The Standard - 2016 June 22 - Wednesday

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VOL. XXX NO. 130 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 WEDNESDAY : JUNE 22, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Special powers over traffic backed

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MIDNIGHT DEALS Lina justifies dealings between his friends and BOC

By Christine F. Herrera

CUSTOMS Commissioner Alberto Lina on Tuesday admitted he has yet to divest himself of the 16 companies that have direct and indirect dealings with the bureau and insisted there was nothing wrong with his “midnight deals” with friends. In an interview on Headstart on ABS-CBN, Lina dismissed the accusations of conflict of interest, railroading, oppression and abuse of power simply as “part of his job.”

But Lina backed down, however, when questioned about the one-day hearing that rushed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, a

law with 1,805 sections. Asian Terminals Inc. and the International Container Terminal Services Inc. had earlier complained that coming up with the IRR after only one day of hearings violated their rights, but Lina said the 100-page IRR was merely a draft. Lina also said he has granted businessman Ramon Ang, owner of the Manila North Harbour Port Inc., the Authorized Customs Facility to allow the firm to engage in international trade because Ang was a friend.

A Customs official who asked not to be named earlier said Lina granted Ang the ACF even if he had no power to do so and was violating the rule against impairment of contracts. “The MNHPI carries international freight or foreign goods but duties aren’t paid so I gave them an ACF,” Lina said. Lina was referring to his June 2, 2016 Customs Memorandum Order 12-2016 assigning the bureau to assume jurisdiction over MNHPI to operate as an ACF, permitting the MNHPI to engage

in international trade when it has an existing exclusive contract with Philippine Ports Authority allowing it to engage only in domestic trade. “It was not a midnight deal. But even if it is already my last day in office or the last minute of June 30, I will still grant it. Ramon Ang is a friend. All of them [port stakeholders] are my friends,” Lina said. Lina had earlier assured the public that he would divest himself of the 16 companies, six of which have direct dealings with Next page the bureau.

File photo shows members of the government peace panel and the CPP-NDF group concluding their two-day exploratory talks in Oslo last June 16. From left: incoming peace panel member Hernani Braganza, incoming Labor secretary Silvestre Bello III, incoming peace adviser Jesus Dureza, Elisabeth Slattum (Norwegian special envoy), CPP chairman Jose Ma. Sison, NDF chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni, and NDF panel member Fidel Agcaoili.

James earns place among legends

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Peace pact with Reds seen in 12 months By John Paolo Bencito DAVAO CITY—The incoming Duterte administration will pursue simultaneous talks along several tracks to quickly bring to an end the 40-year communist insurgency with a final peace agreement in nine to 12 months after formal talks resume in July. Speaking before reporters at the

Royal Mandaya Hotel on Tuesday morning, incoming Labor secretary and the government’s chief negotiator with the communists, Silvestre Bello III, also raised the possibility of a unilateral ceasefire with the rebels as soon as peace talks resume on the third Monday of July, a week before President-elect Rodrigo Duterte delivers his first State of the Nation Ad-

dress on July 25. “To be able to fast-track the process, we will continue with a new track that is simultaneous [with] talks on the three remaining issues… Caser [Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms], the PCR [political and constitutional reforms] and end of hostilities and disposition of forces,” Next page Bello said.


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