The Standard - 2015 April 16 - Thursday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 60  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  THURSDAY : APRIL 16, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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Peña goes back to being vice mayor

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Aquino wants funds given only to allies

MOROS: WE DON’T NEED BBL TO SECEDE Next page

Pet-limit protest. Pet lovers in Quezon City and officials of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society protest in front of Quezon City Hall against the signing of an ordinance limiting residents to four pets. MANNY PALMERO

Floyd calls Pacman ‘reckless’

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What’s on in cinemas this week

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Aquino: Peace can still be secured PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino said Tuesday he could still secure a peace deal with Muslim rebels before standing down next year, after a botched anti-terror raid nearly derailed the process.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Philippines’ biggest Muslim rebel group, signed a peace pact last year aiming to end their four-decade separatist struggle that has claimed an estimated 120,000 lives.

But efforts by the Aquino administration to pass a law authorising an autonomous region for the nation’s Muslim minority—the key part of the pact—were delayed amid outrage over a police raid in January targeting alleged top terrorists.

Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir, one of the United States’ most wanted men, was killed in the raid. But 44 police commandos also died in an ensuing day-long battle with MILF fighters and other rebels.

Asked in an exclusive interview with AFP on Tuesday if the peace accord could be implemented before he steps down in June next year, Aquino said: “Yes, I believe so.”

As outrage eased over the deaths—the single biggest battlefield toll among security forces in recent memory—the autonomy bill could be discussed “devoid of emotion”, he said.

“Perhaps two, three weeks ago, a month ago they were saying it’s dead in the water,” Aquino said.

“They’re back to discussing it. That’s a very hopeful sign,” Aquino said, referring to debates in parliament that resumed this week after a three-month suspension.

Aquino repeated warnings that failure to implement the treaty could radicalise the MILF’s moderate base and cause further bloodshed in the southern Philippines.

“There is the very real danger that failing this, they (MILF leaders) will lose the support of their rank and file, who will now listen to the more radical voices within the organisation,” he said.

Government peace negotiators hope parliament will pass the self-rule bill by mid-year.

Once it becomes law, a plebiscite will be held in areas to be included in the autonomous region that will be called Bangsamoro.

A transitional government will hold office until the first set of regional officials are elected in May next year, simultaneously with the national elections.

A peace deal to end decades of fighting in the south would be a key legacy for Aquino, but he said he was prepared for the possibility that it would not be fully implemented under his term.

“If it’s my fate that I will not be able to shepherd my country towards having that peace agreement... I hope I will be able to demonstrate the absurdity of going back to the traditional way, which is violence always simmering or threatening to boil over,” he said. AFP

The Standard Talks. From left, Abdullah Camlian, Raissa Jajurie, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and government peace panel member Senen Bacani share their insights on the Bangsamoro Basic Law as The Standard’s Jojo Robles looks on at right during Wednesday’s The Standard Talks news forum at the Manila Golf Club in Makati City. EY ACASIO

Secession not the goal of BBL, Moro rebs say

By Sandy Araneta

A MEMBER of the negotiating panel of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) denied Wednesday that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) was a step toward secession as some critics fear, noting that separatists would not need a law to break away from the republic.

“If we wanted that (secession) we could always do that. We do not need a BBL in order to assert whatever form of self-determination that we would want. But clearly, the plan is to have an autonomous region that is allowed even within the framework,” said Raissa Jajurie, a member of the MILF peace panel, during yesterday’s first The Standard Talks forum at the Manila Golf and Country Club, in Makati City.

“Even self determination is a right already recognized for all people. Internationally, it is found in the international covenant of human rights, and also in the other covenants of economic, social and cultural rights, of indigenous peoples. So it’s not something extraordianry,” said Jajurie.

She described the draft law to create a Bangsamoro entity as a compromise.

“The BBL still states the Bangsamoro is still part of the Philippines.

While the original position of the MNLF [Moro National Liberation Front] and the MILF was independence, we have agreed to a compromise position. And that compromise is less than independence. So what we find in the BBL is that compromise position,” Jajurie said.

Panelists during Wednesday’s

forum were chief government negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, peace panel member Senen Bacani, MILF peace panel member Abdullah Camlian; Jajurie, Abakada and party-list Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz.

Camlian said as a founding member of the MNLF, they thought at that time they should separate the Moro nation from the Republic of the Philippines.

“At that time we were young, we felt that this country could not serve us, and this country could not take care of us,” he said.

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission was organized out of the negotiations in the past, he said.

“The BBL is not solely the product of the MILF but it is a joint undertaking of both of the MILF and [the government]. I cannot understand why the Mamasapano incident is equated with the BBL. There were so many lies. There were not only 44 persons who died in this struggle.

There were thousands of people that died in the struggle,” said Camlian.

Ferrer said after the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro was signed on March 27, 2014, it became crucial to pass the law that would carry it out.

“The most important matter is the legislating of the Bangsamoro

Basic Law. It is the law that would make political institutions be able to govern and see through the process of building peace and development, and bringing to life as well the concept of autonomy as defined in the Constitution,” she said.

Ferrer said it is not only about legislating the BBL, but also about bringing about socio-economic development in the region that has been left behind.

She also said Palawan was not included in the Bangsamoro.

“Palawan is not in the list of the places, or provinces who would participate in the plebiscite. The MILF agreed to a much scaled down geographic area.

That was a major compromise on the part of the MILF,” she said.

Bacani said the BBL was not aimed at taking power away from the national government.

“There is no intent whatsoever in any manner to take away power, duty, function or authority of Commission on Audit (COA), Civil Service, Comelec, Commission on Human Rights and the Ombudsman,” Bacani said in reaction to criticism that the BBL would give the Bangsamoro its own equivalent agencies.

Dela Cruz, on the other hand, said the public needed assurances on what would happen if the current peace talks fail.

Chito Avecilla, a university professor and lawyer, said the BBL as presented to Congress was unconstitutional.

“Even the Transition Commission’s creation is unconstitutional because the President does not have the power to create a public office.

The creation of the Transition Commission is not by legislative fiat, but pure executive discretion. Therefore

the creation from the very beginning is not only unlawful, but unconstituional,” said Avecilla.

“The creation of a territory is unconstitutional. So if part of the country is to be divided into certain areas, it must follow the concept of regions, not territory,” he added.

Ferrer said there were still many issues to discuss whtn the BBL is debated in Congress.

She acknowledged that this would not be easy, since the lawmakers were not in on the negotiations from the start.

“But at the end of the day, we do need a good law. We need a law that could not be interpreted a hundred different ways,” she said.

The MILF’s Camilian also rejected the notion that a rejection or watering down of the BBL would lead to war.

“Regardless of what form the BBL comes, we will always pursue peace,” he said.

Also on Wednesday, the Palace said the comprehensive peace agreement with the MILF remained valid despite the use by its chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal of an alias.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda disputed the opinion of some lawmakers and lawmakers that Iqbal’s use of a pseudonym to sign the document rendered it invalid.

“MILF has already stood by the agreements that Mr. Iqbal has signed specifically, the Framework on the Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the annexes, and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda also maintained that those documents were signed before the public with members of the international community as witnesses.

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More US help vs China sought

By Vito Barcelo

The Philippines will seek “more substantive” support from the United States—including possible high-end air and naval equipment – to address the “critical situation” created by China’s massive reclamation activities in the South China Sea. In a television interview, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said he will bring up China’s actions in the audience he is seeking with US Defense Secretary Ash Carter and US Secretary of State John Kerry two weeks from now.

“We are at this point seeking additional support from the US in terms of being able to take a stronger position in defending our position which is to uphold the rule of law,” Del Rosario said.

“We need to show that the Philippines with the US as treaty allies can manifest a position that can uphold the rule of law,” he added.

President Barack Obama last week accused Beijing of bullying its smaller neighbors who have overlapping territorial claims in the disputed waters.

Del Rosario also said the US plans to send more Navy and Air Force assets to the region, which he intends to clarify with Carter.

“We have not talked about to what extent this would happen, but with those equipment you could surmise there will be US presence,” he said.

“They said in order to strengthen the re-balance they have plans of sending military equipment to the Asia-Pacific and he outlined the equipment that they will send. They are not sending it to us...they are sending it to AsiaPacific to ensure the political and security stability of the region,” the Foreign Affairs chief added.

Del Rosario said the Philippines ran into a “dead end” in attempting to resolve the disputes with China bilaterally.

That time of the year. Quezon City tax payers line up to file their tax returns at the Bureau Of Internal Revenue regional office on Quezon Blvd. on Wednesday. MANNY PALMERO

No mention of Sabah claim in BBL, Ferrer insists

By Sandy Araneta and Macon Ramos-Araneta THERE is no mention of the Philippines’ claim to Sabah in the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), a peace panel member of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) reiterated yesterday.

“No mention of Sabah in BBL therefore nothing is changed. If the concern is Sabah, be assured that nothing in BBL or CAB changes status of our Sabah claim,” said Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chairperson of the government peace panel that drafted the BBL. Ferrer’s statement was made in response to a message sent via Twitter by a reader of The Standard who asked whether or not the BBL and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) will affect the Sabah claim of the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier denied reports that the Philippines offered Sabah to Malaysia for its support on the case against China before an arbitral tribunal.

DFA Spokesperson Charles Jose clarified that the note verbale from the Philippines to Malaysia was part of the two countries’ “friendly bilateral relations” and that Sabah was not included in the issue.

“There’s no way that we are dropping our claim on Sabah,” Jose said, adding that the note verbale only dealt with Manila’s objection to Malaysia and Vietnam’s claim in 2009 to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

But Senator Antonio Trillanes said on Wednesday that the DFA can be guilty of treason if it fails to explain why it offered to give up the country’s claim on Sabah

in exchange for Malaysia’s support against China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

He stressed that this report has very serious implications that could amount to treason and the DFA should explain to the public the government’s foreign policy plans, particularly on issues surrounding the country’s claims on certain territories in the South China Sea and Sabah.

Sultan Esmail Kiram II of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo had expressed alarm over reports that the DFA, in a note verbale handed to representative of the Malaysian Embassy, offered to drop the Sabah claim.

Trillanes, chair of the Senate committee on national security and defense, this is also a sellout.

The senator has filed a resolution calling for a hearing on China’s reclamation and dredging opera-

tions on the disputed Spratly and the alleged downgrading of our claim over Sabah.

“We need to know if our country is prepared for any contingencies.

We would want to be enlightened on the national security and foreign policy plans of this government,” he said.

He noted that the China’s activities in the disputed territories have grave national and regional security implications.

It was reported last February that China has been conducting dredging activities at Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef), a Philippineclaimed area in the Spratlys, which Beijing occupied in the mid-1990s.

He said this was similar to earlier reported land reclamation work in other areas of the Spratlys it occupies.

The DFA has lodged a protest with China concerning the said land reclamation activities.

Power struggle after Kato’s death

By Francisco Tuyay

The Kid relents. Makati Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña shows a document from the

Department of Interior and Local Government ordering him to resume his duties as vice mayor and cease from functioning as acting Makati mayor. DANNY PATA

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THERE is an ongoing power struggle within the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters despite the the extremist group’s announcement that Ismael Abubakar, alias Kumander Bungos, was elected new BIFF leader to replace Ameril Umbra Kato who died Tuesday.

Military sources said the BIFF leadership remained in contention despite the supposed election of Bungos because his main opponent, BIFF vice chairman for military affairs Kagui Karialan, is still very interested in the position.

“Karialan has been posturing as the leader of the BIFF even before the death of Kato,” Cabunoc said, describing Kari-

alan as a 50ish Maranao who is very influential in the BIFF central committee.

In 2013, the source said Kato appointed Mohammad Ali Tambako as acting BIFF leader when Kato was gravely ill, but Karialan prevailed on the central committee to expel Tambako because of the in-fighting.

After leaving the BIFF, Tambako founded another group, Justice for Islamic Movement, which was purportedly planning to stage bombings all over the country.

The military, however, captured Tambako and four of his cohorts while they were on their way to the seaport of General Santos City in March.

Also captured were Datukan Sato Sabiwang, Ali Valley Ludisman, Mesharie Edio Gayak

and Abusahma Badrudin Guaimil alias Hansela Omar.

Tambako is also believed to be among those who killed the 44 Special Action Force members who were out to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.

The new BIFF commander Abubakar, described as a 40is Maguindanaon, is supposedly a former commander of the MILF 105th Base Command and former BIFF’s political affairs chief.

The 105th Base Command was also supposedly involved in the Mamasapano incident.

Meanwhile, a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front said the BIFF has weakened with the death of Kato.

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‘Trillanes not immune from suit’

By Joel E. Zurbano, Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE camp of Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. said Wednesday Senator Antonio Trillanes IV cannot invoke parliamentary immunity as a defense in the libel case they filed before the Makati City Prosecutors Office.

Lawyer Claro Certeza, Binay’s legal counsel, said the senator made his baseless and malicious bribery allegations against the mayor and members of the Court of Appeals 6th Division in media interviews and outside Congress.

“Mr. Trillanes cannot cower behind the doctrine of parliamentary immunity. His malicious and scurrilous accusations regarding the fictitious bribery charges against Mayor Binay were made in public, outside the halls of the Senate,” he said.

Certeza also said Trillanes was not speaking during a Senate proceeding when he made the libelous statements.

“Moreover, it was not made in relation to the discharge of his functions as a Senator. It is apparent that his motivation is to besmirch the reputation of the Binay family and destroy the integrity of the judiciary.

He has consistently shown his utter disregard of the rule of law in order to further his selfish ambition.

Thus, he must be held accountable,” he added.

“For example, if I say Trillanes is a human trafficker and land grabber, but do not give any evidence and just tell him to prove otherwise, should that be accepted? It should not be but that has been the style of Trillanes. He accuses without evidence and then insists that the accused prove his innocence,” Certeza said.

At the same time, Certeza said they would welcome a Supreme Court investigation of Trillanes’ charges, as this would show there was no basis for the senator’s accusation.

Certeza also said they would also welcome the plan of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to conduct its own probe after Trillanes also accused lawyer Pancho Villaraza of facilitating the alleged bribery.

In an interview aired April 7 over several radio and TV programs and directly quoted in newspapers, Trillanes claimed that the mayor bribed members of the 6th Division of the Court of Appeals with millions of pesos in exchange for favorable action on his petition for a temporary restraining order to stop his preventive suspension.

In the news reports, Trillanes was also quoted as saying that the mayor and his family were “part of a syndicate” that has committed various crimes.

In his complaint-affidavit, Binay denounced the statements of Trillanes, saying these were apparently prompted by ill will and the intent to injure his reputation as well as that of his family.

“They were clearly made with no good intention or justifiable motive,” he said, noting that the senator himself admitted to reporters that he had no factual basis for his pronouncements.

Trillanes on Monday asked the Senate to investigate his allegations that Appeals Court Justices Jose Reyes Jr. and Francisco Acosta took bribes of P25 million each to stop the Ombudsman from carrying out its suspension of Binay over corruption charges.

Trillanes said the Senate committee on justice and human rights led by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III should investigate the matter.

Reyes and Acosta denied the accusation and asked that they be spared from political controversies that would jeopardize their judicial independence.

Certeza questioned Trillanes’ proposal for a Senate investigation.

“The judiciary is an independent body. The judiciary cannot be investigated by another institution,” he said.

Trillanes said he was ready to prove the P50 million payoff and two expose two new anomalies “as big as Hacienda Binay.”

He again refused to name the his two informants, saying only that they were “people who lived in that world.”

Trillanes repeated his goal was to jail Vice President Jejomar Binay, the frontrunner in opinion polls for the 2016 elections.

“I want him in jail. Not only for his ratings to go

down,” he said.

No IRA hike. President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with the officers and members of the League of Municipalities of

the Philippines, led by Javier, Leyte Mayor Leonardo Javier Jr. before he rejected the LMP’s appeal that the government increase the Internal Revenue Allotments of local government units. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

Aquino: More to friends, less to enemies

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan PReSIDeNT Benigno Aquino III admitted to the country’s town mayors on Wednesday that he is wary of giving funds to those who cause him many problems, but will be easy in giving more funds to those who help him.

“Maybe what I can commit to you is that those who show their best will not find it hard to get funds. But we are wary of giving additional funds to those who cause us many problems. That is up to you,” Aquino told town mayors at the national convention of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.

Aquino made the remark as he rejected the LMP’s plea that he certify as urgent the “Bigger Pie, Bigger Slice” bill, authored by Senator Koko Pimentel that will increase the Internal Revenue Allotments of local government units.

“It is right that we, as local chief executives, be empowered and given utmost trust and relevant support from national government,” said League of Municipalities of the Philippines national president and Javier, Leyte Mayor Leonardo Javier Jr. “Therefore, to effect real all inclusive

growth, Mr. President, may we respectfully request and we humbly beseech you, even if I have to kneel in front of you, to please certify as urgent, the ‘Bigger Pie, Bigger Slice’ bill now pending in both houses of Congress,” Javier said.

But Aquino said he is not keen in certifying the pending “Bigger Pie, Bigger Slice” bill as urgent explaining because the government has to allocate public funds to more important projects.

“In the end, even if I want to say yes, [even if] we increase or expand the slice of a pie [or] allocate the whole budget, it’s still not enough,” Aquino said, adding that the IRA of LGUs has already been increased from P265.8-billion in 2010 to P389.86 billion in 2015.

“Before you said could say increase the slice, it looks like you already have a bigger slice even before we have sliced the pie,” Aquino said in Filipino.

Aquino said the administration’s Tuwid na Daan (Straight Path) policy strengthened both the national government agencies and the local governments without relying on doles but on helping people provide for themselves.

Aquino spoke at the LMP convention a day after he said in an interview with Agence France Presse that he is a still a force to be reckoned and not a lame-duck president.

“The viciousness of the attacks (against me) is proof positive that I’m still a force to be reckoned with and that I’m not a lame duck,” Aquino said, adding that he would endorse a successor in June.

So contrary to the expectations of the LMP members, Aquino did not endorse Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II as the Liberal Party’s standard bearer despite the praise that LMP heaped praise on the interior secretary.

The LMP president praised Roxas for addressing the needs of local government units, such as police cars for towns and facilitating disaster preparedness and response, while the LMP quarterly magazine that was distributed to all attendees had an article endorsing Roxas as the LP standard bearer.

Roxas, who was also present during the affair, later told reporters he still does not have any definite plan for the 2016 elections and remained focused as a “soldier of the Straight Path” by following the order of Aquino.

Abi Binay seeks apology for accusations

By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta HOUSe Deputy Majority Leader Mar-Len Abigail Binay on Wednesday demanded that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV apologize to the Court of Appeals for his “nasty and irresponsible accusation” that justices received payoffs to keep her brother, Makati City Mayor erwin Jejomar Binay Jr., from being suspended.

“Senator Trillanes clearly risks facing contempt charges. Since he has already confessed that he has no evidence to support his reckless allegation, other than purported ‘raw intelligence reports’, or hearsay, then the right thing for him to do is promptly say sorry to the court,” said Binay.

“Better yet, the senator should resign his seat. Frankly, he is a big embarrassment to

the Senate,” she said.

“We all have to exercise self-restraint before accusing members of the judiciary of any wrongdoing. Otherwise, we risk unnecessarily harming the institution,” said Binay, whose father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, has become the target of a long-drawn-out Senate inquiry into the alleged overpricing of Makati City Hall Building II. “The problem with Senator Trillanes is that he wantonly resorts to wild guesswork first, then tries to gather evidence to support his claim. Too bad if he fails to present any proof,” she said.

“Senator Trillanes has thrown all standards of objectivity and fairness out the window in his bid to destroy the Vice President and everybody else that gets in his (Trillanes’) way,” she added.

When Pulse Asia Inc. recently reported

that the Vice President’s ratings improved despite the political mudslinging in the Senate inquiry, Binay said Trillanes was also quick to accuse the survey firm of taking bribes.

He did the same when the Court of Appeals 6th Division issued a preliminary injunction to stop the Ombudsman from suspending Mayor Binay.

Rep. Binay also cited Trillanes’ political motives in attacking the Binays.

“Senator Trillanes has been desperately trying to sell himself to voters and more importantly, to Roxas,” she said, referring to the presumptive presidential bet of the ruling Liberal Party, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II. “This is why the senator has been leading the charge against the Vice President, who remains the biggest obstruction to Roxas’ own aspiration to become president.”

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11 agencies joining QC in a bid to cut business process AT least 11 national government agencies have partnered with the Quezon City government to improve the process of doing business in the country from the current 16 steps and 34 days to six steps and eight days.

Mayor Herbert Bautista signed the agreement representing the benchmark city for “Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines” with the departments of Finance, Trade, and Interior and Local Government as well as the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines and the National Competitiveness Council.

The partnership has cemented the commitment to carry out reforms undertaken by the government institutions through the NCC’s Gameplan 3.0 that would synergize government processes related to the ease of doing business, Bautista said.

This includes streamlining and simplifying the processes across 10 transactions related to “Ease of Doing Business,” which is gauged and monitored annually by the World Bank and the International Finance Corp.

The package of reforms to start a business included merging several steps to create single-window applications across the information technology systems of different agencies, removal of several outdated procedures and introduction of enhanced one-stop-shop procedures.

No brownouts? Crewmen of Meralco work on a secondary transmission line in Manila on April 15, 2015. Power officials say they don’t expect any brownouts until the end of the month despite the maintenance shutdown of several power plants in Luzon . AFP

Moves to block K-12 gaining steam at SC

By Rey E. Requejo

Another group has asked the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the government’s K-12 education program for being unconstitutional and “anti-Filipino.”

In a petition, a group of professors from universities, student leaders and party-list lawmakers Antonio Tinio, Fernando “Ka Pando” Hicap and Terry Ridon sought the issuance of a temporary restraining order against the program that would entail a new curriculum for colleges and universities.

They said the new college curriculum, which abolishes mandatory subjects in the current curriculum such as Filipino language, Literature, and Philippine Government and Constitution, to be implemented by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through Memorandum order (CMo) No. 20

-2013 is “anti-Filipino.”

The petitioners stressed that the new policy violates the constitution as it “disregards the pro-national language spirit of the framers of the Constitution, the emphasis on nationalism and cultural awareness as core values of Philippine education and the pro-labor provisions that gives workers.”

They also lamented the failure of the CHED to conduct public consultation before they issued the order.

Besides, they said, the policy violates the Education Act of 1982 because it does not comply with the law’s provision on a nationalistoriented general education

curriculum in college, as it abolishes subjects that are vital in promoting national identity, indigenous culture, and responsible citizenship – including the subjects Filipino Language, Literature, and Philippine Government and Constitution.

Last month, the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and universities of the Philippines filed a similar petition questioning the legality of the K-12 program under Republic Act 10533 and its implementing rules and regulations.

Petitioners claimed that RA 10533 violates the rights of education workers to full protection of labor, promotion of full employment and equality of employment opportunities, which are all mandated under Article XIII, Section 3 of the Constitution.

The groups told the high tribunal that more than 70,000 college teachers and non-teaching personnel stand to lose their jobs as a result of the full implementation of

the program in 2016.

Because of this, they told the high court there would be a lag of two years in enrolment at the tertiary level by 2016 as additional two years of senior high school.

Apart from the law and its IRR, they also questioned before the SC the joint guidelines dated May 30, 2014, Department of Education (DepEd) Memo No. 2 Series of 2015 dated January 2015 and House Bill No. 5493 filed on February 23, 2015.

Petitioners alleged that the orders had no basis under the K-12 Law when they provided for compensation (upon transfer to senior high school) and retrenchment of workers.

They further argued that the issuances are contrary to law and jurisprudence as education workers are forced to suffer such forms of unjust labor practices.

The SC has already ordered the DepEd and CHED to answer the first petition in a resolution dated March 24.

File charges ASAP, DOJ told Protest dance.

Labor-union members dramatize their demand for respect for the rights of workers during an event held in front of a fast-food chain in Quezon City.

MANNY PALMERO

By Maricel V. Cruz HouSE Independent Bloc leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has urged Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to file criminal charges against killers of the 44 members of the Special Action Force as soon as possible and without fanfare.

“Justice must be served with dispatch and it would not look good if this would dragged (filing of charges) for so long,” Romualdez said in the light of de Lima’s announcement last week that government would start filing criminal raps versus SAF killers today.

Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa), explained that the filing of formal charges is needed to help convince lawmakers into deliberating the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in Congress.

“The filing of charges will be the first step to attain justice and would help convince lawmakers to continue deliberating the

BBL. We are all for peace, but we should ensure that justice is served and whatever we passed here is constitutional and legal,” Romualdez explained, referring to the peace pact between the MILF and the government signed in March 2014.

Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz of Abakada party list, a member of Romualdez’s the Bloc, said justice should be served to the ‘Fallen 44’ and their kin.

“Government must do its best to serve justice to the SAF 44 who were killed during an encounter with the Moro rebels last January 25,” de la Cruz said.

In a related development, Cagayan de oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the 75-man House ad hoc committee on the BBL, said Congress is expecting de Lima to charge the Moro Islamic Liberation Front involved in the killing of 44 SAF members with multiple murder and violations of the International Humanitarian law.

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A6 IN BRIEF Reward up for info on Magsino killers SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto is giving a P100,000 ‘seed capital’ to start a cash reward campaign for the informant who can lead authorities to the killers of former newspaper correspondent Melinda Magsino.

“I am donating P100,000 to a reward pool, which I urge the government to create, for any information that will lead to the arrest of Mei’s murderers,” Recto said on Wednesday.

While urging law enforcers to bring her killers to justice immediately, Recto called on the government to end the impunity by which journalists are killed.

He pointed out that another unsolved murder involving a member of the media emboldens the killing of more.

He said those behind the murder should be held accountable and punished.

“This should not be in the line of cases of journalists who were killed for exposing the truth, but were not given justice,” said Recto.

As a member of the press, he said, Magsino practiced her craft with guts and grit, her prose and insight as sharp as balisong, which she used to peel the falsehoods which hid the truth, and prick the conscience of the people and the ego of the powerful. Macon Araneta

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Peña claims Makati ‘mission accomplished’

By Joel E. Zurbano

MAKATI City Vice Mayor Romulo Peña Jr. will now go back to his post following a monthlong legal battle for control of the city against the incumbent Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay.

Peña said he would step down after the Office of the Ombudsman through the Department of Interior and Local Government directed him on Tuesday to resume his duties as vice of mayor.

Peña added he already notified Binay and members of the city council that he was going back to his post as vice mayor and as city council’s presiding officer.

“Sa isang banda, mission

accomplished po ako,” he said.

Peña’s announcement came after the warning made by city councilors that he might face sanctions over his absences from the meetings of the Makati City council.

Makati Councilor Alethea Casal-Uy said earlier the council would soon decide if it would push through with the probe of Peña’s absences

in accordance with the rules as well as the Local Government Code.

She said the rules say that if a member of the council has incurred at least four absences, he or she may be fined, suspended or even removed from office.

Peña returned unsigned two checks to the Treasury Department, one amounting to P927,545.20 for the salaries and allowances of councilors and staff, and the other for P144,500 in allowances for councilors.

He also refused to sign the payroll for the salaries of officials and personnel covering April 1 to April 15, which amounts to P620,410.90.

In a press briefing on

Wednesday, Peña assured the councilors he would immediately sign all pending documents relative to his work as council’s presiding officer, including the payroll of the employees.

Peña took over as acting mayor of Makati on March 16 after the DILG served the six-month preventive suspension order issued by the Ombudsman on March 10 against Binay in connection with its probe on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II. But the camp of Binay was able to secure a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals, also on March 16, preventing the Ombudsman and the DILG

from carrying out the suspension order against the mayor.

The leadership dispute created confusion among city residents an businessmen, while disrupting the delivery of services as department heads and members of the city council refused to honor the memos signed and issued by Peña.

The standoff also resulted in the delay of the release of salaries of city councilors and their staff as the vice mayor refused to sign payrolls and checks for the salaries of Sanggunian Panglungsod employees and councilors for the months of March and April, insisting that as acting mayor, it was no longer part of his duties.

Freeze order on airport execs comes into effect THE Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday issued a six-month suspension order on erstwhile officials of the Mactan, Cebu International Airport Authority for illegal grant of severance pay to a board member in 2010.

In a 15-page decision, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales found Danilo Augusto Francia and Ma. Lourdes Varga-Dedal guilty of simple misconduct for granting ex-regional director Patria Aurora Road of the Tourism department a severance pay of P500,000 in April five years ago.

“Despite the clear prohibition under the Department of Budget and Management circular, they still granted severance pay to Roa in obvious defiance [of] the DBM rules and regulation which they ought to consider in their decisionmaking as clearly instructed by their own charter,” the resolution read.

“It was discovered that the disbursement voucher covering the grant was signed by Francia alone and without supporting documents in their obvious haste to grant Roa an undue benefit.”

According to Morales, a notice of disallowance was issued by the Commission on Audit. Rio N. Araja

Shortly after announcing that he will go back to his post as vice mayor of Makati, Romulo ‘Kit” Peña (right) joins his staff in a boodle fight on Wednesday. DANNY PATA

Napoles bucks transfer to Mandaluyong facility

By Rio N. Araja JANET Lim Napoles, after her conviction for serious illegal detention before a Makati City court, now wants the Sandiganbayan to block her transfer from her detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City to the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

Her lawyer, Stephen David in a verbal motion urged the anti-graft court’s Third Division to

allow her to stay in Taguig despite a commitment order issued by Makati’s Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda.

David said Napoles will soon file a motion to stop her transfer to Mandaluyong.

Citing the Rules of Court, he said that once Napoles is transferred to the Correctional Institution for Women, all Sandiganbayan proceedings should be done inside the facility as far as Napoles’ case is concerned.

He said it would be “inconvenient for both the prosecution and the defense to hold hearings” in Mandaluyong.

On Tuesday, Alameda sentenced Napoles to a 40-year imprisonment for serious illegal detention of her cousin Benhur Luy, who turned state witness in the alleged pork barrel scam of which she is the prime suspect.

Napoles was also charged with plunder for the pork barrel scam along with several lawmakers.

For nine-year-old boy, cost of burial is P1,000 For the rich, P1,000 is just peanuts. For the poor, it is a huge amount as in the case of a 9-year old boy who was forced to solicit money from pedestrians along Congressional Avenue in Project 6, Quezon City so that his six-month-old brother, who died in a freak accident would have a decent burial.

The author chanced upon nine-year old Uric dela Cruz, together with a friend, Heide Era Mata Rabano, 11, asking passengers to chip in coins to raise P1,000 so he could help defray the burial expenses of his younger brother, Prince Angelo delaz Cruz, 6-month old who died after falling into a creek along Mindanao Avenue last March 30.

In a chance interview, dela Cruz said his parents are so poor that they do not have P1,000 to pay the funeral parlor so his brother could be buried.

“My parents don’t have that amount,” Juric said in Tagalog.

“We live in a make-shift shelter under the bridge along Mindanao Avenue in Project 6, Quezon City.

Hounding the family’s predicament is that Juric’s father, Ricky is languishing in jail in Lingayen, Pangasinan for a crime he (Juric) could not say what.

Recalling how the fatal accident happened, Juric said that his mother went out from their make-shift shelter for a while as his 6-month old younger brother was asleep.

“But when my mother came back the baby was gone, my brother fell over to a creek down below,” a tearful Juric said.

“My mother was shouting for help as she hurriedly went down toward the creek but my younger brother was already dead,” he added.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Juric was able to raise about P200—P800 short of his P1,000 target. Ben Cal

T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Pangasinan board probes forest fires

By Johanne Margarette R. Macob

You wash, I bathe. A woman and her polio-afflicted husband take advantage of a leaking fire hydrant on Benedicto Street in Cebu. RALPH PIEZAS

Ifugao LGU uses sharing scheme to save terraces

By Dexter A. See

THE local government of Banaue has devised its own system to arrest the deterioration of the Ifugao rice terraces here.

Under “chawa”—a local term for sharing—the local government shoulders the rehabilitation of the damaged terraces before they are returned to the owner for tilling.

Inadequate water supply and the deterioration of man-made structures threaten the scenic character of the world-famous terraces, Mayor Jerry Dalipog said.

He added that out of the 1,607 hectares of rice terraces in the town, 332 hectares have been considered damaged after their owners abandoned them for urban centers and other places with better prospects.

Dalipog said that the municipal government has been allocating P1 million from its 20-percent local development plan for this project.

He added that the palay they are receiving as payments from the tillers of the rice terraces are subsequently milled, to be sold or served to visitors.

To repay the investment of the local government, the owners have to give 50 percent of their harvest to the town every cropping season until the LGU is fully compensated the rehabilitation cost.

The mayor added, however, that they need “financial and technical assistance from concerned government agencies to sustain our efforts to preserve and protect the increasing areas of the deteriorating rice terraces.”

The man-made rice terraces were carved by the Ifugaos along the mountain slopes over 2,000 years ago and are often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world.

The mayor said it is important for concerned agencies and the local government to harmonize their rice terraces preservation and protection program to prevent the deterioration of this national treasure.

“We have to sustain the influx of visitors even with the emergence of new places of destination because tourism is the major driver of our economy throughout the years and even in the coming generations,” Mayor Dalipgo added.

LINGAYEN—The provincial board of Pangasinan has started its probe on forest fires here after a fire that lasted at least 16 hours engulfed a forest in Natividad town.

According to Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr., the board has decided to invite the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and the local disaster and risk reduction and management council in their next session.

“We hope we can draft a plan to avoid recurrence of the fires particularly because of the dry season,” Bince said.

At four P.M. on Black Saturday, a forest fire which began at the foot of the Caraballo mountains razed Natividad town.

Nobody was hurt and no structure aside from the electrical wiring around the pilgrimage site in Barangay Batchelor East was damaged.

The pilgrimage site houses the Sky Plaza Park and the 12.19-meter statue of Christ the Redeemer, called “Ayat ni Apo Jesus” (God’s Love), atop the mountain.

Bince said their probe on the matter will guide them whether to employ more forest guards or allocate additional funding for fire-fighting equipment.

PENRO head Leduina Co appealed for cooperation among village-folks, citing there are only 15 forest guards in the 146,000 hectares of timberland in the province.

She said the forest fire in Natividad was only one of the many in Pangasinan this summer.

Fisheries bureau raises red tide alert in Davao

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources yesterday raised the red tide alert in the coastal waters of Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental.

BFAR in its recent shellfish bulletin said that the coastal waters of Bolinao and Anda in Pangasinan are also still positive for red tide toxin.

“All types of shellfish and alamang from these areas are not safe for human consumption,” said BFAR Director Asis Perez. “ Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for consumption provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and the internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before

cooking,” he said.

Perez said areas free from red tide include the coastal waters of Bataan, Cavite, Las Pinas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan, and Masincloc Bay in Zambales, Alaminos, Sual Wawa, Bani in Pangasinan, Masinloc Bay in Zambales, Mandaon in Masbate, Juag Lagoon in Matnog and Sorsogon Bay in Sorsogon, Honda and Puerto Bays in Puerto Princesa City and Inner Malampaya Sound in Taytay Palawan.

Other areas include coastal waters of Capiz, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Calbayog City in Samar, Leyte, Biliran Province,Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Surigao del Sur, and Camiguin Island.

Veteran bridge. This foot bridge in Barangay Minohang Barugo, Leyte near Carigara Bay dates back to 1944. MEL CASPE

T h u R s D Ay : A P R I L 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA editor

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

view from malcom atty. harry roque jr.

The US and The SpraTlyS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Standard converSationS tHe first standard talks forum was held Wednesday, with resource persons discussing the pros and cons of the Bangsamoro Basic law. the bill is up for deliberation in both Houses of Congress, and its legislative journey has not been smooth. early on, it had been assailed by numerous sectors as violative of the provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

And then, 44 policemen died in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January as they pursued terrorists who, it turned out, had been harbored by the Moro islamic liberation Front in their “territory.” the events of January 25 and its aftermath have, rightly or wrongly, highlighted the people’s reservations about the proposed law and magnified concerns about its unconstitutionality.

One of the panel members said discussions on the proposed law cannot be anything but legalistic, because it is in the details of the provisions. He listed several questionable provisions that show why the BBl simply cannot be passed in its current form.

Members of the peace panel of both the Philippine government and the MilF appealed to the media to be fair in their reporting of the peace negotiations and the deliberations on the law. it has, after all, several “gamechanging features”. they conceded as much: that the BBl is not a perfect document and as such, its imperfections could still be improved.

Where, then, does the President’s pronouncement – threat, really – that we have to pass the law as is, or else we will soon be counting body bags? in the end, the exchange had to be cut short due to time constraints even as comments and questions from the panelists and the live and online audience were only beginning to come in.

Certainly, more conversations like this are needed in various formats and involving various audiences as more questions are raised and previously-secret arrangements are unearthed. We also want to know more about the game-changing features that the negotiators described. there is no doubt that the fate of Mindanao’s people will remain in conversations for a long time. After all, Mindanao is the second-biggest island in the country, is home to Muslims, Christians and many other groups, and is resource rich. Unfortunately, it has long been plagued with strife, stunted development. the stakes are high and the alternative is unthinkable. so yes, bring the conversations on.

A fool And money lowdown jojo a. robleS WOUld you buy stocks from this man? i didn’t think so.

President noynoy Aquino rang the bell at the Philippine stock exchange floor on tuesday. Then he predicted that the market, which had breached 8,000 points, would hit 10,000 before the end of his term.

The market reacted swiftly. The Phisix, the 30

index stocks that are used as a bellwether of the direction of trading, fell 192.09 points yesterday, closing at 7,864.40.

The business columnist Ben Kritz calls this the Aquino effect, referring to the way the stock market retreats whenever the President tries to use the bourse’s gains to trumpet the supposed economic gains of his administration. i prefer to call it plain and simple ignorance combined with a desire to seize anything that can be used as propaganda – even the most ephemeral

and transitory of things that are largely uninfluenced by government – like the long bull run of the stock exchange. i’m told that the presidential visit to the stock market was a propaganda spectacle written, produced and directed entirely by the media geniuses in Malacanang Palace. someone noted that the market was steadily gaining and decided that Aquino might as well grab some credit for yet another phenomenon that he did absolutely nothing to bring about.

A9

if aquino is thinking about a second career as a stock broker, he’d be in real trouble.

And so the palace rounded up the usual suspects from big business to accompany Aquino in his bid to gain some pogi points at the bourse, to witness the Presi-

dent say he was really the brains of the run. Hey, he was even allowed to tinkle the bell in front of the giant ticker, which he happily did.

But if he really had any brains (or “investing sophistication,” as the market analysts say), Aquino should never have predicted that the market would hit 10,000 by the time he left Malacanang next year, like he was some chain-smoking Warren Buffett. And he should have known that he may be misunderstood as talking up the market, inviting people even less sophisticated than him financially to plunk down money in a market overdue for correction, thus throwing away their hard-

earned cash. not that i really sympathize with those people who will decide to buy stocks simply because the President said the market was going to keep improving. in my opinion, these people probably deserve to lose their money in the market because they are just as gullible as those people who throw their money at the purveyors of multilevel marketing programs and other such questionable “get rich without really working” schemes.

Standard TODAY Manila

But they definitely don’t need their President to urge them to throw their cash away. And that is exactly what Aquino asked them to do, because he had such a desperate need to claim credit for anything good that happens. if Aquino is thinking about a second career as a stock broker, perhaps for an outfit called daang Matuwid securities, he’d be in real trouble. i think he’d lose his shirt – and whatever money he talks his clients into investing – on the very

527-2057 (Credit and Collection). Fax numbers: 521-8340 (Advertising) 5275550. P.O. Box 2933, Manilaand Central 6406 P.O. Box 2933, Manila Post(Subscription).

Office, Manila.

Website: www.

Central Post Office, Manila.

Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: mst@ contact@thestandard.com.ph PublishedMonday MondaytotoSunday Sundaybyby Philippine manilastandardtoday.com Published Kamahalan ndInc. at 6/F Manila Standard Publishing Publishing Corporation at 2 Floor PJI canbe beaccessed accessedat: at: Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo Roxas, can Building, Railroad corner 20th de Streets, www.manilastandardtoday.com ONLINE www.manilastandardtoday.com corner PereaManila.

St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. ONLINE Port Area, Telephone numbers MEMBER Telephone(connecting numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, MEMBER 521-8507 all departments), Philippine Press Institute 832-5558521-5581, (connecting all departments), (Editorial), (Editorial Fax) 521-7381 Philippine Press Institute The National Association (Advertising), 521-8507(Advertising), (MIS) 521-5591 (Editorial), 832-5546, 832The National Association of Philippine Newspapers of Philippine Newspapers (Sales and Distribution/Subscription) and

MST MST

PPI PPI

first day he opens for business. *** That the current stock prices are unsustainable and the market is due for a much-needed correction has long been predicted by the most reliable of stock analysts, who don’t need the President to do their trading for them, thank you very much. in fact, the business news service Bloomberg is already sounding alarm bells about the crazy price to earnings ratios

Continued on A10

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Jocelyn F. Domingo Ron Ryan S. Buguis

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer

Ma. Editha D. Angeles Advertising Manager Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

President Barack Obama’s latest declaration that China is bullying smaller countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam, on the West Philippines sea issue is the strongest American expression of concern over China’s expansionist conduct in the disputed area. While Philippine and Vietnamese authorities are euphoric with Obama’s latest statement, it still has to be seen if the Us is able and ready to counter Chinese imperialism in the West Philippine sea.

The Us policy now appears to be more cautious in dealing with China on this issue. But unlike its unequivocal policy that it will come to the assistance of Japan if China were to attack senkaku island, America’s current policy of taking a neutral position on the unresolved territorial disputes in the area appears unchanged.

The Us position is because its national policy and interest in the West Philippine sea remains unchanged. since it “purchased” the Philippine Archipelago in 1899 from spain, it has maintained that the metes and bounds of the treaty of Paris refer only to land territories. This of course is inaccurate given that what was allegedly ceded by spain to it was an archipelago, or a unity of land and water forming a united whole. Obviously, the treaty of Paris is a treaty of cession over both land and water territory. in any case, the Us has never advanced a claim either to any island or waters in the disputed spratlys group of islands. in fact, in 1933, when France publicly laid a claim to the disputed area, only Japan, China, and even the United Kingdom issued formal protests, the latter on the ground that the islands were discovered by a British national and hence, its english name. This means that the Us, since the inception of the controversy, has only been concerned about the freedom of navigation in the area, which today, is the second busiest sea-lane in the world. Almost all of the oil supply of China, Japan and the Us coming from the Middle east passes through the area from the Gulf of Aden. This is why the latest expression of concern emanating from Obama should only be read in the context of the Us national interest in the region, that is, to maintain freedom of navigation in the disputed and dangerous waters of the West Philippine sea. related to the Obama expression of concern is the report by veteran journalists from Vera Files that through a note verbale, the Aquino administration has offered to drop the Philippines claim to sabah in exchange for Malaysia’s support for the Philippines in its on-going spat with China on the West Philippines sea. to begin with, such a policy is wrong.

This is because whether or not Malaysia wants to stand up to China, it simply has Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Jojo A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Jojo A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors P. Palacios News Editor FrancisJoel Lagniton News Editor Francis Lagniton Editor Joyce Pangco Pañares CityCity Editor Arman Armero Senior Deskman Adelle Chua Senior Deskman Leo A. Estonilo Senior Deskman Romel J. Mendez Art Director Romel J. Mendez ArtPhotographer Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

T h u R s D Ay : A P R I L 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

A8

opinion

ADELLE chuA editor

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

opinion

view from malcom atty. harry roque jr.

The US and The SpraTlyS

[ EDI TORI A L ]

Standard converSationS tHe first standard talks forum was held Wednesday, with resource persons discussing the pros and cons of the Bangsamoro Basic law. the bill is up for deliberation in both Houses of Congress, and its legislative journey has not been smooth. early on, it had been assailed by numerous sectors as violative of the provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

And then, 44 policemen died in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January as they pursued terrorists who, it turned out, had been harbored by the Moro islamic liberation Front in their “territory.” the events of January 25 and its aftermath have, rightly or wrongly, highlighted the people’s reservations about the proposed law and magnified concerns about its unconstitutionality.

One of the panel members said discussions on the proposed law cannot be anything but legalistic, because it is in the details of the provisions. He listed several questionable provisions that show why the BBl simply cannot be passed in its current form.

Members of the peace panel of both the Philippine government and the MilF appealed to the media to be fair in their reporting of the peace negotiations and the deliberations on the law. it has, after all, several “gamechanging features”. they conceded as much: that the BBl is not a perfect document and as such, its imperfections could still be improved.

Where, then, does the President’s pronouncement – threat, really – that we have to pass the law as is, or else we will soon be counting body bags? in the end, the exchange had to be cut short due to time constraints even as comments and questions from the panelists and the live and online audience were only beginning to come in.

Certainly, more conversations like this are needed in various formats and involving various audiences as more questions are raised and previously-secret arrangements are unearthed. We also want to know more about the game-changing features that the negotiators described. there is no doubt that the fate of Mindanao’s people will remain in conversations for a long time. After all, Mindanao is the second-biggest island in the country, is home to Muslims, Christians and many other groups, and is resource rich. Unfortunately, it has long been plagued with strife, stunted development. the stakes are high and the alternative is unthinkable. so yes, bring the conversations on.

A fool And money lowdown jojo a. robleS WOUld you buy stocks from this man? i didn’t think so.

President noynoy Aquino rang the bell at the Philippine stock exchange floor on tuesday. Then he predicted that the market, which had breached 8,000 points, would hit 10,000 before the end of his term.

The market reacted swiftly. The Phisix, the 30

index stocks that are used as a bellwether of the direction of trading, fell 192.09 points yesterday, closing at 7,864.40.

The business columnist Ben Kritz calls this the Aquino effect, referring to the way the stock market retreats whenever the President tries to use the bourse’s gains to trumpet the supposed economic gains of his administration. i prefer to call it plain and simple ignorance combined with a desire to seize anything that can be used as propaganda – even the most ephemeral

and transitory of things that are largely uninfluenced by government – like the long bull run of the stock exchange. i’m told that the presidential visit to the stock market was a propaganda spectacle written, produced and directed entirely by the media geniuses in Malacanang Palace. someone noted that the market was steadily gaining and decided that Aquino might as well grab some credit for yet another phenomenon that he did absolutely nothing to bring about.

A9

if aquino is thinking about a second career as a stock broker, he’d be in real trouble.

And so the palace rounded up the usual suspects from big business to accompany Aquino in his bid to gain some pogi points at the bourse, to witness the Presi-

dent say he was really the brains of the run. Hey, he was even allowed to tinkle the bell in front of the giant ticker, which he happily did.

But if he really had any brains (or “investing sophistication,” as the market analysts say), Aquino should never have predicted that the market would hit 10,000 by the time he left Malacanang next year, like he was some chain-smoking Warren Buffett. And he should have known that he may be misunderstood as talking up the market, inviting people even less sophisticated than him financially to plunk down money in a market overdue for correction, thus throwing away their hard-

earned cash. not that i really sympathize with those people who will decide to buy stocks simply because the President said the market was going to keep improving. in my opinion, these people probably deserve to lose their money in the market because they are just as gullible as those people who throw their money at the purveyors of multilevel marketing programs and other such questionable “get rich without really working” schemes.

Standard TODAY Manila

But they definitely don’t need their President to urge them to throw their cash away. And that is exactly what Aquino asked them to do, because he had such a desperate need to claim credit for anything good that happens. if Aquino is thinking about a second career as a stock broker, perhaps for an outfit called daang Matuwid securities, he’d be in real trouble. i think he’d lose his shirt – and whatever money he talks his clients into investing – on the very

527-2057 (Credit and Collection). Fax numbers: 521-8340 (Advertising) 5275550. P.O. Box 2933, Manilaand Central 6406 P.O. Box 2933, Manila Post(Subscription).

Office, Manila.

Website: www.

Central Post Office, Manila.

Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: mst@ contact@thestandard.com.ph PublishedMonday MondaytotoSunday Sundaybyby Philippine manilastandardtoday.com Published Kamahalan ndInc. at 6/F Manila Standard Publishing Publishing Corporation at 2 Floor PJI canbe beaccessed accessedat: at: Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo Roxas, can Building, Railroad corner 20th de Streets, www.manilastandardtoday.com ONLINE www.manilastandardtoday.com corner PereaManila.

St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. ONLINE Port Area, Telephone numbers MEMBER Telephone(connecting numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, MEMBER 521-8507 all departments), Philippine Press Institute 832-5558521-5581, (connecting all departments), (Editorial), (Editorial Fax) 521-7381 Philippine Press Institute The National Association (Advertising), 521-8507(Advertising), (MIS) 521-5591 (Editorial), 832-5546, 832The National Association of Philippine Newspapers of Philippine Newspapers (Sales and Distribution/Subscription) and

MST MST

PPI PPI

first day he opens for business. *** That the current stock prices are unsustainable and the market is due for a much-needed correction has long been predicted by the most reliable of stock analysts, who don’t need the President to do their trading for them, thank you very much. in fact, the business news service Bloomberg is already sounding alarm bells about the crazy price to earnings ratios

Continued on A10

MST Management, Inc. Philip G. Romualdez Arnold C. Liong Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno Jocelyn F. Domingo Ron Ryan S. Buguis

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer

Ma. Editha D. Angeles Advertising Manager Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

President Barack Obama’s latest declaration that China is bullying smaller countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam, on the West Philippines sea issue is the strongest American expression of concern over China’s expansionist conduct in the disputed area. While Philippine and Vietnamese authorities are euphoric with Obama’s latest statement, it still has to be seen if the Us is able and ready to counter Chinese imperialism in the West Philippine sea.

The Us policy now appears to be more cautious in dealing with China on this issue. But unlike its unequivocal policy that it will come to the assistance of Japan if China were to attack senkaku island, America’s current policy of taking a neutral position on the unresolved territorial disputes in the area appears unchanged.

The Us position is because its national policy and interest in the West Philippine sea remains unchanged. since it “purchased” the Philippine Archipelago in 1899 from spain, it has maintained that the metes and bounds of the treaty of Paris refer only to land territories. This of course is inaccurate given that what was allegedly ceded by spain to it was an archipelago, or a unity of land and water forming a united whole. Obviously, the treaty of Paris is a treaty of cession over both land and water territory. in any case, the Us has never advanced a claim either to any island or waters in the disputed spratlys group of islands. in fact, in 1933, when France publicly laid a claim to the disputed area, only Japan, China, and even the United Kingdom issued formal protests, the latter on the ground that the islands were discovered by a British national and hence, its english name. This means that the Us, since the inception of the controversy, has only been concerned about the freedom of navigation in the area, which today, is the second busiest sea-lane in the world. Almost all of the oil supply of China, Japan and the Us coming from the Middle east passes through the area from the Gulf of Aden. This is why the latest expression of concern emanating from Obama should only be read in the context of the Us national interest in the region, that is, to maintain freedom of navigation in the disputed and dangerous waters of the West Philippine sea. related to the Obama expression of concern is the report by veteran journalists from Vera Files that through a note verbale, the Aquino administration has offered to drop the Philippines claim to sabah in exchange for Malaysia’s support for the Philippines in its on-going spat with China on the West Philippines sea. to begin with, such a policy is wrong.

This is because whether or not Malaysia wants to stand up to China, it simply has Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher Jojo A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Jojo A. Robles Editor-in-Chief Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Managing Editor Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Associate Editors P. Palacios News Editor FrancisJoel Lagniton News Editor Francis Lagniton Editor Joyce Pangco Pañares CityCity Editor Arman Armero Senior Deskman Adelle Chua Senior Deskman Leo A. Estonilo Senior Deskman Romel J. Mendez Art Director Romel J. Mendez ArtPhotographer Director Roberto Cabrera Chief Roberto Cabrera Chief Photographer

T h u r s d ay : a P r I L 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

a10

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

The Malaysia connecTion Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal’s explanation of personal security in his use of an alias during the entire proceedings of the peace agreement between the Government of the republic of the Philippines (GrP) and the MILF is, to say the very least, as flimsy as it is flawed.

His additional defense for the use of an alias was that it is a common accepted practice normally done by members of revolutionary organizations. However, what he failed to mention was that during the singing of treaties and agreements with their respective governments, leaders of revolutionary organizations the world over signed using their real names or had gone through the required protocols to establish their true identities for the signing. Moreover, his refusal to reveal what his real name is, particularly when under oath during a congressional inquiry at that, throws whatever sense of credibility he is trying to portray straight out the window. one cannot avoid and think that there might be some other more sinister reason behind it all.

For starters, his use of an alias while in peace talks with the government definitely raises suspicion and doubt about the sense of goodwill that he brings in the peace talks and the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). Why should the Government of the Philippines deal with anyone whose identity cannot be readily ascertained and is wrapped in secrecy? For this reason, not a few of our legislators have questioned the impact of the alias use on the legality of the peace agreement Iqbal signed last year on behalf of the MILF. Foremost of which is Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who succinctly captured the core of matter when he stated that “By using a nom de guerre, and claiming to represent the MILF, this person known as Iqbal places the entire peace process in jeopardy because he lacks the legal status to even represent and negotiate with the government”. Definitely, in agreements as sensitive as this, both parties should be as forthright as possible. They should be meticulous and sensitive to avoid any course of action or declarations which can unnecessarily provoke legal and political issues, which can in turn burden the proceedings and jeopardize objectives for a successful conclusion. Already there had been doubts on his citizenship after former Interior Secretary rafael Alunan III posted in one of the social networks that Iqbal and MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim supposedly hold Malaysian passports.

During the hearing at the House of representatives re-

minority report danilo suarez garding the Mamasapano massacre, Iqbal maintained he was a Filipino citizen and a Bangsamoro “by entity.” He has also since released a picture of his Philippine passport and the Malaysian government has equally disowned him as “one of theirs.” Understandably, though, doubts linger and unavoidably at that.

Iqbal admitted that beyond the name he has used in the peace talks, Salah Jubair is also another one of his several aliases. This is what he used when he published two books about Mindanao and the peace process. He further stressed that based on a legal opinion he received, he is not in violation of the provisions the Anti-Alias Law in connection with the peace process since the then entire exercise is “political” and not a legal transaction. This

In agreements as sensitive as this, both parties should be as forthright as possible. is not an accurate statement because the peace agreement is an official document signed between the GrP and the MILF of which Iqbal or whatever his name is, was one of the signatories. For the “contract” to be consummated it should satisfy the basic requirements of our laws, one of which is that it be notarized, and consequently Philippine law requires that notarized documents be signed by persons using their real names. Likewise, our law is very clear that aliases are prohibited in relation to the opening of bank accounts.

This was even one of the elements that the prosecution used during the impeachment of former President Joseph Estrada in connection with the Jose Velarde account. The question really is if those bank accounts opened by this person Iqbal have been used to receive funds from the government or from other entities local or foreign in the guise of assistance programs, or worse, funding from overseas terrorists organization.

a paTheTic senaTor I HAVE been wondering how best to describe Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who is salivating to run as president or vice president in next year’s election.

Trillanes thinks that his obsession to demolish Vice President Jejomar Binay will be enough to increase his chances of getting picked to run for either of the two top spots.

Indeed the mutineerturned-senator has become a pathetic figure, whose only achievements were two failed coup attempts against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. *** Trillanes attributes the indefinite temporary restraining order issued by the Sixth Division of the Court of Appeals on the suspension of Mayor Binay to the bribery of both Justices reyes and Acosta for the astounding amount of P25 million apiece. I say astounding since some lawyers say that a Tro can be had for only P5 million.

The bribery allegation of Trillanes, coming from what he called “reliable sources” can simply be dismissed as hearsay. obviously, he was relying on some characters with some agenda against the Binays or the two justices, who are known to be incorruptible and very strict with litigants. The mention of Pancho Villaraza could have come from his personal enemies in the legal community to destroy his name.

I know Pancho personally.

He may have his faults, but he does not operate that way.

It would have been stupid for him to expose himself to an act of bribery since under the law, both bribe giver and bribe taker can be held liable. Besides, what could he have gained? The Binays are not his clients, not by any stretch of the imagination.

And my gulay, Trillanes wants the Senate to investigate what he called “justice for sale,” ignorant of the fact that only

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno has said that if Trillanes has evidence on the alleged bribery of the two Appellate Court justices, he should submit them to the Supreme Court. It is the High Court that investigates and disciplines lower courts.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines likewise stated it would help the Supreme Court if Trillanes indeed had proof, not merely “reliable sources.”

Trillanes obviously is unaware of the law on libel which has three ingredients—identification of persons involved (present when Trillanes named the alleged bribe giver, negotiator and takers) ; malicious imputation of an illegal act aimed to destroying one’s reputation; and above all, malice. There is definitely malice present in this

case.

If Trillanes wanted publicity, he got it. But if he cannot substantiate his allegations, he may just land in jail. *** I don’t know why Malacanang has not stepped into the raging controversy between the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and robert Sobrepena’s Camp John Hay Development Corporation.

This can only reflect the Aquino administration’s lack of respect for the rule of law and inconsistent policies on the implementation of Public-Private Partnership Projects.

Investors in Camp John Hay have noted that with the final award by the Arbitration Tribunal and its confirmation by the Baguio regional Trial Court, normalcy will be restored.

But the BCDA doesn’t believe in the rule of law with its threat of eviction of the 1,361 locators, unit owners, golf shareholders, other shareholders and sub-lessees. The BCDA has come out with the ridiculous conclusion that since the Arbitration Tribunal placed both the BCDA and the developer on their 1996 position, all investors are now on the same footing as BCDA and CJHDev. Malacanang should step in because the position being taken by the governmentrun agency has resulted in the loss of government revenues amounting to P5 billion.

BCDA rejected the restructuring agreement in 2011 that resulted in the deprivation of the Baguio City government of 25 percent of rentals paid to BCDA. Had the BCDA accepted the restructuring agreement, CJHDevco would have paid upfront P500 million, P3.3 billion over a 10-year period and P150 million in rentals until 2046.

Santa Banana, this is all because BCDA president Arnel Casanova is so obsessed with kicking out Sobrepena as developer.

And to think that Aquino, in his new role as genius stock market analyst, never really showed much interest in stock prices (or any sort of macroeconomic theory and practice) before, never mind if he does have an economics degree.

This is the same thinking that leads Aquino to claim sole credit for the improved gross domestic product, even when unemployment and poverty numbers continue to rise. This policy of financial cherry-picking also makes him boast about better credit ratings even when his government doesn’t spend on infrastructure or anything worthwhile that he could leave behind as his legacy.

And what if the stock market doesn’t even come close to 10,000 by the time Aquino steps down – will he once again claim that he has been fooled by his own people, like he did after the Mamasapano incident?

Will the knowledge that Aquino was misled on the stock market bring back the money lost by those people even more clueless than he is who followed his investment advice?

The lesson here is that the stock market tends to follow its own rules, regardless of what the President does. The other one has to do with how quickly a financially unsophisticated “investor” is separated from his money.

to the point emil p. jurado the Supreme Court can investigate alleged corruption in the Judiciary.

It does not speak well of Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, who even topped the Bar exams, and Blue ribbon Committee Chairman Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, son of my classmate, the former Vice President Tito Guingona, when they allow Trillanes to use the committee hearings in this manner.

Trillanes may just land in jail again.

a Fool... From A9 of many listed Philippine companies, which could lose a lot of their gains anytime soon.

P/E ratios are the preferred indicators of real analysts because they compare the price of an individual stock to the actual earnings of the company that issued them, meaning they are based on real value. In other words, P/Es measure the reality-based value of a stock’s price, instead of the artificial value that the market assigns to it, which is fleeting.

All of this, of course, is lost to Aquino, who went to the market only so he could point to the improvement of stock prices as his achievement and his alone.

T h u r s d ay : a P r I l 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

OPINION

adelle chua EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

DuTy calls flOREncIO fIanza IN the Senate committee hearing last Monday, Mohagher Iqbal or whatever his real name is, mentioned a few things that should be food for thought to the senators and the public at large. Mr Iqbal said that whether people realize or not, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the government of the Philippines are still at war. He said this when he was being badgered to reveal his true name.

What we have, he went on to say, is just a ceasefire which can ignite into a shooting war anytime.

Another thing that came out during the hearing was that the Armed Forces did not know at all that Mohagher Iqbal is only a nom de guerre. This should tell us the kind of intelligence that the AFP has. This is not reassuring at all.

He also emphasized the revolutionary nature of the MILF—and it was not the first time that he mentioned that. He also said as much during the Senate hearings on the Mamasapano encounter. By Mr. Iqbal’s revelation, the MILF and the Philippine government are still enemies.

If this is the case, why is the government providing the MILF with funds? As a confidence building measure? At the very least, the government should not provide the MILF with any assistance that will enhance their capability to fight if the ceasefire breaks down. Revolutions, to my limited understanding, are meant to overthrow or change an existing order.

The Philippine government is offering the MILF autonomy to be able to govern the predominantly Muslim provinces of Mindanao in a way that will preserve their culture and allow them to chart their own development. My own misgivings about the signed peace deal is the way the provisions could be interpreted.

To the government, it may be autonomy but to the MILF, it is a step towards complete independence.

I agree that there must be trust. But trust alone cannot be the only basis of

we are still at war an agreement. There must be iron-clad guarantees and safeguards that both must adhere to in order to preclude any misunderstanding of what was agreed upon. During the peace negotiations between Israel and Egypt in the late 1970s, then Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin presented two contrasting styles. Begin, a lawyer, was very particular about details. Sentence construction to him was important to convey exactly what has been agreed upon. There must be no room for misunderstanding.

Sadat, who was a soldier, was on the other hand more focused on the substance of the agreement.

The product of the two contrasting styles was a peace deal that is working up to this day. I trust that both Professor Miriam Coronel Ferrer and Secretary Teresita Deles understand what is at stake and have the interest of the country at heart. But the reason why they have many critics is in the way both have behaved during the Senate hearings on Mamasapano and the BBL. This is not to mention some of their pronouncements outside the halls of Congress. Both have been accused of giving away too much and have been insensitive to what happened to the SAF44.

Maybe what the two should do is to be a bit more patient and accommodating to the many doubting Thomases and present their case as intelligently and clearly as possible. Both might like to change their styles so that they will be perceived as working for the interest of the country more instead as spokespersons for the MILF. It was a sad sight, seeing the senior officers of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces go at each other during the House hearing on the Mamasapano encounter. That was the first time that the differences between the two flared up in public, notwithstanding that both organizations are being run mostly by classmates. Those

involved should have controlled their emotions more and not make a display for the whole public to see. The remarks of General Gregorio Catapang on Police Director Getulio Napeñas was also uncalled for. It was evident during the hearing that congressmen who were formerly officers from the PNP sided with the SAF and those who were from the Armed Forces sided with the AFP. Once again, Secretary Leila de Lima came out with her “thoughts” about using aliases to sign public documents.

She should have asked for a time to study the issue—but that is not her style.

Before this administration leaves office next year, Secretary De Lima would have singlehandedly changed the jurisprudence of this country.

The stated object of the House hearing is to ferret out the truth. It seems however, that the ultimate goal really is to come out with a report exonerating the President from any culpability and put all the blame on Napeñas. Already, one congressman has called on Napeñas to stop dragging the President into the case and be man enough to accept the blame for the death of the SAF 44.

Of the three principal actors in Oplan Exodus, it is only Napeñas who has accepted his share of responsibility. Both the President and Purisima have consistently denied any wrongdoing or any responsibility for what happened in Mamasapano.

No matter how the House hearing tries to provide a blanket cover to the President or manage it to put all the blame on Napeñas, the questions being asked keeps on going back to the participation of the President which only he can answer. This President who has made honesty as the template of his administration is now unwilling to be honest to himself.

Sadly, all efforts to protect the President really do not matter anymore because the people have already made their judgment.

Protesting the QC four-Pet law A LOOMING pet holocaust was averted for the nonce when animal-rights groups including the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) staged a protest at the Quezon City (QC) Hall last April 15 against an ordinance that limits pets in a household to four.

After an outcry from pet lovers online and IRL (in real life), the city government passed another ordinance without that provision, in effect nullifying parts of the previously passed law.

QC Ordinance No. 2386, approved on March 13, limits homeowners to only four pets. Any additional pets much have a special permit that costs P500 each.

On March 26, QC Mayor Herbert Bautista signed Ordinance No. 2389 that adopts the QC Veterinary Code and thus renders null and void parts of the previous ordinance.

But while the latter omits the limiting provision, the four-pet policy might still yet be incorporated into its implementing rules and regulations if the city veterinarian’s office or other official pushes for it.

News reports quote city veterinary services division head Ana Marie Cabel as explaining that the restriction came about as a way to reduce the incidence of animal bite cases in the city, which in 2014 numbered 13,231, with 90 percent of those inflicted by pets.

The limit in the number of pets was set at four, said to be in line with pol-

pOp gOEs ThE wORlD jEnny ORTuOsTE icies in the Animal Welfare Act. Among the celebrities who reacted against the law was actress Heart Evangelista, who said on her Instagram account, “Abandonment of dogs/cats is punishable by law and this totally goes against it. It promotes [sic] dog/cat lovers to abandon their dogs no matter what age and how long they have had the dog/cat in their home….

Pet abandonment, she added, is a crime under the Animal Welfare Act. She also noted that PAWS was not consulted before the ordinance was passed.

Speaking of people with many pets, she said, “A lot of them aren’t breeders or businessmen but people with kind hearts who took in a homeless stray.”

None of the news I read explained what the city’s plan was for following: how would they monitor the number of animals in a household – was there going to be an inspector going door-to-door?

Were they going to enter homes and look under beds or in basements for hidden animals? Are we talking about the Anne Frank-enization of kittens and puppies here by pet owners determined to hang

on to their furbabies?

Let’s say the city vets round up the “excess” animals. What were they planning to do with them? Put them up for adoption by those with less than four pets? Euthanize them?

This is sounding more and more like it was going to be an animal Holocaust.

Did the QC government and vet’s office think the first ordinance all the way through before getting it passed?

Fortunately, pet lovers and animal rights activists took up virtual arms against the stupid law which resulted in the passing of a counter-ordinance less than two weeks later that nullified the objectionable pet-limiting provision.

Among the groups that spread PAWS’s call against the ordinance on their Facebook page was Cat Care Philippines (CCP).

What some of CCP’s members are suggesting in the online forum is that rather than take pets away or force owners to abandon them in the streets, city governments require that pets be spayed or neutered, and that rather than buying from breeders, that the adoption of homeless animals be promoted.

Not only would these practices save owners the cost of purchase, this would also save the lives of animals on the streets and reduce the population of strays.

Cities should establish an animal welfare program or expand theirs if they

A11

ThE us... From A9 to. Recently, China has also been claiming areas very proximate to Malaysia as forming part of its territory. In any case, Malaysia is also among the five country claimants to the Spratlys group of islands. In other words, the Philippine government need not offer a quid pro quo for Malaysia’s support because the latter also has a legal interest in the controversy.

But the bigger legal issue arising from the note verbale is whether President Aquino, or any President for that matter, could renounce our claim to Sabah.

I am of the belief, since the proceeding of the Constitutional Commission is clear that Art 1 Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution contemplates that we continue to have title over Sabah. Through a referendum, we can surrender this claim. The President has no legal authority to do this alone. This is a high crime since it cedes part of the national territory to a foreign power.

The other troubling aspect that arose from the incident is a statement form Justice Secretary Leila De Lima who, for all intents and purposes, threatened Vera Files with criminal action since the publication of the note verabale was allegedly illegal. In this regard, I am reproducing a portion of the statement of the Center for International Law, which I chair, relevant to press freedom: “We take exception to the veiled threat in the statement made yesterday

by Secretary Leila De Lima that the Vera Files special report on a recent Note Verbale given by the Philippines to Malaysia over the Spratlys islands concerned a confidential matter that should have been kept as it is.

“In the first place, our Justice Secretary should be first to know that such a threat is in the nature of prior restraint with a chilling effect on speech, as held by the Supreme Court in the case filed by the late former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez against a predecessor of hers at the DOJ, the late Raul Gonzales.

“A mere press statement of a threat of prosecution coming from a government functionary, according to this 2008 Supreme Court decision, is unconstitutional precisely for that reason.

“As a former head of the Commission on Human Rights, we expect her to understand that Vera Files is simply doing what journalists ought to do well: report on matters of public interest, especially one where the integrity of the national territory of the Philippines is at stake, so that the citizens are properly apprised of the issues involved.” already have one, to cover free vaccinations and spay-neuter surgeries, and shelter homeless animals for eventual adoption.

In the United States, some animal shelters actively promote adoption, posting cute photos of the pets on their Facebook page or other social media platform until they find “forever homes”.

What this pet protest incident showed, among other things, are that lawmakers should carefully think of the ramifications and possible effects and consequences of any proposed rules and regulations, and that laws should be made in consultation with those who will be affected. Otherwise, embarrassment could ensue.

What’s encouraging is that people with a common cause still have the power, through communication, to bring about results or change.

And this time around, it’s a victory for QC pet owners and animal rights activists everywhere. *** Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Blog: http://jennyo.net

T HURS DAY : A P RI L 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

A12

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

New faces emerge in Cebuana net meet NEW faces and unfamiliar names emerged in the recent Ozamiz City leg of the 2015 Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Series, a nationwide grassroots tennis developmental program initiated by sportsmanbusinessman Jean Henri Lhuillier to help discover and develop young provincial tennis players.

“We are certainly happy that through this series, we are able to provide opportunities to provincial tennis talents to be discovered, just as this Ozamiz City leg showed as we saw new faces emerge as winners,” said Lhuillier, a many-time Philippine Davis Cup team manager, whose company has been actively supporting tennis and other sports for a long time.

The only familiar names in the Ozamiz City leg that followed an earlier leg in Camiguin, were girls’ 18-under champion Immaville Gervacio representing the host city and CDO’s Janelle Llavore, who copped the girls’ 16-under crown.

In the boys’ side, multi titled Brent Sigmond Cortes from Tubod, Lanao del Norte took home the 12-under title, beating Rupert Tortal 6-2, 6-1, but he bowed down to Andrei Cuevas in the 14-under finals.

Cuevas , who also hails from Lanao del Norte, came out double winner as he also won the 16-under boys’ group after defeating Francis Hidalgo of Cebu, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8.

Gervacio retired Llavore in the finals, while the latter prevailed over Gervacio, 6-7, 6-3, 10-7, in the 16-under of the Group 2 tournament that attracted close to 200 participants.

Laurence Joy Obdina joined the winners’ list with a three set win over Francis Dominic Lanzado in the 18 & under boys while the youngest age group champion was Oroquieta City’s Nash Agustines who beat Christopher Sonsona 4 - 1 , 4 - 2 in the 10 & under boys.

Luis Scola (right) of the Indiana Pacers shoots a free throw against the Washington Wizards at te Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers won, CYAN MAGENTA BLACK 99-95,YELLOW to stay alive in the race for a playoff seat.

AFP

Pacers win, keep playoff bid on track INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Pacers moved one game closer to an NBA playoff berth Tuesday with a dramatic double-overtime 99-95 triumph over the Washington Wizards.

C.J. Miles scored 25 points and George Hill flirted with a triple-double, delivering 24 points 10 assists and nine rebounds for the Pacers.

Indiana moved a game in front of the Brooklyn Nets for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff berth.

The Pacers will reach the post-season with a win at Memphis, or if Brooklyn lose to Orlando on the final night of the regular season on Wednesday.

David West had 15 points and eight rebounds in the Pacers’ sixth straight win, which officially spelled the end of the Miami Heat’s slim playoff hopes.

The Heat, who made it to the NBA finals in each of the last four seasons and won it all in two of those years, will miss the post-season for the first time since 2008.

The Wizards, already assured of the fifth seed in the East, played their starters anyway.

Bradley Beal and Marcin Gortat scored 19 points apiece, Gortat adding 10 rebounds in

the setback.

John Wall scored 16 points and handed out 11 assists.

Elsewhere in the East, the Boston Celtics locked up the seventh seed with a 95-93 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Jae Crowder’s go-ahead jump shot with 0.8 seconds remaining lifted the Celtics, after Kyle Lowry’s driving layup had pulled Toronto level at 93-93 with 10.2 seconds remaining.

Crowder was part of the trade that sent AllStar point guard Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks in December.

The rebuilding Celtics were 14 games under .500 on February 2, but have since gone 23-12.

They were assured of a playoff berth on Monday when the Nets fell to the Bulls.

By securing the seventh seed, they booked a first-round playoff clash with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“To have a chance to compete against the very best in the league is a great opportunity,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.

Meawhile, the Boston Celtics and Sacramento Kings will play a regular-season NBA game in Mexico City next December, the league said Tuesday.

The December 3 contest at Mexico City Arena will be part of the NBA Global Games 2015 series. AFP

Hawks’ Sefolosha says police caused injury ATLANTA—Atlanta Hawks reserve forward Thabo Sefolosha on Tuesday said New York City police caused his season-ending broken leg when he was arrested in Manhattan last week.

“On advice of counsel, I hope you can appreciate that I cannot discuss the facts of the case,” Sefolosha said in statement issued on Tuesday.

“Those questions will be answered by my attorney in a court of law. I will simply say

that I am in great pain, have experienced a significant injury and that the injury was caused by the police.”

Swiss-born Sefolosha and teammate Pero Antic of Macedonia were arrested near the 1 OAK nightclub in the predawn hours last Wednesday after allegedly interfering with police responding to an incident in which Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland and two others were stabbed.

Neither Hawks player was

involved in the stabbing incident, but police said they tried to interfere with the establishment of a crime scene. Both were charged with resisting arrest and after the incident Sefolosha was diagnosed with a broken fibula and ligament damage in his right leg.

Videos posted on celebrity website TMZ showed police aggressively trying to restrain Sefolosha and taking him to the ground.

One video shows an officer

wielding a baton, but it was unclear if Sefolosha was hit.

Sefolosha’s injury means the Hawks, who go into the playoffs as the Eastern Conference top seed, will be missing one of their best perimeter defenders. The 30-year-old averaged 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in his first season with Atlanta after two-plus seasons in Chicago and more than five in Oklahoma City.

AFP

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that DONG WON TEXCOM MFG. CORP. with Office and plant addresses at Welborne Industrial Park, Gov. Drive, Carmona, Cavite is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as New Export Producer of Garments (undergarments) at an annual capacity of 2,070,000 sets per year on a Non-Pioneer status.

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within (3) days from the date of this publication/posting.

(Sgd.) EVARISTE M. CAGATAN Director Manufacturing Industries Service Industry & Investments Building, 385 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati City, Philippines Trunkline: 897-6682, 895-3640, 895-3641,895-3657, 895-3666 Website: http//www.boi.gov.ph • P.O. Box 1872 Makati City

(TS-Apr. 16, 2015)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch 140, Makati City IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF CARLO JAY ENRIQUEZ DE LINO AND CHANGE OF NAME FROM CARLO JAY ENRIQUEZ DE LINO TO CARLO JAY DE LINO CARPIO,

SP. PROC NO. M-7759

SPOUSES REYNALDO G. CARPIO AND LOURDES D. CARPIO, Petitioners. x----- -------------------x

ORDER This is a petition for adoption filed by petitioners REYNALDO G. CARPIO and LOURDES D. CARPIO, praying that after due notice, hearing and publication, judgment be rendered declaring Carlo Jay Enriquez De Lino as the legitimate child of the petitioners and that his name be changed to Carlo Jay De Lino Carpio.

Petitioners allege that they are of legal age and residing at 2509W One Rockwell, Rockwell Drive, Poblacion, Makati City. They were married on November 16, 1967 at St. Pius X Chapel, Manila. They have two (2) biological children, namely Anne Marie, who was born on September 23, 1968 and Christine, who was born on November 14, 1969.

The adoptee Carlo Jay Enriquez De Lino is the nephew of petitioner Lourdes. He is already of legal age and was born on June 14, 1989 to Carlos De Lino and Norma Enriquez. His parents were married on March 3, 1982. They have another biological child, Cheryl Joy. The adoptee’s biological father, Carlos De Lino, is the brother of petitioner Lourdes. He died on March 9, 2012.

The adoptee, his biological mother and sister, and the biological children of petitioners had executed their respective Affidavits of Consent.

Petitioners also allege that the adoptee started living with them on April 16, 1992. He was then three (3) years old when his care and custody was entrusted to them upon the separation of the adoptee’s parents. Since then, he was treated like a real child of the petitioners and as a real brother of the petitioners’ biological children. They provided for all his material and emotional needs.

Petitioners further allege that they have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications to adopt under the law.

Finding the verified petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is set for hearing of June 25, 2015 at 8:30 in the morning at the Session Hall of Regional Trial Court, Branch 140, 10th Floor, Makati City Hall, at which place, date and time, any or all persons opposed thereto may file their opposition.

The Court Social Worker is hereby ordered to prepare and submit a report on the adoptee, his biological mother and sibling, and the adopters and their children within sixty (60) days from receipt of this Order pursuant to Section 12, paragraph 5 of A.M. No. 02-6-02-SC. The Petitioners are directed to coordinate with the assigned Court Social Worker for the conduct of the required home and study reports.

The petitioners are also directed to furnish the Office of the Solicitor General with a copy of the petition and its annexes.

Let copies of this Order be furnished the Office of the Solicitor General, Philippine Statistics Authority, the Local Civil Registrars of Makati City and Bulacan, Bulacan and the Social Worker of the Regional Trial Court, Office of the Clerk of Court, Makati City.

The petitioners are also directed to publish this Order in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks to be chosen by raffle, all at their expense.

SO ORDERED. Makati City, February 12, 2015.

(TS-Apr. 16, 2015)

(Sgd.) CRISTINA F. JAVALERA-SULIT Judge

t hurs day : a p ri l 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

A13 Philracom stages summer racefest

Subic Centennial III rules inshore series. Standard Insurance Centennial III, steered by businessman Judes Echauz, swept the recent Commodore’s Cup Regatta 2015, organized by the Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing Club, in cooperation with The Lighthouse Marina Resort and Philippine Sailing Association in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The 52-foot boat, captained by Echauz, also bagged the overall title in an international race of the combined Subic to Boracay Race and Boracay Cup Regatta 2015 last month in Malay, Aklan, after several secondplace finishes in the past. Centennial III, helmed by Philippine top 470-class sailor Allan Balladares and managed by Standard Insurance computer engineer Steve Tan, claimed the overall title in the open-racing class, edging defending champion Hong Kong’s Jelik, skippered by Frank Pong. Placing third overall was Centennial II of Martin Tanco, the 2013 champion. The team is composed mostly of members of the Philippine team that will be competing in various classes in the coming SEA Games in Singapore this June. Commodores’ Cup Regatta belongs in one of the 12 prestigious regattas of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix championship that determines the Asian Yachting Skipper and Yacht of the Year (all of which are of international standards, comparable with the most popular sailing circuits in the world). Subic Bay hosts 2 out of 12 races in the Asian Yachting Grand Prix.

DavNor Palaro execs expect ‘green’ games DAVAO DEL NORTE—Organizers only need to iron out minor kinks before rolling out the red carpet to more than 10,000 athletes and officials for the 2015 Palarong Pambansa, which starts in 17 days and highlighted by an opening ceremony extravaganza at the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex.

After a general meeting among heads of key committees from host Davao del Norte and the Department of Education, media representatives and sponsors and stakeholders at the office of Governor Rodolfo del Rosario at the provincial capitol on Tuesday, Organizing Committee Secretariat Chairperson Sofonias Gabonada Jr. declared the games as “green and go.”

“Everything is in place and what we need at the mo-

ment—which is 17 days before the games open—are finishing touches to make sure that operations go smoothly for the entire seven days of the Palaro,” Gabonada said. “The venues have always been ready and what are only needed are the athletes and officials and the fans.”

Only one—gymnastics which will be staged in nearby Panabo City—of the 35 venues for the 23 sports on the Davao del Norte Palaro backed by the

Tagum Agricultural Development Company Inc. or TADECO, Damosa Land, Davao Packaging Corporation, Davao International Container Terminal, Inc., and Pearl Farm Beach Resort is located outside city limits.

DepEd Department Legislative Liaison Specialist Francis Dela Cruz, DepEd Information Technology Officer 1 Deo Genito Jr., Provincial Sports Coordinator Giovanni Gulanes, members of the provincial information office, the media and other private partners, joined Gabonada in the general meeting that would be the last major huddle for the communication and results team before the urn is lighted for the games.

The Palaro will officially start on May 3, but the opening ceremony will be staged on May

4, a Monday, at the sprawling Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex where athletics, swimming and tennis will be held. The Rodolfo del Rosario Gym, a state-of-the-art and fully air-conditioned basketball arena is also within the complex but will be the venue for badminton.

The hosts are also bringing the games closer to the people of Davao del Norte by conducting taekwondo at the Gaisano Mall, table tennis and the demonstration sport of billiards at the NCCC and boxing at the Tagum Trade Center.

Competition schedules and programs of Palaro-related events, including cultural and tourism activities prepared by the hosts, will be available on the games website davnorpalaro2015.com later this week.

THE Philippine Racing Commission recently launched its incentivized Summer Racing Festival program as a strategy to maintain or increase the number of entries in regular races.

“We have observed,” said Philracom Chairman Andrew A. Sanchez, “that during the summer months, sales are reduced due to fewer horses participating in racemeets.”

Summer is when horses are regularly spelled (sent to the ranches for vacation); this reduces the available horse population for racing. Fewer entries means fewer races on the card and smaller field sizes, making races less interesting for aficionados.

“To entice owners to run their horses,” said Sanchez, “Philracom will be providing an added prize of P20,000 to the winners of races under this program.”

In Philracom’s Resolution No. 11-15 dated 25 March 2015, included in the Summer Racing Festival, which will run from April 7 to May 15, are class-division races, three each day from Tuesday to Friday, and four each Saturday and Sunday, for a total of twenty races each week.

Races picked for the Summer Racing Festival will no longer be placed under the regular incentive program, which provides an added prize of P5,000 to the winner of class-division races.

Also as part of its Summer Racing Festival, Philracom is sponsoring a 1,300-meter 3YO Condition Race on April 12 at Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite, with a prize of P300,000 allocated from first to fourth places.

Struggling Navy, Fourbees face off Games today 2 p.m. – Coast Guard vs Baguio 4 p.m. – Fourbees vs Navy

NAVY and Fourbees-Perpetual face off today in a matchup of struggling teams, while Baguio and Coast Guard seek a breakthrough at each other’s expense in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Open Conference at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Lady Sailors dropped two stinging straight-set setbacks after sweeping the Lady Dolphins but hope to get back on the winning track again as they tangle with the Lady Altas in the 4 p.m. main game.

But Fourbees-Perpetual is also out for a follow-up to its five-set win over Coast Guard that snapped its two-game skid as the Lady Altas and the Sailor try to break their tie at fifth and stay in the hunt for a semifinal berth in the the season-opening conference of the league sponsored

by Shakey’s and presented by PLDT Home Ultera.

John, Ducay, Marquez top dance sports THE pairs of Tristan John and Willanne Rose Ducay and Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo ruled the 2015 DanceSport Council of the Philippines’ 1st Quarter Ranking and Competition recently at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena, Pasig City.

John and Ducay beat Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen to capture the Standard Grade A title, while Marquez and Sabalo defeated Gerald Jamili and Cherry Clarice

Parcon to grab the Latin Grade A trophy.

This DanceSport event was sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Flawless, Vitug Beach Resort, Retro DCG-FM 105.9, Studio 116, Studio AK, Caruso RistoranteItaliano, SpazialeSplendy, MercedesBenz and The Greenery Bulacan.

Other winners in the quarter ranking event organized

by DSCPI President Becky Garcia were Ra’mu Ramos

and Margaretha Christina Schrijver of Manila (Grade B Standard); Bert Kevin Diluvio and Jam Flores of Cebu (Grade B Latin); Cesar Monzon, Jr. and Marketa Boskova (Grade C Standard); and Darren De Guzman and Danica De Guzman (Grade C Latin).

The next DanceSport competition is scheduled July 18 for the 2015 DSCPI Midyear Ranking and Competition at the Philsports Multi-Purpose Arena. For inquiries, call 637-2314.

Winners of Standard Grade A 2015 DSCPI 1st quarter Ranking are shown. They are (First Place) Tristan John and Willanne Rose Ducay; (2nd Place) Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen; (3rd Place) Sean MischaAranar and Ana LeonilaNualla; (4th Place) Ra’mu Ramos and Margaretha Christina Schrijver; (5th Place) Lloyd Bartolini and Mae Paracuelles, shown with Flawless Business Director Donovan Perez, Adjudicator Chairman Johnny Lekens from Belgium and DSCPI President Becky Garcia.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Auzon takes charge with 71 Republic of the Philippines

CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID PR No. 2015 - 0689 1.

The City Government of San Pedro Laguna through the 2015 Budget Approved by Sangguniang Panglunsod intends to apply the sum of Php 2,053,467.00 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Supply & Delivery of Various Medicines 2nd Qtr of 2015 for the Indigent Constituents of City of San Pedro, Laguna. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites bids for the following : DESCRIPTION 20 10 288 40 40 30 96 10 96 288 30 50 20 96 50 288 2 2 20 30 96 288 144 144 30 4 72 15 30 5 288 10 20 5 10 50 20 3 20 5 10 72 20 5 5 5 10 10 5 15 288 30 5 50 144 10 20 5 30 40 144 20 144 20 20 10 144 144 288 30 96 288 288 10 5 5 30 5 10 72 10 10 3 30 10 6 3 6 6 6 6 4 50 3 3 3 3

boxes boxes bots boxes boxes boxes bots boxes bots bots boxes boxes boxes bots boxes bots boxes boxes boxes boxes bots bots bots bots boxes boxes bots boxes boxes boxes bots boxes boxes boxes boxes bots boxes boxes bots boxes boxes bots boxes pcs pcs pcs boxes boxes boxes boxes bots boxes boxes bots bots boxes boxes boxes boxes boxes bots boxes bots boxes boxes boxes bots bots bots boxes bots bots bots boxes boxes boxes boxes boxes boxes bots boxes boxes boxes boxes bots boxes boxes boxes boxes boxes boxes boxes pcs boxes boxes boxes boxes

Amoxicillin 500mg. Cap 100’s Amoxicilling 250mg Cap 100’s Amoxicillin Suspension 250mg Amlodipine 5mg Tab Amlodipine 10mg Tab Ambroxol Tab Ambroxol Syrup Aspirin Ascorbic Acid Drops Ascorbic Acid Syrup Ascorbic Acid Tab 500mg 100’s Atorvastatin 20mg Tab Allopurinol 300mg Carbocisteine Drops Carbocisteine 500mg cap Carbocisteine Syrup 250mg Catapres 75mg Tab Captopril 75mg Cefalexin Cap 250mg 100’s Cefalexin Cap 500mg 100’s Cefalexin Drops 10ml Cefalexin Suspension 250ml Cefalexin Suspension 125ml Cefuroxime Suspension 125 mg 60ml Cefuroxime Cap 500mg Celecoxib Cetrizine Syrup Cetrizine Cap Ciprofloxacin Tab 500mg Cinnarizine 25mg Tab Cloxacillin 250mg. Syrup Cloxacilling 250mg Cap Cloxacillin 500mg. Cap Clopidogrel 75mg Tab Cotrimoxazole 400mg Cap Co-Amoxiclav 250mg syrup Co-Amoxiclav 625mg Cefixime Cap Cefixime Syrup Clindamycin 300mg Cap Cefaclor Cap Cefaclor Syrup Diclofenac Tab 50mg Chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops Tobramycin eye drops Dexamethasone 0.5mg eye drops Ferrous Sulfate Tab Folic Acid Tab Gliclazide 80mg Tab Glibenclamide 5mg Guaifenesin syrup 60ml Losartan 50mg Tab Loratadine 10mg Tab Loratadine Syrup Mefenamic Acid Suspension Mefenamic Acid Cap 250mg Mefenamic Acid Cap 500mg.

Meloxicam tab 50mg Metoprolol 50mg Tab Metformin 500mg Multivitamin Drops 60ml Multivitamins Cap 100’s Multivitamins Syrup Phenylpropanolamine Tab Omeprazole Cap 20mg 30’s ORS Paracetamol Drops 60mg.

Paracetamol Syrup 125mg Paracetamol Syrup 250mg Paracetamol tab 500mg Phenyl+Brompheniramine Drops Phenyl+Brompheniramine Syrup Salbutamol + Guaifenesin Syrup Salbutamol Nebules Budesonide Nebules Combivent Nebules Simvastatin 20mg Tab Tranexamic Acid 500mg Tab Salbutamol/Guafenesin Cap Cotrimoxazole 200mg/5ml susp.

Cotrimoxazole tab 800mg Cotrimoxazole tab 400mg Hyoscine N Butylbromide 10mg Tab Vitamin B12 Tab Tobramycin eye drops Telmisartan Rosuvastatin Calcium 10mg Sitagliptin/Metformin HCL 100mg Telmisartan/Amlodipine 40mg/10mg SG-Glutergen Clopidogrel/Bisulfate Amlodipine/Besylate 5mg Flunarizine 5mg Cap Ploglitazone 5mg Tab Doxoflylline 200mg Tab Spiriva 5mcg Cap Budosonid/Formoterol

INVITATION TO BID The Bids and Awards Committee of the Municipality of Limay through the GENERAL FUND BUDGET CY2015 invites registered contractors to apply for eligibility and if found to be eligible to bid, hereunder the projects/contracts. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Name of Project/Contract

1

4.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

In addition, bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:30AM to 9:30AM only.

Office of the BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro

7.

8.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the date, time and below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of PESOS: (Php 5,000.00) ISSUANCE OF ELIGIBILITY AND BIDDING April 16 – May 4, 2015 DOCUMENTS 8:30AM – 9:30AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro The City Government of San Pedro Laguna, will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on the date, time and address specified below, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

PRE-BID CONFENRENCE April 20, 2015 10:00 AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro Bids must be delivered to the address given below on or before the specified date and time. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable form and in the amount sated in ITB Clause 18.

DEADLINE OF SUBMSSION OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS May 4, 2015 AND OPENING OF BIDS 10:00AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro Bid opening shall be on the date and time specified above for deadline of submission of eligibility requirements and submission of bids and shall be conducted at the Office of the BAC Secretariat. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address given above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bid.

Further, City Government of San Pedro, Laguna, reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annual the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

9.

flight behind, finishing with backto-back double-bogeys from No. 15 and dropping a stroke on No. 17.

But Aunzo came through with that birdie-birdie finish, relegating Tabuena to second in a tie with Garalde, who birdied Nos. 15 and 16 from long range to save a 37-35 round in one of the highest scoring openers of both ADT and PGT events.

Malaysian Arie Irawan, No. 2 in the current ADT Order of Merit ranking, carded a 73 to lead the two-over par scores, who included Americans Greg Moss and Yoon Sejun, Scot Nick Redfern and Swede CJ Stjarnfalt and local bets Anthony Fernando, Rolando Marabe and Gerald Rosales.

Former ADT OOM champion Jay Bayron put in a pair of 37s to lead a big bunch of three-over par scores, who included Lascuna, Elmer Salvador, John Kier Abdon, Michael Bibat, Dante Becierra, Marvin Dumandan, Rey Pagunsan, Elmer Saban, American Micah Shin, Finland’s Janne Kasne, Koeran Lee Gyeongjun, Aussie Kevin Marques and Singapore’s Mitchell Slorach.

Province of Bataan MUNCIPALITY OF LIMAY

Delivery of the goods is required within fifteen (15) days upon receipt of Notice to Proceed. Bidders should have completed, within one (1) year from the date of submissions and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

6.

Aunzo birdied the last two holes at sundown and found himself on top of the heap with a wind-blown 36-35 card as Tabuena doublebogeyed the par-4 18th and signed a 72 and Tony Lascuna blew a twounder card with four holes left and limped with a 74.

Tabuena and Lascuna’s late foldups typified the field’s day-long struggle on the surprisingly tough Aoki layout until Aunzo, seeking to snap a long title spell, rolled in a pin-length birdie putt on the 17th before holing out with a sevenfooter to seize control of the 72hole championship serving as the seventh leg of the ADT and third of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

“I really went for birdies in the last two holes to save an even par card and I was just lucky to be able to do it despite the wind,” said Aunzo.

Tabuena squandered a one-under card – and the lead – with that closing double-bogey mishap in one of the late flights but surged back to the top as Lascuna blew a twounder card with four holes left in a

Republic of the Philippines

3.

5.

TITLE-HUNGRY Ferdie Aunzo sizzled at the finish that didn’t go the way of a slew of early contenders as he salvaged an even-par 71 to snatch a one-stroke lead over Miguel Tabuena and Randy Garalde in a wild opener of the $60,000 ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational at Eagle Ridge’s Aoki course in Gen. Trias, Cavite yesterday.

Street Lightings along Roadway at Judy’s Park

Location Brgys.

Reformista, Poblacion & Wawa, Limay, Bataan

Sources of FUNDS Duration GEN FUND

60 Days

Approved Budget Cost (ABC)

Cost of Bid Doc’s.

2,582,400.00

5,000.00

Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorship, partnerships or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Municipality of Limay at the address given below from 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Municipality of Limay will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 21, 2015, 2:00 P.M. at Limay Municipal Building, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before May 05, 2015 until 1:00 P.M. and to be opened at 2:00 P.M. of the same day at the Limay Municipal Building All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in Clause 18 of Bid Data Sheet.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Submission of Class “A” documents and Financial Statements at least seven (7) calendar days and the Technical Documents (completed/on-going projects) at least fifteen (15) calendar days before the deadline for the submission or opening of bids.

The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Municipality of Limay reserves the right to accept or deny any bid, to annul bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For Further information, please refer to: Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat City Hall of San Pedro San Pedro, Laguna / Telefax No. 847-1722

(TS-Apr. 16, 2015)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

(Sgd.) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee

For further information, refer to: RONNIE LATANAFRANCIA BAC TWG Tel. No. : 613-8026 (TS-Apr. 16, 2015)

(Sgd.) ROMARIO C. PANANGUI BAC – Chairman

World jungolf bets backed PHILIPPINE Airlines, in partnership with the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines, will co-host a series of local qualifying tournaments for the 2015 IMG Academy Junior World Championships slated in three different courses starting this week.

The PAL Junior World Qualifiers—part of the ICTSI-JGFP Summer Circuit—will kick off at the Riviera Sports Club in Silang, Cavite from April 15 to 17 for boys and girls aged 8 years old and under; and at the Capitol Hills In Quezon City from April 21 to 24 for the 9-10 age group.

The last stop will be hosted by the Splendido Taal Golf Club course in Tagaytay on April 27 to 30 for the 11-12, 13-14 and 15-17 age-groups.

A total of 33 junior golfers would be chosen for the Philippine contingent, but only the winners of each age group will be flown free by the national flag-carrier to San Diego, USA for the world championships this July.

The airline’s return as the official carrier of the country’s delegation was initiated by JGFP president Luigi Tabuena, who secured the approval of PAL president Jimmy Bautista, himself an avid golfer.

“We are glad to have PAL as one of our sponsors again and we extend our gratitude for Bautista and the whole PAL,” happily said Tabuena, who with chairman Gerry Handog, run the JGFP.

Valdez to carry PH flag WOMEN’S volleyball ace Alyssa Valdez will carry the flag for Team Philippines in the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

This was announced

by Philippine Olympic Committee first vice president Joey Romasanta, who is also the head of the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas, which he said was decided by the POC Executive Board.

Valdez is a member of the the national women’s under-23 volleyball team which will see action in the Games.

This is also the first time in 10 years that the Philippines will send a volleyball team to the SEAG. Peter Atencio

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Philips Gold Slammers turn back Lady Clickers RANGED against her former teammates, Michelle Gumabao delivered the killer blows down the stretch to lift Philips Gold to a hard-earned 25-11, 16-25, 25-20, 13-25, 15-11 win over Shopinas in the 2015 Philippine Superliga women’s volleyball tournament All-Filipino Conference yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.

The comely Gumabao showed her brilliance in the deciding set as she nailed the game-clinching hit that gave the Lady

Slammers their third win in seven outings in this prestigious inter-club tourney organized by Sports Core and backed

by Asics, Mikasa, Sepoints while dishGames Today noh, Mueller Sports ing out 36 excel(Cuneta Astrodome) Medicine, Via Mare, 1:30 p.m. • Shopinas vs Mane ‘N Tail lent sets.

4:15 p.m. • Foton vs Petron LGR and Healthway 6:15 “I’m glad that p.m. • Philips Gold vs Cignal Medical. the girls stepped Gumabao delivup. They worked ered all of her 15 points on kills, as a team,” said Philips Gold while rookie Myla Pablo spear- Francis Vicente, whose wards headed the assault with 15 kills were clobbered by the Lady and two aces for a total 18 points. Clickers, 18-25, 24-26, 27-29, Desiree Dadang was also im- in the first round last March pressive, chipping in six of her 29. “We prepared hard for this 14 points on blocks as well as match. We strategized and Filipino-American setter Iris agreed on our game plan. I was Tolenada, who knocked down so happy because everybody did six service aces for a total of 10 their respective roles.”

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

An amazing new partnership: Giorgio Duboin and Zia Mahmood SYLVIA LOPEZ ALEJANDRO

Shopinas’ Arianna Angustia smashes one against Philips Gold’s Hazel Mea and Iris Tolenada.

ROMAN PROSPERO

Millet reigns in expert class CLARK, PAMPANGA—Following a failed bid in the M&H Pro class, defending champion Arvin Jay Millet regained lost esteem when he reasserted his supremacy anew in the Expert class recently in the third leg of the 2015 Philippine Drag Racing Championship Northern Series at the Clark International Speedway here.

The 22-year-old Millet, who rose to fame as dragracing’s young sensation four years back, clocked 12.589 seconds to capture the Expert crown on a red-light violation by veteran Boy Francisco, who ended with 14.239 seconds in their title showdown in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by M&H, Sparco, Aguila Auto Glass and GT Radials.

Von Allen Ilagan, who was beaten by Millet in the semifinals, prevailed in a sudden-death duel against Ivan Diaz to claim third place.

Millet was surprised in the end after losing to little-known Kenneth Bayani in the quarterfinals. He missed his targeted top spots in both the Northern Series and overall national drag-racing crown, now enjoyed by former champion and Batangas pride Martin Manalo, who seized the M&H Pro plum.

“It could have been my best chance. But it’s not over yet, since there’s three more legs left for 2015 Philippine Drag Racing Championship and we really have to work harder to achieve that goal as the youngest national drag racing champion,” Millet said.

Winning the other titles were Lennel Diaz and Terenz Hormillosa. Diaz pulled off a narrow escape win over Jannery Millet to emerge the Sportsman champion, while Hormillosa copped the Hotstreet title over newcomer Harly Calubiran with Benok Licudine settling for third place.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Riveras rule slalom races MILO Rivera of Tough Gear Racing once again bagged the production and overall best of the time, edging rival Dr. Peewee Mendiola of Team Big Chill with a time of 59.40 in the 2015 National Slalom Series’ third leg at the Robinsons Nova Market.

River’s brother/teammate Estefano made it a 1-2 finish with a time of 59.52 at second, while Dr.Mendiola finished third (60.80).

Mike San Miguel of MSM Motorsports won the front wheel best time of 62.08, edging Jevoy Moreno of Auto Fastion, who clocked 62.22.

Nico Lualhati garnered the novice best time of 63.28 in yet another close win, this time over Paolo Santos (63.30).

The 2015 National Slalom Series is

sponsored by Shell Helix Motor Oils, Federal Tyres, Outlast Battery, Starbright Body Kits, Auto Transporter, Robinsons Nova Market, media partners Stoplight TV, Inside Motoring, DZRJ-Am, Pinoy Speed sa mga Pahayagan, Spin.Ph (Sports Interactive Network), C! Magazine and Autocar Magazine.

All events are sanctioned and affiliated by the Automobile Club of the Philippines.

The fourth leg will be on May 10 at Robinsons Starmills-Pampanga, while the fifth leg will be held on May 24 at the INC Arena.

For details, contact Bing Bang Dulce at tel. nos. 09178119337 or 09228165344; or email racemotorsportsclub@yahoo.com.

Mike San Miguel of MSM Motorsports wins the front wheel best time.

THE Lavazza team won the 2015 Vanderbilt Event with only four members: Duboin-Mah-

mooh, Madala-Bocchi.

The continuation on Giorgio’s account on how Zia and he agreed on how to play with their partnership agreement: “Italian Style: What should two players who never played together, who live far away and have different styles do in order to become a high level partnership?” (continuation) Phase 5. competitive bidding. I am used to playing transfers in competitive auctions, some universally known conventions and others which I believe have been invented by us Italians. Zia is not used to this. Together we discarded the most complicated agreements, and met half way through.

Phase 6. defense. I thought this was going to be the easy bit, since we had similar habits. The only difference is that I tend to give count, whilst Zia prefers attitude. I found out that this is Zia’s real passion: not only did he want to set the general philosophy, but he also wanted to go through a number of specific situations to agree variations. As a consequence, another bunch of pages got into the system. The most difficult part for me has been when, after saying that each defensive card has a meaning, he also added that he enjoys false carding to trick declarer and that I surely was going to get it right. Although I was flattered by his trust, this seemed tricky. However, I have to acknowledge that this forecast was nearly always accurate.

Phase 7. partnership style. How aggressive are we when we open? What are the criteria to preempt? Light overcalls? What does double mean in different situations? The fi rst three questions were easy to answer. We found out we have similar ideas and style: aggressive when unbalanced, sound when balanced, different preemptive criteria depending on vulnerability, aggressive- 1-level overcalls, constructive 2-level overcalls.

On the fourth issue we were really far apart: I proposed the Italian style, i.e. all doubles are for take out, except rare circumstances where it is obvious that they are for penalties. So “if you are not sure or if we have not discussed this situation, do not pass”. On the contrary, Zia said: “ Look, if they are going three off undoubled because the agreements did not allow me to double, I will not sleep at night”. So we agreed lots of take out doubles, but the approach became “if you are not sure or we have not discussed this situation, pass because they are going down”.

The fi rst two Nationals have gone well: we reached the semi fi nal of the 2014 Spingold and we came third in the 2014 Reisinger. Now we keep talking and playing on BBO to get ready for future tournaments, and I will report back the most interesting boards.

One last thought: now I think Zia is the most “Italian” player among the Pakistanis and I am the most “Pakistani” among the Italians.

-oOoAn interesting deal from the fi nal match Lavazza vs. Board 27, second segment of four.

Sometimes hand looks trivial, but suddenly a trill arises and unveils the harmony.

The Bocchi’s 6-4 two suiter major is more than enough to open in any position, not only in third, but it needs to be ready to undervalue it if the partner doesn’t give the suitable responses. After the 1♠ response by Madala, it becomes very enticing a jump to game or at least an inviting 3♠, but it wouldn’t be any harmonic. The matter is simple: to get game, North needs that South has at least good 9-10 points by heads; if South actually had such values, he shouldn’t pass, therefore needn’t neither jumps nor invites.

Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@yahoo.com

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

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RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

REUEL VIDAL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS

Floyd: Pacman is too reckless

WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. works out at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather will face WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in a unification bout on May 2 in Las Vegas. AFP

LAS VEGAS—Floyd Mayweather says it will be two “hall-of-famers” in their prime when he and Manny Pacquiao clash in the richest fight in boxing history on May 2 at the MGM Hotel.

In the only Las Vegas news conference he is giving ahead of fight week, Mayweather said Tuesday that he is not worried about spoiling his perfect 47-0 record.

“He’s a future hall-of-famer. I am a future hall-of-famer and we are meeting at the pinnacle of our careers,” Mayweather said.

“From the matchup, it is going to be a very exciting fight.

“Our styles are totally different. I fight with smarts. Every move is calculated. Every move is thought about.”

He also discussed how his training is progressing, Pacquiao’s strengths and weaknesses, retirement, and revealed that the thrill of

boxing is gone and that at this point in his career, it just feels like a job.

‘Over all of that stuff’ “No. I don’t enjoy it like I once did,” said Mayweather, who was fashionably late for his workout session.

“It is at a point where it is business. It is my job. I go to the gym.

I train. I know what I have to do,” he added, speaking from a tent outside his Las Vegas gym located in the middle of the desert city’s Chinatown district.

“There was a time when it was fun but I am to a point now where I am really over all of that stuff.”

The welterweight unification fight, which has been the subject

Pacers stay alive in race for playoffs TURN TO A12

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

of on-off negotiations for six years, will not only be the richest fight but it will go a long way towards determining who was the greatest fighter of the era.

The fight is expected to shatter records for total revenue with Mayweather earning about $120 million, while Pacquiao could receive about $80 million.

Mayweather did allow reporters to watch him work out Tuesday. He said he is trying to rekindle his passion for the sport by using some different training methods, like chopping wood and swimming laps.

“I can have a good day in the gym and the sparring partners can have a good day on me. That don’t count. It counts under the lights when it is for all the marbles,” he said.

Mayweather’s longevity in the sport has been attributed to his superb defensive skills.

Philips Gold Slammers turn back Lady Clickers TURN TO A15

The May 2 fight is expected to be decided by Mayweather’s brilliant counterpunching skills or Pacquiao’s blazing speed and power.

But Mayweather says he sees some flaws in the boxing style of Pacquiao.

‘Reckless fighter’ Mayweather described the 36-yearold Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) as a “reckless fighter” who takes too many chances, referring to Juan Manuel Marquez’s knockout of Pacman in December 2012.

“He fought very, very recklessly in the Marquez fight,” Mayweather said.

“I could have had the same type of career but my career wouldn’t have lasted this long.”

Mayweather is in the fifth fight of a six-fight contract with Showtime, and he says this year will be his last on the job.

“My last fight is in September,” he said.

Phil, James want kids to draw inspiration from Azkals

By Peter Atencio YOUNGHUSBAND brothers Phil and James said yesterday their upcoming stint in the preliminary joint qualification Round Two for the the 2018 FIFA World Cup is a source of inspiration.

The younger Phil, who regularly conducts football clinics with his brother James, said that he feels that this would encourage more kids to go into the sport and inspire them to work hard and someday represent the country in international play.

“We’re proud to represent the country. This will show kids that they have a future in football, and we want to produce good players who can be part of the national team,” said Phil, the main scorer of the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team.

The Azkals were put in Group H during the drawing of lots held

by FIFA in Kuala Lumpur last Tuesday, and were bunched with Uzbekistan, Bahrain, DPR Korea, and Yemen.

The Azkals are set to face Bahrain in their first encounter on June 11.

Group A is composed of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Timor-Leste, and Malaysia, while Group B will have Australia, Jordan, Tajikistan, Krygzstan, and Bangladesh.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

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THURSDAY: APRIL 16, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

PSe comPoSite index Closing April 15, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,906.46 150.03

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing APRIL 15, 2015 46

P44.540

45

CLOSE

44 43 42

HIGH P44.520 LOW P44.580 AVERAGE P44.555 VOLUME 549.800M

P508.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P38.40-P52.05 Unleaded Gasoline P26.90-P43.80 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P35.40-P39.15 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, April 15, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.6340

Japan

Yen

0.008373

0.3737

UK

Pound

1.477800

65.9601

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.129012

5.7583

Switzerland

Franc

1.028278

45.8962

Canada

Dollar

0.800705

35.7387

Singapore

Dollar

0.735510

32.8288

Australia

Dollar

0.764292

34.1134

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652661

118.3989

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266645

11.9014

Brunei

Dollar

0.732815

32.7085

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000077

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.030733

1.3717

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.1519

Euro

Euro

1.065400

47.5531

Korea

Won

0.000917

0.0409

China

Yuan

0.160984

7.1854

India

Rupee

0.016072

0.7174

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.270343

12.0665

New Zealand

Dollar

0.754091

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032054

33.6581 1.4307 Source: PDS Bridge

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business procedures. Officials of different government agencies and the National Competitiveness Council signed agreements, making

it easier to do business in the Philippines. From the current 16-step, 34-day process, the set of reforms will cut the system of starting a business to a simple six-step, eight-day process. Payroll-related payments will also be reduced from 36 to 13. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima (eighth from left) said the reforms aim to make the Philippines a better place to do business in.

Remittances rise 4.2%

By Julito G. Rada

MONEY sent home by millions of Filipinos working overseas grew 4.2 percent in February from a year ago, picking up from a meager 0.5-percent rise in January and fuelling expectations economic growth will remain robust this year.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said cash remittances reached $1.876 billion in February, up from $1.814 billion in January and $1.8 billion a year ago.

Remittances, which account for 8.5 percent of the gross domestic product, support various segments of the economy, including banking, real estate, education, transportation and tourism.

These overseas funds also fuel consumer spending in the country.

The February figure brought cash remittances in the first two months of 2015 to $3.69 billion, up 2.4 percent from $3.604 billion registered a year ago.

“In particular, cash remittances from land-based and sea-based workers rose to $2.8 billion and $0.9 billion, respectively. The bulk of cash remittances came

B3

from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and Japan,” Bangko Sentral said.

Personal remittances, which include non-cash items, grew 4 percent in February to $2.078

billion from $1.998 billion a year ago. This brought personal remittances in the first two months to $4.088 billion, or 2.1 percent higher than $4.005 billion recorded a year earlier.

“Personal remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, and migrants’ transfers totaled $3.1 billion. Meanwhile, those from sea-based and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year aggregated $1 billion,” Bangko Sentral said.

Bangko Sentral said the slowdown in remittance growth in recent months could be traced to base effect as remittances last year were relatively strong, given

the higher transfers intended for the rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts in Eastern Visayas, which was damaged by typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

Cash remittances posted a record $24.308 billion in 2014, or 5.8-percent higher than the $22.968 billion in 2013, on the back of sustained demand for skilled Filipino workers abroad.

The 2014 growth surpassed Bangko Sentral’s 5.5-percent growth projection for the year. It also accounted for 8.5 percent of gross domestic product last year.

Personal remittances also grew 6.2 percent in 2014 to a record $26.9 billion from $25.3 billion in 2013.

MPIC buys P26.5-b stake in Meralco

By Jenniffer B. Austria INFRASTRUCTURE conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. said Wednesday it will increase its direct interest in distributor Manila Electric Co. by another 10 percent for P26.5 billion.

Metro Pacific said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Beacon Electric Asset Holdings

Stocks dip 1.9% on profit taking

B4

Inc., a special purpose company jointly owned by Metro Pacific and PLDT Communications and Energy Ventures, had agreed to sell 112.71 million shares, representing 10 percent of Meralco at a price of P235 per share.

The P235 per share selling price represents an 11-percent discount to Meralco’s closing price of P263.80 Tuesday.

PCEV is a holding company

Malampaya repair completed

whose primary asset is its holdings in Meralco, now held indirectly through Beacon, while MPIC is the country’s largest infrastructure investment management and holding company.

Metro Pacific said it obtained P25-billion long-term facilities from Bank of the Philippine Islands, Philippine National Bank and BDO Unibank Inc. to fund the acquisition of the shares.

B6

Geothermal plant expansion on

THURSDAY: APRIL 16, 2015

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BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Wednesday, april 15, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 104 63 2.49 4.2 18.48 31.6 9.5 0.92 2.95 890 1.01 99.4 1.46 30.5 75 94.95 137 361.2 59 174.8 1700 127.9 3.26

2.5 66 84.6 84.5 45.8 1.97 2.03 12.02 23.55 6.3 0.74 1.75 625 0.225 78 0.9 18.02 58 76.5 95 276 45 107.6 1200 66 2.65

AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

PB Bank Phil Bank of Comm Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A’ Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

7.2 70.85 118.50 105.40 46.5 2.33 2.15 16.4 24.45 8.65 0.72 1.79 760.00 0.425 99 0.98 18.24 31.00 77.00 94.9 328 45.5 177 1365.00 70.30 3.07

35.6 1.6 1.04 1.41 7.92 40.3 14.6 62.5 10.08 29.15 1.04 10.72 8.44 9.79 5.43 9.54 1.06 8.61 18.06 67.9 14 0.0076 13.24 3.12 0.395 168 8.65 34.1 2.3 1.63 16 24.4 16.2 7.62 250.2 3.87 9 3.7 9.94 3.03 2.22 1 4.72 6 201.6 1.67 0.122 1.02 2.01 143.4 4.28 0.670 1.39

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group Bogo Medelin Century Food Chemphil Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab Federal Res. Inv. Group First Gen Corp.

First Holdings ‘A’ Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp.

Lafarge Rep Liberty Flour LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl Macay Holdings Manila Water Co. Inc. Maxs Group Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A’ Pepsi-Cola Products Phil.

Petron Corporation Phil H2O Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils.

Phoenix Semiconductor Pryce Corp. `A’ RFM Corporation Roxas Holdings San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

44 1.68 1.1 2.01 12 48.4 19.38 150 34 61.5 1.78 12.78 18.300 11.46 8.21 9.88 2.04 23.4 29.3 95.2 15.20 0.4700 14.50 6.2 0.590 216.80 9.1 33.60 2.54 3.01 53.00 26.55 24.55 7.710 263.80 4.11 9.92 4.45 11.64 4.08 2.51 3 4.98 6.55 202 1.72 0.170 1.38 2.20 219 4.5 0.69 1.47

0.45 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 1.210 1.4 1.6 600 7.390 14.18 4.25 0.144 818 5.3 46.6 3.52 4.43 0.59 12 0.580 4.22 4.5 0.036 0.450 2.26 66.7 709.5 1.13 0.93 85.2 0.200 0.173 0.310

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A’ Asia Amalgamated A ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Keppel Holdings `B’ Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Mabuhay Holdings `A’ Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Minerales Industrias Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Orion Republic Glass ‘A’ San Miguel Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.460 58.00 27.25 1.30 7.00 1.74 0.28 0.29 798.5 8.55 15.50 4.58 0.325 1370 6.13 74.85 4.82 8.91 0.77 16 0.65 4.54 5.2 0.0400 0.770 2.45 71.10 940.00 1.21 0.88 103.90 0.4000 0.2420 0.315

47 5 1.66 2.36 15.3 113 20.6 125 32 65.8 4.57 23.35 21.6 12.98 9.13 12.34 2.89 17 31.8 109 20.75 0.820 15.3 9.4 0.98 241 12.5 79 3.95 4 45.45 33.9 90 13.98 292.4 5.25 13.04 6.8 14.5 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.68 8.1 253 3.28 0.315 2.5 2.68 226.6 5.5 1.3 2.17

High

Low

FINANCIAL 7.65 7.1 70.95 70 119.40 115.00 105.40 103.60 46.6 46.4 2.29 2.28 2.26 2.20 16.4 16.1 24.85 24.3 8.65 8.26 0.72 0.7 1.68 1.67 765.00 750.00 0.425 0.420 99.15 95.8 0.97 0.97 18.24 18.22 31.50 31.00 77.15 74.50 94 94 335 320 45.9 44.95 176.5 168.5 1410.00 1350.00 70.30 69.75 3.07 3.03 INDUSTRIAL 44 43.15 1.74 1.64 1.1 1.05 2.01 1.98 12.2 11.72 47.3 47.3 19.6 18 196 141 35.3 32.5 63 61.5 1.79 1.74 13.12 12.74 18.600 18 11.48 11.24 8.21 7.80 9.84 9.60 2.03 1.88 24.8 19.1 29.3 27.9 96.5 93.85 15.18 14.08 0.4600 0.4500 14.30 14.20 6.22 6.1 0.600 0.580 215.60 210.00 9.14 9 33.60 33.55 2.63 2.55 3.01 2.52 54.00 53.00 26.9 26.45 24.6 23.75 8.000 7.550 262.80 261.00 4.14 4.08 9.90 9.75 4.45 4.45 11.60 11.48 4.08 4.00 2.51 2.46 3.1 2.85 5.04 4.98 6.56 6.4 202 201.6 1.7 1.66 0.171 0.169 1.38 1.38 2.20 2.15 219 213 4.5 4.5 0.69 0.67 1.49 1.45 HOLDING FIRMS 0.465 0.460 58.00 57.00 27.25 2.80 1.36 1.30 7.05 7.00 1.74 1.74 0.28 0.27 0.26 0.26 798.5 786.5 8.56 8.38 15.54 15.28 4.50 4.46 0.320 0.300 1395 1312 6.12 6.12 75.70 69.80 4.8 4.8 8.91 8.58 0.8 0.76 16.64 16 0.65 0.63 4.77 4.58 5.1 5.1 0.0400 0.0400 0.760 0.750 2.44 2.44 71.55 69.50 945.50 910.00 1.21 1.20 0.88 0.87 106.50 102.50 0.4000 0.3800 0.2450 0.2330 0.315 0.315 PROPERTY 8.880 8.600 0.89 0.88 1.290 1.290 0.240 0.240 40.70 39.00

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

7.11 70.85 118.00 104.20 46.4 2.28 2.26 16.2 24.35 8.26 0.7 1.68 765.00 0.420 97.2 0.97 18.22 31.00 74.50 94 330 45.6 168.5 1350.00 69.75 3.03

-1.25 0.00 -0.42 -1.14 -0.22 -2.15 5.12 -1.22 -0.41 -4.51 -2.78 -6.15 0.66 -1.18 -1.82 -1.02 -0.11 0.00 -3.25 -0.95 0.61 0.22 -4.80 -1.10 -0.78 -1.30

44,300 15,160 2,904,990 1,448,620 29,300 23,000 10,000 46,200 1,286,400 42,300 594,000 12,000 960 270,000 6,293,140 61,000 44,500 1,800 874,370 600 6,620 18,600 862,030 980 27,690 45,000

43.25 1.74 1.1 1.98 11.8 47.3 18.32 194 35.3 61.5 1.79 12.96 18.520 11.48 7.96 9.71 1.88 19.6 28.3 94 15.12 0.4500 14.20 6.1 0.580 211.00 9.09 33.60 2.55 2.86 54.00 26.5 24.15 7.900 262.40 4.11 9.80 4.45 11.60 4.00 2.47 2.87 5.01 6.4 201.8 1.66 0.170 1.38 2.15 214 4.5 0.67 1.45

-1.70 3.57 0.00 -1.49 -1.67 -2.27 -5.47 29.33 3.82 0.00 0.56 1.41 1.20 0.17 -3.05 -1.72 -7.84 -16.24 -3.41 -1.26 -0.53 -4.26 -2.07 -1.61 -1.69 -2.68 -0.11 0.00 0.39 -4.98 1.89 -0.19 -1.63 2.46 -0.53 0.00 -1.21 0.00 -0.34 -1.96 -1.59 -4.33 0.60 -2.29 -0.10 -3.49 0.00 0.00 -2.27 -2.28 0.00 -2.90 -1.36

4,969,200 5,000 1,623,000 2,421,000 12,400 100 1,783,500 400 640,800 221,390 222,000 482,800 10,250,200 1,608,800 60,261,900 900,800 89,000 1,505,600 6,606,400 260,870 11,700 240,000 14,300 999,200 335,000 964,740 627,400 1,100 31,000 32,000 1,880 619,500 996,400 358,600 487,460 1,988,000 3,170,900 3,000 10,200 528,000 888,000 92,800 4,959,000 6,000 5,760 167,000 2,460,000 7,000 2,371,000 3,346,340 6,000 762,000 681,000

0.465 58.00 26.00 1.36 7.05 1.74 0.27 0.26 791 8.4 15.30 4.46 0.315 1346 6.12 71.00 4.8 8.72 0.76 16.18 0.63 4.77 5.1 0.0400 0.760 2.44 69.55 925.50 1.20 0.87 102.50 0.3850 0.2440 0.315

1.09 0.00 -4.59 4.62 0.71 0.00 -1.82 -10.34 -0.94 -1.75 -1.29 -2.62 -3.08 -1.75 -0.16 -5.14 -0.41 -2.13 -1.30 1.13 -3.08 5.07 -1.92 0.00 -1.30 -0.41 -2.18 -1.54 -0.83 -1.14 -1.35 -3.75 0.83 0.00

270,000 926,030 14,769,100 48,000 39,000 20,000 1,540,000 500,000 580,060 4,419,500 10,247,200 70,000 770,000 512,805 1,000 4,312,180 1,000 2,139,600 1,093,000 2,092,300 1,871,000 56,666,000 105,000 8,000,000 926,000 5,000 724,200 286,620 133,000 150,000 12,630 10,100,000 160,000 340,000

-6,831.00 1,042,046.50 -116,263,651.00 76,460,623.00 -427,800.00 -335,300.00 -20,105.00

612,000.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

6.15 5.4 1.54 1.97 1.48 0.201 0.98 1.09 0.305 2.25 1.87 1.8 4.88 0.180 0.470 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 3.6 20.6 1.02 7.56 1.96 8.59

4.1 4.96 0.89 1.1 0.97 0.083 0.445 0.85 0.188 1.4 1.42 1.19 2.75 0.090 0.325 0.39 2.57 21.35 1.64 3.08 15.08 0.69 3.38 1 5.69

Belle Corp. `A’ Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A’ Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld Corp.

MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp.

Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

Robinson’s Land `B’ Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 12.46 15.82 0.1460 4.61 99.1 12.3 2.6 9 1700 2090 8.41 1.97 119.5 7 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 2.85 2.2 3.2 1.97 2.46 15.2 0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 18 110.2 14 3486 0.710 2.28 48.5 90.1 11.6 0.87 2.95 10.2 1.6

1.97 32.5 1 0.6 10 9.61 0.0770 2.95 46.55 10.14 1.6 5.88 830 1600 5.95 1.36 105 3.01 8.72 0.012 0.036 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.69 1.1 2 0.490 1.8 8.7 0.34 0.37 14.54 3 8.8 79 4.39 2726 0.380 0.32 31.45 60.55 7.59 0.63 1.71 6.45 1.04

2GO Group’ ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Asian Terminals Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp.

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Centro Esc. Univ.

Discovery World DFNN Inc. FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ IPeople Inc. `A’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Macroasia Corp.

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Phil. Racing Club Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.2 1.73 10.98 4.2 0.48 0.455 0.475 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 0.021 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9 0.016

0.0043 1.72 8.65 0.236 6.5 6.98 0.61 0.78 5.99 1.08 0.330 0.2130 0.2160 0.014 3.660 20.2 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 0.013 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67 0.0100

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

Benguet Corp `A’ Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Oriental Pet. `B’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum United Paragon

70 553 525 8.21 12.28

33 490 500 5.88 6.5

1047 76.9 84.8 1.34

1011 74.2 75 1

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ Ayala Corp. Pref ‘B2’ GMA Holdings Inc. Leisure and Resort PCOR-Preferred B PF Pref 2 SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred C Swift Pref

High

Low

Close

4.31 5.21 0.95 1.20 1.01 0.158 0.460 0.880 0.193 1.50 2.02 1.47 5.5 0.129 0.3500 0.5300 7.89 29.00 1.76 3.14 20.50 0.82 7.52 1.040 8.100

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

4.3 4.24 4.27 5.27 5.1 5.17 0.96 0.92 0.93 1.21 1.20 1.20 1.02 1.01 1.02 0.165 0.158 0.160 0.455 0.455 0.455 0.880 0.880 0.880 0.193 0.190 0.190 1.54 1.42 1.46 2.03 1.90 1.92 1.45 1.43 1.45 5.52 5.25 5.33 0.135 0.126 0.128 0.3500 0.3500 0.3500 0.5200 0.5200 0.5200 7.93 7 7 29.30 28.75 29.10 1.76 1.76 1.76 3.24 3.11 3.22 20.60 19.54 19.86 0.79 0.81 0.78 7.53 7.53 7.53 1.080 1.040 1.040 8.090 7.880 8.000 SERVICES 6.79 6.85 6.38 6.48 63.6 64.2 62.5 62.5 1.04 1.03 1.03 1.03 0.690 0.700 0.690 0.700 14 14 13.5 13.5 12.04 12.02 11.32 11.32 0.1140 0.1150 0.1130 0.1130 3.5 3.5 3.26 3.44 83.9 84.45 82.1 82.5 10.06 10.06 10.02 10.02 1.72 1.83 1.72 1.83 7.00 7.00 6.80 6.90 985 1200 995 995 2270 2278 2190 2190 6.53 6.58 6.50 6.50 1.54 1.54 1.50 1.53 108 110.4 107 107.6 9.90 9.00 8.00 8.00 11.9 11.9 11.22 11.22 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.234 0.233 0.223 0.227 1.2600 1.2600 1.2500 1.2500 2.63 2.64 2.63 2.64 8.71 8.95 8.55 8.55 2.05 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.34 1.34 1.32 1.34 2.11 2.25 2.10 2.25 0.690 0.690 0.680 0.680 2 2 1.98 2 10.46 10.34 9.8 10.08 0.365 0.360 0.355 0.360 0.470 0.470 0.465 0.465 18.64 18.58 15.32 18.32 4.46 4.46 4.46 4.46 9 9 9 9 110.90 112.00 111.00 111.00 14.18 14.28 14.10 14.26 2920.00 2924.00 2888.00 2900.00 0.610 0.620 0.600 0.600 1.680 1.680 1.600 1.600 39.50 39.50 38.80 39.05 86.00 86.50 84.45 85.00 9.90 9.98 9.60 9.66 0.67 0.67 0.65 0.65 2.03 1.89 1.87 1.87 6.77 6.87 6.5 6.55 1.330 1.350 1.350 1.350 MINING & OIL 0.0058 0.0058 0.0056 0.0058 2.79 2.61 2.60 2.60 8.30 8.32 8.10 8.21 0.260 0.255 0.255 0.255 7.0000 7.0000 6.9800 6.9800 6.9800 6.9800 6.9800 6.9800 1.09 1.08 1.07 1.07 0.92 0.91 0.89 0.9 7.87 7.96 7.71 7.88 1.94 1.98 1.88 1.94 0.420 0.420 0.385 0.395 0.237 0.238 0.231 0.231 0.244 0.244 0.239 0.243 0.0140 0.0150 0.0140 0.0140 4.31 4.29 3.88 4.03 22 21.9 18.96 19 3.6 3.76 3.6 3.68 0.7200 0.7200 0.7200 0.7200 2.110 2.110 2.100 2.100 0.0130 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 5.78 5.80 5.80 5.80 6.69 6.8 6.65 6.65 2.01 2.09 1.88 1.95 0.015 0.016 0.015 0.016 166.70 166.70 162.00 162.00 4.1 4.16 4.06 4.06 0.0100 0.0110 0.0110 0.0110 PREFERRED 64.6 64.8 63.8 63.8 516 515 515 515 524 523 522 522 6.3 6.63 6.36 6.36 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 1105 1100 1070 1090 1047 1046 1046 1046 76.2 76.2 75.95 76.2 84.75 84.75 84.5 84.75 4.05 3.11 3.05 3.11 WARRANTS & BONDS 4.100 4.150 3.850 3.970 SME 9.1 9.45 8.61 8.61 6.2 7.42 6.01 7 72.7 72.7 72.5 72.7 9.54 9.58 9.27 9.3 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 131 131.5 127.8 128.6

-0.93 -0.77 -2.11 0.00 0.99 1.27 -1.09 0.00 -1.55 -2.67 -4.95 -1.36 -3.09 -0.78 0.00 -1.89 -11.28 0.34 0.00 2.55 -3.12 -3.66 0.13 0.00 -1.23

1,495,000 401,200 10,225,000 229,000 264,000 73,260,000 420,000 16,000 1,210,000 3,374,000 48,545,000 265,000 128,647,900 2,040,000 50,000 10,000 865,600 11,286,500 109,000 267,000 25,816,600 6,120,000 5,000 213,000 3,274,700

3,203,700.00 215,059.00 1,799,250.00 24,200.00

-4.57 -1.73 -0.96 1.45 -3.57 -5.98 -0.88 -1.71 -1.67 -0.40 6.40 -1.43 1.02 -3.52 -0.46 -0.65 -0.37 -19.19 -5.71 0.00 -2.99 -0.79 0.38 -1.84 -2.44 0.00 6.64 -1.45 0.00 -3.63 -1.37 -1.06 -1.72 0.00 0.00 0.09 0.56 -0.68 -1.64 -4.76 -1.14 -1.16 -2.42 -2.99 -7.88 -3.25 1.50

195,900 12,020 6,000 841,000 32,100 17,288,300 8,730,000 1,441,000 989,310 2,600 5,000 160,100 1,020 71,670 71,400 680,000 3,612,930 39,300 2,900 4,300,000 7,180,000 172,000 38,000 332,900 2,000 120,000 4,000 9,000 694,000 5,491,800 730,000 120,000 18,800 18,000 5,000 3,500 458,100 142,150 703,000 13,516,000 2,614,600 1,989,470 5,298,600 5,840,000 7,000 2,296,400 2,000

0.00 -6.81 -1.08 -1.92 -0.29 0.00 -1.83 -2.17 0.13 0.00 -5.95 -2.53 -0.41 0.00 -6.50 -13.64 2.22 0.00 -0.47 0.00 0.00 0.35 -0.60 -2.99 6.67 -2.82 -0.98 10.00

1,231,000,000 29,000.00 37,000 13,000.00 494,500 60,000 13,500 13,900 555,000 357,000 69,000 20,749,000 1,601,200.00 8,180,000 20,000.00 9,880,000 1,660,000 70,200,000 1,582,000 73,960.00 20,506,900 -15,830,084.00 5,078,000 1,674,000 120,000 -25,250.00 3,100,000 100,000 2,700 1,081,100 -609,190.00 471,000 -3,860.00 186,800,000 47,000.00 1,074,750 -26,785,944.00 7,000 300,000

-1.24 -0.19 -0.38 0.95 0.00 -1.36 -0.10 0.00 0.00 -23.21

1,028,330 1,550 6,100 25,500 78,000 195 5,250 88,110 332,360 35,000

-88,550.00 -91,000.00 5,700.00 -2,397,470.00 -4,203,180.00 -353,029,690.00 -17,270.00

MST

0.7 59.2 31.85 2.16 7.39 2.27 3.4 3.35 800 11.06 84 5.14 0.66 1380 6.68 72.6 6.66 9.25 0.9 18.9 0.73 5.53 6.55 0.0670 0.84 2.99 87 934 2.2 1.39 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 1.99 2.07 0.375 40

Close

6.01 0.91 1.29 0.192 29.1

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Arthaland Corp.

Ayala Land `B’

Trading Summary FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

SHARES 16,983,616 122,272,207 144,843,268 339,480,313 91,517,062 1,565,352,568 2,286,788,054

8.870 0.89 1.300 0.260 40.60

8.780 0.88 1.290 0.240 39.45

-1.01 -1.12 -0.77 -7.69 -2.83

-86,324,173.00

547,200.00

-19,666,320.50

1,926,740.00 653,140.00 -72,204,089.00 520,600.00 -41,970.00 -42,240.00 4,920.00 19,900.00

4,935,242.00 -1,940.00 -214,070.00 758,807.00

801,074.00 -44,561,692.00 -1,383,982.00 -186,097,799.00 -1,388,920.00 19,000.00 -111,460.00 -56,638,470.00 -6,554,240.50 27,000.00 -96,640.00 307,500.00 -600.00 -38,681,750.00 -3,273,002.00

11,821,885.00 -8,502,240.00 -1,404,112.00 -49,128,094.00 2,774,060.00 -2,914,367.00

-8,060.00 9,890.00 -5,720.00 1,923,780.00 -306,762.00

-11,900.00

55,000.00 -33,733,056.00 27,000.00 6,800.00

-14,261,691.50 -206,186,515.00

130,599,270.00 14,356,742.00 65,507,748.00 22,500.00 -35,200.00 -313,599,920.00 6,120.00 -31,181,219.00 3,401,856.00

1,868,848.00

90,436,990.00

-5,339,408.50 10,947,750.00 -35,360.00 38,000.00

823,400 2,216,425.00 393,000 -2,640.00 4,000 150,000 16,944,800 -100,922,145.00

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

10.96 15 88 12.88

2.4 3.5 13.5 5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

Double Dragon Makati Fin. Corp.

IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,701,177,163.29 2,505,320,510.86 2,892,847,306.72 2,486,985,250.39 1,833,985,250.39 57,660.008.00 12,153,652,848.5

197,286,030.00

-140,163,762.00

-11,813,112.00 12,940.00

364,500.00 42,238,546.00 -39,405,178.50

-372,600.00 2,678,240.00

-80,080.00 18,321,270.00

-556,260.00

263,950.00

67,000.00 -304,740.00 -9,726,609.00 3,550.00

31,422.00

307,150.00 305,192.00 -105,005,430.00

7,952,040.00 -34,456,920.00 -17,538,496.50 -14,770,343.00 -1,494,090.00

-533,450.00

651,286.50

49,812.00

-3,992,625.00 -14,366,050.00

-3.17

363,000

-5.38 12.90 0.00 -2.52

4,322,500 103,900 1,510 1,888,100

1,059,478.00

-1.83

23,010

38,870.00

2,642,506.00

T op L oSerS

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,852.05 (down) 26.26 INDUSTRIAL 12,293.71 (DOWN) 220.99 HOLDING FIRMS 7,078.72 (DOWN) 133.62 PROPERTY 3,168.69 (DOWN) 85.19 SERVICES 2,138.58 (DOWN) 32.13 MINING & OIL 14,349.14 (DOWN) 617.55 PSEI 7,906.46 (DOWN) 150.03 All Shares Index 4,520.89 (DOWN) 85.03 Gainers: 41; Losers: 158; Unchanged: 35; Total: 234

5,200.00

Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Chemphil

194

29.33

Swift Pref

3.11

-23.21

Makati Fin. Corp.

7

12.90

Imperial Res. `A'

8.00

-19.19

United Paragon

0.0110

10.00

Federal Res. Inv. Group

19.6

-16.24

Philodrill Corp. `A'

0.016

6.67

Nickelasia

19

-13.64

Macroasia Corp.

2.25

6.64

Primex Corp.

7

-11.28

Discovery World

1.83

6.40

ATN Holdings B

0.26

-10.34

Bright Kindle Resources

2.26

5.12

Transpacific Broadcast

1.87

-7.88

Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

4.77

5.07

Euro-Med Lab

1.88

-7.84

Anglo Holdings A

1.36

4.62

Arthaland Corp.

0.240

-7.69

Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

35.3

3.82

Apex `A'

2.60

-6.81

THURSDAY: APRIL 16, 2015

B3

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks dip 1.9% on profit taking STOCKS sank the most in four months, as investors took profit on concerns the deepening slowdown in China’s economy will hurt Philippine exports.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, fell 150 points, or 1.9 percent, to close at 7,906.46 Wednesday. It was the benchmark’s biggest single-day loss since Dec. 17, 2014. The equity gauge has retreated 2.7 percent since April 10 when it rose to a record.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also retreated 85 points, or 1.9 percent, to settle at 4,520.89 on value turnover of P12.2 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 158 to 41, while 35 issues were unchanged.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. bucked the downtrend, as it rose 5.1 percent to P4.77, after it announced the acquisition of additional 10-percent stake in distributor Manila Electric

Co. Developer Robinsons Land Corp. added 0.3 percent to close at P29.10.

Nickel Asia Corp., the country’s largest nickel miner, plunged 13.6 percent to P19. Casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. shed 6 percent to P11.32. JG Summit Holdings Inc. fell 5.2 percent to P71 while Alliance Global Group Inc. dropped 4.6 percent to P26.

Meanwhile, equity markets in Hong Kong and Shanghai ticked higher Wednesday but Shanghai sank after a further slowdown in Chinese economic growth, while Tokyo edged down on a stronger yen.

Disappointing US retail sales dampened hopes for an early interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve, causing a drag on the dol-

lar, while the euro was supported by upbeat eurozone figures.

Shanghai tumbled 1.24 percent, or 51.40 points, to 4,084.16 and in late trade Hong Kong was up 0.39 percent. Tokyo ended down 0.20 percent, or 38.92 points, at 19,869.76, Sydney fell 0.64 percent, or 38.15 points, to close at 5,908.4 and Seoul rose 0.39 percent, or 8.24 points, to 2,119.96.

China said the world’s number two economy expanded 7 percent in the first three months of 2015, slightly better than forecast in a survey by AFP but much slower than October-December. It was also the worst for a single quarter since the first three months of 2009, in the depths of the global financial crisis.

The figures are the latest to highlight a slowdown in the economy and will likely increase expectations Beijing will announce more stimulus on top of two interest rate hikes since November. With AFP, Bloomberg

Easier check. Maybank Philippines Inc. signed a check cutting services agreement with courier and money transfer firm LBC Express Inc. to streamline the latter’s check preparation and releasing transactions.

Shown during the signing ceremony are (from left) MPI CMS head Conrado Castillo, MPI transaction banking head Martin Tirol, LBC chief finance officer Oscar Torres and LBC comptroller Jennifer Villena.

Nickel Asia’s production surges 95%

By Anna Leah Estrada NICKEL Asia Corp. said Wednesday the value of nickel production surged 95 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, on strong demand following Indonesia’s ban on ore exports.

Nickel Asia said the value of nickel ore shipped from the company’s four operating mines reached P2.84 billion in the January-March period, up from P1.46 billion recorded in the same period last year.

Volume of shipments also grew 32 percent to 3.49 million wet metric tons from 2.65 million wet metric tons a year earlier.

Nickel Asia said the Rio Tuba mine shipped 1.1 million wet metric tons of saprolite ore and

841,000 WMT of limonite ore to the Coral Bay plant.

The Taganito mine shipped 201,000 WMT saprolite ore and 2.15 million WMT of limonite ore to the Taganito plant.

The company’s Taganaan mine shipped 160,000 wet metric tons of limonite ore while the Cagdianao mine delivered 53,000 WMT of saprolite ore.

“While oil prices on the average held well in the first quarter of this year, we’ve been seeing nickel LME and ore prices trending down,” said Nickel Asia president and chief executive Gerard Brimo.

“It appears that the constraint in ore supply following the ban on ore exports in Indonesia has not been sufficient to provide significant price support due

to the current weak demand across all commodities,” Brimo said.

Meanwhile, the company said the Montelago geothermal project in Mindoro Oriental received a new volumetric assessment report from Iceland Geosurvey, the consultant of project proponent Emerging Power Inc. The company said the new assessment report resulted in an increase in the Montelago geothermal resource to a range of 28 to 30 megawatts over a 25-year period.

“As a result, the board of directors approved the conversion of its one-year P446 million loan to equity in EPI corresponding to an initial ownership of 55 percent,” Nickel Asia said.

Military vs. corporate change of command LAST January’s encounter between troopRUDY ROMERO ers of the Philippine National Police and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front claimed many casualties, some major and some minor. One of the major casualties, to my mind, was the mystique surrounding the chain of command of this country’s military establishment.

The military chain-of-command concept has always been regarded by the Filipino people with something approaching awe. The appearance of rigorous discipline and firmly hierarchical structures has always filled the people of this country with admiration and respect.

The phrase ‘chain of command’ has always conjured images of a body of highly trained men and women unquestionably following orders from individuals situated higher on a ladder built on superior rank.

Not anymore. After the amazing revelations regarding the 44 Special Action Force troopers’ Jan. 25 rendezvous with fate, ‘chain of command’ is no longer regarded with awe. The phrase, so dear to the military establishment, has effectively been demystified.

Consider the things that happened along the way since Dec. 9, 2014, when the Constitutionally mandated Commander-in-Chief of the nation’s armed forces—note the lower-case ‘a’ in armed—the President of the Philippines, met with PNP Director-General Alan Purisima, PNP Chief Superintendent Mendez and SAF commanding officer Getulio Napenas Jr. at Malacanang Park. It would have been perfectly natural for President Noy to meet with the two PNP officers who were most knowledgeable about Oplan Exodus, which was intended to take out international terrorist Marwan and another homegrown terrorist.

But Purisima was not just a PNP director-general: he was a suspended director-general. Until its definition is changed, suspension will mean, legally as well as operationally, deprivation of authority to perform official functions.

That was the first violation of the chain-of-command concept, and it was committed by no one other than the Commander-in-chief.

In effect, the Commander-in-chief rewrote the Constitution, which states that governmental functions can be performed only by persons possessed of authority.

The second violation of the chain-of-command concept was the decision taken by suspended Director-General Purisima, apparently acting on his own, to keep the civilian head of the PNP, Secretary of Interior and Local Government Mar Roxas and PNP officer-in-charge Espina, out of the Oplan Exodus loop. Thus, two links were removed from the military chain. Because Purisima was officially non-existent during his suspension, the chain of command now ran directly from PNoy to General Napenas.

The third violation of the chain of command was the decision of Napenas, acting according to his impression, to cast his lot with General Purisima and to not inform his OIC superior, Gen. Espina, about Oplan Exodus. There can be neither explanation nor justification for Napenas’ action vis a vis Gen. Espina. In acting as he did, Napenas in effect rewrote the chain-of-command rules, making them a matter of personal judgment rather than of established protocols.

With all that has been learned about the Mamasapano fiasco, the ordinary Filipino cannot be blamed if he asks what on earth is going on in the armed forces—the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines—of this country. Indeed, what on earth is going on? The Commander-in-Chief in effect activating a suspended officer, key elements of the chain of command being left out of the operations loop and a key officer openly disregarding a superior: truly, the chain-ofcommand concept is in shambles.

By contrast, the chain-of-command concept of the business world makes no claim to being special, or being in a class by itself, but it is effective and it provides accountability. There is a chief executive officer (whether a chairman/CEO or a president/CEO) or an executive vice president, and below him, in declining sequence, are vice presidents for different facets of a company’s operations, assistant vice presidents and department managers.

The lines of authority and reporting in the world of business are clear and straight. They are lines of command. Indeed, perhaps the nation’s armed forces should rename their authority structures lines of command rather than chains of command. Lines don’t develop slack, whereas chains do, as the Mamasapano affair has shown.

I have never been overly impressed by the military establishment’s chain-of-command concept. After the decisions taken by PNoy, Alan Purisima and Getulio Napenas Jr. in recent weeks, I find myself impressed even less.

I’ll stick to the corporate vision of the chain of command.

BUSINESS CLASS

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

B4

BUSINESS

Best CEO.

Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc.’s corporate governance practices were recognized in the 5th Asian Excellence Award 2015 given by Hong Kong-based publication Corporate Governance Asia at JW Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong.

Shown receiving the award for Asia’s Best CEO (Investor Relations is Vista Land president and chief executive Manuel Paolo Villar (left) from Corporate Governance Asia founder, managing director and publisher Aldrin Monsod.

Villar, together with Vista Land investor relations head Brian Edang also received the Best Investor Relations Company award.

Malampaya repair completed Lafarge opens new cement mill in Rizal

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales LAFARGE Republic Inc. on Wednesday inaugurated a new P892million cement mill at its Teresa plant in Rizal province, increasing the plant’s production capacity by more than 50 percent.

Lafarge said the new grinding mill could produce 850,000 tons of cement annually, a 50-percent increase in capacity that is expected to bring the Teresa plant’s annual production to 2 million metric tons.

“We aim to keep country abreast with the latest cement production technologies and support its growth,” said Lafarge Republic president Renato Sunico.

Sunico said Lafarge contracted Fives FCB to build the fully-automatic, zero-water spray consumption, energy-efficient and zeronoise pollution FCB Horomill.

About 30 percent of the Teresa plant’s energy requirement is sourced from its waste heat recovery system, which utilizes excess heat from the plant and generates 4.5 megawatts of electricity.

“In line with Lafarge’s sustainability ambition 2020 to reduce its CO2 emissions by 33 percent and use 50 percent of non-fossil fuels in our cement plants, we aim to pursue growth that positively impacts both the economy and the environment,” Sunico said.

Lafarge has an established presence in the Philippines through Lafarge Holdings Inc. and its associated companies which include Lafarge Republic Inc., Lafarge Iligan Inc., Lafarge Mindanao Inc., Lafarge Republic Aggregates Corp. and Lafarge Cement Services Inc.

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Malampaya natural gas platform has resumed natural gas deliveries to three of the country’s largest power plants, after undergoing a one-month repair without disrupting power supply in Luzon.

“The service contract operator has reported the completion of the Malampaya turnaround activities on schedule and has started natural gas deliveries for Sta. Rita, San Lorenzo and Ilijan [power plants],” Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said in a statement Wednesday.

The Sta. Rita, San Lorenzo and Ilijan natural gas plants supply a combined 40 percent of Luzon’s power requirements. The three natural gas plants in Batangas have a combined capacity of 2,700 megawatts.

The resumption of the natural gas deliveries eased fears of power blackout in Luzon during the dry season, even as data from the Energy Department showed power demand peaked at 8,271 megawatts early this week.

The department said as of Tuesday, the Luzon grid recorded this year’s highest peak demand at 8,271 MW. “Based on the projection, increasing demand is expected in the coming months particularly in May where historically the country reaches highest demand,” the department said.

Demand historically goes up during the dry season, due to high temperature. The dry season also reduces the capacity of hydro power plants.

Petilla advised the public to continue practicing energy efficiency and conservation measures amid the anticipated increase in demand, despite the resumption of Malampaya gas deliveries.

The department said it would also closely coordinate with en-

PE TI L L A ergy stakeholders to ensure the stable supply of electricity.

Luzon is forecasted to have reserves of around 1,500 MW until Friday. Power reserves are expected to go up to 1,841 MW on Saturday and 2,350 MW on Sunday.

Power rates of Manila Electric Co. went up by P0.27 per kilowatt-hour in April due to the Malampaya shutdown.

Meralco said electricity consumers could expect an increase in the generation charge in their May bills due to the continuing effect of the Malampaya shutdown.

EDC’s 150-MW wind project secures fixed power supply rates POWER producer Energy Development Corp. said its 150-megawatt wind project in Burgos, Ilocos Norte can now supply power at a fixed rate of P8.53 per kilowatthour, after securing a certificate of compliance from the government regulator.

EDC said the Energy Regulatory Commission issued COC No. 15-04-M-00005L to wholly-owned subsidiary EDC Burgos Wind Power Corp., allowing it to avail

of the feed-in-tariff rate for wind projects.

The Burgos wind project is the largest wind farm in the Philippines, consisting of 50 units of the Vestas V90 wind turbine generators which have a rated capacity of 3 MW each. It could generate about 370 gigawatts every year and avoid an estimated 200,000 tons of carbon emissions.

The feed-in tariff rate, or the special rate given to renewable en-

ergy producers, is usually higher than the rates enjoyed by traditional power producers.

“The COC specifies that the project, having a total capacity of 150 MW, is entitled to the feed-in tariff rate of P8.53 [per kWh], subject to adjustments as may be approved by the ERC, from Nov. 11, 2014 to Nov. 10, 2034,” EDC said.

ERC earlier granted EDC a provisional authority to operate on Dec. 18, 2014, after obtaining the

certificate of endorsement for feedin-tariff eligibility from the Energy Department.

The COE for FiT eligibility was issued by the department after validating the project’s successful commissioning. All power generation firms are mandated to get a compliance certificate from the regulator.

“The transparent and predictable regulatory regime we have in the Philippines should encourage

more players to pursue much needed renewable energy investments in the country.

Few people know that our country is built on an island-arc setting characterized by volcanism, and in such settings we will not have large reserves of oil, natural gas and coal. We badly need RE to help us become less reliant on volatile imports,” EDC president and chief operating officer Richard Tantoco said earlier. Alena Mae S. Flores

T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 1 6 , 2 0 1 5

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

B5

IMF sees strong growth in st 1 quarter

By Julito G. Rada

THE International Monetary Fund said Wednesday it expects economic growth to remain strong in the first quarter this year, on higher government spending and strong construction sector.

IMF resident representative to the Philippines Shanaka Peiris said the robust expansion in the fourth quarter of 2014 was likely sustained in the first quarter this year.

“Economic growth is expected to rise to 6.7 percent in 2015 due to lower commodity prices, higher public spending, and continued strong private construction,” Peiris said in an e-mailed statement Wednesday.

“Therefore, we expect growth in the first quarter of 2015 to be stronger than last year, sustaining the growth momentum from the fourth quarter of last year,” Peiris said.

The gross domestic product grew 5.6 percent in the first quarter of 2014. Growth slowed to 5.3 percent in the third quarter, before picking up to 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter.

Economists said government underspending in the third quarter pulled down the economic growth during the period, as the government became cautious to spend after the Supreme Court ruled the Disbursement Acceleration Program of the Aquino administration as unconstitutional.

The high court later reversed the ruling.

The robust fourth-quarter growth brought the 2014 GDP expansion to 6.1 percent, lower than the 7.2-percent rise in 2013.

It was also lower than the target of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent last year.

The inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee retained its GDP growth forecast of 7 percent to 8 percent this year and next, in the absence of negative developments both from the domestic and external fronts.

National Economic and Development Authority directorgeneral and Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the 7 to 8 percent growth target was “within reach.”

“So far, we are seeing quite robust growth for the year… We are comfortable we are going to hit the target,” Balisacan said.

Balisacan said the outlook for the first quarter GDP this year was good, considering that “we are coming from a slowdown in the first quarter of 2014 because of Yolanda impact.”

“Plus the fact that we have a lot of funds that were obligated late last year and got into the economic stream this quarter and the next. So, accelerated government spending impact in the economy will be felt in this quarter and the next,” Balisacan said.

Balisacan said investments would play a critical role in the growth of the economy this year.

“We are going to see more investments coming into the country to complement improved government spending plus household consumption, remittances, BPO [business process outsourcing] earnings and services sector,” he said.

Asean conference. LBC, the Philippines leading logistics firm, was present during the Last Mile Fulfilment Asia 2015 held on March 19 to 20 in Singapore. LBC was the only logistics and payment solutions company that represented the Philippines in the conference, which drew over 1,200 delegates from 560 companies and 28 countries. The LMFA conference discussed the emerging trends and creation of new opportunities as a result of the boom of the e-commerce industry. Shown are conference guests who visited the LBC booth.

ABS-CBN changes ad pricing model

By Darwin G. Amojelar ABS-CBN Corp. said Wednesday it will roll out a new pricing model to advertisers in May to bring accountability and efficiency in the media buying process.

ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III said in a statement the cost per individual rating point pricing model would be one of the innovations the company would carry out next month.

ABS-CBN is the first TV broadcaster in the country to explore such a pricing model.

“Traditional media buying practice in the Philippines is one where we apply a fixed cost regardless of the program performance,” he said.

“Now, that will change with the CPIRP or cost per individual rating point scheme. It is based on

the globally accepted and proven CTARP model,” Lopez said.

CTARP refers to cost per target audience rating point while CPIRP defines the cost per individual rating point.

Advertisers who set a budget use up their funds according to the set rates and how many individuals or eyeballs are reached by their ads.

Lopez said that “precise measurement of audience and consumption is the trademark of this digital age.”

He said similar to websites, wherein the number of unique visitors, their location, what device was used, page views, and time spent on each page could all be measured accurately, CPIRP could do the same for TV advertising.

Lopez said CPIRP rates might vary each day based on the actual

number of people reached by a TV show.

“We believe that precise measurement is the new norm in ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability. You pay for what you get,” he said.

“If we fail to deliver, the advertiser saves his money. But when we hit the top of the chart, everybody wins. The advertiser gets the exposure he desires, the viewer gets to enjoy the shows that give them real delight,” he said.

Lopez said this was part of ABSCBN’s focus on innovation, which could be seen in the launching of ABS-CBN TVplus, ABS-CBNmobile and iWant TV in the last few years.

“But it is only by doing things differently can we serve our evolving, demanding global Filipino consumer,” he said.

BSP warns banks against sending unsolicited text messages

By Julito G. Rada THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Wednesday reminded banks that unsolicited text messages on bank advertisements and loan offers are prohibited.

The regulator issued the advisory to inform the public about the appropriate action to take if they received such text messages.

“Banks may only be allowed to send advertisements, loan offers or marketing through text message if you requested your bank or mobile phone network to do so,” Bangko Sentral said in a

statement.

The Bangko Sentral listed three steps that should be taken by the public if they received such messages. “[They should] store the text message and number of the sender; file a complaint to the National Telecommunications Commission by accomplishing the complaint and report the incident to the bank involved,” it said.

The Bangko Sentral said the public should also contact the financial consumer protection department under the supervi-

BSP issues the advisory after receiving complaints and inquiries involving unsolicited text messages on bank advertisements, loan offer or marketing.

sion and examination sector of the BSP for further clarifications.

The bank regulator earlier issued a memorandum to all banks and its subsidiaries and affiliates, reminding them of their compliance with the law or rules prohibiting unsolicited text messages.

The Cybercrime Prevention Act or Republic Act 10175 criminalizes the transmission of commercial electronic communication with the use of computer system which seeks to advertise, sell or offer for sale products and services unless there is prior affirmative consent from the recipient.

The NTC, through its memo-

randum circulars, also prohibits public telecommunication and content and/or information service providers from sending and/or initiating push or unsolicited text messages, unless there is a written consent from the subscriber choosing to receive commercial advertisements through text.

“The issuance of the said advisory to the public and memorandum to banks is in view of the complaints and inquiries received by the BSP involving unsolicited text messages on bank advertisements, loan offer or marketing,” Bangko Sentral said.

THURSDAY: APRIL 16, 2015

B6

BUSINESS business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

Geothermal plant expansion on

By Alena Mae S. Flores

STO. TOMAS, Batangas—Maibarara Geothermal Inc. said Wednesday it will proceed with the P1.3-billion expansion of the 20-megawatt geothermal power plant in Batangas.

Maibarara Geothermal president Francisco Delfin Jr. told reporters the company started drilling two steam wells last year to expand the project by another 10 MW. The wells are undergoing testing “to determine how much capacity it can accommodate.”

“Testing is ongoing…In the next two weeks, we believe that we have sufficient steam based on reserves estimation for the 10MW expansion,” Delfin said.

He said the company would

proceed with the financial closing for 70-percent of the project cost. Construction will start soon after that, in line with the target of completing the project by July 2017, he said.

The 20-MW Maibarara geothermal project in Sto. Tomas, Batangas started commercial operation in early 2014.

Maibara Geothermal is a jointventure between PetroGreen Energy Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of PetroEnergy Resources

Cop. (with 65 percent), TransAsia Oil and Energy Development Corp. (25 percent) and PNOC Renewables Corp. (10 percent).

The Maibarara project is an integrated power facility consisting of steamfield, power station, and transmission line. Maibarara Geothermal constructed and designed the steamfield while the power plant was built by EPC contractor EEI Corp. Fuji Electric of Japan supplied the main plant equipment.

Maibarara Geothermal secured a P2.4-billion loan from Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and Bank of the Philippines in September 2011 to partially fund the project.

The company registered the geothermal project as a Clean Development Mechanism activity under the Kyoto Protocol, enabling it to trade carbon credits.

Republic of the Philippines

CITY OF SAN PEDRO Province of Laguna

BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE

INVITATION TO BID The City Government of San Pedro Laguna through the 2015 CDC Budget Approved by Sangguniang Panglungsod intends to apply the sum of Php 6,497,034.24 being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the hereunder project: NAME OF PROJECT

:

Proposed Concrete Reblocking and Rehabilitation

LOCATION

:

Along Maharlika Drive, USPS, Brgy. San Antonio, City of San Pedro, Laguna

ABC

:

Php 6,497,034.24

SOURCE OF FUND

:

CDC Budget Approved by the Sangguniang Panglungsod

CONTRACT DURATION

:

150 Calendar Days

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna now invites contractors registered with and classified by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to apply for eligibility and if found eligible, to bid for the above-mentioned projects. Completion of the Works is required on or before the contract duration. Bidders should have completed, within one hundred fifty (150) calendar Days from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget for the Contract shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted, unless otherwise stated, to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organization with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino Citizens, pursuant to Republic Act 5183 (RA 5183) and subject to Commonwealth Act 138 (CA 138). Only bids from eligible bidders will be opened. In accordance with the IRR-A or R.A. 9184, the contract/project shall only be awarded to the Lowest Calculated and Responsive Bidder who was determined as such during post-qualification.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the City Government of San Pedro, Laguna and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:30AM to 9:30AM only.

Office of the BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of PESOS: (Php 10,000.00) ISSUANCE OF ELIGIBILITY AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS

April 16 – May 4, 2015 8:30AM – 9:30AM BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 20, 2015 10:00AM at the Office of the BAC Secretariat, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before May 4, 2015 at 10:00AM Office of the BAC Secretariat 4/f Conference Room City Administrator’s Office City Hall of San Pedro All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Awards of Contract Shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The City Government of San Pedro, Laguna reserves the right to accept or reject any bid to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

For Further information, please refer to: Mr. Merlin B. Paala Office of the BAC Secretariat City Administrator Office City of San Pedro, Laguna Telefax No. 847-1722 (Sgd.) ENGR. FILEMON I. SIBULO Chairman Bids and Awards Committee (TS-Apr. 16, 2015)

Datarail challenges 2013 COA report DATATRAIL Corp., the company that won the government contract for the Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card project, is challenging the 2013 Commission on Audit’s 2013 report on the Bureau of Immigration.

Datatrail legal counsel Raffy De Castro said the report, particularly on the collection of the alleged P600-million under remittance by the company suffered from grave legal errors and that implementing it would face serious legal impediments.

An ACR I-Card is a microchip based, credit card-sized, identification card issued to all registered

foreign nationals whose stay in the Philippines exceeded 59 days. BI signed a build-operatetransfer agreement with Datatrail for the automation of the ACR ICard project in 2003.

COA earlier directed the Immigration Bureau to collect underpayments from Datatrail, saying the government was deprived of huge amounts in revenue because of the build-operatetransfer agreement that was later amended in favor of the firm. The COA report also said the contract should be terminated as its 10year life span had already lapsed.

De Castro said contrary to the report of the COA resident auditor, it was the government, and not the private proponent that initiated the amendment of the BOT contract.

He said official documents also showed the P600-million cited by COA was never generInvItatIon to BId for 253 Sets of Primary Healthcare ated by the project, owCapability-Building Package ing to the extension in the validity of the ACR 1. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), through the PCSO Corporate Budget intends to apply the sum of Six Million Three Hundred I-Card from one year as Twenty Five Thousand Pesos (P6,325,000.00) being the Approved Budget for contained in the original the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for 253 Sets of Primary BOT agreement, to five Healthcare Capability-Building Package. Bids received in excess of the ABC years as directed in 2005 shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. by former President Glo2. The PCSO now invites bids for 253 Sets of Primary Healthcare Capability- ria Macapagal Arroyo as Building Package. Delivery of the Goods is required within thirty (30) calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within the last ten (10) years from chairman of the National the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. Economic and DevelopThe description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, ment Authority board. particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

De Castro said 70 per3. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using cent of the ACR I-Card a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules holders under the origiand Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the nal BOT contract were “Government Procurement Reform Act”. permanent residents.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or “It was originally a organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital ten-year contract. The stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to President instructed that Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138. the validity of the cards 4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from PCSO Bids and Awards for 70 percent of the uniCommittee and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below verse be for five years. It from 8:00am to 5:00pm. is as simple as that,” he A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders said. on April 16, 2015 (Thursday) from the address below and upon payment of a “Moreover, Neda has nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Ten Thousand what is called ‘primary Pesos (P10,000.00). jurisdiction’ on matters of It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine implementation and interGovernment Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for pretation of the BOT Law. It is a well settled principle the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. in Philippine jurispru5. The PCSO will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on April 24, 2015 (Friday) at 1:30pm, BAC Room, 3/F Conservatory Building, 605 Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City, dence that the interpretawhich shall be open to all interested parties. tion of an administrative agency which is tasked 6. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 10:00am of May 7, 2015 (Thursday). All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the to implement a statute is acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. accorded great respect and ordinarily controls Bid opening shall be on May 7, 2015 (Thursday) at 10:30am at BAC Room, 3/F Conservatory Building, 605 Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City. Bids will be the interpretation of laws opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend by the courts,” De Castro at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. said. “The Supreme Court 7. The PCSO reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding has consistently ruled on process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without this issue and that ‘much thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. weight is accorded to the government agency of8. For further information, please refer to: ficials charged with the The BAC Chairman implementation of the law, c/o The Secretariat their competence, expertPCSO BAC Room 3/F Conservatory Building ness, experience and in605 Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City formed judgment, and the (02) 997-0247 (Telefax) fact that they frequently www.pcso.gov.ph are the drafters of the law they interpret,” De Castro CONRADO C. ZABELLA BAC Chairman said, quoting Supreme (TS-Apr. 16, 2015) Court jurisprudence.

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WORLD

cesar barrioquinto

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

EDITOR

B7

Kin mourn the dead in sea tragedy JINDO, South Korea—More than 100 relatives of victims of South Korea’s Sewol ferry disaster tearfully cast flowers into the sea Wednesday at an emotional memorial event on the eve of the tragedy’s first anniversary.

In bright sunshine and on a calm sea, the relatives were taken by boat to the large yellow buoy that marks the site where the ferry sank on April 16 last year with the loss of 304 lives—most of them high school students.

Lying on the seabed 40 meters (130 feet) below, the sunken ferry remains a highly sensitive topic of heated debate a year later -- not least over the question of whether it should be raised to the surface.

Victims’ families have threatened to boycott a semi-official memorial service on Thursday unless the government makes an immediate commitment to salvaging the 6,825-ton Sewol—an operation that would cost an estimated $110 million.

The relatives also continue to stage regular protests calling for a fully independent inquiry into the sinking, arguing that a committee created to probe the causes has been compromised by the inclusion of government officials in key posts.

The accident—which plunged the whole nation into a months-long period of intense mourning—was largely blamed on the ship’s illegal redesign and overloading.

But it also laid bare deeper-rooted problems of corruption, lax safety standards and regulatory failings attributed to the country’s relentless push for economic growth.

As the boat carrying the families on Wednesday neared the scene of the accident off the southern island of Jindo, weeping relatives lined the deck on both sides, clutching white flowers and small mementos of their loved ones.

Nearly all wore the yellow jackets that have become something of a uniform of solidarity and grief.

At the site itself, the sound of crying and wailing grew louder, and some relatives had to be restrained as they climbed the lower rungs of the deck railing after tossing their flowers into the water, along with yellow paper boats and sweets and snacks that their children liked.

“I cried a lot today,” said Jang Hoon, 45, who lost his student son.

“It was a difficult trip. I couldn’t stop thinking about my son’s face the whole time.”

The overloaded Sewol was carrying 476 people, including 325 students from the same high school in Ansan city, when it sank. Only 75 students survived.

The emergency response to the disaster was widely criticized for being slow, uncoordinated and unfocused, and prompted President Park Geun-Hye to vow a complete overhaul of national safety standards.

Park’s approval ratings plummeted after the tragedy and have only recently started to recover. There has been fresh criticism on social media over her decision to leave for an official tour of South America on the day of the anniversary.

A presidential spokeswoman said she had no information on whether Park would do anything to mark the anniversary before her departure.

The leader of Park’s ruling Saenuri Party, Yoo Seung-Min, traveled to Jindo to take part in a memorial gathering Wednesday after the families returned from the accident site. AFP

World powers turn the screw on Yemen rebels UNITED NATIONS— World powers united against Yemen’s Huthi rebels Tuesday, hitting them with a United Nations arms embargo and new United States sanctions.

The UN Security Council vote came after Iran, which is accused of backing the rebels, proposed a ceasefire followed by foreign-mediated talks.

The Huthi revolt has forced President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee the impoverished Arab state and threatens to provoke a humanitarian disaster.

The conflict has also further heightened

tensions in the broader Middle East, with Saudi Arabia accusing Iran of fomenting the rebellion.

A Saudi-led coalition of Sunni-led states has launched air strikes against the Shiite rebels, and the civilian death toll is mounting.

The UN Security Council responded by slapping an arms embargo on the Huthis and demanding their fighters withdraw from the capital Sanaa.

Separately, the United States demanded that Iran obey the embargo and added two top figures in the re-

bellion to its sanctions blacklist.

Iran, meanwhile, was working on its own plan to end the conflict, proposing a negotiated peace plan that would lead to a power-sharing government.

Saudi Arabia, which is determined to punish the Shiite rebels on its borders for driving its ally from Sanaa, will give that short shrift.

Saudi spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri told reporters the UN resolution shows the world supports the Saudi-led intervention. AFP

Republic of the Philippines ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF FORCE MAJEURE (FM) EVENT REGULATED FM PASS THROUGH FOR TYPHOON AGATON IN MINDANAO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES FOR SETTING TRANSMISSION WHEELING RATES, PRAYER FOR PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

16. The FME Claim does not breach the Force Majeure Threshold Amount (FMTA). Copy of the FMTA Computation is attached to the application as Annex “G”; 17. It considered the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Agaton in the calculation of the FM Pass-Through Amount given that it would have normally fully recovered the return of capital on said assets for the duration of its economic lives had these assets not been damaged or destroyed by the FME Typhoon Agaton; ERC CASE NO. 2015-005 RC

NATIONAL CORPORATION PHILIPPINES,

GRID OF THE

Applicant. x------------------------------------x

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: Notice is hereby given that on January 14, 2015, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) filed with the Commission an application for the approval of the force majeure event regulated FM pass through for Typhoon Agaton in Mindanao in accordance with the Rules for Setting Transmission Wheeling Rates (RTWR), with prayer for provisional authority.

In the said application, NGCP alleged, among others, the following: 1.

It is a corporation created and existing under the laws of the Philippines, with principal office address at NGCP Building, Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It is the corporate vehicle of the consortium which was awarded the concession to assume the power transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TRANSCO) pursuant to Republic Act No. 9136 (R.A. 9136), otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 or the EPIRA;

2.

It was also granted a franchise under Republic Act 9511 (NGCP Franchise) to construct, install, finance, manage, improve, expand, operate, maintain, rehabilitate, repair and refurbish the present nationwide transmission system of the Republic of the Philippines;

3.

On January 15, 2009, it assumed transmission functions of TRANSCO including the operation, management and maintenance of the nationwide electric grid;

4.

repair and rehabilitation of damage sustained by its transmission assets and other related facilities as a result of the FME. Copy of the FME Claim Computation is attached to the application as Annex “F”;

Pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the RTWR, it is allowed to recover the cost incurred in the restoration, rehabilitation, repair of damage sustained by its transmission assets and other related facilities as a result of a force majeure event (FME), as defined in Article I of the RTWR;

Allegation in Support of the Prayer for Provisional Approval 18. It moves for the issuance of a provisional approval for the immediate recovery of the FME claim pursuant to Section 3, Rule 14 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. It needs to immediately recover the actual expenses incurred for the rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities. The occurrence of the aforementioned FME requires capital infusion, the recovery of which should be allowed to avoid putting financial strain in the transmission provider, and to allow it to continuously provide the necessary transmission service to the grid customers; 19. The timely implementation of the pass-through amount will allow the equal or even spread of the increases or decreases in tariffs from the initial implementation of the recovery of the cost; 20. A copy of the Judicial Affidavit of Agnes F. Dela Cruz, Head, Tariff Design and Billing Management Division, Revenue and Regulatory Affairs of NGCP in support thereof is attached to the application as Annex “H”; and 21. In compliance with Rule 6 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, the pre-filing requirements of the instant application are attached herewith as Annex “I”; 22. It prays that the Commission: a.

Issue, immediately upon filing of the application, a provisional authority to implement and bill the FM Pass-Through Amounts to Mindanao customers starting February 2015 billing month to December 2020 or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered;

b.

Declare the Typhoon Agaton as Force Majeure Event (FME);

c.

Approve the CAPEX incurred for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities due to Typhoon Agaton in Mindanao as FME;

d.

Approve the proposed pass-through amount representing return on capital, return of capital and taxes associated with the emergency responses and the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by the FME Typhoon Agaton, as follows:

THE FORCE MAJEURE EVENT (TYPHOON AGATON) 5.

On January 17, 2014, Typhoon Agaton entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility with maximum winds of 35 kph and gustiness of 50 kph. Due to its intensity and heavy rainfall, its transmission assets and other related facilities in the Mindanao area were damaged. Attached to the application as Annex “A” is a copy of the Certification dated April 1, 2014 issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA);

6.

It filed before the Commission a Notice of Force Majeure Event (Typhoon Agaton) on March 28, 2014, attached to the application as Annex “B”;

7.

The Commission issued a letter dated May 8, 2014 acknowledging receipt of its FME Notice regarding Typhoon Agaton;

8.

Immediately after the calamity, repair and restoration and rehabilitation of its damaged transmission assets and other related works were undertaken in order to continue serving its customers;

9.

The cost of additional Capita! Expenditure (CAPEX) it incurred to complete the repair, restoration and rehabilitation of its transmission assets and other related facilities including the recoverable values of the assets destroyed amounted to PhP6,958,428.26;

10. The Details of Activities of FME Typhoon Agaton in Mindanao is attached to the application as Annex “D”; 11. The damaged transmission assets and other related facilities are not covered by TRANSCO and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation’s (PSALM) Industrial All Risk (IAR) Insurance Policy with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the year 2014 and is therefore not compensable. Copy of the Certification in support of such allegation is attached to the application as Annex “E”; 12. There is a need to realign its CAPEX projects to recover the cost incurred for the repair, restoration, and rehabilitation of the damaged transmission assets and other related facilities subject of this application; COMPUTATION OF FM EVENT PASS-THROUGH AMOUNT 13. It proposes the FM pass-through amount, in P/kWmonth, as additional network charges in Mindanao starting the billing period of February 2015 to December 2020, or until such time that the amount incurred is fully recovered, computed as follows: Grid 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Mindanao 0.18 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04

Grid 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Mindanao 0.18 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.04 e.

Approve and allow the recovery of the Net Fixed Asset Value of the transmission assets and other related facilities damaged by Typhoon Agaton in Mindanao in the amount of One Million Six Hundred Eighty-One Thousand Fifty-Six and 18/100 Pesos (PhP1,681,056.18) as part of the FM Pass Through Amount given that the said amount would have been fully recovered by it if these transmission assets and other related facilities have not been damaged or destroyed by Typhoon Agaton as FME; and

f.

Exclude the proposed Pass-Through Amount from the side constraint calculation.

The Commission has set the application for jurisdictional hearing, expository presentation, pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing on May 12, 2015 (Tuesday) at two o’clock in the afternoon (2:00 P.M.) at the ERC Hearing Room, 15th Floor, Pacific Center Building, San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City.

All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the proceeding may become a party by filing, at least five (5) days prior to the initial hearing and subject to the requirements in the ERC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, a verified petition with the Commission giving the docket number and title of the proceeding and stating: (1) the petitioner’s name and address; (2) the nature of petitioner’s interest in the subject matter of the proceeding, and the way and manner in which such interest is affected by the issues involved in the proceeding; and (3) a statement of the relief desired.

All other persons who may want their views known to the Commission with respect to the subject matter of the proceeding may file their opposition to the application or comment thereon at any stage of the proceeding before the applicant concludes the presentation of its evidence.

No particular form of opposition or comment is required, but the document, letter or writing should contain the name and address of such person and a concise statement of the opposition or comment and the grounds relied upon.

All such persons who may wish to have a copy of the application may request the applicant, prior to the date of the initial hearing, that they be furnished with a copy of the application. The applicant is hereby directed to furnish all those making such request with copies of the application and its attachments, subject to reimbursement of reasonable photocopying costs. Likewise, any such person may examine the application and other pertinent records filed with the Commission during the usual office hours.

14. It proposes the FM pass-through amounts for the years 2016 to 2020 to allow the recovery of the CAPEX incurred relative to the FME Typhoon Agaton should there be a delay in the reset process for the Transmission Services for the Fourth (4th) Regulatory Period (RP);

WITNESS, the Honorable Chairperson, ZENAIDA G. CRUZ-DUCUT, and the Honorable Commissioners, GLORIA VICTORIA C. YAP-TARUC, ALFREDO J. NON, and JOSEFINA PATRICIA A. MAGPALE-ASIRIT, Energy Regulatory Commission, this 16th day of March, 2015 at Pasig City.

15. Although the FME claim is not included in its 3rd Regulatory Reset Application, the same can be recovered during the 3rd Regulatory Period pursuant to Section 10.1.1 of the RTWR where it is allowed to recover the cost incurred for the restoration,

ATTY. FRANCIS SATURNINO C. JUAN Executive Director III The New Standard – April 9 & 16, 2015

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cesar barrIoquInto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world

12 million kids out of school

BEIRUT—More than 12 million children in the Middle East are not being educated despite advances in efforts to expand schooling, the UN children’s agency UNICEF said on Wednesday.

Recalling the horrors of Pol Pot’s revolution PHNOM PENH—When blackclad Khmer Rouge soldiers first charged into Phnom Penh they were welcomed with cheers, remembers Chhung Kong, a teacher in the Cambodian capital during the seventies.

Few foresaw the horrors that lay ahead as Pol Pot’s victorious communist army seized control early on April 17, 1975, signaling the end of a bloody civil war, and ordered the city’s two million people to evacuate.

Four years later Chhung had lost 16 of his relatives to the regime, Phnom Penh was deserted and his school transformed into the Tuol Sleng, or S21, torture chamber— one of the most grotesque emblems of a paranoid rule that wiped out a quarter of Cambodia’s population.

On Friday the capital will mark the 40th anniversary of the day Pol Pot defeated US-backed republican Lon Nol and began a tyrannical rule that saw the Khmer Rouge reset the kingdom to “Year Zero”.

Memories of the bloody agrarian revolution, which left up to two million dead from starvation, overwork or execution, remain seared in the mind of Chhung, now 71.

“At first people were cheering, waving flags... we didn’t think about the death and danger that was coming,” he says sitting inside his office in Phnom Penh, where he now practices as a lawyer.

“About 10 or 11am the same day, the Khmer Rouge soldiers ordered us off the streets and to start leaving the city. They said it was for only a few days.”

The summer sun was strong, Chhung recalls, and many of the soldiers had one trouser leg rolled up to the knee. Others coralled the evacuees by firing AK-47s into the air, strings of extra bullets across their chests. AFP

Funeral for a hero. Republican guards carry the coffin of late French World War II hero Jean-Louis Cremieux-

Brilhac during his state funeral ceremony on April 15 at the Hotel des Invalides in Paris. A towering figure in the French Resistance, Cremieux-Brilhac, one of the first to condemn the Nazi gas chambers, died on April 15 aged 98. AFP

The figure does not include children forced from school by the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, who would bring the total not receiving an education to 15 million, the agency said in a new report.

The joint report by Unicef and UN cultural agency Unesco’s Institute for Statistics praises the “considerable resources and political capital” devoted to expanding education in the Middle East over the last decade.

It notes that “out-of-school rates for primary school children have plummeted, often by as much as half.”

“But in recent years, progress has stalled,” it says, with 4.3 million primary-aged children and 2.9 million lower secondary-aged children out of school.

An additional 5.1 million children are not getting a year of pre-primary school education, bringing the total number of the region’s children out of school to 12.3 million, the report says.

That figure represents around 15 percent of the children in the Middle East who should be receiving pre-primary, primary or secondary education.

The report says a study of nine countries in the region revealed a range of reasons that kept children out of school, including poverty.

In many cases, families could not afford costs associated with schooling, including books and uniforms, or the loss of income from a child who could be put to work.

“In countries where a substantial group of children remain out of school, they are predominantly from the poorest households in rural areas,” the report says.

Gender discrimination also remains a factor.

“Girls are undervalued, and since they are not expected to work, their families see no need for them to learn,” the report says, adding that early marriage is also an issue in most countries in the region. AFP

3 new species of lizard found in the Andes QUITO—Three new species of multi-colored lizards sporting jagged crests that make them look like pint-sized “Godzillas” have been discovered in Ecuador and Peru, highlighting the region’s rich biodiversity.

The lizards were found in the rainforests of the Tropical Andes region, where even more reptiles are likely waiting to be discovered, said the team of scientists who published the find in the latest issue of zoological journal ZooKeys.

“It’s incredible the quantity of reptile species we still haven’t discovered even though it’s the 21st century,” said Omar Torres Carvajal of the QCAZ Zoology Museum at the Pontifical Catho-

lic University of Ecuador.

His team found and classified the three new species: Enyalioides altotambo, Enyalioides anisolepis and Enyalioides sophiarothschildae.

All three boast “very striking colors and morphology,” he said, pointing out their protruding scales, serrated crests and shiny backs.

The three species can grow up to about 40 centimeters or 16 inches long.

The find increases the number of known species in the Enyalioides genus to 15, all of them in a region stretching from Panama to northern Bolivia.

Half are concentrated in Ecua-

dor and Peru—and others may well be out there.

“Our knowledge of the diversity of reptiles in Ecuador and Peru is limited. We still don’t have a full idea of all the species,” said coauthor Pablo Venegas of Peru’s Ornithology and Biodiversity Center.

Logging and farming are cutting into the reptiles’ habitat, however, turning the effort to find and classify new species into a “race against time,” he said.

Peru is home to a whopping 213 species of lizards and Ecuador 190, said the research team, which also included zoologist Kevin de Queiroz of the Smithsonian Institution in the United States. AFP

Promotional event. Australian model Miranda Kerr waves as she takes part in a promotional event during her visit to Tokyo on April. The 31-year-old model reportedly arrived the day during her promotional tour in Asia. AFP

T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 1 6 : 2 0 1 5

BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

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LIFE

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Sandra Chooi for Jimmy Choo designed the luxury label’s interpretation of the glass slipper, as worn by Lily James, in the movie.

Cinderella is now showing at cinemas nationwide.

C U LT U R E

A CINDERELLA STORY When fashion meets fantasy The new movie Cinderella may have celebrated true love, but the real star of the show was THE SHOE.

THURSDAY : APRIL 16 : 2015

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BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

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FINAL CALL FOR ENTRIES TO 65TH PALANCA AWARDS

THE NEW NORMAL Rep stages a British farce about a man with two wives

BY BERNADETTE LUNAS

“J

ohn Smith is a pretty normal guy," declares Jamie Wilson who plays the lead role in the sexy West End hit comedy Run For Your Wife.

But Smith's ability to juggle two wives with the help of his on-point schedule and to fabricate one lie after another when the proverbial mess hits the fan, prove that this guy is anything but normal. And for an actor to pull this role off, he's got to be pretty mighty.

After the first two successful runs of Run For Your Wife, the first in 1986 (33rd Season) and the second in 2001 (62nd Season), Repertory Philippines once again stages the Ray Cooney farce as part of its 2015 (78th Season) line-up. Miguel Faustmann, John Smith in the first two productions, returns as the show's director.

Since its launch in 1983 at London's West End, it had a successful nine-year run in the UK and has been staged in New York, Paris, Stockholm, and Manila.

"This is a timeless classic. Even if it's an old play, it's such a funny and well-written play," enthuses Faustmann.

Run For Your Wife follows the life of bigamist John Smith, a taxi driver in London who keeps his two wives living a short drive away from each other, one in Streatham and another in Wimbledon. After he helps an old lady from two muggers, he winds up in a hospital which blows his schedule. And the worst part, the police department from each district calls Mrs. Smith: Mary Smith and Barbara Smith.

His case receives attention from the police so when two different detectives from Streatham and Wimbledon begin asking questions, John must rush back and forth between his two wives to untangle the marital mess he has made with the help of his unemployed best friend Stanley Gardner (played by Jeremy Domingo). John and Stanley's team up in the deception only leads to more hijinks that will surely make audience fall off their seat laughing.

The show has been praised for its humorous storyline, complex choreography,

and impeccable timing. The biting wit of the script generously peppered with hilarious lies and comic delivery of lines from each character is one thing, but the exceptional elements of the play are the intricate blocking and in sync dialogues of multiple characters speaking on stage but who are, in fact, at different locations--one stage shares the two homes of both wives.

As Faustmann describes it, "timing is of crucial importance in this play."

It's certainly a physically demanding role even for a theater veteran like Wilson, as it would see him running across the stage throughout the entire show.

"I'm literally running the whole time, answering phone calls, lying, and fabricating stories. I have to keep my secret from coming out. It's exhausting but fun," shares Wilson.

The humor of the play is distinctly British but the cast and director believe the premise of having two wives is a universal concept. And it couldn't be staged more timely here in the Philippines when mistresses have invaded pop culture.

But while films and TV series focus on the sorrow and pain of people involved in this kind of situation, Run For Your Wife turns the tables and instead exploits the humorous side of the story.

"With our teleserye culture, where’s the humor? There’s got to be humor there.

There’s got to be some ridiculous situation that you can laugh at," says Wilson.

He adds, "You could put the same situation, take all the humor out of it and be a heavy drama like a typical Filipino teleserye. But nobody has shown the humor in it.”

The bottom line, however, is that nothing good ever comes from bigamy or adultery. The play does not attempt to justify or glamorize the issue, but it sure is funny to watch a guy go out of his way to fabricate ridiculous stories and pretend to be someone he's not just to protect his secret.

And when you've got the help of a sometimes moronic, sometimes clever friend, it's definitely a riot.

"He just basically falls in love with two women, and sees the possibility of maintaining both of them. He loves the both of them for different reasons," explains Wilson.

His first wife, Mary (played by Goldie Soon) is the motherly wife who takes care of John, while his second wife Barbara (played by Mikkie Bradshaw) is the bombshell who satisfies his sexual desires.

“She’s very prim and proper, like a proper Englishwoman. She takes her duties or obligations as a wife seriously," shares Soon.

Soon reveals that the role is different to her as a person. To prepare for it, she had to slowly imbibe the kind of woman and wife Mary is.

But it's a different case with Bradshaw, who has been cast a lot in sexy roles that involves very little clothing.

"If it’s a loud and promiscuous character, it’ll probably be given to me," says Bradshaw. "I don’t know how much preparing you could do for a role like that if it’s in you to be that vixen."

The two wives give justice to their respective roles providing contrast on stage that divides the audience. But all the characters are exceptionally funny that it could be tough to choose which one to root for.

Joining Wilson, Domingo, Soon, and Bradshaw are Steven Conde as the flamboyantly gay neighbor Bobby Franklin, James Stacey as the suspicious Detective Sergeant Troughton, Paul Holme as the easygoing Detective Sergeant Porterhouse, and Mara Javier as the determined journalist.

So if you want to kill two hours and just laugh away, catch Run For Your Wife at the Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati City until May 3, 2015. Ticket prices range from P400 to P600.

"We’re not necessarily trying to make people think here. We’re just trying to give everyone a good time," concludes Bradshaw.

For more details, call Repertory Philippines at 843-3570. You can also book tickets through TicketWorld at 891-9999 or visit their website at www.ticketworld.com.ph.

With the April 30 deadline fast approaching, the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature issues its final call for entries to the 65th Palanca Awards. Interested participants have until the end of the month to turn in their literary submissions to the country’s most prestigious and longest running literary competition.

The 65th Palanca Awards is accepting entries in the following categories: Novel and Nobela; Short Story, Short Story for Children, Essay, Poetry, Poetry Written for Children, One-act Play, and Full-length Play under the English Division; Maikling Kuwento, Maikling Kuwentong Pambata, Sanaysay, Tula, Tula para sa mga Bata, Dulang May Isang Yugto, Dulang Ganap ang Haba, at Dulang Pampelikula under the Filipino Division; Short StoryCebuano, Short Story-Hiligaynon, and Short Story-Ilokano under the Regional Languages Division. The Kabataan Essay Division accepts entries from writers below 18 years of age as of April 30, 2015. This year’s Kabataan Division theme is, “How Can Philippine Literature Cultivate National Unity?” for the English category and “Paano Mapag-iisa ng Ating Literatura ang Ating Bansa?” for the Filipino category.

Contestants may only submit one entry per category.

Aspiring and seasoned writers participating in this year’s Palanca Awards are advised to read the official revised 2015 rules and forms which may be downloaded through www.palancaawards.com. ph. Entries, along with accomplished contest forms, must be submitted on or before the following deadlines: 1) through direct submission to any of the Palanca Foundation offices by 12 midnight of April 30, 2015; 2) by mail or courier, postmarked no later than April 30, 2015; and 3) through the Palanca Awards website, with time of transmission no later than April 30, 2015, and the envelope with the original signed requirements must be sent by mail or courier postmarked no later than April 30, 2015.

Submission process must be completed by sending the notarized contest documents to: 1) Unit 603, 6th Floor Park Trade Centre Bldg., 1716 Investment Drive, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City; or 2) Unit 3G, OPL Bldg., 100 C. Palanca St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Confirmation that a literary work qualifies as an entry to the 65th Palanca Awards shall be sent by email. Winning entries will be announced on September 1, 2015.

For more information about the 65th Palanca Awards, email cpawards@palancaawards.com.ph or call (632) 511-0003, +639108878552 or +639255560457.

THURSDAY : APRIL 16 : 2015

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BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE E D I TOR

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THE INFINITE DIVA

BY ED BIADO She’s back! The first half of the 2010s hasn’t been kind to Mariah Carey, a relatively unsuccessful period underscored by a difficult pregnancy, marital woes and an album that failed to meet sales expectations due to countless delays and really bad marketing. Last year, the five-octave diva took to Asia and Oceania for a series of shows, which now appears to be a “warmup” for her Las Vegas residency starting next month.

The three-month production, bearing the same name as Carey’s first greatest-hits package, #1’s, will reportedly feature the singer singing all 18 of her Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits, plus a few fan favorites. But that’s not the only piece of good news for the “lambs,” Mariah’s loyal fanbase.

Over the weekend, the cover art, track listing and release date of the updated number-ones album, #1 to Infinity, was announced on mariahcarey.com. This was preceded by a day-long social media campaign that slowly revealed the artwork, a recreation of the cover of the previous compilation. The hashtag #RevealMariah trended worldwide on Twitter as fans shared news of the event, a requisite to expedite the unveiling that took about six hours. #1 to Infinity definitively compiles Carey’s 18 number-one singles, listed in chronological order from her debut single “Vision of Love” in 1990 all the way to her latest chart-topper “Touch My Body” in 2008. Interestingly but unsurprisingly, Mariah chose the ODB-assisted “Bad Boy” remix of the 1995 smash “Fantasy” instead of the album version.

With the exception of “I’ll Be There” which is a live cover of The Jackson 5 original, all the songs on the new compilation are self-penned.

If the name of the album is any indication, it also contains a 19th track, a fresh cut called “Infinity,” which will serve as the project’s single. The song will drop on April 27, accompanied by a music video directed by Brett Ratner, who was also responsible for the clips for eight other Mariah songs, including the career-defining hit “We Belong Together” in 2005. #1 to Infinity is Carey’s first release with Epic Records and marks her return to the Sony Music fold after her departure at the turn of the century.

It will be available at physical and digital outlets on May 18. A vinyl pressing is slated to come out in August. All editions are now on pre-order.

ARTIST MANUEL BALDEMOR COMES HOME TO DISCOVERY SUITES

FOR 15TH ANNIVERSARY ART AND CHARITY DINNER

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iscovery Suites opened its doors for Filipino visual artist Manuel Baldemor for “Coming Home: An Art and Charity Dinner” last 19 March 2015 at the multi-awarded restaurant 22 Prime. Led by General Manager Leeds Trompeta, Discovery Suites paid tribute to The Chosen Children Village Foundation Inc to celebrate the hotel’s 15th crystal year anniversary.

Baldemor, known for his colorful renditions of Philippine life and impressions of foreign culture, closely collaborated with the children in the production of the paintings. The result was a collection of 28 moving interpretations of the children’s dreams and aspirations in life. The artworks were put up for auction while the proceeds amounting to P 439,550 for 15 paintings were donated to the Foundation to aid in their continuous efforts to provide a nurturing home for the children. The Foundation’s President Guenter Taus and Executive Director Che Naval were present to graciously receive the proceeds for their laudable cause.

Designed as a feast for the senses, the art and charity dinner featured a stellar menu prepared by Discovery Suites’ Corporate Chef Anthony Raymond and Executive Chef Gerwin Bailon, in collaboration with guest Celebrity Chef Sharwin Tee. The four-course culinary affair, which highlighted native ingredients, began with Yellowfin Tuna Ceviche, spiked with lemongrass vinegar, roasted labuyo sauce and avocado emulsion, followed by Crab and Young Coconut Bisque seasoned with crispy river crabs, pumpkin, fresh scallions and shellfish oil. The main entrée was a hearty plate of Slow-Braised USDA Beef Short Ribs served with turmeric and ginger rice, twice-cooked egg, vegetable tempura and natural jus. A luscious serving of Black & White Panna Cotta with native spiced chocolate was the evening’s pièce de résistance.

Long providing a preferred address to corporate travelers on an extended stay since 2000, Discovery Suites continues to find meaningful ways to make guests feel at home and be part of the local community. “It’s been 15 crystal years,” said The Discovery Leisure Company’s Chief Operating Officer Jun Parreño, “What better way than to celebrate it by making a difference? Mr Baldemor’s works with the children cheers on the colorful years ahead.”

There are 13 remaining paintings available for silent auction. For inquiries, please call (63 2) 719 8888. Get updates through Discovery Suites’ Facebook on http://facebook. com/ILoveDiscoverySuites and Twitter @DiscoverySuites.

BASIC DRAWING WORKSHOP WITH ELEAZAR “ABE” ABRAHAM

May 2, 9, 16, and 30, 2015 | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Ayala Museum Third Floor Learn about the proper usage of materials, elements and techniques using ink drawing and oil pastels.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR Eleazar Abraham, or Abe, was born on July 8, 1984 in Putatan, Muntinlupa to a family of artists. His father, Rogelio, is an established painter, while his mother, Fe, came from the lineage of the great Filipino painter, Juan Luna, making him a second-degree grandson of the legendary painter. At seven months old, he already held paint brushes. At three, he started drawing. And, at six, he had his first one-man painting exhibit.

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T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 1 6 : 2 0 1 5

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BAMBINA OLIVARES WISE EDITOR

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SCAN THE ICON TO CONNECT TO SURESEATS.COM AND CLICK THE CITY

A GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON AT THE CINEMA THIS WEEK

3AM PART 2

The second installment of the Thai anthology horror film, it features three stories: The Third Night, The Covenant, and The Offering. “The Third Night” follows a series of events that occur after a motorcycle gang leader dies. “The Covenant” is about the sound of someone playing a piano heard from the old abandoned chapel of an all-girl convent school. “The Offering” tells the story of a shop that sells paper money and offerings to the departed.

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CINDERELLA

PG Relive the fairy tale about Ella/ Cinderella (Lily James) who finds herself at the mercy of her wicked stepmother, Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters (Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera) after her father (Ben Chaplin) passes away.

But her fortune will change when she meets her Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter) who will help her win the heart of Prince Charming (Richard Madden).

CLOWN

R13 Real Estate agent and loving father Kent McCoy (Andy Powers) discovers an old clown costume in one of the houses he’s overseeing and uses it on his son’s (Christian Distefano) birthday party only to later find out that anyone who wears it becomes a kid-hungry killer.

DAY OF THE MUMMY

R13 Jack Wells (William McNamara), who sets out to obtain the famed diamond named Codix Stone, joins a group of archaeologists out to explore the tomb of cursed king Neferu in Egypt only to find himself in a horrifying experience when the mummy of the king returns from the dead seeking human victims.

FAST & FURIOUS 7

PG In the seventh installment of the Fast & Furious film series, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker), and the rest of the crew find themselves being chased by Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) who seeks revenge for what happened to his brother Owen Shaw.

HOME

G A banished member of the alien race Boov, Oh (Jim Parsons) goes to Earth, which his race has invaded, to find a new home. He then meets the resourceful and adventurous teenage girl named Tip Tucci (Rihanna) who is looking for her missing mother Lucy (Jennifer Lopez). The two team up both on a quest of their own, one is on the run while the other is looking for someone.

INSURGENT

PG In this second installment in The Divergent trilogy, Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) race against time to find answers while being hunted down by Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet), the leader of the Erudite faction.

Tris faces one challenge after another as she unlocks the truth about the past and ultimately, the future of her society.

KID KULAFU

PG Before there was Manny Pacquiao the eight-division world champion boxer, there was Emmanuel Pacquiao the young boy in General Santos City who collected empty Kulafu bottles and was later introduced

to boxing when he discovers his natural talent for the sport. This biopic focuses on the life of Manny (Robert “Buboy” Villar) before fame, fortune, and championships; at the time when the young pound-forpound champion was struggling to help his family.

MISS MEADOWS

R13 An American drama film that follows the life of Miss Meadows (Katie Holmes) a prim and proper elementary school teacher who arrives in a new town every year. Behind her candy-sweet exterior and impeccable manner hides a gun-toting vigilante who goes out of her way to avenge the wrongs inflicted on society.

THE DUFF

R13 In this teen comedy film, Mae Whitman plays Bianca Piper, an intelligent teenager who strives to conform to societal standards of beauty after someone makes her realize that she’s the DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) of her group. Throughout her journey to erase her DUFF tag, she finds someone who loves her just the way she is.

THE LONGEST RIDE

R13 Based on the bestselling novel of the same name written by Nicholas Sparks, the film tells the story of the star-crossed love affair between Luke Collins (Scott Eastwood), a former champion bull rider hoping to make a comeback, and Sophia Danko (Britt Robertson), a college student who is about to start her dream job in New York City. Their conflicting paths and ideals test their relationship but they are inspired by the enduring romance of Ira (Alan Alda) with his beloved wife.

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER

G Eleven years since 2004’s The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, this sequel, based on the Nickelodeon television series SpongeBob SquarePants, follows the adventures of SpongeBob (Tom Kenny) as he teams up with Mr. Krabs’ (Clancy Brown) nemesis Plankton (Mr. Lawrence) to get the Krabby Patty secret formula back from diabolical pirate Burger-Beard (Antonio Banderas).

WHILE WE’RE YOUNG

R13 A comedy-drama that follows the lives of childless middle-aged married couple Josh Shrebnik (Ben Stiller) and his wife Cornelia (Naomi Watts) who become friends with young hipster couple Jamie Massey (Adam Driver) and Darby (Amanda Seyfried) after all their friends start having children. The older pair enjoys the company of the younger pair only to later realize that the latter might not be trustworthy.

YOU’RE MY BOSS

PG Airline marketing head Georgina (Toni Gonzaga) has to work with her boss’ assistant Pong (Coco Martin), but with her bossy demeanor and his laid back attitude, the two don’t get along. They then swap positions in hopes of sealing an important deal for the company. Going through this change plus their adventures together, the two fall in love with each other, not withstanding their differences.

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T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 1 6 : 2 0 1 5

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JM de Guzman and Jessy Mendiola join DZMM Takbo 2015

Karylle (center) with DZMM special projects head May Ceniza and DZMM medical consultant Dr. Luisa Puyat.

MATTEO, JM, JESSY, AND KARYLLE LEAD THOUSANDS IN DZMM TAKBO 2015

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apamilya personalities Matteo Guidicelli, JM de Guzman, Jessy Mendiola, and Karylle led the 2,700 participants at the DZMM Takbo 2015 on April 12 at the Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

JM and Jessy, who ran together in the 5k race, led the gun start for the 21k category. However, Matteo, who has supported DZMM’s cause since 2013, was unable to run this year due to an injury, but turned up at the event to show his support.

The fun run, which aims to help DZMM’s 75 scholars continue their elementary education, was also joined by DZMM anchors Jasmin Romero, Gretchen Fullido, Marisciel Yao, Atty. Claire Castro, Cory Quirino, and Ahwel Paz and Winnie Cordero, who both hosted the post-race program.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police’s Dandelion Bumahit was named the top finisher of the 21k category. Bumahit, who called for justice for the 44 members of the Special Action Force who died during a clash in Maguindanao, dominated all the other participants in the category with a time of one hour, 23 minutes, and 31 seconds (01:23:31).

He, along with his two colleagues – including a SAF member – wore singlets that said “I’m running for justice for SAF.” The singlets were the key element in the fun run that encouraged participants to push for their causes

by putting them on as statements.

Bumahit was awarded a medal in the post-race program along with the top runners in the category. The top six finishers in the 3k, 5k, and 10k categories were also recognized on-stage.

The DZMM Takbo 2015 has been organized by DZMM for five years to advocate education. The AM radio station held “Takbo Para sa Karunungan” from 2011 to 2014 and benefited scholars from Ondoy, Sendong, and Habagat-affected areas.

Philippine National Police’s Dandelion Bumahit was named the top finisher of the 21k category.

Bumahit, who called for justice for the 44 members of the Special Action Force who died during a clash in Maguindanao, dominated all the other participants in the category with a time of one hour, 23 minutes, and 31 seconds

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JM de Guzman and Jessy Mendiola join DZMM Takbo 2015

Grecthen Fullido participating in DZMM Takbo 2015’s zumba session

21k category top finishers wear medals

10k category top finishers wear medals

3k category top finishers wear medals

Bumahit awarded by DZMM station manager Marah Capuyan and anchor Gretchen Fullido

DZMM Takbo 2015’s 5k category top finishers wear medals

21k top finisher and police officer Dandelion Bumahit with DZMM anchor Ahwel Paz

Bumahit (center) with fellow PNP officers

ALIWAN FIESTA PHOTO COMPETITION

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f your are a photography enthusiast, you could win big prizes in cash if you’d take the best photographs at this year’s Aliwan Fiesta.

The photography competition, launched

by Manila Broadcasting Company, is open to both amateur and professional photographers, using digital or film-based cameras and camfones or tablets.

Photos must be taken during the grand parade on April 25, and should not have won nor been published in any book or

photography magazine.

Those using Digital or Film-based cameras must print their entries full color on any brand of photo paper in 8R size (8 inches x 10 inches).

The name of the photographer should not appear on the face of the entry.

Contestants are allowed a maximum of three entries each, but must depict different contingents. These should be submitted to the MBC office, Sotto Street, CCP Complex, Pasay City together with

a self-addressed stamped brown envelope, and two copies of the entry form, which will be published in the Manila Bulletin on April 23, 24, 25, and 28, and on May 1 and 2.

Deadline for submission of entries is on May 5, 2014 at 3 p.m. Complete detailsmay be found on the website at www. aliwanfiesta.com.ph and the official Facebook page of Aliwan Fiesta.

This year, the parade on April 25 will kick off at 4 p.m. at Quirino Grandstand,

Photgrapher Wig Tysmans and fellow lensmen

enroute to the Aliw Theater at the CCP complex, where the culminating showdown and awarding ceremonies will be held.

T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 1 6 : 2 0 1 5

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EDITOR

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MORE KID-FRIENDLY CHANNELS ON PLDT HOME TELPAD

The Twins are the faces of the new Telpad

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ids TV on Telpad, a direct-to-Telpad streaming service, which allows subscribers to access five channels, was launched recently by PLDT HOME Telpad. It is a new service that allows kids to watch their favorite shows whenever they want and wherever they are, and for parents to control and monitor what they watch.

The channels, which can be accessed through the built-in HOME Player App in Telpad include Nickelodeon, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, Cartoon Network, and Da Vinci Learning.

“In addition to giving them access to Disney Interactive content right in the comfort of home, here’s another reason for kids, and their parents, to love the Telpad,” PLDT Executive Vice President and Head of Ariel Fermin, PLDT EVP and Home Business Ariel P. Fermin head of Home said. “We’ve taken five of toBusiness day’s most well-loved and edu-

Continuing its thrilling streak in the first quarter, AXN claims the top spot in English general entertainment (GE) primetime ratings collectively in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

As the dominant English GE channel across the region, AXN held 37 percent of the primetime viewing share among 20 competing channels, with ratings that were more than 60 percent higher than the next best rated English GE channel.

Asia’s home of thrilling entertainment posted strong ratings gains on the back of the premieres of popular new and returning scripted series including CSI: Cyber and The Blacklist Season 2, along with AXN Asia’s latest original series Asia’s Got Talent. Quarter-one primetime ratings grew in all four markets versus 2014. In particular, AXN enjoyed 50 per cent growth quarter-on-quarter in Singapore, 20 percent in the Philippines, 15 percent in Taiwan, while in Malaysia, the channel enjoyed more than double the rating of its

closest competitor.

Hui Keng Ang, senior vice president and general manager of Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia said, “Quality, buzzworthy drama and reality series airing day and date with the U.S remain integral to AXN’s success.

Adding to this is our focus on producing exciting localized original productions, and engaging viewers for a truly social television experience. Asia’s Got Talent, while a ratings success on linear TV, has also inspired an active and colorful fan base across several social platforms.”

After a strong launch in March, Asia’s Got Talent has continued to deliver top ratings in Southeast Asia and Taiwan a month into the series.

Billed as the biggest talent competition in the world, Asia’s Got Talent features some of the region’s most amazing performing artists competing for the coveted title.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 45 46 48 51 52 54 59 60 62 63 64 65 66 67 68

Guns N’ Roses performer Bolder Violet or lavender Fan’s shout Small furry rodent Fate Goya’s “Duchess of —” Lose traction Reluctant Beowulf’s drink A Saarinen Ms. Jong Ferber or Millay Remnant Metropolis of India

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE 26 27 31 32 33 36 39 40 41 42 43 44

— Queen, of whodunits Well-liked Charged particle Quark habitats Lamb specialty Bud’s sidekick Dance move Leslie of “Gigi” Wild crowds Turkey or cat Noted station Baja fast food

cational channels for children, and made it easy for kids to watch these shows at home via a dedicated screen. It’s a new way for kids to enjoy the Telpad while bonding with their parents or learning something new along the way.”

With Kids TV on Telpad, children get to watch fun and educational shows direct from the Telpad even without a paid TV subscription. Parents who want to filter what their kids watch can also use this service to give them a dedicated screen with only certified kid-friendly content options.

Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network house some of today’s most popular children’s shows, while Nat Geo and Nat Geo Wild give kids a close-to-real-life preview of the exciting outdoors and its diverse animal life. Da Vinci Learning is an internationally broadcast knowledge TV channel which airs documentaries and educational series on topics such as history, sociology, biology and physics.

Fermin added, “When it comes to family-friendly entertainment for kids, we only want the best for our subscribers. This new and affordable service is part of our long-term commitment to help Filipino families forge the strongest connections at home through compelling multimedia offerings.”

To find out how to get started with Kids TV on Telpad, log on to pldthome.com for more details

AXN claims leadership in English entertainment in Asia, including Asia’s Got Talent

AXN TOPS RATINGS

ACROSS 1 — to my ears 6 Angus Young’s band 10 Zillions 14 Shake off 15 Loughlin or Petty 16 “Garfield” pooch 17 Deduce 18 Ont. or Que. 19 Singer k.d. — 20 Brought up 22 Ousting a tenant 24 Aardvark snack

ISAH V. RED

DOWN 1 Golda of politics 2 Radius companion 3 Dervish, e.g.

4 Caesar’s worst day 5 Breakfast foods 6 Yodeler’s perch 7 Apple middle 8 Took the car 9 One without rank 10 Like magma 11 Robin of balladry 12 Dingbat

TURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015

13 21 23 25 27 28 29 30 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 52 53 55 56 57 58 61

Safecracker Molecular bio. topic Fill to excess Buy a round Memoir topic — von Bismarck Limerick Foul-ball caller B’way letters of yore Kid’s address Focal points A woodwind Gorbachev’s domain Like laborer’s hands NBA player World’s fair Lagged behind Majestic fleet Cartoon shriek Steered a raft Kind of renewal Glacial ridge Slangy lady Blarney Stone site Aching Junk or snail — Draw on glass Siamese, now Half-star movie

The first four episodes showcased many breathtaking performances and incredible characters, and at times hilarious and cringe-worthy acts, which kept viewers entertained each week.

In its first four episodes, Asia’s Got Talent cumulatively delivered 5.7 million viewers across Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan. AXN dominated the Thursday night premiere timeslot with more than 16 times the rating of the next best English GE program.

Asia’s Got Talent enters the semi-finals phase from today, with the sixth to eighth episodes featuring the best 24 acts selected by the judges from the first five episodes.

The 24 performances will then be voted upon by the AXN audience via SMS, Facebook, and the “Asia’s Got Talent” mobile application, to determine the nine finalists.

Asia’s Got Talent airs Thursdays at 8.30 p.m. first on AXN.

T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 1 6 : 2 0 1 5

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

NEW SAN MIG LIGHT ENDORSER A

C7

Samuel Jackson plays US President in Big Game

From C8

ctress Bela Padilla has ticked another item off her wish list. She is now the newest endorser of San Mig Light.

Padilla’s latest television commercial for San Mig Light, the country’s No. 1 light beer started airing Easter Sunday, according to San Miguel Brewery, Inc. “Being a San Mig Light endorser is definitely one of my biggest achievements,” says Padilla.

She adds: “The television commercial I did for San Mig Light is very timely because that is something I’m confident enough to do now. It took me awhile but I can walk to a party alone and get my own beer!”

Padilla, who turns 24 on May 3, is currently working on a film bio and also writing the script for a romantic-comedy film.

She won the FAMAS best supporting actress award last year for the movie 10,000 Hours.

“Bela is perfect fit for San Mig Light as endorser. She is confident, knows how to party, live in the moment but also values quality time and quality conversations with friends,”says San Mig Light Brand Manager Gerry Camacho.

For details on fun promos and updates, log on to www.sanmiglight.com.ph ★★★★★ The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) announced that multi-talented artist Nick Jonas would be a co-headliner for the 2nd Annual Guam Live International Music Festival on June 5-6 at Paseo Stadium in Hagatña, Guam.

Nick Jonas rose to fame as part of the Grammy nominated Jonas Brothers. The Bella Padilla is the new face of San Mig Light

22-year old former Disney star is stepping out on his own with his recently released self-titled album, Nick Jonas, with his singles, “Chains” and “Jealous” topping the music charts and airwaves. Jonas also recently played an MMA prize fighter for the television show Kingdom.

“We’re excited to welcome Nick Jonas to Guam as a headliner for GVB’s second annual Guam Live International Music Festival,” said GVB General Manager Nathan Denight. “GVB created this signature music event to benefit our local community and take tourism to greater heights.

Music unites people from all walks of life and what better way to do it than on our island paradise. We encourage everyone to stay tuned as we continue to announce the line-up for all international and local acts to be featured at Guam Live.”

Tickets have officially gone on sale at www.guam-live.com and at all 76/Circle K Locations. The two-day GVB signature event will feature pop, rock, reggae, hip-hop and island music performed by international artists from all across the globe. The Guam Live festival grounds will include Chamorro Village, Paseo Park and surrounding areas.

The event is expected to draw thousands of visitors to our region, boost the local economy and help with revitalization efforts in Guam’s capital city of Hågatña.

Additional headliners for the 2015 Guam Live International Music Festival will be announced soon. Last year, top-rated acts from all over the world performed at Paseo Stadium, such as Sublime with Rome, Matisyahu, Steel Pulse, and Guam’s own Pia Mia. Talent from Guam’s major visitor source markets also took the Guam Live stage including Japan’s Home Made Kazoku and Izah Blue, Korea’s Brown Eyed Girls and NU’EST, and Taiwan’s Popu Lady.

For immediate updates, follow Guam Live at facebook.com/GuamLiveIMF. To know more about the latest events and news in Guam, you may also visit the Guam Visitors Bureau’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/visitguamusa.

Nick Jonas headlines music festival in Guam

Omni Tommila is the teenager who finds the President in an escape pod on the field

SAMUEL L. JACKSON’S ESCAPE FROM AIR FORCE ONE

A

president’s life is under the protection of a 13-yearold village boy in the latest big-budget action film Big Game starring Samuel L. Jackson, Onni Tommila, Ray Stevenson and Ted Levine. It is directed by Jalmari Helander.

In the tradition of worldwide blockbuster films about the president at the center of terrorists’ target such as “Air Force One,” Big Game introduces us to a young boy named Oskari (Tommila) who anxiously awaits his fate according to their family’s tradition until one fateful day that he has to face his most daunting challenge yet.

Oskari, a timid teenager, has come to spend one day and one night alone in the wilderness as dictated by their family’s tradition.

Like his forefathers, armed with only a bow and arrow, he must return with a prize to prove himself a man. Terrified and alone, he wanders through a vast and unforgiving forest when suddenly he hears a deafening rumble.

Racing to investigate, Oskari discovers an escape pod. Not just any escape pod – this pod belongs to Air Force One and the battered and bruised man lying before him is President (Jackson) of the United States. In the skies above, terrorists are hurtling their way to the crash site, hell-bent on kidnapping the President. Now, the

fate of the most powerful man in the world lies in the hands of Oskari. Plunged into a deadly game of cat and mouse, with only hours to spare, Oskari and the President must team up to survive the most extraordinary night of their lives.

Director and writer Jalmari Helander first came to international attention with his quirky Father Christmas-based Finnish fold adventure Rare Exports, but has always loved action movies. With “Big Game,” his idea was to create a high-octane romp that would provide the visceral thrill of highconcept genre entries like Die Hard and Taken, but also interweave themes from iconic rite-of-passage 8-‘s films such as E.T. and The Karate Kid. In short, he wanted to make an action movie with a soul.

The film reunites Helander with his Rare Exports producer Petri Jokiranta who explained that, after their previous breakout success, they were looking to do something bigger, but with the same dark Finnish sense of humor.

“Big Game is an action adventure story and I’m delighted to be taking this genre on as it has always been very close to my heart, as actionpacked adventure stores contain the elements that I believe make movies that are worth watching,” noted Helander.

Big Game is now screening in cinemas nationwide, from Pioneer Films.

C8

T H U R S D AY : A P R I L 1 6 : 2 0 1 5

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

GET THE LOOK, MEET FRIENDS AND FIENDS OF

‘THE DUFF’ Robbie Amell and Mae Whitman play the central characters in the modern rom-com The Duff with Bianca Santos and Bella

SIMPLY RED ISAH V. Everyone knows what it is like to be sort of the underdog...especially in high school. In the teen movie The Duff based by author Kody Keplinger’s book of the same name, the relatable and of-the-moment stuff of growing up and the struggle to fit in is explored.

“As everybody transitions from youth to adulthood you get into those private moments of sharing when you realize the universal message that everybody has their stuff – their insecurities, their feelings of DUFFness,” explains producer McG. “And to some degree we have a bit of that struggle our entire lives.

That is why I think the movie will appeal to a broader audience than just girls and teens.”

To fill the role of the pivotal and titular DUFF (Designated. Ugly. Fat. Friend.) a.k.a. Bianca Piper, producers turned to the young but experienced film and TV actress Mae Whitman, who unbeknownst to them at the time of casting, was Keplinger’s choice for the role.

The filmmakers agreed that the DUFF in the film needed to be someone who was not unattractive or unintelligent, but rather someone who just doesn’t quite measure up to her group of friends in the high school rating system. Whitman hadn’t heard of the term DUFF before she was given the script. But as soon as she read it, she thought it was an important story to be told and one that spoke to her personally. “The story is important to me because I’ve grown up in this industry and have had to struggle with being put in certain categories my whole life,” says Whitman.

In talking about the characters of Casey and Jess, Bianca’s best friends played by Bianca Santos and Skyler Samuels respectively, Keplinger stresses that, although Bianca’s best friends are stunningly gorgeous, they are good friends to her. It is only after Bianca is pointed out as their DUFF that she begins to feel inadequate around her own friends. “Just because Bianca feels inadequate around them does not make them bad, especially when you consider that they feel inadequate in some ways too,” says the author.

For the role of Wesley Rush, producers had to find someone to play the quintessential handsome jock categorized as dumb and shallow. The producers found Canadian-born actor Robbie Amell (The Flash, Tomorrow People) to portray this surprisingly complex guy. Amell had concerns about making a teen comedy until he read the script. “It is tough to make one that feels real and grounded,” he says.

This script felt like one of the special ones that will endure the test of time. The message speaks to anyone’s insecurities and ways to deal with them, embrace them or overcome them.”

The filmmakers were challenged with creating and casting Bianca’s nemesis - Madison Morgan (played by Bella Thorne), a character that does not exist in the book. But Madison, like everyone else, is equally insecure so her attitude is her defense mechanism.”

“The idea of doing a coming of age film that also deals with bullying, which is really in the

zeitgeist right now with everything happening on the Internet, and how pervasive social media is in high school life, really intrigued me actually,” says director Ari Sandel.

“Texting and all this stuff, it’s a whole new ballgame as far as bullying, and it’s rampant,” says Whitman. “It’s rampant everywhere in America right now. There’s this whole mentality of ripping other people down. And it sort of perpetuated on the Internet so I think it’s a cool new twist to be illuminating how horrible that stuff is, because it’s really bad.”

To capture the range of high school styles, from Bianca’s DUFF look - and later her homecoming dance dress - to the teen chic looks of Jess and Casey and the sexier school look of Madison, all of which play an integral part of the film, the team brought in costume designer Eric Daman, who had earned a stellar reputation for his costumes on many modern projects, most notably The Carrie Diaries (the Sex and the City prequel) and Gossip Girl.

“This is a very female-centric, femaledriven film, so one thing I wanted to do was surround myself with people who I thought would really bring an expertise on what teenage girls are into and what they find, you know, acceptable. Wardrobe is really important. So I teamed up with Eric Daman who brought a really interesting perspective,” says Sandel.

“Eric and I agreed we wanted a toned down vibe to the styles. If people notice the wardrobes then we’re not doing it right. It’s got to feel really regular and down-to-earth. I think that was something different than what Eric’s done typically and I think he nailed it. I mean, he’s really good at the nuance and he’s really known for his fashion style and being able to do casual but still make it cool and chic.”

“The Duff ” is from Pioneer Films showing in cinemas nationwide.

Continued on C7

Texting and all this stuff, it’s a whole new ballgame as far as bullying, and it’s rampant. It’s rampant everywhere in America right now. There’s this whole mentality of ripping other people down. And it sort of perpetuated on the Internet so I think it’s a cool new twist to be illuminating how horrible that stuff is, because it’s really bad’ -Mae Whitman

D1 The filing of the certificate of candidacy of a substitute candidate, in case of valid substitution, shall be filed in accordance with Section 14 hereof.

A sample form of the certificate of candidacy shall be distributed free of charge and no filing fee shall be imposed.

Republic of the Philippines

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Manila

GUIDELINES ON THE FILING OF CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 08, 2015 RECALL ELECTIONS FOR MAYOR IN PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN, PURSUANT TO COMELEC RESOLUTION NO. 15-0284 DATED APRIL 7, 2015.

X-----------------------------X

LIM, Christian Robert S. PARREÑO, Al A.; GUIA, Luie Tito F.; LIM, Arthur D.

Acting Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner

Promulgated: April 14, 2015

RESOLUTION NO. 9956 The Commission on Elections, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the Omnibus Election Code, and other election laws, RESOLVED to promulgate as it hereby promulgates, the following rules and guidelines on the filing of certificate of candidacy in connection with the May 08, 2015 Recall Elections in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

SECTION 1. Certificate of Candidacy. — a) No person shall be elected Mayor in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, unless he files a sworn certificate of candidacy in the form prescribed by the Commission and within the period fixed herein. b) A person who has filed a certificate of candidacy may, prior to the election, withdraw the same pursuant to Section 14 hereof. c) The filing or withdrawal of a certificate of candidacy shall not affect whatever civil, criminal or administrative liabilities which a candidate may have incurred.

SEC. 2. Contents of certificate of candidacy. – The certificate of candidacy (Please see attached format ANNEX “A”) shall be under oath and shall state, his age, gender, civil status, place and date of birth, his citizenship; the registered political party to which he belongs, if any; if married, the full name of the spouse; his legal residence, giving the exact address, the precinct number, barangay, city or municipality and province where he is a registered voter; his post office address for election purposes; his profession or occupation or employment; that he is eligible for said office and shall state that the person filing it is announcing his candidacy for Mayor of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, that he is a natural-born citizen, a resident voter for a period of not less than one (1) year immediately preceding the day of election; that he is not a permanent resident of or an immigrant to a foreign country; that he will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; that he will obey the laws, legal orders, decrees, resolution, rules and regulations promulgated and issued by the duly-constituted authorities; that he assumes the foregoing obligations voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that the facts stated in the certificate are true and correct to the best of his own knowledge.

Unless a candidate has officially changed his name through a court- approved proceeding, a candidate shall use in a certificate of candidacy the name by which he has been baptized or if he has not been baptized in any church or religion, the name registered in the office of the local civil registrar or any other name under the provisions of existing law or, in the case of a Muslim, his Hadji name after performing the prescribed religious pilgrimage: provided, that when there are two or more candidates for an office with the same name and surname, each candidate, upon being made aware of such fact, shall state his paternal and maternal surname, except the incumbent who may continue to use the name and surname stated in his certificate of candidacy when he was elected.

The person filing the certificate of candidacy may include one nickname or stage name by which he is generally or popularly known in the locality; Provided: That no candidate shall use the nickname, stage name or initials of another. In case of several nicknames or stage names, only the nickname or stage name first written shall be considered.

Titles, such as DON, DATU, DOCTOR, GINOO, or words of similar imports shall not be allowed.

He shall affix his latest passport size photograph; a statement in duplicate containing his bio-data and program of government not exceeding one hundred words, if he so desires.

SEC. 3. – Where to file certificate of candidacy. – The certificate of candidacy shall be filed in FIVE (5) LEGIBLE COPIES with the Office of City Election Officer of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

The certificate of candidacy shall be filed by the candidate personally or by his duly authorized representative. No certificate of candidacy shall be filed or accepted by mail, telegram or facsimile. The authority of the authorized representative shall be in writing and under oath, and attached to the certificate of candidacy.

Certificate of candidacy not filed with the Office of the City Election Officer of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan shall not be accepted.

SEC. 4. Period for filing certificate of candidacy. – The filing of certificate of candidacy shall be from 8:00 o’clock in the morning up to 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, beginning April 21, 2015 up to April 22, 2015.

No certificate of candidacy and/or party nomination shall be received after 12:00 o’clock midnight of the last day for filing certificates of candidacy, except in cases of proper and valid substitution under Section 14 hereof.

SEC. 5. Certificates of nomination of official candidates by the political party. — The certificate of nomination of registered political parties or coalitions of political parties of their official candidates shall be filed not later than the last day for filing of certificates of candidacy, duly signed and attested under oath by the party president, chairman, secretary-general or any other duly authorized officer of the party. The nominee shall accept the nomination by affixing his signature in the space provided therein. If a candidate files his certificate of nomination after his certificate of candidacy has been filed, he shall attach a copy of the certificate of candidacy to his certificate of nomination.

For this purpose, all registered political parties fielding official candidates for the recall elections shall submit to the Law Department not later than April 20, 2015 the authorized signatories to official nominations of their respective candidates.

No certificate of nomination or any amendment thereto shall be filed after the last day for the filing of certificate of candidacy, except in case of valid substitution under Section 14 hereof.

No political party shall be allowed to nominate more than one candidate for the position of City Mayor of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. If a political party nominates more than one candidate, all nominations issued shall be denied due course by the Commission.

SEC. 6. Independent candidate. candidate is one:

–

An independent

1)

who has not been nominated by a registered political party or its duly authorized representative; 2) whose nomination has not been submitted by a registered political party; 3) whose nominations was revoked or withdrawn by the political party which issued the nomination; 4) who accepts nominations from more than one registered political party, except in cases of coalitions of said political parties; 5) whose nomination was filed after the last day of filing of certificates of candidacy.

SEC. 7. Effects of Filing Certificates of Candidacy.—a) Any person holding a public appointive office or position including active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other officers and employees in government-owned or controlled corporations, shall be considered ipso facto resigned from his office upon the filing of his certificate of candidacy. b) Any person holding an elective office or position shall not be considered resigned upon the filing of his certificate of candidacy for the same or any other elective office or positions.

SEC. 8. Ministerial duty of receiving and acknowledging receipt of certificates of candidacy/nomination; Recording.

– The receiving officer as provided for in Section 3 hereof shall have the ministerial duty to receive and acknowledge receipt of the certificates of candidacy of a candidate and/or nomination by registered political parties or coalition of political parties on or before the deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy, provided said certificates are under oath and in the form prescribed by the Commission. He shall stamp every copy of each certificate with the date and time of its receipt and affix his signature thereon.

Thereafter, the receiving clerk shall enter in a record book, the following data, leaving no space between entries: (a) date and time of receipt of the certificates; (b) assigned consecutive number thereof; (c) full name of the candidate; (d) the office for which the candidate is running; (e) the political party to which the candidate belongs and/or which nominated him, if any; (f) the number of copies actually received; and (g) the name of the officer or employee who received the certificate.

Without delay, after 12:00 o’clock midnight of the last day for filing certificate of candidacy, the receiving official shall close the record book by placing a line immediately after the last entry and writing the word “closed”. He shall then affix his signature below the word “closed” and indicate the date and exact time of closing.

SEC. 9. Watchers of candidates, political parties and accredited citizens’ arms. — Any candidate, political party, accredited citizens’ arm may appoint a watcher in connection with the filing and reception of the certificates of candidacy.

The watcher shall be allowed to stay within the premises of the CEO-Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and to take note of the proceedings but without interrupting or disturbing official business. Any watcher may report in writing to the Commission any irregularity, which may require appropriate action.

Watchers shall be entitled, upon written request, to secure from the receiving officer a copy of the full list of those who filed their certificates of candidacy and their respective positions.

SEC. 10. Reports on and delivery of certificates of candidacy. — On April 23, 2015, the receiving officer shall

report, by rush telegram or any available fastest means of communication to the Law Department of the Commission, the complete list of candidates who have filed their certificates of candidacy as entered in the record book.

On April 24, 2015, the record book containing the record of the certificates of candidacy/nomination received, list of candidates and all copies, except for one copy to be retained for file, of the certificates of candidacy/nomination filed with the offices as provided in Section 3 hereof, shall be delivered personally to the Law Department by the City Election Officer of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

SEC. 11. Distribution of Certificates of Candidacy.

— The Law Department shall distribute the copies of the certificate of candidacy, as follows: First and second copies, to be retained by the Law Department, COMELEC, Manila; Third copy, to ERSD, Comelec, Manila; and Fourth copy, to the Office of the Executive Director; SEC. 12. – Preparation of the Certified List of Candidates. - Immediately after the last day for filing of certificates of candidacy, the certified list of candidates shall be prepared by the City election Officer of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

SEC. 13. Withdrawal of Certificate of Candidacy. — Any person who has filed a certificate of candidacy may at any time before election day, subject to Section Section 14 hereof, file personally a statement of withdrawal under oath in five (5) legible copies with the Office of the City Election Officer. No statement of withdrawal shall be accepted if filed by a person other than the candidate, or by mail, telegram or facsimile.

The City Election Officer shall, upon receipt of the withdrawal, notify the Law Department by the fastest means of communication of the a) full name of the candidate withdrawing; b) elective office concerned; c) political party, if any; and d) substitution made, if any. On the same date, he shall retain a file copy and immediately forward to the Law Department all the other copies. The Law Department shall, in turn, distribute the copies to the offices/departments concerned as provided under Section 11 hereof.

SEC. 14. Substitution of candidates, in case of death, disqualification or withdrawal of another, permanent incapacity.—If after the last day for the filing of certificate of candidacy, an official candidate of a registered political party dies, withdraws or is disqualified for any cause, or permanently incapacitated, he may be substituted by a candidate belonging to, and nominated by, the same political party.

No substitution shall be allowed for any independent candidate. The substitute for candidates who withdrew, or who were disqualified or died or suffered permanent incapacity may file his certificate of candidacy up to mid-day of election day. If the disqualification, death or permanent disability should occur between the day before the election and mid-day of election day, the substitute candidate may file the certificate with any board of election inspectors in the political subdivision where he is a candidate.

SEC. 15. Nuisance Candidates. — The Commission may, motu proprio, or upon verified petition of an interested party, refuse to give due course to or cancel a certificate of candidacy if it is shown that said certificate has been filed to put the election process in mockery or disrepute, or to cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of names of registered candidates, or by other circumstances or acts which clearly demonstrate that the candidate has no bona fide intention to run for the office for which the certificate of candidacy has been filed and thus prevent a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate.

A verified petition to declare a duly registered candidate as a nuisance candidate shall be filed personally or through duly authorized representative with the Commission by any registered candidate within five (5) days from the last day for filing certificate of candidacy.

SEC. 16. Period to File Petitions to Deny Due Course to or Cancel a Certificate of Candidacy. — A verified petition seeking to deny due course to or cancel a certificate of candidacy may be filed by any person within five (5) days from the last day for the filing of certificate of candidacy but not later than twenty five (25) days from the time of the filing of certificate of candidacy, exclusively on the ground of material misrepresentation on the contents of the certificate of candidacy as required under Section 74 of the Omnibus Election Code (Batas Pambansa Blg. 881).

SEC. 17. Effects of Disqualification. — Any candidate who has been declared disqualified by final judgment shall not be voted for and the votes casted in his favor shall not be counted. If, for any reason, he is not declared disqualified by final judgment before the election and he is voted for and receives the winning number of votes, the case shall continue and upon motion of the petitioner, complainant, or intervenor, the proclamation of such candidate may be ordered suspended during the pendency of the said case whenever the evidence of guilt is strong. a) where a similar complaint/petition is filed before the election and before the proclamation of the respondent and the case is not resolved before the election, the trial and hearing of the case shall continue and referred to the Law Department for preliminary investigation. b) where the complaint/petition is filed after the election

D2 and before the proclamation of the respondent, the trial and hearing of the case shall be suspended and referred to the Law Department for preliminary investigation.

In either case, if the evidence of guilt is strong, the Commission may order the suspension of the proclamation of respondent, and if proclaimed, to suspend the effects of proclamation.

SEC. 18. Effectivity.—This Resolution shall take effect upon its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

SEC. 19. Dissemination.—The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation, give the same the widest dissemination possible and furnish copies thereof to the Regional Election Director of Region IV, the Provincial Election Supervisor of Palawan and the City Election Officer of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

SO ORDERED.

xxx

xxx

xxx

“(h) Transfer of officers and employees in the civil service – Any public official who makes or causes any transfer or detail whatever of any officer or employee in the civil service including public school teachers, within the election period except upon approval of the Commission. xxx

xxx

xxx

WHEREAS, the above-quoted provisions apply to the May 08, 2015 Recall Elections for Mayor in the City of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, as embodied in Resolution No. 15-0284, dated 07 April 2015; WHEREAS, there is an essential need to appoint, assign, reassign or transfer personnel of the Commission on Elections in order that it can effectively and efficiently carry out its constitutional mandate to conduct free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections;

CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Acting Chairman

AL A. PARREÑO Commissioner

in case of urgent need: Provided, however, That notice of the appointment shall be given to the Commission within three days from the date of the appointment. Any appointment or hiring in violation of this provision shall be null and void.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission on Elections, pursuant to the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code and other election laws, has RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to exempt the Commission on Elections from the prohibition to appoint, hire new employees or fill new positions and transfer or assign or reassign its personnel.

LUIE TITO F. GUIA Commissioner

This Resolution shall take effect after its publication in two (2) daily newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Let the Education and Information Department cause the publication of this Resolution and shall furnish a copy hereof to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for its information and guidance.

ARTHUR D. LIM Commissioner

SO ORDERED.

______________________________________ CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Acting Chairman

Republic of the Philippines

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

AL A. PARREÑO Commissioner

LUIE TITO F. GUIA Commissioner

Manila

AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO APPOINT, FILLUP POSITION AND TRANSFER OR REASSIGN ITS PERSONNEL IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 08, 2015 RECALL ELECTIONS FOR MAYOR IN THE CITY OF PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN, PURSUANT TO COMELEC RESOLUTION NO. 15-0284 DATED 07 APRIL 2015. x-------------------------x

LIM, Christian Robert S. PARREÑO, Al A., GUIA, Luie Tito F.; LIM, Arthur D.

Acting Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner

“As an exception to the foregoing provisions, a new employee may be appointed in case of urgent need: Provided, however, That notice of the appointment shall be given to the Commission within three days from the date of the appointment.

Any appointment or hiring in violation of this provision shall be null and void. “(2) Any government official who promotes, or gives any increase of salary or remuneration or privilege to any government official or employee, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations. “(h) Transfer of officers and employees in the civil service – Any public official who makes or causes any transfer or detail whatever of any officer or employee in the civil service including public school teachers, within the election period except upon approval of the Commission. (Underlining supplied) xxx xxx xxx “(x) Suspension of elective provincial, city, municipal or barangay officer – The provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding during the election period, any public official who suspends, without prior approval of the Commission, any elective provincial, city, municipal or barangay officer, unless said suspension will be for purposes of applying the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in relation to the suspension and removal of elective officials, in which case the provision of this section shall be inapplicable.” (Underlining supplied) WHEREAS, to enforce effectively the foregoing provisions, there is a need to promulgate the necessary rules for the guidance of all concerned;

ARTHUR D. LIM Commissioner ______________________________________

PROMULGATED ON: April 14, 2015

NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission on Elections (Commission), pursuant to the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code and other election laws, has RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to promulgate the following rules to implement the provisions of Section 261, subsections (g), (h) and (x) of the Omnibus Election Code in connection with the conduct of the May 08, 2015 Recall Elections for Mayor in the City of Puerto Princesa, Palawan; SECTION 1. Coverage. – The provisions of this Resolution shall apply only to the City of Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Republic of the Philippines

SEC. 2. Prohibited Acts. –

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Manila

RESOLUTION No. 9957 WHEREAS, Sec. 261 (g), and (h), of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines provides: “Sec. 261. Prohibited acts. – The following shall be guilty of an election offense: xxx

salary increases – During the period of forty five (45) days before a regular election and thirty days before a special election, (1) any head, official or appointing officer of a government office, agency or instrumentality, whether national or local, including government-owned or controlled corporations, who appoints or hires any new employees, whether provisional, temporary or casual, or creates and fills any new position, except upon prior authority of the Commission. The Commission shall not grant the authority sought unless, it is satisfied that the position to be filled is essential to the proper functioning of the office or agency concerned, and that the position shall not be filled in a manner that may influence the election.

xxx

xxx

“(g) Appointment of new employees, creation of new position, promotion or giving salary increases – During the period of forty five days before a regular election and thirty days before a special election, (1) any head, official or appointing officer of a government office, agency or instrumentality, whether national or local, including government-owned or controlled corporations, who appoints or hires any new employee, whether provisional, temporary or casual, or creates and fills any new position, except upon prior authority of the Commission.

The Commission shall not grant the authority sought unless, it is satisfied that the position to be filled is essential to the proper functioning of the office or agency concerned, and that the position shall not be filled in a manner that may influence the election.

“As an exception to the foregoing provisions, a new employee may be appointed

ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROHIBITION AGAINST APPOINTMENT OR HIRING OF NEW EMPLOYEES; CREATION OR FILLING UP OF NEW POSITIONS; GIVING SALARY INCREASES; TRANSFERRING/ DETAILING OF CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES; AND SUSPENSION OF ELECTIVE LOCAL OFFICIALS IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 08, 2015 RECALL ELECTIONS FOR MAYOR IN THE CITY OF PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN, PURSUANT TO COMELEC RESOLUTION NO. 15-0284 DATED 07 APRIL 2015. x----------------------------- x

LIM, Christian Robert S. PARREÑO, Al A.; GUIA, Luie Tito F.; LIM, Arthur D.

Acting Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner

(A) During the election period from April 20, 2015 to May 18, 2015, no public official shall, except upon prior written approval of the Commission.

1. Make or cause any transfer or detail whatsoever of any officer or employee in the civil service, including public school teachers.

“Transfer” as used in this provision shall be construed as any personnel movement from one government agency to another or from one department, division, geographical unit or subdivision of a government agency to another with or without the issuance of an appointment.

Promulgated: April 14, 2015

RESOLUTION No. 9958 WHEREAS, Sec. 261 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines provides: “Sec. 261. Prohibited acts. – The following shall be guilty of an election offense: xxx xxx xxx “(g) Appointment of new employees, creation of new position, promotion or giving

2. Suspend any elective city or barangay official, unless the suspension will be for purposes of applying the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act” in relation to the suspension and removal of elective official.

(B) Beginning April 23, 2015 to May 07, 20151. No head, official or appointing officer of any national or local government office, agency or instrumentality, including government-owned or controlled corporations, shall, except upon prior authority of the Commission: (a) Appoint or hire any new employee, whether permanent, provisional, temporary or casual; or (b) Create and fill any new position.

D3 2. No government official shall promote or give any increase of salary or remuneration or privilege to any government official or employee, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations.

SEC. 3. Requests for authority of the Commission; How to File. - (A) The request for authority to make or cause any transfer or detail shall be in writing indicating the (1) office and place to which the officer or employee is proposed to be transferred/detailed or otherwise moved; and (2) stating the reasons therefor: Said request shall be filed with the 1. Law Department of the Commission when: 1.1. It involves Regional Directors, Assistant Regional Directors or positions of similar rank, Philippine National Police Provincial/District Directors or Commanders, Officers of Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of major or equivalent rank, and/or holding positions of battalion commanders or higher, Provincial Treasurers and School Division Superintendents whose official stations are within the City of Puerto Princesa; or 1.2. The transfer or detail is inter-regional.

2. With the Regional Election Director, Region IV, when: 2.1 It involves City Treasurers and Assistant Superintendents whose official stations are within the City of Puerto Princesa, including government employees with official stations within said territory.

SEC 4. Request for Authority of the Commission To Appoint or Hire New Employees; Where and How to File.

– Request for authority to appoint or hire new employees shall be in writing stating all the necessary data and reasons for the same. Said request shall be filed with the Regional Election Director of Region IV. SEC 5. Request for Authority of the Commission to Create and Fill New Positions: Where and How to File.

Request for authority to create and fill new positions shall be submitted in writing to the Law Department of the Commission.

The Commission shall not grant the authority unless it is satisfied that the position to be filled is essential to the proper functioning of the office or agency concerned, and that the position shall not be filled in any manner that may influence the result of the elections.

SEC 6. Request for Authority of the Commission to Suspend An Elective City or Barangay Officer Applying the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act: Where and How to File. Request for authority to suspend an elective city or barangay officer shall be submitted to the Law Department of the Commission, supported by a copy of a formal complaint executed under oath and containing the specific charges therefore.

SEC 7. Procedure on the Requests for Authority of the Commission.

A. The Law Department shall submit all requests received by it, together with its recommendation, to the Commission for approval or disapproval.

B. The Regional Election Director of Region IV shall approve or disapprove all requests received by him and submit a report on the requests acted upon by him to the Law Department, within seventy-two (72) hours from his action thereon, by the fastest means of communication.

SEC. 8. When Request for Authority Is Not Necessary.

– Renewal of appointments of temporary, casual, substitute and contractual personnel are not covered by this prohibition and will no longer need prior authority of the Commission.

However, the appointing authority shall furnish the Commission, through the Office of the Regional Election Director, Region IV, a complete list of employees whose appointments were renewed, indicating their position, item number, salary grade and station.

SEC. 9. Urgent Need to Appoint New Employees. – Where there is urgent need to appoint or hire new employees and such employee has already been appointed or hired without prior authority of the Commission, the requesting office/agency shall notify the Commission in writing, within three (3) days from the date of the appointment or hiring, the Commission, through its Law Department, shall be notified in writing, stating therein (1) the exact date when the position sought to be filled became vacant, (2) the cause of vacancy, (3) the reason/s for said appointment or hiring, and, (4) all the necessary data or information regarding the same.

Notification shall be made through the Office of the Regional Election Director of Region IV. Failure to give notice as herein required shall render the appointment null and void.

The appointment or hiring of new employees shall be valid, unless the same is found by the Commission: (1) to have been made to influence in any manner the results of the election; (2) to have been issued without the required notice; or (3) that there is no urgent need for the appointment.

The need to fill up a vacant position by a new employee may be considered “urgent” if the position to be filled is essential to the proper functioning of the office or agency concerned and that the same has been vacated either by death , retirement, resignation, promotion or transfer of the regular incumbent; provided, that the appointment is issued within sixty (60) days from occurrence of the vacancy, and that the same cannot be filled by promotion or transfer of insiders within the same period; and provided further, that the position shall not be filled in any manner that may influence the election.

Appointment to a position which has been vacant for more than sixty (60) days shall not be considered urgent and must, therefore, require prior written authority from the Commission or the Regional Election Director of Region IV. SEC. 10. Total Ban on Promotion, Salary Increases, Granting Privileges. – Promotion, or giving any increase of salary, remuneration, or privilege to any government official or employee including those in government-owned or controlled corporations, is strictly prohibited.

“Promotion” as used in this provision shall mean the advancement of an employee from one position to another with an increase in duties and responsibilities as authorized by law, and usually accompanied by increase in salary. Promotion may be from one department or agency to another or from one organizational unit to another within the same department agency.

SEC. 11. Injunction. – The Civil Service Commission (CSC), including all its field offices, is hereby enjoined not to approve the appointment of new employees where no prior written approval of the Commission or of the Regional Director of Region IV is presented by the appointing authority concerned or proof that the required notice within the 3-day reglementary period as provided in Section 8 hereof has been complied with.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Audit (COA), including all their field offices, shall not release or authorize the release of any appropriation, or pass in audit payments or expenditures of public funds that may be directly or indirectly be used in violation of the foregoing prohibitions.

The abovementioned offices are directed to submit immediately to the Commission a written report on any violation of the said provisions of the Omnibus Election Code.”

SEC.12. Penalty. – Any violation of the provision of this Resolution shall constitute an election offense and shall be punishable by imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than six (6) years, among other penalties provided by law.

SEC. 13. Effectivity. – This Resolution shall take effect after its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

SEC. 14. Dissemination. – The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation, and shall furnish copies thereof to all Departments in the National Government, Constitutional Commissions, Offices, local government units concerned and government agencies including government-owned or controlled corporations, and all COMELEC field offices concerned.

SO ORDERED.

CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Acting Chairman

AL A. PARREÑO Commissioner

LUIE TITO F. GUIA Commissioner

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Manila IN THE MATTER OF ADOPTING COMELEC RESOLUTION NO. 9616, DATED JANUARY 16, 2013, ENTITLED “GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS AS PROVIDED IN RESOLUTION NO. 9476, AS AMENDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 13, 2013 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS AND ALL ELECTIONS THEREAFTER”, AND FURTHER AMENDED BY RESOLUTIONS NO. 15-0085 DATED FEBRUARY 12, 2015, AND 9943 DATED APRIL 07, 2015, FOR PURPOSES OF THE MAY 8, 2015 RECALL ELECTIONS FOR MAYOR IN THE CITY OF PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN, PURSUANT TO COMELEC RESOLUTION NO. 15-0284 DATED 07 APRIL 2015. x------------------------------------------x

LIM, Christian Robert S. PARREÑO, Al A. GUIA, Luie Tito F. Lim, Arthur D.

Promulgated: April 14, 2015

RESOLUTION NO. 9959 WHEREAS, the Commission on Elections (Commission) promulgated the following Resolutions in connection with the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections: (a)

Resolution No. 9616 dated 16 January 2015, entitled “GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS AS PROVIDED IN RESOLUTION NO. 9476, AS AMENDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 13, 2013 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS AND ALL ELECTIONS THEREAFTER”;

(b)

Resolution No. 15-0085 dated February 12, 2015, entitled “IN THE MATTER OF THE EXERCISE OF LENIENCY IN THE REMITTANCE OF LATE PENALTY PAYMENTS AND SUBMISSION OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO THE 2013 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS CAMPAIGN FINANCE SUBMISSIONS”; AND

(c)

ALTERNATIVE MODES OF PAYMENT FOR CANDIDATES OR PARTIES SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE FINES OR LATE PENALTIES DUE TO NON-COMPLIANCE WITH CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS”.

WHEREAS, the Commission promulgated Resolution No. 15-0284 dated 07 April 2015, setting the date of the Recall Elections for Mayor in the City of Puerto Princesa, Palawan on May 8, 2015, and Resolution No. 9942 dated April 07, 2015, entitled “CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES AND PERIODS OF CERTAIN PROHIBITED ACTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 08, 2015 RECALL ELECTIONS FOR MAYOR IN THE CITY OF PUERTO PRINCES, PALAWAN, PURSUANT TO COMELEC RESOLUTION NO. 15-0284 DATE 07 APRIL 2015.

NOW THEREFORE, the Commission on Elections, by virtue of the powers vested in it under the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, and other election laws, RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to ADOPT the abovementioned pertinent Resolutions for purposes of the conduct of the May 08, 2015 Recall Elections subject to the Calendar of Activities and Periods of Prohibited Acts promulgated for the said recall elections, and the area of its applicability, which is the whole City of Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Let this Resolution be published in two (2) daily newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. The Deputy Executive Director for Operations shall furnish the Regional Election Director of Region IV, the Provincial Election Supervisor of Palawan, the Election Officer of Puerto Princesa City, the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, the Secretary of Justice, the Secretary of the Department of Education, the Provincial Governor of Palawan, the City Mayor of Puerto Princesa City, with a copy of this Resolution.

SO ORDERED.

CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Acting Chairman

AL A. PARREÑO Commissioner

ARTHUR D. LIM Commissioner

Acting Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner

LUIE TITO F. GUIA Commissioner

ARTHUR D. LIM Commissioner

D4 partisan registered voter of the precinct to temporarily fill said vacancy until the absent member appears. In case there are two members present, they shall act jointly.

SEC. 6. Arrest of absent members. – The member or members of the BEI present may order the arrest of any member who, in his or their judgment, has absented himself with the intention of obstructing the performance of the duties of the BEI.

Republic of the Philippines

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Manila

G E N E R A L INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS (BEI) ON THE CASTING AND COUNTING OF VOTES IN CONNECTION WITH THE may 08, 2015 recall elections for mayor in the city of puerto princesa, palawan, pursuant to comelec resolution no.

15-0284 dated 07 APRIL 2015. x---------------------------x

LIM, Christian Robert S. PARREÑO, Al A., GUIA, Luie Tito F.; LIM, Arthur D.

Acting Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner

Promulgated: April 14, 2015

RESOLUTION NO. 9960 WHEREAS, the Commission on Elections promulgated Minute Resolution No. 15-0284 on 07 April 2015, setting the date of the recall elections for Mayor in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on 08 May 2015; WHEREAS, in furtherance of the said recall elections, the Commission also promulgated Resolution No. 9942 on 07 April 2015, providing for the Calendar of Activities and Periods of Prohibited Acts in connection with the May 08, 2015 Recall Elections for Mayor in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 7166, and other election laws, the Commission HEREBY RESOLVES to promulgate, the following General Instructions for the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) on the Casting and Counting of Votes In Connection with the May 08, 2015 Recall Elections for Mayor in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan: ARTICLE I Board OF ELECTION INSPECTORS

SEC. 7. Appointment and oath of members of the BEI. - The Election Officer shall accomplish the form for the Appointment of the Chairman and Members of the BEI (CEF 5) in three (3) copies, and require the chairman and members of the BEI to affix their signatures and imprints of their right thumbs on the Oath of Office (CEF 5A) before him and before the BEI assumes office.

Copies of the Appointment and Oath (CEF 5 & 5A) shall be distributed, as follows: a) The first and second copies shall be retained by the Election Officer. One copy shall be for his file and the other shall be attached to the payroll for payment of honorarium of the BEI; and b) The third copy shall be issued to the chairman/ members of the BEI. SEC. 8. Powers and functions of the BEI. - The BEI shall have the following powers and functions: a. Conduct the voting and counting of votes in their respective polling places; b. Act as deputies of the Commission in the supervision and control of the election in the polling place wherein they are assigned; c. Maintain order within the polling place and its premises, keep access thereto open and unobstructed, and enforce obedience to its lawful orders. If any person refuses to obey the lawful orders of the BEI or conducts himself in a disorderly manner in its presence or within its hearing and thereby interrupts or disturbs its proceedings, the BEI may issue an order in writing directing any peace officer to take such person into custody until the adjournment of the meeting, but such order shall not be executed as to prevent such person from voting; and d. Perform such other functions prescribed under the Omnibus Election Code or by the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission.

SEC. 1. Board of Election Inspectors (BEI); constitution and appointment. – The Commission on Elections, through its Election Officer, shall constitute, not later than April 27, 2015, the BEI for each precinct/ clustered precinct from the list of all public school teachers submitted by the Department of Education’s (DepEd) highest official within the city/school district.

SEC. 9. Proceedings of the BEI. - The meeting of the BEI shall be public and shall be held in the polling place designated by the Commission.

The BEI shall be composed of a Chairman and two (2) members, one of whom shall be designated as poll clerk, and all of whom shall be public school teachers, giving preference to those with permanent appointment and those who served in the immediately preceding October 28, 2013 Barangay Elections.

SEC. 10. Relief and substitution of members of the Board of Election Inspectors.-The members of the BEI shall not be relieved unless disqualified in accordance with Secs. 2 and 3 hereof. If any member of the BEI suffers disqualification, he shall voluntarily inhibit himself by submitting an affidavit stating the fact of disqualification to the Election Officer (EO).

In case there are not enough public school teachers, teachers in private schools, employees in the civil service, or citizens of known probity and competence who are registered voters of the municipality may be appointed as members of the BEI; provided, that the chairman shall be a public school teacher.

The Commission may, in the exigency of service and upon recommendation of the Regional Election Director of Region IV and DepEd, call upon trainees from the Philippine National Police (PNP) to serve as BEIs in case of failure of public school teachers or their substitutes to serve as such on election day.

to discharge his duties as such and to vote.

SEC. 13. Honoraria of the BEIs, City Treasurer, DepEd Supervisors and Support Staff. – The chairman and members of the BEI, the city treasurer, and the administrators and supervisors of the DepEd assigned by the Commission to perform election duties shall each receive a per diem of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000) for each day of service, provided that in no case shall payment of per diem for services rendered exceed Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000). Support personnel from the DepEd who may be required by the Commission to perform election duties shall each be entitled to a per diem of Five Hundred Pesos (P500) for each day of service, provided that in no case shall payment of per diem for services rendered exceed One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P1,500).

There shall be at least one (1) DepEd Supervisor with three (3) support staff for every polling center.

ARTICLE II WATCHERS SEC. 14. Official watchers of candidates, citizens’ arms and other groups. - Each candidate may appoint two watchers, to serve alternately, in every polling place.

Duly accredited citizens arms of the Commission shall be entitled to appoint a watcher in every polling place.

Other civil, professional, business, service, youth, and any other similar organizations, with prior authority of the Commission, shall be entitled collectively to appoint one watcher in every polling place.

If, because of limited space, all watchers cannot be accommodated in the polling place, preference shall be given to the watchers of the dominant majority and dominant minority parties as determined by the Commission and the watcher of the citizens’ arm, with the latter being given preferential position closest to the BEI. In case there are twoare two or more citizen’s arm, preference shall be given to the one entitled to the citizens’ arm authorized by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count.

SEC. 15. Qualifications of watchers.- No person shall be appointed watcher unless he: a) b) c) d) e)

The BEI shall act through its chairman and shall decide by majority vote, without delay, all questions, which may arise in the performance of its duties.

Within three (3) days after their constitution and appointment, the EO shall post a list of the members of the BEIs in the bulletin boards of his office and of the city hall.

Within the same period, the EO shall verify, whether there are members of the BEIs who are related to any member of the same BEIs within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity , where they are assigned or disqualified under Sec. 3 hereof. BEIs found to be disqualified by reason of relationship to any member of the same BEIs or Sec. 3 hereof, shall be informed by the EO in writing and cause his substitution. Likewise, any interested party may, until May 3, 2015, file an opposition in writing before the EO, on the foregoing grounds. Within forty eight (48) hours upon receipt, such opposition shall be resolved by the EO. If he resolves for the disqualification, he shall appoint a substitute who shall possess the qualifications as herein provided.

Is a registered voter of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Is of good reputation; Has not been convicted by final judgment of any election offense or of any other crime; Knows how to read and write Filipino, English or of the prevailing local dialect; and Is not related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to the chairman or to any other member of the BEI in the polling place where he seeks appointment as watcher.

SEC. 16. Rights and duties of watchers. - Upon entering the polling place, the watchers shall deliver to the chairman their appointments as watchers, and their names shall forthwith be recorded in the Minutes with a notation under their signatures that they are not disqualified to serve as such under the immediately preceding Section.

The appointments of the watchers shall bear the signature of the candidate or duly authorized representative of the party, organization or coalition that appointed them. For this purpose, independent candidates, registered parties, organizations, or coalitions authorized by the Commission to appoint watchers shall provide the Election Officer of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, with the names and signatures of their representatives authorized to appoint watchers not later than April 30, 2015.

The watchers shall have the right to: a. b. c. d.

Stay in the space reserved for them inside the polling place; Witness the proceedings of the BEI; Take note of what he may see or hear; Take photographs of the proceedings and incidents, if any, during the counting of votes, as well as of the Election Returns (ERs), tally board and ballot boxes; File a protest against any irregularity or violation of law which he believes may have been committed by the BEI or by any of its members or by any person; Obtain from the BEI a certificate as to the filing of such protest and/or of the resolution thereon; Have an unimpeded view of the ballot being read by the Chairman, of the ER and the tally board being simultaneously accomplished by the Poll Clerk and the Third Member respectively, without touching any of these election documents; and Be furnished, upon request, with Certificate of Votes, duly signed and thumb-marked by the Chairman and all members of the BEI.

SEC. 2. Qualifications of members of the BEI. No person shall be appointed as chairman or member of the BEI, whether regular, substitute or temporary, unless said chairman or member: a) Is of good moral character and irreproachable reputation; b) Is a registered voter of the city; c) Has never been convicted of any election offense or of any other crime punishable by more than six (6) months of imprisonment; d) Has no pending case filed in court for any election offense; and e) Is able to speak, read and write English or Filipino, or the local dialect.

Disqualification by reason of relationship either by consanguinity or affinity within 4th civil degree with any candidates, parties have until May 3, 2015 to file their oppositions. The “48-hour rule” provided above shall apply.

e.

SEC. 11. Voting privilege of the members of the Board of Election Inspectors. - Members of the BEI or their substitutes may vote in the polling places where they are assigned on election day as long as:

g.

SEC. 3. Disqualification. – No person shall serve as chairman or member of the BEI if he or his spouse is related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any member of the same BEI or to any candidate to be voted for or to the latter’s spouse.

Violation of this provision shall constitute an election offense as provided in Section 261 (bb), sub-par (3) of the Omnibus Election Code.

a) They are registered voters of the barangay where they are assigned; b) Their voting in the polling place where they are not registered should be noted in the Minutes; and c) They shall add in the EDCVL for barangay voters their names and precinct numbers where they are actually registered.

h.

Watchers shall not speak to any member of the BEI, or to any voter or among themselves, in such a manner as would disturb the proceedings of the BEI.

Any member of the BEI who is not registered in the barangay where he is assigned, may vote in the polling place where he is registered, provided that:

The watchers representing the candidates and the watcher of the citizen’s arm shall, if available, affix their signatures and thumbmarks in the election returns.

SEC. 4. Notice of disqualification. - Any chairman or member of the BEI who is disqualified for any reason shall immediately notify the Election Officer of such fact in writing, who shall in turn, appoint a substitute.

SEC. 5. Temporary vacancies in the BEI. – If, at the time of the meeting of the BEI, any member is absent or a vacancy exists, the members present shall call upon a substitute from the list of public school teachers submitted by the DepEd to perform the duties of the absent member. If none is available, the members present shall appoint any qualified non-

a) The voting in his place of assignment is light; b) His absence shall not be for more than twenty (20) minutes; and c) The members of the BEI shall schedule the voting so that only one (1) member shall leave at any given time.

SEC. 12. Prohibition against political activity. – No member of the BEI or its support staff shall engage in any partisan political activity or take part in the election except

f.

ARTICLE III ELECTION FORMS AND SUPPLIES SEC. 17. Election forms, documents and supplies.

- The BEIs shall be provided with the following forms, documents and supplies for use on election day:

D5 c.

FORMS AND SUPPLIES

CEF NO.

RATE OF DISTRIBUTION

ELECTION FORMS 3

Poster Indicating Precinct Number

1

piece

4

Certified List of Candidates

12

copies

Appointment of Chairman / Poll Clerk / Members of BEI

9

pieces

6

Official Ballots

1

piece per voter

9

Election Returns (Mayor)

1

set

10

Tally Board (Mayor)

1

set

11

Minutes of Voting and Counting of Votes

1

set of 2 pieces

12

Paper Seals

25

pieces

13

Certificate of Votes

10

pieces

14

Certificate of Receipt of Official Ballots, Other Forms and Supplies by BEI

3

pieces

27

Official Receipt of Election Returns

10

pieces

5 & 5-A

d.

The PES shall make a corresponding report to the Regional Election Director (RED) of Region IV on approved request for early delivery and in turn the RED shall transmit the consolidated report to the Commission through the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Operations.

B. FROM THE ELECTION OFFICER a.

Two (2) copies of the Posted Computerized Voters List (PCVL) containing the names of registered voters as of the January 2015 Election Registration Board (ERB) Hearing, to be used as follows: a.1. For Posting at or near the door of the polling place on election day; and a.2. For use of the third member of the BEI on election day. b. One (1) copy of Election Day Computerized Voters List (EDCVL/List of Voters with Voting Record) containing the names of registered voters as of the January 2015 ERB Hearing; and c. Copies of Appointment and Oath of Office of the BEI (CEF 5 & 5A).

ENVELOPE FOR VOTING AND COUNTING

15,16,16-A to 16-D & 28

for Counted Official Ballots, Excess, Marked, Spoiled, Torn Half of Unused Official Ballots, Other Half of Torn Unused Official Ballots, & Official Ballots

7

pieces

17,17-B to 17-G

for Election Returns

1

set of 7 pieces

- Copy for the City Board of Canvassers

- Copy for the Commission - Copy for Dominant Majority Party - Copy for Dominant Minority Party - Copy for Accredited Citizen’s Arm - Copy for Ballot Box OTHER ENVELOPES 18 & 18-A

1

set of 2 pieces

10

pieces

10

pieces

10

pieces

Oath of Identification of Challenged Voter

10

pieces

General Instructions for BEI

3

copies

Election Watcher’s ID in Polling Place

2

pieces/candidate

COMELEC Pass

2

pieces

Ballpen

13

pieces

Marking Pen (Pentel Pen)

2

pieces

Bond Paper Long

30

pieces

Carbon Paper

5

sheets

Packaging Tape (Brown)

2

pieces

Rubber Band

8

pieces

Thumbprint/ Fingerprint Taker

1

piece

Plastic Security Seal for Ballot Box

3

pieces

Indelible Stain Ink

2

bottles

Ballot Secrecy Folders

10

pieces

Ballot Box

1

piece

OTHER FORMS

30/31

35

39 40

Temporary Appointment of Chairman / Poll Clerk / Member Certificate of Challenge or Protest and Decision of the Board Oath of Voter Challenged for Illegal Acts

The Information Technology Department (ITD) shall print the three (3) copies of the PCVL and one (1) copy of the EDCVL, and shall all be duly certified by the Election Registration Board.

The poll clerk shall have custody of the EDCVL, and the third member shall have custody of the PCVL. The BEIs shall check the completeness of the documents and the quantities of the forms and supplies received and immediately call the attention of the EO or the City Treasurer, as the case may be, on any deficiency or shortage thereof.

- Copy for Posting

for Minutes of Voting and Counting of Votes

transportation in the area; That the total number of precincts in the city is such that if the delivery of the official ballots, ERs, other election forms and paraphernalia is done early in the morning of election day, not all the BEIs may be able to receive said documents and paraphernalia in time for the opening of polls at seven o’ clock in the morning of election day; or That the peace and order conditions in the area justify such advance delivery in order to ensure the security of the forms, documents and paraphernalia, and safety of the members of the BEIs.

SUPPLIES

The BEIs shall get the forms, documents and supplies early in the morning of election day from the Office of the City Treasurer except, when authorized to do so earlier by the Commission, through Provincial Election Supervisor (PES) of Palawan.

Approval of request for early delivery of forms, documents and supplies by the PES shall be governed by the following guidelines: a. That there is considerable distance between the Office of the City Treasurer and the location of the polling place; b. That there is lack or difficulty of means of

shall be called to vote by the poll clerk by announcing each name three (3) times in the order in which they are listed.

Any voter in the list who is not present when called shall not be allowed to vote at any later time. The said list shall be submitted to the Election Officer.

SEC. 23. Place of voting. - Voters shall cast their votes in the polling place designated by the Commission. The Poster Indicating the Precinct Number (CEF 3) shall be prominently posted near or at the door of the polling place.

SEC. 24. Who may vote. - All registered voters of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, as of the January 2015 ERB Hearing whose names appear in the PCVL or EDCVL, may vote in the May 08, 2015 Recall Elections.

SEC. 25. Challenge against illegal voters. - Any voter or watcher may challenge any person offering to vote for: a) Not being registered; b) Using the name of another; or c) Suffering from an existing disqualification.

In such case, the BEI shall satisfy itself as to whether or not the ground for the challenge is true by requiring proof of registration, identity or qualification. The BEI shall identify the voter through his photograph, fingerprint, or specimen signatures in the EDCVL. In the absence of any of the above-mentioned proof of identity, any member of the BEI may identify under oath a voter, and such act shall be reflected in the Minutes.

SEC. 26. Challenge based on certain illegal acts. – Any voter or watcher may challenge any voter offering to vote on the ground that he: a)

Received or expects to receive, paid, offered or promised to pay, contributed, offered or promised to contribute money or anything of value as consideration for his vote or for the vote of another; or

b)

Made or received a promise to influence the giving or withholding of any such vote; or

c)

Made a bet or is interested directly or indirectly in a bet that depends upon the results of the election.

The BEI shall sign a Certificate of Receipt (CEF 14) in three copies, the original of which shall be delivered to the City Treasurer, who shall transmit the same to the ERSD, Comelec, Manila, immediately after Election Day.

In such case, the challenged voter shall take an oath before the BEI that he has not committed any of the acts alleged in the challenge. Upon taking such oath, the challenge shall be dismissed and the voter shall be allowed to vote. In case the voter refuses to take such oath, the challenge shall be sustained and the voter shall not be allowed to vote.

SEC. 18. Official Ballot. – The official ballot shall be of uniform size and color, printed on security paper that will readily distinguish the ballot paper from ordinary paper.

SEC. 27. Record of challenges and oaths. - The BEI shall record in the Minutes all challenges and oaths taken in connection therewith and its decision in each case.

It shall contain a stub and detachable coupon, both of which shall bear the same serial number of the ballot, with space for the thumbmark of the voter on the detachable coupon.

It shall bear the coat-of-arms of the Republic of the Philippines, the words “Official Ballot”, the name of the Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, in which the election is to be held, the date of the election and the following notice in English: “Fill out this ballot secretly using a ballot secrecy folder. Do not put any distinctive mark on any part of this ballot.”

SEC. 28. Rules to be observed during the voting. – During the voting, the BEI shall see to it that: a) Voters shall vote in the order of their arrival in the polling place, however, preference shall be given to senior citizens, persons with disability and heavily pregnant women; b) No watcher shall enter the place reserved for the voters and the BEI, nor mingle and talk with the voters; c) No person carrying any firearm or any other deadly weapon, except those expressly authorized by the Commission, shall enter the polling place; d) There shall be no crowding of voters and disorderly behavior inside the polling place; and e) The ballot box shall remain sealed/locked during voting.

It shall contain the appropriate space for the position of Mayor, which the voter will fill-up by writing the name of the candidate of his choice.

SEC. 19. Forms to be reproduced when needed. – The following forms may be reproduced when needed: a) Temporary Appointment of Chairman/Poll Clerk/ Member (Annex “A”); b) Certificate of Challenge or Protest and Decision of the BEI (Annex “B”); c) Oath of Voter Challenged for Illegal Acts (Annex “C”); and d) Oath To Identify A Challenged Voter (Annex “D”).

SEC. 20. Minutes of Voting and Counting of Votes. The BEI shall accomplish in two (2) copies the Minutes of Voting and Counting of Votes (CEF 11) entering therein all data required as they become available and all acts as they occur. Copies of the minutes shall be signed and sealed in separate envelopes (CEF 18 and 18-A) for distribution as follows: a.

b.

The copy intended for the Commission shall be delivered to the Election Officer who shall forward the same to the Election Records and Statistics Department, COMELEC, Manila; and The copy intended for the ballot box shall be deposited inside the ballot box compartment for valid ballots.

ARTICLE IV DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF VOTING

SEC. 21. Date of election. - The election shall be held on May 08, 2015.

SEC. 22. Voting hours. - The casting of votes shall start at seven o’clock in the morning and shall end at three o’clock in the afternoon of election day.

If at three o’clock there are still voters within thirty (30) meters in front of the polling place who have not yet cast their votes, voting shall continue but only to allow said voters to cast their votes without interruption. The poll clerk shall, without delay, prepare a complete list containing the names of said voters consecutively numbered. The voters listed

SEC. 29. Persons allowed inside the polling place.

- Only the following persons shall be allowed inside the polling place: a) b) c) d) e) f)

Members of the BEI; Watchers who shall stay only in the space reserved for them; Representatives of the Commission; Voters casting their votes; Voters waiting for their turn to cast their vote; Other persons who may be specifically authorized by the Commission.

Unless specifically authorized by the Commission, it is unlawful for the following to enter any polling place or stay within a radius of fifty (50) meters thereof, except to vote: 1.

Any officer or member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Philippine National Police; 2.

Any peace officer or any armed person belonging to any extra-legal police agency, special forces, reaction forces, strike forces, Civilian Armed Force Geographical Units, barangay tanods or other similar forces or para-military forces, including special forces, security guards, special policemen; 3.

All other kinds of armed or unarmed extra-legal police forces; and 4.

Any barangay official, whether elected or appointed.

However, the BEI may, by a majority vote, if it deems necessary, order in writing the detail of a policeman or any peace officer for its protection or for the protection of the election documents and paraphernalia. Such order shall be entered in the Minutes. Said policeman or peace officer shall stay outside the polling place within a radius of thirty (30) meters near enough to be easily called by the BEI at any time, but never at the door, and in no case shall the said policeman or peace officer hold any conversation with any voter or disturb or prevent or in any manner obstruct the free access of the voters to the polling place.

Finally, however, the PNP or AFP officials/personnel may enter the polling place even without the written order of the

D6 BEI when there is actual disturbance or disruption of peace and order.

SEC. 30. Preparation of ballots for illiterate, and persons with disability (PWD). - No voter shall be allowed to vote as illiterate or persons with disability (PWD) unless such fact is indicated in the EDCVL/PCVL, or when the disability is apparent. If so, he may be assisted in the preparation of his ballot, by any of the following: a. b.

c.

A relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity of affinity of the voter; A person of his confidence who belongs to the same household as that of the voter. For this purpose, the person who usually assists the PWD, such as personal assistant, caregiver, or a nurse shall be considered a member of his household; and Any member of the BEI.

ii. In the absence of any of the above-mentioned proof of identity, any member of the BEI or any registered voter of the precinct/clustered precinct may identify under oath a voter, and such act shall be reflected in the Minutes.

If the BEI is satisfied with his identity, the name of the voter shall be distinctly announced in a voice loud enough to be heard throughout the polling place. Otherwise, the voter shall be directed to leave the polling place after informing him the reason thereof. If the voter is not challenged, or having been challenged, the question has been decided in his favor, the voter shall be directed to the chairman of the BEI. 4. Before giving the ballot to the voter, the chairman of the BEI shall: a)

Check if any of the fingernails of the voter has already been stained with indelible ink. If stained, it shall be a conclusive presumption that he has already cast his vote. As such, the voter shall be directed to leave the polling place after informing him the reason thereof. This fact, including the name and the precinct of the voter, shall be recorded by the Poll Clerk in the Minutes;

b)

Affix his signature in the EDCVL;

c)

Authenticate the ballot by affixing his signature at the back thereof.

The failure to authenticate the ballot shall not invalidate the ballot but shall constitute an election offense.

d)

Instruct the voter on how to fill-up the ballot properly.

e)

Fold the ballot in such a manner that its face, except the portion where the serial number appears is covered, and give the same to the voter.

Only the chairman shall issue the official ballots, and not more than one ballot shall be issued at one time.

All assistors must be of voting age.

No person, except the members of the BEI, may assist an illiterate or PWD more than three (3) times.

In all cases, the Poll Clerk shall first verify from the illiterate or PWD whether the latter had authorized the assistor to help him to cast his vote.

The assistor shall, in the presence of the illiterate or PWD, prepare the ballot using a ballot secrecy folder.

The assistor shall bind himself in writing and under oath to fill the ballot strictly in accordance with the instructions of the voter and not to reveal the contents thereof, by affixing his signature in the appropriate space in the Minutes.

SEC. 31. Accessibility of polling place to person with disability. - The Election Officer, in coordination with the proper school or building officials, shall see to it that the designated polling places of precincts where there are registered voters who are PWDs, as shown in their Voter Registration Records (VRRs), are located in the ground floor of the voting centers for their easy access.

SEC. 32. Express lane for persons with disabilities, senior citizens and escorted detainee voters. - PWDs, senior citizens and detainee voters voting in their respective polling places shall be afforded their right to an express lane and made to vote as soon as they arrive.

There should be a sign inside the polling place indicating the location of the express lane and who could avail of it (i.e. PWDs, senior citizens, escorted detainee).

ARTICLE V PROCEDURES FOR CASTING OF VOTES SEC. 33. Preliminaries to the voting. - a. The BEI shall meet at the polling place at six o’clock in the morning of election day, and do the following: 1.

2.

3.

4.

See to it that it has all the election forms, documents and supplies needed; Post one (1) copy of the PCVL at the door of the polling place; Staple or paste the certified list of candidates (CEF 4) inside the ballot secrecy folders; Place the ballot secrecy folders on top of the desk/chair.

b. Before the voting begins, the chairman of the BEI shall: 5.

6.

Open the ballot box, empty both of its compartments, exhibit them to all those present and, being empty, lock its interior cover with any available and sturdy lock, tie, rope or band; and Show to the public and to the watchers present the package of Official Ballots, duly sealed, and thereafter, break the seals. The number of pads and the serial numbers of the ballots in each pad, and the fact that the package of ballots was shown to the public with the seals intact shall be entered in the Minutes.

The interior cover of the ballot box shall remain sealed until the voting is finished and the counting begins.

However, if it should become necessary to make room for more ballots, the chairman, may, in the presence of the members and watchers, open the interior covers of the box by breaking the lock, tie, rope or band used to seal the interior covers, press down with his hands the ballots contained therein without removing any of them, after which the chairman shall again close the interior cover of the ballot box and lock it with any available and sturdy lock, tie, rope or band, as provided. Such facts shall be recorded in the Minutes.

SEC. shall: 1.

2.

3.

34. Manner of obtaining ballots. - The voter Look for his name in the PCVL posted near the door of the voting center and determine his precinct number and sequence number; Approach the BEI member of the precinct, give his sequence number in the PCVL, name and address, together with the other data concerning his person; The BEI shall verify if the name of the voter is in the EDCVL. If the name of the voter is in the EDCVL, his identity shall then be established through the following: i. His photograph in the EDCVL or specimen signatures in any authentic document which may establish his identity except barangay certificate or community tax certificate; or

f)

Require the voter to affix his signature on the proper space on the EDCVL.

SEC. 35. Manner of voting. - The voter, upon receiving his folded ballot, shall, using a ballot secrecy folder, fill his ballot by writing in the corresponding space the name of the candidate he desires to vote for.

SEC. 36. Prohibition on voting. – It shall be unlawful for a voter to: a) Bring the ballot and/or ballot secrecy folder outside of the polling place; b) Speak with anyone other than as herein provided while inside the polling place; c) Prepare his ballot without using the ballot secrecy folder or exhibit its contents; d) Fill his ballot accompanied by another, except in the case of an illiterate or person with disability/disabled voter; e) Erase any printing from the ballot, or put any distinguishing mark on the ballot; f) Use carbon paper, paraffin paper or other means of making a copy of the contents of the ballot, or otherwise make use of any other scheme to identify his vote, including the use of digital cameras, cellular phones with camera or similar gadgets; and g) Intentionally tear or deface the ballot.

SEC. 37. Spoiled ballots. - If a voter accidentally spoils or defaces a ballot in such a way that it can no longer be lawfully used, he shall surrender it folded to the chairman who shall write the word “spoiled” in the corresponding space above the ballot serial number in the EDCVL. The spoiled ballot shall, without being unfolded and without removing the detachable coupon, be distinctly marked with the word “spoiled” and signed by the Chairman of the BEI at the back thereof and immediately placed in the compartment of the ballot box for spoiled ballots.

The voter shall then be given another ballot duly authenticated by the chairman after announcing the serial number of the second ballot and recording said serial number above the word “spoiled”. However, in cases of spoiled ballots under paragraphs (c), (e) and (g) of the immediately following paragraph, the voter shall not be issued another ballot.

If the second ballot is again spoiled or defaced in such a way that it can no longer be lawfully used, the same shall be surrendered correctly folded to the chairman in the same manner as the first spoiled or defaced ballot. No voter, however, shall change his ballot more than once.

SEC. 38. Procedure after voting. – a. After the voter has filled up his ballot, he shall fold it in the same manner as when he received it; b. The voter shall then, in the presence of all the members of the BEI, affix his thumbmark in the corresponding space in the ballot coupon, and return the folded ballot to the chairman; c. The chairman, in the presence of the voter and all the members of the BEI, without unfolding the ballot or seeing its contents, shall verify its serial number as against the number previously entered in the EDCVL to determine whether it is the same ballot given to the voter. Any ballot returned to the chairman, the serial number of which does not tally with the number of the ballot delivered to the voter as entered in EDCVL, shall be considered “spoiled” and shall be so marked and signed by the Chairman of the BEI, and placed inside the compartment for spoiled ballots. Such fact shall be indicated in the Minutes of Voting and Counting of Votes. d. The Chairman shall then apply a drop of indelible stain ink at the base and extending to the cuticle of the right index fingernail of the voter, or any other fingernail if there be no right index fingernail.

e. f.

g.

If the voter refuses to have his fingernail stained with indelible ink, he shall be informed that such refusal will render his ballot spoiled. If the voter still refuses despite being informed thereof, the Chairman shall, without unfolding the ballot and without removing the detachable coupon thereof, distinctly mark the ballot with the word “spoiled”, and thereafter sign the same at the back thereof and immediately place said spoiled ballot in the compartment of the ballot box for spoiled ballots.

The voter shall then be requested to leave. Such fact shall be indicated in the Minutes.

The Chairman shall sign in the proper space in the EDCVL; The Chairman shall detach the ballot coupon in the presence of the other members of the BEI and of the voter, and shall deposit the folded ballot in the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots and the detached coupon in the compartment for spoiled ballots.

Any ballot returned to the Chairman, the detachable coupon of which has been removed not in the presence of the other members of the BEI and of the voter, shall be considered “spoiled” accordingly marked, signed by the Chairman of the BEI, and placed inside the compartment for spoiled ballots. Such fact shall be indicated in the Minutes of Voting and Counting of Votes.

The voter shall then leave.

SEC. 39.

Prohibition against premature announcement of voting. - During the voting, no member of the BEI shall make any announcement as to whether a certain registered voter has already voted or not, as to how many have already voted or how many so far have failed to vote or any other fact tending to show or showing the state of the polls; nor shall he make any statement at any time, except as witness before a court or body as to how many persons voted.

SEC. 40. Disposition of unused ballots. – After the voting, the chairman in the presence of the BEI shall: 1. Record in the Minutes the quantity of unused ballots; 2. Tear the unused ballots in half lengthwise; 3. Place one half in the envelope (CEF 16-A), and submit to the EO for safekeeping; and 4. Place the other half in another envelope (CEF 16B), and then deposit inside the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots.

Such facts shall be entered in the Minutes.

ARTICLE VI COUNTING OF VOTES SEC. 41. Counting of votes to be public and without interruption. - After the voting is finished, the BEI shall publicly count the votes cast and ascertain the results in the polling place. The BEI may rearrange the physical set-up of the polling place for the counting or perform any other activity with respect to the transition from voting to counting, but it may do so only in the presence of watchers, and within close view of the public. At all times, the ballot boxes and all documents shall be within close view of the watchers and the public. Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, the BEI shall not adjourn, postpone or delay the counting.

Any violation of this Section, or its pertinent portion, shall constitute an election offense and shall be penalized in accordance with BP Blg. 881, as amended.

SEC. 42. Transfer of counting of votes to safer place.

- The Commission through the Election Officer, in the interest of free, orderly, and honest elections, may authorize the BEI to count the votes and accomplish the election returns and other forms in any other place within a public building in the city on account of imminent danger of widespread violence, terrorism, disorder or similar causes of comparable magnitude; Provided, That the transfer shall have been recommended in writing by the BEI by unanimous vote and endorsed in writing by the majority of watchers present: Provided, further, that the transfer is to the nearest safe barangay or school building within the city and that it shall not be located within the perimeter of or inside a military or police camp, reservation, headquarters, detachment or field office nor within the premises of a prison or detention compound of any law enforcement or investigation agency. This fact shall be recorded in the Minutes.

In effecting the transfer, the BEI shall ensure the safety and integrity of all election documents and paraphernalia.

The PNP and/or the AFP in the area in consultation with the Election Officer shall provide adequate security and transport facilities to the members of the BEI and election documents and paraphernalia during the transfer and counting of votes.

SEC. 43. Preliminaries to the counting of votes. The BEI shall break the seal, open the ballot box and take out the ballots from the compartment for valid ballots. The BEI shall then proceed to examine the ballots to determine whether there are:

a.

Excess ballots - The BEI shall, without unfolding the ballots or exposing their contents, count the number of ballots in the compartment for valid ballots, and compare the number of ballots inside the ballot box with the number of voters who actually voted as reflected in the EDCVL. If there are more ballots than there are voters who actually voted, all the ballots shall be returned to the compartment for valid ballots and thoroughly mixed therein. The Poll Clerk, without seeing the ballots and with his back to the ballot box, shall publicly draw out as many ballots as may be

D7 equal to the excess and, without unfolding them, place them in the Envelope for Excess Ballots.

If, in the course of examination, ballots are found folded together before they were deposited in the box, they shall be placed in the Envelope for Excess Ballots. b. Ballots with detachable coupons - In case a ballot with undetached coupon is found in the ballot box, the coupon shall be removed and deposited in the compartment for spoiled ballots. The ballot shall be included in the pile of valid ballots. c. Ballots with the word “spoiled” - If a ballot with the word “spoiled” should be found in the compartment for valid ballots, it shall be placed in the corresponding Envelope for Spoiled Ballots. d. Marked ballots - The BEI shall then unfold the ballots and determine whether there are any marked ballots. If any should be found, they shall be placed in an Envelope for Marked Ballots.

Excess, spoiled and marked ballots shall not be read during the counting of votes. The envelope containing the excess, spoiled and marked ballots shall be signed and sealed by the members of the BEI and deposited in the compartment for valid ballots.

SEC. 44. Ballots deposited in the compartment for spoiled ballots. - The ballots deposited in the compartment for spoiled ballots shall be presumed to be spoiled, whether or not they contain such notation. However, if during the voting any valid ballot was erroneously deposited in this compartment, the BEI shall open said compartment after the voting and before the counting of votes for the sole purpose of drawing out the ballots erroneously deposited therein.

The valid ballots so withdrawn shall be mixed with the other valid ballots. Such facts shall be recorded in the Minutes.

SEC. 45. Manner of counting of votes. - The BEI shall unfold the ballots and form separate piles of one hundred (100) ballots each held together by rubber bands. The Chairman of the BEI shall take the ballots of the first pile one by one and read the name of the candidate voted for.

In reading the official ballots during the counting, the chairman, poll clerk and third member shall assume such positions as to provide the watchers and the members of the public as may be conveniently accommodated in the polling place, an unimpeded view of the ballot being read by the chairman, as well as of the election returns and tally board being simultaneously accomplished by the poll clerk and the third member, respectively, without touching any of said election documents. The table shall be cleared of all unnecessary writing paraphernalia. Any violation hereof shall constitute an election offense.

The poll clerk and the third member shall record simultaneously in the election returns and in the tally board, respectively, each vote as it is read. Each vote shall be recorded by a vertical line, except every fifth vote which shall be recorded by a diagonal line crossing the previous four vertical lines.

The same procedure shall succeeding piles of ballots.

be

followed

with

the

i.

j. k.

l.

m. n.

o.

p.

q. r.

s.

t.

u.

After all the ballots have been read, the BEI shall record, in words and in figures, the total number of votes obtained by each candidate, both in the election returns and in the tally board. The counted ballots shall be placed in an envelope provided for the purpose, which envelope shall be sealed, signed and deposited in the compartment for valid ballots. The tally board as accomplished and certified by the BEI shall not be changed or destroyed but shall be kept in the compartment for valid ballots.

v.

SEC. 46. Rules for the appreciation of ballots. - In the reading and appreciation of ballots, every ballot shall be presumed to be valid unless there is clear and good reason to justify its rejection. The BEI shall observe the following rules, bearing in mind that the object of the election is to obtain the expression of the voters will:

w.

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

Where only the first name of a candidate or only his surname is written, the vote for such candidate is valid, if there is no other candidate with the same first name or surname.

Where only the first name of a candidate is written on the ballot, which when read, has a sound similar to the surname of another candidate, the vote shall be counted in favor of the candidate with such surname; In case the candidate is a woman who uses her maiden or married surname or both and there is another candidate with the same surname, a ballot bearing only such surname shall not be counted for any of them; When two or more words are written on the same line on the ballot, all of which are the surnames of two or more candidates, the same shall not be counted for any of them; When on the ballot is written a single word which is the first name of a candidate and which is at the same time the surname of his opponent, the vote shall be counted in favor of the latter; When two words are written on the ballot, one of which is the first name of a candidate and the other is the surname of his opponent, the vote shall not be counted for either; A name or surname incorrectly written which, when read, has a sound similar to the name or surname of a candidate when correctly written shall be counted in his favor; When a name of a candidate is written elsewhere in the ballot other than the space provided for such position to be voted for, the vote shall be counted in favor of such candidate, unless it is used as a means to identify the voter, in which case, the whole ballot shall be void;

x. y. z.

When a name of a candidate appears in the appropriate space in the ballot and in another space elsewhere in the ballot, it shall be counted in his favor, except when the other name written elsewhere in the ballot is used as a means to identify the voter, in which case, the whole ballot shall be void.

When in a space in the ballot there appears a name of a candidate that is erased and another clearly written, the vote is valid for the latter; The erroneous initial of the first name which accompanies the correct surname of a candidate, the erroneous initial of the surname accompanying the correct first name of a candidate, or the erroneous middle initial of the candidate shall not annul the vote in favor of the latter.

The fact that there exists another person who is not a candidate with the first name or surname of a candidate shall not prevent the adjudication of the vote of the latter; Ballots which contain prefixes as such “Sr.” “Mr.”, “Datu”, “Don”, “Ginoo”, “Hon.”, “Gob.”, or suffixes like “Hijo”, “Jr.”, “Segundo”, are valid.

The use of the nicknames and appellations of affection and friendship, if accompanied by the first name or surname of the candidate, does not annul such vote, except when they were used as means to identify the voter, in which case the whole ballot is invalid: Provided, That if the nickname used is unaccompanied by the name or surname of a candidate and it is the one by which he is generally or popularly known in the locality, the name shall be counted in favor of said candidate, if there is no other candidate with the same nickname; Any vote containing initials only or which is illegible or which does not sufficiently identify the candidate for whom it is intended shall be considered as a stray vote.

If on the ballot is correctly written the first name of a candidate but with a different surname, or the surname of the candidate is correctly written but with a different first name, the vote shall not be counted in favor of any candidate having such first name and/or surname; Any ballot written with crayon, lead pencil, or in ink, wholly or in part, shall be valid; If the candidates voted for exceed the number of those to be elected, the ballot is valid, but the vote shall be counted only in favor of the candidate whose name was firstly written by the voter within the space provided for said office in the ballot; Any vote in favor of a person who has not filed a certificate of candidacy or in favor of a candidate for an office for which he did not present himself shall be considered as a stray vote; Ballots containing the name of a candidate or party printed and pasted on a blank space of the ballot or affixed thereto through any mechanical process are totally null and void; Circles, crosses or lines put on the spaces on which the voter has not voted shall be considered as signs to indicate his desistance from voting and shall not invalidate the ballot; Unless it should clearly appear that they have been deliberately put by the voter to serve as identification marks, commas, dots, lines, or hyphens between the first name and surname of a candidate, or in other parts of the ballot, traces of the letter “T”, “J” and other similar ones, the first letters or syllables of names which the voter does not continue, the use of two or more kinds of writing and unintentional or accidental flourishes, strokes or strains, shall not invalidate the ballot; Any ballot which clearly appears to have been filled by two distinct persons before it was deposited in the ballot box during the voting is totally null and void; Any vote cast in favor of a candidate who has been disqualified by final judgment shall be considered as stray and shall not be counted; The accidental tearing or perforation of a ballot does not annul it; and Failure to remove the detachable coupon from a ballot does not annul such ballot.

ARTICLE VII PREPARATION AND SAFEKEEPING OF ELECTION RETURNS AND OTHER ELECTION FORMS AND PARAPHERNALIA SEC. 47. Preparation of election returns. - All data required in the election returns shall be accomplished in handwriting and in a manner such that the entries on the first copy are clearly impressed in all the other copies. The total number of votes for each candidate shall be closed with the signatures and the clear imprints of the right thumb of all the members, affixed in full view of the public, immediately after the last vote recorded or immediately after the name of the candidate receiving no vote.

The watchers in a precinct shall, if available, affix their signatures and imprints of their right thumbs in the election returns for the precinct. Immediately after the accomplishment of the election returns, each copy thereof, except the second copy, shall be placed in the proper envelope to be distributed as follows: 1. The first copy, to the City Board of Canvassers; 2. The second copy, to be posted on the wall with sufficient lighting within the premises of the polling place; 3. The third copy, to the Commission; 4. The fourth copy, to the dominant majority party; 5. The fifth copy, to the dominant minority party; 6. The sixth copy, to the citizens’ arm; and 7. The seventh copy, to be deposited inside the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballot.

The copy of the election returns posted on the wall shall

be open for public viewing at any time of the day for fortyeight (48) hours following its posting. Any person may view or capture an image of the election return by means if any data capturing device such as, but not limited to cameras at any time of the day for forty-eight (48) hours following its posting. After such period, the Chairman of the BEI shall detach the election returns from the wall and keep the same in his custody to be produced as may be requested by any voter for image or data capturing or for any lawful purpose as may be ordered by competent authority.

SEC. 48. Announcement of the result of the election in the polling place. - Upon the completion of the election returns, the Chairman of the BEI shall publicly announce the total number of votes received by each candidate.

SEC. 49. Certificate of Votes. - After the counting of votes and the announcement of the results of the election in the precinct, and before leaving the polling place, the BEI shall issue Certificate of Votes upon request of the duly accredited watchers. The Certificate of Votes shall contain the total number of votes obtained by each candidate, written in words and in figures, the precinct number, the name of the barangay or municipality and province, the total number of voters who voted in the precinct and the date and time of its issuance. The Certificate of Votes shall be signed and thumbmarked by each member of the BEI. The BEI shall require the requesting watcher to acknowledge receipt thereof.

The refusal of the Chairman and Members of the BEI to furnish said Certificate of Votes shall constitute an election offense.

SEC. 50. Alteration and correction in the election returns. - Any correction or alteration in the election returns made by the BEI before the announcement of the results of the election in the polling place shall be duly initialed by all the members thereof.

After announcement of the results of the election in the polling place, the BEI shall not make any alteration or amendment in any of the copies of the election returns, unless so ordered by the Commission upon petition of all or the majority of the members of the BEI within five (5) days from the date of the election or twenty-four (24) hours from the time a copy of the election returns concerned is opened by the Board of Canvassers, whichever is earlier. The petition shall be accompanied by proof of service upon all candidates affected. If the petition is filed by all members of the BEI and the result of the election would not be affected by said correction and none of the candidates affected objects thereto, the Commission, upon being satisfied of the veracity of the petition and of the error alleged therein, shall order the BEI to make the proper correction on the election returns.

However, if a candidate affected by said petition objects thereto, whether the petition is filed by all or only a majority of the members of the BEI and the result of the election would be affected by the correction sought to be made, the Commission shall proceed summarily to hear the petition. If it finds the petition meritorious and there is no evidence or sign indicating that the identity and integrity of the ballot box have been violated, the Commission shall order the opening of the ballot box. After satisfying itself that the integrity of the ballots therein has also been duly preserved, the Commission shall order the recounting of the votes of the candidates affected and the proper corrections made on the election returns, unless the correction sought is such that it can be made without the need of opening the ballot box.

SEC. 51. Disposition of ballot boxes, election returns and other documents. - Upon the termination of the counting of votes and the announcement of the results of the election in the precinct, the BEI shall: a. Place the following documents inside the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots: 1. Envelope containing: a) Used/counted official ballots; b) Excess/marked/spoiled/half of torn unused official ballots; c) Election returns (copy for the ballot box); d) Minutes of Voting and Counting of Votes(copy for the ballot box); 2. Tally Board; and 3. Stubs of used pads of official ballots. b. Close the inner compartments of the ballot box, and in lieu of a padlock, lock the interior covers of the ballot box with any available and sturdy lock, tie, rope or band. In addition, the BEI shall seal the interior covers with packaging tape and affix their signatures thereon then proceed to lock the outer cover with plastic security seals and wrap sturdily the outer lid of the ballot box with packaging tape, and affix their signatures on the tape extending to the a part of the ballot box. Such facts, including the serial numbers (SN) of the plastic security seals, must be recorded in the Minutes before the same shall be deposited inside the ballot box. c.

Deliver the ballot box to the city treasurer, accompanied by watchers. For this purpose, the city treasurer shall, if necessary, keep his office open all night on the day of the election, provide the necessary facilities for said delivery at the expense of the city, and allow candidates, political parties and other interested parties to post watchers in the storage area.

In case the ballot box delivered by the BEI was not locked and/or sealed, the treasurer shall lock and/ or seal the ballot box. The treasurer shall include such fact, including the serial number of the selflocking fixed-length seal used, in his report to the Commission.

Within three (3) days after the canvass, the Election Officer or his authorized representative shall, with notice to candidates, political parties and other

D8

d.

interested parties, inspect the storage area and submit a report thereon to the Law Department within seven (7) days from inspection. The report shall indicate the following: 1. Serial number and condition of the ballot box; 2. Serial number and condition of plastic security seals; and 3. Brief description of the storage area.

Deliver to the Election Officer: 1. EDCVL; 2. Two (2) copies of PCVL; 3. Envelope containing: a) Copy of the Minutes of Voting and Counting of Votes (copy for the Commission); b) Other half of the torn unused official ballots; and 4. Thumbprint takers and all bottles of indelible ink, whether used or unused.

to five o’ clock in the afternoon. If after five o’clock in the afternoon, there are still voters present who have not yet cast their votes, Sec. 22 hereof shall apply; II. SHORTAGE, NON-AVAILABILITY OR MISSING PAGES OF ACCOUNTABLE AND NON-ACCOUNTABLE ELECTION FORMS AND SUPPLIES a.

Before election day. - The Allocation Committee shall determine the necessity of printing ballots. If necessary, the Allocation Committee is authorized to determine the quantity requirements for printing. If printing is not necessary, it is authorized to instruct the City Treasurer and the EO on the manner of re-allocating the ballots.

On the day after the election, the Election Officer or the Treasurer, as the case may be, shall require the BEI who failed to deliver the election records or paraphernalia mentioned herein to deliver the same immediately.

On election day. - The provision of Section 182 (Emergency Ballots) of the BP Blg. 881 shall apply on the shortage or nonavailability of ballots on election day:

SEC. 52. Preservation of the voting record. - The Election Officer shall keep the EDCVL and PCVL used in the election in a safe place until such time that the Commission gives instructions on their disposition.

“Sec. 182. Emergency ballots. - No ballots other than the official ballots shall be used or counted, except in the event of failure to receive the official ballots on time, or where there are no sufficient ballots for all registered voters or where they are destroyed at such time as shall render it impossible to provide other official ballots, in which cases the city or municipal treasurer shall provide other ballots which shall be similar to the official ones as circumstances will permit and which shall be uniform within each polling place.

The treasurer shall immediately report such action to the Commission. The municipal treasurer shall not undertake the preparation of the emergency ballots unless the political parties, candidates and the organizations collectively authorized by the Commission to designate watchers have been sufficiently notified to send their representatives and have agreed in writing to the preparation and use of emergency ballots.”

SEC. 53. Omission or erroneous inclusion of documents in ballot box. - If after locking and sealing the ballot box, the BEI discovers that some election documents required to be placed in the ballot box were not placed therein, the BEI instead of opening the ballot box in order to place therein said documents or articles, shall deliver the same to the Election Officer. In no instance shall the ballot box be reopened to place therein or take out therefrom any election document EXCEPT, to retrieve copies of the election returns which will be needed in any canvass, with prior authority of the Commission, through the Election Officer as provided under Resolution No. 9080 promulgated October 24, 2010.

In case the BEI fails to place the envelope containing the counted ballots inside the ballot box, the election officer shall, with notice to parties, deposit said envelopes in a separate ballot box which shall be properly sealed, locked and stored in a safe place in his office. Said ballot boxes shall remain sealed unless otherwise ordered by the Commission.

ARTICLE VIII DELIVERY AND TRANSMITTAL OF ELECTION RETURNS SEC. 54. Delivery and transmittal of election returns. - The BEI shall deliver to the Election Officer copies of the election returns intended for the Commission on Elections.

The copies of the election returns intended for the dominant majority party, the dominant minority party and the citizens’ arm, shall be given at the polling place to their respective representatives who have been authorized by said parties and organizations to receive such copies.

Unclaimed election returns intended for the dominant majority party, the dominant minority party and the citizens’ arm shall be turned-over to the election officer, who shall take custody of the same until they are claimed by the parties concerned.

The election returns intended for the city board of canvassers (CBOC) shall be delivered by the BEI to the CBOC.

b.

SEC. 55. Delivery and transmittal of election returns by the election officer. - The election officer shall segregate all copies of the election returns received from the BEIs, deposit the election return intended for the Commission in a ballot box, and lock the same with plastic security seals.

ARTICLE IX CONTINGENCY PLAN SEC. 56. Problems that may be encountered. - The following problems may be encountered during the elections, to wit: a. b. c.

Late arrival of official ballots, accountable election forms and other election paraphernalia; Shortage, non-availability or missing pages of accountable and non-accountable election forms and supplies; Discrepancies in the serial number of ballots; 1. Ballots bearing the same SN; 2. The upper and lower SNs are different; 3. Either the upper or lower SN or both are missing; 4. The SN is unreadable or hard to ascertain; and 5. The SN does not belong to the series.

SEC. 57. Contingency measures. – In case the foregoing problems are encountered, the RED and Assistant RED of Region IV, the PES of Palawan, the EO of Puerto Princesa City, City Treasurer of Puerto Princesa City, BEIs, and CBOC shall institute the appropriate contingency measure: I. LATE ARRIVAL OF OFFICIAL BALLOTS, ACCOUNTABLE ELECTION FORMS AND OTHER ELECTION PARAPHERNALIA a. The EO, City Treasurer and the BEI, shall jointly assess based on the information from the Administrative Services Department (ASD)/Packing and Shipping Committee (PSC), the time of arrival of the ballots, accountable election forms and other election paraphernalia at the concerned polling place; b. If based on their assessment, the ballots will arrive before twelve o’ clock in the afternoon of May 08, 2015, voting shall immediately start and continue up

Official Ballots 2. Shortage or non - availability of official ballots. - The EO shall report, by fastest means available, the shortage or nonavailability of ballots to the Allocation Committee. If reported:

c.

Election Returns/Tally Boards 2. Shortage or non- availability of election returns/tally boards. -If either the election returns (ERs) or tally boards are not received or not available, the following shall: The EO: i.

Report such fact to the Commission through the Allocation Committee.

The BEI: i.

Improvised ERs or Tally Boards and proceed with the counting of votes; ii.

After the counting, sign the improvised ERs or Tally Boards and imprint their thumbmarks; iii. Distribute copies of the improvised ERs or Tally Boards in accordance with Section 4 hereof ; iv. Enter in the Minutes that the ERs or Tally Boards are not available and that the BEI together with the watchers decided to use improvised ERs or Tally Boards; and v.

Place all forms used inside the corresponding envelopes and deposit the same inside the ballot box; 3. Missing pages/copies of election returns.

- In case of missing page/s/copies of the ERs, the BEI shall take measures to reproduce/ photocopy such missing page/s/copies. It shall take steps to ensure that the copy intended for the CBOC is complete by obtaining the missing page/s/copies from the other copies of the ERs with no missing pages. All such photocopies shall be certified by the BEI and watchers, if available.

Authority of the Election Working Committees.

- Authority is hereby granted to: 1. The Printing Committee: i. Cause the printing of the required ballots/ ERs. 2. The PSC: i. Immediately pack and ship the lacking ballots/ERs through the fastest means possible and ensure that the same arrives at and receive by the intended recipients on or before election day.

III. OFFICIAL BALLOTS BEARING THE SAME SERIAL NUMBERS; THE UPPER AND LOWER SERIAL NUMBERS OF THE BALLOT ARE DIFFERENT; EITHER THE UPPER OR LOWER SERIAL NUMBER OF THE BALLOT OR BOTH IS MISSING; THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE BALLOT IS UNREADABLE OR HARD TO ASCERTAIN; OR THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE BALLOT DOES NOT BELONG TO THE SERIES OF THE BALLOTS ISSUED. a. Official ballots bearing the same serial numbers -If the ballots bear the same SNs the following shall: The City Treasurer: 1.

Issue the subject ballots to the BEI; and 2.

Take note of its condition in the inventory report.

The Chairman of the BEI: 1.

Prior to the issuance of subject ballots to the registered voters, shall add one Arabic numeral after the last digit of the serial number, starting with number 1, then 2, and so on and affix his

2.

initial thereon. In so doing, the ballots will now have different SNs; and Record opposite the name of the voters in the EDCVL, the new SNs.

The fact that the ballots have the same SN and its quantity shall be noted in the Minutes. Further, the new SNs shall be recorded the same.

In all instances, the BEI are directed to issue first the ballots with complete and regular SNs. Except those which were marked as defective ballots, the BEI shall only issue ballots with the same SNs to the voters, if there are no more available ballots with complete and regular SN in the polling place concerned. b.

Upper and lower serial numbers of the official ballot are different. -If the upper and lower SNs of the ballot are different, the following shall:

The Poll Clerk: 1. Enter in the Minutes the different SNs appearing in the ballot, indicating therein whether it is located in the upper or lower portion thereof; and 2. Record opposite the name of the voter in the EDCVL, the two (2) different SNs. The Chairman shall issue the ballot to the voter. c. Either the upper or lower serial number of the official ballot is missing. - If either the SN in the upper orlower portion of the ballot is missing, the members of BEI shall: The Poll Clerk: 1. Take note in the Minutes the missing SN in the ballot either in the upper or lower portion, indicating whether it is located in the upper or lower portion thereof; and 2. Record opposite the name of the voter in the EDCVL the available SN. The Chairman: 1. Copy the available SN in the portion of the ballot where it does not appear and affix his signature therein; and 2. Issue the ballot to the voter. d.

Both the upper and lower serial numbers of the official ballot are missing. - If both the SNs in the upper and lower portion are missing, the concerned members of the BEI shall: The Poll Clerk: 1. Record the fact in the Minutes.

The Chairman: 1. Mark the ballot as “defective ballot”; and 2. Place the same inside the envelope intended for spoiled ballots.

e.

Serial number of the official ballot is unreadable or hard to ascertain.- If the SN of the ballot is unreadable or hard to ascertain, the following shall: The Poll Clerk: 1. Check the SN of the ballot preceding the ballot with blurred SN and follow the sequence of the SNs; 2. Enter in the Minutes the ascertained SN; and 3. Record opposite the name of the voter in the EDCVL. The Chairman shall issue the ballot to the voter.

If the SN of the ballot is totally unreadable, the Poll Clerk shall record the same in the Minutes while the Chairman shall mark the ballot as “defective ballot” and thereafter, place the ballot inside the envelope intended for spoiled ballots.

f.

Serial number of the official ballot does not belong to the series. - If the SN of the ballot does not belong to the series, the members of the BEI shall: The Poll Clerk: 1. Note in the Minutes, the SN of the ballot that does not belong to the series; and 2. Record the same opposite the name of the voter in the EDCVL. The Chairman shall issue the ballot to the voter.

In all instances, the BEIs are directed to issue first the ballots with complete and regular SNs. Except those which were marked as defective ballots; the BEIs shall only issue to the voters, ballots with SNs not belonging to the series, if there are no more in-series ballots available in the polling place concerned.

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SEC. 58. Special procedures. - The express provisions of this resolution notwithstanding, the Commission may adopt special procedures in the storage, custody, distribution and retrieval of accountable forms and paraphernalia in exceptional cases to fulfill its constitutional mandate to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections.

SEC. 59. Effectivity. - This Resolution shall take effect after its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

SEC. 60. Dissemination. - Let the Education and Information Department, this Commission, cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines, and immediately furnish copies thereof to the Election Officer of Puerto Princesa City, the Provincial Election Supervisor of Palawan, the Regional Election Director of Region IV and to the Department of Education.

SO ORDERED.

CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Acting Chairman

AL A. PARREÑO Commissioner

LUIE TITO F. GUIA Commissioner

ARTHUR D. LIM Commissioner