Manila Standard - 2016 November 09 - Wednesday

DU30:YOLANDA REHAB DONE IN DEC.

By John Paolo Bencito, Maricel V. Cruz and Macon R. Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he was dismayed over the government’s inept response to recovery efforts, particularly on the insufficient housing for victims three years after Super Typhoon “Yolanda,” which devastated large portions of Eastern Visayas and left more than 7,000 people dead.

Speaking before hundreds of Yolanda victims at Tacloban City, Duterte named Presidential Adviser for the Visayas Michael Next page

SC looks into court warrants amid EJK

By Rey E. Requejo, Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz THE Supreme Court will investigate the issuance of search warrants issued by a Samar court that resulted in the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa inside his cell at a Leyte sub-provincial jail in Baybay City on Nov. 5.

A police raiding team said Next page

VOL. XXX • NO. 270 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

PROMISED SHELTERS. President Rodrigo Duterte, assisted by survivors of Typhoon ‘Yolanda,’ lays a wreath at the gravesite of victims in Barangay Basper in Tacloban City, after directing his housing czar Vice President Leni Robredo to make sure the shelters of some 200,000 survivors are finished on time. Ver Noveno

Hero’s burial for Marcos High court okays Libingan with 9-5-1 vote

US POLL

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos can now be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani after the Supreme Court on Tuesday junked seven petitions seeking to stop the burial.

W A T C H

Clinton has early edge over Trump RALEIGH, North Carolina—A nervous world turned its gaze to America’s 200 million-strong electorate Tuesday as it chooses whether to send the first female president or a populist property tycoon to the White House.

Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton and Republican maverick Donald Trump campaigned into the wee hours of polling day as they fought to sell their starkly different visions for the future of the world’s greatest power.

The 69-year-old former first lady, senator and secretary of state—backed by A-list musical stars and incumbent President Barack Obama—urged the country to unite and vote for “a

Voting 9-5, with one abstention, the Court dismissed the consolidated petitions seeking to stop the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to allow the Marcos burial at the heroes’ cemetery, 27 years after his death.

Court spokesman Theodore Te said the justices found no grave abuse of discretion on the part of President Duterte in granting the

plea of the Marcos family to bury the former leader at the cemetery for soldiers and former presidents.

“There is no law that prohibits the burial,” Te said as he read a summary of the verdict and hundreds of Marcos supporters outside the court cheered.

The majority decision written

by Associate Justice Diosdado Next page

hopeful, inclusive, big-hearted America.”

Trump, meanwhile, doubled down on his outreach to voters who feel left behind by globalization and social change, finishing with a flourish on his protectionist slogan: “America first.”

“Just imagine what our country could accomplish if we started working together as one people, under one God, saluting one American flag,” the 70-year-old billionaire reality television star told cheering supporters.

Some 40-million Americans have already cast ballots in states that allow early voting, and opinion polls suggest Next page

GOOD CHEER. Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee R. Marcos, the oldest of the three children of former President Ferdinand Marcos, joins Marcos loyalists

and supporters in an animated celebration after the Supreme Court, voting 9-5-1, ruled the former soldier and president can now be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, 27 years after he died in exile in Hawaii. Norman Cruz

Hillary Clinton

Donald Trump

De Lima sticks to gun, pushes for habeas bid SENATOR Leila de Lima said Tuesday Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella was missing the whole point.

“I have nothing to hide and much less do I have any cause to deny any alleged involvement with the illegal drug trade or with any of its so-called drug lords that this administration has repeatedly and desperately insisted I have,” she said in a statement.

“The way our criminal justice system works―or is supposed to work―is that the burden of proving the guilt of a person belongs

to the prosecution.”

De Lima said the allegations against her were unsubstantiated, and that those came mainly from drug convicts and the so-called “witnesses” with axes to grind.

She said when Abella presumed to tell her to first answer the allegations against her before she attempted to seek relief from the Supreme Court for the violations she had suffered, she told him to display a better understanding of, and more regard for, the basic protections set forth in Next page

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Bongbong: Ruling an answered prayer Russia guns,

By Macon R. Araneta, in lieu of US, John Paolo Bencito and Maricel V. Cruz eyed for PH FORMER senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Supreme Court decision to allow his father’s burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani would contribute to the healing process in the country.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Marcos also said the

ruling was the fulfillment of his wishes.

“As a son, it is something that I have been praying for many, many years,” Marcos said.

In a separate statement, the former senator said that the landmark ruling upheld the rule of law.

“We are deeply grateful to the Supreme Court for its decision to allow the burial of my father, former President Ferdinand E.

Marcos, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Once again, the Supreme Court has taken a magnanimous act to uphold the rule of law,” Marcos said.

“We also would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte as his unwavering commitment to this issue sustained us these past several months. Our family will forever Next page

Nur camp boycotts Moro transition panel MORO National Liberation Front Chairman Nur Misuari on Tuesday tagged rival Moro group Moro Islamic Liberation Front as “traitors” for abandoning the Bangsamoro cause and urged the government to dissociate from them.

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S

While affirming his commitment to join the peace deals with the government, Misuari said he will boycott the MILF-led Bangsamoro Transition Commission, which was created by an executive order signed by President

thestandard.com.ph

Rodrigo Duterte following his decision to organize a five-person panel to separately engage with the government.

“These are all traitors, that’s why I cannot accept them,” Misuari Next page

THE Philippines is looking to Russia to supply the 26,000 rifles that it needs following the scrapping of a deal to buy them from the United States, an official said Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said that became a possibility after President Rodrigo Duterte canceled the deal to purchase 26,000 US rifles for the national police.

“The President reportedly canceled the M4 deal with the United States, so we are now looking for alternative sources and Russia is one of them,” Jose said.

Next page

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Road users block Tugade's CA bid T

HE Commission on Appointments has allowed an umbrella network of road users to present its case against the confirmation of Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade.

Ray Junia, chairman of the Road Users Protection Advocates or RUPA, says Tugade’s performance, along with his plea for emergency powers and P8 trillion worth of projects without public bidding, will only worsen the traffic situation while enriching the officials

De Lima...

From A1

the Constitution upon which the workings of the Justice System was founded.

She invited Abella to help elevate the discourse on the critical issues affecting the nation by first carefully reading the full text of her petition for a writ of habeas data, taking the time to watch the video clips submitted as evidence along with other attachments before dismissing her case as “noise”.

“As for me, I stand by the strength of my legal arguments, and I’m confident that the Supreme Court would see the merits of my case. No one can deny the legitimate issues I have raised in my petition. They are adequately documented and supported by verifiable facts,” De Lima said.

The former Justice secretary told Abella not to worry how she played her cards.

Meanwhile, De Lima told reporters she wanted Ramon Espinosa, an elder brother of slain Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., to face the Senate over his reported statement that the mayor’s affidavit linking her to illegal drugs was “ready-made.”

The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs led

by Senator Panfilo Lacson is set to hold an inquiry on Thursday jointly with the committee on justice and human rights on Espinosa’s death and that of Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao, and nine of his men last Oct. 28.

De Lima said she read a report from the Cebu Daily News that the brother of the slain mayor had told him before he was killed that the list did not come from him.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Russia...

From A1

He cited the recent meeting of Philippine Ambassador to Rus-

sia Carlos Sorreta and Russian businessman Arkadiy Privalov of Concern Kalashnikov, the largest Russian manufacturing company that produces assault rifles.

He said that the Philippines was now “window shopping” for weapons from different countries.

Last week, the US government decided to cancel its planned sale of 26,000 assault rifles to the Philippine National Police due to its increasing concern over human rights violations in the country.

US Senator Ben Cardin said he planned to oppose the deal following the human rights violations accompanying Duterte’s bloody war against alleged drug users and dealers.

But Duterte slammed the unconfirmed report and instead canceled the deal with the US, saying he could go to Russia or China for the weapons.

Following Duterte’s announcement, Sorreta took the opportunity to find out what arms could be bought from Russia.

“I wanted information on whether Russian sales would include not only after-sales service but also if Russia would support the Philippines’ own efforts to develop its small arms industry, as they have done in other countries that bought their weapons,” Sorreta said. Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

Clinton...

From A1 Clinton had a slight edge, as the tiny hamlet of Dixville Notch in New Hampshire opened Election Day balloting.

A polling average by tracker site RealClearPolitics gave Clinton a 3.3-percentage point national lead, but Trump is closer or even has the advantage in several of the swing states that he must conquer to pull off an upset.

No results or exit polls will be available before polling stations begin to close on the US East Coast from 7:00 pm (0000 GMT Wednesday), and it may be three or more hours after that before the direction of the race becomes clear.

its opposition to the confirmation of Secretary Tugade,” Junia said.

Salimbangon earlier asked the group to back its complaint against Tugage’s confirmation.

Junia says his group has urged Congress and the commission to “go beyond a cursory look into the background of Secretary Tugade and his motives in hiring officials whose intentions are suspect, given their history in taking the side of service providers on big projects under the then Department of Transportation and Communications.

“Consumers have all the reasons

to fear the emergency powers being sought. It is nothing but a grand scheme to commit more corruption.”

Junia says RUPA will take the opportunity to prove its claim that Tugade’ s confirmation will serve only the interest of oligarchs whom President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to fight.

He says the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila and in other urban areas has already reached the level of a “crime against the people.”

“The reports from the Senate on the thoughts of Senator Grace Poe

whose committee is hearing the request for emergency powers to solve traffic crisis is deeply disturbing. The Senate is reported to be alarmed at the incompetence of the [Transport Department] on its justification for emergency powers,” Junia said.

He was referring to Poe’s statement that the department’s proposal to address the worsening traffic congestion problem was “incoherent and grandiose” and that the projects proposed by Tugade and his team “are unlikely to be implemented due to a lack of clear plans

and funding.”

Junia says the stakeholders are also concerned about the conflict of interest and loyalty issues raised by the leaders of the House of Representatives against the incumbent Transport officials.

“Congress leaders pointed out probable conflict of interest in the exercise of official functions of [Transport] officials. Consumers have every reason to fear that the [Transport Department] leadership will not be able to serve the interests of the people,” Junia said.

Joel E. Zurbano

Hero's...

interred in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

The Court said that as incumbent President, Duterte has the right “to amend, revoke, or rescind political agreements entered into by his predecessor” and to come up with policies that he thinks will be effective in fulfilling his mandate.

The Court also recognized the President’s power under the Administrative Code to reserve for public use and for any specific public purpose any of the lands of the public domain.

“The majority found that the allotment of a cemetery plot at the LNMB for former President Marcos as a former president and commander-in-chief, a legislator, a secretary of National Defense, a military personnel, a veteran, and a Medal of Valor awardee, whether recognizing his contributions or simply his status as such, satisfies the public use requirement,” Te said, in a press briefing.

The Court also held that the petitioners failed to back their claims that Duterte was motivated by debt of gratitude and payback to the Marcoses for their support in the last elections.

“As the purpose is not self-evident, petitioners have the burden of proof to establish the factual basis of their claim. They failed. Even so, this Court cannot take cognizance of factual issues since we are not a trier of facts,” the Court said.

While petitioners may disregard Marcos as president and commander-in-chief due to his human rights abuses, the Court said he cannot be denied the right to be acknowledged as a legislator, a secretary of National Defense, a military personnel, a war veteran and a Medal of Valor awardee.

“We agree with the proposition that Marcos should be viewed and judged in his totality as a person. While he was not all good, he was not pure evil either. Certainly, just a human who erred like us,” the Court said.

The tribunal also did not give credence to the arguments of the petitioners that Marcos was disqualified from burial at the LNMB because he had been convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude.

In fact, the Court noted Marcos was not convicted by final judgment of any offense involving moral turpitude.

While the petitioners cited various cases which were decided with finality by local and foreign courts, the Court said these have no bearing on the issue since these cases were merely civil in nature and do not establish moral turpitude.

The seven petitions that were junked were filed by groups of Martial Law victims led by former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and former Commission on Human Rights chairwoman Etta Rosales;

a group led by former senator Heherson Alvarez; a group of University of the Philippines students; and former Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao human rights chairman Algamar Latiph; and Senator Leila de Lima.

Petitioners argued that the planned burial of the late dictator is “illegal and contrary to law, public policy, morals and justice.”

Former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the late strongman, welcomed the ruling, describing it as “a magnanimous act to uphold the rule of law.”

“We also would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte as his unwavering commitment to this issue sustained us these past several months. Our family will forever be thankful for his kind gesture,” Marcos Jr. said.

“It is our sincerest hope that this will lead the nation towards healing as we endeavor to move the country forward to give every Filipino a better life,” he added.

Marcos ruled the Philippines for two decades until 1986, when millions of people took to the streets in a “People Power” revolution that forced him and his family into US exile.

Government investigators and historians say Marcos, his wife Imelda, and their cronies plundered up to $10 billion from state coffers during his rule.

The dictator also oversaw wide-

spread human rights abuses to maintain his control of the country and enable his plundering, with thousands of people killed and tortured, previous governments said.

Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International in 2004 named Marcos the second most corrupt leader of all time.

Marcos died in Hawaii in 1989 and his family had since tried to have him buried at the heroes’ cemetery, where other presidents and celebrated military figures are interred.

The family has enjoyed a remarkable political comeback that saw his son and namesake become a senator, then almost win the vice presidency this year.

However, previous presidents had refused to allow the burial because of Marcos’s crimes, and the preserved body had been kept in a glass casket at his home in the northern province of Ilocos Norte.

The family’s fortunes changed with the election of Duterte, a longtime ally of the Marcos family, as president in May this year.

He said Marcos deserved to be buried at the heroes’ cemetery based simply on the fact he had been a president and a veteran of World War II. Duterte also said he owed loyalty to the family because his father served in the Marcos government and the family had helped to fund his election campaign. With AFP

SC looks...

“We will follow the laws of UAE... we just cannot get an affidavit in jail or any other location.

The only way that we could get his confession… is through the Philippine Embassy at Abu Dhabi,” said Senior Supt. Alberto Ferro, director of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group.

Ferro said he would bring the younger Espinosa back to the country amid fears that he, too, like his father, would be killed.

“I will personally bring him safely here so that he can shed light on illegal drug transactions that involve politicians and high-ranking police officials,” he said in Filipino.

The younger Espinosa is detained at the Al Whatba District Jail in Abu Dhabi.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier tagged Espinosa as one of the top leaders of the illegal drug business operating in the Visayas.

Also on Tuesday, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno identified the 19 operatives in the police raid that killed Espinosa and Yap inside the Leyte jail. With John Paolo Bencito and Francisco Tuyay

Nur camp...

ment in the 80’s created the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Asked to comment on Misuari’s statements, Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said Misuari’s misgivings about the MILF was the reason he asked Misuari to “also organize a five-person panel.”

“That was precisely why we are engaging Misuari in a separate track,” Dureza told the Manila Standard in a text message.

Misuari’s faction opted not to participate in the BTC due to its “principled position,” Dureza said.

“Chairman Nur Misuari has a principled position since the BTC is a mechanism of the CAB. Of course, you should understand that Chairman Nur Misuari made reference to the government and the MNLF’s 1996 Final Peace Agreement. He has not yet abandoned that agreement.”

John Paolo Bencito

From A1 be thankful for his kind gesture,” he added.

By a vote of 9-5-1, the 15-man Supreme Court dismissed consolidated petitions seeking to stop the burial of the late dictator at the heroes’ cemetery 27 years after he died in exile in Hawaii.

Malacañang told many critics of the burial to “move forward” as they welcomed the decision of the Court.

“We acknowledge the decision of the Supreme Court to have the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani as it is the final arbiter of all legal questions,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

“We hope the matter will finally be laid to rest, and that the nation find the wherewithal to move forward and to continue forging a nation that is peaceable, just and fair to all.”

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the ruling affirmed the Duterte administration’s position on the issue.

“The ruling validates our theory that the law and the regulations allow the burial of ex-presidents and soldiers in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Hopefully, the decision will put to rest the opposition to the burial of Marcos,” he said.

“It’s about time the nation moves on and confront the more pressing concerns of the country rather than linger on an emotional issue that is unproductive as it is divisive,” he added.

Solicitor-General Jose Calida, who served as the government’s lawyer in the case, said the decision “vindicates the political wisdom of President Rodrigo Duterte to hasten unity and national healing.”

Calida also expressed gratitude to the nine magistrates who ruled in favor of the burial.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, whose agency was tasked to undertake the necessary preparations to have Marcos buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, said that

it will be up to the Marcos family when to proceed with the burial.

Marcos, who said that the decision marks the start of the unification of the country, said he and his family were still ironing out the date and details of the burial.

“When the Supreme Court issued the status quo ante order, all the planning and all the decisions that we had to do, we had to stop,” he said.

“We will make the details public for all those who wish to participate in the interment of my father,” he added.

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos has called for peace and forgiveness after the Supreme Court issued its decision.

“Let’s not debate about this anymore. Whatever hate, resentment you have in your heart, let it go,” she said at a pro-Marcos rally in front of the Supreme Court.

“Let us forgive, let us be united, let the Philippines move on,” she added.

The governor said the Court decision showed that if the government can talk to “Muslim brothers and the Reds,” they can also listen to the plea of the Ilocanos and all other loyal Marcos supporters.

Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao said they believe there is no law prohibiting a former President or a soldier like Marcos from being buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“If they really want to distinguish or exclude others whom they believe should not be buried there, let us pass a law about this. But now in the absence of any law, there is nothing to prevent the [burial so]... let’s leave it at that and let’s move on,” Lacson said.

Senator Gregorio Honasan, who took up arms against Marcos in the People Power revolt, said “now is as good a time as any to strengthen the rule of law and due process to help achieve political unity social cohesion and economic prosperity.”

But Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said the Supreme Court effectively rewrote history.

“In their purely legalistic eyes,

the Edsa People Power… never happened.”

“We should now expect Bongbong Marcos to be the Vice President of the Philippines soon,” he added.

Senator Grace Poe maintained her position that Marcos should not be buried at the LNMB due to his established human rights record alone during Martial Law. “Be that as it may, whether we disagree with it, the nation will have to defer to the ruling of the Supreme Court as the final arbiter on this matter,” she added.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said he would talk to President Rodrigo Duterte about the Supreme Court’s decision on the Marcos burial, and see if he could change his mind.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party, said he considered it “a horrible day for democracy.”

“Thanks to the Supreme Court, the Philippines will be a laughingstock of the world. We kicked out a reviled dictator and now we are honoring him by burying him in our national heroes cemetery.

No less than our Supreme Court wants our citizens, our children to honor a plunderer and tyrant.

This is shameful and deplorable,” he said.

“Now the Supreme Court wants Mr. Marcos, who it previously called a “dictator … who caused 20 years of political, economic and social havoc in the country”, buried alongside our heroes,” he added.

Rather than effect closure as the final arbiter of all disputes, he noted that the Supreme Court has reopened old wounds.

He said if the Supreme Court thinks it has the final say on the matter, then they are terribly mistaken. He said burying Marcos in the Libingan has created a huge divide that will haunt the nation for years to come.

He said the law creating the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Republic Act 289, reserved its sacred grounds for heroes to be emulated by “this generation and of generations still unborn.” With Rio N. Araja

construction, the Local Water Utilities Administration, the National Housing Authority and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“I’m not mad at LWUA, NHA or DPWH [but] you do that again and I will fire all of you,” he said.

“When you are paid to do your work for eight hours, work for eight hours. Do not shortchange the public,” the President said.

Duterte then asked Dino, his adviser for the Visayas to oversee relief efforts in typhoon-struck areas.

“I want this thing completed—I will be back. I’ll be back December,” he said.

On Monday, Robredo admitted that red tape is still slowing down the completion of more than 200,000 houses meant for victims

of typhoon Yolanda, three years after the deadly cyclone battered the Philippines.

Robredo, who heads the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, said visits to affected sites and dialogues with local leaders showed government regulations were slowing down Yolanda resettlement projects.

“So if you look at the figures, there is a need for so many houses but only a handful of them have been completed. The delay was caused not by construction but by documentary requirements,” she said.

The government’s resettlement cluster targeted 205,128 housing units for construction under the leadership of the NHA. The agency received P39.2 billion, one of the largest re-

leases to government agencies.

According to a June 2016 National Economic and Development Authority report, only 23.2 percent or P9.1 billion of the amount has been disbursed. The report also showed that the NHA’s projects only had an overall weighted accomplishment of 12.3 percent. Some 45 percent was ongoing and 42.6 percent had not yet started.

A September 2016 Department of Social Welfare and Development validation report cited complaints by Yolanda survivors that affirmed the snail’s pace of housing projects. In Guiuan, Eastern Samar, transition houses were demolished to make way for the construction of core shelters. No temporary abodes, however, were provided to survivors while the core houses were being built.

of the Transport department who stand to benefit from the negotiated contracts.

“RUPA wishes to express its gratitude to the Commission on Appointments, especially to Cebu Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, for its assurance that it will be heard on

From A1 Peralta said: “President Duterte... acted within the bounds of law and jurisprudence. Notwithstanding the call of human rights advocates, the Court must uphold what is legal and just.”

With the ruling, the tribunal lifted its status quo ante order on the burial.

Te said there was no abuse of discretion on the part of the President, because he was exercising his mandate under Article VII, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution.

Those who concurred with Peralta’s ruling were Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Arturo Brion, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano del Castillo, Jose Perez, Jose Mendoza and Estela Perlas-Bernabe.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, along with Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Francis Jardeleza and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa dissented, while Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes inhibited himself.

Te said the petitioners may still file a motion for reconsideration.

In denying the consolidated petition, the Court pointed out that Duterte is not bound by the 1992 agreement entered into between former President Fidel Ramos and the Marcos family to have the remains

From A1 they tried to served the warrants, issued by Judge Tarcelo Sabarre Jr. of the Regional Trial Court Branch 30 in Basey, Samar, at dawn, but Espinosa and another inmate, Raul Yap opened fire on them, leading them to fire back and kill the two prisoners.

“The Supreme Court has ordered an investigation into the circumstances relative to the purported issuance of the search warrant... that led to the death in custody of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa,” Court spokesman Theodore Te said Tuesday in a media briefing.

He said the Court would prepare guidelines for the investigation, which was initiated during the session Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, the Philippine National Police said it would secure an affidavit from Espinosa’s son Kerwin, said to be the top drug lord in Eastern Visayas, before he is brought back to the country from the United Arab Emirates where he was arrested.

From A1 said. He cited the MILF’s decision to reject the 1976 Tripoli Agreement that he signed with the Marcos regime.

I hope the government will dissociate from them, otherwise I can’t forgive them. Why will they associate with traitors? They must be put in prison, they are pure and simple criminals.”

Misuari said there was no need for a new law for the Bangsamoro following the 1976 Tripoli Agreement in which the MNLF and the government agreed to give autonomy to 15 provinces and 20 cities, as well as the 1996 Final Peace Agreement that provided mechanisms to carry out the 1976 pact.

Misuari, who was given a temporary reprieve by a Pasig Court to pursue peace talks with the government, said the negotiations with the governAnd even then, questions remain.

Trump has repeatedly warned that a “corrupt Washington and media elite” is seeking to rig the race and he said last month that he may not concede defeat if he thinks voting is unfair.

He has also threatened to lodge lawsuits against up to a dozen women who have come forward during the race to accuse him of sexual assault or inappropriate behavior.

Clinton has pushed a more optimistic vision, despite a wobble in the final weeks of her campaign when the FBI reopened an investigation into whether she had put US secrets at risk by using a private email server—only to close it again on Sunday. AFP

DU30...

From A1 Dino to oversee all recovery efforts and for housing czar Vice President Leni Robredo “to finish her job on time.”

“I came three years ago when this incident happened and I was sad. I’m not mad, I’m not offended. But three years after, there are only a few who live in relief houses provided by the government. I don’t want to offend anybody but I’m not satisfied,” Duterte said in a speech Tuesday. “As a matter of fact, it’s BS to me.”

Duterte said he would fire any government employee who further delays housing projects for typhoon victims, and focused his frustration on three agencies involved in the Yolanda re-

Bongbong:...

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Pacman donates title belt to Senate

By Macon Araneta A VICTORIOUS Senator Manny Pacquiao donated his World Boxing Organization championship belt to the Senate as a memorial for being the first sitting senator to win a world boxing title.

“I’m very, very happy for making history in boxing, first ever. Although I am no longer here [Senate], the first Filipino, the first senator who is a world champion in boxing,” said Pacquiao in an interview.

Two days after defeating WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Navada, Pacquiao was back to his work as senator of the Philippines.

“There are many jobs to do here in the Senate. So I wanted to be immediately back here.

In fact, I left my family there [US]. My wife is still there,” he said.

While he does not want to fail his supporters in the boxing arena, Pacquiao stressed he also does not want to frustrate millions of Filipinos who backed his senatorial bid in the last May elections.

“I want them to be proud of me so I need ro focus on my job,” stressed the 37-year-old world boxing champion who donated his championship belt to the Senate.

Pacquiao admitted it was a tough fight with Vargas. He described Vargas as very strong, being 10 years younger than him. He was in a very good condition,” he said.

But with his discipline and time management, he was able to weather the fight and won over the much younger Vargas. He said his endurance has remained the same as when he started boxing in his younger years.

Pacquiao guaranteed he is not yet retiring from boxing. He said there will be more fights, but he cannot name who will be his future opponents.

Asked if American Floyd Mayweather, 5-division world champion, could be among them, Pacquiao said “he has retired from boxing.”

The Senate adopted yesterday a resolution commending and congratulating Pacquiao for his latest feat.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, who introduced Senate Resolution 217, said Pacquiao’s immeasurable achievements and intense desire for boxing have brought honor, pride and inspiration to Filipinos worldwide.

Time and again, Sotto said in his resolution, Pacquiao have put the country’s name in a new light.

WELCOME HOME, CHAMP. With clenched fists, senators welcome Senator Manny Pacquiao back to the Senate on Tuesday after reclaiming the World Boxing Organization welterweight title from Jessie Vargas on Sunday. Pacquiao donated his championship belt to the Senate as a memorial of the first Filipino senator to win a world boxing title.

Lino Santos

SC asked to stop Meralco supply deal with affiliates

By Rey E. Requejo

T

HE Supreme Court has been asked to stop the Energy Regulatory Commission from approving a 20-year power supply agreements between Manila Electric Co. and several power generating companies covering 3,551 megawatts or 90 percent of power supply requirements.

In a 34-page petition, the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Inc. also sought the issuance of a temporary restraining order to stop the ERC from approving Meralco’s power supply deal.

The group also pleaded for the nullification of ERC Resolution No. 1 Series of 2016 which extended from October 2015 to April 2016 the effectivity of ERC Resolution No. 13 Series of 2015 directing all distribution utilities to con-

duct competitive selection process in the procurement of their supply to the captive market.

The petitioner stressed that the ERC committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in issuing ERC Resolution No. 1.

The petitioner said the ERC is mandated under the Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform

Act of 2001 to promote competition, encourage market development, ensure customer choice and penalize abuse of market power.

Due to the extension, the petitioner claimed Meralco was able to enter into negotiated PSAs with its affiliated generation companies without the benefit of conducted CSP. The petitioner stressed that seven contracts between Meralco and its affiliated generation companies were signed only four days before the new deadline, denying the consumers the benefit of competition and subjecting them anew to overpriced negotiated prices.

If approved by the ERC, the petitioner claimed that 5.8-million consumers of Meralco’s captive market will be burdened by the PSA for 20 years.

“The resulting irreparable damage to the consumers arising from the 20-year contracts would easily translate to P12.44 billion a year that would be mercilessly

hung on the necks of consumers like an albatross if these midnight power supply agreements are allowed to evade the law,” the petitioner said.

“It will also sabotage the promotion of free and open market competition, and preclude the competition operation of the spot market,” the group said.

Named respondents in the case were ERC, Department of Energy, Meralco and its sister generation companies Central Luzon Premiere Power Corp., St. Raphael Power Generation Corp., Panay Energy Development Corp., Mariveles Power Generation Corp., Global Luzon Energy Development Corp., Atimonan One Energy Inc., Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. and Philippine Competition Commission.

The petitioner added that there is no other justifiable reason for the issuance of ERC Resolution No.1 “other than to facilitate and legitimize the commission of an unlawful act.”

Laoag Intl Airport Authority bill on hold

By Maricel.V Cruz A JOINT panel of the House of Representatives has deferred the approval of a proposal to create the Laoag International Airport Authority pending the submission of a 10-year feasibility study by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and other concerned agencies.

This came after Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, a co-sponsor of House Bill 2024 which seeks to establish the Laoag International Airport Authority,

asked the House committees on government enterprises and privatization and on transportation to hold the measure’s approval during the recent joint hearing of the two panels, chaired by North Cotabato Rep. Jesus Sacdalan and Cesar Sarmiento of Catanduanes.

Romualdez sought a feasibility study on HB 2024 after Raul Glorioso, chief of the Aerodrome Development and Management Service of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, reported a downward trend in the volume of pas-

sengers at the Laoag International Airport since 2013.

“The volume of passengers from 2013 to 2015 went down. In 2013, the Laoag International Airport handled 232,000 passengers. In 2014, the volume of passengers was 193,000 and 175,000 in 2015,” said Glorioso.

Romualdez inquired what are the indicators to make an international airport viable to become an authority. Glorioso replied that first, there should be a demand.

Glorioso said normally, what happens

Manila

3 police execs hurt in air crash

By Florante S. Solmerin MIMAROPA regional police director Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor and three other police officials were injured after a military helicopter they were riding crash-landed in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Monday afternoon.

Lieutenant Cherryl Tindog said that incident happened shortly before 3 p.m. in Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan involving a Sokol (926) chopper of the Philippine Air Force.

“It experienced a mechanical problem and crash landed,” Tindog said in phone interview, adding the chopper’s two pilots were not injured.

The Swidnik-manufactured chopper from Poland was among the newest airlift assets of the PAF and were purchased during the time of former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and delivered during the time of former President Benigno Aquino III.

“The passengers are reportedly safe with minor injuries. Wescom already sent an air ambulance and another aircraft to the incident area. We will give updates once the official report from our air unit is already transmitted to this headquarters,” Tindog said.

Tindog said the chopper took off at the Tactical Operations Group of Westcom at 2 p.m.

“They were on an inspection flight in preparation for the Asean chief justices’ conference on November 10 here in Palawan,” Tindog said.

This was not the first time that a Sokol chopper crashed as Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Ricardo Visaya and some military survived a similar incident in Mindanao.

The incident happened when Visaya was then the commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division.

Before these incidents, one of the Sokol units was also grounded for several days at the AFP General Headquarters landing pad after it lost its power-lift.

Standard

TODAY

OPERATION LAWIN. Faithful to its core value of compassion, the Wong Chu King Foundation (WCKF) launched a relief drive by distributing goods consisting of drinking water and roofing supplies to aid those affected by the recently disastrous Typhoon Lawin (Haima) in the province of Cagayan. The operation aims to complement the national government’s quick response drive mainly composed of food supplies.

In photo are (L-R) Gov. Manuel N. Mamba, WCKF volunteer Sophia P. Gonzalo, WCKF general manager James Vincent C. Navarrete, WCKF volunteer Camelo Noel H. Navarro and WCKF head coordinator Cristina C. Villanueva.

at the Laoag International Airport is that its revenues go down because the traffic going to Laoag goes down too. This is because of the ease in going to northern parts of Luzon, he added.

Glorioso explained the main problem of airports in Luzon is the land transport, especially with the ongoing development of the Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway. “There are a lot of (land transport) development efforts in Northern Luzon,” said Glorioso.

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

S

Job 1: Apologize to the nation

ENATOR Francis Pangilinan has been named acting president of the Liberal Party replacing former Transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya until party elections are held.

In a statement following his designation, Pangilinan said his party would continue to criticize the growing number of killings in the Duterte administration’s anti-drug war and oppose the burial of former President Ferdinand Marcos in the heroes’ cemetery.

But, he also said they would “plant, not hatred or ill motives, but hope and policies and programs for the country.”

The senator said being chosen for the position was a big challenge, and he was humbled by the designation.

“I realize the weight of the position and I accept the responsibilities it entails. I am responding to this call to serve the people,”

said Pangilinan, while acknowledging that his party was no longer in power.

“We need to work within the current situation to redefine ourselves as a party: How can we as a party work on addressing poverty, joblessness, and the high prices of basic necessities,” he added.

The senator’s sentiments—and his intentions—are clear and would be laudable had it not been for six years of Liberal Party misrule that led us to the state we are in today.

Ironically, Pangilinan’s designation as new Liberal Party president came one day before the nation marked the third anniversary of the Yolanda tragedy in which a super typhoon devastated large swathes of Eastern Visayas and killed more than 7,000 people.

The glacial pace at which the Aquino administration brought aid to the survivors in the immediate aftermath of the killer typhoon has been well documented, as has been the inexcusably slow pace of rehabilitation and reconstruction in the devastated areas.

With a rebuilding target of 205,000 housing units for typhoon victims, the previous administration completed a paltry one percent or 25,000 units in the last three years, leaving thousands of families in makeshift housing in high-risk areas.

In Tacloban, ground zero for “Yolanda” three years ago, only 572 permanent houses have been completed out of the 14,162 that the NHA promised to build.

In the northern villages of Leyte, the NHA is building 8,161 houses, but only 200 are occupied by families from high-risk zones because the units have no permanent water supply or electricity.

Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo revealed last week that only P30 million was left from the billions in combined government and private donations for the victims of “Yolanda.”

Despite the Aquino administration’s release of P90 billion in “Yolanda” aid last year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is now seeking additional

funding for 200,000 people who still need emergency shelter assistance.

Senator Pangilinan need not look farther than his own predecessor, Abaya, for reasons to apologize. Six years of neglect, gross mismanagement and corruption have reduced our public transport system to a form of torture for millions of motorists and commuters.

In fact, it might be argued that were it not for the Liberal Party’s incompetence, selective application of justice, misplaced priorities and supercilious attitude, the Filipino people might not have voted for President Rodrigo Duterte—a dark horse candidate who swept to power on the crest of public disgust over the previous administration and promises of radical change.

In the national effort to overcome our social and economic problems and to bring about genuine peace and prosperity, everyone has a role to play. For those who brought us to these dire straits, however, Job 1 is to apologize to the nation.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Scarborough; poverty hyperbole

Busting a myth LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES IN THE calculus of Philippine necropolitics, where the dead never really die, the unburied cadaver of Ferdinand Marcos is a powerful talisman. Keeping Marcos from being interred in a public cemetery for presidents, soldiers and other persons of varying degrees of heroism is not merely a political statement; it is also a warning to those who would challenge an entire philosophy that has installed two presidents in the past 30 years.

To the Yellows, who wrote the book on the public worship of the dead for political gain, leaving Marcos in an air-conditioned glass coffin in his Ilocos Norte home province is a cornerstone of an entire belief system that is based on his being inherently evil. An unburied Marcos is proof (in the Yellow liturgy, anyway) that those

who are not pure and blameless by their standards are doomed to reside in some above-ground political limbo, forever denied a suitable burial ground.

On the other hand, the good get interred side by side with their spouses, like the “democracy icons” Ninoy and Cory Aquino. Their death anniversaries are celebrated almost like national holidays—never mind if the part of the population that does not accept their supposed martyrdom can’t even remember why they died or what for.

(Ninoy, of course, was assassinated, even if his wife and son, when they became president, showed an incredible lack of interest in discovering the identity of the mastermind. But Cory was no martyr, except in the minds of the partisans of her son, who converted her death of cancer into some sort of sacrifice for the nation, just so Noynoy could win the 2010 election.)

This is the inherent falsehood in the claim made by Noynoy last Sunday, when he found time

to get out of his Times Street man-cave to join a protest concert against the planned burial of Marcos. Noynoy posited that the controversy is not really a dispute between the Aquinos and

The controversy surrounding the burial of Marcos’ remains pits the Aquinos against the people. the Marcoses, as some believe, but one between the people and the Marcoses.

The truth is somewhat close to Noynoy’s claim. It is the Aquinos and their dwindling sympathizers who have made such a

big deal about the Marcos burial, even if the people themselves don’t consider the issue that big a problem anymore.

It’s really simple: The controversy surrounding the burial of Marcos’ remains is one that pits the Aquinos, who are violently opposed to the plan, against the people, who really couldn’t care less about what the Aquinos consider of utmost importance.

Again, Noynoy is making the mistake that he committed regularly during his unremarkable, underperforming six-year term: He believes that things that matter to him, his family and their Yellow camp followers matter to the rest of the country, as well.

As always, Noynoy’s priorities are so different from the people’s own that he fails to realize the unimportance of the Marcos burial to the rest of the country. And because he cannot understand how a “truth” as plain as his nose cannot be appreciated by the Supreme Court, I am sure that he is now involved in plotting throwback anti-Marcos protests.

As the designated keeper of the dying Yellow flame, he can do no less, of course. His family, cronies and all the other beneficiaries of the Aquino presidencies, because of their proximity to Noynoy, have no choice but to pretend that the court’s decision is a big deal, too.

But this is 2016, not 1983, when Ninoy was killed. And there’s also the small matter of having a wildly popular president who finally decided to lay the issue— and the Marcos body—to rest. *** The truth of the matter is, President Rodrigo Duterte has single-handedly demolished the myth, carefully planted and cultivated by the Yellows over the years, that Marcos is so bad that he doesn’t deserve to be buried where other presidents lie. Never mind if the other presidents interred in the Libingan were not saints themselves; according to the Yellows, Marcos was just so far beyond the pale that he cannot be buried outside of Ilocos.

Turn to A5

PRESIDENT Duterte appears to have scored a major tactical, strategic and legal victory in his quest for China to affirm the July 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejecting Beijing’s claim of territorial sovereignty over 90 percent of the South China Sea. The same ruling did not rule that the Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, occupied by the Chinese four years ago, belongs to the Philippines as part of its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone. Neither did PCA rule that Panatag belongs to China.

The chain of reefs and rocks with an inner lagoon of 150 square kilometers is 198 kms west of Subic Bay, and more than 1,000 kms from Hainan, China’s southernmost province. The shoal, the court said in effect, belongs to no country because it does not qualify as a territory, it being unable to sustain human habitation. There is no water and no food. Only islands which can enable humans to live are entitled to territorial claims.

The Chinese thus have no right to take over the shoal and have no right to drive away Filipino fishermen from fishing in its fish-rich waters. The Hague ruling told the Chinese to respect the right of Filipino fishermen to fish in the area.

Since last week, fishermen from Zambales and nearby provinces have been back in full force at Scarborough, fishing as their forefathers have done for centuries. Legal experts say the Chinese in effect complied with the court ruling that Scarborough belongs to none. Also, tension in the South China Sea has suddenly eased up—exactly what many participants and observers, including the United States, have long ago demanded.

Credit Duterte’s personalized Cold War-style of diplomacy for this breakthrough of sorts. He got the Chinese to grant what he had all along wanted—to let his countrymen go fishing in Scarborough waters without him raising the issue of sovereignty and the Philippine victory from The Hague. The fishermen were getting hungry and hungry stomachs know no international law.

Disturbing, however, for the United States, the deal also unsettled a regional defense infrastructure carefully cobbled by the US over the years to stop Chinese hegemony over the South China Sea. Turn to A5

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

ManilaStandard

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Opinion

I BROUGHT my family to Ba- the Camp with the establishguio City last week so we could ment of Convergys Call Center.

Casanova even claimed that all rest and recharge. While there, I had the opportunity to the phrase in the RTC decision talk to some Camp John Hay in- referring to the termination of vestors (there are 1,621 of them) lease agreement “and all parand others in connection with ties claiming it” included the the much-delayed development investors, which was false and a of 247 hectares of the John Hay misrepresentation because that phrase only included CJHDevSpecial Economic Zone.

With the appointment of Greg Co, all its staff and personnel Garcia as Bases Conversion De- and security, and subsidiaries.

The Notice to Vacate comvelopment Authority chairman and Vince Dizon as president pelled investors to elevate the and CEO, and with a new board controversy to the Court of Apof directors, the Baguio City peals last year, and the Court of government and the Camp John Appeals last July 30, 2015 issued Hay developer, Camp John Hay a decision that followed the 60Development Corp. and inves- day Temporary Restraining Ortors alike are hopeful that the der, which essentially ruled that: “The third parties are the posdevelopment of the eco-tourism sessors in good faith and for value zone will finally be on track.

In fact, Mayor Mauricio of the units in the leased property.

Domogan is hopeful that there They have valued contracts with would be a renegotiation of the CJHDevCo for 50 years dethe 50-year contract between spite the fact that CJHDevCo BCDA and CJHDevco for the is not the owner of the land on benefit of all concerned. Under which their property is built.

The principle that a person the law, the city government gets 25 percent of the revenue cannot be prejudiced by a ruling rendered in an action or that the developer gets.

Unfortunately, because of the proceeding in which he has not obsession of BCDA under Ar- been made a party therefore nel Paciano Casanova, a former applies in strict sense—in conAyala executive, to oust Robert formity with the constitutional Sobrepeña as Camp John Hay guarantee of due process of law.

A writ of Prohibition is isdeveloper, controversy after controversy between BCDA sued permanently, restraining the RTC Baguio and the developer enBranch under sued. The Judge Cecilia Corazon Dulaymayor noted Archog, the Exthat the deThe issue has Officio Sheriff veloper was of Baguio City, only able festered.

Atty.

Linda to develop Montes Loloy, some 25 percent of the sheriff of the identiRTC Branch 6 fied areas over an 18-year-old Bobby Galano, from enforcing period since the agreement was and implementing the May 27, signed between BCDA and the 2015 Order, April 14, 2015 Writ of Execution and April 20, 2015 developer in 1997.

The years-long controversy Notice of Vacate against Third between the BCDA during the Parties.

BCDA is ordered to respect past administration was finally resolved by an arbitral tribunal and not to disturb the contracts which decided that the contract of Third Parties occupying the of lease between the government lease premises.”

Casanova and the BCDA and the developer was deemed terminated and that the BCDA board were unconvinced, and should pay P1.42 billion to the they elevated the case to the developer representing fully paid Supreme Court where it is now rentals to enable the termination gathering dust because the gods of Mount Olympus have not of a lease agreement.

The BCDA president/CEO ruled on it.

In the meantime, CJHDevCo refused to abide by the arbitral decision which was final and remains the developer because brought the case to the Baguio Casanova refused to pay the Regional Trial Court which P.42 billion as mandated by the confirmed the tribunal’s first Arbitration Tribunal.

At this point, Garcia, Dizon award. The RTC said that “as to the list of sub-leases and/or and the new members of the vested right holders, they will BCDA board should file an be governed by the law on ob- urgent motion for final resoluligations and contracts. And the tion on the case to enable both Philippine Civil Code, Article the BCDA and the developer to 1385 provides that “an order of negotiate for the redevelopment mutual restitution cannot in- of Camp John Hay. It is for the clude properties currently in the benefit and public interest of possession of third persons who both BCDA and the developer to maximize the full potential acted in good faith.”

But, Casanova was unrelent- of the 247 hectares John Hay ing and had a Notice to Vacate Special Economic Zone.

I often go to Baguio and signed by the Clerk of Court and the Ex-Officio Sheriff plas- stay at the Forest Lodge Suites tered at all the doorways of the where you can still smell the 1,630 investors (16 condotels at pine trees. And my gulay, it’s the Manor Hotel, 10 at the For- only place in the entire summer est Lodge Suites, five log cab- capital of the Philippines where ins and the Voice of America it’s worth going to these days.

Homes (VOA) and 10 full mem- Baguio City has become so chaberships at the Camp John Hay otic and traffic-gridlock ridden. *** Golf and Country Club—all tiThe case filed by Senator tled in the name of BCDA itself.

This alarmed investors and Leila de Lima, former secretary third parties with full titles. of Justice linked by President Things became worse when Duterte to the illegal drug trade Casanova sent fully armed at the New Bilibid Prisons, BCDA security personnel to questioning the immunity of the take over the camp. Santa Ba- President has divided the legal nana, the Camp looked like a community. De Lima alleges war zone because CJHDevCo that the President is hell bent on was ready to resist any takeo- destroying her as a person and ver. My gulay, I was there at as a public official.

There are those who believe that time, and it had to take the Baguio City police to stop po- Mr. Duterte enjoys immunity, but there are also those who say tential bloodshed.

At this time, BCDA came out that this does not include the with a full-page advertisement in President’s attempt to expose a the newspapers compelling in- woman’s private life. This is why vestors to sue the developer and Malacañang was quick to say that to cede all their rights to BCDA, De Lima was playing the “gender which was in effect a deprivation role” to gain sympathy.

Personally, I believe that the of property because the investors were not party and complete doctrine of presidential immustrangers to the controversy be- nity is absolute.

No doubt, De Lima’s petitween the state-owned BCDA tion at the Supreme Court was and the developer.

There were rumors at that directed not only to gain symtime that the reason Casanova pathy among the women. It also was bent on ousting the Sobre- aims to distract Malacanang pena developer was to pave the from pursuing its case against way for Ayala to take over CJH De Lima for involvement in the since it already has one foot at illegal drug trade.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

The President’s weak spot

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

New execs give hope for John Hay

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO THERE are areas in which President Rodrigo Duterte is on track in his administration’s effort to serve the Filipino people. His relentless war on drugs, despite concerns about extrajudicial killings of suspected pushers and users, has gained traction with the public. The body count has reached 3,000—and still counting, with the suspicious slaying of drug trafficking suspect Mayor Rolando Espinosa of Albuera, Leyte. Espinosa was shot dead inside his prison cell in Baybay, Leyte by policemen supposedly serving a search warrant for hidden drugs.

The people, nonetheless, according to a recent poll survey, still support Digong in this brutal war on drugs. As far as they are concerned, Espinosa is just another statistic in this dark page of the nation’s history.

Digong’s weak spot is foreign affairs. He has drawn global condemnation for the rising number of drug suspects killed while allegedly resisting arrest.

For getting flak from the United States, United Nations and the European Union, Duterte called them “stupid experts” who have no business meddling in his

country’s internal affairs. He went further to say that donor countries can withdraw their foreign and the Philippines can survive without US, UN and EU assistance. Yeah, right.

“I have the proper perspective in knowing what foreign policy is good for the country and what is not,” explained the President, claiming he is a foreign service graduate of the Lyceum University in Manila. Oh, yeah? A research by Vera Files published by the Philippine Star didn’t show the name of Duterte among the roster of foreign service graduates. He is a certified graduate of law, however, in San Beda College and a member of the Philippine Bar. These qualified him as a public prosecutor and later as mayor of Davao City.

Why is foreign policy the weakest area of this administration?

Duterte’s chosen one for Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Perfecto Yasay Jr., is also a lawyer. He was formerly head of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

But his being head of the SEC certainly is not enough to qualify him as secretary of Foreign Affairs. His lapses or shortcomings in foreign policy would show he merely echoes what his President says. That would be mouthing statements that are considered flawed in the first place.

In what may be a change of heart or mind, Duterte was re-

ported on Monday as saying he would no longer oppose the Balikatan war exercises between Filipino and American troops.

He feels the same now for the Supreme Court-validated Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the US and the Philippines.

There are claims that Yasay is a dual citizen of the US and the Philippines. He denies these allegations, even as he did not refer to questions about being a US resident. He lived in the US for more than 15 years in selfimposed exile during the Marcos martial law years. To be able to reside in the US that long, one must be granted asylum and residency by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service.

It is legal to be appointed to a Philippine government position if one can show proof or document renouncing either or both his citizenship and residency status. If he has not, then these issues will haunt Yasay from staying as SFA or even if he is nominated Philippine ambassador to Washington.

Meanwhile, a reader from the US raised some relevant questions on the government’s plans to abrogate the PHL-US Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and to purchase weapons from China and Russia.

Apparently versed on the salient

points of both the 1951 MDT and EDCA, the reader wrote: “By curtailing joint war exercises with the US, Duterte is actually violating provisions of the MDT on both sides to enhance the ability of its partner to respond to external threats and exigencies. By ignoring the fact that MDT is part of the law of the land, which the President swore to uphold when he took his oath of office, he is culpable of violating it.”

The reader is trying to verify reports Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, during his Commission on Appointments confirmation hearing, said that prospective purchase of firearms from China would be problematic because the operating manuals are printed in Mandarin. While some might see this as resistance to Duterte’s policy shift, what Lorenzana didn’t say was this arms purchase would actually set the stage for China’s People’s Liberation Army technical advisers and trainors to come into the country.

Couple this with the President’s willingness to hold joint war exercises with the Chinese, this would imply possible PLA presence in the Philippines.

Let’s hear the reaction from the usually noisy, leftist militant crowd demonstrating in front of the US embassy in Manila. Are they willing and ready to host an invasion from China?

Welcome, Mr. Sung Kim SO I SEE LITO BANAYO WASHINGTON D.C. observers found the oath-taking of the newly-designated Ambassador of the United States, H. E. Sung Kim, quite “extraordinary.”

“This is quite unprecedented,” a friend from Foggy Bottom wrote me. “Usually, the swearing-in of a new ambassador is a quiet affair, held at the office of the Secretary of State, sometimes just an undersecretary. And usually, it is attended by the wife and family of the new ambassador,” he said.

It was reported by the USPhilippines Society, the leaders of which were invited to the Benjamin Franklin Room of the State Department to witness Mr. Kim’s oath-taking, “FilAm community leaders, AsianAmerican supporters, Washington dignitaries, the press corps and colleagues of the new ambassador” graced the affair.

The ambassador brought along his wife, Jae and daughter Erin.

Another daughter, Erica was not present, being in the Philippines, which Secretary of State

Scarborough...

From A4 On Oct. 18 to 21, Duterte paid a state visit to Beijing where he declared he was now separating from the US, militarily and economically. That meant US soldiers can no longer stay in the Philippines. The President said later his wish is for all foreign troops to leave the Philippines within two years. The “separation” also meant Manila would no longer rely on aid, loans and investments from America.

The Chinese are dangling oodles of money before Manila.

Duterte’s China visit is supposed to have generated $24 billion in potential loans and investments— that is more money than the Philippines got in investments in the last ten years combined.

Congrats, Mr. President!

Meanwhile, on another front, the government has suddenly lowered the Philippines’ poverty incidence to a new 30-year low, at 21.6 percent as of 2015.

Reporting on poverty in the Philippines has always been a tricky exercise.

Busting...

From A4

Prior to Duterte’s election, the myth had become so entrenched that all the presidents not named Aquino who ascended into Malacañang Palace after Cory avoided the issue like the plague.

It did not matter what these presidents believed; they were con-

John Kerry jokingly described in his remarks, as “the advance party.”

Kerry reiterated the (usual) US commitment to the Philippines, stating that “the United States continues to place a high value on the close ties that exist between our countries.”

“We continue to recognize our ironclad commitment to the sovereignty, independence and security of the Philippines, and we will continue to cooperate in efforts to maintain peace and stability and to promote shared prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region,” Kerry continued.

Kerry was effusive in his description of the deep alliance and “special” relations of the two countries, reminiscing about the Pacific War, when the Filipino resistance (guerilla) movement supplied vital information that actually helped General MacArthur avoid a trap, landing in the right places, such as Leyte and Mindoro.

“These events…created the foundations for close peopleto-people contacts…has made us close friends and close allies ever since,” he added.

And then his pledge to “continue to assist the Filipino people in the event of natural emergencies. I was personally there right after Typhoon Haiyan…

and we will continue to consult openly and honestly on issues of impact to both our countries.”

Finally, Secretary Kerry said he hopes to visit the Philippines before his term of office ends on January 20, 2017, when the new American President, whoever he or she may be, takes the reins of power.

Kerry described Sung Kim in glowing terms, having “a reputation for sound judgment, for hard work, for great intelligence, and for deep humility.”

“There is no one better-qualified than Sung Kim to represent the US of A and be our ambassador to the Philippines at this point in time,” said he.

Ambassador Sung Kim used to represent the US in his homeland, South Korea, and was designated as special envoy to North Korea, a most difficult assignment where he had to inspect the hermit state’s nuclear reactors.

Kim was also a public prosecutor, which Kerry said was a very good experience, as he himself was once a public prosecutor. (President Rodrigo Duterte was once also a public prosecutor, by the way).

“No one is better at getting to the heart of an issue, or establishing common sense priorities. And no one, frankly, has

steadier nerves when faced with a difficult situation,” Kerry described Kim. In his acceptance, Kim said he was honored to be the representative of the US of A to “our oldest ally in Asia and one of our most special friends anywhere.”

Great words. Hopefully this would be a new beginning in our relationship with the mighty United States of America.

Sung Kim is an Oriental, and Kerry’s description of him as having “sound judgment, possessed of great intelligence and humility” are quite reassuring in these testy times of our weaning away from subservience towards an independent foreign policy.

His predecessors, sad to say, have probably been quite smug in the relationship between our two countries, taking us for granted. Ambassador Kim ought to have the sensibilities of a true Asian, who value candor but insist on propriety. He would have the sound judgment not to interfere through tactless remarks in the politics of our people, and the humility to remember that even as he represents the mighty US of A, he would treat every Filipino with due respect.

Welcome to the Philippines, Mr. Ambassador!

There is no single government agency which is an authority on poverty incidence—which is measured two ways—as a percentage of the population (which means number of Filipinos) and as a percentage of total families (which means number of families). And there is no consensus on what exactly is the accurate and realistic poverty incidence.

The Philippine population is reckoned to be 102 million. If you divide that by 4.5, the number of people per family, you get 22.66-million families. As a percentage of the total number of Filipinos, poverty incidence has been reckoned to be between 26 percent and 27 percent. So 26 percent of 22.66 million is 5.89 million families who are poor. Yet, President BS Aquino’s deputy statistics chief, Dr. Jose Ramon Albert, estimated that in 2012 there were actually 17-million families who are either poor (11.28-million families) or had low income (5.77-million families).

So if you claim poverty incidence is now 21.6 percent, which means only 4.89-million families (21.6 percent of 22.66 million), does it mean the ranks of the poor

have been reduced by 12-million families? In just three years? Incredible. It beats young Jesus Christ’s multiplication of the bread wherein he fed 4,000 with just seven loaves of bread. But then Jesus was God and Duterte’s men are—humans.

When he was still the economic planning secretary, Arsenio Balisacan used 26 percent and 27 percent as the fairly accurate poverty incidence.

Come now the economists of President Duterte. They are using a much-lower figure of poverty incidence—25.2 percent for 2012 and 21.6 percent for 2015.

Duterte has promised to reduce poverty incidence dramatically, from 26 percent to 17 percent, in six years, or by 2022, a reduction of nine percentage points.

The effect of the new poverty figures is that even before Duterte could start reducing poverty, poverty has reduced itself, to 21.6 percent by 2015.

This implies that this administration has already achieved half of its poverty reduction target because poverty has been reduced by exactly 4.6 percentage points.

So over the next six years, Du-

terte needs only to reduce poverty by 4.4 percentage points (9 minus 4.6) or an average reduction of .73 point (4.4 divided by six years).

When Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez announced the nine percentage-point target reduction in poverty at the beginning of July, he was thinking of a reduction of 1.5 percentage points and even up to 2.2 percentage points per year.

Now it seems the target is a reduction of just .73 (one-third of 2.2 percentage points) per year —certainly a much more realistic and doable target—two-thirds of a percent per year.

In fairness to Dominguez, he is now using new figures of poverty reduction—from 22 percent in 2016 to 13 percent by 2022.

I hope the Duterte people do not use the kind of math they use when reckoning with the number of drugs addicts in the country— four million, up by one million in just three years.

Poverty incidence reduced by 12-million families in three years?

That, my dear, is hyperbole.

vinced that “the people” would rise if Marcos was buried at the Libingan.

Duterte, of course, can be relied upon to challenge political belief systems that he has not tested on the ground when he was mayor of Davao City.

And so he decided to find out if the myth of unpopularity of the Marcos burial had any real basis by calling for the deed to

be done.

True enough, six petitions were filed before the Supreme Court to prevent Duterte from burying his dead idol. And the tribunal itself had to postpone ruling on the matter twice, perhaps because it, too, was still under the influence of this most important of Yellow myths.

The last time Duterte spoke in public about the matter was

when he called on the Supreme Court to decide the issue of the Marcos burial on the basis of law and not emotions. Whichever way the court decided, he said, he would accept the ruling.

The court has spoken. I hope the Yellows can accept its decision—for their own sake, really, because I don’t believe that the people will look kindly upon them if they don’t.

biznewsasia@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Angat rehab done by Feb. THE rehabilitation of the Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan is on track, according to Angat Hydropower Corp. dam operations engineer Russel Rigor.

“The rehab will be completed by February 2018,” he said in a press briefing at the Angat Dam held on Tuesday and noted the $1-billion repair will provide stability for the dam for another 50 years. The dam was commissioned in 1968.

National Power Corp. president and chief executive officer Gladys Cruz-Sta.Rita, for her part, said the rehabilitation will provide a level of comfort as it complies with the international standards for dams.

Rigor added the power plant operation, which has a capability to produce 216 megawatts, will remain unaffected. Poyry Energy Ltd. was tapped to conduct the study for the repair of the facility in 2014.

Angat Hydropower Corp. is a joint venture of Korea Water Resources Corp. and San Miguel Corp.

Napocor owns the dam and preserves its watershed, while Angat Hydropower Corp. owns and operates the power plant. PNA

News

Erap heightens security after kidnapping claims

By Sandy Araneta

A

FTER President Rodrigo Duterte claimed receiving reports of at least six kidnapping incidents in Manila’s Binondo district, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada ordered the Manila Police District to strengthen its presence in the city’s Chinatown.

“I have asked the police to look into these kidnapping reports. Our priority now is to protect the community and identify and go after those kidnap-for-ransom gangs, if there are any,” Estrada said.

Estrada tasked MPD director

Senior Supt. Joel Coronel to coordinate with the Filipino-Chinese community and barangay officials in Binondo and see if a coordinated security arrangement could be worked out to thwart those alleged kidnappings.

In an effort to reassure their safety, Estrada also called on the Binondo residents to calm down but remain vigilant, and cooperate with the MPD and the city government to stop those supposed kidnappings.

Reports of kidnap-for-ransom cases in Binondo have stirred the local population and even went viral in the social media, with Teresita Ang-Sy, chairman of the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order, alerting the local Filipino-Chinese community through text messages about the need to take extra precautions.

Duterte mentioned the alleged series of kidnappings in Binondo during his speech at the convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philip-

pines in Manila last week, saying drug syndicates have already “shifted” to kidnapping due to his administration’s war on drugs.

Coronel said they will be assigning 20 more uniformed policemen in the Binondo district “to preempt any possible cases of kidnappings.”

“As ordered by the mayor, MPD will strengthen its police presence in the Binondo area, so I’ll be assigning additional policemen from headquarters to augment the Binondo Police Station purposely to increase our police visibility, beat and mobile patrol,” Coronel said.

Coronel said they will also coordinate with the barangay officials and school administrators to secure

schoolchildren who appeared to be the specific targets of kidnap-forransom groups.

“And number two, we will coordinate strongly with the [PNP] Anti-Kidnapping Group which has jurisdiction over these cases, and investigate the reports there may have been incidents of kidnapping of Chinese nationals that are connected with the illegal drug trade,” the MPD chief added.

Based on his initial talks with Ang-Sy, Coronel pointed out that there were only five cases of kidnapping in Manila since January, which he said is relatively low compared to the previous years where 20 cases are reported for every six months.

FIRE AFTERMATH. Residents go over their charred homes on General Avenue in Tandang Sora, Quezon City after a dawn fire that claimed the life of one woman.

Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

Manny Palmero

Coed sues Uber driver THE 21-year-old daughter of Department of Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Secretary Rommel Abesamis filed on Tuesday a formal case of sexual harassment against an Uber car driver before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

Mary Kathleen Anne Abesamis, a fourth-year college student in an exclusive school for girls, sued one Juanito for violation of “An Ordinance Providing for a City Gender and Development Code and for Other Purposes to Harmonize with the Provisions of Republic Act No. 9710, otherwise known as “The Magna Carta of Women and to Adopt the United Nations Women’s Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Initiative.”

She was accompanied by her father, a former councilor, and their lawyer, Ariel Enrile Inton, also a former local legislator and board member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Despite the lack of cooperation of the mobile-app based transport network vehicle services to identify Juanito’s full name, the Abesamis family is determined to pursue a case.

Earlier, at a media briefing, the older Abesamis said he called up the Uber services for his daughter who was about to go to school at Miriam College on Nov. 3 at around 1 p.m.

Upon riding the private car, Juanito asked her too many offensive questions, and even invited her to watch a movie for a date.

The DENR official said Juanito even threatened the life of his son, who called him up to defend his sister from Juanito’s supposed harassment. Rio Araja

Comelec unfazed by low turnout

By Vito Barcelo DESPITE the low turnout of new voters on the first day of the resumption of voters’ registration which started Nov. 7, the Commission on Elections still expects more than five million new voters even as the agency urged the public to register early and avoid the rush as the deadline nears.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said they are expecting more than five million

new voters, three million voters for the barangay elections and additional two million for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The registration period will run from Nov. 7 until April 29, Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Dec. 24 and 25, and April 13 and 14.

“While we will have a longer registration period, we are still urging voters to register early to avoid long queues as we are

expecting 5 million more registrants,” Jimenez said.

“The Commission will maximize the opportunity to register as many voters as possible in the five-month registration period.

We will be receiving applications even on Saturdays and holidays. We will also be conducting mandatory satellite registrations at least twice in every barangay, nationwide,” Jimenez said.

The village and SK elections will be held on October 23, 2017.

Meanwhile, Filipinos living and working abroad will be able to register for the May 13, 2019 national elections and subsequent elections from Dec. 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2018,” Jimenez said.

“All citizens of the Philippines, who are at abroad or will be abroad during the thirty (30) day voting period, at least eighteen years of age on the day of the elections and not otherwise disqualified by law, may register,” the Comelec said.

Elderly man held at Naia over bullets

By Joel E. Zurbano AIRPORT authorities detained a Filipino-American passenger who was caught in possession of 36 rounds of caliber .25 ammunition which he brought from the United States.

Rufino Rondaris, 79, has just arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 1 from Los Angeles, California

on board Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR103 and was about to board a connecting flight PR2196 bound for Laoag City when he was intercepted at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The authorities said that screening officers manning at the final security screening checkpoint discovered the box of bullets inside the green handbag of the passenger while

undergoing the mandatory screening procedure.

Rondaris denied owning the bullets, and wondering how it ended up on his green carryon bag.

He was immediately turned over to the intelligence division of the 2nd Aviation Police Station for proper disposition.

Philippine National PoliceAviation Security Group (Avse-

group) chief Mao Aplasca earlier urged the people not to bring live ammunition, amulet and other prohibited items when traveling to avoid flight delays.

Aplasca said his men and members of the Office for Transportation Security will not arrest and prosecute passengers caught with bullets and amulets following the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Target bigger market, Asean craftsmen told

By Macon Ramos-Araneta have to enhance our strategies to

PROMISE OF IMPROVEMENT. Assistant Transportation Secretary Cesar B. Chavez explains the

Department of Transportation’s planned improvements to the MRT3 train line with engineer Deo Leo Manalo at a press conference held at the MRT Depot in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar exhorted Southeast Asian master craftsmen and the entire delegation to the ASEAN Masters Craft Designers Festival to join their efforts and collaboration to further boost the great potential of their crafts in capturing a bigger chunk of the world market.

“As I said earlier, we have excellent craftsmanship and creativity going for us, that’s our biggest strength and competitive advantage,” said Villar, in her speech during the recent opening of the said event at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

“But as we all know, it is a very competitive world out there, we

improve our products’ marketability. And I am confident that after the meeting here in the Philippines, the industry players including the craftsmen will be in a better position to compete in the market and create their own niche markets as well,” she added.

Villar emphasized that the ‘beautiful thing’ about them in the ASEAN is that they have such diversity in their similarities. She cited the unique culture of each ASEAN member amid a shared identity or regional commonality.

“If we play that card properly, our crafts and designs will sell by their own merits, with our regional brand stamped on it,” said Villar.

DoT back at busy London subway THE Philippines returned to London’s Waterloo train station after its successful activation earlier this year.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo, together with the delegation to the World Travel Mart 2016, recently paid a special visit to see one of the many consumer marketing activities staged by the DOT overseas office in the United Kingdom.

“The United Kingdom remains our eighth top market, contributing 117,500 thousand visitors from January to August this year, registering a 13.5 percent growth.

With more activities like this done to reach our target segments, we are optimistic to grow the numbers and move closer to our goal of six million arrivals this year,” Teo said.

“I am honored that our legislators, led by Senator Nancy Binay, Congresswoman Lucy Torres-Gomez and Congressman Roger Mercardo, are able to witness how the DOT pursues its marketing activities. Along with the WTM exposure, we remain positive of the legislature’s continued understanding and support for DOT’s mandate and projects,” the tourism chief added.

Visitors are able to witness Philippine branding featured across the Waterloo Motion, Europe’s largest advertising screen at 80 meters wide and twelve D6 HD screens around the station.

Special promotional flights and holiday packages are likewise advertised by partners which include Philippine Airlines, STA, Explore, Dive Worldwide and Secret Escapes.

The commuters are likewise able to feel the Philippines via virtual reality at the experiential zone at the concourse. Sandy Araneta

Sports

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Estampador earns IOC award A

n Ethiopian journalist on Monday became the first man to win an Olympic award aimed at promoting women and sport.

Dagim Zinabu Tekle claimed the honor as founder of a radio program designed to encourage women and girls to become more involved in sport “and to pursue their goals and dreams”.

First awarded in 2000, the ‘Women and Sport’ trophy was handed over to Tekle by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Maria Leonor Estampador

The Philippines’ Maria Leonor Estampador, the country’s first female national fencing coach, was also among the awardees on Monday as the continental winner for Asia.

Now an administrative manager for the Asian Fencing Confederation, Estampador “championed providing broader opportunities for women in both administrative and technical responsibilities within sport,”

according to Olympics.org.

Tekle’s programme has invited 12,580 guests -- sports leaders, coaches, professionals and sportswomen engaged in local and international women’s sports activities -- on it since it was first aired five years ago.

“This has significantly raised awareness among the public of the achievements and success of these women,” the IOC said.

As well as Tekle’s global

honor, there were five continental awards handed out in Lausanne -- including to Australia former women’s international footballer Moya Dodd, for championing women’s rights in Oceania.

Other recipients were Rwandan Felicite Rwemarika (Africa), American Carole Oglesby (Americas), and Denmark’s Majken Maria Gilmartin (Europe). AFP

Lucky 13: Curry sets new 3-pointers record STEPHEN Curry set a new single-game record with 13 three-pointers as the Golden State Warriors downed the winless New Orleans Pelicans 111-99 on Monday.

Curry, who on Friday had seen the end of his incredible 157-game streak with at least one three-pointer in a defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers, finished with 46 points after a virtuoso display.

The reigning NBA MVP’s 13 threes broke the previous record of 12 he had shared with Kobe Bryant and Donyell Marshall. Curry finished with figures of 13 of 17 from three-point distance; the 40-point tally was the 23rd of his career.

Klay Thompson added 24 points while Kevin Durant chipped in 22.

In other NBA games, it was Utah 109, Philadelphia 84; Houston 114, Washington 106; Charlotte 122, Indiana 100; Chicago 112, Orlando 80; Oklahoma City 97, Miami 85; and the Los Angeles Clippers 114, Detroit 82.

“That’s a pretty cool record to have,” Curry said after the win. “It probably won’t last too long, the way guys shoot in this league. But to have the three point record is pretty special.”

Curry, who made zero of 10 threepoint attempts in his last outing against the Lakers, said he had not dwelt on his setback last week, the first time in two years he had not drained a three.

“I wasn’t even thinking about the 0 for 10 tonight,” he said. “I was thinking about it a bit in practice for the last two

days, but after that it was over. It was nice to keep shooting. And thankfully they went in.”

Curry paid tribute to the work of his team-mates in helping to set him into position for his three-point bonanza, especially his 13th and final effort in the fourth quarter.

“The guys set great screens all night. And on that last play they had the IQ to know where I was. Pretty fun night,” he added.

The win saw the Warriors improve to 5-2 while the Pelicans slumped to 0-7 despite another big points haul from Anthony Davis, who finished with 33.

Davis has averaged 30 points per game so far this season.

Curry nailed three three-pointers in a 27-5 scoring run in the second quarter which transformed a 35-34 deficit into a 61-40 lead shortly before half-time.

However a 24-9 surge by the Pelicans in the third quarter, which included nine points from Davis, helped New Orleans back into the contest.

Once again, though, Curry intervened to turn the tide, hitting his ninth and 10th threes of the night to help the Warriors into an 84-78 lead.

The Pelicans closed to within two early in the fourth but Curry was not to be denied. He buried his 11th, 12th and record-breaking 13th three pointers on consecutive possessions to turn a fivepoint game into a 109-97 lead with 2:23 PICTURE PERFECT FORM. Stephen Curry launches what would be his record-breaking 13th three-point basket over a Pelion the clock. AFP cans defender late in the fourth quarter as Golden State kept New Orleans winless in the NBA. AFP

LeBron fears NFL losing fun Sex pill gets as NBA, MLB ratings surge ‘Bones’ Jones

QUE PASA, TORO? Peru’s bullfighter Andres Roca Rey performs during the “Senor de los Milagros” festival at the Acho bullring in Lima on Sunday. AFP

LEBRON James isn’t sure why the NFL is losing US television viewers while the NBA and Major League Baseball enjoy strong ratings, but he warns the fun factor is dwindling.

The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar, speaking to reporters after a workout Monday, said he enjoyed seeing his favorite NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys, win 35-10 at Cleveland on Sunday before appearing at a campaign rally for US Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton ahead of Tuesday’s election.

But he noted how several top NFL players have said the NFL is more and more becoming the “No Fun League” and that could be a factor in drops of about 18 or 19 percent on Sunday and Thursday and nearly 25 percent on Mondays.

“I don’t know the reason,” James said. “I’ve heard some of the comments from some of the players about the game that the fun part of it is kind of being taken away.

“I know when I played (American) football I played it for that reason, for the competition and for the fun of it. I’ve seen a couple of the main

guys talk about how the game is not as fun.

“You definitely don’t want to take the fun away from the game. That’s why we all fell in love with sports in general, to have fun with it.”

Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James did explain why he doesn’t catch as many telecasts as he once did, aside from the NBA’s 82game schedule keeping him busy.

“My kids kind of take me away from a lot of things that I used to watch,” he said.

The NFL fade comes as baseball’s World Series enjoyed high ratings for the Chicago Cubs’ first title run since 1908 and Cleveland missing out on its first crown since 1948 in a seven-game thriller that went extra innings in the final game.

“Baseball, it needed a push and with the playoffs and the World Series this year, it definitely helped,” James said. “Being at three of the World Series games, I think that history, them not being part of it and then being in it, that definitely helped. Being two Midwestern sports teams helped as well and then the games in general.” AFP

Arrogate wins BC Classic: ‘Fear this horse’ THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE KUDOS to Arrogate, who handed the favorite California Chrome a stunning defeat and his first loss of the year in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr. 1) held last Nov. 5 at Santa Anita Park.

California Chrome led for most of the 1-1/4 mile (2,000 meters) race only to be overtaken close to the wire by second choice Arrogate, who moved up on the outside from third position under jockey Mike Smith to win by half a length.

Bloodhorse columnist Steve Haskin lauded Arrogate’s victory in no uncertain terms.

“In the past three years,” Haskin said in his Nov. 6 piece, “what California Chrome has accomplished has

been extraordinary. What American Pharoah accomplished was historic and spectacular.

“What Arrogate has accomplished in the Travers and Breeders’ Cup Classic has been, well, abnormal, meaning there is no way to gauge the true magnitude of his accomplishment because there has never been anything with which to compare it.”

That is high, even exaggerated, praise indeed, but I don’t think Haskin is laying it on too thick.

The BC Classic was only Arrogate’s sixth lifetime start and his second stakes race. In the first stakes race he ran, the Travers at Saratoga last August, he won by 131/2 lengths and stopped the clock at 1:59.36 for the 1-1/4 mile (2,000 meters) distance, shattering General Assembly’s 2:00 track record set in 1979, 37 years ago.

According to Forbes’ Guy Martin, in an article he wrote about the 2016

Travers, a mysterious track pundit calling himself the Bluegrass Wise Man, a Kentucky horseman and owner, placed his confidence in Arrogate even before the Travers run. “He’s Kentucky-bred, first, which I, as a Kentuckian, would say has to do with the superior limestone-based minerality in our water and in the fine nourishment that the horses get here.

“But over and above the basics, he’s just a fine horse with an amazing body and a staggering set of lungs. We can talk about breeding, but genetic accidents happen. This was one of those accidents.”

When Martin asked about Arrogate’s chances in the Breeders’s Cup, Bluegrass Wise Man replied: “Wide open now. Fear this horse… He may be Chrome’s match.” Prophecy fulfilled.

Haskin, meanwhile, compared Arrogate’s physical condition to Secretariat’s: “I don’t know if I’ve seen a horse with an engine like this

colt’s since Big Red. No matter what he does he never gets tired. His heart measurement and lung capacity must be off the charts.”

Haskin’s incredulous remarks make for iconic racing writing: “A 3YO with so little racing foundation and coming off a two-month layoff simply isn’t supposed to do what Arrogate did [in the BC Classic]… A 3YO making his sixth lifetime start and only his second stakes appearance is not supposed to pull off a victory like this, not against California Chrome, making up three to four lengths and coming home his final two quarters in :24-1/5 and :24 flat.”

Arrogate’s Breeders’ Cup win was worth $6 million for owner Juddmonte Farms of Prince Khalid Abdullah. It was trainer Bob Baffert’s third Classic win in a row, after American Pharoah in 2015 and Bayern in 2014.

2nd California Chrome, 3rd Keen Ice, 4th Hoppertunity (also trained

by Baffert). Time: 2:00.11 (:23.28, :47.15, 1:10.96). ****** For those wanting a piece of the genetic cocktail that resulted in Arrogate, his dam is up for auction in the Fasig-Tipton sale that began Nov. 7.

Arrogate, by Unbridled Song, is the first foal of Bubbler, who was sired by Distorted Humor. Bubbler is being sold in foal to Into Mischief.

She won six of her nine career starts, including three stakes wins.

Also for sale is California Chrome’s dam, Love the Chase (sired by Not For Love). She is in foal to leading sire Tapit. *** Dr. Ortuoste is a California-based writer. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste, and Instagram: @jensdecember.

one-year ban

MIXED martial arts star Jon “Bones” Jones has been handed a one-year doping ban after taking a sexual-performance pill tainted with a performance-enhancing substance, it was confirmed on Monday.

Jones, the Ultimate Fighting Championships interim light heavyweight champion, tested positive for the substance shortly before UFC 200 in July.

The ban will be applied retroactively to the date of the test, meaning Jones, 29, will be free to fight again in July 2017.

A three-member panel, which adjudicated on Jones’ case, said they were satisfied the fighter had ingested the substance unwittingly.

“On the evidence before the Panel, the Applicant is not a drug cheat,” the panel from McLaren Global Sports Solutions wrote, according to MMAFighting.com.

“He did not know that the tablet he took contained prohibited substances or that those substances had the capacity to enhance sporting performance. However by his imprudent use of (the pill) he has not only lost a year of his career but an estimated nine million dollars ($9 million).

“This outcome which he admits to be a wake-up call for him should serve as a warning to all others who participate in the same sport.”

Jones is already serving a suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a positive test conducted in June for clomiphene and letrozole, both testosterone-boosting drugs. AFP

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

Riera U. Mallari, Editor Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

PBA vets get waived; All-Star changes up

By Jeric Lopez A basketball career is not forever.

There comes a time when a pro struggles just to stay in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and that’s the reality veterans Gary David and Dorian Pena are facing right now.

These two senior statesmen found themselves without a team after their respective squads waived them on Tuesday.

First, David, a scoring champion multiple times and a five-time AllStar, was released by San Miguel.

The 38-year-old has yet to win a PBA championship and now needs to look elsewhere for another crack at a jewel.

Should there be no takers, sources told The Standard “El Granada” just might hang up his sneakers.

Meanwhile, Pena, the bruising FilAmerican, was waived by GlobalPort as the Batang Pier sought to get younger. Now 39, the two-time Mythical First Team member played sparingly the past few seasons.

Just a week ago, Jimmy Alapag, also 38, called it a career for good. Named one of the 40 greatest players in league history, “Mighty Mouse” retired for the second time after helping Meralco make its first finals appearance as a franchise last conference, the 2016 Governors’ Cup. Several weeks before that, former Most Valuable Player Eric Menk was likewise waived by Alaska. Like David, Menk and Pena are reportedly contemplating retirement.

All-Star changes Meanwhile in Seoul, league chairman Mikee Romero proposed stretching the All-Star break to a full week even as the PBA holds its first-ever All-Star regional competition.

Deviating from its current Northversus-South All-Star format, the PBA would pit the stars from the country’s biggest regions with this change as it makes stops Competing All-Star teams could include the Kapampangans, the Bicolanos, the Visayans, the Ilocanos and the Fil-Americans in an All-Star tourney with stops in the Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon.

Sports STRAP AND STRIPES. Senator Manny Pacquiao and Philippine National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa hold up Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight title belt upon their arrival at the airport in Manila on Tuesday. Pacquiao reclaimed the WBO title for the third time with a unanimous decision victory over former champion Jesse Vargas. AFP

Tams’ turn to tame Eagles T

By Peter Atencio

he Far Eastern University Tamaraws will meet a “very disciplined” Ateneo Blue Eagles at 2 p.m. today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Tamaraws coach Nash Racela said FEU will have to be ready against the young Eagles who upset the formidable La Salle Green Archers, 83-71, last Saturday in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.

“Yes. Mataas ang morale nila. We watched them play. They played disciplined against La Salle,” said Racela after the Tams took a 69-61 setback to the Adamson Falcons last Sunday.

Games Today (Mall of Asia Arena) 2 p.m. FEU vs Ateneo 4 p.m. Adamson vs UST

In the second game, the Adamson Falcons try to pick up their third straight win when they meet the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at 4 p.m.

The Soaring Falcons, who have a 6-5 card in fourth, are in the Final Four picture after their stunning win

over the Tams.

FEU saw its seven-game winning streak snapped but remained in second spot behind the Green Archers (12-1) with their 8-3 win-loss record.

But they can’t afford to be beaten by the Blue Eagles, who improved to 7-4 in third place. A win over the Tams could give Ateneo the inside track for the No. 2 seeding in the Final Four.

Racela believes that if they have to overcome Ateneo, they will have to find ways to minimize their turnovers.

“We talked about our turnovers today. We had 27. That’s a point of concern. Hopefully, we correct that before the next game,” he said.

Ateneo consultant Tab Baldwin commended the Blue Eagles for their composure against La Salle, and it’s something that they could bring against FEU. “The thing I was proud off was their composure. They held a double digit lead in the second half and for you to stop La Salle to get runs over you, I think you’ve done something pretty special,” said Baldwin.

The Blue Eagles unearthed a gem of a defensive player in Isaac Go, who made it difficult for La Salle’s dominant center Ben Mbala.

Go limited Mbala to 5-of-13 shooting but the Archers slotman still finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds.

Customs, BaliPure fight for last VL finals seat Games today 1 p.m. – Champion Supra vs IEM (Spikers-for 3rd) 3 p.m. – Cignal vs Air Force (Spikers-for crown) 6 p.m. – Customs vs BaliPure (V-League Game Three)

Expect fireworks to erupt as Customs and BaliPure collide today in a one-game duel for the second championship berth in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The Transformers finally solved the Purest Water Defenders’ puzzle with a 2519, 15-25, 25-20, 25-17 victory late Monday, forcing a decider in their best-of-three semifinal playoff and keeping them on track for a crack at the crown in their first stint in the country’s premier

women’s volley league.

The match, set at 6 tonight, will be aired live on ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 23 and S+A HD Ch 166 and via streaming on www.sports.abs-cbn.com, according to the organizing Sports Vision.

BaliPure came into Game 2 oozing with confidence, having beaten Customs twice via three-set romps.

But the Transformers refused to give up and got back at the Water Defenders with top hitter Alyssa Valdez living up to the hype by firing 27 hits, including 20 attack points, in a game they could not afford to lose.

But it was Kanjana Kuthaisong who took the game’s top honors, after the Thai ace pumped in 19 hits

and made a good account of herself defensively with eight excellent receptions.

BaliPure is expected to come up with the necessary adjustments to bounce back and vie for the championship for the first timein the league sponsored by Shakey’s, after placing third in the Open Conference early in the season.

Import Katherine Morrell delivered 19 hits the last time out and drew a solid 16-point production from the power-hitting Dzi Gervacio and seven markers from former league MVP Sue Roces. But Amy Ahomiro struggled with just five hits and the rest failed to step up, enabling the once-embattled Trans- Pocari Sweat import Breanna Mackie defies the double block put up by UST’s Ria Menformers to steal the match eses and Chlodia Cortez during their Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference semifiand live another day. nals clash.

Azkals clash with Kyrgystan TO THE FINISH.

Amelia Watkinson of New Zealand pours it out in the closing run event, after seizing control in the swim and bike stages, en route to bagging the women’s pro crown in 2:10:19 in the Bellevue Resort 5i50 Triathlon at the Bellevue Resort in Panglao Island, Bohol last Sunday.

HOW ready is the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team for the AFF Suzuki Cup? Coach Thomas Dooley will find out when the Azkals clash with the Kyrgystan men’s squad, known as the White Falcons, tonight in a friendly match at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

“This team is stronger than Bahrain. We learned a lot in our last game. We hope to improve,” said Dooley a day before their 8 p.m.

Showdown.

The Azkals’ last two

outings against Bahrain and North Korea were setbacks, and they feel their friendly with Kyrgystan will be a learning experience.

“This will be our preparation for the Suzuki Cup. We will know where we are after this game,” said Azkals skipper Phil Younghusband.

There will be new faces on the PH team, including midfielder Hikaru “Pika” Minegishi, who recently earned the Golden Ball award in the UFL as its best player. But the 25-year-old is

still having his passport processed and may not be present.

Then there’s Kaya’s Shirmar Felongco, a left-sided defender with experience in the recent AFC Cup. Marco Casambre, a national under-19 center-back, has been practicing with the Azkals and is considered one of its strongest prospects. He was part of the University of the Philippines Maroons team that recently won the Unigames in Dumaguete City. Peter Atencio

Marestella takes gold in Masters athletics tilt OLYMPIAN Marestella TorresSunang gave the Philippines its second gold medal in the 22nd World Masters Athletics Championships in Perth, Australia on Tuesday.

Debuting in the competition, the 35-year old Torres-Sunang cleared 6.11 meters on her first attempt, beating Melissa Foster of Australia, who took the silver in 5.74 meters. Italian Cristina Paganelli earned bronze in 5.65 meters.

The Philippines ended up with two golds on its first stint in the Masters.

Earlier, Danilo Fresnido opened Team Philippines’ bid when he dominated the men’s 40-44 javelin throw competition.

Fresnido, who is the current national coach and national record holder, heaved the spear to a distance of 62.30 meters to beat seven rivals for the gold.

The 44-year-old Fresnido managed to claim the silver last year.

Then, Erlinda Lavandia made a heave of 30.28 meters Tuesday to win silver in the 60-above category of the women’s javelin throw.

The 64-year old Lavandia finished behind Anne Kristine Jensen of Denmark, who took the gold with her 30.59 meter performance.

Pole vaulter Emerson Obiena and marathoner Lorna Vejano are also in the Philippine delegation. Vejano was ninth in the 55yrs and above women’s marathon. Peter Atencio

Petron’s net profit rises 47% to P7.4b

B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

B1

Govt posted P75.3-b deficit in September

RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT. Growup Investment Asia appoints Laurelmedia, with Veronica Laurel Merk (leftmost) as president, as marketing and promotions director for its renewable energy project in the Philippines. The solar energy project will significantly reduce electrical consumption in city malls and halls, private and public establishments. The Growup Investment Asia invention is tested in all institutional places in Japan and have quality assets at par with the Americas, EU and other select countries. Shown are (from left) Koichi Tajima, president of GIA, and Masahiro Sakashita and Takeshi Nishida.

THE government incurred a budget deficit of P75.3 billion in September after posting a surplus in the previous month, data from the Bureau of Treasury show.

The bureau said in its web site Tuesday the budget deficit widened more than three times from P22.1 billion a year ago. It was also a reversal of the P32.6-billion budget surplus in August 2016.

The September figure brought the government’s fiscal position to a deficit of P213.7 billion in the first nine months of the year, higher than the P25.6-billion gap posted in the same period in 2015.

The government said netting out interest payments, it posted a primary balance deficit of P42.7 billion in September.

Government revenues in September rose percent year-on-year

to P166 billion, bringing year-todate collections to P1.64 trillion.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue collected P113.0 billion in September, up 1 percent over the same period in 2015. BIR collections in the nine-month period rose 9 percent year-on-year to P1.2 trillion.

The Bureau of Customs increased collections 2 percent to P33.3 billion. Customs has raised P287.9 billion in the first three quarters, up 7 percent on year.

Collections of the Bureau of the Treasury contracted 3 percent to P7.7 billion due to lower income gained from deposits and investment.

Collections from other offices (non-tax) for the month grew 2 percent to P10.2 billion year-on-year while the cumulative reached P88.4 billion. Gabrielle H. Binaday

Pernia: Clinton win better for PH D

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

AVAO CITY— Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia on Tuesday said a victory by US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is better for the Philippines because it promises continuity of programs and ties with the Obama administration.

“I think Clinton is better... more continuity from Obama, because Obama has been campaigning for [Clinton],” Pernia told reporters at the sidelines of the Philippine Development Forum in SMX Convention here.

He said if Republican candidate Donald Trump made it as the next US President, downside risks for the Philippine economy might persist.

“Well, it will be a protectionist (government), inward looking American economy.

And that will impact on trade, investment and remittances,” Pernia said.

The US will elect its 45th president today.

A London-based think, meanwhile, also sees the likelihood of a Trump presidency as a risk to the Philippine economy.

“The Philippines, followed by Taiwan and Korea, stand out as the countries in Asia with most to lose in the event Donald Trump is elected as the next president of the United States,” Capital Economic said in its Emerging Asia Economic Update publication.

Pernia and Capital Economicsmade the comments after Trump was recently quoted as saying he wanted to bring back American companies to the US. “The Philippines would be the biggest loser if Trump followed through on his threat to punish American companies that outsource jobs abroad,” Capital Economic said.

The Philippines has a thriving business process outsourcing sector, which last year brought in revenues equivalent to around 10 percent of the economy.

Capital flight dips to $51.67m—BSP

By Julito G. Rada REGISTERED foreign portfolio investments or “hot money” posted a net outflow of $51.67 million in the third week of October on the back of lingering uncertainty on the timing of the next interest rates hike by the US Federal Reserve, data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

The figure was lower than the $101.23-million net outflow a year ago. It was also smaller compared with the $180.33 million net outflow a week ago.

Despite the withdrawal of fund managers in the third week of October, hot money still brought the year-to-date portfolio investments to a net inflow of $1.076 billion, a sharp turnaround from the $437.30-million net outflow a year ago.

Foreign portfolio investments are overseas funds that are temporarily invested in local stocks, government securities and money market. These are also called “hot money” because of the ease they are invested in and taken out of the local markets.

Hot money in September posted a net outflow of $807 million, the biggest since the $1.844-billion net outflow in January 2014, due to the uncertain timing of the Fed hike.

The September net outflow was also higher than the $323.98-million net outflow a year ago and a reversal of the $427-million net inflow in August this year.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stocks surge on Clinton hopes T

HE stock market climbed Tuesday on hopes Hillary Clinton will beat Donald Trump to win Tuesday’s presidential election but traders are cautious with many opinion polls saying the race is too close to call.

The Philippine Stock Exchange Index advanced 110.61 points, or 1.5 percent, to 7,307.80 on a value turnover of P7.2 billion. Gainers overwhelmed losers, 119 to 49, with 49 issues unchanged.

Universal Robina Corp., the biggest snack food maker, surged 6.9 percent to P185, while Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain, rose 4.6

percent to P241.

Nickel Asia Corp., the biggest nickel producer, advanced 6.2 percent to P7.53, while Megaworld Corp., the largest lessor of office spaces, gained 3.2 percent to P4.15.

Globe Telecom Inc., the second-biggest telecommunications company, dropped 5.5 percent to P1,550 after reporting Monday that net income fell 50

percent in the third quarter from a year ago, after acquiring 50 percent of San Miguel Corp.’s telecom assets.

Globe, which is controlled by conglomerate Ayala Corp., said net income amounted to P2.7 billion in July to September, down from P5.43 billion it posted in the same period last year.

Global equities and risk assets also surged Monday after the FBI said it would not pursue criminal charges against Clinton over her use of a private email server while secretary of state.

The rally came after a week of turmoil caused by the bureau’s announcement on October 28 it was looking into the issue, despite having cleared her once already in July.

Clinton is considered by many investors to be a safer bet than Trump, who is seen as a loose cannon with policies many fear could wreck the world’s top economy.

Hong Kong rose 0.3 percent in the afternoon, Sydney ended up 0.1 percent, Seoul gained 0.3 percent and Singapore was 0.3 percent higher.

Wellington and Taipei also posted healthy advances but Tokyo closed marginally lower.

Shanghai added 0.5 percent as investors brushed off news that Chinese exports fell for a seventh consecutive month in October as weak global demand put another dent in the world’s number two economy.

“We’ve been swung this way and that over who may win, but expectations of a Clinton victory

are firming,” said Toshihiko Matsuno, a senior strategist at SMBC Friend Securities Co. “Since it’s easier to predict policy with her, there’s more of a sense of security in the market.

Stocks may price in 70 to 80 percent (chance) of a Clinton victory today,” he told Bloomberg News.

The advances follow big gains in New York where the S&P 500 ended a nine-day losing streak to rise 2.2 percent, its biggest gain since March. The Dow and Nasdaq each finished more than two percent higher. Frankfurt, London and Paris soared close to two percent.

Also, the Vix volatility index, a benchmark for investor fear, declined after nine straight days of gains. With AFP

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2016

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.55 10,000 48 27,000 97.15 6,595,940 112 1,889,590 38.25 73,600 16.46 900 19.2 361,000 0.72 62,000 1.88 5,000 660 40 0.83 9,572,000 80.5 3,973,300 0.88 20,020,000 14.3 44,700 22.05 400 57.2 35,610 260 3,200 139 280 36.1 56,100 210 609,820 1,547 185 75 71,190

35,370 1,291,095 637,132,952.50 210,705,074 2,815,200 14,792 6,936,286 41,720 9,080 26,320 7,941,150 317,316,271 17,217,600 642,230 8,820 2,041,954.50 830,090 38,981 2,021,535 127,150,746 279,525 5,339,552

890,255 -53,979,996 -9,786,310 -1,540,892 19,760 46,800 -62,671,419.50 17,200,000 -171,600 8,820 -574,890 -304,200 710,870.00 -45,578,978 -61,840 -269,213

44 3.73 0.93 1.37 20.8 0.21 105 11.44 16.38 170 23.05 29 63.05 93.5 2.02 6.96 12.2 11.02 7.04 7.24 5.63 22.9 66.75 12.6 16.84 6.04 1.86 232.6 78 2.08 4 26.25 30.4 27 15.3 278.6 0.26 4.75 3.35 10.08 11.54 2.1 5.78 1.45 70.6 3.65 222 4.25 4.12 0.145 1.66 173.2 2.08 1.13

INDUSTRIAL 45 775,600 3.8 861,000 0.97 590,000 1.4 627,000 20.8 51,200 0.21 160,000 110 2,320 11.7 13,103,900 16.98 1,540,200 185 280 23.6 376,100 30 8,000 64 35,600 94 640 2.06 79,000 7.12 3,320,100 12.4 29,700 11.04 9,632,400 7.05 926,600 7.28 1,709,900 5.7 3,258,100 23.4 707,100 68.4 133,490 12.6 400 16.84 326,200 6.05 422,500 1.94 250,000 241 844,580 80 3,730 2.08 67,000 4.13 21,000 27.3 1,500 31.5 2,699,700 27.5 242,400 15.36 2,037,600 281.4 111,480 0.26 10,000 4.75 60,000 3.35 1,261,000 10.1 1,256,600 11.54 2,000 2.14 2,445,000 5.9 124,300 1.51 72,000 72 3,908,160 3.7 28,000 222.4 2,820 4.25 1,097,000 4.12 10,000 0.145 2,970,000 1.66 115,000 185 1,805,370 2.1 4,016,000 1.13 122,000

34,551,500 3,269,040 564,230 875,250 1,096,790 33,620 253,760 152,047,144 26,128,676 51,340 8,857,955 241,290 2,275,994.50 60,285 160,380 24,058,209 365,782 106,882,100 6,532,756 12,420,520 18,567,959 16,445,480 9,045,749.50 5,040 5,502,194 2,561,920 474,710 202,509,626 302,666.50 140,000 85,730 40,040 85,262,100 6,658,405 31,539,850 31,232,820 2,600 285,000 4,225,840 12,752,636 23,080 5,215,110 725,269 105,310 279,589,151 102,960 626,276 4,721,720 41,200 434,070 191,630 324,692,125 8,444,000 139,210

-1,774,845 57,000 -49,756,238 14,493,078.00 -1,011,600 -124,230 24,947.50 -9,550,232 -1,083,086 -11,872,617 3,551,460 3,513,100 -334,687.50 4,897,290 1,029,105 57,475,502 8,090 -11,239,550 -4,717,460 5,120,642 -20,504,034 642,430 785,580.00 1,480,700 7,450 180,539,101 -18,280 284,240 60,960 91,146,989 25,380 -

0.39 77 13.9 1.24 5.8 0.325 837 8.73 12.84 8.16 6 0.2 1,378 73.9 5.23 1.24 7.8 14.66 7.25 0.039 1.17 1.93 2.68 80.3 682.5 0.87 1.22 235.8 0.31 0.2

0.375 74.1 13.46 1.17 5.8 0.31 826.5 8.45 12.3 8.07 6 0.2 1,349 72.5 5.22 1.18 7.65 14.6 7 0.038 1.15 1.9 2.68 79.85 667 0.87 1.17 232.2 0.3 0.191

HOLDING FIRMS 0.39 150,000 77 3,077,430 13.9 4,836,100 1.24 25,076,000 5.8 46,700 0.325 60,000 831 311,030 8.67 9,231,500 12.6 10,379,500 8.07 16,300 6 100 0.2 90,000 1,365 78,060 73.15 2,108,810 5.22 900 1.2 8,715,000 7.78 1,132,500 14.6 1,966,800 7.16 25,583,700 0.038 19,500,000 1.15 14,000 1.9 442,000 2.68 27,000 80.2 116,350 671 269,260 0.87 10,000 1.18 77,000 235.8 3,520 0.305 990,000 0.2 50,000

57,100 232,892,213 66,148,822 29,340,450 270,860 18,750 258,287,365 78,608,419 130,901,366 131,820 600 18,000 106,051,035 154,448,633 4,701 10,490,480 8,781,007 28,726,050 183,107,622 752,500 16,250 839,950 72,360 9,319,547 180,484,270 8,700 90,440 828,512 301,450 9,650

-14,875,577.50 -34,881,734 29,250,000 -3,775,415 57,239,030.00 12,819,036 -4,080 42,421,825 -15,119,481.50 -15,830 -2,384,848 12,043,194 116,252,623 -5,154,934.50 -80,729,780 -

7.34 1.16 2.31 0.3 36 3.15 5.15 0.62 1.2 1.17 0.154 0.58 55 0.75 1.88 0.97 1.05 5 4.19 0.168 0.275 3.24 29.85

7.19 1.12 2.26 0.29 35.4 3.08 5.1 0.59 1.16 1.11 0.151 0.56 53.25 0.74 1.82 0.96 1.03 5 4.03 0.161 0.26 3.02 29

567,870 3,710,340 450,400 321,250 287,732,900 18,282,620 257,240 6,706,620 106,090 1,020,550 514,390 2,130,860 12,317,409 31,423,240 38,220,120 2,304,340 333,130 5,000 167,531,130 5,669,650 614,050 5,282,450 56,096,495

63,369 206,950 -59,815,115 -15,443,670 -3,214,870 -8,880 -2,749,273 30,992,250 20,274,200 223,100 57,185,000 6,560 54,000 -38,891,285

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO UNIBANK CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK FIRST ABACUS IREMIT MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK

3.53 47.75 97.95 111.3 38.25 16.2 19.2 0.68 1.8 656 0.77 78.6 0.86 14.3 22.05 57.3 259 138.4 35.5 208.2 1,475 74.75

3.55 48 98 112.1 38.25 16.48 19.62 0.72 1.88 660 0.84 80.5 0.88 14.42 22.05 57.5 263 140 36.5 212.4 1,549 75.05

3.53 47.5 95.9 110.5 38.25 16.2 19.2 0.67 1.8 656 0.77 78.6 0.86 14.3 22.05 57.2 259 138.4 35.5 204.2 1,475 74.75

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VULCAN INDL

44.8 3.81 0.93 1.39 21.8 0.212 108.2 11.5 16.38 170 23.55 33 63.8 94.6 2.02 7 12.4 11.4 7.15 7.28 5.67 23.45 66.75 12.6 16.84 6.14 1.95 233 82 2.1 4.13 27.4 30.4 27 15.5 281.8 0.26 4.75 3.35 10.1 11.54 2.14 5.79 1.46 70.95 3.66 222 4.4 4.12 0.147 1.66 174 2.12 1.14

45 3.81 0.97 1.41 22.35 0.212 112 11.82 17 190 23.65 33 64 94.6 2.06 7.3 12.48 11.5 7.26 7.28 5.73 23.45 69.5 12.6 16.9 6.14 1.95 244.8 82 2.11 4.13 27.4 32.4 27.5 15.8 283 0.26 4.75 3.36 10.3 11.54 2.15 5.9 1.51 72.15 3.7 222.4 4.49 4.12 0.147 1.7 185 2.16 1.15

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG B LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS

0.39 76.45 13.52 1.17 5.8 0.31 827 8.45 12.3 8.1 6 0.2 1,361 73 5.23 1.22 7.77 14.6 7 0.039 1.17 1.93 2.68 80.3 682 0.87 1.22 235.8 0.3 0.191

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP KEPPEL PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND

7.2 1.13 2.29 0.29 35.8 3.11 5.15 0.61 1.16 1.11 0.151 0.57 54.9 0.74 1.84 0.97 1.05 5 4.1 0.162 0.26 3.15 29.55

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

1.55 3.23 26.8 0.99 0.96 5.23

1.55 3.27 26.95 1.01 0.97 5.34

1.55 3.23 26.5 0.99 0.94 5.23

1.55 3.27 26.9 1.01 0.97 5.34

76,000 13,000 5,233,500 2,192,000 1,889,000 2,726,300

117,800 42,030 140,161,740 2,190,260 1,790,740 14,389,346

38,750 -9,787,200 9,600 792,135

2GO GROUP ABS CBN APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CALATA CORP CEBU AIR DFNN INC GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL A IMPERIAL B INTL CONTAINER IP EGAME IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY MELCO CROWN METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT

7.7 46.05 0.57 0.055 5.2 6.24 0.082 2.9 103.5 6.9 1,646 6.2 13.62 2.21 15.52 135 76 0.0095 9.16 0.204 1.44 3.35 13.28 5.29 2.12 2 4.43 4.62 21.5 2.82 11.4 5.1 2.52 153 8.5 1,485 1.19 0.41 40.5 75.45 5.55 2.76 0.78 3.36 0.33

7.7 46.75 0.58 0.057 5.2 6.48 0.083 2.93 109.5 7 1,654 6.27 13.62 2.29 15.8 136 77.1 0.0095 9.16 0.212 1.44 3.35 13.28 5.3 2.12 2 4.52 4.62 23.5 2.87 11.4 5.2 2.52 153 8.7 1,504 1.19 0.41 41.2 78 5.91 2.78 0.78 3.36 0.33

7.65 46.05 0.56 0.052 5.15 6.24 0.082 2.86 103.5 6.7 1,550 6.2 13.26 2.17 15.44 135 75.5 0.0095 9.1 0.204 1.4 3.33 13.28 5.1 2.05 2 4.28 4.58 21.5 2.77 11.3 5.08 2.5 153 8.41 1,440 1.16 0.395 40.3 75.45 5.55 2.67 0.76 3.22 0.33

SERVICES 7.69 46.15 0.57 0.054 5.15 6.34 0.082 2.86 107.9 6.8 1,550 6.26 13.26 2.26 15.8 136 76 0.0095 9.16 0.211 1.41 3.33 13.28 5.1 2.05 2 4.3 4.59 22 2.77 11.3 5.08 2.5 153 8.62 1,448 1.17 0.395 41.2 77.1 5.8 2.78 0.77 3.22 0.33

60,300 4,400 1,106,000 69,120,000 3,400 13,631,000 12,230,000 1,160,000 555,180 49,600 260,790 21,800 53,800 6,063,000 12,900 200 1,293,310 1,000,000 512,000 12,910,000 1,152,000 63,000 700 474,000 578,000 364,000 13,151,000 924,000 15,100 1,772,000 3,300 15,500 3,000 10 667,200 247,345 26,767,000 600,000 2,349,700 1,018,490 174,200 1,035,000 24,573,000 1,058,000 10,000

462,638 203,625 630,860 3,765,090 17,665 86,387,973 1,007,760 3,354,100 59,181,683 337,880 408,743,810 136,234 715,094 13,542,860 200,300 27,180 98,473,052.50 9,500 4,687,970 2,713,570 1,636,260 210,720 9,296 2,461,984 1,188,800 728,000 57,604,980 4,247,840 337,180 4,993,290 37,310 79,066 7,520 1,530 5,714,313 361,160,745 31,397,370 240,450 96,411,005 78,507,343.50 1,012,679 2,820,180 19,128,080 3,423,830 3,300

117,450 41,275,551 20,020 15,142,226 -214,005,385 1,326 225,000 -7,733,603.50 280,490 -260,119 -24,805,780 1,745,680 0 62,922,855 84,680 15,701,335 1,308,547 1,053,030 -7,723,900 -25,870 -

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING ATOK BENGUET A BENGUET B CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A PETROENERGY PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING TA PETROLEUM UNITED PARAGON

0.0034 3.09 4.18 9.63 2.21 2.15 0.58 0.4 8.35 1.33 0.3 0.192 0.204 0.012 0.012 1.72 7.25 2.91 0.53 1.11 0.011 4.2 0.012 8.4 3.88 125.1 3.05 0.0095

0.0036 3.1 4.27 10.5 2.22 2.3 0.59 0.405 8.55 1.43 0.315 0.2 0.206 0.013 0.013 1.8 7.65 3.05 0.53 1.16 0.011 4.22 0.012 8.4 4.1 126.8 3.29 0.0096

0.0034 3.02 4.18 9.63 2.2 2.15 0.58 0.4 8.35 1.33 0.295 0.192 0.203 0.012 0.012 1.7 7.25 2.89 0.53 1.05 0.011 4.2 0.012 8.24 3.85 123.1 3.05 0.0094

MINING & OIL 0.0036 108,000,000 3.03 169,000 4.24 75,000 10.5 600 2.2 7,000 2.3 62,000 0.59 17,000 0.405 580,000 8.35 1,000 1.38 153,170,000 0.305 6,370,000 0.198 7,350,000 0.203 690,000 0.012 19,700,000 0.013 262,200,000 1.73 2,438,000 7.53 25,122,200 3 2,121,000 0.53 80,000 1.11 1,317,000 0.011 2,800,000 4.22 2,000 0.012 2,471,000,000 8.4 491,100 4.02 2,239,000 125 354,940 3.22 10,000 0.0096 20,000,000

376,900 512,120 316,230 5,952 15,450 141,380 10,020 233,300 8,470 212,285,240 1,956,200 1,448,540 141,370 237,500 3,276,400 4,250,080 188,029,809 6,357,130 42,400 1,475,900 30,800 8,420 29,652,000 4,103,666 8,923,410 44,350,187 31,120 189,300

-16,870 -8,383,330 -2,090.00 58,260 9,904,975 88,500 -222,500 29,646,000 35,720 -17,293,547 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF FGEN PREF G FPH PREF C GLO PREF P GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B PCOR PREF 2B PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

45.85 521.5 540 104 114.1 510 530 1,020 1,021 1,160 107.6 120 77.4 81 77.3 80.5 77.5 77.5 78

46.1 521.5 540 104.2 114.1 510 530 1,020 1,025 1,160 107.6 120 77.95 81 77.3 80.5 77.5 77.5 78

45.85 521 540 104 114.1 510 510.5 1,020 1,021 1,160 107.6 120 77.4 80.1 77.3 80.5 77.15 77.3 78

PREFERRED 45.85 60,000 521 2,000 540 3,700 104.1 10,860 114.1 2,000 510 9,980 529.5 2,120 1,020 10,000 1,025 3,010 1,160 520 107.6 2,400 120 4,320 77.95 550 80.1 15,200 77.3 13,400 80.5 2,000 77.5 21,500 77.3 1,670 78 80

2,751,500 1,042,200 1,998,000 1,131,492 228,200 5,089,800 1,104,560 10,200,000 3,082,010 603,200 258,240 518,400 42,581 1,222,200 1,035,820 161,000 1,665,725 129,131 6,240

-2,751,500 1,998,000 15,500 -

LR WARRANT

2.43

2.45

2.42

WARRANTS 2.42 116,000

281,120

-

2,087,260 384,720 21,743,798

616,970 11,640 -13,239,594

1,378,250

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.33 1.15 2.27 0.3 35.7 3.12 5.1 0.6 1.2 1.13 0.154 0.58 53.6 0.75 1.84 0.96 1.03 5 4.15 0.162 0.275 3.11 29.05

77,900 3,240,000 196,000 1,090,000 8,067,500 5,870,000 50,400 11,144,000 91,000 899,000 3,350,000 3,733,000 229,110 42,462,000 20,700,000 2,377,000 322,000 1,000 40,620,000 34,680,000 2,280,000 1,700,000 1,923,200

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS XURPAS

3.07 3.9 10.5

3.15 3.93 10.62

3.04 3.84 10.2

FIRST METRO ETF

121

125

120.9

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SHARES

43,751,732 66,238,541 114,852,914

PROPERTY

197,249,181

SERVICES

197,248,522

MINING & OIL

3,086,573,179

GRAND TOTAL

3,708,803,324

3.08 3.93 10.2

SME

678,000 99,000 2,099,500

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.9 11,300

VALUE 1,755.16 (up) 22.60 1,377,450,299.39 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,668.47 (up) 348.38 1,579,969,894.10 HOLDING FIRMS 7,429.20 (up) 94.29 1,531,827,454.95 PROPERTY 3,243.77 (up) 47.95 SERVICES 1,373.01 (down) 0.01 801,453,170.33 MINING & OIL 11,753.99 (down) 216.28 1,362,147,500.72 PSEI 7,307.80 (up) 110.61 508,435,652.9976 All Shares Index 4,364.22 (up) 52.94 7,186,883,242.19 Gainers:119 Losers: 64; Unchanged: 49; Total: 232

8990 set to raise P5b from share sale

By Jenniffer B. Austria MASS housing developer 8990 Holdings Inc. plans to raise as much as P5 billion through the issuance of perpetual preferred shares next year.

“We plan to raise maximum of P5 billion from preferred shares and target execution date is second quarter of 2017,” 8990 Holding president Januario Jesus Atencio said in a text message.

8990 Holdings said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Tuesday its board approved in principle the offer and the issuance of non-voting, nonconvertible, non-participating, redeemable and perpetual preferred shares.

The company is aiming for a net income of P4.8 billion and revenues of P12 billion in in 2016 despite the deferment in the launching of three projects due to delays in securing permits.

Atencio earlier said the company would only be able to launch 11 projects in 2016 instead of 14 as earlier projected after failing to secure permits to sell the projects.

Atencio, however, said shortfall from the delay in launching of the three projects might be covered by the robust sales from existing projects, including Deca Tower Edsa, which will be finished one year ahead of schedule.

D&L says Q3 profit rose 19% to P1.93b D&L Industries Inc., a listed company engaged in product customization and specialization for the food, plastics, and aerosol industries, said net income in the first nine months of the year jumped 19 percent to P1.93 billion on the back of higher commodity prices and sales volume.

Minus the one-time costs on taxes and filings related to the increase in the authorized capitalization in June 2015, recurring net income grew 16 percent, The 19-percent income rise in the first nine months of the year is on track with the company’s growth target of between 15 percent and 19 percent for 2016.

DNL said in a disclosure to the stock exchange revenues in the first three quarters of the year rose 10 percent to P16 billion, driven by the broad-based increase in sales volume and higher prices of palm oil and coconut oil in the third quarter.

High margin specialties accounted for 61 percent of revenues, bringing the overall gross profit margin to 18.7 percent “The second quarter of 2016 was particularly strong, owing to the election spending and timing of the Easter holiday. Going into the second half of the year, all businesses are operating on solid ground and contributing to earnings growth,” DNL said.

Net profit in the third quarter increased 14 percent to P671 million, while revenues rose 14 percent to P5.66 billion.

The company since 2012 has been investing heavily on research and development as it continues to focus on key opportunity areas in specialties in food ingredients, chemicals, plastics and aerosols.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Petron’s net profit rises 47% to P7.4b

By Alena Mae S. Flores

P

ETRON Corp., the bigger of the two oil refineries in the Philippines, said net profit in the the first nine months of 2016 jumped 47 percent to P7.4 billion from P5.1 billion year-on-year on higher sales volume amid strong demand and more efficient operation.

RENEWED TIES. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (right) shakes hands with Swedish Minister of Enterprise

MPIC expects ICTSI bares $150.8-m income higher ’16 By Darwin G. Amojelar earnings

and Innovation Mikael Damberg after discussing ways to strengthen long-term engagement of both sides on November 6, 2016 in Makati. Damberg said the reopening of the Swedish Embassy in Manila soon, after it closed in 2008, signals the renewal of Sweden’s commitment to partner with the Philippines.

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE Metro Pacific Investments Corp. has raised its 2016 core net income target to P11.7 billion from an initial estimate of P11.5 billion after the company posted strong growth in the first nine months of the year.

Metro Pacific said in a disclosure to the stock exchange core net income from January to September this year amounted to P9.3 billion, up 13 percent from ₱8.2 billion in the same period last year on the back of strong growth in all operations.

“The strong results during the first nine months of the year reflect our ongoing expansion of investment, continuing improvements in service levels and efficiency as well as financial gains for our operating companies,” said Metro Pacific chairman Manuel Pangilinan “I am hopeful we will soon see some progress on resolution of our past regulatory issues which would further increase funds for investments and contribute to an acceptable return on our shareholders’ funds. At this stage, we are guiding to full year core net income of ₱11.7 billion, up from ₱11.5 billion guidance at the half year,” Pangilinan added.

The power group in terms of contribution to the company’s net operating income accounted for ₱5.7 billion or 49 percent, while water contributed ₱2.7 billion or 23 percent of the total.

INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc., the biggest port operator, said on Tuesday net income rose 5 percent in the first nine months of the year, boosted by higher cargo volume traffic in most of its terminal in Asia, including Iraq.

The port operator owned by tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. said net income reached $150.8 million in the January-to-September period from $143.7 million in the same period last year.

ICTSI’s net profit in the third quarter jumnped 53 percent to $58.2 million from last year’s $38 million.

ICTSI’s revenues from port operations amounted to $390.3 million, up 15 percent from

$339.5 million last year.

The company attributed the increase in earnings to the strong volume and revenue growth across all three of the company’s geographic segments—Asia, EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) and America.

ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 6,435,192 twentyfoot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first nine months, 12 percent more than 5,768,248 TEUs in the same period in 2015.

The increase in volume was mainly due to new shipping lines and services, improvement in trade activities in most of the terminals in Asia and the continuing ramp-up at ICTSI Iraq.

ICTSI has earmarked $420 million in capital expenditure

this year, of which $297.9 million was spent in the first nine months of the year.

The established budget is mainly allocated for the completion of the initial stage of the company’s new container terminals in Australia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq, and the continuing development of the company’s projects in Honduras and Mexico.

In addition, ICTSI invested $50.1 million for the development of Sociedad Puerto Industrial Aguadulce S.A. (SPIA), its joint venture container terminal development project with PSA International Pte Ltd. (PSA) in Buenaventura, Colombia.

The company’s share for 2016 to complete the initial phase of the project is approximately $60 million.

“We are confident that we can substantially increase our profits in 2016 compared to last year as demand for fuels remains strong. Strong demand combined with strategic programs we have successfully executed means a higher growth trend for Petron over the long-term,” Petron president Ramon Ang said.

Petron’s Philippine and Malaysian sales volumes grew a combined six percent to 78.2 million barrels in the first nine months from 73.6 million sold in the same period in 2015.

Both markets saw substantial growth across all major business segments, namely reseller, industrial, LPG and lubricants.

The company said the increase in sales volume partially offset the drop in sales revenue due to lower product prices.

Consolidated revenue declined 11 percent to P247.8 billion during the period from P278.3 billion a year ago.

Domestic sales rose 3.3 million barrels, or 10 percent, to 36.4 million, boosted by increased industrial diesel sales, retail gasoline volumes, high demand from the aviation sector and growing LPG consumption from households.

Petron’s Malaysian operations exhibited robust growth with an 8-percent increase in domestic sales on year.

Operating income surged 23 percent to P16.8 billion in the first nine months.

Petron officials earlier pre-

dicted the company’s operating income might hit P20 billion this year while net income could increase by at least 30 percent for the full year 2016. Petron reported a net income of P6.3 billion in 2015.

Petron recently issued and listed P20 billion in fixed rate bonds to retail investors. The issue was twice oversubscribed over the base offer and was priced at the tight end of the marketing range.

Petron plans to use proceeds from the bonds mainly to repay existing US dollar denominated debt.

Petron has 2,250 service stations nationwide, larger than its three closest competitors combined. In Malaysia, the company continues to expand its current network of about 570 retail outlets by building more service stations, particularly in underserved markets.

Petron is producing more highvalue fuels and petrochemicals after the commissioning of its $2-billion refinery upgrade project in Bataan at the start of the year.

Costs have likewise gone down since its 180,000 barrelsper-day Bataan refinery can now process cheaper crude.

Petron locally produced and launched the country’s first Euro 5 standard fuel last month. Blaze 100 Euro 5 is much cleaner than standard Euro 4 fuels and promises optimal power, exceptional engine cleanliness, better fuel economy, and lower emissions.

Sta. Romana: PH to firm up $15-b agreements with China in ’17

By Othel V. Campos PHILIPPINES Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana said Tuesday the Philippines should wait until 2017 in fleshing out the $15-billion framework agreements generated during the recent state visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to the world’s second-biggest economy.

“What is next for us is the challenge to flesh out the agreements. Most of them are still MOUs (memorandum of understanding) and MOAs (memorandum of agreement). Those with the Tourism and Agriculture De-

partments can be done faster the rest,” he said after he spoke at the Management Association of the Philippines general membership meeting in Makati City.

“The pledges have not come in yet, so they’re just estimated or expected investments. I think it will be next year when most of the pledges will come in as FDI and in over five years,” he said.

The Philippines clinched $15 billion worth of deals in 13 different agreements during the visit of President Duterte to China, on top of $6 billion in concessional loans from Export-Import Bank of China and $3 billion in credit

facility from Bank of China.

Sta. Romana said China was also interested to extend financial aid in the form of overseas development assistance which can be patterned after the Japan ODA. The Chinese government extended Rmb 100 million during the China trip as ODA to the Philippines for its anti-drug campaign.

“This will used to set up more rehabilitation centers and for the needs of the PNP (Philippine National Police). They can spend this,” said Sta. Romana.

He added the ODA could be negotiated with China for specific projects. There had been talks with

China to sign an ODA agreement but both countries still need to assess how they can pursue the form of economic cooperation.

China has no Japan International Cooperation Agency that manages ODA funds. The closest it has is the Export-Import Bank of China and the Bank of China.

China has the National Development and Reform Commission, the counterpart of the Philippines’ National Economic and Development Authority, where the Chinese government can determine the projects worth giving free or with complimentary financial assistance.

So far, the free assistance given by China to the Philippines was from private sector effort, mostly by philanthropists.

Sta. Romana clarified that the cooperation the Philippines was seeking from China was on the economy and trade and not military alliance.

“We expect defense talks to come to life. While we are separating ourselves from the US several levels away, we are not swinging entirely to China. Our focus on China is to build economic cooperation, trade and more ODA and improve bilateral relations,” he said.

Nicaragua’s dynastic couple IF YOU think we have it bad here in the Philippines with nepotism and political dynasties, wait till you hear about Nicaragua’s president Daniel Ortega and wife Rosario Murillo. These two just had a back-to-back win in the Nicaraguan elections as president and vice president, respectively.

It’s the third straight term for Ortega who obtained 72.5 percent of the total votes cast, and the first for Murillo. Critics, however, condemned the elections as a farce, with the US calling the elections “flawed” and neighboring Costa Rica questioning the legitimacy of the electoral process because there were no international observers.

The “historic” win will allow the couple to consolidate their power—which is rather ironic since they were both revolutionaries who met during the Sandinista revolution that fought the dictatorship of Anastacio Somoza. The 70-year old Ortega ruled Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990 but a shock defeat at the polls must have firmed his resolve to get back into power, and he did so in 2007 with the help of Murillo, who soon increasingly emerged as the real power behind the throne.

Ortega praised his choice of Murillo as running mate, saying

it is clear proof that he is upholding equality. Describing her as a “colleague,” he said they (him and the Sandinista National Liberation Front party) agreed that a woman like Rosario Murillo with her “efficiency, discipline, dedication and commitment” will be able to carry on the good work of his government if she is elected as vice president.

Murillo, who is a poet of moderate fame, had herself appointed as Minister of Communication and is the only one who does all the talking, and is heard every lunchtime during her radio broadcast. She is the de facto chief of staff and is perceived to be more powerful than her husband who rumors say is ailing.

Visitors to the capital city of Managua could not help but notice the huge metal trees (reportedly costing $20,000 apiece) adorning the streets and public parks. These “Trees of Life” reportedly reflect the First Lady’s and now vice president’s New Age leanings and display the extent of her omniscience, power and influence over the Nicaraguans’ way of life. After all, she’s the one who designed these trees that have been described as quirky, eerie and annoying with their garishly bright lights especially at night. (By the way, the upkeep for these trees is estimated at $10,000 a month for electricity).

Ortega and Murillo practically decimated the opposition and installed minor league presidential candidates prior to the elections

by having all 28 opposition members from Congress removed, with help from the Nicaraguan Supreme Court.

In what could only look like the plot of a telenovela, Murillo’s daughter Zoilamerica Narvaez Murillo (living in exile in Costa Rica) is one of the staunchest critics of the power couple (who have eight children). Several years ago, Zoilamerica accused Ortega, her stepfather, of sexual abuse when she was 11 but her mother repudiated her as cuckoo and supported Ortega. The daughter claims she was the sacrificial lamb in Murillo’s greed for power because pretty soon, the president’s wife started flexing her political muscles more and more.

The other children though have become well entrenched (and rich), having prominent positions in media, the tourist industry and business, appointed as presidential advisers or occupying ministerial posts. Critics have denounced this practice, saying it is a violation of the constitution, but the president and his VP couldn’t care less. As the saying goes, it’s all in the family.

••• For comments, reactions, photos, stories and related concerns, readers may email to happyhourtoday2012@yahoo.com. You may also visit and like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ happyhourmanilastandard. Cheers!

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

Business

China exports continue drop B EIJING―Chinese exports sank for a seventh consecutive month in October, data showed Tuesday, as weak global demand dealt a blow to the world’s number two economy following recent signs of stability.

The result, which also missed forecasts, comes as the country’s export-oriented companies see their margins squeezed by rising labor costs and increasing competition from southeastern Asian countries.

Overseas shipments fell 7.3 percent on-year, while imports

also fell 1.4 percent, with both coming in below expectations in a survey of economists by Bloomberg News.

China is the world’s biggest trader in goods and its performance affects partners from Australia to Zambia, which have been battered as its expansion has slowed to levels

not seen in a quarter of a century.

With exports totaling $178.2 billion and imports $129.1 billion the trade surplus dropped to $49.1 billion in the month.

Customs earlier gave the figure in yuan terms, showing a 3.2-percent drop in exports and a 3.2 percent increase in imports on-year.

Analyst Julian EvansPritchard of Capital Economics said the outlook appeared challenging with “global and domestic growth unlikely to accelerate much further.”

“The current pace of global growth is likely to be as good as it gets for the foreseeable

future.”

Though the yuan currency’s value has slid to a series of sixyear lows against the greenback in recent weeks, making Chinese goods cheaper for trade partners, it has not been enough to lift exports into positive territory.

The yuan weakened further Tuesday after the People’s Bank of China said the country’s foreign exchange reserves dropped nearly $46 billion in October, their second-largest decline this year as capital outflows eat into the world’s largest stockpile.

While Tuesday’s trade figures disappointed, analysts with ANZ

said they suggested that external demand had “not worsened significantly” despite earlier data on factory activity that pointed to a larger decline.

Beijing is seeking to transition the economy away from being the world’s factory floor for cheap goods to supplying the country’s growing consumer needs.

“Trade’s contribution to China’s economy is now diminishing as the economy increasingly depends on domestic demand,” Zhu Qibing, chief macro economy analyst at BOCI International in Beijing told Bloomberg. AFP

Samsung apologizes for Note 7

WASHINGTON―Samsung took out advertisements Monday in major US newspapers to apologize for the Galaxy Note 7 scandal in which fire-prone batteries forced a global recall of the popular smartphones.

The full-page ads in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Post admitted the company “fell short” on its promise of delivering “breakthrough technologies that enrich people’s lives.”

“For this we are truly sorry,” the company said.

It promised a full and open investigation into the Galaxy debacle.

The huge South Korean manufacturer was forced to recall some 2.5 million of the flagship Note 7s following complaints that its lithium-ion battery exploded while charging―and at other times. The company also had to recall the first replacements it sent out to consumers after they proved just as dangerous.

“We will re-examine every aspect of the device, including hardware, software, manufacturing and the overall battery structure. We will move as quickly as possible, but will take the time needed to get the right answers.”

The ads also noted the recall that Samsung announced last week for nearly three million clothes washers to fix the tops, which could become loose and fly off while the machine is running. AFP

People look at vehicles displayed at a Toyota showroom in Tokyo on November 8, 2016. Toyota said on November 8 its AprilSeptember net profit dived 25 percent, hit by a sharp rally in the yen and as North American vehicle sales fell again, but it upgraded its full-year outlook. AFP

Toyota’s profit falls on strong currency TOKYO―Toyota said Tuesday its April-September net profit dived 25 percent, hit by a sharp rally in the yen and another fall in North American sales, but it upgraded its full-year outlook.

The world’s biggest automaker reported a net profit of 946.1 billion yen ($9.1 billion) in the first half of its fiscal year, down from 1.25 trillion yen in the same period in 2015.

Operating profit fell nearly 30 percent to 1.11 trillion yen, while revenue was off 7.2 percent at 13.07 trillion yen.

However, the Corolla and Prius hybrid maker boosted its full-year to March net profit forecast to 1.55 trillion yen from an earlier 1.45 trillion yen estimate.

The newest figure is still way down from a record 2.31 trillion yen net profit in the most recently ended business year.

The decline in profits underscores the negative impact that a resurgent currency has had on firms doing much of their business abroad.

Japan’s exporters reaped windfall profits over the past few years as government efforts to kickstart the world’s number three economy sharply weakened the yen.

That was good for firms such as Toyota and rivals Honda and Nissan because repatriated foreign profits were worth more when the yen was weak and because it boosted their competitiveness overseas.

But the currency has rallied since the start of the year as volatile equity markets and Britain’s vote to exit the European Union boosted demand for a unit widely seen as a safe investment.

“The yen’s strength remains a major factor squeezing earnings in the Japanese auto sector,” said Shigeru Matsumura, analyst at SMBC Friend Research Center, before the results were published.

“Japanese carmakers need to make further efforts to make their corporate structure more resistant to the yen’s appreciation,” he added.

Toyota’s vehicle sales in April-September ticked up to 5.06 million units, from 4.97 million vehicles in the same period last year, with increases in Japan, Europe and Asia. AFP

To beer or not to beer: Belgium fears for brewing crown

By Marine Laouchez BRUSSELS―Belgium is historically one of the world’s top beer countries but Thomas Costenoble, organizer of the Brussels Beer Challenge, fears that trouble is brewing.

This international contest in the Belgian capital, now in its fifth year, features 1,250 beers from 36 countries and 80 judges to sample the tipples on offer.

But Belgians increasingly fear that their centuries-old dominance is at risk from foreign upstart beers that are not afraid to break with tradition.

“Belgium is still a reference point,” Costenoble tells AFP, but adds that in certain categories Belgian beers are “no longer as assured in terms of quality.”

In 2015 the first prize went to an IPA, or Indian Pale Ale, from Seattle in the United States―the first time Belgium had surrendered the top spot.

Belgium is still the top competitor at the Brussels challenge with 240 beers but it is closely followed on 210 by both the United States and, perhaps surprisingly for a country best known for its wines, Italy.

Globally the beer market is evolving to focus on artisan brews, leading to smaller “microbreweries” that focus on quality rather than quantity.

In Belgium the number has grown from 127 to 199

between 2009 and 2015 and the trend has been the same internationally.

The United States has seen the number of breweries explode from 1,596 to 4,225 over the same period, while in the Netherlands the number has more than tripled from 117 to 401 and in Italy from 256 to 914, and numbers have doubled in France (332 to 663) and Britain (745 to 1,424).

‘Belgium always unique’ “The UK and the US are without a shadow of a doubt leading the way in terms of innovation in beer. But it’s actually very high quality innovation,” said Melissa Cole, a British author and beer specialist who has been on the jury of the Brussels Beer Challenge since the start.

“France and Italy are still not as high up there in terms of their quality of beer across the board. There are a lot of beers that are still not being made properly, not being packaged correctly.”

Belgium’s huge range of beers―from sour lambics to fruity krieks, and from dark abbey beers to lagers―meant it remained ahead of the pack but needed to keep innovating, added Cole.

“Belgium will always be unique. It has total geographical protection for its lambics. That’s a very vital and fantastic part of its tradition,” she said.

“Belgium up until five maybe seven years ago had

This file photo taken on October 23, 2015 shows various beers produced by Belgian micro-brewery “Brasserie de la Senne” on display at the brewery in Brussels. Belgium is historically one of the world’s top beer countries but Thomas Costenoble, organizer of the Brussels Beer Challenge, fears that trouble is brewing. AFP

exactly the opposite problem (as its competitors): pretty technically excellent in most places but actually really a little backwards in innovation.

And I’m pleased to see that that’s changing.”

Older family breweries like Cantillon or Lindemans are

now becoming more dynamic in the face of newer Belgian arrivals like Brasserie de la Senne, she said.

The Belgians are also adopting, like many others, the IPA, the beer of the moment with its fresh and less sugary taste.

“A very hoppy beer―a nightmare for older consumers and for the industry,” says Italian professional taster Lorenzo Dabove, with a smile.

His country is one of the most dynamic in this market having launched itself into the “artisan beer” revolution since the mid-

1990s, with some small Italian breweries now exporting up to 70 percent of their production.

But the true test of whether Belgium’s rivals are catching up will be in the tasting: the results of the Brussels Beer Challenge will be unveiled on November 21. AFP

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

C1

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

BRAVING THE WINDS. Motorists defy under fallen pylons the wrath of the October weather—which left an ugly trail of death and destruction—spawned by Super Typhoon ‘Lawin,’ which raised to level 5 the typhoon signal in the Cagayan Valley, as this one in the inland town of Cabagan in Isabela near the border with Cagayan province. AFP

Mamba: Cagayan needs ‘Yolanda’-like rehab plan

By Jessica M. Bacud

T

UGUEGARAO City, Cagayan—Almost P8 billion worth of damage to agriculture and infrastructure projects had been reported by the Provincial Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office inflicted by Super Typhoon “Lawin” last month.

Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said “The devastation throughout the province caused by “Lawin” meant P5 billion worth of agricultural damage and P3 billion in infrastructure, with 25,000 houses totally blown up and 100,000 partially destroyed.”

Mamba stressed Cagayanos need a “Yolanda”-like rehabilitation plan to enable them to bounce back from the ruin, at a time when thousands of farmers were waiting for their harvest east and west

of the mighty Cagayan River.

In a press release, provincial information officer Rogie Sending quoted Mamba as saying that despite the much lower casualty count from “Lawin” compared to 2013’s Super Typhoon “Yolanda,” Cagayan “obviously” suffered heavily in agriculture and infrastructure.

In an interview, Mamba said there were only eight casualties from “Lawin” compared to thousands during the onslaught of “Yolanda” in November 2013.

Typhoon “Yolanda,” considered the most powerful storm to make landfall in recorded history, struck the Philippines, and cut a swathe of destruction in northern Philippines, particularly the Cagayan Valley, the Cordilleras and the Ilocos region.

A Yolanda-like rehabilitation plan—government building houses for the victims and giving them cash assistance to help them cope with the devastation—would be of great help to every Cagayano. Mamba said.

Mamba said the local government looked forward to seeing the reconstruction of damaged buildings by the government.

Officials said it was clear thousands of Cagayan residents no longer have homes and livelihood so it would be of great help if the national government would allocate to residents a portion of the

calamity fund for the rehabilitation of the province.

Mamba said the rehabilitation plan would also include temporary jobs for farmers who would be unable to harvest crops for the next several months.

The provincial government also plans to tap typhoon survivors as workers when the reconstruction of public infrastructure begins.

Mamba is hoping the national government will see the need for a rehabilitation plan, especially since the calamity fund of the province and the towns are not enough, based on the damage brought by the strongest typhoon ever to hit Cagayan Valley.

The Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the overall damage to agriculture is pegged at P5,746,052,600.

LGU wants to review city’s real property tax

By Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—The local government here mulls reviewing the real property tax of the city after 10 years of no increase in their business and real property taxes.

Councilors Danilo Dayanghirang, committee chairman for finance, ways and means, said during their Executive and Legislative Agenda meeting in Cebu that they discussed the need to increase the local taxes.

He said the last time the city increased the local taxes was in 2005 during the term of now President Rodrigo Duterte.

He said the LGU noticed the little increase of the local taxes in the city for this year, which only reached 3.7 percent resulting in a minimal increase in the 2017 budget.

“We only have a 3.7-percent increase in our local collection, that is why we only have a small increase in our 2017 budget,” Dayanghirang said.

He said if the local taxes had been increased in the past years,

Task force to stop illegal fishing

Public warned against buying Dairy Farm lands

By Dexter See BAGUIO CITY—Mayor Mauricio Domogan has warned individuals wanting to own real property in the city against buying lands located within the 92-hectare Baguio Dairy Farm because they might end up losing their hard earned money from enterprising land speculators and informal settlers.

Domogan admitted several individuals have sought out his advice regarding the legality of buying real estate within the Baguio Dairy Farm, now being sold left and right because of the impending demolition of the over 350 illegal structures built within the government property.

“We call on the public not to buy lands being sold by enterprising informal settlers in the Baguio Dairy Farm because

the sale is illegal and in gross violation of existing laws, rules and regulations considering those selling have no actual proof of ownership of the properties they are actually selling,” he said.

He instructed the City Legal Office to set a meeting with the Office of the SolicitorGeneral, the court sheriff, officials of the agriculture department and other concerned offices of the local government to finalize the details on how to implement the demolition order against the informal settlers after it was upheld by a local court.

Domogan disclosed enterprising informal settlers are selling parcels of land and their shanties in the Baguio Dairy Farm to willing buyers for as low as P50,000.

BEFORE THE WHISPERS. A man arranges his newly caught school of fishes at the Navotas Fish Port Complex, the premier fish center of the Philippines and one of the largest in Asia, before the whisper bidding done by buyers nearby. The fishing port and fish market complex has been placed under the exclusive jurisdiction, control and supervision of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority. Andrew Rabulan

Penro Bataan’s anti-illegal drugs efforts commended PILAR, Bataan—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 3 has commended the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) Bataan for its anti-illegal drugs efforts.

DENR 3 Regional Director Francisco Milla had issued a memorandum commending the

initiative of Penro Bataan to conduct surprise drug tests among its employees upon the order of Penro Raul Mamac.

All the employees of Penro Bataan and 2 Cenros in the province yielded negative in the drug test.

The commendation came as members of the Cebu City Po-

the 2017 budget might have reached P7.2 billion, instead of P6.9 billion.

“There was a proposal before to increase the local taxes to 2000 percent; however, the local government of Davao did not agree to it, for it might affect the business sector,” he said.

Since 2005, Davao City has remained investor-friendly following the no increase in the local taxes.

New investors had an exemption to pay local taxes for three years under the Davao Investment Promotion, which was also aimed at inviting more investors in the city.

Councilor Bernard Al-ag, the city council’s majority floor leader, said they had discussed with the executive department the increase of the local taxes.

“We are now waiting for a recommendation from the executive department as to how much would the increase be, but we already have a concensus that it is now time to increase the local taxes,” Al-ag said.

lice Office arrested a suspected big-time drug trafficker at dawn Tuesday and seized from him some P14.8 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” in a buy-bust operation in his residence in Barangay Pasil.

Chief Insp. Christopher Navida, head of the CCPO City In-

telligence Branch, identified the suspect as Melchor Ocarol, 53.

Navida said police recovered from Ocarol’s house several plastic packs of shabu weighing 1.255 kilograms worth P14,809,000.

In separate certifications issued by Bataan PNP Crime Laboratory Head Police Major Aylin

Perez, all 47 employees of Penro Bataan, 50 employees of Cenro Dinalupihan, and 43 employees of Cenro Bagac yielded negative.

Mamac earlier said his order of surprise drug test of all employees under him is a response to a call for a drug-free Philippines by President Rodrigo Duterte. Butch Gunio/PNA

CLARK Freeport, Pampanga— The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Central Luzon organized the Task Force Jupiter to stop rampant Illegal fishing in the area specially in Bataan and Zambales.

Nelson Bien, chief of the regulatory and law enforcement of BFAR, said the task force was composed of law enforcement agencies like elements of the National Bureau of Investigation, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Philippines Navy, Philippines Coast Guard, Maritime Police under the over-all supervision of BFAR. During a media forum here, Bien said they were targeting and concentrating on the main sources of producing dynamite like powder, blasting caps, and detonating cord to stop at once illegal fishing in the area.

“We already identified their sources of dynamite mostly mining companies and individuals but we are still validating the evidences against them,” he said.

Bien said dynamite fishing could kill and destroy small species and other marine resources with extensive damage on the corrals. Romeo Dizon

C2

LGUs

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

More to help decongest Edsa traffic

By Joel E. Zurbano

A

CTING Chairman Thomas Orbos of the Metro Manila Development Authority will deploy additional men to augment the 300-man force assigned to man the already traffic-congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

The move came a day after the MMDA took over from the Philipppine National PoliceHighway Patrol Group full control and management of traffic along the 23.8-km highway.

“We will try to have 500 (traffic personnel) again. The difference is that we are using the CCTVs [closed-circuit television] more actively...we can detect, command and enforce more effectively with the use of technology.”

“But we have to stay there and we have to participate in the enforcement ourselves,” said Orbos, referring to the other scheme implemented by his agency where he and other officials personally man the monitors of CCTV cameras on major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region.

On Monday, the MMDA took over the Edsa traffic control from HPG personnel who will now concentrate in handling the traffic management and control on two other major roads in the metropolis—the Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and the Circumferential Road-5 (C-5 Road or E. Rodriguez Ave.).

“We go back to basics, go back to what the MMDA is supposed to be, and its mandate it is supposed to work on. We define our roles

in traffic especially now [that] there is an Inter-agency Council on Traffic that we are part of,” said Orbos.

“Just to be clear, the MMDA is still under I-ACT and we have to show them that we are worthy,” he added.

Asked why the HPG men were pulled out of Edsa, Orbos said “Our CCTVs cover the whole Metro Manila. The HPG are needed in other roads where there are illegal parking and colorum [vehicles].”

“I-ACT is confident and [they] allowed us here. The only problem before was there was no respect for enforcers and the people thought they could get through with it; but now we would strictly enforce the law,” said Orbos.

The HPG personnel will now concentrate in handling the traffic management and control in two other major roads in the metropolis—the Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and the Circumferential Road-5.

Late last year, the HPG took over from the MMDA the traffic control on Edsa following the directive of then President Benigno Aquino ATROCIOUS TRAFFIC. Residents—office workers and students—of the National Capital Region go through this III, who believed the presence of armed traffic horrifyingly wicked traffic bottlenecks in Metro Manila’s main Epifanio de los Santos Ave. every working day, some writing a chapter of a novelette while waiting for the snail-paced vehicular flow to roll on. Manny Palmero enforcers would make a big difference.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Manila

Standard SCN FORM NO. 1

(R.A. NO. 9139) TODAY

001377

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NATURALIZATION IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF BERNARD CHUA UY to be naturalized as Filipino citizen pursuant to Republic Act No. 9139.

SCN CASE NO. 000631 x-------------------------- x PETITION Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9139, petitioner hereby submits a petition for naturalization to become a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines and respectfully declares: 1. My full name is BERNARD CHUA UY, but I have also been known since childhood as N/A or I have been judicially N/A . authorized to use the alias name(s) 2. My present place of residence is UNIT 1806 HOWARD TOWER, No. 92, 6TH AVE,, N. CARPIO ST. GRACE PARK and City/Municipality of CALOOCAN Province of all my former places of residence are (please indicate periods of residence) UNIT 21-GRACE PARK COMMERCIAL COMPLEX, J. TEODORO ST. CALOOCAN CITY-1990-2014 77-A, L. NADURATA ST., 6th AVE. CALOOCAN CITY-1985-1990 3. I was born on 20 APRIL 1985, in MANILA, PHILIPPINES Philippines. I have been a resident of the Philippines since birth. At present, I am a citizen or subject of REPUBLIC OF CHINA. 4. My father's name is BENITO CHUA UY and he was born on 2 MARCH 1955, in PHILIPPINES. He is a citizen or subject of REPUBLIC OF CHINA. My mother's name is NATIVIDAD CHUA UY and she was born on 2 DECEMBER 1955 in PHILIPPINES. She is a citizen or subject of REPUBLIC OF CHINA. 5. My trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is SALES MANAGER and from which I derive an average annual income of P 240,000.00 , inclusive of bonuses, commissions and allowances. My wife's/husband's trade, business, profession or lawful occupation is N/A and from which she derives an average annual income of P N/A .

(Where the above does not apply): I am exempt from the requirement of lucrative trade or occupation and from submitting income tax returns for the past three (3) years because I am a college degree holder [please state (1) degree obtained:BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, (2) name of school: DE LA SALLECOLLEGE OF SAINT BENILDE and (3) years graduated: 2007] who cannot practice my profession (the practice of which requires a government licensure examination) by reason of my citizenship.

26 6. My civil status is MARRIED, I was married on JANUARY 2014 in QUEZON CITY. My wife's/husband's name is CHRISTINA ROSAL CHAN and she/he was born on in 19 FEBRUARY 1988, MANDALUYONG CITY. She/he is a citizen or subject of PHILIPPINES and presently resides UNIT 1806 HOWARD TOWER, NO. 92, 6TH AVE., N. CARPIO ST., GRACE PARK CALOOCAN CITY. 7. I am legally separated from my spouse; my marriage was annulled, per decree of legal separation/annulment dated N/A granted by N/A. (please indicate the particular court which granted the same). I am a widower/widow and my spouse died on N/A in N/A. 8. I have 1 child/children, whose names, dates and places of birth and residences are as follows:

Name

Date of Place of Residence Birth Birth CAITLYN 27 August MANILA Unit 1806 Howard BRIELLE CHAN 2015 Tower, No. 92, 6th UY Ave. N. Carpio St., Grace Park, Caloocan 9. I received my primary and secondary education from the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Name of School Grace Christian High School Grace Christian High School De La Salle College of Saint Benilde

Place of School Quezon City

Dates of Highest Grade Study Completed 1990 to 1998 Grade Six

Quezon City

1998 to 2003 4th Year High School

Manila

2003-2007

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Export Management

10. I am able to read, write and speak Filipino and/or any of the following dialects of the Philippines: Tagalog 11. I have enrolled my minor children of school age in the following public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), where Philipine History, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality:

Name of Child N/A

Name and Place of School N/A

Date of Enrollment N/A

12. I shall never be a public charge. I am of good moral character. I believe in the principles underlying the Philippine Constitution. I have conducted myself in a proper and irreproachable manner during the entire period of my residence in the Philippines in my relations with the constituted government as well as with the community in which I am living.

I mingled socially with Filipinos and have evinced a sincere desire to learn and embrace the customs, traditions and ideals of the Filipino people. I have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications under Republic Act No. 9139.

I am not opposed to organized government or affiliated

with any association or group of persons who uphold and teach doctrines opposing all organized governments. I am not defending or teaching the necessity or propriety of violence, personal assault or assassination for the success and predominance of one's ideas. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I have not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude. I am not suffering from mental alienation or from any incurable contagious disease.

The country of which I am a citizen or subject is not at war with the Philippines and grants to Filipinos the right to be naturalized citizens or subjects thereof.

13. It is my true and honest intention to become a citizen of the Philippines and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and, particularly, to REPUBLIC OF CHINA of which at this time I am a citizen or subject. I will reside continuously in the Philippines from the date of the filing of this petition up to the time of my admission to Philippine citizenship.

14. My character witnesses are CARLO ANTHONY ONG LIM and EDWARD CHRISTOPHER TIU LIM both Filipino citizens, of legal age, and residing at No. 40 Emerald St. Millionaires Village, Novaliches, Quezon City and No. 10G Avida Tower 5, Felix Huertas St. Sta. Cruz, Manila respectively, who have executed sworn statements attached hereto in support of my instant petition, together with: (a) brief biographical data about themselves; (b) detailed statements on the dates they first came to know me, the circumstances of our initial acquaintance and the reasons and extent of our continuing familiarity; and (c) the number of times they have acted as character witnesses in other petitions for naturalization.

15. Attached hereto as annexes and made part of this petition are the duplicate originals or certified photocopies of the following documents (please check the appropriate box):

Completion of operation center pushed BAGUIO CITY—Mayor Mauricio Domogan has ordered the City Engineer’s Office to look into the possibility of facilitating the completion of the construction of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council building to address concerns on disaster response.

He said the 252 calendar days for the contractor to complete the center structure was too long, thus, the need for the engineering office to look for possible ways to compel the contractor to complete the project earlier than its prescribed schedule.

“We have to make sure that we will be able to maximize the use of the disaster operation center building by next year so we will be able to decongest the city hall building,” Domogan stressed.

City Engineer Elpidio Garabiles admitted the contractor of the 3-story structure is still working on the foundation of the building that includes an underground parking for vehicles.

Garabiles predicted the completion of the project could go up to one year for the initial funding of P70 million.

But the city’s technical personnel will try to look into possible ways and means on how to speed up constructing the structure that will serve as the city’s central disaster operation center and evacuation facility.

Domogan argued being the implementing office for the project, there was a need for the contractor to work double time so the local government would be able to use the disaster and evacuation center in the future.

Garabiles disclosed the ground

floor of the structure would serve as the city’s disaster operation center, the second floor an evacuation center while the third and upper floors to be added would be used as the training center.

The local government will try to source out additional funds for the put up of additional floors of the building to accommodate more facilities in one area for closer coordination among concerned offices.

Local governments are mandated by law to allocate at least 5 percent of their respective internal revenue allotments to bankroll the implementation of disaster risk reduction and management interventions.

This would also guarantee preparedness during emergency and calamity situations. Dexter A. See

[ / ] a. Petitioner's birth certificate [ / ] b. Petitioner's alien certificate of registration (ACR) [ / ] c. Petitioner's native-born certificate of residence (NBCR) [ / ] d. Petitioner's marriage certificate, if married [ ] e. Death certificate of his/her spouse, if widowed [ ] f. Court decree annulling his/her marriage or granting legal separation, if such was the fact [ / ] g. Birth certificates of petitioner's minor children [ ] h. ACRs of petitioner's minor children [ ] i. NBCRs of petitioner's minor children [ / ] j. Affidavits of financial capacity by the petitioner, duly supported by bank certifications, passbooks, stock certificates, or proof of ownership of other properties [ / ] k. Affidavits of at least two (2) credible witnesses who must be Filipino citizens of good reputation in petitioner's place of residence [ / ] l. Medical certificate from a government hospital stating that petitioner is not suffering from mental alienation or a user of prohibited drugs or otherwise a drug dependent and that he/she is not afflicted with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or any incurable contagious disease. [ / ] m. School diploma and transcript of records of the petitioner from the school/s he or she attended in the Philippines [ ] n. Certifications stating that petitioner's minor children are enrolled in public schools or private educational institutions duly recognized by the DECS, where Philippine history, government and civics are taught and prescribed as part of the school curriculum and where enrollment is not limited to any race or nationality [ / ] o. Petitioner's income tax returns for the past three years [ ] p. Petitioner's receipts of payment of income tax for the past three years

2 upland areas in S. Kudarat isolated

16. Other documents submitted by the petitioner in support of his/her petition: - 2316 for 2013, 2014 & 2015 - Bank Certificates - Condominium Certificates of Title -OR/CR of Motor Vehicle w/LTO Cert.

-Brgy Clearance

-NBI Clearance -OCP Clearance -MTC Clearance -RTC Clearance -Police Clearance

PRAYER WHEREFORE, it is respectfully prayed that petitioner be conferred Philippine citizenship pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No, 9139.

Dated at San Juan, Metro Manila, this

day of

20

.

BERNARD CHUA UY Name and Signature of Petitioner Address: Unit 1806 HOWARD TOWER, No. 92, 6TH AVE., N. CARPIO ST. GRACE PARK, CALOOCAN CITY Telephone Number:

Right Thumbmark of Petitioner

Petitioner's signature and right thumbmark REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) CITY/MUNICIPALITY OF QUEZON CITY) S.S. I, BERNARD CHUA UY of legal age and a resident of Unit 1806 HOWARD TOWER, No. 92, 6TH AVE., GRACE PARK, CALOOCAN CITY after being duly sworn, depose and say that I am the petitioner herein, that I have read the foregoing petition and know the foregoing petition and known the contents thereof, and that the same is true of my own knowledge.

BERNARD CHUA UY Name and Signature of Petitioner

SUBCRIBED AND SWORN to before me at Quezon City, this 12 JUL.2016.

(MS-Oct. 26/Nov. 2/9, 2016)

WORKING IN THE SUN. Workers from the government’s Department of Public Works and Highways hang tough against the sun’s scorching rays to conduct cleaning and re-painting along Metro Manila’s main Edsa thoroughfare corner Quezon Ave. flyover in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

Pangasinan secures P50m for Casa Real restoration LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The Provincial Government here is set to receive P50 million grant from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority for the third and final phase restoration of the historic Casa Real.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has authorized Gov. Amado Espino III to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the zone authority to formalize the fund release via a resolution approved recently at the SP Session Hall.

“The (SP) fully supports the rehabilitation of the Casa Real because it is worthy of protection and preservation not only for its monumental significance,” the resolution, authored by Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr., stated.

Calimlim said the MOA shall serve as the basis for the release of funds for the renovation project, which shall be released in four tranches.

Restoration efforts on the landmark structure were initiated by the former governor and now 5th District Rep. Amado Espino Jr., in line with the

socio-cultural renaissance revival program he has started in Pangasinan.

The province shelled out P5 milion for the initial phase of the building’s rehab, with 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil having lobbied P30-million funding from the zone authority and the Department of Public Works and Highways for the second phase.

Bataoil said full restoration of the Casa Real would be completed by yearend—to be unveiled as a museum in time for the 437th Agew na Pangasinan celebration on April 5 next year.

Casa Real (or Royale House) once served as Pangasinan’s provincial seat of government during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines from 1521 to 1898.

The building has been recognized as one of the oldest public buildings and was declared a National Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, for being “an outstanding and unique example of civil architecture from the Spanish and American colonial periods.” Dexter A. See

COTABATO CITY—Relief workers were trying Tuesday to reach two upland communities of a town in Sultan Kudarat whose 2,000 residents were isolated by flashfloods and landslides following Sunday’s heavy downpour, officials said.

“They are trapped, they could not go down due to landslides and knee-deep mud,” said Mayor Ronan Garcia of Kalamansig.

“We tried to reach the upland villages but we could not get through,” Garcia said.

She said it was impossible to reach Barangays Sabanal and Datu Wasay because the roads in Barangay Hinalaan have turned into rivers of knee-high mud.

“To reach those two villages, we need to hurdle Barangay Hinalaan which is impossible at this time,” Garcia said, adding “even by horse our relief workers could not reach Barangay Hinalaan proper.”

“People from Sabanal and Datu Wasay went down to meet us halfway so they can carry food and water back to their homes,” he added. “Only males are capable of walking six kilometers of mud to reach the lowland area, women and elders remained in their homes, waiting for food.”

Garcia was teary-eyed as he recounted the stories of the flashflood survivors.

The heavy overnight downpour also caused the Limulan River to overflow and submerge five villages downstream.

Garcia cold not provide estimates of the agricultural damage from the calamity, which destroyed 35 homes and a bridge in nearby Lebak town, also in Sultan Kudarat. PNA

Manila

Standard

TODAY

World

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

China’s latest ruling worries Hongkongers H ONG KONG―Hong Kong has regarded China with apprehension since its 1997 handover, but Beijing’s latest intervention has shaken faith in the city’s cherished rule of law, and its status as a place to do business in Asia.

Its move to block two proindependence lawmakers from taking office has ignited concerns that have simmered since the massive “Umbrella Revolution” pro-democracy protests of 2014 failed to win political reforms.

The dispute flared after the young lawmakers―whose calls for a split are seen as treasonous―deliberately misread their oaths of office, inserting expletives and draping themselves with “Hong Kong is not China” flags.

It was not the first time Beijing has waded into the affairs of the semi-autonomous city, but it made clearer the lines in the sand of China’s tolerance for freedoms not seen on the mainland.

The disappearance last year of five booksellers known for publishing salacious titles about Chinese political leaders earned international condemnation and realized many residents’ worst fears when they resurfaced in detention on the mainland.

But Monday’s move has

struck a stunning blow to the city’s identity as a rules-based business hub―its major draw over mainland rivals like Shanghai―and to those who fear the way of life they hold dear is gradually disappearing.

The ruling to stop Yau Waiching and Baggio Leung from taking office preempted a judgment from Hong Kong’s High Court over whether they should be disqualified.

Although China has given “interpretations” of Hong Kong’s constitution before, this was the first time it has stepped in ahead of a court judgment, imposing its own rules in an apparent effort to avoid any unpredictability.

“Hong Kong people feel that interferences of this kind have an adverse impact on the core values and lifestyle that we cherish,” said political analyst Joseph Cheng.

While only a minority of Hong Kong residents support independence, and the lawmaker duo have alienated some supporters with their rebellious

behavior, many are deeply worried about where Hong Kong is headed.

Liza Wong, a theater worker in her 30s who joined rallies against Beijing’s intervention, said she feared the city’s “economy and confidence” could evaporate.

“Lots of investors are in the city because of its system, but if this goes on then everyone will be afraid,” she told AFP. Weekend clashes between protesters and police outside China’s liaison office in Hong Kong, reminiscent of 2014’s demonstrations, could be a taste of things to come as young activists become increasingly frustrated.

Hong Kong was handed back by colonial ruler Britain to China in 1997 under a handover agreement safeguarding its freedoms and way of life for 50 years, and securing its semi-autonomous status.

But there are growing concerns that those liberties are now under serious threat.

Unilateral decisions by China chip away at Hong Kong’s semiautonomous status, says governance activist David Webb.

That could affect its reputation as a trusted gateway to China.

Webb said it was unlikely that the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s top legislative body which intervened in the oath dispute, would step into a court case involving private business affairs.

spread public concern and anxiety.

“The president’s crisis is the crisis of state affairs and the crisis of the nation,” Chung said, according to an official transcript.

“If the National Assembly recommends a nominee, you must appoint him and grant him authority and ensure there will be no disputes in the future about his authority,” he added.

Park has just over a year of her single five-year term left to serve, and there are concerns the scandal will paralyse government at a time of slowing economic growth, rising unemployment and elevated military tensions with North Korea.

Opposition parties have suggested Park should take a back seat in state affairs for the remainder of her term and leave the daily running of the country to a bipartisan cabinet.

A spokesman for the main opposition Democratic Party said Park’s concession on Tuesday was too “ambiguous” and urged her to confirm that the new prime minister would be allowed to function without interference.

Lee Nae-Young, a political science professor at Korea University, said conceding to parliament was a “last-ditch effort” to prevent the crisis spiraling out of control.

“It’s still not exactly clear to what extent she will end up devolving some of her powers, and that is going to take some consultations with the political parties,” Lee said.

“The real problem is that a lot of people feel she has lost her moral authority to rule as president.”

The widening scope of a formal investigation into Choi Soon-Sil saw prosecutors raid the offices of Samsung Electronics in Seoul earlier Tuesday.

Media reports have suggested the company may have funneled as much as 2.8 million euros ($3.1 million) to a company Choi set up in Germany to bankroll her daughter’s equestrian training.

Samsung, which is still reeling from its own crisis triggered by exploding Galaxy Note 7 smart phones, has said it will cooperate with any investigations. AFP

MARKETS AND SECURITIES REGULATION DEPARTMENT IN THE MATTER OF THE

INVITATION TO BID SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF EATING (KITCHENWARES) AND COOKING UTENSILS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION Project Reference No. – 2016-008 1.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - Field Office MiMaRoPa at 1680 F.T. Benitez St., Malate, Manila through the General Appropriation Act 2016 invites PhilGEPS registered supplier to apply for eligibility to bid for the hereunder items:

Quantity / Lot

Item/Description

Lot 1 to 7

Supply and Delivery of Eating (kitchenware) and Cooking Utensils for the Implementation of Supplementary Feeding Program targeting the Child Development Centers and Child Development Service for Children

Lot 1 To Lot 7

1.

Approved Budget for the Contract Php7,941,425.00

Price of Bid Documents (non-refundable)

Delivery Period / Place of Venue

Php10,000.00 Ten (10) CD from Receipt of NTP Delivery Place

NOTICE

Primary Offer

No, of Shares 296,000,000

Issued and Outstanding Shares (which shall not be included in the offer)

1,183.748.562 1,479,748,562

According to the papers presented, the following persons are the key directors/officers3 of the Corporation: Current Directors and Officers: NAME Raymond Gerard S. Racaza Jose Vicente T. Colayco Nico Jose s, Nolledo Fernando Jude F. Garcia Alexander D. Corpuz Mark S. Gorriceta

ACTIVITIES

NAME Raymond Gerard S. Racaza Jose Vicente T. Colayco Nico Jose S. Nolledo lsabelle D. Daza Erwan Jean A. Heussaff Alvin D. Lao Jun S. Yupitun Fernando Jude F. Garcia Alexander D. Corpuz Mark S. Gorriceta

Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents

November 8 to 28, 2016

Pre – Bid Conference

November 17, 2016 @ 1:00 P.M.

Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin

November 22, 2016

Deadline of Submission of Bid

November 28, 2016 at 10:00 A.M.

Opening of Bids

November 28, 2016 at 2:30 P.M.

2.

POSITION Chairman of the Board President Chief Executive Officer Director Chief Operating Officer Treasurer Director Director Director lndependent Director lndependent Director Chief Technology Officer Chief Finance Officer Corporate Secretary Chief Legal officer Chief Compliance Officer

Said Registration Statement and other papers/documents attached thereto (collectively known as “RS) and the subsequent updates are open to inspection by interested parties during business hours, and copies thereof, photostatic or otherwise, shall be furnished to every party, upon request, at such fees as the Commission may prescribe. The RS may also be downloaded from the website of the Corporation at www.xelebtechnologies.com.

VICENTE GRACIANO P. FELEMENO,JR. Director 1

2

The company is currently in the process of securing approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the following amendments to its Articles of lncorporation: i. Amendment of its name from Fluxion, lnc. to XELEB TECHNOLOGIES lNC.; ii. Amendment of its Par Value from Php 1.00 to Php 0.025; and iii. Amendment to increase the number of Directors from Five to Seven Dlrector.

The company is currently in the process ofsecuring approvalfrom the SEC the application to increase the Authorized Capital Stock from Php 5,000,000.00to Php 100,000,000.00 consisting of 4,000,000,000 common shares.

(MS-NOV. 9 & 16, 2016)

Republic of the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office -MiMaRoPa INVITATION TO BID SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF FARM INPUTS AND IMPLEMENTS AS STARTER KIT FOR VEGETABLE/ CASSAVA, CALAMANSI LANZONES SEEDLINGS PRODUCTION AND STARTER KIT FOR CORN &PEANUT, BANANA & PINEAPPLE PRODUCTION PANTAWID PAMILYA -MCCT IP SSI Project Reference No. – 2016-012 The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - Field Office MiMaRoPa at 1680 F.T. Benitez St., Malate, Manila through the General Appropriation Act 2016 invites PhilGEPS registered supplier to apply for eligibility to bid for the hereunder items: Quantity / Lot

Item/Description

Lot 1 to 4

Supply and Delivery of Farm Inputs and Implements for Palawan Prov/Mun.

Lot 1.1 to 1.2

Lot 2 Lot 3 Lot 4.1

Approved Budget for the Contract

Price of Bid Documents (non-refundable)

Php19,372,930.00

Delivery Period / Place of Venue

Php25,000.00 Forty-five (45) calendar days from the Receipt of NTP Delivery Place: Palawan – Municipality of Quezon Rizal, Sofronio Española, Bataraza, Balabac, Brookespoint, and Puerto Princesa

Implements for Vegetable & Cassava, Production Farm Inputs for the Veg.&cassava production-vegetable seeds 50gms. in can Starter Kit for Corn & Peanut Supply of Calamansi&Lanzones Seedlings Production Starter kit farm implements for banana and Pineapple propagation Banana suckers,cultivars lakatan, pineapple crown seedlings.

SCHEDULE November 7, 2016

POSITION Chairman of the Board President Chief Executive Officer Director Chief Operating Officer Treasurer Director Director Chief Technology Officer Director Corporate Secretary Chief Legal Officer Chief Compliance Officer

Key Directors and Officers upon approval of the amended Articles of Incorporation

The schedule of bidding activities is as follows:

Advertisement/ Posting of Invitation to Bid

: : :

In connection with the sworn Registration Statement (“RS”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on 07 0ctober 2016, Notice is hereby given that on 21 October 2016 a revised Registration Statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of Fluxion Inc., which is in the process of amending its name to XELEB TECHNOLOGIES lNC., for the registration of up to 1,479,748,5622 common shares with a par value of Php 0.025 per share and to be offered at a maximum offering price between Php 2.04 to Php 2.54 per share, broken down as follows:

Lot 1: DSWD Field OfficeMiMaRoPa, 1680 F.T. Benitez, Malate, Manila Lot 2: PSCB Center Bldg., Capitol Cmpd., Boac, Marinduque Lot 3; M.H. Del Pilar St., Brgy. 7 San Jose, Occidental Mindoro Lot 4: Capitol Complex, Camilmil, Calapan City Lot 5: No. 54 H. Mendoza St. Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Lot 6; M. A. Roxas St., Poblacion, Odiongan, Romblon Lot 7; Coron Municipal Hall, Poblacion, Coron, Palawan

Item No. 1: Plates,Glass, Soup bowl set Item No. 2: Spoon & Fork- sets Item No. 3: Laddle Item No. 4: Caldero Item No. 5: Kawa

REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES In Relation to an lnitial Public Offering

FLUXION INC.,1 in the process of amending its name to XELEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. (Registrant) x------------------------------------------x

Republic of the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office -MiMaRoPa

South Korea’s Park takes another hit SEOUL―South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Tuesday agreed to dump her nominee for prime minister and cede control of some state affairs in a major climbdown forced by a corruption scandal battering her administration.

The same scandal saw prosecutors carry out a morning swoop on the offices of South Korea’s largest conglomerate Samsung Electronics, looking for incriminating documents.

In a significant political concession, Park told the speaker of the National Assembly she would accept a prime minister chosen by the opposition-controlled legislature “and let him control the cabinet”.

The premiership is normally a largely symbolic post in South Korea, where power is firmly concentrated on the executive.

It was a double surrender by Park -- effectively jettisoning her own choice for prime minister and relinquishing some of her extensive powers to whoever parliament puts forward.

Her climbdown underlined just how weakened she has been by the scandal involving a close personal friend, Choi Soon-Sil, who has been arrested on charges of fraud and abuse of power.

The charges relate to allegations that Choi leveraged her personal relationship with Park to coerce donations from large companies like Samsung to nonprofit foundations which she set up and used for personal gain.

She is also accused of interfering in government affairs, including the nomination of senior officials.

Lurid reports of the unhealthy influence Choi wielded over Park have sent the president’s approval ratings plunging to record lows and triggered mass street protests calling on her to resign.

In a bid to restore public trust, Park reshuffled her advisers and senior cabinet members, and nominated a liberal candidate for prime minister from outside her conservative Saenuri Party.

But opposition parties had vowed to block her nominee on the grounds they were not properly consulted.

During their meeting, parliament speaker Chung Sye-Kyun told Park her biggest priority should be to alleviate wide-

“But the more often they intervene, the more likely it becomes,” he told AFP. “In the meantime, by interfering with the wishes of the people in electing their legislature and by preempting the interpretation of the courts on matters within (Hong Kong’s) autonomy, the NPCSC is undermining the legislative and judicial processes, and that does indirectly affect business confidence.”

However, others said Beijing’s decision would steady the ship.

The city’s stock exchange rose on Monday despite the intervention.

“The unstable situation is coming from within Hong Kong, in particular the two young legislators,” said Terence Chong, economics professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

“So what China did is to make Hong Kong more stable.”

Pro-democracy lawmakers argue the city is instead on a slippery slope to more restrictions and interventions. The legal community, which shares those concerns, is to hold a silent march through the city Tuesday in protest.

“People are getting used to it, this is the scary part,” said Michelle Ng, a 27-year-old university researcher.

“We need to let them know that this is not the right thing to do.”

AFP

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The schedule of bidding activities is as follows: ACTIVITIES

SCHEDULE

Advertisement/ Posting of Invitation to Bid

November 9, 2016

Issuance and Availability of Bid Documents

November 10, 2016 to November 29, 2016

Pre – Bid Conference

November 18, 2016 @ 10:00 A.M.

Issuance of Supplemental Bid Bulletin

November 22, 2016

Deadline of Submission of Bid

November 29, 2016 @ 10:00 A.M

Opening of Bids

November 29, 2016 @ 10:30 A.M.

Bidders should have completed at least two (2) similar contracts to the Project from the date of submission and receipt of bids. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II Instruction to Bidders.

2.

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

Bidders should have completed at least two (2) similar contracts to the Project from the date of submission and receipt of bids. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II Instruction to Bidders.

3.

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

4.

The complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased at the DSWD Field Office MiMaRoPa, BAC Secretariat upon payment of non-refundable price of bid documents indicated above. The Bidding Documents may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of DSWD Field Office MiMaRoPa provided that Bidders shall pay the non-refundable price not later that the submission of their bids.

4. The complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased at the DSWD – Field Office MiMaRoPa, BAC Secretariat upon payment of non-refundable price of bid documents indicated above. The Bidding Documents may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of DSWD Field Office MiMaRoPa provided that Bidders shall pay the non-refundable price not later that the submission of their bids.

5.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, 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.

6.

The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open to all interested parties; however, only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents may participate in the discussion at said conference;

6. The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open to all interested parties; however, only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents may participate in the discussion at said conference;

7. The Pre-Bid Conference and Submission and Opening of Bids shall be held at Office of the Director’s Conference Room at the 1st Floor of DSWD Field Office MiMaRoPa at 1680 F. T. Benitez St., Malate, Manila;

7. The Pre-Bid Conference and Submission and Opening of Bids shall be held at Main Office Bldg. 3rd floor conference room DSWD Field Office MiMaRoPa at 1680 F. T. Benitez St., Malate, Manila;

8. The DSWD Field Office MiMaRoPa reserves the right to waive any formality in the responses to the eligibility requirements and to this invitation. DSWD Field Office MiMaRoPa further reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, or declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract, and makes no assurance that contract shall be entered into as a result of this invitation without thereby incurring any liability in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184 and it’s implementing Rules and Regulations.

8.

The DSWD Field Office MiMaRoPareserves the right to waive any formality in the responses to the eligibility requirements and to this invitation. DSWD – Field Office MiMaRoPa further reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, or declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract, and makes no assurance that contract shall be entered into as a result of this invitation without thereby incurring any liability in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184 and it’s implementing Rules and Regulations.

9.

For further information, please contact the BAC Secretariat at telephone no.

(02)336-81-06 to 07 local 101 and 111.

9.

For further information, please contact the BAC Secretariat at telephone no.

(02)336-81-06 to 07 local 101.

5.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, 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.

(SGD) EDITHA B. OCAMPO BAC Chairperson

(SGD) EDITHA B. OCAMPO BAC CHAIRPERSON

By:

By:

(SGD) PURIFICACION R. ARRIOLA BAC Vice Chairperson

(SGD) PURIFICACION R. ARRIOLA BAC Vice-Chairperson (MS-NOV. 9, 2016)

(MS-NOV. 9, 2016)

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

Ortega wins third term in Nicaragua

World

CLINTON SUPPORTER. Lady Gaga performs inside the Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of North Carolina State University for the final stop of the Clinton campaign before election day in Raleigh, North Carolina, on November 7, 2016. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump battled for votes on a frenzied final day of campaigning, telling Americans the country’s fate rides on who they choose as the next US president. AFP

A risky business for sex workers HONG KONG―The killing of two young Indonesian women

by British banker Rurik Jutting sent chills through Hong Kong’s sex worker community―but two years on, many say harsh economic realities leave them with no choice but to take the same risks.

Renowned as a safe city, Hong Kong was shocked to its core by the bloody murders of Sumarti Ningsih and Seneng Mujiasih, both in their 20s, who were found dead in Jutting’s flat on November 1, 2014.

He was found guilty of two charges of murder on Tuesday and jailed for life.

The highly paid securities trader lived in a luxury apartment in the fashionable neighborhood of Wan Chai―but it was just streets away from a neon-lit red light district, lined with strip joints, dance clubs and expat pubs.

Jutting picked up Mujiasih, his second victim, in one of those bars. Ningsih was also a regular on the strip.

Many Wan Chai sex workers come from Indonesia and the Philippines―some, like Mujiasih, have entered the city on domestic helper visas. Others fly in as tourists to make quick cash.

Prostitution in Hong Kong is legal but almost everything associated with the trade―such as soliciting sex or running a brothel―remains banned.

At the entrance to one bar, a stern sign warns: “No immoral activities. No soliciting.”

But inside Wan Chai’s allnight discos the line between legal and illegal entertainment is blurred.

Revelers gyrate to thumping dance tracks, and groups of heavily made-up women in tight tops and short skirts eye newcomers.

On a busy Sunday night in a basement bar, one single mother said she spent her days as a domestic helper and her nights as a sex worker.

She remembered Ningsih from seeing her in local clubs and was shaken by her death, but told AFP she needed the extra work to support her 13-year-old daughter in the Philippines.

“I am worried, of course,” said the 31-year-old, adding she is now particularly wary of men on drugs―Jutting was a heavy cocaine user. AFP

MANAGUA—Nicaragua’s leftist President Daniel Ortega has won a third straight term, with his colorful wife Rosario Murillo as vice president, results showed Monday, but the opposition and the United States condemned the election.

With 99.8 percent of ballots counted, the 70-year-old former Marxist rebel had 72.5 percent of the vote, the country’s Supreme Electoral Council said.

His nearest competitor, Maximino Rodriguez of the right-leaning Liberal Constitutionalist Party, had just 15 percent.

Ortega, who has ruled Nicaragua for 20 of the past 37 years, has been accused of using the courts to limit the power of the opposition.

His opponents branded the election a “farce”― a criticism echoed by the United States, which said the “flawed” process had made free and fair polls impossible.

“The Nicaraguan government sidelined opposition candidates for president, limited domestic observation at the polls... and took other actions to deny democratic space,” State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

“The decision by the Nicaraguan government not to invite independent international electoral observers further degraded the legitimacy of the election.”

There was mixed reaction in Latin America.

Ortega received congratulations from several countries, including not only leftist allies in Cuba, Venezuela and El Salvador but also the government of Mexico.

However, President Luis Guillermo Solis of neighboring Costa Rica criticized the lack of international observers and real opposition.

As Ortega’s opponents had urged Nicaraguans to boycott Sunday’s vote, all eyes were on turnout.

Electoral officials said 68.2 percent of voters cast ballots. The opposition gave a wildly different estimate: under 30 percent.

“We don’t recognize the results of this farce,” Violeta Granera, head of one of the opposition parties, the Broad Front of Democracy, told reporters before the tally. AFP

British banker jailed for life over murders in Hong Kong H ONG KONG―British banker Rurik Jutting was found guilty of the horrifying murder of two Indonesian women at his upscale Hong Kong apartment and jailed for life on Tuesday, in a case the judge said was “sickening in the extreme.”

Cambridge graduate Jutting, 31, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Sumarti Ningsih and Seneng Mujiasih two years ago on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but a jury at Hong Kong’s High Court returned unanimous guilty verdicts.

“This must rank as one of the more horrifying murder case ever to come to court in Hong Kong,” judge Michael Stuart-Moore told the court, describing Jutting’s actions as “sickening in the extreme and beyond a normal person’s imagination”.

“You go to prison for life,” he said, at the conclusion of a case that shocked the city.

Murder in Hong Kong comes with a mandatory life sentence.

Jutting remained almost expressionless, breathing out heavily as he left the dock.

In a grueling 10-day trial the jury heard how Jutting became obsessed with slavery, rape and torture and played out those fantasies with his first victim, Ningsih.

Fueled by cocaine and alcohol, he tortured her for three days and recorded parts of her torment on his iPhone―footage the jury had to watch.

Jutting killed Ningsih by slashing her throat in his bathroom and then stuffed her body into a suitcase which he stored on his balcony.

The court heard that he had cut her neck with a serrated knife in the shower after forcing her to lick

a toilet bowl.

In hours of self-recorded ranting on his iPhone after that murder, Jutting described his attacks on Ningsih using pliers, sex toys and a belt.

Days later he murdered Mujiasih, slashing her throat in his living room.

He had prepared to torture her but killed her quickly when she began to scream after spotting a rope gag by his sofa.

Both women were found dead in Jutting’s flat in the early hours of November 1, 2014, after he called police.

Jutting cut Mujiasih’s throat hours after he had met her at a bar near his home in Wan Chai on October 31.

Ningsih and Mujiasih were in their 20s and had gone to Jutting’s apartment after he offered them money for sex.

In a letter read out to the court by defense counsel Tim Owen Tuesday after the verdicts, Jutting said he was “haunted” by what he had done.

“The evil that I’ve inflicted cannot be remedied by me,” the letter said.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry beyond words.”

But Stuart-Moore dismissed the apology.

“It’s the first mention of saying sorry about what he had done and I don’t accept it,” he told the court.

AFP

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR. Vocal Group of the Year Southern Halo accept their award during the 2016 Nashville Universe Awards at Wildhorse Saloon on November 7, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP

Australian jet alters its course after hoax call SYDNEY―A hoax caller pretending to be air traffic control tapped into restricted radio frequencies and forced an Australian commercial flight to pull up just before landing, a report said, with police investigating 15 such unauthorized transmissions.

Virgin Australia Flight 740 from Gold Coast to Melbourne on October 27 received instructions from the prankster as it approached the runway at Mel-

bourne’s main airport at Tullamarine, with flight data showing it then climbed to 3,800 feet and circled over the state capital, The Age newspaper reported.

The unknown caller later that day called air traffic control and pretended to be a light aircraft pilot with engine trouble, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Federal police were now investigating 15 incidents of unau-

thorized radio transmissions with aircraft at Melbourne and Avalon Airports, they said in a joint statement with Airservices Australia and communications body ACMA Monday.

“As a result of the unlawful interference with air traffic control broadcasts over several weeks, the AFP (Australian Federal Police) has today issued a call for public help for any information that will result in the identifica-

tion and arrest of the person responsible.”

Virgin Australia was not immediately available for comment, but its pilots’ association warned of the potential dangers.

“Unauthorized radio transmissions is a very rare event,” John Lyons, the president of Virgin Independent Pilots Association, which represents Virgin pilots in Australia and New Zealand, said Tuesday.

“It’s obviously someone who’s been able to acquire probably a hand-held transceiver which operates on the same frequencies, and clearly from the evidence that is available someone must have been in close proximity to the airport,” Lyons said.

Lyons said the alleged maneuver in which the aircraft was asked to “go around”, where a landing approach is aborted, was not dangerous in itself. AFP

Life FASHION & BEAUTY

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

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Get your eyes on fleek at SM Beauty

M

AKE your eyes talk with SM Beauty’s Get your Eyes on Fleek, which brings together some of the most exciting eyebrow grooming and eye makeup finds and trends.

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Your eyebrows are frames for your eyes, and their shape can make your eyes appear to be certain shapes as well. Pluck, thread or wax your eyebrows to give them shape.

Be careful, though, not to over pluck your brows.

Eyeliner illuminates your eyes.

Black is so basic, and sometimes basic is a good thing, but there are an infinite amount of pretty looks you can create with eyeliner. Eye shadows, meanwhile, add mystique and allure to your look.

You can also transform your lashes with the magic of mascara. Create drama, volume and curl with a wave of the mascara wand that paints your lashes in an extreme finish like no other.

Get your eyes on fleek with these

trends to remember from SM Beauty: Bold Shadows – Deep toned eye shadows that create eye-popping statements is something every girl should try. Or go glossy, shimmery and sculpted for the holidays.

Eye-Catching Liners – Take risks and draw outside the lines with sleek, graphic and kind of retro strokes. Try colored lines with bright colors to make sure you stand out.

Sultry Brows – Get your brow game on, so don’t forget to define, fill-in and tame.

Lush Lashes – Vivid colored lashes that are either curled or dolled to accentuate your eyes make a huge difference.

Visit the SM Beauty Section in all SM Stores for perfect eyebrows and eye makeup essentials.

Sophie Ramos tries on bold mascara, eyeliner and some lush lashes available at SM Beauty Section

PRETTY PEEPERS.

SM Beauty Section in all SM Stores offers a variety of eye makeup— from brow gels, brow liners, eye shadows, eye liners to brow tools— that is sure to bring out the best in everyone’s eyes.

Nikki Tiu, Marj Sia and Gretchen Gatan show how to get your eyes on fleek using eye makeup essentials

MYX VJ Tippy Dos Santos

Shop at the SM Beauty Section of all SM Stores for the perfect eyebrow and eye makeup

Life

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 isahred@gmail.com

Fashion tricks for a standout look in office

T

HERE are days when you know you’ve got your look on point. But admit it, there are some days when you wish your office had a uniform to make things easier in the morning and cut dressing time. So what do you do if your wardrobe and budget are limited and you want to look stylish and polished every day?

Choose separates— blouse, skirt and trousers—in neutral shades as they can create different looks.

Robinsons Department Store offers some tips and hacks on how to look perfect for the workplace: Invest in classic pieces and build on the basics. Black trousers, crisp white shirts and a stylish cardigan. You can actually live on these but that wouldn’t be very exciting. Use these pieces and accentuate with something that is uniquely you, to create looks that reflect your taste and personality.

Choose figure-flattering pieces over baggy clothes. Loosefitting might be comfortable but they don’t look professional. Fit is important. Tight clothes are also a no-no.

Look for well-fitting clothes that enhance your figure and make you look like the young professional you are.

Black, white and gray themed separates are perfect if you’re building your wardrobe. The styles are timeless but still on trend. You can get a black pencil skirt and a pair of pants and four tops from Liberté, and you’re all set.

Let your clothes do double duty.

You should be able to wear your clothes on and off duty. You don’t want a wardrobe that’s difficult to navigate. Your pieces should be versatile, meaning they can be worn on working and non-working days.

Include prints in your wardrobe. It’s not just about black, white and gray. A Liberté printed blouse over black pants from Stella would definitely liven up your look and make you stand out in the boardroom.

What print to choose? Go

for florals or maybe something with graphic prints.

Camel is a great neutral color that looks classy and expensive. A camelcolored pencil skirt plus a crisp white shirt with dark brown pumps is a look that would definitely turn heads in or out of the office.

Choose separates because you can wear them in so many ways.

Blouses and skirts can be mixed and matched for different looks. Wear a black shirt with a dressy top for a work-related dinner. You can pair it with a crisp white shirt and white sneakers for casual Fridays.

A pop of color can make you look fabulous on a gloomy rainy day. A bright color, maybe in the form of a jacket or a blouse, breaks the monotony of an allblack outfit.

Accessories can change the look of an ensemble. Even jeans and a black t-shirt can be office friendly when accessorized properly. A statement necklace or a stack of bangles can make the plainest outfit look polished.

Don’t eschew trendy pieces. A pair of black culottes from Liberté can be office appropriate with a dressy top and wedge heels. Dark colored jeans can look stylish with heels. A Stella sleeveless top can be paired with white trousers for a business casual look.

Stella appeals to women who want classic and versatile prices, which can be easily mixed and matched.

Liberté is perfect for young women starting out in the corporate world and are looking for stylish and practical clothes.

Stella and Liberté are two of the private labels available at Robinsons Department Stores.

Invest in classic pieces in whites, blacks and grays, when buying clothes to wear in the office.

Gifts that give back KULTURA and the Fashion & Design Council of the Philippines celebrate Filipino craftsmanship with Gifts That Give Back, a collaboration between Kultura’s Crafts for a Cause foundations and the FDCP’s designers at SM Makati. Just in time for the holidays, the event will also help communities, as a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Crafts for a Cause foundations.

Gifts That Give Back highlights unique pieces such as handmade brass accessories, crocheted straw sandals, totes and apparel that are inspired by the diversity of the Filipino culture, bridging recycled materials and artisan crafts. For this, FDCP designers worked closely with Crafts for a Cause foundations to create innovative pieces for the event: Maco Custodio with Gkonomics, Joey Enriquez with Invisible Sisters, Gerry Sunga with Gifts and Graces, Amina Aranaz-Alunan with Isla Para sa Kaunlaran and Joyce Makitalo with Likha ni Inay and Gifts and Graces.

Designers Malou Romero for Joanique, Happy Andrada, Joel Escober and Dong Omaga-Diaz are offering collections whose part of the proceeds will go to the said foundations.

Maco describes his work as “minimalist,” due to his industrial design background. “I like to play with lines and my work is very architectural,” he says.

Joey comes from a family that has been one of the most respected shoe makers in Marikina since the 1950s. In Kultura’s Gifts That Give Back, Joey designed footwear for the Invisible Sisters foundation, a social enterprise that teaches women from poor communities to crochet quality fashion products from plastic bags.

Gerry makes sure that the objects, structures, and woven mediums he creates must have “drama and visual impact to one’s pointe du optique.” He believes that art should be both functional and wearable. His collaboration with Gifts and Graces will give the social enterprise a new design perspective, giving workers the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Jewelry designer Joyce Makitalo is known for her bold, almost talisman-inspired approach to necklaces, pendants, bangles and rings that echo the allure and enigma of civilizations past. Joyce’s chunky pieces highlight varied rough, irregularly shaped semi-precious stones that are cleverly set on brass and metals.

Crafts for a Cause is Kultura’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program that started in 2010. Through Crafts for a Cause, foundations are able to make their products accessible to a mainstream market and the increased demand for products naturally leads to more livelihood opportunities for mem-

Gerry Sunga collaborates with Gifts and Graces for his intricate pieces

Happy Andrada’s collection for Gifts That Give Back features organic materials fused with woven creations of cultural communities in Benguet and Lake Sebu

bers of adopted communities.

Kultura also works with CFAC foundations in developing and improving the quality and design of their products. Likewise, with Kultura serving as a large venue to sell their products, foundations gain the means to fund projects such as community development,

skills training, education and nutrition.

Kultura’s advocacy has opened up opportunities to elevate the designs of their products, sustain and expand their livelihood programs, resulting in increased productivity and income.

Gifts That Give Back featured items will be available at Kultura in SM Makati.

Maco Custodio works with Gkonomics for his minimalist collection

Kultura stores are located at SM Aura Premier, SM Makati, SM Megamall, the SM Mall of Asia, SM Lanang Premier, SM City Cebu, and SM Seaside City Cebu. Kultura boutiques are also located in Pico de Loro, Taal Vista, and the Molo Mansion, Iloilo.

Women from Invisible Sisters foundation wear Joey Enriquez’s footwear

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

Derek Ramsay and Lovi Poe in a scene from the Regal Entertainment sexy drama, “The Escort”

R

EGAL Entertainment’s The Escort starring Derek Ramsay and Lovi Poe has one main selling point – the seductive movie was approved by MTRCB as R-13 without cuts. And it appears that the film outfit is successful in convincing moviegoers to actually watch it.

This Enzo Williamshelmed film raked in P10 million on its first two days, a feat for non-Star Cinema movie.

The story begins with Cyrus (Ramsay), who runs an escort service agency that caters to an affluent clientele, He meets Yassi, a waitress and invites her to work for him as a receptionist with a promise of a bigger paycheck.

After a few days working at the front desk, Yassi gets an offer from Cyrus to join the other girls in “high-class whoring” in exchange for a much bigger pay. He sets up Yassi with Gary Montenilla (Christopher de Leon), a recently widowed

sexy

Expectedly but surprisingly powerful businessman.

Cyrus hopes that Yassi’s exposure to the world of escort service would convince her to finally join the trade.

But Yassi, who apparently wants to preserve her virginity, is reluctant and maintains she just wants to work as desk clerk.

In the process, Cyrus quickly and unexpectedly falls in love with her. On the other hand, Gary begins to make his intentions clear – he wants Yassi to marry him even without the emotional connection.

She turns him down and chooses Cyrus instead.

Then, a revelation ensued: Cyrus is also an escort who works

exclusively for a mayor’s wife (Jean Garcia). The politician who has learned of Cyrus affair with his wife is now out of jail and on a mission to hunt him.

One day, the mayor’s men beaut up Cyrus and wanted to finish him off. To bail her lover out of this predicament, Yassi asks Gary to contact the mayor to spare Cyrus’s life and give him immediate medical attention. The price? Her virginity.

But just like any local film that involve two lovers, Cyrus and Yassi end up in each other’s arms, get married and start anew.

After saving Cyrus from the

shallow

hand of the jealous politician and his goons, she cuts her ties with the first and goes on to becoming an escort herself. It could have been the fitting ending because it challenges the audience to think.

It could have created more impact if the story was open-ended rather than giving away too much.

It was easy to forgive the film for its shortcomings when it cast four actors who gave justice to their respective roles. However, giving the audience another passé ending is an insult to the fresh approach the film initially established. More so, when it celebrates the sexiness of women, but it recklessly depicted

them as the weaker sex, target of abuse and defenseless in the men dominated world.

High-class escort service is an intriguing subject to explore but Williams centered on narrating a tale, which conflict is resolved by the universal idea that love always wins. But it’s hardly even romantic as the characters become immediately in love without any background how their actual romance or attraction started.

In terms of production value, The Escort takes viewers to charming and picturesque locations through the use of a drone equipped with a low-resolution camera. Hence, those

ABS-CBN, Advertising Foundation Of The Philippines partnership ABS-CBN Corporation recently sealed a partnership with Advertising Foundation of the Philippines for the upcoming 10th ARAW Values Awards on Nov. 29 at the Dolphy Theater.

The 2016 ARAW Values Awards will be aired on ABS-CBN Dec. 4.

Kapamilya stars Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, and Gretchen Ho will host the show. ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III and Advertising Foundation of the Philippines’ Chairman of the Board Ruperto Nicdao Jr. led the signing of the partnership.

The Araw Values Advertising Awards stands unique among the other recognition-giving bodies as it gives importance to the values that an ad campaign communicates.

Top executives and officers of ABS-CBN and Advertising Foundation of the Philippines

Kapuso Milyonaryo 2016 biggest season GMA’s Kapuso Milyonaryo opens its 10th season of giving away significant prizes and creating a positive impact on the lives of Filipinos with Kapuso Milyonaryo 10, the grandest and most generous season so far in the history of the country’s longest-running proof-of-purchase promo. There are more than 800 winners to be drawn, now with even bigger prizes to be given away weekly.

For the first time since the promo began in 2012, grand prizes will now be given away in the weekly draws. Participants can get a chance to be among the grand prize winners of P250,000, P500,000, a brand new car, or even P1 million, tax-free. All non-winning entries still have a chance to win in the grand draw, with a house and lot, and eight

more winners of P1 million to be given away.

More prizes will also be at stake until Dec. 16 with 10 winners of P7,000 each, 21 winners of P1,000 each, and 72 winners of appliances and premium items drawn every week.

To join, simply enclose a proof-of-purchase from any of the participating brands and include your complete contact details in a white envelope.

Participants can submit their entries in designated drop boxes located in GMA stations and select Mercury Drugstores nationwide. Entries will be accepted until Dec. 16.

Kapuso audiences on-the-go may also join the Kapuso Milyonaryo mobile app proof-of-purchase promo to get a chance to become the grand prize winner of P300,000. Weekly prizes are also at

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, November 9, 2016

ACROSS 1 Mine passage 6 “Waterloo” group 10 Test how heavy 14 Usher’s beat 15 Vanna’s boss 16 Teacup handles 17 Clay-target sport 18 Author — Wiesel 19 Baroness Karen 20 Job recruiter 22 Marshes 23 Boundaries 24 Wish undone 26 Honda models 30 Reflects 34 Eggy desserts 35 Twining stem 36 London lav 37 Wealthy, to Pablo 38 Threw angrily 40 Actress Jessica 41 Wine festival mo.

42 Coral islets 43 Monastery title 44 Slalom necessity (2 wds.)

46 Upright pianos 48 Trojans’ sch.

49 Real estate unit 50 Sci. course 53 Icy request

(3 wds.)

59 Shaggy oxen 60 Iditarod terminus 61 B, to a musician 62 Give the glad eye 63 Red-waxed cheese 64 Related to mom 65 Jungle crushers 66 Russo of “Get Shorty” 67 Long-gone birds DOWN 1 Bathrobe tie 2 Long walk 3 On board ship 4 Cut and ran 5 Uses the hitching post 6 Corrects 7 Leather items 8 Camembert kin 9 Stating firmly 10 Young cow 11 Moderate 12 Ms. Drescher 13 Clucks 21 Sturm — Drang 25 Mary of “Where Eagles Dare” 26 Bushy hairdos 27 Latch sound 28 Organ-pipes 29 Yoko —

30 Opposite of max 31 Stan’s comic foil 32 C3PO or R2D2 33 Goes sky-high 35 Coach 38 Hunter with a hawk 39 Drain cleaner 40 Son of Prince Valiant 42 IBM and GE 43 Drilled through 45 Heart throbs 46 Connive 47 Before, in

combos 49 Hindu self 50 TGIF party request 51 Foe of Othello 52 Ark. neighbor 54 Bump 55 Point — — return 56 Attired 57 Green Hornet’s valet 58 Canonized mlles.

stake, with more than 300 winners of cash prizes and cellphone load. All Kapuso Milyonaryo 10 prizes are tax free.

The app will be available for download on Google Play Store for Android devices and App Store for iOS devices starting Nov. 14. The mobile app promo period will run until Jan. 8, 2017.

Kapuso Milyonaryo Season 10 participating sponsors include Del Fabric Softener, Aji-NoMoto® Umami Seasoning, Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink, Milo®, Zonrox Bleach, Nescafé, Tang, and Sting Energy Drink.

Since 2012, Kapuso Milyonaryo has opened doors to new opportunities for countless Filipinos, having produced over 100 millionaires and nine house-and-lot winners.

aerial shots botched every single effort. This might work in a mobile device but not on big screens because it only shows how limited Regal’s budget was to execute such scenes.

Generally, The Escort resembles its heroes who are convincingly sexy and telegenic.

The screen smolders when they share the bed naked. And if you’re one of those who want to see the film because of its main selling point, we totally understand.

But here is a movie, which is a lot of things really, but brilliant is not one of them. It’s like a cold shower when what you’re actually up to a nice warm bath.

‘LOGAN’

in Manila next year FOLLOWING the teaser poster reveal, the trailer of Hugh Jackman’s most anticipated latest Wolverine movie entitled Logan has just been released, showing an older Logan at a time where fellow mutants no longer exist.

In an extremely intense and serious tone, the first frames of the trailer revealed a bruised trembling hand while Patrick Stewart’s Professor Charles Xavier and Hugh Jackman’s Logan converse - “Logan, what did you do?” asked Charles Xavier, for which Logan replied, “Charles, the world is not the same as it was.”

Further into the trailer, a young girl joins Logan and Professor Charles who is then revealed to have mutant powers like that of Logan.

Soon, the three of them are on the run, with Logan and the young girl forced to fight the enemies trying to pin them down in a series of dizzying chase, brutal and

Actor Hugh Jackman

heart-stopping scenes.

Finally, “Logan’s” trailer ends with Hugh Jackman standing in the middle of a forest while the young girl approaches and holds his hand.

Directed by James Mangold, Logan opens in cinemas nationwide on March 1, 2017 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Trailer link: https:// w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=FBnt-46B5NE

D4

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

Showbiz

ABS-CBN bigwigs and Star Magic pillars Gabby Lopez, Charo Santos and Freddy M. Garcia flanked by top Kapamilya actors John Lloyd Cruz and Piolo Pascual

Star Magic Ball 2016 brings together Kapamilya stars O VER 300 Star Magic ISAH V. RED artists made time to attend the biggest and most glamorous annual celebrity gathering of Star Magic artists dubbed as Star Magic Ball 2016.

The premiere talent management arm’s up-and-coming, first-timers, celebrated and senior stars, along with the ABS-CBN executives including Chief Content Officer Charo Santos,, President Carlo Katigbak, Chairman Gabby Lopez and Head of Finance for Broadcast and News & Current Affairs Cat Lopez.

Several VIPs were also in attendance such as Sen. Sonny Angara with wife Tootsie,

Erich Gonzales and Daniel Matsunaga

Ronnie Alonte and Sue Prado

Sen. Grace Poe and Davao del Norte Anton Lagdameo with wife Dawn Zulueta.

Zulueta Some special non-Star Magic artists were also present namely international racer Marlon Stockinger, hosts Luis Manzano, Manzano who came as Jessy Mendiola’s date and Billy Crawford, Crawford who came as Coleen Garcia’s date, and Karla Estrada a.k.a. Queen Mother. Sexy actresses Arci Muñoz and Ellen Adarna also made it to the event along with King and Queen of RnB Kyla and Jay-R and Morissette Amon.

Amon Concert King Martin Nievera hosted the annual celebration.

With the aim to assist the displaced and affected by Super Typhoon Lawin, a special part of the program had the VIPs, celebrities and other guests pledging donations. It was also announced that proceeds of the ball would go to the typhoon victims.

As with other Star Magic Ball 2016, this year commemorated two important people for Star Magic and ABS-CBN as a whole—ABS-CBN chairman Gabby Lopez and ABS-CBN executive Freddie M. Garcia. A montage of greetings for the two bosses from different members of the company was shown to the Star Magic Ball guests.

Young singers CJ Navato, Kristel Fulgar, Bailey May, Ylona Garcia, Darren Espanto, Espanto and Alexa Ilacad performed a Carole King medley as a surprise tribute to the person whom people fondly call as EL3.

While seasoned performers Martin, Richard Poon, KZ and new Kapamilya Jona performed a Tony Bennett medley to serenade one of Star Magic’s pillars, the one most people call FMG. Star Magic’s main man Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan recalled how FMG and EL3 helped build Star Magic.

The prestigious star-studded event had the traditional cotillion segment, which was participated in by the budding Star Magic artists and love teams while Jason Dy sang “I Won’t Give Up.” The cotillion included Tommy Esguerra and Miho Nishida, Sofia Andres and Diego Loyzaga, McCoy de Leon and Elisse Joson, Sue Ramirez and Ronnie Alonte,

Grae Fernandez and Kira Balinger, Nash Aguas and Alexa Ilacad.

Jersey Boys stars Nyoy Volante, Markki Stroem, Bibo Reyes and Rhenwyn Gabalonzo brought a part of their successful show to the ball as a medley.

The prime and bankable Star Magic artists were invited during the latter part of the show, led by Piolo Pascual, to offer a toast for the two Kapamilya executives.

Among the stars in the special toast were John Lloyd Cruz, Jericho Rosales, Xian Lim, Kim Chiu, Sam Milby, Gerald Anderson, Bea Alonzo, Maja Salvador, Zanjoe Marudo, Jodi Sta. Maria and the prime love teams of DanRich ( Daniel Matsunaga and Erich Gonzales,) LizQuen Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil) and KathNiel (Liza Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla).

(Kathryn But the most awaited part of the night, as with previous years, was the handing over of the special awards.

This year, Elisse Joson brought home the Ponds Beautiful Belle of the Night award, John Lloyd Cruz took home the Metro and H&M Style Award.

Meanwhile the Male and Female Stars of the Night were Charo Santos and Gabby Lopez while Liza Soberano and Zanjoe Marudo were hailed as Star Magic Ball 2016’s Best Dressed stars. The Couple of the Night award was given to Sofia Andres and Diego Loyzaga.

Finally, Magpahanggang Wakas actor Jericho Rosales received the prestigious Star Magic Icon award for his enduring career in the business and under the talent management agency.