed told the Philippine News Agency

Ex-Ombudsman bats for support to arbitral ruling

By Rey Requejo, Rio Araja, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz FORMER Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Thursday called on President Rodrigo Duterte to seek more international support for the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that rejected Beijing’s excessive claims in the South China Sea. “That is an optimistic development.

He finally took it upon himself to say that the tribunal’s ruling cannot be subjected to a compromise or different Next page

that the country’s demographics and the government’s efforts to keep its strong macroeconomic fundamentals helped the economy withstand the impacts of the global health crisis.

“At Juwai IQI, we strongly believe that Philippines remains an economic

powerhouse and rising star in Asean region due to her vibrant economy, educated and productive youth, and above all, government is in total control of the economy to keep economic progression in order to benefit the masses at the Next page

Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild sought the enactment of her proposed Philippine Human Rights Act, which seeks to halt US assistance for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PhilNext page

LOCAL ROUNDUP

• Virus cases inch closer to 300k • Protocol breach

By Willie Casas, Rey Requejo THE number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines surged to 296,755 on Thursday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 2,180 new infections, marking the third consecutive day in which less than 3,000 new cases were reported.

Metro Manila still logged the highest number of newly reported cases Next page

PRE-UNDAS MAKEOVER. A

caretaker mows grass at a public cemetery in Dasmarinas, Cavite on Thursday September 24, 2020 in preparation for the rush of visitors who will come early before Undas or All Saints Day on Nov. 1 to honor their dead relatives. All cemeteries nationwide will be closed to the public from Oct. 28 to Nov. 4 as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19. PonD News Asia

A2

News

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Pastillas’ lawyer faces more raps

By Rey E. Requejo

J

USTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday said he will wait for the outcome of the inquest proceedings before filing a disbarment case against National Bureau of Investigation lawyer Joshua Paul Capiral who has been charged with extortion for allegedly receiving bribes from Immigration personnel involved in the so-called “pastillas scam.”

“pastillas” by some Bureau of Immigration personnel at the airport because the grease money was placed inside a rolled bond paper, similar to how the sweet delicacy is wrapped.

Immigration personnel on the take would then return escort Chinese nationals illegally entering the country.

On Sept. 1, the NBI filed criminal charges against 19 Immigration personnel before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Last week, Capiral and his brother Christopher were caught in an entrapment operation after they reportedly received P200,000 in marked money from one of the 19 respondents.

Reports indicated that Capiral alleged-

ly charged up to P200,000 per respondent in exchange for dropping the case.

The Capiral brothers were charged with robbery-extortion; violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019); and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713).

DOJ Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon said the criminal case filed against Capiral and his brother would fall under the National Prosecution Service’s Special Cases Division.

As of Thursday, Fadullon said the resolution on Capiral case was still being finalized.

“We’ll consider this action after the inquest resolution,” Guevarra said when asked if he would seek for the disbarment of Capiral, chief of the NBI legal assistance division.

Guevarra said he will discuss the disbar-

ment of Capiral with the NBI leadership in the event that the National Prosecution Service finds probable cause to indict the lawyer for extortion and other criminal cases.

The NBI was tasked to investigate the money-making scheme dubbed as

US...

From A1

Ombudsman explains circular on SALNs

ippine National Police, which she says are responsible for committing human rights abuses against labor organizers, workers and political opposition.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, for his part, downplayed the bill, expressing confidence that PHUS security ties remain strong.

Roque likewise poked fun at the lawmaker’s surname, describing the bill as a “very wild suggestion.”

Wild cited widespread human rights violations in the country perpetrated by what she described as President Duterte’s “brutal regime.”

“Across the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal regime is targeting labor organizers, workers, and political opponents – which is why I introduced the Philippine Human Rights Act, which would block US funding until they prove these assaults on human rights have ended,” Wild posted on her Twitter account.

Wild’s bill outlines the basic criteria that the Philippine government would have to meet in order to lift the ban or resume US funding to the military and the police.

“I am proud to stand alongside so many faith and civil society organizations in advocating for this legislation,” Wild said.

If passed into law, the government must meet the following conditions to lift the suspension of funding: investigate and prosecute members of the military and police forces who are credibly found to have violated human rights; withdraw the military from domestic policy; establish protection of the rights of trade unionists, journalists, human right defenders, indigenous persons, small-farmers, LGBTI activists, and critics of the government.

It also mandates that the Philippines should take steps to guarantee a judicial system that is capable of investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to justice members of the police and military who have committed human rights abuses; and fully comply with any and all audits or investigations regarding the improper use of US security aid.

The bill, co-sponsored by 24 other US lawmakers, has been referred to the committee on foreign affairs and committee on financial services of the US Congress.

“Let us make clear that the US will not participate in the repression. Let us stand with the people of the Philippines,” the US congresswoman said.

“We cannot allow these abhorrent abuses, nor allow our foreign assistance to be used for the repression of basic rights and dignity,” she said.

Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said the Philippine military “has no record of any human rights violation, then and now.”

House...

From A1 Allan Velasco.

“If the House will be left alone to decide the issue of the speakership, then I think Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano will remain as the head of the House of Representatives,” Deputy Speaker and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales III said.

Ex-Ombudsman...

From A1 interpretation by different countries,” she told an ANC interview.

“We have to follow the arbitral ruling to a tee. The President made a good start, and he should continue to request or intimate to other countries to support us in our quest for the implementation of the arbitral ruling,” she said.

By Rio N. Araja

SC urged to cite DENR in contempt over sand dumping

By Rey E. Requejo THE Supreme Court has been asked to cite the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in contempt for allegedly dumping dolomite sand on Manila Bay, a move complainants said was a direct violation of the high court’s continuing mandamus order for state agencies to clean up and rehabilitate the bay.

In a 16-page motion, the Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party through its chairman emeritus Etta Rosales sought to intervene in the more than 10 year-old mandamus case pertaining to the rehabilitation of the Manila Bay. The party-list group said dolomite sand is hazardous to health and the environment.

It also called on the SC to immediately convene the Manila Bay Advisory Committee (MBAC), headed by the Chief Justice, to review and determine the effects of the dolomite dumping operations along the bay under the DENR’s ‘nourishment’ project.

In 2008, the SC issued a writ of mandamus directing the DENR, as the lead agency, and other government agencies such as the Metro Manila Development Authority , Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Budget and Management, Philippine Coast Guard, National Maritime Group, Department of Interior and Local Government and local government units to restore Manila Bay to a condition suitable for public bathing and swimming and for breeding bangus (milkfish) and similar fish species.

But the petitioner claimed that dolomite contains varying levels of crystalline silica that can damage human lungs, cause cancer when breathed in, and irritate the skin and eyes. With Willie Casas

sion on Audit, Commission on Elections and Civil Service Commission; —Ombudsman and the Deputies before the Deputy Ombudsman in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, and the regional officials and employees of the Departments, bureaus and agencies of the national government judiciary and constitutional commissions and offices, government-owned and/or controlled corporations with and without original charter and their subsidiaries in the regions, and state colleges and universities.

—provincial elective officials and employees, including governors, vice governors and Sangguniang Panlalawigan members; city and municipal elective officials and employees, including mayors, vice mayors, Sanggu-

niang Bayan/Panlungsod members and barangay officials.

—officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines below the rank of colonel or naval captain, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, 1st lieutenant and 2nd lieutenant (Army and Air Force); commander, lieutenant commander, lieutenant senior grade, lieutenant junior grade and ensign (Navy) and other enlisted officers; —officers of the Philippine National Police below the rank of senior superintendent, superintendent, chief inspector, senior inspector and inspector and other police officers as well as the officers of the Philippine Coast Guard below the rank of commodore, captain, commander, lieutenant commander, lieutenant, lieutenant junior grade and ensign.

store the budget that was cut from their original proposal so they could buy more voting machines so there would be fewer voters per machine.

“The problem is not just the age of the machine but also the number of people that will be using them,” Jimenez told legislators.

The Department of Budget and Management approved a P14.34 billion budget for the Comelec next year, down from the agency’s proposal of P14.57 billion.

Jimenez said the poll body is expecting that the number of voters will increase year-on-year. “Our list of voters is really increasing,” he said.

“When there are many voters crowding a machine, that’s somehow unsafe under our situation now that we are in a pandemic,” Jimenez said.

Also part of the Comelec preparations for the 2022 polls, Jimenez said, is to enforce election safety protocols against COVID-19 in case a vaccine remains unavailable by then.

He said the Comelec is also hoping Congress could pass pending bills that would allow voting by mail.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., meanwhile, tore into Arroyo’s proposal on his Twitter account, saying: “You don’t cancel elections for any reason. That’s treason.”

“We are a democracy or a s*** slave colony. Hold elections period. Those

brave to stand in line & vote—even if only 12—decide the next President.

Elections=democracy,” he said in an expletive-laden tweet.

Former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said there was no reason to postpone the elections, adding that a constitutional amendment would have to be ratified to extend the term of elected officials.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, meanwhile, said foreign troll factories should be stopped from polluting the 2022 elections.

“We should begin devising ways on how to detect and repel foreign interference in the 2022 polls,” he said.

“I don’t believe that candidates will be in cahoots with alien interests, and I know that as patriots they will not condone an intrusion even if it is meant for their benefit,” Recto added.

Recto’s remarks came after Facebook announced that it has shut down more than 100 fake accounts traced to police and military units that criticized the opposition, activism and communism.

Facebook said the domestic network consisted of about 57 Facebook accounts, 31 pages, and 20 Instagram accounts. The sites had more than 276,000 followers on Facebook and 55,000 on Instagram.

The network was most active since 2019 when discussions about the Anti-Terrorism Act were at their peak, Facebook added.

macro level,” Saeed said in an email.

Saeed underscored the biggest advantages of the country, which include productive labor force, improving infrastructure, more foreign direct investments, as well as currency and market stability. “(The) Philippine government looks totally committed to bring about economic and structural reforms to maintain macroeconomic stability for the country,” he added.

Data from the Philippine Statistics

Authority showed that the unemployment rate in July – at the height of the community quarantine measures in the country – slowed down to 10 percent from 17.7 percent in April.

The domestic manufacturing’s performance has been improving since recording the lowest purchasing managers’ index (PMI) in March at 27.7, far from the 50-benchmark which means stable manufacturing sector.

Manufacturing PMI in August was at 47.3.

Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said he expects the country’s gross domestic

product (GDP) to improve in the third quarter compared to the 16.5-percent slump in the second quarter.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this month signed into law the Bayanihan 2 measure that allocated P165 billion to fund projects and programs for economic recovery.

“It’s not easy but (the) government is trying its best under President Duterte who is working hard to put the country back on growth trajectory in order to attract investments, not only from foreigners but locals as well. Maintaining healthy GDP is the strong focus of the government at present,” Saeed said. PNA

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque earlier said even if Duterte wanted the term-sharing agreement that he brokered to be honored, he could not do anything if the “supermajority” of the lawmakers wanted Cayetano to stay on.

Roque said the fate of the next House speaker will depend on the decision of the individual members of the House of Representatives.

Gonzales said Cayetano’s track record in handling the affairs of the House

of Representatives and his experience in politics made Cayetano “well-loved and respected” by his colleagues.

“Speaker Alan has already shown his caliber of leadership,” Gonzales said.

He also said Cayetano’s close coordination with Cabinet secretaries and senators made it possible to push legislation through more quickly.

Gonzales said Cayetano has also “demonstrated his willingness to reach out with sincerity and concern to all

members of the House.”

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Gonzales said, the House was more productive thanks to online sessions and other innovations.

Meanwhile, Rep. Florida Robes of San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan appealed to her colleagues not to be distracted by the ongoing issue on the change of leadership in connection with the alleged inequitable distribution of funds in congressional districts under

The Department of Tourism is proposing there should be no age restrictions once Boracay reopened to tourists on October 1 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat on Thursday.

Interviewed on CNN Philippines, Puyat said they were proposing to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases that those aged above 60 years old and those below 20 years old be allowed to visit the worldfamous island.

“We are proposing no age restrictions because Filipinos travel as a family,” she said.

giant “to do more to protect its users.”

Commissioner Raymund Liboro, in a statement released to the media, said: “We are initiating a deeper probe on Facebook’s proposed preventive actions regarding the proliferation of suspicious accounts as such activities on the platform continue to threaten the personal data privacy and other security-related rights of its Filipino users.”

Facebook said it “removed two separate networks for violating our policy against coordinated inauthentic behavior. One of these networks originated in

China and the other in the Philippines.”

Liboro said: “Under the network that originated in the Philippines, they ‘removed 57 Facebook accounts, 31 Pages and 20 Instagram accounts for violating our policy against foreign or government interference which is coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a foreign or government entity.’”

Liboro said the NPC sent a letter Thursday inviting Facebook to appear before the Commission “as we seek for more details from its findings.”

THE Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday maintained the issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 1 of 2020 was in accordance with prevailing rules and regulations on the disclosure of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of public officials and employees.

In an official statement sent to the media, the Ombudsman said the memorandum circular was applicable solely to the SALNs of the following enumerated officials and employees where the Office of the Ombudsman is the official repository before the national Office of the Ombudsman: —the President; Vice President; constitutional officials, such as the chairpersons and commissioners of the Commis-

‘No-El’...

From A1 Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, the son of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said during the budget hearing of the Comelec on Thursday that his constituents in the second district of Pampanga told him they would be afraid to vote in 2022 for fear of catching the coronavirus.

“I hope that thought will not linger in their minds,” he said.

But Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas reminded the congressman that the agency does not have a say on the holding of elections since these are mandated in the Constitution.

Abas added that such a proposal would have to be approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the sitting President.

He added that the Comelec is looking at best practices in South Korea and the United States to keep the elections safe.

Sinocruz said the poll body was considering online filing of certificates of candidacies, with positions staggered on different days.

Sinocruz said extended voting hours has already been done for overseas absentee voting, which is held over a period of 30 days.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, meanwhile, called on Congress to re-

PH...

From A1

In his first-ever address to the United Nations General Assembly Wednesday dawn, Duterte said the arbitral ruling was “beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon,” and that the Philippines “firmly rejects attempts to undermine it.”

France, Germany and the United Kingdom earlier expressed their support to the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration against China’s nine-dash line claim.

Police...

From A1 This emerged as the National Privacy Commission, which safeguards the fundamental human right of every individual to privacy, particularly information privacy while ensuring free flow of information for innovation, growth and national development, said in a statement it wanted a deeper probe of Facebook and told this social media

Local...

From A1 at 802, followed by Laguna with 292, Batangas with 152, Cavite with 144, and Negros Occidental with 87.

The DOH also announced 580 recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 231,928.

The DOH also reported 36 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 5,127.

Protocol breach The complaint filed against Senator Aquilino Pimentel III for alleged violation of quarantine protocol at the height of the coronavirus pandemic is now deemed submitted for resolution, an official of the Department of Justice said on Thursday.

Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon said the complaint filed against Pimentel was submitted for resolution on Wednesday.

The DOJ’s preliminary investigation of Pimentel case was reopened after the National Bureau of Investigation submitted to the DOJ the memorandum report on the investigation it conducted on Pimentel’s reported quarantine protocol violation when he entered the Makati Medical Center last March 24 despite being suspected of having COVID-19 infection.

The senator was criticized for breaking self-imposed quarantine protocols while waiting for his test results. One of the quarantine regulations was not to go out in public during the 14-day isolation period.

Age restrictions

News

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

A3

Journalist files raps vs. Bulacan cops

By Jess Malabanan

PAGCOR’s take declines by 40%

C

ITY OF SAN FERNANDO— Veteran journalist Orlan Mauricio on Thursday formally filed criminal complaints before the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Luzon Regional Office against members of Bulacan police who ‘illegally’ raided his residence in search for alleged illegal drugs and unlicensed firearms at his residence in Barangay Mojon, Malolos City late Wednesday afternoon.

By Julito G. Rada STATE-RUN Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. said Thursday its online gaming revenues contracted by almost half as income of Philippine offshore gaming operators declined by as much as 80 percent during the pandemic.

Atty. Jose Tria, PAGCOR assistant vice president for offshore gaming licensing, said PAGCOR’s monthly regulatory fees of around P600-million per month was slashed by almost half since only 32 out of 60 POGOs were allowed to resume operations albeit on a limited, 30 percent capacity.

On the other hand, only half – or 111 of the 218 accredited POGO service providers – were allowed to resume operations after they were cleared by the BIR, he noted.

“Our monthly regulatory fees of around P600-million pre-COVID is now down by almost half. This should have been lower if not for the minimum guaranteed fees which allows PAGCOR to impose higher regulatory fees than two percent of POGOs’ GGR [gross gaming revenues] following the ‘whichever is higher formula’,” Tria said.

As stricter quarantine and tax rules ramped up pressure on the sector, he said the licenses of five POGOs were already cancelled, another five are suspended, while 42 service providers have requested cancellation of their accreditation.

Industry sources said COVID-19 restrictions on operational capacities, inability of foreign workers to return to the Philippines, and new tax policies were among the reasons for the spate of POGO closures.

TABLETS FOR STUDENTS. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna turned over 1,010 Samsung Galaxy Tab A as donation to Universidad De Manila President Malou Tiquia on Thursday, September 24, 2020 at the Manila City Hall. The 8.8 Million worth of tablets were purchased using Mayor Moreno’s modelling/talent fees that will benefit the underprivileged students of UDM. Norman Cruz

P4.5-million shabu shipment seized at NAIA

By Joel E. Zurbano THE Bureau of Customs on Thursday turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency a seized shipment of shabu worth P4.5 million found in an unclaimed parcel at DHL Warehouse in Pasay City.

The 640 grams of methampetamine hydhrochloride was concealed in two cans of chocolate wafer declared as “kid toy present” and shipped from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Authorities did not identify the owner of the shipment but said that the consignee is a resident of Hagonoy, Bulacan.

Customs - Ninoy Aquino International Airport examiners discovered the contraband late last July while they were conducting 100 percent physical examination of unclaimed DHL cargoes. The examinations were intended to expedite the disposal of abandoned and/or overstaying cargoes at the NAIA Customs Bonded Warehouses.

Aside from the prohibited substance, the package also contained imported

chocolates, stuffed toy, candy, slippers, and socks.

Customs NAIA district collector Carmelita Talusan said the discovery of illegal drugs was the result of the continued efforts of the bureau in close coordination with PDEA and members of NAIA InterAgency Drug Interdiction Task Group.

Last year, authorities used a controlled delivery scheme in their operation to go after the consignee of P6.8 million worth of smuggled drugs from San Antonio, Texas, also in USA.

Mauricio also sought protection from the NBI for fear of his life, believing that a a powerful politician is apparently “after his neck”.

The complaints include intimidation and harassment as no firearm and even small amount of illegal drugs were found inside Mauricio’s residence during the search that lasted for two hours.

“I asked for a copy of the search warrant but they did not show it to me and instead they took away my phone and was herded at gunpoint to the kitchen and stayed there until the search was completed,” said Mauricio over the phone.

Mauricio said that the raiding team led by a certain Major Jaafar arrived past 5 p.m. and stayed until 7 p.m.

Mauricio, 61, correspondent of Manila Standard and publisher of a community paper in Bulacan, said a search warrant issued by a local court in Bulacan was shown to him only after the search was made.

PLDT assures clients of steady service amid maintenance work

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Philippine Long Distance Telephone Inc. has assured its subscribers that its services will continue despite the five days emergency maintenance activity of its submarine cable starting Friday.

PLDT said it was informed by the operator of the international trans-Pacific submarine cable system Asia-America Gateway that emergency maintenance activity will be conducted on AAG submarine cables in the waters of Hong Kong SAR from Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, from 8 a.m. to Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, 5 a.m.

“We wish to assure our customers of continued connectivity, as we have alternative cable systems to keep our services going during this maintenance period of AAG,” PLDT said.

PLDT said it has been investing substantially in expanding and

boosting the capacity of existing and new international submarine cable systems such as the Jupiter Cable and the Asia Direct Cable systems, to provide redundancy to ensure continuous service in situations like this.

“Such investments are vital because bulk of internet content used

by Filipinos comes from overseas,” PLDT said.

“PLDT assures its customers that measures, such as traffic rerouting and local caching, are already in place to minimize this activity’s impact, and to ensure that communication and internet services remain available to PLDT and Smart subscribers,” it added.

The company said these measures will allow PLDT and Smart to fully serve, during this time, all customers at full capacity by using the spare and additional capacities on all other cable systems that support PLDT and Smart’s operations.

IN BRIEF E-bike group rejects LTO’s licensing requirements A GROUP of environmentalists which recently launched the One Million E-sikleta project for the new normal on Thursday opposed the Land Transportation Office’s issuance of a driver’s license to users and the vehicles’ registration as well.

Dr. Leo Olarte, Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. president, said requiring a driver’s license for e-scooter and e-bike riders could not help the government’s efforts to bring back the economy to recovery amid the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte’s reversion to the one-meter distancing within mass transport.

Instead of the LTO driver’s license requisite for the e-bikers, a safe transport adherent to the minimum health standards, especially on social distancing, must be encouraged and supported, Olarte said. Rio N. Araja

Solo winner from Valenzuela bags P128.3-m lotto jackpot A LONE lotto player who bought the ticket containing the right winning combination of 02-12-22-27-03 and 29 from Valenzuela City bagged the jackpot prize of P128,397,144.80 in the Grand Lotto 6/55 drawn on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

Meanwhile, 43 lotto players who guessed 5 correct numbers got P100,000.00 each, while 1,653 players who got 4 correct numbers won P1,500.00 each and 23,419 who got correct 3 numbers also won P60.00 each.

For selling the winning ticket, the lotto agent gets an additional 1% of the jackpot prize or a maximum P1 million, as agent’s prize commission.

As provided in the TRAIN law, lotto winnings above P10,000.00 shall be subject to 20% final tax, thus the P128.3 million jackpot prize will be less 20% when claimed by the jackpot winner. Leila N. Valencia

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 PARAÑAQUE CITY (BACLARAN)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 CALOOCAN CITY (TALA)

BETWEEN 9:00AM AND 9:30AM AND THEN BETWEEN 2:30PM AND 3:00PM – PORTIONS OF CIRCUIT CBP1-A 415RF Portion of Aguarra St. from BPI – Baclaran Branch to G. G. Cruz St. Portion of Redemptorist Road from Smokees Garments Center Inc. to and including Bayanihan St.; Victory Food Market and Berma Center.

Portion of L. Gabriel St. from Opena St. to Thomas Claudio St. including Lapu-Lapu, Unida, Lt. Garcia, Mactan, M. Roxas, J. Correa, C. Rivera and Dimasalang Sts. Portion of G. G. Cruz St. from Opena St. to Airport Road.

Portion of J. Gabriel St. from Dimasalang St. to and including Brainshire Science High School.

Portion of Airport Road from L. Gabriel St. to J. Gabriel St. Portion of Roxas Blvd. from Chateau De Baie to Thomas Claudio St. including Clean Fuel Gas Station and Crowne Bay Tower.

BETWEEN 9:00AM AND 3:00PM – PORTION OF CIRCUIT CBP1-A 415RF Portion of G. G. Cruz St. from Aguarra St. to Opena St. Portion of Redemptorist Road from Mang Inasal to Quirino Ave. including KFC, McDonald’s and Chow King.

BETWEEN 9:00AM AND 4:00PM – PORTION OF CIRCUIT CAMARIN 430TC Portion of St. Joseph Ave. (Barracks Road) from Malaria Road to and including St. Michael, St. Benedict, St. Anthony, Balite, San Lorenzo Ruis, St. Dominic, St. Francis, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. Ignatius, Sta. Barbara and St. Paul Sts.; Cardinal Ceramics Mfg. and Holy Rosary College Foundation.

REASON:

BETWEEN 12:01AM AND 5:00AM – PORTION OF CIRCUIT IMUS 425WK Portion of Anabu Coastal Road from Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Highway to and including Shopwise - Imus and Puregold – Anabu; Ventis Villas Subd. and Pacific Renaissance Subd.

(ACM Homes) in Bgys. Anabu II-C and Anabu II-D.

Line conversion work and relocation of facilities affected by the on-going construction of LRT – Line 1 Extension Project along G. G. Cruz St. in Bgy. Baclaran, Parañaque City.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 LAGUNA (VICTORIA)

BETWEEN 10:00AM AND 3:00PM – PORTION OF CIRCUIT DILA 413DIA Portion of San Francisco Barangay Road from near J. P. Rizal St. to and including San Felix Barangay Road; Sophia Subd., Sitio Balimbing and Purok 3 in Bgys. San Francisco and San Felix.

REASON:

Replacement of facilities in Bgys. San Francisco and San Felix in Victoria, Laguna.

TUESDAY TO WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 - 30, 2020 QUEZON CITY

BETWEEN 11:30PM (TUE., 09/29/20) AND 5:30AM (WED., 09/30/20) – PORTION OF CIRCUITS CUBAO 52VQ; AND KAMUNING 425VP Portion of Ermin Garcia Ave. from New Orleans St. to Detroit St. in Bgy. Pinagkaisahan.

Portion of D. A. Egea St. from Ermin Garcia Ave. to and including F. Manalo, Sgt. Catolos, Detroit, Chicago and New Orleans St. in Bgy. Pinagkaisahan.

Portion of New York and Monte De Piedad Sts. from Maryland St. to and including Boston, Seattle, Manhattan, Spencer, Brooklyn, Vancouver, Lantana, St. Francis, St. Michael, Trinidad and St. Williams Sts.; Super-Aire Refrigeration & Contractors Inc., The Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Cubao, Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, Great Image Bldg., Super Eleven Corp. and Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers (IIEE) of the Philippines in Bgy. Immaculate Conception.

Portion of Rosario Drive from Cannon St. to and including Betty-Go Belmonte, Rosal and Acacia Sts. in Bgy. Mariana.

Portion of E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave. from near Los Angeles St. to Aurora Blvd. including Iglesia Ni Cristo – Lokal Ng Cubao in Bgy. Immaculate Conception.

Portion of Aurora Blvd. from Lantana St. in Bgy. Immaculate Conception to Betty-Go Belmonte St. including Seaoil Gas Station in Bgy. Mariana.

Portion of Aurora Blvd from P. A. Bernardo (Arayat) St. to and including Betty-Go Belmonte, Boston, Seattle, Monte De Piedad and N. Domingo Sts.; Nephro Care Aisa Pacific, Adriana Printing Company, Holy Buddhist Temple, Elizabeth Mansion, City Tower Condominium, Cubao Refrigeration & Ice Plant and Partas Bus Terminal in Bgy. Kaunlaran.

REASON:

Line reconductoring work along E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave. in Bgys. Pinagkaisahan and Immaculate Conception in Quezon City.

REASON:

Replacement of poles, line reconductoring work and installation of additional lightning protection devices along St. Joseph Ave. in Tala, Caloocan City.

CAVITE (NAIC) BETWEEN 9:30AM AND 2:30PM – PORTION OF CIRCUIT TMC-II 426WA Portion of South Morning View Subd. in Bgy. Timalan Balsahan.

REASON:

Line reconstruction work along Antero Soriano Highway in Bgy. Timalan Balsahan, Naic, Cavite.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2020 CAVITE (IMUS CITY)

REASON:

Replacement of pole and line reconstruction work along Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Highway in Bgys. Anabu II-C and Anabu II-D in Imus City, Cavite.

THURSDAY TO FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1 – 2, 2020 CALOOCAN CITY (GRACE PARK)

BETWEEN 11:00PM (THU., 10/01/20) AND 4:00AM (FRI., 10/02/20) – PORTION OF CIRCUIT GRACE PARK 413RD Portion of 8th St. from near 7th Ave. to and including The New Caloocan City Hall.

REASON:

Replacement of rotten pole and line reconductoring work along 8th St. in Grace Park, Caloocan City.

MANDALUYONG CITY (ADDITION HILLS AND PLEASANT HILLS) BETWEEN 11:30PM (THU., 10/01/20) AND 4:30AM (FRI., 10/02/20) – PORTION OF CIRCUIT MANDALUYONG 53VD Portion of Shaw Blvd. from near Old Wack-Wack Road to and including Coffee Project and Vista Shaw Tower I. REASON:

Relocation of primary lines along Shaw Blvd. near Old Wack-Wack Road in Bgy. Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2020 QUEZON CITY (DILIMAN)

BETWEEN 10:00AM AND 4:00PM – PORTION OF CIRCUIT DILIMAN 432VU Portion of Elliptical Road from near Visayas Ave. to and including Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Bgy. Central.

REASON:

Replacement of facilities along Elliptical Road in Bgy. Central, Diliman, Quezon City.

SUNDAY TO MONDAY, OCTOBER 4 - 5, 2020 CAVITE (GEN. TRIAS CITY)

BETWEEN 4:30AM AND 5:00AM (SUN., 10/04/20) AND THEN BETWEEN 4:30AM AND 5:00AM (MON., 10/05/20) – PORTION OF CIRCUIT AMADEO 62AMA – GATEWAY 62WP – FCIE 65WB – SAN MIGUEL San Miguel Yamamura – Hormel Plant in Sitio de Fuego, Bgy. San Francisco.

REASON:

Upgrading of facilities along 115kV Amadeo – Gateway – FCIE transmission lines.

A4

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor

Senators endorse Bulacan airport

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

VALENZUELA-FOOD PANDA PACT.

More livelihood options await Valenzuela City’s tricycle operators and drivers (TODA) as the City Government of Valenzuela, led by Mayor Rex Gatchalian (right) signs a Memorandum ofAgreement (MOA) with Food Panda Philippines Incorporated (FPPI) on Thursday. Witnessing the MOA signing are (inset, from left) FPPI Manager for Accounts and Legal lawyer Rafael Juico; FPPI Finance Director Leopoldo de Castro Jr.; Mayor Gatchalian; Valenzuela Public Employment Services Office head Josephine Osea; Public Order and Safety Group head Jose Valenzuela; and TODA representatives.

Navotas gains top audit grade

By Jun David DESPITE the coronavirus pandemic, Navoteños still have something to celebrate and be grateful for.

The City Government of Navotas has once again received the highest audit rating from the Commission on Audit (COA).

The agency gave an “unmodified opinion” on the city’s presentation of its 2019 financial statements.

Navotas has received the same rating for five consecutive years now, the only local government in Metro Manila to have such record.

“We are happy and grateful to receive such great news. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, this citation serves to bring us renewed hope and cheer,” Mayor Toby Tiangco said.

“We thank and laud everyone--all departments and offices--who worked hard for us to achieve this. May we continue to uphold the highest standards of public service and always give our best for the benefit of our people,” he added.

IN BRIEF PAF cites CDC support in nation building CLARK FREEPORT—Philippine Air Force Reserve Command headed by Major General Arthur M. Cordura lauded Clark Development Corporation’s effort and unequivocal support to various activities and initiatives that contribute to nation-building.

In his speech during the 41st National Reservist Week celebration, Cordura said PAF acknowledged CDC’s contributions to the country especially in times of disaster and calamities including the present health crisis.

Cordura mentioned some of the activities including medical missions and outreach programs, relief operations even during the height of the Taal Volcano eruption at the onset of 2020, and to communities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The CDC reservists also help in providing donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontliners, and the provision of education and training programs for IP communities, among others.

Jess Malabanan

NV dad eyes virus ‘Disiplina Brigades’ BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Board Member Victor Gines here has proposed the organization of “Disipilina Brigades” in the 275 barangays of the province to ensure the implementation of health protocols to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

“These “Barangay Disiplina Brigades” will enforce the various laws, LGU issuances and the provisions of our Provincial Ordinances pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. The BDBs will also slap violators with penalties based on various issuances in mitigating the effects of the COVID-19,” he said.

The BDB proposal was endorsed for immediate action in the provincial board during the recent meeting of the Provincial COVID-19 Task Force at the Pasalubong Center. Ben Moses Ebreo

TWO senators on Thursday noted that the construction of the proposed Bulacan International Airport, with an expected capacity of 100 million passengers per year, will be an “economic game changer” as it will bring in more investments.

The new airport, with a budget of P735.6 billion for its development, is about three times larger than the current Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Richard Gordon said the new airport will generate employment and provide a boost to the country’s economy.

“It will bring in jobs and economic opportunities outside Metro Manila and will provide livelihood to Filipinos especially those left jobless due to the pandemic,” said Go. “As pointed out by our fellow Senators (Joel) Villanueva and (Win) Gatchalian, who know very well of the desires of the people of Bulacan and its neighboring provinces, this will go a long way towards providing jobs and other economic opportunities outside of Manila,” Go added.

The construction will be a prime example in promoting the distribution of economic opportunities outside of the metropolis, he said.

Makati shuts 2 more restobars

By Joel E. Zurbano

M

AKATI City Mayor Abigail Binay has ordered the closure of two more establishments in the city for operating illegally and for violating community quarantine policy.

“On the orders of Mayor Abby Binay, personnel from the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) post a closure order at the entrance of Le Bistro’s Dr. Wine ad Kartel Rooftop Bar for operat-

ing without the required business and liquor permits, and for violating community quarantine and social distancing protocols,” the city’s public information office stated.

Both establishments are situated at the corner of Jacobo and Algier Streets in Barangay Poblacion.

Mayor Binay reminded business establishments in the city to comply with the safety and health protocols implemented in the city to avoid closure.

She said the BPLO is conducting routine inspections on business establishments to ensure compliance amid the pandemic.

The BPLO recently padlocked five other establishments in the city, also for

violating quarantine protocols and the Revised Makati Revenue Code City Ordinance No. 2004-A-025.

Ordered closed were Sasa Convenience Store situated at The Beacon Tower 2 at the corner of Chino Roces Avenue and Arnaiz Avenue, Pio del Pilar; a boarding house located at the corner of Metropolitan Avenue and Mascardo Street; Casa Bambu, also situated in Barangay Poblacion; SMD Laundry Shop in Barangay San Isidro, and Skye Bar and Restaurant in Barangay Bel-air.

Isko buys P9m tablets for UDM

By Willie Casas MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso used almost P9 millions of his earnings from modelling fees for the purchase of tablets and donated to the poorest students from the Universidad de Manila (UDM).

The university is being run by the city government of Manila.

Domagoso on Thursday said he and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna donated the purchased tablets to the UDM through Malou Tiquia, president of the university, with a call for students to use them well and to the fullest.

Domagoso, himself a product of poverty and public school, said he is well aware of the difficulties of being a poor student who does not even know if he would be able to eat three square meals a day.

With the tablet, which is a requisite for blended, online learning brought on by the pandemic, Domagoso said he and Lacuna hope that the gadget will help the poorest of the UDM students cope with the situation.

Meanwhile, Domagoso and Lacuna opened on Thursday the walk-in serology testing area at the Ospital ng Tondo where residents, particularly in the city’s second district to which the hospital caters, may get tested for COVID-19 free of charge.

With the newest walk-in center, Domagoso said over 100 residents may get tested for purposes of early detection, isolation and treatment or merely to have peace of mind.

The walk-in test center in OsTon is the fifth to be opened by Domagoso and Lacuna, even as the drive-through free testing centers remain open and continue to test motorists for free.

CONCRETE SOLUTION. Leading cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines, Inc. is planning to make available its one-day concrete SuperFast

(SF) Crete outside the National Capital Region to support contractors looking to participate in government road repair projects in other urban areas and help lessen disruption to commuters. The company also plans to offer SFCrete to contractor partners in Davao and Baguio.

Angeles taps local ‘mananahi’ for facemask program

By Butch Gunio ANGELES CITY—Aiming to protect the environment and provide additional source of income to city residents, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. recently launched a facemask livelihood program.

The mayor said the program will develop reusable facemasks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to provide sustainable livelihood for marginalized sectors including solo parents, persons with disability, stay-at-home parents, and women’s groups.

“Ngayong panahon ng pandemya, marami sa mga kababayan natin ang naapektuhan ang mga kabuhayan. Kaya minabuti naming simulan itong livelihood program na ito, na pwedeng-pwede nilang gawin sa kanilang mga tahanan,” Lazatin pointed out.

Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel explained that under the program, the city government will hire home-based seamstresses or “mananahi” to produce reusable facemasks and PPEs. Each seamstress will be required to

have own sewing machine at home,” Manuel added.

Meanwhile, all materials, such as fabric, bands, and thread will be provided by the city government, and will be distributed and collected house-to-house by members of the Public Employment Services Office (PESO), she also said.

“The members of PESO are currently assessing the applicants conducting ocular inspection of their houses, the availability of sewing machines, and cleanliness of the surrounding,” she added.

Olongapo teachers gain new laptops via SM Foundation, SGV OLONGAPO CITY—With classes set to begin this coming October, SGV & Co., through SM Foundation, provided the teachers of Kalalake Elementary School (KES) in Olongapo City with laptops which they can use in holding their virtual classes.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, mass gathering is prohibited to help curb the spread of the virus. Thus, schools are now using modular, virtual, and other learning strategies to ensure that students still have access to education despite the pandemic.

In 2019, KES received a newly con-

structed two-story, four-classroom school building from SM Prime, through SM Foundation. The school was fully furnished and equipped with basic equipment, including 20 desktop units from SM Olongapo for the teachers.

The recent donation of 18 laptops, which is a product of collaboration between SM Foundation and SGV & Co., further complements SM’s social good initiative for KES. The recipients of the laptops expressed their gratitude for SM Foundation and SGV & Co.

KES Principal Marcial Mortera said, “Through these laptops, we won’t have to worry about our paperless reports and online communication. Efficiency in the service can be more achievable during this pandemic through distance learning through these laptops.”

“I can now do my work from home and stay connected to everyone anytime. Monitoring the teachers’ accomplishments and planned activities for the week can be easily and safely achieved despite our current situation,” he added. Butch Gunio

BENEFICIARY. A female teacher of

Kalalake Elementary School tries the laptop she received from SGV & Co through SM Foundation. Butch Gunio

Opinion ‘Attorney, help me file a case’ filing of the case on the exclusive venue of the action (Section 4, Rule 4, Rules of Court) in case a dispute arises between or among the parties. Do not be misled by what appears to be a plain presentation of jurisdiction and venue because its application may vary from case to case.

THE aggrieved parties who approach One of the most common actions lawyers for guidance and advice tell in the Philippines is the recovery of their stories on how their rights were vi- ownership over a parcel of land or posolated and why they want to seek redress session. To determine which court has in the court. Sometimes they also want jurisdiction over the case, the lawyer to prevent or stop a wrong from being will have to allege the assessed value committed by filing an action to en- in the Complaint because this value join, for example, to prevent a high-rise determines whether it is the Regional building from being constructed in front Trial Court or Metropolitan/Municipal of their communities or villages.

Trial Court which will hear, try and Once the narrative is given to the decide the case. In Metro Manila, the lawyer and he or she gives the general Regional Trial Court will try the case assessment of the case, the client’s next if the assessed value exceeds P50,000. question would be Outside Metro where the case will Manila, the Rebe filed. The quesgional Trial Court Knowledge of tion appears to be will try the case if the law and its very simple but to the assessed value answer the question exceeds P20,000, application helps us requires the underHowever, the asfuel a just, reliable, standing of importsessed value is inant procedural rules trustworthy and consequential if the on jurisdiction and action is ejectment efficient justice venue in civil and (unlawful detainer system. criminal cases. or forcible entry) The matter of because the case jurisdiction helps will always be filed us decide in which with the Municipal court the case should be filed. Jurisdic- or Metropolitan Trial Court (Section 19 tion is conferred by law and without the (2), BP 129 as amended by Republic law that gives the power, the court will Act 7691) regardless of the value of the not be able to hear, try and decide any claim for unpaid rentals or for unauthocase. On the other hand, the venue is the rized use or occupation of the property place where the court performs its judiAnother common action is recovcial functions. For example, the court is ery of money or something of pecunithe Regional Trial Court but the venue of ary value. For these types of cases the the action may be in the judicial station court’s jurisdiction is determined by the in Manila, Quezon City, Pasay, or Cebu amount of the claim exclusive of interdepending on the nature of the action. ests, damages, attorney’s fees or cost of There is no difference in the concept suit (Section 19(8), BP 129 as amendof jurisdiction in civil and criminal cas- ed by Republic Act 7691). If the claim es—there should always be a law that exceeds P400,000 in Metro Manila or gives the courts the power to perform P300,000 outside of Metro Manila then its judicial functions. However, the pro- the Regional Trial Court will try and decedural rules on venue vary in civil and cide the case. However, if the main accriminal cases. In civil cases, the action tion for recovery of money is principally may either be a personal action or a real for damages then the court’s jurisdiction action. If the action is a personal action is determined by the claim of damages such as rescissions of contracts, cancel- based on the threshold amounts dislations of the deeds of assignment or cussed above (Section 3, Administrative recovery of a sum of money, the action Circular 09-94). may be filed where the plaintiff or prinIn actions for probate of the will or cipal plaintiffs or defendant or principal settlement of the estate, the jurisdicdefendants reside, at the option of the tion is determined by the value of the plaintiff. estate. If the value of the estate exceeds However, if the action is a real ac- the amounts of P400,000 in Metro tion or an action which involves the ti- Manila or P300,000 outside of Metro tle, possession of, or interest over real Manila then the Regional Trial Court property, the venue is the place where will try and decide the case (Section the property is located. For example, ac- 5, Republic Act 7691). The venue of tions for reconveyance of real property, these actions will be at the place where accion reinvidicatoria (ownership), or the deceased last resided at the time of accion publiciana (possession) are filed his death (Section 1, Rule 73, Rules of or commenced in the place where the Court). property is located. The parties to a conFull version at www.manilastandard. tract may also agree in writing before the net

I firmly stand by my story

THE management of a steel plant in Pampanga is now facing multiple charges after we exposed the alleged abuses and maltreatment of its workers recently.

As expected, the RSC Real Steel Corporation (RSC) has reportedly filed cyber-libel cases against me, apparently as part of its efforts to whitewash criminal offenses and absolve itself from liability for criminal offenses filed by a group of employees.

At least 14 cases have been filed in court against the RSC management by the San Simon, Pampanga police, particularly its owner “Irwin Chua,” including five counts for physical injuries, five counts for illegal detention, three counts for grave threats and one count for physical abuse.

Filing cyber-libel cases has become fashionable in the age of digital journalism and social media, but it is the same as the traditional libel cases used as a tactic to silence the news media in exposing injustices in the interest of the public.

Not quite a few moneyed culprits

have used libel/cyber-libel cases as a weapon thus the expression “weaponizing the law” in harassing journalists and their news sources.

We are confident that the Regional 3 Office of the Prosecutor in San Fernando, Pampanga will junk the frivolous cyber-libel cases reportedly filed by the RSC. I am standing by my story on the alleged abuses and maltreatment suffered by the 40 or so workers we “rescued” that day from that plant.

That having said, a deeper investigation into the steel factory’s activities may be in order.

After learning about the despicable plight of the workers and alleged inhumane treatment they were subjected to, House Representative Eric Yap of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACTCIS) Party-list called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its attached agency the Bureau of Immigration to look into the status of Irwin Chua, who is believed to be a Chinese national.

I agree with Rep. Yap that we must never allow any Filipino laborer to be treated like a slave in his own country.

Rep. Yap also called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to investigate the tax compliance of the foreign-owned steel manufacturer. *****

Adelle Chua, Editor mst.daydesk@gmail.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

B1

EDITORIAL

Jobs at stake in EU row T

workers in the tuna industry could lose their livelihood if the Philippine government failed to renegotiate the trade incentives.

Easier access to the European market by way of zero tariffs, however, is tied to the progress the Philippines is making on several issues, such as la-

HE Philippines must play its cards right in renegotiating a trade deal with the European Union.

Hundreds of thousands of Filipino jobs and 2 billion euros worth of Philippine commodity exports are at stake if Manila fails to work out an extension of the preferential tariff treatment granted by the EU.

We need friends, not enemies, in these trying times.

The Philippines is a beneficiary of the EU Generalized System of Preferences Plus that offers tariff-free entry to some 6,724 Philippine products to the EU in exchange for compliance with 27 international conventions. The zero tariff makes Philippine products competitive in Europe and provides job opportunities in several local industries that are drawn to the European market. These products include dried and frozen mangoes, dried and frozen pineapples and banana chips.

The Federation of Free Workers has already warned that some 600,000

bor rights, environmental protection, gender equality, health, education, social-economic rights, people trafficking and the fight against corruption.

The Philippines has generally done well in meeting the requirements of the 27 conventions. But the EU lately expressed its misgivings on the administration’s handling of the war on drugs and attempts to legalize the death penalty and reduce the criminal age of responsibility.

The criticism did not sit well with President Rodrigo Duterte, who eventually rejected European aid and claimed the EU was interfering on the country’s internal affairs. The EU, meanwhile, has threatened to impose economic sanctions on the Philippines.

Members of the Management Association of the Philippines are naturally alarmed with these developments.

The removal of the GSP preferences, it says, will make Philippine products less competitive and seriously affect several industries. The association raised the specter of increasing unemployment during the time of pandemic.

The Philippines, according to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, is addressing the concerns of the EU with right information and facts. Manila must allay the fears of the European Union in the negotiating table where it matters. As in other trade negotiations, it must be forthright about the real conditions in the Philippines and stress its independence at the same time. We need all friends, not enemies, in these trying times.

‘Hardcore granny’ — ­ ageing fitness buff proves hit in China

By Peter Stebbings with Jessica Yang CHEN Jifang hits the gym for at least two hours every day and has the physique to prove it. At nearly 70, she’s being held up as a shining example as China orders its vast population to get fit and lose the bulge.

The grandmother from Shanghai has become a minor celebrity in recent months as her newfound and unlikely love for working out made national headlines.

After becoming a gym bunny in December 2018, Chen lost 14 kilos (30 pounds) in three months and now sports the kind of flat stomach and toned muscles that people decades younger aspire to.

She has also built up a fan base on social media, clocking up 410,000 followers on TikTok with her impressive exercise routines and encouraging others to follow her example.

A post on the video-sharing app of the pensioner doing a rapid set of lung-busting squats and lunges has been viewed more than one million times.

“I will work out as long as I’m still alive,” Chen, who turned 68 this year, tells AFP at a gym in a Shanghai suburb.

Chinese state media have reported Chen’s story with gusto because it fits the government’s drive to encourage people of all ages to get fitter.

That message has been amplified this year by the assertion that being fit is one way to help beat the coronavirus, which emerged in Wuhan in late 2019.

Xinmin Evening News labelled Chen “hardcore grandma” and Xinhua news agency called her “heavy-lifting granny”. She has also been featured on television.

For Chen, who worked for a food company before retiring, pumping iron has come late in life.

She began going to the gym following a chance meeting with a personal trainer, propelled into action by worries about her deteriorating health and weight gain.

But she has shed the flab and says that last year she was given a clear bill of health by doctors, having previously had problems with a fatty liver, high blood pressure and eye cataracts.

Chen, who has a grandson aged 14, recalled the shocked looks she got the first time she walked through the gym door.

“They found it very strange, they don’t usually see people at such an old age who care about their health so much,” she says.

Dancing aunties Under the watchful eye of a personal trainer, and barely pausing for breath, Chen ploughs through a series of exercises using weight machines, free weights and other dynamic movements designed to burn fat and gain muscle.

Despite her active lifestyle, Chen has

Meanwhile, we plant. welcome the reUpon learning of Cyber-libel and ported filing of our error, I immeditraditional libel are complaint of Mr. ately made another Melchor Tayag, report clarifying that both used as tactics to whose photograph the man in the picture silence the news media is not Irwin Chua but was mistakenly shown in our Faceand prevent them from Melchor Tayag who book live report has nothing to do with exposing injustice. on the RSC labor the RSC issue. issue.

On the air, I apoloI never mengized to former countioned a Melchor Tayag in my story re- cilman Melchor Tayag of Barangay San garding the abusive Chinese owner of the Agustin for the unfortunate case of missteel plant in Pampanga whose employ- taken identity. ees had sought my assistance to “rescue” Mr. Tayag’s name was never menthem from arbitrary detention. tioned in the said report, but his photo Clearly, I identified the RSC plant may inadvertently referred to him as the owner in San Simon as Irwin Chua, not “cruel Chinese owner of the Real Steel Melchor Tayag.

Corporation.”

Mr. Tayag’s family went to my office We have also shown the correct picture a few days after I aired the story on my showing the subject of complaints, Irwin radio-TV program and on my Face- Chua. book page, and informed my staff that one picture we showed that supposedly Though motivated to serve the interest portrayed Mr. Chua actually showed Mr. of the public, such reckless imprudence Tayag. by our production team is simply inexThe said photograph was given to cusable. us by the Human Resource head of the We respect ex-councilman Tayag’s agency supplying manpower to the steel right to seek redress.

no sporting background and says she barely got out of bed when her daughter was very young because her body was so weak from giving birth.

“If your muscles are strong and powerful it will protect your bones if you fall, because the elderly are most afraid of falling,” she said.

“In fact, I also fell once and fell terribly, hurting my forehead, hips, knees and toes.

“They saw an old lady with white hair lying on the ground and passersby started calling an ambulance.

“I said ‘don’t’, and I got up. I said that I had been exercising, so I’m fine.”

On a typical warm autumn evening, so-called ‘dancing aunties’ pack out Shanghai’s parks and public spaces.

For many women of middle age and upwards, square dancing is the only form of exercise they get.

“No matter how hard you squaredance, you can’t reach my current condition,” said Chen, flexing her biceps for the camera.

She added: “At our age it is not how much money you have, who you are, or how good your children are.

“You just want a medical record as short as possible.” AFP

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REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Branch 148, Makati City

IN RE PETITION FOR REHABILITATION., R-MKT-20-01806-SP MARSMAN DRYSDALE MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC. Petitioner. x---------------------------------x

COMMENCEMENT ORDER Raffled to this Court on August 24, 2020 is the instant verified petition for voluntary rehabilitation filed by petitioner debtor Marsman Dyrsdale Medical Products, Inc., (MDMPI) through counsel, pursuant to Section 12, Republic Act No. 10142 or the Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act of 2010 ( FRIA), and the Supreme Court En Banc Resolution A.M. No. 12-12-11-SC dated August 27, 2013 otherwise known as the Financial Rehabilitation Rules of Procedure to initiate voluntary rehabilitation of petitioner corporation.

On September 1, 2020, the Court after a review of the petition issued an order directing the Petitioner to submit with five (5) days from receipt of the order, the lacking documents and details in its Annex “G” or its Inventory of Assets and/or to file a supplement petition to comply with the requirements set forth in Section 2(B)(5) of A.M. No. 12-12-11-SC or the Financial Rehabilitation Rules of Procedure.

On September 7, 2020, the petitioner filed a Compliance to the said order submitting the revised Inventory of Assets with the attached evidence of title or ownership of their properties. The Court finding the Compliance sufficient. Thus the present Commencement Order.

Petitioner avers that Section 4(p) of the FRIA and Section 5(k) of Rule 1 of the Rehabilitation rules define insolvency as the financial incapacity of the debtors to pay their liabilities as they fall due in the ordinary course of business or whenever their liabilities are greater than their assets. Petitioner however asserts that it is merely technically insolvent and not actually insolvent; that as distinguished in Philippine National Bank vs. Court of Appeals et.al. 1 actual insolvency is where the corporation ‘s assets are not enough to cover its liabilities while technical insolvency is where the corporation has enough assets but it foresees its inability to pay its obligations for more than one year.2 Petitioner alleges that it is only technically insolvent as its assets exceed its liabilities. Thus, petitioner claims that its rehabilitation is economically feasible and its creditors can recover by way of the present value of payments projected in the Rehabilitation Plan, more if petitioner continues as a going concern rather than if it is immediately liquidated.

Petitioner’s principal place of business as stated in its petition is located at Ground Floor, Molave Building, 2231 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City, hence this Court has jurisdiction over the present petition.

Meanwhile, the filing of the present petition was approved and authorized by at least a majority of the board of directors of MDMPI and by at least the vote of the stockholders representing at least two thirds of the outstanding capital stock of MDMPI as evidenced by the President and Secretary’s Certificate of MDMPI attached as Annex “A” to the Petition.

Formally incorporated in December 1999, petitioner’s primary purpose as per their Articles of Incorporation (Annex “N”) -, i.e. engage in business of buying, importing, trading, selling, distributing and marketing goods, commodities and merchandise of every kind and description insofar as permitted by law such as but not limited to pharmaceutical, cosmetic, medical, hospital and industrial products and equipment, including related software and programs, on wholesale basis; enter into all kinds of contracts for the import, purchase, acquisition, sale at wholesale and other disposition for its own account as principal or in a representative capacity as manufacturer’s/ service provider’s representative, merchandise broker, indentor, commission merchant, factors or agents upon consignment, of all kinds of goods, wares, merchandise, products and services, whether natural or artificial and conduct seminars and training regarding the corporation’s products and services for the development of professionals.

Petitioner alleges that it conducts business nationwide as it has sales and marketing personnel and service engineers deployed all throughout the Philippines and deal with key dealers and resellers in Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It also partnered with globally recognized suppliers including among others, Beckman Coulter, Inc., Intrumentation Laboratory, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Randox Laboratories, Ltd and Bio Rad Laboratories.

Petitioner further avers that with its partnership with top global brands enabled it to provide almost 80% of all the routine tests done in the Clinical Pathology Laboratory; establish itself as one of the key players in the in-vitro diagnostics industry; grow customer base to a total of 214 government and private hospitals and free standing laboratories nationwide; and holds shares ranging from 2% to 15% of the distributor market in its core businesses. Petitioner also claims that its business performance has reflected well on its creditworthiness.

In filing the present petition, petitioner alleges that due to COVID 19 pandemic, it does not have sufficient cash or liquid assets to cover all obligations as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. According to petitioner corporation, as of July 31, 2020, MDMPI’s total assets amounted to P1.26 billion consisting mainly of medical equipment consigned with clients, trade receivables, and inventory of reagents, spare parts and brand new medical equipment. Petitioner also avers that its trade receivables due from customers have payment terms ranging from 30 to 90 days although the average age of receivable is 168 days. Meanwhile, petitioner claims that its total liabilities amounts to P1.06 billion. These liabilities pertain to six bank creditors, five leasing companies, 154 trade suppliers, some 111 employees for accrued retirement benefits and shareholders/affiliates for accumulated advances.

Petitioner corporation asserts that while its total assets exceeds its total liabilities, most of its assets are not easily convertible to cash; that as of July 31, 2020, petitioner has cash in the amount of P17.5 million, thus, it has no sufficient cash or near-cash assets to pay all its liabilities as they fall due, hence, it is therefore merely technically insolvent.

Petitioner further avers that due to the pandemic brought about by COVID 19 and the government’s imposition of the community quarantines, these severely affected all sectors including the health care industry. Cash flows of hospitals and clinics suffered and dampened the demand for diagnostic tests. As a result, petitioner alleges that its sales were down to P32 million for the month of April and deteriorated to P22 million in May and by mid-year, cumulative sales have fallen by 24.7% from the year-ago level which clearly indicated the need to recast the sales budget from the original P650 million to a reduced target of P410 million. Petitioner corporation also avers that its obligation to meet purchase commitments from suppliers have remained in force but in slightly lower levels than in 2019 putting further strain on cash flows; the said compounded pressure have nearly exhausted financial resources, resulting to the corporation’s failure to make timely payments on its maturing bank debts and on trade and other payables falling due.

Petitioner also states that while its sales and collection of receivables continue to be affected by the pandemic, the maturity dates of its financing obligations remain virtually unchanged except for the temporary relief brought about by the Bayanihan Act 1, leading to liquidity problems of the company.

Petitioner further alleges that it is not aware of any pending actions or proceeding against it but if it becomes aware of such, will promptly inform the Court.

Nonetheless, there are threats or demand to enforce claims or liens against the petitioner by its Creditors as enumerated in its Statement of Possible Claims attached as Annex “K” to the petition.

Petitioner also avers that despite its business reverses and increasing liabilities it is confident that it will be able to continue its business and eventually pay all its obligations with a workable rehabilitation plan which is feasible, possible and reasonably attainable.

Said Rehabilitation Plan is outline in detail and attached as Annex “H” of the petition.

In view thereof, petitioner prays that the Court finds its Petition sufficient in form and substance; issue a Commencement Order that includes a Stay or Suspension Order; give due course to the petition; approve the rehabilitation plan; confirm the said plan and grant other just and equitable relief available under Rule 2 of the Rehabilitation Rules.

After an evaluation and examination of the allegations in the petition for voluntary rehabilitation and the documents attached thereto, the Court finds the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, and petitioner debtor corporation MARSMAN DRYSDALE MEDICAL PRODUCTS INC. is hereby declared for REHABILITATION.

suspension of all actions or proceedings in court or otherwise for the enforcement of all claims against petitioner corporation Marsman Drysdale Medical Products Inc. retroactive to the filing of its Compliance on September 7, 2020 in accordance with Rule 2(B) Section 7 of A.M. No. 12-12-11-SC; (b) suspension of all actions to enforce any judgment, attachment or other provisional remedies against petitioner debtor corporation retroactive to the filing of the Compliance on September 7, 2020; (c) prohibiting petitioner debtor corporation from selling, encumbering, transferring or disposing in any manner any of its properties except in the ordinary course of business; and (d) prohibiting petitioner debtor corporation from making any payment of its liabilities outstanding as of the Commencement Date, except as maybe provided herein.

The issuance of a stay order however does not affect the right to commence actions or proceedings in order to preserve ad cautelam a claim against the debtor and to toll the running of the prescriptive period to file the claim.3 And for that purpose, the plaintiff may file the appropriate court action or proceeding by paying the amount of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) or one tenth(1/10) of the prescribed filing fee, whichever is lower.4 The payment of the balance of the filing fee shall be a jurisdictional requirement for the reinstatement or revival of the case.5 Further, the petitioner debtor corporation’s suppliers of goods and/ or services are prohibited from withholding the supply of goods and services in the ordinary course of business for as long as the petitioner debtor make payments for the goods and services supplied after the issuance of th is Commencement Order.6 All administrative expenses which refer to those expenses that are incurred in the ordinary course of business of petitioner corporation after the issuance of this Order shall be paid as they become due7 All creditors and interested parties including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and all regulatory agencies concerned are directed to file their verified comment on or opposition to the instant petition for rehabilitation with supporting affidavits and documents not later than fifteen (15) days before the date of the initial hearing and to prepare for the initial hearing of this petition.8 Similarly, all creditors and other interested persons are also directed to establish their claims against petitioner debtor corporation by filing their verified notices of claims, together with supporting affidavits and documents with this Court at least five (5) days before the initial hearing date subject to the warning that their failure to do so on time may bar them from participating in the instant rehabilitation proceedings but will not prejudice their right to receive distributions if recommended by the rehabilitation receiver and approved by the court, in accordance with Section 12 of the Rehabilitation Rules. 9 For this purpose, petitioner debtor corporation is directed to make available copies of the petition and the rehabilitation plan for examination and copying by any interested party at its principal office- located at Ground Floor, Molave Building, 2231 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City, in addition to copies that are available with this Court.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

World

HK arrests Joshua Wong for 2019 rallies

H

ONG KONG activist Joshua Wong was arrested on Thursday in relation to a protest at the height of the city’s pro-democracy unrest last year, his lawyer said.

The detention of the city’s most high-profile dissident is the latest in a string of arrests of government critics and comes after China imposed a sweeping new national security law on Hong Kong in late June.

He was arrested for “unlawful assembly” over a 2019 demonstration against a government ban on face masks that was imposed before the coronavirus pandemic, his lawyer said.

The 23-year-old pro-democracy figure said on Twitter he was also being held for violating the “draconian antimask law,” which has since been ruled unconstitutional.

Wong’s lawyer told AFP he was arrested when he reported to a police station concerning another case against him, for which he is currently on trial.

“Wong is accused of participating in an unlawful assembly on October 5 last year, when hundreds marched to oppose an anti-mask ban the government rolled out,” lawyer Jonathan Man said.

The march that day came after much of the city had ground to a halt with the subway suspended and many shops and malls shuttered following a night of violence.

Hundreds of protesters, almost all masked, staged the unsanctioned dem-

Wong onstration through the popular shopping district of Causeway Bay, a day after the city’s leader Carrie Lam outlawed masks by invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century. AFP

Pursuant to Section 16 (h) of RA No. 10142, Mr. Gener T. Mendoza is hereby appointed from among the three (3) nominees of petitioner corporation submitted as its Rehabilitation Receiver and for him to enter into the discharge and exercise of his powers and function upon : (a) posting of a bond in the amount of Pl00,000 .00 conditioned that he will faithfully discharge his duties and obey the orders of this Court; (b) taking of an oath that he will perform his powers, duties and functions faithfully; and (c) accomplishment of Certification under oath that he possesses all the qualifications as such receiver and is not disqualified by reason of conflict of interest. Petitioner debtor corporation is further directed to immediately serve a copy of this Commencement Order upon Mr. Gener T. Mendoza and the latter is directed to manifest his acceptance or non-acceptance of his appointment not later than ten (10) days from receipt hereof. While the Court already appointed a receiver from among the nominees of herein petitioner debtor corporation any dissatisfied creditor may submit the name or nominate any other qualified person to the position of rehabilitation receiver at least five (5) days before the abovementioned initial hearing date.10 The Court’s issuance of the instant Commencement Order shall in addition to the effects of a Stay or Suspension Order produce the following effects as provided under Section 17 of R.A. No.1 0142, to wit: (a) vest the rehabilitation receiver with all the powers and functions provided for in R.A. 10142 such as the right to review and obtain all records to which the petitioner debtor corporations management and directors have access including bank accounts of whatever nature of the debtor subject to the appraisal of this Court of the performance bond filed by the re habilitation receiver; (b) prohibit or otherwise serve as the legal basis for rendering null and void the results of any extrajudicial activity or process to seize property, sell encumbered property, or otherwise attempt to collect on or enforce a claim against the debtor after the commencement date, which retroacts to the filing of the petitioner of its Compliance on September 7, 2020 unless otherwise allowed under these Rules, subject to the provisions of Section 49 of the Rule; (c) serve as the legal basis for rendering null and void any set-off after the commencement date of any debt owed to the debtor by any of the debtor’s creditors; (d) serve as the legal basis for rendering null and void the perfection of any lien against the debtor’s property after the commencement date which retroacts to the time of the filing of petitioner’s Compliance on September 7, 2020; (e) consolidate the resolution of all legal proceedings by and against the debtor in the court: Provided, however, that the court may allow the continuation of cases in other courts where the debtor had initiated the suit; (f) exempt the debtor from liability for taxes and fees, including penalties, interests and charges thereof due to the national government or the LGU as provided in Section 19 of the Act. Meanwhile, all contracts not confirmed in writing by petitioner debtor corporation within ninety (90) days following the issuance of the commencement order shall be automatically terminated. 11 In accordance with Section 19 of R.A. No. 10142 upon the issuance of this Commencement Order by this Court and until the approval of the Rehabilitation Plan or dismissal of this petition, whichever is earlier, the imposition of all taxes and fees including penalties, interests and other charges thereof, due to the national government or to the LGUs shall be considered waived in furtherance of the objectives of rehabilitation.

Unless lifted by this Court, the instant Commencement Order shall be effective for the duration of the rehabilitation proceedings for as long as there is a substantial likelihood that herein petitioner debtor corporation will be successfully rehabilitated subject to the petitioner debtor corporation’s ability to meet the minimum requirements as provided under Section 21 of R.A. 10142.

As mandated under Section 16(f) of R.A. 101422 and Section 8(G) of A.M No. 12-12-11-SC, petitioner debtor corporation is directed to cause the publication of this Commencement Order in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for at least two(2) consecutive weeks, with the first publication to be made within seven(7) days from the time of its issuance and to submit to the court five days before the initial hearing, the publishers affidavit showing that the publication requirement as directed by this Court has been complied; with the further directive for petitioner debtor corporation to personally serve and deliver copies of the instant petition on (i) each creditor holding at least ten(10%) of its petitioner debtor corporation total liabilities as determined from the schedule that they attached to the instant petition; (ii) the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and (iii) the appropriate or relevant regulatory agencies such as but not limited to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Insurance Commission, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board ( HLURB), and the Energy Regulatory Board, within five(S) days from receipt hereof. 12 Lastly, in case of foreign creditors if there are any, petitioner debtor corporation is directed to ensure that foreign creditors with no known addresses in the Philippines be served with a copy of the Commencement Order at their foreign addresses in such a manner that will ensure that the foreign creditor will receive a copy of the order at least fifteen (15) days before the initial hearing. 13 ACCORDINGLY, the initial hearing is hereby set through videoconferencing on October 21,2020 at 9:00 in the morning for the purpose of determining whether there is substantial likelihood for the debtor to be rehabilitated. On said date and time, all creditors and any and all interested parties are directed to appear and prepare for the said initial hearing.

SO ORDERED. City of Makati. September 11, 2020.

ANDRES BARTOLOME SORIANO Presiding Judge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Pursuant to Section 16(q) of R.A. No. 10142 and by virtue of the authority of this Court, a Stay or Suspension Order is hereby issued ordering the (a)

B2

8 9 10 11 12 13

G.R. No. 165571, January 20, 2009.

Ibid.

Rule 2 (B) Section 8 (V) last paragraph of A.M. No. 12- 12-11-SC. Ibid.

Ibid .

Rule 2(B) Section 8(0) of A. M. No. 12-12-11 -SC. Rule 2( B) Section 8( P) of A.M No. 12- 12-11-SC. Rule 2(B) Section 8(N) of A.M. No. 12-12- 11-SC. Rule 12 of A.M. No. 12- 12-11-SC. Rule 2(B) Section SeT) of A.M. No. 12-12-11-SC Rule 2(B)Section 8(U) of A.M . No. 12-12-11-SC Rule 2(B) Section 8(H) of A.M No. 12- 12-11-SC Rule 2(B) Section 8 (J) of A.M. No. 12-12- 11-SC.

(MS-SEPT 18 & 25, 2020)

WOMEN POWER. A child in a Supergirl costume pays respects as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC on Sept. 23, 2020. Ginsburg, whose death has opened a crucial Supreme Court seat that Republican President Donald Trump has promised to quickly and controversially fill against the wishes of Democrats, has been praised as a difficult woman – one who refused to be discouraged and who treated misogyny as simply one more hill to climb. AFP

Trump refuses to assure power transfer if he loses to Biden US PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Wednesday refused to guarantee that he will transfer power if he loses the November election, earning scorn from his Democratic challenger Joe Biden and even from within his own party.

“Well, we’re going to have to see what happens,” Trump responded when asked at a White House press conference whether he is committed to the most basic tenet of democratic rule in the United States—the peaceful handover of power upon a change of president.

Biden, who holds a steady lead over the Republican incumbent in opinion polls ahead of the November 3 vote, expressed incredulity.

“What country are we in?” the former vice president said, when asked about Trump’s comment by reporters. “Look, he says the most irrational things. I don’t know what to say.”

Republican Senator Mitt Romney, a frequent but rare party critic of Trump, went further, saying that any hesitation on the core constitution guarantee was “unthinkable and unacceptable.”

“Fundamental to democracy is

IN BRIEF

the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus,” he tweeted.

Trump followed up his remarks – unprecedented in modern times for a US president—by resuming his near daily complaint about the fairness of the election.

Apparently referring to the increased use of mail-in ballots due to the coronavirus pandemic, he said: “You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots and the ballots are a disaster.”

Trump frequently claims that mailin ballots are vulnerable to mass fraud and are being encouraged by Democrats to rig the election.

However, there is no evidence that ballots sent through the postal service have ever led to significant fraud in US elections.

At the press conference, Trump seemed to suggest annulling what are expected to be the huge numbers of mailed-in ballots, noting that in such a scenario, he would remain in power.

“Get rid of the ballots and you’ll have a very peaceful—there won’t be a transfer, frankly. There’ll be a continuation,” he said. AFP

Nokor shoots dead Sokor defector NORTH Korean soldiers shot dead a suspected South Korean defector at sea and burned his body as a coronavirus precaution after he was interrogated in the water over several hours, Seoul military officials said Thursday.

It is the first killing of a Southern citizen by North Korean forces for a decade, and comes with Pyongyang at high alert over the pandemic and inter-Korean relations at a standstill.

The fisheries official disappeared from a patrol vessel near the western border island of Yeonpyeong on Monday, a South Korean military official told AFP. More than 24 hours later, North Korean forces located him in their waters and questioned him from a patrol boat, he said, with Yonhap news agency adding his interrogator wore protective equipment.

He was killed around six hours after being found, according to the official.

“He was shot dead in the water,” he said. “North Korean soldiers poured oil over his body and burnt it in the water.

“We assess it was carried out under the North’s anti-coronavirus measure,” he added.

Pyongyang has closed its borders and declared an emergency to try to protect itself against the virus which first emerged in neighbouring China.

The man was wearing a lifejacket and his shoes had been found on board the South Korean boat, the official said – indicators pointing to him entering the water voluntarily.

“We have obtained intelligence that he had expressed his intention to defect while being questioned,” he added.

He declined to go into detail about the source of the information. AFP

EU: Lukashenko lacks legitimacy THE European Union refuses to recognise Alexander Lukashenko as Belarus president after his inauguration that lacked “democratic legitimacy” and Brussels is reviewing its relations with Minsk, the EU’s diplomatic chief said Thursday.

Lukashenko’s secret inauguration on Wednesday triggered fresh condemnation in the West and new mass demonstrations in Belarus that have erupted frequently since the disputed August 9 elections.

The elections were neither free nor fair and “the European Union does not recognise their falsified results,” EU high representative Josep Borrell said in a statement.

“On this basis, the so-called ‘inauguration’” and the new mandate Lukashenko claims “lack any democratic legitimacy,” Borrell said.

“This ‘inauguration’ directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus,” the former Spanish foreign minister said.

The EU stands for the right of Belarusians to be “represented by those they freely choose through new inclusive, transparent and credible elections,” he said. AFP

TikTok fights Trump’s ban TIKTOK is urging a federal court to block US President Donald Trump from banning the video app, arguing the move is motivated by election politics rather than legitimate national security concerns.

The Chinese-owned app—which is wildly popular in the US—has come under fire as tensions escalate between Beijing and Washington, with Trump threatening a ban if it is not sold to an American company.

Attorneys are set to argue the case on Thursday before a judge who will decide whether to put Trump’s order on hold until a lawsuit over the ban is resolved.

Citing “confusing and contradictory statements about TikTok” by the president and other agencies, the motion for a preliminary injunction argues a ban is not motivated by “genuine national security concern, but rather by political considerations relating to the upcoming general election.”

TikTok, which became a global phenomenon with its brand of short, addictive phone videos, has some 100 million US users.

A deal to restructure ownership of the app was thrown into doubt Monday when Trump vowed to block a deal that allows its Chinese parent firm ByteDance to retain any control. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTAYELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK Manila Manila

Business

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

France shuts down Marseille nightlife as virus cases climb

By Mariette Le Roux PARIS, France―Bars and restaurants in France’s second-biggest city Marseille were ordered closed Wednesday as Europe surged past five million coronavirus cases, with France and its neighbors hoping tighter restrictions can slow the spread.

Worldwide nearly 32 million people have been infected and more than 971,000 have died since the virus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 and spread across the globe.

After appearing to bring cases mostly under control with economically devastating lockdowns, Europe now faces a resurgence, forcing governments to consider reintroducing tough measures.

More than half of Europe’s infections have been recorded in Russia, followed

by Spain, France and the United Kingdom.

The 380,000 cases reported in the past week represent the highest number in the

Pedestrians wearing face masks walk near a sign reading “With the good gestures, I am a barrier to the virus” on the Vieux-Port of Marseille, southeastern France, on September 14, 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus. AFP

Stock market slips for third straight day; Puregold rises HE stock market fell for the third straight day Thursday following another sharp sell-off on Wall Street as investors were bombarded by a perfect storm of problems including rising virus infections, new lockdowns, a slowing economic recovery, stalled US stimulus talks and election uncertainty.

T

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 46.92 points, 0.8 percent, to 5,845.80 on a value turnover of P4 billion. Losers overwhelmed gainers, 120 to 76, with 31 issues unchanged.

JG Summit Holdings Inc. of the Gokongwei Group declined 3.7 percent to P60.55, while Megaworld Corp., the biggest lessor of office spaces, shed 2.7 percent to P2.91.

Security Bank Corp., the sixth-largest lender in terms of assets, decreased 2.4 percent to P91.70, but Puregold Price Club Inc. of retail tycoon Lucio Co. rose 2.2 percent to P49.45.

The rest of Asian markets tumbled Thursday.

Months of mind-boggling gains in global equities have come to a juddering halt this month, and expectations are fading that a wall of cash from governments and central banks will jump-start a rebound.

“Markets are digesting and grappling with this idea that the growth expectations that investors have might not materialize,” said Lauren Goodwin, at New York Life Investments.

“As the fiscal impulse in the US starts

to wane, some of these expectations for a slow and steady recovery are shaken.”

And with the northern hemisphere now moving into autumn and winter, there are worries that a second wave of coronavirus will see the reimposition of strict, economically devastating containment measures.

All three main indexes in New York saw steep losses, resuming a retreat that has characterized September.

And the losses flowed through to Asia again, with Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Bangkok and Jakarta all down more than one percent, while Mumbai and Taipei shed more than two percent.

Seoul also slumped more than two percent after South Korea said forces from the North had shot a South Korean official and cremated him after he disappeared off a patrol vessel and ended up in Pyongyang’ waters. With AFP

PSEi September 24, 2020

TOP GAINERS

Any Any person person with with valid valid objection/s objection/s on on the the aboveabovementioned mentionedproject projectmay mayfile filehis/her his/herobjection objectionininwriting, writing, under underoath, oath,with withthe theBOI BOIwithin withinthree three(3) (3)days daysfrom fromthe the date dateof ofthis thispublication. publication.

(SGD) (SGD)ANGELITA ANGELITAF.F.ARCELLANA ARCELLANA Director Director Infrastructure Infrastructureand andServices ServicesIndustries IndustriesService Service

REPUBLIC REPUBLICOF OFTHE THEPHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES REGIONAL REGIONALTRIAL TRIALCOURT COURT NATIONAL NATIONALCAPITAL CAPITALJUDICIAL JUDICIALREGION REGION MANDALUYONG MANDALUYONGCITY CITY BRANCH BRANCH278 278 IN INTHE THEMATTER MATTEROF OFTHE THESETTLEMENT SETTLEMENT OF OFTHE THESTATE STATEOF OFJOSELING JOSELINGLAPERAL LAPERAL ARCE ARCEAND ANDFOR FORISSUANCE ISSUANCEOF OFLETTERS LETTERS OF OFADMlNISTRATION ADMlNISTRATIONTO TOESPERANZA ESPERANZAA. A. VERGEL VERGELDE DEDlOS DlOSAND ANDRONALD RONALDA. A.VERGEL VERGEL DEDIOS DEDIOS SP. SP.PROC. PROC.CASE CASENO. NO. R-MND-20-00849-SP R-MND-20-00849-SP ESPERANZA ESPERANZAA. A.VERGEL VERGELDE DEDI0S, DI0S, Petitioner.

Petitioner. x------------------------------------------------x x------------------------------------------------x

ORDER ORDER

TOP LOSERS

AApetition petitionwas wasfiled filedon onJuly July06, 06,2020 2020for forthe thesettlement settlementofofthe the intestate intestate estate estate ofof the the Joseling Joseling Laperal Laperal Arce Arce and and issuance issuance ofof letters lettersofofadministration administrationand andappointment appointmentofofco-administrators. co-administrators.

Petitioner Petitioneralleged, alleged,that thatthe thedecedent decedentisisher hernephew nephewwho whodied died on on December December 08, 08, 2019 2019 while while aa resident resident ofof Unit Unit 56D, 56D, South South Tower, Tower,One OneShangri-La Shangri-LaPlace, Place,Internal InternalRoad, Road,Brgy.

Brgy.Wack-Wack Wack-Wack Greenhills, Greenhills, Mandaluyong Mandaluyong City City leaving leaving an an Estate Estate estimated estimated at at PhP21,751 PhP21,751000.00, 000.00,more moreor orless, less,composed composedofofreal realand andpersonal personal properties, properties, including including bank bank deposits, deposits, condominium condominium units units and and parking parkingspaces, spaces,aamotor motorvehicle, vehicle,and andsecurities. securities.

InInview viewthereof, thereof,notice noticeisishereby herebygiven giventhat thatthis thispetition petitionwill willbe be heard heardby bythis thisCourt Courton onOctober October09, 09,2020 2020at at08:30 08:30a.m. a.m.atatwhich which date dateand andtime, time,interested interestedpersons personsmay mayappear appearand andshow showcause cause why whythe thepetition petitionshould shouldnot notbe begranted. granted.

The The petitioner petitioner shall shall cause cause aa copy copy ofof this this order order be be published published once once (1) (1) aa week, week, for for three three (3) (3) consecutive consecutive weeks, weeks, inin “MANILA “MANILA STANDARD”, STANDARD”, aa newspaper newspaper ofof general general circulation circulation chosen chosen inin aa raffle raffleconducted conductedby bythe theExecutive ExecutiveJudge Judgeofofthis thisCourt Courton onJuly July13, 13, 2020.

2020.

Petitioner Petitionerisislikewise likewisedirected directedtotocause causethe theservice serviceofofthe thecopies copies ofofthis thisorder, order,together togetherwith withaacopy copyofofthe thePetition Petitionand andits itsannexes, annexes, totothe theknown knownheirs, heirs,viz: viz:

MOST ACTIVE

Automakers sue US government over China import tariffs NEW YORK—Major automakers Tesla, Volvo, Ford and Mercedes-Benz have sued the US government over tariffs on Chinese goods, demanding customs duties paid on imports be returned, with interest.

The lawsuits, which were filed in recent days in the New York-based Court of International Trade, concern tariffs imposed by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on imports from China, which Tesla in its filing called “arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion.”

The duties came amid a wider trade dispute between Washington and Beijing, and the automakers are asking for the tariffs to be revoked and any money paid to import parts returned.

Mercedes-Benz in its filing accused Washington of “prosecution of an unprecedented, unbounded, and unlimited trade war impacting over $500 billion in imports from the People’s Republic of China.”

The German automaker argued that US law “did not confer authority on defendants to litigate a vast trade war for however long, and by whatever means, they choose.”

Officials at the office of US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer did not respond when contacted by AFP for comments on the lawsuits.

US President Donald Trump’s administration engaged in months of trade conflicts with China, and imposed the levies as part of an effort to wean US manufacturers off Chinese technology.

China and the United States signed their “phase one” trade deal earlier this year that partially ended the dispute.

N NO OT T II C CE E Notice Notice isis hereby hereby given given that that ALLIED ALLIED CARE CARE EXPERTS EXPERTS (ACE) (ACE) MEDICAL MEDICAL CENTER CENTER -- DIPOLOG, DIPOLOG, INC. INC. with withoffice officeaddress addressat atBrgy.

Brgy.Olingan, Olingan,Dipolog DipologCity, City, Zamboanga Zamboangadel delNorte, Norte,isisapplying applyingfor forregistration registrationwith with the the Board Board of of Investments Investments (BOI) (BOI) as as aa New New Operator Operator of of General General Hospital Hospital Level Level 22 project project (Allied (Allied Care Care Expert Expert (ACE) (ACE)Medical MedicalCenter) Center)with withaacapacity capacityof of200 200beds bedson on aa non-pioneer non-pioneer status status with with project project site site located located at at Brgy.

Brgy.

Olingan, Olingan,Dipolog DipologCity, City,Zamboanga Zamboangadel delNorte.

Norte.

(MS-SEPT. (MS-SEPT.25, 25,2020) 2020)

EARLY CLOSING.

People drink at the outside tables of a cafe in Soho, in central London on September 23, 2020. Britain on Tuesday tightened restrictions to stem a surge of coronavirus cases, ordering pubs to close early and advising people to go back to working from home to prevent a second national lockdown. AFP

region since the start of the pandemic.

‘Be vigilant’ As infection data worsen in France― with more than 13,000 new cases reported and almost 800 hospital admissions on Thursday alone―French Health Minister Olivier Veran said bars and restaurants must close in Mediterranean port city Marseille, now the only part of mainland France at “maximum alert.”

One level down on a new sliding scale of infection control measures, at “elevated alert,” eight major cities including Paris will see new restrictions, including limitations on public gatherings to 10 people and earlier closing hours for bars.

The data is “continuing to worsen” but there is “still time to act,” Veran said.

The Madrid region, the heart of an explosion of infections in Spain, has already locked down roughly 850,000 people and plans to extend the measures on Friday. AFP

Under that agreement, Beijing promised to buy $200 billion in US goods and Washington backed down on tariffs on $160 billion in Chinese goods, particularly consumer electronics.

The US also slashed by half 15 percent tariffs on $120 billion in goods, but kept in place 25 percent duties on $250 billion in imports, which some of the automakers cited in their lawsuits.

Beijing has retaliated for these levies, while Washington is aiming both to reduce its trade deficit and reform Chinese business practices it considers unfair.

The Commerce Department reported the US trade deficit in July surged nearly 11 percent to $63.6 billion, with the deficit with China climbing to $28.3 billion.

China is the world’s biggest auto market and the main growth driver for many car manufacturers—especially for electric car maker Tesla, which intends to benefit from the country’s ambitious targets for reducing CO2 emissions. AFP

a.) a.)Clarissa ClarissaArce ArceMedina Medina b.) b.)Edgardo EdgardoArce ArceGarcia Garcia c.) c.)Pedro PedroGarcia, Garcia,Jr. Jr. d.) d.)Merceditas MerceditasGarcia Garcia e.) e.)Ramon RamonGarcia Garcia f.) f.)Carmelita CarmelitaGarcia GarciaBaldonado Baldonado g.) g.)Carmencita CarmencitaDrucco DruccoArce Arce h.) h.)Ramon RamonArce ArceIIIIII i.)i.)Violeta VioletaArce ArceMolina Molina j.)j.)Nieves NievesArce Arce k.) k.)Zenaida ZenaidaArce Arce I.) I.)Linda LindaArce Arce m.) m.)Myrna MyrnaArce Arce n.) n.)Norma NormaArce ArceReyes Reyes

0.)

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Petitioners Petitioners shall shall also also deposit deposit inin the the post post office, office, with with the the postage postage thereon thereon prepaid, prepaid, atat least least twenty twenty (20) (20) days days before before the the above-mentioned above-mentioned hearing hearing date, date, toto each each ofof the the aforementioned aforementioned persons, persons,copies copiesofofthis thisorder, order,together togetherwith withaacopy copyofofthe thePetition Petition and andits itsannexes. annexes.

SO SOORDERED. ORDERED. City CityofofMandaluyong, Mandaluyong,Philippines, Philippines,July July27, 27,2020 2020 Copy Copyfumished: fumished:

(Sgd.) (Sgd.)JAIME JAIMEFORTUNATO FORTUNATOA. A.CARINGAL CARINGAL Judge Judge

Nisce NisceMamuric MamuricGuinto GuintoRivera Rivera&& Alcantara AlcantaraLaw LawOffices Offices Counsel Counselfor forPetitioner Petitioner 8th 8thFloor Floor139 139Corporate CorporateCenter Center 139 139Valero ValeroStreet, Street,Salcedo SalcedoVillage, Village, Makati MakatiCity City Clarissa ClarissaArce ArceMedina Medina 106 106Gem GemRoad, Road,Pilar PilarVillage, Village, Las LasPiñas PiñasCity City

Edmund EdmundArce Arce Arce ArceCompound, Compound,Selecta SelectaDrive, Drive, A. A.Bonifacio BonifacioSt., St.,Quezon QuezonCity City Dennis DennisArce Arce Arce ArceCompound, Compound,Selecta SelectaDrive, Drive, A. A.Bonifacio BonifacioSt., St.,Quezon QuezonCity City Edwin EdwinArce Arce Arce ArceCompound, Compound,Selecta SelectaDrive, Drive, A. A.Bonifacio BonifacioSt., St.,Quezon QuezonCity City Quezon QuezonCity City

Edgardo EdgardoArce ArceGarcia Garcia thru thruMerceditas MerceditasGarcia Garcia 22 22Flamingo FlamingoStreet, Street,Green GreenMeadows, Meadows,QC QC Violeta VioletaAree AreeMolina Molina thru thruRamon RamonArce ArceIIIIII Ramon RamonArce ArceIIIIII 15 15Ruby RubyStreet, Street,Mira MiraNila NilaHomes, Homes, 15 15Ruby RubyStreet, Street,Mira MiraNila NilaHomes, Homes, Quezon QuezonCity City Quezon QuezonCity City Nieves NievesArce Arce Carmencita CarmencitaDrucco DruccoArce Arce thru thruRamon RamonArce ArceIIIIII thru thruRamon RamonArce ArceIIIIII 15 15Ruby RubyStreet, Street,Mira MiraNila NilaHomes.

Homes.

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Myrna MyrnaArce Arce thru thruRamon RamonArce ArceIIIIII 15 15Ruby RubyStreet, Street,Mira MiraNila NilaHomes, Homes, Quezon QuezonCity City

Carmelita CarmelitaGarcia GarciaBaldonado Baldonado thru thruMerceditas MerceditasGarcia Garcia 22 22Flamingo FlamingoStreet, Street,Green GreenMeadows, Meadows, Quezon QuezonCity City

Norma NormaArce ArceReyes Reyes thru thruRamon RamonArce ArceIIIIII 15 15Ruby RubyStreet, Street,Mira MiraNila NilaHomes, Homes, Quezon QuezonCity City

Faustino FaustinoS. S.Arce Arce Arce ArceCompound, Compound,Selecta SelectaDrive, Drive, A. A.Bonifacio BonifacioSt., St.,Quezon QuezonCity City

Serafin SerafinArce Arce thru thruRamon RamonArce ArceIIIIII 15 15Ruby RubyStreet, Street,Mira MiraNila NilaHomes, Homes, Quezon QuezonCity City

Eloisa EloisaArce ArceRomeron Romeron Arce ArceCompound, Compound,Selecta SelectaDrive, Drive, A. A.Bonifacio BonifacioSt., St.,Quezon QuezonCity City Maurita MauritaArce ArceKuhn Kuhn Arce ArceCompound, Compound,Selecta SelectaDrive, Drive, A. A.Bonifacio BonifacioSt., St.,Quezon QuezonCity City Cynthia CynthiaArce ArceJose Jose Arce ArceCompound, Compound,Selecta SelectaDrive, Drive, A. A.Bonifacio BonifacioSt., St.,Quezon QuezonCity City Armida ArmidaArce ArceJimenez Jimenez Arce ArceCompound, Compound,Selecta SelectaDrive, Drive, A. A.Bonifacio BonifacioSt., St.,Quezon QuezonCity City (MStandard-Sep. (MStandard-Sep.11, 11,18 18&&25, 25,2020) 2020)

Exaltacion ExaltacionArce ArceArabit Arabit 114 114Selecta SelectaDrive, Drive, A. A.Bonifacio BonifacioSt., St.,Quezon QuezonCity City Evangeline EvangelineSchanssema Schanssema 114 114Selecta SelectaDrive, Drive, A. A.Bonifacio BonifacioSt., St.,Quezon QuezonCity City Analyn AnalynArce Arce Arce ArceCompound, Compound,Selecta SelectaDrive, Drive, A. A.Bonifacio BonifacioSt., St.,Quezon QuezonCity City Patricia PatriciaArce Arce Arce ArceCompound, Compound,Selecta SelectaDrive, Drive, A. A.Bonifacio BonifacioSt., St.,Quezon QuezonCity City

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTAYELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK

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

B4 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

IN BRIEF SMC eyes Shell’s Malampaya stake SAN Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang said Thursday the company is interested in acquiring the 45-percent stake of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. in the Malampaya-gas-topower project.

The Department of Energy said it would also ask state-run Philippine National Oil Co. to study the feasibility of the government bidding for the Malampaya stake of Spex, the operator of the project, which informed the department of its decision to privatize its shares in the consortium.

“If government will bid for it, PNOC will do its due diligence first. Let’s study first,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

PNOC’s subsidiary PNOC Exploration Corp. owns a 10-percent stake in the Malampaya project, while the remaining 45 percent is owned by Udenna Corp. controlled by businessman Dennis Uy. PNOC-EC and Udenna have a right of first refusal over the 45-percent stake of Spex.

Spex managing director and general manager Don Paulino said the transaction was expected to be completed in the next 12 to 15 months. In a separate radio interview, Paulino said Spex might retain its Malampaya investment if it was not able to find a suitable buyer.

“Yes, Shell will stay because we want to continue to provide effective and reliable supply of energy,” Paulino said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

SEC clears P41-b IPO of Converge

Business

Lopez quits ABS-CBN, other Lopez companies B

By Darwin G. Amojelar

USINESSMAN Eugenio Lopez III resigned as chairman emeritus and director of ABS-CBN Corp. for “personal reasons” as the network continued to face financial and regulatory difficulties this year.

Lopez also tendered his resignation as director of ABS-CBN Holdings Corp., Sky Vision Corp., Sky Cable Corp., First Philippine Holdings Corp., First Gen Corp. and Rockwell Land Corp. effective immediately.

He expressed his appreciation for the trust of the stockholders, co-directors and senior management and for the privilege of having served with them over the years.

The board of directors of ABS-CBN accepted the resignation of Lopez with regret .

“We thank him for his dedication and leadership in expanding and transforming ABS-CBN beyond television through the years. Just like his father, Eugenio ‘Kapitan Geny’ Lopez Jr., Gabby is a visionary and a compassionate leader driven by his love for the Philippines and the Filipino people. He would always tell the men and women of ABS-CBN that being a part of the network is not a job, but a calling,” the network said in a statement.

“We respect his decision, offer him our full support and express our sincerest gratitude for the tradition of innovation, nationalism and public service that he cultivated in the minds and hearts of all Kapamilyas, past and present,” it said.

ABS-CBN president and chief executive Carlo Katigbak said during the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting “we will continue to face difficult times in 2020.”

“Correspondingly, we have undertaken measures to ensure the continuity of our operations. In response to the current situation, we have reduced the number of programs we produce to save on cost and focus on those that have the largest

THE Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday it approved the planned P41.55billion initial public offering of Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions Inc. The SEC said in a statement it approved Converge’s offering of up to 1.73 billion common shares, consisting of 480.83 million primary shares, 1.024 billion secondary shares and 225.79 million shares in over allotment.

The shares will be sold at an offer price of up to P24 apiece.

Net proceeds from the primary offering will be used to fund capital expenditures for the purpose of accelerating its nationwide fiber network rollout.

Morgan Stanley Asia (Singapore) Pte. and UBS AG Singapore Branch will serve as the joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners for the offering, together with Credit Suisse (Singapore) Limited and Merrill Lynch (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. as international joint bookrunners.

Converge tapped BPI Capital Corp. as sole local coordinator and joint local underwriter and joint bookrunner with BDO Capital & Investment Corp. Jenniffer B. Austria

audiences,” he said.Katigbak said the company had to retrench nearly 5,000 employees after Congress denied the franchise of ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Convergence.

“And many of the remaining employees have volunteered to take pay cuts to help the company manage its cash flow,” he said.

Katigbak said the company continued to bring some of its shows to people via cable TV and satellite partners, the Internet and partner platforms like Facebook and Youtube and in partnership with global media companies.

ABS-CBN’s revenue grew by 7 percent in 2019 to P42.8 billion from P40 billion in 2018, while net income amounted increased 55 percent to P2.9 billion from P1.9 billion.

“However, due to the denial of the franchise of ABS-CBN Corp., the inaction of the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN Convergence and the closures of Kidzania and the ABS Experience Store because of COVID-19, we were constrained to take a one-time, asset impairment charge of P5.6 billion,” Katigbak said.

ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR.

SM Supermalls president Steven Tan virtually receives SM Prime Holdings Inc.’s Grand Stevie for ‘Organization of the Year’, the most coveted award given by the prestigious Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, which recognizes outstanding businesses for creating innovations in the workplace. SM also won the Grand Stevie for ‘Most Honored Organization’ in 2019.

Yao’s Macay acquires Kitchen City for P2b MACAY Holdings Inc., the investment company of businessman Alfredo Yao, completed the acquisition of Artemisplus Express, the operator of canteen concessionaire Kitchen City, for 2 billion.

Macay Holdings said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday the purchase of Kitchen City was completed on Sept. 23 after the fulfillment of agreed closing conditions under the purchase agreement.

Macay is the parent company of ARC Refreshments, which is engaged in bottling, distribution, marketing and sales of RC Cola and other carbonated drinks.

The acquisition of Kitchen City represents Macay’s foray into the food service business.

“The acquisition will bring to fruition Macay’s vision to expand its business portfolio to other consumer products and services in the Philippines and in other Asian countries,” the company said.

Macay said its priority is to accelerate the growth of Kitchen City and to capitalize on potential synergies with ARC Refreshments.

Jenniffer B. Austria

BSP caps annual interest rate of credit cards at 25%

By Julito G. Rada THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, approved an annual interest rate ceiling of 24 percent on all credit card transactions effective Nov. 3 this year.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in an online briefing Thursday under the new policy, interest rates or finance charges on unpaid outstanding credit card balance of a cardholder should not exceed 2 percent per month.

“The interest rate cap on credit card receivables aims to ease the financial burden of consumers and micro, small and medium enterprises amid a difficult economic environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Diokno said.

The new issuance prescribes a separate interest rate ceiling for credit card installment loans. For these transactions, credit card issuers may only charge monthly add-on rates up to a maximum of one percent.

Meanwhile, no other charge or fee may be imposed or collected on credit card cash advances except for a maximum processing fee of P200 per transaction. The maximum rates and fees would also take effect on Nov. 3 and would be subject to review by the BSP every six months.

Diokno said the reform initiative was pursuant to the BSP’s supervisory authority over all credit card issuers under the Credit Card Industry Regulation Law. It is also seen to promote responsible credit

card lending in the country.

“Amid the rising use of electronic platforms for payments, the issuance will enable credit cardholders to settle financial transactions under more affordable pricing terms,” said Diokno.

The setting of a maximum ceiling on interest or finance charges on credit card transactions is also in keeping with the country’s current low interest rate environment. The interest rate on the BSP’s overnight reverse repurchase facility remains at 2.25 percent, the lowest policy rate since the beginning of the pandemic.

The new regulation also waives the requirement for credit card issuers to notify the cardholder of the said changes on interest or finance charges at least 90 calendar days before such changes take effect.

PSE INDEX

Thursday, September 24, 2020

-46.92 PTS. 5,845.80

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,065,882,837 80,842 4,051,533,112.96 76 120 31

F oreign E xchange R ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, September 24, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.5080

Japan

Yen

0.009495

0.4606

UK

Pound

1.272700

61.7361

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129039

6.2594

Switzerland

Franc

1.083072

52.5377

Canada

Dollar

0.747496

36.2595

Singapore

Dollar

0.728651

35.3454

Australia

Dollar

0.707300

34.3097

Bahrain

Dinar

2.657384

128.9044

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

12.9341

Brunei

Dollar

0.726006

35.2171

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000068

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.031776

1.5414

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2074

Euro

Euro

1.166100

56.5652

Korea

Won

0.000854

0.0414

China

Yuan

0.146864

7.1241

India

Rupee

0.013592

0.6593

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240848

11.6831

New Zealand

Dollar

0.655300

31.7873

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034275

1.6626 Source: BSP

PSE to revamp listing rules to lure more IPOs

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Philippine Stock Exchange plans to revamp its listing rules to encourage more initial public offerings, as the country lags behind other exchanges in the region in terms of new listings.

The PSE said in a draft amendments to the listing rules for the main board and small, medium and emerging boards that it aimed to update the listing rules to take into account the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, while positioning the equities market as a viable capital raising option for companies looking to fund recovery measures or pursue expansionary plans.

The PSE plans to remove the P500million minimum capitalization requirement for companies seeking to list in the main board.

Instead of focusing on EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) as a measure of profitability, the PSE will look into the net income of companies planning to hold an IPO. Companies will be required to have a cumulative net income P75 million for three fiscal years immediately preceding the filing of the listing application, and a net income of P50 million for the fiscal year before the filing of the application.

The PSE will impose a minimum total stockholders’ equity requirement of P500 million as a measure of the financial condition of the applicant.

For companies planning to list under the SME board, the PSE will remove the requirement oh having a positive EBITDA in at least two of the three fiscal years preceding the filing of the application.

It will instead require companies to meet the cumulative net sales or operating revenues of at least P150 million for the last three years with at least 20 percent average net sales or operating revenues growth rate over the last two years.

It will also shorten the operating history requirement from three years to two years prior to the filing of the listing application and replace the P100-million minimum authorized capital stock requirement with P25 million paid-up capital requirement.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

Relaxed Halep will be favorite at French Open

Romania’s Simona Halep plays a forehand to Spain’s Garbine Muguruza during their semifinal match of the Women’s Italian Open at Foro Italico in Rome on September 20, 2020. AFP

Yulo earns vault bronze at All-Japan Gymnastics AFTER a five-month layoff, Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo earned a share of the bronze medal in the vault exercises to finish 12th overall in the 53rd All-Japan Seniors Gymnastics Championships last Tuesday.

The 20-year-old Yulo tallied a total of 83.398 points after completing six events and shared the third position in vault with 11-time world champion, Kenzo Shirai.

Competitions were finally held after six months of postponement in Takasaki, Japan. Almost all of the country’s top gymnasts joined.

Shirai’s performance was considered subpar after he eventually placed 24th overall. Yulo tried to impress when improved his routine with a double twisting double layout.

It was Yulo’s coach Munehiro Kugimiya who introduced and instructed him to do double twisting, double layout during the meet.

Keisuke Asato, who eventually took 72nd place overall, claimed a share of the gold in the vault with Wataru Kanigawa after both tallied 14.9 points.

Overall, Kazuma Kaya ruled the men’s division after displaying an excellent form and consistency on all six events. He snared the title with an impressive 86.998.

Wataru Tanigawa placed second with 85.965. Kenta Chiba took third with 85.166.

Yulo did not do well in the floor exercises, which earned him a seat in the Tokyo Olympics last year.

He did not impress the judges in the same way that he did when he saw action in the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart where he claimed gold in the floor exercise finals.

It was Takumi Sato who gained the gold in the floors with 15.033 points, with overall fifth placer Kazumi Matsumi in second with 14.733. Naoto Hayasaka snagged the bronze with 14.7 points.

Gymnastics Association of the Philippines chief Cynthia Carrion said Yulo’s showing was good, considering that he placed 12th overall. Peter Atencio

Alabang Country Club faces possible sanctions

By Peter Atencio

S

ERIOUS penalties may be handed to officials of the Alabang Country Club and Club 515 for health and safety protocol violations.

The fate of ACC and Club 515 is now in the hands of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 after it was discovered that they reportedly hosted and organized a tournament during the general community quarantine.

Investigations done by the Games and Amusement Board and the Philippine Sports Commission disclosed that Alabang Country Club played host to an intra-club tournament.

The event was organized by Club 515 and was held from Aug. 28 to 29 when Metro Manila was still under GCQ. “Our group has forwarded it to the IATF already and the National Task Force was already given instructions to implement the decision. I am not at liberty to disclose it,” said GAB chairman Abraham Mitra.

The protocols that were breached are

C1

contained in General Guidelines No. 3 of the Joint Administrative Order No. 2020-0001.

It stated that, “non-professional sporting events such as tournaments, competitive events and athletic meets shall not be permitted on certain quarantine levels.”

The Sherwood Golf and Country Club in Trece Martires City, Cavite may also be sanctioned.

Mitra said the SGCC ignored government policies. Cavite Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla ordered the club’s indefinite closure for holding an unauthorized tournament.

It was reported that some of the participants in the 14th PEMCOR Cup hosted by Club 515 at Alabang Country Club allegedly did not wear face masks.

“The JAO group has finished its in-

vestigation and has submitted its findings to the IATF through the DOH (Department of Health). We hope that those found to have violated the guidelines be sanctioned,” said PSC Chairman William Ramirez.

The PSC, GAB and DOH recently set up the tripartite body that created the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) for the conduct of sports during the coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis.

The PSC initially wrote a letter to Alabang Country Club president Virgilio Balaguer requesting them to provide information on the alleged activity.

Alabang Country Club Chairman of the Board Homer Perez and Balaguer replied that they have an ongoing investigation regarding the incident.

Perez added that the board created a special committee to look into the matter.

The board vowed to notify the PSC of the result of the investigation and their decision.

So far, no final word has been heard from top Alabang Country Club officials.

PARIS, France—Former champion Simona Halep arrives at the rescheduled French Open as the player to beat in a women’s draw missing title holder Ashleigh Barty and recent US Open winner Naomi Osaka, two of the world’s top three.

Serena Williams can never be discounted as she launches another bid for a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam singles crown, but Roland Garros is the American’s least successful major despite her wins in 2002, 2013 and 2015.

Garbine Muguruza, who defeated Williams in the 2016 final, is another contender while fellow former world number one Victoria Azarenka is hoping to take the momentum from her run to the US Open final into the clay swing.

Last year’s runner-up Marketa Vondrousova will again target a deep run in Paris having rediscovered some form at last week’s Italian Open, where she made the semi-finals before losing to compatriot Karolina Pliskova.

The fourth-ranked Czech retired from the final with a thigh injury after dropping the first set to Halep, who extended her winning run to 14 matches after capturing a second consecutive title coming out of lockdown.

Pliskova, the second seed in Paris, said Halep was undoubtedly the favourite for a tournament pushed back from its traditional spring slot for the first time in its history due to the coronavirus.

“I think she’s going to be the (top) favorite from the women’s tournament, because I think also the way she played, she played already (won) Prague on clay.

She won this tournament.

“So I feel like she’s confident. For sure she’s going to be dangerous.

“I know the weather is not looking that great in Paris, so I think the conditions just to like play aggressive game against her is going to be quite tough.”

Several top 10 players return Halep, who also won in Dubai before the five-month tour suspension, spent the break working hard on her fitness, but said the global health crisis had given her a fresh outlook on tennis.

“I’m more mature, I think. The pandemic got me in a place that I really dreamed to be,” she told WTA Insider.

“I am more relaxed because I could see that the most difficult things are in life in general, not in sport.”

No woman has successfully defended the French Open title since Justine Henin won three times in a row between 2005 and 2007, a trend set to continue with Barty pulling out over the coronavirus fears that also prompted her to skip the US Open. AFP

Hamilton eyes Schumacher record despite virus worries SOCHI, Russia—Lewis Hamilton seeks to equal Michael Schumacher’s record 91 Formula One wins at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi on Sunday despite fears over a potential coronavirus fall-out from allowing 30,000 fans to attend.

The six-time world champion is one win away from what once was believed to be an untouchable total, but he will be a clear favorite to succeed on a track where he has triumphed four times in six years.

He has also reeled off six wins in nine races this season to open up a 55-point lead ahead of Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas in the title race, the Finn and former team-mate 2016 champion Nico Rosberg being the only other victors since Sochi arrived on the calendar.

Another Mercedes win at the former home of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games would also be a record for most successive victories by a team at a single Grand Prix.

But all involved with the champions are aware that not only is the event set to be the first sporting occasion to host a major crowd in the COVID-19 era, but it will also see the team shadowed by a Netflix film crew.

The organizers say 30,000 spectators are expected and that the race is sold out.

The cameras will be recording content for the third ‘Drive to Survive’ series—and tip-toeing around their subjects, hoping to avoid a repeat of

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton reacts on the podium after the Tuscany Formula One Grand Prix at the Mugello circuit in Scarperia e San Piero on September 13, 2020. AFP

events in Germany last year.

Then, at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, run in teeming rain, Mercedes celebrated 125 years of motorsport with their worst performance of the season—a flu-struck Hamilton ending up classified ninth and Bottas crashing out from fourth.

“It made a very entertaining episode for Netflix,” said Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff. “ “But this time, we hope we can have great content—and have a great race.”

Hamilton, lauded this week as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world this year, has approached the race with humility.

“I never thought that I would be here, that’s for sure,” he said after his 90th career triumph at the Tuscan Grand Prix two weeks ago.

“It just does not seem real to me.”

His greatest rival this weekend is likely to be teammate Bottas, winner on the tight Sochi track in 2017, his maiden triumph.

The Finn has proved himself to be a force on the circuit that suits his style and knows he has to wreck Hamilton’s party to stay in the championship race.

After two pointless exits with car failures, Max Verstappen of Red Bull will be seeking a return to his earlier form.

“It’s not easy in Sochi and the track is not a favorite for us with a lot of long straights —it’s not easy to overtake,” he said. AFP

Modern tech will enforce protocols at PBA ‘bubble’

Alaska Aces Assistant Coach Danny Ildefonso (left) supervises the non-contact practice at the Gatorade Hoops Center. With him are players including Barkley Eboña and Vic Manuel (right). PBA Media

MODERN technology will play a big role in enforcing health and safety protocols when games of the Philippine Basketball Association returns under a bubble setup in Clark City in Angeles, Pampanga this October.

Everyone inside the “bubble” system will be monitored via a contact tracing app that can track everyone’s movements during the duration of the restart of the PBA Philippine Cup. And that app will be the StaySafePh monitoring system.

Officials of the PBA and the Bases Conversion Development Authorities discussed the precautions that they will use during web conference on Zoom yesterday.

Talks on safety measures took place after

the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases gave the pro league its provisional nod.

The league may now hold scrimmages and five-a-side games that will go on next month at the Clark Freeport in Pampanga.

“It’s the monitoring system that will do contact tracing and will allow us to know where the players are, and if there’s proper distancing,” said PBA chairman Ricky Vargas.

Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Vince Dizon said that with the favorable government response on the PBA’s plans, the BCDA will allow and limit everyone’s movements.

And this will in the playing areas and

practices areas at the facilities of the Angeles University Foundation (AUF), and at the surrounding areas of the 200-hectare Mimosa Golf and Country Club.

Mimosa will serve as the billeting area for those involved.

“The bubble will be limited to AUF and the Mimosa. And it can be adjusted to the safety and protocol requirement of the PBA,” said Dizon, who added that this can include other places if needed.

Participating squads will enter the bubble on Sept. 26 and scrimmages start the following day.

There will be two matches that will be played daily, and for seven days a week.

Peter Atencio

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Sports

Manila

Standard

C2

TODAY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Description

IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR INSOLVENCY AND LIQUIDATION OF SPOUSES FRANCIS CHUNG BUN SIM AND LUCIA T. CHUNG, SEC. NO. R-QZN-20-05697-CV SPOUSES FRANCIS CHUNG BUN SIM AND LUCIA T. CHUNG, Petitioners. x-------------------------------------------------x

Manila

Location

1.Condominium Units (Units 2013 & 2014)

AIC, Tower, Pasig

Empire Ortigas,

2.Residential Lot, (Block 91 Lot 37)

Eagle Ridge, Gen. Trias, Cavite

Area/Size

TCT/CCT No.

Y e a r Acquired

Acquisition Value

82.23sqm. each ( To t a l : 164.46sqm.)

No Condominium Certificate of Title (CCT) yet

1995

Php7,989,500.00

345sqm.

No TCT yet, (title still for transfer)

1998

Php1,393,500.00

Total

ORDER Before this Court is a verified Petition filed by petitioner spouses Francis Chung Bun Sim and Lucia T. Chung as the majority shareholders and President of CL Metals & Wire Manufacturing Corp. (CL Metals, for brevity), a company engaged in the importation and sale of coppers, which shows compliance with R.A. No. 10142 (Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act of 2010) and the Financial Liquidation and Suspension of Payments Rules of Procedure for Insolvent Debtors (2015), among other things, petitioners spouses Francis Chung Bun Sim and Lucia T. Chung are hereby declared insolvent as their stated debts/liabilities of Php 1,708,159,145.88 are more than their stated total/aggregate assets of Php 48,826,984.70. Consequently, the liquidation of the properties of the petitioners-spouses are hereby ordered, and this court issues this Liquidation Order as follows: 1. Ordering the Deputy Sheriff Ellery Reyes to take possession and control of and safekeep, until the election and appointment of a liquidator, all the properties of the petitioners/debtors, except those that may be exempt by law from execution.

2. Ordering the publication of the verified Petition and this Order once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines, the first publication to be published not earlier than September 15 but not later than September 25, 2020 at the expense of the petitioners.

3. Ordering payments of any claims and conveyance of any property due the petitioners/debtor to the liquidator; 4. Prohibiting any payment by the petitioners/debtors and the transfer of any property by the petitioners/debtors; 5. Directing all creditors to file their claims with the liquidator within the period set by the liquidator after his/her election and appointment;

Company

Number of Shares

CL Metals & Wire Manufacturing Corp.

Book Value Php39,000,000.00

390,000 `

22. The total liabilities of the Petitioners as sureties of CL Metals, which amounts to Php1,708,159,145.88, are substantially greater than their current assets, which is only Php48,826,984.70. Their assets are not sufficient to cover such huge amount of liabilities; 23. Given their current situation wherein petitioner Francis Chung has lost the major source of his revenue, (i.e. the income he earns from CL Metals), not to mention the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, petitioners have no financial means to pay their obligations as sureties; 24. There is no possibility or chance that petitioners can produce the huge amount of Php1,708,159,145.88 since their current income meagerly covers their expenses to sustain the needs of their family17; 25. Thus, Petitioners humbly invoke the rights and benefits available to them under Republic Act No. 10142, otherwise known as the “Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act of 2010” and the “Financial Liquidation and Suspension of Payments Rules of Procedure for Insolvent Debtors of 2015 (FLSP Rules)”; 26. Chapter VI (B), Section 103 of R.A. 10142 of the FRIA Act of 2010 provides as follows: “(B) Voluntary Liquidation

This case is set for hearing on November 16, 2020 at 11:00 o’clock in the morning, for the election by the creditors of a liquidator of the properties of the petitioners/debtors, and for further appropriate proceeding/s. The petitioners are ordered to serve copies of this Order by personal service, within twenty (20) days from date of this Order, to all known creditors at the expense of the petitioners. All creditors and debtors of the petitioners/debtors are directed to submit to this Court within ten (10) days from their receipt of this Order the names of their nominees for the position of liquidator.1

SECTION 103. Application. – An individual debtor whose properties are not sufficient to cover his liabilities, and owing debts exceeding Five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00), may apply to be discharged from his debts and liabilities by filing a verified petition with the court of the province or city in which he has resided for six (6) months prior to the filing of such petition. He shall attach to his petition a schedule of debts and liabilities and an inventory of assets. The filing of such petition shall be an act of insolvency.”

SO ORDERED. September 10, 2020, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

27.

MARIA ZORAIDA S. ZABAT TUAZON Presiding Judge

Cc: ATTY. RUFINO V. ABUDA Unit 12-E Molave Tower Peninsula Garden Midtown Homes Penafrancia St., corner Quirino Ave., Extension Paco, Manila

Php9,383,000.00

SHARES OF STOCK

6. Authorizing the payment of administrative expenses as they become due;

On the other hand, Rule 3 (B) Sec. 11 of the FLSP Rules provides: “B. VOLUNTARY LIQUIDATION

Sec. 11. WHO MAY FILE PETITION; VENUE; CONTENTS. – An individual debtor whose liabilities exceed his assets and whose debts exceed Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (500,000.00) may file a verified petition for liquidation in the court having jurisdiction over the province or city where he has resided for six (6) months prior to the filing of the petition.”

28. As narrated above, Petitioners’ total liabilities in their capacity as sureties of CL Metals based on the demand letters sent by the aforementioned banks is Php1,708,15,145.88, while the total value of their assets is only Php48,826,984.70. Petitioners’ assets are not sufficient to cover their liabilities as sureties;

SPS. FRANCIS CHUNG BUN SIM and LUCIA T. CHUNG No. 9 Bluebird St., Greenmeadows Subd., Barangay Ugong Norte, Quezon City Sheriff ELLERY REYES RTC, Branch 90, Quezon City

29. In view thereof, Petitioners humbly and sincerely pray that they be discharged from all their liabilities as sureties and that their remaining assets and properties not exempt from attachment or execution be assigned and distributed to the creditors-banks;

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH__, QUEZON CITY

30. Petitioners did not acquire any property, nor did they sell, dispose or donate any property, in the immediately preceding two (2) years; 31. Petitioners have no executor contracts and unexpired leases; 32. Pursuant to the FLSP Rules, petitioners nominate the following persons to the position of liquidator:

IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR INSOLVENCY AND LIQUIDATION OF SPOUSES FRANCIS CHUNG BUN SIM AND LUCIA T. CHUNG,

1. Atty. Rico J. De Guzman, CPA 2. Atty. Chris A. Rafal, CPA 3. Atty. Janeth G. Hernandez, CPA

COMMERCIAL CASE NO. R-QZN-20-05697-CV SPOUSES FRANCIS CHUNG BUN SIM AND LUCIA T. CHUNG, Petitioners. x---------------------------------------x

PRAYER WHEREFORE, Petitioners respectfully pray of this Honorable Court that Judgment be rendered as follows:

PETITION PETITIONERS SPOUSES FRANCIS CHUNG BUN SIM and LUCIA T. CHUNG, by and through the undersigned counsel, respectfully state that – 1. This is a Petition for Insolvency and Liquidation pursuant to Republic Act No. 10142, otherwise known as the “Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act of 2010 (FRIA)” and the “Financial Liquidation and Suspension of Payments Rules of Procedure for Insolvent Debtors (2015) or the “FLSP Rules”1; 2. Petitioners respectfully pray that they be discharged from liabilities, and their assets, which are not exempt from attachment or execution, be partitioned and distributed among their creditors, in accordance with the rules on preference of credits; 3. Petitioners are married2 to each other, Filipinos, both of legal age and residents of No. 9 Bluebird St., Greenmeadows Subd., Barangay Ugong Norte, Quezon City since February 19823.

Manila, for Quezon City ATTY. RUFINO V. ABUDA Counsel for the Petitioners Roll No. 60530 PTR No. 9159434; 01.10.20; Manila IBP No. 110846; 01.18.20; Manila IV MCLE Compliance No. VI-0022191 Email: rufino_abuda@yahoo.com 0917-1376890

7. As part of the requirements by the said banks, Petitioners-Spouses Francis Chung Bun Sim and Lucia T. Chung were required to sign suretyship agreements to guarantee the performance and payment of the obligations and debts that CL Metals may avail under the credit facilities granted to it;

Unit 12-E Molave Tower, Peninsula Garden Midtown Homes Peñafrancia St. corner Quirino Ave.,Extension, Paco, Manila

8. This practice was consistently done and required by the bank. Petitioner-Spouses chung were always required to sign surety agreements to guarantee all the credit facilities granted to and availed of

by CL Metals;

VERIFIED DECLARATION I, Atty. RUFINO V. ABUDA, hereby declare that, pursuant to and in compliance with Section 3 of Rule of A.M. No. 15-04-06-SC, the Petition for Insolvency and Liquidation submitted electronically (two [2] digitized copies on CDs) in the above-captioned case on 30 July 2020 is a complete and true copy of the document filed with the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City on the same date.

Atty. RUFINO V. ABUDA Counsel for the Petitioners 30 July 2020 SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me a Notary Public in the City of Quezon City this JULY 30 2020, affiant exhibiting to me his IBP I.D. with Roll No. 60530.

Doc. No. 484; Page No. 97; Book No. CXVII; Series of 2020.

13. Then in December of 2019, petitioners received a letter from Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) demanding them to pay the unpaid obligation of CL Metals in the amount of Php430,989,435.69, in their capacity as sureties7;

15. Thereafter, petitioners received another letter dated February 10, 2020 from Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank), demanding them to pay the unpaid obligation of CL Metals in the mount of Php314,180,340.28, in their capacity as sureties9; 16. Then in February 2020, petitioners were sued by BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) for the payment of the unpaid obligation of CL Metals in the amount of Php429,319,500.00, again in their capacity as sureties. The case is now pending before the Regional Trial Court of Makati Branch 132; 17. The total sum being demanded by the abovementioned banks from the petitioners is10: Name of Bank

VERIFICATION WITH CERTIFICATE OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING We, FRANCIS CHUNG BUN SIM and LUCIA T. CHUNG, after being duly sworn to in accordance with law, hereby depose and state: THATWe are the petitioners in the above-captioned case; We have caused the preparation of the foregoing Petition; We hereby attest that the contents thereof are true and correct of our own personal knowledge and based on authentic records.

We have not commenced any similar action or petition involving the same parties in any other Courts, the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court or any other tribunal or agency exercising quasijudicial function. Should we thereafter learn that a similar action or petition involving the same parties is pending before any other Courts, the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court or any other tribunal or government agency, we hereto undertake to inform this Honorable Court, or any other Court who may have jurisdiction hereof of such action within a period of five (5) days from knowledge thereof.

Amount Demanded

1. Chinabank

Php200,000,000.00

2. Chinabank

Php292,168,513.74

3. RCBC

Php430,989,435.69

4. Asian United Bank

Php41,501,356.17

5. Metrobank

Php314,180,340.28

Affiant further sayeth naught.

FRANCIS CHUNG BUN SIM Affiant

Total

LUCIA T. CHUNG Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this JULY 28, 2020 in the City of Manila; affiants exhibiting to me their – Name

Type of ID and No.

Francis Chung BSG Phil. Passport No. PO149505A Lucia T. Chung Phil. Passport No. PO149503A

Php429,319,500.00

6. BDO

Php1,708,159,145.88

Date Issued 05 Sept 2016 05 Sept 2016

Place Issued/ Issuing Authority DFA-NCR East DFA-NCR East

Valid identification documents bearing their photographs and signatures.

18. Since CL Metals can no longer finance its operation and unable to pay its obligations, the said banks are now demanding payment from the Petitioners in their capacity as sureties of CL Metals; 19. Petitioners have no capacity to pay the sum of Php1,708,159,145.88 being demanded by the banks as their sources of income are limited to petitioner Francis Chung Bun Sim’s income and pension as follows: (a)

Monthly Pension from Social Security System (SSS) – Php 15,000.00;

(b)

Compensation from Century Container Corp. – an annual salary of Php631,916.8011 (monthly salary of Php52,676.3912); and

(c)

Revenue that he may derive from CL Metals and Wire Manufacturing Corp. – no revenue in 2019;

20. Petitioner Lucia T. Chung, on the other hand, is a plain housewife with no source of income; 21. Currently, Petitioners’ assets13 are as follows: CASH IN BANK Name of Bank

Account Number

Name

&

Account

Present Balance

BDO Unibank, Inc.

Bunsim G. Chung (Francis) Acct. No. 004020161561

Php41,461.0514

RCBC (Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation)

Bun Sim G. Chung Acct. No. 0000007590680746

Php328,058.3415

Bank of the Philippines Island (BPI)

Chung Bun Sim and/or Lucia Chung Acct. No. 4330002528

Php74,465.3116

Total Amount

Php443,984.70

Jones who will move up to heavyweight.

Reyes lost a narrow decision to Jones at UFC 247 last February. Before that he won 12 consecutive pro fights. A grizzled veteran, the 37-yearold Blachowicz has 28 wins and eight losses in a checkered pro career that dates back to 2007.

Other fights in the main card include Brandon Royval taking on Kai Kara-France at f lyweight; Ketlen Viera battling Sijara Eubanks at women’s bantamweight; and Zubaira Tukhugov facing Hakeem Dawodu at featherweight.

In the preliminary card Brad Riddell takes on Alex da Silva at lightweight; Diego Sanchez battles Jake Matthews at welterweight; Shane Young faces Ludovit Klein at featherweight; Aleksa Camur tangles with William Knight at light heavyweight.

Big boys battle in the early prelims when Juan Espino faces Jeff Hughes at heavyweight and Khadis Ibragimov takes on Danilo Marques at light heavyweight.

2. After due notice and hearing, render judgment discharging Petitioners from all their liaibilites as sureties and that their remaining assets and properties not exempt from attachment or execution be assigned and distributed equitably among Petitioner’s creditors.

6. To finance its operation, CL Metals applied for and was granted credit facilities or accommodations by different banks, namely: BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO), Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), China Banking Corporation (Chinabank), Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank) and Asia United Bank Corporation (AUB);

14. Petitioners also received a letter dated February 04, 2020 from the law office of Jimenea & Partners, on behalf of Asia United Bank Corporation (AUB), demanding the payment of CL Metals’ unpaid obligation in the amount of Php 41,501,356.17, in their capacity as sureties8’;

Israel Adesanya defends his UFC middleweight crown against Paulo Costa in the main event at the Flash Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz battle for the vacant UFC light heavyweight crown in the comain event.

Adesanya defends his crown for the second time after he won the title by knocking out Robert Whittaker in the second round of their match last October.

He retained the diadem with a unanimous decision victory over Yoel Romero last March.

Adesanya is unbeaten in 19 pro fights. He has been busy the past few years posting eight wins inside the UFC Octagon since February, 2018. Costa is likewise unbeaten, winning all of his 13 pro fights.

The last time two unbeaten male fighters squared off for a UFC championship was in 2009 when Rashad Evans lost his light heavyweight title to Lyoto Machida.

Reyes and Blachowicz will be fighting for the light heavyweight throne vacated by Jon

c. ORDER the publication of the Liquidation Order together with the Petition and DIRECT the Branch Sheriff to serve copies of the Liquidation Order upon all creditors of the Petitioners;

28 July 2020.

12. Subsequently, a “Notice of Dishonor and Demand to Pay” dated January 30, 2020 was thereafter received by petitioners from the abovementioned law office on behalf of Chinabank, covering eight (8) checks issued by petitioner Francis Chung Bun Sim to Chinabank as a security to guarantee the payment of CL Metals’ obligation in the amount of Php200,000,000.006;

WO blockbuster title fights will headline UFC 253 as big-time MMA defies the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic anew when it returns to Fight Island in the Middle East on Sunday, September 27, 2020.

b. ISSUE the necessary Liquidation Order DECLARING the Petitioners Insolvent and ORDERING their liquidation in accordance with Section 112 of R.A. 10142 (FRIA Act of 2010) and Section 2, Rule 4 (A) of the FLSP Rules;

5. Petitioner Francis Chung Bun Sim is the majority shareholder and President of LC Metals & Wire Manufacturing Corp. (CL Metals for brevity), a company engaged in the importation and sale of coppers;

11. Thus, sometime in November of 2019, petitioners received a letter from Chinabank demanding them to pay Php200,000.00 in their capacity as sureties of CL Metals4. This was followed by another letter dated January 30, 2020 from Chinabank’s counsel, Alcala Dumlao Alameda Tan Alano & Maningding, demanding the payment of Php292,168,513.74 to their client, Chinabank5;

By Reuel Vidal

a. DECLARE the instant Petition sufficient in form and substance in accordance with R.A. 10142 (FRIA Act of 2010) and the FLSP Rules;

Other reliefs just and equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for.

10. As consequence, the banks turned to Petitioners, as sureties, for the payment of the unpaid obligations of CL Metals;

TODAY

1. Upon filing of this Petition:

4. Petitioners may be served with summons, orders, resolutions, notices, processes and other papers by the Honorable Court thru the undersigned counsel;

9. However, in 2018 and 2019, CL Metals encountered business difficulties and thereafter incurred losses until it can no longer pay its debts and obligations to the banks;

Adesanya faces Costa at UFC in Abu Dhabi T Standard

REAL PROPERTIES

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 90, QUEZON CITY

Doc. No. 57; Page No. 13; Book No. XX; Series of 2020.

A.M. No.15-04-06-SC, dated April 21, 2015 Original copy of Petitioners’ Certificate of Marriage (PSA Copy) is hereto attached as ANNEX “A”.

Original copies of the Barangay Certificate of Residence of Petitioners Francis Chung Bun Sim and Lucia T. Chung are hereto attached as ANNEX “B” and ANNEX “B-1”, respectively.

4 Original copy of the demand letter from Chinabank dated November 20, 2019 is hereto attached as ANNEX “C”.

5 Original copy of the demand letter dated January 30, 2020 from the law office of Alcala Dumlao Alameda Tan Alano & Maningding, on behalf of Chinabank, is hereto attached as ANNEX “C-1”.

6 Original copy of the Notice of Dishonor and Demand to Pay dated January 30, 2020 from the law office of Alcala Dumlao Alameda Tan Alano & Maningding, on behalf of Chinabank, is hereto attached as ANNEX “D”.

7 Original copy of the demand letter from RCBC dated December 6, 2019 is hereto attached as ANNEX “E”.

8 Original copy of the demand letter dated February 4, 2020 from Jimenea & Partners, on behalf of Asia United Bank, is hereto attached as ANNEX “F”.

9 Original copy of the demand letter from Metrobank dated February 10, 2020 is hereto attached as ANNEX “G”.

10 A scheduled of Debts and Liabilities, including the List of Petitioners’ Creditors with their addresses and amount of claims” is hereto attached as ANNEX “H” in compliance with the FLSP Rules.

11 Original copy of Petitioner Francis Chung Bun Sim’s Income Tax Return (ITR) or BIR Form 2316 for the year 2019 is hereto attached as ANNEX “I” in compliance with the FLSP Rules.

12 Original copy of Petitioner Francis Chung Bun Sim’s Payslip for July 1-15, 2020 from Century Container Corp. is hereto attached as ANNEX “J”.

13 An Inventory of Petitiioners’ Assets is hereto attached as ANNEX “K” in compliance with the FLSP Rules.

14 A faithful reproduction of Petitioner Francis Chung Bun Sim’s BDO passbook is hereto attached as ANNEX “L”.

15 A faithful reproduction of Petitioner Francis Chung Bun Sim’s RCBC Passbook is hereto attached as ANNEX “M”.

16 A printed copy of the Online Statement of Account of Petitioner’s BPI Account is hereto attached as ANNEX “N” and made an integral part hereof.

17 A Schedule of Petitioners’ Current and Expenditure within three (3) months prior to the filing of the petition is hereto attached as ANNEX “O’ in compliance with the FSP Rules.

1 2 3

(MStandard-Sept. 25 & Oct. 2, 2020)

Paulo Cost (left) battles Yoel Romero in this file photo of their fight at UFC 241 held August 17, 2019 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. AFP

UST names third IPEA director within a month

By Peter Atencio A NEW director has been named to the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) of University of Santo Tomas.

Fr. Rodel Cansancio will now take the place of Ermito de Sagon, and he will be the third sports official which has taken over the university’s sports program over the past month.

The university named Casancio as the new head of the IPEA through its official publication, Varsitarian.

Many changes in the IPEA have taken place since resignation of Fr. Jannel Abogado, who quit following controversies which took place after the UST Growling Tigers held a training bubble in Sorsogon.

The Sorsogon camp, and the investigation done by government agencies, eventually paved the way for the resignation of Aldin Ayo as coach and his indefinite ban from the UAAP. Two assistant coaches, and eight players eventually left the squad.

Cansancio previously worked as UST’s acting assistant to the Vice Rector for Finance. He is expected to come aboard as a member of the Board of Managing Directors (BMD) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

For now, a total of 12 candidates are aspiring to be the next coach of the Growling Tigers.

Among the applicants are Aris Dimaunahan, former Alaska import Sean Chambers, Rain or Shine assistant Chris Gavina, and alumni Siot Tanquingcen.

The Varsitarian, the school’s official publication, reported on Wednesday that Cansancio has been named new IPEA director.

He will be in charge of finding the next steward for the rebuilding Growling Tigers.

Cansancio replaces Fr. Ermito de Sagon, who took over the job on an interim basis following the resignation of Fr. Jannel Abogado in the wake of the fallout from the controversial Bicol bubble.

The Bicol bubble set for the UST Tigers during community quarantine led to the resignation of Aldin Ayo as coach and his indefinite ban from the UAAP. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Entertainment Alden Richards shares takeaways from latest docu special ACTOR Alden Richards has been on a roll lately with various projects coming his way. But this does not mean that the bankable star has not been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic himself.

Like most celebrities and as a business owner, the Kapuso star experienced how this invisible enemy has taken a toll on various industries. This is why he can relate to his upcoming project with GMA Public Affairs.

Airing on Sunday, Sept. 27, Lockdown: Food Diaries is a documentary that offers a glimpse into the lives of various workers in the food sector and highlights their courage and determination as they put their safety on the line just to keep the supply chain running.

Lockdown: Food Diaries is Alden’s first project since the lockdown that involved on-location shoots. And since the special was shot after the metro was placed under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), Alden and the show’s production team had to deal with the challenges of shooting, making sure that they

follow all the protocols of taping on location.

The 28-year-old actor, who was recently named as Department of Health’s Anti-COVID-19 Awareness Campaign Ambassador, notes of everyone’s ‘new normal’ way of preparing to go out: “Before the pandemic, whenever we would leave the house sine-secure mga dadalhin ‘yung pitaka natin, bag, susi ng kotse. But now, face mask, face shield, and alcohol are already part of the things we carry with us.”

In the docu, Alden features quarantine food trends. From burnt cheesecake to ube cheesecake, and sushi bake, he samples these “quarantineborn” food items. But beyond taking a bite of these sumptuous food items, Alden looks at how the pandemic has made a dent on the food industry, taking note of how Filipino ingenuity arises amid adversity.

Being a restaurant owner and a food chain franchise owner, Alden also shares how his businesses suffered and how he adapted to the changes.

“We had certain adjustments and scheduling.

For us, we wanted to take care of our staff more than thinking of the income our restaurants generate. Kasi hindi naman po kami kikita kung hindi din dahil sa mga taong nagtatrabaho at naghihirap every day,” he says.

Alden takes viewers to his restaurant and shows them the changes they had to implement to deal with the new normal. These included making sure the area has foot mats, disinfection zones, logbook for contact tracing, checking of body temperature, providing guidelines to dine-in customers, and observing physical distancing.

In doing Lockdown: Food Diaries, Alden also found inspiration from people who pivoted amid the pandemic. He said these people have shown him how no one should let the pandemic dictate our lives but instead endeavor to push ourselves further so that we can rise above the situation.

Lockdown: Food Diaries airs on Sept. 27, 3:45 p.m. on GMA Network.

A remarkably different love in

‘MY EXTRAORDINARY’

‘My Extraordinary’ is a colorful tale about innocence, friendship, the beauty of awakening desire, acceptance, and how time heals all wounds.

That same level of seriousness, among many other similarities, greatly helped the two gentlemen create a connection that fans and spectators will be witnessing through their series, which at this point makes history by being the first Pinoy BL series to air on local television.

“The story was so well-written that I also fell in love not only with Ken, but the other characters, too. Aside from the awesome story, I love projects that have an impact on the flaws of our society,” shares Ken. Meanwhile, Darwin admits that he almost allowed the project slipped away from him simply because “baka nga maraming mag-bash.”Accepting a queer role wasn’t an easy decision for him.

“Honestly, I have a few friends who don’t support this project. But instead of dwelling on the negative side, I opted to look at the brighter side...I have a lot of friends na part ng LGBTQIA [community] and ginamit ko ‘yun as my inspiration,” says Darwin.

Darwin and Enzo’s eight-episode series is set to premiere on the all-new TV5 and GagaooLala on Sept. 27, 10:00 p.m. and will be uploaded on Asterisk Digital Entertainmentchannel on YouTube at 11:00 p.m. on the same day. After the pilot

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

IKE most romantic tales, Shake and Ken’s story started off as a simple encounter between two wandering souls. And that encounter blossoms into a beautiful friendship until they both find that they can no longer live without each other.

Showbiz newcomers Darwin Yu (right) and Enzo Santiago make history on local television with their Pinoy BL series, ‘My Extraordinary.’

Shake and Ken are the lead characters in My Extraordinary, a tender story about innocence, friendship, the beauty of awakening desire, acceptance, and how time heals all wounds. It’s a BL (Boys Love) series that follows the colorful story of two college students, Shake and Ken, and how they try to express themselves despite the society’s

best actor in 2017 Madrid International Film Festival and PMPC Star Awards for Best New Movie Actor.

Enzo, 19, on the other hand, has had a number of acting gigs including in Kathryn Bernardo-Daniel Padilla horror-fantasy drama La Luna Sanggre and Boy Abunda Originals: A Trilogy of Love Stories titled Young Love.

L

Nicole Angela Crescini, 20, is a Boracay beauty and a student at Far Eastern University.

many expectations.

Shake and Ken are played by young actor Darwin Yu and Enzo Santiago, respectively.

Both barely new in showbiz standards, Darwin and Enzo undeniable passion for their craft can easily be spotted even from afar.

Darwin, 21, was already nominated as

PAGEANT CONCEPT ETON CONCEPCION WHILE the annual grand Aliwan Festival 2020 got canceled due to the ongoing pandemic, Manila Broadcasting Company is pushing through with the special edition of Aliwan Fiesta Queen 2020 with nine candidates competing for the coveted crown.

Preliminary competitions are being streamed live on MBC’s social media platforms via the Facebook pages of Aliwan Fiesta, Love Radio, Yes The Best, Easy Rock and Radyo Natin and also aired over DZRH News TV. The Pride of Place (national costume) was held on Sept. 12, while the Talent Show was held on Sept.

19. The modeling competition and Q&A with the judges is set tomorrow, Sept. 26 while the Coronation Night is on Oct. 3.

The nine lovely candidates are Jasmine Omay (Tarlac), Bianca Wilhelmina Willemsen (Cebu), Jannarie Zarzoso (Agusan del Norte), Alana Monica Rhedey (Baguio), Nicole Angela Crescini (Aklan), Katrina Johnson (Davao), Esperanza Francisco (Naga City), Sharon Idone (Iloilo), and Alyssa May Nicholls (Sultan Kudarat).

Winner of Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen 2020 takes home a cash money of

episode, GagaOOLala will pre-release the new episodes every Tuesday starting Sept. 29 or five days earlier than TV and YouTube release.

My Extraordinary, the pioneering Filipino BL series on national television, is directed by Jolo Atienza, written by Vincent DeJesus and produced by AsterisK Digital Entertainment.

ALIWAN FIESTA QUEEN search goes online P50,000, 1st runner-up receives P25,000, and 2nd runner-up, P15,000. They will also receive the counterpart amounts for their respective chosen charities, while the other candidates get consolation prizes. Special awards include the Netizens Choice, Miss Unique Smile, Miss Tibay Tanduay, Miss Charm, and Miss White Rose.

Miss FIT Philippines Pageant launched ULTRA, the Ultimate in Health and Beauty, together with ProMedia Productions, launches the newest pageant in the new normal­—Miss FIT Philippines 2020.

With a focus on F.I.T. or Face, Intelligence, and Tone (Toned Body), this virtual beauty pageant advocates fitness, defined as “good health and the strength of the empowered woman.”

Miss FIT Philippines believes that beauty is encapsulated in the three forms of fitness: mental, emotional and physical, also known as holistic fitness.

For this 2020 edition, wholistic fitness is taking a more profound role in fighting the global pandemic, making this pageant more relevant than ever.

If you are a biologically-born female,

with Filipino lineage living in the Philippines or overseas, single, have never given birth, 18 to 26 years old and at least 5'4”, this is your chance to become the first ever Miss FIT Philippines in this nationwide and overseas search.

Prizes are: MFP 2020 Ultra Queen P100,000 (cash), 1st runner-up - P60,000 (cash and prizes), 2nd runner up - P40,000 (cash and prizes), 3rd runner up - P20,000 (cash and prizes), 4th runner up - P20,000 (cash and prizes).

Interested parties may go to Miss Fit Philippines' social media accounts for details of application/registration for this VIRTUAL pageant. Facebook: Miss FIT Philippines Instagram: @ missfitphilippines ProMedia Productions is the company behind Miss Bikini Philippines, Shawn Rhoden Classic, Cinco De Mayhem and Tough Mudder Philippines. The search for Miss FIT Philippines is made possible through the support of the following: Mr. Hong’s Samgyeopsal, Sora Amazing Athleisure, Piggy Papa, King FU Express, Empire Marketing Corporation, and Athlete’s Bite Performance Foods.

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

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Alden also found inspiration from people who pivoted amid the pandemic.

(Inset) ‘Lockdown Food Diaries’ is Alden’s first project since the lockdown that involved onlocation shoots.

Celebrating queer love ‘Like in The Movies’ AFTER making an indelible mark on the filmmaking scene with high-caliber and award-winning films like Birdshot, Goyo, Hintayan ng Langit, LSS and Dead Kids, Globe Studio is back with their first ever narrative digital series that aims to bring all the “kilig” and laughter in a refreshingly unique way with Gaya sa Pelikula (Like in The Movies).

The series is a love letter for and from the community in how it freely presents queer love, all its feelings, and all its possibilities that can lead to a most-deserved happy ending.

Without exoticizing queer love, the story is presented in the most normal way possible. For the LGBTQIA+ community, Gaya Sa Pelikula proudly banners - “It’s time to take back our story.”

Written and created by Juan Miguel Severo and directed by JP Habac, the romantic comedy series tells us about Karl, a 19-year-old introverted architecture student in the middle of an identity crisis and Vlad, a schoolmate on the run from his own family. As their lives become entwined by fate, they become housemates over the semestral break where Karl and Vlad come to learn more about each other and about themselves than they could have ever imagined.

Gaya sa Pelikula is an eight-part series of 20-minute episodes that is a prequel to the unproduced teleplays on Wattpad by Severro. It premieres on Globe Studios’ official Youtube Channel starting tonight (Sept. 25) with up and coming actors Paolo Pangilinan and Ian Pangilinan taking on the lead roles of Karl and Vlad, respectively.

Gaya sa Pelikula was also chosen to be part of YouTube’s Super Stream content line-up. Super Stream is an effort of YouTube to enable Filipino viewers to access partners' content such as movies, TV shows and more for free for a limited time.

In collaboration with YouTube, the series’ official trailer came out earlier this month with people raving about Paolo and Ian’s palpable chemistry on screen.

New episodes drop every Friday at 8:00 p.m. until Nov. 13. Follow the Globe Studios social media pages as well on / globestusiosph on Facebook and Twitter and @globestudios on Instagram. for more content about Gaya sa Pelikula and other exciting projects in the pipeline.

‘Gaya sa Pelikula' is the latest BL series to hit the digital space following the emergence of the BL genre in the country.

Life

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

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TRAVEL & LEISURE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

Let’s go to El Nido STRANGERS IN PARADISE. The eco-luxury Pangalusian Island Resort in El Nido, Palawan will soon open its property via travel bubbles, allowing guests to enjoy the world-class hideaway with only a few people.

By Monica Sanchez

I

T SURE feels like summer in September, making many vacationhungry folks itching to finally go on an adventure before they install their Christmas trees.

World-class tourist destination El Nido Resorts in Palawan is more than excited to welcome guests to its powdery white sand beaches, lush marine life, limestone cliffs, lovely lagoons, and charming guest rooms, which they can enjoy almost privately as each property operates at half capacity.

Since July, the resort group has gradually reopened Miniloc Island Resort with three successful “travel bubbles” to date.

With the so-called travel bubble, El Nido Resorts says tourists will “feel like strangers in paradise” with low-density resorts and tours.

Guests will be flown via leisure carrier on AirSwift flights from Manila and land at the Lio Airport, the jump-off point to the island resorts.

Argee Hizon, who was among the first few guests at Miniloc, shared, “We felt very lucky being one of the first few guests here in the island. All the beautiful places we visited were private, and it was really a very special and memorable vacation.”

“It’s a break away from the usual, as we experienced the beauty of our home country paired with Filipino hospitality. There’s nothing quite like

Pangalusian Island Resort’s Amianan Restaurant

warm smiles welcoming you to your peaceful island getaway,” enthused another guest, Joshua Rey Albarina.

Following successful travel bubbles, the ecoluxury Pangulasian Island Resort will also begin receiving guests on October 16-19 and 23-26. Requirements include mandatory RT-PCR (swab) test 72 hours prior departure.

Also known as the “Island of the Sun,” Pangulasian Island has breathtaking views of both the sunrise and sunset. Guests can frolic at the 750-meter stretch of white sand beach and be amazed by the marine sanctuary.

It has 42 deluxe accommodations built with contemporary Filipino and cutting-edge “green” design. Discerning guests are promised to be treated to luxurious amenities and personalized service.

The resort chain is currently accepting bookings from Dec. 15 to Jan. 5, 2021 through its Best Island Getaway Sale until the end of October, with open-dated travel vouchers valid till next year. For details, email holiday@elnidoresorts.com or call 0917-5841576.

has more than 30 years’ experience in education leadership and management in hospitality and tourism throughout Australia and Asia.

The interesting topic taken up that day was “golf tourism,” which is quite timely because the popularity of this sport has spread globally and has continued to rise over the past decades. Currently, there are about 56 million golfers worldwide and about 5 percent of them travel just to play golf.

It is not true that golf is an acronym for Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden. The word traces its origin to the Dutch word kolve, which means “club,” because the Dutch started it all by playing a game with a stick hitting a leather ball towards a target several yards away. Whoever hit the ball with the fewest strokes was the winner.

But modern-day golf, played over an 18-hole course, was born in the Old Course of St. Andrews in Scotland in the 18th century. It is every golfer’s dream to play in this course, the oldest in the world, and also known as The Home of Golf.

Without skipping a beat, let me point

Underwater wonders at South Miniloc.

was later expanded to 18-hole in the 1980s.

In Southeast Asia, however, the most popular golf destination is Thailand, which boasts a long list of world-class golf courses located in Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Phuket, Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai. They welcomed approximately 700,000 foreign golfers last year.

But this number represents only less than 2 percent of the country’s total tourist arrivals which reached almost 40 million last year.

We have 125 golf courses all over our archipelago, most of which offer lush greens set against amazing vistas that have no equal anywhere else in the world. They would have been natural magnets to foreign golfers. Unfortunately, we are lagging behind our Asian neighbors in luring enthusiasts of this sport simply because the golf clubs in the country do not have a uniform set of policies, making it difficult for tour operators to promote the sport internationally.

It is also interesting to note that the very low percentage of golf tourists compared to total arrivals is true in every country anywhere in the world. Nevertheless, we would still want to have more golfers land in our shores because they are big spenders. It is esti-

Golf tourism

THE other day, I was invited to watch 30-Minute Talks, a fast-paced, concise, yet very informative weekly webinar with an audience of more than 3,000 hospitality and tourism students, teaching staff, program administrators, and faculty from all over the world.

It was organized by a trio of internationally recognized tourism and academic professionals led by Dr. Andy Nazarechuk, an old-time friend from my years in the academe. He has had 25 years of international experience working with integrated resorts, universities, and on tourism projects.

Also part of this laudable online discussion were Dr. Perry Hobson, another acquaintance during my stint at the university who is an internationally known academic and journal editor, and has held senior management positions in various universities; and Dr. Alan Williams, who

FRONT DESK

CEB offers non-travel insurance plans DUBBED as a first in the Philippine aviation history, low-cost airline Cebu Pacific (CEB) has announced its partnership with Axa Philippines to offer a lineup of non-travel insurance products.

“We recognize that there is greater need to take care of everyJuan’s health and assets during this time, and that is why we are very excited to introduce CEB Health Protect,” Candice Iyog, CEB vice president of marketing and customer experience said in a statement.

CEB Health Protect, available since September 8, provides coverage for cancer, stroke, and heart attack. It also provides insurance benefits of up to P1 million, allowing families to receive up to 20 percent coverage for nine minor critical conditions.

Various coverage options are available for as low as P535 monthly, along with flexible payment terms of up to 20 years. To purchase a plan, go to CEB website (bit.ly/CEBhealthprotect).

out that our country also takes pride in the fact that the oldest golf course in Asia is the Iloilo Golf Course and Country Club in the verdant rolling fields of Santa Barbara. It started as a nine-hole course but

Low-cost airline Cebu Pacific offers non-travel insurance products.

HOLIDAY Inn Express, Belmont Manila, and Savoy Manila, all located within Resorts World Manila integrated resort, join the ongoing September Online Sale of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association.

Guests can buy vouchers for overnight stay accommodation with breakfast for two from the three RWM hotels for as low as P3,500 nett. The vouchers are valid until September 14, 2021, available stay dates are subject to the government’s mandate on policy for leisure stays.

HSMA’s September Online Sale promo (hsma.org.ph/sos/) runs until September 30, 2021.

mated that they spend 120 percent more than the average tourist, and that certainly would make our tourism cash registers ring louder and longer.

Aside from this, golf tourism also improves the economic condition of the community where the golf club is situated. More residents get employment as caddies, ball boys, and other staff in the club. Multiplier effect comes into play, therefore ensuring the community’s sustainability.

Now that our tourism industry is getting ready to restart soon, will somebody take the cudgels for our tourism stakeholders and help increase our share of this lucrative sector of the industry?

The first step should be to find ways to standardize the policies of our golf clubs.

Definitely, such move will make it easier to promote our beautiful golf courses abroad. If marketed properly, we might even overtake Thailand’s figures.

YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE Two blondes are sitting on a bench in Alabama. One blonde asks, “Which do you think is farther away, Florida or the moon?” The other blonde sarcastically replies, “Duh, can you see Florida from here?”

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@ gmail.com.

RWM hotels join grand September online sale

Discounted overnight stay with breakfast vouchers from Holiday Inn Express Manila are available at HSMA September online sale.