The Standard - 2016 January 08 - Friday

VOL. XXIX NO. 330 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 FRIday : JaNUaRy 8, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Caguioa: Aquino will face charges

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POE INSISTS PNOY WAS RESPONSIBLE

By Macon ramos-araneta and Francisco tuyay

SENATOR Grace Poe said Thursday she would not change her committee report on the 2015 Mamasapano massacre, which found President Benigno Aquino III “ultimately responsible” for the death of 44 police commandos unless new evidence is presented during the reopening of Senate investigation.

The Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs, which Poe chairs, and the committee on peace, unification and reconciliation led by Senator Teofisto Guingona III, will reconvene on Jan. 27 to hear any new information or evidence in the case.

In an interview Thursday, Poe said she stand by the findings of her committee report, which were based on five public hearings, five executive sessions and 73 hours of full discussion attended by 37 resource

persons, and 4,300 documents.

“I am confident with our committee hearings. If there is no new evidence, I will not change the orderly, just and impartial committee report,” Poe said.

In the report, Poe said the President must bear responsibility for giving consent to and failing to prevent the unlawful exercise of official functions by then suspended Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima in connection with Oplan Exodus, the ill-fated Mamasapano

operation.

“He assented to Purisima’s unlawful exercise of official functions, particularly the latter’s “usurpation of authority or official functions.

The President relied on and directly coordinated with the suspended PNP Chief, as it was shown that he continued to communicate with the latter on Oplan Exodus, based on testimonies and evidence presented in the public hearings,” said Poe in her draft report on the Mamasapano incident.

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New commissioner. Newly named Immigration Commissioner Ronaldo Geron Jr. confers with Deputy Commissioners Abdullah Mangotara and Gilberto Repizo. Vito Barcelo

Mison sacked, replaced by Palace exec

By Sandy araneta and Vito Barcelo PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Thursday appointed a new commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to replace Salvador Mison, who was sacked on allegations of corruption.

Appointed to the post was Ronaldo A. Geron Jr., who had previously been

deputy executive secretary for finance and administration at the Office of the President, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

Geron has been in public service for over 20 years, including stints as provincial administrator of Batangas and member of the provincial board. He graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1987 and was admitted

to the Bar in 1988, Coloma added.

Mison was dismissed because the National Bureau of Investigation found him liable of grave misconduct for detaining a Korean fugitive in a poorly secured room, which allowed him to escape.

In a statement, Mison said he encouraged everyone in the bureau to Next page

Bishop hits candidates who spend big bucks

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Poe...

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Oplan Exodus was the covert police operation to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and his henchman, bomb maker Basit Usman.

A copy of the draft report was submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman, which recommended to the Sandiganbayan the filing of charges against certain people. However, the President was not among them.

While Poe said there is strong evidence that the President consented to the participation of an officer who was suspended for corruption, she also acknowledged that “sometimes, legal implications, if the lawyers are good and the personalities are known, can easily get off the hook.”

The reopening of the Senate inquiry came after Senator Juan Ponce Enrile said he was unable to ask key questions during the hearings because he was detained at the time on plunder charges.

In his manifestation, Enrile cited the “critical period” of two days after the massacre in which the government failed to act.

“What happened to the government?

Was it functioning? Was it in paralysis?

Why was there a complete silence during this critical period? What happened to the entire instrument of government to maintain order in this country to protect the people? Was there a government in those moments?” said the 91-year-old senator.

He said he wanted answers to these questions because the government must serve the people with no interregnum.

“It must function every minute, every second of the day, of the week, of the month, of the year,” also said Enrile who was jailed at the PNP Custodian Center after being charged with plunder over the pork barrel scam.

Poe said they have yet to release a list of resource persons to be invited when the committee reconvenes on Jan. 25, exactly a year after members of the PNP Special Action Force were killed by Muslim rebels belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

She said they still waiting for a list from the senators, especially from Enrile, on the guests that should be called to the hearing.

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon expressed hope the reopening of the Senate investigation on the Mamasapano incident will not hamper the enactment of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and the other legislative agenda.

“If reopening the Mamasapano will allow our esteemed colleague Senator Juan Ponce Enrile to ask questions that he deemed are important to ferret out the truth, then we support it,” Drilon said.

“We still have many proposed legislation to discuss and work on such as the BBL and the proposed salary hike for public sector workers, so I am hopeful that reopening the Mamasapano probe will not draw time, attention and energies away from our lawmaking duties,” Drilon said.

The Senate leader also expressed concerns that the passage of the BBL may again be put in peril due to the issues

Mison...

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extend Geron the same cooperation they showed him in his fourand-a-half years as commissioner.

“As I leave the Bureau, I thank President Aquino for giving me the opportunity to serve in his administration and the Filipino people....On my part, I did what I could to follow the straight path with much dedication expected from any public servant,” Mison

surrounding the Mamasapano incident.

He noted that the Mamasapano incident had created an immense political storm that seriously affected the peace process.

While Drilon gave assurance that the passage of the BBL will be the Senate’s top priority, he hoped that the ceasefire between the government and the MILF will continue to hold even if the current Congress fails to pass the bill.

He said peace process between the Philippine government and the MILF must continue to hold even if the 16th Congress runs out of time to pass the proposed Bangsamoro organic law.

Also on Thursday, the former chief of the SAF, Getulio Napeñas, slammed the President for blaming him for the death of the 44 police commandos, and denied Aquino’s suggestion that this was due to poor planning and execution.

“We’ve been running after Marwan for five years, then the government—including the President—will say we had poor planning and execution?” Napeñas said in Filipino in a radio interview.

Napeñas said he welcomed Enrile’s call to reopen the Senate investigation.

“If the planning and execution were poor, why did we accomplish our mission?” he said. “We reached our target without detection and compromise. My men were already withdrawing when elements of the MILF and BIFF fired at them, sparking a firefight,” Napeñas said.

President Aquino relieved Napeñas two days after the incident and blamed the mission leaders for failing to coordinate their actions with the military.

At a Board of Inquiry report said Aquino was culpable for the Mamasapano debacle, but the Palace blamed Napeñas and Purisima instead.

Napeñas said he was ready to answer any of Enrile’s questions.

“I believe that Enrile would not manifest for the reopening of the case if he had no basis for it,” Napenas said.

“There were a lot of questions that weren’t answered.”

The leader of the independent minority bloc in the House, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, urged the government to speed up the resolution of cases filed against those responsible for the Mamasapano killings.

Romualdez, a senatorial candidate, said he hoped that as the country marks the anniversary of the Jan. 25 massacre, the families of those slain would finally get justice for the SAF 44.

The Palace on Thursday said it has always been honest and truthful during testiony before the Senate.

“In all instances, our government has been honest and truthful,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. “They have answered all questions, and President Aquino himself has several times faced the nation in order to answer all the questions,” Coloma said.

“Most recently, in September, he himself said there was new information which he wanted to know, and within the same week, this was discussed,” said Coloma.

Congressional allies of the President rejected Wednesday the reopening of the investigation of the Mamasapano debacle, calling it a waste of time and a political gimmick. With Sandy Araneta

said.

He said he would answer the NBI allegations in the proper venue and time.

Geron said there would be no immediate personnel movements and said he would have to consult with Justice Secretary Alfredo Benjamin Caguiao about pending deportation cases, particularly those of high-risk fugitives.

Geron is said to be closely associated with Ochoa and Caguiao, and was a classmate of President Aquino at the Ateneo de Manila

Caguioa says Aquino will face charges

By Rey E. Requejo

JUSTICE Secretary Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa said Thursday he thought it was likely that President Benigno Aquino III will be charged for approving the Disbursement Acceleration Program, which was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court in 2014.

In an interview before members of the Judicial and Bar Council who are screening candidates for the Supreme Court, Caguioa said although he and the President have known each other since they were schoolchildren at the Ateneo de Manila, he would not favor him in court.

“My father was a judge. I know how a judicial mind thinks. As a judge, I will wear an altogether different hat,” he told the council, adding that he had “no bias or inclination” in whatever facts are presented to him and whatever law to apply.

“As judge, I will be confined to what the facts are and what the law is,” Caguioa said, fending off objections to his appointment to the high court purportedly because he will only defend his childhood friend.

At the same time, however, he spelled out why his childhood friend should not be prosecuted for the DAP. “As a matter of law and my appreciation of facts as I know them, I don’t believe he should be charged precisely because of the operative fact doctrine and good faith... but in today’s world, he probably will,” Caguioa said.

Caguioa also cleared the President of any liability for unconstitutional acts in his Disbursement Acceleration Program.

Caguioa referred to the portion in the Supreme Court’s decision in July 2014 that cited the doctrine of operative fact, which recognizes the validity of actions taken based on a law before it is found to be unconstitutional.

While the Court suggested that executive officials could be held liable for the DAP, Caguioa said the President was not among “the authors and proponents” of the program.

The Justice Secretary said that Aquino’s role in the DAP was “merely to exercise his discretion under the Constitution to augment” the budget by using savings

University.

The NBI report said Mison was liable for grave misconduct for allowing the detention of Korean Cho Seongdae in a poorly guarded room within the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces compound in Camp Aguinaldo, a transfer that enabled him to escape on Oct. 21.

Cho, tagged for human trafficking and extortion, was transferred to ISAFP on Oct. 10, 11 days after he fled the Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility in Bicutan,

and that this was an “allowable act.”

Caguioa, former chief presidential legal counsel and classmate from elementary to college of Aquino, said he believes that criminal charges that may be filed against the President in connection with the DAP controversy would not stand.

In its ruling in July 2014, the Supreme Court unanimously held that the acts and practices under the DAP violated the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers and the provision prohibiting inter-branch transfer of appropriations.

The high tribunal specifically struck down the withdrawal of unobligated allotments from implementing agencies and their use as savings prior to end of fiscal year, cross-border transfers of savings of the executive to augment funds of agencies outside the department and funding of projects and programs not covered by the General Appropriations Act. It also voided the use of unprogrammed funds despite the absence of a certification by the national treasurer that the revenue collections exceeded the revenue targets for non-compliance with conditions in the GAA. The justices said that while recipients cannot be held liable for benefitting from programs, activities and projects under the DAP in good faith, the executive branch cannot be instantly cleared of culpabiliy.

In their separate opinions, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justice Arturo Brion have pointed to President Aquino and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad as the “authors” of the DAP who could be held liable for the illegal acts.

The two magistrates said Mr. Aquino and Abad are not covered by the doctrine of operative fact and cannot invoke good faith.

After defending the President, Caguioa vowed to be independent from the executive if appoint-

Taguig City on Sept. 29, through an alleged P1 million payoff to Immigration officers.

The Korean has been detained at the NBI headquarters in Manila since he was rearrested in Pagsanjan town in Laguna on Nov. 1.

Cho, also facing criminal cases in his homeland, was arrested on Aug. 7 in an entrapment operation. He was placed under BI custody on Sept. 11.

Earlier, Mison and his associate commissioners, Gilberto Repizo and Abdullah Mangotara, were

ed to the high court.

The Justice secretary said that he would not be biased or maintain a debt of gratitude to the appointing authority.

In the same interview, JBC members brought to Caguioa’s attention a letter opposing his nomination for the SC and alleging that he would be “protecting the interest” of Aquino and everybody in his outgoing administration if appointed to the judiciary.

Caguioa is among 16 nominees for the imminent vacancy in the Supreme Court to be left by the early retirement of Justice Martin Villarama Jr. on Jan. 16. Reports indicated that he has a greater chance of being appointed to the post due to his closeness with the President.

Apart from him, eight other aspirants faced the JBC in public interviews Thursday: Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justices Apolinario Bruselas, Rosmari Carandang, Mariflor PunzalanCastillo; Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Associate Justice Maria Cristina Cornejo, Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera, Quezon Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption party-list Rep. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales and former University of Manila law dean Joe-Santos Bisquera.

Today, the other seven bets will take their turn: CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr., Associate Justices Jose Reyes Jr., Stephen Cruz, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Alex Quiroz, Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, former Commission on Audit chairperson Maria Gracia Pulido-Tan and Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 90 presiding Judge Reynaldo Daway.

After the interviews, the council is expected to come up with a shortlist by February, which means President Aquino may be able to name his sixth appointee to the Supreme Court before the period covered by the election ban on midnight appointments.

investigated for allegedly taking bribes from the Chinese figutive Wang Bo. The Chinese embassy had sought the deportation of Wang, who is wanted in China for allegedly embezzling $100 million.

Mison voted in favor for the deportation but was outvoted by his two deputies.

There were allegations of a P100 million bribe given by Wang to secure his release but these were unsubstantiated. Wang was eventually deported in August 2015.

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Comelec asks Court to dismiss Poe’s plea THE Commission on Elections on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition of Senator Grace Poe, saying its decision to disqualify her from the May 2016 presidential race was based on existing laws and jurisprudence.

In a 73-page comment filed by Commissioner Rowena Amelia Guanzon, the Comelec sought the dismissal of Poe’s petition to reject the poll body’s rulings upholding the cancellation of her Certificate of Candidacy for the presidency due to her alleged misrepresentation on her citizenship and her lack of 10-year residency.

Guanzon and Commissioner Christian Robert Lim will be the ones defending the Comelec’s decision before the Supreme Court.

The Comelec said Poe “deliberately and intentionally misrepresented” her qualifications for the presidency. As a result,it asked the high court to lift its temporary restraining orders against its rulings.

The poll body asked the high court to sustain its findings that Poe’s claim that she would have had a total residency of 10 years and 11

months in the country by the election on May 9 this year was “false and misleading.”

“The facts and evidence submitted by the parties and based on existing laws and relevant jurisprudence support the conclusion that [Poe] failed to comply with the 10year residency requirement for the elective office of President of the Republic of the Philippines,” the Comelec said.

The agency said Poe reacquired her domicile in the country only on Aug. 31, 2006, which meant her residency eligibility would still fall short by about three months.

The Comelec also said Poe’s claim that she is a natural-born citizen was a misrepresentation.

“A foundling does not fall under the definition of citizens under Section 1, Article IV of the 1935 Constitution,” the Comelec said.

“Respondent, thus, cannot qualify as a natural-born citizen. The provision also contains no provision or indication, express or implied, that a foundling is a natural-born citizen and/or qualifies as an exception to the above rule.” rey e. requejo and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

New publication. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, standing left, holds up a copy of the coffee-table book ‘The Carpios of Paoay’ during its launching at The Manila Hotel on Thursday. LiNo SaNtoS

Bishop slams the big spenders A PRELATE said Thursday those politicians spending billions for their election campaigns will recover their money and much more once they win in this year’s elections.

Former Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president and Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz made the statement in reaction to a recent study by Nielsen Philippines in which it said presidential aspirants Jejomar Binay, Grace Poe and Manuel Roxas II were the top spenders on political advertisements from January to November last year.

“That kind of spending means that at the end of the day, they will recover what they have spent from the people, and they may recover more than what they have spent through graft and corrupt practices once they win,” Cruz said.

He made his statement even as a political analyst said Liberal Party standard bearer Roxas’ image problem was the biggest fac-

tor why he still lagged in the preelection surveys despite the big amounts of money he had been spending on political advertising.

“If people don’t like a candidate, it will not matter how much they spend in the campaign,” Ranjit Rye, a political analyst from the University of the Philippines, told ANC. In a report by the media research firm Nielsen Philippines, Binay emerged as the top spender for presidential candidates, with more than P595,713,000 for TV advertisements between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30 last year.

Senator Grace Poe came in second with P448,166,000, followed by administration stand-

ard bearer Manuel Roxas II with P424,870,000, while Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte spent P115,423,000.

Duterte said his advertisements were paid for “by someone from the Chinese community.”

Cruz said “goons, guns and gold” were rampant every election, and that money flowed from all over.

During the national and local elections in 2010, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism reported that the candidates spent P4.3 billion on commercials and political advertisements.

On Tuesday, Commission on Elections chairman Andres

Bautista said they were helpless in preventing political candidates from spending millions of pesos on political advertisements even before the start of the official campaign period.

He said there was no law against premature campaigning.

“For the record, there is no law right now that regulates spending because we know that the meters start running only at the beginning of the campaign period,” Bautista said.

“Any expenses before that period will not be counted against them and the Comelec cannot do anything.”

Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and John Paolo Bencito

Agency to tackle Duterte’s cases

New appointees. President Benigno Aquino III administers the oath to newly appointed

officials in Malacañang on Thursday. They are Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr., Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Fredelita Guiza, and TESDA Director-General Irene Isaac. MaLacañaNg Photo Bureau

AN ELECTION official said Thursday they will decide on the four pending disqualification cases against Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, a presidential aspirant, to give him “more time” to bring his case before the Supreme Court.

Comelec commissioner Rowena Guanzon said she and her colleagues in the First Division will resolve the petitions filed by broadcaster Ruben Castor, nuisance presidential candidate Rizalito David, and University of the Philippines Student Council chairman John Paulo Delas Nieves quickly so the Comelec could finalize the list of candidates to be printed on the official ballots.

“Our objective is to finish the petitions here in the Comelec at the best possible time so they can bring the case before

the Supreme Court,” Guanzon told the reporters.

She made her statement even as Duterte on Thursday lashed backed at Senator Antonio Trillanes IV who said Wednesday it would be a disaster if the tough-talking mayor won the presidency in this year’s elections.

“That’s political garbage,” Duterte said.

“A good exhibit would be Davao City which attained 9-percent economic growth rate under my watch.”

In a television interview on Wednesday, vice presidential candidate Trillanes said he would choose Vice President Jejomar Binay, whom he had been investigating for alleged corruption, over Duterte as things “would be going to be so much worse than a Binay presidency” if Duterte won

the May 2016 race.

Guanzon said the Comelec would want to be fair to Duterte by resolving the cases against him quickly.

“To be fair to the candidate, [the cases] should be decided right away,” she said.

On Tuesday, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the commission en banc had decided to consolidate the three petitions against Duterte before the Comelec’s First Division because those were similar.

Guanzon also disclosed a fourth petition against Duterte after lawyer Eli Pamatong was able to pay the P10,000 filing fee. Earlier, the Comelec rejected Pamatong’s petition for failing to raise the filing fee.

Sara Susanne D. Fabunan, John Paolo Bencito and Junex Doronio

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UK warns of ‘red line’ at sea

By Vito Barcelo and Sandy Araneta

WHILE the United Kingdom remains neutral in any maritime dispute over the South China Sea, London has a clear and non-negotiable position on freedom of navigation and overflights, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said.

“We have a clear position on freedom of navigation and overflights. Freedom of navigation and overflights are non-negotiable. They are red lines for us,” Hammond told reporters after holding bilateral talks with Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.

“We will maintain the position that we, as an international maritime and trading nation, enjoy freedom of navigation and overflights in the South China Sea. We expect to continue to exercise those rights,” Hammond said in a joint press briefing with Del Rosario.

Hammond said they also dis-

cussed the strategic partnership between the UK and the Philippines in the middle of the global and regional challenges threatening security and prosperity, including global efforts to tackle extremism.

Del Rosario, for his part, said the Philippine government fears that China’s landings and test flights in an artificial island in the South China Sea could lead to a military defense zone if left unchallenged.

“We are very concerned about the fact that China had already flown their flights to Fiery Cross Reef and we are also concerned

that there are plans to do more,” Del Rosario said.

“If this is not challenged, China will take the position that the ADIZ could be imposed and whether this is done in terms of a de facto basis or whether it is official, this will deemed as unacceptable to us,” Del Rosario said.

China said it landed three planes over Fiery Cross Reef in recent days, prompting protests from rival claimants Vietnam and the Philippines, and raising fears it could impose military controls in the area.

Hammond, whose Manila visit followed a trip to China, did not elaborate on what action would be taken if the “red flag” was raised, other than to say Britain would continue to assert its right to sail in the area.

Del Rosario said he was worried that, with the test flights, China was laying the groundwork for the declaration of an Air Defence Identifica-

tion Zone (ADIZ), similar to the one it declared in the East China Sea that riled Japan.

Vietnam, another claimant in the South China Sea, has also condemned the test flights as a violation of its sovereignty.

China has alarmed its rivals with its massive reclamation and construction of facilities on disputed reefs, including a 3,000-meter (9,842-foot) runway on Fiery Cross, around 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from the southern province of Hainan.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Saturday after announcing the first test flight that it was “civilian” in nature.

The Philippines has asked a United Nations-backed tribunal to void China’s claim over almost the entire South China Sea. It expects a decision this year.

China did not participate in the arbitration hearings at The Hague as it maintained that sea disputes should be resolved bilaterally.

Crossing the red line. President Benigno Aquino III receives United Kingdom Ambassador Asif Ahmad and UK Foreign Minister Philip Hammond at the Music Room of Malacañan Palace on Thursday. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

23 top officials sworn to office

By Sandy Araneta SOME 23 ranking government officials, including Trade and Industry Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr., took their oaths of office before President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañang Thursday.

Also among the newly-minted officials were Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Secretary Fredelita Guiza who replaced former secretary Francis Pangilinan, who is running for senator.

Newly-appointed Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director-General Irene Isaac, who replaced former director general Joel Villanueva, also took the oath of office before Aquino.

Deputy Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Erdelyne Go also made her oath as well

as Department of Justice Undersecretaries Emmanuel Leido Caparas, Wendell Go, and Maricar Montano.

Also inducted were Department of Education Undersecretary Reynaldo Laguda, Department of National Defense Undersecretary Jesus Millan, Department of Health Undersecretary Lilibeth David, Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera and Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Gefer Mancol.

Aquino also swore in Intellectual Property Office Director-General Josephine Rima-Santiago, Government Corporate Counsel Ireneo Galicia, DOJ Assistant Secretaries Edward Alfonso, Ma. Cecille Corpuz, Ma. Monica Pagunsan, and Miguel Romualdo Sanidad.

Already in place. Policemen provide security at the Quirino Grandstand on Thursday where the 17th century image of Jesus Christ carrying the cross which is now better known as the Black Nazarene. The image was placed at the grandstand for public veneration ahead of its feast day on Jan. 9. DANNY PATA

Abaya now a weakness of Liberals, Erice says

By John Bencito A TOP leader of the ruling Liberal Party on Thursday admitted LP president and Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya is turning out to be a “weak point” in the presidential bid of standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II because of various controversies over the train system.

“I will admit that [Abaya] is our weak point,” said Caloocan Rep. Edgardo Erice, who heads the LP committee for political and electoral affairs, told The Standard.

Erice said the LP is aware of the public criticism of Abaya, but he said it was only because of the recurring problems of Metro Manila’s train system and traffic situation.

“But we know the truth, I know that he is doing the right thing and he is not bending over [for] the syndicates in the MRT,” Erice said in an interview at the Liberal Party headquarters in Quezon City.

“I admit that the MRT really has problems. But it should be made clear to the people that the Daang Matuwid [Straight Path] didn’t create the problems.

We are doing everything to resolve the problem,” Erice added.

Erice said party leaders are aware that Roxas’ numbers are “weakest in the National Capital Region” because of the controversies “on traffic and the MRT.” “We hope that those in Metro Manila will understand that the government is doing everything to solve these traffic woes. I know that those in Metro Manila are smart enough to choose the ‘straight’ over ‘crooked’ ones,” he added.

Lately, another controversy arose over the train system’s maintenance contractors after the GermanFilipino consortium that was contracted to repair parts of the train last March filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against several officials of the DOTC, including Abaya.

The Schunk Bahn UNDIndustrietechnik Gmbh and Comm Builders and Technology Phils. Corp. said in their complaint that the DOTC refused pay them.

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Fewer pills, condoms: P1b off RH budget

By Sandy Araneta MALACAÑANG said on Thursday that it is continuing to coordinate with all stakeholders regarding the implementation of the goals for the Reproductive Health Law despite the reduction of P1 billion from the 2016 national budget for funding contraceptives intended for the poor.

“Health Secretary Janette Garin says the government continues to coordinate with all stakeholders regarding the implementation of the goals of the RH Law,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. Coloma said the DOH will give a comprehensive report on this development.

Senator Vicente Sotto III on Thursday admitted that the budget meant for the purchase of contraceptives for poor couples was scrapped from the 2016 national budget.

Garin earlier said the P1-billion allocation for contraceptives was deleted from the budget during the bicameral conference.

Garin said she learned of the budget cut on Monday and blamed the Senate for it.

Sotto, an oppositor of the RH Law, said the budget for contraceptives was indeed deleted, but added that the budget for the rest of the programs under the RH Law remains in the budget of the Department of Health.

“The budget of the DOH is P123 billion. RH budget is scattered all over that budget total. What was deleted was a mere small portion of their allocation for contraceptives including condoms and injectables that are considered abortifacients and in fact, covered by the Supreme Court TRO against the purpose of such. Less than P200 million that was cut was transferred by the Committee on Finance to augment the budget of State Universities and Colleges,’’ Sotto said.

Corona assets yield P10k

By Rio N. Araja

ONLY P10,354.98 has been garnished from the bank assets of former Chief Justice Renato Corona over a P130.587,012.7-million forfeiture case he and his wife Cristina are facing before the Sandiganbayan.

The anti-graft court’s Second Division issued its Jan. 6 thirdreport on the preliminary writ of attachment to freeze Corona’s estate, real and personal properties, and bank deposits, saying it was only able to garnish P2,158.94 from the bank assets of Corona with the Land Bank of the Philippines’ Taft Avenue branch on Oct. 16, 2015.

According to sheriff IV Alexander Valencia, the Sandiganbayan earlier garnished

P6,524.71 from Cristina’s account with Philippine National Bank, P1,056.27 from Corona’s account with the Bank of the Philippine Islands and P615.06 from the couple’s joint account with Banco de Oro. He said the Batangas City’s assessor’s office even certified that Corona’s wife did not have any real property tax.

Earlier, the anti-graft court’s Sheriff Office placed Corona’s seven condomin-

CORONA

ium units in Quezon City’s Loyola Heights, Taguig City’s Global City and Makati City’s Ayala Avenue, and a real estate in Quezon City’s La Vista.

For alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Coronas, in May 2014, the Second Division issued a writ of preliminary attachment, directing Valencia to freeze the couple’s P130.59 million worth of assets, including that of “their dummies, trustees, assignees, nominees, transferees and success-in-interest.”

The Sheriff Office’s first report of garnishment showed the Coronas’ accounts in the United Overseas Bank, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., China Banking Corp., Citibank, Philippine Savings Bank and Phil-Am Asset Management Inc. did not

have any deposits. Corona is facing eight counts of perjury and another eight counts of violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for misdeclaration in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth from 2001 to 2011.

In January 2014, in a 22page resolution, the Office of the Ombudsman asked the Sandiganbayan to freeze the alleged hidden wealth of the Coronas, saying the special panel of investigation found that the couple amassed huge wealth which was not reported in Corona’s SALNs. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said Corona’s bank deposits ballooned to over P130 million from P1.3 million in 2002.

Double decker. The government on Thursday conducts a dry run for its point-to-point (P2P) double-decker bus units aimed at easing traffic congestion on Edsa. The move is part of the initiatives of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to encourage operators to upgrade their vehicles to double deckers. EY ACASIO

Premium bus service gets new lease on life

By Joel E. Zurbano THE government is fielding more bus units for its non-stop vehicle service project that is meant to ease traffic along Edsa (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue).

“There will be additional buses as the program enter its next phase.

The DOTC [Department of the Transportation and Communications] is now accepting applications,” said lawyer Emerson Carlos, chairman of the Metro Manila

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Development Authority.

Carlos said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board already granted an extension of the special permit for the temporary Premium Point-toPoint (P2P) Bus Service until the end of January in view of the popularity of the service.

He said the next phase of the project was the subject of discussion during a meeting of members of the Technical Working Group held Thursday

at the MMDA’s central office in Makati City.

The project was initially carried out from Dec. 6, 2015 to Jan. 6, 2016 to decongest Edsa during the holiday travel rush.

The government is pleased with the positive result of the P2P bus service program, given the increase in ridership over the holidays.

The premium P2P bus service is a new public utility vehicle subcategory created by the DOTC that

offers commuters another safe and reliable mode of transportation. It allows shorter travel time, as buses depart on a fixed schedule and travel directly from the terminal to the drop-off point.

Carlos said the government came up with the scheme also to encourage private motorists to use the express buses as their alternative mode of transportation.

Fares for the express buses recently reduced to allow more passengers to avail themselves

of the service.

Passengers from SM North Edsa in Quezon City to Glorietta in Makati City only pays P64 instead of P80 while those from Trinoma to Park Square, Ayala Center pays P60 instead of P80.

The government asked motorists to try using the non-stop bus service, saying the scheme is one of the medium-term solutions to improve traffic on Edsa and a way of increasing efficiency of the use of the streets.

F R I D AY : j A n u A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

A6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

By Sandy Araneta

Bottom-UP Budgeting, the government program that institutionalized people’s participation in the budget process, will be expanded next year to cover 42,036 barangays nationwide, the Department of Budget and management said on thursday.

The Barangay BuB will provide a subsidy of P1 million to each barangay to be used for the implementation of two projects they have identified, DBM Secretary Florencio Abad said.

The program is expected to help barangays formulate poverty reduction plans and monitor the delivery of basic services at the grassroots.

Abad said that while all

barangays are beneficiaries of the program, implementation shall be made in batches.

“The first 12,000 barangays will receive funding from the national government in 2017,” Abad said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has started national consultations with barangay heads to inform them of the rationale, objec-

tives, and mechanics of the Barangay BuB. Abad said this will be followed by capacity building sessions and project preparation for the first batch of barangays that will pioneer BuB. DILG Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento said the expansion of the BuB was the result of the clamor of various associations of barangay councils, civil society organizations, and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines.

The ULAP National Executive Board passed a resolution to institutionalize BuB at the barangay level and adopted the recommendation from the leagues for the implementing guidelines of the BuB. “We are bringing BuB down to the grassroots level to ensure

that the need for services and facilities of barangays are met.

Also, by enabling barangays to implement projects which they have identified and prioritized through a process of citizen participation in planning and budgeting, we hope to improve governance at the barangay level,” Sarmiento said.

The Liga ng mga Barangay ng Pilipinas—through its national president, lawyer Edmund Abesamis—expressed support for the program, calling the Barangay BuB “the highlight of the national government’s recognition of the role of barangays in governance.”

“The Barangay Bottom-Up Budgeting effectively provides life and meaning to the recognition of barangays as frontliners in governance,” Abesamis said.

Symbolic key. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office vice chairman and general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II (second from left)) and director Mabel Mamba (left) hand the symbolic key of three brand new ambulances to Rizal Gov. Rebecca Ynares (third from left) in a turnover ceremony held at the PCSO head office in Mandaluyong City on Jan. 7. Dr. Clemente San Jose, chief of hospital in Pililia, Rizal, Jala-Jala and Morong towns in Rizal also received their ambulances. JOSEPH MUEGO

‘

Budget scheme expands, covers 42,000 barangays

Marcos pushes Kadiwa store revival

By Macon Araneta TO ADDRESS the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities and help farmers get the best price for their crops, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday pressed for the revival of the Kadiwa Store system.

Marcos said the Kadiwa stores can offer the public lower prices and eventually help them cope with the exorbitant cost of commodities.

“Before, commodities are being sold at farmgate prices. It would seem that you are buying directly from the farmers,” the senator said referring to the Kadiwa system during the Marcos administration.

Marcos said that the Kadiwa system enabled the public to buy goods at cheaper rates and the farmers to sell their crops without having to worry about transportation costs, eliminating also the middle men who force prices up.

The senator, who is vying for the vice presidency, said that for prices to stay steady, the government should buy the goods when the supply is excessive and sell them when stocks are inadequate.

“If the prices of goods are still cheap, the government should buy them and release them to the public so the cost will still be the same,” he said.

He also scored the current system in government which is more focused on importation rather than on giving priority to the needs of the farmers.

Marcos also emphasized the need to save the “dying” farm sector in the country in the face of the Asean integration.

“What we can say is that the country’s agricultural sector is gasping for breath. We should remedy the situation because import limit will be removed with the integration,’’ Marcos said.

Sweepers to rid Traslacion route of trash

By Joel E. Zurbano MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada has created a special group tasked to ensure the safety and cleanliness of Quiapo and other areas to be used for various activities in connection with the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Saturday.

Estrada said 600 street sweepers will be deployed to clean and clear the roads of all types of clutter as more than 13 million people are expected to take part in the religious event.

“This is part of our continuing agenda of urban renewal and implementing permanent discipline zones throughout the city of Manila. We enjoin everyone

and all Manileños to do their share in making Manila clean and green,” said Estrada, who is the Hermano Mayor for the feast.

Estrada tapped Task Force Manila Clean Up chief Rafael Borromeo to prepare his team who will collect and properly dispose of bottles of drinking water, strewn pamphlets and other garbage to be found on side streets and along the sevenkilometer route of the Traslacion procession from the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park to the church in Quiapo.

Borromeo said they are now organizing 600 personnel positioned in various sites of the Traslacion route to ensure

the cleanliness of the venues before and after the religious procession.

He said 100 street sweepers will be cleaning the roads before the start of the procession to make sure that they are clear of glass shards, barbeque sticks, gravel, and other matter which could injure barefoot devotees.

Another 100 will take care of Quirino Grandstand, the venue for the “pahalik” beginning on Friday, the overnight vigil and the mass celebration to be officiated

by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.

Other members of the group will be positioned in Plaza Miranda while the rest will help restore order along the Traslacion route right after the procession.

Trash-less Traslacion. Environment advocates from Buklod Tao and

Ecowaste Coalition gather in front of the Quiapo Church to encourage the faithful to combine their pious devotion to the Black Nazarene with environmental protection such as by keeping the procession trail free of filth and garbage. LINO SANTOS

F R I D AY : j A n u A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

A7

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Sweet escape. Tourists

explore the white sand and pristine waters of Kalanggaman Island, Palompon, Leyte. MEL CASPE

Trial court greenlights Samar’s P800-m bank loan

By Mel Caspe A locAl court has lifted the restraining order it had earlier issued on an ordinance of the provincial government of Samar authorizing it to obtain a loan of P800 million from the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Branch 29 of the Regional Trial court has lifted the 20day TRo it had granted to provincial board member Alma Uy and dismissed all other petitions pertaining to the case.

The court’s decision was based on the “insufficiency of factual and legal basis of the cause of action on record, and failure to show by clear and convincing evidence that there were irregularities in the passage of the resolutions adverted to and the borrowing ordinance oft-mentioned, so as to overcome the presumption of regularity.”

The judge likewise took note in his penned decision that the Province of Samar is capable of paying the loan to be contracted not only because of its Internal Revenue Allotment allocation but will only expend the 20 percent of its development fund to pay for the installments.

“All the infrastructure programs were included and consistent with the Annual Investment Plan of the province, elsewhere stated, the budget for other social services will not be affected” as told further by the court decision.

Moreover, Judge Avila cited that the economic benefit that the infrastructure projects would provide for the province is a policy decision that cannot be estimated by the most accurate feasibility studies.

Irrigation official tells Kalinga, Isabela farmers to plant early

By Dexter A. See

TABUK CITY, Kalinga—The regional manager of the National Irrigation Administration is encouraging thousands of rice farmers in this city and nearby Quezon, Isabela being serviced by the multi-million Upper Chico River Irrigation System to plant before the end of the month.

This is to avoid the expected serious negative effects of the occurrence of drought by summer.

Engineer John Socalo, irrigation official of the cordillera Administrative Region,

added that planting early would allow farmers to hurdle the f lowering and vegetative stages of the palay before extreme drought prevails. With this, they could recover their previous losses.

He said irrigation water from UcRIS was already supplied to its seven laterals. This signals the start of the planting season for dry cropping so the farmers can still have a good harvest even during the drought. “our farmers need to plant before the end of January so that they can harvest their rice produce by late March or early April. This would guarantee their income for the cropping season,” Socalo stressed.

He said NIA had conducted an experimental release of irrigation water on Dec. 28 and fully released irrigation water

to all its seven laterals on Jan. 4.

This should be a go-signal for the farmers benefiting from the operation of the UcRIS to start planting their crops for them to harvest early before the onslaught of the projected drought.

It was learned that the rice production per hectare during the dry cropping season is from 5 to 8 tons of palay per hectare while during the wet cropping season, the production of farmers in the city and nearby Quezon, Isabela is between 4 to 5 tons only.

Ombudsman slaps ex-gov with malversation charges

By Rio N. Araja

Rest for now. A mother from Shariff Mustapha Saydona, Maguindanao lets her baby sleep on a hammock while they wait to be transported to an evacuation center. They have left home for fear that the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters would repeat their violence over the holidays. MARK NAVALES

THE office of the ombudsman on Thursday filed malversation charges against a former governor of Misamis oriental with the Sandiganbayan.

Ex-governor Antonio calingin was accused of failure to liquidate a cash advance of P500,000 used for the registration of the Misamis oriental Telephone System Inc. in June 2002.

The ombudsman also included Jusie Roxas, a former Misortel manager, in the case.

In a resolution, ombudsman conchita carpio Morales said “calingin admitted that he directed respondent Roxas to secure the cash advance of P500,000 and that he personally received the amount.” calingin was not able to show proof of liquidation.

“Respondents conspired with each other in committing malversation of public funds,” the ombudsman said.

In December 2014, ombudsman prosecutors secured calingin’s conviction for malversation in connection with the missing spare parts and accessories of two government vehicles assigned to the office of the provincial governor.

He was sentenced to a jail term of 10 years and one day to 18 years, eight months and one day of reclusion temporal. calingin was also ordered to pay a fine of P2,082,385, and to suffer perpetual special disqualification with an order to indemnify the Misamis oriental provincial government of P2,082,385.

F R I D AY, J A N U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

REVISITING MAMASAPANO

[ EDI TORI A L ]

MINDANAO’S POWER CRISIS THE fears about Mindanao’s vulnerable power situation have come true. Already short of power generating plants, the island is now facing a possible “grid collapse” after transmission operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines declared a red alert Wednesday. A grid collapse means longer supply disruptions for the power-starved island.

The bombing of transmission towers in Mindanao is exacerbating the power supply condition in the island, while uncooperative landowners have stalled the efforts of NGCP to repair the damaged structures.

Two units of the Agus hydroelectric power complex with a combined capacity of 150 megawatts were isolated from the Mindanao grid after unidentified men bombed Tower 25 in Ramain, Lanao del Sur province on Christmas Eve. NGCP said it was unable to restore the facility after the owners of the property refused entry on payment issues. The standoff is threatening to completely cut off electricity supplies to Davao City and General Santos City.

“Mindanao is facing a possible grid collapse if the situation persists since there is only one line remaining to deliver power from the Agus hydro complex, the Maramag-Bunawan 138 kV line,” NGCP warned.

The stalemate with the landowners has become a powder keg. If the remaining transmission line is compromised, no power supply will be delivered from the Agus hydro facilities to the south of Mindanao, where the bulk of power demand is concentrated.

Mindanao is home to a quarter of the country’s more than 100 million people and the source of 40 percent of the food requirements.

The island has suffered periodic power outages for years because its plants are aging and mostly hydroelectric facilities that cannot operate during droughts.

The Mindanao power crisis requires national attention. Malacañang must take the initiative and use its police power to resolve the conflict with stubborn landowners. The government should also go after the perpetrators of the tower bombings to prevent supply disruptions. It should not neglect Mindanao this time.

WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES THEY used to say that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo packed the Supreme Court with justices who would protect her after she stepped down. But how do you explain President Noynoy Aquino’s justice secretary, who hasn’t even been accepted to the highest court in the land yet but is already engaged in a strident defense of his boss?

You have to give Justice Secretary Benjamin Caguioa some

credit, though. Even if he’s applying for a position in the Supreme Court, which requires him to be an impartial judge, he’s still defending his old Ateneo classmate, the President.

In his interview before the Judicial and Bar Council, which is screening the 16 applicants for the soon-to-be-vacated post of Associate Justice Martin Villarama, Caguioa said he does not believe that Aquino should be charged for creating the Disbursement Acceleration Program. DAP, of course, has been struck down as illegal by the court that Caguioa is seeking to join.

“As a matter of law and [from] my appreciation of facts as I know them, I don’t believe he should be charged precisely because of [the] operative fact doctrine and good faith,” Caguioa told the JBC. “What the President did was merely [to] exercise his discretion under the Constitution to augment projects using savings, and that is completely allowable.”

Caguioa explained that while the Supreme Court, in its decision striking down DAP, suggested that some administration officials may be held liable, the President is most certainly blameless in the matter. “He

A9

If Aquino knows what’s good for him, he should push hard for Caguioa’s appointment to the Supreme Court.

does not fall under the category of author, proponent or implementor” of the illegal program, according to the justice secretary, who has served as presidential legal counsel to Aquino before being chosen to replace Leila de Lima.

I wonder if Caguioa is really serious about applying for a Supreme Court position, given how gung-ho he seems about declaring to one and all where his real loyalties lie.

And I wonder, as well, if the members of the JBC weren’t snickering as they listened to Caguioa absolve Aquino even before he is charged when he steps down and sheds his immunity from suit.

Caguioa didn’t even pre-

tend to be impartial about his position that Aquino should not be charged for DAP, even if he accepted that his boss will most likely be haled to court for the controversial program. “In today’s world, he probably will,” the justice secretary said.

I think the only reason why the JBC should consider Caguioa as Villarama’s replacement is if they are looking for an unapologetic defender of Aquino after his term ends. If that is the kind of justice that the Court needs, then they might as well declare right now that the

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

search is over and that Caguioa is their newest member.

And if Aquino knows what’s good for him, he should push hard for Caguioa’s appointment, as well. Loyalty of the kind that Caguioa is showing is hard to come by these days, when even the closest pals and highest officials of Aquino are already falling all over themselves trying to join the camps of the leading presidential candidates.

If Caguioa’s declarations before the JBC are any indication, I’m willing to bet that he will not even have the de-

5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

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MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

cency to inhibit himself from the tribunal’s deliberations when the cases against Aquino are brought before it.

And that, as the old song says, is what friends are for. *** Having said that, I wish Aquino’s own loyalty to his people is reciprocated, especially when he is no longer in power. For instance, I certainly hope that Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya would stand

by Aquino just like Aquino stands by him now.

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 Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

BAD news for President Benigno S. Aquino III. The Senate is set to reopen the Mamasapano incident in which 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force perished in a gun battle with elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

At the instance of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile who is in possession of new evidence, the inquiry by the committee on public order headed by Senator Grace Poe is reopening the case on Jan. 25—the same day exactly a year ago the massacre took place in a marshy field in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The Special Action Force commandos were withdrawing after a police operation code-named Oplan Exodus took out international terrorist Zufliki Marwan.

Caught in an open field, the outnumbered policemen engaged the MILFBIFF guerrillas in a fierce gun battle until they ran out of ammunition. Those who surrendered were mercilessly butchered by their captors which was why the incident became known as the Mamasapano massacre.

Sources at the Senate said Enrile’s new information is based on the standdown order of President Benigno Aquino not to provide artillery fire and reinforcements to the beleaguered police commandos who came under fire in an open field. Apparently, the information on Aquino’s stand-down order was provided by sacked PNP-SAF commander Gen. Getulio Napeñas, who was made the scapegoat of the botched police operation. Probably fearing the consequences of a tell-all testimony, Napeñas kept his silence and did not divulge this vital information during the first Senate hearing.

The reason given for the stand-down order, according to the same sources, said the President did not want to jeopardize the peace process and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law pending approval

by Congress. Aquino and key Cabinet officials were in nearby Zamboanga while the fighting was raging in Maguindanao reportedly waiting for word of the successful police operation that turned tragic. Aquino broke the chain of command when he put suspended PNP police chief Alan Purisima in charge of the ill-fated mission.

Doing damage control early, Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President already owned up to his role but did not break the chain of command. President Aquino while in office has immunity from civil and criminal suits but he can be impeached for violation and betrayal of the Constitution if his culpability in the loss of 44 lives is proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

Publisher Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Associate Editors News Editor City Editor Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

F R I D AY, J A N U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

REVISITING MAMASAPANO

[ EDI TORI A L ]

MINDANAO’S POWER CRISIS THE fears about Mindanao’s vulnerable power situation have come true. Already short of power generating plants, the island is now facing a possible “grid collapse” after transmission operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines declared a red alert Wednesday. A grid collapse means longer supply disruptions for the power-starved island.

The bombing of transmission towers in Mindanao is exacerbating the power supply condition in the island, while uncooperative landowners have stalled the efforts of NGCP to repair the damaged structures.

Two units of the Agus hydroelectric power complex with a combined capacity of 150 megawatts were isolated from the Mindanao grid after unidentified men bombed Tower 25 in Ramain, Lanao del Sur province on Christmas Eve. NGCP said it was unable to restore the facility after the owners of the property refused entry on payment issues. The standoff is threatening to completely cut off electricity supplies to Davao City and General Santos City.

“Mindanao is facing a possible grid collapse if the situation persists since there is only one line remaining to deliver power from the Agus hydro complex, the Maramag-Bunawan 138 kV line,” NGCP warned.

The stalemate with the landowners has become a powder keg. If the remaining transmission line is compromised, no power supply will be delivered from the Agus hydro facilities to the south of Mindanao, where the bulk of power demand is concentrated.

Mindanao is home to a quarter of the country’s more than 100 million people and the source of 40 percent of the food requirements.

The island has suffered periodic power outages for years because its plants are aging and mostly hydroelectric facilities that cannot operate during droughts.

The Mindanao power crisis requires national attention. Malacañang must take the initiative and use its police power to resolve the conflict with stubborn landowners. The government should also go after the perpetrators of the tower bombings to prevent supply disruptions. It should not neglect Mindanao this time.

WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR LOWDOWN JOJO A. ROBLES THEY used to say that Gloria Macapagal Arroyo packed the Supreme Court with justices who would protect her after she stepped down. But how do you explain President Noynoy Aquino’s justice secretary, who hasn’t even been accepted to the highest court in the land yet but is already engaged in a strident defense of his boss?

You have to give Justice Secretary Benjamin Caguioa some

credit, though. Even if he’s applying for a position in the Supreme Court, which requires him to be an impartial judge, he’s still defending his old Ateneo classmate, the President.

In his interview before the Judicial and Bar Council, which is screening the 16 applicants for the soon-to-be-vacated post of Associate Justice Martin Villarama, Caguioa said he does not believe that Aquino should be charged for creating the Disbursement Acceleration Program. DAP, of course, has been struck down as illegal by the court that Caguioa is seeking to join.

“As a matter of law and [from] my appreciation of facts as I know them, I don’t believe he should be charged precisely because of [the] operative fact doctrine and good faith,” Caguioa told the JBC. “What the President did was merely [to] exercise his discretion under the Constitution to augment projects using savings, and that is completely allowable.”

Caguioa explained that while the Supreme Court, in its decision striking down DAP, suggested that some administration officials may be held liable, the President is most certainly blameless in the matter. “He

A9

If Aquino knows what’s good for him, he should push hard for Caguioa’s appointment to the Supreme Court.

does not fall under the category of author, proponent or implementor” of the illegal program, according to the justice secretary, who has served as presidential legal counsel to Aquino before being chosen to replace Leila de Lima.

I wonder if Caguioa is really serious about applying for a Supreme Court position, given how gung-ho he seems about declaring to one and all where his real loyalties lie.

And I wonder, as well, if the members of the JBC weren’t snickering as they listened to Caguioa absolve Aquino even before he is charged when he steps down and sheds his immunity from suit.

Caguioa didn’t even pre-

tend to be impartial about his position that Aquino should not be charged for DAP, even if he accepted that his boss will most likely be haled to court for the controversial program. “In today’s world, he probably will,” the justice secretary said.

I think the only reason why the JBC should consider Caguioa as Villarama’s replacement is if they are looking for an unapologetic defender of Aquino after his term ends. If that is the kind of justice that the Court needs, then they might as well declare right now that the

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City.

Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial), 832-5546, (Advertising), 832-

search is over and that Caguioa is their newest member.

And if Aquino knows what’s good for him, he should push hard for Caguioa’s appointment, as well. Loyalty of the kind that Caguioa is showing is hard to come by these days, when even the closest pals and highest officials of Aquino are already falling all over themselves trying to join the camps of the leading presidential candidates.

If Caguioa’s declarations before the JBC are any indication, I’m willing to bet that he will not even have the de-

5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

cency to inhibit himself from the tribunal’s deliberations when the cases against Aquino are brought before it.

And that, as the old song says, is what friends are for. *** Having said that, I wish Aquino’s own loyalty to his people is reciprocated, especially when he is no longer in power. For instance, I certainly hope that Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya would stand

by Aquino just like Aquino stands by him now.

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 Anita F. Grefal Treasury Manager

Chairman President & Chief Executive Officer Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Director of Operations Finance Officer Edgar M. Valmorida Circulation Manager

BAD news for President Benigno S. Aquino III. The Senate is set to reopen the Mamasapano incident in which 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force perished in a gun battle with elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

At the instance of Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile who is in possession of new evidence, the inquiry by the committee on public order headed by Senator Grace Poe is reopening the case on Jan. 25—the same day exactly a year ago the massacre took place in a marshy field in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The Special Action Force commandos were withdrawing after a police operation code-named Oplan Exodus took out international terrorist Zufliki Marwan.

Caught in an open field, the outnumbered policemen engaged the MILFBIFF guerrillas in a fierce gun battle until they ran out of ammunition. Those who surrendered were mercilessly butchered by their captors which was why the incident became known as the Mamasapano massacre.

Sources at the Senate said Enrile’s new information is based on the standdown order of President Benigno Aquino not to provide artillery fire and reinforcements to the beleaguered police commandos who came under fire in an open field. Apparently, the information on Aquino’s stand-down order was provided by sacked PNP-SAF commander Gen. Getulio Napeñas, who was made the scapegoat of the botched police operation. Probably fearing the consequences of a tell-all testimony, Napeñas kept his silence and did not divulge this vital information during the first Senate hearing.

The reason given for the stand-down order, according to the same sources, said the President did not want to jeopardize the peace process and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law pending approval

by Congress. Aquino and key Cabinet officials were in nearby Zamboanga while the fighting was raging in Maguindanao reportedly waiting for word of the successful police operation that turned tragic. Aquino broke the chain of command when he put suspended PNP police chief Alan Purisima in charge of the ill-fated mission.

Doing damage control early, Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President already owned up to his role but did not break the chain of command. President Aquino while in office has immunity from civil and criminal suits but he can be impeached for violation and betrayal of the Constitution if his culpability in the loss of 44 lives is proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Continued on A11 Rolando G. Estabillo Jojo A. Robles Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Francis Lagniton Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

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F R I D AY, J A N U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

THE OSG’S NON-SEQUITUR PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO FLORIN Hilbay dramatically announced that, as solicitor general, he was not going to defend the Comelec en banc that had adjudged against the candidacy of Grace Poe because he was defending the Senate Electoral Tribunal that had ruled against Rizalito David’s attempt to unseat her as senator on the basis of citizenship, among other grounds.

The OSG took to the records of the 1935 Constitution. However, the exchange that the Solicitor General’s Memorandum cites between Rafols, Montinola, Briones and the President of the Convention does not allow any unequivocal conclusion.

An amendment was proposed: “Natural or illegitimate [children] of a foreign father and a Filipino mother recognized by one, or the children of unknown parentage” were to be consid-

Is there in fact customary international law that binds the Philippines in respect to foundlings?

ered Filipinos. This amendment was not accepted. Roxas apparently ended the argument with the following comment: “These cases are few and far between, that the constitution need not refer to them. By international law the principle that children born in a country of unknown parents are citizens in this nation is recognized and it is not necessary to include a provision on the subject exhaustively.”

From this inconclusive exchange—that resulted in the textual silence of the 1935 Constitution on foundlings—the Solicitor General would have us conclude that the 1935 Constitution breathed a spirit of “inclusiveness.” Really now, where

What... From A9 Abaya, of course, has done nothing in his department but take over the function of bidding out all the major projects of all of his attached agencies, to the detriment of the people who get to pay for all sorts of one-sided

LOSING THE 4PS terpreted this decision to mean that 4Ps—despite having no statute to anchor on—would be continued as an institutional social welfare program into the indefinite future until the time when all Filipinos have risen above their poverty.

We were thus disappointed with Secretary Soliman when she declared recently in cool Baguio City that “no laws would compel the country’s next President to enforce the Aquino administration’s social reform programs.”

We thought that he never owned these programs. Besides, no future leader would ever dare to be so uncaring, heartless and cruel that he would discontinue or even reduce them. Our poor have simply become dependent on them.

By the end of PNoy’s term on June 30, the 4Ps may have lifted many from extreme poverty but more have been dragged into it for lack of jobs and income opportunities. The adverse impacts of natural calamities such as typhoons, floods, earthquakes, La Niña and El Niño have certainly added more vulnerable Filipinos to the ranks of our poor.

Haven’t she claimed to have counted no fewer than 4.4 million families and 10 million children—all with their unique names and addresses—as 4Ps beneficiaries in 2016?

This time we believe her statistics.

What disgusted us was her warning that “the fate of these programs would now be up to people voting for new leaders in the 2016 elections” for she was obviously fooling us into believing that these programs would be cut off if we wouldn’t vote for PNoy’s endorsed presidential candidate.

Suddenly, she made a disservice to DSWD’s entire apolitical officials and staff.

Frankly, we don’t mind losing the 4Ps program provided the new leader would succeed in creating enough jobs and income opportunities for us.

With employed and productive citizens, who would need the 4Ps?

did that come from, except from a failing of logic? In the first place, the Roxas articulation of what he announced to be a general principle of international law was, to say the least, inaccurate. In the second place, it applied to “children born in the country of unknown parents.”

The problem with Ms. Grace Poe is that while we know where she was found, we do not know where she was born! Can it be presumed that she was born in the Philippines? That would, of course, be a convenient presumption, except that there would be no legal support for it!

It amazes me no end why Mr. Hilbay included the interpellation by Ms. Loren Legarda of Luna, David’s counsel because the lady senator’s question had to do with ‘the typical height of a Filipino’, ‘Ms. Poe’s hair’ and the fact that she is a Catholic. Aside from the fact that one does not resolve questions of constitutional law by recourse to cosmetic indices and religious affiliation, the very same features that Sen. Legarda thought probative will be found in most Malays and Latinos!

Is there in fact customary international law that binds the Philippines in respect to foundlings? Alfred Boll in Multiple Nationality and International Law writes: “Any enquiry into the effects of state practice on rules of international law related to nationality must start with what must be the most basic or fundamental principle of this area of law, the principle that questions of nationality fall within the domestic jurisdiction of each state.” This principle, Boll characterizes as a precept of customary law. It then is simply not customary international law that a foundling acquires the citizenship or nationality of the state where she was found. It is for domestic law to prescribe the nationality of foundlings— and the simple fact is that Philippine law has not done so.

In fact, the Philippine attitude towards the “Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness” that would have obligated us to grant Philippine nationality on foundlings is indicative of the national policy—not the open-ended discussions of the convention that drafted the 1935 Constitution. We did not accede to the treaty, although we could have easily done so!

There are two unknowns in respect to Ms. Poe: Her parentage is unknown; her place of birth is unknown. Spanish civil

PRESIDENTS Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III should have never been allowed to implement non-statutory social welfare programs and spend huge amounts of public funds on them.

Without laws to back up these programs—such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps—any taxpayer can always disagree with their conditions for entitlement and challenge their legality for having no basis in law.

For instance, why should a poor family be denied the program’s P1,400 monthly cash benefit simply because its children aged 3 to 5 years old do not attend a public day care center, the nearest of which is 10 kilometers away from its humble farm residence?

In the case of the 4Ps program, only Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman is dictating its day-to-day implementing rules and regulations. She now conveniently considers it not only an integral part of her department’s core programs but its primary reason for being.

Who wouldn’t? In a presidential election year like 2016, 4Ps has been served the lion’s share—P64 billion or 58 percent—of the department’s annual budget of P110.8 billion.

Besides, didn’t the World Bank declare it lately as “one of the best-targeted social safety net programs in the world?”

How amazing that DSWD has regained its previous status of being the government’s lead deliverer of welfare services after having been downsized into a mere “technical assistance provider.”

This downsizing—we say— was executed by President Cory Aquino in 1991 when she signed into law the Local Government Code that devolved the basic services of government from national agencies to local government units.

In fact, President Erap Estrada clarified in1998 that DSWD was to be “an advocate for social welfare and

development concerns.”

PGMA may have revived its previous mandate when she authorized it in 2003 to “implement statutory and specialized programs which are directly lodged with the Department and/or not yet devolved to LGUs.” That authority probably confused DSWD, but certainly not to the point of encouraging it to aspire “to be the world’s standard for the delivery of coordinated social services and social protection for poverty reduction by 2030.”

This is how grandiose DSWD is now presenting its department’s vision.

Perhaps PGMA started nurturing the idea of the 4Ps after President Joseph Estrada appointed her social welfare secretary in 1998. Thus, she didn’t hesitate approving its pilot testing by DSWD with a P50-million funding from her budget department in 2007.

The 4Ps was then called Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino and was bragged as having been patterned after Brazil’s Bolsa Familia and Mexico’s Oportunidades.

Less than 10 years later, the pilot’s initial budget of P50 million is being multiplied more than a thousand fold in 2016 to cover 4.4 million families and 10 million childraen.

Did you know that former Senate President Nene Pimentel—the acknowledged “Father of the Local Government Code” —tried to stop the implementation of 4Ps and its P21-million annual budget in 2011 “on the ground that it amounts to a ‘recentralization’ of government functions that have already been devolved from the national government to the local government units?”

Unanimously, the Supreme Court dismissed his petition on July 17, 2012 while Justice Arturo Brion was on leave.

Poor people like me have in-

law that is both substantially and hermeneutically relevant to Philippine law is clearly articulated

by Vazquez Iruzubieta’s Doctrina y Jurisprudencia del Codigo Civil (1999). There he writes (by my own imperfect translation): “The law attributes Spanish nationality to those born in Spain of unknown parentage, and establishes a presumption juris tantum as to birth…Thus does the Civil Code provide a solution to the problem of per-

sons born in Spain when their filiation, for any reason whatsoever, is not inscribed in the relevant Municipal Civil Registry.”

In the case of Senator Poe, how does one pass from “found in the Philippines” to “born in the Philippines”? Where is the legal warrant for that inference?

By all means, let us better the lot of foundlings, and that is not difficult to do. There is treaty to which the country can accede.

Senator Poe had the opportu-

nity to nudge the government in this direction. In the alternative, she could have provided for an amendment to the Family Code or for a special law granting foundlings natural-born status.

No, a negative juridical conclusion against Ms. Poe is not necessarily a stand against foundlings! Let us be logical!

“sweetheart” deals. And yet Aquino has never lifted a finger to stop his beloved secretary from acting like every favored contractor’s best friend.

(As a measure of Aquino’s love for Abaya, he even chose the secretary to lie down beside him on a railroad somewhere, to get run

over by a train, in case the Baclaran to Bacoor extension of the LRT’s Line 1 is not completed by the end of last year. That honor, to get killed with the President if he breaks his promise, was never given to any other official in this administration, after all.)

And if Aquino gets haled to

court and jailed after he steps down because of Abaya’s shenanigans at the transportation department, I’m sure the President will willingly accept his fate. Just like Aquino, whose love for his friends is legendary, will probably allow himself to be jailed with Budget Secretary Florencio Abad when

the latter gets sued for DAP and the pork barrel scandal, among other eminently suable acts.

At the very least, Aquino, Abaya and Abad will be able to count on Caguioa to defend them in the Supreme Court, if the justice secretary gets appointed to the tribunal. Yes, that’s what friends are for.

FILIPINO PENSIONER HORACE TEMPLO

rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph rannie_aquino@yahoo.com

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

WHEN VISION AND EXECUTION PAY OFF

HOW does a company become big—fast, beginning the second decade of the 21st century?

Three things. One, have a vision. Two, that vision must be about creating value for customers and your other businesses. Three and probably, the most important, execution must be brilliant, though not necessarily flawless.

I looked at the performance of the largest Philippines corporations in sales or revenues in 2014. Then, I looked back at their sales/revenues in 2010.

These two years are important for marking milestones in many ways.

The year 2010 was a watershed. It marked the end of the nine-year presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the beginning of the six-year presidency of Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III. 2010 was also the year the Philippines achieved its highest GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate of 8.2 percent, the best in 36 years.

It was the year the Philippines’ major conglomerates and largest corporations redefined their goals and envisioned themselves to become even larger, more profitable, and more relevant, locally and globally, and to provide greater value to their shareholders by diversifying and reaching new scale and breadth. During 2010, many of the large corporations uncorked

their growth strategies.

San Miguel Corp., for instance, wanted to be the first to reach the P1-trillion mark in sales. The oldest Philippine company, Ayala Corp., wanted to hit P20-billion profits a year within five years.

Between 2010 and 2014, SMC more than tripled its revenues from P246 billion to P788.47 billion, up 220 percent; SMC’s holding company, Top Frontier Investments Holdings, increased its sales nearly twelve-fold, from P66 billion to P782.42 billion, up 1,084 percent; and Petron Corp.’s sales more than doubled from P231 billion to P484 billion, up 109 percent. Per year, SMC’s revenues rose by a frenetic 44 percent average, Top Frontier’s by 217 percent, and Petron by 22 percent. This makes the San Miguel group the fastest-growing conglomerate in the Philippines. Nobody comes close.

These three—SMC, Top Frontier, and Petron—have a common denominator—Ramon S. Ang. He is vice chair and president of SMC, president and CEO of Top Frontier, and president of Petron.

From 2005 up to 2009, before Ang uncorked his massive diversification and acquisition program, San Miguel’s consolidated revenues were notching up annual gains averaging 6.4 percent.

An engineer by training and with a natural flair for strategy,

RSA is today the most visionary and boldest of today’s tycoons and taipans. He combines audacity of visioning and brilliance of execution. He figured that getting the right mix of businesses would propel SMC to greater heights, profits, sustainability, and capability to make life better for most Filipinos.

In early 2009, Ang wanted that in five years, 70 percent of SMC’s total sales would come from new businesses; the other 30 percent from old businesses like beer, food, and packaging.

That was done.

San Miguel turns 125 this year as the original Fabrica de Cerveza. Under the management of Chairman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. and Ang, the company in the last decade has managed to reinvent itself.

The San Miguel founded in 1890 is markedly different from the San Miguel of today.

SMC is the first of the old corporate majors to move into businesses like power generation (it became the largest power producer in Luzon, with 3,165 megawatts), power distribution (it acquired control of Meralco, briefly and now retails electricity at almost below cost or a third of Meralco’s price in Bicol and Central Luzon), petroleum refining and marketing (Petron has nearly 40 percent of the market; the saying that beer, which is largely water, and oil do not mix is not true);

tollways (majority of tollways in Luzon); airports and ports, water (it will rehabilitate Angat Dam); mining, cement, and even telecommunications. Ang grew San Miguel by aggressive acquisitions, expansions, and diversification projects.

San Miguel has been so successful that other conglomerates followed in, belatedly, Ang’s footsteps. The likes of Ayala, Gokongwei, George Ty, and Manuel Pangilinan also went vigorously into infrastructure, tollways, and energy even while trying to remain dominant in their traditional core businesses. In telco, Ayala, PLDT and JG Summit have found to their chagrin that it is very much a mature business with growth in revenues in low single digits.

San Miguel has become so big it literally, and figuratively, fuels the progress of the nation.

Its products and services make a significant difference in the lives of the people by meeting both their basic, human needs and their aspirational needs.

Other large conglomerates did not do as well as SMC in terms of annual average increase in revenues during the five-year period 2010 to 2014.

Lopez Holdings Corp. (formerly Benpres) of the Lopez family that owns stakes in ABSCBN, Rockwell, construction and renewable energy showed an average increase in sales per year of 46 percent. Alliance Global

Group Inc., the real estate, liquor, and fastfood conglomerate of Andrew Tan, grew sales at 36 percent per year; Ayala Corp. by 17.5 percent, SM Investments Corp. of Henry Sy Sr. by 10 percent, JG Summit Holdings of taipan John Gokongwei Jr. by 9 percent, and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. of Indonesia’s Salim group and Manny V. Pangilinan by 3.67 percent.

In the five years from 2010 to 2014, sales of SM Investments Corp. increased 109 percent (or 9.9 percent per year) from P184 billion to P275.7 billion; JG Summit by 45 percent (or 9 percent per year) from P129 billion to P187 billion; Ayala Corp. by 87.9 percent (or 17.5 percent per year) from P98 billion to P184.3 billion; PLDT by 18.35 percent (or 3.67 percent per year) from P144.45 billion to P170.96 billion; Alliance Global by 181.8 percent (or 36 percent per year) from P44.49 billion to P125.4 billion; Aboitiz Equity Ventures, by 42 percent (or 8.4 percent per year) from P83.74 billion to P119 billion; Lopez Holdings by 231 percent (42.6 percent per year) from P32 billion to P106.7 billion.

The moral of the story: To grow big—diversify, acquire, intensify. Go into businesses that directly affect the huge needs of the people, both basic and aspirational.

Revisiting... From A9

It is doubtful, however, that Congress would find time in the middle of the political campaign to muster a quorum for an impeachment proceeding.

Private parties who want to file charges against Aquino will also have to wait when the President loses his immunity.

The political personalities in this case bear watching. The chairperson of the Senate committee conducting the hearing is Senator Grace Poe who is running for president. Former Inte-

rior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas who was kept out of the loop in the secret police ops is also running for president. General Napeñas is seeking a seat in the Senate. Enrile is a former defense minister during the Marcos martial law years and still has a lot of intelligence sources in the military. While he is no longer running for public office and is looking at retirement in his home province of Cagayan, the venerable 91-yearold Senate leader wants closure

to this case but only after full disclosure of all the details and circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.

Former PNP chief Purisima has already retired from the service but he could still be subpoenaed and questioned again in the Senate.

Will the Senate hearing arrive at the inconvenient truth in search of justice for the victims and relatives of the Fallen 44, or will it serve as a stage for politics?

The outcome of the Senate hear-

ing is crucial for Aquino as much as for his chosen candidate to get elected president. He needs presidential protection as soon as he becomes plain Citizen Aquino.

Or presidential pardon in case he gets convicted. Will Aquino be accorded the same treatment he gave former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo?

Talk about poetic justice, or karma. Indeed, what goes around, comes around. The Mamasapano tragedy has all the elements of a Greek play.

But is it enough to claim responsibility without the corresponding consequences for his lapse in judgment?

The President could be answerable for sacrificing 44 lives to preserve the peace process and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law he deemed would be his legacy when he leaves office on June 30 this year. Mamasapano, instead, could be Aquino’s Waterloo.

#FAILOCRACY

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CHONG ARDIVILLA

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Irving dazzles late to lift Cavs WASHINGTON—Kyrie Irving put on a fourthquarter show on Wednesday, picking up where LeBron James left off to help the Cleveland Cavaliers launch a six-game NBA road trip with a 121-115 victory over the Washington Wizards.

“King” James scored 30 of his 34 points in the first three quarters and Irving poured in 19 of his 32 in the fourth period as the Cavaliers avenged a 97-85 loss to the Wizards in Cleveland on December 1.

“It was in the front of our mind,” James said of what remains the Cavs’ only home loss this season. “We know what they did to us. We just wanted to try to get some give-back.”

Irving continued the progress he’s shown since returning on December 20 from the knee injury suffered in game one of last season’s NBA Finals.

“There will be days when he’s better and days when he’s going to have some effect of the many months he was out,” Cavaliers coach David Blatt said. “But that sure didn’t look like that tonight.”

James, who also pulled down 10 rebounds, helped Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland build an 18-point lead with a barrage of four three-pointers early in the third quarter.

The Wizards answered with their own surge, knotting the score at 95-95 with 10:53 to play.

Irving took over, scoring the game’s next 10 points.

“That was nuts,” said Cavs guard J.R. Smith, who scored 25 points himself.

“To be out months and still be able to come out there and shake and bake like he’s doing is remarkable.”

Garrett Temple scored 21 points for the Wizards while John Wall, the NBA’s Eastern Conference player of the month for December, had 20 points and 12 assists.

Both teams shot better than 53 percent from the field. Washington made 14 of 24 three-pointers, but only 17 of 27 from the free-throw line.

The real difference, however, was simple, Temple said.

“Too much Kyrie,” the Washington guard said. “He was hitting some tough, tough shots.”

Veteran Tim Duncan scored a season-high 18 points and led eight San Antonio players in double figures as the Spurs routed the Utah Jazz 123-98 to remain unbeaten at home this season.

The Spurs’ 123 points matched their most in a game this season, equaling Monday’s total in a win over Milwaukee by the same score.

Duncan, who in his last game at home was held scoreless for the first time in his 18-year NBA career, made San Antonio’s first basket and had eight points in the first quarter.

He helped the Spurs shake off the absence of forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who was held out for rest, and point guard Tony Parker, who is nursing a sore right hip.

The Spurs extended their best home start to a season to 21 wins without a defeat. They have won 30 straight regular-season home games dating back to last season.

Bosnian forward Mirza Teletovic drained five of Phoenix’s 19 threepointers as the Suns snapped a ninegame losing streak with a 111-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. AFP

World Cup of Golf back to 2-man team play SYDNEY—The World Cup of Golf will revert to a two-man team-play format when the tournament returns to Melbourne in November for the 58th edition of the event, organisers announced on Wednesday.

A statement from the PGA Tour said the tournament would feature teams from 28 different countries when it is held at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne from November 21-27.

This year’s tournament will carry an $8 million purse with the winning duo splitting $2.56 million.

“The World Cup of Golf has a long and storied history as one of the true international events in our sport,” PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said in a statement.

“On behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, we are thrilled that a course with the reputation and standing such as Kingston Heath will serve as the tournament’s host venue in 2016.”

The last World Cup of Golf in 2013 was primarily an individual tournament, with a 60-player field featuring two players from each country participating in 72 holes of stroke play. AFP

Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates a basket against the Washington Wizards during a timeout with teammate LeBron James in the second half at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The Cleveland Cavaliers won, 121-115. AFP

Spieth...

From A16

“Closing it out is something that’s a different mental edge than I really knew the last couple years prior to the 2015 season.”

Spieth’s world ranking could come under threat at Kapalua’s Plantation Course in Maui this week if rival Day manages to claim another high profile win.

Like Spieth, Day also enjoyed a breakout 2015, claiming the world number one ranking as well as his first major with victory at the US PGA Championship—one of five victories.

Day heads into the tournament having barely played for three months, with no competitive golf since the Presidents Cup in South Korea

in October.

While Day and Spieth scored their maiden major victories in 2015, Rickie Fowler is hoping to launch his year with a strong showing in Hawaii to set up an assault on the majors in 2016.

“The main goal going into this year is focusing on the majors, first one obviously being Augusta, getting myself into contention there, and would really like to knock off my first major,” said Fowler, who believes he cannot be bracketed with the likes of Spieth, Day and Rory McIlroy until he lands a major.

“I feel like to be in the same conversation I need to get a major and get that on the resume to at least have some sort of credentials to be there,” the world number six said.

Surgery Trump clashes with Samuel L. Jackson sidelines Carroll WASHINGTON—Donald Trump is teed off again— this time with actor Samuel L. Jackson, who accused him of cheating at golf.

The question is whether the Republican presidential frontrunner has finally met his match in his latest feud.

The billionaire real-estate mogul has not let a slight go unchallenged on the campaign trail, and he stayed true to form when the popular actor and “Hateful Eight” star said in a magazine interview he had received a bill from Trump’s National Golf Club, despite not being a member.

“I don’t know @SamuelLJackson, to best of my knowledge haven’t played golf w/him & think he does too many TV commercials—boring. Not a fan,” Trump posted on Twitter.

TrumP

Trump appeared to be reacting to Jackson’s recent interview with Rhapsody magazine in which the “Pulp Fiction” actor said Trump was “more P.T. Barnum than politician,” referring to the American circus impresario.

Jackson also said he was clearly the better golfer of the two. “I don’t cheat,” he added.

JAckson

On Tuesday, Jackson went on a talk show to remind Trump that indeed they know each other and have played golf, and that Trump bent the rules.

“I played golf with him. I actually played golf with him with (actor and comedian) Anthony Anderson one day,” Jackson said on NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers.” AFP

LOS ANGELES—Toronto Raptors small forward DeMarre Carroll had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, the NBA team said Wednesday.

No timetable was given for Carroll’s return, with the team saying his status would be updated “as appropriate”.

Carroll sat out Monday’s game at Cleveland with a swollen right knee. He had played in Toronto’s five previous games after missing nine with a right knee contusion.

Carroll has averaged 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 31.9 minutes in 23 games this season, and his absence will be a blow for a Raptors team lying fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, four games behind East leaders Cleveland. AFP

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sports sports@thestandard.com.ph

Djokovic, Nadal make quarterfinals

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning against Spain’s Fernando Verdasco during their tennis match in the Qatar Open tournament in Doha. AFP

WADA to bare 2nd part of doping probe PARIS—The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) independent commission will publish the second part of its report into allegations of widespread doping in athletics next week with criminal charges not being ruled out.

The report will be released on January 14 with a media conference to follow in Munich, WADA said in a statement, with chairman Richard Pound to present the findings.

“Richard Pound will present the findings concerning allegations of widespread doping in international athletics,” said the statement.

“The report will also include the independent commission’s find-

ings on conduct that may be of a criminal nature as well as contrary to World Anti-Doping Code rules.”

The commission was set-up after allegations raised in the documentary titled “Doping – Top Secret: The Shadowy World of Athletics”, which alleged that German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times had obtained a leaked database, belonging to the International Association of

Athletics Federations (IAAF), containing more than 12,000 blood tests from around 5,000 athletes in the years 2001 to 2012.

The first part of the report, released in November 2015, sent shockwaves through track and field with accusations of state-sponsored doping in Russia and allegations of corruption at the highest levels of the IAAF. The second part will look at further allegations which centred on Kenya.

Dozens of Kenyan athletes have been suspended or banned since 2012 after testing positive for banned performanceenhancing drugs, among them marathon star Rita Jeptoo. AFP

DOHA—Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal breezed through to the Qatar Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, raising hopes the pair will appear in a dream Doha final later this week.

Number one seed Djokovic lost just four games in a comprehensive defeat of Spain’s Fernando Verdasco with the world number one triumphing 6-2, 6-2, in one hour nine minutes.

He was matched straight after on Centre Court by Nadal, the tournament’s number two seed, who swept aside Robin Haase 6-3, 6-2 in just 65 minutes.

Djokovic’s victory matched the result of his first round clash against Dustin Brown and means the Serb has spent just two hours on court in the

Carlos, Constantino sustain form, near titles GEN. TRIAS, Cavite—Jobim Carlos never let up and romped with a solid six-under 66 to all but retain the men’s crown while Harmie Constantino slowed down with a 71 but still pulled away by eight in women’s play in the third round of the Philippine Amateur (Stroke Play) Open Golf Championship at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Carlos, who stormed to a sixshot lead with a 68 Wednesday, sustained his charge in a fiery frontside stint that saw him gun down five birdies before settling for one birdie in the last nine holes he highlighted with a couple of scrambling pars to start his backside bid.

With a nine-under 207 aggregate, the defending champion stood 10 shots ahead of Gen Nagai, who shot a 69 for a 217, as Korean Jang Jun Ha faltered with a 73 and slid to third at 220 and Carlo Villaroman and Aidric Chan lay

18 strokes behind at 225 after a pair of 72s.

Carlos said later he struggled with his long game but leaned on his hot putter to turn in his most impressive round in three days, moving 18 holes away from capping his final stint in the ranks with a second straight victory in the country’s premier amateur championship sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, PLDT and Metro Pacific Investment Corp.

Despite his huge lead, Carlos, who also won the NGAP National Doubles title with Inigo Raymundo last week, remains wary of his chances but stresses the need to stay focused and not force the issue.

“It will still depend on how I would start tomorrow (today).

But I need to remain focused although I think I have to play a conservative game and just keep the ball in play,” said Carlos, set to join the new season of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour next month.

Griffey elected to Hall of Fame NEW YORK—Center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. fell three votes shy of becoming the first unanimous selection in Baseball Hall of Fame history when he was elected on Wednesday in his first time on the ballot.

Of 440 ballots submitted by senior members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Griffey was named on 437, or 99.32 percent.

The previous high was 98.84 percent by pitcher Tom Seaver in 1992.

“I can’t be upset. It’s just an honor to be elected and to have the highest percentage is definitely a shock,” Griffey said on a conference call to discuss his election.

He will be inducted to the shrine in Cooperstown, New York, on July 24, along with slugging catcher Mike Piazza.

“Ken Griffey Jr.’s swing, smile and immense talent in all facets of the game made him one of the most popular and respected players of all time, a stature clearly evident in the results released today,” Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said.

Griffey, 46, had 2,781 hits and 630 home runs in his 22-year career with the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds.

A 13-time All-Star, Griffey won 10 Gold Glove Awards and seven Silver Slugger Awards.

Griffey, whose 630 home runs

puts him sixth on US baseball’s alltime list, was the 51st player elected in his first year on the ballot.

Piazza received 365 votes, or 83 percent, in his fourth year on the ballot.

“Incredibly special. Wow,” said Piazza, who hit 396 of his 427 career home runs as a catcher -- the most for a player in that position in major league history.

Those on the ballot who failed to gain election included US all-time home run king Barry Bonds and seven-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Roger Clemens, who have both been linked to doping even though trials involving each did not result in convictions. AFP

first two rounds.

Ominously for his rivals, Djokovic looked already to be getting back to his dominant form of 2015 where he won three of the season’s four majors.

“Very pleased with the way I have started this season, two matches, straight sets,” he told reporters afterwards.

“Of course there are things that I think I can still do better, but again I have to be satisfied with how I played the first two matches.”

In the warmest temperatures experienced in Doha this week—20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit)—Djokovic controlled the match from the very beginning.

He first broke Verdasco’s serve in the fourth game and was rarely troubled after that. AFP

Jobim Carlos blasts out of the bunker on No. 13

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK f ri day : Ja n ua ry 8 , 2 0 1 6

A14

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Coaches: Semis to get more physical

By Jeric Lopez

WITH their war back to square one, the Alaska Aces and the GlobalPort Batang Pier go at it harder as they resume their best-ofseven semifinal series in the 2015-16 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Game Today, Game 3, Semifinals Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City 7 p.m. - Alaska vs. GlobalPort

GlobalPort’s Jay Washington (left) and Alaska’s Dondon Hontiveros are pacified by referees after the two players engaged in a heated confrontation in Game 2 of their teams’ PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.

Players, coaches in skirmish fined

By Jeric Lopez PLAYERS and personalities involved in a heated skirmish during Game 2 of the Alaska and GlobalPort semifinal series Wednesday night were fined and reprimanded.

The PBA yesterday handed down hefty fines to players, coaches and officials involved in the altercation. Alaska prevailed over GlobalPort, 100-76 during Game 2 of the 2015-16 Philippine Cup semifinals.

Aces star Calvin Abueva was given the heaviest sanction. He was fined

P41,600 by the league after the PBA Commissioner’s office identified Abueva as the instigator of the near free-forall between the two teams in the opening quarter of that game.

Alaska forward Vic Manuel was also reprimanded and fined (P11,600) for second motion and shoving GlobalPort’s Jay Washington.

Washington was given a P4,000 fine for his two technical fouls.

Alaska coach Alex Compton, assistant coaches Jeff Cariaso, Louie Alas and Monch Gavieres and Governor Dickie Bachman were also handed down lesser

fines. Batang Pier, head coach Pido Jarencio, Governor Erick Arejola, Team Manager Boni Tan and Anthony Semerad were also penalized.

A total of P91,200 in fines was handed down by the PBA on personalities involved in the fracas.

Alaska was penalized a combined sum of P74,200, while GlobalPort was slapped a much lesser P17,000.

Thirteen technical fouls were given during that incident alone while a combined 16 technicals were handed once the highly-physical and intense contest ended.

Torres has best chance of making it to Rio

By Peter Atencio LONG jumper Marestella Torres has the best chance of earning a slot to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

According to Philippine Olympic Committee cluster head Romeo Magat, Torres could qualify through a

universality or direct qualification position, but she still needs to reach the standard distance of 6.7 meters.

Magat said Torres will have two chances to reach the standard distance.

First, there’s the Asian Indoor meet on Feb. 19 in Qatar, which she and pole

vaulter EJ Obiena will join.

This will be followed by the Asian Cross Country tournament to be held in Manama, Bahrain on Feb. 29.

Torres, along with another female long jumper Katherine Kay Santos, are also set to join sprinter Eric Cray when they see

action in the Philippine Open this April.

Torres’ best showing this year was 6.53 meters, which she cleared in the Taipei Open last May. Santos, on the other hand, had a 6.4-meter performance which she set in the Singapore Open last April.

Their series squared at 1-1, the Aces and the Batang Pier battle in Game 3 of their playoff at 7 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City with the victor gaining a vital upperhand.

Following the surprise Game 1 drubbing that it received from GlobalPort to start the series, the dominant version of Alaska returned in Game 2 as it bounced back to even things up.

Last Wednesday night, the top-seeded Aces manhandled the Batang Pier, sending them back to earth with an impressive 100-76 rout to even the series and avoid a disastrous 0-2 hole.

Alaska coach Alex Compton was not only relieved that the series is now tied, but is also grateful that his team is back on track.

He is hoping that his squad can carry it through in Game 3. ‘’We’re faster and sharper now. We have more energy on defense. I’m hoping we can sustain and carry all of that to the next game,’’ said Compton. ‘’In the PBA, you have to consistently do difficult things.’’

As the series approaches its midpoint, players from both sides, who are willing to scrap for the win, are playing a more physical series.

In the opening quarter of Game 2, a commotion nearly erupted into a brawl after a shoving incident involving Alaska’s Calvin Abueva, Vic Manuel and Dondon Hontiveros as well as GlobalPort’s Anthony Semerad and Jay Washington. Players and team officials rushed to the playing court as they tried to separate the players and protect their teammates.

After the smoke cleared, 13 technical fouls on players and team officials, were imposed by referees. Later in the game, Washington was ejected for incurring his second technical when he elbowed Abueva on the head.

That game ended with a total of 16 technical fouls being given out, matching Alaska and Shell’s record back in 1997.

Compton doesn’t expect the physicality to tone down. He said both teams need to prepare themselves for more hard-nosed basketball from this point on. ‘’I think we must be willing to sacrifice our bodies and be ready to play basketball. We need to be ready both ways,’’ he said.

Chiefs turn back JRU Bombers; Lady Stags near volley sweep

By Peter Atencio THE Arellano University Chiefs stopped Jose Rizal University, 2519, 25-18, 25-20, while the San Sebastian Lady Stags held off Lyceum, 20-25, 25-13, 25-11, 2514, yesterday in the 91st National Collegiate Athletic Association volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Chiefs, led by Kenneth Aliyacyac and Kevin Liberato, posted their fifth win in eight games in the men’s division.

They climbed to fourth place to stay in contention

for a Final Four semifinal seat.

On the other hand, the Lady Stags leaned on the big plays of Gretchel Soltones to move a step closer to an elimination-round sweep with their eighth consecutive victory.

Soltones, the reigning league MVP, unleashed a match-best 27 hits including 24 on spikes as the Lady Stags tallied the comefrom-behind victory.

The Lady Stags are just a win away from an outright finals slot.

Aliyacyac and Liberato tallied 12 and eight

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

points for the Chiefs, who are behind the University of Perpetual Help Altas (7-0), the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals (7-1) and College of St. Benilde (5-2).

In other games, Mapua turned back Letran, 2520, 25-23,18-23, 15-25, 1614, in a four-setter in the women’s side.

Lyceum prevailed over San Sebastian, 24-26, 2521, 25-18, 25-21, in another men’s match.

The Junior Pirates won over SSC, 25-27, 25-16, 1725, 25-21, 15-10, in a high school encounter to move up at 4-3.

Sumo ritual.

Mongolian-born sumo grand champion or “yokozuna” Harumafuji performs a ring-entering ceremony at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. Three sumo grand champions Hakuho, Kakuryu and Harumafuji made their New Year pilgrimage to the shrine, pledging to work hard to make Japan’s national sport a success this year. AFP

F RI DAY : JA N UA RY 8 , 2 0 1 6

A15

SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Superal, Chan brace for HK Am shootout

HONG KONG—Princess Superal and local ace Tiffany Chan brought their thrilling duel to a final round shootout as they ended up tied for the second straight day with 69s in the Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open at the HK Golf Club’s New Course in Fanling here Thursday.

Superal fought back from three shots down with a stirring five-birdie string from No. 9 then cashed in on Chan’s bogey mishap on the 17th to force a tie at five-under 139 heading to the final round of what promises to be a gripping showdown that could go down to the last shot or putt.

“I think it will all boil down to putting,” said Superal, who actually took charge early with a birdie on No. 1 but fell behind with a bogey on No. 5 and a double-bogey on the par-3 eighth after an errant tee-shot and a poor pitch.

But the top The Country Club bet rebounded and rattled off five straight birdies from No. 9, including two tap-ins, but needed to pounce on Chan’s three-putt mishap on the 17th to catch up the reigning World University Games gold medal winner.

“I sort of got fired up by that double-bogey. I hit solid iron shots and made a couple of putts from long range,” said Superal, chasing a fifth straight victory after closing out the 2015 season with four wins in Malaysia, Singapore and Jakarta.

The former US Girls’ Junior champion actually appeared headed to grab the lead after barely missing the par-4 18th green and Chan dumping her approach shot into the greenside bunker. But Superal fell short of target and missed her par putt from 12 feet while Chan also missed wresting the solo lead with a muffed putt from eight feet.

That set the stage for the final round shootout with Superal upbeat of her chances to reclaim the crown won by former TCC teammate and now LPGAbound Cyna Rodriguez in 2012.

“I’m hitting it pretty solid and

can match Tiffany’s power off the tee. But I hope to make the putts tomorrow (today),” said Superal.

Isabella Leung, another local bet, took the last spot in the championship flight after shooting a tournament-best 67 in ideal condition, bouncing back into title contention at 141.

Mimi Ho, also of Hong Kong, carded a second 71 and remained in the hunt with a 142, just three adrift, but TCC’s Pauline del Rosario sputtered with a 75 after a 71 and dropped to fifth at 146, now seven strokes behind.

Sam Martirez also continued to struggle and limped with a 78 and slid to joint 11th at 154 while Michelle Cheung also fumbled with a 75 for a 147, Cheuk Chan recovered with a 72 for a 148, India’s Riya Ahuja skied to an 80 after a 71 for a 151 and Vivial Lee carding a 78 for a 152.

Stage 4 winner. Peugeot’s driver Stephane Peterhansel and co-driver Jean Paul Cottret, both from France, compete during the Stage 4 (which they won) of the Dakar 2016 around Jujuy, in Argentina. AFP

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark waves to the crowd after wining her match against Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania during their women’s singles quarter-final match at the WTA Auckland Classic tennis tournament in Auckland. AFP

Wozniacki rips Dulgheru, reaches Auckland semis WELLINGTON—Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki trounced Alexandra Dulgheru for the loss of just one game to reach the WTA Auckland Classic semi-finals on Thursday.

The third seed, who has not dropped a set all week, took only 52 minutes to overwhelm Romania’s Dulgheru 6-1, 6-0 and set up a lastfour clash with American Sloane Stephens.

The second semi-final will be between Germany’s Julia Goerges and qualifier Tamira Paszek from Austria, whose head-to-head record is 2-2.

They benefited from being in the same half of the draw as the top two seeds, Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic, who were first round casualties.

Paszek, ranked 172nd in the world, survived a three-hour marathon quarter-final against Kirsten Flipkens from Belgium, finally winning 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3.

Flipkens was down 1-4 in the second set before winning it on a tiebreak, and she recovered from 0-5 to 3-5 in the final set before Paszek got over the line.

“I’m delighted that I was strong enough mentally to focus and deal with the setbacks and actually close out the match,” said Paszek, 25.

Goerges also came through a three-

Super Liga to invite teams from Thailand, Japan

By Peter Atencio TWO foreign teams will be invited to compete in the Philippine Super Liga 2016 Invitational Volleyball tournament next month.

PSL president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said they are welcoming squads from Japan and Thailand to grace the final round and spice up the competition.

“We’re still choosing the teams. And they will be in the final round,” said Suzara.

While regular participants Meralco, Petron, Philips Gold, Cignal, RC Cola and Foton will be back, there will be two new squads that will make things interesting when the tournament starts at the Arena in San Juan on Feb. 12.

Newcomer F2 Logistics is joining with Army, which will play under the Generika banner.

Suzara is upbeat about the possibility of having more foreign players and teams in

the country after the Philippines was recently awarded the hosting rights for several international tournaments.

He emphasized the need for local volleyball officials to work harder to ensure that events held here adhere to international standards.

The PSL is calendared to host the Asian Volleyball Confederation Asian Women’s Club Championship from Sept. 3 to 11 and the FIVB World Women’s Club Championship in October.

set quarter-final when she came from behind to beat Japan’s Nao Hibino 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-4.

Stephens, the fifth seed, ended the run of popular Briton Naomi Broady, who conquered second seed Ivanovic in the first round.

Broady hinted at another shock when she took the first set to a tiebreak. But Stephens clicked into gear to reach the semis 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.

In Perth, Australia, Ukraine advanced to their second Hopman Cup final with a 2-1 win over Australia Gold in Perth on Thursday.

The home team needed to win the tie to stay alive, but Ukraine claimed both singles matches to ensure they finished their round robin phase unbeaten in three ties.

The Australian combination of Lleyton Hewitt and Jarmila Wolfe won the dead mixed-doubles rubber in a match tiebreak.

The pairing of Alexandr Dolgopolov and Elina Svitolina, who have both won all their singles matches this week, will play in Saturday’s final.

Ukraine’s previous appearance at the Hopman Cup was back in 1995, when siblings Andrei Medvedev and Natalia Medvedeva reached the final.

They were beaten 3-0 in the decider by the German pairing of Boris Becker and Anke Huber. AFP

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-0

P16M

3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A16

f ri day : Ja n ua ry 8 , 2 0 1 6 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

Spieth, Day renew rivalry KAPALUA (AFP)--World number one Jordan Spieth and Australian superstar Jason Day will resume their thrilling rivalry on Thursday as the first PGA Tour event of 2016 tees off in Hawaii at the $5.9 million Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

Spieth launches his 2016 campaign determined to extend his scintillating run of form from last season, when he won the Masters and the US Open, finished fourth in the British Open and second in the US PGA Championship.

The Texan arrived in Hawaii relaxed after a three-week break -- and revealed he is not attaching any significance to the advent of the new year.

“I’m not even thinking of it as a new year,” Spieth told reporters. “I’m just thinking that we had a three-week break and we’re just continuing to hopefully stay at the same level.”

Spieth said he has spent time seeking to improve his wedge play for the year ahead but declined to reveal specific targets he had set -- other than to be in the reckoning on the final Sunday of the four majors.

Asked what he was planning for an

encore to 2015, he replied: “Doesn’t an encore mean that the show is then over?”

“I hope I’ve got like 40 years out here... To be honest, I’m not thinking of this year as anything different. When you write the date, that’s about it in my mind. I think we’ve just had a little bit of a break.

“I’m going to keep a lot of that within our team on the actual goals, but certainly got to be there in a couple of the major championships come Sunday and have a chance to do what we did this past year; we had a chance each of the four Sundays.

“If I can get there at least a couple times this year again, that means that our plan building up to the majors is working, continuing to work, and then it comes down to each individual event, being able to close them out.

Turn to A12

World no. 1 Jordan Spieth (right) and Australian superstar Jason Day rekindle their rivalry at the first PGA Tour event of 2016 --the $5.9 million Hyundai Tournament of Champions. AFP

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B1

FRIDAY: JANUARY 8, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

PSe comPoSite index Closing January 7, 2016

8000 8340 7880 7420 6960 6500

6,618.88 195.02

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing JANUARY 7, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00 44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.970 LOW P47.140 AVERAGE P47.070 VOLUME 791.300M

Export guidebook.

Trade Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo Jr. (second from right) joins (from left) Export Development Council deputy executive director Emmarita Mijares, Export Marketing Bureau executive director Senen Perlada, European Union Delegation to the Philippines Ambassador Franz Jessen and Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Cuison-Maglaya during the launch of the Philippine Export Guidebook during the National Export Congress 2015 at the Manila Marriott, Newport City Complex in Pasay City.

Court sheriff begins to garnish LBC assets

By Jenniffer B. Austria

A MAKATI court sheriff garnished six bank accounts of courier company LBC Express Inc. in a bid to collect P1.8 billion from the LBC Group in favor of state-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.

LBC Express Inc., one of the country’s leading courier and freight forwarding services companies owned by the Araneta family, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the court sheriff had attached six peso current bank accounts with a combined balance of P9.976 million as of Jan. 6.

The Makati regional trial court branch 143 in December issued a preliminary attachment against

LBC Development Corp. and LBC Express Inc., after PDIC filed civil cases to collect P1.8 billion worth of “unpaid services fee.”

PDIC is seeking payment from the LBC Group of the Araneta family following the closure of LBC Development Bank in September 2011. PDIC, the appointed receiver and liquidator of LBC Development Bank, said the defendants owed P1.8 billion.

LBC Development is the parent

company of the listed company LBC Express Holdings, which in turn owns LBC Express Inc. LBC Express said while the initial garnishment had no immediate material impact on business operations, further garnishments of its bank accounts could pose some administrative and operational challenges in terms of payment to suppliers and business partners.

LBC Express said to address the situation, it advised its customers, suppliers, lessors and other counter-parties to coordinate with the company to ensure continued payments and services.

LBC Express said it would continue to exert utmost effort to fully attend to the needs of customers and ensure regular ongoing operations.

The company said it also commenced the process of communi-

cating with its bankers.

“Further, LBC Express Inc. is thoroughly assessing the situation through the assistance of legal counsel, and will exhaust all legal remedies to resolve this matter as soon as possible,” LBC Express said.

The company said the writ was a provisional remedy and the assets or cash of LBC Express should be made to answer only upon final judgment being rendered against LBC Express.

“We are very much aware, however, that whether or not the claims against LBC Express are successfully proven, there can be no assurance that these claims will not cause business interruptions or reputational harm to LBC Express Holdings Inc. and may ultimately have a material adverse effect on its financial performance and prospects,” the company said.

P487.00-P682.00 LPG/11-kg tank P35.15-P42.40 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P25.03-P28.48 Diesel P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, January 7, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

46.9500

Japan

Yen

0.008444

0.3964

UK

Pound

1.463200

68.6972

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128994

6.0563

Switzerland

Franc

0.993246

46.6329

Canada

Dollar

0.710328

33.3499

Singapore

Dollar

0.696476

32.6995

Australia

Dollar

0.714082

33.5261

Bahrain

Dinar

2.656748

124.7343

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266418

12.5083

Brunei

Dollar

0.694059

32.5861

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000072

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.027624

1.2969

UAE

Dirham

0.272264

12.7828

Euro

Euro

1.079000

50.6591

Korea

Won

0.000834

0.0392

China

Yuan

0.152544

7.1619

India

Rupee

0.014990

0.7038

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.227842

10.6972

New Zealand

Dollar

0.663702

31.1608

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030111

1.4137 Source: PDS Bridge

Meralco announces rate cut as generation cost fell to a 6-year low

By Alena Mae S. Flores MANILA Electric Co. on Thursday announced a power rate reduction of P0.21 per kilowatt-hour in January, after power generation cost dropped to a six-year low in December.

Meralco, the country’s largest power distributor, said for a typical household consuming 200 kWh, the overall electricity bill would go down by P41.30 this month.

The distributor said the overall electricity rate dropped to

P8.40 per kWh in January, the lowest since January 2010. It declined by P1.27 per kWh compared to January 2015.

Meralco said the reduction in the overall rate was led by the decline in generation charge by P0.21 per kWh in December.

The January generation charge at P3.92 per kWh was also the lowest since January 2010.

Meralco said generation cost of power plants under the power supply agreements went down

by P0.49 per kWh, following the reduction in capacity fees of

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Pagbilao, Sual, Calaca and Ilijan power plants.

“This reduction in capacity fees is due to the annual reconciliation of outage allowances under the contracts approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission,” Meralco said.

The lower PSA rates also offset higher charges from independent power producers and the wholesale electricity spot market, the country’s trading floor of electricity.

The average rate of the IPPs increased slightly by P0.04 per

kWh because of lower dispatch from Quezon Power Philippines and San Lorenzo power plants.

WESM rates increased P0.35 per kWh, largely caused by billing adjustments from prior periods.

Meralco sourced 48.7 percent from IPPs, 46.7 percent from PSAs and 4.6 percent from WESM. Meralco said government taxes also decreased by P0.02 per kWh. Transmission charges also registered an increase of P0.02 per kWh due to lower load fac-

tor.

Meralco said distribution, supply and metering charges were unchanged in January, after the last reduction in July.

The distributor said it was not earning from pass-through charges, such as the generation and transmission charges.

Payment for the generation charge goes to the power suppliers, while payment for the transmission charge goes to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, which operates the power grids.

FRIDAY: JANUARY 8, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Thursday, January 7, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 2.6 890 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

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 I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp.

Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 1.02 625 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 148 20.6 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 32 15.32 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173

3.95 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5.25 12.98 6.75 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.34 238 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 2.17

2.3 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.87 8.45 3 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 5.9 161 4.1 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5

0.44 48.1 20.85 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 2.26 0.152 837 5.3

76 9.25 0.85 17.3 5.53 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 156 0.710 0.435 0.510 10.5 1.99 1.75 41.4 5.6

Close

High

2.58 46.15 103.40 82.00 37.2 2.45 1.28 14.8 18.1 1.86 675.00 77.65 0.94 16.50 51.50 100 276 32 142 1415.00 56.95 1.8

Aboitiz Power Corp.

Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons.

Asiabest Group C. Azuc De Tarlac Century Food Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ Cirtek Holdings (Chips) Concepcion Crown Asia Da Vinci Capital Del Monte DNL Industries Inc. Emperador Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI First Gen Corp.

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

LBC Express LMG Chemicals Mabuhay Vinyl 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’ SPC Power Corp.

Splash Corporation Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp.

Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp.

Vulcan Ind’l.

41.9 5 0.7 1.39 10.2 100.00 16.28 45 20.15 43.5 2.35 1.8 12.62 8.560 9.00 6.10 5.31 22.3 65 11.70 14.30 5.56 2.490 214.00 11.74 1.77 3.02 24.75 18.76 5.73 318.00 3.6 6.83 3.7 11.80 3.83 1.66 2.34 3.99 4.35 117.5 4.18 2.65 0.146 0.98 2.15 185 4.55 0.62 1.08

49.55 4.84 0.59 12 4.2 0.030 1.23 0.550 59.3 751 1.13 80 0.211 0.179 0.310

Abacus Cons. `A’ Aboitiz Equity Alliance Global Inc. ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A’ Cosco Capital DMCI Holdings F&J Prince ‘A’ Filinvest Dev. Corp.

Forum Pacific GT Capital House of Inv. IPM Holdings JG Summit Holdings Lopez Holdings Corp.

Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp.

LT Group Metro Pacific Inv. Corp.

Pacifica `A’ Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion San Miguel Corp `A’ SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. Top Frontier Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

0.365 57.9000 16.04 0.215 0.215 732 8.26 13.48 5.89 4.30 0.220 1350 5.44 9.90 70.00 6.34 0.72 14.9 5.26 0.0310 1.100 1.810 52.00 840.00 1.14 65.000 0.2950 0.2100 0.250

6.74 0.65 1.2 30.05 3.36

8990 HLDG A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A’ Ayala Land `B’ Belle Corp. `A’

7.020 0.76 1.130 33.100 2.77

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

SHARES 12,318,024 55,280,543 135,751,065 144,700,234 206,500,304 132,624,921 689,219,572

Low

FINANCIAL 2.65 2.52 46.1 45.9 103.80 102.00 82.50 81.40 37.5 37.05 2.45 2.45 1.27 1.15 15 14.7 18.6 18 1.66 1.65 675.00 620.00 77.8 76.5 0.93 0.93 16.52 16.48 51.80 51.10 100 97 276 275 32.85 32.1 142.1 137.1 1400.00 1350.00 56.95 56.95 1.84 1.6 INDUSTRIAL 41.9 40.7 5 4.6 0.7 0.7 1.4 1.35 10.36 10.22 100.00 99.00 16.26 16 34 30.3 20.25 18.72 43.5 42 2.35 2.26 1.84 1.76 12.62 11.98 8.580 8.150 9.00 8.66 6.10 5.65 5.33 5.25 22.3 21.5 65.05 63.95 11.98 11.98 14.02 14.00 5.56 5.45 2.490 2.290 213.60 205.00 11.76 11.72 1.77 1.74 3.03 3.03 25.1 24.6 18.76 17.9 5.73 5.6 316.40 310.00 3.6 3.43 6.84 6.41 3.5 3.5 11.70 11.60 3.80 3.77 1.66 1.50 2.43 2.25 3.98 3.93 4.69 4.3 120 114.9 4.17 4.17 2.7 2.55 0.146 0.143 0.99 0.99 2.15 2.03 186 181 4.55 4.55 0.6 0.57 1.08 1.02 HOLDING FIRMS 0.375 0.365 57.8500 56.0000 16.04 15.40 0.215 0.210 0.210 0.200 733 709 8.19 8.1 13.50 12.80 5.6 5.6 4.40 4.20 0.210 0.200 1351 1336 5.44 5.44 9.90 9.70 70.00 66.55 6.38 6.15 0.71 0.67 14.86 14.68 5.3 5.2 0.0310 0.0300 1.100 1.060 1.810 1.790 52.00 50.90 859.00 810.00 1.15 1.14 65.100 64.400 0.2950 0.2700 0.2010 0.2000 0.233 0.231 PROPERTY 7.020 6.900 0.75 0.70 1.100 1.100 33.100 31.600 2.75 2.66

Close 2.65 45.95 102.00 81.70 37.1 2.45 1.18 14.7 18.04 1.65 650.00 76.5 0.93 16.50 51.10 99 275 32.85 137.1 1350.00 56.95 1.76

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

2.71 -0.43 -1.35 -0.37 -0.27 0.00 -7.81 -0.68 -0.33 -11.29 -3.70 -1.48 -1.06 0.00 -0.78 -1.00 -0.36 2.66 -3.45 -4.59 0.00 -2.22

67,000 16,800 1,332,980 8,116,260 54,100 36,000 559,000 11,600 99,500 10,000 350 766,180 172,000 40,400 188,920 1,130 1,460 54,400 540,090 135 1,730 236,000

40.8 4.75 0.7 1.36 10.22 99.00 16 34 18.72 42.4 2.33 1.79 11.98 8.320 8.66 5.65 5.31 21.5 64 11.98 14.00 5.5 2.290 205.00 11.76 1.75 3.03 24.9 17.9 5.6 312.00 3.43 6.41 3.5 11.60 3.80 1.51 2.26 3.93 4.69 115 4.17 2.58 0.143 0.99 2.10 181 4.55 0.58 1.03

-2.63 -5.00 0.00 -2.16 0.20 -1.00 -1.72 -24.44 -7.10 -2.53 -0.85 -0.56 -5.07 -2.80 -3.78 -7.38 0.00 -3.59 -1.54 2.39 -2.10 -1.08 -8.03 -4.21 0.17 -1.13 0.33 0.61 -4.58 -2.27 -1.89 -4.72 -6.15 -5.41 -1.69 -0.78 -9.04 -3.42 -1.50 7.82 -2.13 -0.24 -2.64 -2.05 1.02 -2.33 -2.16 0.00 -4.63

658,900 1,354,100 23,000 399,000 200 2,720 1,988,000 1,100 997,900 22,500 79,000 2,883,000 79,900 5,466,000 170,000 5,817,800 604,800 1,372,400 849,880 10,400 39,100 512,800 3,744,000 512,490 8,200 22,000 4,000 2,052,800 175,000 1,035,200 128,820 142,000 3,125,700 1,000 12,800 39,000 141,000 470,000 1,015,000 39,000 45,110 12,000 2,562,000 3,050,000 16,000 11,299,000 1,282,700 51,000 365,000 567,000

0.370 56.0000 15.40 0.210 0.200 709 8.14 12.80 5.6 4.25 0.200 1350 5.44 9.89 66.60 6.17 0.69 14.68 5.2 0.0300 1.060 1.790 52.00 810.00 1.14 64.800 0.2700 0.2000 0.231

1.37 -3.28 -3.99 -2.33 -6.98 -3.14 -1.45 -5.04 -4.92 -1.16 -9.09 0.00 0.00 -0.10 -4.86 -2.68 -4.17 -1.48 -1.14 -3.23 -3.64 -1.10 0.00 -3.57 0.00 -0.31 -8.47 -4.76 -7.60

50,000 1,400,750 2,923,200 550,000 500,000 348,160 6,793,100 2,339,300 22,900 146,000 1,020,000 215,620 39,000 156,100 2,377,430 318,800 371,000 1,785,300 22,464,900 85,500,000 70,000 1,373,000 432,960 80,430 92,000 19,080 3,620,000 450,000 200,000

6.960 0.71 1.100 32.250 2.66

-0.85 -6.58 -2.65 -2.57 -3.97

138,800 1,022,000 10,000 24,189,100 1,476,000

96,445.00 45,269,921 41,139,474.50 18,250.00 86,280.00 -65,500.00 -11,294,515.50 -46,500.00 5,625,945.50 -233,760.00 985,500 24,965,138.00

2,875,285.00 243,290.00

120,780.00 -435,754.00 -163,160.00 948,540 6,840.00 1,339,290.00 -298,026.00 7,673,573.00 -347,169.00 -20,935,212.00 2,599,881.00 -2,815,590.00 9,746,566.00 -56,968.00 26,410.00 -12,361,456.00

7,162,950.00 292,854.00 3,370,740.00 12,742,752.00 -347,200.00 1,710,935.00

1,620.00 29,050.00 -150,550.00 -1,388,662.00 -20,480.00 21,478,000.00 65,735,870.00 2,320.00

4,145,759.00 10,345,886.00 -102,900.00 -55,185,570.00 21,647,117.00 -11,135,040.00 473,500.00 100,000.00 163,853,160.00 108,800.00 -45,971,006.00 424,835.00 20,192,714.00 45,175,543.00 -1,064,900.00 -3,727,901.00 -30,609,915.00 -1,150,108.00 -422,350.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

5.59 1.44 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 5.94 0.180 0.72 8.54 31.8 2.29 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

4.96 0.79 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 4.13 0.090 0.39 2.69 22.15 1.6 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Cebu Holdings Century Property Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp.

Double Dragon Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A’ Megaworld MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Realty `A’ Primex Corp.

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

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 12.3 2.6 7.67 1700 2720 8.41 70.5 1.97 119.5 12.5 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 3.2 1 2.46 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 10.14 1.6 4.8 830 1600 5.95 17.02 1.23 102.6 8.72 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.95 0.650 1.8 6

0.62 1.040 22.8 6.41 4 185 22.9 3486 0.760 2.28 46.05 90.1

0.335 0.37 14.54 3 2.28 79 4.39 2748 0.435 1.2 31.45 60.55

11.6 0.85 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 5 0.315 1.14

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

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

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

Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

PAL Holdings Inc. Paxys Inc. Phil. Seven Corp.

Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Premium Leisure Puregold Robinsons RTL SBS Phil. Corp.

SSI Group STI Holdings Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.022 0.023 8.2 49.2 4.27 3.06 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.013 0.014 3.240 18.96 2.11 1.54 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

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

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

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

TA Petroleum

70 553 118 1060

33 490 101 997

78.95 84.8

74.5 75

1.34

1

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ First Gen F PCOR-Preferred A PNX PREF 3A SMC Preferred B SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred F Swift Pref

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

261,059.00 21,300.00 146,967,890.00 -566,970.00

Close

Alterra Capital Italpinas Xurpas

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

High

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

5 4.8 5 0.55 0.52 0.53 0.120 0.120 0.120 0.420 0.415 0.415 24 23.6 23.75 0.770 0.750 0.750 0.152 0.152 0.152 1.02 0.99 1.00 1.78 1.69 1.71 1.12 1.11 1.11 4.15 3.91 3.94 0.079 0.073 0.073 0.4 0.4 0.4 8.55 8.54 8.54 27.10 25.40 25.45 1.4 1.35 1.35 21.60 20.50 20.50 0.79 0.77 0.79 6.05 5 5 0.850 0.800 0.840 4.970 4.750 4.820 SERVICES 6.8 6.9 6.63 6.63 62 62 61.1 61.75 1.14 1.15 1.15 1.15 0.460 0.455 0.450 0.450 4.05 4.08 3.78 3.84 0.0400 0.0390 0.0380 0.0390 3.18 3.18 3.01 3.17 82.2 82.2 81.2 81.95 9.75 0.98 9.5 9.75 1.84 1.75 1.75 1.75 5.45 5.30 5.30 5.30 960 955 955 955 1797 1792 1760 1760 6.86 6.92 6.68 6.68 17.80 17.80 17.80 17.80 1.20 1.17 1.17 1.17 67.4 67.4 64.65 65.1 11.12 11.12 11.12 11.12 0.0099 0.0097 0.0095 0.0097 0.150 0.153 0.145 0.145 1.4200 1.4300 1.4000 1.4200 2.07 2 2 2 7.30 7.27 6.98 6.98 4.70 4.80 4.40 4.45 2.35 2.32 2.15 2.32 0.560 0.510 0.500 0.500 1.98 2 1.91 1.98 1.92 1.91 1.74 1.78 3.90 3.90 3.76 3.78 0.285 0.260 0.260 0.260 0.750 0.750 0.690 0.710 17.58 18.5 17.56 18.5 4.45 4.59 4.43 4.59 2.99 3.11 3.1 3.11 100.00 102.00 100.00 100.00 21.50 21.35 19.88 21.00 2030.00 2030.00 1982.00 1982.00 0.480 0.475 0.450 0.475 0.560 0.560 0.495 0.510 33.65 33.75 33.40 33.45 66.75 67.40 66.00 67.40 5.85 5.97 5.35 5.50 3.21 3.21 2.89 2.97 0.425 0.425 0.410 0.410 4.01 4 3.79 3.8 0.340 0.330 0.330 0.330 3.880 3.990 3.620 3.620 MINING & OIL 0.0048 0.0049 0.0048 0.0049 1.80 1.82 1.60 1.60 4.08 4.09 4.00 4.00 0.210 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.6 0.59 0.59 0.59 0.55 0.54 0.53 0.54 7.26 7.30 6.80 6.80 0.62 0.62 0.55 0.55 0.280 0.280 0.265 0.275 0.170 0.173 0.170 0.171 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.0100 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 1.82 1.83 1.64 1.65 5.3 5.28 4.8 4.8 2.75 2.75 2.5 2.5 1.2700 1.2300 1.1500 1.1500 3.50 3.45 3.39 3.39 4.38 4.41 4.38 4.41 1.32 1.32 1.27 1.28 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 135.30 136.00 130.50 131.00 2.2 2.15 2.1 2.12 PREFERRED 62.6 62.6 62.1 62.1 525 525 525 525 120 103.4 103.4 103.4 1050 1050 1030 1030 104 104 104 104 77.5 81 80.9 81 83 83 83 83 79.9 79.8 79.8 79.8 2.69 2.5 1.83 2.4 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.100 2.000 1.880 1.880 SME 3.1 3.15 3 3.1 2.91 2.92 2.8 2.8 15.2 15.22 14.3 14.48 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 111.5 111.5 108.3 108.3

4.17 -3.64 0.00 -5.68 -0.63 -2.60 1.33 -1.96 -3.93 -4.31 -5.52 -7.59 0.00 -1.84 -5.74 -3.57 -3.30 0.00 -12.28 1.20 -3.02

2,000 3,723,000 130,000 400,000 592,100 45,000 10,000 5,460,000 28,848,000 20,000 56,153,000 910,000 100,000 125,000 2,294,800 159,000 12,862,900 524,000 7,000 443,000 5,044,000

-5,000.00 -731,540.00

-2.50 -0.40 0.88 -2.17 -5.19 -2.50 -0.31 -0.30 0.00 -4.89 -2.75 -0.52 -2.06 -2.62 0.00 -2.50 -3.41 0.00 -2.02 -3.33 0.00 -3.38 -4.38 -5.32 -1.28 -10.71 0.00 -7.29 -3.08 -8.77 -5.33 5.23 3.15 4.01 0.00 -2.33 -2.36 -1.04 -8.93 -0.59 0.97 -5.98 -7.48 -3.53 -5.24 -2.94 -6.70

67,200 17,350 36,000 1,230,000 13,607,000 5,400,000 501,000 352,910 1,300 2,000 240,900 300 81,305 101,000 200 55,000 736,970 3,900 28,000,000 1,340,000 102,000 2,000 570,800 2,527,000 3,000 17,000 81,000 16,440,000 2,664,000 220,000 5,517,000 2,700 10,000 16,000 597,270 6,858,700 83,835 610,000 94,969,000 1,355,600 917,280 10,030,000 7,599,000 2,020,000 934,000 50,000 173,000

2.08 -11.11 -1.96 -4.76 -1.67 -1.82 -6.34 -11.29 -1.79 0.59 0.00 0.00 -9.34 -9.43 -9.09 -9.45 -3.14 0.68 -3.03 0.00 -3.18 -3.64

62,000,000 29,000 186,000 2,950,000 677,000 239,000 43,500 11,073,000 770,000 3,240,000 41,500,000 200,000 730,000 6,881,300 163,000 354,000 22,000 315,000 229,000 300,000 530,290 14,000

-0.80 0.00 -13.83 -1.90 0.00 4.52 0.00 -0.13 -10.78

32,010 200 10,000 495 7,900 2,790 11,760 40 8,000

-10.48

259,000

0.00 -3.78 -4.74

112,000 285,000 1,620,800

11,240.00 12,253,042.00

-2.87

26,460

13,146.00

78,350.00 6,336,365.00

-446,860.00 302,020.00

28,821,010.00 -25,191,410.00 -15,600.00 -18,181,580.00 16,665.00 -34,500.00 18,000,950.00 30,500.00 -699,260.50 1,056,820.00 -117,335,710.00 52,650.00 23,708,325.00

5,680.00 -27,756.00 108,500.00 -30,720.00 -578,050.00 3,361,320.00 34,640.00 -26,580.00 -3,040.00 128,586,444.00 -62,630,845.00 -272,290.00 17,758,310.00 45,497,832.00 -85,590.00 2,323,430.00 -224,480.00

-212,310.00 -282,000.00 -46,610.00 -677,470.00 13,500.00

6,320,084.00 -24,000.00 -39,650.00 -22,120,026.00 -1,519,316.00 -1,034,000.00 -624,000.00

T op L oSerS

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,505.11 (DOWN) 17.01 INDUSTRIAL 10,571.39 (DOWN) 335.66 HOLDING FIRMS 6,285.66 (DOWN) 202.23 PROPERTY 2,735.02 (DOWN) 93.40 SERVICES 1,462.55 (DOWN) 33.44 MINING & OIL 9,737.76 (DOWN) 356.21 PSEI 6,618.88 (DOWN) 195.02 All Shares Index 3,814.48 (DOWN) 99.07 Gainers: 22; Losers: 162; Unchanged: 26; Total: 210

Close

4.8 0.55 0.120 0.440 23.9 0.770 0.150 1.02 1.78 1.16 4.17 0.079 0.4 8.7 27.00 1.4 21.20 0.79 5.7 0.830 4.970

T op g ainerS VALUE 955,011,959.28 781,142,314.07 1,158,476,244.02 1,430,587,000.08 945,125,521.32 117,767,347.0586 5,415,714,221.83

Low

Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Roxas Holdings

4.69

7.82

Conc. Aggr. 'A'

34

-24.44

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

18.5

5.23

First Gen F

103.4

-13.83

SMC Preferred B

81

4.52

Starmalls

5

-12.28

Cebu Holdings

5

4.17

I-Remit Inc.

1.65

-11.29

Paxys Inc.

3.11

4.01

Ferronickel

0.55

-11.29

PAL Holdings Inc.

4.59

3.15

Apex `A'

1.60

-11.11

AG Finance

2.65

2.71

Swift Pref

2.4

-10.78

RCBC `A'

32.85

2.66

Manila Bulletin

0.500

-10.71

Ginebra San Miguel Inc.

11.98

2.39

LR Warrant

1.880

-10.48

Abra Mining

0.0049

2.08

Oriental Peninsula Res.

1.1500

-9.45

FRIDAY: JANUARY 8, 2016

B3

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

Stocks drop to 20-month low Crude dips to near $30 a barrel

By Ben Sharples and Ann Koh US OIL futures in New York slid to the lowest in 12 years as turmoil in China’s markets pushes crude closer to $30 a barrel.

West Texas Intermediate slid as much as 5.5 percent Thursday on concern the economic slowdown in the world’s biggest commodity consumer is worsening. China’s central bank reduced the onshore yuan’s fixing to the lowest since March 2011, triggering a selloff that led to the closure of Chinese stock exchanges. Brent oil will slump to $30 in the next 10 days, according Nomura Holdings Inc., while UBS Group AG sees an oversupply pushing prices even lower.

“The market trades on greed and fear, and right now fear dominates greed,” said Gordon Kwan, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Nomura.

“Commodity futures markets are always forward looking, and they fear that the depreciation of the yuan foreshadows further weakness in the Chinese economy.”

Oil capped the biggest two-year loss on record in 2015 as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries effectively abandoned output limits amid a global glut. Stockpiles at Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for US benchmark crude, rose to a record while nationwide stockpiles remain about 100 million barrels above the five-year average, according to Energy Information Administration data.

Bloomberg

STOCKS plunged again Thursday to a 20-month low in step with an Asian-wide sell-off as Beijing weakened the value of the yuan currency by the most since August.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index tumbled 195.02 points, or 2.9 percent, to 6,618.88 on a value turnover of P5.4 billion. Losers routed gainers, 162 to 22, with 26 issues unchanged. The index sank to its lowest since April 28, 2014, when it closed at 6,604.35.

Ayala Land Inc., the second-biggest property developer, lost 2.6 percent to P32.25, while rival SM Prime Holdings Inc., the largest integrated real estate company, dropped 3.3 percent to P20.50.

Megaworld Corp., the third-biggest devel-

Choices IT IS the first week of work for 2016. In corporate Philippines, this week is about picking up project overhangs from the previous year and beginning the initiatives for the new year.

In more general news, the question of Grace Poe’s disqualification as presidential candidate remains up in the air and the race for the presidency seems to be a dead heat among the top four candidates. While the formal campaign season does not begin until February, the battle for positioning had begun much earlier.

Much like the battle for brand positioning for products, election campaigns are about positioning and identity. Because the Philippine president is determined by national vote, a good understanding of voter turn-out and concerns is important. Barring election fraud, winning an election is primarily about attracting enough voters to select you.

Choices In business, the key purpose of marketing is to drive sales. Obviously, sales are a function of customer choice. As all marketing managers know, customer choice is essentially a function of two key factors: what customers prefer, and what the market offers.

The product that best responds to customer preferences is the brand that is preferred.

The reality, however, is less simple and is complicated by many things. The first most obvious challenge is that customers rarely

oper, plummeted 5.5 percent to P3.94, while JG Summit Holdings Inc. of industrialist John Gokongwei, fell 4.9 percent to P66.60.

Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain, tumbled 4.2 percent to P205.

Chinese markets, meanwhile, were suspended Thursday for the second day this week after they fell more than seven percent.

In a painful echo of the summer rout that wiped trillions of dollars off valuations, mainland investors sold up on fears about the world’s number two economy, a key driver of global growth.

The losses mark one of the worst starts to a trading year for decades as nerves are shedded by a perfect storm of weak global growth— particularly in China—a slump in oil prices to more than 11-year lows and geopolitical tensions.

Regulators in China called an end to trade

within just 30 minutes of opening after the central bank weakened the value of its yuan currency by 0.51 percent against the dollar.

The carnage in China has seeped through to global markets this week and Asian trading floors continued to see red. Hong Kong slumped three percent in the afternoon and while Tokyo shed 2.2 percent by the close.

Sydney—where several firms with trade links to China are listed—lost 2.2 percent and Seoul was 1.1 percent off. There were also big losses in Singapore, Taipei and Manila.

That followed more big losses across US and European bourses.

The drop in China’s stocks was the biggest since August when the value was cut by five percent in a week—sparking weeks of global market turmoil over worries Beijing did not have a handle on its economic crisis. The yuan is now at its weakest in five years. With AFP

Sheraton Mactan.

Construction of the P4-billion The Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort and The Residences at Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort begins on a five-hectare property site in Cebu overlooking both Hilutungan Channel and Magellan Bay’s blue expanse. The mixed-use hotel and residential development is a venture of AppleOne Mactan Inc., a unit of AppleOne Properties Inc., in partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. Shown at the groundbreaking ceremony are (from left) Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels regional vice presidentSouth East Asia Charlie Dang, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, AppleOne vice chairman Venus Manigsaca and chairman Ray Go Manigsaca, TAJARA Leisure & Hospitality Group president Cyndy Tan Jarabata, Blink Design Group founder and senior creative director Clint Nagata and Archiglobal Inc. president and chief executive Michael Torres.

have the time or resources to actually understand all products that are on offer. In the area of consumer goods, this becomes even more difficult since alternatives exist for every product type. In fact, the entire discipline of market positioning stemmed from early research that showed that the average consumer generally remembers only one or two brands within each product category. This explains why every marketer aims to be first or second choice for a particular segment of the market. This is why the mantra for marketing is: (a) segmentation, essentially understanding the different categories of buyers and their preferences; (b) targeting, choosing the target market segment, and (c) positioning, developing a strategy for that positions the product as first or second choice for the target market.

At the heart of the positioning exercise is brand identity, the promised features or characteristics that make the brand the preferred choice for the target market. Successful brands create an identity that is distinctive, valuable, and credible.

Strong branding creates a predisposition for brand selection. This question of identity or core promise is the challenge for each of the presidential candidates.

The second challenge in driving choice in consumer markets is availability. It is pointless to create preference if the product is not available for sale. This, of course, is Grace Poe’s key challenge today. If she is disqualified, voter preference for her will be meaningless.

The third and final challenge for commercial brands ties to brand credibility and goes to delivery of the product promise. For the candidates in the Philippine elections, this goes to track record. Of course, both in the area of commercial products as well as elections, we occasionally must make a choice with little information—either because the

information is unavailable or hard to come by, or we are too lazy to find that information.

The candidates There are five key candidates for the Philippine presidency: Binay, Duterte, Poe, Roxas, and Santiago.

Of the five, two point to a track record of accomplishments in executive positions in local government—Binay and Duterte. Those who support these candidates point to results.

Those who oppose them allege less than desirable methods—corruption allegations in the case of Binay, and allegations of human rights violations in the case of Duterte.

Two of the candidates point to a track record in both legislation and national administration—Roxas and Santiago. These two, however, are radically different. Santiago is fiery and Roxas is stodgy. Santiago promises change and Roxas promises continuity. Santiago fares well in campus polls but is a far fifth in nationwide polls—reflecting the reality that the presidential campaigns require a much wider reach.

There are those who oppose Roxas because they believe he is slow or indecisive, or simply because they have been disappointed by the current administration and his promise of more of the same is anathema to them. But there are also those who simply do not prefer him because to them, he is the personification of all that is wrong in Philippine politics – the leader who is born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and has not tried nor ever will understand the plight of the man in the street.

Many political pundits say that the challenge of the Roxas campaign is simply that their candidate lacks charisma.

Poe is the candidate with the weakest track record. Her supporters include those who support her because they loved her father, and those who are looking for change—any

change. Poe’s great advantage is precisely what Roxas lacks—an easy like-ability.

The challenge For Filipino citizens, there are at least two challenges. The first challenge is who to vote for. That is clearly a matter of developing a better understanding of what kind of leader the country needs, carefully analyzing the candidates, and making a reasoned choice.

The second challenge is less obvious, but perhaps more important. What should we do to ensure that as many voters as possible get the information required in order to make a reasoned choice?

Many political analysts have said this and it is true. Elections tend to be decided on the basis of sound bites. During the 1998 US presidential elections, Michael Dukakis pointed out that, “If you couldn’t say it in less than 10 seconds, it wasn’t heard because it wasn’t aired.” As every marketer will tell you, even if it is aired, it won’t necessarily be remembered.

The business of positioning and branding is ultimately about creating something unique, attractive and memorable.

The ultimate challenge of politics and election choices is that the wrong choice means six years of pain. The candidate who delivers the best sound bite is not necessarily the candidate who can best lead. Leading a nation is about discipline and competence and the ability to understand and manage complex matters over a long horizon.

Elections are won by sound bites but nation building requires real work and a long horizon.

It requires competence, character, dedication and discipline. Determining this on the basis of just sound bites, that is the real challenge.

Readers can email Maya at integrations_ manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at http://integrations.tumblr.com.

FRIDAY: JANUARY 8, 2016

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

World Bank sees PH growing 6.4%

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

THE World Bank said Thursday it expects the Philippine economy to grow 6.4 percent in 2016, on the back of higher infrastructure spending, rising household income and sustained foreign investments.

The Washington-based multilateral lender said in its Global Economic Prospects report that growth in the Philippines was expected to accelerate this year, as public-private partnership projects began to pick up.

“In the Philippines growth is projected to firm to 6.4 percent in 2016, reflecting accelerated implementation of public-private partnership projects and spending related

to the May 2016 presidential elections,” the World Bank said.

It said that in 2017 to 2018, the country’s economic growth was expected to ease to 6.2 percent.

“The Philippines and Vietnam are among the countries with the strongest growth prospects,” the report said.

The Philippines will continue to benefit from rising household incomes caused by low commodity prices and foreign direct investment flows, it said.

The World Bank said the Philippines experienced less pressure on currency, with exchange rate depreciating 5 percent and foreign reserves continuing to rise.

The World Bank said the Philippines should broaden its tax base and strengthen public revenue administration to sustain growth.

The World Bank said the East Asia and the Pacific region was expected to grow 6.3 percent in 2015, slower than 6.8 percent in 2015, mainly due to growth deceleration in China.

“Despite the slowdown in commodity exporters, growth in the region excluding China was broadly flat [4.6 percent in 2015], thanks to strong performance in commodity importers, especially in Vietnam and the Philippines, and a moderate recovery in Thailand,” the World Bank said.

“Growth in the East Asia and Pacific region is projected to slow to 6.3 percent in 2016, with China’s expansion expected to ease to 6.7 percent. The region excluding China is anticipated to see growth accelerate modestly in 2016 to 4.8 percent,” it added.

The WB also said risks to the economic outlook included the faster-than-expected slowdown in China and financial market volatilities.

“The possibility of greater financial market volatility and restricted credit are also risks to growth. A steep appreciation of the value of the U.S. dollar and a slower-than-expected acceleration of high income economies would also dent growth prospects in the region,” the bank said.

IN BRIEF GIR climbs to $80.6b THE gross international reserves end-

ed 2015 at $80.61 billion, up from $79.5 billion in 2014, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Thursday.

Data showed the $80.61-billion foreign reserves in December increased from $80.17 billion in November, but fell short of the year-end target of $80.7 billion.

Bangko Sentral said the month-onmonth increase in reserves was due to “the government’s net foreign currency deposits as well as the BSP’s foreign exchange operations and its income from investments abroad.”

These inflows were partially offset by payments made by the national government for maturing foreign exchange obligations.

“The end-December GIR level remains ample as it can cover 10.3 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and income. It is also equivalent to 5.5 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 4 times based on residual maturity,” Bangko Sentral said. Julito G. Rada

Greenhills sale THE largest group of manufacturers,

mall suppliers, importers, wholesalers and retailers are taking part in the biggest post-Christmas clearance sale—the 23rd Fiesta Fair Manila on Jan. 8 to Feb. 1 at the Greenhills Shopping Center on Ortigas Ave. in San Juan City.

Exhibitors put up 1,400 stalls to unload the widest assortment of goods under one roof that are seen to be a magnet for bargain hunters looking for novelty items, giveaways, RTWs, jewelry, footwear, leather goods, undergarments, local arts and crafts, contemporary and antique furniture, home furnishings, cellphones and accessories and food items.

Shoppers will also have a glimpse at the latest fashion color for 2015.

Fair organizer Prime Asia Trade Planners and Convention Organizers headed

by Henry Babiera said the once a year event was expected to attract shoppers scouting for the best bargains among the remaining items of exhibitors whose aim is a zero inventory for January.

Babiera, who earned the monicker ‘tiangge king’ for initiating flea market of this scale and magnitude a couple of years back, referred to the fair as the incubator of micro-industries and wouldbe entrepreneurs.

Investments up 4% COMBINED investments approved by

New NIA officials. National Irrigation Administration administrator Florencio Padernal (third from left) witnesses the turnover of regional

office management at NIA Penthouse. With Padernal are (from left) Region 4B acting regional manager Ramon Bugacia, deputy administrator for engineering and operations Erdolfo Domingo, deputy administrator for administration and finance Estrella Icasiano, Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems engineering and operations manager Rosalinda Bote, UPRIIS acting department manager Florentino David and Region 10 acting regional manager Jimmy Apostol.

Govt registered P6-b budget surplus in November THE government posted a P6-billion budget surplus in November, as public spending continued to lag behind the target, data from the Finance Department show.

It was the fourth month the government posted a surplus in 2015, although it was 12 percent lower than the P6.8-billion surplus recorded in November 2015.

This brought the government’s fiscal position to a deficit of P46.5 billion in the first 11 months, compared with the P26.78-billion deficit in the same period in 2014.

The 11-month deficit, however, was 81 percent short of the P246.7billion target deficit for the period.

The government said netting out interest payments, it posted a primary balance surplus of P22 billion in November.

Government revenues in November climbed 12 percent yearon-year to P177.5 billion but fell 21 percent short of the P224.065billion programmed collection for the month.

The November collections brought the 11-month tally to P1.945 trillion, or 12 percent higher than P1.735 trillion recorded in the same period in 2014. Actual collections missed the P2.089-trillion target for the period.

“We approach the P2-trillion mark, resolute in our commitment to expand fiscal space for the Filipino people. Hitting our infrastructure spending goal of 5 percent to GDP this year is no walk in the park; we still have a lot of catching up to do compared to our peers. Thus, we remain firm in

our fiscal discipline. We will continue developing our tax administration and enforcement capacity,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said.

Meanwhile, government spending in November increased 13 percent year-on-year to P171.4 billion from the P151.397 billion recorded in the same month last year. The figure, however, was 23 percent short of target, marking the sixth consecutive month the government missed the programmed expenditures.

Government spending increased 13 percent to P171.4 billion in November. This brought total expenditures in 11 months to P1.99 trillion, which was also up 13 percent from a year ago.

Interest payments made by the

government declined 12 percent year-on-year in November to P15.992 billion. Interest payments in 11 months hit P287.9 billion.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the department would continue to address the issue of underspending in the government.

“We, at DBM, are pleased to know that gradual efforts to address issues in underspending such as the GAA-as-Release Document, advanced procurement of goods and services, and the creation of full-time delivery units have produced positive results. As we expect agencies to fine-tune the schedule of their disbursements this year, we look forward to seeing more of its impact in the country’s fiscal performance,” Abad said.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

the Board of Investments and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority increased 4.3 percent in 2015 to P661.82 billion from P634 billion in 2014, data from the Trade Department show.

The BoI approved 358 investment projects worth P366.74 billion in 2015, up 3 percent from P354.76 billion in 2014, while Peza cleared 598 projects worth P295 billion, or 6 percent higher than the previous year’s P279.5 billion.

BoI said the projects it approved, once fully operational, were expected to generate 58,252 new jobs.

The increase in BoI-registered investments was traced to the approval of big power projects, such as those by Olympia Violago Water & Power Ltd. Co. worth P69.13 billion; San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co., P49.45 billion; and Semirara Mining and Power Corp., P29.50 billion.

The agency said 55 energy-related investment projects worth P246.42 billion would generate total capacity of 2,095.92 megawatts.

These energy projects were higher than 2014’s 37 power-related projects worth P174.69 billion with total generating capacity of 1,542.404 MW. Othel V. Campos

Netfl ix welcomed THE country’s two largest telecom

companies are unfazed by the entry of US Internet television TV network Netflix.

Netflix announced that its service would be available in more than 130 countries, including the Philippines. Netflix is offering a first month free trial for new members upon signing up, while charging P370 a month for one screen in the Philippines, P460 for two screens and P550 for four screens.

“We think the enhanced availability of Netflix in the Philippines is likely to stimulate greater consumer interest in video streaming services,” said Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. spokesman Ramon Isberto.

“This adds to the growing range of compelling content that people can easily access through the extensive and robust fixed line and wireless networks of PLDT and Smart,” he said.

PLDT recently invested $15 million in iFlix, in line with the strategy to develop new revenue streams and complement present business by participating in the digital world beyond providing access and connectivity. Darwin G. Amojelar

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CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

China helpless against neighbor BEIJING—China is unlikely to take strong action in response to North Korea’s claimed test of a hydrogen bomb, according to experts who say Beijing prefers the devil it knows to the uncertainty that could follow a confrontation.

And whether Pyongyang would even listen is highly questionable, they say.

Governments around the world have long pushed the Asian giant to moderate its wayward neighbor’s bad behavior, arguing that Beijing’s support for Pyongyang gives it particular influence over the hermit kingdom.

But that is ever less true, experts say. The relations forged in the blood of the Korean War—with the countries once called “as close as teeth and lips”—have taken a licking since Kim Jong-Un took control of North Korea following the 2011 death of his father.

“China’s influence on North Korea is becoming weaker and weaker, the main issue is that the North’s leadership do not listen, they are very stubborn”, said Zhu Feng, an expert on international relations.

Pyongyang, he added, may believe it can “exploit” its relationship with its main diplomatic protector while Beijing is distracted by tensions with other neighbors and the US in the South China Sea. Beijing—which regularly calls for calm on the Korean peninsula—has become increasingly frustrated with its neighbor’s antics, a feeling undoubtedly exacerbated by its fourth nuclear test.

Unlike his father Kim Jong-Il, Pyongyang’s current leader has not visited Beijing since coming to power.

Last month, he dispatched his all-girl pop group, the Moranbong band, to serenade China’s top leaders in what was widely seen as a sign of warming ties, potentially heralding a trip.

But while they were in Beijing, Pyongyang announced it had developed an H-bomb and the band suddenly headed home on the eve of their performance, leaving relations in the deep freeze.

Only four days later Kim signed the order to begin 2016 with the “thrilling sound of the first hydrogen bomb explosion.” AFP

WORLD

US, allies vow stiff price for N. Korea’s nuke test SEOUL—The United States and its two main military allies in Asia, South Korea and Japan, pledged a combined push Thursday to secure a comprehensive, hard-hitting international response to North Korea’s latest nuclear test.

In attendance. Actress Katherine McNamara attends DailyMail’s after party for 2016’s People’s Choice Awards at Club Nokia on January 6, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

The leaders of the three countries, who have long sought to project a united front against the North Korean nuclear threat, spoke by phone a day after Pyongyang’s shock announcement that it had tested its first hydrogen bomb.

Their consultations followed a meeting of the 15-member UN Security Council in New York which, with backing from China, Pyongyang’s sole major ally, strongly condemned the test and said it would begin work on a new UN draft resolution that would contain “further significant measures.”

UN diplomats confirmed that talks were under way on strengthening several sets of sanctions that have been imposed on secretive North Korea since it first tested an atomic device in 2006.

In South Korea, the mood was uncompromising, with President Park Geun-Hye calling for a strong international response to what she called a “grave provocation.”

Park spoke with US President Barack Obama on Thursday morning, with both leaders insisting that the test merited the “most powerful and comprehensive sanctions,” her presidential office said in a statement.

“The two leaders agreed that the North should pay the appropriate price... and vowed to closely cooperate to get a strong resolution adopted at the UN Security Council,” it added.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also spoke with Obama and agreed that they should spearhead the effort to impose harsher penalties on Pyongyang.

“We will take firm and resolute steps, including considering measures unique to our nation,” Abe said, hinting at unilateral moves.

The censure and sanctions threats had a familiar ring, given similar outrage that greeted the North’s previous tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013, and some voices stressed the need to find a strategy that combined coercion with negotiation.

“A priority must be to find ways to both further pressure North Korea to limit its nuclear weapons capabilities and engage it diplomatically,” said David Albright, president of the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security. AFP

Reining in Pyongyang a losing struggle SEOUL—North Korea’s latest nuclear test poses a stark challenge to the international community which, analysts say, will struggle to come up with a concerted, effective response, despite the chorus of global outrage at Pyongyang’s move.

Condemnation of the North’s claim on Wednesday to have tested its first hydrogen bomb has been swift and universal, but the real battle will be converting the indignation into concrete action that has the same across-the-board backing.

While the UN Security Council has agreed to draw up “significant” punitive measures, there seems little consensus on what can ef-

fectively be added to the rafts of sanctions imposed on North Korea following its three previous tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

Wednesday’s test amply demonstrated the ineffectiveness of the sanctions regime to date, and the core debate now is whether the way forward lies in harsher sanctions, dialogue— or a combination of the two.

The current US policy, backed by ally South Korea, is one of “no reward for bad behavior” and requires North Korea to take a tangible step towards de-nuclearization before proper talks can begin—a pre-condition many view as hopelessly unrealistic.

“Sanctions alone just aren’t working, we’ve seen that,” said Joe Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund, a global security foundation and author of “Nuclear Nightmares: Securing the World Before It Is Too Late”.

“There has to be a path opened to discussions, however difficult that may be to swallow,” said Cirincione, who added the current US strategy amounted to little more than the hope that ignoring Pyongyang might make it go away.

“But North Korea is like that Glenn Close character from Fatal Attraction. It will not be ignored,” he added. AFP

Present. Model Charlotte McKinney attends the Encore Player’s Club’s

grand opening celebration at Wynn Las Vegas on January 6, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP

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F R I D AY : J A N U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

WORLD

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Taming malnutrition in India DARBHANGA, India— As another dangerously underweight toddler balances precariously on his set of scales, Dr. Om Prakash knows he has to move fast to avert tragedy.

“The children who are severely malnourished can die between a few hours to a few days,” says the doctor during a shift at an intensive care unit exclusively for children in India’s poorest state.

“For the health of any person, nutrition is the first requirement.

When nutrition is affected, all of the body’s functions are deranged.”

The 30-bed hospital at Darbhanga in the eastern state of Bihar teems with children with protruding bellies and sunken

eyes—telltale signs of wasting and stunting, owing to severe malnutrition.

While its economy is growing at a healthy rate, India still lags behind some of its poorer neighbors on child nutrition with more than 40 million stunted children, according to a recently released report.

Despite the government spending billions of rupees on tackling the scourge, it has yet to make a serious dent in a problem perpetuated by poverty, gender inequality and disease.

“India actually houses the largest number of malnourished children in the world, larger than in sub-Saharan Africa,” Sashwati Banerjee, managing director of Sesame Workshop India, told AFP. These children, if they survive, will grow up shorter and weaker, with their brains and immune systems compromised, more vulner-

NOTICE OF ELECTION OF DIRECTOR

IAN REY TEVES MIRANDA AEGEAN CREWING, INC. 3 B/C 1377 A. MABINI COR. STA MONICA ST., ERMITA, MANILA ( T S - J A N . 8 , 2 016)

able to illness.

Between 2006 and 2014, stunting levels in children under five declined from 48 percent to 39 percent, according to the Global Nutrition Report.

But it still far exceeds a global average of 24 percent, found the report, which was overseen by the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Shriveled and scrawny, the children at the Bihar center are weighed in bright blue plastic tubs, normally used to carry water or laundry.

There are no toys or drawings on the walls, only the sound of children wailing while others sit motionless and stare, dazed.

Doctors feed them a special concoction of sugar and milk based on how much they weigh.

“It would be a disaster if normal food was given to them. So we give

them food that has lower calories and is easily digestible,” said Prakash.

“Over time we increase the amount, then we switch to semisolid food and gradually to the locally available food.”

Zalumun Khatoon’s four-yearold grandson Shahadat Hussein weighs eight kilos, just half of the normal weight for his age.

“He was on medication for nine months, then he had a fever all the time and he started to lose weight,” she said, as doctors and nurses busily zipped in and out of the facility.

While overall levels of malnutrition are on the slide, eradication efforts are also being undermined by the rapid rise in India’s population which is expected to surpass China’s by 2022, according to UN projections.

Bihar, which already has a population of 104 million, has one of the fastest rates of growth in the country

with the average woman giving birth to four children. Often this is more mouths than they can afford to feed.

The impoverished, largely rural state also has one of India’s highest rates of malnutrition.

The mothers, often poor and illiterate, are undernourished themselves—women’s lower status means they lose out on limited food resources, leading many babies to be underweight from birth.

A lack of awareness means they switch to cow or buffalo milk instead of breastfeeding, making their children prone to various illnesses.

In addition, high rates of open defecation in India contribute to the problem.

The World Health Organization, together with Unicef and USAID issued a report in November 2015 which they said demonstrated a link between a lack of sanitation and malnutrition. AFP

ERRORS & OMISSIONS In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

Republic of the Philippines Province of Eastern Samar Municipality of Balangiga BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE Invitation to Bid for the SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF DUMP TRUCK 1.

The Local Government Unit of Balangiga, through the Local Appropriation intends to apply the sum of Two Million Four Hundred Thousand (2,400,000.00) Pesos only being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Supply and Delivery of Dum Truck. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The Local Government Unit of Balangiga now invites bids for the Supply and Delivery of Dump Truck. Supply and Delivery of Dump Truck is required at the time specified in the contract. Bidders should have completed, within 2 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. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a nondiscretionary “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”.

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 similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from Mr. Danilo A. Darang, BAC Secretary and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from January 11, 2016 until the deadline of submission of bids from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand (P 5,000.00) Pesos only.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

Pre-Bid Conference will be held for the procurement on January 20, 2016, 2:30 in the Afternoon at SB Session Hall, Balangiga, Eastern Samar.

5.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before February 02, 2016, 2:00 P.M. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

Bid opening will be held on February 02, 2016, 2:30 P.M at SB Session Hall, Municipal Building, Balangiga, Eastern Samar. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

6.

The Local Government Unit of Balangiga 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.

7.

For further information, please refer to: DANILO A. DARANG BAC Secretary 1st Floor Municipal Building, Balangiga, Eastern Samar Cellphone No. 09074128082

( T S - J A N . 8 , 2 016)

Sgd. GUALTIERRE MARL D. GANNABAN BAC Chairman

Reminder. This handout picture obtained from an association called “Groupe Memoire Lille-Moulins” on January 6, 2016, shows people walking past the destroyed Walleart factory on rue Desaix in Lille following an explosion at the Dix-Huit Ponts munitions arsenal on January 11, 1916, when some 140 people were killed when the French city of Lille was devastated by an explosion. AFP

‘Star Wars’ highest grosser of all time LOS ANGELES—”Star Wars: The Force Awakens” soared past “Avatar” on Wednesday to become the top-grossing movie of all time in North America, riding on hype, nostalgia and an inventive script.

Disney said the seventh film in the “Star Wars” saga had grossed $758.2 million through Tuesday, when it took in $8 million, and surpassed on Wednesday the $760.5 million earned by James Cameron’s Oscar-winning sci-fi epic “Avatar.”

“This afternoon, with early box office results in, ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ became the highest-grossing film of all time in the domestic market,” Disney said in a statement, without providing figures.

The “humbled and grateful” company thanked its fans for helping it reach the milestone, saying that without them “there is no Star Wars.”

“There has indeed been an awakening—and it’s all thanks to you,” it said.

At $1.56 billion in global earnings, “The Force Awakens” still has some work ahead on that scale to overtake “Avatar” ($2.79 billion) or another Cameron blockbuster, “Titanic” ($2.19 billion).

It is now fourth in all-time worldwide revenues, also trailing “Jurassic World” ($1.67 billion).

But many observers expect the film ultimately to challenge for the top spot. “’Star’ Wars has always been one of the most beloved franchises in all of filmdom... it was just a matter of finally having a deserving sequel to the original trilogy that tipped the scales and topped ‘Avatar,’” said Jeff Bock, of industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.

The coming release on Saturday in the huge Chinese market of the film directed by J.J.

Abrams could help give it a further push to light speed.

The success of “The Force Awakens”—detailing the adventures of classic “Star Wars” characters Princess Leia and Han Solo as well as new heroes like Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron—helped propel the overall American box office to a record $11.1 billion last year, the Rentrak website reported.

Robert Thompson, a professor of popular culture at Syracuse University in New York, said the hype and marketing surrounding the latest “Star War” had helped ensure its success but so was the fact that it is a good movie.

“Had the film been a disappointment, the numbers after the first weekend would have been a very different story,” he told AFP. “My prediction is that ‘Avatar’ will retain its global crown, but I could certainly be wrong on that.” AFP

F R I D AY : J A N U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

MOTORING mst.daydesk@gmail.com

RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

B7

Hyundai ends 2015 with a bang Text and photo by Dino Ray V. Directo III

Hyundai asia Resources inc., the exclusive distributor of Hyundai cars in the Philippines, has ended a profitable year with a bang by introducing the latest version of its best selling sedan, the Elantra. Known as the “avante” in South Korea, the sixth generation Elantra has a more dynamic and sleek appearance and distinguished with performance features for 2016.

With Hyundai’s signature Fluidic Sculpture 2.0, all-new Elantra’s innovation is highlighted by a redesigned interior and a striking exterior that redefines class that reflects the quality of the brand. The large hexagonal grille gives the compact sedan an active stance identical with other Hyundai vehicles, providing the Modern premium look across the Hyundai lineup of cars. The definitive grille is

HARI’s top guns (from left): Ma. Fe Agudo, president; Edward Go, chairman; Richard Lee, chairman emeritus.

paired with slim and sporty projection Headlamps for an energetic look. This exterior design achieves a dynamic precision that completes the contemporary and comfortable car experience.

To achieve comfort and performance alongside the design,

Fun in the sun: Gear up with Rhino Racks ExplorE and enjoy Mother Nature with rhino racks line of tent system, which is easy to operate and roll out awning that will shade the side of your vehicle in a matter of minutes.

Designed and engineered for ease of use, the tent system can be set up and packed away in easily without the hassle making it the perfect solution to protect you and your family from the elements. Stored in its own heavy duty pVC bag, the rhino racks Awning system comes complete with all the gear you need to set it up including telescopic poles, guy ropes and pegs.

The solid frame consists of anodized aluminum and corrosion resistant hardware, so it won’t rust. rhino racks Awning

system is a quick and easy solution which was tested in extreme conditions from rain, snow and the hot UV rays of the sun. So whether you are an avid camper, Traveler or Tradesman the Awning tent system is a must have accessory when camping out. The tent system also has its own lED lights for night time indoors illumination.

If you’re gearing up for that camping weekend, bird photography, outdoors photography session or bike trailing, check out the tent system of rhino racks at the outdoors Club at the Ground Floor of the Banco de oro Bldg. 2, ortigas Avenue, West Greenhills, San Juan, beside the Segafredo Zanetti Café, with Tel. numbers 744-6367.

the All-new Elantra is 20 millimeters longer and 5 millimeters wider than the previousgeneration Elantra. The 16” and 17” alloy wheel definitions make the Elantra a smooth and brilliant drive on the road.

The new compact sedan from Hyundai will come in three (3)

variants in the philippines. The top-of-the-line l variant uses a Nu 2.0 Mpi engine, which delivers maximum drivability in all driving conditions to meet the needs of customers that prefer high performance. With maximum horsepower of 152ps and torque of 19.6 kg-m, the All-new

Elantra is comparable to that of the midsize sedan segment.

The entry-level E variant houses a Gamma 1.6 Mpi engine with 6-speed manual transmission.

The mid-tier S variant carries the same Gamma 1.6 Mpi engine and is equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Nissan Almera: Refreshing take NISSAN philippines Inc. continues to bring innovation that excites the philippine market by launching the newest model in its subcompact sedan lineup, the new Nissan Almera. A refreshed take on the previous model, the new Nissan Almera offers an upgraded design and features. “We at Nissan philippines are proud to introduce the new Nissan Almera as the perfect partner for all new beginnings” said Antonio Zara, NpI president and managing director.

“Combining the best of fuel efficiency with generous cabin and trunk space that leads other cars in its class, the new Nissan Almera is the ideal car that will be with you and your loved ones through many of life’s important milestones,” Zara REFRESHED DESIGN The new Nissan Almera brings an updated look from the previous version. Elegant lines and premium finishes on the exterior create an eye-catching presence on the road. A redesigned front bumper with boomeranginspired headlamps, a bigger and bolder front grille, and front chromed accents all present a striking appearance. At the back, a remodeled rear bumper is complemented with black diffuser cladding and chromed trunk garnish. A large lip spoiler and newly-designed 12-spoke alloy wheels also add to the sporti-

ness of the vehicle’s design.

Inside, the refreshed Nissan Almera’s cabin features a new center cluster layout with a piano black finish. Adding to the premium interior design are the new multi-information display, three-spoke steering wheel, and high-quality leather seats in the top range variant. The new Nissan Almera’s unmatched interior spaciousness also contribute to its status as one of the most comfortable vehicles in its class. other features that contribute to a comfortable driving and riding experience are cup and bottle holders at the center console and door sidings, a rear cabin comfort fan that provides dual ventila-tion and speed control for better cabin air circulation, ipod connectivity, push-button start and re-mote keyless system.

An Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, Brake Assist and Dual Front Airbags also provide added security.

EASE OF OWNERSHIP The new Nissan Almera features upgraded, high quality parts and technology, which lengthens the intervals between periodic maintenance service (pMS). In addition, the cost of spare parts for the new Nissan Almera are also lower than before. This keeps maintenance costs down at 30 percent lower than other cars–the lowest of its class.

SUITED FOR EVERY NEED The new Nissan Almera now offers two different powertrains to suit the customers’ requirements. The 1.5l Vl engine features automatic transmission with an inline 4-cylinder DoHC 16-valve en-gine with a power of 99ps at 6,000 and a torque of 134NM at 4,000rpm. In addition to its impressive driving performance, the 1.5l Vl model is also equipped with premium touches such as high-quality leather seats, a side turning lamp on the door, and a leather wrapped steering wheel, to en-sure the comfort of both the driver and passenger.

The 1.2l manual transmission, on the other hand, features a DoHC CVT engine, with a power of 79ps at 6,000rpm and torque of 106NM at 4,400rpm, ensuring maximum fuel efficiency, without compromising driving pleasure. Suspension for the vehicle is provided by Macpherson strut at the front and a rigid axle and torsion beam at the rear.

The new Nissan Almera is available in five different variants: 1.2l M/T at p630,000; 1.5l E M/T at p726,000; 1.5l E A/T at p762,000; 1.5l V automatic transmission at p845,000, and the range-topping 1.5 Vl automatic model is at p880,000. It comes in four different colors, namely Brilliant Silver, Alpine White, Bluish Black, and Titanium Grey.

F R I D AY : J A N U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

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RAMON L. TOMELDAN EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

MOTORING LOCKED AND LOADED HOT CARS OF 2016

Text and photos by Dino Ray V. Directo III

From supercars to fuel-efficient hybrids, buyers are in for a treat with hot new cars scheduled to roll out of the showrooms as early as the first quarter of 2016.

Some models maybe mere design upgrades, while others will surely push the envelope of technology and defy gravity that will make any environmentalists weep.

To keep you up-to-date with what’s looming over the horizon, we have compiled a list of potential bestsellers but not necessarily the fastest.

block and an aluminum cylinder head. Power production is further maximized by the installation of a high-volume free-flow exhaust system with dual exhaust outlets, while weight balance is improved with the turbocharger and stainless steel exhaust manifold positioned close to the firewall at the rear of the engine. The DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter turbocharged and intercooled inline-4-cylinder engine feels completely willing and able at virtually any mark on the tachometer.

It’s a Japanese rocket that can hold its own against its European and American rivals.

Nissan GT-R NISMO This race-oriented 660 bhp special model of the GT-R is considered to be the swan song model for this esteemed series. Established as one of the best performing supercars in the automotive sphere, Nissan has drawn from decades of racing experience gathered by NISMO, the brand’s motorsport specialists, to develop the ultimate Nissan GT-R. The Nissan GT-R NISMO features exclusive styling that embraces the longstanding racing philosophy of form following function. It has numerous motorsports-inspired technologies to enhance the car’s performance through optimized aerodynamics, suspension and powertrain, creating a well-balanced machine that is at home on both the road and track.

The Nissan GT-R NISMO was made available in Japan early 2014 and Nissan Motors Philippines Inc (NMPI) have already announced the availability of this supercar early 2016,

Toyota 86 Open Top Although is keeping their pie holes sealed at the moment, the FT86 that you see here is being displayed at every car show in this planet as an exercise to test the waters. Toyota claims the multilayered soft top and its glass rear window fold down to store neatly behind the Lilliputian rear seats, while making minimal impact on luggage space. (Commendable measures to be sure, but honestly, we’d pretty much forgotten the 86 even had a back seat—or a trunk, for that matter.) Exterior dimensions remain unchanged compared to the global-market GT 86, at 166.9 inches long, 68.9 inches wide, and 50.0 inches high.

The powertrain and chassis essentially are unchanged from the coupe.

The Subaru-sourced, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter horizontally opposed boxer engine (fitted with Toyota’s proprietary D-4S port/direct injection) mates with either a six-speed manual or automatic. Struts in front and a multilink setup out back handle suspension duties. Likewise, the 13.1:1 electric power steering carries over, as do the brakes.

Toyota claims it is further evaluating how going topless can impact the performance, balance, weight, aerodynamics, and rigidity of the GT 86. But it somewhat paradoxically also states that the car was designed with development of a cabriolet in mind from the start. Regardless, various measures intended to maintain chassis rigidity are currently being analyzed, including the use of door-lock reinforcements, while also keeping a focus on low overall weight. Toyota hopes to keep the cabriolet “weight neutral” relative to the coupe’s figure of less than 2800 pounds.

Mazda Miata MX-5 The MX-5 is an iconic model representing Mazda’s vehicleengineering philosophy—the pursuit of driving pleasure. Environmental and safety demands are much more stringent than they were when the first generation MX-5 was introduced 25 years ago, but the fourth generation stays true to the model’s original aim of offering the pure driving fun that only a lightweight sports car can. It achieves this through the adoption of SKYACTIV technology and refinement of its appeal to the senses and sensations through which people enjoy cars.

The design of the all-new MX-5 reveals another layer to Mazda’s KODO design language. The exquisite proportions make the driver and passenger stand out, and both the interior and exterior evoke the exhilaration of open-top driving. It is the most compact of any generation MX-5 so far and is more than 100 kilograms lighter than the model it replaces, promising a dramatic leap in Jinba-ittai driving fun.

As of July 2014, total production volume of the Mazda MX-5 exceeded 940,000 units and it continues to hold the Guinness World Record for the best-selling two-seater sports car. This highlycelebrated model has received over 200 awards from around the globe including Japan Car of the Year 2005-2006. Mazda has again revived the open type sports car concept in the local market.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Fans of the diamond star will surely move heaven and earth to have this baby sitting in their garage. With a ready 291 bhp on tap at 6,500 rpm and a full 300 lb.-ft. of torque beginning at 4,000 rpm, the last of the series Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X has already been certified by car collectors as a future collectible. Having won numerous drivers’ championships – including four straight from 1996 through 1999 with Finnish racing legend Tommi Mäkinen – in

the extremely challenging on- and off-road circuits featured in the World Rally Championship (WRC), this specialized racing machine has developed down the years as one of the best cars to have ever come out of Japan.

At the heart of the Evolution X is the 4B11 T/C powerplant features a “square” design with a bore and stroke each measuring 86.0 mm, a compression ratio of 9.0:1 and a reinforced cast-aluminum engine

Honda Civic Type R The Civic Type R last saw production in 2010, but its returning to the global scene once again was confirmed at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show when Honda took the wraps off this iconic pocket rocket. The newest version features a huge step up in performance output. The old Type R saw horsepower figures of 222 hp (Japan) and 197 hp (Europe), while the newest model makes the leap to 306 hp.

At 306 hp from a 2 liter inline-4 means a high output of 153 hp per liter. However, that doesn’t come at the expense of tractability and low end power, as the maximum torque of 295 lb-ft is available at a mere 2500 rpm. Honda claims the key to these number is their new turbocharger with VTEC (variable Timing and lift Electronic Control) technology, which gives abundant power across the rpm range.

Although the Civic Type R will be exclusively sold in Japan and in some key markets in Europe and Southeast Asia, Honda Cars Philippines revealed that the return of Civic SiR is being seriously considered.

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BING PAREL

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE LUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@LIFEatStandard

ST Y L E & BE AU T Y

LIFE Le Pliage Heritage Crossbody Eye Shadow palette

Hackett London Pink Tie

Earrings Hackett London Blue Tie

Light blue nail polish

Colour Collection Pure Naturals

Rose Quartz and Serenity:

The First Dual Pantone Color(s) of the Year

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MAX&Co.

ou’ve probably heard about 2016’s new Pantone color and are already mourning the death of last year’s Marsala. The Rose Quartz and Serenity are bright and calming options compared to last year’s wine-like color of the year. The shades sound like a harmonious mixture made from heaven – the light warm touch of rose and the serene blue of sky and water. To the untrained eye, well they just look light pink and light blue, really.

For the first time, two shades were chosen to make for “color of the year.” And you wonder, who and how do people choose these colors every year? Do they randomly pick a hue? Draw? Throw colored sticks and pick the last one to fall? Must be a really interesting job, right?

The people behind the company Pantone carefully choose every Pantone color of the year. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System or PMS for short – a standardized color matching system used in a variety of industries that manufactures anything with color like printing, colored paint, fabric, and every product that uses color. These Pantone color guides are widely used in any aspect of design, be it on publication, interior design, or fashion.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, heads the group of people that handpicks the Pantone color of the year. They travel around the globe and look at the trends, and observe what pops up in so many visual aspects. Fashion plays a big role, especially what they see on the streets in different places during their travels.

“Colors this season transport us to a happier, sunnier place where we feel free to express a wittier version of our real selves,” Eiseman mentions on the site

www.pantone.com, regarding the Fashion Color Report for Spring 2016. For the chosen Rose Quartz and Serenity, they are inspired by the growing trend of people seeking inner peace, mindfulness and wellbeing in life.

The calming combination of the colors represents “inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace.”

In fashion, Pantone explains that we are currently experiencing a gender blur, and there is a certain movement towards gender equality and fluidity. So the color(s) of the year “also challenges traditional perceptions of color association.”

So how do we really apply this to our wardrobe for 2016? Well, you need not put these two all the time together, though some celebrities already went as far as dyeing their hair with the split colors of Rose Quartz and Serenity. But you don’t need to jump into the bandwagon. Pantone suggests to pair them with other shades of pink, greens, purples, rich brown colors, yellow, or add in silver or other bright colors. Even beauty companies already followed the trend. Last December, Sephora introduced Pantone Universe Color of the Year Matte Lipstick in Serenity. Most of Spring Summer 2016 collections already had these colors popping up in last year’s runway shows. Check out collections for both men and women and spot ties, blazers, light weight fabric summer tops, dresses, including jewelries, bags, and shoes in Rose Quartz and Serenity.

There are no rules, really, since the colors of the year transcend gender or culture. It’s up to you to mix and match them, highlight or downplay either of the two.

Longchamp SS16

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

THE ‘LIGHT’ OF THE PARTY

@LIFEatStandard

Limited Edition Winter Trend Eye Palettes in Swinging Silver and Grooving Gold

The Body Shop’s new collection makes you sparkle

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ou can now truly “leave a sparkle wherever you go” with The Body Shop’s Winter Trend Limited Edition that features a makeup collection made with just the right amount of metallic highlights and glitter.

Give a strong statement without saying anything with the luscious Limited Edition Colour Crush Winter Trend Lipsticks that give lips stunning color, rich moisture and subtle rose scent.

Make your eyes shine with Eye Palettes that combine stylish metallics and ontrend winter shades. The palettes come in two glamorous combinations: Swinging Silver (metallic silver tones, smokey blues and fresh coral hues) and Grooving Gold (warm gold, copper metallics and rich earthy tones). Complete your eye makeup with the collection’s iridescent Glitter Eyeliner.

Polish off your party look with Sparklers, glittering mists in silver or gold metallic

tones; and Nail Colours, which feature rich hues, on-trend metallics and nail sequins.

At the heart of these limited edition products is marula oil, which was sourced from the Eudofano Women’s Co-operative in Ondangwa, Northern Namibia. Namibian women have traditionally used marula oil for generations to smoothen and moisturize their skin.

There’s no harm in a little sparkle, really.

When pulling up the glitzy, glamorous look, the key is to focus on one part. If you use sparkling eye makeup, keep your cheeks and lips glitter-free; same goes when using shimmering lip color.

The Body Shop’s Winter Trend Limited Edition is available at all The Body Shop stores. The Body Shop now accepts SM Advantage Card for earning and redeeming points, as well as SM and Sodexo premium pass for purchases in its stores nationwide.

The Sparkler glitter body mist

Colour Crush Winter Trend Lipstick in Coral Blush

Nail Colour in Gold Metal

Glitter Eyeliner featuring iridescent silver tone

Colour Crush Winter Trend Lipstick in Nude Allure

Colour Crush Winter Trend Nail Colour collection.

Nail Colour in Gold Sequins

Nail Colour in Silver Sequins

MORE FOOTWEAR OPTIONS FOR CEBUANOS Ipanema

Rider

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iscerning Cebuanos who are looking for stylish, high-quality and comfortable shoes and sandals can now rejoice as global footwear brands Ipanema, Grendha, Rider, Zaxy, Anacapri and Söfft find their new home at SM Seaside City Cebu.

Exclusively distributed by ELRO Retail Corporation, these US and Brazilian footwear labels feature a full range of stylish products – from flip-flops and sandals all the way to comfortable flats and shoes.

“Our strong presence in SM Department Store allows us to delight more customers with products that offer comfort and style.

And to further extend our reach in the Visayan market, we’ve decided to bring in more of our house brands to Cebu,” says ELRO president Francisco Elizalde.

Each pair is designed using innovative materials without sacrificing the latest fashion trends. The Ipanema flip-flops, for instance, are made from super soft and durable Flexpand 100 percent recyclable material.

Grendha

Global footwear brands Ipanema, Grendha, Rider, Zaxy, Anacapri and Sofft find their new Southern home at Cebu’s seaside lifestyle complex, SM Seaside City.

Young girls and teens will feel carefree, confident and stylish on a Zaxy pair that boasts of feminine patterns. Women who prefer classy looks will find Grendha’s playful yet chic sandals and wedges hard to resist, while those who consider comfort their top priority when choosing footwear may opt for Anacapri’s trendy ballerina flats.

Ladies with more refined taste can try out Söfft’s premium leathers to show off

Sofft

From left: Shirley Herrera, Division merchandise manager for Childrens’ shoes; SM Dept Store, Cecille Loretizo, Marketing Head, ELRO Retail Corp; Eugene Saw, Sr. Vice President for shoes and bags business unit, SM Dept Store; Francisco R. Elizalde, President, ELRO Retail Corp; Nicodemus Chu-Vice President for mdsg shoes and bags, SM Dept Store; Felanie Lim-Sr. Assistant Vice President for mdsg ladies shoes and bags, SM Dept Store and Ma. Rina Bugayong, Assistant Vice President for shoes and bags marketing, SM Dept Store.

their sophisticated side. Adventurous men and women can take their pick from Rider footwear’s wide range of trendy and durable sandals and thongs.

Zaxy

For more information about the latest products, check out their Facebook accounts: Ipanema Philippines, Rider Philippines, Grendha Philippines, Zaxy Philippines, Sofft Philippines and Anacapri Philippines.

AnaCapri

F R I D AY : J A N U A R Y 8 , 2 0 1 6

LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

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ENJOY DISCOUNTS OF UP TO 65 percent AT CENTRAL SQUARE

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f you still have shopping hangover from the holidays, then you can still add some more swipes on your credit card as most of the shops are still on their end-of-season sales this January. At Central Square, you can get up to 65 percent off on select items until January 31.

Go gaga on over 100 of your favorite brands throughout Central Square and C1 Bonifacio High Street Central. Choose from Salvatore Ferragamo, Jimmy Choo, Charriol, Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Cole, Brooks Brothers, Kate Spade, Hackett, Anne Klein, Nine West, Gap, Steve

Madden, Pottery Barn, and West Elm, to name a few. Did that get you excited? Well, go get that bag you’ve been eyeing last season or those hot heels that you’ve been told are too uncomfortable for walking.

For updates and more information call (02) 9585660 or follow @CentralSquarePH on Facebook and Instagram. Central Square is located at 5th Avenue cor. 30th St., Bonifacio High Street Central, BGC Taguig. Mall Hours are from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. every Sunday to Thursday, and from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

British Council director Nick Thomas T.M. Lewin and Pepe Jeans brand manager Bianca Muñoz and Vogue Concepts general manager Louella Scott

British Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission Nigel Boud

Zalora’s marketing director Tolian Gjika

Speedo, the leading swimwear and swimrelated accessories manufacturer and distributor

UK-based retailer and manufacturer Mamas & Papas showcasing the brand at the fashion event

British Embassy’s Head of Political Hackett London International Section Steph Lysaght with kids Franchise head Olly Finding

Mini, a well-known UK car brand, also has British Chamber of Commerce cool clothes in its Mini Cooper collection chairman Chris Nelson

United Kingdom Trade & Investment director Iain Mansfield

Experience great UK shopping right at SM MEGA FASHION HALL

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f you love British fashion, who says you need to fly all the way to the UK just to have that great shopping experience?

Sure, the UK is truly a shopaholic’s haven with high-end shops in Oxford Street to bohemian boutiques in Glasgow’s West End, but many British brands that have become favorites among Filipinos are now available at select SM stores.

Just how popular these British brands have become was evident during the recent Shopping is Great! contest that was launched at the Fashion Hall in SM Megamall. This was a collaboration between the British Embassy Manila and the UK Trade and Investment as a showcase of accessible fashion.

British Woman’s Association patron Ann Aspinall, Hackett International Franchise head Olly Finding and British Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Nigel Boud

During the fashion show that featured over 30 British brands, guests were delighted to see everyday people including British diplomats walking the runway,modeling clothes, shoes, accessories and products from well-loved British brands such as Marks & Spencer, Cath Kidston, Clarks, Debenhams, Pepe Jeans, Lee Cooper, Lyle & Scott, Superdry, Reiss, F&F, River Island, Vision Express and Mini Lifestyle products.

The fashion show also featured different British suit and shoe brands for men like T.M. Lewin, Burton Menswear London, Sanders, The Savile Row and lifestyle brands like Mothercare and Mamas & Papas. The audience also had a glimpse of British sportswear through Speedo, Lonsdale, and brands found in Toby’s Berghaus and Mitre. Toni & Guy and The Body Shop also participated in the event.

The Shopping is GREAT! contest is part of the GREAT campaign that celebrates the best of British business and culture. For more information about the GREAT campaign, follow the British Embassy Manila Facebook page and the Twitter account (@ukinphilippines) or email greatcampaignph@gmail.com.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Sfera’s second home in Metro Manila at the 2/L of Mega B, SM Megamall

The new collection’s main color palette Kelly Misa is muted in black, white, and ecru with a touch of color here and there

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Amina Aranaz

Patty Laurel

Nicole Aguinaldo

Sfera collections/trends and urban basics presented in a simple, clean way

Spanish brand SFERA now at SM MEGAMALL

ans of Spanish brand Sfera are excited at the opening of its new branch located at the second level of Mega B, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. The launch of Sfera – the popular fashion brand which belongs to Spain’s largest department store group, Madridbased El Corte Ingles – was graced by Spanish Ambassador Luis Calvo who led the ribbon cutting together with of Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines La Camara executive director Barbara Apraiz, Sfera style ambassador Kim Jones-Rosales, and SM Megamall AVP for Operations Christian Mathay.

Aside from Jones-Rosales, Sfera style ambassadors Patty Laurel, Amina Aranaz, Kelly Misa, Mari Jasmine, Fatima Rabago and Nicole Aguinaldo also graced the soft opening, with guests treated to a canvas bag giveaway featuring a Soleil Ignacio print and delicious cupcakes from Sweet Patti Cakes.

“I’m really happy that Sfera is expanding their store by opening different branches. First in SM Makati, then Cebu and now, in SM Megamall. I’m glad that the store is now more accessible to everyone and I think that a lot more people can now enjoy the brand,” remarked Aguinaldo.

“I like Sfera for its easy elegant aesthetic with a bit of a bohemian

Spanish Ambassador Luis Calvo led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, together with Spanish Chamber of Commerce executive director Barbara Apraiz, Sfera style ambassador Kim JonesRosales and SM Megamall AVP for Operations Christian Mathay

Fatima Rabago

vibe,” said Aranaz, while Misa admitted that she loves the brand because “it has such a wide range of choices, all stylish and all well-made.

Denim translates to stylish pieces, from jeans to shirtdresses, at Sfera

The Spanish Chamber’s Barbara Apraiz, Mylyn Garcia, Cristina Raya and David Calbo

I remember shopping there when I was pregnant (I didn’t want to buy maternity clothes) because they had such comfortable tops and pants. And

I’m glad I did because I still get to use them now that I already gave birth.”

As a working mom, Laurel disclosed that she has become

“such a fan of Sfera’s stylish and versatile pieces. I’m so happy they decided to open another branch in Megamall. More Sfera clothes to love!” Meanwhile, Rabago revealed that she really loves everything Sfera since they are easy to wear for any occasion – from casual to dressy to office – and are all of good quality without being inordinately expensive.

Compact and focused on the simplicity of design, the Sfera store in Megamall makes shopping simple for customers.

Each wall highlights a specific collection, and furniture is clean and sleek with modern metal and glass balanced by neutral wood.

Collection/trends and urban basics are also presented in an easy and neat manner.

The new store’s racks showcase Sfera’s current ‘70s trend items as seen through bohemian layers, darker hues, and richer fabrics. The collection’s main color palette is muted in black, white, and ecru, with hints of subtle lime green and a romantic cherry red mixed in – perfect for glamour dressing.

For more on Sfera, follow the latest from @sfera_ph (#SferaPH) on Instagram, SFERA Philippines on Facebook and through its international website www.sfera.eu.

F RIDAY : JA NUA RY 8, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor in Alvin and The Chipmunks 4 The Road Chip

Chipettes to the resCue W idely and wildly loved character and comedic actors Kaley Cuoco (Big Bang Theory), Anna Faris (Mom, Scary Movie franchise) and Christina Applegate (Vacation) reprise their roles voicing the charming Chipettes in the latest family road-adventure Alvin and The Chipmunks 4: The Road Chip.

In Alvin and The Chipmunks 4: The Road Chip, the boys hit the road for a coming-of-age journey across the U.S. During their storied misadventures, Alvin (voiced by Justin Long), Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler) and Theodore (Jesse McCartney) have always had to solve problems … they’ve created themselves! But during their road chip, and for the first time, they’re on a mission to keep their family together.

Theodore, Simon and Alvin

1st WIsH 107.5 MusIC AWArds All roads lead to the SMART Araneta Coliseum for the muchawaited 1st Wish 107.5 Music Awards.

One of the fastest rising radio stations in the metro, WISH 107.5 FM will launch its 1st music awards with a concert on Jan. 26 at

The idea of Dave tying the knot doesn’t thrill the boys; in fact, they fear it’ll uproot their lives – and maybe uproot them from Dave’s home! Further complicating matters is Sam’s teenage son, Miles (Josh Green), who has an instant dislike of the Chipmunks, who feel the same way about Miles. Along their journey, Alvin, Theodore and Simon need to make things right with the help of the Chipettes, Eleanor (Cuoco), Jeanette (Faris) and Brittany (Applegate) who are now music icons seated to discover rising talents in their own television show. Alvin, along with the help of the Chipettes tries to gain Dave’s trust once again after Alvin, Theodore and Simon accidentally ruined a romantic night during Dave’s business trip in Miami.

“The opportunity to experience new locations through the Chipmunks’ eyes is very compelling,” notes director Walt Becker. Additionally, “Everybody remembers family trips, which can be equal parts adventures and tortuous experiences, so that’s very relatable.”

Alvin and The Chipmunks 4: The Road Chip shakes things up, musically. Each stop on the ‘Munks’ and Miles’ quest has its own special character and different musical influence – from modern, hip-hop/country vibe of an Austin, Texas bar to the great jazz, blues and funk of New Orleans, and

the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

WISH 107.5 is the only radio station in the country that invests in new media extensively to promote music and highlight global recognition to videos. The radio station’s program list includes Morning Wish, hosted by Tbowne, which features the right mix of songs of different genres and starts one’s morning right, airing Monday to Saturday from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Wonderland, hosted by Princess Leigh and Alice, which smoothly blends

Bella Thorne and Alvin, Theodore and Simon in Alvin and The Chipmunks 4 The Road Chip

finally to the Latin flair of Miami.

Continuing a soundtrack tradition for the series, Alvin and the Chipmunks put their own delightful new spin on smashes including “Uptown Funk,” “Turn Down For What,” and more. In addition, Redfoo and the boys trade verses on “Juicy Wiggle

music and no-nonsense listeners’ points of view on certain topics by the use of the social media, airing Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wish List with Ray Holiday, which makes one’s requests come true as it plays requested song and hits from different genres, airing Monday to Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m..

Bringing music along the major roads of Metro manila is the first-ever, state-of-theart FM Mobile Bus through The Road Show with Jelly Kiss,

(Munk Remix).” The soundtrack also features Sheppard’s platinum-certified international hit “Geronimo” and The Score’s “Oh My Love.”

Alvin and The Chipmunks 4: The Road Chip opens Jan. 20 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

airing Monday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Listeners can share their favorite songs and the stories behind them through Whispers of Love, with Dr. Clark, which airs Monday to Saturday, 9 p.m. to 12 midnight.

And lastly, Moonlight Wishes with John Journey plays beautiful music through the night to the wee hours of the morning, from Tuesday to Sunday, 12 a.m. to 5 a.m..

Cast your votes by logging on to www.wishl075.com/wishawards

and registering until Jan. 26 and get a chance to win tickets. Instructions on how to proceed will be given online. All on-line votes will be tallied at the end of the polling period and winners vying for titles will be revealed during the 1st Wish 107.5 Music Awards happening on Jan. 26, Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum 8 p.m..

Listen to Wish 107.5 and join on air promos and visit their facebook account to win exclusive tickets to the event.

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SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

PeOPle Pia WURtZbaCh The reigning Miss Universe has officially started performing her duties two weeks after the controversial pageant night.

The face of Miss Universe Organization had a busy first day hopping from one TV network to another. She had eight television interviews in total. But what’s amazing about Pia doing her media rounds was the way she gracefully presented herself.

She didn’t just make her country proud, she also proved why she’s the most deserving girl to wear the coveted crown.

CaRLa abELLana While the whole world was posting pictures of their selfies during the holidays, the Kapuso actress did something much more admirable. Carla took to Instagram last Monday to call the attention of authorities about the poor facilities of Manila and Malabon zoos. You see, there are people who really care about the animals cramped in cages and run-down zoo facilities. And Carla is one of them.

LiZa SObERanO Fans of the birthday girl were jubilant after they heard their idol has just been included in the annual list of 100 women with the most beautiful faces in the world. The 26th Annual Independent Critics List was announced in a YouTube video on Dec. 26 and has had over two million views, so far.

Liza is a new entry on the list landing at number six. The list includes top models and celebrities in Hollywood and around the globe.

...aRE taLking abOUt

Pia Wurtzbach on the set of the talk show Live Kelly & Michael

ANSWER FOR PREVIOUS PUZZLE 22 25 26 28 32 35 37 38 40 42 43

anD i LOvE YOU SO Raise your hands if you’re watching the Julia Barretto and Miles Ocampo starrer series. Sorry, we just wanted to make sure that there are still people who actually tune in to watch the teen drama because according to AGB Nielsen survey its TV ratings remains single digit.

Well it’s easy to understand, the network cast two notso-hot teen stars in a drama with a plot that just goes around in circles.

Liza Soberano is Philippines' most beautiful according to a foreign website

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ACROSS 1 Engineer’s place 4 Wild fear 9 Karate blow 13 Famous Khan 14 Horse — 15 Windy City airport 16 Weather maker (2 wds.)

18 Thick soup 19 Not with-it 20 Grandeur

CESaR MOntanO He hinted that Nilalang is going to have a sequel. To those unfamiliar with the film, it’s an entry to the MMFF 2015 and was known as the filmfest’s biggest bomb. Though Cesar keeps on defending the film affirming that it is well crafted and the scenes are visually stimulating, moviegoers still see the film differently. Now that’s a glaring warning that a sequel is just a bad idea.

Carla calls for the closure of zoos with poor facilities

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

More spiteful Water receptacle Car style Hidden Path to satori — up (evaluated) “The Wreck of the Mary —” Sporty trucks Home of a brave Hoarfrost Very reluctant

— -toothed tiger Drum, as fingers Let loose Nubby fabric Penelope of films Unsurprising Wrapped up Concur Dry-land mollusk It’s full of life Stall Ms. Zellweger Ventilate Metallic sound Rose-petal oil Pocket jangler

DOWN 1 New Orleans cuisine 2 Booster rocket 3 Showers 4 Frozen food items 5 Loan abbr.

6 Bridal notice word 7 Some nest eggs 8 Pitches a tent 9 More thickset 10 Lacking empathy 11 Hydrox rival 12 Look curiously 15 In full bloom 17 Rides a bench

CLaUDinE baRREttO It’s a year of highs and lows but for the returning actress it’s more of the latter in terms of her showbiz comeback. Claudine has been trying to resurface several times now yet none of her attempts was successful enough for us to say she’s really back. Just so you know, the actress has started taping for a TV 5 series. And yes, the other station doesn’t seem excited to give her any decent project yet.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2016

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TV’s “— and Maddie” Check manuscripts Demolishes View from Everest Paris milk Funny Bombeck Low in pitch Language with clicks 007’s alma mater Not on the rocks Red-ink entry Adhering Counting-rhyme start Usher in Spruce up the walls Really liked Close, to a poet Striped animal Spooky noise Hawk’s lair On one’s guard Discreet summons Opposed “Slither” actor Lose some Niagara Falls prov.

Vast expanse

...aRE nOt taLking abOUt

Claudine Barretto starts taping for TV 5

Cesar Montano supports Nilalang part 2

Julia Barretto and Miles Ocampo in And I Love You So

F RIDAY : JA NUA RY 8, 2016

C7

SHOWBITZ isahred @ gmail.com

The well-loved onscreen couple Marimar and Sergio played by Megan Young and Tom Rodriguez

‘marimar’ Finale toniGHt From c8

More exciting scenes await viewers as one of GMA Network’s top-rating primetime series, Marimar, marks its finale tonight.

Since its pilot episode, Marimar has undeniably captured the hearts of viewers. The audience warmly welcomed every character especially the love team of Megan Young and Tom Rodriguez.

In an interview, Megan shared her happiness with the success of the program, “I’m very thankful sa mga patuloy na sumusuporta sa Marimar, natutuwa talaga ako.”

Equally grateful for being part of the show is Tom who will definitely miss the bonding moments with the whole cast on the set, “Maraming maraming salamat po sa lahat ng walang sawang sumusubaybay sa Marimar. Lahat mami-miss ko talaga.

Napamahal na sa akin lahat ng katrabaho ko sa Marimar, mula kay Direk Dom [Dominic Zapata] hanggang sa mga katrabaho kong artista.”

As the series draws to its end, more exciting scenes await the viewers.

Angelika (Jaclyn Jose) and Antonia (Lauren Young) continue to seek revenge against Marimar. Despite Antonia’s revelation that she is bearing the child of Sergio, the relationship of Sergio and Marimar even grew stronger especially now that they are about to get married again. In desperation, Angelika and Antonia plan to kidnap Cruzita (Ashley Cabrera).

Will the wedding of Sergio and Marimar push through? Will Antonia and Angelika get to pay for the faults they committed?

Jaclyn Jose plays the antagonist Angelika

Lauren Young as Antonia

Stills taken on the set of AXN's new show Robot Combat League

BAttle of the mAChines is on Don’t miss the last few episode of Marimar airing after 24 Oras in GMA Telebabad tonight.

HHHHH Heart deFendS Grace Poe From bullieS Heart Evangelista can no longer contain her feelings against those that are bullying her husband’s running mate in this year’s presidential race.

She is stood up to defend Poe in her own way expressing her disgust over those who are trying to stop her from being a legitimate candidate.

In her Twitter account, Heart posted a message in support of Grace and how she feels about what the Senator is trying to face the enormous pressure she is getting from her opponents.

“Why are they being so unfair to Sen. Grace and to all of us? We have the right to vote who we want and

After spreAding disney mAgiC

Sun SolveS your #FirStJobProblemS The Christmas season may be over but Sun—which recently gave out tickets to loyal subscribers to Disney on Ice— continues to spread the magic with new and exciting offers this New Year.

This time, Sun solves #FirstJobProblems

not only for who is left,” Heart said in her Twitter account which counts 1.1 million followers.

“Wishing everyone love and peace this Christmas #NoToBullying,” the actress concluded.

Grace Poe is confident the Supreme Court, which earlier issued a TRO withholding her disqualification, would give her a chance to run in May’s elections.

“Tinuruan ako ng tatay ko na manalig sa katotohanan, at hangga’t maari talagang ipaglaban ito. Tinuruan din n’ya kong magtiwala sa batas, dahil ang sabi n’ya, kung walang batas, walang makakapitan ang ating mga kababayan,” said Poe referring to her adoptive father, the late Fernando Poe Jr. It can be recalled that FPJ’s opponents in 2004 tried to stop him from running in the presidential race then through several disqualification cases.

with the bigger and meatier Sun Postpaid’s Best Value Plan 599.

Under the new Sun Postpaid’s Best Value Plan 599, there is no need to choose if you will get a smartphone or a tablet — because you’ll get both for free! And if to make sure that you get the full upgrade needed for your first job, you also get a free Sun Pocket WiFi with 200MB of data. So gone are the days when you have to pick just one gadget to help you be armed at your first job. Make the choice with Sun and you get all three, completing all the necessary arsenal you need for your first job needs.

On top of that, you can enjoy unlimited

Taking ultra-modern times into a whole new level is Robot Combat League, a one-of-a-kind game of wits and brute force. By combining tremendous human will and the super strength of machines, this is an ultimate showcase of first-class action. With 12 equally deserving teams, each composed of a “robo-jockey”the fighter, and a “robo-tech” – the robotics engineer.

Wearing exo-suits allows the human controllers dictate the machine’s movements, these fighters crash, collide and basically take to destroy each other to provide exhilarating action to viewers. The participants come from extremely diverse backgrounds – witness a race car driver, a National Guard pilot, even an Olympian (among others) take the stage.

There are a dozen robots, each with its unique look and power features. Each fight consists of three rounds, with the winner advancing to the next match.

Hosted by Chris Jericho, a professional wrestler, Robot Combat League finally invades Asian television through AXN. Awaiting the grand champion is $100,000.

Robot Combat League premieres 7:55 p.m. on Jan. 11 and airs until Wednesday.

AXN is seen on Cable Link Channel 38, Cignal Digital TV Channel 61, Global Destiny Cable Channel 61, Dream Channel 20, Gsat Channel 12, SKYCable Channel 49.

Sun calls and texts, 250 texts to other networks, 250 MB of data allocation and Non Stop Facebook access.

So there is no need to scramble for Internet connectivity to check your schedule, set a meeting, or research on a topic that you need to get briefed about.

With Sun Postpaid’s Best Value Plan 599, you can kiss your first job problems goodbye and get through the adjustments and challenges in stride!

So why settle on being wonderful, which only gets you a free smartphone?

That isn’t much of a help in making a mark on your first job, is it? Sun Postpaid’s Best Value Plan 599, you get the perfect gadget

package of a smartphone, tablet, and pocket WiFi, prepping you to conquer the professional world! Now that’s getting more than what you pay for!

So what are you waiting for? So head now to the Sun Shop near you and get the full upgrade of what you need. Because when you know better, leveling up will have no trade-offs.

From December to January, Sun treated fans to the annual Disney on Ice show where kids and kids at heart cheered for their favorite Disney characters and Disney princesses.

For more information on this, visit http://suncellular.com.ph.

C8

F RIDAY : JA NUA RY 8, 2016

ISAH V. RED EDITOR isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ Isko Moreno wants to be senator

Driven by the urge of his fellowmen in Tondo, Francisco Domagoso aka Isko Moreno in showbiz, now eyes a seat in the Senate.

He used to be one of the more promising faces on television until politics lured him away from the klieg lights.

The former That’s Entertainment (GMA Network) talent in the early 90s can’t seem to look away from showbiz as he can’t forget his poor beginnings when Wowie Roxas literally picked him up from the dumpsites in Tondo, Manila and brought him to the studios of GMA Network where German Moreno immediately with his mestizo features gave him a chance to be part of his TV family.

In the long run, Francisco Domagoso, whose childhood was spent scavenging to help his parents (father, Joaquin Domagoso, is a stevedore and mother, Rosario Moreno, a laundrywoman) eke a living.

But, Isko has always been determined to make something of his life. Even when he was then considered a promising name in the entertainment world, he did not stop from dreaming. He wanted to be a seaman, so, he matriculated at Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI). Though his dream to be a seafarer was aborted when Roxas (whom he refers as Daddy Wowie up until today) discovered him, getting a higher education had always been foremost in the then budding entertainer.

In 1998, he ran for councilor, driven by an urge to help fellowmen in Tondo. He won and again ran for the same position in the next two elections, winning overwhelmingly. While a councilor, he pursued his dream of finishing college and eventually graduating as a management major at International Academy of Management and Economics. He wanted to be a lawyer, too, and was in the third year of a course in law at Arellano College of Law

when he decided he’d pursue a higher position in the city govISAH V. RED ernment.

He was elected vice mayor in 2007 and re-elected in 2010 and again in 2013 with former President Joseph Estrada.

In the last elections, prior to his election to his last term as a vice mayor of Manila, he said he wanted to be the next mayor of the city.

Three years later, he was singing a different tune, and decided to gun for a national position.

On Oct. 16, he decided he wanted to pursue a seat in the Senate in this year’s elections.

Moreno’s camp organized a ceremonial launch of his senatorial bid, last year, at the Tondo High School, where the threeterm vice mayor studied.

Senator Grace Poe and her running mate Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero attended the ceremony. Both expressed support for the 40-year-old politician’s 2016 senatorial bid.

Moreno was also met with a crowd of Manileños in white shirts bearing his campaign slogan, “Pursigido, Isko Moreno (Determined, Isko Moreno).”

Screens showing a live stream of the program in Tondo – notoriously known as a densely populated and poor area in the city – were strategically positioned for his supporters spread out in the area.

Right after the program in Tondo, Moreno proceeded to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Intramuros to make his bid official.

After his Comelec filing, Moreno introduced himself as a “certified dating basurero, dating sidecar boy (certified former garbage man, former sidecar driver)” born in Manila with 18 years of experience in local legislation.

In endorsing Moreno, Poe emphasized his humble beginnings.

She said Moreno’s life story provides inspiration to many Filipinos living in poverty. ➜ Continued on C7