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‘No-El’ teaser draws barbs Pandemic no reason to reset polls—Palace, Comelec, senators

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

HE Palace, senators, the Commission on Elections and poll watchdog groups on Friday all rejected a suggestion by Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo to postpone the 2022 elections over COVID-19 fears.

“We must not use the existing global health crisis as a ground to cancel and reschedule the elections as this would not sit well with the public,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement. Roque said the Constitution is clear on

the fixed date for national elections and said there was enough time to prepare for polls that are still two years away. “We can learn from the examples of other countries, such as the United Next page

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 204 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pro-Cayetano manifesto hits term-sharing By Maricel V. Cruz A MANIFESTO asking Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano to renege on his gentlemen’s agreement to share his term with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco is making the rounds of the House of Representatives and several congressmen have reportedly signed it. The Cayetano-Velasco agreement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte calls for a 15-month tenure as Speaker for Cayetano and the last 21 months of the 18th Congress with Velasco at the helm. Next page

POLS APART. Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano (right) and Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, seen during happier times, have a term-sharing agreement which is now in peril. File photo

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM SEPTEMBER 25)

LOCAL ROUNDUP

• Vaccine out by April ‘21 • Antigen pilot test in Baguio

299,361

Metro mayors go for GCQ retention, DILG says

By Willie Casas

INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday said most Metro Manila mayors want to keep the region under a general community quarantine (GCQ) as the country was poised to breach the 300,000 mark in COVID-19 infections. Año, vice chairman of the Inter-

Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), said he would meet the mayors Sunday and listen to their recommendations and compare these with the data they had. Año spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of Taguig City’s COVID-19 mega-complex fa-

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

cility which will host the new city-run Molecular Laboratory, the Lakeshore Mega-quarantine facility, and the Lakeshore National Testing Facility. Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano said he would also consult their own city health office, barangay and local leaders based on relevant data on the COVID-19 situation.

2,630 61,766 NEW

ACTIVE

5,196

232,399

494

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

By Willie Casas and Rey Requejo THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday said, in a best case scenario, approval of a COVID-19 vaccine in the country might come in April 2021. “The best case scenario (is) if clinical trials are completed by December or January and a company would file with the FDA an application then it’s possible that by April 2021 we will have an approved vaccine,” FDA Director General Eric Domingo said during a Department of Health virtual briefing. Next page

Virus death toll nearing 1m THE death toll from the novel corona- decades but the toll is still far behind that virus is soon expected to pass the grim of the Spanish flu a century ago. one-million mark since the first COVID-19 death was officially recorded in 1,000 deaths in the first month The Sars-CoV-2 virus which causes China on Jan. 11. It has already proved deadlier than oth- the illness known as COVID-19 first er viruses that have emerged over recent Next page

DISASTERS. A unidentified street dweller, begging for alms, gets pinned to death beneath a truck along Osmeña Highway corner San

Andres Bukid in Manila on September 25, 2020. Police are quick to arrest the unnamed truck driver. In Quezon City, firemen hose down a fire before it could engulf a neighborhood in Barangay Mariblo. Norman Cruz

Lawyer presses SolGen to move for SC justice ouster By Maricel V. Cruz SOLICITOR General Jose Calida has been urged anew to file a quo warranto petition seeking the removal of Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen from his post over alleged non-submission of his Statement of Assets, Liabili-

Prisoner swap not for drug mules—DFA By Rey E. Requejo and Joel E. Zurbano MEGA-FACILITY. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and other officials of the National Task Force on Covid-19 lead the launching of Taguig City’s mega-facility on Friday (Sept. 25, 2020) along with Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano. The megafacility is touted as a showcase of pro-active response to the virus pandemic and would be shown to other local government units so they could also adopt its best practices.

FOREIGN Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Friday objected to the grant of pardon to convicted Filipino drug dealers in the Middle East or be included in Next page

ties, and Net Worth (SALN). Lawyer Larry Gadon, in his letter to Calida dated September 25, said “the recent denial of the Supreme Court” on his “request for the release of certified copies of AJ Marivic Leonen’s SALNs should not dampen the advocacy” to pursue the filing of a quo warranto pe-

tition similar to the case of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. “I hereby respectfully urge and respectfully reiterate my request for the Office of the Solicitor General to proceed with the filing of a Quo Warranto case against AJ Marivic Leonen on the Next page

Videocon slip: Solon kisses wife’s breast AN ARGENTINE lawmaker was suspended Thursday after kissing his partner’s breasts during a parliamentary session being held by videoconference, a scene that quickly went viral on social media. As another MP was making his address on Next page

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

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US legislators told: Be wise, not wild By Macon Ramos-Araneta

N ADMINISTRATION senator said Friday it would be wise for United States legislators to do their research first before they act on the new measure filed in the US House of Representatives which seeks to stop American help to the Philippine military and police until reforms are made to address alleged human rights violations. Sen. Christopher Go said while he respected the legislative processes of the US, being another sovereign country, he cited the need for a thorough study on measures that would affect lives not only of their citizens but the rest of the world. “If they want to know the real situation, they are welcome to visit and talk to an ordinary Filipino,” said Go.

In this way, he said the US legislators could feel the genuine democracy the Philippines had, adding they would also learn what the government had been doing to protect the interest, welfare and lives of the Filipinos. Go said he believed President Rodrigo Duterte and President Donald Trump, apart from their friendship, both recognized the importance of close

Pro-Cayetano... From A1

‘No-El’... From A1

On Friday, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said he signed the manifesto and denied that Cayetano supporters were promised big cuts from the 2021 budget for projects in exchange for their signatures on the manifesto. Erice cited himself as an example, claiming that his district received one of the smallest allocations amounting to about P400 million in next year’s budget. “I did not ask for anything in exchange for my signature,” he said in Filipino. However, Erice said he did not know how many congressmen have signed the manifesto. Erice said it was inadvisable for the House to change leadership while the country is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the term-sharing agreement, Cayetano is supposed to step down next month. While Velasco has “acted as a good brother to his colleagues, what the House needs now is the wisdom of a good father and thus the gentlemen’s agreement should make way” for Cayetano’s continued leadership. Erice called on Velasco to “sacrifice his personal ambition” for the betterment of all. “He will have his time,” Erice added. Velasco is on his last term as congressman while Cayetano has just returned to the House after 12 years in the Senate. Meanwhile, Cayetano on Wednesday thanked lawmakers for crossing party lines to express their support for his leadership. He asked them to translate the show of unity into action by swiftly passing “the best budget ever” that will prioritize people’s lives and their livelihood.

States, which will be holding an election later this year, on how they conduct polls during [the] COVID-19 pandemic,” he added. Senators, too, were unanimous in their rejection of Arroyo’s suggestion. Senate President Vicente Sotto III said postponement presents a number of controversial and unconstitutional issues. “To name a few--who will hold over their positions? If not, who will appoint their replacements?” Sotto said, noting that the tenure of elected officials is fixed. Senator Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate electoral reforms committee, pointed out that several countries have been able to conduct elections during the pandemic, including South Korea, Taiwan, Belarus, Singapore, Iceland, Poland and, in November, the United States. She said, however, that Congress should explore several options, including a three-day election period to ease crowding in polling stations, expanded early voting or mail-in ballots. Senator Panfilo Lacson said postponing the elections would mean extending the terms of office of the President,

Videocon... From A1 a giant video screen installed in parliament, which also showed other participants in their homes, Juan Emilio Ameri could be seen fondling and kissing the breasts of a woman sitting next to him. The lawmaker from the northeastern province of Salta then pulled one of the woman’s breasts out of her Tshirt and started kissing it. The parliamentary session was initially interrupted, and then suspended, by the speaker Sergio Massa. “The whole time we have been teleworking these past months we have had several incidents where deputies fell asleep or another hid, but today we had a situation that really overstepped the boundaries of this house,” said Massa. Confused, Ameri, 47, tried to apologize, saying that he did not think he was connected to the internet at that particular moment. “Here in the center of the country the connection is very poor. My partner came out of the bathroom, and I asked her how her implants were doing and I kissed them, because she had surgery ten days ago to have them put in.” AFP

Virus... From A1 spread rapidly in China, particularly in the province of Wuhan. In the space of one month, the country recorded one thousand deaths. That initial toll was worse than the total number of deaths caused by earlier acute respiratory syndrome SARS, which circulated in Asia in 2002-2003 and led to 774 fatalities. Countries and territories outside continental China were relatively untouched at that point but the virus was already starting to circulate there. The Philippines registered its first case on February 2 and Hong Kong two days later, followed by Japan and France on

Local... From A1

and strong cooperation in combatting cross-border crimes and threats to both Filipinos and Americans, like terrorism. “We continue to uphold our independent foreign policy — being a friend to all and enemy to none,” Go said. Democratic Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild introduced a bill in the US Congress seeking to suspend American security assistance to the Philippines until the administration of President Duterte instituted reforms in the military and police to end human rights abuses. This was supported by 23 other Democrat legislators. In her sponsorship speech Sept. 17, 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 Philippine National Police, which she says are responsible for committing human rights abuses against labor organizers, workers and political opposition. For his part, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, former chief of the Philippine National Police, if Wild’s proposed measure would be adopted and approved, it would not only be the loss of the Philippines but the United States as well. According to Lacson, this is because a major part of the security assistance extended to the Philippines is used to combat terrorism, which knows no borders and timing. “And since the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement is still existing, they may have to resolve that as a legal issue in their deliberations,” Lacson said.

vice president, 12 senators, district representatives as well as elected local government officials beyond June 30, 2022, which is a clear violation of the Constitution. This means discussing or debating the issue was a waste of time and energy, he added. Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon vowed to vigorously oppose any plan to postpone the 2022 national and local elections. He warned that such a move could be a prelude to the main objective of extending the terms of national officials, congressmen, and other local officials. He said he believed the Senate will not be swayed by any argument to allow the postponement of the 2022 national elections. He added that the Comnelec cannot postpone a national election without the law being amended. “The Comelec can only postpone an election in a political subdivision, meaning the provinces, cities or municipalities, as provided for in the Omnibus Election Code,” Drilon said. Senator Francis Pangilinan said to protect voters from COVID-19, the election period could be extended and larger voting areas could be used to allow for physical distancing. Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, revi-

sion of codes and laws, also said canceling the elections is unconstitutional Poll watchdog groups also said there is no reason to postpone the May 2022 elections. “We do not see any reason to postpone the 2022 NLE (national and local elections). Congressman (Mikey) Arroyo used the low number of registrants to justify his point that voters are afraid because of COVID-19. COVID-19 is not the reason for this low number. Filipinos are just like this, waiting (for) the deadline before taking action. That’s why there are many calls to register now,” Rona Caritos of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections said in a statement. Caritos said other countries have managed to hold their elections this year despite the pandemic. She said there was ample time to prepare. The Comelec also saw no reason to postpone the 2022 elections, even if the pandemic is not over by then. “The election is mandated by the Constitution and can’t be easily changed,” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, speaking in Filipino on Dobol B sa News TV. “At this point we don’t see a need for it.” He added that the Comelec’s preparations for the 2022 elections are based on the assumption that the pandemic would not be over by then.

Contact tracing

COVID-19 treatment. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told a virtual briefing they were still waiting for documents to be finalized. The DOH earlier said that the Avigan trial would be facilitated by UP’s Philippine General Hospital, Sta. Ana Hospital, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, and Quirino Memorial Medical Center. Fujifilm Holdings Corp. this week said that their Phase III clinical trial showed that Avigan, which was initially made to treat flu, reduced recovery times for COVID-19 patients with moderate symptoms.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Friday that Baguio City had been chosen for the pilot use of antigen testing following recommendations to study its diagnostic capacity to screen for COVID-19 cases. According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Baguio City was the preferred pilot site because of its model governance in managing the spread and containment of the coronavirus as it led the way for aggressive and organized contact tracing in the Philippines, while increasing the operational efficiency of its health management system. Antigen tests are used to determine current or active infections among patients. They collect and use swab samples to test a person under monitoring for COVID-19 in a process similar to the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests. However, unlike RT-PCR, tests that can take up to three days to process results, said antigen tests have only about 4-6 hours turnaround time for release of results.

“That is the best case scenario. Meaning, the three to six months trial will just be three months and they will complete all of their analyses and submit immediately,” said Domingo. Science Secretary Fortunato de la Peña explained in the same briefing that this time period – three to six months – was the experts’ estimate on Phase III clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines. “In my estimate when they say three to six months we prefer to use the longer forecast in our estimates. That would indicate that in that period they would have finished the clinical trials and probably already submitted to FDA the application and the results of their trial,” Domingo said. Currently, the Philippines is negotiating with 17 vaccine developers and six of them already have signed confidentiality disclosure agreements (CDA) that would allow the sharing of their earlier trial results. However, the Philippine government said it would prioritize the World Health Avigan trials Organization’s Solidarity Trial, which Clinical trials for the drug Avigan will involve simultaneous testing of sev- in the Philippines is delayed although eral vaccines in different countries. Japan may be nearing approving it as a

Lawyer... From A1 ground of [alleged] lack of integrity for not filing complete SALNs,” Gadon said in his two page letter to Calida. Gadon said: “I do not see any valid reason why the same request should be denied by the Supreme Court when all requisites have been complied with by the undersigned by accomplishing February 13 and 14.

the SALN request form provided on the website of the Supreme Court itself, duly accomplished and notarized, which was exactly the same thing and procedure I complied with (in) my previous request for the Sereno SALNs which was almost immediately granted by the Supreme Court en banc with AJ Leonen even voting for its approval. “I do not see any reason why the same reception cannot be given in the instant request for AJ Marivic Leonen’s

ly reported every day. By then the total number of deaths worldwide had risen ‘Black April’ for Europe and US to nearly 170,000, or double the level By March 11, when the WHO declared reported on March 31. the new coronavirus a “pandemic,” 4,500 Since the start of June, the average deaths had been recorded worldwide, number of deaths per day has hovered across 30 countries and territories. around 5,000. Two-thirds were still in China, but the number of people dying every day in EuA second wave? rope and the United States rose swiftly In Asia, where the toll was lower than up until mid-April, reaching peaks in 100 deaths per day up until mid-April, fathe second week of more than 4,000 and talities have been steadily increasing. The 2,700 average daily deaths respectively. continent has exceeded 1,000 deaths per Today the United States remains the day almost continually since July 20 and hardest-hit country for deaths, with is today approaching 1,500 (1,407 on avover 200,000 recorded. erage over the last seven days). On a global scale, the deadliest week India has been the worst hit, recordwas April 13 to 19 when more than ing a total of 90,000 deaths (more than 7,460 coronavirus deaths were official- 1,100 per day last week). AFP

Video conferencing

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has allowed all trial courts nationwide to conduct their hearings via video conferencing both for criminal and civil cases. In Circular 161-2020 issued by the Office of the Court Administrator on Thursday, the SC stressed that “upon the approval of Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, all other first and second level courts not yet authorized to conduct video conferencing are hereby now authorized to do so, on all matters pending before them, in both criminal and civil cases, regardless of the stage of the trial, in accordance with existing circulars and guidelines.” SALNs.” “If Atty. Lourdes Sereno was ousted from the Supreme Court due to lack of integrity as exemplified by her nonfiling of SALNs in UP for many years, then there is no reason why the same standard should not be applied to Associate Justice Marivic Leonen,” Gadon added. Gadon also vowed to file a motion for reconsideration seeking to reverse the SC ruling denying his request to secure

Prisoner... From A1 the prisoner swap agreement. “My order to my ambassadors there is to exclude drug dealers from prisoner exchanges. You destroy my people I will... let the law abroad destroy you. Unlike in Indonesia, these dealers were not fooled,” Locsin said in his Twitter post. Locsin hinted that convicted Filipino drug dealers in the Middle East might have connections in the local drug trade. “I smell a local connection to the local drug trade,” Locsin said. “Sorry. No mercy,” the country’s top diplomat added. Smuggling of large quantities of pro-

Ex-DFA chief hits back at Palace man By Rey E. Requejo FORMER Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario on Friday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to seek the support of other countries to pressure China into complying with the 2016 ruling of a UN tribunal that invalidated Beijing’s excessive claims in the South China Sea in favor of the Philippines. “Please, Mr. President, get the support of other countries to pressure China to comply with the arbitral ruling,” Del Rosario said, referring to the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that Duterte invoked this week before the UN General Assembly. Del Rosario also lashed back at presidential spokesman Harry Roque for questioning his personal qualifications. “We wish to say that this is not about me. This is about our countrymen and the West Philippine Sea,” Del Rosario said. He said he strongly advocated the enforcement of the arbitral ruling “to stop China from continuously and illegally seizing our lands and waters.” “This is about China taking our food, oil and gas that form part of our national patrimony reserved for Filipinos to help our country live and prosper,” he said. “This is about our fishermen, whose livelihood is being taken away by China. A large number of them were rammed at sea and, were it not for our Vietnamese neighbors, mercilessly left to die in the water,” he added. “This is about our coral reef systems and breeding grounds of fish which took thousands of years to form and, in a short span of time, destroyed by China to construct its military facilities and artificial islands in the Spratlys,” Del Rosario said.

Metro... From A1 “We as mayors are conservative because we see the details firsthand,” he said. Cayetano also cited the need to keep the balance between public health protection and economic recovery. Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Batangas, and the city of Tacloban are under GCQ.The rest of the Philippines are placed under MGCQ, the most relaxed quarantine classification. Lanao del Sur, Bacolod City, and Iligan City are under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until the end of the month. The Philippines on Friday logged 2,630 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 299,361 infections since the pandemic began, the Department of Health (DOH) reported. This marked the fourth consecutive day in which fewer than 3,000 new cases were reported. The DOH reported 494 new recoveries, bringing to 232,399 the number of patients who have recovered from the disease. The DOH also reported 69 new fatalities, bringing the death toll from COVID-19 to 5,196. There are 61,766 active cases, 87 percent of which are mild; 9 percent of which are asymptomatic; 1.2 percent of which are severe; and 2.8 percent of which are critical. the SALN of Leonen. Republic Act 6713 of 1989 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees requires all state officials and employees to file their yearly SALNs. Manila Times columnist Rigoberto “Bobi” D. Tiglao earlier stated in his column that Leonen allegedly did not submit his SALN for several years when he was still a professor at the University of the Philippines’ College of Law. hibited drugs in many countries, particularly in the Middle East, Indonesia and China is punishable by death. In Indonesia, Filipina Mary Jane Veloso was found guilty of carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin. She was arrested in Yogyakarta airport in 2010. However, Veloso denied she was a drug courier, saying she was tricked by her Filipino recruiter into bringing a drug-laden suitcase to Indonesia. The Indonesian government ordered a stay in her execution and turned her into a witness. Recently, 95 Filipinos detained in the United Arab Emirates for various offenses were reportedly released in exchange for two Emiratis pardoned by President Rodrigo Duterte.

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DENR suspends dolomite mining firms in Cebu By Rio N. Araja THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Friday ordered the suspension of two dolomite firms in Alcoy, Cebu pending the results of the investigation on the alleged coral reef damage, water quality monitoring and ambient air quality. After yesterday’s inspection, Secretary Roy Cimatu suspended the Dolomite Mining Corp. for its quarry operations and Philippine Mining Service Corp., a processing plant for dolomite. He directed the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau in Region 7 to conduct a water quality sampling on waters below the conveyor at the ship loading facility, and ambient air quality. He tasked Cebu’s provincial environment and natural resources office to conduct a coral assessment to determine the health condition of the corals. The Cebu provincial government raised its complaint that the extraction of dolomite rocks in Alcoy caused damage to the marine ecosystem in the area. The DENR chief also instructed the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau in Region 7 to convene the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board of Cebu to discuss mining if there was no ongoing mineral processing and ship loading operations during the inspection and if DMC, the only largescale producer of dolomite materials, is a holder of a 25-year mineral production sharing agreement denominated as MPSA No. 208-2005VII covering 524.6103 hectares of dolomite property located within the municipalities of Alcoy and Dalaguete and to expire in 2030. Cimatu also ordered a verification if PMSC, a holder of a mineral processing permit denominated as MPP-0072005VII to expire in 2023, is undertaking the crushing and screening of the raw materials.

DENR MEETING. DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu meets with MGB-7 and EMB-7 and PMSC and DMC Officials and Alcoy, Cebu Mayor Michael Angelo Sestoso to look into the allegations of coral reef damage attributed to the operations of PMSC and DMC.

Pag-IBIG borrowers get reprieve accordance with Republic Act No. 11494, otherwise known as the Bayanihan to ReHE Pag-IBIG Home Mutual Development Fund has granted cover as One Act while providing its housloan borrowers in arrears with a spea 60-day grace period on all loan payments and is offering a ing cial housing loan restructuring program to special loan restructuring program for home loan borrowers help update their accounts and keep their in a bid to provide members financial relief amid the coronavirus homes. “We heed and support President Rodisease 2019 pandemic pandemic. drigo Duterte’s call to help our fellow Filipinos who are experiencing financial Department of Human Settlements and of the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board hardships brought about by the COVID-19 Urban Development Secretary Eduardo of Trustees, approved a one-time 60-day pandemic. We recognize that this pandemdel Rosario, as Pag-IBIG board chairman grace period on payments of all loans in ic continues to impact jobs and businesses

By Rio N. Araja

IN BRIEF

Facebook quizzed on AFP-linked pages

Gov’t urged to let detainee take care of infected baby RELATIVES and friends of political prisoner Reina Mae Nasino have aired her appeal that she be allowed to take care of her three-month old baby girl, River, who has exhibited symptoms of COVID-19. River was rushed to the Manila Medical Center early Thursday because of fever and diarrhea, according to Kapatid, a group composed of relatives and friends of political detainees. “We call on the government to extend compassion for Reina Mae and her baby girl, River. Let her take care of her sick child,” Fides Lim, Kapatid spokesperson, said in a statement. As Reina Mae Nasino’s nearly 3-monthold child was admitted at a hospital after showing COVID-19 symptoms, KAPATID, the support group for families and friends of political prisoners, pressed the government for the immediate release of the 23-year-old first-time mother. Willie Casas

DFA to repatriate 11 stranded Pinoy seamen THE repatriation of 11 Filipino seafarers onboard Ocean Star 86 stranded in Chinese waters is underway, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday. In a statement, the DFA said it is finalizing the repatriation of the seafarers who have been stranded since March 24, contrary to claims by migrant rights group Migrante International that it failed to attend to the seafarers’ concerns. “The DFA, through the Philippine Consulate General, is continuing to act on the needs of the 11 seafarers and will continue to exert utmost efforts to them, along with other stranded Filipinos in China in general, and in Fujian province, in particular,” the statement read. It said a certain Jake Cruz sent an e-mail to the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen on April 22, reporting about the plight of the seafarers. PNA

Tolentino wants bar exams done online AMID uncertain times due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino is pushing for the conduct of the bar examination via online for the safety of the examinees. He made his proposal to Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta during the hearing on the judiciary’s 2021 budget. The senator, who is also a lawyer, said online Bar examinations are being considered in various places in the United States, such as Michigan, District of Columbia, Louisiana and New York. The Chief Magistrate said the High Court is also looking into the possibility of implementing an online Bar examination for next scheduled test on November 2021, which will be held simultaneously in Manila and two other sites in Visayas and Mindanao. Macon Ramos-Araneta

in the country. And so the Board has immediately approved the implementation of the 60-day grace period following the signing of the Bayanihan 2 law and our special housing loan restructuring Program to provide further financial relief to our members,” the housing czar said. Under the Pag-IBIG Fund’s guidelines, the granting of the 60-day grace period will be applied automatically to all loan payments on the agency’s multi-purpose, calamity and housing loans which fall due from Sept. 15 until Nov. 14, 2020.

By Rio N. Araja

NEW GIRDER. DPWH Secretary Mark Villar inspects the final installation of a girder in Skyway Stage 3. The project, which is expected to be completed in Dec 2020, will reduce travel time from NLEX to SLEX from two hours to only 30 minutes. Norman Cruz

Fight vs. corruption in PhilHealth continues—Palace MALACAÑANG on Friday assured the public that the government would not slow down on its efforts to cleanse state insurer Philippine Health Insurance Corp. of corruption. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque gave the assurance after the hashtag #wag_kalimutan_yung_ binulsang_15billion_sa_philhealth_challenge went viral on Facebook and Twitter. “There is no let-up in our drive to make erring officials of the Philippine Health Corp. accountable for their alleged misdeeds,” Roque said in a statement. He said the Department of Justice, through its Task Force PhilHealth, is fi-

nalizing the complaints against erring officials for filing. Roque further noted that composite teams tasked to look into but not limited to the PhilHealth Legal Sector are continuing their investigation. “Zero tolerance against corruption is not just a catchphrase but a serious matter in the current administration,” he said. Earlier, resigned PhilHealth anti-fraud legal officer Thorsson Montes Keith claimed that about P15 billion of the agency’s funds have been allegedly pocketed by PhilHealth officials. Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of Task Force

PhilHealth to file criminal and administrative charges against PhilHealth officials. Duterte has repeatedly vowed to use his remaining years in office in cleaning PhilHealth and punishing officials involved in illicit activities. He likewise recently ordered newly-appointed PhilHealth president Dante Gierran to rid the state-run agency of corruption by December, the Palace said Thursday. “The President wants to clean up PhilHealth, and that is why the deadline [was] given to Attorney Gierran.... File all the cases that need to be filed, suspend, terminate, whatever you need to do in order to cleanse the ranks of PhilHealth,” Roque said.

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday called on social networking firm Facebook to release information on the number of pages allegedly having links with the military that were included in the massive takedown of accounts or pages due to “coordinated inauthentic behavior”. “We want to know from Facebook because ‘blanket’ they told us that they took down an ‘X’ number of accounts that has links or linkages with the Philippine military. We want to know what exactly are these accounts, how many of them have connections with the AFP,” said AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a Laging Handa briefing. Arevalo said this is to remove doubts from the minds of some people that the AFP is engaged in fake news or using fake accounts. He said all of the official Facebook accounts or pages managed by the AFP are still up and running. He added that the Facebook Philippine Policy Team should elaborate on what “coordinated inauthentic behavior” as it was not explained during a virtual courtesy call with AFP chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay and some select staff members last September 23. Commission of Human Rights Commissioner Karen Gomez Dumpit, meanwhile, described this development as “alarming.” “If this is true, the Commission categorically states that this goes against the best interest of the public. In these times when cyber militias and troll farms are reported to drown out legitimate dissent and haphazardly label individuals and organizations as ‘enemies of the people,’ such allegations cast doubts on the agenda of these institutions.”

Public warned on illegal online gambling THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation once again strongly advises the public not to engage in any unauthorized gambling activities offered by unscrupulous individuals and groups. PAGCOR’s issued the warning after the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group conducted a successful operation against an illegal online bingo operator recently. Said operator was just one of several illegal gambling operations, which were under surveillance and case monitoring. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started early this year, PAGCOR has received an increase in reports on illegal online gambling being promoted through social media platforms like Facebook. To further strengthen the fight against

unauthorized gambling activities, the state run -gaming regulator will ask for the assistance of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Anti-Money Laundering Council to conduct investigation on banks, remittance services, and payment solutions used as fund conduits for these illegal operations. While illegal gambling per se is not among the predicate crimes of Money Laundering, frauds and swindling are. These are based on the act of taking bets from the public by falsely representing that they have a legitimate business, when in fact, they have no such authority. The country’s gaming regulator is likewise calling on Facebook to cooperate with PAGCOR and Philippine authorities to curtail fraudulent activities, which are promoted through their platform.

MARSHALS FOR SAFETY. Train marshals have been deployed to monitor the adherence of passengers to LRT-2 safety guidelines vs COVID-19 including the no-talking and the nophone calls policy inside the train.

LGUs

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 lgu@manilastandard.net editor.lgustandard@gmail.com

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor

Muntin grants loans to MSMEs TO ASSIST local businesses and revive the stalled local economy brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the local government of Muntinlupa has provided zero-interest loan to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and micro-entrepreneurs dubbed as “Muntipreneurs.” The City Government of Muntinlupa has assisted at least 112 micro-entrepreneurs through its Tulong Negosyo Program (formerly Dagdag Puhunan) and has distributed P2.762 million in cash assistance from March to September 2020. Muntinlupa City is the first LGU in Metro Manila to introduce the microfinancing program. Tulong Negosyo caters to MSMEs and provides micro finance assistance which ranges from P2,000 up to P150,000 depending on the business capital ceiling and payment record of beneficiaries.

All-in-one COVID complex unveiled at Lakeshore site FOR ‘MUNTIPRENEURS’. Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (right and inset left, front row) leads the distribution of the zero-interest loan assistance amounting to P990,000 to representatives of the 28 Tulong Negosyo Batch 116 beneficiaries last September 23.

Taguig villages get P1m each vs. virus By Joel E. Zurbano

ACH barangay in Taguig City will receive P1 million in financial assistance to help the local government response to the coronavirus disease outbreak. Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano made this announcement during the inauguration of its COVID-19 mega-complex on Friday. “Taguig City has released a total of P1 million per barangay, to all barangays in the city of Taguig. The second tranche, which

IN BRIEF DENR Bataan plants bamboo, cleans coast PILAR, Bataan—The Department of Natural Resources (DENR) in Bataan led by Penro Raul Mamac and some volunteers planted bamboo trees along the easement area of Almacen Riven, Hermosa and conducted cleanup in the mouth of the river area on Friday. “It was World Bamboo Day and next day was International Coastal Cleanup Day,” said Mamac. “We cleaned up 12 hectares silt containment area at the mouth of Almacen River which is part of Brgy. Pulo, Orani,” he added. The body of Almacen River passes Hermosa town. Cenro Rommel Suba of CENRO Dinalupihan and staff joined the activities. Mamac said officials of the Hermosa Water District also participated in the bamboo planting and coastal cleanup. He said they limited the participants to the cleanup activity this year due to Covid 19 pandemic. DENR Bataan with provincial government leads the annual ICC in September here, usually in full force. Butch Gunio

Noveleta, Chua turn over tablets for HS students NOVELETA, Cavite—In response to the challenge of the “new normal” during the coronavirus pandemic, the local government led by Mayor Dino Reyes Chua distributed free tablet computers to all Junior High and Senior High coed students enrolled this school year on Wednesday. Chua turned over 3,000 units of tablets to DepEd District Supervisor Dr. Arnel Zapanta, witnessed by Assistant School Division Superintendents Randy Punzalan and Dr. Diana Topacio, in a simple ceremony at the Noveleta National High School in Barangay San Rafael II. Chua wants to ensure that all students at NNHS and NSHS do not have problems with their online class or E-Learning programs when the official school opening starts on October 5. The free tablets PCs are the first given out in the province. It also includes free Smart Sim Cards with LTE or Free Data to access to internet. “Salamat po sa pagtugon sa hamon ng New Normal, hindi nyo po iniiwan at pinababayaan ang mga mag-aaral ng Noveleta,” Punzalan said in his message. Dennis Abrina

is P500,000, is released this week,” Cayetano said. “(The money) can be used by the barangays for COVID-related projects.” The Taguig City government on Friday also hosted the National Task Force meeting and inaugurated its COVID-19 mega-

complex facility, which will host the new city-run Molecular Laboratory, the Lakeshore Mega-quarantine facility, and the Lakeshore National Testing Facility. These facilities are set to supplement an all-of-government approach to testing, tracing and treating COVID-19 cases, which has kept the city’s infections among the lowest in the National Capital Region this September. As of Sept. 22, Taguig had the lowest number of active cases per 100,000 people across Metro Manila. It is also delivering major infrastructure projects to sustain

what has been an effective effort to keep COVID-19 cases low. City officials closely coordinate with the national government and its task force to overcome the pandemic, Cayetano said. The local government believes that in order to fight this dilemma, cooperation with the national government is essential. The Lakeshore Hotel Mega Quarantine Facility will accommodate suspect and probable cases, as well as confirmed cases who are asymptomatic or show mild symptoms with both their comfort and recovery in mind, Cayetano said.

AN all-in-one COVID-19 complex that has its own swabbing center, quarantine and isolation facility, and a molecular laboratory in Lakeshore Hotel, City of Taguig was inaugurated Friday. Led by its local government under the guidance of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19, and the Department of Health (DOH), the construction of the COVID-19 Complex seeks to bring together these three essential facilities to hit the city’s target of testing 10 percent of its total population by the end of 2021. Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano said the first section of the 500-bed facility will soon be opened to cater COVID-19 patients in the city. Its modular molecular laboratory is expected to process 600 tests daily. “We listen to the science. We listen to the doctors. We listen to the Barangay Captains who know the situation in their respective barangays,” said Cayetano, as he expressed his thanks to the IATF, NTF, DOH and his local team in making the project possible. Butch Gunio

Manila cemeteries still closed—Isko By Willie Casas MANILA Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Friday reiterated his order to close all cemeteries and columbariums in the city to visitors during the All Souls Day holiday or “Undas.” He said this would avoid the congregation of an approximate 2.3 million persons inside these resting places amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The mayor appealed to all those who have to visit their loved ones on “Undas” to avoid doing so at the last minute, as the October 31 effectivity of the closure of all cemeteries and columbariums in Manila is nearing. Domagoso urged the public to begin visiting their dead loved ones anytime until October 30. Manila North Cemetery director Roselle Castaneda said there are 105,837 tombs inside its cemetery, which receive an average of 1.5 million visitors every November 1 and 2. At the Manila South Cemetery, director Jess Payad said the number of tombs reach 39,228, with more than 800,000 visitors during the same period. Domagoso said he made the announcement early precisely to give the public more than enough time to pay their dearly departed a visit and avoid the usual surge that occurs during “Undas.”

FOR HS STUDENTS. Noveleta, Cavite Mayor Dino Chua leads the turnover of tablets to Noveleta DepEd District Supervisor Dr. Arnel Zapanta in simple rites at the Noveleta National High School in San Rafael II on Wednesday. Dennis Abrina

EMB to Hermosa LGU: Explain Econest landfill violations HERMOSA, Bataan—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Central Office has ordered the local government unit of Hermosa, Bataan to explain the alleged violations committed in the operation of the Hermosa Sanitary Landfill Facility located in Brgy. Mambog here. In a Notice of Violation dated September 24, EMB Director William P. Cuñado gave both the municipality and Econest Waste Management, the company that

operates the landfill, 15 days to explain in writing the violations noted by the inspection team on August 3, 2020. The EMB noted that being the public partner in the operation of the landfill, the municipal government is just as liable should its own accusations against Econest of so-called violations are confirmed to be true. The landfill was ordered closed by Hermosa Mayor Jopet Inton on February 20, 2020 for alleged environmental violations committed by Econest in the operation.

The EMB Regional Office No. 3, having jurisdiction over the area, denied the LGU’s request to revoke the company’s ECC and to blacklist Econest on the ground that the LGU only found lacking documentary requirements in compliance with the ECC. Not satisfied with this finding, the LGU moved for the inhibition of Regional Director Wilson Tajeco and elevated the matter to the bureau’s head office for disposition. Butch Gunio

KSK Antipolo grad touts bountiful harvest

GOOD HARVEST. KSK farmer graduate Edgar Moreno works on his farm and shows some of his quality produce (inset).

EDGAR Moreno, a Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) farmer-graduate in Antipolo, shared ecstatically during a kumustahan session how his produce doubled after applying what he learned during the 12-week farmers’ training program of SM Foundation. According to Moreno, he was getting only a few kilos from his vegetable farm in Boso-Boso, Antipolo before he trained formally under the SM Foundation’s KSK program in 2016. Through this social good initiative, he was able to learn new farming technologies and proper agricultural processes

such as the proper land preparation, effective way of using organic fertilizers and pesticides, and proper seed propagation and dispersal. Through hard work and adhering to the modern farming technologies he learned from the KSK training, he was able to increase his agricultural produce to several tons. Moreno sold his yield through “biyaheros” to nearby Rizal towns and to the local talipapa. Currently, he earns about P50,000 from 45 days of growing vegetables – a big leap from his previous income.

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Adelle Chua, Editor Adelle Chua, Editor SATURDAY, 12,that 2020 Adelle Chua, Editor gaps B1 pended. This is a clear violation of the have been mitigated. pandemic which has, since the lockdown mst.daydesk@gmail.com mst.daydesk@gmail.com mst.daydesk@gmail.com Government Procurement Reform Act. As we inch closer to the opening of in this country on March 17, infected and d The Commission on Audit (COA), in While we are in this, we honor the classes in the Philippines on October killed thousands, including frontliners who its Audit Query Memorandum (AQM nearly 900,000 Department of12, Education 5, the discussions surrounding World SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2020 B1 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER have stood up against this deadly virus. 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The World Teachers Day, co-convened The World Teachers Day, co-convened 20 units purchased transreceivers were 20 units purchased transreceivers were hing also said that heeveryone would goissoul-searching actions—in the same way we write our overcrowding of white-sand enthusiasts? Police Station was relieved for failing to an efficient and timely manner. Clearhe hearmanner. While trying to cope Perhaps, utang,” was how onepetition.” putalso it. touched The HOR hearings on this is the only country Boththe Houses of Congress have looked chy and the new accomplice of the CIA led missing at the time of inspection. Several missing at the time of inspection. Several gnaamid mounting calls for his resignaundersecretary for the Department carry out security and health safety meas- future with our votes during elections. withthe how bad things are, those inofpoor ur- to In termsthe of COVID-19 information, the of theAn ly, PhilHealth is mandated have official where the remains dead are made into the issues concerning remittances and alleged corrupt practices Philby the terroristic left, they could have started other observations on negligence and inother observations on negligence and invely into tion because of his failure to effectively ban and rural communities are the ones hit claims women claimed to know from television and evidence of electoral fraud. The justices are of Overseas Filipino Workers. Health officials employees. Addipolitical capital, not for his idealismPart or patrimeans toandserve our OFWs country I believe efficiency on the ofpandemic PhilHealth were efficiency on the part ofhealth PhilHealth were rocking boata mockery by accusing himjudicial of commitd the address theYet, COVID-19 and thein the BACKthe most. theirpart voices are rarely heard sometimes, from their centers, how It’s succession by openly the making out of our Under Article IV, Section 6 of RA 7875 tionally, the Department of located. Justice (DOJ) also included in thisotism, butsaid to bequeath the grotesque practice where are ” of corLENI Robredo’s route to national politics is also inthey this AQM. issues in PhilHealth. and included listened to. ThisAQM. is particularly true to avoid getting the virus. ting electoral fraud like what they did BENCHER They that in system. Their malicious delay is creating po-to oust as The amended byhearings RA 10606, of Philiswith doing its ownhearings investigation on thelooked matby windfall after the death of her husband. ofquarantine, political succession. Thepoor HOR alsohow touched on HOR alsoone touched on accidental death. oked community women. Both Houses of asked Congress have litical instability coupled by the unfounded When the agency is servas made the initial months of Barangay Marcos and many leaders they targeted for Health’s functions is, “u)remittances To establishand an ter. The Senate has already released its Whatwas happened to Noynoy’s richconcerning and middle class “titos” “ti- persons theMany issues remittances and the issues concerning ROD P. Philinto the alleged corrupt practices ofand PhilLeni’s ascent to power a macabre waycabinet member rumor change. that the President is sick. Health Centers were closed but these have ing our OFWs, resource for regime on their office, orofwhere it is not feasible, desigand has recommended filing Jesse Robredo on August 19, 2012 was an unof electoralissue fraud. The justices are evidence of electoral The are itPeople wouldclearly mean an admission that thedemaentire tas” have “plantitos” andthe “plantitas,” now a complicated because the change see thefraud. agenda of justices this claims ofbecome Overseas Filipino Workers. Overseas Filipino Workers. ddi- report Health officials and employees. Addi- claims Part I planning Part I opposition wast- evidence since opened. Limited family serof exploiting misplaced KAPUNAN BACKThe petition filed by Bong Bong against wantedpublic accident adulation. which the BACKnate a focal person in every Philippine of malversation and graft charges against PhilHealth said that they have Accredoperandi openly making a mockery out of our judicial openly making a mockery out of our judicial gogue which is to overthrow the government machinery of the State was used to vandalhaving found a new or renewed interest in in international situation has become tighter for Under Article IV, Section of RA(DOJ) 7875 Under Article IV,injectables) Section 6 of 7875 DOJ) tionally, the Department of 6Justice vices and areRA available The yellow hordeTheir trulymalicious capitalized the orgy po-theby Immediately, the widow was fielded asJesse LENI(pills Robredo’s route to national politics is ed LENI Robredo’s route tothe national politics is no time to exploit. Robredo’s death BENCHER Consular Office in all countries where BENCHER Duque and other officials over the alleged system. delay is creating system. Their malicious delay is creating pophony vice president pre-empted taking advantage the of constitutional the election in theofname their prosti- them plants. A good number also grow our politicians to catch up. The US that used ize ited Collecting Agents (ACAs) mostlyby he as amended by RA 10606, one of Philnow. However, theRA Barangay Workers as 10606, one Philmat-IRM, is doing its own investigation onvegetables the matbyamended windfall after the deathHealth of herof husband. by windfall afterthe the death of her husband. Withfanfare ChristianofFilipinos having an utterly process instantly became most coveted price that by litical generated the mortuary service Liberal Party’s candidate in the 2013 election instability coupled by the unfounded there are functions Filipino citizens. The office litical instability coupled by thetitle unfounded illegal release of Interim Reimbursement earned by her cheated to tuted freedom and democracy. and herbs for their consumption. “Farming” to finance local lackeys to overcome their infrom using that alibi against theandPresident. (BHWs) who participated in the FGDs said Health’s functions is, “u) To establish an Health’s is, “u) To establish an d its ter. The Senate has already released its in the country and some abroad that are What happened to Noynoy’s cabinet member could What happened to Noynoy’s cabinet member ase rate” mangled moral fiber, it That isis easy for a dema- persistently pave the way for theROD widow toturn capture P. ROD P. rumor that the circus. President sick.circumrumor that the President is sick. to it to a political or the focal person shall, among others, for the third district of Camarines Sur which discredit the legitimately elected Mechanism (IRM) funds. Duque called In fact, people are wondering why the is cool again. One only has to go through creasing unpopularity is running out of funds. that there a marked in thewas number The opposition was placed on thedemadefensive office, and or where it is to notreceive feasible, desigor iswhere isincrease not 19, feasible, desigiling report has recommended thepayment filing office, Jesse Robredo onitAugust 2012 an un- political Jesse Robredo to castigate the the Duterte administration power.on August 19, 2012 was an un- gogue People clearly see agenda of this dema- President. Peoplegovernment clearly see the agenda of thisthe authorized of premititutions process, review and pay the claims of the the Senate findings baseless. KAPUNAN KAPUNAN stance landed her as phony vice president. Duterte did not cancel conone’s social media feed and all sorts of plants includes Naga city where her husband served of pregnant women in their localities. wanted accident which the opposition wast- wanted nate a focal person in every Philippine the opposition a focal person in every Philippine ainst of malversation and graft charges against nate recollection she once served as con- andgogue the which twothe justices namely Marvic In the accident tradition which of cashing in on the wastgrief without gogue which is to overthrow the government is to overthrow the government Without President knowing it, hadLeonen Filipino workers (OFWs).” The House oftheir Representatives ums of OFWs. These are remitted to tract with Smartmatic although he revealed are featured by owners. Thisthen is overseas case we the education The election of Duterte threatened the pomayor. edWhen no time toinquired exploit. Jesse Robredo’s death for ed no to exploit. Jessehustlers Robredo’s death Consular in proud all countries where whom one ofcanthe rightly classify and Consular Office in as allabout countries where thetime bereaved, political have to gresswoman eged rate Duque andOffice other officials over the(HOR) alleged by taking advantage constitutional by taking advantage of the constitutional Diosdado Peralta are now desperately Bong Bong Marcos not filed a petition for a provision of the law isThe forthat Philalso finished itscitizens. hearings andWhen will how it made a mockery of our electoral good for theFilipino environment for asThe long as our OFWs Part IItocoveted ofThis children, the women responded the With Christian Filipinos having an utterly Christian having an utterly instantly became thecitizens. most coveted price that her instantly became the price that the PhilHealth office. have aWith political loafer whose vision istitle honed convert occasion tomost politically advance in asprocess pent has for litical ideology firmed up by US imperialism. there are office Mar Roxas chose as the running mate there are Filipino office ment illegal release of Interim Reimbursement earned byFilipinos herthe cheated andtotoserving process earned by her cheated title andledto recount, the political enemies of Duterte Why does PET as her legal muggers. system. He did not even prosecute the formountains and forestsshall, are not disturbed by Health to be the able to serve our OFWs in soon release its report. mangled moral fiber, is widow easy forto acapture dema- disparage mangled moral fiber, enemies. itwas islegitimately easy for a elected dema- persistently could pave way for theamong widow to capture could pave the as way foritgame the grade kids arecapture enrolled and that thevotes. her political what iswas termed “stiff of power comor the focal person among others, or the school focal person shall, others, persistently discredit the alled discredit the legitimately elected Mechanism (IRM) funds. Duque called and The decision torefuse field Robredo not based additional not her qualiby the chairman US imperialist, the Church, the oligarclaims, these are processed paid here than the IF ItTHE justices of thetheSupreme Court gogue mer of thewould Comelec who ismake now it a This demagogue always plant poachers. This is also beneficial to plant anmethod efficient and timely manner. Cleargogue to castigate the Duterte administration As one who closely followed the hearto decide on this to castigate the Duterte administration political power. political power. that will be used is through modpetition.” Perhaps, this is only country President. President. process, review and pay the claims of the process, review and pay the claims of the the Senate findings baseless. chy and the new accomplice of the CIA led on her qualification but as a stopgap solufication why she was taken in but a plain gimshould decide toofreject thein petition for inPhilHealth the Philippines. enjoying his sweet time in the US after sellers who barely survived before. official ly,ules. without recollection she once served as grief con-a without recollection she once served as conInInthe tradition of cashing in have on picked thethe grief where In the tradition cashing onmade the PhilHealth is mandated to ings on and studied some areas, the modules are point to slant and distort every issue the remains the dead are into Without the Presidentmatter? knowing it, had by the Without the left, President knowing it, gifthad to asterroristic they could have started all-important Filipino workers (OFWs).” overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).” OR) overseas The House of Representatives (HOR) recount, nobody in his right mind would tion to save a crumbling empire and its local mick to people whom the opposition treats gresswoman whom one can rightly classify ing him with a demagogue only to lambast whom one can rightly classify Online This shopping is also booming be- means forfrom the bereaved, political hustlers have to political for the capital, bereaved, hustlers orhave notpolitical for his idealism patri-to gresswoman to serve our OFWs in the country up the schools while in others, from documents that reached me, I believe scheme clearly defeats the purewillfound Bong Bong Marcos not filed a petition for a Bong Bong Marcos not filed a petition for a sure her American handlers that the President rocking the boat by accusing him of commitThis provision of law is and for many PhilThis provision of to thepolitically law is for Phil- in convert has also finished itsthe hearings and will It’s succession by believe the Presidential Electoral as a political loafer whose visionvested is Tribunal. honed to as aclass. political loafer whose vision is honedled to recount, convert theare occasion advance the occasion tothe politically advance in every now and then his policies. cause people are kept indoors otism, but toshe bequeath grotesque practice interest It is for this reason why as politically dumb. Besides, stands to their barangay halls. This needs to be done where they located. there is no question that a “mafia” of correcount, the political enemies of Duterte the political enemies of Duterte led ting electoral fraud like what they did to oust pose of providing assistance OFWs wouldToonly bequeath hatred as legacy nd TechHealth to be its able to serve OFWs in to Health beatable serve our in soon release report. disparage her political disparage her political enemies. what istoasked termed as to “stiff of OFWs power comThe committed what ismassive termed aselectoral “stiffenemies. of the power com- people makes the think areto the shops remain closed. “Addour tohas cart” and of political succession. death. on a weekly basis. The women said that byaccidental the US imperialist, the that Church, When how thegame agency is servby theask, US imperialist, thejustices Church, the they oligarrupt officials and employees made Filipino now demand shethebeoligar-Filipino galvanize the political brokers who see hergame asfraud Marcos andwhat many leaders theyoftargeted for an efficient and timely manner. Clearan efficient and timely manner. ClearhearAs one who closely followed the hearpeople. The latest her antics is to a time when they need it and in the counpetition.” Perhaps, this is the only country petition.” Perhaps, this is the only country Internal has become public knowledge that many above the law? They themselves promulgated Leni’s ascent to power was a macabre way “buy now” have become popular phrases. This has induced the CPP, the NDF and their this our will be difficultresource for them because of the of the heavenly platitudes and the accomplice of to theimCIA led regime chy and the new accomplice of the CIA led ing OFWs, persons for change. the health insurance corporation their kicked out ofchy office. Shenew is not entitled one who talks more ly, PhilHealth is mandated to have the ly, PhilHealth is mandated to have the icial ings on PhilHealth and studied official where the remains of the dead are made into where the remains of the dead are made into people wonder why a neophyte in nationof exploiting misplaced public adulation. discredit the project to beautify Manila Bay. the rule, and were given two years to decide the This is good for sellers especially if people front organizations to coalesce with the capitalby the terroristic left, they could have started by the terroristic left, they could have started try where they are. Because PhilHealth high transportation cost. Since there is no ealth milking ofThe petition filed by Bong Bong against PhilHealth said our that they have AccredSeveral modus peachment that belongs to one duly than the realities life. political capital, notOFWs for hisof idealism or patrimeans tocow. serve our OFWs in theoperandi political capital, fordaybreak, his idealism oraspatrimeans to serve in the country ieve documents that reached me, I country believe yellow horde capitalized orgy the the not widow was fielded the alof politics would, by awaken the because petition. Even without reminding of theirbe repatronize Philippine-made products. This ited istThe bankers and corrupt bureaucrats inthe governrocking the boat bytruly accusing him by of commitrocking the boat by accusing himthem ofshould commitThis phony vice president public transport available, they willhard need to Immediately, phony vice president pre-empted them It’s succession by It’s succession Collecting Agents (ACAs) mostly have been uncovered. Besides the IRM, is notorious for being extremely late in horrsson otism,they but to the grotesque practiceRobredo otism, bequeath the practice where are generated by or the fanfare of mortuary service where arebequeath located. Liberal Party’s candidate in grotesque the 2013 election cor- there no question that as a “mafia” of corelected by the people has violated any of peoplebut to to seeelected her leading by more than one In that capacity, was conduty,electoral they have toalibi decide the petition before the been is alsoisthey good for located. couriers they continue to in ments with the opportunistic Church giving ting electoral fraud like what they did to oust ting fraud like what they did to oust rent a tricycle and this costs P150 one way. from using that against the President. minded that after Cory, nothing has the country and some abroad that are there is also theand misuse of agency the “case of political succession. of political succession. accidental death. paying claims, OFWs need wait for a need toMarcos turn it and to amany political circus. That circumaccidental death. for the third district Camarines Surspecific which discrepWhen asked how the serv- toThus, When asked howgresswoman the agency is with servmade million votes. Oneofneed not have knowl- impeachable rupt officials employees hasis rate” made six opposition year and termmany ofwas the leaders President ends. Otherwise, leaders they targeted earn a living despite the pandemic. their blessings. It is like a grand reunion of for the The Marcos they targeted for the offenses. no visible and distinctive placed on the defensive they will P1,200 per month and authorized to receive payment premiwhere health corporation care persons institutions done topetition clean Manila Bay ofand filth. Today, the Leni’s ascent to resource power waspersons a of macabre way includes Leni’s ascent to where power wasof a amacabre way stance landed her aspower.” phony vice president. city her husband served edge inNaga statistics why all sudden Roing our for ing our OFWs, for regime change. heir system regime change. the health insurance their thethe will become moot academic richOFWs, and the resource middle class are finding so-called “people The variation and two justices namely Marvic Leonen long time before they are helped. items inThe they do not have thisachievement money. Alas, she can no longer invokethreatened theslight constiexcept being the widow of the ums of OFWs. These are then remitted to (HCIs) are paid the maximum case rate of exploiting misplaced public adulation. of exploiting misplaced public adulation. The election of Duterte the poas mayor. government is not only cleaning the bay but is petition filed to by intensify Bong Bong against and bredo surged by nearly two million votes. The filed against PhilHealth said that they haveoperandi Accredsaid concern that they have Accredand willpetition not serve any by purpose. ways to keep themselves occupied and en- PhilHealth andi milking is The that the US wants its anti-Chicow. Several modus Diosdado Peralta areBong nowBong desperately Another valid from these mothers Most importantly, PhilHealth is in vitutional provision because it is clear that those mayor. It was that by 2016, she The yellow horde truly capitalized the orgy The yellow horde truly capitalized the orgy Immediately, the widow wasOFWs fielded asexpected the Immediately, the widow was fielded as the the PhilHealth office. When have even when what was actually spent for litical ideology firmed up by US imperialism. Mar Roxas chose her as running mate to the phony vice president pre-empted them the phony vice president pre-empted them out an unprecedented rehabilitation. But examining why the Comelec, Smart- nese slander to sustain their bankrupt empire.carrying serving her legal muggers. On as the other hand, a no decision means tertained—this isAgents good Besides to(ACAs) keep one’s men- ited ited Collecting Collecting Agents mostly RM, have been uncovered. themostly IRM, isLiberal how they willcandidate be able to(ACAs) their chil- capture generated by the fanfare of mortuary service generated bytravesty thefield fanfare ofour mortuary service Party’s inguide the election Liberal Party’s candidate 2013 The decision to Robredo was not based additional votes. was not herelection qualithese areand processed and paid here a inpatient way less“case than the justices are aCPP of Constiwould be2013 chosen as the running byItin athe olation ofissome its under the law as procurefrom using that alibi against the President. from using that alibi against thecharlatan President. matic and PETmate are desperate in insisting on making This demagogue would always make it aof that nobody can accuse that talthe health check. Even the had dropped Mao Zedung from in abroad thatrate” are claims, in the country some abroad that are ate” treating The government took the initiative by putting there iscountry also theand misuse ofmandate the dren in their studies since they themselves to turn it to a political circus. That circumto turn it to a political circus. That circumfor the third district of Camarines Sur which fication for the why third she district of Camarines Sur which on her qualification but asare aonstopgap solu- point was taken in but atution. plain gimthe Philippines. amount set. The opposition was placed the defensive The opposition was placed on the defensive Others even suspect they unwitcandidate bruited to lose in that presidential to slant and distort every issue to as-stretch the victory of this demagogue, it becomes cheating. This would suffice to legitimize what those who are not as in their ideological curriculum. Otherwise, they above. This violation mentmaximum ofBut,quoted authorized to about receive payment ofparticular premiauthorized to receive payment of premiions system where health care institutions barely went to school. “Paano kung hindi white sand (dolomite) on the whole stance landed her as phony vice president. stance landed her as phony vice president. includes Naga city where her husband served includes Naga city where her husband served tion to save a crumbling empire and its local mick to people whom the opposition treats the two namely Marvic Leonen This clearly thesila purand the American two justices namely Marvic Leonen Several corrupt practices found sure that thethe President apparent that they want athreatened repetition ofserving the and the her massive fraudhandlers committed by US-oplucky? How are they surviving this panwill wither tojustices oblivion as for Marx put it. the tingly as her counsel, to release itwhy election. Like thetuof the slain ums ofwas OFWs. These are thenwere remitted to ums ko alam ang aralin nila? Paano ko of scheme OFWs. These aredefeats then remitted towidow (HCIs) are paid the maximum case rate The election of opposiDuterte the poThe election of Duterte threatened po-of and not expounded on during the HOR as mayor. as politically mayor. nrateTechinterest class. Itnot isare this reason as dumb. Besides, she stands to vested Roxas Boulevard to encourage to and Diosdado Peralta now desperately Diosdado Peralta arecalled now desperately pose of providing assistance to OFWs at would only bequeath hatred as legacy to people the out involving the Information and Tech1986 hoopla of people clamoring for their erated cheating machine Smartmatic. demic and economic crunch? Despite the difficulties, the US cannot turuan?” sadly office. said tion one mother whomate wasto asgalvanize the PhilHealth office. When OFWs have the PhilHealth When OFWs have t for until such time that their decision shall have even when what was actually spent for litical ideology firmed up by US imperialism. they catapulted redeemer of our freelitical ideology firmed up by US imperialism. Mar Roxas chose her as running Mar Roxas chose her as running mate to the Filipino people now demand that she be the political brokers who see her as serving as her legal muggers. serving as her legal muggers. hearings. promenade and also for them to take a dip if ormation Filipino people. The latest of her antics is to a time when they need it and in the counSector. Based onless thetopaid Internal bogus democracy and freedom. In qualishort, kicked My (IT) women’s is trying findhere out claims, just abandon for that The phony can parade to proclaim she won loudly seconded others. The decision to field Robredo not based decision toRobredo fieldShe Robredo was not capture additional votes. It and was herhere quali- one claims, these aregroup processed and capture additional votes. Itheavenly was was not her these are by processed andnot paid the nology treating a patient is way than the out of office. ismidstream not entitled tobased imwho talkswas more of the platitudes become staleThe orThis in Latin, has become functus dom democracy, Robredo picked, demagogue would always make it a This demagogue would always make it a discredit the project to beautify Manila Bay. they wish. try where they are. Because PhilHealth Audit Report of former PhilHealth ofthey want to reverse the reforms initiated More next week. ilHealth how women would mean a de facto extension the and the issue of cheating would have been ThePhilippines. lives thewas women webut had converon her qualification but solu- peachment on hertoqualification butbelongs asevery a stopgap soluwhyofshe taken in a plain gim- than fication why sherealities was taken in abutstopgap a plain gimin theordinary Philippines. because toissue oneof duly the of the hard of as life. maximum amount set.and their families are infication point slant and that distort to as- point slant and distort every issuebe to reasofficio. Thistophony vice justices president should knowing that politics in this country is more by government. notorious for extremely late in ficial-turned-whistle-blower Thorrsson trashed by those after maliciously coping, or corrupt trying clearly to.practices Withdefeats support from the issations Duterte administration. The opposition tion totosave a crumbling empire and itstreats local elected tion to save a crumbling empire and its mick people whom the opposition treats mick people whom the opposition with havebeing been difficult even before by the people or has violated anylocal of minded Inthis that capacity, Robredo was elected conand serThis scheme the purThis to scheme clearly defeats the puround Several were found sure her American handlers that the President sure her American handlers that the President that after Cory, nothing has been The refusal of those justices appointed by of a big joke than a serious business. SuccesTheyinterest are with the same political swindlers who OFWs needharder totoshe wait fornot a to gresswoman Keith, there were major discreprendering the petition mootas and academic. AIDS Foundation (AHF), we are could be impeachable reduced tohatred political pariah devested class. is for and this reason vested interest class. It isoffenses. for this reason as politically dumb. Besides, stands as politically dumb. Besides, she standswhy to the COVID-19. Now they lead lives, specific no Itvisible distinctive FullBay version pose ofHealthcare providing assistance toand OFWs at paying pose ofclaims, providing assistance OFWs at would only bequeath as legacy towhy the done ech- Montes would hatred legacy to the the out involving the Information Techto only cleanbequeath Manila of filth. Today, @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth areiscommitted to retarding progress by keeping Should this happen, the Duterte administradoing focus group discussions (FGDs) with prived of a candidate in the coming presithat abominable predecessor of the President long time before they are helped. the Filipino people now demand that she be sion by accidental death more than enough ancies and questionable budget items in the Filipino people now demand that she be galvanize the political brokers who see her as galvanize the political brokers who see her as Alas, she can no longer invoke the constionly because of poverty but also because of achievement except being the widow of the Filipino people. The latest of her antics is to Filipino people. The latest of her antics is isto at www.manilastandard.net a time when they need it and in the couna time when they need it and in the counrnal nology (IT) Sector. Based on the Internal government is not only cleaning the bay but Angsioco theirwho fealty to office. the oligarchy, toby the Church, to n the the IT kicked out of not entitled toshe imtion will the be perceived accomplice in making women living in urbanon andFacebook rural poor commu- their kicked out ofproject office. She isit not entitled to im- discredit dential election. Already, theclear US is to finding one who talks more of the heavenly platitudes one talks more ofShe theis heavenly platitudes Most importantly, PhilHealth in visector’s representations. provision because is that those mayor. It was expected that roles as women, wives, andismothers. to2016, come outtutional a decision has now ripened to enthrone her to power. discredit the to beautify Manila Bay. project toas beautify Manila Bay. carrying out an unprecedented rehabilitation.

Opinion Opinion Opinion

EDITORIAL The PhilHealth mess: IsThe Duque accountable? EDITORIAL the EDITORIAL EDITORIAL Honoring Filipino teacher Poor women speak Health mess: PhilHealth mess:up on COVID-19 accountable? Is Duque accountable? That day at the beach Honoring the Filipino teacher Honoring the Filipino teacher

F T F

Robredo should be kicked out

Robredo should be kicked out Robredo shouldRobredo be kickedshould out be kicked out Robredo

try where theyofare. Because PhilHealth where they are. Because PhilHealth of- Audit Report former PhilHealth of- trythan the communists and organizations, and peachment because that belongs to onebyduly peachment because belongs to one ofof the realities of life.the than ofbe thechosen hard realities of life. a travesty of ourvice judicial His nities so they able tell their stories about olation it hard to stave offathat its receding influence. making travesty ofshould our Constiwould as its thefront running mate a justices itshard mandate as Itnotorious turns outare that alltoIT-related procureSociety still dictates thatunder taking carelaw of their Thisare phony vice president beduly re- The This phony president should be regovernment took thesystem? initiative bycredibility putting ishow for being extremely late in is notorious for being extremely late in sson ficial-turned-whistle-blower Thorrsson elected by the people or has violated any of tution. elected by the after people orlast has violated any of minded In that capacity, Robredo was elected conto the US imperialist. This is a battle of people In that capacity, Robredo was elected conin wanting to bring about anthe honest tohas goodness the COVID-19 pandemic has affected TheOthers phony is their presidential bet. even suspect they arehas unwitcandidate bruited to lose in that presidential quoted above. This particular violation families is their primary responsibility. Yet, ments are limited by the Department of minded that Cory, nothing been that after Cory, nothing been white sand (dolomite) on whole stretch paying claims, OFWs need to wait forlike a paying claims,with OFWs need toand wait for a rep- Montes Keith, there were major discrepthe specific impeachable offenses. the specific impeachable offenses. gresswoman no visible distinctive gresswoman with no the visible distinctive wanting to unshackle oppression with Ro- tingly serving asManila her counsel, to Today, release it of change will beManila affected. Even the sizable supLike the widow of theand slain opposithem among other issues. For advocates They no longer present another Magtheir voices remain stifled and theirthe needs and election. done tocan clean Bay ofnot filth. the was not expounded on during HOR done to clean Bay of filth. Today, the Information and Communication TechRoxas Boulevard to encourage people to long time they their arebudget helped. time before they are helped. ms in ancies andbefore questionable items in long Alas, she can longer invoke Alas, she can no longer invoke the constiachievement except being the widow of the tion achievement except being the widow of the until Pimentel maintains there is nonothdiction over the grant the franchise. bredo representing the core value ofthe theconstivested such time that their decision shall have they catapulted as redeemer of our freeporters29’s of Marcos will be divided suspecting us, we hope to amplify voices. We have saysay much the Filipino people have government isof not only cleaning the bay but is promenade Branch decision revoking government is not only cleaning the bay butifhe is More concerns are deemed less important. hearings. and also for them to take a dip nology’s (DICT)-approved Information Most importantly, PhilHealth is in viMost importantly, PhilHealth is in vithe sector’s representations. tutional provision because it is clear that those tutional provision because itLiberal isbecome clear that those mayor. It wasis harsh expected that by 2016, mayor. wasTheir expected that 2016, sheis become stale or Latin, has functus andItclass. democracy, Robredo was picked, interest being calledby opposition waswish. a party to that political swindling. People so far done two FGDs involving around fifty politically matured. The Party has they carrying out anin unprecedented rehabilitation. carrying out an unprecedented rehabilitation. COVID-19 towrong everybody BUT she it dom ing with doing business in the But in the event the SC rules against More next week. System Strategic Plan (ISSP). PhilHealth Power’s franchise, who will then serve justices making ain travesty of our justices are making of our be its as theunder running of out its that mandate under one theprocurelawQueas olation would chosen the running mate by of a officio. of mandate themate law by as a knowing ure- olation It turns all IT-related that politics this country isConstimore not thatbeare they haveasan alternative program willgovernment no longer believe himinitiative as one with (50) community women leaders, for beengovernment proven to took bea atravesty party of subservient The the initiative byConstiputting The took the by “impecputting iswould harsher onchosen poor women. is not allowed to procure items and sercountry especially if there are other More Power, Pimentel says PECO cantution. Others even suspect they are unwittution. Others suspect they are unwitcandidate bruited to lose in that violation presidential of candidate bruited lose inbusiness. presidential quoted above. This violation The refusal ofeven those justices appointed by above. This particular a big joke than atoserious Succesnt of ments are limited by particular the of quoted as Iloilo’s distribution utility government but just hungry forthat power. cable integrity” for he allowed the pe- both white sand on the whole stretch zon Province and another forDepartment Laguna. lackeys and(dolomite) corrupt politicians. To let that white sand (dolomite) on the wholegiven stretch Fullobviously version @bethangsioco on Twitter outside of ISSP. tingly serving as filed her counsel, not tofraudulent release tingly serving asthat herrecount counsel, release it of election. Like thecompanies widow of the Elizabeth slain opposielection. Like the widow the slain opposi-it that abominable predecessor ofnot theto President sion byprovide accidental death isof more than enough wasTonot expounded on women’s during the HOR was not expounded on during the HOR ech- vices Information andtheCommunication TechThe petition against this of Roxas Boulevard to encourage people to Roxas Boulevard to encourage people tition to lapse with those lazy justices laughing begin with, these access to Angsioco phony lose in could lead to the who cannot relianot consider it a victory because they at www.manilastandard.net @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth More and PECO will be withouttoatfranFacebook However, there were itemsInformation in the IT hearings. until suchcatapulted timeto that their decision have suchout time that their decision shall have tion theyon catapulted as redeemer of our free- totion they as redeemer ofshall ourThis freetountil come a decision now ripened toif promenade enthrone her power. hearings. promenade and also forhas them to take aWorse, dip tion nology’s vice president has created a dilemma. is and also for them to take a dip if how they legitimized fraud. knowledge(DICT)-approved on use of, and gadgets for digital collapse of their political apparatus. Angsioco on Facebook Pimentel said Congress did not reble and world-class needed by still become or in Latin, has become functus operate. become stale or in Latin, has become functus dom and democracy, Robredo was picked, services dom andstale democracy, Robredo was cannot picked, chise? they wish. they wish. More next week. More next week. ealth System Strategic Plan (ISSP). PhilHealth D officio. officio. to support the solon’s knowingdisthat politics in this country is more new PECO's the power consumers. Heis more addedknowing that that he politics was inal-this country I am inclined ser- is not allowed to procureservice items andasserof those justices appointed by diction Theover refusal those justices appointed by Branch 29’s decision of a big joke than a serious business. Succes- Pimentel of aThe bigrefusal jokemaintains than a serious business. Succesthere is noththeofHouse grant of the Reprefranchise. Full version Full version revoking More HT vices @bethangsioco on Twitter to Elizabeth on Twitter outside of the tributor ofISSP. Iloilo favor a @bethangsioco new Now, let’s see if there is really something Now, Leonen might have found Gadon inaccidental 2018. predecessor hearings of theis more on this asatwhile the of that abominable ofposition the President that abominable predecessor of the President sion bycomaccidentalways death ispresent more Elizabeth thanduring enoughingthe sion by death than enough www.manilastandard.net at www.manilastandard.net wrong with doing business in the But in the event the SC rules against Power’s franchise, who will then servea on Facebook Angsioco on Facebook special with Leonen once Calida initiates e IT Angsioco some unexpected allies to cover-up for However, there were items in the IT While it is true under RA 6713 that to enthrone comeThus, outhera to decision has now ripened to already to come out a decision has now ripened to power. to power. pany, so there is no truth to toaenthrone hostileher torenewal of their franchise. he sentatives denied thesays franchise country especially ifhas there are to other Power, Pimentel PECO Iloilo’s distribution utility given both warranto proceedings against him. his alleged offense which couldcancost as quo the Ombudsman has the power sub- More E V. takeover. PECO was removed because thorough knowledge of “PECO’s poor including request reconsideracannot provide relia- their not consider victory they him his seatit inafor the Highbecause Court, it ap- More and PECO will be without franpoena andwho examine documents relative budsman Samuela Martires declared that companies O Pimentel said Congress did isnot re-several blediction and world-class services needed byeven still operate. pears it’s too early for him to be pop- chise? to theviolations SALN, Gadon insists the consumers finally and rejecthePimentel had decided to restrict public access performance and with sodoes ifcannot the High court rules inMore maintains there nothovermaintains the grant ofthere thetion franchise. Pimentel islaw nothdiction over thedecision grant of the franchise. Branch 29’s revoking Branch 29’s decision revoking More NAKEDstood up new PECO's service as the power disping the victory champagne. not prohibit any person from requestconsumers. He added that he was alI am inclined to support the solon’s to SALN records of politicians in pubing wrong with the doingEnergy business Regulatory in the ing But in the event the business SC rules against wrong with doing in thefavor, Butthey in franchise, thestill event the rules against ed them due to poor service. Power’s whoSCwill then serve Power’s franchise, who will then serve Commission.” PECO’s cannot operate THOUGHT Last week, Solicitor Jose ing present copies for purposes knowing tributor of Iloilo to favor a new comduring the hearings ofother the on this as the House of Reprelic office and other country especially ifgovernment there are execuother ways More Power, Pimentel saysofPECO can- position country especially if there More Power, Pimentel saysGeneral PECO canHouse of as Iloilo’s distribution utility given both as Iloilo’s distribution utility given both Pimentel claims the opinion of PECO ifare they do not have awhom franchise . has Calida, Gadon consulted whether the public official has tives because this is being “weaponized” pany, so there is cannot no truthprovide to a hostile renewal of their franchise. Thus, heindeed has sentatives already denied the franchise companies who relianot consider it a victory because they companies who cannot provide relianot consider it a victory because they More and PECO will be without franCHARLIE V. elf-serv- is self-serving because theytakeover. in franchise Leonen’s case, being the More and PECO will be without francompliedknowledge with his lawful obligation to including against them. still After wasCalida PECO removed because thorough of “PECO’s poor their request forrevoked, reconsideraPimentel said Congress did not reble Pimentel said was Congress did not reand want world-class services needed by able still cannot operate.services and world-class needed by its still cannot operate. chise? chise? MANALO one who has initiated the quo warranto file the SALN. Now, why, all of astood sudden, itrejectappear performance and several violations with tion so even if the High court rules n utility NAKED consumers finally updoes and in to operate electric “when the PECO sought from thesupport Mandaluynew PECO's servicethe as the powerutility dis- consumers. new PECO's service asthat the power He added he offices wasdisalI am inclined to support thewas solon’s consumers. He added that he alI relief am inclined to the solon’s proceedings against Sereno, assured the that there are moves from certain to ed them due to poor theposition Energy Commission.” PECO’s favor, stillHouse cannotofoperate ncement tributor of 11, Iloilo to THOUGHT favor a new comtributor of Iloilo to service. favor a new comways present the hearings of the onRegulatory this as the of City Reprepresent during the House hearings of theRegional position thisthey as the Repretruth of the matter is that the conong Trial Court Branch 29 latter hison office is seriously looking into deny access toduring Leonen’s SALN? What’s so ways MAY 2018, the Court AON RANKING member ofSupreme the House of it is Pimentel claims the opinion of PECO if they do not have a franchise .franchise pany, so there is no truth to a hostile pany, so there is no truth to a hostile renewal of their franchise. Thus, he has sentatives already denied the franchise renewal of their franchise. Thus, he has sentatives already denied the favoring the allegations against the Associate special about him? voted to invalidate Ma. Lourdes Sereno’s sumers who have been clamoring for where it received a favorable decision. Representatives branded as self-servCHARLIE V. is thorough self-serving because still want After and itstheir franchise was revoked,be takeover. PECO was removed PECO removed knowledge ofthey “PECO’s their request reconsiderathorough knowledge of for “PECO’s poor including request reconsideraJustice, that should for the allegations Even Gadon iswas puzzled with because SC’spoor de- a including appointment as Chief Justice forbecause having atakeover. Electric The request for ing former Iloilo distribution utility MANALO another utility company because for Mandaluyong RTC Branch 29 Judge to operate the electric utility “when the PECO sought relief from the Mandaluy(www.manilastandard.net) consumers stoodon upthe and reject- performance found office would notrules hesitate consumers finally stood up and rejectand several violations with tion soWould evenand if the Highviolations court rules several within tion so true, even his if the High court in a decision nial of his request for a copy of the As- performance violated the finally requirements Statement Panay Electric Co.’s pronouncement d preceaccess to his SALN truth of the matter is that it is the conong City Regional Trial Court Branch 29 to initiate another quo warranto proceedseveral decades PECO has a very poor Monique Ignacio declared unconstitued them due to poor service. ed them due to poor service. sociate Justice’s SALN. The High Court the Energy Regulatory Commission.” the PECO’s favor, they still cannot operate PECO’s favor, they still cannot operate of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth. Energy Regulatory Commission.” favoring More Power a Supreme Court decision favoring whoclaims have been clamoring for se of that A Pimentel RANKING member ofuncovered thehave House of sumers itdoreceived aafavorable decision. ings, timehave against ntry. itself provides, in its the That wasclaims after itthewas she opinion of PECO Pimentel thewebsite, opinion of official PECO if they do denied not have a by franchise . if10 they not . was the service and they several pending tional Sec.where ofthis Section 7 franchise ofLeonen. Republic EAGLE EYES new distribution utility More Electric really set a bad And yesterday morning, Gadon again (www.manilastandard.net) another utility company because for ervRepresentatives branded as self-servMandaluyong RTC Branch 29 Judge request form for requisitions of copies of did not file her SALN during her 17-year is self-serving because they still want is self-serving because they still want After its franchise was revoked, After its franchise was revoked, ker and Supreme Court. cases because complaints from the Act 11212, signed by President Rodrigo Power Corp. willdistribution setthe aof “bad precewrote to Calida, reiterating his request for the SALN of its personnel. Gadon attests tenure as a professor at University of several decades PECO has a very poor ility and ing former Iloilo utility Monique Ignacio declared unconstituprecedent? to operate the electric utility “when the to operate the electric utility “when the PECO sought relief from the Mandaluy- PECO sought relief from the MandaluyTONY Would a downloadable decision Would a decision imentel, dent” for businesses in the country. the granted Solicitor to initiate aand quo warhe used thethey same form ongdeserves the Philippines. He a better Duterte which the franchise have several pending ment Panay Electric Co.’s pronouncement tional Sec. 10General of Section 7 of Branch Republic truth ofcustomers.” the matter is that it is the con- service truth ofand the matter isinsists that it isthe theIlonggos conCity Regional Trial Court Branch 29 ong City Regional Trial Court 29 EAGLE EYES LA VIÑA ranto proceedings against Leonen. According Deputy Speaker and when he requested for copies of Sereno’s Earlier thisto month, Manila times colfavoring favoring More Power legation because ofMore complaints from the ring that a Supreme Court decision favoring Act 11212, signed Power. by President decision. Rodrigo Pimentel avers Congress rejectutility company than PECO who can reeminent domain to More sumers who have been clamoring for cases sumers who have been Power clamoring for where it received a favorable decision. where it received a favorable TONY “If Atty. Sereno was the ousted from theand SuThe exclusive of the aOmbudsSALN twoset yearsa ago. Not only was it He insists umnist Rigoberto “Bobi” Tiglao bared As- customers.” Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, ctric new distribution utility More Electric theset Ilonggos deserves better Duterte which granted franchise really bad really apower bad Estella another utility company because for another utility company because for of Mandaluyong RTC Branch 29 Judge RTC 29 Judge (www.manilastandard.net) (www.manilastandard.net) LA VIÑA ed PECO due to the numerous comally serve the needs the people. The SC, however, the implepreme Courtstopped due to theBranch lack of integrity as man, Gadon says, is that he can ask and Mandaluyong A reckoning granted by the SC, but was used successsociate Justice Marvic Leonen might also there is no legal basis for the allegation Pimentel avers Congress rejecteceand Power Corp.PECO will set a “bad prececompany thandeclared PECO who can reeminent domain to More Power. several decades has aforvery poor several has aproceedings very poor utility Monique Ignacio unconstituMonique Ignacio unconstituin favor precedent? exemplified by her declared non-filing of deSALN in precedent? examine documents from other agencies of fully indecades the quoPECO warranto bePECO guilty of the counsel same offense allegedly plaints from consumers ranged Nonetheless, says he is mentation the Mandaluyong RTC of lead lawyer Estellawhich for desaparecidos ed PECO due to have the numerous com-Pimentel . dent” for businesses in several the country. ally serve the needs of the people. The SC, however, stopped the impleservice and they have pending service and they several pending tional Sec. 10 of Section 7 of Republic tional Sec. 10 of Section 7 of Republic UP for many years, then there is no reason to verify the contents of the SALN in conagainst Sereno. failing to file his own SALN during his EAGLE EYES EAGLE EYES The economic eand hostile Elamparo thatover-billing, a judicial ruling in favor from poor service, among hopeful the Supreme Court will respect cision and issued a Temporary Restrainplaints from consumers which ranged According to Deputy Speaker and Nonetheless, Pimentel says he is mentation of the Mandaluyong RTC decases because of complaints from the cases because of complaints from the Act 11212, signed by President Rodrigo why the same standard should not be apAct 11212, signed by President Rodrigo nection with an investigation, but not the Hence, if it was granted by the SC on teaching years, also at UP. Moremany Power will hostile TONY RestrainTONY anchises consequences from over-billing, poorrecognize service, among ntel, of Surigao del Surothers, Rep.legitimize Johnny Pimentel, hopeful the Supreme Court respect cision and issued aJustice Temporary plied towhich associate Marvic Leonen,” which were as basis power towhich deny access by thewill public toand the in customers.” and the decision of Congress ing favor of More Power. customers.” He the Ilonggos deserves a better Duterte granted the franchise He insists the Ilonggos deserves aOrder better Duterte granted franchise and theinsists Sereno case, Gadon is definitely right Incidentally, Leonen was among thoseused LAthe VIÑA LA VIÑA takeovers of companies and franchises many others, which were used as basis tion there is no legal basis for the allegation and recognize the decision of Congress ing Order in favor of More Power. Gadon stated his Calida. SALN itself. ut showwhen he says Martires wasthe wrong in rehis utility who had against invalidating Pimentel averslegislative Congress rejectutility Pimentel Congress rejectof AIL dictatorship company than PECO wholegislative can eminent domain toa More company than PECOPower. whoSo canthe re- question eminent domain to letter MoretoSupreme Power. whyvoted its franchise was notavers to give franchise to deis,instated if the MATTERS interested parties the without showwhy its legislative franchise wascomnot to tella from Asthe I have before in the my earlier “That it might endanger thethe public of PECO lead lawyer Estella give the legislative franchise to aimplede-of- So question is, if the Supreme assumption that thepeople. Ombudsman Sereno’s SC high post. ally ed PECOappointment due counsel to thetonumerous comed PECO due toonly the numerous serve the needs of the The SC, however, stopped ally serve the needs of the people. The SC, however, stopped implerenewed. serving company since it has the jurisCourt upholds Mandaluyong RTC theirprompted technical capacity. The economic The economic column,upholds What sauce for theRTC goose ficial concerned or might be victim avor ing Elamparo thatconsumers a judicial ruling inranged favor company since it has theaRTC jurisMandaluyong RTC has the from powerconsumers and authority to look This lawyer Larry to renewed. plaints from whichGadon plaints which ranged Nonetheless, Pimentel says heinto is serving mentation of thePimentel Mandaluyong deNonetheless, says he is Court mentation of theisMandaluyong de-is Sharing a sustainable also sauce for the gander, Gadon’s stateof hacking of private information, is SALNs and that the public has no right to request before the SC, copies of Leonen’s stile of More Power will legitimize hostile consequences consequences from over-billing, poor service, among hopeful from over-billing, poor service, the Supreme Court will among respect hopeful cision and a Temporary the issued Supreme Court willRestrainrespect cision and issued a Temporary Restrainfuture together: an imaginary threat and fear which can ment is a compelling reason why Leonen access it unless permitted byofthe SALN.others, This request, unfortunately, was and ises takeovers of companies and franchises many which were used as basis many others, which were used asofficial basis and recognize the decision Congress ing Order inthe favor of More Power. recognize the decision of Congress ing Orderbeof inremoved favor of More Power. Rolando G. EstabilloPublisher Publisher dictatorship of dictatorship Rolando G. Estabillo should from the SC, if he not defeat higher and lawful rights who filed it. denied by the High Court. ow- from Embracing Taiwan interested parties withoutwas showFormer Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser So the question is, if the Supreme why its legislative franchise notManilaStandard why its legislative franchise was not to give the legislative franchise to a deSo question is, if the Supreme to give the legislative franchise to a decan be accessed at: Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor indeed committed the same offense that granted to the public under RA 6713,” Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Sereno obviously, did not give consent And duringcapacity. the budget hearing Former ManilaStandard ing theirthen, technical manilastandard.net can be accessed at: Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager renewed. renewed. serving company since it has the jurisCourt upholds Mandaluyong RTC serving company since it has the jurisCourt upholds Mandaluyong RTC ONLINE Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Chindid. Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Sereno Gadon says. ofF.her SALN to for the Office ofby Philippine the Ombudsman, Om- to the release of the copies Published Monday to Sunday Manila Standard manilastandard.net Anita Grefal Treasury Manager ONLINE Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor MEMBER dard Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone Philippine Press Institute Adelle Chua Opinion Editor Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager e Lino M. Santos Chief Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all MEMBER Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Rolando The National Association RolandoG. G.Estabillo EstabilloPublisher Publisher hone departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. of Philippine Newspapers Philippine Press Institute Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Adelle Chua L. Tomeldan Opinion Editor Member & Chief LegalEditor Adviser Former ChiefCirculation Justice Reynato S. Puno L.Board Edgar Manager ManilaStandard ManilaStandard Box 2933, Manilacan Central Post Office,at: Manila. Website: www. be accessed ManilaStandard can be accessed at:M. Valmorida l Honor Blanco Cabie Editor Chairman Honor BlancoBoard Cabie Night Editor Ramonchito Tomeldan Managing Ramonchito Managing Editor Emeritus, EmilNight P. Jurado Editorial

erving threat

What’ s so special with Leonen? A self-serving threat

rving Athreat self-serving threat

Would a decision favoring More Power really set a bad precedent?

MORE OPINION ONLINE

MORE MORE OPINION OPINION MORE ONLINE ONLINE OPINION MORE ONLINE OPINION ONLINE

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The economic consequences of dictatorship

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Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions MEMBER MEMBER Press Philippine PressInstitute Institute Edgar M.Philippine Valmorida Circulation Manager The TheNational NationalAssociation Association of Philippine Newspapers of Philippine Newspapers

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Anita F.F.Grefal Manager Anita Grefal Treasury Treasury Manager Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Baldwin R. Felipe Head—Ad Solutions Adelle Chua Manager Opinion Editor Edgar Circulation EdgarM. M.Valmorida Valmorida Circulation Manager Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Night Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Jimbo Owen Gulle City Editor Jimbo Chin Wong/Ray S.S.Eñano Associate JimboOwen OwenGulle Gulle City CityEditor Editor Chin Wong/Ray Eñano AssociateEditors Editors Emil P. Jurado Chairman Editorial Lino M.Pangco Santos ChiefNews Photographer Lino M. Joyce Pañares Editor Lino M.Santos SantosBoardChief ChiefPhotographer Photographer Joyce Pangco Pañares News Editor Emeritus, Adelle Opinion AdelleChua Chua OpinionEditor Editor

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Four injured in Paris knife attack—PM

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IN BRIEF US protesters defy 2nd night of curfew MORE than 1,000 people defied a second night of curfew in the US city of Louisville to protest over the lack of criminal charges in the police killing of Breonna Taylor, with some seeking refuge in a church. Two officers were shot during clashes in Louisville a day earlier, after authorities announced a grand jury had decided not to charge anyone in connection with the death of Taylor – a 26-year-old black woman shot dead in her apartment by police earlier this year. “Until we afford Black people the basic rights promised by our founders – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – and end the rampage of the devil of racism, we will know no peace,” her family’s lawyer Ben Crump said in an opinion piece in The Washington Post. Over a thousand people protested Thursday evening in the city center, much of which was closed to traffic, with several shops boarded up in anticipation of more violence. “No way we can be peaceful any longer,” said Michael Pyles, a 29-year-old black man who said he has been protesting for 120 days, and had a 9mm handgun on his hip. “We’re out here to protect our people and the people who support us,” he said. “We are under attack.” AFP

Gang rape witnesses arrest jolt Egypt A CLIMATE of fear has gripped Egypt’s #MeToo movement as the arrests of witnesses in a high-profile rape case threaten to derail efforts to curb male sexual violence in the Arab country. A group of nine men from wealthy families are suspected of drugging and gang-raping a young woman in Cairo’s luxury Fairmont hotel and circulating a video of the assault. It allegedly took place in 2014 but the allegations only emerged online in July and a complaint was filed in early August. Five suspects were arrested, three of them in Lebanon which handed them over to Egyptian authorities this week. Another four fled to the UK and the US, according to a women’s activist connected to the case who requested anonymity. But events have taken a sudden Uturn. At the end of last month, authorities also arrested four witnesses, along with two acquaintances with no direct links to the case, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). AFP

A performer from the Grande Rio samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio on February 24, 2020, weeks before the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. AFP

Rio scraps famed carnival indefinitely R IO de Janeiro’s world-famous carnival parades became the latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic as officials announced they were indefinitely postponing the February 2021 edition, with Brazil still reeling from COVID-19.

Rio’s carnival, the world’s biggest, is an epidemiologist’s nightmare in a pandemic: an extended festival of tightly packed crowds dancing through the streets and flocking to the city’s iconic “Sambadrome” for massive parades featuring scantily clad dancers, small armies of drummers and allnight partying at close quarters. The event draws millions of tourists from around Brazil and the world to the

beachside city each year. Rio’s elite samba schools, which typically spend the entire year preparing their elaborate parades, had said in July it would be difficult to organize the event for February 2021 if there were still no certainty of a vaccine for the new coronavirus by late September. Meeting again to assess the situation, “we came to the conclusion that the event had to be postponed,” said Jorge Castanheira, the president of the group that organizes the annual parades, the Independent League of Samba Schools of Rio de Janeiro (LIESA). “We just can’t do it in February. The samba schools won’t have the time or financial and organizational resources to be ready,” he told journalists after a plenary meeting by the group’s directors. “It’s not a cancellation, it’s a postponement. We are looking for an alternative solution, something we can do when it’s safe to contribute to the city.... But we

aren’t certain enough to set a date.” It is the first time in more than a century that carnival has been postponed in Rio. The last time was in 1912, after the death of long-time foreign minister Jose Maria da Silva Paranhos Junior. The late foreign minister is reported to have once said: “Only two things exist in Brazil which are really organized: disorder and carnival.” The year he died, carnival was officially pushed back by two months, though in the event Rio residents reportedly took advantage of the occasion to party in both February and April that year. In reality, “carnival” comprises numerous events, from the elite samba school parade contest organized by LIESA to less-formal “blocos,” or street parties. LIESA’s announcement applies only to the samba school competition. City authorities have not yet announced whether “blocos” and other events will be allowed.AFP

Turkey to arrest 82 for pro-Kurdish rallies TURKISH authorities on Friday issued arrest warrants for 82 people, including a mayor, over pro-Kurdish protests six years ago, officials and local media said. The warrants relate to October 2014 protests in Turkey sparked by the seizure by Islamic State (IS) jihadists of the mainly Kurdish Syrian town of Kobane. Police were on the hunt for the 82 suspects in the Turkish capital and six other provinces, the Ankara chief public prosecutor’s office said in a statement. The prosecutor’s office did not specify what offenses the 82 are alleged to have committed. But it said crimes committed during the protests included murder, attempted murder, theft, damaging property, looting, burning the Turkish flag and injuring 326 security officials and 435 citizens. There was also a warrant for the mayor of the eastern city of Kars, Ayhan Bilgen, Hurriyet daily reported. Bilgen won the city in the 2019 local elections representing the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which is Turkey’s second-largest opposition group in the parliament. AFP

AEGYO (CUTE), BUT DETERMINED. A protester sits in front of teddy bears dressed as protesters in order to comply with COVID-19 rules against large public gatherings during a protest by street vendors against a crackdown on unlicensed stalls outside a district council office in Seoul on Sept. 25, 2020. AFP

Moscow mayor orders elderly to stay home as virus rebounds

IN MOURNING. The American flag flies at half-mast in honor of the late Justice

Ruth Bader Ginsburg as US President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Cecil Airport on Sept. 24, 2020, in Jacksonville, Florida. AFP

MOSCOW Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Friday ordered the elderly to stay at home and recommended employers allow home working after the Russian capital saw a sharp rise in virus cases. Sobyanin’s message came after virus figures that had remained steady for several months climbed steeply in recent days in Russia, the world’s fourth most affected country, and particularly in Moscow, where current case numbers are the highest since late June. Sobyanin said Muscovites over 65 years old should stay at home from Monday and shop rarely, while walks outside remain unrestricted. At the beginning of the virus lockdown, Sobyanin brought in harsh measures including cancelling seniors’ free travel passes. “Unfortunately we see a significant increase in the number of confirmed cases in Moscow in recent days,” Sobyanin said in his official blog. New coronavirus cases in Moscow on Thursday reached their highest level since June 23, at 1,050, and Sobyanin

said there had been a “serious” increase in hospital admissions. On Friday, he warned that simultaneously catching the common cold and the virus as winter approaches was particularly dangerous for elderly people and those with chronic illnesses. “So from September 28, we are asking you to stay at home,” he said. The mayor’s decree presents this as a compulsory rule, with exceptions for medical care, shopping, walking dogs and commuting to work. Sobyanin said those in the risk groups should work from home or take vacation if possible. He also told company heads: “I firmly ask and recommend you to move as many of your staff as possible to homeworking.” Employers should offer virus testing and temperature checks, he said. Warning the virus is “not conquered yet,” he called for Moscow residents to wear face masks and gloves on public transport and in shops, a rule already in place but widely flouted.AFP

FOUR people were injured, two seriously, in a knife attack in Paris Friday outside the former offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, Prime Minister Jean Castex said. =Two of the victims were in a critical condition, the Paris police department said, adding two suspects were on the run. Police later said one suspect had been detained after the attack, which occurred as the trial was underway for the alleged accomplices of the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack. “A serious event has taken place in Paris,” said Castex, who was addressing reporters at the time and cut short a visit to northern Paris to head instead to the crisis center of the interior ministry. “Four people have been wounded and it seems that two are in a serious condition,” he said. He added the attack had taken place “in front of” the weekly’s former offices in the 11th district of central Paris. The magazine’s current address is kept secret for security reasons. The stabbing came as a trial was underway in the capital for alleged accomplices of the authors of the January 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo. Twelve people, including some of France’s most celebrated cartoonists, were killed in the attack by brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi and claimed by a branch of Al Qaeda. A female police officer was killed a day later, followed the next day by the killing of four men in a hostagetaking at a Jewish supermarket by gunman Amedy Coulibaly. The 14 defendants stand accused of having aided and abetted the perpetrators of the 2015 attacks, who were themselves killed in the wake of the massacres. The magazine, defiant as ever, had marked the start of the trial by republishing hugely controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed that had angered Muslims around the world. Al-Qaeda then threatened Charlie Hebdo with a repeat of the 2015 massacre of its staff. The trial in Paris had resumed Friday after a suspect’s coronavirus test came back negative. AFP

Nokor’s Kim apologizes for ‘defector’ death NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong Un apologized Friday over the killing of a South Korean at sea, calling it an “unexpected and disgraceful event,” Seoul’s presidential office said. The fisheries official was shot dead on Tuesday by North Korean soldiers, and Seoul says his body was set on fire while still in the water, apparently as a precaution against coronavirus infection. It was the first killing of a Southern citizen by North Korean forces for a decade, and provoked outrage in the South. Kim apologized “for disappointing President Moon and South Koreans” rather than helping them in the face of the “malicious coronavirus,” said Suh Hoon, the South’s National Security Adviser. Apologies from the North—let alone attributed to Kim personally— are extremely rare, and the message comes with inter-Korean ties in the deep freeze amid a stand-off in nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington. Suh was reading out a letter from the department of the North’s ruling party responsible for relations with the South. In it, Pyongyang acknowledged firing around 10 shots at the man, who had “illegally entered our waters” and refused to properly identify himself. Border guards fired him in accordance with standing instructions, it said. His body was no longer visible after the shooting and troops set his flotation device—which was covered in blood —on fire in accordance with national emergency prevention regulations. Seoul military officials say the man was interrogated while in the water for several hours and expressed a desire to defect, but was killed after an “order from superior authority.” The man—who was wearing a lifejacket—disappeared from a patrol vessel near the western border island of Yeonpyeong on Monday, and North Korean forces located him in their waters more than 24 hours later. South Korean media reports said he was in his forties with two children, but had recently divorced and had financial problems. AFP

Business PSEi September 25, 2020

TOP GAINERS

Stock market declines; Metrobank and Dito rise T HE stock market fell slightly Friday for the fourth straight session in another dull trading amid rising infections in Europe and other countries that have seen governments impose partial lockdowns.

TOP LOSERS

SATURdAy, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index shed 7.14 points, or 0.1 percent, to 5,838.66 on a thin value turnover of P3.7 billion. Gainers, however, beat losers, 110 to 86, with 44 issues unchanged. NOW Corp. of the Velarde family declined 4.6 percent to P2.93, while PLDT Inc., the biggest telecommunications firm, slipped 1 percent to P1,356. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. of the

Ty Group, the second-largest lender in terms of assets, rose 3 percent to P37.60, while Dito CME Holdings Corp., the third major telecom player, climbed 2.4 percent to P4.20. The rest of Asian markets were mixed Friday at the end of another torrid week for investors, who are growing increasingly concerned about US lawmakers’ failure to even hold talks on a new stimulus and surging virus infections that are prompting fresh containment measures. Tokyo ended up 0.5 percent, Sydney piled on 1.5 percent, Mumbai and Jakarta almost two percent and Wellington jumped 0.9 percent. There were also advances in Singapore and Seoul. But Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei and Bangkok were all in negative territory, having given up earlier gains. There was a sliver of hope Thursday for some movement on Capitol Hill af-

ter House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats had started putting together a $2.4-trillion rescue package and that they were still looking to find an agreement. At the same time, Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin reiterated that a new deal was still needed, adding: “If Democrats are willing to sit down, I’m willing to sit down any time for bipartisan legislation. Let’s pass something quickly.” However, the proposal still dwarfs the Republicans’ most recent offer and is also larger than the $1.5-trillion President Donald Trump said he is willing to accept. While Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell said the economy was performing better than expected for now thanks to income support, he told a congressional committee “it’s likely that additional fiscal support will be needed.” With AFP

MOST ACTIVE

Closing time.

Police chat with drinkers outside a bar in Soho just before 10 p.m. in central London on September 24, 2020, on the first day of the new earlier closing times for pubs and bars in England and Wales, introduced to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Britain has 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

IMF: Global outlook now less bleak than June forecast WASHINGTON—The global economic outlook is less bleak than projected in June, an IMF spokesman said Thursday, hinting that the organization’s forecasts for growth will be raised next month. “Recent incoming data suggests that the outlook may be somewhat less dire” than projected in the Washingtonbased crisis lender’s World Economic Outlook published in June, spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters, nothing that “parts of the global economy (are) beginning to turn the corner.” As the coronavirus has moved through the world, economists have been forced to constantly revise their forecasts for growth. The International Monetary Fund is set to update its global outlook on October 13, though Rice did not reveal details about the new projection. In its June forecast, the fund said world GDP would drop by 4.9 percent and the virus would wipe out $12 trillion over two years, However China and some other advanced economies performed better than expected in the second quarter of 2020, Rice said, partly due to the easing of lockdown measures after the near total shutdowns earlier in the year. “We’re also seeing signs of global trade slowly beginning to recover,” Rice said. “I would emphasize we are not out of the woods,” Rice said, calling the outlook “very challenging” with emerging markets facing a “precarious” situation due to the coronavirus. Economists also fear that a second wave of infections could damage growth. Governments including Britain and France have re-instituted some restrictions in recent days, although on a much more limited scale than earlier in the year. Rice said households and businesses in the United States continue to face challenges and signaled that the fund supports more fiscal support for the economy. AFP

Australia rolling back banking regulations to spur economy Data shows reversal in US hiring SYDNEY, Australia—Australia plans to roll back “responsible lending” laws adopted in the wake of the financial crisis in an effort to spur an economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Friday. The move sent banking stocks soaring, but drew sharp criticism from consumer groups and the opposition Labor Party. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said credit restrictions imposed on lenders in 2009 had stifled lending and was impeding efforts to recover from Australia’s first recession in nearly 30 years. “As the nation strives to recover from Covid-19, the provision of and access to credit will be critical to rebuilding every sector of our economy, from hospitality to tourism, construction to retail,” he said in a statement.

The laws require lenders to take steps to determine if potential borrowers will be able to repay their loans in hopes of avoiding a repeat of the crisis sparked by the subprime mortgage meltdown in the US. But Frydenberg said this “burden of regulation” had become an obstacle to economic growth. “Across time, lenders have become increasingly risk averse and overly conservative. As a consequence, borrowers, irrespective of their financial circumstances, have faced an ever more intrusive, difficult and drawn-out approval process,” he said. “What started a decade ago as a principles-based framework to regulate the provision of consumer credit has evolved into an overly prescriptive, complex, costly, one-size-fits-all

regime known as responsible lending obligations,” he said. The conservative government’s move was welcomed by business groups and sent bank stocks sharply higher, with National Australia Bank and Westpac both up more than six percent, ANZ jumping more than five percent and Commonwealth Bank up 3.4 percent. A coalition of consumer groups, however, said the step would lead to a return of the banking misbehavior that was slammed by a Royal Commission of inquiry last year. The “government’s proposed reforms will remove bank responsibility to customers, opening up new opportunities for banks to aggressively sell debt,” said a grouping of four consumer advocacy organizations.AFP

AliexPress in PAris.

People wait in line in front of the AliExpress pop-up store in Paris on September 24, 2020. The global marketplace of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, AliExpress, opened from September 24 to 26 a pop-up store in Paris for the first time in France, aiming to showcase its fashion and decoration products and its concept of “shoppertainment” in video streams. AFP

while housing recovery continues WASHINGTON—The United States saw a small but worrying rise in unemployment claims last week, underscoring its continued struggles to recover from the mass layoffs caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Labor Department reported new filings for unemployment benefits had ticked up by 4,000 to 870,000 in the week ended September 19, only a slight increase from the week prior but still a massive number above the single worst week of the 2008-2010 global financial crisis. Another 630,080 people filed new claims under a special program for those not normally eligible, only about 45,000 less than the previous week. The data comes as Congress remains deadlocked on passing more stimulus to prop up consumers and businesses and other data showing key sectors struggling to regain ground lost when businesses closed in March to stop Covid-19. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told the Senate Banking Committee the White House had “agreed to continue to have discussions” with Democrats on a new stimulus bill as economists warn the state of the world’s largest economy could deteriorate. The rise in claims is “further evidence of the slowing pace of economic recovery,” Mohamed A. El-Erian of Allianz said on Twitter, noting the latest data went against analysts’ expectation of a continued week-on-week fall. But the Commerce Department separately released data showing the housing market continuing its recovery unabated, with new home sales in August growing above expectations to an annualized rate of just over one million. ‘Disappointing and ominous’ The March business shutdowns were catastrophic for the economy, causing jobless benefit claims to surge to more than 6.8 million in late March and the unemployment rate to spike. States’ moves to reopen have brought about some recovery, with claims retreating below the one million mark and the unemployment rate at 8.4 percent in August. But the numbers of jobless remain massive: the Labor Department said the insured unemployment rate indicating people actually receiving benefits fell only 0.1 percentage points to 8.6 percent in the week ended September 12, the most recent week data was available. All told, slightly more than 26 million people were receiving benefits under all programs in the week ended September 5. The $2.2 trillion CARES Act passed in March included programs to support small businesses and give extra money to jobless workers, but those provisions have since expired and Democrats and Republicans are deadlocked on how much more assistance to provide.Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics called the latest data “disappointing and ominous,” and warned the coronavirus’s staying Manila Standard power and the impasse in Washington could hurt the economy. AFP TODAY

Court convicts 7 ex-Hermes staff in France for making and selling fake handbags PARIS, France—A Paris court on Thursday convicted 10 people, including seven former staff of French luxury house Hermes, for making and selling fake handbags under its coveted Birkin brand. They were handed sentences ranging from six months suspended jail to three years with one year suspended. The highest sentence went to a man considered to be a ringleader, who was also fined 200,000 euros ($233,000).

He was tried in absentia however, and is still the target of an arrest warrant. Another ringleader was given an effective one-year sentence, to be served under house arrest, with two more years suspended and a fine of 100,000 euros. A woman who was convicted of selling the bags to Asian buyers was given a 30-month sentence with 20 months suspended. Her 10 months will also be served under house arrest. The network, which targeted

Asian tourists in Paris but also clients in Hong Kong in 2013 and 2014, was uncovered when French police wiretapped the home of a man suspected of selling stolen handbags in Asia. An inquiry uncovered a clandestine operation in which the suspects at their homes crafted dozens of counterfeit “Birkin” bags, the most coveted—and profitable—item produced by Hermes. Named for French-British actress Jane Birkin, the bags have

long waiting lists for customers ready to pay 40,000 euros ($47,000) or more for versions made with crocodile skin. Prosecutors said the gang took in about two million euros a year by selling the fakes for between 20,000 euros and 30,000 euros each. The Hermes workers would make the bags with crocodile skins from an Italian supplier, using zippers and other components smuggled out of Hermes workshops. AFP

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that MACTAN SEASCAPES SERVICES, INC. doing business as Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan (Formerly: SEASCAPES RESORT, INC.), with office address at Sitio Dapdap, Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as an Expanding Operator of Tourist Accomodation Facility under the Special Laws-Tourism-Hotel (Crimson Suites) with a capacity of 229 rooms on a Non-Pioneer status, with project site located at Sitio Dapdap, Mactan, LapuLapu City, Cebu Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication. (SGD) ANGELITA F. ARCELLANA Director Infrastructure and Services Industries Service (MS-SEPT. 26, 2020)

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

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

Business

DOE clears First Gen’s LNG project IN BRIEF F By Alena Mae S. Flores

Bulacan airport to mitigate floods

SAN Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang said the design of the proposed international airport in Bulacan province is meant to address the problem of flooding in the area. “The airport’s design fully takes this into account, and we have actually started implementing sustainable measures to address flooding in Bulacan that has existed for several decades and has been made worse by clogged waterways and drainages,” Ang said during the Senate hearing on the proposed franchise to construct the international airport. “We would like to assure all stakeholders, particularly those who expressed concerns or opposition to the project, as well as those who offered inputs and suggestions, that we value your inputs and will seriously take them into consideration,” he said. “In particular, we fully agree with Dr. Renato Solidum of Phivolcs’ observation that proper engineering intervention measures are needed to mitigate risks such as flooding, which, as was pointed out during the hearing, are present not just in Bulacan or Manila Bay, but in many coastal areas throughout the Philippine archipelago,” said Ang.

GEN LNG Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Gen Corp., said Friday it received a permit from the Department of Energy to construct an interim offshore liquefied natural gas project in Batangas City. First Gen said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday it received on Sept. 23 a permit to construct, expand, rehabilitate and modify an interim offshore LNG terminal in the First Gen Clean Energy Complex in Batangas City. FGEN LNG submitted the application to the DOE on March 4, 2020. First Gen said the project involves construction works needed to modify the jetty facility that will enable it to become a multi-purpose jetty and the development of an adjunct onshore gas receiving facility.

It represents the initial phase of the FGEN Batangas LNG Terminal that was previously declared by the Energy Investment Coordinating Council through the DOE as an energy project of national significance under Executive Order No. 30. A PCERM is a permit issued by the DOE under the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Regulation that authorizes the construction of a downstream natural gas sacility such as an LNG Terminal. First Gen is the only company in advanced stage of an LNG project.

“We are thankful to Secretary [Alfonso] Cusi, and to the Downstream Natural Gas Review and Evaluation Committee of the DOE, for the support and guidance that they have provided during the evaluation process, especially given the difficult circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and for issuing the PCERM,” said First Gen executive vice president and chief commercial officer Jonathan Russell. First Gen said once it completed the preparations such as the design and implementation of enhanced work and safety protocols and procedures required to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on construction personnel and the local community, the construction phase of the project might begin by the end of third quarter or early fourth quarter. The company is also preparing to issue a binding invitation to tender for a floating storage and regasification unit upon completion of the non-binding process.

Meralco sees 2020 sales falling by 10%

ELECTRICITY retailer Manila Electric Co. expects energy sales to decline by as much as 10 percent this year amid the impact of coronavirus pandemic. “For 2020, the level of total energy sales is expected to contract by as much as 10 percent due to the effect of the COVID-19 enhanced community quarantine from March 16 to May 31,” Meralco said in its latest power supply procurement plan submitted to the Department of Energy. Meralco said, however, that energy sales would likely rebound in 2021 and continue to grow until 2029. “With the resumption and recovery of economic activity, from 2021 to 2029, total energy sales growth is expected to grow by about 3 percent per year,” Meralco said. It said the sales growth after the disruption caused by COVID-19 was expected to be driven by moderate economic growth and widening customer base. “The long-term increase in consumption though may be tempered by customer responses to public policies on the promotion of renewable energy resources and energy efficiency measures,” the company said. Alena Mae S. Flores

Consumer confidence expected to recover

SECURITY Bank Corp., the seventh-largest lender in terms of assets, said it expects consumer confidence to bounce back strongly once the cure to the COVID-19 pandemic becomes available. Security Bank president and chief executive Sanjiv Vohra said in an interview consumer confidence would return once a vaccine or cure was found. “It’s a delicate balancing act for sure, and the key will be to strengthen our public health so that we make sure that our workforce and thereby our economy will remain productive, and business and consumer confidence returns,” Vohra said. “Locally, we have low-interest rates and good liquidity. We also have a forceful BSP [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] response, resilient currency and a strong potential for economic and consumption rebound,” he said. The bank’s Trust Asset Management Group sees strong potential for the economy to bounce back from the negative effects of COVID-19 after the Philippines posted a 16.5-percent GDP contraction in the second quarter. Julito G. Rada

-7.14 PTS. 5,838.66

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

1,405,147,473 59,259 3,659,321,065.70 110 86 44

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

48.5450

Japan

Yen

0.009488

0.4606

Pound

1.275800

61.9337

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129034

6.2640

Switzerland

Franc

1.080264

52.4414

Canada

Dollar

0.748839

36.3524

Singapore

Dollar

0.726850

35.2849

Australia

Dollar

0.704300

34.1902

Bahrain

Dinar

2.651887

128.7359

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

12.9439

Brunei

Dollar

0.724218

35.1572

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000067

0.0033

Thailand

Baht

0.031656

1.5367

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.2174

Euro

1.167100

56.6569

Korea

Won

0.000855

0.0415

China

Yuan

0.146466

7.1102

India

Rupee

0.013532

0.6569

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.240038

11.6526

New Zealand

Dollar

0.654300

31.7630

Taiwan

Dollar

0.034166

1.6586 Source: BSP

Puregold’s board approves plan to issue P12-b notes By Jenniffer B. Austria PUREGOLD Price Club Inc. plans to issue P12 billion worth of corporate notes to fund the rollout of more grocery stores across the country. Puregold said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday its board of directors approved the fund-raising activity as an opportunistic strategy to raise long-term money at low-interest rates. “The proceeds will be deployed for growth initiatives and to accelerate business expansion by opening more Puregold and S&R stores in strategic areas in order to continue to provide basic goods and essential products in those markets,” it said. The company did not disclose the terms of the notes. It appointed China Bank Capital Corp. as the lead arranger, underwriter and sole bookrunner for the proposed transaction. Puregold has 444 stores nationwide under Puregold and S&R brands and QSR (quick service restaurant) formats with total net selling area of 580,000 square meters. Puregold earlier budgeted P3.4 billion for 2020 capital expenditures mainly to build 25 new Puregold stores, two S&R sores and QSR restaurants. Puregold reported a net income of P3.4 billion in the first half, up by 20.1 percent from P2.83 billion in the same period in 2019. The company said it posted stronger-than-expected same store sales growth of 9.2 percent in the first half, driven by higher consumer spending and pantry loading prior to the Covid quarantine and the continued store operations even during lockdown. Consolidated net sales increased by 15.1 percent to P81.96 billion in the first half. It said bulk of the revenues or 76 percent came from the Puregold store network and 24 percent from S&R membership warehouse clubs and S&R New York Style Pizza stores. Income from operations grew 19.2 percent to P5.71 billion in the first half from P4.79 billion in the same period last year. The share price of Puregold dropped 2.73 percent Friday to P48.10.

2 1600 TREE PLANTING. Employee volunteers from First Gen Corp. hold a hi-tech and innovative tree-planting activity amid the pandemic, raising thousands of pesos in donations for indigents in a Batangas town whose means of livelihood have been affected by the coronavirus. The employees from the Lopez-led power company, along with other volunteers from parent First Philippine Holdings Corp., planted over a thousand mangrove saplings in Lobo, Batangas.

Residential prices jumped 27% in Q2 despite pandemic—BSP By Julito G. Rada RESIDENTIAL real estate prices jumped 27.1 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, the highest growth rate recorded since the first quarter of 2016, according to the Residential Real Estate Price Index released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday. It said the increase was driven by higher demand for high-end projects, which pushed up the average price per square meter, and rising prices of construction materials, labor costs and other indirect costs, such as higher marketing costs of appraised premium properties. “Further, in terms of area and type of housing unit, the highest contributors to the increase in housing prices were loans for the purchase of condominium units [particularly those

Commercial banks support BSP order to cap credit cards’ interest rate at 24% MAJOR banks supported order of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to put a 24-percent cap on annual interest rate of credit card transactions beginning Nov. 3, saying it will lessen the burden experienced by individuals and businesses during the pandemic. Bankers Association of the Philippines managing director Benjamin Castillo said in an e-mailed statement Friday the group recognized the importance of the credit card policy reform during the critically difficult period. “The BAP appreciates the continuing collaboration between the industry and the regulator as we continue to fight the ill-effects of the COVID-19 health crisis,” Castillo said. “We support this initiative by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. This will help ease the burden of every household including businesses severely affected by the pandemic,” Castillo said. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said in an online briefing Thursday that the interest rates or finance charges on unpaid outstanding credit card balance of a cardholder should not exceed 2 percent per month. He said the interest rate cap on credit

PSE INDEX

Friday, September 25, 2020

card receivables would ease the financial burden on consumers and micro, small and medium enterprises amid a difficult economic environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 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. 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. These maximum rates and fees will also take effect on Nov. 3, 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. He said the setting of a maximum ceiling on interest or finance charges on credit card transactions was in line with the low-interest rate environment. Julito G. Rada

in NCR] and single attached/detached houses. Low base effects also contributed to the price growth,” the BSP said. Property consultancy firm Colliers International Philippines confirmed the strong demand for mid-income, upscale and luxury residential units in Metro Manila in the second quarter. The BSP survey showed that residential property prices in NCR grew 34.9 percent in the second quarter from a year ago, higher than the 18.1-percent increase in the provinces. All types of housing units registered an increase in prices in NCR, except for duplexes as no loans for the purchase of duplexes in the said area were granted and reported in the second quarter. The prices in areas outside NCR increased across all types of housing units. Prices of condominium units rose

the fastest at 30.1 percent in the second quarter while prices of single detached/attached houses, townhouses and duplexes increased by 24.1 percent, 10.8 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively. Data, however, showed that the number of residential real estate loans granted by banks in the second quarter declined by 55.2 percent year-on-year and 54.9 percent quarter-on-quarter. The average appraised value per sqm of new housing units climbed by 66 percent year-on-year and 24.2 percent quarter-on-quarter. Property consultancy firm Colliers International Philippines said it was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the pre-selling residential market in Metro Manila, with take up increasing to 8,700 units in the second quarter from 8,600 units a year ago.

VICT ENERGY CREDITS. Victoria

International Container Terminal in Melbourne, Australia secures energy efficiency credits after reducing its power consumption and carbon emissions through the installation of LED lighting upgrades on all five automated quay cranes. Showing the energy credits are (from left) VICT electrical superintendent Tom Wheelan and facilities manager Matt Wheaton. VICT is a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services Inc.

Feed millers increase Isabela corn orders after a bumper harvest THE Philippine Association of Feed Millers Inc. said more members placed orders of corn from Isabela province as local harvest turned out to be better than anticipated. PAFMI president Nicole SarmientoGarcia reported the development to Agriculture Secretary William Dar in a meeting Thursday. The Department of Agriculture linked PAFMI to Isabela Governor Rodolfo Albano in July this year to encourage public and private sector coordination in corn sourcing.

Vitarich Corp., one of the oldest integrated feed milling companies in the country, was the first to issue a purchase order for 1,500 metric tons of corn delivered to its plant in Bulacan province at P14 per kilogram on a 30-day term. Sarmiento-Garcia, who is also the executive vice president of Vitarich, said the company’s order was coursed through Governor Albano’s office. Isabela’s “DA-LGU Corn Clustering Program” organized corn farmers to put their harvest volume together for greater

sales negotiating and more efficient logistics contracting. PAFMI said more than the volume available, members noted the high quality of Isabela’s corn given its low moisture (14-percent and lower), low kernel damage (less than 5 percent) and low aflatoxin level (less than 20 part per billion). Aflatoxin is a naturally-occurring toxin caused by fungus which in turn is brought about by the stress due to exposure to extreme heat or insect damage.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

Rajon Rondo of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Denver Nuggets during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs on September 24, 2020 at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. AFP

‘Casimero’s foe won’t go distance’ By Jessica Luna

EIGNING World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero warns Duke Micah to be ready when they clash on Sunday (Philippine time) in a world title bout, organized by Showtime and Premier Boxing Champions at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. Still frustrated by the cancelation of his unification bout against International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, the 31-year-old Ormoc native vowed to beat his former Olympian opponent to a pulp. “You have to prepare seriously and brace yourself,” Casimero (29-4 win-loss record with 20 knockouts) warned the undefeated Micah (24-0 with 19 knockouts) in Filipino a day before fight night. “I am much better now after staying here training in the US since February. I really feel good, more than ever.” Casimero’s handler Sean Gibbons, an international matchmaker and MP Promotions’ president, believes Micah won’t handle the champion’s power in the entire rounds. “He won’t go the distance for sure. I don’t pick what round, but I am pretty sure he won’t last,” he said.

19 sports associations in search of training venues

Casimero’s last fight was a smashing third-round technical knockout win over South African erstwhile champion Zolani Tete last November in Birmingham, London. Micah, known as the “Baby Faced Terminator”, said he isn’t bothered by the achievements of the three-division champion. “I’m so grateful for this moment. This is a massive night for me. It all comes down to this and we are coming to win,” Micah said during the fight’s news conference last Wednesday. “I have to stick to my game plan.” “I expect my opponent to box and move. I’ve prepared for a couple attacks that I think he will use. I’ve never been more ready for a fight than I am for this one. Casimero is a good boxer, but I’m a different fighter than I’ve been in the past,” he added. Originally, the Japanese “Monster” Inoue was

picked to be Casimero’s opponent last April 25 in Las Vegas, but the pandemic ravaged all sporting events worldwide, causing the cancellation of their fight. Their unification bout was canceled for good after Top Rank decided to select Australia’s Jason Moloney as Inoue’s opponent in November.

Lakers whip Nuggets for 3-1 lead, near NBA Finals ORLANDO—Anthony Davis and LeBron James combined for 60 points as the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers seized control of their Western Conference finals series with a 114108 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. James finished with 26 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists and Davis had 34 points as Lakers held on to beat the Nuggets and take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series in the NBA’s quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida. Game five is Saturday in Orlando. The Lakers have wrapped up both their previous series in five games. Canadian forward Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 32 points and eight assists, while Jerami Grant finished with 17 for Denver. Serbia’s Nikola Jokic was held in check most of the game and finished with a disappointing 16 points. He missed all four field goal attempts in the fourth. James took it upon himself to guard Murray with the game on the line. “He’s is one of the hottest guys in the bubble,” said James. “He’s very shifty to guard. I just use my length and athleticism, high hand him and meet him at the basket.” Another big hole Denver has dug another big hole in these playoffs and if they are going to advance to the NBA finals they will have to come back from a 3-1 deficit for the third straight series. Denver lost game four in each of their first two series against Utah and the Los Angeles Clippers before making a pair of historic comebacks. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 13 points and Rajon Rondo tallied 11 points for the Lakers, who bounced back from a loss in game three in which they rebounded poorly by outscoring the Nuggets 25-6 in secondchance points on Thursday. “We knew coming in that we didn’t rebound at all (in game three) and we just tried to change that,” said James. The Lakers took the lead 10-9 on a 17foot basket by Davis with 8:16 left in the first quarter and headed the close contest the rest of the way. AFP

Zamboanga to face anyone standing in his way

By Peter Atencio AS MANY as 19 national sports associations will have to look for private venues and facilities that can serve as training facilities for national athletes. Tokyo Olympics chef de mission Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said this as facilities inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and at the Philsports Complex in Pasig remained closed. “Sinabihan ko na ang Philippine Sports Commission na tingnan kung saan puwede mag-training sila,” said Araneta. The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the Philsports Complex are closed because they are still being used as quarantine facilities for COVID-19 pa- Mariano Araneta tients and undergoing disinfection activities. So far, 17 NSAs have found private venues for the national athletes to train in and prepare either for Olympic qualifying competitions and next year’s Southeast Asian Games. National Training Director Marc Velasco is assisting Araneta in finding available facilities. “They will look into it at ano ang puwede,” added Araneta. Among the qualified athletes for the Olympics, boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno have not resumed training because of this. As for pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnast Carlos Yulo, Araneta said their training activities abroad are continuing without a hitch.

WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero vows to beat his foe to a bloody pulp.

Drex Zamboanga raises the Philippine flag after being declared winner.

DREX “T-Rex” Zamboanga made waves in his ONE Championship debut when he submitted Detchadin “Detchpool” Sornsirisuphathin in the second round of their clash at ONE: A NEW BREED in August. The win put him on the map of the flyweight division, a weight class filled with sharks from top to bottom, but he is making his intentions known to the world. “Being a champion from the Philippines, I want nothing more than to represent my country well,” Zamboanga said. “That’s the reason why I’m here. ONE Championship has some of the best flyweights in the world and I want to test myself against them and maybe one day win a World Title.” To get there, he will have to battle the biggest names in the promotion, some of whom are his compatriots. Sitting comfortably in the second spot of the flyweight rankings is Team Lakay’s Danny “The King” Kingad, and former World Champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio is also planning to make a run back to the top. Filipino-Australian Reece “Light-

ning” McLaren is in the mix as well, as he is slated to battle Aleksi “The Giant” Toivonen at ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES on 9 October. This makes the road to the top a tough climb for Zamboanga. “There are a lot of great talents in the flyweight division. Many of them are fellow Filipino fighters. I don’t see any issues facing my countrymen, it’s natural in combat sports,” Zamboanga said. “This is sports entertainment, and our job is to put on a show for the people. It’s a sport, so we go into the Circle to showcase our martial arts skills— simple as that. We can still be friends after.” Zamboanga doesn’t yet have a date for his second appearance in ONE, but if you ask him, it pays to be ready. “We don’t have any fights lined up at the moment,” he said. “But even then, we can’t take our foot off the pedal. We should be prepared at all times, because that call can come at any time.” In the meantime, catch ONE: REIGN OF DYNASTIES on October 9 for free by downloading the ONE Super App.

Rafa eyes Roger record, 15 years after 1st French Open title PARIS—The undisputed king of clay, Rafael Nadal is one title away from matching Roger Federer’s all-time Grand Slam record, but 15 years on from the Spaniard’s first French Open triumph he appears more vulnerable than ever at his beloved Roland Garros. Nadal owns an astounding 93-2 record in Paris dating back to his debut in 2005, when, still a teenager, he became the first player to win the French Open on his first attempt since Mats Wilander in 1982. Fast-forward to the present day, and his 19 Grand Slam crowns— a record 12 of which have come at Roland Garros—coupled with Federer’s absence after knee surgery leave him on the brink of history at a venue where he has won each of

the past three years. Yet a multitude of factors, mostly beyond his control, have conspired against Nadal and offered hope to his chief rivals—namely Novak Djokovic and recent US Open winner Dominic Thiem. Boris Becker, a former coach of world number one Djokovic, suggested the rescheduled tournament—pushed back from its traditional spring billing due to the coronavirus pandemic—will be tougher than usual for Nadal. The heavier conditions could suit hardcourt players more and negate some of Nadal’s lethal topspin, possibly aiding Thiem who has finished runner-up in Paris twice in succession. “This year is going to be particularly hard for Rafael Nadal.

He’s my number one favourite but the difference between him and the other players is less big this year than usual,” said Becker, a six-time Grand Slam champion. “He’s not in his regular rhythm. He needs match practice. Normally, he was coming to Roland Garros having often played four big clay tournaments, which he had generally won.” Nadal will head into the French Open without a clay title under his belt for the first time, having lost in straight sets to Diego Schwartzman in the quarter-finals at Rome—his first tournament in six months. “It’s not a moment for excuses. I’ve spent a long time without competing, I played two good matches,” Nadal, who skipped the US Open citing COVID-19

Spain’s Rafael Nadal

concerns, said following the defeat. “It’s a completely special and unpredictable year,” he added.

AFP

“I did my job here. I did a couple things well and other things bad. At least I played three matches.” AFP

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TODAY

b. Customer is a politically exposed person (PEP) or customer’s family members or close associates are PEPs (including where a beneficial owner of a customer is a PEP) as covered under Section 2.1.18 of the 2018 AML/CFT Guidelines; c. Customer resides in or whose primary source of income originates from high-risk jurisdictions (regardless of whether that income originates from a cash-intensive business);

SEC Memorandum Circular No. 26 Series of 2020

d. Customer resides in countries considered to be uncooperative in providing beneficial ownership information;

SUBJECT

e. Customer acts on behalf of a third party and is either unwilling or unable to provide consistent information and complete documentation thereon;

ALL SEC COVERED PERSONS

GUIDELINES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A RISKBASED APPROACH TO ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING/ COMBATING THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM (AML/CFT) AND ADOPTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF A RISK RATING SYSTEM FOR SEC COVERED PERSONS ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –– WHEREAS, the Commission is the government agency having jurisdiction and supervision over all corporations, partnerships or associations who are the grantees of primary franchises and/or licenses or permits issued by the Government; WHEREAS, as Supervising Authority, it is mandated to assist the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in supervising the implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, as amended (AMLA), and the Terrorist Financing Prevention and Suppression Act (TFPSA), and their respective Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRRs), and other AMLC issuances; WHEREAS, in order to be able to focus supervisory resources where the risks are higher, there is a need to identify, assess, and understand the money laundering/terrorist financing (ML/TF) risks to which the sectors of covered persons supervised by the Commission are exposed; WHEREAS, a risk-based approach to Anti-Money Laundering/ Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) would ensure that the appropriate measures commensurate to those risks are taken in order to mitigate them effectively;

Customer has been mentioned in negative news reports from credible media, particularly those related to predicate offenses for ML/TF or to financial crimes;

g. Customer’s transactions indicate a potential connection with criminal involvement, typologies or red flags provided in reports produced by the FATF or national competent authorities [e.g. financial intelligence unit (FIU), law enforcement etc.]; h. Customer is also a covered person, acting as an intermediary or otherwise, but is either unregulated or regulated in a jurisdiction with weak AML/CFT oversight; i.

Customer is engaged in, or derives wealth or revenues from, a high-risk cash-intensive business;

The number of suspicious transaction reports (STRs) on certain customers and their potential concentration on particular client groups;

k. Customer is a legal entity predominantly incorporated in the form of bearer shares; l.

Customer is a legal entity whose ownership structure is unduly complex as determined by the covered person or in accordance with any regulations or guidelines;

WHEREAS, complementary to a risk-based approach to AML/CFT is the implementation and development of a risk-focused examination process and rating system to gauge the sufficiency of a covered person’s AML/CFT framework as against the risks to which it is exposed;

m. Customers who have sanction exposure (e.g. have business/ activities/transactions exposed to the risk of sanctions); and

WHEREAS, Rule 15, Chapter V of the 2018 IRR of the AMLA, likewise requires covered persons to take appropriate steps to identify, assess, and understand the ML/TF risks by conducting their own institutional risk assessment and formulating and implementing their own institutional risk management;

Section 7. Product/Service/Transaction Risk. An overall risk assessment should include looking into the potential risks presented by specific products and services offered by the covered person. Transactions may be conducted on a regulated exchange or other market or they may be conducted between parties directly. A covered person should assess, using a risk-based approach, the extent to which the offering of its products and services presents potential vulnerabilities to placement, layering or integration of criminal proceeds into the financial system. Determining the risks of products and services offered to a customer may include a consideration of their attributes, as well as any associated risk mitigation measures. Products and services that may indicate a higher risk include:

NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission, hereby issues these Guidelines in the implementation of its Risk-Based Approach to AML/CFT and resolves to adopt an AML/CFT Risk Rating System (ARRS) to be employed by the Commission in the conduct of its on-site examinations of covered persons. CHAPTER I RISK ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT BY COVERED PERSONS Section 1. Coverage. This Circular shall apply to all SEC covered persons as enumerated under Section 3(a) of the AMLA and Section 1.2 of the SEC Memorandum Circular No. 16, Series of 2018 or the 2018 AML/CFT Guidelines. Section 2. Institutional Risk Assessment. All SEC covered persons shall conduct an institutional risk assessment as mandated by the 2018 IRR of the AMLA. 2.1. “Institutional Risk Assessment” refers to a comprehensive exercise to identify, assess understand a covered person’s ML/ TF threats, vulnerabilities and the consequential risks, with a view to mitigate illicit flow of funds and transactions. 2.2.

2.3.

2.4.

2.5.

The risk assessment should be commensurate to the size, nature and complexity of the covered person’s business and should enable it to understand how, and to what extent, it is vulnerable to ML/TF. The risk assessment should be properly documented, regularly updated and communicated to the relevant covered person’s senior management. Institutional risk assessment shall be conducted, at least, once every two (2) years, or as often as the board or senior management, the Commission or the AMLC may direct, depending on the level of risks found in the previous institutional risk assessment or other relevant AML/CFT developments that may impact the operations of the covered persons. Covered persons should consider internal feedback within their organization, including from those who interact with customers, compliance risk management, and internal audit departments (where relevant), in performing their periodic risk assessments.

Section 3. Information to be Considered. In conducting their risk assessments, covered persons should consider quantitative and qualitative information obtained from relevant internal and external sources to identify, manage and mitigate these risks. This may include the National Risk Assessment (NRA) published by the AMLC, the Sectoral Risk Assessment conducted by the Commission, crime statistics, typologies, risk indicators, red flags, guidance and advisories issued by inter-governmental organizations, national competent authorities and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and AML/CFT mutual evaluation and follow-up reports by the FATF or associated assessment bodies. Section 4. Risk Factors. In identifying and assessing indicators of ML/TF risk to which they are exposed, covered persons should consider a range of factors including: a. The nature, diversity and complexity of its business, products and target markets; b. The proportion of customers identified as high risk; c. The jurisdictions in which the covered person is operating or otherwise exposed to, either through its own activities or the activities of customers, especially jurisdictions with greater vulnerability due to contextual and other risk factors such as the prevalence of crime, corruption, or financing of terrorism, the general level and quality of the jurisdiction’s prosecutorial and law enforcement efforts related to AML/CFT, the regulatory and supervisory regime and controls and transparency of beneficial ownership; d. The distribution channels through which the covered person distributes its products, including the extent to which the securities provider deals directly with the customer and the extent to which it relies (or is allowed to rely) on third parties to conduct customer due diligence (CDD) or other AML/ CFT obligations, the complexity of the transaction chain (e.g. layers of distribution and sub-distribution, type of distributors such as independent financial advisors, investment advisors) and the settlement systems used between operators in the payment chain, the use of technology and the extent to which intermediation networks are used; e. The internal and external (such as audits carried out by independent third parties, where applicable) control functions and regulatory findings; and f.

The expected volume and size of its transactions, considering the usual activity of the covered person and the profile of its customers.

n. Customer has a non-transparent ownership structure.

a. Products or services that may inherently favor anonymity or obscure information about underlying customer transactions (e.g. bearer share instruments or the provision of omnibus account services); b. The geographical reach of the product or service offered, such as those emanating from higher risk jurisdictions; c. Products with unusual complexity or structure and with no obvious economic purpose; d. Products or services that permit the unrestricted or anonymous transfer of value (by payment or change of asset ownership) to an unrelated third party, particularly those residing in a higher risk jurisdiction; e. Use of new technologies or payment methods not used in the normal course of business by the covered person; f.

Products that have been particularly subject to fraud and market abuse, such as low-priced securities;

g. The purchase of securities using physical cash; h. Offering bank-like products, such as check cashing and automated cash withdrawal cards; i.

Securities-related products or services funded by payments from or instructions given by unexpected third parties, particularly from higher risk jurisdictions;

Transactions wherein customers request the transfer of funds to a higher risk jurisdiction/country/corridor without a reasonable business purpose provided; and

k. A transaction is requested to be executed, where the securities provider is made aware that the transaction will be cleared/settled through an unregulated entity.

b. Countries/areas identified by credible sources as having significant levels of organized crime, corruption, or other criminal activity, including source or transit countries for illegal drugs, human trafficking and smuggling and illegal gambling; c. Countries subject to sanctions, embargoes or similar measures issued by international organizations such as the United Nations; and d. Countries/areas identified by credible sources as having weak governance, law enforcement, and regulatory regimes, including countries identified by the FATF statements as having weak AML/CFT regimes, and for which financial institutions should give special attention to business relationships and transactions. Section 6. Customer/Investor Risk. Covered persons should determine whether a particular customer/investor poses higher risk and analyze the potential effect of any mitigating factors on that assessment. Such categorization may be due to a customer’s occupation, behavior or activity. These factors considered individually may not be an indication of higher risk in all cases. However, a combination of them may warrant greater scrutiny. Categories of customers whose business or activities may indicate a higher risk include: a. Customer is sanctioned by the relevant national competent authority for non-compliance with the applicable AML/CFT regime and is not engaging in remediation to improve its compliance;

Section 11. AML/CFT Risk Rating System (ARRS). Complementary to the risk-based approach to AML/CFT is the development and implementation of a risk-focused examination process and the adoption of an ARRS that will serve as a supervisory tool in measuring the effectiveness of the covered person’s AML/CFT framework and its level of compliance with AML/CFT rules and regulations. Section 11. Adoption of the ARRS. The ARRS is to be used by the Commission in the conduct of its on-site examinations of covered persons. The adoption and implementation of the ARRS is intended to ensure that supervisory attention is appropriately focused on entities with inefficient Board and Senior Management oversight and monitoring, inadequacies in their AML/CFT framework, weaknesses in their internal controls and audit, and defective implementation of their AML/CFT procedures and policies. Covered persons are directed to give their utmost cooperation in the implementation of the ARRS. SECTION 12. Composite Rating. Under the ARRS, each covered person is assigned a Composite Rating based on an assessment of three (3) components of a covered person’s framework and operations in the prevention of ML/TF. These component factors consist of the following: a. Efficient Board of Directors (BOD) and Senior Management (SM) oversight; b. Sound AML policies and procedures embodied in its Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Program (MTPP) duly approved by the BOD; and c. Effective implementation. SECTION 13. Inherent and Residual Risks. The development and implementation of the risk rating system will have to take into account the inherent risks to which a covered person may be exposed and the level of its awareness of the risk, an assessment of the covered person’s risk profile based on the records of the Commission, the sectoral risk assessment to be conducted by the SEC in coordination with the AMLC and the institutional risk assessment to be conducted by the covered persons concerned. Apart from engendering awareness and an understanding of the risks, this will also enable the SEC to determine any residual risk that remains after the controls are put in place and implemented. The risk profile of a covered person shall initially be determined based on the following available information: a. Value/size of assets or transactions – the larger the value and importance of the covered person, the easier it is for the criminals to disguise illegal transactions. b. Complexity and diversity of products – the diversity and complexity of the products can attract more sophisticated money launderers and provide them with more opportunities to launder money. c. Customer profile – assesses whether the covered persons are being used by high risk customers to launder money, i.e. PEPs, clients with foreign business or interests, non-resident clients, high-net-worth individuals. d. Frequency of international transactions (cross-border funds flow, transactions with off-shore centers, tax havens and highrisk jurisdictions) – covered persons are at risk of ML/TF abuse if it engages in certain international transactions. e. Distribution channels (deals directly with customers, uses the services of third parties or agents, to conduct customer due diligence process, non-face-to-face or the use of information and communication technology) – assesses the quality of the initiation of business relationships of the covered person, i.e. non-face-to-face initiation raises ML/TF vulnerability. f.

a. Covered persons that distributes products or services directly through online delivery channels should identify and assess the ML/TF risks that may arise in relation to distributing its products using this business model. In addition to the analysis of risks performed in advance of engaging in such an online business, the risk assessment process for online delivery risk should be performed when the covered person develops new products and new business practices; b. Covered persons should analyze the specific risk factors, which arise from the use of intermediaries and their services. Covered persons should understand who the intermediary is and perform a risk assessment on the intermediary prior to establishing a business relationship. Covered persons and intermediaries should establish clearly their respective responsibilities for compliance with applicable regulation. Assessing intermediary risk is more complex for securities providers with an international presence due to varying jurisdictional requirements, the potential risk of non-compliance by intermediaries with the applicable local AML/CFT regulations and the logistics of intermediary oversight. An intermediary risk analysis should include the following factors, to the extent that these are relevant to the securities providers’ business model: i.

Intermediaries suspected of criminal activities, particularly financial crimes or association with criminal associates;

ii.

Intermediaries located in a higher risk country or in a country with a weak AML/CFT regime;

iii.

Intermediaries serving high-risk appropriate risk mitigating measures;

iv.

Intermediaries with a history of non-compliance with laws or regulation or that have been the subject of relevant negative attention from credible media or law enforcement;

Intermediaries that have failed to attend or complete AML/ CFT training programs requested by the covered persons; and

vi.

Intermediaries that have weak AML/CFT controls or operate substandard compliance programs, i.e. programs that do not effectively manage compliance with internal policies and/ or external regulation or the quality of whose compliance programs cannot be confirmed.

customers

without

Section 9. Institutional Risk Management. The board of directors of the covered persons shall exercise active control and supervision in the formulation and implementation of institutional risk management. They shall be ultimately responsible for the covered persons’ compliance with the AMLA and TFPSA, their respective IRRs, and other AMLC issuances. 9.1. Covered persons shall: i.

Develop sound risk management policies, controls and procedures, which are approved by the board of directors to enable them to manage and mitigate the risks that have been identified in the NRA, or by the AMLC, the Commission or the covered persons themselves;

ii.

Monitor the implementation of those controls and to enhance them if necessary; and

iii.

Take enhanced measures to manage and mitigate the risks where higher risks are identified.

9.2. Covered persons may adopt Reduced Due Diligence (RDD) to manage and mitigate risks if lower risks have been identified. Provided, that the requirements of Rules 13 to 16 of the 2018 IRR of the AMLA are met. RDD is not allowed whenever there is a suspicion of ML/TF. CHAPTER II AML/CFT RISK RATING SYSTEM OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Section 10. Risk Based AML/CFT Supervision. The Commission shall implement a risk-based AML/CFT supervision of its covered persons comprised

Record of compliance with relevant rules and regulations of the Commission.

SECTION 14. Control Risk. Assessment of the covered institution’s control risk shall cover the following components with their corresponding subcomponents and risk factors: a. Efficient oversight of the BOD and SM i. Corporate Governance ii. Compliance Office iii. Institutional Risk Assessment iv. Internal Audit b. Detailed AML policies and procedures and strong internal control and audit i. Coverage and Risk Management Policies and Practices ii. Dissemination, continuing education and training program c. Effective implementation of internal policies and procedures i. Customer Identification, Verification and Acceptance ii. Ongoing monitoring and customer due diligence iii. Covered Transaction Monitoring and Reporting System iv. Suspicious Transaction Analysis and Reporting System v. Record Keeping and Retention

Section 8. Distribution Channel Risk. Products and services are typically distributed to customers directly (including online) or through intermediaries. An overall risk assessment should include the risks associated with the different types of delivery channels to facilitate the delivery of securities products and services.

Section 5. Country/Geographic Risk. Country/area risk, in conjunction with other risk factors, provides useful information as to potential ML/TF risks. Factors that may be considered as indicators of higher risk include: a. Countries/areas identified by credible sources as providing funding or support for terrorist activities or that have designated terrorist organizations operating within them;

of assessing the quality of controls to detect and deter ML/TF based on the assessed risks, including controls that are required by law. Such supervision shall be applied through off-site and on-site examinations, which can include questionnaires and dedicated meetings and shall be based on having appropriate access to all the books and records of each supervised covered person sufficient to provide all the information that the Commission needs.

SECTION 15. Rating System. Covered persons shall be evaluated using an overall composite rating of Weak, Needs Improvement, Satisfactory and Strong with the corresponding numerical scale of 1 to 4. The highest rating is 4 indicating a strong risk management system and most effective operational practices that entail the least degree of supervision. The lowest rating of 1 signifies a weak risk management system and defective implementation which requires the highest degree of supervision including the placement of the covered person within the framework of prompt corrective action. This should also correspond to an indication of the level of compliance with the AMLA and its IRR. SECTION 16. Enforcement Actions. For findings and/or deficiencies noted during the assessment and evaluation of the covered persons using the ARRS, the following shall apply: a. An overall rating of 4 and 3 will require no enforcement action. b. An overall rating of 2 and 1 will require submission by the covered person to the Anti-Money Laundering Division of the Enforcement and Investor Protection Department (AMLDEIPD) of a written action plan duly approved by the BOD aimed at correcting the noted inefficiency in BOD and SM oversight, inadequacy in AML/CFT policies and procedures, weakness in internal controls and audit, and/or ineffective implementation within a reasonable period of time. The viability of the plan shall be assessed and the covered person’s performance monitored. c. An overall rating of 1 shall be considered an indication that the AML/CFT framework and level of AML/CFT compliance of the covered person concerned is grossly inadequate. Prompt corrective action shall be immediately implemented by the covered person. The covered person shall be subjected to close monitoring and regular compliance audit by the AMLD-EIPD. d. If after due notice and hearing, the Commission finds that there is a violation of the mandatory provisions of these guidelines or any order issued by the Commission in the implementation thereof including the failure of the covered person concerned to submit an acceptable plan within the deadline or to properly implement the action plan, the Commission may, in accordance with the provisions of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines (RCCP), impose any or all of the following sanctions taking into consideration the extent of participation, nature, effects, seriousness and frequency of the violation: i. Imposition of a fine ranging from Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) to Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00), and not more than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) for each day of continuing violation but in no case to exceed Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00); ii. Issuance of a permanent cease and desist order; iii. Suspension or revocation of the certificate of incorporation; and iv. Dissolution of the corporation and forfeiture of its assets under the conditions in Title XIV of the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines. e. Such violations shall likewise be a ground for the revocation of the secondary license of the erring or non-compliant corporation. f.

The findings of any violations of the AMLA and its IRR shall be endorsed to the AMLC for appropriate action.

SECTION 17. Repealing Clause. All rules, regulations, orders, circulars and issuances of the Commission that are inconsistent with this Memorandum Circular are hereby amended and/or repealed accordingly. SECTION 18. Effectivity. This Memorandum Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation and its posting in the Commission’s website. Pasay City, Philippines, 24 September 2020.

EMILIO B. AQUINO Chairperson (MS-SEPT. 26, 2020)

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Tech & Gadgets

Shell Livewire launched to aid startups, businesses

ROM digital workflow management to contact tracing mobile apps, technology and innovation have been integral parts of overcoming the challenges presented by COVID-19. To proactively address unforeseen obstacles in the future of the pandemic, the Philippine government called upon innovators and startups to collaborate with them during the launch of Shell’s Livewire platform on September 25. Shell Livewire is the energy company’s global enterprise development program. Since 1982, it has supported more than 1,300 businesses in 20 countries execute their innovative ideas by connecting them to mentorship, technical expertise, financial assistance, and the inclusion in Shell’s supply chain. “New ideas are what drive the future of nation-building, but many aspiring entrepreneurs struggle to make those ideas a reality without the right support,” said Shell Vice President for External and Government Relations Serge Bernal. “In many cases the resources are there, but they can be hard to find without the right connection. We want to help fill that gap through the Shell Livewire platform, not only so that entrepreneurs can successfully execute their ideas, but also so that society can benefit from the solutions that they bring to the table.” While Friday’s launch served as the official call for collaborators for the program, Shell Livewire already has existing programs in the grassroots level helping build livelihood capacities of coconut farmers in Quezon and seamstresses in Batangas. It was also instrumental in the establishment of an EcoBrick facility in Cagayan de Oro. According to Bernal, Shell Livewire also recently gained six new participants under the program’s umbrella. The top three technology startups from the partnership with Ignite PH Innovation joined, including: Nextpay, a banking services

platform that aims to make financial services more inclusive to small business owners and service providers; Nanotronics, a biomaterials startup that is using indigenous plants to help reduce plastic waste in a sustainable way; and uHoo, an air monitoring system that will transform the way that businesses manage spaces. Three community enterprises are also participating in Shell’s LiveWire program this year: MagzWheel Furnitures, which specializes in converting rubber tires into useful items, such as furniture and apparel; Green Factory by Oro Handmade Innovations Inc., which manufactures handmade paper products and is pioneering a Green Factory Plan that aims to fine tune all factory processes to be environmentally friendly; and Eco Explorations PH, an ecotourism business providing sustainable livelihood to locals while taking care of the environment and cultural heritage sites. Partners from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Information and Communication Technologies (DICT), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) joined the launch to give their insights on the opportunity areas for innovation in the country and how the government can support startups in developing their businesses. DA Ambassadress for Food Security and Founder of the AGREA Foundation Cherrie Atilano said that the DA is encouraging youths to enter agribusiness through the department’s Kapital Access for Young Agripreneurs (KAYA) financ-

Shown here are (top line, from left) Ivan Picazo, Host, Emmy Delfin, ICT Industry Development Bureau Director IV; (second line, from left) Cherrie Atilano, Founding Farmer, CEO and President of AGREA; Serge Bernal, VP of External and Government Relations of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation; (3rd line, from left Nelly Dillera, DTI Executive Director and Industry Host, Amor Maclang, Co-founder of GeiserMaclang.

ing program. The digital platform offers zero-interest loans of up to P500,000 to Filipinos between 18 to 30 years old who plan to start an agribusiness. “Millions of OFWs are coming back to the country and a lot of them have invested in land,” said Atilano. “But since this is their ﬁrst time in agriculture, we are working with the DTI to provide support through training. There is also a partnership with the DOST to help them if they

would rather go into processing rather than production.” DICT Director Emmy Delﬁn discussed the department’s plan to roll out the Innovative Startups and Acceleration Program. The initiative will develop a web platform called the Startup Philippines Portal, which will streamline business registration, make shared services more accessible, and promote more advanced investor-and-collaborator matching.

Hisense Smart TV for online learning in 3 easy steps FACE-TO-FACE classes remain suspended due to the ongoing pandemic. To address this, many have opted to shift to homeschooling or online distance learning. While this new normal has its challenges, adequate preparation and the right equipment can help make virtual education easier for students and teachers, as well parents. Laptops and mobile devices may be top of mind when preparing for online classes, but did you know that your Smart TV is a great tool for learning, too? In these uncertain times, the television is proving to be a versatile home essential, providing so much more than just entertainment. It allows children and teens to watch educational programs, and also access enriching content over the Internet. This is beneﬁcial to kids of all ages, enabling them to learn a multitude of things, and exposing them to new ideas and concepts, while they have fun. Setting up a Smart TV for online learning is easy, especially when you use one with advanced functions and capabilities. The various #HisenseTvSENSEtials options, for example, are equipped with the Anyview Cast feature, which allows you to stream online learning materials wirelessly to your TV from your laptops and mobile phones. All it takes is three easy steps. On your Windows computer: 1. Connect your computer to the same wireless network where your TV is connected.

2. Go to the Action Center and select the button labeled Project. Choose either Duplicate, to mirror your device screen onto the TV; or Extend, for your TV to act as a second monitor. 3. Select Connect to a Wireless Display, choose your TV, and the image should appear on screen within seconds. On your Android phone For App casting: 1. Connect your Android phone to the same wireless network where your TV is connected. 2. From your Hisense TV, open Anyview Cast apps. 3. From your Android phone, open your Settings and select Screen share, Dual-screen,

Smart, Globe named among world’s best improved in 4G, video—UK firm TELECOMMUNICATIONS giant Globe Telecom and Smart Communications are among the world’s top 30 “most improved” mobile operators in terms of video experience and fourth generation (4G) availability, according to a report by an independent mobile analytics company. The UK-based Opensignal Ltd. said in a report that the country’s top telco companies scored big and reached the category of “Global Rising Stars” for having comfortably above average 4G and video experience. To be able to reach the Global Rising Stars status, a mobile operator must meet these criteria: download speed and upload experience, video experience and 4G availability. According to Opensignal, Smart’s 4G availability rose by 13 percent to 17.9 percent from the ﬁrst half of 2019 and the ﬁrst half of 2020, which made the MVP-led telco win the 4G availability category. For video experience, on the other hand, Globe saw its score rose to 32.7 percent, Opensignal said, improving its average download speed for users by 24.5 percent. This category measures the average video experience of 3G and 4G networks for each mobile operator, while the down-

load speed experience is gauged by the average download speed experience of users across 3G, 4G and 5G networks. In separate statements, Globe and Smart credited the Opensignal citations to their commitment to improve their services and substantial investment for better mobile experience of their subscribers. “As one of the Global Rising Stars recognized by Opensignal, Globe is proud to be a telco company that commits to improve data service to our subscribers. Expect more of these remarkable improvements as we continue with our aggressive efforts to upgrade the network for better connectivity and service,” said Gil Genio, Globe chief technology and information officer. Al Panlilio, Smart president and chief executive officer and PLDT Inc. chief revenue officer said: “This citation is a testament to our commitment to improving the experience of our customers. As the country’s largest and only fully integrated telco, we will continue to invest in improving our network and our services, and we will benchmark our performance against countries like Vietnam and Thailand to be better. I think every Filipino deserves that kind of service.

or Screencast. Look for Smart TV and connect. The image from your smartphone should appear on your TV screen. For Non-App casting: 1. Select Source from your Hisense remote. 2. From your TV, select Anyview Cast. No need to connect to any wireless network. 3. From your Android phone, open the device settings and select Screen share, Dualscreen, or Screencast. Look for Smart TV and connect. The image from your smartphone should appear on your TV screen. Feel free to enhance your video conferencing experience from your laptop by connecting your HDMI cable to the HiONE of the biggest loads that became evident after half a year in quarantine is laundry. Clean clothes are important more than ever because of the risk of pathogens staying on fabric, especially with households with essential workers and frontliners. This leads to more frequent laundry loads that some washing machines can struggle to keep up with. Frequent use may lead to damaged clothes and even damaged hardware. LG, one of the world’s pioneering technological innovators, heeds the call for more intelligent home appliances with its new LG AI DD, which is a washing machine that detects, thinks, and cares. The biggest innovation that the LG AI DD washing machine has to offer is its cutting-edge artiﬁcial intelligence. LG’s next-generation Direct Drive motor makes

sense TV. Wider screen means more visual coverage and less distraction for your learning child. The Hisense A6505 4K ULED Smart TV is a great option for anyone looking for a TV to use for distance learning. Hisense’s ULED TV maneuvers harmoniously to bring you smoother, more fluid picture quality that bursts with color, clarity and striking contrast. Available in 55” and 65” sizes, the large screen helps prevent your children from squinting their eyes during e-learning, thus preventing eye strain. The awesome picture quality with ultra-high definition ensures that you clearly see even the smallest details. It is HDR Compatible, allowing you to enhance the color, brightness, and contrast levels of your screen for a more realistic image. This TV runs on Vidaa U, Hisense’s operating system, which is user friendly, easy to use , customizable, and reliable. The OS enables you to easily access streaming apps like YouTube and Netflix, and view your connected devices. Anyview Cast is also built into the TV, for effortless wireless streaming of content from your mobile device. Plus, awesome apps like Remote Now can make your experience even better. Download this app on your smartphone to control your TV, and you’ll never need to worry about looking for your remote again. Check the full product specs at https:// www.hisense.com.ph/products/a6505/

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Acer backs PUBG Continental Series 2 APAC AFTER the successful and meaningful collaboration for the PCS Charity Showdown in May—the one that marked the start of the continental esports tournament series lined up this year— PUBG and Acer are coming together once more in the competition that will determine the third APAC region champion of 2020. As the official sponsor, leading PC brand Acer will be providing a range of Intel-powered gaming devices to support the PCS2 APAC. The PUBG Continental Series is an online regional tournament structure organized by PUBG Corporation. PCS2 APAC will run for three weeks starting on August 29 with 16 teams from Southeast Asia and Oceania. The Philippines' very own ArkAngel Predator will be battling it out with other teams from Indonesia, Malaysia, Oceana, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. For fans who will be tuning in to watch their favorite teams, Acer will be conducting an instream raffle wherein participants can win two units of Intel-powered Predator Triton 500. On Predator's social media page, those who want to join should like and share the Predator PH Campaign Post in public settings. Tag three friends, create a hashtag to cheer for your team, and comment on the post. Don't forget to include #PredatorGaming #Triton500. Winners will be randomly picked and make sure to follow the instructions to be eligible for the raffle. Participating esports athletes will get their hands on Predator's most powerful devices including Predator Triton 500. Powered by the latest 10th Gen Intel® Core™ processors for high-performance notebooks and up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER™ or 2070 SUPER GPUs with Max-Q Design, the Predator Triton 500 is capable of taking on the toughest challenges. Backing up that power, up to 7.5 hours of battery life[2] allows for impressive productivity, making the notebook an excellent choice for working professionals who want to play, too. Its industry-leading 300 Hz IPS[3] panel with a 3 ms overdrive response time displays all the action in smooth and vivid detail, covering 100% of the sRGB color gamut while supporting wide-angle views. Make it one of the best devices to enjoy the excitement in the battleground. Predator is currently holding a promo wherein buyers get a Free JBL Quantum One and Limited-Edition and APAC Predator League gaming chair for every purchase of a Triton 500. For more details of the event, please check out each regional official PUBG channel. Visit Acer’s Official Social Media Pages for more details: Facebook–@ AcerPH, Instagram–@acerph, Twitter–@acerphils, www.acer.com.

Acer to provide Intel-powered gaming devices as official sponsor of PUBG Continental Series 2 APAC.

#UnboxYourNextLevelClean with LG’s AI DD Washing Machine intelligence-based laundry a reality by leveraging big data to recognize fabric softness and applying the optimal washing pattern, leading to 18% more fabric protection. The technology goes beyond just the tag of your clothes and analyzes a number of fabric characteristics and properties. AI DD detects the difference and decides the suitable washing pattern from the big data patterns. The LG AI DD also offers Steam+ technology, which reduces allergens with the 'Allergy Care' cycle. Use the 'Allergy Care' cycle and the Steam feature when you need to eliminate potential allergens like dust mites and pollen from clothing and bedding. It also has TurboWash 360˚, which promises that your laundry can be thoroughly cleaned in just 39 minutes without compromising fabric protection, thanks to 4 directions of 3D multi nozzles which reach every inch of your laundry. You get more energy efﬁciency and the damage to your loads are lessened. LG also ensures that you get all of these innovations at no expense

to size. You get a bigger drum capacity in the same space. Durability is also taken a notch higher with an elegant external tempered glass door with reﬁned hygienic and stainless lifter. Since the LG AI DD employs the use of artiﬁcial intelligence, it can also be controlled using LG’s app. With ThinQ technology, your washer just got smarter, from operating your laundry remotely to downloading additional cycle settings. Interact with your washing machine and access the latest innovations.To formally launch the LG AI DD to the local market, LG Philippines will be hosting a Facebook Live event. The campaign, dubbed as #UnboxYourNextLevelClean, will be held on September 28 at 5PM hosted by Binibining Grand International of Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Nicole Cordoves. LG AI DD starts at P61,995 for the 10.5kg washer model. The washer and dryer units are pegged at 10.5/7kg at P67,995, 15/8kg at P78,995, and 19/12kg at P88,995. The LG AI DD Washing Machine is available in Lazmall and other authorized online sellers and dealers nationwide. For a complete list of retailers, please visit www.lg.com/ph

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Editor

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

Motoring

Myths about electric vehicles debunked T

HE PHILIPPINES is gearing up for a major shift in the automotive industry to electric vehicles (EVs) as Nissan prepares to bring the much-awaited Nissan LEAF to the Philippines. But before the icon of Nissan Intelligent Mobility arrives in the country, Nissan shares the top four electric vehicle myths and debunks them all. The myth-busting Nissan LEAF exceeds EVs expectations with its advanced features that prove it’s a fast, safe and environment-friendly vehicle.

Myth #1: EVs are slow

A recent experiment raced the Nissan LEAF against the fastest elements of nature – fire and wind, with the famous EV winning with its celebrated acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.9 seconds. With lesser moving parts, and a powerful electric motor, an EV accelerates faster than a regular engine car. With over 70 years of EV expertise, Nissan has designed the e-Powertrain that puts electric power straight to the wheels for instant acceleration, making the Nissan LEAF quicker on the start, for a smooth and very responsive drive.

Myth #2: An electric vehicle’s range capacity is limited

On a fully charged battery, the Nissan LEAF can cover 311 kilometers. If you consider that the average daily drive around Metro Manila is 13.2 km., you can drive around the National Capital Region in a fully charged Nissan LEAF for up to three weeks, without having to worry about an empty battery. For out-of-town trips, the Nissan LEAF can take adventurers up to Baguio (246.6 km from Metro Manila) before you need to recharge. Also, the Nissan LEAF’S ePedal combines both ease, excitement and innovation in EV technology. The innovative feature also enables you to drive using one foot pedal, allowing you to accelerate and brake depending on the foot pressure. Even more impressive, Nissan’s ePedal is part of an advanced regenerative braking system, meaning the car will even recover a little bit of charge every time you brake.

Myth #3: Charging is a pain for electric vehicles

A common misconception is that electric vehicles can only be charged using quick charging stations. Although the Philippines currently has around 14 charg-

SsangYong Rexton: Not just another SUV THE 2020.5 SsangYong Rexton receives a new round of design updates to mark its distinguished place on the Korean SUV Specialist’s lineup. Featuring a fresh honeycomb grill design that tapers below the headlights, the 2020.5 SsangYong Rexton’s new look emphasizes its distinct role as a flagship that epitomizes the loftiest ideals of the brand. With its commanding presence, the new Rexton is poised to become a compelling choice for the most discerning of SUV buyers. Also new for the latter half of 2020, the Rexton’s headlight bezel color has been refinished into a more elegant Titanium Gray. The metallic luster of the new headlight housings further accentuates the refinement offered by SsangYong’s premier model. There is also now a more luxurious sixth color option available for the new model. Marble Gray is introduced for the first time in the 2020.5 SsangYong Rexton. It joins Atlantic Blue, Fine Silver, Grand White, and Space Black as premium color options for the Rexton line. The new metallic shade creates a more exclusive color option for those who wish to remain distinct while reservedly less ostentatious on the road. Inside, the 2020.5 Rexton in 4x4 trim continues with its unique Premium Brown Stitching quilted leather interiors that have become a defining touch for the brand. While for the 4x2, seat ventilation for the driver and passenger seats is introduced. This is a welcome addition of luxury and comfort that brings the cabin experience of the 4x2 closer to its top-of-the line stablemate. All SsangYong Rexton variants continue to offer heightened 7-seater comfort and entertainment with their 8-inch Touchscreen Infotainment system delivering crisp video and audio over 6-speakers. LED interior lights also make the cabin brighter and more modern in finish. They

all continue to offer a 220-volt outlet perfect for plugging in small convenience appliances or chargers for long drives. To add a more luxurious feel, the 2020.5 SsangYong Rexton 4x4 also receives a more sophisticated smart key fob. Offering new functions such as headlamp activation and remote tailgate operation, the more stylish and functional keyfob deepens the sense of ownership and belonging for SsangYong’s premium SUV. The new model will now come with Free 5-year Preventive Maintenance along with its existing 5-Year Vehicle Warranty. New SsangYong Rexton owners will appreciate the longer duration of its worry-free maintenance which will include the cost of oil, parts and labor for each of the scheduled PMS intervals for the next 5 years, or up to 100,000-kilometers, whichever comes first. The SsangYong Rexton continues to offer a comprehensive safety suite with its six airbags for the 4x4 variant, ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist., along with driving aids such as Electronic Stability Program and Hill Descent Control. To be introduced with a P1,760,000 starting price, the 2020.5 SsangYong Rexton promises to offer a more eminent ownership experience befitting a true premium flagship offering from the Korean SUV Specialist. “We are proud to reveal the most exclusive SsangYong SUV yet - the 2020.5 Rexton,” said Japheth Castillo, president of SsangYong Philippines. “Our customers deserve a nameplate that not only comes with the confidence-inspiring ability of driving through any type of road surface, but doing so in style and refined comfort. The new SsangYong Rexton will surely deliver a more luxurious presence on the road and an even more value-laden ownership experience for our most discerning SUV clientele.”

ing stations that are ready for the Nissan LEAF, most electric vehicle owners prefer to charge at home, since it is the most convenient option. Similar to charging one’s mobile phone after a long day’s usage, the Nissan LEAF can be plugged into a regular electrical socket to charge it overnight. Charging with the universal cable usually takes about 12 to 15 hours to fully charge the Nissan LEAF. For faster charging, users have the option to install a special wall box to speed up the charging time to 5 to 7 hours.

Myth #4: Electric cars are not exciting

The Nissan LEAF delivers virtually silent donuts and burnouts in the Nissan Drift Experiment. With the Nissan LEAF as the icon of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the possibilities of a safe, fun, and exciting driving experience are endless. What’s more exciting than an electric vehicle producing zero emissions and virtually no sound while drifting? In this exhilarating and adrenaline-pumping demonstration, the Nissan LEAF showed how easily the mass-produced EV can churn out both maximum torque and force, while delivering virtually silent donuts and burnouts. The Nissan LEAF, with its rapid acceleration of 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, is quick on the start with a smooth and very responsive drive. “Nissan is a world leader in electric mobility. We are constantly challenging mobility conventions including now - taking the top four myths about EVs, and busting them with our award-winning Nissan LEAF. We’ll never stop daring the impossible,” says Atsushi Najima, President and Managing Director for Nissan in the Philippines. “We look forward to bringing the Nissan LEAF in the Philippines as a legendary vehicle that has been continuously refined since its first introduction in 2010.

HYUNDAI’S TRIFECTA THE official distributor of Hyundai Trucks and Buses in the country, received the Certificate of Compliance from the Department of Transportation for its HD50S Class 3 Modern Jeepney, marking another milestone in the company’s staunch support for public transport modernization. With COC’s already given to Hyundai H-100 Class 1 and Hyundai HD50S Class 2 last year, this latest certification gives HARI the distinction of being the first and only brand with a full lineup of modern jeepneys that meet Philippine National Standards (PNS). The Hyundai HD50S Class 3 Modern Jeepney, which first debuted in February this year, is powered by a 2.9-liter Euro 4-compliant CRDi engine that provides better fuel efficiency, reliability, and cleaner emissions. It is designed for enhanced stability and power-to-weight ratio, boasting a 3,415-millimeter wheelbase. The vehicle also features roofmounted air conditioning, AFCS, Wi-Fi, GPS tracking, CCTV cameras, 7-inch monitor, and speed limiter. It can accommodate 22 seated passengers as well as up to 10 standing commuters. Since then, Hyundai’s new commuter workhorse has been field-tested almost on a daily basis in support of the government’s COVID-19 mobility programs. “The pandemic has stressed the need to modernize and fortify public transport in the country. Using our modern jeepney platforms, we were the first to roll out Ligtas Biyahe (COVID-ready) variants that were utilized and proven effective in the government’s Libreng Sakay for front liners. We need to reach a critical mass so we can keep the majority, if not all, of the riding public safe and secure,” HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said. The Hyundai Modern Jeepney’s Ligtas

THE POWER OF THREE. Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) marks its another

milestone by being the first and only automotive brand in the industry with a full lineup of modern jeepneys (L-R: The Hyundai H-100 Class 1, Hyundai HD50s Class 2, and the Hyundai HD50S Class 3) which were all certified by the Philippine National Standards (PNS) and Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Biyahe variant boasts of the most stringent safety features, such as contactless payments, social distancing with individualized seating, and plastic dividers. Since their launch last year, HARI has been receiving numerous orders for the Modern Jeepney shuttles, not just from the country’s major transport groups, but also from private companies and LGUS.

“Filipinos require more mass mobility options to get to their workplaces, get essentials, and to reach out to their families in these trying times. Gradually and with stricter protocols, public transport capacity must be increased to revive the economy. We strongly believe that Hyundai Modern Jeepneys can be part of that solution,” Agudo added.

STABLE. EFFICIENT. AND EVEN COVID-READY. The Hyundai HD50S Class 3 Modern Jeepney has been designed and tested to provide mass mobility options for the Filipinos even this time of pandemic.

Transport chief dampens LTO bid to regulate e-scooters TRANSPORTATION Secretary Arthur Tugade has put a damper on efforts to have electric-scooters registered while the country remains beset by the virus pandemic. Tugade said he was not in favor of this plan floated by the Land Transportation Office, which also wanted scooter drivers to secure a license to drive. Tugade said he would first listen to the opinions/arguments of regulators and stakeholders before jumping to any conclusions. Tugade’s line drew the support of environmentalists who also launched the One Million E-sikleta project for the new normal Philip-

pines on Thursday and opposed the LTO plan. Dr. Leo Olarte, Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. president, said requiring a driver’s license for e-scooter and e-bike riders would not help the government’s efforts to bring the economy back on the road to recovery. Instead of the LTO plan, a safe transport adherent to the minimum health protocols must be encouraged and supported, Olarte said. “Our commuting public, mostly from the workforce, is now suffering due to the limitations being imposed by govern-

ment’s social distancing protocols in mass transport,” he told the media. “Let not the government be the one to put the final nail on our fledging economy by imposing untimely limitations to our peoples access to affordable, clean, environmental-friendlyand social distancing compliant alternative mode of transportation,” Olarte said. CAPMI earlier appealed to the Department of Transportation to implement a nationwide moratorium on the LTO’s Administration Oder 2006-01 registration of e-bikes and other e-vehicles.