Ex-Pagcor chief, former PSC head guilty of graft

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Sandiganbayan has found Efraim Genuino, the former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chairman, and two others guilty of graft and sentenced them to six to 10 years of imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from public office.

Genuino, former Pagcor president Rafael Francisco, and former Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez violated the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices or Republic Act 3019, the anti-graft court said.

This was in connection with the direct release of P37.06 million by the state gaming agency to the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (Pasa) in 2009, funds that were supposed to be used for the training of swimmers to be sent to the London Olympics in 2012.

Azuela Cove on Friday night.

The MICE industry creates employment, helps build a reputation for the country and the venue, and nurtures many business opportunities and investments. The industry improves competitive destinations because MICE events and activities are often held in locations with safety and security.

“I enjoin our tourism stakeholders to work with other industry leaders to invest in medical tourism, heritage tourism, retirement havens, entertainment spots, open-space recreation, and more to mobilize its regional assets to assist those who will be affected by the transport strike, deploying at least 41 transport vehicles to ferry commuters to their destinations. various government agencies came out with contingencies to mitigate the effects of the strike.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units also said they are prepared for next week’s transport strike.

On Wednesday, Mr. Marcos said that the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) –which the jeepney groups are protesting -- is necessary, but its implementation needs more detailed discussions among its stakeholders.

The President also said that while he sees the need to modernize public utility vehicles, the proper program implementation is necessary.

Among the efforts of the government are the deployment of Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel to monitor the situation on the ground and to maintain peace and order in the affected areas and routes.

The PNP has also been instructed

February, power plants that run on natural gas had to use more expensive fuel.

Electricity prices in the spot market also rose due to tight supply, he added.

On oil, the industry source told the Standard: “As of Thursday, the indicative movement on pump prices next week computed based on this week’s first four days Mean of Platts Singapore and forex average versus last week’s full week MOPS and forex average is a possible increase of P1.20 to P1.30 per liter for diesel and possible increase of days after he was first reported missing.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines will also be mobilizing 106 of its transport vehicles to help commuters which will be affected heavily by the strike.

MMDA spokesperson Melissa Carunungan said contingency measures will be in place to ensure that the commuting public will not be affected by the week-long protest.

She said MMDA Chairman Romando Artes has asked the local governments in Metro Manila for an inventory of assets that can be used to provide free rides to commuters during the strike.

The MMDA was also in close coordination with Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officials so they could provide assistance to commuters.

Ready for deployment are at least 20 MMDA vehicles, including 11 commuter vans, six buses, and three military trucks.

P0.10 to P0.20 per liter for gasoline.”

Department of Energy director Rodela Romero confirmed the possible oil price hike next week “due to a sign of a strong economic rebound of top crude importer, China; and easing worries of aggressive US interest rate increases.”

There’s also “Russia’s plan to deepen oil production cut,” Romero said.

On Feb. 28, the country’s oil firms cut the price of kerosene by P1.80 per liter, diesel by P1.30 per liter, and gasoline by P0.70 per liter.

Valles said for the replacement fuel alone, the equivalent increase is around P0.70-P0.80 per kilowatt-hour but added this is not yet Meralco’s final computation community-based travel destinations,” Duterte-Carpio said.

“Let us work together to revitalize our tourism sector with diverse packages, incentives, and strategic investments with a focus on service quality, public health, transportation, and most of all, enriching the immersive experience of our visitors,” she added. When MICECON was held in Davao City ten years ago, the city’s standing as a significant player and desirable destination for conventions and exhibits was reinforced.

The agency’s Metrobase will monitor through closed circuit television (CCTVs) cameras major roads in Metro Manila that will be affected by the transport strike so that “Libreng Sakay” vehicles can quickly be deployed where they are needed.

The MMDA will also deploy traffic personnel and Road Emergency Group members in various parts of the National Capital Region to assist motorists and commuters who are affected by the transport strike.

“We are ready, but we will not deploy our assets right away unless there is a shortage of rides in these areas,” Carunungan said in Filipino.

Artes said his agency is considering suspending the number coding scheme in Metro Manila during the strike.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte ordered the city’s Traffic and Transport Management Department (TTMD) to place bus service units on standby for possible deployment to areas including Cubao, Commonwealth Avenue, Welcome Rotonda, Novaliches Bayan, LTFRB, East Avenue, Quezon Memorial Circle and Fairview. With Butch Gunio for the overall adjustment for March.

Meralco plans to write the Energy Regulatory Commission to ask for advice on how to mitigate the impact on consumers, he added.

The company also intends to communicate with generators if they can stagger the collection of some charges to ease the impact on consumers.

Meanwhile, DOE undersecretary Alessandro Sales said during the two-day LPG Summit the promulgation of Republic Act No. 11592 or the “LPG Industry Regulation Act” on October 14, 2021 paved the way for additional mandates of the different government agencies involved in liquefied petroleum gas-related activities and concerns.

Genuino’s lawyer manifested in open court that he will avail all possible remedies after the conviction.

The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division said that Genuino, Francisco, and Ramirez “acted with manifest partiality in providing Pasa with the funds — as it should have been coursed through the PSC.”

Ramirez, the Sandiganbayan decision said, wrote a letter to Genuino authorizing Pagcor to deduct from the PSC’s legal monthly income share the amounts due to Pasa, in violation of Section 26 of RA 6847 which established the PSC.

“Plainly, the direct release of a portion of the PSC’s share from PAGCOR to PASA was illegal as it directly contravened the above-quoted provision of the law,” said the decision written by Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, Third Division chairman and the antigraft court’s presiding justice.

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Fish were dying. Our white sand is now black sand,” she said in Filipino.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government was prepared to provide aid to families affected by the oil spill.

In his social media post, President Marcos said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is prepared to help the families and individuals affected by the Feb. 28 oil spill.

“We are closely monitoring the situation with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as the lead agency. Special attention will be given to the affected f isherfolk who will be losing their source of livelihood because of the oil spill,” the President said on Twitter.

Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor ordered the province’s 18,000 registered fishermen to stay on shore until it was safe to fish. In the meantime, they would receive food packs, he said.

Mayor Cruz said thousands of fishermen in her town were affected because she has prohibited fishing due to the health risk posed by the oil spill.

Swimming in the affected waters has also been prohibited, as the oil spill is threatening the region’s rich marine life and economy.

An estimated 591 hectares (1,460 acres) of coral reefs, 1,626 hectares of mangroves, and 362 hectares of seaweed could be “potentially affected” by the oil spill, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Loyzaga said.

he was buried in a shallow grave.

“He was part of the group, an alumni. He’s not currently enrolled. He drove the AUV. Unfortunately, we did not get to him when he was still alive,” said police Lt. Col. Virgilio Jopia of BinanPNP in a television interview.

In another TV interview, Laguna Provincial Police Director Col. Randy Silvio said the three persons of interest asked about the procedures for surrendering.

They were told to proceed to the Biñan City Police or to the nearest police station and they would be escorted to Biñan City Police, Silvio said.

At least 10 persons of interest are still at large. Seven are already in police custody, six of whom have already been charged with violating the Anti-Hazing Law.

Police said they already have the addresses of the remaining persons of interest.

The battered and decomposing body of Salilig, 24, was found in a shallow grave in Imus, Cavite on Tuesday, 10

Police earlier found a vehicle used to transport Tau Gamma Phi fraternity members involved in the hazing. It was found in the house of the parents of one of the suspects, Aaron Cruz, in Parañaque City.

Police said Salilig sat on the passenger side of the SUV when the suspects noticed that he was already dead and transferred him to the compartment of a second vehicle.

One suspect told the police the location of the paddle that was used to beat Salilig.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday dismissed the complaint for obstruction of justice against the father of a person of interest.

Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano said the complaint against the father was dismissed for lack of probable cause with reasonable certainty of conviction.

“I haven’t read the resolution myself… all I know is that the resolution was for dismissal. It did not reach the level of probable cause with reasonable certainty of conviction,” he said. Charles Arvin Dantes, Rey E. Requejo, Rio N. Araja, and Macon Ramos-Araneta

South China Sea.

Anwar said he and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. -- who welcomed the visiting Malaysian leader on a two-day official visit that ended Thursday -both believe that the best way to deal with China is to take a position without provoking tension in the region.

The premier said taking a multilateral approach in dealing with Beijing is better since all claimant countries have similar issues with China.

Aside from the Sabah issue, Anwar -- who completed a two-day official visit to the Philippines from Wednesday to Thursday -- shared in the ANC interview his thoughts on the disputes in the South China Sea, the crisis in

“We did tackle the subject which is quite contentious because of the position we have with China but both of us agree that the mechanism should be bilateral and multilateral to try and engage with the Chinese and to take a position,” he said in an interview with ANC’s Headstart.

Anwar added: “We have to take a common position and then engage with the Chinese because if we take too combative a view, we will not dissolve, we will not ease the tension. So I think let us start first with an option to get the consensus within ASEAN and take a position with the Chinese to suggest that these are our concerns and I think the best route is to get into an amicable resolution to this.”

Myanmar, and the 1MDB scandal in his country, among others (see related stories on A1 – Editors).

Sabah is located east of Malaysia’s northern Borneo and southwest of Sulu in the Philippines -- which lays claim over the area, citing a land lease agreement in 1878 between the Sultanate of Sulu and the British North Borneo Chartered Co.

Meanwhile, an expert from a Japanese think tank on Friday said there is a need for a trilateral defense cooperation among Japan, the Philippines, and the US amid China’s continued aggressive behavior over disputed waters in the South China Sea, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.

In a forum organized by Stratbase ADR Institute, Miyake Kunihiko, director of Japan-based thinktank The Canon Institute for Global Studies’ Research, said there is a need for a multi-layer security and maritime policing mechanism involving the three countries. Rey E. Requejo

“To be fair to the Filipino position, they’re not [hostile]... Let us evolve slowly. Although, it is tough for us because our people in Sabah feel that we should be more assertive in defending. But I think the President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] has been very cordial. That’s the Philippine position, that’s the Malay position,” Anwar said.