Manila Standard - 2023 April 20 - Thursday

NBI EXEC BARES TEVES THREAT TO SUE HIM

UNICEF: PUBLIC VIEW OF VAX FOR KIDS WANING

PBBM summons China envoy

Over‘miscommunication, veiled threat’ vs. OFWs in Taiwan

By Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

on Wednesday voiced his concern over the recent statement made by the Chinese ambassador to Manila, which was widely regarded as a veiled threat to the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan.

“We were all a little surprised, but I just put it down to the difference in language,” the Presi dent said about the recent statement by Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, who has been sum moned to the Palace to explain himself.

Huang remained mum on the backlash at his re cent pronouncements as he attended Wednesday the International Chinese Language Day celebration at the Jose Abad Santos High School in Binondo, Manila. He did not respond to queries from reporters about his remarks last Friday.

At a recent forum, Huang said Bei jing “reserves the option of taking all

BUSY IN BULACAN. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the groundbreaking of the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Project in Heroes Ville in Barangay Gaya-Gaya, City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, and later brings the Kadiwa ng Pangulo to the same city on Wednesday. Rey Baniquet/Alfred Frias

Marcos: PH may import rice to boost calamity stocks

By Vito Barcelo and Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government is looking at the option of importing rice to beef up the country’s supply in the event of natural

President, VP still rate high in OCTA poll

MORE than 80 percent of Filipinos trust President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, 10 months into their terms in office, based on the OCTA Research Group’s latest Tugon ng Masa survey.

Results of OCTA’s independent and nonpartisan poll in March showed most of the country’s adult population trust Mr. Marcos, 65, and Duterte-Carpio, 44, who received 83 percent and 87 percent trust scores respectively.

The latest poll was conducted from March 24 to 28, 2023, and

calamities, such as typhoons and the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Mr. Marcos, however, assured Filipinos that the country has ample supply of the staple grain to keep the prices stable in the market.

He also dismissed the possibility of

Senators grill Galvez, DND on new EDCA sites choice

By Charles Dantes, Rey E. Requejo, and Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATORS on Wednesday quizzed Defense officials about the choice of four new military bases that American troops can access under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). At a hearing of the Senate committee on foreign relations, panel

a repeat of the rice crisis in 2018, following the statement of the Federation of Free Farmers that there could be a deficiency on the staple grain during the lean months like what happened five years ago.

CA upholds ruling vs. manager in $81m Bangladesh Bank scam

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Court of Appeals has sustained the decision of the Makati City Regional Trial Court to convict a former bank manager for money laundering over the $81 million stolen by hackers from the Bangladesh Bank in 2016.

In a 58-page decision, the CA First Division ruled that all the elements are present in the case of RCBC bank manager Maia Santos-Deguito.

Under the Anti-Money Laundering Law, money laundering is committed

through facilitation with the following elements; 1. the offender knows that any monetary instrument or property is the proceeds of any unlawful activity; 2. the offender performed or failed to perform any act leading to the facilitation of the money laundering offense, and 3. the offender transacts said monetary instrument or property.

The appellate court reiterated the lower court’s ruling, saying Deguito could not downplay her part, noting that the unauthorized payment was made

Beloved patriot and champion for what’s right

SOLONS’ TOKEN. United States House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (center) receives a token of appreciation from visiting Philippine lawmakers led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (2nd from left). The Speaker was accompanied by PH House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe (2nd from right), Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. (left) of Pampanga’s 3rd District, Navotas City Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco, Agusan del

PMGEN.

(see story on A2). Ryan Ponce Pacpaco

THE Geneva-based World Health Organization has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is still explosive, saying there could be further trouble before the virus settles into a predictable pattern.

In the last 28 days, more than 23,000 deaths and three million new cases were reported to the WHO, in the context of much-reduced testing.

According to the Philippine Department of Health, the country’s tally of active COVID-19 cases climbed back

over 10,000 on Tuesday, with 287 new infections reported. The caseload stood at 10,263, the DOH’s COVID-19 Tracker showed.

Three years since the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the Philippines has recorded 4,086,620 cases. The country’s first confirmed infection was recorded on Jan. 30, 2020.

Majority or 98 percent have recovered from COVID-19 while 66,443 have suc-

“I HAVE always been, and will always be, a staunch advocate of promoting and adhering to a rules-based international order. The rule of law underpins the peace, security, and stability that we all experience today. It has also served as a great equalizer in international affairs, giving states an equal voice in the global community regardless of their political, economic, or military capabilities.”

2023

These are but a few bold words that Amb. Albert del Rosario said in the course of his mission to uphold democratic ideals, freedom, and universal aspirations for co-prosperity and peace founded on the just adherence to the rule of law.

He is our hero that challenged China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague which unanimously debunked the legality of its expansionist maritime claims in the South China Sea and confirmed its violations of the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone. ADR did not hesitate to assert our country’s rights as a free and sovereign nation and inspired the deep patriotic spirit of Filipinos to stand up for what is ours and to fight for what is right.

We have lost a great statesman whose ambassadorial career earned the highest level of distinction and respect in the global diplomatic community. His characteristically gentlemanly manner fuses with a forceful eloquence that effectively and clearly delivers his messages with authority and credibility. His skill, conduct, and integrity are the ideal qualities that we need from our governing leaders.

Let us pay tribute to a true and beloved patriot by continuing his legacy of honor and love for our country and helping shape a better society by collectively becoming a positive force ready to fight for our right to prosper as a nation and as a people.

Rest in peace ADR. Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute

Norte 1st District Rep. Jose “Joboy” S. Aquino II (right, background), Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” del Gallego Romualdez (center, background), House Secretary General Reginald “Reggie” Velasco (not in photo), and House Sergeant-at-Arms

Napoleon Taas (not in photo) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. on Wednesday

Ambassador Albert F. del Rosario November 14, 1939 –April 18,

NBI exec bares Rep. Teves threat

By Rey E. Requejo and Charles Dantes

AN official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday said Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., now wanted for murder, had threatened to sue him after he led a raid last year on an online cockfighting livestreaming hub in Cebu.

Testifying before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, NBI Region VII Director Rennan Augustus Oliva affirmed the statements of Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo linking the Teves family to the operations of e-sabong, which is considered illegal in the Philippines.

Three days after the NBI conducted the raid, Oliva said he was told that Teves wanted to talk to him about the operation. Although the case was al-

IN BRIEF

DICT: No extension for SIM registration

ready in court, Oliva said the caller was insistent that he meet Teves.

On Sept. 20, 2022, Teves and his entourage arrived at the NBI office. Teves started by stating that he was not connected to e-sabong, and that he had already delegated that to his friends. He then asked Oliva who had authorized the raid.

Oliva told him that it was the NBI director, in line with an order from then-

President Rodrigo Duterte to stop esabong activities.

“I was then surprised about his response to me,” Oliva said. “He told me he will sue my men for stealing P7 million at the cockpit.”

He said Teves offered to spare him from the suit if he would not launch more raids against e-sabong.

Oliva said they seized streaming paraphernalia, computers, and P2.6 million in cash during the raid.

“I just laughed because I told him you cannot [make] me betray my oath as a law enforcement officer… I told him frankly, ‘If you want to file the case, you file the case against me. I will answer it because it is not true. I am not afraid,’” Oliva said.

“On February 28, 2023, five months after we raided the e-sabong operation, a case was filed against me and my men before the Office of the Ombudsman for Visayas for irregularity in the service of the search warrant and fabricated a story that we stole… from P7 million to P9 million… Video was spread on social media showing spliced portions of CCTV footage. They intentionally omitted the inventory conducted by the arresting officer in the presence of the lawyers as well as barangay officials,” Oliva said.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, chairman of the panel, expressed dismay that Teves had threatened Oliva.

“If he said that to me, I would reply, ‘How dare you? Who are you to tell me this?’” said dela Rosa, a former police chief.

Romualdez: PH-US relations reaching new heights

By Maricel V. Cruz

chairperson Senator Imee Marcos said the selected locations—two in Cagayan, one in Palawan and one in Isabela—seemed “random” and “no longer purposeful with regard to the modernization of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines).”

Marcos asked Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. if the military officials were now focusing on the Taiwan Strait instead of the West Philippine Sea, since two of the new EDCA sites are located in Cagayan, near Taiwan.

Galvez responded: “No, we are still concentrated on the West Philippine Sea.”

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian asked Galvez if the EDCA sites were strategic for the Philippines or for the United States.

“You mentioned earlier that it is strategic, but strategic to whom? Is it strategic for us or for the US?”

Galvez said the locations are strategic for the Philippines, saying the major consideration in picking locations for EDCA sites is the “total defense of the archipelago.”

He noted the vulnerability of the AFP is in the north, adding that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed them to prepare for external defense.

“We can see that our vulnerabilities are located at the north-eastern side in terms of maritime security. While on the disaster side in the areas of Cagayan and also in Isabela, we see our experiences that these areas have been isolated during the previous typhoons that we have experienced,” he said.

The EDCA four sites, recently announced by the President, are the Naval base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.

Earlier during the hearing, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said six of the 16 projects in the five initial EDCA locations would be completed this year.

“There has been significant progress in eight of the remaining 16 projects in the five originally agreed locations. Six of those projects are estimated to be completed in 2023,” said Manalo.

These projects include the runway project at Basa Air Base, a storage facility at Mactan Air Base, and the humanitarian assistance and disaster response warehouse at Fort Magsaysay.

Manalo also confirmed that only five EDCA projects have been completed so far.

SPEAKER Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday said Philippine-United States relations is reaching new heights and levels of understanding under the administrations of Presidents Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Joe Biden.

This was the takeaway of Romualdez and the rest of the Philippine House of Representatives delegation after their meeting early Wednesday morning (Philippine time)

PBBM...

necessary measures” should matters escalate in the Taiwan Strait and advised Manila to oppose “Taiwan independence” if it really cares about the 150,000 Filipinos working there.

The President said this sounded like Huang was ordering the Philippines not to meddle in the Taiwanese situation.

“I interpreted it as him trying to say that the Philippines should not provoke or intensify the tensions because it will impact badly on the Filipinos there,”

Marcos said.

“That’s how I take it and I will be talking to the ambassador soon and I’m sure he will be very anxious to give his

with US House Majority Leader Steve Scalise at the Office of the Majority Leader in the US Capitol, Washington DC.

Scalise represents Louisiana’s 1st congressional district.

“We, from the House of Representatives in Manila thank Majority Leader Scalise for his warm welcome, his kind words, and most importantly his commitment to further strengthening Philippine and US ties in various aspects. It was a fruitful and engaging meeting,

own interpretation of what he was trying to say,” the President added.

Marcos acknowledged that there might have been a language problem.

“English is not his first language but I’m very interested to know what it is that he meant,” he said.

The Chinese embassy in Manila said Huang was “misquoted” and provided a transcript of the ambassador’s remarks.

“The Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs,” the ambassador said.

Senator Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday slammed Huang for threatening to put the jobs of thousands of OFWs in Tai-

to say the very least, and I feel that we are reaching new heights and levels of understanding,” said Romualdez.

“This solidifies the good working relationship between President Marcos and President Biden. Rest assured that legislators from both sides of the fence will follow through with the necessary work so that the benefits of this dynamic relationship would become more tangible tenfold,” said the Speaker, who represents Leyte’s 1st District.

wan at risk if the country failed to oppose Taiwan’s independence.

Earlier, Tulfo called Huang Xilian a bully who is not content that China is harassing Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea

“Now they’re using OFWs as hostages,” he said as he accused the Chinese ambassador of humiliating Filipinos.

Tulfo also advised Filipinos working in Taiwan not to worry.

“We will not abandon you,” he said.

Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the country was not “meddling in the internal affairs of China concerning Taiwan” and that the expansion of American troops’ access to Philippine military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) was not directed against any country.

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology said Wednesday there would be “no extension” of SIM registration deadline, despite the request of telco players amid low registration turnout.

The agency said it received and acknowledged the request of Public Telecommunication Entities (PTEs) to extend the SIM registration period pursuant to Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Registration Act.

“However, at this point, there is no extension of SIM registration,” it added.

Earlier, the country’s three largest telcos requested the DICT to extend the SIM registration for another 120 days due to lower turnout.

Under the law, the SIM registration deadline can be extended for another 120 days as it deems necessary.

But, “with the 26 April 2023 registration deadline drawing near, we encourage everyone to register to promote the responsible use of SIMs and provide law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools to crack down on perpetrators who use SIMs for their crimes, consistent with the declared policy of the law,” DICT said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Panganiban named SRA exec in charge

AGRICULTURE Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban has been designated as officer-in-charge of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Malacañan Palace confirmed on Wednesday.

In a statement, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil said Panganiban would hold this position “until a new administrator is appointed.”

Former SRA administrator David John Thaddeus Alba stepped down from his post on March 24 due to his “worsening health,” Malacañang said.

“In the meantime, Usec. Panganiban is the OIC,” Azcona told reporters in a Zoom interview.

“As per SRA charter, in the event that there is no administrator, the chairman of the board takes over as the OIC until an administrator is appointed or the board assigns another OIC, usually the most senior deputy administrator,” he said. Vince Lopez

“So, we are watching and waiting to see what the production levels are going to be after the last planting season before the harvest, for the upcoming harvest and what will be…” Marcos said in a media interview during an event in San Jose del Monte City.

“So that’s what we are looking at. We may have to import. So that’s --- we’re keeping that option open,” he added.

The President said the buffer stock of the National Food Authority (NFA) had been depleted due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, which hampered the operations of most of the industries.

“Usually, the buffer stock is nine days. Presently, the buffer stock is just one and a half day. If a storm comes, after two, three days, we could no longer provide.”

Mr. Marcos earlier said the government was trying to make sure that the NFA would be able to build up its buffer stock without causing the rice prices to rise during harvest season, considering that the NFA is only allowed to buy from local farmers.

The NFA earlier proposed to import over 330,000 metric tons of rice to replenish the country’s buffer stock of the staple in anticipation of calamities.

But the Department of Agriculture said the NFA proposal was dropped.

Under the Department of Agriculture’s 2023 supply outlook, the country’s total supply is at 16.98 million metric tons (MMT), which is sufficient to cover this year’s demand estimated at 15.29 MMT.

“This would leave the country with an ending balance of 1.69 MMT, which is equivalent to 45 days of buffer stock, instead of the 90-day ideal buffer stock to stabilize the price of rice,” a DA briefer said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos launched another outlet of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Program in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan to provide affordable agri-fishery commodities to consumers and a ready market for farmers and fisherfolk.

The President is envisioning the program as a platform to bring affordable food items to the grassroot level to manage food inflation, as well as provide more income opportunities for farmers, fisherfolk and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“We are trying our best to open more Kadiwa stores so that it could reach even the farthest areas and every Filipino could at least experience a bit of relief as the prices of basic goods go down,” he said.

The President also awarded interventions amounting to P15.793 million for several farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Bulacan province.

The Dulong Bayan Farmers Association based in San Jose Del Monte City

received P5 million from the Department of Agriculture National Rice Program for the construction of warehouse with mechanical grain dryer.

It also received P5.5 million from the DA-National Livestock Program for the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) implementation.

On the other hand, the Biyaya ng Matangtubig Irrigators Association, Inc. of Baliuag town, the Sta. Catalina Matanda Bata Irrigators Association of San Ildefonso, and the Magmarale Farmers Field School Marketing Cooperative of San Miguel each received P1.764 million worth of rice combine harvester from the DA-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization.

Mr. Marcos said there would be no problem when it comes to supply after the harvest season.

“If we already harvest, there would be no problem with the supply. It’s precisely as you mentioned. It is in the dry part where we are waiting for the last planting to be harvested,” he told reporters.

Mr. Marcos vowed to give muscle to the government initiative in providing the Filipino consumers with affordable products by putting up more Kadiwa stores nationwide.

In his visit to Bulacan, the President assured the Filipino people of continuous supply of products sold at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets.

only nine months after she assisted in the opening of accounts at her branch.

“It was actually the opening of the accounts that set the wheels in motion,” the CA said, adding that one of Deguito’s major responsibilities is screening transactions in accordance with the AMLA guidelines.

“With Deguito’s 16 years of experience in the banking industry, she cannot feign ignorance of the basic provisions of the AMLA and the RCBCs Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Program (MLPP),” the court said.

While it is true that her involvement was limited to the opening of the bank accounts, the CA stressed that “she actually performed significant acts to arrive at the intended conclusion, which is the movement of funds derived from the hacking incident.”

The CA noted that the opening of the accounts used for the Bank of Bangladesh heist was facilitated by Deguito.

“She allowed the opening of the Jupiter Accounts based on identification documents that were verified to be fictitious. She did not personally witness the alleged clients in filling out the forms and in signing the Customer Relationship Forms and signature cards, violating the face-to-face policy of the AMLA regulations,” the CA held.

used face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide. It had a ±3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.

Mr. Marcos’ highest satisfaction rating was in the Visayas at 89 percent, while Duterte-Carpio’s was in Mindanao at 92 percent.

The National Capital Region was the area where both the officials’ lowest satisfaction rating was recorded at 73 percent and 76 percent, respectively.

In October last year, they both received 86 percent trust ratings.

“Bare to big” majority approval ratings were also recorded by Mr. Marcos (80 percent) and Duterte-Carpio (84 percent), along with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri (53 percent), and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (59 percent).

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, meanwhile, posted a performance rating of less than the majority at 41 percent.

cumbed to the disease.

Meanwhile, an infectious disease expert supports the DOH stand on the voluntary use of face masks despite an increase in COVID-19 cases.

But masking should be encouraged among high-risk, vulnerable populations such as people who are immunocompromised and unvaccinated, Dr. Rontgene Solante said Wednesday.

“I fully agree with what DOH is telling us that masking will continue to be voluntary,” he told ANC’s “Headstart”.

In a press briefing Tuesday, DOH officerin-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire noted there was an uptick in the virus tally, but hospital utilization remained manageable.

While the COVID numbers are decreasing, “there’s still a lot of people dying... and getting sick,” WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan told a press conference in Geneva Tuesday.

He said respiratory viruses would not pass from a pandemic to an endemic phase, but instead move to low levels of activity with potentially seasonal epidemic peaks.

“We don’t turn off a pandemic switch,” said Ryan, adding “It’s much more likely that we’re going to see... a bumpy road to a more predictable pattern.”

The WHO’s emergency committee on COVID-19 meets every three months and is due to assemble early next month.

Officials said WHO would decide whether the virus still constituted a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) -- the highest level of

alert the UN health agency could sound.

The WHO declared COVID-19 a PHEIC on January 30, 2020, when there were fewer than 100 cases and no deaths outside China.

But it was not until WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation as a pandemic in March 2020 that the world was jolted into action.

Ryan said the virus would not be eliminated and would, like influenza, still cause significant respiratory disease in vulnerable people.

Some countries still have large populations of highly vulnerable people who are unvaccinated, he said, while in others COVID-19 is no longer an emergency event.

The COVID-19 committee presents its advice to Tedros -- who has the final say -- on whether the virus still constitutes a PHEIC.

“I would hope that as the emergency committee meets in May, they will have further positive advice to give Dr. Tedros around their assessment of the trajectory of the pandemic and the existence or not of a PHEIC,” said Ryan.

The health agency sees no need to reimpose strict mask rules even with an uptick in coronavirus infections. The country’s quarantine and isolation protocols will also not be amended.

The recent rise in COVID-19 positivity rate, or the percentage of tests turning out positive for the virus, is also not a cause for alarm, Solante said.

“Those numbers are not really something we need to worry about,” he said. “Most of the cases are mild and most likely these are those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.” AFP with Willie Casas

UNICEF: Public view of vax for kids waning

NEW YORK—The UNICEF in a new report on immunization warned that public perception of the importance of vaccines for children declined during the COVID-19 pandemic in 52 out of 55 countries studied.

In its report, “The State of the World’s Children 2023: For Every Child, Vaccination,” the UNICEF said the perception of the importance of vaccines for children declined by 25 percent in the Philippines and by more than a third in the Republic of Korea, Papua New Guinea, Ghana, Senegal, and Japan after the start of the pandemic.

In the new data, collected by The Vaccine Confidence Project and published today by UNICEF, China, India, and Mexico were the only countries studied where the data indicates the perception of the importance of vaccines held firm or even improved. In most countries, people under 35 and women were more likely to report less confidence about vaccines for children after the start of the pandemic.

Children in the Philippines are at a particularly higher risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. Today’s report warns a total of 67 million children missing out on vaccinations between 2019 and 2021, with vaccination coverage levels decreasing in 112 countries.

Of the 67 million children who missed out on routine vaccination between 2019 and 2022, 48 million didn’t receive a single routine vaccine, also known as “zero-dose.”

The Philippines has the second to the highest number of zero-dose children in East Asia and the Pacific Region, and the fifth highest globally. Most of these children are in Regions 4A, Region 3, and Region 6.

Between Jan 1 and March 11, 2023, a total of 208 measles cases have been recorded. This is a 478% increase for the same period in 2022. All regions in the Philippines are at high risk of measles infections.

IN BRIEF

Makati village chief questions ‘new voters’

WITH the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections still six months away, a village chief from Makati City came forward, questioning the registration of 3,700 new voters “who are residents from Manila.”

At the Bantay Bayang Mahal media forum in Quezon City, Joselito Salvador of Barangay Carmona, Makati presented the voluminous documents he filed with Comelec to seek the disapproval of the new registrants, “or the so-called flying voters.” “I fear that this would result in chaos. We know each other here. The barangay election is crucial (in the entire essence of politics),” he said.

Rio N. Araja

Taguig mayor urges public to vaccinate pets

TAGUIG City Mayor Laarni Cayetano has urged her constituents to be responsible pet owners and ensure that their dogs and cats are vaccinated against rabies.

Cayetano made the appeal as the local government last Tuesday conducted a house-to-house vaccination in Barangay Ususan where 522 dogs and cats got free anti-rabies vaccine shots. Rabies is a human infection that can be transmitted mainly through bites or scratches from an infected animal, like dogs and cats. Human infections are both preventable and curable.

Joel E. Zurbano

Samal LGU to give loans to cassava farmers

SAMAL’S local government unit (LGU) said it is committed to extending help to the town’s cassava farmers to improve their livelihood.

Municipal Administrator Jay Lat said the Samal LGU will provide loans without interest to local cassava farmers that they can use to finance their farming.

He also said that the LGU already linked up with Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines Corporation (CPF), a multinational company located in their town manufacturing feeds, to procure the harvests of local cassava farmers in a fixed price.

He added a memorandum of agreement will be signed between Samal LGU and CPF for formality.

Butch Gunio

Hontiveros warns of cryptocurrency scam hubs proliferating in PH

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday warned the public against a notorious cryptocurrency scam known as “pig butchering,” noting that many of its operations are also in the Philippines.

“Pig butchering” is basically a scam targeting people who want to make money on the cryptocurrency market.

Hontiveros also warned that this scam uses “scam” call centers that employ foreigners trafficked into the country.

Hontiveros bared that victims were forced to participate in a slew of fraudulent rackets including dating, invest-

ment, identity, and cryptocurrency scams, to name a few.

“The Philippines should not be used as a petri dish for human trafficking. If scam hubs in Cambodia and Myanmar are in remote areas, scam hubs in the Philippines are in the capital,” she said.

She also called on social media companies to immediately take down and keep out dubious job ads that lead to these scam operations, emphasizing that there may still be active ads targeting job seekers to work in these fraud factories.

She stressed that large condominium buildings are being repurposed as living and working facilities for trafficked hu-

man beings forced to perform scams on hapless victims.

During the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality hearing, Hontiveros said that these trafficked victims, numbering in the hundreds and perhaps even in the thousands, are from Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Indonesia.

There are also trafficked victims coming from Africa, and South Asia, the lawmaker said.

Last year, Hontiveros exposed a large-scale human trafficking operation that targeted Filipinos looking for jobs abroad.

“A humanitarian crisis is taking shape. A mass of desperate humanity. Human beings of the world are being hurt, abused, and used in order to perpetrate fraud. Nananakit ng kapwa para manloko ng kapwa,” the senator said.

In the hearing, “Ridwan” (not his real name), an Indonesian national, said he was tricked and trafficked into the country to work as a scammer. Ridwan shared that he applied for a digital marketing role in the Philippines, but later discovered that the job was actually to scam fellow Indonesians to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.

Lawmaker seeks probe on Land Bank and DBP merger

Manny Palmero

Prosecutors ask court to reopen trial of De Lima cases

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) asked a Muntinlupa City regional trial court to reopen the trial for one of the two remaining drug cases filed against former senator Leila de Lima, which has been submitted for decision in May.

In a motion for reconsideration filed with Muntinlupa City RTC Branch 204, DOJ prosecutors pleaded with the court to reopen the trial for Criminal Case 17165 to allow them to present its rebuttal evidence, to buttress its accusation that De Lima and her bodyguard Ronnie Dayan had conspired to commit illegal

drug trading during her stint as DOJ secretary.

The case accused De Lima of receiving P10 million in 2012, which supposedly came from the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa. However, the key government witness in the case, former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos, recanted all his allegations against De Lima and Dayan. Ragos said he was coerced into making false testimonies against De Lima and Dayan in the case.

In his original affidavits and testimo -

Group supporting SIM reg extension

A CONSUMER advocacy group joined calls to extend the registration period for SIM cards in the Philippines, which will end on April 26.

CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor former Rep. Kit Belmonte said as many telco subscribers as possible need to be registered to prevent breaches of privacy, the proliferation of text scams, and other forms of fraud that continue to victimize unsuspecting consumers.

“We need to get the message across to more people that they need to register their prepaid SIM cards,” Belmonte said. “These are times when we take for granted the ease with which

“Let

extension in the law and give all the opportunity for consumers to register,” said Belmonte. “Many find it difficult to comply with identification requirements so alternatives like office or school IDs should be considered.”

nies, Ragos claimed that he delivered P10 million to De Lima’s house in Paranaque: P5 million in November 2012, and P5 million in December 2012.

But in an affidavit he executed on April 30, 2022, Ragos recanted all his statements and exonerated De Lima and Dayan. He also appeared in the Muntinlupa court to affirm his recantation, saying that the two accused were innocent of the charges.

During the April 17 hearing for the case, the Muntinlupa City RTC decided that the case had been submitted for resolution and the decision will be issued on May 12.

SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday called for an investigation into the proposed merger of the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines.

In a proposed Senate Resolution No. 570, Hontiveros emphasized that the merger “raises concerns on the potential risks and benefits it may bring to the economy, the stability of the financial system, and various stakeholders, including the employees of both institutions.”

On March 28, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno announced that the government was contemplating a merger between the two state-run financing institutions, with Land Bank as the surviving entity. This would also create the largest banking institution in the country, with a total of more than P4.179 trillion in assets.

MINING PACT. Officials of the Altai Philippines Mining Corporation together with the Sibuyan Civil Society Organization sign a partnership to allow the mining firm to use a 1,500-hectare area in Barangays España and Taclobo in San Fernando, Sibuyan Island.

NAVAL PROJECT. Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo and MGen Joseph Ferrous Cuison and the whole Manila City Council lead the announcement of the Manila City and Naval Reserve Command’s Naval Diplomacy thru Culture and Arts project in Manila on April 18. Norman Cruz

Palmero

Marcos is confident 4PH will exceed 1m yearly housing target

By Vince Lopez and Rio N. Araja

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the government will exceed its annual target of one million housing units with the completion of at least 1.2 million housing units under the flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing Program (4PH).

The President was confident this can be achieved given the track record of Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD)

Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar.

“So if we can start... What are we now? Ten months? Ten months.

Secretary Jerry has made 1.2 million. Let’s see. just keep going,” President Marcos said in a media interview in San Jose del Monte City.

“I have a lot of confidence because when he was in the private sector, he really did it. He knows how to do it.

So I think we just wait for the actual structures to start coming up. That, let’s go to that too when it happens,” Mr. Marcos said of Acuzar.

One of the main indicators of the increasing number of shelter availability is the spike in the number of new Pag-IBIG Fund members and increased interest from the people to buy new homes, the President said.

All of these things are indicative, he said, of the continued take-up of new shelters and that there is a market for real estate in the country.

“It is right that we have addressed this housing problem,” he said.

Prior to speaking with reporters, the President led the groundbreaking of six housing projects in Bulacan, which could generate up to 30,000 units.

TUCP seeks P150 across-the-board daily wage hike

By Vito Barcelo

THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is seeking a legislated across-the-board wage recovery increase of P150 for workers and employees in the private sector nationwide.

“Workers can no longer afford to wait for the regional wage boards to act. Since late last year, TUCP was already calling on the wage boards to address the steady decline in the real value of wages due to surging inflation but TUCP’s call fell on deaf ears. Unfortunately, it seems that workers will be left with an empty bag as the wage boards are taking their sweet time in the face of increasing hunger “ TUCP party-list Representative Raymond Democrito Mendoza.

Mendoza filed House Bill No. 7871, or the “Wage Recovery Act of 2023”.

“The TUCP also recommended winwin policy solutions for workers and employers, such as the provision by employers to their workers of cost-ofliving allowances that could be used as a tax credit by the business owners, or a one-time, big-time P5,000 subsidy fromGovernment for minimum and near-minimum wage earners. But our economic managers simply shut the door on these options. In the face of their insensitivity to what is clearly a survival crisis for millions of workers, the TUCP is compelled to file this important bill,” Mendoza said.

He said both workers and businesses were badly hit by the surging inflation and continued to suffer through the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and climate change.

PBBM stresses need for publicprivate alliance in healthcare

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday emphasized the need to further enhance public-private partnerships in the health care industry to improve the Filipinos’ access to quality health services.

The President made this observation during the groundbreaking ceremony of the St. Bernadette Children and Maternity Hospital in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan. One of the priorities of his administration, the President said, is providing healthcare and affordable health services to every Filipino.

To attain this, he underscored for cooperation among the people, the government, and the private sector.

“We need support from all sides of society—the government, the private sector, our citizens—so that we can be

CZECH TESLA EXEC IN MANILA.

IN BRIEF

SC stops release of gene modified rice, eggplant

successful in this goal,” the the Chief Executive said.

“Through the unity and cooperation of the strong bodies of the people, we can establish a progressive Philippines, where no one will be left behind and no one will be left behind in our journey towards a more convenient, safer life in the coming time,” Marcos said.

In his speech, the President urged the private sector and medical professionals to back the administration’s healthcare programs.

“I encourage the private sector and the medical profession to support and

promote government health programs, such as in the field of medical services and [investment] in health infrastructure, especially in remote and vulnerable communities,” President Marcos said.

“We are united in the belief that it is the government’s obligation to take care of the health of its citizens, to keep them... to support themselves and their families, and for the vigorous running of our economy,” he pointed out.

The event in Barangay Gaya-Gaya in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, according to Mr. Marcos, is proof of the administration’s dedication to protect the rights of women and children through the provision of high-quality, but affordable healthcare services.

“Through a community hospital, we can bring basic medical services closer to residents and speed up response and treatment in times of need,” President Marcos said.

Sandigan junks ex-Pagcor chair’s plea for acquittal

THE Sandiganbayan has dismissed a motion of former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chairman Efraim Genuino for reconsideration of its resolution junking his plea for acquittal in graft and malversation cases.

In a six-page resolution promulgated on April 19, the Sandiganbayan third division denied “for utter lack of merit” Genuino’s motion for reconsideration assailing the

January resolution of the anti-graft court. In January, the Sandiganbayan junked Genuino’s motion seeking acquittal in 19 graft and 20 malversation of public funds charges. He had argued that he should be cleared of criminal liabilities. The cases involved Pagcor’s P26.7million purchase of film tickets in 2009 for the movie “Baler” for the benefit of the BIDA Foundation.

AFTER conducting several online activities during the pandemic, the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) will resume its back-to-back events in-person on April 24 and 25 at Citadines Bay City in Manila.

The annual national press forum, now on its 27th edition themed “Midya at Pandemya: Taking Charge of Journalism Post-Pandemic”, and this season’s Civic Journalism Community Press Awards can also be watched via Facebook livestreaming on April 25.

The affair is being held in collaboration with Nickel Asia Corporation, as its longstanding principal partner.

Prior to these, the annual gathering of newspaper owners, publishers, journalists and media executives from its PPI-mem-

According to the court, Genuino just rehashed his previous arguments and was already found to be without merit in the assailed Sandiganbayan resolution.

“We need not belabor on the other issues raised by accused-movant, lest we become repetitive. The Court is not inclined to embark on another extended discussion of the same issue,” the tribunal said. Rey

Requejo

ber publications nationwide will kick off said events on April 24 as they elect PPI’s new set of trustees and officers.

“We are going full blast with these annual events which PPI members have eagerly waited for. Now is the best time to check on each other and discuss issues and concerns that have greatly affected newspaper operations,” said PPI executive director Ariel Sebellino.

Also invited to attend are educators, students, members of the business community, members of the diplomatic corps, government officials, and representatives from local and international civil society organizations who are encouraged to participate in various discussions on innovations in journalism, sustainability and community engagements.

THE Supreme Court has issued a writ of Kalikasan against several government agencies and organizations to stop the release of genetically modified rice and eggplant products.

In an en banc resolution, the SC ordered the respondent-secretaries of the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Health, the Bureau of Plant Industry, the Philippine Rice Institute, and the University of the Philippines-Los Baños to file a verified return within 10 days.

The SC acted on a petition filed by the Magsasaka at Siyentipiko Para sa Pag-Unlad ng Agrikultura et al. seeking the issuance of a temporary environmental protection order to cease and desist the propagation of Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant until proof of safety and compliance with legal requirements is shown.

The petitioners also asked the high court to direct the DA to perform independent risks and impact assessments, obtain the prior andinformed consent of farmers and indigenous peoples, and implement liability mechanisms in case of damage, among others. Rey E. Requejo

Villar eyes mental health issues under PhilHealth

SENATOR Mark Villar has filed Senate Bill No. 2062, also known as “An Act Expanding PhilHealth Coverage to Include Benefit Package to All Mental Health Disorders.”

“We should not set aside mental health disorders. It is affecting a lot of Filipinos,” Villar said.

Villar cited the Department of Health (DOH) which said there were around 3.6 million Filipinos facing mental health issues.

A recently published study by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative Resilient Communities Program reported that costly treatments and services are the top barriers to accessing mental health care in the Philippines.

In line with this, the bill seeks to expand PhilHealth coverage, which will include a benefit package for all mental health disorders.

The benefit package shall cover emergency services, psychiatric and neurological services, and mental health gap action program.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Solon eyes world-class hospitals in tourist areas

A PARTY-list congressman has urged the government to install world-class equipment in hospitals located in areas frequented by tourists.

AnaKalusugan Rep. Ray Reyes, vice chair of the Committee on Health, made the suggestion as he noted that despite the growing number of local and foreign tourists in the country, most of the tourist areas lack a complete medical facility.

“Our goal should be to enhance the overall tourist experience in our country and one of our priorities should be increased investment in safety, health and social services,” Reyes said in a statement.

He said it is about time that the Department of Health allocate additional funds for hospitals in tourist areas.

Maricel V. Cruz

THE BIG REPAIR. Workers of the Philippine National Railways race against time in putting back on track a train which got derailed near the Don Bosco school in Makati City on Tuesday. Norman Cruz

Czech firm Tesla Technologies chief executive officer Peter Matejcek (left) and his counterpart from Smart Citi Teknologi Mario Marcos seal an accord of cooperation between their companies to develop green smart citi in Manila. The signing highlights the Czech Industry Forum 2023 held at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City. Norman Cruz

TINGOG OUTREACH CENTERS. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and his wife Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez lead the opening of Alagang Tingog Centers in Samal Is., Panabo City and in Carmen town, both in Davao del Norte to serve as the group’s outreach service facilities.

THE title of this article is addressed both to the Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian, at the same time to those among us who reacted so sharply against him and his remarks before the 8th Manila Forum sponsored by an NGO which calls itself the Association for Philippines-China Understanding (APCU).

Riled at what he and his government consider to be provocative actions of our government against his country, specifically in approving three new locations in northernmost Luzon for use by the American military as part of our EDCA executive agreement under the VFA, the ambassador unleashed statements which were considered not only “undiplomatic,” but viewed as “threatening.”

Consistently insisting the China-Taiwan problem is “internal” and “interference” by other countries, specifically the US and its military allies, as “provocations,” the ambassador told his audience that:

“The Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs.”

Spoken like a true “wolf warrior” diplomat, which our countrymen viewed as undiplomatic and even insulting, to the point where Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked the envoy be sent back to Beijing, the remarks stirred a hornet’s nest in a country which for years has been resentful of Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

(Incidentally, the current Chinese ambassador is due for replacement within the year, assuming the usual protocols of diplomatic assignments are followed.)

The mere fact that we adhere to the “One China policy” should mean that we, along with the overwhelming majority of nations around the globe save for 13, do not support Taiwan independence.

What was interpreted as threatening was when he added the phrase “if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs” in Taiwan.

a target of bombs, and the railway system is too dangerous to use.

Most of Taiwan’s airports double up for military use, and, therefore, flying out such a number would be both a financial and logistical nightmare.

In Ukraine, there were land corridors to Poland, Romania and other parts of Europe. In Libya, our embassy staff hired buses to bring our OFWs to neighboring Egypt.

Taiwan is an island, surrounded by the potential theaters of war in the Taiwan Strait and the Bashi Channel which separates our north from their south.

MECO even put up a reserve fund for contingency, started during the term of my predecessor, the late Amadito Perez of respected memory, and increased in my time precisely for use if conflicts made it necessary to secure the lives and welfare of our citizens in Taiwan.

The best we could really do is hope that the island’s many bomb shelters could accommodate our citizens, especially in the likely target areas, and we could at the very least feed them, a difficult undertaking in times of war.

The assumption, not too far-fetched, is that if

China “invades,” its current economic problems notwithstanding, it will be a short war, not because the Taiwanese will not fight to defend themselves, but because of a host of other considerations, whether the invading forces do not want to inflict harm against their “cousins” or to avoid international pressure, even armed intervention by the US and allies.

If it becomes like Ukraine, which has succeeded in prolonging valiant struggle against Putin’s Russia, then evacuation of our citizens would be a must.

That aspect of “concern” was what Ambassador Huang should have stressed, not the simplistic “if you care genuinely” reminder which sounded insulting.

Then again, the comparison between Taiwan as an “internal affair” and our problems in Muslim Mindanao was both unfortunate and ill-advised.

Is not Xi Jinping and his government offering a 12-point plan to put an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict?

And did not China successfully bring about a rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia just recently?

Whatever is wrong with a foreign country offering its good offices to mediate in conflicts which could escalate and more and more lives could be lost?

And whatever is wrong if a sovereign country accepts such assistance?

Infrastructure push

WHY is the Marcos administration’s economic team all-out in urging the private sector both here and abroad to take part in our infrastructure development?

That’s because, as Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno explained recently, “infrastructure is front and center of our growth strategy.”

At present, the government has lined up 194 flagship projects costing a total P165 billion. One hurdle is there’s been longstanding under-investment in infrastructure that the economic managers want to surmount. Government spending on infrastructure averaged only 2 percent of gross domestic product from 2001 to 2015.

The Marcos administration now intends to maintain infrastructure spending at 5 percent to 6 percent of GDP until 2028. This means a budgetary outlay of between $20 billion and $40 billion yearly. The government wants to sustain high infrastructure investment through the public-private partnership mechanism, particularly in projects related to energy, logistics, transportation, telecommunications and water resources.

The Marcos administration has made it a top priority to utilize the PPP to support and complement its infrastructure drive

Foreign investors can actually now participate in a broader range of industries that ever before, thanks to economic liberalization measures enacted by the legislature in recent years that have opened up key high-growth sectors to international participation.

Among these economic liberalization measures are amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, Foreign Investments Act and the Public Service Act that eased restrictions on foreign

investments in the Philippines up to the point of full foreign ownership of a project.

There’s also the Strategic Investment Priority Plan that grants fiscal incentives to identified priority industries, projects and activities under the CREATE (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises) Act.

The SIPP is the vehicle under which the government determines priority industries and projects and offers a simpler and more effective fiscal incentives system that’s performance-based, timebound, targeted and transparent.

The Marcos administration has made it a top priority to utilize the PPP to support and complement its infrastructure drive.

The program provides ample opportunities for the private sector to participate in such sectors as energy, water, logistics, transportation, agribusiness, manufacturing, tourism, health, education and digital connectivity.

Infrastructure programs take time to conceptualize and implement, and require huge resources that cannot be drawn from taxes and revenues alone.

Public-private partnerships can be one way forward for governments to push economic growth that will improve the quality of life especially of Filipinos living on the edge of poverty.

The pilferage of confiscated illegal drugs

ANY time high ranking police officers are accused of involvement in illegal drugs, it sends a wrong signal to the public the police is sworn to protect.

The pilferage of confiscated drugs is therefore nothing new.

This is actually the nature of many illegal drug operations.

We fully understand China’s reading of our agreement to use three locations just a few hundred kilometers from the southern part of Taiwan as aimed at potential utilization in the event the US “interferes” in what China considers as an “internal” matter for which they “will not renounce the use of force.”

As lawyers would say “res ipsa loquitor,” the locations chosen speak for itself.

But why insert “if you care genuinely about” our overseas workers and other Filipino citizens residing in Taiwan, which should by now be around 185,000 more or less?

In Christian Esguerra’s podcast “Facts First” where I was the guest last Monday, 17 April, I said maybe the ambassador (or his speechwriter), thinking in Mandarin, translated into English the point he wanted to bring up the wrong way.

Poor choice of words for a diplomat, indeed.

I am more understanding though, because having served as chairman and resident representative of our country to Taiwan from 2016 to 2021, I and two other ASEAN country representatives were worried about contingency measures to protect our citizens in Taiwan should hostilities erupt.

After all, the number of contract workers from our three ASEAN countries had by then reached 700,000 and counting.

It is obvious that if China “invades,” it will want to do so as surgically as possible, which means their fighter jets will target the seaports, airports and other major transport networks in the island which has a territory, mostly mountainous, of less than 10 percent of the entire Philippines.

How then could our de facto embassies assure the safety of each citizen, protecting them from becoming casualties of a war to which our countries are not involved?

Still, we were able to draft an emergency plan together with Vietnam and Indonesia, with the hope we would never have to use it.

The nearest seaport which we could use because of its proximity to Batanes would be Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s busiest and one of the world’s biggest.

To bring 185,000 Filipinos from scattered areas in Taiwan to Kaohsiung would be a most difficult endeavor, especially if the seaport has become

That is what the international “community” of nations is all about.

In several articles in this space, this writer has stated a negative view of the expansion of EDCA, specifically our agreeing to additional sites which are not to enhance security of our western seaboard, where the WPS/SCS conflict continues to rankle.

In fact I was aghast when in 2018, in a MECODTI sponsored investment conference in Taipei where one of the ecozone presenters from the Cagayan Export Processing Zone (CEZA) proudly showed a made-in-China visual of CEZA territory being leased to a PRC based corporation, before an audience of Taiwanese businessmen.

And I recall my having expressed to the powersthat-be at the time my apprehension over such, including the potential conflict it could trigger with not only Taiwan but the US with which we had a military alliance.

As far as I know, that venture has not come to fruition.

Which is the same reason why assigning Lal-lo Airport, San Vicente and Gamu in northeastern Luzon may in fact hasten a PRC decision to attack Taiwan.

In our April 10 article in this space (Taiwan crossroads 2024) I wrote about the forthcoming January 2024 elections in Taiwan which would determine who takes over as president, and from which mainstream party, when President TsaiIngwen completes her two terms in office by May 2024. Between then and now, and I pray I am right, we should chill lang.

Sure there will be acoustics of warfare every now and then, depending on developments and “US interference” as the China labels these.

But until the crucial elections gives us a reading of the directions Taiwan’s government will take visà-vis Xi Jinping’s “re-unification,” these could just be a case of muscle-flexing and nerve-intimidating exercises.

What the international community should do is use its influence and goodwill in getting the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to prevent hostilities which after all, does neither China nor Taiwan’s economy any good, even if it makes the militaryindustrial complex profit from more arms sales.

It is not only the reputation of the entire law enforcement establishment that is tarnished but the country as well. We often hear and read about so called narco-states and no one among us would like our country to be categorized as such and we are certainly very far from that. But if our police leadership. both uniformed and civilian, will not be careful and not act forcefully and decisively on infractions, we will get there in no time at all.

The confiscation of 990 kilos of methamphetamine valued at about P6.7B in a raid in Manila late last year has been in the headlines due to some alleged irregularities.

Secretary Benhur Abalos of the DILG has accused a score of police personnel in the PNP Drug Enforcement Group and one three-star General officer in the PNP Command Group of irregular conduct. This resulted in the relief of the PNPDEG Director while others were forced to go on leave. All because the amount of methamphetamine confiscated was apparently not declared truthfully by the PNP operating team. It appears at the very least, about 42 kilos of shabu were pilfered.

The PNP initiated an investigation and 49 officers and men of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group are now facing various administrative and criminal charges. Due to the estimated value of the illegal drug haul, some publications have been calling it the biggest ever.

Actually, it is not.

If my memory serves me right, the illegal drug haul in an operation conducted in Tagaytay City in the early 1990s resulted in the confiscation of between 2,000 and 4,000 kilos and, like the Manila police operation, about half of the haul in that Tagaytay operation was also suspected to have simply vanished into thin air. There was also that local government official who was intercepted aboard an ambulance full of methamphetamine. A lot of the cargo aboard that ambulance also apparently went missing.

Since the 1990s, many in government, whether they are in law enforcement or local government units, have fallen due to corruption brought about by illegal drugs.

The temptation is simply too difficult to resist.

As I have written in the past, the money involved in this activity is mind-boggling. I remember one officer who served under me saying he never imagined the kind of money involved in the illegal drug trade until he was assigned to a drug enforcement unit.

cases were left hanging, allowing guilty individuals to escape unpunished. More, therefore, needs to be done. The Marcos administration as we know is also dead serious on illegal drugs but with a new strategy.

The result so far has been encouraging.

For one, a lot less people are being killed during many police operations.

What has not been done was to institute a very high qualifications standards for people being assigned or recruited to our drug enforcement agencies which should include a system of constant monitoring to keep everybody on guard.

This will not completely eradicate corruption but will hopefully reduce it down to the barest minimum.

Another is going after the source.

THESE are the lessons in life, according to the 91-year-old Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid, President Emeritus of the Metro Manila-based graduate school Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication.

Replying to questions from Grinding Grains on the subject “aging with an attitude,” the former member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission and member of the Board of Trustees of AIJC, says “I never hide my real age; at 91, I am proud I have lived this length of time and still lucid.”

As member of the ConCon, she championed provisions on communication, education, cooperatives, science and technology, NGOs, and human rights policies.

She authored several works, and her publications include books on communication, information technology, continuing education, cooperatives and sustainable development, along with several journals on public broadcasting.

In her retirement years, Rosario-Braid continues to lead an intellectually stimulating life – studies suggest that those judiciously animated are likely to be free of dementia conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

She still writes a regular column for an English language morning broadsheet since 1997, writing her paragraphs in between watching Netflix, and listening to Spotify, admitting that one gets more stress as one gets older.

And she is writing her memoirs, which will go off stone before too long.

The Dagupan City-born academic and scholar retires to bed comparatively late – sometimes at an hour before midnight or later if she had siesta, otherwise she goes to bed at 10 or 10.30 and gets up between 6 and 7 the next morning.

She used to attend Sunday services before the global health emergency coronavirus hit the country in mid March 2020. Today she watches services online on her mobile or laptop.

Rosario-Braid is an archetypal writer,

educator, communication consultant, researcher, policy analyst, advocate, and professor. Her career in the academe reflects her being a senior researcher at the East West Communication Institute, a professor at the University of Hawaii, and a professorial lecturer at the University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, Miriam College, and Silliman University. In 2019, she was awarded a plaque

All we have to do is read the international news to learn of the number of very high ranking government officials in many countries that have been prosecuted because of their involvement in illegal drugs.

All these should tell us the difficulty of battling the illegal drug menace.

If it were that easy, the previous administration should have been able to stop it with the number of people that were killed.

Towards the end of President Duterte’s term, he was forced to admit the problem was very much alive and kicking.

In this case involving the 990 confiscated methamphetamine, it appears the DILG Secretary has taken a stand which is a good step moving forward.

This is because the only way to improve enforcement and gain the public’s trust is to investigate every case without exception and impose the necessary punishment to those found guilty of corruption also without any exception.

The problem in the past was that many

of recognition by the College of Mass Communication of Silliman University as one of its pioneering journalism professors.

She was recognized for her “excellence and leadership in communication research, education, policy development, peace advocacy, and international cooperation.”

She has a son and two grandchildren, but admits she is close to nieces and nephews here and abroad including their children.

Rosario-Braid drinks only up to seven glasses a day, less than she should, but complements that with a cup of coffee once a day or cups of juices.

She is firm in her conviction that children have a mind of their own, adding “Guide them but don’t be controlling and don’t make decisions for them.”

She waves her philosophy, thusly, “to connect and dialogue with others (since this) is a relationship with others that enables us not only to survive but to have a fruitful life.”

She adds: “Besides self-fulfillment and

Based on all those arrested identified as the source of methamphetamine, we know that most if not all are foreigners.

They should be the subject of dedicated police operations.

With just a week before his retirement, PNP Chief made a plea to his boss, DILG Secretary BenHur Abalos to be careful about the many information he is receiving, given the dynamics of investigating big illegal drug cases.

This is because this can easily derail the PNP from its real focus which is the drug lords.

A reasonable plea but perhaps the PNP should just proceed and investigate the current case fairly.

Those who committed infractions should be punished but those who did not commit any violations should be exonerated.

The result of the investigation must not be because of any pressure from any source but based solely on the evidence.

General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. should not worry too much about his legacy.

After all, he has done a good job as PNP Chief.

asserting self-worth, (you must) be a good citizen, and love your country.. .(and) help narrow existing gaps between the center and the marginalized.”

She now spends her retirements years in a two-bedroom condo with a helper, the panoramic view from her window continuing “to remind me of the Lord’s blessings and goodness.”

She admits having maintenance medicines for hypertension, elevated blood sugar, and uric acid which she has been taking most for over 25 years now.

Prior to this, she lived in a home with a large garden where she and her family lived for 43 years.

For more than 15 years she lived abroad— doing graduate studies, teaching, research and consultancies in different countries.

In her younger years, she used to go on a leisurely cruise – about thrice a year—and visited other countries round the world for work and consultancy.

have lived this length of time and still lucid’

What the international community should do is use its influence and goodwill in getting the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to prevent hostilities which, after all, does neither China nor Taiwan’s economy any good...

‘Be honest, faithful and trustworthy’

General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. should not worry too much about his legacy

Gunfire sounds in city amid ‘armistice’ on fourth day of battles across Sudan

EXPLOSIONS shook Sudan’s capital Tuesday evening despite claims of a ceasefire on the fourth day of fighting that has killed nearly 200.

A weeks-long power struggle erupted into battles Saturday between the forces of two generals who seized power in a 2021 coup: army chief Abdel Fattah alBurhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Since then, international calls have mounted for an end to hostilities that have spawned increasing lawlessness, death and damage.

After international mediation, RSF commander Daglo, commonly known as Hemeti, said he would support a 24-hour “armistice”, which the army denied any knowledge of before later blaming the RSF for breaking it.

The RSF had already accused the army

of violating the agreement.

By 1600 GMT, the time of the supposed start to the ceasefire, gunfire could still be heard throughout the capital Khartoum, according to several witnesses, and it continued into the evening.

“As of now the fighting in Sudan, including Khartoum and various other locations, is continuing. No sign of real abatement of the fighting,” the spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

Daglo’s announcement came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he spoke with the two generals and “underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire.”

Foreign ministers of the G7, which includes the US, had also called on Tuesday for the warring parties to “end hostilities immediately”, as loud explosions were heard in Khartoum, where militiamen in turbans and fatigues roamed the streets. AFP

Fox settles defamation case for $787.5m

FOX News reached a $787.5 million settlement Tuesday in a defamation case brought by voting technology company Dominion that alleged the network knowingly aired false claims linking its machines to a conspiracy to undermine the 2020 US election.

The agreement to end the case avoided what most experts suggested would have been a damaging, highprofile trial for the conservative channel in which owner Rupert Murdoch would have been compelled to testify in open court.

Judge Eric Davis announced the lastminute agreement after the 12 jurors

had been selected and the Delaware Superior Court was readying to hear opening arguments.

Fox News said in a statement it was “pleased” to have ended the dispute and added: “We acknowledge the court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false.”

Dominion CEO John Poulos told re-

porters outside the court that Fox had “admitted to telling lies about Dominion that caused enormous damage to my company, our employees, and our customers. Nothing can ever make up for that.”

The proceedings, trailed by the New York Times as “the defamation trial of the century,” had been due to test the limits of free speech rights for media in America when wilfully broadcasting misinformation. Analysts had predicted it could be one of the most consequential libel hearings in US legal history.

The settlement, believed one of the largest in a defamation case ever, means

star anchors, such as Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity will also avoid appearing on the witness stand. US media reported that the agreement does not require Fox hosts to apologize on-air or admit spreading falsehoods.

Dominion sued Fox News for $1.6 billion in March 2021, alleging it promoted Donald Trump’s baseless claim that its machines were used to rig the presidential election he lost to Joe Biden.

Dominion argued that Fox aired the lies despite knowing they were untrue.

It said the network began endorsing Trump’s conspiracy because the channel was losing audience to smaller rivals

after it became the first television outlet to call the southwestern state of Arizona for Biden, effectively projecting the Democrat would win the presidency.

- First Amendment rights -

Fox News denied defamation. It claimed it was only reporting on Trump’s allegations, not supporting them, and was protected by free speech rights enshrined in the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

The protection makes it difficult for plaintiffs to win defamation suits in the United States.

In pre-trial hearings, Davis ruled that there was no question Fox aired false statements about Dominion. AFP

Under fire, Brazil’s Lula ‘condemns’ Ukraine invasion; Lavrov in Caracas IN BRIEF

UNDER fire for “parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda,” Brazil’s President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday made clear his condemnation of Russia’s “violation of the territorial integrity” of Ukraine.

Lula met in Brasilia on Monday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is visiting several Latin American nations during the week.

On Tuesday, the Brazilian president insisted that while his government “condemns the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine” it also defends “a negotiated political solution to the conflict.”

Lula was speaking during a lunch in honor of visiting Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.

Lavrov called Tuesday for like-minded countries to “join forces” against the “blackmail” of Western sanctions, as the longtime diplomat continued his tour of Latin America.

Discussing Russia’s war on Ukraine with counterpart Yvan Gil in Caracas, Lavrov referred to allies Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua as countries “that

choose their own path.”

All are, like Russia, the subject of damaging economic sanctions, he said.

“It is necessary to join forces to counter the attempts of blackmail and illegal unilateral pressure of the West,” Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Gil.

Lula’s main foreign policy adviser Celso Amorim on Tuesday described criticism of his boss as “absurd.”

“We have several points of convergence (with Russia), but at various times Brazil condemned... the invasion of Ukraine,” he said.

Brazil has not joined Western nations in imposing sanctions on Russia for its invasion, and has refused requests to supply ammunition to Ukraine.

The White House on Monday had criticized Lula’s remarks during a recent trip to China that Washington was “encouraging the war” in Ukraine and that Kyiv shared blame for the conflict.

“Brazil is parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda without at all looking at the facts,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, while Ukraine also expressed anger at the comments.

AFP

THE death toll in a fire that ripped through a hospital in China’s capital Beijing has risen to 29, a city official said Wednesday.

The fire at the Beijing Changfeng Hospital in the Fengtai District broke out at around 1 pm (0500 GMT) on Tuesday and was extinguished about half an hour later.

Li Zongrong, deputy mayor of the district, expressed his “deep condolences” as he announced the new toll at a press conference.

Twelve people, including the facility’s director, have been detained in connection with the fire, said Sun Haitao from Beijing’s public security bureau, adding that representatives from a company renovating the hospital were among those being held.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that a preliminary probe revealed the blaze had been caused by “sparks generated during the internal renovation and construction of the inpatient department of the hospital”.

The sparks “ignited the volatiles of the flammable paint on the site”, CCTV said.

Social media users posted videos on Tuesday of people sitting on external air conditioning units, while others clinging to ropes jumped from the building.

The victims were 16 women and 13 men, Li said.

“We feel deep remorse and guilt,” he told journalists.

“On behalf of the Fengtai district party committee and district government, I hereby express our deep condolences for the victims, and express our sincere respects to the victims’ families, the injured and their relatives, and apologise to the people of the whole city.”

39 hospitalized

CCTV reported that out of the 29 dead, 26 were patients at the hospital, two were hospital staff and one was a patient’s family member.

There were still 78 patients being treated at the hospital, who have been moved to the facility’s west building, CCTV said.

State-run People’s Daily reported that as of Wednesday morning 39 people were being treated in hospital with injuries, and another three had been discharged. AFP

UN high seas treaty adoption set in June

THE United Nations has set dates in June to formally adopt the world body’s historic high seas treaty, following a General Assembly resolution agreed upon Tuesday. The text of the high seas treaty was finally agreed in March, after 15 years of discussions and four years of formal negotiations. The landmark accord would establish a legal framework to extend swaths of environmental protections to international waters around the globe. But it has yet to be formally adopted, needing first to be scrutinized by legal experts and translated across the UN’s six working languages.

The meeting to adopt the treaty is “tentatively” set for June 19 and 20.

After its adoption, individual member states then would be able to ratify it.

“We’re excited to see the continued positive momentum for this new treaty,” Nichola Clark, of the nonprofit Pew Charitable Trusts, told AFP.

“There are a few other steps that have to be taken before the negotiations can formally close -- and this resolution would help us do just that by setting up a time for the treaty to be officially adopted.”

Currently, almost all protected marine areas lie within individual countries’ national territorial waters. The treaty would allow protections to be extended outside of exclusive economic zones (EEZ), which extend to a maximum of 200 nautical miles (370 km) from coastlines. AFP

Israeli forces shoot 7 in West Bank raid

SEVEN Palestinians were injured in an Israeli army operation in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said Tuesday, hours after two Israeli men were injured by gunfire near a Jewish site in annexed east Jerusalem.

The shooting comes amid a period of deadly attacks and military raids across the West Bank, along with killings in Israel.

The Palestinian ministry reported six people with “minor injuries from live fire” had gone to Jenin governmental hospital, while another person shot had been admitted to a nearby hospital following the raid in the northern West Bank city.

A statement from the Israeli military confirmed that an operation was underway in the Jenin refugee camp, without giving further details.

Earlier Tuesday, Israeli authorities said a suspected Palestinian gunman had wounded two Israeli men in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of east Jerusalem after firing at their car.

“Police officers are at the scene conducting searches for the suspect who fled,” the police said in a statement.

Israeli security forces closed off streets in the neighbourhood, where an AFP journalist saw officers entering a Palestinian home, with a drone and helicopter as well as police dogs aiding the search.

Officers enforcing the shutdown prevented cars and people from moving in the centre of the neighbourhood, as heavily armed forces combed the area. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Probe under way after Beijing hospital fire kills 29, with 39 more hospitalized

MARCH REMEMBERED. Participants in the annual March of The Living visit the Birkenau camp, part of the former AuschwitzBirkenau camp at the village of Brzezinka near Oswiecim, Poland on April 18. The 2023 March of the Living marks the 75th anniversary of the State of Israel, the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, and 35th anniversary of the March of the Living. AFP

DETAINED. US journalist Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges, stands inside a defendants’ cage before a hearing to consider an appeal on his arrest at the Moscow City Court in Moscow on April 18. The Wall Street Journal reporter’s request for release on bail was turned down, with the judge saying his detention would ‘remain in place, without any changes.’ AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BOP posted $3.5-b surplus in Q1; GIR increased to $101.5b in March

By Julito G. Rada

THE country’s balance of payments posted a surplus of $1.3 billion in March, higher than $754 million a year ago, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

“The BOP surplus in March 2023 reflected inflows arising mainly from the national government’s net foreign currency loans, which were deposited with the BSP and net income from the BSP’s investments abroad,” the BSP said in a statement Wednesday.

The surplus in March brought the first-quarter BOP position to a $3.5-billion surplus, up from the $495-million surplus in the same period last year.

Preliminary data showed that the cumulative BOP surplus reflected inflows that stemmed mainly from personal remittances, net foreign borrowings by the national government and foreign direct investments.

Meanwhile, the gross international reserves level increased to $101.5 billion as of end-March from $98.2 billion as of end-February. The latest GIR level represented a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 7.6 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

It was also about 6.1 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 4.2 times based on residual maturity.

BOP is the difference in total value between payments into and out of a country over a period. The BSP reduced its BOP deficit forecast this year to $1.6 billion from its previous assumption of a $5.4-billion deficit in anticipation of improved external sector.

The GIR is expected to reach $100 billion this year, higher than the previous forecast of $93 billion, and seen to increase further to $102 billion next year.

Nickel processing firms to invest $10b in PH

By Othel V. Campos

THE Board of Investments said Wednesday two companies agreed to put-up processing plants in the Philippines with estimated investments reaching $10 billion for both projects.

“We have two different sets of investors for the nickel processing—Chinese and non-Chinese investors. Both are very eager to set up their facilities in the Philippines with projected multiple returns and a ready market outside the Philippines,” BOI managing director and Trade undersecretary for industry development and trade policy group Ceferino Rodolfo said at the sidelines of an investment forum organized by the Management Association of the

BRIEF

tremendous growth in revenue from P2.81 billion in 2021 to P8.91 billion in 2022. The biggest revenue contributor was its retail games business, which amounted to 91.7 percent or P8.16 billion of the total revenue. This segment is composed of the traditional on-site bingo operation, remote BingoPlus platform operations and e-game services. The retail business is expected to keep its profitable operations as it gains the favor of the social gamers, bingo-loving Filipinos. BingoPlus still continues to be the leading bingo operator in the country.

Net income in 2022 reached P686.8 million, from an operating loss of P894.6 million in 2021. The company achieved positive EBITDA of P1.007 billion in 2022, compared with EBITDA loss of P80 million in the prior year. The significant turnaround was due to the resumption of majority of its site operations and the launching of its own technology platform.

“What we accomplished in 2022 is remarkable. The Company re-aligned its new business strategy and returned to profitable operations. We believe that there is strong momentum in our future business growth and the outlook is positive” said DigiPlus Interactive Corp. president Andy Tsui.

DBP contests GCG authority in approving merger with LBP STATE-RUN Development Bank of the Philippines said it stands firm on its position that the proposed merger with Land Bank of the Philippines requires Congressional action, contrary to the statement issued by the Governance Commission on GOCCs.

“We believe that GCG does not have the authority to decide on or to approve a merger of GOCCs as its powers, as defined in Republic Act No. 10149, are limited to evaluation of performance, determination of relevance of GOCCs and implementation of mergers,”

DBP said in a statement.

DBP filed an appeal with the Office of the President questioning GCG’s legal study for being legally erroneous, among other grounds.

DBP also contends that none of the justifications invoked by the Department of Finance meets the exclusive standards prescribed by the GCG in justifying a merger. These include relevance and consistency with the national development policy of the State; overlapping or duplicating functions with another GOCC; non-achievement of desired objectives as well as non-generation of “level of social, physical and economic returns vis-à-vis resource inputs”; dormancy or inoperability; GOCC activity can be best performed by the private sector; and functions, purpose or nature of operations of any group of GOCCs necessitates consolidation under a holding company.

Mindanao-Visayas grid link seen completed by July

THE Department of Energy said Wednesday the P52billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project was expected to be completed by July this year.

DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said MVIP was supposed to be partially completed by end-March but the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines was still undergoing testing and commissioning of the transmission line.

“What happened was when they started testing and commissioning, they started with 80 MW [megawatts], to be increased until we reach July with 425 MW back and forth,” Guevara said.

“Currently, they are testing one way, and they have to do the lines one by one. One line should be running going to Visayas or Mindanao. Then once both lines are running, they can do 225 MW half capacity back and forth. That will happen sometime in June, and then 450 MW by the time we reach July,” Guevara said.

The completion of the MVIP is seen to result in a more stable and secure supply of power in the country and will maximize the use of available local energy resources. MVIP will link the Mindanao grid to the Visayas grid via a high-voltage direct current system with a 450-MW initial capacity. Alena Mae S. Flores

Philippines Wednesday. Rodolfo said the two companies conducted separate site visits to the Leyte Industrial Development Estate which they were looking at as the preferred site for their investments.

Both processors are expected to register their projects within the year, which could also signal other investors to help create an ecosystem for green projects involving nickel as the major raw material for precursors for electric

batteries, he said.

“Processing will increase the value of our nickel ores, which is what the Department of Trade and Industry is pushing for—adding value to our exports,” Rodolfo said.

He said nickel processors could easily set up a new processing facility within 24 months and catch up with Indonesia and Vietnam on the level of metals processing investments. The Philippines needs an additional $5 billion to outrun these countries, he said.

“This is critical for us. We won’t derogate environmental policy and labor protection because that is very important to us. Whatever nickel we are able to process are geared towards electric battery production. These will be used by global brands that have very strict

Meralco, GNPower seek

By Alena Mae S. Flores

POWER retailer Manila Electric Co. and GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. filed

applications

the Energy Regulatory Commission for approval of their two emergency power supply agreements.

Meralco and GNPD sought approval of the first EPSA executed on Dec. 14, 2022 for the purchase of 300 megawatts of capacity until Jan. 25, 2023.

The first EPSA involved a delivered a rate of P6.4062 per kilowatt-hour excluding VAT but including line rental.

Meralco and GNPD said the rate was lower by about P2.8246 per kWh if the distributor sourced the same capacity from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the trading floor of electricity at P9.2308 per kWh.

The parties said that by sourcing the

By Darwin G. Amojelar

-

capacity through the Meralco-GNPD EPSA, Meralco’s average blended generation rate was reduced by about P0.2268 per kWh, resulting in savings to consumers of about P854 million.

Meanwhile, Meralco and GNPD also sought approval for the second EPSA involving 300 MW from Feb. 3 to Feb. 25, 2023.

They asked the ERC to approve the delivered rate of P8.1409 per kWh (VAT exclusive and line rental inclusive), which they said was lower by about P0.5119 per kWh if they sourced the same capacity from the WESM at P8.6528 per kWh.

The parties said that by sourcing capacity from EPSA in February, Meralco ’s average blended generation rate was reduced by about P0.0396 per kWh, resulting in savings to consumers of about

of Bills Pay. BayaniPay’s Bills Pay is powered by BDO Unibank Inc.

ES compliance policies,” he said.

The BOI is also in talks with investors on renewable power projects and other green initiatives.

The government is focused on fortifying the domestic economy by bringing in more investors and ensuring that game-changing economic reforms are implemented, which will further improve ease of doing business and make the Philippines more attractive to foreign investors, according to the agency.

“These game-changing reforms are set to attract increased investments moving forward. We want investments that will enable the Philippines to leapfrog, that is, to quickly advance to higher-value industrialization by skipping intermediate stages of development,” said Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual.

COUNTERFEIT CIGARETTES.

Undercover agents of the Philippine National PoliceCriminal Investigation and Detection Group (mostly wearing shorts) pose as buyers, while one of the agents documents the contraband items with the suspects (in black shirt and black shorts and floralprinted clothes). The two suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. Intensifying the campaign against illicit tobacco, operatives of the PNP-CIDG with the assistance of policemen in the area caught the suspects—a Chinese national and his Filipina partner—on April 15 while in the act of selling assorted counterfeit cigarettes in Barangay Ermita, Carbon, Cebu City.

P84.7 million.

Meralco secured an EPSA with GNPD from the latter’s 1,366-megawatt coal-fired power plant at Sitio Dinginin, Barangay Alasasin, Mariveles, Bataan.

Meralco said in a joint filing that its bilateral power supply contracts portfolio was reduced by 670 MW starting Dec. 7, 2022 following the suspension of its supply deal with South Premiere Power Corp. power dated Sept. 19, 2019 as a result of temporary restraining order and, subsequently, a writ of preliminary injunction issued by the Court of Appeals.

The power retailer said the suspension of the Meralco-SPPC PSA resulted in the need to replace the 670 MW and contribute to the availability and affordability of the supply of electricity to Meralco’s customers.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

FILINVEST REIT Corp., the flagship commercial real estate company of the Filinvest Group, said Wednesday it signed new leases for roughly 10,300 square meters of office space in the first quarter.

FILRT president and chief executive Maricel Brion-Lirio said during the company’s virtual annual stockholders meeting the new leases were more than double those it signed in the whole of 2022.

“We are happy to note that tenants are starting to come back and pushing forward with their expansion plans,” said Brion-Lirio.

“We are hopeful that this is a sign of reversal from the challenge we faced last year due to the implementation of hybrid work set-ups in PEZA special economic zones like our Northgate Cyberzone property in Alabang,” she said.

FILRT and the office leasing segment experienced changes due to the evolving global workplace environment as remote work has become more prevalent.

The company said of the 10,300 sq. m. of new leases, about 56 percent were existing multinational business process outsourcing clients of FILRT who needed additional space for expansion.

Existing traditional tenants also took up additional space for expansion, accounting for 24 percent of total.

The balance of 20 percent represented new traditional tenants.

FILRT reported that more than 13,300 sq. m. or 32 percent of the lease expiring in 2023 were already renewed, with the balance due for renewal in the coming months.

BAYANIPAY, a global payments solution platform, on Wednesday rolled out a service to enable Filipinos in the US to make direct payments of their real estate investments in the Philippines without fees.

BayaniPay teamed up with SM Development Corp. and Ortigas Land Corp. to pioneer the real estate category

“We see a huge potential in this highly untapped market, which is marked by several barriers for overseas Filipinos. These partnerships allow us to plug the gap in cross-border payments for the real estate investment market worth P1 trillion,” BayaniPay chief executive Winston Damarillo said.

“Our partnerships with key industry

leaders enable Filipino immigrants to conveniently pay their property investments in the Philippines at zero transaction fees and with competitive exchange rates,” he said.

The service offers customers the benefits of monthly auto debit and payment using an eligible funding source so they no longer have to open a separate bank account in the Philippines. With Bills Pay, BayaniPay lets real estate developers

collect, automate and reconcile payments with ease through a custom dashboard.

The Philippine real estate market saw a boom in activity in the last couple of years, establishing its value of P1 trillion as of 2019, according to the latest Philippine Statistics Authority.

World Bank data show that overseas Filipinos are allotting as much as 60 percent of their remittances to property investments in the Philippines.

sepa

rate

with

P.A. PROPERTIES’ AWARD. P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corp. adds another feather to its cap after bagging the Top 9 Pag-IBIG Fund Accredited Developer Excellence Award for the year 2022. The award is an acknowledgement of the company’s contribution to providing Filipinos the opportunity to be the holder of their own homes in line with the company’s support of the national government’s agenda in addressing the ongoing housing backlog in the country. Receiving the awards on behalf of the company during the Pag-IBIG Fund Chairman’s Report for 2022 are chairman Romarico Alvarez (center), president and chief executive Atty. Marianne Lina-Cruz (fourth from left) and vice chairman Jonathan Lu (left).

SPORTS

Del Rosario storms to 4-shot lead with 68

CAVINTI, Laguna—Pauline del Rosario

rode on a decisive four-birdie spree from No. 9 on her way to a 68 as she poised to blow the field with a four-shot lead over Kim Seoyun and a resurgent Daniella Uy in the second round of the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship here yesterday.

Unable to launch her drive in a rare Ladies Philippine Golf Tour appearance with a three-putt miscue on No. 1 Tuesday, del Rosario still wrestled with her putter on No. 5, but this time, she knocked down an eagle and shot five birdies to more than make up for her three-bogey slip for a 3533 and a 36-hole total of seven-under 137.

“My round was very similar to the previous one. I had another three-putt bogey again (No. 5) and hit it into the hazard on the eighth, took a drop for another bogey,” said the Epson Tour campaigner, who had to birdie two of the last three holes to save a 69 and a one-shot lead over Kim in the first round.

But her latest miscues only negated her eagle feat on the par-5 No. 4 where she hit a knockdown 9-iron shot from 140 yards to within 9 feet and buried the putt.

Then came the four-birdie binge from No. 9 that enabled her to drive a wedge between her and her pursuers although Kim bounced back from a two-over card after 12 holes with three birdies in the last five for a 71.

The young Korean, however, fell behind

by four at 141, which Uy matched by besting del Rosario’s 68 with a tournament-best 67 in a big rebound from a first round 74.

Out to redeem herself from a final round meltdown in Iloilo, Uy overcame a one-over card after six holes with two birdies in the next three. The former Junior World champion, who scored an LPGT breakthrough in wicked conditions at Riviera in bubble setup in 2021, then sustained her run at the back, hitting four birdies for a 35-32.

Chanelle Avaricio likewise recovered

from a 73 with a 70 but last year’s three-leg winner stayed six strokes adrift of the ICTSI-backed del Rosario at 143, while Harmie Constantino hardly recovered from a double-bogey on No. 8 with a birdie on the 10th for a 73 and a 144 total.

Korean Jane Jeong also battled back from a 76 with a 70 to tie Florence Bisera, who carded a 71, at 146 while amateur and SEA Games-bound Mafy Singson and Apple Fudolin each fired a 71 after 76s for joint eighth at 147 with Sarah Ababa and Marvi Monsalve, who matched 73s.

Lois Kaye Go, who will join Singson and Rianne Malixi in the Cambodia SEAG, looked headed for a big assault after bucking a miscue on No. 1 with three birdies in the next five holes. But the Cebuana shotmaker wavered at the back, making two double bogeys and a bogey for a 75.

Athletes, coaches to get free food, lodging in SEA Games

CAMBODIA waived collecting fees on food and accommodation of all athletes and coaches in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, a development that translates to significant savings not only for Team Philippines but for the 10 other member countries.

“This is a very significant development because it means a lot in terms of expenses Team Philippines will incur during the Games,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Wednesday.

“We thank Cambodia for putting its best foot forward in its goal to successfully host the SEA Games for the first time,” Tolentino added.

The good news was relayed by Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee Permanent Vice President Dr. Thong Khon—also the president of the national Olympic Committee and Tour-

ism Minister of Cambodia—in a letter dated Tuesday sent to all 11 NOCs of the SEA Games Federation.

“Under the wise and respectable guidance of His Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Camsoc will no longer charge any food and accommodation fees to the participating NOCs of the 32nd SEA Games,” Khon said in the letter.

“This decision and leadership by Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen further affirms the Kingdom of Cambodia’s commitment to hosting our

regional sports family and international guests in a neighborly environment of solidarity and friendship,” Kon added.

SEA Games hosts normally charge a flat rate of $50 per athlete or coach—inclusive of food and accommodation—although some hotels charge $180 for twin sharing.

Team Philippines is composed of 840 athletes and 300 coaches who are participant in 38 sports in Cambodia.

It couldn’t be immediately determined how much could be saved from the waived food and accommodation fees because Filipino athletes and coaches fly to Cambodia in batches based on their com-

Soldic aims to add Kadestam to KO list

petition schedule.

The Philippine Sports Commission has earmarked P250 million for the SEA Games preparation, training and participation.

Cambodia is expecting more than 12,000 athletes, coaches and staff in the SEA Games it is hosting from May 5 to 17 with capital Phnom Penh as main hub (Morodok Techo National Stadium, Olympic National Stadium and Chroy Changvar International Convention and Exhibition Centre) and the provinces of Kep, Kampot, Preah Sihanouk and Siem Reap as satellite venues.

Fitting sendo for Cambodia SEAG-bound PH

By Randy Caluag

THE Philippine delegation to the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia gets a big emotional boost during the official sendoff ceremony on April 25 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

To be attended by both officials from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, the ceremony will also serve as a solid show of unity among stakeholders and National Sports Associations.

The PSC staff has begun mobilizing the National Sports Associations, setting the assembly time and pickup both at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium at 2 p.m. and the Philsports Arena at 1:30 p.m. They will then

proceed to the PICC for the 3 p.m. affair. Athletes and coaches were asked to wear white shirts since the Team Philippine track suits have not been distributed yet.

In past sendoff rites, coaches and athletes receive messages from the Philippine president to be reminded of their mission to make their country proud in the sporting arena. It’s not confirmed yet if President Bongbong Marcos will be physically present during the occasion.

“Iba talaga ‘yung karanasan and feeling kapag ni-represent mo ang bansa. Talagang ibibigay lahat lahat,” said coach Glenn Mondol of the national kickboxing team, which made its debut in the 2019 Philippine SEA Games and delivered 3 gold medals, 2

silvers and a bronze.

For the Cambodia meet, sports officials have not made projections yet, but expect the nearly 900-strong athletes to go all out and improve on the country’s 4th place overall finish in Vietnam last year.

“I don’t want to project. The PSC is just here trying to take care of the athletes and their allowances and just to support them. If you were fourth last year, maybe you can improve this year. And our athletes have been winning abroad. Hopefully, that carries over to Cambodia. That they get the confidence and perform well,” said PSC chairman Richard Bachmann.

But he fully committed the PSC support and even vowed to be in Cambodia for whole two-week

duration of the meet and see to it that all help is provided for Team Philippines.

Bachmann said the PSC has so far been busy coordinating with various NSAs to provide their needs including funding preparation, equipment, and logistics.

Boxing, one of the country’s medalrich sports, will be bannered by 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam.

Weightlifting Olympian Elreen Ando and Asian champion Vanessa Sarno will spearhead the national weightlifting squad in the absence of the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who is deep in training to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

ROBERTO “Robocop” Soldic knows that his long-awaited ONE Championship debut ended with a letdown. That’s why he’s eager to make an impression when he returns to the Circle.

Soldic returns to action when he battles former ONE Welterweight World Champion Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam in what is expected to be a barnburner at ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes III on May 6 (PH time) at the soldout 1stBank Center in Colorado.

The Croatian’s debut didn’t quite live up to the hype, though it was far from his fault. He got tagged by an inadvertent low blow from Murad Ramazanov. It was such a solid shot that not even a five-minute recovery break was enough for him to return.

Now he plans to make the most out of this second chance.

“The first fight, I didn’t like it. Everybody knows what happened with the groin strike. I was really sad that I didn’t show my skills [in my debut]. But now it’s time to show my skills because I have a fight on May 5 in America. It’s very good for me,” he said.

“I am super excited to fight outside Europe, and to fight in the USA is one of my dreams. So it’s a dream come true. I’m ready. I feel great.”

Against Kadestam, expectations are high.

The Swede is known for his nononsense approach and his willingness to put together great fights. But this also suits Soldic’s style. In fact, he believes this fight will be problematic for Kadestam.

“He is a kill-or-be-killed type of guy. It’s not good for him if he does this with me. If he stands a lot with me, that will be a big problem. I’m a complete fighter. I can do everything. I always plan to keep moving forward and destroy these guys [in front of me],” he said.

PH opens bid vs Indonesia in volleyball

THE Philippines is expected to face regional powerhouse Indonesia at the start of the men’s volleyball competitions of the Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games on May 3—two days ahead of the Games’ opening ceremony.

The Philippines was inserted in Group A of the men’s volleyball program in the re-draw conducted online on Tuesday afternoon by the Cambodia volleyball federation and the Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee.

The re-draw was done to determine

the rankings in the group, according to Philippine National Volleyball Federation secretary-general Donaldo Caringal.

“The process was simplified and done quickly,” Caringal said.

Cambodia exercised its right of first choice as host and picked the No. 1 spot, followed by Indonesia at No. 2, No. 3 Philippines and No. 4 Singapore. The hosts, bronze medalist in Vietnam last year, open against lowly Singapore.

Bracketed in Group B are defending

champion Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar.

Indonesia lost to Vietnam in last year’s final, but remains the No. 1 men’s volleyball team in the SEA Games with 11 gold medals.

Philippine Olympic Committee deputy secretary-general Karen Tanchanco joined Caringal in the virtual meeting presided over by Cambodia volleyball federation secretary-general Dr. Aing Serey Piseth. Also in attendance were volleyball officials from Indonesia and Singapore.

Pauline del Rosario knocked down an eagle and shot ve birdies to more than make up for her three-bogey slip for a 35-33 and a 36hole total of seven-under 137. (Manny Marcelo)

Baisa, Diaz primed for PPS romps in Imus

Brodeth resumes title hunt in PPS Maasin

BRICE Baisa tries to pick up where he left off as he goes for another two-title feat while Jana Diaz seeks to re-assert her mastery of the girls’ field in the PPSPEPP Imus City National juniors tennis championships beginning Thursday at the Imus/Meadowood courts in Cavite.

Baisa, a 16-year-old find from Puerto Princesa, took the spotlight when he swept the 16- and 18-and-under titles in the Iloilo, Roxas City and Bacolod stops of the country’s longest talent-search early in the season, besting some of the circuit’s fancied players.

His feats earned him a stint in the ITF Junior Circuit in Sri Lanka and his recent overseas campaign is expected to further toughen him up coming into this week’s hostilities, which also feature the likes of Vince Serna, Reign Maravilla and Frank Dilao in the premier boys’ division of the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.

Maravilla also top-bills the 16-U roster with Tristan Licayan as the No. 2 seed followed by siblings Frank and France Dilao. While Baisa is billed behind Serna in 18-U play, he is unseeded in the 16-U category pending the results of the latest PPS-PEPP junior rankings.

Diaz, meanwhile, banners the 16- and 18-U casts in the distaff side with the Bacoor, Cavite lass also aiming to duplicate her string of victories in the Visayan swing of the nation-wide circuit held as part of the PPS-PEPP junior program put up by president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Meanwhile, Lucena will host the next leg on April 27-30 before action moves to Cainta, Rizal for the Open, Juniors and Legends tournaments from May 1 to 14. The Olivarez Sports Center will stage the next juniors tilt on May 18-22 before the chase for top honors and ranking points shifts to Zentro, Pampanga on May 25-29.

For details and listup, contact tournament organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Out to foil Diaz’s bid are Sandra Bautista, Joy Ansay and Czarina Ilano, among others.

Licayan, on the other hand, gains the top seeding in boys’ 14-U draw, which includes Marwin Plata, Alexandre Coyiuto and Dean Palaroan, while Ansay, Maristella Torrecampo, Erynne Ong and Ave Policarpio are tipped to dispute the girls’ trophy in the event backed by ProtekTODO, PalawanPay, the Unified Tennis Philippines and UTR (Universal Tennis Rating). Palaroan, Sky Berille and brothers Alexandre and Aaron Coyuito brace for a spirited battle in the boys’ 12-U category while Torrecampo headlining the girls’ field that includes Kylie Cautivo, Xyza Gonzaga and Jasmine Sardona.

Boxing chief Picson dies

NBA suspends Green for 1 game over Sabonis stomp

SAN FRANCISCO—Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green was hit with a onegame suspension on Tuesday after stamping on Sacramento Kings player Domantas Sabonis during the NBA champions’ game two playoff defeat.

The suspension means Green will be ruled out of the Warriors’ game three against the Kings in San Francisco on Thursday.

Green was ejected from Monday’s stormy clash with Sacramento after stomping on Sabonis after the two players tangled following a rebound.

Sabonis grabbed at Green’s ankle immediately before the stamp in an apparent effort to impede the Warriors veteran.

However the NBA said that a suspension against Green was merited given the Warriors star’s history of disciplinary

problems.

“The suspension was based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts,” an NBA statement said.

The suspension deprives the Warriors of one of their most important players as they head into a crucial game three down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.

Green told reporters after Monday’s flashpoint that he had been unable to avoid stepping on Sabonis.

“I gotta land my foot somewhere and I’m not the most flexible person so it’s not stretching that far,” Green said.

“I can only step so far and pulling my

Gilas listed with Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar

By Peter Atencio

THE Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball has been drawn in a group separate from defending champion Indonesia in the coming cagefest of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

Team Philippines has been bunched with Malaysia, Vietnam, and Myanmar in Pool B.

The Indonesians, who beat Gilas for the gold last year, will be in Pool A along with Thailand, Singapore, and Cambodia.

Despite their separation in schedules, Gilas co ach Chot Reyes remains wary of the Indonesians.

“I think Indonesia this year will be even tougher than they were last year. And I know it’s the same thing with Vietnam and Thailand,” said Reyes.

Gilas is in search of good players with big men June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar, and point guard Roger Pogoy all on the injured list.

Team Philippines will have a bigger mission after the SEA Games, and it’s the coming 2023 FIBA World Cup.

leg away, so it is what it is. The explanation (for the ejection) was I stomped too hard.”

Green has courted controversy throughout his career. He was ejected from last season’s playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies after clashing with Brandon Clarke.

He was also suspended for game five of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers for a low blow against LeBron James.

Sabonis had played down Monday’s incident, saying it was part and parcel of the playoffs.

“It’s playoff basketball,” Sabonis said. “We’re here to fight. Every time we step on the floor we’re gonna give everything for our teammates and the franchise.

“We’re both fighting for the rebound. We fell on each other, stuff happens, it’s basketball, we gotta move on, next play.” AFP

“Not only Indonesia, but the other teams as well, like Vietnam, Thailand, those are important. As you know, without June Mar and Japeth (Aguilar) being questionable because he’s not yet fully 100%, we needed to get some size right now,” said Reyes.

For now, Gilas is settling for Brandon Ganuelas and Mike Philips to fill up voids in the squad.

Competition in the cagefest has returned to an old format.

Last year, Vietnam adopted a single, round-robin format which Indonesia topped after going unbeaten in six matches, including an 85-81 triumph over the Philippines.

It was the first time since the 1991 Kuala Lumpur Games that saw the Philippines took home a medal that was not gold.

PBA backs government’s anti-narcotics campaign

By Joel E. Zurbano

THE Philippine Basketball Association threw its support to the government’s renewed anti-narcotics campaign, focusing on demand reduction and rehabilitation of drug dependents.

Ed Picson

BOXING president Edgar “Ed” E. Picson passed away on Wednesday following a long bout with liver cancer.

He was 69 years old. At the time of his death, he was president and chief executive officer of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines. A graduate of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Picson was also a popular sportscaster for the games of the Philippine Basketball Association.

This as the Department of the Interior and Local Government extended its “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” or BIDA program in the sports arena through partnership with the country’s premier basketball league.

“The partnership of DILG and PBA will not only strengthen the campaign against illegal drugs, but will also send out a message to the PBA teams, players and fans, that the league is against and will not tolerate the adverse effects of illegal drugs,” said DILG secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.

“We are aware that this is the first time, since its inception, that the PBA joined hands with the government in the fight against illegal drugs kaya una na po ang aming pasasalamat,” he added.

The DILG came up with this announcement during the third quarter of Game 4 of the PBA Governor’s Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra and TNT Tropang Gilas Sunday night.

“BIDA is not only focused on supply re-

duction but is also centered on demand reduction. Usually, naka-focus ang mga pushers at suppliers sa mga bata. Sa basketball, kids have their idols. Whatever their idols do, susundin ng mga bata. We have to set a good example for our youth – napakalaking bagay if the players and the league themselves make a stand, saying that they are against illegal drugs,” Abalos said.

He emphasized the indispensable role of sports as a deterrent against the use of illegal drugs. “With this partnership, we expect to promote and advocate for sports as an effective solution to prevent the youth from subscribing to illegal drugs.”

The DILG chief said that through this collaboration, made official through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement, the PBA is expected to upscale its drug testing initiatives in accordance with Republic Act No. 9165, or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” among its players and staff.

Under the agreement, PBA players will sport the BIDA program logo on their jerseys during PBA-sanctioned games and disseminate campaign collaterals and advocacy materials in an effort to increase awareness towards its widespread national platform regarding the dangers of illegal drugs.

PBA chairman Ricky Vargas and League

Commissioner Willie O. Marcial also presided over the formalization of the partnership through the signing of the MOA, which they hoped would spark and reinvigorate the message of the BIDA program by leveraging the league’s audience and nationwide reach.

“Just like BIDA, we look at all the ways

people get into illegal drugs and how they can be drug-free,” Vargas said.

“We in the PBA believe in the process of recovery and reformation. I am pleased to tell you that in the last 6 years, the league has been drug-free. Kasama kami sa BIDA, dahil naniniwala kami sa BIDA,” he added.

Course-record 66 gives Lascuña 3-shot lead

CAVINTI, Laguna—Tony Lascuña ripped the course and the field with a fine display of shotmaking, churning out a solid six-under 66 and pulling ahead by three over a fast-charging Ira Alido and two others halfway through the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship here yesterday.

Bracing for another wild chase after forcing a four-way tie for the lead with a last-hole birdie for a 68 Tuesday, Lascuña sizzled in a backside start, blending his solid driving and iron play with near-impeccable putting on the softened greens of Caliraya Springs Golf Club. He produced four birdies then

added two more at the front for a 36-hole aggregate of 10-under 134. His 34-32 card, together with that of defending champion Zanieboy Gialon’s eagle-spiked 31-35, also became the new course record at the par-72 well-maintained championship course hosting a pro tournament for only the second time.

Gialon ruled last year’s inaugurals by four strokes over Clyde Mondilla where six players, including the eventual winner, posted 67s. But Lascuña isn’t after the course mark, but the championship after finishing runner-up in the Bacolod and Iloilo legs of the Philippine Golf Tour last month.

“I hit all fairways and missed just one green, so that summed up my game,” said Lascuña, whose iron play set up a number of birdie chances, six of which he drained, including the farthest from 12 feet on No. 15.

“Maganda ang green, sumusunod sa allowance ang putt,” added Lascuña, whose daily goal is to shoot four-under. “My target is to score 2-under on each nine but after going 4-under at the back, I knew I could hit more birdies.”

He did as he gained strokes on Nos. 5 and 7 for a three-stroke lead that however remained shaky in anticipation of a feisty rush from

among the contenders in moving day in the P2.5 million championship put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

But while the multi-titled campaigner sustained his first round charge, erstwhile co-leaders Lloyd Go, Rupert Zaragosa and Clyde Mondilla slowed down despite nearideal conditions. Go turned in a 71 on a three-birdie, two-bogey round to slip to joint ninth at 139; while Zaragosa, runaway winner in Iloilo last month, and Mondilla mixed three birdies against the same number of bogeys for identical 72s that dropped them to a share of 12th at 140.

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors steps over Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings in the second half during Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round Playo s at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Green was issued a agrant foul 2 on the play, and ejected from the game. AFP

PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas, DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial

Tony Lascuña in a happy mood. Manny Marcelo

Wilbert Ross stars in the lead role of Bryce in ‘Ang Lalaki sa Likod ng Profile’

Wilbert Ross is ‘Ang Lalaki sa Likod ng Profile’

AFTER the success of its YouTube series GVBoys and Ang Babae sa Likod ng Face Mask, and the first Tiktok series 52 Weeks, leading retail company, Puregold, is back at it with its newest digital show, Ang Lalaki sa Likod ng Profile, which releases its first episode on April 22. Boasting an impressive cast of talented actors like Wilbert Ross playing the lead role of Bryce, and Yukii Takahashi playing the co-lead Angge, Ang Lalaki sa Likod ng Profile aims to snag the hearts of more netizens all over the country with yet another relatable and feel-good story. The series’ supporting cast features Kat Galang as Genski, Migs Almendras as Ketch, Marissa Sanchez as Bessie (Bryce’s mom), Star Orjaliza as Yaya Aimee, Moi Marcampo as Chili Anne (who has a crush on Bryce), TJ Valderrama as Cyrus (Angge’s brother), and Anjo Resurreccion as Jerry (Angge’s ex). For Episode 1, viewers will witness how Bryce navigates life, his video-game interest and expertise, and how his mother, Bessie, constantly nags him to look for a girlfriend.

Meanwhile, Angge is recovering from Toxoplasmosis, a brain infection that currently limits her movement. In the first episode, the two leads will cross paths on a digital platform called Talkverse.

Directed by Victor Villanueva, the same award-winning director behind Puregold’s hit series Ang Babae sa Likod ng Face Mask, this new digital series’ conflicting turns will set the stage for an exciting and emotional journey for Bryce, Angge, and their friends.

Utilizing social media as vital to its narrative, Lalaki sa Likod ng Profile is set to depict realities that young Filipinos can relate to. With a seasoned director, a talented cast, and a compelling story, it’s a series that Puregold Price Club President, Co, is happy to share, saying, “We are excited to deliver another Puregold Channel original content to our customers and audiences.”

Ang a compelling story, Price President, Vincent Channel and audiences.”

Nickie Wang

TikTok star Yukii Takahashi brings her talents to the Puregold Channel’s latest

I’VE been seeing and hearing that this year marks the full return of the recording scene since 2020. There is no official announcement about it, same as we can’t truly say that the pandemic COVID-19 pandemic is over as there is no formal declaration that it is. You can just feel the vibe that had been missing back in the air, albeit not exactly as it was. If there is revenge travel for people who had been locked in their homes too long, musicians, too, got back to the studios like children allowed to come out and play after days of rain. I won’t get far as to illustrate how things have become different. I’ve been quietly doing

‘The Voice Kids Philippines’ finalist Angel Andal is the voice behind ‘Hiling,’ a collaboration piece between the author and his former editor Millie Vera records for years myself, with my two band affiliations Syato and The Pub Forties, and on a few occasions, with solo acts, I get to collaborate as songwriter and instrumentalist. Late last year, we in The Pub Forties went back to Forgiven Music Studio in Quezon

City to work on our latest EP, a set of original songs we developed as soon as we got back jamming face-to-face, or after two years of not being in the same room. One indication that we were making records in a different way was the wearing of face masks. The protective

New normal recordings

cover for our nose and mouth symbolizes what had happened from the last time we recorded prior to the pandemic to our return under a new normal setup.

The EP (extended play), which we eventually called Escape to Alcaraz and had it distributed on digital stores by Widescope Entertainment, contains a song called “Cutting Shards” that I and our lead vocalist Aries Espinosa wrote by sending melodies and lyrics to each other via Facebook messenger around the time people were advised to go out only for essentials. Another track, “Departure Area,” began life while I was playing an acoustic guitar seated on the bed because going to a coffee shop to meet a colleague was not an option. It is the first track we dealt with right after regrouping, and boy did we truly miss each other that our guitarist Vince Borromeo started putting exciting ideas into the song that by the time we were done with it, it already sounded like a rock opera.

Am I saying the separation did us good? It’s for listeners to say that. But I also wonder how it would have been if the pandemic didn’t happen. By the time we released “Next Big Thing,” the song we worked on in January 2020 and O/C

GMA Network wins 2 Gold, 2 Bronze, 5 Finalist Certificates at New York Festivals TV & Film Awards

GMA Network gives the Philippines another set of international recognitions as it brings home two Gold and two Bronze medals, and five Finalist Certificates at the prestigious 2023 New York Festivals

TV & Film (NYF) Awards. Winners were revealed yesterday April 19 (Philippine time) during the virtual Storytellers Gala.

Setting another record is the award-winning public affairs show and multi-platform leader Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS), earning its first-ever NYF World Gold medal for “Sugat ng Pangungulila (Wounds of Woes).” Besting other entries in the Documentary: Health/Medical Information category, the segment featured a 14-year-old boy suffering from wounds all over his body and later diagnosed with lamellar ichthyosis. Its host, Jessica Soho, is the first Filipino to win a Bronze medal in the Best News Anchor category at the NYF Awards in 2018.

‘Maria Clara at Ibarra’ lead stars (from left) Dennis Trillo, Barbie Forteza, and David Licauco

Documentary program The Atom Araullo Specials adds another World Gold medal to its roster of NYF trophies after conquering the Documentary: Social Issues category with “Mata sa Dilim (Eye in the Dark).” First aired in 2022, the story by Atom Araullo showed how and why online sexual abuse and exploitation of children has become a silent pandemic.

GMA Integrated News - Digital Video Lab’s online newscast Stand for Truth receives its first NYF award, taking home the Bronze medal in the Documentary: Cultural Issues category. The Integrated News and Public Affairs’ entry,

“Runaway Child Brides: Ang Kuwento ng mga Tumakas sa Buya (Stories of Escape from the Manobos’ Buya),” tackled arranged marriages or a tradition called “buya” among Manobo tribes. Maria Clara at Ibarra, GMA Entertainment Group’s primetime masterpiece, makes history anew as it won a Bronze medal in the Entertainment Program: Drama category. The series, which made waves on-air and online during its TV run, featured the story of

(The Missing)” each received a Finalist Certificate in the Documentary: Human Concerns and Documentary: Health/Medical Information and Documentary: Human Concerns categories, respectively. Also scoring Finalist Certificates for the Philippines are GMA Public Affairs programs Reporter’s Notebook I-Witness, and Born to be Wild Nine-time NYF World Medalist Reporter’s Notebook was conferred with Finalist Certificate for “Baha to School (Our School is Sinking)” in the Documentary: Community Portraits category. Long-running public affairs program I-Witness made it to the list of finalists in the Documentary: Science & Technology category for “Ang Langaw na Hindi Binubugaw (Black Soldier Fly).” Completing the Public Affairs shows was the environment and wildlife program Born to be Wild which won a Finalist Certificate for “Primate Planet” in the Documentary: Environment & Ecology category. Held annually, the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards honors content in all lengths and forms from over 50 countries. GMA Network has been representing the Philippines at the NYF, consistently getting the most nominees and winners for the country over the years.

Records released by March – just a couple of weeks after the WHO (not the band) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic – the next big thing was clearly the restriction imposed on people not to gather, which put a stop to live gigs and in-person recordings. An industry veteran was set to manage our band before the talks fell through understandably. On a bright note, the digital age made it possible for recordings to still happen. Two songs I’m involved in as a songwriter came out recently, sung by female voices who, back in 2020, both interpreted on record my composition “Sandalan.” Singer Noela Amparo also appeared in person at Forgiven (renamed Minstrel Gospel Recording Studio) and dubbed her vocals for “Ewan Ko,” a song we used to jam when we worked on a band project years ago. I was on the phone miles away, helping recording engineer and co-producer Mark Zoleta deliver the track.

Enterphil, the digital arm of Ivory Music, released it last February under Syato, featuring Noela. Syato’s previous release was a song I penned called “Pagsapit Ng Unos” which came out, well, months before an unseen enemy unleashed a global disaster.

Noela Amparo is the featured guest vocalist for Syato’s latest release ‘Ewan Ko (Anong Problema Mo)’

A couple of weeks ago, “Hiling,” performed by Angel Andal (a finalist of The Voice Kids Philippines) was put out by Curve Entertainment. Behind the song’s lyrics is Millie Vera, a former special features broadsheet editor who took me under her wing when I was a newbie. She sent me her Tagalog poem as I pulled from my vault an unfinished melody. It was my job to let the words and music flow together. She said that it is a song “dedicated to the bereaved families of those who passed on during the pandemic not necessarily due to COVID but because of the lack of hospital facilities that could have accommodated and saved them.”

Both “Ewan Ko” and “Hiling” were recorded without me being present in the studio (which had not happened before on a song I’m significantly involved in), but essentially in control. The new normal certainly changed how the game is played.

AI-generated song imitating Drake yanked from streaming services

A NEW song created using AI software to imitate Canadian singers Drake and The Weeknd has been removed from streaming services after quickly racking up millions of listens and sparking debate over the new technology.

Released last Friday, “Heart On My Sleeve” was briefly available on platforms including Spotify and Apple Music before Universal Music Group (UMG) – which publishes both artists through its Republic Records subsidiary – said it violates copyrights and asked for its removal.

The song features artificial intelligence (AI) simulating the voices of the two artists trading verses about actor and pop star Selena Gomez, who once dated The Weeknd. Its creator, known only as @ghostwriter, claims to have used software that was trained on their voices to make the track, posting: “I used AI to make a Drake song feat. The Weeknd.”

“This is just the beginning,” he added on TikTok.

Universal Music Group, which controls about one-third of the global music industry, is increasingly concerned about AIs using its songs to produce music similar to that of popular artists.

Training AI software without artists’ permission “begs the question as to which side of history all stakeholders in the music ecosystem want to be on: the side of artists, fans, and human creative expression, or on the side of deep fakes, fraud and denying artists their due compensation,” the company said in an email to AFP.

In March, UMG wrote to streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple, asking them to block AI services from extracting

Drake’s

melodies and lyrics from their copyrighted songs, according to emails viewed by the Financial Times

The use of AI in music is the subject of debate in the industry, with some denouncing copyright abuses and others praising its prowess. David Guetta recently used AI to add a vocal in the style of rapper Eminem to a song for a live show. But the French producer said he won’t release it commercially.

In an interview with the BBC, Guetta compared AI to instruments such as the electric guitar, bass synthesizer, drum machine, and sampler that led to musical revolutions including rock ‘n’ roll and hip hop. AFP

The Pub Forties with singer-songwriter Ebe Dancel (center) who also works as A&R and record producer for Widescope Entertainment, which distributed their six-song EP ‘Escape To Alcaraz’

Bryce spends most of his days playing video games alongside his best friends Genski (Kat Galang, leftmost) and Ketch (Migs Almendras, rightmost)

digital series

popular photo widely used in memes

Nickie Wang, Editor Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant E-mail: lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com

ACTRESS Beauty Gonzalez was chosen to be the first endorser of Hey Pretty Skin. As the official face of the brand, the 31-year-old celebrity will be appearing in several ad campaigns as well as making promotional appearances to promote its products.

In a media conference held on April 14 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Hey Pretty Skin CEO Anne Barretto formally introduced Gonzalez as its first celebrity endorser before members of the entertainment press and Hey Pretty Skin distributors from different parts of the country.

“We would like to welcome Beauty Gonzalez to the Hey Pretty Skin family. We are very excited to work with her and we are just elated that she accepted our invitation to become our first celebrity endorser,” said Barretto.

“I am very thankful for the trust they have given me. Hey Pretty Skin has been in the market for only one year and for them to pick me as their first celebrity endorser is really a big deal. I must admit, I feel a bit of pressure, but I trust Miss Anne, her vision, and most importantly, I believe in her products and how they can really help people achieve better glowing skin and feel good inside,”

The Beauty in Hey, Pretty Skin

the actress said in turn. According to the brand CEO, Gonzalez was chosen as the endorser for having that beautiful glow inside and out. She perfectly represents the beauty brand as she exudes the values and ideals that Hey Pretty Skin stands for. Gonzalez can also communicate the brand’s message to her audience in an engaging and inspiring

way. “We believe using Hey Pretty Skin products do not just improve your skin, but also boosts your confidence in your everyday life. When we have good, healthy glowing skin, we are more confident in facing anything that comes our way. We believe Beauty is an embodiment of that. She has flawless skin, she is beautiful, and she lives her best life,” explained Anne. Meanwhile, this endorsement is more personal to Gonzalez considering what she has been through.

“Like everyone else, I had a lot of insecurities before. So I helped myself. I lost weight and started taking care of my skin. That’s when I started to see myself differently… na kaya naman pala . Through Hey Pretty Skin, I hope I can inspire more people to do the same. To start having a skin regimen and just

Beauty Gonzalez is the first endorser of Hey Pretty Skin

show their skin a little more love,” shared Gonzalez who is endorsing various products that includes the brand’s top-selling Neoglow Set and Kojieko soap, the Prestige Glow Set, Tinted Sunscreen, Happy Lift Serum, Facial Foam Cleanser, and the Angel White Body Scrub. – Nickie Wang

Keep your in the best condition

PROTECTING your skin from the sun this summer is important for maintaining your health and appearance. Sun exposure can cause sunburn, skin damage, and even skin cancer.

According to Dr. Iza Encarnacion, a Board-certified dermatologist from The Medical City Ortigas, to protect your skin from the sun, use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, wear protective clothing such as wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves, and avoid direct sun exposure during peak hours. Additionally, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and keep your skin healthy.

“Wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 is enough to give your skin its needed protection, re-apply often, like two to four hours after your first application. Also, avoid the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. when the UV rays are strongest. But if you need to be out in the sun, wear a hat and sunglasses as added protection,” Encarnacion told Manila Standard Life in an exclusive interview.

She added that sunscreen must be applied on all parts of our face, including the neck and tips of the ears, to ensure protection from the sun and avoid concerns such as sunburn.

Aside from sunburn and miliaria, the heat, and prickly rash caused by the summer heat (known as bungang araw by Filipinos), another skin concern we need to steer away from is fungal infections.

“When looking for sun protection, we must ensure that the sunscreen has both UVA and UVB protection. UVA causes early development of wrinkles and premature aging while UVB causes sunburn and hyperpigmentation, such as melasma, of our skin,” Encarnacion carried on.

The published dermatologist also said that fungal infections are rampant during summer because this is the time that most

MANY people consider self-care as a luxury than a priority, which leaves them feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and unprepared to handle day-to-day challenges.

Wellness coach, workshop leader, and health educator Elizabeth Scott, PhD, explained that self-care is more than finding ways to relax. It focuses more on addressing the basic needs of the body.

“All the stress relief activities in the world won’t help if you aren’t taking care of yourself,” she stated. “Meditation won’t do you any good if you aren’t getting adequate sleep. Hitting the gym once in a while won’t relieve much if you’re not regularly fueling your body with healthy, nutrient-dense food.” Scott, author of The 8 Keys to Stress Management, who specializes in positive psychology, healthy relationships, and emotional well-being, likewise elaborated that it is not a “one size fits all strategy”.

“The demands of your daily life can dictate what you need most. Your self-care plan needs to be customized to what is currently going on in your life,” she noted. “You don’t want to wait until you’ve reached your breaking point.”

Echoing the expert, the Benilde WellBeing Center of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde shared Scott’s advice and the

skin

people get sweaty because of the heat.

“Fungi thrive in sweaty areas, which causes a lot of discomfort to people. Based on my experience, during the summer, there could be flare-ups of other skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis,” she stated.

What’s the key to better skin this summer?

According to Encarnacion, the key to having better skin is preventive measures, including a healthy and balanced diet, and sun protection. She said we must always apply sunscreen and/or wear sun-protective clothing to protect our skin from the harmful rays of the sun. When it comes to our skin conditions and concerns, we must not hesitate to consult a Board-certified dermatologist for early diagnosis and treatments. As per Encarnacion, proper diagnosis is essential

and may help us to save time and money. The power of teledermatology Thanks to the rise of digital technology, people can do their consultations online. Encarnacion expresses her gratitude at how teledermatology helped her to reach her patients during the pandemic. She also advocates reaching and sharing skincare tips in far-fetched areas.

Encarnacion took medicine at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, her internship at The Medical City Ortigas and Ospital ng Makati, and spent her Dermatology residency at the East Avenue Medical Center under the guidance of Dr. Angela M. Lavadia and Dr. Elizabeth P. Prieto and its consultant staff, who honed her clinical eye in dermatologic disorders. She also did her Medical Dermatology

and Phototherapy Fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City from 2019 to 2020. She did her Clinical Dermatology and Basic Research Fellowship at Osaka Metropolitan University from May to November 2022.

This led Encarnacion to pursue more education to enhance her knowledge and skills in dermatology.

Encarnacion strongly encourages everyone to visit Board-certified dermatologists as they have a broad scope of knowledge and expertise and can diagnose, treat and prescribe medications. They also have a wider range in treating medical and aesthetic procedures for patients.

Despite being relatively new to the practice of dermatology, Encarnacion has a lot to offer and is eager to cure as she has envisioned as a kinder student. “Beautifying

Five tips towards self-care

one client at a time,” she provides the evolving needs of dermatology patients armed with her experience and outstanding achievements.

Even before her fellowships abroad, Encarnacion has been getting top-notch training and hands-on experiences here in the country. She worked with awardwinning epidemiologist Dr. John Q. Wong who influenced her in the areas of research and public health.

Encarnacion is also part of the Philippine Dermatology Society, Photodermatology Subspeciality Group, and the Philippine Medical Association. She is also affiliated with Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium.

You may set an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Iza Encarnacion at The Medical City Ortigas MATI Room 1909, 19th floor from Tuesday, Thursday to Saturday; at East Avenue Medical Center - Department of Dermatology; The Skin Center on Thursdays; at Dr Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium - Department of Dermatology every Wednesday. She is also a part of other clinics such as AC Skin Health Shaw and Health Cube Shaw. You may register through this link to book an appointment whether in-clinic or online or contact Julie Ann at 0906 409 3137 or at (02) 8 988 1000 local 5277. It is also recommended to book an appointment to be assured that you can be accommodated for the day.

3. Mental Keep your mind sharp. Engage in activities that mentally stimulate you. Answer some puzzles. Learn about a subject that fascinates you. Read books. Watch movies that inspire you. Maintain a healthier inner dialogue. Practice self-compassion and acceptance.

4. Spiritual Nurturing your spirit doesn’t have to involve religion. Meditate. Pray. Attend a religious service. Develop a deeper sense of meaning, understanding, or connection with the universe.

5. Emotional Allot time for tasks that aid you in acknowledging and expressing your feelings regularly and safely – immerse in leisure activities that help you process your emotions and recharge. Talk to a partner, a friend, or family about how you feel.

An additional tip: customize your own self-care plan. This can serve as a preventative measure to make sure that you don’t get overwhelmed. Make a list of the different aspects of your life. List down major daily activities. Assess your needs. Think about the possible stressors. Consider the things you can do to address it or help yourself feel better. Prepare for possible challenges. Identify a single small step to start caring for yourself.

Actress Beauty Gonzalez (left) and Hey Pretty Skin CEO Anne Barretto

The dermatologist performing a procedure and taking care of her patient

Encarnacion is a Boardcertified dermatologist from The Medical City Ortigas