Edge Davao Volume 15 Issue 2 | Wednesday, April 13, 2022 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.15 ISSUE 2 • TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022

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SHADED BALLOTS I will never condone cheating: Sara STORY ON PAGE 2

President Rodrigo Duterte scores higher approval and trust ratings just over two months before he steps down, according to the results of a first quarter survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. The President got 67.2 percent approval rating and trustworthiness rating of 61.2 percent. Edge Davao

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THE THREATS TO PHILIPPINE EAGLES ENVIRONMENT P 9 edgedavao@gmail.com

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 2 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022

Vice presidential aspirant Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio says reports about pre-shaded ballots discovered during the absentee voting in Singapore and Dubai are not to be taken lightly. The mayor added that it is grossly disconcerting that her name was allegedly pre-shaded, along with some senatorial candidates. Edge Davao

SHADED BALLOTS P I will never condone cheating: Sara

Duterte’s end of term high rating ‘rarity’ in PH presidential politics

By MAYA M. PADILLO

ice Presidential candidate Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio responded to reports about pre-shaded ballots discovered during the absentee voting in Singapore and Dubai on Monday saying it “is grossly disconcerting.”

“Reports about pre-shaded ballots discovered during the absentee voting in Singapore and Dubai are not to be taken lightly. That my name was allegedly pre-shaded, along with some senatorial candidates, is grossly disconcerting,” Mayor Sara said in a statement.

The Philippine Embassy in Singapore denied this through a statement following a report that some unverified sources alleged that pre-shaded ballots have been given to voters who came to the Embassy to cast their votes. The Embassy also stressed that this was an

isolated incident. “The Embassy is aware of only one incident wherein one spoiled ballot from yesterday’s voting exercise was inadvertently and unintentionally given to a voter,” it said. According to Mayor Sara, as a politician, her experience has taught her that Filipinos do not respect those who cheat and engage in election fraud. “And I take with great pride in the fact that my history in politics has never been tainted by cheating, fraud, and other election

he Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Davao Region (BFAR-11) has decided to donate some 2,300 boxes of confiscated frigate tuna to the local governments of Davao City and the Davao del Norte town of Talaingod. BFAR-11 Director Raul

Millana said the barangays of Paquibato District, Barangay Salapawan, and Bunawan District in Davao City and Talaingod received the said goods early this month. “The goods has an overall amount of about PHP2.9 million,” Millana said in an interview, adding that the

Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated the products late last year for being “misdeclared.” According to BFAR-11 border inspector Marlon Teves, the goods had been declared as frozen malt when these arrived at the Davao International Container Terminal in Novem-

irregularities that could question my integrity and leadership. I never have and will never condone cheating. I won my past elections because the people voted for me,” the mayor said. Mayor Sara added that the legal team of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) will officially request the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate the allegation of electoral irregularities in Dubai and Singapore. “The same action is also

ber 2021. Teves said that after verifying the confiscated goods to be safe for human consumption, these were turned over to BFAR-11 for distribution. According to Section 4.2 of Customs Administrative Order 03-2020, confiscat-

FSHADED, P10

P2.9-M worth of confiscated tuna donated to Davao LGUs T

FP2.9-M, P10

resident Rodrigo Roa Duterte scored higher approval and trust ratings just over two months before he ends his term, according to the results of a Pahayag 2022 first quarter survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. The March 30 to April 6 survey, released Monday, showed 67.2 percent of the 1,500 respondents saying they either “approve” or ‘“strongly approve” of Duterte’s performance as president over the past 12 months. This figure is 2.3 percentage points higher than Duterte’s 65 percent approval rating in the first quarter of 2021. Duterte’s trustworthiness was rated either as “high” or “very high” based on 61.2 percent of respondents, up by 6.2 percentage points from his 55 percent trust rating in the same period last year. His disapproval rating for the first quarter of 2022 was 15.2 percent and his low trust rating was 16.6 percent. PUBLiCUS Executive Director Aureli Sinsuat said Duterte is on pace to become the first president in recent history to end his term with approval and trust ratings above 50 percent, a “rarity” in Philippine presidential politics. On the other hand, the approval rating for Vice

President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo was at 32.3 percent, which is 3.3 percentage points higher than her 29 percent approval rating in the first quarter of 2021. Her trust rating increased by 8.5 percentage points from 18.7 percent to 27.2 percent. She also earned the highest total disapproval and total low trust ratings among the top five government officials. The survey showed that 42.2 percent of respondents said they “disapprove” or “strongly disapprove” of Robredo’s performance over the past 12 months while 48.2 percent said they put “no trust” or “low trust” in the vice president. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s approval rating was at 38 percent, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco’s was at 23.8 percent, and Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo’s was at 23.7 percent. Their trust ratings were at 25.3, 14.6, and 14.4 percent, respectively. PUBLiCUS said the 1,500 respondents who participated in the survey were randomly drawn by the Singapore office of American firm PureSpectrum from its market research panel of over 200,000 Filipinos. The final survey panel was restricted to registered voters. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 2 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022

NEWS

Many workers in Davao City use bicycle as their mode of transportation, which started during the height of Covid-19 pandemic. Davao City has been recognized recently as Silver awardee among the 2021 Mobility Awards for Most Bicycle-Friendly Cities in Mindanao. Edge Davao

Contractors to take on cost of Bunawan Bridge repair LTFRB-11 introduces first-ever premium taxis on Davao City

earing up for total modernization, the Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board (LTFRB) led by Chairman Martin B. Delgra III, LTFRB XI Regional Director Don Llanos III, and Department of Transportation (DOTr) USec. For Road Transport & Infrastructure Atty. Mark Steven Pastor, launched the first 10 Premium Taxis to ply Davao City routes last Friday, April 8. Chairman Delgra conveyed that this launching event is a momentous occasion and urged everyone to support the modernization program as it expands and grows. He furthered that the event sets the tone for modernizing the public transport in Davao City. He expresses, “This is what we want. Safe, comfortable, convenient, and obviously, kaaya-aya na paglalakbay dito sa siyudad ng Davao.” Per LTFRB Memorandum Circular (MC) 2019032 or the Taxi Modernization Program, these premium taxi units boast of modern features such as free internet access to passengers, on-board nav-

igation system (GPS) or mobile-based application, a dashboard and occupancy cameras with continuous recording of the past 24 hours of operation, and automatic fare collection through cashless cards. The Taxi Modernization Program was created in view of the growth of tourism industry and population growth. The only Premium Taxi franchise awardee in Region XI to date is Cymae Transpo OPC which successfully provided the first 10 of 30 units minimum based on the Memorandum Circular. The units have undergone inspection, road test and sealing by LTFRB XI. It can be recalled that Davao City is one of only 6 cities with this franchise, which includes Metro Manila and Cebu City. In his message, USec. Pastor stated that, apart from the Davao High Priority Bus System (HPBS) project that is currently well under way, the new premium taxis now are part of the basket of solutions under the Public Util-

FLTFRB-11, P10

By MAYA M. PADILLO

ontractors of the Bunawan Bridge (Daang Maharlika) widening project will take on the cost of its repair after the retaining wall of the said bridge recently collapsed.

Engr. Ma. Gloria Sorrero, spokesperson of the Davao City District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), told media that the contractors Rely Constructions and Supply joint venture with Rakki Corporation has not yet achieved the structural strength of the retaining

wall the reason it collapsed following rains in the previous days. “The repair of the wall will be shouldered by the contractors at their own expense,” Sorrero said. Dean Ortiz, spokesperson of DPWH XI, also explained further that the project is still ongoing, and following bad weather conditions ex-

perienced by the city it resulted in the saturation of the base. Ortiz said the repair of the project will cost around P10 million. With a contract amount of P61,778,380, the Bunawan bridge project is scheduled to be completed on April 18, 2022, however, a delay is expected due to the damage. “As of the moment the contractors incur an accomplishment of 95 percent but due to damage, that is why ma-delay ang completion ng project.

Supposed to be ang trabahuin na namin ay yung road concreting kasi ang tulay tapos na, ang retaining wall na ang na-collapse,” Sorrero said. Ortiz assured that the repair is at no cost to the government. “The project involves the widening of the Bunawan Bridge. As you can see ang Bunawan Bridge is two-lanes pa. So we widened it to three kay three lanes man pud sa pikas and that would compensate into six lanes in Daang Maharlika highway,” he added.

na pagtulong para sa lahat lalo na ang maliliit. Mahalin natin ang ating Pilipinas!” Mayor Sara posted on her Facebook Page. In a statement shared on Tuesday, One Cebu Party, which is the ruling political party in Cebu province, announced its decision to endorse the presidential bid of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The party stated that the decision fol-

lowed weeks of extensive consultations and discussions with provincial, municipal and barangay leaders in the 44 municipalities and seven cities including Mandaue City of the Province of Cebu. The party stated that it considered the different opinions of the party leaders advocating the causes of different presidential candidates and have determined that the unity and strength of

One Cebu and ultimately the interests of the Cebuanos are best served if it unite behind the leadership of Marcos as President. In February this year, One Cebu first announced its endorsement to the vice presidential bid of Mayor Sara. It can be recalled that Mayor Sara announced her “openness” to run for top post in the 2022 elections in Cebu City in July last year.

Sara assures Cebuanos of genuine service

ice Presidential candidate Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio thanked Cebuanos and gave assurance of genuine service following the endorsement of the Garcia-led One Cebu Party to the BBM-Sara UniTeam. “Daghang salamat Gov. Gwen at One Cebu sa inyong pag-endorso at suporta sa amin ni BBM at buong UniTeam. Makakaasa po ang lahat ng Cebuano sa tapat na paglilingkod, at walang pagod

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 2 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022

A pedestrian walks by “ukay-ukay” shoes and ready-to-wear clothes on display at the sidewalk along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City over the weekend. Edge Davao

Russia-Ukraine war has ‘limited’ impact on PH economy: Diokno R GSIS to offer loan ussia’s invasion of Ukraine is expected to have only a “limited” impact on the Philippine economy and its banking system given its small exposure to the area both geographically and in terms of business, the central bank said.

In a mobile message to reporters, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno downplayed the possible impact of the ongoing conflict on the Philippines. “The economic fallout from the Russia-Ukraine [conflict] on the Philippine economy is limited for three reasons: first,

the country’s geographic distance from the conflict area; second, the country’s limited economic and business links with Russia and Ukraine; and third, its strong macroeconomic fundamentals,” he said. Just last week, Ukraine warned of a new offensive by Russian forces, as it evacuated trapped civil-

ians in the east and south of the country. Officials say Russian forces have been regrouping for a new offensive, with Moscow reportedly eyeing to take over as many areas as it can in the Donbas area bordering Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this month presented a somber video of casualties to the UN Security Council, calling for accountability for atrocities made by Russian forces. Diokno on Monday said local lenders have “minimal” financial ex-

posure to both countries, and trade relations with them are “negligible.” Exports to Russia amounted to $120 million or 0.2% of the total exports in the past year, while exports to Ukraine stood at $5 million. Cross-border deposit liabilities to Russia stood at $672,000 and at $969,000 to Ukraine as of end-September, which Diokno said was cumulatively less than 1% of the local banking system’s total deposit liabilities. Two Philippine banks also have exposure in

status at nearly $1.4 billion, PLDT said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. Voyager is the tech company behind PayMaya and the new digital bank Maya Bank. New investor SIG Venture Capital leads the funding round. The Singapore-based global

investor EDBI and investment holding company First Pacific Company Ltd were also included, PLDT said. Also participating in the latest round of funding are Voyager’s existing shareholders PLDT Inc, global investment firm KKR, tech company Tencent, the International Fi-

nance Corp, and the two funds managed by the IFC Asset Management Company, namely the IFC Emerging Asia Fund and IFC Financial Institutions Growth Fund. “The strong endorsement from our new shareholders and participation of our existing

FRUSSIA, P10

Voyager raises $210 million for PayMaya, Maya Bank

LDT Inc on Monday said Voyager Innovations has raised $210 million (P10.9 billion) in new funds, which will be used to expand PayMaya and to launch the new digital bank Maya Bank. The fundraising also propelled Voyager’s valuation to “unicorn plus”

F’VOYAGER, P10

of up to P5M

he Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) will open on April 23 the Multi-Purpose Loan (MPL) Plus program that offers a credit limit of PHP5 million. It also extended the maximum payment term to 10 years and relaxed the borrowers’ eligibility requirements. “We enhanced the MPL program based on the feedback from members in the previous MPL so we can offer a loan program that will best suit their needs. Sa MPL Plus, umaasa ang GSIS na mas marami pa tayong miyembrong matutulungan,” president and General Manager (PGM) Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said in a statement on Monday. Under MPL Plus, the credit limit has been raised to PHP5 million from PHP3 million. The actual amount will depend on the borrowers’ paid premiums and monthly salary. The uniform interest rate of 7 percent comput-

ed in advance will be applied to all borrowers. In the previous MPL, members with less than three years of paid premiums were charged 8 percent interest, while those with at least three years of premiums were charged 7 percent. “Sa abot ng ating makakaya (In the best way that we can), we will keep helping our members put their finances in order. From the start, the objective of our loan program is to give our government workers access to cheap credit,” Macasaet added. Moreover, GSIS relaxed the eligibility conditions of prospective applicants. Previously, members with arrearages in their GSIS Financial Assistance Loan (GFAL) and housing loan are not qualified to avail of the MPL. Now, under MPL Plus, they will be allowed to apply, but their arrearages under GFAL will be deducted from the

F’GSIS, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 2 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022

ECONOMY

A hawker braves the scorching heat of the sun and the danger of being hit by vehicles to sell flannel cloth to motorists along the junction of Jacinto Extension and Quirino Avenue in Davao City on Tuesday. Edge Davao

DTI 11 to mentor 49 local entreps in 1st half of ‘22 T

he Department of Trade and Industry On SEC initiative, Google Play to tighten (DTI) 11 is set to mentor 49 local entrepreneurs not later than the end of screening process for lending apps in PH the first half of this year in a bid to improve echnology giant GooPersonal loan apps opgle is adopting a more erating in the Philippines them in the different aspects of business stringent approval without proper declaration operations.

process for online lending apps in the Philippines, as recommended by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as part of efforts to tackle illegal and abusive lending practices. Effective May 11, Google will require developers offering personal loans in the Philippines to submit a Personal Loan App Declaration, and submit necessary documentation before they could publish apps on Google Play Store. In the declaration form, developers shall state that they are registered with and duly licensed by the SEC Philippines to operate an online lending platform (OLP), or to perform lending-based crowdfunding activities, such as peer-topeer lending, or to act as a crowdfunding intermediary. Also, developers shall confirm that they are engaged in a lawful business activity and are undertaking the same in compliance with the applicable laws.

and license attribution will be removed from the Play Store. In the event where the submitted license, registration or declaration is no longer valid under the applicable laws, the developers are required to promptly remove the app from Google Play Store. Republic Act No. 9474, or the Lending Company Regulation Act of 2007, requires persons or entities operating as lending companies to register as corporations and to secure from the SEC the necessary authority to operate. Republic Act No. 8556, or the Financing Company Act of 1998, likewise requires financing companies to register with the SEC as corporations and to secure separately from the Commission an authority to operate as such. Under SEC Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 2019, the Commission further requires financing and lending companies

FSEC, P10

After launching the first batch of the 2022 Kapatid Mentor Micro Enterprises (KMME) Online program on April 6 through a virtual conference platform, the agency is now gearing up for the start of the mentorship interventions.

It can be recalled that the program started in 2016 with the goal of providing the micro entrepreneurs with the much-needed guidance and assistance. Several experts in various fields are tapped as mentors who will help the men-

tees in equipping themselves with the right mix of skills and knowledge. The first batch of the 2022 KMME Online will have their online mentoring sessions for the 10 module from April 13 to May 25. In addition to the modules, a government forum shall be conducted as well to orient the mentees of the government agencies’ functions and services. This will help them know which agency to approach in case they need some assistance in advanc-

ing the level of their business operations. DTI 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi shared that the online batches started only in 2020 to respond to the call of a very limiting situation, which is the occurrence of the Covid-19 pandemic. “In 2020, we had to be quick in devising mechanisms in order to deliver our services continuously despite the uncertainty. Hence, we innovated and

phase with service from the heart across our patrons in Davao City, Davao del Norte and eventually in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.” Lafayette Lim, NCCC CEO said. Aside from the Industry Pioneer Award, there are two other main awards given including Innovation and Growth Award and Transformative Ecosystem Award. There were 13

awardees for Innovation and Growth Award which was given to organizations who have established revolutionary programs successfully delivered best-in-class solutions for GCash users; and 12 for the Transformative Ecosystem Award recognizing companies who have fully imbibed the digital lifestyle by integrating the various solutions of Gcash into their system.

Winners were chosen for their pioneering efforts in the use of digital financial products, to help ensure safe and efficient delivery of services toward inclusive society. “This award is a manifestation of what we do, who we are and where we are going and let it remain a constant reminder that good team work comes with unbelievable achievements.” Lim added.

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NCCC honored by GCash through Digital Excellence Awards 2022

Cash honors and recognizes various champions from the Enterprise and MSME sector last March 31, 2022 via ZOOM. NCCC bagged the Industry Pioneer Award for embracing digitization and changing the game with GCash alongside 14 other industries. “Our partnership with GCash started in 2017, we were able to embrace the digital transformation

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 2 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022

On reports about pre-shaded ballots discovered during the absentee voting in Singapore and Dubai:

Reports about preshaded ballots discovered during the absentee voting in Singapore and Dubai are not to be taken lightly. That my name was allegedly pre-shaded, along with some senatorial candidates, is grossly disconcerting.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

EDGEDAVAO

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NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

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LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. Consultant Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 2 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

ON THE DAY JESUS CHRIST DIED JESUS Christ, the central figure of Christianity, was born in Bethlehem in Judea. The chronology of the Christian era is reckoned from a 6th-century dating of the year of his birth, which is now recognized as being from four to eight years in error. Christians traditionally regard Jesus as “the incarnate Son of God,” and as having been divinely conceived by Mary, the wife of Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth. The name Jesus is derived from a Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Joshua, or in full Yehoshuah (Jehovah is deliverance). The title Christ is derived from the Greek christos, a translation of the Hebrew mashiakh (anointed one), or Messiah. “Christ” was used by Jesus’ early followers, who regarded him as the promised deliverer of Israel and later was made part of Jesus’ proper name by the church, which regards him as the redeemer of all humanity. At the age of 33, his ministry in this world ended. He died for our sins – for all of us. First Peter 3:18 pointed this out: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just of the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” By the way, here’s how Great People of the Bible and How They Lived chronicled Christ’s last day on earth: “At about 9 a.m., a small procession left the Antonia and slowly made its

way to Golgotha (“place of the skull”), a hill outside the walls of Jerusalem where prisoners were executed. It was so named because its contour resembled a human skull. Jesus was accompanied by two other prisoners, a centurion and a few Roman soldiers. “When they reached Golgotha, the soldiers stripped off the men and divided them among themselves as the crosses were assembled. Jesus suffered in silence as the soldiers nailed his wrists to the crosspiece with large iron spikes and drove another spike through both ankles. As they lifted his cross upright, his weight was supported by a peg jutting out from the cross between his legs. The soldiers placed a sign on the cross, proclaiming, ‘This is Jesus the King of the Jews.’ It was a slow and painful death. Dr. Alexander Metherell – a consultant to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health of Bethesda, Maryland interview by Lee Strobel for his book, The Case for Christ, explained how Christ died: “Once a person is hanging in the vertical position, crucifixion is essentially an agonizingly slow death by asphyxiation. The reason is that the stresses on the muscles and diaphragm put the chest into the inhaled position; basically, in order to

exhale, the individual must push up on his feet so the tension on the muscles would be eased for a moment. In doing so, the nail would tear through the foot, eventually locking up against the tarsal bones. “After managing to exhale, the person would then be able to relax down and take another breath in. Again, he’d have to push himself up to exhale, scraping his bloodied back against the coarse wood of the cross. This would go on and on until complete exhaustion would take over, and the person wouldn’t be able to push up and breathe anymore. “As the person slows down his breathing, he goes into what is called respiratory acidosis - the carbon dioxide in the blood is dissolved as carbonic acid, causing the acidity of the blood to increase. This eventually leads to an irregular heartbeat. In fact, with his heart beating erratically, Jesus would have known that he was at the moment of death.... Jesus died of cardiac arrest.” But before he died, Christ delivered what is now known as His seven last words. After saying all these, he perished. “Later that afternoon,” says The Great People book, “one of Jesus’ wealthy Jerusalem followers, Joseph of Arimathea, went to Pontius Pilate and asked him for Jesus’ body, so that he might

give him a proper burial. After making sure that Jesus was in fact dead, Pilate agreed to let Joseph take the body. The kind man removed Jesus’ corpse from the cross and prepared it for burial.” John 19:39-42 relates that Joseph was assisted by Nicodemus. “Joseph bound the body from head to foot in clean, white linen strips, sprinkling fragrant species between the layers,” the book continues. “When he had finished, Joseph carried Jesus’ body into his garden, where there was a tomb that had been hewn out of a large rock. Inside near the rear of the tomb was a couch, also of stone, and Joseph gently placed the corpse upon it. Then he rolled a heavy stone across the entrance and returned to his home.” “The death of Christ has a prominent place in the New Testament of the Bible. The last three days of our Lord’s earthly life occupy about one-fifth of the narratives in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John),” writes Henry Thiessen in Lectures in Systematic Theology. “If all the three and a half years of His public ministry had been written out as fully as the last three days, we would have a ‘Life of Christ’ of some 8,400 pages!” One Bible scholar commented that the death of Christ is

mentioned directly in the New Testament more than 175 times. Since there are 7,959 verses in the New Testament, this would mean that one out of every 53 verses refer to this theme. More than that, the death of Christ is the essential thing in Christianity. Writes Thiessen: “Other religions base their claim to recognition on the teaching of their founders; Christianity is distinguished from all of them by the importance it assigns to the death of its Founder. Take away the death of Christ as interpreted by the Scriptures, and you reduce Christianity to the level of the ethnic religions. “Though we would still have a higher system of ethics, were we to take away the cross of Christ, we would have no more salvation than these other religions. Napoleon said when banished to St. Helena, that Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and he found mighty kingdoms on force, but that Jesus Christ had founded His on love. This is true, if we mean love expressed in His substitutionary death.” In his book, Jesus Christ Our Lord, Dr. John Walvoord agrees: “Christ in His death fully satisfied the demands of a righteous God for judgment upon sinners and, as their infinite sacrifice, provided a ground not only for the believer’s forgiveness, but for his justification and sanctification.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

PORTS OF REFUGE IN THE FAR EAST, 1904 Eminent Jesuit priest, meteorologist, inventor, and director of the Philippine Weather Bureau Rev. Jose Maria Algue SJ (1856-1930), in ‘The Cyclones of the Far East’ (1904), wrote extensively about the ports of refuge in the Far East the mariners sought in case of climatic disturb-ances, particularly as shelter during months when cy-clones threaten maritime traffic. Included in Fr. Algue’s list of ports of refuge found around the Gulf of Davao are Port Patuen, Port Tumanao, Malipano Anchorage, Lavigan Anchorage, Mayo Bay, Pu-jada Bay, and Sarangani Bay. Fr. Algue describes briefly these places of sanctuary. Port Patuen, ‘close to the northern end of the Island of Sarangani (proper), offers sheltered anchorage for small

vessels in 8 fathoms; the stern should be secured to the shore. The entrance may be recognized by a cliff of red earth a little to northward of it. The channel is narrowed by reefs on both sides.’ Port Tumanao, ‘situated 1 mile south of Tiain Point, has 25 fathoms at the entrance, di-minishing to 9 fathoms in the eastern part of the port. Good anchorage for small vessels may be found in 15 fathoms about one-fourth of a mile from the head of the port.’ The Malipano anchorage ‘is on the west side of Samal Island, about 7 miles…from Davao. It is very small, the entrance being only about 120 yards wide and difficult. With the sun overhead the reefs show and the entrance can be made out, but at other times a pilot should be tak-en. This was formerly a Spanish naval station. All that now re-

mains is a dwelling house, stone pier, and evi-dences of a coal pile. The anchorage is protected from all winds, but is bad, the bottom being stony, with a few spots of shells and coarse sand.’ The Lavigan anchorage, ‘situated about 2 miles northward from Cape San Agustin … is small and shoal and fit only for very small craft. It is partly sheltered from nor-therly and southerly winds by shoals on which the sea breaks. Good water can be obtained from a ravine south-ward of the anchorage,’ while Mayo Bay, ‘between Taguban Point, 8 miles south of Maglubun Point, and Lamigan Point, is a large bay 5 miles wide and of the same depth. It is little known.’ Pujada Bay, ‘separated from Mayo Bay by the long Guanguan Peninsula, which terminates at Lamigan Point, 853 feet high,

would be the best harbor in Mindanao were it not for its great depth of water. It is about 4 miles wide at the entrance and extends 11 miles in a northwesterly direction. Pujada Island, 558 feet high, divides the en-trance into two channels, of which the southern is the saf-er on account of the reefs on both sides of the northern channel. The reef of the south end of Pujada Island ex-tends over 2 miles to the eastward and ends in a flat-topped rock. The sea always breaks on this reef.’ Sarangani Bay, on the other hand, ‘has a width of about 7 miles between Balaluan and Sumban Points. It is report-ed that this bay seems to be charted 7 miles too far to the southward and eastward. Its sides are very steep, and the water is deep. Anchorage may be formed in the bights of its coast

line, but very close in, and with a line out to the shore to prevent the anchor from slipping into deep wa-ter. The chart shows a coral reef extending 1 mile out, surrounding Balaluan Point and bordering the western and northern shores of the bay. The military post of Macar stands out on the western shore of the bay. There is no suitable anchorage off it, and it is reported that no sound-ing can be obtained until within 100 yards from the beach, and then 17 fathoms.’ Moreover, Fr. Algue, a Spanish scientist, invented the barocyclonometer (officially in use in the US Navy and battleships of the North Atlantic Squadron by 1914), the nephoscope, and a kind of microseismograph. He was an honorary member of the Royal Society of London and the Pontificia Accademia Romana.

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VOL.15 ISSUE 2 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022

COMPETITIVE EDGE

Mining community in Palawan gets a P6.4M Advanced Air Monitoring Station

A FIRSTY in the MINING INDUSTRY in – the P6.4M Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) is to be established in the mining community of Bataraza in Southern Palawan. Photo shows the signatories (L to R) : Engr. Remmy Collado-Camo, NAC AVP for Safety and Envi; Jose Bayani Baylon, NAC VP for Corp. Comm.; DENR-EMB MIMAROPA Director, Joe Amil M. Salino; Masahiro Kamiya, CBNC President; Rommel A. Ibuna, GPI President; Engr. Pablito Estorque, Chief, Environmental and Enforcement Division - EMB MIMAROPA. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted its first fact-toface activity for the 1st Quarter Management Conference (ManCon) after two years since pandemic. The ManCon was primarily participated

by 15 MGB Regional Directors from all over the country, Division Chiefs from the MGB Central Office, and headed by the MGB Director Atty. Wilfredo G. Moncano. During the opening program, DENR Secretary Jim O. Sampulna virtually gave his message and directed MGB to ensure that agency targets are

accomplished and even surpassed. This Management Conference was hosted by MGB-XI headed by Atty. Jasper Alberto H. Lascano, Regional Director. “We are happy to host the first face to face MGB management conference as our share to showcase best practices also in Davao Region.”, said RD Lascano.

Insular Life (InLife) finished strong in 2021 in terms of Net Worth, Net Income and Assets among all life insurance companies operating in the Philippines, according to unaudited quarterly reports submitted to the Insurance Commission. InLife is the only Filipino company that belonged to the top five performers in the said categories: number two in Net Worth with P43.92 Billion, number three in Net Income with P4.67 Billion,

and number four in Assets with P151 Billion. “Among the many indicators of life insurance companies, these three are the most important as they tell everyone about the Company’s financial health status. InLife is in the business of insuring lives which means the most important for us is the Company’s sustainability so that we are able to honor our financial obligations,” said InLife President and CEO Raoul Antonio E. Littaua. Net Worth, Net Income and Assets are among the top indicators of a Company’s financial health. Net worth is calculated as the total assets a corporation has minus its liabilities. Net Income, on the other hand, is the profit a business earns after deducting its expenses and taxes. Assets are all the available properties of every kind and possessions that will provide a future benefit for any corporation. InLife, a mutual company, has been a life insurer for more than a century. Litttaua said, “we are a Filipino company com-

peting amidst all these foreign-supported companies. We leverage on our 111 years of unbroken service to our fellow Filipinos. We are a mutual life insurance company, so our policyholders are also the owners of InLife. Above all, we are a Filipino company giving back to our country.” Littaua also added that while InLife banks on its more-than-a-century-long service, it continues to invest in industry-leading technology in order to maximize its digital end-to-end platforms and remain competitive in this fast-paced environment. Aside from this, he said InLife remains focused on its customer centricity agenda. “Instead of focusing on our competitors, we concentrate on our customers. They demand speed, convenience and clarity from us so we give them all these. Our functional units know that at the end of each quarter, they must be able to identify at least one thing they have done in order to make our customers’ experiences much better. We cannot be a passion brand if we do not have the passion and compassion ourselves.”

InLife finishes strong in 2021; in the top 5 in net worth, net income and assets

The conference was also graced by other DENR Officials: Assistant Secretary for Finance, Information Systems and Mining Concerns, Engr. Nonita S. Caguioa; Assistant Secretary for Field Operations – Eastern Mindanao, Ruth M. Tawantawan; and Undersecretary for Field Operations – Luzon, Visayas and

Environment, Atty. Juan Miguelm T. Cuna. The continuous streamlining of application processes for mining permit/contracts; implementation of Use it or Lose it policy where projects not giving revenue benefits to the government; and, conduct and requiring mining companies to set up real-time

monitoring instruments/ technology were among the topics discussed during the ManCon. “This Management Conference shall remain to be the venue to promote the advocacy for responsible mining and the commitment of MGB for its mandate and public service,” as stressed by RD Lascano.

DOST FPRDI promotes Bamboo for Wellness Products in Davao City The Department of Science and Technology Regional Office XI (DOST XI) thru the Davao City Science and Technology Center, in partnership with the DOST Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) and the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), Inc., rolled-out the Bamboo for Wellness Products through the conduct of Bamboo Hand Soap Making last March 19, 2022, in Brgy. Tawantawan, Davao

City. The team of DOST-FPRDI, led by Dr. Jennifer P. Tamayo, taught some 15 Bantay Bukid associates from different local clusters about the procedures in making bamboo hand soap. Each participant was also given the chance to test the finished product through a handwashing exercise. They also distributed Bamboo Charcoal-infused Hygiene Products to the identified residents of Baguio District, Davao City.

The Bamboo for Wellness Products were developed by DOST FPRDI to promote the use of bamboo-based products in combatting COVID-19 in the Philippines, especially for those who are in remote areas. Bamboo grows in abundance in the protected sites of IDIS Bantay Bukid associates. Through the training, community members were taught on how to develop value-added products derived from bamboo.

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VOL.15 ISSUE 2 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022

ENVIRONMENT

BIRD ICON: THE PHILIPPINE EAGLE IS THE COUNTRY’S NATIONAL BIRD.

THE THREATS TO PHILIPPINE EAGLES Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

ust when the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is almost over, another one is coming – that of avian or bird flu. Bird flu affects many species of birds, including chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese. It can be passed between commercial, wild and pet birds. Migrating waterfowl – mostly notably wild ducks – are the natural carriers of bird flu viruses. It’s suspected that infection can spread from wildfowl to domestic poultry. “Aquatic birds are the primary natural reservoir for most subtypes of influenza A viruses,” said the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO). “Most cause asymptomatic or mild infection in birds, where the range of symptoms depends on the virus properties.” According to the United Nations health agency, viruses that cause severe disease in birds and result in high death rates are called highly pathogenic avian influenza. Viruses that cause outbreaks in poultry but are not generally associated with severe disease are called low pathogenic avian influenza.

Although there are still no confirmed cases of bird flu in Davao region, the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) is very cautious about the situation. “With the avian flu treading closer than ever, (we) have begun taking measures in case we need to lockdown,” it said in its social media account. Last April 11, the Philippine Eagle Center (PEC) closed down to stimulate the lockdown situation and for the staff to conduct drills. “This allows us to respond at a moment’s notice as soon as there is a detected case of avian flu in Davao City,” the foundation said. “This may cripple our operations but we cannot risk the safety of our national bird, endemic raptors and other animals housed at the PEC.” The PEF operates the PEC, located in a far-flung area in Malagos of Calinan District in Davao City. It takes almost an hour to travel from the heart of the city to the center where visitors get to encounter Philippine eagles

Philippine eagle: The bird icon is the world’s second largest eagle.

placed in cages. Over twenty years now, its conservation efforts have resulted in a vast collection of information on the characteristics and behavior of Philippine eagles, monitoring of wild eagle pairs and their nests, and protection of thousands of hectares of forest habitats that benefit both eagle and man. But bird flu is not the only danger the Philippine eagles are facing in the facility in Malagos. “Even area’s resident snakes are a threat especially to eaglets, other raptors, and mammals,” PEF said in a press statement. One case happened last April 5 when a juvenile eagle – identified as Chick#29 – was found

lifeless on the floor of its enclosures. CCTV footage reviewed by a team of animal keepers showed the chick was attacked by a python. “The attack happened at 12:13 AM,” the PEF said. “CCTV footage shows the snake slithering in the enclosure and attacking the eaglet while it was brooding.” Reticulated pythons are natural resident species inside the PEC and the surrounding watershed area. They are classified as hazards under the PEC’s biosecurity measures. “Preventive measures are in place to ensure enclosures for animals are safe against hazards and incidents of this nature,” PEF said of the recent

tragedy. “The walls of the enclosure were snake proofed with an added layer of half-inch wire mesh on top of the original cyclone wire with the hole size of 2 by 2 inches.” The PEF surmised the possible entry points “could be the feeding chute, which is a PVC pipe where food is dropped in the enclosure, or the screen ceiling.” The enclosure is also adjacent to an adult Philippine eagle from the wild that can easily catch a snake. “But unfortunately for fledglings, they are still vulnerable to predation,” the PEF said. The female Philippine eagle lays only one egg every two years, according to PEF. Both parents alternately incubate the egg for about 60 days, although the female spends more time incubating while the male hunts. Upon hatching, the eaglet remains in the nest for about 5.5 months. Once it fledges, the parents will continue to look after the young eagle for as long as 17-18 months teaching it how to fly,

hunt, and to survive on its own. The young eagle matures in about six years. “Our data suggests more than 90% of juvenile eagles die before they reach maturity,” discloses Dennis Salvador, PEF executive director. “A large part of this is caused by humans. Eagles were shot, trapped, and hunted.” But the biggest threat comes from denuding the country’s forest cover. Citing data from the environment department, Salvador was quoted by a national paper as saying that 90% of the forest cover in the country had been denuded due to human activities. Emmanuel Piñol, former head of the Mindanao Development Authority who’s running for the senate this coming May election, said that only 6% of the country’s total forest cover remains today. “There is an impending disaster waiting for the next generation of Filipinos if we do not do something now,” he pointed out.

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to be requested from the Comelec for future similar reports and allegations — if any. Let me also take this opportunity to call on all Filipinos both in the Philippines and overseas to be vigilant against electoral fraud and ensure that your votes are protected. It is

our collective responsibility to make sure that the 2022 elections are safe, free, fair, and credible,” the statement said. Meanwhile, the Embassy assured the public that it is committed to providing a system of honest and orderly overseas absentee voting.

ed goods may be disposed through public auction, donation, official use of the Bureau, negotiated sale,

re-exportation, destruction or condemnation, and turn over to proper government agencies. (PNA)

ity Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) which is a flagship project of the Duterte administration. He said, “Patapos na po ang administrasyon ni Pangulong Rody Duterte ngunit pinapangako po namin sa inyo na hanggang sa huling araw, mag-tatrabaho po kami.” Currently, there are still 190 premium taxi slots that need to be fulfilled out of the 200 total count for Davao City. USec. Pastor added, “Under the leadership of RD Dondon, we are very confident that we will complete those 190 units before the end of the administration.” On behalf of the DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade, USec. Pastor encouraged, “Tuloy-tuloy

lang po ang ating suporta sa bawat isa dahil ito lamang ang paraan upang mapaunlad po natin ang lungsod ng Davao at and mode of transportation po sa buong bansa.” Also in attendance during the event were LTFRB Executive Director Ma. Kristina Cassion, LTFRB Board Member Engr. Sherwin Begyan, Acting Division Head PMajor Leonardo Y. Pamplona (Ret.) of the Traffic Enforcement and Management Division; Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Esguerra, Ms. Mary Ann Villamonte of Cymae Transpo OPC, Cymae Transpo OPC Premium Taxi drivers, and Engr. Ronnel Victor Panigon of LTFRB XI PUVMP RPMO and team. PR

to register their OLPs as business names, as well as disclose their corporate names, SEC registration numbers, and certificate of authority numbers in their OLPs and advertisements. In November 2021, however, the Commission imposed a moratorium on new OLPs while it drafts guidelines on the registration and licensing of OLPs. Under SEC Memorandum Circular No. 10, Series of 2021, only those registered as of November 2, 2021 may operate and be used for online lending or financing, subject to strict monitoring. “We thank Google for supporting our efforts to combat illegal and abusive lending, and thereby preserve the financing and lending industry’s integrity, and provide Filipinos secure and acces-

sible financing options,” SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said. “We are positive that the additional requirements, imposed by Google for developers of personal loan apps targeting users in the Philippines, will serve as another layer of protection for Filipino borrowers and deterrence against predatory lending.” The SEC has been in correspondence with Google since May 2019 to address the proliferation of unregistered personal loan apps. Aside from reporting and requesting for the removal of unlicensed lending apps from Google Play Store, the Commission has enjoined the US-based technology giant to verify the legitimacy of lending and financing companies looking to develop and publish their apps.

began implementing the online version of the program. As a public office, it is our commitment to do our best amid any circumstances. We have to be responsive to the needs of our clients, and this is what exactly happened to the KMME program, which used to be done face-to-face or in-person,” the local trade official said. To complete the course, the mentees are required to prepare their respective business improvement plans (BIPs), which they will defend before a panel of industry experts from June 30until July 1. “In preparing the BIPs,

each of the mentees will be given a coach, who will guide them in making their outputs comprehensive and satisfactory. These coaches, just like the mentors during the module runs, are industry practitioners and successful entrepreneurs themselves,” Ambi explained. Ambi added that the graduation of the KMME mentees does not mark yet the end of their journey with DTI’s mentorship program. They can expect to receive additional assistance in the forms of website development, webinars, trade fairs participation, and product development, among others.

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THREATS... FROM9

Russian banks — VTB Bank Public Joint Stock Company and the Russian Agricultural Bank — equivalent to P254.12 million as of December 2021. “This represents less than 1% of their total assets under management,” Diokno told reporters. In terms of remittances, the governor said inflows from both countries were equivalent to less than 1% of the total remittances in the past year. “Nevertheless, BSP is aware that the crisis could indirectly affect the flow of remittances of overseas Filipinos from the two warring countries,” Diokno said. Diokno last month

said the tensions between the two countries is expected to drive global and domestic crude prices even higher, pushing inflation forecasts above the government’s target range. Domestic pump prices have been on an uptrend in 12 out of the past 14 weeks, which the Department of Energy (DOE) has repeatedly attributed to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine that has hit global supplies and drove global prices higher. The Monetary Board of the BSP now expects inflation to average 4.3% this year, higher than the 3.7% outlook in February, and above the 2% to 4% target range.

investors in this fundraising validates the company’s ability to expand into neobanking and add new cutting-edge financial products and services,” Voyager and PayMaya president Shailesh Baidwan said. The company will use the new funds to launch Maya Bank services, it said. Maya Bank obtained a digital banking license from the Bangko Sentral

ng Pilipinas in September 2021. It is among the 6 licensed digital banks in the country. PLDT said the fund would also boost PayMaya’s expansion with new products such as cryptocurrency, micro-investments and insurance, among others. As of the end of March 2022, PayMaya said it had over 47 million registered users across its consumer platforms.

proceeds of their loan. Qualifications for applying for MPL Plus are regular and special GSIS members who have paid at least three months of premiums; are not on leave of absence without pay at the time of application; and have no pending administrative or criminal case. In addition, they should not belong to an agency which has been tagged as suspended, and their net take-home pay should not go lower than the amount required under the General Appropriations Act after all monthly obligations have been deducted. Qualified for a 10-year loan term are: permanent employees who have at least 10 years of premium payments; members with existing Home Emergency Loan Program (HELP) account; and special members under agencies with memoranda of agreement on MPL with GSIS. Non-permanent government personnel who have at least 15 years of premium contributions, on the other hand, may pay for the loan in nine years. Previously, their maximum loan term was only five years. Members may apply for the loan via the GSIS Touch mobile app; GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks strategically located nationwide; e-mail; electronic GSIS Member Online (eGSISMO); or drop boxes located in all GSIS offices.

“For the safety of both our clients and employees, we will only accept over-the-counter or in-person filing if the GWAPS kiosk is offline, or if the applicant has lost or defective electronic card (eCard) or Unified Multipurpose Identification (UMID) card; has unreadable biometrics; or is a temporary eCard holder,” Macasaet said. MPL Plus consolidates loan balances and charges for outstanding Salary Loan, Restructured Salary Loan; Enhanced Salary Loan; Emergency Loan Assistance; Summer One-Month Salary Loan; ConsoLoan Plus/Enhanced ConsoLoan Plus; Member’s Cash Advance/ eCard Cash Advance/ eCard Plus Cash Advance; Home Emergency Loan Program (HELP); Educational Assistance Loans I and II (EAL I/II); Study Now Pay Later; Fly PAL, Pay Later; and Stock Purchase Loan. In 2021 alone, GSIS was able to disburse PHP106 billion to 444,425 members who availed of MPL. For other details on MPL Plus, interested borrowers may visit the GSIS website (www.gsis.gov. ph) or GSIS Facebook account (@gsis.ph); email gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph; or call the GSIS Contact Center at 8847-4747 (if in Metro Manila), 1-8008-847-4747 (for Globe and TM subscribers), or 1-800-10-847-4747 (for Smart, Sun, and Talk ‘N Text subscribers). (PR)

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“Deforestation is terrible,” deplored Salvador, who was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in 2000 for wildlife conservation. “The Philippine eagle has become a critically endangered species because the loss of the forest has made it lose its natural habitat.” “In each territory, the eagles are faithful to their nests and they like to live in large and old growth trees,” Salvador said. “Unfortunately, based on deforestation data since the early 1900s, when nearly everything was green, now we are left with few old growth forests.” Studies conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said that a pair of Philippine eagles needs at least 7,000 to 13,000 hectares of forest as a nesting territory. “If Filipinos don’t get their act together for the cause of the endangered bird, it shall be doomed to die,” Salvador says. The Philippine eagle is second only to the Madagascar sea eagle in rarity. In size, it beats the American bald eagle; it is the world’s second largest – after the Harpy eagle of Central and South America. This bird of prey was first discovered in 1896 by English naturalist John Whitehead in Samar. He first called it the monkey-eating eagle because he thought it fed primarily on monkeys and gave it the scientific name, Pithecophaga jefferyi. The scientific name came from two Greek words: pitekos (monkey) and phagien (to eat). Jefferyi was the discoverer’s tribute to his father, Jeffrey, who funded his expedition. In 1978, the old name was dropped and given its present name through Presidential Decree No. 1732 after it was learned that monkeys comprise an insignificant portion of the bird’s diet, which consists mostly of flying lemurs, civet cats, bats, rodents, and snakes. A majestic bird, Philippine eagle stands a meter high, weighs anywhere from four to seven

kilograms and has a grip three times the strength of the strongest man on earth, according to PEF. With a wing span of nearly seven feet and a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour, the Philippine eagle can gracefully swoop down on an unsuspecting prey and carry it off without breaking flight. “You cannot deny how charismatic the Philippine eagle is, just by looking at its enormous wings and its incredible flight,” said Maria Lourdes Almeda, ecosystems research specialist of the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Philippine eagle conservation focal person. Unlike men, Philippine eagles are monogamous. Once it has selected a partner, it is for life. As Almeda puts it: “They teach us to be loyal, which they say in the vernacular as ‘May forever ang mga Philippine eagle.’ However, females can be very aggressive towards males if they dislike them.” Efforts to save the Philippine eagles started in 1965 by Jesus A. Alvarez, then director of the autonomous Parks and Wildlife Office, and Dioscoro S. Rabor, another founding father of Philippine Conservation efforts. American aviator Charles Lindberg, who described the Philippine eagle as “the world’s noblest flier,” spearheaded a drive to save the bird from 1969 to 1972. Within this time frame, several helpful laws were passed. In July 1995, then President Fidel V. Ramos signed Proclamation No. 615 naming the Philippine eagle as the country’s national bird (thus dislodging maya). He said that the eagle is found only in the Philippines and as such should be a source of national pride. Echoing the words of Salvador, Ramos said then: “If the national bird dies, so will all the country’s efforts at conserving its natural resources and treasures.”

bruised hand. In a statement, Merseyside Police confirmed they were liaising with Manchester United and Everton following reports of the alleged assault. “As players were leaving the pitch at 2.30 p.m., it was reported that a boy was assaulted by one of the away team as they left the pitch,” the statement said. “Inquiries are underway and officers are currently working with Everton Football club to review CCTV footage and are carrying out extensive witness enquiries to establish if an offence has

taken place,” it added. Ronaldo apologized Ronaldo apologized for the incident on his Instagram account, saying: “It’s never easy to deal with emotions in difficult moments such as the one we are facing.” “Nevertheless, we always have to be respectful, patient and set the example for all the youngsters who love the beautiful game. “I would like to apologize for my outburst and, if possible, I would like to invite this supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford as a sign of fair play and sportsmanship.” (Anadolu)

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EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

The UP Fighting Maroons began their own second-round campaign with their winning run sustained by edging the Bulldogs, 84-76.

Adamson, UP score wins to start second round

atty Erolon scored the winning basket, while Cedrick Manzano put up a defensive gem in the end as Adamson escaped with a 64-63 win against Far Eastern University (FEU) in Matchday 8 of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Erolon scored on a corner three with three seconds off a kick-out pass from Jerom Lastimosa as the Soaring Falcons prevailed despite losing a 14-point lead built in the first half. The Tamaraws still had a

chance to steal the game, but Manzano picked the pass intended for Emman Ojuola as time ran out. Lastimosa finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one block for Adamson, which began

the second round of the eliminations on a high note by snapping a five-game losing streak and moving up to 2-6 for the season. Manzano added 14 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting, four rebounds, one block, and one steal off the bench. LJ Gonzales had his 20-point performance on top of five rebounds, four assists, and two steals flushed as FEU missed out on tying National University (NU), which lost to the University of the Philippines (UP)

in the first game, for fourth place and instead fell to 3-5. The Fighting Maroons began their own second-round campaign with their winning run sustained by edging the Bulldogs, 8476. UP nearly lost its own

early double-digit lead but pulled away for good late in the game to hold off NU. Carl Tamayo led the Fighting Maroons, who have now won seven straight games after dropping their season opener against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, with 21

points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Ricci Rivero and Zav Lucero each added 16 markers. John Lloyd Clemente made 18 points, three boards, and one dime for the Bulldogs, who fell to 4-4. (PNA)

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Ronaldo under probe for slapping fan’s phone

ONDON – Police in Liverpool confirmed Sunday that they have launched an investigation after Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to slap a mobile phone out of a young fan’s hand. Manchester United suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Everton on Saturday at the latter’s home ground of Goodison Park. The young boy was an Everton supporter. Footage that spread on social media showed Ronaldo making his way off the pitch through the tunnel with fans on either side of the railing. It then appeared to show him

slapping the hand of the young fan who was holding a mobile phone. Sarah Kelly, the mother of Jake, the young fan, told local media outlet the Liverpool Echo: “At full-time, the Man United players started walking off. We were in the Park End, so we were right by the tunnel where they came walking past – my son was there videoing them all.” “He filmed all the United players walking through. And then he lowered his phone because Ronaldo had pulled down his sock and his leg was bleeding. He lowered his phone to see what it was

– he didn’t even speak. “Ronaldo then just walked past, with a terrible, terrible temper and smashed the phone out of my son’s hand and carried on walking. “I was crying, I was shook up, Jacob was in complete shock – he’s autistic and he’s got dyspraxia as well, so he didn’t really digest what was happening until he’s come home now. He’s really upset about it and it’s completely put him off going to the game again,” she said. She also provided the Liverpool Echo with a photo showing her son’s

FRONALDO, P10

Christiano Ronaldo is being probed for slapping a fan’s phone out of hand.

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 2 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022

Tony Bishop drives to the hoop in Game 3. PBA

LAW OF AVERAGES Meralco steamrolled Ginebra with two straight wins for a 2-1 lead in the best of seven final series. Like I told you much earlier, the law of averages is working in Norman Black’s favor. He’s got to win the championship this time or else he’ll forever be sporting the favorite “whipping boy” tag. On the other hand, Brgy. Ginebra must prevent sinking into a 1-3 pit. But that is easier said than done. Tim Cone is terribly missing Japeth Aguilar in the middle. Christian Standhardinger is overworked and LA Tenorio is struggling. Sure, Justin Brownlee still produces his expected output but overall his teammates cannot fill in the void when it is most necessary. Black has heaped praises on the man who has injected the much-needed serum to push the Bolts’ momentum a notch higher: Cliff Hodge. I told you that, didn’t I? If there is an outstanding player Black can be proud of, Cliff Hodge is it. Take Hodge out of Meralco’s equation and you will see Standhardinger and JB run rings around Black’s entire crew. I think the Gins are just too tired and exhausted after coming out of the prelims. They visibly struggled against NLEX in the semis.

Cone has also to contain the playmaking of Chris Newsome whose backcourt orchestration is simply outstanding and impressive. To get back into contention and bring the series into a best of three, Cone needs to introduce a “new” mix in his rotation as Black has already fingered who to match with whom. Notice that Aaron Black is slowly becoming a thorn on the side. The young man can score, defend and issue important assists. If Hodge is able to stalk and hound JB, Cone should find a guy who can do the same to Tony Bishop. I think Cone can alternate Scottie Thompson, Aljon Mariano, Capital and one other guy against the prolific Meralco import. Deny Bishop the ball. Cone should also give appropriate minutes to Jeff Chan and Arvin Tolentino who provide sniping from the outside and relieve JB of the scoring load. The objective is to tie the series 2-2 and then worry, if he should, from there. Black has already cut out the chores for his boys. They will play as physically as they can and I think, in this aspect, Meralco is succeeding. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!