The Standard - 2016 April 9 - Saturday

VOL. XXX  NO. 56  3 Sections 32 Pages P18  SATURDAY : APRIL 9, 2016  www.thestandard.com.ph  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Mendoza accused of graft

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PNOY STAYS SILENT ABOUT KIDAPAWAN

By Christine F. Herrera and John Paulo Bencito

ONE week after two farmers were killed in the violent dispersal of a protest in Kidapawan City, President Benigno Aquino III remained silent on the issue—and has not ordered a single sack of rice to be distributed to the drought-hit farmers.

In Manila, some 2,000 protesters, including veteran actors Nora Aunor and Monique Wilson, gathered in Plaza Miranda to denounce the dispersal of hungry farmers who were demanding government food aid amid a five-month drought brought about by the El Niño phenomenon.

The protest was part of a nationwide Black Friday protest campaign to demand #BigasHindiBala—or rice, not bullets.

Even groups that are usually at odds, such as the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and the Sanlakas Coalition were united Friday in demanding full accountability

from local and national government officials.

The two umbrella militant groups held separate nationwide protests in their respective strongholds.

Bayan, whose members include Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Kabataan, Act Teachers, League of Filipino Students, Courage, Migrante, among others, held rallies in five regions in Mindanao and also in Central Luzon such as Angeles City in Pampanga, Olongapo City, Tarlac City, Isabela province, and also in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Negros Next page and Panay regions.

People’s protest. Renowned actresses Nora Aunor and Monique Wilson join other activists at the Mendiola Bridge in Manila to protest the deadly dispersal of drought-stricken farmers in Kidapawan City last April 1. After one week, the government still has not distributed food aid to the hungry farmers. DANNY PATA

Ombudsman charges dead Makati exec Duterte Christine F. Herrera and kills only ByMacon Ramos-Araneta the poor —Binay

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THE OPPOSITION United Nationalist Alliance twitted Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales Friday for filing multiple charges against a former Makati City administrator who died in 2013 just to resurrect old allegations against its presidential candidate, Vice President Jeojomar Binay.

“The Ombudsman filed multiple charges against former Makati City administrator Nicanor Santiago, Jr., who has been dead for two years. This just goes to show how sloppy the Office of the Ombudsman is,” UNA communications director Joey Salgado said.

Santiago, city administrator when Binay was Makati mayor, was found liable for not filing his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth and for failing to

disclose some business interests.

“The Ombudsman has sacrificed the quality of its work in their haste to perpetuate the propaganda of the administration. Shoddy research is now the norm at the Office of the Ombudsman,” Salgado added.

Salgado said the Ombudsman filed the case against the deceased former city official to revive in the media old allegations against Binay.

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Mendoza indicted in 2010 graft case

By Rio N. Araja and John Paolo Bencito

THE Office of the Ombudsman on Friday indicted embattled North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza for buying P2.4 million worth of fuel from a gas station owned by her mother in 2010.

Mendoza, at the center of the bloody dispersal of protesting farmers in Kidapawan City on April 1, faces three counts of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for the 2010 case.

In that year, Mendoza approved the release of P2.4 million from the provincial funds to pay for 49,526.72 liters of fuel used for one road grader and four dump trucks utilized during the two-day road rehabilitation projects.

The Ombudsman said there was no public bidding conducted for the procurement of fuel, and that Mendoza directly contracted the purchase with the gas station owned by her mother.

The Ombudsman said there was no compelling justification for dispensing with the requirement of a public bidding.

In a resolution, the Ombudsman pointed out

“the great disparity between the estimated 552 liters of diesel actually consumed for the twoday road maintenance project in Magpet vis-àvis the 20,833 liters actually paid for, is proof that the fuel-purchase transaction is illegal and that this transaction is obviously a scheme to pocket government funds.” “[The respondent] made it appear that the diesel fuel was procured and used in a government project when in truth, only a small portion of the fuel was actually used and the rest was converted to cash for the benefit of those who were involved in the fraudulent transaction,” the Ombudsman said.

The governor drew flak for the violent dispersal of about 6,000 farmers in Kidapanwan City on April 1, during which two farmers were shot dead.

The Kidapawan farmers, who had been suf-

fering from severe hunger due to drought, slammed Mendoza for her failure to provide them with food aid.

On March 30, they barricaded the DavaoCotabato highway, blocking traffic both ways.

On April 1, police moved in to disperse the protesters, with some shooting their M-16 rifles at the farmers.

Mendoza said Friday she was confident that she would be able to answer the Ombudsman’s accusations.

In a statement, the governor’s lawyer, Vincent Paul Montejo, denied accusations that she handpicked her mother’s gas station.

“Any accusation of partiality, preference or bias in favor of any gas station has no basis,” Montejo said.

“Contrary to what the Ombudsman is saying, the fuel was procured after it went through a form of bidding, allowed under the Government Procurement Act and as recommended by the BAC. Lastly, the Ombudsman also ignored evidence that fuel was actually utilized for the province’s road projects,” Montejo said.

People’s protest. Tacloban City residents, most of whom were victims of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013 and members of the group People Surge, take to the streets to join nationwide rallies to express sympathy and solidarity with the drought-stricken farmers of Mindanao. MEL CASPE

Ombudsman...

From A1

UNA spokesperson Mon Ilagan earlier said the Ombudsman was “overzealous” in its effort to damage the reputation of close allies and supporters of Binay.

The Office of the Ombudsman earlier filed graft charges against UNA reelectionist Cebu Rep. Gwen Garcia over the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in 2006.

It also affirmed the graft case against former Laguna governor ER Ejercito for an insurance agreement the municipality of Pagsanjan entered into in 2008.

On Tuesday, it also announced the indictment of former Special Action Force commander and retired police Gen. Getulio Napeñas—and UNA candidate for senator—in connection with the Mamasapano massacre in January 2015.

Salgado and Ilagan said resurrecting these charges against Binays’ allies, dead or alive, was aimed at derailing Binay’s presidential bid.

Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile, meanwhile, said the timing of the Ombudsman’s filing of a plunder complaint against opposition vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was suspect, but said it would not make a dent in the senator’s bid to become vice president.

Enrile said the plunder case would only make Marcos more determined to win votes.

He also emphasized the importance of the Ilocano vote, which would go for Marcos.

“You know, the Ilocano vote runs from the North all the way to Mindanao,” he said, noting that North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat were Ilocano.

“He will be elected even if he is in jail,” Enrile said of Marcos.

Enrile is out on bail on a plunder charge filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the use of his pork barrel funds. Enrile has denied any wrongdoing. With Vito Barcelo

PNoy...

From A1 The Sanlakas Coalition—Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Partido Lakas ng Masa and Kongreso ng Maralitang Lungsod—participated in Kalampag or Kampanya Laban sa Pagkagutom.

The Sanlakas-led activists did a noise barrange and banged the pots and pans in front of the Agriculture Department’s head office along the Elliptical Road in Quezon City to symbolize their clamor for food security and justice for the Mindanaoan farmers.

Kalampag protests were also simultaneously held in the cities of Calamba, Cebu, Tacloban, Bacolod, Pagadian, Ozamis and Davao.

Bayan described President Aquino’s inaction to the Kidapawan farmers’ plea as “failure in leadership” while Sanlakas called it a “colossal flop,” particularly the President’s P19 billion failed El Niño mitigating measures.

The two groups were particularly incensed that top officials, including North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Lala Taliño-Mendoza, simply dismissed the protest in Kidapawan as a purely police matter and that the hungry farmers were a traffic problem that did not require an immediate political and practical solution.

“Today marks one week since the government opened fire on protesting farmers in Kidapawan, North Cotabato. Groups are taking to the streets and social media to galvanize solidarity for the farmers in Kidapawan and other areas affected by severe drought,” Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said.

“One week after the incident, no one from the local and national government is taking full responsibility for what happened last April 1 in Kidapawan. Meanwhile, some 71 people remain detained and are facing various charges. Not one sack of rice has been distributed by the provincial or national government to the farmers in the aftermath of the violent dispersal. The President remains silent on the issue. There are already tellsaid.

The 700 sacks that were distributed by the United Methodist Church to the farmers who sought shelter in the church after the April 1 dispersal came from donations of private individuals and non-government organizations.

“The bloodshed in Kidapawan could have been avoided if not for the gross negligence and incompetence of the task force that claimed two lives and left hundreds injured last week,” said Leody de Guzman, president of the militant BMP, a founding member of Sanlakas.

De Guzman said the task force formed in September last year composed of Cabinet-level agencies under the Office of the President led by the Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan was a “colossal flop.”

“The much-vaunted El Niño preparations by the Aquino government since last year have been exposed to be a P19-billion fiasco by the very blood of our starving farmers. If only they were not too busy campaigning for the administration’s bets then they should have monitored that the water crisis was worsening and should have acted upon it promptly,” De Guzman said.

Reyes said they protested to demand full accountability from government officials.

Based on the Senate hearing on the incident, Reyes said, no one took full responsibility for the dispersal and the firing of automatic weapons on unarmed protesters. With Sandy Araneta

and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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‘Duterte only kills the defenseless’ UNITED Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer Jejomar Binay on Friday again assailed his rival, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, describing him as an “executioner” who only kills poor people.

“Mister berdugo, ako ay pro-life at ang aking ginagawa ay para gumanda ang buhay ng mahihirap.

Ikaw naman, pumapatay ka ng mahirap,” Binay said.

“Pumapatay ka nang walang pakundangan ng mga bata at magkakapatid. Sanay kang pumatay ng mahirap dahil alam mong hindi sila makakalaban sa ‘yo. Kaya naman hindi ka pumapatay ng mayaman kasi alam mo lalabanan ka nila.”

Binay was reacting to Duterte’s statement belittling the issue of extra-judicial killings as “recycled garbage.”

He reminded Duterte of his previous statements admitting his links to the Davao Death Squad, and that he had killed 1,700 people 1,000 more than what was reported by Amnesty International.

Binay earlier took Duterte to task for killing children, referring to the siblings Richard Alia, 18, Christopher Alia,17, and Bobby Alia, 14 who were reportedly executed by the DDS in 2001 and 2002.

Several human rights groups have linked Duterte to extra-judicial killings, including a report from UN Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions Philip Alston.

In his report to the UN Human Rights Council in 2009, Alston said Duterte “has done nothing to prevent these killings, and his public comments suggest that he is, in fact, supportive.”

Christine F. Herrera and Vito Barcelo

Assistance. United Nationalist Alliance standard bearer Jejomar Binay talks to Juanaria Jucutan, the wife of an undocumented migrant worker whose repatriation was aided by the Office of the Vice President.

Santiago to expel parasites POLITICAL parasites, incompetents and unproductive workers will have no place in her administration if she wins the presidency, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said as she criticized certain members of the Aquino Cabinet for their alleged incompetence.

Boodle fight. Senator Francis Escudero and Senator Grace Poe join students in a boodle fight at the Batangas State University in Malvar, Batangas.

Escudero eyes charges against four generals CALACA, Batangas—Vice Presidential candidate Francis Escudero said Friday his party plans to file charges against the four police generals who were spotted meeting with the campaign managers of Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas II in a hotel in Quezon City.

He said that should stop. They thought they could do everything since they belonged to the administration, Escudero said in an ambush interview.

“We have long been hearing that active and retired generals are playing a

role in the campaign,” he said.

“PNP chief [Ricardo] Marquez said if there’s a complaint, he would immediately relieve [them] like what he did to the chief of police in Abra.

“I hope PNP Chief Marquez will be true to his word and relieve the generals if there is a complaint.”

Escudero said it was “not proper and highly irregular” for the police officials to meet with the LP campaign officers, especially since active police personnel were barred from participating, direct-

ly or indirectly, in partisan politics or electioneering.

He said his Partido Galing at Puso would file a formal complaint against the police officials before Marquez’s office.

Escudero’s presidential candidate Grace Poe said she was thankful that charges would be filed against the generals involved.

“They should be protecting the public on the day of the election and during the campaign period,” Poe said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

But Santiago, who is running under her own political party, the People’s Reform Party, did not name the Cabinet officials.

“I will recruit the best, the most competent, the most experienced, the most honest men and women to help me run my administration,” Santiago said.

Since public officials use their powers to influence the appointment of people to government posts through recommendations, she acknowledged that those who solicit political recommendations are not always the most competent public servants.

In August 2013 Santiago filed the Anti-Political Recommendations Bill, Senate Bill 1198, but it remains pending at the committee level.

The bill, if approved, will penalize the solicitation of political recommendations, hence limiting to agencies the discretion to appoint, promote, assign or transfer designations.

An anti-political recommendations law will cover even the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police, which Santiago said had extensively been eroded by the so-called “padrino system.”

Santiago’s anti-corruption agenda includes the swift passage of the freedom of information bill, the anti-epal bill, the anti-premature-campaigning bill, and the anti-political dynasty bill.

She has also vowed to restore meritocracy in the government service by appointing individuals with solid track records in administrative positions and by pushing for an anti-political recommendations law.

She has also promised to streamline the bureaucracy to eliminate redundant agencies and positions.

“I will start by conducting a swift review of all programs and projects of government. There will be a task force for each major department as soon as I assume office,” Santiago said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

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2 dead in Mindoro gunfight

By Robert A. Evora and Sara D. Fabunan CALAPAN CITY—A leader of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance died after he shot dead a gunman who tried to waylay him in the town of Bansud in Oriental Mindoro province.

Bansud police chief Marfredo Dulatre identified the victim as Jimmy Gayeta San Jose, 44, an active UNA leader of Bansud mayoral candidate Dr. Mike Soller, who is running against Liberal Party candidate, former provincial administrator Angel Saulong.

Dulatre said San Jose was on board his motorcycle and was

on his way home when a gunman, later identified as Isaias Malla, fired and hit him twice with a .9-millimeter cal. pistol.

However, San Jose was able to draw his 45 cal. pistol and returned fire, hitting Malla four times and killing him instantly.

But San Jose eventually died after killing his assailant.

Dulatre said Malla was later

determined to be a former member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units and a resident of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro.

Provincial Board Member and former Bansud mayor Butch Soller, brother of the mayoral candidate, said it was the second time an attempt was made on San Jose. Several days before the ambush yesterday, unidentified people were seen casing the house of San Jose.

Soller expressed fear that politically motivated violence may intensify and he urged the police to secure opposition candidates who are favored to win against the administration

LP candidates.

The incident happened after Vice President Jejomar Binay, UNA presidential candidate, and LP administration presidential candidate Manuel Roxas staged their separate campaign rallies in Bansud town.

Binay held his rally last Saturday while Roxas had his on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, an official of the Commission on Elections on Friday expressed hope that the Pilipinas Debates 2016 for vice presidential candidates will be as successful as the two previous presidential debates.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said they are hopeful

that the level of public interest in the forthcoming debate, which will be held at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila on Sunday, will draw similar interest as the presidential debates.

“We hope many people will watch it as many as those that watched the presidential debates. This is the first and probably only one that will be held for VP candidates. So, it’s a landmark occasion,” Jimenez said.

The vice presidential debate is set to take place at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion at 5 p.m. with all six candidates set to attend.

Concern on voter receipts raised

By Sara D. Fabunan A FORMER official of the Commission on Elections expressed concern at the poll body’s failure to issue amended general instructions even as the monthlong automated elections for overseas Filipinos starts today.

In an interview, former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal feared that without the amended general instructions, voters may bring home the printed voter’s receipt.

“What will stop the voters from taking the printed voter’s receipt out from the polling precincts? Nothing,” Larrazabal said.

“The Comelec needs to publish the GI because you [have to] make the taking out of the voters receipt as an election offense.

A day before the OAV automated polls started, the Comelec failed to issue the amended general instructions for election inspectors because some of the Comelec commissioners were out of the country.

“There are senior staff who are more than well versed in election,” he said.

“In fact, the revision of the GI will not consume a lot of time. You can revise it in two to three days. It’s been a month since the Supreme Court released the decision,” Larrazabal, who is one of the pioneers of the historic and first ever automated elections in 2010, added.

He warned that without the revised GI, the Special Board of Election Inspectors abroad will have a hard time implementing the rules on the receipt since they do not have basis.

Jarhead selfies. Filipino Marines take selfies with a decommissioned 305mm M1890 mortar carriage at Battery Way in Corregidor Island in Cavite on Saturday. DANNY PATA

Navy activates 2 old units

By Florante S. Solmerin

Election season scene. People walk past a wall plastered with

the campaign posters of local politicians in Manila. More than 17,000 positions ranging from president to town councilors will be contested in the elections on May 9. AFP PHOTO/NOEL CELIS

THE Philippine Navy has dissolved a command by reactivating two commands it had dissolved a year ago as it continues to experiment on naval security operations.

“In the midst of evolving and expanding maritime concerns, transformation and reorganization are continually implemented for it to become a naval force that is adaptive to the emerging and ever changing challenges, said Navy spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Marineth Domingo.

Domingo said the naval high command has reactivated the Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL), based in La Union, and the Naval Forces West (NFW), based in Palawan.

The new commander of NFNL will be Commodore Danilo Rodelas while Captain Alert Mogol will serve as NFW acting commander.

The two commands were merged last year to form the Naval Forces North West, which is now effectively deactivated.

The NFW was placed under the Western Command (Westcom) which is currently led by Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez whose command jurisdiction covers the entire WPS. It was also during this period when the northern portion of the WPS was ceded to the jurisdiction of the Westcom commander from the jurisdiction of the commander of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) since the NFNL was already dissolved.

Thus, Nolcom and Westcom will have distinct naval components to better respond to their territorial defense and humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations while continuing their current internal security operations campaign.

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Marcos: Review airline traveler rights

By Macon Araneta VICE presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. is pushing for the review of the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights to protect passengers not only from the failings of airline companies but also from government’s shortcomings.

Marcos made the statement in the light of the mounting complaints of airline passengers, including the five-hour power outage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport that canceled numerous flights and brought inconvenience to thousands of passengers and their families.

He said reviewing and possibly amending the law that will empower passengers to seek immediate redress of grievances arising from neglect and abuses not only committed by airline companies but by the government itself are in order.

“Our passengers deserve better service and we simply could not ignore their many complaints in our airports like the long queues, leaking ceilings, collapsing floors, lack of restrooms and just recently a five-hour brownout,” he said.

“Clearly in all these, the reason why we have been consistently adjudged the World’s Worst Airport, the government is at fault but there is no accountability when our airport officials are clearly not doing their job,” he added.

He pointed out that the existing Airline Passenger Bill of Rights is under Joint Administrative Order No. 1 of the Department of Transportation and Communications and Department of Trade and Industry and it appears that it is only for lapses committed by airline companies.

Cultural presentation. Dancers perform traditional Filipino dances at the opening of the outsourcing firm Service Source at the E-Square Crescent Park in West Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. EY ACASIO

Group scores Aquino for new power charge

By Maricel V. Cruz A pArty-list group on Friday took up the cudgels for Filipino electricity consumers who will again suffer the burden of additional cost to the already power rate as it exposed another 0.12 centavos per kilowatt hour power rate hike in the coming months.

The Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan (Agham) party-list revealed that the additional item on the monthly electric bill, which started in January 2015, is called the FIT-All or Feed-in Tariff Allowance to fund incentives for renewable energy.

“We heard that TransCo will start to collect from electric cooperatives and private power distributors an increase of up to P0.12 centavos from the previous P0.04 centavos per kilowatt hour, and this will be nationwide,” former congressman and Agham party-list president Angelo Palmones said.

“This is a 200-percent increase or triple the original fit allowance. Why will consumers shoulder the incentives for renewable energy developers?” Palmones asked.

The power distributor Manila Electric Co. confirmed the power rate increase nationwide.

It said the FIT-All will start to reflect a higher charge of P0.12/kWh beginning April, in compliance with the provisional approval issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission last February.

Palmones lamented that Mindanao, in particular, has been continuously suffering from

brownouts and the additional charge on the consumers bills in the area will rub on to their burden.

“The Filipino people all over the country have suffered so much from paying the highest electric bills in Asia and Oceania, and yet they continue to experience brownouts, particularly the Mindanaoans and pay additional cost of electricity that is hidden under FIT-All. This is deplorable and unacceptable,” Palmones said.

Palmones said the group fully supports harnessing renewable energy sources for power generation because of its benefits to the health of the people and the environment.

But there are existing renewable energy facilities with “greater outputs and which perhaps could be enhanced for better performance,” Palmones said.

Palmones further said that the increase could have adverse effects to both households and business establishments.

Solon: Stop blame game

Team Malasakit in Palawan. Senatorial candidate Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez is welcomed by supporters during the general assembly of barangay officials and multi-sectoral groups in Puerto Princesa City. VER NOVENO

SENATORIAL candidate Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez urged concerned parties on Friday to stop the blame game regarding the Kidapawan incident. This as he stressed that the government should show malasakit to the farmers by giving them aid.

Romualdez said now is not the right time to accuse farmers especially that they were allegedly used by certain groups for political reasons.

“All they need now is malasakit and that refers to the immediate delivery of assistance to our drought-hit farmers.” said Romualdez The Philippine Constitution Association president urged the government, particularly the

Commission on Human Rights, to conduct a thorough investigation of the violent dispersal of farmers in Kidapawan, North Cotabato and determine who is responsible for the death of three farmers and scored of injured who included protesters and law enforcers.

Romualdez issued the statement as he again lamented the slow government action on the El Niño crisis that resulted in the protest action.

As early as December last year, the national government announced that the Palace had already approved P19-billion for El Niño impact mitigation. The funding included programs for cash for work and food stamps programs.

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No-contact citations set April 15

By Joel E. Zurbano

CHAIRMAN Emerson Carlos of the Metro Manila Development Authority on Friday said his agency will start implementing on April 15 the policy of citing motorists for traffic violations with the use of closed-circuit television cameras instead of human enforcers.

The target of this measure, according to Carlos, are erring drivers beating the red light, and those violating bus segregation and traffic lane obstruction rule.

“All vehicles are covered by this policy, including motorcycles,” said Carlos following a meeting with provincial bus owners and operators at the MMDA central office in Makati City.

“Before, the target of the no contact policy was the over speed-

ing motorists. All traffic rules will now be included,” he added.

The scheme was first implemented during the time of then MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando in 2007 but the agency discontinue the practice following numerous complaint from motorists who claimed they were penalized without their knowledge.

“We corrected our error and now we have more than 300 CCTV cameras installed on major

thoroughfares all over Metro Manila,” said Carlos.

The Metro Manila Council, the MMDA’s policy making body, in 2002 approved Resolution 02-49 citing the need to improve the system of apprehending traffic violators by way of adopting a no contact policy in apprehending traffic violators thru the use of digital camera.

“Physical contact between the traffic enforcer and the driver during apprehension is an open invitation for graft and corruption,” the MMC cited this as one of the reasons in coming up with the resolution.

Carlos said the MMDA and members of the Technical Working Group composed of representatives from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office, Department of Transporta-

tion and Communications and the National Police Highway Patrol Group have all agreed to reimpose the policy.

The guidelines under Resolution 02-49 are: The “No Physical Contact Policy” in traffic apprehension entails coverage thru video footages and still pictures of motorists committing traffic violations. This shall be applied to all motorists at random and is not limited to Public Utility Vehicles.

Downloading shall be centralized at the Office of the Executive Director of the Traffic Operations Center, from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

The cameraman shall sign the Summon Forms containing pictures he shot in the video camera. He shall likewise indicate the violation committed in the Summon Form.

All Summon Forms shall be produced at the Office of the Executive Director.

The Summon Forms, signed by the cameraman and the Executive Director, shall be sent thru registered mail at the Makati Central Post Office using the postal charge account of MMDA. Copies of the Summon Forms shall be sent to the LTO and LTFRB on a daily basis.

The fines and penalties and all charges contained in the Summon Form shall be assessed at the MMDA-TOC Data and TVR Management Division and be paid at the Collection Division of MMDA. Assessment and payment shall only be made at the central office of MMDA located at the MMDA building, Edsa corner Orense, Makati City.

Payment of fines and penalties and all charges shall be made first, before filing any protest.

Kentex found liable in trademark charge

By Rey E. Requejo

No-contact citations. Officials of the Metro Manila Development Authority, led by Chairman Emerson Carlos, meet with provincial bus owners and operators about the reimplementation of the no-physical contact citation of traffic violators on April 15. JOEL ZURBANO

THE Court of Appeals has paved the way for the indictment of officers of Kentex Corp. for trademark infringement after offering and selling to the public their sandals which are allegedly imitations or copies of the “Havaianas” sandals.

In a two-page resolution, the CA’s Fifth Division through Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando denied the motion for reconsideration of Kentex for failure to present new arguments that would warrant a reversal of their earlier decision.

The CA affirmed its decision granting the petition for review filed by Sao Paola Alpargatas S.A. (Spasa) assailing Department of Justice’s resolutions dated May 28, 2013 clearing Kentex of trademark infringement charge.

In its decision, the appellate court has reversed and set aside the DoJ resolutions, and instead ordered the Justice department to file trademark infringement case against Kentex.

“After a careful perusal of private respondent’s arguments, we find that the latter have not advanced any

compelling reason that would warrant the reconsideration of our decision. The question on the existence of grave abuse of discretion raised in the present motion for reconsideration has been already resolved in the affirmative and covered extensively in our decision,” the resolution stated.

Associate Justices Jose Reyes and Stephen Cruz concurred with the ruling.

The case arose from a complaint from Spasa, a Brazil-based company, and the registered owner of the mark “Havaianas” wherein their products are made available to the Philippine market through Terry S.A. Inc., Spasa’s exclusive distributor in the Philippines.

The Havaianas distributor filed a complaint for trademark infringement and damages before the Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) of Caloocan City against Ong King Guan and Mary Grace Ching, Kentex’s treasurer/general manager and corporate secretary, respectively.

It alleged that Kentex’s “Havana” sandals are colorable imitations of the marks owned and registered under the name of Spasa.

Licenses of 3 buses canceled

By Darwin G. Amojelar THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulator Board said on Friday it canceled the certificates of public convenience of three units of United Land Transport & Bus Co. Inc (Ultra Bus) for operating without special permit during the Christmas season last year.

LTFRB said it found Ultra Bus’ units bearing plate numbers AAI-9134, AAI9133, AAI-9130 without the required special permit to operate during the Christmas holidays.

Ultra Bus, through its counsel, filed its answer to the show-cause order on Feb. 11, 2016, alleging that the bus company

was about to reapply for another special permit to transport passengers from Alabang to Cubao for the Christmas season, but failed to timely secure one.

Under the Board’s policy, special bus permit for special holidays must be filed at least two weeks prior to the start of the duration of the permit.

Upon further verification, the Board found out that the three units of Ultra Bus operated during the Christmas holidays without the special permit, which falls under the operation of colorum violation for operating the units outside of its approved route or without a prior permit from the Board.

“Our findings show that Ultra Bus violated the terms and conditions of its CPC, hence, we are ordering them to pay the penalties corresponding to it pursuant to Joint Administrative Order 201401,” LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said.

The Board orders Ultra Bus to pay P1 million each for the three units for colorum operations. All the CPCs of the three units are canceled and reverted back to the State. The units are also impounded for three months.

In addition, the Board ordered the bus company to surrender all the yellow plates of its 10 units five days upon receipt of the order.

In the heat of the moment. Foreign tourists experience the scorching heat of tropical Philippines as they wait for a taxi along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. EY ACASIO

s at u r D aY : a p r i l 9, 2 0 1 6

NEWS

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

More groups condemns Kidapawan ‘dispersal’

By Ronald O. Reyes TACLOBAN CITY—Tingog Sinirangan, sectoral political group in farming region of Eastern Visayas has joined other sectors in condemning the Kinadapawan clash, while reminding the public to help farmers who are the ones who ‘’feed the entire nation.’’

“We condemn the violent dispersal of the Kidapawan farmers... If our farmers go hungry, the whole country will eventually go hungry. It is tragic that our largely agricultural country has starving farmers, that the ones who sow hardly reap anything,’’ said Jude Acidre, first nominee of Tingog Sinirangan.

“We stand with our farmers in Kidapawan and all the farmers and their families in this difficult time. We add our voices in condemning not only the violent dispersal but the failure of the government to address their

needs. This incident clearly shows the desperation on their part to provide food for their families, which the government should have already addressed,’’ he added.

According to Acidre, the Kidapawan incident “is a wake up call for our government to focus on the development of the agricultural sector.”

“Our farmers, many of whom are in the margins of the community, should not be left behind. Greater attention should be given not only in developing farms, but also in giving opportunities

for sustainable livelihood for the welfare of our farmers and their families,” said Acidre, adding that they are committed to push for reforms that are pro-agriculture.

“We want to protect and prioritize our producers, the farmers.’’

“Kidapawan incident sadly shows how we treat our farmers. The past and present administration have marginalized the farmers, making them beg for land and support. But it is not only the government and the land owners who shunned the farmers, we have been part of this farmer or agriculture-shaming,’’ reacted Kaye Barreda in her social media post.

“We have turned away from agriculture, forgot about our farmers and placed them in the most rural part of our country’s development plan.

We have failed our farmers,’’ she added.

“The public should increase pressure on government to release the rice subsidies without delay and discrimination.

And to have a credible probe into the illegal use of guns and live bullets last April 1,’’ said known Filipino blogger Tonyo Cruz.

At least two farmers were killed during the Kidapawan incident while 116 were left injured to include policemen.

Meanwhile, a land rights advocate group based in the region has expressed fear that the violent incident in Kidapawan could happen in Leyte province if similar issues of farmers will remain unresolved.

“The Kidapawan incident has taught us that regardless of the issue, the blame always falls on the farmers just because they dared to claim their rights as citizens and as food producers,” said Rina Reyes, project coordinator of Rights Inc.

Eyesore. A sunset view of Awang, DOS and Cotabato City which shows half of the mountain which is being quarried and has become an eyesore for nature lovers and photographers. MaRk NavalEs

Albay scores 5 Gawad Kalasag Hall of Fame LeGAZPI CITY—Disaster preparedness at all times and Zero Casualty in times of emergency have already become ordinary concerns for Albay and Albayanos, as “ordinary as taking a bath daily,” they say.

Surviving thus far from frequent onslaughts of calamities with best results, and with well organized disaster risk reduction councils down to the barangays, the province now has five Hall of Fame niches in the government Gawad Kalasag (Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan) Awards.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda recently announced Albay’s latest addition to its win list—the 2015 Kalasag Hall of Fame, which included wins

by Legazpi City, for Independent Component/Component City; Barangay Oro Site in Legazpi City, for Barangay DRRM Committee (Urban); and Simon of Cyrene in Daraga town, for Civil Society Organization, give Albayanos reasons to be proud.

Gawad Kalasag is a recognition scheme of the national Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council for exemplary performance and initiatives of local government units, groups or individuals in the field of disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian action.

To earn the Gawad Kalasag Hall of Fame niche, an LGU should be adjudged as best in Disaster Risk Reduction nationwide for three successive years. The very first to earn a niche at the Kalasag Awards was Albay in 2011 for province category, followed by its Santo Domingo town in 2013.

Salceda said by treating disaster preparedness as a way of life and Zero casualty goal a daily goal, DRR’s importance is now widely understood and appreciated by Albayanos down to the barangays, and its methods easily assimilated. He explans that disaster preparedness is founded on capacity building from the smallest unit

of the community which is the family, to the state of mind of the entire community itself—the schools most particularly, emergency relief, food, health provisions and sanitation, to long term infrastructure planning and execution.

Two more Albay-based DRR institutions made it to winners’ row of the 2015 Gawad Kalasag Awards—the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital, as best hospital; and Buragwis Learning Center for early Learning Center Category.

Albay, one of the most disaster-prone areas in the country, is regularly mauled by strong typhoons, and occasionally by Mayon Volcano’s eruption. Its highly Climate Change Adaptation and DRR programs and strategies have earned awards and recognitions from both national and international institutions. The United nations has declared the province as its Global DRR-CCA Model.

A7 Cebu’s Garcia endorses Gordon

One Cebu gubernatorial candidate Winston Garcia endorsed last Tuesday the candidacy of former senator Richard J. Gordon, who is seeking a fresh term in the Senate.

During the 888 news Forum Live in Cebu, Garcia announced that Gordon is one of three senatorial bets that he is endorsing in the forthcoming May 9 elections.

“I am only carrying three and you will see that in my sample ballot. now, I declare that one of those three will be Senator Dick Gordon. I will not bother with 12 because I want to show my full support. I don’t want to break up my full support. It’s only three and one of them is Senator Dick Gordon,” he said.

Garcia, former general manager and president of the Government Service Insurance System, added that Gordon already had his support since he filed his Certificate of Candidacy in October last year, the senatorial bet having been the first one to call him up and seek his support.

“When he filed his CoC, he was the first candidate to call me asking for my support. The very first, way back in October pa. He called me up by phone. And I told him I am committed to you,” he recounted.

For his part, Gordon welcomed Garcia’s endorsement, adding that his relationship with the Garcia’s and the people of Cebu go a long way.

“I certainly welcome it [the support]. The Garcia’s are not unknown to me. They have been friends of mine for a long time. I went to school with Alvin Garcia. I worked with Gwen when she was governor. With your father, too, and I was in the constitutional convention with the Garcia’s as well. So we go a long way, my relationship with Cebu goes a long way,” he said.

When Typhoon “Rufing” hit Cebu, Gordon, who was then Olongapo mayor, came to Cebu’s assistance.

He also stood side by side with the province in protesting the unfairness of what they tagged as Imperial Manila. Over the years, Gordon continued to demonstrate his great admiration for Cebu and the Cebuanos and to give them his support. During the earthquake, Gordon was supportive and when he was Secretary of Tourism, he made Cebu the centerpiece of tourism.

During his term in the Senate, Gordon also had the Lapu-Lapu Monument installed at the Luneta Park.

The Lapu-Lapu Monument represents the Visayas and the Muslims while Rizal represents Tagalog Christians which unites the country.

S AT U R D AY : A P R I L 9, 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

THE AMLA AND THE BANK SECRECY LAW

[ EDI TORI A L ]

THE ILLUSION OF SECURITY HOW does the Commission on Elections expect us to be confident that it can protect the integrity of our votes when it cannot even protect its website from hackers?

According to a global security company, the hacking incident last month has compromised information from 1.3-million passports and 15.8-million fingerprints.

Astoundingly, the Comelec has played down the hacking, with Chairman Andres Bautista saying that no confidential information had been compromised and that there would be no effect whatsoever in the preparations for the coming polls.

But how will this not affect the preparations when doubts have been cast on the very premise of the exercise—that the poll body would be able to count our votes correctly so that the results would yield nothing but the will of the people?

The Comelec’s website was defaced and information on voters and candidates was leaked online. Trend Micro said this “may turn out to be the biggest government-related data breach in history.” The IT firm added that the attack leaves 55-million voters at risk.

“In previous cases of data breach, stolen data has been used to access bank accounts, gather further information about specific persons, used as leverage for... phishing emails... blackmail or extortion, and much more.”

In response, the Comelec spokesman said it would consult with its own IT department given the technical nature of the statement.

This is, we hasten to add, just the Comelec website. The stakes are higher for the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines that will be used in the elections next month. Their “technical nature” has also made it impossible for the poll body to explain to the people how they would work, what the vulnerabilities are and how the risks could be eliminated.

Ultimately, this is a concern far bigger and more fundamental than assessing candidates’ fitness for the job they seek and deciding whom to vote for. The Comelec needs to do a better job at convincing us it knows what it faces and can live up to its mandate of safeguarding our will.

STANDING WITH OUR FARMERS POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO OUR farmers feed the whole country but they go hungry and need to beg or demand from government for, of all things, the most staple of our food— rice. The many months of El Niño coupled with, to be kind, insignificant government intervention, has resulted in severe difficulties in the lives of our farmers and their families.

The violent clash between farmers and their allies de-

manding for rice and the police would not have taken place if government instrumentalities, both at the local and national levels, acted as real public servants and not as spoiled brats.

While the confrontation was still ongoing, Department of Agriculture Secretary Prospero Alcala said in a statement that there was a planned government assistance but it was not yet the proper time. This statement was very telling because warnings about a very long dry spell have been released by government since early last year. The DA, even as early as last year should have closely worked with farm-

ers who, quite obviously, would be significantly adversely affected. Acting pro-actively on potential problems is something that this administration is weak at. Secretary Alcala’s team, if they properly monitored the situation would have known early on that farmers and their families would go hungry because of el niño and prompt assistance would have been released.

Days after the bloody Kidapawan clash, Alcala, in another statement said that the situation in the area is not that bad, that there is a 120-percent food sufficiency, and that rice supply is adequate. The differ-

A9

All the farmers wanted was rice.

How hard was this to understand? All they were asking was for our public servants to be responsible in the performance of their duties. How is this wrong?

ence between the first and the second statements is quite telling. Alcala’s lack of appreciation of existing local situation is quite obvious.

For her part, North Cotabato Governor Mendoza was decrying how she felt hurt by those who were sending rice to protesting groups. Really? Her pride is more important than the growling stomachs of her constituents? The good governor’s actions resulted in a food blockade where protesters were prohibited from availing of rice donations meant for them.

What kind of PUBLIC officials are these? They are not worthy of the offices they hold.

They are in positions mandated to take care of public welfare

yet their words and actions betray how insensitive they are to the plight of the poor.

And where is President Simeon Benigno Aquino III in all these? Why has he not issued any statement? Do we still have a President or has he turned blind and deaf to his bosses’ problems because, after all, he is on his way out?

And why was LP standard bearer Mar Roxas asking who supported the farmers’ protest action as if it is wrong to support such? Was Roxas using the old and tired red scare tactic? Roxas

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

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

must remember that he is courting these people’s votes and he cannot afford to insult their capacity to think albeit indirectly.

President Aquino and his friend whom he endorsed to become the next head of state, like Alcala and Mendoza, are acting like the rich kids without concern for those who, unlike them, have to toil daily to eat. The best they (and their social media allies) could do is blame the violence on leftist groups.

What about the police? Is it legal for them to carry and use firearms in

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

dispersal operations? Is this maximum tolerance? The video showing the police and SWAT shooting at protesters who were already scampering away from the rally area put tears in my eyes. What could unarmed farmers do against guns and M16s? They were like animals being hunted down. The scene was reminiscent of those we saw during Martial Law. Those who dared oppose government were shot like criminals.

At least two died and scores were hurt in the confrontation that could Continued on A11

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

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

BANGLADESH and the Philippines became the focus of world attention after the international news media reported that hackers stole US$81-million from the central bank of Bangladesh; that the stolen funds were transferred to bank accounts in the Philippines through the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. of the Yuchengco group of companies; and that the money was diverted to business interests running casinos in the country. It was obviously a case of large-scale money laundering.

The Philippine government believes that unless this crime is solved quickly, the country will develop a reputation as a haven for laundered money, something the Cayman Islands in the western hemisphere currently enjoys with ignominy.

That reputation used to be reserved only for the Swiss banking system. So far, Philippine officials appear to be coordinating their investigation with representatives of other nations, if only to downplay the embarrassment already experienced by Manila.

Private banks and their depositors are also upset. The relationship between a bank and its clients, its depositors in particular, is fiduciary in character, or one characterized by a very high degree of trust. After all, no person will deposit his hard-earned money with a bank he does not trust. This fiduciary relationship between the bank and its clients is further strengthened by Republic Act No. 1405, or the Bank Secrecy Law, which prohibits banks from disclosing information about bank deposits without the consent of the depositor concerned.

Under Republic Act No. 9160, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act, as amended, banks are now required to report to the Anti-Money Laundering Council created under the Amla any “suspicious transaction” made by any of its clients, with anything half a million pesos and more presumed to be “suspicious.”

Banks and their clients find this provision of the Amla objectionable because it forces the bank to snitch on its own clients—an act that is completely incompatible with the fiduciary relationship between the bank and its depositors.

What’s worse is the Amla requires a private entity (the bank) to conduct a criminal investigation, a function better left to either the AMLC or the Department of Justice.

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

S AT U R D AY : A P R I L 9, 2 0 1 6

A8

OPINION

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

THE AMLA AND THE BANK SECRECY LAW

[ EDI TORI A L ]

THE ILLUSION OF SECURITY HOW does the Commission on Elections expect us to be confident that it can protect the integrity of our votes when it cannot even protect its website from hackers?

According to a global security company, the hacking incident last month has compromised information from 1.3-million passports and 15.8-million fingerprints.

Astoundingly, the Comelec has played down the hacking, with Chairman Andres Bautista saying that no confidential information had been compromised and that there would be no effect whatsoever in the preparations for the coming polls.

But how will this not affect the preparations when doubts have been cast on the very premise of the exercise—that the poll body would be able to count our votes correctly so that the results would yield nothing but the will of the people?

The Comelec’s website was defaced and information on voters and candidates was leaked online. Trend Micro said this “may turn out to be the biggest government-related data breach in history.” The IT firm added that the attack leaves 55-million voters at risk.

“In previous cases of data breach, stolen data has been used to access bank accounts, gather further information about specific persons, used as leverage for... phishing emails... blackmail or extortion, and much more.”

In response, the Comelec spokesman said it would consult with its own IT department given the technical nature of the statement.

This is, we hasten to add, just the Comelec website. The stakes are higher for the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines that will be used in the elections next month. Their “technical nature” has also made it impossible for the poll body to explain to the people how they would work, what the vulnerabilities are and how the risks could be eliminated.

Ultimately, this is a concern far bigger and more fundamental than assessing candidates’ fitness for the job they seek and deciding whom to vote for. The Comelec needs to do a better job at convincing us it knows what it faces and can live up to its mandate of safeguarding our will.

STANDING WITH OUR FARMERS POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO OUR farmers feed the whole country but they go hungry and need to beg or demand from government for, of all things, the most staple of our food— rice. The many months of El Niño coupled with, to be kind, insignificant government intervention, has resulted in severe difficulties in the lives of our farmers and their families.

The violent clash between farmers and their allies de-

manding for rice and the police would not have taken place if government instrumentalities, both at the local and national levels, acted as real public servants and not as spoiled brats.

While the confrontation was still ongoing, Department of Agriculture Secretary Prospero Alcala said in a statement that there was a planned government assistance but it was not yet the proper time. This statement was very telling because warnings about a very long dry spell have been released by government since early last year. The DA, even as early as last year should have closely worked with farm-

ers who, quite obviously, would be significantly adversely affected. Acting pro-actively on potential problems is something that this administration is weak at. Secretary Alcala’s team, if they properly monitored the situation would have known early on that farmers and their families would go hungry because of el niño and prompt assistance would have been released.

Days after the bloody Kidapawan clash, Alcala, in another statement said that the situation in the area is not that bad, that there is a 120-percent food sufficiency, and that rice supply is adequate. The differ-

A9

All the farmers wanted was rice.

How hard was this to understand? All they were asking was for our public servants to be responsible in the performance of their duties. How is this wrong?

ence between the first and the second statements is quite telling. Alcala’s lack of appreciation of existing local situation is quite obvious.

For her part, North Cotabato Governor Mendoza was decrying how she felt hurt by those who were sending rice to protesting groups. Really? Her pride is more important than the growling stomachs of her constituents? The good governor’s actions resulted in a food blockade where protesters were prohibited from availing of rice donations meant for them.

What kind of PUBLIC officials are these? They are not worthy of the offices they hold.

They are in positions mandated to take care of public welfare

yet their words and actions betray how insensitive they are to the plight of the poor.

And where is President Simeon Benigno Aquino III in all these? Why has he not issued any statement? Do we still have a President or has he turned blind and deaf to his bosses’ problems because, after all, he is on his way out?

And why was LP standard bearer Mar Roxas asking who supported the farmers’ protest action as if it is wrong to support such? Was Roxas using the old and tired red scare tactic? Roxas

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

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

must remember that he is courting these people’s votes and he cannot afford to insult their capacity to think albeit indirectly.

President Aquino and his friend whom he endorsed to become the next head of state, like Alcala and Mendoza, are acting like the rich kids without concern for those who, unlike them, have to toil daily to eat. The best they (and their social media allies) could do is blame the violence on leftist groups.

What about the police? Is it legal for them to carry and use firearms in

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

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com

MEMBER

PPI

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

dispersal operations? Is this maximum tolerance? The video showing the police and SWAT shooting at protesters who were already scampering away from the rally area put tears in my eyes. What could unarmed farmers do against guns and M16s? They were like animals being hunted down. The scene was reminiscent of those we saw during Martial Law. Those who dared oppose government were shot like criminals.

At least two died and scores were hurt in the confrontation that could Continued on A11

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

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

BANGLADESH and the Philippines became the focus of world attention after the international news media reported that hackers stole US$81-million from the central bank of Bangladesh; that the stolen funds were transferred to bank accounts in the Philippines through the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. of the Yuchengco group of companies; and that the money was diverted to business interests running casinos in the country. It was obviously a case of large-scale money laundering.

The Philippine government believes that unless this crime is solved quickly, the country will develop a reputation as a haven for laundered money, something the Cayman Islands in the western hemisphere currently enjoys with ignominy.

That reputation used to be reserved only for the Swiss banking system. So far, Philippine officials appear to be coordinating their investigation with representatives of other nations, if only to downplay the embarrassment already experienced by Manila.

Private banks and their depositors are also upset. The relationship between a bank and its clients, its depositors in particular, is fiduciary in character, or one characterized by a very high degree of trust. After all, no person will deposit his hard-earned money with a bank he does not trust. This fiduciary relationship between the bank and its clients is further strengthened by Republic Act No. 1405, or the Bank Secrecy Law, which prohibits banks from disclosing information about bank deposits without the consent of the depositor concerned.

Under Republic Act No. 9160, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act, as amended, banks are now required to report to the Anti-Money Laundering Council created under the Amla any “suspicious transaction” made by any of its clients, with anything half a million pesos and more presumed to be “suspicious.”

Banks and their clients find this provision of the Amla objectionable because it forces the bank to snitch on its own clients—an act that is completely incompatible with the fiduciary relationship between the bank and its depositors.

What’s worse is the Amla requires a private entity (the bank) to conduct a criminal investigation, a function better left to either the AMLC or the Department of Justice.

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

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

Emil P. Jurado Chairman Emeritus, Editiorial Board

A10

S AT U R D AY : A P R I L 9, 2 0 1 6

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

WHY ONLY A CASE OF MONEY LAUNDERING? BACK­ BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN WHATEVER one would say of the $81-million electronic heist called “hacking,” many of us now tend to blame ourselves as if to admit responsibility, ignoring that the crime could not have happened had the Federal Bank of New York not been negligent in safeguarding the deposits of its client, the Central Bank of Bangladesh. Its finance minister, AMA Muhith, is right that the Federal Bank of New York can not just avoid responsibility much that it allowed the delivery of the funds to the hackers through three other correspondent banks namely, Wells Fargo, Bank of New York Mellon and City Bank of New York. According to Muhith, it has hired a lawyer, Ajmahal Hossain QC, to determine if standard practices were followed to prevent the siphoning of the funds from its account to Sri Lankan and Philippine Banks.

Deputy Governor SK Sur Chowdhury said that Hossain will try to find out if the three banks carried out their “responsibility properly.” But the NY Federal Bank has claimed their system was not breached and had taken “proper measures” upon Bangladesh Bank’s request. The heist took place at the beginning of February, but became public when a Philippine newspaper first reported the theft at the end of that month. The hackers directed the US Fedbank of New York to transfer $81 million to accounts in the Philippines and $20 million to accounts in Sri Lanka. The SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Communications), a global bank messaging system, received their advices sent using Bangladesh Bank credentials.

The illegal transfer of the $81 million to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. is not a case of money-laundering because the money that was stolen through electronic transfer came not from an illegal source or “dirty money,” but legitimate funds deposited by a government that sought to entrust its funds to a for-

eign bank with the thought of securing them, help it in facilitating its financial obligations, and most important, allow its deposits to earn interest through the facilities of banking. As defined, “money laundering is the process of creating the appearance that large amounts of money obtained from serious crimes, such as drug trafficking or terrorist activity, originated from a legitimate source.” Investopedia dictionary explains that, “There are three steps involved in the process of laundering money: placement, layering, and integration. Placement refers

The illegal transfer of the $81 million to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. is not a case of moneylaundering because the money that was stolen through electronic transfer came not from an illegal source or “dirty money,” but legitimate funds deposited by a government that sought to entrust its funds to a foreign bank.

to the act of introducing “dirty money” (money obtained through illegitimate, criminal means) into the financial system in some way; “layering” is the act of concealing the source of that money by way of a series of complex transactions and bookkeeping gymnastics; and integration refers to the act of acquiring that money in purportedly legitimate means.”

The money obtained by the hackers was not dirty money, but clean money.

What they committed was an act of electronic heist, or a modern crime of pilferage brought about by the advent of computerized banking. The liability of RCBC began when it allowed its facilities to be used in the transfer of

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA CHIEF Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno formalized in writing her position she verbalized in the oral arguments of the Poe petitions by concurring with the ponencia written

by Justice Jose Perez. She starts her opinion with words that will be recognized as classic: “It is important for every Member of this Court to be and to remain professionally indifferent to the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Whether it turns out to be for a candidate who best represents one’s personal aspirations for the country or who raises one’s fears, is a future event we must be blind to while we sit as magistrates. We are not the electorate, and at this particular juncture of history, our only role is to adjudicate as our unfettered conscience dictates.

We have no master but the law, no drumbeater but reason, and in our hearts must lie only the love for truth and for justice. This is what the Constitution requires of us.”

In this respect, as a beacon of practical wisdom, the primacy of the rule of law, and the commitment to compassionate justice, Chief Justice Sereno’s concurring opinion does not disappoint. While voting to grant the consolidated petitions filed by presidential candidate Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares (Poe), the Chief Justice, asserted what the challenged Comelec rulings funds.

Whether RCBC has knowledge about that transaction, which is much doubtful considering the huge amount, now makes it liable as an accomplice.

When RCBC proceeded to allow the funds to be transferred to Philrem Services Corp., whose treasurer Michael Bautista, a yachting buddy of the late Jerome Tan, then president of RCBC Securities, and brother of RCBC president & CEO Lorenzo Tan, and to Philippine National Bank to be deposited to specified accounts/beneficiaries, it committed a separate act of money laundering or the act of scrubbing clean the dirty money to erase possibility of tracing and retrieving the fund by the depositor/owner.

Incidentally, the record of the late Jerome Tan was as colorful as what is happening today to RCBC. When he was president of RCBC Securities, the company lost to the tune of P1 billion in investment funds from its clients through a carefully

SERENO’S CONCURRENCE IN POE CASE would have accomplished had they been affirmed: “the illegitimate elimination of an electoral choice, a choice who appears to be one of the frontrunners in all the relevant surveys.”

In concurring with the majority, the Chief Justice stressed that under Section 78, it is not enough that a person lacks the relevant qualification; she must have also made a false representation of the lack of qualification in the Certificate of Candidacy; that is, the denial of due course to, or the cancellation of the Certificate of Candidacy, is not based on the lack of qualifications but on a finding that the candidate made a material representation that is false, which relates to the qualifications required of the public office the candidate is running for. In short, a claim of good faith is a valid defense.

On the residency, the Chief Justice pointed out that petitioner Poe has shown by an abundance of substantial evidence that her residence in the Philippines commenced on 24 May 2005 and that the statement she made in the 2012 Certificate of Candidacy was due to honest mistake. Unfortunately for private respondents, they failed to meet petitioner’s evidence head on, resulting in their failure to discharge their burden of proving material misrepresentation with respect to residency.

As to citizenship, Sereno opined that presumptions operated profoundly in Poe’s favor to the effect that a foundling is a natural-born citizen. To her, the Comelec committed grave abuse when it went beyond an examination of the patent falsity of the representations in the CoC; maintaining that Section 78 proceeding must deal solely with “patent defects in the certificates” and not the question of eligibility or ineligibility. In her view, Poe simply presented a preponderance of evidence to prove her declaration in her 2016 Certificate of Candidacy for president that as of May 2005, she had definitely abandoned her residence in the US and intended to reside permanently in the country.

Unfortunately, the Comelec, according to the Chief Justice, disregarded these pieces of evidence to find that Poe failed to overcome the probative weight of the alleged admission against interest in her CoC. Chief Justice Sereno asserts that the surrounding circumstances in this case do not exclude the possibility that Poe made an honest mistake, both in reckoning her period of residence in the Philippines as well as determining the proper end period of such residence at the time. She reminded the Court of the basic principle that good faith is always presumed, and in the

face of tangible evidence presented to prove the truth of the matter, which is independent of the circumstances that caused petitioner to make that fateful statement of “six years and six months,” it would be difficult to dismiss her contention that such is the result of an honest mistake.

On the question that Poe was merely a balikbayan, Sereno had this to say: the Balikbayan Program, as conceptualized from the very beginning, envisioned a system not just of welcoming overseas Filipinos (Filipinos and/or their families and descendants who have become permanent residents or naturalized citizens of other countries) as shortterm visitors of the country, but more importantly, one that will encourage them to come home and once again become permanent residents of the Philippines. Thus, for her, the fact that an alien holds a non-immigrant visa is thus not controlling. What is crucial in determining whether an alien may lawfully adopt a domicile in the country is the restriction placed by Congress on a specific type of nonimmigrant visa. So long as the intended stay of a nonimmigrant does not violate any of the legal restriction, sufficient animus manendi may be appreciated and domicile may be established.

Continued on A11

manipulated rogue trading made by Mary Grace Valbuena. Valbuena was simply dismissed on December 2011 by Tan. This is mentioned because during the investigation, Philrem president Salud Bautista, the wife of Michael, admitted to have received from RCBC the $81 million to be converted to pesos, and delivered the P600 million and $18 million to casino junket operator Weikang Xu. It was also RCBC that induced the Arroyo administration to issue the highly anomalous CODE-NGO Peace Bonds amounting to P10 billion which the government paid a total of P34 billion, including interest.

A rundown on how the $81-million stolen money was chopped to pieces for purposes of laundering and distributing them to the beneficiaries like Weikang Xu, Kim Wong or to his front gaming firm known as Eastern Hawaii Leisure Co., Ltd which is the operator of a hotel-casino in Cagayan; to Bloombery which is the

operator of Solaire and act as sub-agent of Midas and Casino’s gaming tables, or to people, whether fictitious or otherwise, like Michael Francisco Cruz, Jessie Christopher Lagrosas, Alfred Santos Vergara Enrico Teodoro Vasquez, four “John Does,” William Go, and the fee given to Maria Santos Deguito, the RCBC Jupiter Branch manager, have yet to be determined.

But the fact remains that the stolen money first entered the country’s jurisdictional responsibility through RCBC, and all the succeeding events to launder it was committed in active connivance with Philrem Service Corp., together with the recipients to whom it was distributed.

We can equally make liable the officers of Amla like executive director Julia Bacay-Abad and Emmanuel F. Dooc for allowing that bank transfer to happen right at their very noses when it was their duty to monitor every unusual transaction or secure a re-

confirmation of the payee bank for any questionable transfer. In fact, the Sri Lankan Pan Asia Banking Corp. was most diligent to request stop payment when it noticed there was a spelling error in the name of the NGO which account was be funded. According to Atty.

Dulay Dodo, “…money laundering was consummated as soon as the ‘dirty money’ was taken out of RCBC and into the hands of Philrem. It did not have to pass through a casino for it to be laundered.”

The cash delivery by Philrem to Wei Kang Xu, for instance, effectively severed the link with the original crime because the money could then be easily converted to legitimate assets … This is why we find it quite alarming that, like Pontius Pilate, Amla is now washing its hands of the debacle.”

We have to resolve this for ultimately, as taxpayers, we will ultimately bear the brunt of paying whatever Continued on A11

S AT U R D AY : A P R I L 9, 2 0 1 6

A11

OPINION

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

NATO ISN’T OBSOLETE BUT IT COULD BE MORE VITAL

By Editorial Board NEITHER US President Barack Obama nor Nato SecretaryGeneral Jens Stoltenberg mentioned Donald Trump after their impromptu meeting on Monday, but the Republican front-runner’s claim that the alliance is “obsolete” hung heavily in the atmosphere. So, too, did Obama’s own recent comments that many allies are “free riders” taking advantage of US military prowess.

Nato remains vital to European and global security, as Obama and Stoltenberg noted —particularly given Russian aggression in Ukraine; Europe’s refugee crisis; the persistent threat from Islamic State; and recent terror attacks in Ankara, Brussels and Paris.

But the alliance is insufficiently prepared to meet the threats to Europe that can be expected in coming years.

One symptom of this weakness is the failure of 23 of Nato’s 28 member countries to fulfill their pledge to spend at least two percent of gross domestic product on their militaries.

Another is their lopsided defense budgets, which spend more than is needed on personnel and too little on drones, warships, anti-missile defenses and other warfighting hardware.

Groups of countries should be encouraged to pool funds for major acquisitions, as 10 of the 28 members did to purchase the three C-17 transport planes now based in Hungary. This model could be used to replace the alli-

ance’s aging fleet of Awacs early warning planes.

Organizational changes could also improve efficiency. Nato’s website lists nearly 50 separate civilian agencies and offices; consolidate both the military and non-military staffs, and the number of personnel could be trimmed by at least 20 percent, according to retired US Adm. James Stavridis, a former Nato supreme allied commander.

Bureaucracy also hampers readiness. Last summer, the supreme allied commander, US General Philip Breedlove, was given greater authority to mobilize troops without engaging in a cumbersome approval process. But he still lacks some of the powers his Cold-War predecessors had. Most immediately,

Sereno... From A10

Standing... From A9

Finally, Chief Justice Sereno concluded her discussion by saying that foundlings are provided legal protection by the state through statutes, rules, issuances and judicial decisions allowing their adoption. Specifically, enactments and issuances on adoption are significant, because they effectively recognize foundlings as citizens of the Philippines.

All told, Sereno stood by her stance that Poe did not lose her natural-born status when she reacquired Philippine citizenship under R.A. 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003.

In a brilliant section of her concurrence, the Chief Justice listed all the positions in governments that require natural-born citizenship. She pointed out the repercussions of a Supreme Court adverse ruling on foundlings currently holding these positions are too compelling to ignore: “A declaration that individuals of unknown parentage are not Filipinos, or at best naturalized citizens, may lead to their removal from government posts; a demand to return all emoluments and benefits granted in connection with their offices; and even the end of pension benefits presently being enjoyed by affected retirees.

The proposal for Congress to remedy the unjust situation that would result from an affirmance by this Court of unjust Comelec rulings is too odious a solution to even consider. It is not the function of Congress to correct any injustice that would result from this Court’s proposed unhappy ruling on foundlings. Rather, it is this Court’s first and foremost duty to render justice to them, as the Constitutions requires.”

Near the end of her opinion, Chief Justice Sereno reminds us: “The duty of the Court to interpret the Constitution is impressed with the equally vital obligation to ensure that the fundamental law serves the ends of justice and promotes the common good. After all, the Constitution is meant to be the legal embodiment of these values, and to be the people’s instrument for the protection of existing natural rights and basic human liberties “ Definitely, most certainly, the Poe decision that is expected to be affirmed today by the Supreme Court with the release of the resolution and opinions on the various motions for consideration filed by Poe’s detractors, fulfills this solemn duty to do justice and uphold the rule of law.

have easily been prevented if government did what it had to do.

All the farmers wanted was rice. How hard was this to understand? All they were asking was for our public servants to be responsible in the performance of their duties.

How is this wrong?

In my book, what is wrong is when those charged to protect people’s rights and look after public welfare refuse to do as they should. What is wrong is when the police turn to violence instead of acting as the protectors of the people. What is wrong is when an entire group of people turn to beggars

Facebook: tonylavs5 or Dean Tony La Viña Twitter: tonylavs

Why... From A10 is charged from us by the negligent FedBank of New York, including the damages it will have to pay because the hackers originated in this country. The Fedbank of New York is under obligation to pay because the issue filed by Bangladesh has nothing to do with money laundering, but on sheer negligence. Our liability is of the fact that the heist was operated here through electronic money transfer, and by the subsequent attempt to launder the money which our investigative agencies should identify and secure their arrest. The burden now rest on the shoulders of this incompetent and good-for-nothing Aquino administration. (rpkapunan@gmail.com)

he needs the authority to unilaterally deploy the alliance’s new rapid-reaction Spearhead Force.

Nato could also stand to improve its ability to counter “hybrid” warfare, such as Russia has practiced in Ukraine, combining military aggression with political destabilization, cyberattacks and propaganda. At the least, this calls for integrating mock cyber-operations into major training exercises, taking advantage of the new Nato Cooperative Cyber Defense Centre of Excellence in Talinn, Estonia.

To address the Russian threat directly, Nato should consider making permanent the additional armored brigade that the US plans to rotate through Poland and the Baltic states. A new airbase in Eastern Europe

because of circumstances beyond their control and government refuse to see and hear their pleas.

Even some of LP’s allies have spoken against what happened. It’s vice-presidential candidate called for heads to roll. Indeed, those responsible should answer for what they did or allowed to happen.

I do not agree with the extreme left in their adherence to armed struggle in their quest for government power. I have criticized them over this countless times. And i know that they organized and supported this particular protest action, and rightly so.

If government has not been remiss in its responsibilities, farmers will not

The Amla... From A9 Laws governing banking operations are supposed to protect the general public. They are not supposed to make banking institutions squeal on their own customers.

When then banking system loses the trust of its depositors, the banking system will collapse. Since current interest rates on bank deposits are practically negligible anyway, depositors will just keep their money in safety deposit boxes rather than deposit the same in the bank. Only checking accounts with minimum balances will be maintained for the payment of household utilities. This arrangement will decrease the available supply of cash, and will trigger a marked increase in interests on loans which, in turn, will discourage investments. An economic crisis is almost sure to follow.

The knee-jerk reaction of the government to the RCBC incident is expected. So far, the Bangko Sentral and the Securities and Exchange Commission want to do away with the Bank Secrecy Law and strengthen the Amla.

Doing away with the secrecy of bank deposits is an ill-advised measure. That move will not be in line with the public interest. It is also tantamount to burning the barn just to roast the pig. The State cannot afford an economic crisis once the bulk of Filipino bank depositors lose their

may also be needed, as well as a facility in the region from which to operate Nato’s fleet of Global Hawk drones.

The US needs renewed commitments from the five countries that now host its forwarddeployed nuclear weapons —especially Germany, whose Bundestag voted six years ago to begin preparations to remove the arsenal.

A stronger Nato would be better able to respond to the many other challenges it faces, from carving out a safe haven in northern Syria to pushing back against Islamic State. Nato is, as Obama said, a “linchpin” of US security, but it needs greater investment and some restructuring to do the job well.

Bloomberg

go against it no matter the amount of organizing the militants do. If there are no issues, there will be no protests. It is this simple.

I will also be the first to say that the police have human rights, the same as us all. But in this case, those who shot at protestors clearly went out of bounds. They were there to keep the peace, not the other way around.

It is good that the Commission on Human Rights is doing its job. I am relieved that its head, Chito Gascon, does not allow his political affiliation (he is with LP), interfere with the performance of his duties.

I am counting on Gascon to come up with factual findings and recommen-

trust in the banking system, especially under a law which allows banks to betray their clients to the AMLC. Before resorting to any amendment of either the Bank Secrecy Law or the Amla, the AMLC should focus its attention on this latest largescale money laundering controversy.

Since the pertinent evidence can be readily obtained because the RCBC management and other key figures in the whole mess appear to be cooperating in the investigation, the AMLC should not find it difficult to establish a case against everyone involved in the scam under existing laws.

Besides, amending the laws at this stage will serve no useful purpose to the ongoing investigation because laws cannot be given any retroactive effect, especially if they are penal in character.

Moreover, owners of erring banks, and not just their top executives, should be held liable for large-scale money laundering done with their actual or constructive knowledge. It’s time the owners are made to account for how their businesses are operated by their hirelings.

Surprisingly, casinos are not included in the coverage of the Amla.

After the RCBC scam is solved, the Amla may then be amended to include casinos within its coverage.

Since gambling is supposed to be illegal in this country, and considering that casinos operate by virtue of a li-

dations that will make those responsible for the bloodshed face sanctions.

A week after the April 1 farmers’ protest, there remain seventy nine (79) rallyists still detained by the police without arrest warrants. According to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), included here are three (3) pregnant women and a number of senior citizens.

This is clearly illegal.

Without charges filed, they should immediately be released.

Let’s continue to stand with our farmers. bethangsioco@gmail.com. @bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

cense issued by the State, then casinos should be required by law to allow AMLC auditors to make periodic reviews of their operations with a view towards discouraging and ultimately penalizing, to the fullest extent of the law, future acts of large-scale money laundering in the country.

Considering that organized crime can afford the services of the smartest computer hackers money can hire, the AMLC should arm its auditors with its own team of cyber geniuses if only to level the playing field. *** What’s wrong with the Commission on Elections? The Omnibus Election Code prohibits putting up election precincts in private buildings, but the Comelec recently allowed voting in commercial malls.

Under the election automation law, the Comelec must print out voters’ receipts, but it refused to do so, until the Supreme Court ordered it to obey the law. The Comelec refuses to enjoin senatorial candidate Manny Pacquiao from pushing through with his boxing match set for today, which is a clear violation of the Fair Elections Act, on the flimsy excuse that it has no power to do so. Now, the Comelec wants the national canvass of votes to be held at the plush premises of the Manila Hotel, at the expense of the taxpayers, of course. Impeachment raps should be prepared against the Comelec commissioners soon.

iii.

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Manila

4)

BAUTISTA, J. Andres D., LIM, Christian Robert S., PARREÑO, Al A., GUIA, Luie Tito F., LIM, Arthur D., GUANZON, Ma. Rowena Amelia V. ABAS, Sheriff M.

i.

Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner

Promulgation:________

WHEREAS, Section 18.1 of R.A. 9189 provides that:

I.

II. WHEREAS, during the series of on-site trainings in the American and European Regions from March 10-15, 2016, representatives from various embassies and consulates adopting the mixed mode of voting have unanimously proposed to mail the ballots directly to the voters without waiting for the latter’s requests in order to increase the chance of enfranchising these voters and increase the voter turn-out;

“Sec. 25.Period for casting of votes. – Casting of votes shall be for a period of thirty (30) continuous calendar days beginning at 8:00 o’clock in the morning of April 09, 2016, local time of the host country until 5:00 O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON of May 09, 2016, Philippine time, inclusive of all established holidays in the Philippines and such other holidays in the host countries, Except on April 09, 2016 where all Posts are required to open at 8:00 o’clock in the morning, local time of the host country, the Post may adopt a flexible schedule for the operation of the various SBEIs; provided it is continuous and it will not be less than eight (8) hours a day. The voting hours may be extended taking into account the availability and influx of voters and the primary responsibilities and functions of the members of the SBEIs. If at 5:00 O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON of May 09, 2016, Philippine time, there are still voters who have not yet cast their votes within the thirty (30) meters in front of the polling places, the voting shall continue to allow said voters to cast their votes without interruption. The Poll Clerk shall, without delay, list the names of said voters. The voters listed shall be called to vote by the Poll Clerk by announcing each name three (3) times in the order in which they are listed. Any voter who is not present when called shall not be permitted to vote at any later time.”

III.

NORTH AND LATIN AMERICAN REGION a) Canada 1) Philippine Embassy in Ottawa 2) Philippine Consulate General in Toronto 3) Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver b) United States of America (including American Samoa, French Polynesia, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Maarten, St. Vincent and Grenadines, St. Eustatius, St., Barthelemy, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, British West Indies, Turks and Caicos Islands, and US Virgin Islands) 1) Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. 2) Philippine Consulate General in Agana 3) Philippine Consulate General in Chicago 4) Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles 5) Philippine Consulate General in New York 6) Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco 7) Philippine Consulate General Honolulu

To avail of the personal voting, voters must personally appear to cast their votes at the Posts or such other voting areas designated by the Commission. If the voter opts to personally cast his/her ballot, the voter shall proceed to the SBRCG which shall: 1) 2)

3.

SETTING UP AND DIAGNOSTICS a) Xxx 1) xxx 19) xxx VOTING PROCEDURES. From the MAIN MENU press ELECTION followed

by OPEN VOTING. The Chairman and any member of the SBEI shall: a) x xx b) x xx k) The VCM is now ready to accept ballots.

2)

ii.

3)

THE TEST VOTER SHALL APPROACH THE VCM, INSERT HIS/HER BALLOT IN THE BALLOT ENTRY SLOT; i. ii.

THE VCM WILL DISPLAY THE MESSAGE “ P R O C E S S I N G . . / P A K I H I N TAY… KASALUKUYANG PINOPROSESO”.

THE BALLOT SHALL DROP AUTOMATICALLY INSIDE THE BALLOT BOX BIN FOR VALID BALLOT. THE VCM WILL THEN DISPLAY THE MESSAGE “YOUR VOTE HAS BEEN CAST/ ANG IYONG BOTO AY NAISAMA NA. YOUR VOTE RECEIPT IS BEING PRINTED/ ANG RESIBO NG IYONG BOTO AY PINI-PRINT” AND A RECEIPT WILL BE

h)

1)

2)

c)

If the voter’s name is included, the Poll Clerk shall ascertain the identity through the photo printed in OVF No. 2-A. In the absence of the voter’s photo, the voter’s valid passport or any identification card bearing the voter’s photograph and signature shall be required.

“ Sec. 23. Procedure on the last voting day. – The SBEI shall retrieve its Ballot Receptacle and Election Materials Box from the SBRCG and bring the same to the polling place and conduct the voting until 5:00 O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, on May 9, 2016, Philippine time. The SBEI shall: a) x xx" Sec. 6. Section 31 of COMELEC Resolution No. 10052 is hereby amended to read as follows: “ Sec. 31. Procedures of feeding the ballots to the VCM. – The SBEI shall feed all verified valid ballots to the VCM by observing the following procedures: A.

ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF FEEDING OF BALLOTS TO THE VCM. a) b) c) d) e) f) g)

h) i)

Check the ballot ID and locate the corresponding SD cards and the ballot box thereof; Place the VCM on top of the ballot box; Open the “A” and “B” compartments of the VCM and insert the main and back-up SD cards in the corresponding slots, and close the same; Retrieve the corresponding iButtons and PINs from the envelope; Connect the power adaptor to the VCM AC power port (220 VAC) and plug it in to the electrical outlet; Turn on the VCM; The Chairman or any member of the SBEI shall place his/ her iButton security key on the top of the iButton security key receptacle and apply slight pressure thereon. Remove the iButton security key from its receptacle. Enter the PIN after which the VCM displays the Main Menu.

Wait until the VCM will display the message: “PLEASE ENTER SECURITY KEY FOR AUTHENTICATION”; The Chairman of the SBEI shall: 1)

5) 6) 7)

In the absence of any identification documents, any member of the SBEI may identify the voter by accomplishing the Oath of an SBEI Member Identifying a Voter (OVF No. 40). Such fact shall be entered in Part V of the OVF No. 11 and the accomplished OVF No. 40-B shall be attached thereto.

8) 9)

If the voter’s identity still cannot be ascertained by any of the foregoing means, the person shall not be allowed to vote and will be asked to leave the polling place.

If the identity of the voter has been ascertained or has not been challenged or having been challenged the question has been decided in favor of the voter, the Chairman shall issue the official ballot to the voter.

14)

Before issuing the official ballot, the Chairman shall: 1) Authenticate the ballot by signing on the space provided for the purpose;

10) 11) 12) 13)

15) 16) 17) 18)

Failure to authenticate the ballot shall not invalidate the ballot but the Chairman shall be liable for an election offense; d)

The voter shall: 1.

Using a folder and the marking pen provided by the Commission, fill his/ her ballot by fully shading the circle beside the names of the chosen candidates and the party, organization or coalition participating in the party-list system of representation; and 2.

Approach the VCM with his/her accomplished ballot inside the ballot secrecy folder, and insert

POSITION HIMSELF/HERSELF IN SUCH A MANNER THAT HE/SHE CANNOT VIEW THE SCREEN BUT STILL BE ABLE TO MONITOR THE SAME IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ENSURE THAT THE BALLOT WAS SUCCESSFULLY ACCEPTED; FOLD THE RECEIPT IN SUCH A WAY THAT ITS CONTENTS CANNOT BE SEEN AND CUT THE END OF THE RECEIPT USING SCISSORS. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE SBEI IS INSTRUCTED TO BRING NON-POINTED SCISSORS DURING THE VOTING PERIOD; INSTRUCT THE VOTER TO GO NEAR THE VOTER’S RECEIPT RECEPTACLE TO VERIFY HIS/HER VOTES AS APPEARING ON THE RECEIPT AND DROP THE RECEIPT THEREIN AND REMIND THE VOTER THAT BRINGING THE RECEIPT OUTSIDE THE POLLING PLACE IS UNLAWFUL. FOR THIS PURPOSE, A VOTER’S RECEIPT RECEPTACLE FOR EACH SET OF SD CARDS SHALL BE PROCURED BY THE POST; INSTRUCT THE VOTER TO RETURN THE BALLOT SECRECY FOLDER AND MARKING PEN, AND THEN LEAVE THE POLLING PLACE. THE SBEI SHALL ENSURE THAT NO ONE OTHER THAN THE VOTER HIMSELF/ HERSELF CAN VIEW HIS/HER RECEIPT AND THAT THE RECEIPT WAS PLACED IN THE VOTER’S RECEIPT RECEPTACLE INTENDED FOR THE PURPOSE, EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF AN ILLITERATE OR PERSON WITH DISABILITY. IN CASE AN OBJECTION IS RAISED BY THE VOTER ON THE WAY THE VCM COUNTED HIS/HER BALLOT, THE SBEI SHALL NOTE SAID OBJECTION IN THE OVF NO. 11.

AT THE END OF EACH VOTING DAY, THE SBEI SHALL SEAL THE VOTER’S RECEIPT RECEPTACLE WITH PACKAGING TAPE. THE SBEIs SHALL AFFIX THEIR SIGNATURES ON THE TAPE, AND REQUIRE THE WATCHERS PRESENT TO ALSO AFFIX THEIR SIGNATURES.

Sec. 5. Section 23 of COMELEC Resolution No. 10052 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3) 4)

using the marking pen, accomplish his/ her ballot by fully shading the ovals opposite the names of the candidates of his/her choice, including that of the party, organization or coalition participating in the party-list system of representation. return the accomplished ballot and proceed to the SBEI;

examine the accomplished ballots and determine whether the ovals opposite the names of the candidates/political parties participating in the party-list system chosen have been fully shaded, and the security features (timing marks and barcodes) have not been damaged; return the accomplished ballot to the voter who shall personally feed the accomplished ballot into the VCM ballot entry slot.

g)

2)

The voter approaches the Poll Clerk, gives name and address together with other personal data.

The Poll Clerk shall verify from the OVF No. 2-A if the voter’s name is included therein.

The Chairman of the SBEI shall: i.

f)

a)

The test voter shall;

ii.

4.

“Sec. 18.Manner of voting. –

Only two (2) voters will be allowed to accomplish the test ballots at the same time. For this purpose, the Chairman shall give each of the test voters a ballot and a marking pen:

i.

3.

Sec. 4. Section 18 of Resolution No. 10052 is hereby amended to read as follows:

b)

1)

Verify in OVF No. 2-A if the voter has yet to be issued with ballot.

If the ballot has been mailed, inform the voter of such fact and request him to wait for his ballot in the mail and instruct him to return or mail his accomplished ballot to the Post during the voting period.

If the voter has not been issued with ballot, direct the voter to proceed to the SBEI designated to conduct the personal voting. For this purpose, the SBEI shall follow the procedures provided in Article III hereof.

ALL POSTS ADOPTING THE MIXED MODE OF VOTING ARE ALLOWED TO MAIL THE BALLOTS TO THE VOTERS WITHOUT WAITING FOR THE LATTER TO SUBMIT THEIR REQUESTS. MAILING OF THE BALLOTS SHALL BE THRU ORDINARY MAIL AND POSTAGE FEES AND CHARGES THEREOF SHALL BE FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE COMMISSION.

“ Sec 3. Procedures for the FTS of the VCM – During the FTS, the SBEIs shall observe the following procedures:

II.

2.

EUROPEAN REGION a) Italy (including Albania, Malta and San Marino) 1) Philippine Embassy in Rome 2) Philippine Consulate General in Milan b) United Kingdom of Great Britain (including Greenland and Ireland) 1) Philippine Embassy in London c) Spain (including Andorra and Morocco) 1) Philippine Embassy in Madrid

his/her ballot in the ballot entry slot; The VCM will display the message “ P R O C E S S I N G … / P A K I H I N TAY… KASALUKUYANG PINOPROSESO”.

THE BALLOT SHALL DROP AUTOMATICALLY INSIDE THE BALLOT BOX BIN FOR VALID BALLOTS. THE VCM WILL THEN DISPLAY THE MESSAGE “YOUR VOTE HAS BEEN CAST/ ANG IYONG BOTO AY NAISAMA NA. YOUR VOTE RECEIPT IS BEING PRINTED/ ANG RESIBO NG IYONG BOTO AY PINI-PRINT” AND A RECEIPT WILL BE PRINTED; IN CASE OF ILLITERATE VOTERS, PWD VOTERS WHO ARE VISUALLY-IMPAIRED AND SENIOR CITIZENS (SCS) WHO MAY NEED THE USE OF HEADPHONES, THE SBEI SHALL INSERT THE HEADPHONES SO THEY CAN FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE VCM.

THE POLL CLERK/SUPPORT STAFF SHALL: 1.

ASIA PACIFIC REGION a) Japan 1) Philippine Embassy in Tokyo 2) Philippine Consulate General in Osaka b) Korea 1) Philippine Embassy in Seoul c) Singapore 1) Philippine Embassy in Singapore

SECTION 2. Section 3, II of Resolution No. 10051 is hereby amended to read as follows:

I.

e)

“ Sec. 6. Mixed Voting – A process where the voter has the option to vote either through postal voting or personal voting.

This voting is applicable only in the following Posts including the countries and territories under their jurisdiction:

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court in its ruling on 08 March 2016, ordered the COMELEC to issue voting receipts as verification mechanism for the electorate in the 09 May 2016 National and Local Elections;

SECTION 1. Section 25 Article VI of Resolution No. 10035 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5.

Sec. 3. Section 6 of COMELEC Resolution No. 10052 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“xxx The Commission shall ensure that the start of counting in all polling places abroad be synchronized with the start of counting in the Philippines.”

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to its authority under the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 9369, and other election laws, the COMELEC RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to promulgate the following amendments to the COMELEC Resolution Nos. 10035, 10051 and 10052 on the processes of voting, counting and transmission of election results.

MONITOR, FROM AFAR, THE VCM SCREEN TO ENSURE THAT THE BALLOT WAS SUCCESSFULLY ACCEPTED; THEREAFTER, STAND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VCM AND THE TEST VOTER OR BESIDE THE VCM BUT STILL FACING THE VOTER, FOLD THE RECEIPT TOWARDS THE TEST VOTER IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE VOTES CANNOT BE SEEN BY THE POLL CLERK/SUPPORT STAFF, AND CUT THE END OF THE RECEIPT USING SCISSORS.

AFTER REMOVING THE RECEIPT FROM THE THERMAL PAPER COMPARTMENT, THE TEST VOTER SHALL STEP ASIDE TO VERIFY HIS/ HER VOTES AS APPEARING ON THE RECEIPT. THE TEST VOTER SHALL RETURN THE VOTER RECEIPT TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SBEI WHO SHALL PLACE THE RECEIPT IN THE ENVELOPE INTENDED FOR THE PURPOSE (ATS 17A).”

6)

RESOLUTION NO. 10087

WHEREAS, COMELEC Resolution Nos. 10035, 10051 and 10052 provide that closing of voting for overseas voting shall be on May 9, 2016 at 7:00 o’clock p.m. Philippine Time while Sections 10 and 11, Article V of COMELEC Resolution No. 10057 as amended provides that the voting hours shall be on May 9, 2016 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. of election day;

4.

FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE SBEI IS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE NON-POINTED SCISSORS DURING THE VOTING PERIOD. 5)

WHEREAS, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has promulgated COMELEC Resolution Nos. 10035, 10051 and 10052 for purposes of implementing the overseas voting in connection with the 09 May 2016 National and Local Elections;

3.

THE POLL CLERK/SUPPORT STAFF SHALL:

ii.

IN THE MATTER OF AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF RESOLUTION NOS. 1 2 10035 , 10051 , AND 100523 PROMULGATED

BY THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE OVERSEAS VOTING IN CONNECTION WITH THE 09 MAY 2016 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS. X----------------------------X

PRINTED; IN CASE OF ILLITERATE VOTERS, PWD VOTERS WHO ARE VISUALLY-IMPAIRED AND SENIOR CITIZENS (SCS) WHO MAY NEED THE USE OF HEADPHONES, THE SBEI SHALL INSERT THE HEADPHONES SO THEY CAN FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE VCM.

19)

20)

Place the iButton security key on top of the iButton security key receptacle and apply a slight pressure thereon. A message “PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR ROLE” and the role of the BEIs will be displayed in the screen; Select “MEMBERS”. Options for BEI Member and Poll Clerk will be displayed; The VCM displays “PLEASE ENTER YOUR PIN”; Enter the security PIN of member. A message “BEI MEMBER PIN IS CORRECT. THANK YOU” appears on the screen and the VCM will display the previous screen; Select “POLL CLERK”; The VCM displays “PLEASE ENTER YOUR PIN”; Enter the security PIN of Poll Clerk. A message “BEI POLL CLERK PIN IS CORRECT. THANK YOU” appears on the screen; VCM returns to the Main Menu; Select ELECTION Option. Election Menu will be displayed; Select “OPEN VOTING”; The VCM will display the message: “PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR USERNAME”; Select “POLL CLERK”; The VCM will display the message: “PLEASE ENTER YOUR PIN”; Enter the security PIN of Poll Clerk. The VCM will display the message: “BEI POLL CLERK PIN IS CORRECT. THANK YOU” appears on the screen.

The VCM will automatically print the Initialization Report; The VCM returns to the ELECTION MENU; Press “BACK” button. The screen will display the message: “PLEASE INSERT THE BALLOT”; The SBEI shall feed all the ballots that correspond to the Ballot ID; AFTER THE BALLOT HAS BEEN DROPPED INTO THE BALLOT BOX BIN FOR VALID BALLOTS, THE VCM WILL THEN DISPLAY THE MESSAGE “ YOUR VOTE HAS BEEN CAST/ AND IYONG BOTO AY NAISAMA NA. YOUR VOTE RECEIPT IS BEING PRINTED/ ANG RESIBO NG IYONG BOTO AY PINIPRINT” AND A RECEIPT WILL BE PRINTED; THE SBEI SHALL CUT THE RECEIPT FROM THE THERMAL PAPER COMPARTMENT, FOLD THE RECEIPT WITHOUT READING THE CONTENTS THEREOF AND PLACE THE SAME IN THE VOTER’S RECEIPT RECEPTACLE. After feeding of ballots for each batch of Ballot ID, the SBEI Chairman shall place the iButton security key on top of the iButton security key receptacle and apply a slight pressure thereon. A message “PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR ROLE” and the role of the BEIs will

SAT URDAY : A P RI L 9 , 2 0 1 6

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Spieth in flawless show at Masters AUGUSTA—Jordan Spieth picked up where he left off 12 months ago with a flawless opening 66 Thursday, boosting his hopes of becoming just the fourth man to successfully defend the Masters crown.

The Texan, just 21 at the time, was the first wire-towire winner in 40 years at Augusta National last year, and his bogey-free opener brought up the possibility he could do so again as he led by two strokes at the end of the first round.

Only Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods have managed back-to-back wins in the Masters.

Spieth was the only player in the 89-strong field not to cough up a bogey on a breezy day in the first of the

year’s four majors.

The American, who opened with an eight-under 64 en route to his record-matching victory last year, reached the turn in 31 after birdies at the fourth, sixth and eighth and he added three others down the back nine at 10, 13 and 18.

Taking advantage of fine early playing conditions as the 80th Masters got underway, Spieth was in the clubhouse and able to sit back and see if top rivals Jason Day and Rory McIlroy could keep pace with him during the af-

ternoon’s action.

They could not.

His day’s best means that he has been the leader after six of the nine Masters rounds he has played at Augusta National since his debut in 2014, including the last five in a row.

“I feel like my game has been trending in the right direction, I just haven’t gotten scores out of how I felt I’d been playing,” said Spieth.

“That normally just comes down to putting.

Certainly made a lot of putts today. If I can kind of straighten things out with the iron play, hopefully we’ll be in business.

“But, yeah, I am extremely pleased with that round today. I felt like we stole a few.” AFP

Dubs keep record chase alive

US golfer Jordan Spieth lines up a shot during Round 1 of the 80th Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. AFP 21) 22) 23)

24) 25) 26) 27) 28)

be displayed in the screen; Select “CHAIRMAN”; The VCM displays “PLEASE ENTER YOUR PIN”; Enter the security PIN of Chairman. A message “BEI MEMBER PIN IS CORRECT. THANK YOU” appears on the screen and the VCM will display the Main Menu; Select Utilities and Utilities Menu will be displayed; Select Shutdown; VCM will shutdown; Remove the SD cards from the SD card slots; Return the following inside the Election Materials box: i. ii. iii. iv.

29) 30) 31)

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7. i) j) k) l) m)

Main and back-up SD cards; iButtons; PINs; Marking pens;

Remove the VCM from the Ballot Box; Close the sliding cover of the Ballot Box and seal the same.

SEAL THE VOTER’S RECEIPT RECEPTACLE WITH TAPE. THE SBEI SHALL AFFIX THEIR SIGNATURES ON THE TAPE, AND REQUIRE THE WATCHERS PRESENT TO ALSO AFFIX THEIR SIGNATURES.

n)

ROLE” and the role of the BEIs will be displayed in the screen; Select “CHAIRMAN”; The VCM will display the message: “PLEASE ENTER YOUR PIN”; Enter the security PIN of member, The VCM displays the “BEI MEMBER PIN IS CORRECT. THANK YOU” appears on the screen and the VCM displays the Main Menu; Select Utilities and the Utilities Menu will be displayed; Select Shutdown; VCM will shutdown;

1) 2) 3) 4)

Repeat the above procedures for the next batch of ballots with different Ballot ID.

Repeat items a to h, A, and items a to l, B hereof until all the ballots with different Ballot IDs have been fed to the VCM.

a)

The SBEI shall observe the above procedures enumerated in items a to h above until the VCM will display the message: “PLEASE ENTER SECURITY KEY FOR AUTHENTICATION”. The SBEI Chairman shall: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6. b) c) d) e) f)

Place the iButton security key on Top of the iButton security key receptacle and apply a slight pressure thereon. A message “PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR ROLE”and the role of the BEIs will be displayed in the screen; Select “CHAIRMAN”; The VCM displays “PLEASE ENTER YOUR PIN”; Enter the security PIN of member. A message “PIN IS CORRECT. THANK YOU” appears on the screen and the VCM will display the previous screen; The VCM shall automatically print the STATUS REPORT; The VCM will display a message “PLEASE INSERT BALLOT”;

Detach the Status Report, affix their signatures thereon including the signatures of the watchers present; Compare the number of valid ballots cast in the Status Report with that as recorded in OVF No. 11; Place the Status Report inside the envelope (18-A) for submission to SBRCG after each voting day for safekeeping; Accomplish Part II.A of OVF No. 11; REMOVE THE TAPE FROM THE BALLOT RECEIPT RECEPTACLE TO PLACE THEREIN THE BALLOT RECEIPT/S

C.

h)

Feed to the VCM, one at a time, the ballots that correspond to the Ballot ID and FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES PROVIDED ABOVE: After the feeding of ballots for each batch of Ballot ID, the SBEI shall shut down the VCM by: 1.

Placing the SBEI Chairman’s iButton security key on top of the iButton security key receptacle and apply a slight pressure thereon. The VCM will display the message: “PLEASE CHOOSE YOUR

r) s) t) u) v) w) x) y) z)

ON THE LAST DAY OF VOTING. At 5:00 O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON OF May 9, 2016, Philippine time, voting shall be closed. The SBEI Chairman shall: a)

b) c) d) e) f) g)

h) i) j)

k)

THAT WILL BE GENERATED DURING THE BATCH FEEDING. g)

q)

Main and back-up SD Cards; iButtons; PINs; Marking pens;

The SBEI shall ensure that the main and back-up SD cards, iButtons and the PINs are inside the original package before returning the same in the Election Materials Box.

ON SUCCEEDING SCHEDULE OF FEEDING THE BALLOTS TO THE VCM.

p)

Remove the SD cards from the SD card slots; Place the SD cards in its corresponding envelope; Remove the VCM from the Ballot Box; Close the sliding cover of the Ballot Box and seal the same; SEAL THE VOTER’S RECEIPT RECEPTACLE WITH TAPE. THE SBEI SHALL AFFIX THEIR SIGNATURES ON THE TAPE, AND REQUIRE THE WATCHERS PRESENT TO ALSO AFFIX THEIR SIGNATURES. Return the following inside the Election Materials box:

The SBEI shall ensure that the main and back-up SD cards, iButtons and the PINs are inside the original envelope before returning the same in the Election Materials box.

B.

The reigning champions kept their quest to break those Bulls’ record of 72 regular-season wins alive. They must still win their final three games of the season to do so, and the closing stretch includes another clash with the Spurs in San Antonio, where the Spurs are 39-0 this season.

Most importantly, the 70-9 Warriors ended the 65-

LOS ANGELES—The Golden State Warriors made a statement with an 112-101 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, clinching home court advantage throughout the playoffs in a clash of NBA titans.

The Warriors joined the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls as the only teams to win 70 games in a season.

l) m) n)

o)

Place his/her iButton security key on top of the iButton security key receptacle, apply slight pressure thereto, and remove the iButton security key frm the receptacle, after which the VCM will display the message: “PLEASE ENTER YOUR PIN”; The Chairman shall press CHAIRMAN. The VCM will display the message: “PLEASE ENTER YOUR PIN”; The Chairman shall enter his/her PIN. The VCM will display the message: “THE BEI CHAIRMAN PIN IS CORRECT, THANK YOU”; The VCM will automatically go to the MAIN MENU. The Chairman shall press ELECTION then CLOSE VOTING; The VCM will display the message: “PLEASE ENTER YOUR PIN”. The Chairman shall enter the PIN; The VCM will display the message: “THE BEI CHAIRMAN PIN IS CORRECT. THANK YOU”, followed by a message “PRESS OK TO ADD A DIGITAL SIGNATURES [0/3]” with OK and CANCEL options; The Chairman press OK to add digital signatures; The Chairman taps his/her iButton in the iButton Receptacle.

The VCM will display the message: “PLEASE TAP THE iBUTTON ON THE iBUTTON RECEPTACLE”; The Chairman shall place his/her iButton security key on top of the iButton security key receptacle and remove the iButton security key from its receptacle, after which the VCM will display “PLEASE ENTER THE DIGITAL SIGNATURE PASSWORD”. The Chairman shall enter his/her digital signature password; The VCM will display the message: “THE DIGITAL SIGNATURES HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ADDED”. The VCM will then display “DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANOTHER SIGNATURE TO THE ELECTION RESULTS. NUMBER OF SIGNATURES [1/3]” with YES/NO options. Select YES; The Chairman shall press YES; The VCM will display the message: “PLEASE TAP THE iBUTTON ON THE iBUTTON RECEPTACLE”; The BEI Member shall place his/her iButton security key on top of the iButton security key receptacle and remove the iButton security key from its receptacle, after which the VCM will display “PLEASE ENTER THE DIGITAL SIGNATURE PASSWORD”. The SBEI Member shall enter his/her digital signature password; The VCM will display the message: “THE DIGITAL

13 Spurs’ chance of stealing the top seed in the West and shook off any doubts raised by a couple of lackluster defeats in their past three games.

Stephen Curry had a gamehigh 27 points and the Warriors held the Spurs to just 19 baskets in the first 30 minutes of the first-ever regular-season meeting of teams with 65 or more wins. AFP

SIGNATURE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ADDED “. The VCM will then display “DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANOTHER SIGNATURE TO THE ELECTION RESULTS. NUMBER OF SIGNATURES [2/3]” with YES/NO options. Select YES; The Poll Clerk shall place his/her iButton security key on top of the iButton security key receptacle and remove the iButton security key from its receptacle, after which the VCM will display “PLEASE ENTER THE DIGITAL SIGNATURE PASWORD”. The Poll Clerk shall enter his/ her digital signature password; The VCM will display the message: “THE DIGITAL SIGNATURE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ADDED “. The VCM will then display “DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANOTHER SIGNATURE TO THE ELECTION RESULTS. NUMBER OF SIGNATURES [3/3]” with YES/NO options. Select NO; The VCM will automatically generate eight (8) copies of the Election Results (ERs); Detach the ERs and place it inside the envelope (A17) provided for the purpose; The VCM will display the message: “DO YOU WANT TO TRANSMIT THE ELECTION RESULTS” with YES/NO options. Select NO; The VCM will automatically print twenty-two (22) copies of the Election Results (ERs); The VCM will return to the ELECTION MENU. THE SBEI SHALL PRESS “REPORT” AND SELECT “STATISTICAL REPORT” AND THE VCM SHALL PRINT STATISTICAL REPORT; TO PRINT THE AUDIT LOG REPORT, THE SBEI SHALL SELECT “AUDIT LOG REPORT” AND THE VCM SHALL PRINT THE AUDIT LOG REPORT; THE VCM WILL RETURN TO THE ELECTION MENU. THE SBEI SHALL WRITE PROTECT THE SD CARDS

BY PRESSING; “ELECTION” THEN “WRITE PROTECT DATA”.

aa) PLACE THE STATISTICAL REPORTS, AUDIT LOG REPORTS AND WRITE PROTECTED SD CARDS TO THEIR CORRESPONDING ENVELOPES. Sec. 7. Effectivity. – This Resolution shall take effect immediately.

Sec.8. Dissemination. – The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines and to furnish the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Transportation and Communications, Philippine Postal Corporation, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Worker’s Welfare Administration, Commission on Overseas Filipinos, the Foreign Service Institute, the Social Security System and other government agencies concerned with the welfare of Filipinos overseas.

SO ORDERED. (Original signed) J. ANDRES D. BAUTISTA Chairperson (Original Signed) CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Commissioner

(Original Signed) AL A. PARREÑO Commissioner

(Original Signed) LUIE TITO F. GUIA Commissioner

(Original Signed) ARTHUR D. LIM Commissioner

(Original Signed) MA. ROWENA AMELIA V. GUANZON Commissioner

(Original Signed) SHERIFF M. ABAS Commissioner

_______________________________________ 1

GENERAL INTRUCTIONS FOR THE SPECIAL BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS AND SPECIAL BALLOT RECEPTION AND CUSTODY GROUP IN THE CONDUCT OF MANUAL VOTING AND COUNTING OF VOTES UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9189, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT OF 2003” AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10590 FOR PURPOSES OF THE MAY 09, 2016 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS

2

IN THE MATTER OF PROVIDING THE PROCEDURES FOR THE FINAL TESTING AND SEALING OF THE VOTE COUNTING MACHINES IN THE CONDUCT OF OVERSEAS VOTING UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9189, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “THE OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT OF 2003” AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10590, FOR PURPOSES OF THE MAY 9, 2016 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS.

3

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SPECIAL BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS AND SPECIAL BALLOT RECEPTION AND CUSTODY GROUP IN THE CONDUCT OF AUTOMATED VOTING AND COUNTING OF VOTES UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9189, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT OF 2003” AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10590 FOR PURPOSES OF THE MAY 9, 2016 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS ( T S - A P R . 9 , 2 016)

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Lim closes in on Morales in Ronda PH A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

INVITATION TO BID FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF VARIOUS LOTS ASSORTED GROCERY FOOD AND NON-FOOD ITEMS AND CLEANING MATERIALS FOR CAFETERIA OPERATIONS UNDER ITB NO. PB16-006PAV The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming public bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Various Lots Assorted Grocery Food and Non-Food Items and Cleaning Materials for Cafeteria Operations under ITB No. PB16-006PAV. Brief Description

Lot

Description

1

Assorted Grocery Food

2

Assorted Grocery Non - Food

3

Cleaning Materials

Delivery Schedule:

The complete schedule of deliveries is provided in Section VI (Schedule of Requirements) of the Bidding Documents which will commence from the effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed.

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC):

The total ABC is Twelve Million One Hundred Thirteen Thousand Six Hundred Seventy-Nine Pesos (PhP12,113,679.00) The ABC for each of the Three (3) lots are as follows : Lot

Source of Funds:

Description

Approved Budget (VAT Exclusive, Zero-Rated Transaction)

1

Assorted Grocery Food

Two Million Forty Three Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety Two Pesos (PhP2,043,792.00)

2

Assorted Grocery Non - Food

Four Hundred Thirteen Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty Pesos (PhP413,820.00)

3

Cleaning Materials

One Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Two Hundred Thirty Five Pesos (PhP125,235.00)

Total Approved Budget

Two Million Five Hundred Eighty Two Thousand Eight Hundred Forty Seven Pesos (PhP2,582,847.00)

BAGUIO CITY—Rustom Lim of LBC-MVP Sports Foundation used his superb mountain-climbing skills to top Stage 4 and close in on leader Jan Paul Morales of Navy-Standard Insurance in yesterday’s Luzon Leg stage of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2016 that started in Dagupan, Pangasinan and ended at the Burnham Park here.

Lim outlasted early leaders Navy’s El Joshua Carino and Lloyd Lucien Reynante in the dreaded Benguet mountains and clocked two hours, 48 minutes and 16.99 seconds to win his first Baguio stage after three runners-up finishes to Junrey Navarra.

Carino wound up second place in 2:49:43.84, while Reynante, the Navy skipper, checked in at third in 2:49:45.78.

“I gave everything to catch up with them (Reynante and Carino). When I attacked and they didn’t do anything, I just kept my pace,” said Lim, who hails from Guimba, Nueva Ecija.

Lim thus earned 15 points for topping the stage that catapulted him from third before the stage to second with 44 points.

He also chopped the once mighty 16-point lead by Morales to just eight going into the fifth and final stage—a 2.70-km criterium— also at the Burnham Park.

Morales, the Mindanao Leg titlist, who ruled the first three Luzon stages, ended up fifth here with a clocking of 2:51:54.46 but still kept the LBC red jersey.

LBC-MVPSF’s George Oconer was at No. 4 at 2:50:45.11 and skidded to fourth overall with 40 points.

Morales said he’s smelling victory.

“I think I’m too far ahead and the criterium is my specialty,” said the 30-year-old Morales.

Indeed, the last stage will be Morales’ coronation ride as he will need just to finish fourth to clinch the title.

This year’s edition is using a point-system format wherein the stage winner earns 15 points, second 13, third 11 and fourth nine.

And since Morales has an eight-point lead over Lim, nine points would be enough to seal the crown.

The easier way is for Morales to just stay with Lim the rest of the way.

“I’ll just stick with him (Lim),” said Morales.

Lim though is far from surrendering.

“I’m not giving up,” said Lim. Reynante and Carino were part of the eight-man breakaway group but made their move at Kennon.

After securing a 1-2 finish in the King of the Mountain race, Reynante and Carino slowed down and Lim, coming way out of nowhere, took advantage and blitzed past the two to steal the win.

Next to Morales, Lim and Oconer were Navymen John Mark Camingao and Carino at Nos 4 and 5 with 31 and 23 points, respectively.

Rounding up the Top 10 overall were LBCMVPSF’s Ronald Lomotos (21), Reynante (19), Navy’s Joel Calderon (16), LBC-MVPSF’s Ronnilan Quita (15) and Navy’s Rudy Roque (14).

Internally Funded

NOTE: Bidders may bid on any or all lots.

Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

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

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

All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Detailed Evaluation of Bids, PostQualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities 1. Issuance of the Bidding Documents 2. Pre-Bid Conference 3. Deadline for the Submission and Receipt of Bids 4. Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids

Schedule April 7, 2016 (Thursday) to April 27, 2016 (Wednesday) April 12, 2016 (Tuesday); 2:00 p.m.

Apri 27, 2016 (Wednesday); 2:00 p.m.

April 27, 2016 (Wednesday) ; 2:00 p.m. onwards

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bidding documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the Branch BAC Secretariat CF-Pavilion upon payment of the non-refundable bidding fee based on the following matrix from the address below: Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000.00 and below More than 500,000.00 up to 1 Million

Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos) 500.00

Rachel Ann Daquis of RCC Army smashes one against Pau Soriano and Maureen Veronas of F2 Logistics.

ROMAN PROSPERO

1,000.00

More than 1 Million up to 5 Million

5,000.00

More than 5 Million up to 10 Million

10,000.00

More than 10 Million up to 50 Million

25,000.00

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all prospective bidders.

Prospective bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the 5th Floor of Casino Filipino-Pavilion, Manila Pavilion Hotel, U.N. Avenue, Ermita, Manila either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from the BSU-PD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 Tie-Breaking Method, the Branch Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC) CF-Pavilion shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid (LCRB) to determine the final bidder having the LCRB, based on the following procedures: 1.

2.

In alphabetical order, the bidders shall pick one rolled paper.

The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the LCRB and recommended for award of the contract.

PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

Please address all communications to the Branch Bids and Awards Committee thru the BBAC Secretariat, Casino Filipino – Pavilion, Manila Pavilion Hotel, U.N. Avenue, Ermita, Manila, Tel No. (DL) 400-4153, (Fax) 522-13-83 and (TL) 523-8691 to 97 local 170.

ARTURO JOEL T. GONZALEZ IV(sgd) Chairperson Branch Bids and Awards Committee (BBAC)

( T S - A P R . 9 , 2 016)

RC Cola makes quick work of F2 THREE-TIME champion RC ColaArmy made quick work of F2 Logistics, 25-21, 25-20, 25-16, Friday in the 2016 PLDT Home Ultera Philippine Superliga Invitational Cup women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

With top guns Honey Royse Tubino and Rachel Anne Daquis in deadly form, the Lady Troopers hardly met trouble in coasting to their second win in the final round of this topnotch club tourney bankrolled by Asics, Mikasa, Senoh, Mueller, Grand Sport with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

Tubino was unstoppable on the wing spot, delivering 16 kills for a total of 18 points, while lovely Daquis overcame a hurting right shoulder to chip in 11 markers for RC Cola-Army, which will march to their much-anticipated battle against visiting Est Cola of Thai-

land today oozing with Est Cola is composed of Games Today confidence. members of the Thai na12:30 p.m. • Est Cola RC Cola-Army coach tional team B, or players vs RC Cola-Army Kungfu Reyes didn’t hide 2:30 p.m. • Petron who have already gained vs F2 Logistics his excitement in facsignificant experience ing the Thais, who were competing in major coninvited by PSL president Ramon tinental and world championships.

“Tats” Suzara to give local players “They are young, but their youth a chance to battle world-caliber can also be their biggest disadvanplayers. tage. We will use our experience to “We’re done playing with local the fullest. Our main objective is teams. Now, we’re ready to face to defeat them here in front of our our biggest battle which is Thai- countrymen.” land,” said Reyes, the former UST Against F2 Logistics, RC Colastar, who served as deputy when Army showed its hunger for anthe Philippines competed in the other title.

Asian U-17 Youth Girls’ Volleyball Erratum: In a The Standard B1 Championship in Nakhon Ratchphoto last March 18 , part of the asima, Thailand last year.

“We’re quite familiar with their caption should have read ‘Highbrand of play after facing them last lights of the rodeo kick-off celebrayear. We will use our experience tion, was headed by Rodeo Masto our advantage. If we can slow bateno Inc. Judge Manuel Sese.’ down the tempo, we will do it.”

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

LOTTO RESULTS 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Zoleta boosts tennis roster

Welterweight boxer Manny Pacquiao talks with trainer Freddie Roach during a final press conference at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley Jr., will meet for their third fight on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. AFP

Senate hopeful Pacquiao can’t afford to lose this one

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

EIGHT-DIVISION world champion Manny Pacquiao is fighting for more than just a World Boxing Organization-manufactured belt or the $20 million guaranteed purse when he faces Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley for the third time at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday (Manila time).

He is battling to strengthen his bid for a senatorial seat in the May presidential elections and realizes that a loss would be disastrous for his political aspirations.

Currently in the Top 10 in most surveys, Pacquiao can’t afford any slip-ups, which is indicated by the fact that he has trained possibly harder than ever for the Bradley showdown.

Sky Sports in London reported that the 11-month absence from boxing following last year’s defeat to Floyd Mayweather has left him hungrier than ever as he prepares for his farewell fight against Tim Bradley .

The 37-year-old Filipino insisted he will re-

tire from boxing after the third installment of his rivalry with Bradley, vowing to focus on a political career in his homeland, where he is seeking election to the Senate.

But there are many who believe, including longtime trainer Freddie Roach that should Pacquiao win impressively, as he expects, then a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. or a clash with unbeaten junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford, appears likely.

While Pacquiao has carefully kept a door ajar to extending his career, he told reporters at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Wednesday that he views Saturday’s bout as an opportunity to sign off in style.

A memorable evening INSIDE SPORTS RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

WORLD Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman was a big hit in his visit to the Philippines, where he was special guest and keynote speaker at the 16th Annual Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Awards and Banquet of Champions at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel which, as usual, was done up in classy fashion by Liza Elorde, the charming wife of Johnny Elorde.

Sulaiman won the hearts

of the fans with a touching and emotional address which was obviously straight from the heart, very much like his late father, our esteemed friend Don Jose Sulaiman and captured the imagination of all the champions past and present, who each received a wonderful World Boxing Council Gold Medal as a souvenir.

We ourselves were proud to receive the medal from Mauricio, but even more touching was the medal he gave us with the picture of Don Jose, who Mauricio reminded us and the people at the presidential table, that Don Jose

would take our calls at any time, night or day.

Like his father, Mauricio also cares a great deal for the Philippines and Filipino boxers.

He told us: “I am committed to absolutely continue my father’s tradition of supporting the Philippines and boxing and said the Sulaiman name and the WBC have a long history together.”

One of the most noteworthy points in our exclusive interview with the visionary WBC president was his statement that they must find ways of protecting the fighters.

When we told him of

“It’s really important for me to win this fight, to win convincingly. It’s part of my legacy,” Pacquiao said.

Asked if he still retained the killer instinct, which helped him win an unprecedented eight world titles at eight different weight classes, Pacquiao said his long absence had served to renew his enthusiasm for the ring.

“I still have that. I rested almost one year and when I started training for this fight, I felt fresh and hungry again, like I did when I first started boxing. It’s been good for me. It’s good that I had a long layoff. I still have that desire.

I love boxing. Boxing is my passion. I grew up on boxing. I started when I was 12 years old, non-stop, until now,” he said.

Pacquiao’s long-time trainer Freddie Roach said he had questioned whether retirement talk could prove a distraction.

“I thought it might be, but training camp was great, it was just like every other training camp. Manny maybe worked a little harder and said ‘Let’s go out with a bang’ and that’s what we intend on doing,” said Roach. our concerns over the use of performance-enhancing drugs by some fighters, Sulaiman revealed that the WBC had a two-year program with UCLA, the University of California in Los Angeles and VADA, the Voluntary Anti Doping Association, headed by the renowned Dr. Margaret Goodman, who was doing random testing which is out of competition.

The move is laudable and the aim even more so as Mauricio told us that basically he wants to teach the kids that some of these substances used by footballers and basketball players, who are playing and scoring, while when they take performanceenhancing drugs in box-

AMANDA Gabrielle Zoleta and Rewel Justiniani set out for the Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala regional tennis circuit, hoping to nail at least one title each in the Mindoro leg which fires off today (Saturday) at the Pinamalayan Tennis Club.

Zoleta, one of the top junior players from Lucena City, vies in two categories, going up against fellow fancied bets Kiana De Asis, Julia Ignacio and Lila Salvacion, also of Lucena, in the girls’ 14-and-under and Tracy Llamas, Rianna Aquino, Judy Ann Saudan, Abby Amboy and Francaix Manguiat from the National Capital Region in the 16-U division.

“We expect a highly competitive tournament plus some surprises from the local players who are all raring to prove their worth against their counterparts from other cities, including Manila,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

“We also thank the hosts for providing free accommodation to all participants.”

Justiniani, on the other hand, will see action in three classes, including the premier boys’ 18-U side where he is the top seed with Joseph Abuel, Rommel Sagel and Lloyd Sapuma out to foil his bid. The La Carlota, Negros ace is ranked second to Jerome Ignacio in the 16-U section that includes Kitoy Abuel, Kurt Garcia, Anthony Henderin and Lorenzo Legaspi but gets the top ranking again in the 14-U side that features sibling Khenz Justiniani, Andrei Guinoo, Gabriel Avila and Henderin.

Zaragosa, Go win golf titles CEBU—Rupert Zaragosa and Lois Kaye Go carved out victories in varying fashions to share top honors in the first MVPSF Visayas Regional Match Play Championship at the Cebu Country Club here yesterday.

But while Zaragosa scored an expected 6&5 romp over local bet Rolando Pila to run away with the men’s crown, Go pulled off a 2-up triumph over reigning national amateur stroke play champion Harmie Constantino in their own side of the grueling 36-hole duel in scorching heat.

Zaragosa, winner of a number of titles in the ranks, imposed his will early, going 4-up after 18 holes in morning play before cruising to victory in the afternoon match.

ing, they are punching another person which can be dangerous to a fighter’s health and wellbeing.

He also drew attention to the terrible side effects on the kidneys, the liver and the heart which the WBC plans to educate fighters, managers and trainers. To the WBC president, it’s a system that needs to be incorporated within the rules of the fight game.

The WBC president took the opportunity to praise the late WBC secretary general and the man who drafted the organization’s Constitution and By Laws and headed the Ratings Committee when the late Justiniano Montano Jr. was the WBC president as

“a great, great person who worked through the many changes in the WBC. He was an icon of boxing.”

Sulaiman believes that many promising young Filipinos will be fighting for world titles in the future, beginning with light flyweight mandatory challenger Jonathan Taconing, who will face newly crowned champion Ganigan Lopez, who Sulaiman regards as a fine boxer and almost certain to win the world title if not now at least in the near future.

Mauricio Sulaiman’s visit was a resounding success and fight fans and fighters will not forget a memorable evening at the “Flash” Elorde Awards night.

S AT U R DAY : A P R I L 9, 2 0 16

A16 FAMILIAR faces went by their usual businesses with ease, but newcomers stole the show in Day 2 of the 2016 Ayala-Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships at the Philsports Track and Field Stadium in Pasig City.

As expected, Southeast Asian Games standout Christopher Ulboc obliterated the field and claimed the gold in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase in 9:11.79, while the husband of long-jumper Marestella Torres in Eli Sunang ruled the men’s shot put.

Sunang held the lead and kept his hold on it after his first attempt of 15.31 meters, with Albert Mantua taking the silver (15.00) and Malaysian Ronmol Andawa settling for the bronze (13.6) in the trackfest presented

by Ayala Corp., and also backed

by Milo Nutri-up, Philippine Sports Commission, Foton Philippines, PCSO, Summit Natural Drinking Water, Appeton, Asics Watch, L TimeStudio and media partners Business Mirror, Business Mirror Health and Fitness Magazine and radio station Mellow 94.7.

Leading the charge of the newcomers were promising varsity bets Elbren Neri and Macrose Dichoso, who pulled off huge upset wins against their seasoned rivals.

The 21-year-old Neri, a student from University of Santo Tomas, bucked the challenge posed by Southeast Asian Games silver medallist Mervin Guarte as he clinched the men’s 800-meter run gold.

Neri and Air Force runner Wenlie Maulas eventually took the gold and silver with clockings of one minute, 52.5 seconds, and 1:52.9, respectively.

Guarte, who held on to the lead until the third lap of the last 700 meters, was third in 1:53.31.

“Nahirapan ako kasi 53 seconds ang target ni coach nu’ng first lap (400-meters) pa lang.

Eh nag-55 seconds ako,” said Neri, who added he made his goal to beat Guarte after the latter placed second to SEA Games gold medallist Dương Văn Thái of Vietnam last December in the ASEAN School Games.

Meanwhile, Dichoso, an edu-

Spieth in flawless show at Masters TURN TO A13

RIERA U. MALL ARI EDITOR

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

sports@thestandard.com.ph

SPORTS New faces steal PH Open spotlight Caleb Stuart throws the hammer to a gold-medal clinching hurl of 61.46 meters during the 2016 Ayala Philippine National Open Invitational Athletics Championships at the Philsports arena in Pasig. LINO SANTOS

cation student from the University of the East, grabbed the early lead before fending off the challenges put up by veterans Christabel Martes and Mary Grace de los Santos to earn the women’s 10,000-meter honors in 39 minutes and 27.7 seconds.

The 22-year-old Dichoso, back from an 18-month layoff after giving birth to her firstborn child, surprised her coach Jojo Posadas, who said no Filipino female runner has gone below 40 minutes ever in seven years in the 10,000-meters, after Martes set the national mark in 2001.

“Humabol si Grace sa last 5000, si Martes naman nu’ng 8000 meters. First time ko sila nakalaban. Masaya, exciting, hindi ako makapaniwala na mananalo ako

sa kanila,” said Dichoso.

Martes settled for the silver after finishing 22.7 seconds behind Dichoso in 39.57.9, while De los Santos took the bronze in 40:55.6.

In other results, Fil-American Donovant Arriola cleared 7.48 meters on his sixth attempt in the men’s long jump, beating College of St. Benilde’s Julian Reem Fuentes (7.41) Another Fil-American in Jessica Lyn Barnard had little trouble taking the women’s 800-meter run in 2:11.65, with Neslee Angco (2:22.9) and Vanessa del Valle (2:23.9) far behind.

Hong Kong’s Tiffany Tang won the girls’ high jump in 1.69 meters, with Jelly Parapile and Kay Mosqueda of FEU settling for the

A loss will be disastrous for Pacman TURN TO A14

silver and bronze with leaps of 1.66 and 1.63.

Rosie Villarito of Army prevailed in the women’s javelin throw in 45.83 meters, followed

by FEU’s Evalyn Palabrica (43.55) and Sarah Diquiran of UST (39.84).

Charlie de la Cruz of Jose Rizal University claimed the boy’s 3000-meter steeplechase in 10:10.03, followed by Fernando Reyes of La Union in 10:18.16.

Junrel Bendoy topped the 10,000-meter walk in 57:49.97, while Krisha Sardenia took the women’s gold in 1:02:58.32.

UST’s Rojon Redoble had 1:55.67 in taking the boys’ 800-meter gold, while schoolmate Louielyn Pamatian reigned in the girls’ action (2:17.35). Peter Atencio

GlobalPort wins last tiff WITH its import catching fire and its superstar Terrence Romeo back to doing what he does best, GlobalPort was able to sign off on a positive note, at the very least.

Already headed for an early vacation, the eliminated Batang Pier played the role of spoiler and ended their campaign on a high, besting Phoenix Fuel, 125-118, in the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Shawn Taggart had his most productive game in his PBA stint, exploding for a game-high 45 points and 17 rebounds, while Romeo was just as impressive in helping GlobalPort exit the tournament with a bang, erupting for 40 points, 17 of which came in the first quarter in a blazing start, as the two dominated from start to finish.

This was GlobalPort’s last game this conference as it is now set on taking an early vacation after it saw its campaign derailed by the prior injuries of superstars Romeo and Stanley Pringle, who both missed significant time because of that.

The Batang Pier, who were coached by John Cardel instead of head mentor Pido Jarencio, ended up with a conference-worst 3-8 record. Jeric Lopez

SATURDAY: APRIL 9, 2016

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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

BUSINESS

B1

PH outlook positive, says Fitch

By Julito G. Rada

GLOBAL debt watcher Fitch Ratings on Friday kept the Philippines’ minimum investment grade rating of BBB- with a positive outlook due mainly to the country’s strong external finances and declining government debt and deficit levels.

A “positive” outlook indicates the probability of a credit-rating upgrade within the next 12 to 18 months.

“The Philippines has been running current-account surpluses since 2003, with an average of

around 3 percent of the [gross domestic product] for the period 2011-2015. This has been helped by the steady remittance inflow and has led to a build-up in foreign exchange reserves,” Fitch said.

It said the country’s net external creditor position at nearly 14 percent of GDP compares with the median net debtor position of 4.6 percent of GDP among peers in the ‘BBB’ rating category.

“Government debt and deficit levels have been declining and by the end of 2015, general government debt to GDP is estimated at about 36 percent of GDP compared with 43 percent of GDP at the end of 2010,” Fitch said.

It said governance standards have continued to strengthen since 2010 under President Benigno Aquino III, especially gov-

ernment’s effectiveness and political stability as measured by World Bank’s governance metrics.

The credit watchdog also cited the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals. “Average real GDP growth in 2011-2015 was 5.9 percent, which is far above the ‘BBB’ median of 3.3 percent and the ‘A’ median of 3.2 percent,” it said.

It said liquidity levels in the Philippines’ banking sector were ample, capitalization was strong and loan-loss reserves have risen.

However, Fitch said the Philippines’ low average income and level of development was a credit weakness. The Philippines’ GDP

per capita in 2015 was $2,860, which is lower than the ‘BBB’ median of $9,253.

The Investment Relations Office of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said the Philippines remained underrated by Fitch, because it was the lowest among scores assigned to the Philippines by a host of credit rating agencies.

“Moreover, it reflects significant discrepancy with how financial markets actually assess the credit worthiness of the country,” IRO said.

Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service had already raised the country’s credit rating a notch higher.

PSe comPoSite index Closing April 8, 2016

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

7,247.20 14.23

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing April 8, 2016 48.00 46.00 45.00

P46.135

44.00

CLOSE

43.00

HIGH P46.135 LOW P46.250 AVERAGE P46.192 VOLUME 640.000M

P400.00-P620.00 LPG/11-kg tank P30.00-P39.32 Unleaded Gasoline

oPriceS il P today

P19.25-P22.75 Diesel

Villar’s award. Villar Group chairman Manny Villar (left) receives the prestigious Real Estate Personality of the Year award at the Philippines Property Awards 2016 at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City, in recognition of his significant contribution in the real estate industry. Villar’s Vista Land has played an important role in improving the lives of Filipinos by providing homes and building “communicities” or innovative masterplanned developments integrating residential, lifestyle, retail, office, healthcare, education and leisure components, closer to a city than mere residential village. His company has built more than 300,000 quality homes for all market segments in 95 cities and municipalities and 36 across the country.

Handing the award is Liam Aran Barnes, editor-in-chief of Property Report, Asia’s leading luxury real estate, architecture and design publication.

P34.55-P39.15 Kerosene Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, April 8, 2016

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

46.1250

Japan

Yen

0.009238

0.4261

UK

Pound

1.405600

64.8333

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128871

5.9442

Switzerland

Franc

1.045916

48.2429

Canada

Dollar

0.760398

35.0734

Singapore

Dollar

0.739481

34.1086

Australia

Dollar

0.749900

34.5891

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655337

122.4774

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266738

12.3033

Brunei

Dollar

0.736757

33.9829

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.028425

1.3111

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

12.5592

Euro

Euro

1.137500

52.4672

Korea

Won

0.000863

0.0398

China

Yuan

0.154493

7.1260

India

Rupee

0.014982

0.6910

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.255689

11.7937

New Zealand

Dollar

0.677600

31.2543

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030880

1.4243 Source: PDS Bridge

Electronics sector sees 2016 exports growing 5%

By Othel V. Campos THE electronics and semiconductor sector expects exports to rise by a modest 5 percent to $30.4 billion in 2016, despite election-related disruptions such as the gun ban that restricted the movement of chemicals across the nation.

The Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc. said the implementation of the six-month gun ban from January to June 2016 will

impact on operations since each and every shipment is required to secure permit to transport.

The gun ban covered semiconductor chemicals that couild be used in the manufacture of explosives.

“Notwithstanding the fact that application fees increased ridiculously to P1,500 from just P50 per application, we are also concerned that application processing is taking too long, almost one month from what was published that was in about 10 working days,” Seipi president Dan Lachica said in a

briefing Friday at the Board of Investments in Makati City.

The group has recently asked the Commission on Elections to reduce the processing time to one to two days for single shipment and one week for single application for a certain period of time, as well as bring back processing fee to P50 per shipment.

The Comelec required affected parties to secure a certificate of authority to transport chemicals identified by the Philippine National Police as ingredient explo-

sives.

Lachica said Seipi membercompanies were still optimistic the sector will perform well this year.

Government data showed that exports in 2015 amounted to $29 billion while imports stood at $20 billion from $26.8 billion and $15.3 billion, respectively.

Investments in 2015 reached P80 billion, up 40 percent from P57.5 billion in 2014, while employment increased 2 percent to 351,387 from 344,449 in 2014.

SATURDAY: APRIL 9, 2016

B2

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

The STandard BuSineSS daily STockS review Friday, april 8, 2016

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low 7.88 75.3 124.4 107 56.5 2.49 4.2 17 30.45 0.92 2.6 1.01 100 1.46 30.5 91.5 137 80 361.2 57 180 1700 124 3.26

2.5 66 88.05 88.1 45.45 1.97 1.68 12.02 19.6 0.74 1.02 0.225 78 0.9 17.8 62 88.35 52 276 41 118.2 1200 59 2.65

47 5 1.46 2.36 15.3 20.6 125 85 36 65.8 2.97 4.14 21.5 21.6 11.96 9.13 11.8 2.89 31.8 109 20.75 15.3 9.4 0.98 241

35.9 1.11 1.01 1.86 7.92 15.32 62.5 20.2 10.08 29.15 1.5 1.5 10.72 9.55 9.04 6.02 8.86 1.06 20.2 71.5 13.86 13.24 5.34 0.395 173

3.95 4 33.9 90 13.26 293 5 5.25 12.98 15 7.03 3.4 4.5 6.3 7.86 1450 5.5 3.28 0.315 2.18 2.65 234 5.28 1.3 26 2.17

2.3 1.63 23.35 17.3 5.88 250.2 3.37 3.87 8.45 10.04 3.03 1.95 1 4.02 1.65 801 4.1 1.55 0.138 1.02 2.09 152 4.28 0.640 10.02 1.2

0.59 59.2 30.05 2.16 7.39 3.4 3.35 823.5 10.2 84 3.35 3.68 4.92 0.66 1455 7.5

0.44 48.1 20.85 1.6 6.62 0.23 0.23 634.5 7.390 12.8 2.6 1.15 2.26 0.152 837 5.3

76 6.5 5.29 9.25 0.85 17.3 0.71 5.53 9.66 0.0670 2.31 1.61 84.9 974 1.66 1.39 156 0.710 0.435

49.55 3.43 3 4.84 0.59 12 0.580 4.2 3 0.030 1.23 0.550 59.3 751 1.13 0.93 80 0.211 0.179

10.5 1.99 1.75 0.375 41.4 5.6

6.74 0.65 1.2 0.192 30.05 3.36

STOCKS

High

Low

FINANCIAL 3.44 3.31 46.3 44 102.50 100.90 90.35 89.00 39.75 39.75 2.90 2.88 1.38 1.32 14.42 14.38 15.58 15.4 0.63 0.6 1.81 1.74 0.630 0.600 85.5 84.8 0.94 0.94 15.06 14.62 53.00 52.30 103.8 103.8 270 250 284 275 31.5 31 179.4 175.8 1340.00 1305.00 57.50 57.50 1.6 1.55 INDUSTRIAL Aboitiz Power Corp.

43.1 43.2 43 Agrinurture Inc. 5.1 5.1 4.9 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 0.73 0.72 0.7 Alsons Cons.

1.39 1.4 1.39 Asiabest Group 11 11 10.94 Century Food 18.62 18.8 18.64 Chemphil 204 207 205 Conc. Aggr. ‘A’ 391.8 391.8 339 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 19.12 19.6 19.1 Concepcion 47 47 47 Crown Asia 2.4 2.42 2.39 Da Vinci Capital 5.63 5.89 5.61 Del Monte 11.2 11.3 11.1 DNL Industries Inc. 9.180 9.430 9.120 Emperador 7.68 7.71 7.55 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 5.86 5.84 5.62 EEI 8.00 8.02 7.90 Euro-Med Lab 1.9 1.9 1.76 First Gen Corp.

21.7 21.85 21.5 First Holdings ‘A’ 71 72 71 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 12.50 12.42 12.02 Holcim Philippines Inc. 13.78 13.78 13.76 Integ. Micro-Electronics 5.82 5.9 5.81 Ionics Inc 2.600 2.600 2.530 Jollibee Foods Corp.

231.00 231.00 228.40 LBC Express 10.8 11 10.16 LMG Chemicals 2.32 2.3 2.1 Mabuhay Vinyl 4.3 4.5 4.3 Manila Water Co. Inc. 26.05 26.45 25.9 Maxs Group 22.3 22.4 21.8 Megawide 6.3 6.39 6.3 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 329.00 328.80 323.00 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 4.64 4.61 4.11 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 3.73 3.75 3.73 Petron Corporation 10.56 10.66 10.30 Phinma Corporation 11.54 11.56 11.50 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 4.34 4.37 4.29 Phoenix Semiconductor 1.65 1.65 1.64 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.79 2.79 2.69 RFM Corporation 4.30 4.40 4.30 Roxas and Co. 2.6 2.8 2.6 San Miguel ‘Pure Foods `A’ 183.9 187 184 SPC Power Corp.

4.62 4.68 4.65 Splash Corporation 2.48 2.65 2.49 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.158 0.169 0.157 TKC Steel Corp.

1.22 1.30 1.27 Trans-Asia Oil 2.66 2.70 2.64 Universal Robina 215.2 219.4 214 Victorias Milling 4.55 4.8 4.7 Vitarich Corp.

0.78 0.83 0.77 Vivant Corp.

34.00 33.50 30.00 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.28 1.30 1.25 HOLDING FIRMS Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.360 0.360 0.350 Aboitiz Equity 64.45 64.70 64.35 Alliance Global Inc. 17.00 17.00 16.68 Anglo Holdings A 1.14 1.14 1.09 Anscor `A’ 6.18 6.10 6.10 ATN Holdings A 0.280 0.290 0.280 ATN Holdings B 0.280 0.300 0.280 Ayala Corp `A’ 756.5 750 735.5 Cosco Capital 7.4 7.62 7.35 DMCI Holdings 12.76 12.78 12.60 F&J Prince ‘A’ 5.15 5.1 5.02 F&J Prince ‘B’ 5.11 5.11 5.11 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

5.00 5.12 5.00 Forum Pacific 0.229 0.229 0.229 GT Capital 1357 1370 1352 House of Inv. 6.33 6.40 6.00 IPM Holdings 9.73 9.80 9.70 JG Summit Holdings 80.00 80.90 77.60 Jolliville Holdings 4.94 4.96 4.96 Keppel Holdings `A’ 6 6.2 5.55 Lopez Holdings Corp.

6.97 7.1 6.86 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.68 0.7 0.68 LT Group 15.7 15.9 15.7 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.470 0.510 0.490 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 5.83 5.86 5.78 MJCI Investments Inc. 3.6 3.45 3.44 Pacifica `A’ 0.0330 0.0350 0.0330 Prime Media Hldg 1.380 1.400 1.280 Prime Orion 1.940 2.000 1.920 San Miguel Corp `A’ 77.00 76.80 76.10 SM Investments Inc. 959.50 970.00 957.50 Solid Group Inc. 1.20 1.24 1.18 South China Res. Inc. 0.77 0.90 0.80 Top Frontier 190.000 191.800 185.600 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3050 0.3050 0.3000 Wellex Industries 0.2100 0.2090 0.2000 PROPERTY 8990 HLDG 7.800 7.800 7.700 A. Brown Co., Inc. 1.26 1.56 1.23 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.570 1.570 1.530 Arthaland Corp.

0.230 0.229 0.229 Ayala Land `B’ 35.850 36.000 35.350 Belle Corp. `A’ 2.97 3.01 2.94 AG Finance Asia United Bank Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. Bright Kindle Resources COL Financial Eastwest Bank First Abacus I-Remit Inc. MEDCO Holdings Metrobank Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

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

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

Close

SHARES 9,693,382 108,097,878 132,076,916 176,681,145 271,279,463 151,444,633 850,695,614

3.3 46.3 102.00 90.35 39.7 2.82 1.32 14.2 15.4 0.7 1.74 0.600 85.75 0.95 15.00 52.30 103.9 180 275 31.5 175.8 1321.00 57.50 1.56

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

3.34 46.3 102.00 89.75 39.75 2.90 1.32 14.38 15.44 0.63 1.81 0.600 85 0.94 14.64 53.00 103.8 270 280 31.15 179.3 1340.00 57.50 1.6

1.21 0.00 0.00 -0.66 0.13 2.84 0.00 1.27 0.26 -10.00 4.02 0.00 -0.87 -1.05 -2.40 1.34 -0.10 50.00 1.82 -1.11 1.99 1.44 0.00 2.56

457,000 35,000 2,218,590 1,373,670 19,800 18,000 68,000 400 185,300 7,000 50,000 1,329,000 1,989,370 58,000 9,700 6,220 1,100 30 6,710 110,000 1,700,840 140 1,410 48,000

43.1 5.05 0.7 1.4 11 18.68 205 340 19.6 47 2.4 5.75 11.28 9.420 7.65 5.63 7.95 1.76 21.85 71.5 12.02 13.78 5.89 2.550 230.60 10.7 2.18 4.3 26.35 22.4 6.36 327.00 4.61 3.73 10.66 11.56 4.37 1.65 2.75 4.30 2.6 185 4.65 2.58 0.160 1.27 2.69 219 4.7 0.83 30.00 1.25

0.00 -0.98 -4.11 0.72 0.00 0.32 0.49 -13.22 2.51 0.00 0.00 2.13 0.71 2.61 -0.39 -3.92 -0.62 -7.37 0.69 0.70 -3.84 0.00 1.20 -1.92 -0.17 -0.93 -6.03 0.00 1.15 0.45 0.95 -0.61 -0.65 0.00 0.95 0.17 0.69 0.00 -1.43 0.00 0.00 0.60 0.65 4.03 1.27 4.10 1.13 1.77 3.30 6.41 -11.76 -2.34

2,065,800 722,300 127,000 604,000 2,800 257,900 110 1,840 150,300 28,300 249,000 1,340,200 2,500 1,765,900 1,917,500 38,632,700 1,781,000 50,000 2,657,800 147,540 8,000 18,200 90,000 3,722,000 392,720 5,500 149,000 54,000 1,036,700 397,000 8,800 258,620 8,000 396,000 5,760,100 45,400 128,000 161,000 125,000 1,139,000 25,000 84,570 40,000 1,054,000 23,820,000 15,000 3,538,000 1,656,310 24,000 9,285,000 8,600 735,000

0.360 64.70 16.76 1.10 6.10 0.290 0.280 745.5 7.57 12.70 5.1 5.11 5.00 0.229 1356 6.33 9.79 80.90 4.96 6.2 7 0.68 15.9 0.490 5.82 3.44 0.0340 1.400 1.970 76.75 960.00 1.18 0.85 189.000 0.3000 0.2080

0.00 0.39 -1.41 -3.51 -1.29 3.57 0.00 -1.45 2.30 -0.47 -0.97 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.07 0.00 0.62 1.13 0.40 3.33 0.43 0.00 1.27 4.26 -0.17 -4.44 3.03 1.45 1.55 -0.32 0.05 -1.67 10.39 -0.53 -1.64 -0.95

80,000 1,432,920 6,150,200 112,000 300 920,000 90,000 340,110 2,469,400 7,707,800 15,100 2,000 190,000 10,000 114,560 282,400 2,216,800 2,277,850 5,000 4,500 3,453,900 312,000 6,052,900 80,000 16,447,900 5,000 74,500,000 41,000 1,360,000 93,000 283,740 790,000 1,808,000 41,630 1,170,000 540,000

7.800 1.50 1.570 0.229 36.000 3

0.00 19.05 0.00 -0.43 0.42 1.01

53,900 40,173,000 5,000 10,000 16,912,700 1,785,000

-6,800.00 992,625.00 -107,829,692 -2,064,697.00

-2,336,398.00 90,500.00 -51,714,313.00 -187,431.00 829,500.00 81,680 91,499,826.00 176,175.00 -575.00 4,102,755.00 19,600.00 -596,216.00

37,600 48,000.00 3,710,241.00 -4,990,510.00 -965,538.00 -120,216,966.00 -749,549.00 -398,455.00 2,237,885.00 -225,992.00 19,754.00 -41,280.00 14,333,648.00

4,918,050.00 12,432,170.00 -134,260.00

82,500.00 -685,490.00 1,453,330.00 4,680.00 -52,000.00 132,000.00 110,523,380.00

79,091,261.50 -23,182,286.00

-92,302,745.00 3,703,907.00 -37,314,650.00

-71,150,535.00 495,006.00 68,698,536.50 -1,943,377.00 -52,873,780.00 3,981,783.00

1,970.00 -509,054.50 13,158,255.00 -48,800.00 -86,400.00 -445,440.00

9,240.00 -5,320.00 51,982,290.00 -206,060.00

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

High

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

4.96 0.79 1.1 0.083 0.415 2.4 0.83 0.188 1.15 1.42 1.27 3.1 4.13 0.090 0.290 0.39 23 2.69 22.15 1.6 3.1 15.08 0.69 3.38 0.83 5.73

Cebu Holdings 5.2 Century Property 0.560 City & Land Dev. 1.00 Crown Equities Inc. 0.124 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.570 Double Dragon 36.25 Empire East Land 0.860 Ever Gotesco 0.158 Global-Estate 1.05 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.84 Interport `A’ 1.39 Keppel Properties 4.20 Megaworld 3.99 MRC Allied Ind. 0.091 Phil. Estates Corp.

0.2480 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.480 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 10.32 Primex Corp.

8.7 Robinson’s Land `B’ 28.40 Rockwell 1.55 Shang Properties Inc. 3.03 SM Prime Holdings 21.70 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.89 Starmalls 6.97 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.210 Vista Land & Lifescapes 4.700

-0.77 0.00 1.00 0.00 -5.26 0.00 -2.33 1.27 0.95 0.00 -2.88 2.38 -1.00 0.00 -0.40 8.33 50.00 0.00 2.11 1.94 1.98 1.38 -1.12 0.29 -0.83 1.49

2,100 2,837,000 2,000 1,050,000 32,117,000 1,542,600 1,502,000 320,000 5,208,000 17,742,000 287,000 15,000 28,198,000 920,000 300,000 240,000 100 200,300 1,410,700 251,000 4,000 11,959,000 1,346,000 9,900 2,671,000 789,000

10.5 66 1.44 1.09 15.82 0.1430 5.06 99.1 2.6 7.67 4 2720 8.41 1.97 119.5 7 5.8 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 3.32 2.53 1 15.2

1.97 35.2 1 0.63 8.6 0.0770 2.95 56.1 1.6 4.8 2.58 1600 5.95 1.23 102.6 3.01 4 0.011 0.041 1.200 2.34 6.5 1.91 1.01 0.650 6

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

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

11.6 0.85 2.95 10 0.490 1.9

7.59 0.63 1.71 5 0.315 1.14

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

Cebu Air Inc. (5J) Discovery World DFNN Inc. Easy Call “Common” Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. Harbor Star I.C.T.S.I. Imperial Res. `A’ Imperial Res. `B’ IP E-Game Ventures Inc. Island Info ISM Communications Jackstones Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Lorenzo Shipping Manila Bulletin Melco Crown Metro Retail MG Holdings NOW Corp.

Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

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

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

SSI Group STI Holdings Transpacific Broadcast Travellers Waterfront Phils.

Yehey

0.00 1.25 1.59 0.00 -0.22 0.00 0.65 0.73 -2.96 3.86 -0.32 1.27 3.78 -2.36 -0.30 -4.79 0.00 10.00 1.59 1.40 2.17 -0.26 0.00 -5.26 1.47 -0.45 -0.52 0.00 0.00 1.71 -1.96 1.85 -8.33 0.23 1.67 11.63 -1.12 5.11 1.32 2.22 1.16 3.28 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.48

67,800 11,790 122,000 1,305,000 1,007,000 26,230,000 149,000 88,240 5,000 98,100 2,000 83,415 472,400 102,000 61,600 51,000 160 6,800,000 33,870,000 2,840,000 3,000 1,120,000 269,000 25,000 2,606,000 11,093,000 689,000 4,240,000 110,047,000 825,100 5,900 3,000 2,060 87,400 142,745 38,170,000 4,955,000 5,282,000 929,930 6,848,200 2,767,000 6,173,000 10,000 946,000 230,000 135,300

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.7 12.8 1.19 1.62 9.5 4.2 0.48 0.420 0.440 0.022 8.2 49.2 4.27 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420 9

0.0043 1.72 6.47 0.236 6.5 5.11 0.85 0.77 5.99 1.17 0.305 0.2130 0.2160 0.013 3.240 18.96 2.11 1.54 0.012 5.4 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.9 3.67

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

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

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

TA Petroleum

-2.22 0.00 -2.73 -0.85 3.76 5.08 22.73 -2.08 -0.12 0.00 1.79 0.00 -1.79 0.00 3.55 0.20 -3.09 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.56 0.00 0.00 -0.55 0.00

33,000,000 4,000 108,000 160,000 17,300 15,700 39,138,000 740,000 6,100 4,137,000 1,440,000 12,520,000 300,000 25,700,000 680,000 2,600,000 174,000 115,000 25,000,000 15,000 407,400 1,716,000 2,900,000 411,400 20,000

70 553 120 8.21 111

33 490 101.5 5.88 101

84.8

75

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

Ayala Corp. Pref `B1’ First Gen G GMA Holdings Inc. MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A SMC Preferred C SMC Preferred D SMC Preferred E SMC Preferred F SMC Preferred G SMC Preferred H SMC Preferred I

2.68 -0.95 0.00 2.48 0.46 0.77 -0.68 0.00 0.00 -0.52 -0.52 0.00 0.00

18,180 2,800 1,640 172,400 240 2,210 181,500 600 37,750 34,190 20,000 108,710 244,090

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

0.00

74,000

15

3.5

-0.24 2.16 -2.85 2.11

87,000 19,000 297,000 1,016,900

0.25

2,240

Alterra Capital Makati Fin. Corp.

Italpinas Xurpas

12.88

5.95

130.7

105.6 First Metro ETF

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,629.22 (down) 0.50 INDUSTRIAL 11,879.55 (up) 43.00 HOLDING FIRMS 7,123.55 (up) 0.16 PROPERTY 2,981.02 (up) 21.34 SERVICES 1,502.33 (up) 20.21 MINING & OIL 10,629.41 (down) 20.18 PSEI 7,247.20 (up) 14.23 All Shares Index 4,260.84 (up) 41.34 Gainers: 102; Losers: 75; Unchanged: 57; Total: 234

Close

5.59 1.44 1.97 0.201 0.69 10.96 0.97 0.305 2.22 2.1 1.8 8.4 5.94 0.180 0.470 0.72 27 8.54 31.8 2.29 4.9 21.35 1.06 7.56 1.62 8.59

5.16 5.16 5.16 0.56 0.550 0.560 1.01 1.01 1.01 0.124 0.124 0.124 0.590 0.540 0.540 36.25 38.85 36.25 0.860 0.840 0.840 0.160 0.158 0.160 1.07 1.05 1.06 1.84 1.79 1.84 1.39 1.35 1.35 4.30 4.01 4.30 4.04 3.92 3.95 0.092 0.090 0.091 247.0000 0.2400 0.2470 0.530 0.480 0.520 15.48 15.48 15.48 8.7 8.65 8.7 29.00 27.30 29.00 1.59 1.55 1.58 3.09 3.04 3.09 22.30 21.55 22.00 0.88 0.86 0.88 7.06 6.99 6.99 1.250 1.150 1.200 4.790 4.700 4.770 SERVICES 7.19 7.2 7.14 7.19 56.1 57 56.6 56.8 1.26 1.32 1.28 1.28 0.580 0.590 0.560 0.580 4.60 4.64 4.56 4.59 0.0620 0.0630 0.0610 0.0620 3.1 3.18 3.1 3.12 89.35 90 88.7 90 1.69 1.64 1.64 1.64 6.74 7.00 6.74 7.00 3.12 3.11 3.11 3.11 2050 2106 2014 2076 6.88 7.15 6.80 7.14 1.27 1.24 1.24 1.24 66.4 66.4 65.6 66.2 17.52 18.00 16.26 16.68 200 200 200 200 0.0100 0.0110 0.0100 0.0110 0.315 0.325 0.310 0.320 1.4300 1.4800 1.4300 1.4500 2.3 2.35 2.35 2.35 7.61 7.60 7.59 7.59 3.90 3.90 3.81 3.90 1.33 1.30 1.26 1.26 0.680 0.730 0.660 0.690 2.2 2.24 2.12 2.19 3.83 3.83 3.77 3.81 0.310 0.320 0.300 0.310 2.200 2.330 2.040 2.200 17.5 17.8 17.8 17.8 5.10 5.00 4.99 5.00 2.7 2.75 2.7 2.75 120.00 118.00 110.00 110.00 21.90 21.95 21.60 21.95 1798.00 1829.00 1794.00 1828.00 0.430 0.520 0.450 0.480 0.890 0.880 0.850 0.880 37.20 39.15 36.95 39.10 76.00 77.25 76.40 77.00 6.30 6.48 6.22 6.44 3.44 3.48 3.36 3.48 0.610 0.650 0.620 0.630 1.97 1.97 1.97 1.97 3.63 3.7 3.62 3.63 0.325 0.325 0.325 0.325 5.250 5.200 5.120 5.120 MINING & OIL 0.0045 0.0045 0.0044 0.0044 2.02 2.02 2.02 2.02 4.39 4.32 4.24 4.27 0.235 0.245 0.233 0.233 7.1800 7.45 7.21 7.4500 7.2800 7.9900 7.3000 7.6500 0.66 0.83 0.66 0.81 0.480 0.480 0.470 0.470 8.25 8.25 7.96 8.24 0.820 0.830 0.810 0.820 0.280 0.295 0.275 0.285 0.255 0.260 0.255 0.255 0.280 0.280 0.275 0.275 0.0120 0.0120 0.0110 0.0120 1.97 2.1 2 2.04 4.97 5 4.85 4.98 2.59 2.58 2.48 2.51 1.2400 1.2600 1.2400 1.2400 0.0096 0.0096 0.0096 0.0096 3.80 3.80 3.80 3.80 5.39 5.45 5.39 5.42 2.23 2.35 2.15 2.23 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 0.0120 127.70 127.60 126.20 127.00 2.5 2.5 2.45 2.5 PREFERRED 56 57.5 56.45 57.5 525 520 520 520 115.4 115.4 115.4 115.4 6.85 7.02 6.76 7.02 109.5 110 110 110 103.7 104.5 103.6 104.5 80.3 80.1 79.75 79.75 80 80 79 80 75.6 76 75.6 75.6 76.9 76.9 76.5 76.5 77.4 77 77 77 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 WARRANTS & BONDS 3.130 3.280 3.130 3.130 SME 4.2 4.4 3.92 4.19 3.7 3.78 3.68 3.78 3.16 3.12 3.07 3.07 18 18.4 17.6 18.38 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 118.4 118.7 117.5 118.7

T op g ainerS VALUE 836,711,992.90 1,438,538,790.30 1,488,360,428.62 1,454,147,542.88 1,198,819,818.00 112,040,359.694 6,548,579,356.99

Low

-991,760.00 80,600.00 914,600.00 7,663,540.00 -48,000.00 -1,495,230.00 -7,423,050.00 -50,097,620.00 49,400.00 19,200.00 -11,263,115.00 93,420.00 73,976,830.00 -87,000.00 -36,000.00 2,363,230.00 21,540.00

-2,604,000.00 -21,700.00 404,326.50

11,546,660.00 -762,647.50

-121,600.00 -150,480.00

-6,894,590.00 34,210.00 -64,000.00 -14,398,100.00

42,640.00 -32,830.00 30,071,310.00 -1,250.00 968,620.00 -45,208,190.00 32,348,959.50 657,580.00 -676,590.00

-46,940.00 -730.00 -3,842,630.00 -830.00

-102,000.00 -2,747,180.00 30,360.00 -24,800.00 -933,551.00 -176,000.00 33,600.00 -43,663,089.00 617,957.00 69,600.00

60,000.00 3,899,256.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry

15.48

50.00

Conc. Aggr. 'A'

340

-13.22

Philippine trust Co.

270

50.00

Vivant Corp.

30.00

-11.76

Century Peak Metals Hldgs

0.81

22.73

First Abacus

0.63

-10.00

A. Brown Co., Inc.

1.50

19.05

Phil. Seven Corp.

110.00

-8.33

PremiereHorizon

0.480

11.63

Euro-Med Lab

1.76

-7.37

South China Res. Inc.

0.85

10.39

LMG Chemicals

2.18

-6.03

IP E-Game Ventures Inc.

0.0110

10.00

Lorenzo Shipping

1.26

-5.26

Phil. Realty `A'

0.520

8.33

Cyber Bay Corp.

0.540

-5.26

Vitarich Corp.

0.83

6.41

Imperial Res. `A'

16.68

-4.79

Puregold

39.10

5.11

MJCI Investments Inc.

3.44

-4.44

SATURDAY: APRIL 9, 2016

B3

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

Market climbs; Puregold, SBC rise STOCKS rose for a second day, as oil prices climbed and investors returned to riskier assets, after minutes of the US Federal Reserve’s March meeting affirmed its gradual approach to raising interest rates.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 14 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 7,247.20 Friday. The bellwether was up 4.2 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also advanced 41 points, or 1 percent, to settle at 4,260.84, on a value turnover of P6.5 billion.

Advancers outnumbered losers, 102 to 75, while 57 issues were unchanged.

Ten of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by retailer Puregold Price Club Inc., which climbed 5.1 percent to P1.90. Security Bank Corp. rose 2 percent to P3.50, while Universal Robina Corp. went up 1.8 percent to P219. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. added 1.7 percent to close at P1,828.

“Investors are reacting positively to signs that the Fed is dovish and to the rebound in oil prices,” said Rafael Palma Gil, a Manila-based trader at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp, which manages $1.7 billion of assets.

“As long as interest rates stay low, or near zero, funds will flow back into emerging markets for higher yields,” Gil said.

Developing-nation assets have retreated in April, after surging in March, amid concerns that risks to a global economic recovery are increasing. While the Fed’s minutes showed broad agreement on a go-slow strategy, opinion was divided with some saying it might send the wrong signal. The dollar slipped for a second day, reaching a 17-month low against the yen, as traders assign zero chance of a Fed rate increase in April.

With Bloomberg

EDC advocacy. Energy Development Corp. chairman and chief executive Federico Lopez shares the company’s climate change adaptation and disaster response best practices during a discussion on actionable solutions to climate resiliency in Southeast Asia. EDC, in partnership with the UP Institute of Biology, started a biodiversity program in all its plants to better understand the ecosystem and how best to protect it. The program since 2008 guided EDC on the proper way to reforest more than 10,000 hectares with roughly 6.5 million trees.

GT Capital reduces 2016 capex to P44.7b

By Jenniffer B. Austria

GT Capital Holdings Inc., the holding company of tycoon George Ty, reduced its 2016 capital expenditures to P44.7 billion from an initial estimate of P60 billion.

GT Capital said in a regulatory filing the 2016 budget would be used to support the growth of banking, power generation, automotive and real estate businesses.

It said funding for this year’s capital spending would be sourced from internally-generated funds and debt.

GT Capital said it allocated P10 billon for additional equity infusion in mass housing developer Property Company of Friends Inc.

It also appropriated P5.6 billion for land banking, land development and investment properties of PCFI. The conglomerate current owns a 22.68-percent stake in PCFI and plans to exercise its option to increase its direct shareholding in the company to 51 percent within the next three years.

GT Capital budgeted P8.3 billion primarily for power generation unit Global Business Power Corp. to finance the expansion of Panay Energy Unit 3 and venture into biomass projects.

GBPC signed an agreement with Roxas Holdings Inc. in 2014 for the development of a 40-megawatt biomass project in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

GT Capital also earmarked P7 billion for its automotive business under Toyota Motor Philippines Corp., which plans to expand in

the country.

TMP in 2015 sold a record 125,027 units, up by 18 percent from the previous year. Consolidated sales rose 9 percent to P114.3 billion from P104.9 billion in 2014.

Banking unit Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. will also spend P7 billion in branch expansion and ATM network enhancement while property unit Federal Land budgeted P2 billion for capital spending to finance office and retail projects.

The remaining amount was appropriated for insurance and Toyota dealership units.

GT Capital’s consolidated net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company increased 32 percent in 2015 to P12.1 billion from P9.2 billion in 2014.

The increase was principally due to the 13-percent hike in consolidated revenues to P159.2 billion from P141.1 billion in 2014.

Aboitiz Power’s coal plant in Davao suffers technical problem

By Alena Mae S. Flores THERMA South Inc., a unit of Aboitiz Power Corp., said Friday a unit of its 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Davao City suffered a technical problem, contributing to the power supply deficit in Mindanao.

Aboitiz Power said in a disclosure to the stock exchange unit 1 of the coal plant, with a net capacity of 130 MW, tripped at 2:40 p.m. on Wednesday and needed to be repaired for 14 days.

“After an investigation was conducted, it was found out that the unit has a boiler tube leak. The repairs on unit 1 is expected to last 14 days. Unit 2 [130 MW net] remains operational,” it said.

The technical problem of the coal plant and the low water level at major hydro plants amid the El Niño dry spell contributed to a 150-MW supply deficit in Mindanao on Friday.

Unit 2 of Therma South’s power project started commercial operations in early February.

Completion of the unit suffered

delays due to some technical issues but the unit still managed to deliver power to customers.

Unit 1 started commercial operations on Sept. 18, 2015.

The coal plant is located in Barangay Binugao, Toril District, Davao City and Barangay Inayawan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. President Benigno Aquino III led the ceremonial inauguration of the 300-MW power plant on Jan. 8 this year.

“The commercial operations of unit 2 could not have

come at a better time as Mindanao suffers from power supply problems brought about by El Niño. TSI will provide much needed baseload power for our customers, hopefully contributing to the long term solution of the Mindanao power problem.,” Therma South president and chief operating officer Sebastian Lacson said earlier.

Therma South’s customers include 20 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities in Mindanao.

The power plant currently

supplies electricity to the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Gen. Santos, Zamboanga, Butuan, Kidapawan, Tagum, Koronadal, Digos, Pagadian and Cotabato.

It also supplies power to the Davao region, Cotabato provinces, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan provinces, Surigao provinces, Zamboanga provinces, parts of Bukidnon and parts of Misamis.

Aboitiz Power is the holding company of the Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation, distribution, retail and power services.

SATURDAY: APRIL 9, 2016

B4

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

IN BRIEF DM Wenceslao IPO DM Wenceslao & Associates Inc., a

construction and property company, said it will decide on its initial public offering plans after the May presidential elections.

DM Wecenslao earlier scheduled to conduct its P12.3-billion maiden offering in December after securing regulatory approvals. But the company decided to defer the public offering to 2016 due to volatile market conditions.

DM Wencelsao chief executive Delfin Wenceslao said the company was not in a hurry to raise funds after securing unding for its 2016 capital expenditures.

“We will decide after the elections.

We cant do anything right now because investors are also waiting for the elections,” Wenceslao said.

He said the company could also borrow from banks due to a very low debt level. DM Wenceslao plans to sell up to 429 million primary common shares while selling shareholder Wendel Holdings Inc. gave underwriters an option to sell another 64.375 million secondary shares to cover for overallotment. Jenniffer B. Austria

Pro-Friends partner PROPERTY Company of Friends Inc., or Pro-Friends, has tapped the service of Globe Telecom Inc. for its first business process outsourcing office in Cavite.

Under the partnership, Globe Business is expected to provide secure, fast and cutting-edge connectivity to thousands of BPO employees as well as the different commercial and retail establishments in Downtown Lancaster.

“We are very excited for the partnership and we look forward to the different ways Globe Business can help improve our operations,” Pro-Friends vice president for commercial and retail development Karen Parungo said.

Downtown Lancaster is composed of two major developments: Suntech iPark and The Square. Suntech iPark is Cavite’s first BPO office development which will house 17,500 BPO employees, while The Square is the commercial and retail section that will complement the needs of Suntech iPark and nearby residences.

“Customers like Pro-Friends which is expanding to build a BPO hub in Cavite will definitely experience connectivity that is up to par with first-world countries,” Globe chief technology and information officer Gil Genio said.

Darwin G. Amojelar

BSP likely to keep rates in 2nd quarter

By Julito G. Rada

BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas is expected to maintain the current monetary policy settings in the second quarter this year on the back of robust economic growth and manageable inflation environment, an economist said.

“Monetary policy is likely to remain on hold in the second quarter although there is scope for some accommodation. BSPMB [Monetry Board] is likely to preserve its monetary policy leeway to respond to external challenges,” ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said in a report.

He said economic growth was likely to improve by 6.5 percent in the first half.

“Fiscal spending indicators show improvement although we

await January fiscal reports to validate our expectation. Election spending is rising as candidates’ campaigns peaks and as voting and canvassing happened on May 9. Imports of capital equipment in January were strong indicating that capital investments also is a driver,” Cuyegkeng said, adding “support from monetary policy is not necessary.”

Cuyegkeng echoed the projection of Bangko Sentral that inflation would remain moderate and likely to remain within the 2 to 4

percent target range this year and next.

However, he said possible preemptive action might be necessary later this year to ensur inflation expectations remained stable as oil price and other commodity prices increased.

“In the meantime, there is scope for easing since real policy rates are close to 3 percent and would remain at more than 1 percent by the end of this year.

Such a move possible later this second quarter could help retain purchasing power of 15 percent of the economy post-election,” Cuyegkeng said.

He said this would also partially cut the pre-emptive tightening in 2014.

The last time the Monetary Board changed the policy stance was in September 2014, when overnight borrowing was increased to 4 percent and

overnight lending adjusted to 6 percent. On its March 23, 2016 meeting, the board kept the benchmark interest rates steady for the 12th consecutive time since October 2014 due to a manageable inflation environment.

The economy grew 5.8 percent in 2015, lower than 6.1 percent a year ago and the government’s target range of 7 percent to 8 percent but remained one of the fastest growing in the region.

The government expects GDP this year to grow between 6.8 percent and 7.8 percent anchored mainly on sustained robust domestic demand.

Inflation in the first quarter averaged 1.1 percent, way below the government’s official forecast range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

Inflation in January decelerated to 1.3 percent from 1.4 percent in December 2015.

Siguil hydro project GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. of the Alcantara Group is on track to start construction of the 15-megawatt Siguil hydro project in Maasim, Sarangani within the year.

Alsons executive vice president Tirso Santillan Jr. told reporters the hydro project was on the bidding stage.

“We’re looking for the contractor.

That’s three packages for Siguil— works, electromechanical and transmission. It can be different contractors, it can be one contractor for all,” Santillan said.

The official said the auction process encountered a slight delay as the bidders asked for more time to comply with the requirements.

“Our plan is by the end of second quarter or beginning of third quarter, we firm up the winning bidder and there will be contract signing. We will then issue the notice to proceed,” he said.

The project, estimated to cost $50 million, will take 30 months to construct.

Alena Mae S. Flores

TeaM Energy rating TEAM Energy Corp. received the highest possible rating after an external validation audit conducted by the Integrity Initiative on the internal and external business processes of the power firm in dealing with employees and external stakeholders, including government regulators and host communities.

“With the Advanced rating given by the Integrity Initiative, we are only one of 14 private firms in the Philippines to receive such a distinction from among over 2,600 signatories to the integrity pledge,” said TeaM chairman and chief executive John Alcordo.

The II is a private sector organization formed by the Makati Business Club and European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines that began in 2010.

It reviews and validates the ethical business practices of private and public entities with the intention of uplifting ethical standards among private companies and government institutions.

TEC scored a total of 270 points in the audit, well within the 223 to 296 points required in order to be recognized at the advanced level by the II.

Saving Mt. Apo. Local volunteer firefighters, supported and assisted by Aboitiz companies Hedcor Sibulan, Therma South, Davao Light and APO Agua, ascend Mt. Apo to help extinguish the fire that has been blazing since the end of March. The Aboitiz Group heeded the call for assistance in fighting the massive blaze threatening Mt. Apo. The Aboitiz Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Aboitiz Group and the four Aboitiz business units donated nearly P350,000 worth of assorted food items and essential fire-fighting supplies.

Stricter policies sought vs smuggling of agri products INFUSING more funds to help lift the ailing agriculture sector will be more meaningful for farmers if stricter policies are put in place to fight the influx of cheap agricultural products smuggled into the country, vice presidential frontrunner Sen. Francis Escudero said.

Escudero is pushing for additional P300 billion in funds for the agriculture sector to boost the industry battered by high cost of production, extreme weather condition and poor support services from the government.

But Escudero said increasing the budget allocation of the sec-

tor, which comprised 60 percent of the country’s poorest, would be useless if farmers were not able to sell their yield at competitive prices because of smuggling.

“We should be exporting our agri products which is why the problem of smuggling of agri products needs to be addressed.

Smuggling results in huge losses for our farmers,” Escudero said.

A study by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture showed the value of smuggled agricultural items into the country ballooned to more than $10 billion annually in 2008 from

$6 billion during the 1980s.

Searca also cited data from the Department of AgricultureBureau of Agricultural Research on domestic agricultural production and consumption from 1986 to 2009, which pointed to the entry of illegally shipped milled rice ($1.196 billion), refined sugar ($448.2 million), beef ($428.8 million), onion ($259.55 million), pork ($117.45 million), chicken ($27.8 million), ginger ($7.8 million), and carrots and turnips ($6.5 million).

“Our farmers suffer not only from calamities and lack of government support but also from

unabated smuggling of agricultural products such as sugar, onions and garlic,” the veteran lawmaker said.

Escudero assured that antismuggling measures would be his priority. He is the running mate of Grace Poe. “Our mission is clear: end the suffering of our farmers and fishermen through a bigger budget allocation for the agricultural sector and eradicate smuggling and other forms of fraud and illicit activities,” Escudero said.

Poe and Escudero have separately filed bills aiming to curb smuggling in the country.

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ceSar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

world Greece expels more migrants LESBOS—Greece on Friday expelled a second batch of migrants to Turkey under a controversial EU deal criticized by rights groups, an AFP stringer witnessed.

Singapore MP says sorry for comment SINGAPORE—A Singaporean MP who said crowds of South Asian workers were “walking time-bombs” who needed to be fenced off from residential areas in the city-state’s Indian quarter apologised Friday for her remarks.

Denise Phua sparked a public outcry online after a speech in parliament on Wednesday, prompting her to say sorry on her Facebook page.

“I have no intention to undermine any specific group. I should not have used the phrase ‘walking time-bombs’ to describe congregations of high density,” Phua, from the ruling People’s Action Party, wrote.

“I personally get along very well with the foreign cleaners in my constituency. To them and the other foreign workers in our country, thank you for your help and please accept my sincere apology if I have caused you concern.”

Phua had been speaking in parliament about measures to prevent the recurrence of a riot similar to the one in December 2013 involving South Asian workers -- the worst outbreak of public disorder in Singapore in 40 years.

Hundreds took to the streets after being enraged by the death of an Indian man in a road accident, with the disturbance leaving 62 people, including 37 police officers, injured and 23 vehicles damaged.

During a recent visit to the district, Phua said she noticed that the crowds that used to gather before the riot had returned, despite measures to ease large gatherings and alcohol sale restrictions in the area. AFP

Pedal car. German bicycle enthusiast Dieter «Didi» Senft rides his self designed pedal car with an Eiffel tower in Sieversdorf, eastern Germany. AFP

The 45 migrants, who a police source said were all Pakistani nationals, departed from the island of Lesbos on the Turkish ferry Lesvos.

Three activists were arrested after clinging onto the ferry’s anchor to prevent it from leaving.

Another 30 people gathered at the port of Lesbos, chanting “Stop deportations”, “EU shame on you” and “Freedom for the refugees”.

Another group of around 80 migrants is expected to leave Lesbos later in the day.

According to the Greek government, the operation concerns people who have not requested asylum in Greece.

“Whoever applies for asylum is removed from the list,” a government source told AFP. A first batch of 202 migrants were sent to Turkey from the islands of Lesbos and Chios on Monday, sparking a flurry of asylum demands and forcing Greek authorities to delay further expulsions as they have to examine the demands individually.

Greek officials now expect a two-week delay while authorities examine the first of those asylum applications.

Fear of deportation has prompted acts of desperation in some of the camps where migrants are held.

On Thursday, some 150 migrants broke out of a camp on the island of Samos but were later persuaded to return, the government source said.

A similar incident occurred on the island of Chios last week.

Dozens of migrants on Samos and Lesbos also claim to have begun a hunger strike to prevent their expulsion and demand the reopening of borders shut by Balkan nations last month.

One Pakistani hunger striker collapsed in Moria, the main camp on Lesbos, and was taken for treatment by medical charity Medecins du Monde.

Another Pakistani on Samos, named Ali, told AFP that a dozen of his countrymen were on hunger strike there.

“They told us to apply for asylum in Greece and that if not, we are going to be sent back to Turkey.

“We risked our lives to come here, we don’t want to go back to Turkey because they are going to send us back to Pakistan. We don’t want to apply for asylum in Greece, we want to go to Germany,” Ali said. AFP

Germany asylum requests drop 66% BERLIN—The number of new asylum applications in Germany, Europe’s top destination for refugees last year, dropped 66 percent in March to about 20,000, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said Friday.

“In December 2015, it was 120,000 people, in January 90,000, in February 60,000 and in March 20,000,” he said, weeks after a string of Balkan countries closed their borders to refugees, halting the mass influx.

Germany last year took in more than one million refugees and migrants, with the flow accelerating after Chancellor Angela Merkel in September suspended normal EU

asylum rules to grant safe haven to people fleeing the Syrian war.

The mass influx sparked a backlash in Germany which has since reintroduced temporary border controls and taken other steps to reduce numbers and in eastern Europe, where a string of Balkan countries in early March shut their borders to refugees flocking in from Greece.

De Maiziere also said that an EUTurkey agreement to stop refugees crossing by boat to EU member Greece had “got off to a good start”.

The March 18 accord sets out measures for reducing Europe’s worst migration crisis since World War II, including the shipping back

to Turkish territory of migrants who land on the Greek islands.

In return, Turkey is allowed to fly batches of Syrian asylum seekers straight to EU member countries and is slated to receive benefits including visa-free travel for its citizens to Europe.

“The number of asylum seekers who have come to us to request asylum and refugee status fell markedly in the first quarter,” De Maiziere said.

The numbers for January-March were down to 170,000 compared to over 500,000 for October-December 2015, he said, citing data from the government’s EASY initial registration system. AFP

Arrival. US President Barack Obama and daughter Malia step off Air Force One upon arrival at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. AFP

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WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

Turkey and Israel set to renew relations ANKARA—Turkey and Israel are on the brink of restoring their ties after a bitter falling-out five years ago, the Turkish foreign ministry announced early Friday after talks in London.

Nato member Turkey was a key regional ally of Israel until the two countries cut ties in 2010 over the deadly storming by Israeli commandos of a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza, which left 10 Turkish aid activists dead.

After years of bitter accusations and inflammatory rhetoric the two sides held secret talks in December to seek a rapprochement, with another round taking place in February in Geneva.

“The teams made progress towards finalizing the agreement and closing the gaps, and agreed that the deal will be finalized in the next meeting which will be convened very soon,” the Turkish ministry said in a statement after the fresh round of talks Thursday.

Israel’s foreign ministry, contacted

by AFP, declined to comment.

Ankara said the latest talks in London brought together powerful Turkish foreign ministry official Feridun Sinirlioglu, Joseph Ciechanover, an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israeli National Security Advisor Jacob Nagel.

In an interview with Turkish newspaper Vatan on Friday, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said “significant progress has been made”, adding that the two sides were hoping to reach “a final stage” in the talks soon.

Turkey had already said in February that the former allies were “close to concluding a deal”.

But they had yet to agree on all of Turkey’s conditions, with the main hurdle appearing to be the lifting of Israel’s blockade on the Hamasruled Gaza Strip.

Israel apologized to Turkey in 2013, in what many thought would trigger a warming in ties, but tensions soared again the following year when Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza.

Turkey’s other condition is that victims of the Mavi Marmara be compensated, and has said that talks have advanced in this regard.

The Mavi Marmara was one of six ships which headed to Gaza in May 2010 carrying humanitarian supplies in a bid to break the blockade of the Strip which has been in place since 2007, shortly after the Islamist militant group Hamas won elections there.

The blockade has been branded cruel and inhumane by rights groups, although Israel argues it is necessary to stop weapons smuggling.

Turkey is a key backer of Hamas, and Erdogan has accused Israel of being “genocidal” in Gaza.

Analysts have suggested that Turkey’s desire for a rapprochement has been accelerated by the drastic worsening in ties with Moscow since the shooting-down of a Russian warplane wrecked several joint projects.

Ankara relies on Russia for more than half its natural gas imports and Turkey now has its eyes on Israeli gas reserves. AFP

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Hong Kong freedoms under threat—official HONG KONG—British foreign secretary Philip Hammond warned over threats to Hong Kong’s autonomy Friday as he visited the city where fears are growing that Beijing’s grip is tightening.

It was the first visit by a British foreign secretary for five years and comes in the wake of the high-profile case of a group of booksellers who went missing from Hong Kong and surfaced in China. One of them was a British citizen.

The city has been semi-autonomous since it was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 under an agreement that protects its freedoms for 50 years. However, there are concerns those freedoms are disappearing.

“Although the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ model is generally working well in Hong Kong, concerns have been raised over the recent booksellers’ case,” Hammond said in a statement on Friday.

“Rule of law is the cornerstone of an open and

fair society. Hong Kong’s success is underpinned by its independent judiciary and respect for rights and freedoms,” he added.

In a meeting with Hong Kong’s leader Leung Chun-ying, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said that Hammond would restate “support for Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, rights and freedoms”, as well as commitment to the Sino-British joint declaration which protects Hong Kong’s liberties.

The five booksellers worked for a Hong Kong publishing house famous for salacious titles about high-ranking Chinese politicians. They went missing at the end of last year.

Four are under criminal investigation in the mainland the fifth, UK citizen Lee Bo, says he is “assisting” with the investigations and has come back to visit Hong Kong recently, insisting he is a free man.

Britain has voiced anger over Lee the only bookseller who disappeared from Hong Kong saying it believed he was “involuntarily removed to the mainland” in what it called a “serious breach” of the handover agreement.

China criticized the UK for interfering in its affairs.

The other four men disappeared from Thailand and mainland China.

The FCO added that Hammond would also “underline the importance of One Country, Two Systems and of restarting progress on political reform” in his meeting with Leung later Friday.

The political reform process has stalled since mass pro-democracy protests in 2014 failed to win concessions from the Hong Kong authorities and Beijing.

The rallies were calling for fully free leadership elections, after the government introduced a reform package that activists derided as fake democracy because it allowed Beijing to vet candidates.

The package was eventually voted down in the legislature and the reform debate is now on ice.

Hammond’s visit is the first stop on an east Asia tour, ahead of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Japan starting on April 10.

He will also meet members of Scotland’s Rugby Sevens team as the Hong Kong Sevens tournament kicks off on Friday, as well as Hong Kong and British businesses “to discuss new ways of connecting the UK, Hong Kong and China markets”, the FCO said. AFP

Sunrise. A rotten tree reflects in the water of a tributary of the river Oder as fog is clearing during sunrise near Lebus, northeastern Germany. AFP

Australia plans to protect ‘long-haul’ birds SYDNEY—They are the international travelers who come to Australia each year to rest and feast, but migratory birds face a perilous journey, officials said Friday as they launched a plan to help protect them.

Feathered tourists such as the grey plover, red knot and common sandpiper commonly spend several months each year Down Under after their breeding season in the northern hemisphere, traveling thousands of kilometers to get here.

“Shorebirds such as the female bar-tailed godwit match the incredible long-haul range of an Airbus A380,” Environment Minister Greg

Hunt said in a statement.

“But the perilous nature of migration, where birds cross multiple national boundaries, means shorebirds face a multitude of threats.”

Hunt said a new plan, designed to help protect some 35 species, recognized that some populations of these birds were in decline.

“There is a growing need to reduce the threats to their habitat,” he said, adding that this was critical for the birds’ continued survival.

Australia’s coastal and freshwater wetlands are a resting and feeding zone for the migratory shorebirds― with some traveling up to 11,500 kilometers non-stop to journey south.

Many travel along the East AsianAustralasian Flyway which extends from breeding grounds in the Russian tundra, Mongolia and Alaska south through Asia to non-breeding areas in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

Hunt said cooperation between countries was required to protect the birds and the new Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds provided the foundation for this.

“This plan is guiding our bilateral talks with Japan, China and the Republic of Korea on how threats to migratory shorebirds in the Yellow Sea region can be managed with the

help of local communities,” he said.

The plan notes that habitat loss as a result of development is the most significant threat to migratory birds in Australia.

Along the route it said coastal development in stop-over areas in the Yellow Sea region bordered

by North Korea, China and South Korea was of particular concern and the plan aimed to protect remaining tidal flats in the Yellow Sea. Chris Purnell from BirdLife Australia welcomed the plan but said there was still work to be done studying wetlands in Australia given gaps in the existing knowledge. AFP

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PROPERTY

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

jdlacsamana@gmail.com

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MEGAWORLD IS BEST DEVELOPER IN PHI PROPERTY AWARDS Villar named Real Estate Personality 2016

MEGAWORLD Corporation took home its first-ever Best Developer award at the fourth annual Philippines Property Awards gala held at the Fairmont Hotel Wednesday evening.

The Dr Andrew L Tan-led company started the evening with 16 nominations, with Uptown Bonifacio getting six nods. The highend urban township eventually won Best Residential Architectural Design for the Uptown Ritz condominium development.

Last year’s Best Developer winner SM Group was nominated for 10 awards through its various subsidiaries, and took home Best Commercial Development (Philippines) for SM Seaside City Cebu,

a retail project undertaken by SM Prime Holdings Inc. The conglomerate also won the Special Recognition in CSR for providing Filipinos “five-star” homes in prime locations around the country, as well as building public school classrooms across the islands.

Presented by Hansgrohe, the fourth edition of the Philippines Property Awards 2016 welcomed a new category to reward the country’s outstanding boutique developers. In the category for Best Boutique Developer, AppleOne Properties Inc pipped King Properties. Fellow Cebu-based firms, Primary Homes Inc and Cebu Landmasters Inc, collected several

King of the hill. Megaworld won four awards, capped by the Best Developer of the Year plum

Big winner. Not content with the Best Mid-Range Condo Development award for Metro Manila, Century Properties bagged the Best of the Best trophy for the night as well: Best Condominium Development in the Philippines.

Winners and Highly Commended accolades in other categories.

This year’s year’s entries doubled to more than 200 compared to 2015. “Whilst there’s still an emphasis on Metro Manila, there was an increase in the number of entries from Cebu and also Davao,” said Lindsay J Orr, chief operating officer of Jones Lang LaSalle Phil-

Books for kids, here to stay. Megawide Construction Corporation, through its social development arm

Megawide Foundation, recently launched its flagship education program, “Aklat Para Sa Lahat.” Just months after building over 7,000 classrooms for the Public-Private Partnership for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) with the Department of Education, Megawide Foundation is donating reading corners to elementary public schools in rural areas to keep alive reading and learning in students at a young age. It partnered with the National Bookstore Foundation, Inc., other non-government organizations, and employee-volunteers to provide books and furnishings to schools that are part of the project.The first of a series of ‘Aklat Para Sa Lahat’ events was held at the Biaan Aeta Elementary School in Mariveles, Bataan. “We pick schools located in more rural areas with smaller student populations that receive little support for extra-learning activities and have little to no access to additional learning materials,” said Maila Angela Ong, Megawide Foundation director. Megawide makes precast and formwork systems.

ippines and chairman of the judges.

A highlight of the night was the presentation to former Senate President Manuel B Villar Jr, founder of the Vista Land Group, of the Real Estate Personality of the Year award by the editors of Property Report.

“I am grateful for, and hum-

bled by, this recognition from the Philippines Property Awards,” said Villar.

Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc took home the Best Housing Development (Philippines) award for Northpoint, located in Davao. This project will move on to compete at the South East Asia Property Awards grand finale in Singapore

Drawing a bead on OFWs. Ara Vista Village, Picar Development’s

township real estate project in General Trias, Cavite, targets overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) looking for a solid investment. General Trias is a logical spot to set down roots: the city has a high appreciation value, owing it to the area’s rapid growth and development. Several major industrial estates such as Gateway Business Park and the New Wave Industrial City have made the town their home base. Four other industrial estates are being developed. Malls, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) offices, and techno hubs are also mushrooming in the vicinity.

Meanwhile, Picar Development has set up Ara Vista with comfortable homes (see photo) with a theme park, fitness center, and clubhouse.

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JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY Have hub will travel. By 2018, an estimated 4,000 buses, and some 160,000 passengers, will be passing through the South Integrated Transport System (ITS) everyday.

TRANSPORT HUB INFRA BOOSTS ALI PROJECT’S ROLE AS MM GATEWAY

TO say that Ayala Land’s (ALI) newest township, ARCA South, will be the future gateway of travellers entering Metro Manila would be a tad of an understatement.

The South Integrated Transport System (ITS), a multi-modal terminal to be built in the center of a five-hectare lot within the FTI compound in Taguig, will sit beside ARCA South. And as cranes, bulldozers and construction workers start criss-crossing across the sprawling site, infrastructure planners are envisioning a hub for transfers of some 4,000 buses and 160,000 passengers expected to

pass through the terminal daily.

The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and ARCA South Integrated Terminal Inc., recently signed the 35-year concession agreement to build and operate the South ITS. The project is expected to be completed by 2018.

“ARCA South itself will be a conducive environment for people to live, work, or visit, with all its

conveniences and strategic access and links,” said Stephen Comia, ALI project development manager.

“The estate management systems will help ensure a lifestyle of efficiencies similar to other premier lifestyle and business destinations.”

The six-story high terminal will have a centralized ticketing facility, as well as passenger waiting areas, trip information displays, retail establishments and a car park.

For in-city commutes, motorists can “park and ride”, that is, park their private cars within the ITS and travel in-city using PUVs. The objective of the project is to decongest EDSA, and ease traffic within the city.

Comia said the public will benefit from convenient amenities offered by the adjacent 74-hectare ARCA South estate.

The district will feature an Ayala Malls lifestyle complex, a six-tower ARCA South corporate center, and a 265-room Seda Hotel and a Qualimed hospital.

Meanwhile, a smattering of

residential developments from Ayala Land Premier, Alveo Land and Avida Land are set to be built within the district. All will be accessible to major locations since these will be is minutes away from the Makati CBD, Bonifacio Global City and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“With the Skyway/C5-C6 connector road plans underway, and a dedicated ramp that will link motorists and PUVs to the ITS terminal and ARCA South, the development is a budding landmark of convenience and efficiency,” Comia said.

Clark business, arts center. Philexcel, a metal fabricating company which helped spearhead the recovery of lahar-devastated Pampanga province in the 1990s under President Fidel V. Ramos’ Clark Freeport Zone materplan, is upping the investment ante. The Israel-based company, which occupies some 50-hectares of light industrial and business park real estate in Clark (see photo), recently announced further expansion in the area to spur economic growth in Central Luzon, and the country. Ariella Nasser-Moskovitz Philexcel’s enigmatic president, told The Standard that her company’s goal will be “to ensure our over 200 tenants enjoy a secure, convenient, environmentally sound and self-contained location with all the modern amenities at significant cost savings. “ Add to this, Nasser-Moskovitz said Philexcel will be a center for the arts. She led the inauguration last week of the Philexcel Art Center, which houses over 100 works collected by her late husband, Philexcel founder Jack Nasser. The collection features the works of Mabini-based Filipino artists from the Ermita district of Manila. At the launch (inset) were Nasser-Moskovits, and Philexcel managers Ian Packham, Dan Moskovitz.

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TATUM ANCHETA EDITOR

BiNG pAREl

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R

BERNADETTE lUNAS

life @ thestandard.com .ph

WRITER

@liFEatStandard

p op CU lT U RE

DARA PARk PlAyS WITh COlORS “A

LIFE

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By WEIzEl GulfAn

ng pambansang krung-krung” is now an Asian superstar. Sandara Park has come a long way from her days as a teen idol from Star Circle Quest when we simply knew her as Sandara, to her current status as Korean icon Dara Park.

“I miss the Philippines, especially the food,” confesses Park who comes back as one of the endorsers of clothing giant Penshoppe.

Speaking nearly flawless Tagalog endeared her to her Filipino audience during her press launch for Penshoppe’s Spring Summer 2016 ready-to-wear collection. Park is part of the new roster of endorsers for Team Penshoppe together with model Lucky Blue Smith, reality star Kendall Jenner, and model Sean O’Pry. “Touched ako sa mga fans ko. It’s been 12 years pero nandiyan pa rin ang mga Parkers, sobrang kaka-touch,” the Asian superstar exclaims.

When asked about her style principle, Dara shared that when she flew back to Korea, her stylists only gave her men’s clothing. “Dun ko na-realize na bagay pala

Get Dara's look with Penshoppe's Spring Summer 2016 collection that features light and breathable fabrics and layered pieces comfortable for the warm climate

sa ‘kin yung mga loose and layered clothes.” Playful as she is, she also added, “Wala akong style icon, ako lang sa Google inuulit-ulit ko lang na search Sandara Park, Sandara Park.” This statement made everyone in the hall laugh.

The actress expressed her nostalgia for the Philippines and its tourist havens by sharing that she wants to explore all the famous beach and mountain sites the country has to offer. “Lahat gusto ko, pero favorite ko dati Tagaytay, kasi malapit lang sa Manila.”

When asked if she has any plans for the Philippines outside her clothing deal with Penshoppe, Park readily jumped in and said that she would love to do a comedydrama with Vice Ganda, “kasi pareho kaming krungkrung, bagay kami,” she quips.

Park shares her fashion principle in which she said that she likes to choose standout bright and loud colors.

“Red kung red at green kung green! Gusto ko yung suot ko nag pop-out,” she happily tells the press. Sandara Park is known for wearing bold colorful pieces and fun layers which Penshoppe has made available for her fans this summer. The retail chain uses light and breathable fabrics that make sweaters, pullovers, knits, and layered pieces comfortable for the warmer climate of the Philippines.

This summer, be brave and bold like Dara Park through Penshoppe’s Spring Summer Collection 2016, and celebrate your personal style through the season’s trendy pieces.

For live updates on the brand, follow Penshoppe on Facebook and @penshoppe for Instagram and Twitter.

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

From left: Maria Belinda Lopez Villavicencio; LeAnne Grillo; Peter Senge, American systems scientist and founder of Society for Organizational Learning; Benedictine International School executive vice president Joan Marie BondocAntonio; and BIS assistant to the EVP Eric Cruz at the Camp Snowball 2014 in Portland, Oregon

A Systems Thinking school teaches understanding connections through the Yurt Circle

I

@liFEatStandard

5 REAl-liFE ADvAnTAgES oF STUDYing in A SYSTEmS Thinking School

n today’s fast-paced digital world where virtually everything is accessible with a click, information overload is inevitable.

And unfortunately, these information are often not necessarily helpful in the development of children, which then results in them growing up unable to think critically and handle stress when facing challenges.

This situation creates a need for a more holistic approach to learning, where children are trained how to think rather than just merely taught what to think. This approach is believed to be best achieved through Systems Thinking.

According to American systems scientist Peter Senge in his 1990 book The Fifth Discipline, a school or any learning organization that embraces Systems Thinking is “concerned with a shift of mind from seeing parts to seeing wholes, from seeing people as helpless reactors to seeing them as active participants in shaping their reality, from reacting to the present to creating the future.”

In the Philippines, Benedictine International School plays a lead role in integrating Systems Thinking into its curriculum and its mode of teaching. When BIS saw the importance of immersing everyone to this way of thinking, the educational institution sent its teachers to Portland, Oregon in the United States to attend Camp Snowball 2014.

The Benedictine International School family

Since Systems Thinking is defined as a way of thinking that sees the bigger picture and understands how parts of a system interact with each other, an individual exposed to this kind of thinking has a higher chance at personal success.

“At BIS, we apply Systems Thinking to train students to become life-long learners and dreamers who are able to effectively and joyfully apply what they have learned in school in their own realities,” said BIS mentor Eric Cruz.

Here are some real-life advantages that every student gets with the Systems Thinking approach:

1. Work smarter, not necessarily harder Children are trained to look at different change initiatives and identify leverage points, allowing them to perform more effectively in any given situation. They are able to handle different tasks and deliver results without having to exert unnecessary effort.

2. Solution-oriented, no blaming Children are taught that structure generates behavior; hence, problems are looked into with a wider perspective focusing on the needed changes in the structure rather than merely reacting to an incident.

3. More confident Seeing the bigger picture, children confidently embrace changes and face challenges. They are able to take into consideration the short-term, long-term and unintended consequences of an action and how it can affect different variables that come into play. Students are allowed to express themselves and are mentored and guided in planning and implementing different courses of action and projects.

4. Increased empathy and understanding Children are asked to voice out their assumptions and question their own mental models. This allows them to see other perspectives – accepting that while people have different opinions and beliefs, there is always a way to collaborate and focus on shared values.

5. Care for the environment This oft-neglected component is planted in the hearts and minds of the students as they are taught that we are all part of a bigger system and that our actions today will definitely have consequences that would affect us in the future.

To know more about Systems Thinking and how it can help children become successful and responsible adults, call Benedictine International School at (02) 951-7454 or 951-7154. BIS is located at Capitol Hills Drive, Old Balara, Quezon City.

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The election cups of 7-Eleven Philippines are back with their fun and unofficial poll for the 2016 election Support your presidential bet in the most refreshing way possible with 7-Election 2016, a totally fun way to vote for your presidential bet using specially-designed 7-Eleven Gulp cups for your favourite drinks. 7-Eleven Philippines is back with its fun and unofficial poll for the president’s seat – inspired by 7-Election US which, through the help of 7-Eleven Coffee, accurately predicted the wins of George W. Bush over John Kerry in the 2004 election and Barack Obama over John McCain in the 2008 election.

7-Election lets you exercise your freedom of choice in a fun mock poll for the next president. Anyone can vote, young or adult, and customers also can vote repeatedly.

To participate in this Gulp poll, head to any 7-Eleven store, look for the colorful 7-Election cups and choose among the five candidates printed on the cups – People’s Reform Party leader Miriam Defensor Santiago, independent candidate Grace Poe, Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas, PDP-Laban presidentiable Rodrigo Duterte, and United Nationalist Alliance bet Jejomar Binay. But, if you’re one of the many who are still undecided, you may also choose the cup that says, well, “Undecided.”

Jon Santos impersonating incumbent President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino

Cast your mock vote at any 7-Eleven store, and choose from independent candidate Grace Poe, United Nationalist Alliance bet Jejomar Binay, People’s Reform Party leader Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas, and PDP- Laban presidentiable Rodrigo Duterte. Or if you're still not sure who to choose, grab the cup that says 'Undecided'

After choosing the cup that represents your chosen presidentiable, get your preferred drink from the vending machine and receive your official receipt at the counter to confirm who you voted for.

Results are accessible to anyone. Customers can view the results in stores and the updated votes every Friday or they can visit www.7-election.com.ph for regular updates.

The 7-Election cups started last March 23 and the 7 Election updated leader board

showed Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the top rank followed by “Undecided” – which provided a good insight since 14 percent are undecided – meaning the candidates have to work harder to convince the voters, said 7-Eleven’s division head for marketing communication, Emmanuel Lee Esguerra, who disclosed that the mock poll will end a week before the actual election.

Now, if you’re serious about campaigning for your next president,

and since these cups are Instagramworthy, you can actually do your own campaigning by sharing your chosen cups on IG using the hashtag #7Election.

– Charmaine Loveria For more updates, visit www.7-election.com.ph or follow 711philippines on Facebook, @711philippines on Twitter, or @711ph on Instagram.

S AT U R D AY : A p R I L 9, 2 0 1 6

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

Nestle, Milo Philippines and Alphaland executives (from left) Aurora Alipao, Ellen Isturis, Nicholas Belasco, Robbie de Vera and Andrew Neri toast to the official launch of the 2016 MILO Summer Sports Clinics

MAkE ThE SchooL bREAk pRoDUcTIvE wITh MILo SUMMER SpoRTS cLInIcS

W

ith school finally over, parents are now looking for worthwhile activities that can keep their kids occupied, and at the same time give them a new sets of skills, build up their stamina and make them learn a thing or two about character building as they interact with other children.

Fortunately, Milo is here, continuing what it has started so many years ago and expanding its reach as it launched the Milo Summer Sports Clinics at the City Club in Alphaland Makati.

Running until May, the sports clinics offer a healthy and fun summer experience where kids can learn the fundamentals of a sport of their choice from expert coaches coming from respected sporting organizations in the country. Aside from promoting the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle, the program also offers kids the opportunity to gain new friends while acquiring characterbuilding traits such as confidence, discipline, diligence, perseverance, respect, teamwork and sportsmanship.

“MILO is committed in helping Filipinos live an active and healthy lifestyle. That’s why this summer, we’re encouraging parents to sign their kids up for the MILO Summer Sports Clinics so that they can make their kids make the most of their vacation by getting into sports,” said Robbie de Vera, Sports marketing executive of Milo Philippines during the launch.

Members of the Association for the Advancement of Karatedo give a demonstration

The Milo Summer Sports Clinics will be offering 17 sports this year

Kids learn a new sport, gain new friends and develop character-building attributes like confidence, perseverance, respect, teamwork, and sportsmanship

Milo Summer Sports Clinic coaches use modern and scientific approaches in teaching

Members of the media and their children were given a sneak peek of what’s in store with mini sessions that teach the basics of different sports

to drink Milo with Active-Go everyday to help energize both the mind and body, and so that the would-be sports champs have the winning energy to fuel them before every game.

The program has over 700 venues nationwide that will offer a total of 17 sports – badminton, basketball, bowling, chess, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, iceskating, karatedo, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, touch rugby, triathlon, and volleyball.

To widen its reach and introduce additional sports into the program, Milo has partnered with GOLFMIX Philippines, the Philippine Fencing Association, and the Triathlon Association of the Philippines.

De Vera expressed excitement at the partnership as they are bringing golf, fencing, and triathlon into the roster of sports for

the clinic. “We assure the parents that these new sports partners will uphold the quality associated with the MILO Summer Sports Clinics so that their children will get the best training,” he assured.

Mommies who nurture dreams of raising sports champions can start turning this dream into reality by encouraging their kids

Give your kids a head start by enrolling them now to the Milo Summer Sports Clinics. Visit https://www.milo.com.ph for registration and class schedules and other information.

To sign up, just visit the website, download the registration form, and submit to the organizer of the chosen sport together with an empty 1kg pack of MILO.

new elite batch of culinary champs emerge at Jolly University year 3 A new generation of passionate, talented leaders and entrepreneurs has emerged from the recent Jolly University Year 3 Boot Camp series that kicked off with a food congress and grand cook-off challenge that opened the doors wide for learning opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and budding chefs.

According to Jun Cochanco, president of Fly Ace Corp. which is the exclusive marketer and distributor of Jolly Food Line that sponsored the event, the turnout of participants, the numerous inquiries and entries they received this year proved that Jolly University has successfully gained momentum. “Ultimately, we hope to inspire these students to remember what they have learned here and apply those lessons when they have their own food business in the future,” Cochanco reiterated.

Now on its third year, Jolly University saw a new batch of promising students from 17 universities and colleges participating in the boot camp where they received handson training and seminars from industry practitioners, among them Francis Kong who spoke on Competitive Advantage; Food Styling by Jolly University Head Master Chef Mitchie Sison and Chef Justin Sison; Food Photography by Fujifilm’s advocate Arnold Santos, among others.

This year’s Jolly University delegates and participants also enjoyed the Jolly Food Congress held at Le Pavillon in Pasay City that featured highly interactive and informative seminars.

Event highlights include forums and culinary demonstrations, personality/career and entrepreneurship workshops by noted industry leaders. Booths and stage activities also added to the excitement.

The Jolly University Individual Category winners John Pestin, 2nd runner-up; John Mendoza, grand winner; and Lorenzo Joaquin, 1st runner-up, with Jolly Food Line's product associate Ralph Rebulanan; Fly Ace general manager Ramon Daez; executive vice president for Sales and Marketing Larry Cochanco; vice president for Sales Bart Canon; and vice president for Marketing Abe Cipriano

The grand culminating activity was the Cook-Off Challenge where group representatives, as well as individuals demonstrated their culinary skills. While the group competitions are fun and entertaining, Jolly University’s aim is to bring out the full leadership potentials of a person during individual participation,” noted Chef Mitchie.

Of the 24 participants who gamely pitted their kitchen skills and creative abilities to gain honor for their school and receive individual accolade as well, La Consolacion’s John Mendoza bested all others to emerge as the ultimate winner in

the Individual Cook-Off, followed by UST’s Lorenzo Joaquin and John L. Pestin also of La Consolacion College. Mendoza’s dish entry “Fish Hardinera” mainly composed of Jolly Mushrooms, Jolly Garbanzos and fish meat got the nod of the judges.

For the Group category, the FEU team composed of Kim Mercado, Francis John Candido and Jemuel Palmares won top honors for their winning main dish, ”Crispy Jolly Mushroom Laing.” Joining them in the elite winners’ circle are UST’s Erika Michelle Aparte, Erine Nicole Ramos and Noriyuki Hirano with their entry “Jolly Longganisa Infused Chicken Roulade with

Luscious Mango Waterchestnuts” (1st runner-up) and PWU’s “Jolly Crab Relleno Rice in Curried Mushroom Sauce” prepared

by John Elix Manuel, Juan Carlo Caparas and Jodi Michelle Jacinto (2nd runner-up).

The Jolly University finalists showcased no less than top caliber kitchen skills as they lit up their stoves to come up with the best-tasting Jolly-inspired dishes and delicious summer-inspired concoctions in the Mocktail contest, with teams given 60 minutes to prepare their dishes and mocktails whose ingredients had to include JOLLY’s various canned fruits and vegetables and other Fly Ace products.

Winners in the Group Category received trophies and cash prizes plus home products from Fujidenzo, Masflex, Corelle and Glad. This year’s grand champions will participate in several projects with the JOLLY brand including recipe development and will also receive hands-on culinary training under Chef Mitchie Sison.

“I look forward to the winners’ continued passion and dedication to their studies. As new ambassadors of JOLLY, I expect them to continue their engagement with the Jolly brand team, spreading the word that there’s this reliable canned food brand Jolly, which is now 20 years old, that is always supportive of the Philippine culinary industry and students who are willing to learn and aspire to become good at their cooking craft,” concluded Cochanco.

For more updates, visit jolly.com.ph and www.flyacecorp.com. Also like its official Facebook fan page Jolly Eats or follow via Twitter and Instagram @jollyeatsph.

S AT U R D AY : A p R I L 9, 2 0 1 6

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LIFE life @ thestandard.com .ph

@LIFEatStandard

The lead characters of Queer As Folk make out in the fictitious Club Babylon, an inspiration to many an Orosa-Nakpil nightclub

The corner of Orosa and Nakpil is so iconic that there's a book titled after it

ScEnE quEEnS AnD hIpStEr BOIS A once-Avid clubber looks bAck At the rise And fAll of gAy clubbing culture And AnAlyzes whAt hAs tAken its plAce in this four-pArt essAy. (FIRST oF FoUR pARTS)

THE GIST

By ED BIADO ome of my best memories of the local gay clubbing scene, which I’ll refer from now on as The Scene, happened around the vicinity of the corner of Orosa and Nakpil. That intersection was once the center of the universe. It was a cosmos in its own right, complete with its own set of rules and enforcers. The pecking order was simple enough for those who were part of The Scene, but was something that outsiders could never even begin to fathom.

I knew my place in the hierarchy and just like everyone else like me, I was trying – sometimes desperately – to claw my way to the top. I never did get there, but I came close. By the time I was just about ready to charge, something changed. Suddenly, the cosmos warped and that area of the universe deflated, quickly becoming a hollow shell of its former gloriously fabulously over-the-top self.

I mourn the death of the shining star known as Orosa-Nakpil, and I can’t help thinking that my own actions contributed to its demise. While I was never a regular patron of the bars and clubs in the vicinity, I dabbled a lot and just like everyone else like me, I took pride in being an enthusiast.

It was the early 2000s and I was a young gay man searching for an identity, for meaning, for a purpose. I was looking for affection, attention, attraction and emotion. I needed to feel special, that I belonged, that I was not invisible.

It’s hard to talk about homosexuality without touching on social norms, conventions and expectations. Let’s just say that The Scene defied all that and gave bois – yes, that word is intentionally spelled that way – like me a place to be truthful.

The Scene was our pact of honesty. Our

S

The poster announcing the closing party of Bed in 2013, one of Orosa-Nakpil's then-last remaining pillars

own little cosmos was our safe haven. In it, we were free.

To understand my point, I have to take you back to the year 2000, when the American version of the TV series Queer as Folk debuted. The show was about a group of gay friends who each had his own issues.

It was groundbreaking in the sense that it was a frank discussion about The Scene.

While the characters were, on some level, stereotypical, the show explored complex personalities; personalities that were once on the sidelines and depicted in pop culture as one-dimensional. The themes of Queer as Folk might have been a reflection of the times in the Western world, but in the Philippines, they were unheard of.

I’d like to think that the show was instrumental in the formation of the Orosa-Nakpil cosmos. The most popular gay-oriented dance club of the 2000s was obviously patterned after Queer as Folk’s Club Babylon. It was a fantasy, an illusion, a dream state that tired, weary and conflicted souls could enter to feel something. It didn’t have to be joy or lust or an emotion that remotely resembles love. It just needed to be something. Anything.

And that, in itself, was reassuring. The

thumping beat of the vocal house track that the DJs would spin were actually reassuring enough: That you were in the cosmos, that you were shielded from the judgment and persecution of the outside world, that you were not alone. It was comforting to know that you were home.

Of course, judgment and persecution also exist at home. There was nothing as inclusive and exclusive – accepting and isolating – as the cosmos. Those contradictions kept The Scene interesting; it kept the balance of things. It was where the out-and-proud actor was treated like a star and not the sidekick he usually plays on TV. It was where drag queens were welcomed, celebrated and revered for their hair-and-makeup skills, impersonation abilities and lip-syncing panache.

What happened in the cosmos stayed in the cosmos. It was where the closeted celebrity could let loose and not be outed.

“It would be our little (open) secret,” our knowing eyes would tell him. Without phones that can take and send pictures directly to the World Wide Web, secrets were relatively safe. You could do a lap in nothing but your too-tight underwear barely keeping your erection from flopping

all over the place. You could be touching, feeling and making out with three people all at once in some backroom or alleyway.

A dozen guys could’ve seen your penis while you were peeing, either because you were showing off or you were using one of the urinals in the middle of the men’s room – those mounted on the transparent wall. Still, your dignity would be intact come Monday morning when you get to the office in a crisp shirt and tie. Pristine.

Virginal. Saintly.

But the cosmos was also a wretched place of rejection, betrayal, deceit and occasional prostitution. Make no mistake about it; queers are judgmental. And we are not afraid to show it. The cosmos was a smorgasbord of eye candy, potential partners and lovers and a constant supply of hard-bodied young men looking for other hard-bodied young men. There was something for everyone – including but most definitely not limited to the twinks for those who like ‘em young, lean and smooth; the bears for those who prefer a little meat (and a lot of hair) around the bones; the otters for those who’d rather have the hair without the extra pounds; the jocks for those who can’t get over their college fantasies; and the daddies for those who have old-guy fetishes – but not everyone got what they wanted. Feelings were bound to be hurt. And they did get hurt. Constantly.

Loyalties and boundaries were tested.

Friendships and relationships were on the line. One’s self-worth, convictions and sometimes, sanity hung in the balance. It was a never-ending three-way tug-of-war among the intellect, the emotions and the stiffening penis. It was a game that very few won but we played along nonetheless.

But all of us had to grow up eventually.

We couldn’t stay bois forever and keep playing the game and dance every weekend night away. At some point, we had to become men. Have I reached that point? I have no idea. But I knew towards the late 2000s that I had to move on. I had to let The Scene go.

I’m @EdBiado on Twitter and Instagram

SAT URDAY : A PRIL 9, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

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SINAG MAYNILA FESTIVAL IN APRIL

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ince its successful inauguration in March 2015, the first set of featured films have debuted in various international film festivals. “The exposure of the filmmakers in other countries brings pride and honor to Sinag Maynila and to the Filipino Filmmakers,” says Festival Director Brillante Mendoza. As we welcome the New Year, the independent film festival Sinag Maynila already has a line-up of films to be premiered this April.

Conceptualized and helmed by its CEO and Founder Wilson Tieng, together with worldrenowned and internationally acclaimed Mendoza, Sinag Maynila gives grants to independent filmmakers so they can develop their individual material to a full-length film for public exhibition. For 2016, the festival has been opened to any Filipino independent filmmaker that wish to apply for a film grant.

Five chosen filmmakers closely collaborated with Tieng and Mendoza. This collaboration resulted in stories that reflect the Filipino culture while illustrating messages that will resonate globally.

Sinag Maynila Festival Director Brillante Mendoza (left) and CEO and Founder Wilson Tieng (right)

retirement. Assigned to be his partner is the neophyte Morris, a trigger-happy, sadist who yearns to impress the syndicate boss. For Ben, this last assignment turns out to be a journey of introspection, selfhealing and redemption. With this awakening, he takes it upon himself to pull Morris out of the eventual hell-of-a-life he says he has lived as a hitman. Expressway stars Alvin Anson, Aljur Abrenica, RK Bagatsing, Kiko Matos, Inez Bernardo, Japo Parcero, Arpee Bautista, and Jim Libiran.

track them down to retrieve the stash, and give them a chance to get off the hook by means of taking on a risky mission. Dyamper stars Carlo Aquino, Alchris Galura, Tim Mabalot, Kristofer King, Liza DinoSeguerra, and Debbie Garcia.

Lila by Gino M. Santos

Mrs. by Adolf Alix Jr.

Seventy-year-old Virginia shares the old ancestral house with Delia, her ever-loyal maid.

Delia is marrying her long-time boyfriend, Rene, and tearfully confides to Virginia that she wants to go home to her parents in the province to start a new life with him. Virginia is haunted by the disappearance of Sonny Boy years ago and she’s struggling to conquer it. The film shows a portrait of a woman and a mother trying to juggle the sad realities of life in a cycle of life and death. Mrs. stars Elizabeth Oropesa, Lotlot de Leon, Rosanna Roces, Anita Linda, and Mark Herras.

Expressway by Ato Bautista

A syndicate old-timer named Ben needs to do one last assignment before the boss he works for grants him his much-delayed

Mara Lopez, Micko Laurente, Menggie Cobarrubias, and Lui Manansala.

T.P.O. by Jay Altarejos

Dyamper by Mes De Guzman

Three friends wait along Dalton Pass at dawn to jump on the back of rice delivery trucks and steal the goods to sell it at the wet market as their means of income. One of them accidentally gets a pack of drugs in one of the trucks they jumped on and put themselves in jeopardy when its owners

Teresa is a battered mother in the hands of her husband, Miguel. When their son Miguelito starts to get hurt as violence erupts at its worst, Teresa seeks a Temporary Protection Order (TPO) against her husband. Meanwhile, Miguel goes through the same long and arduous process of applying for the custody of their son on the town’s most festive and busiest day. When they see each other in the middle of the road, an accident will ensue leaving them both destroyed and at the losing end. The narrative will start repeating backwards, the truth will be revealed with scenes that have yet to unfold. T.P.O. stars Oliver Aquino,

Jess is a young woman running from her past and moves into the house of a warmhearted landlady. She finds a diary in her room that belonged to an old tenant. As days pass, strange occurrences ensue and the diary’s words take an eerie turn when Jess finds herself in the middle of a malevolent turn of events from a dark past not entirely her own. Lila stars Janine Gutierrez, Enchong Dee, Sherry Lara, Miggs Cuaderno, Kate Alejandrino, and Socrates Jose.

The 2nd Sinag Maynila Film Festival will run from April 21 to 26.

For more updates, log on to www.sinagmaynilafilmfestival.com, on Facebook (SinagMaynila), Twitter and Instagram (@ sinagmaynila). Subscribe also to the official Sinag Maynila Youtube Account: https:// www.youtube.com/channel/UCmZPI6kPKUCsbim9e_qByNQ.

‘Hellos’and ‘Goodbyes’ on Discovery Channel

With a series of hellos and goodbyes following the graduation season, Discovery Channel also brings in a new series, a oneoff, and the final season of one of its mostfollowed programs.

This month, one of Formula 1’s top mechanics seeks a fresh challenge after nearly 10 immensely successful years in the motorsports industry. Marc “Elvis” Priestley, who was an integral part of Lewis Hamilton’s championship-winning pit stop crew in 2008, embarked on a journey to find the planet’s most fascinating amateur motorsports and the result is the show Gears,

Grease & Glory. are special effects experts With his F1 knowledge Adam Savage and Jamie and experience, Elvis will be Hyneman in their multiple exploring the world’s most attempts to find out the truth. fascinating motorsport Using modern day science, subcultures and working they put everyday myths and with amateur enthusiasts to urban legends to the test to create, build and customdetermine what’s busted and ize one-of-a-kind vehicles what’s confirmed. This team which they will test in a racis always ready to take it to ing environment. The new Host Marc “Elvis” Priestley the next level with explosive series Gears, Grease & Glory premieres 8 results! p.m. tonight.

Catch the final season of Mythbusters as Returning for its new and final season it premieres 9 p.m. April 13.

Meanwhile, witness how the Sherpa community united in grief and anger to reclaim the mountain following the deadly avalanche that struck on April 18, 2014, killing 16 of their members. From director Jennifer Peedom, the new one-off Sherpa is a powerful and moving viewing experience that brings the audience deep into the lives of the Sherpas who make Everest’s climbing culture possible.

The story behind the locals of Nepal and the climbing industry of the world’s highest peak unfolds in Sherpa, as it premieres 8 p.m. April 24.

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SAT URDAY : A PRIL 9, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

RJ LEDESMA JOINS BLOOMBERG TV PHILIPPINES

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usinessman and best-selling author RJ Ledesma, who gained popularity as the adolescent Joey in a popular TVC series in the 80’s, joins Bloomberg TV Philippines (BloombergTVPh) as host of Bright Ideas, a talk show dedicated to inspiring and promoting innovative start-up businesses in the country. Bambikes, Sari.Ph and HeyKuyaPh are some of those already featured on the aspirational show.

An innovator himself, RJ co-founded and organized the popular weekend market, Mercato Centrale, and authored five best-selling books, two of which became finalists in the National Book Awards.

“A show that is close to my heart: Bright Ideas, a show that features startup companies - from tech to food to agriculture… Very privileged to be part of the news network.

Bright Ideas airs Thursdays at 9 p. m. on BloombergTVPh via Cignal TV ch.127 in High Definition (HD) and ch.8 (SD).

Ledesma joins BloombergTVPh’s lineup of distinguished hosts, such as economist and law professor Tony Abad, moderator of the weekly discussion program Political Capital; Entrepreneur-philanthropist Quintin Pastrana, host of Thought Leaders, a show that features top decision makers and business icons the likes of Washington Sycip; and lawyer-journalist Rod Nepomuceno, who hosts the weekly marketing program The Insight.

BloombergTVPh also boasts a dynamic team of news program anchors: Regina Hing is an experienced international business journalist who functions both as the channel’s Senior Executive Producer and co-anchor of the hour-long morning newscast First Up. She hosts the show together with finance analyst JP Ong, corporate lawyer Jean De Castro, and Quintin Pastrana. Quintin, besides his weekly talk show and morning newscast, is also seen on-air at noontime co-anchoring In the Loop alongside News5 alumna Shawn Yao. Yao also co-anchors the news bulletin Top-5 with Erika Dizon. Dizon, on the other hand, is another new face seen on BloombergTVPh who is also tasked to write news for some of the channel’s news segments. She is a certified SEC

Bloomberg TV Philippines news personalities (from left) Shawn Yao, JP Ong, Regina Lay, Quintin Pastrana, Jean de Castro, Rod Nepomuceno and Tony Abad

News bulletin anchor Erika Dizon

Businessman, TV host and author RJ Ledesma

Philippines trader with global markets background in international institutions handling corporate clients.

BloombergTVPh holds true to its promise of providing inspirational

content to a wide range of viewers by infusing a youthful influence through the addition of Ledesma to its lineup of hosts. “People should not be intimidated by BloombergTVPh, it should

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ANSWER PREVIOUS PUZZLE

ACROSS 1 Canasta play 5 No. crunchers 9 PR persons 13 Orchard unit 14 — Russo, of “Tin Cup” 15 Chatter on 17 Nitpicks 18 “Orinoco Flow” singer

19 Skinflint 20 In inventory 22 Waves 24 Mouse alerts 25 Do a brake job 26 Thorns 29 Flirt with 31 McEnroe rival 32 Leather item 33 Buddhism in Japan 36 Soyuz destination

37 Lamer, as an excuse 40 PFC mail drop 41 Witty remark 42 Vasco da — 43 Mesa dwellers 45 Dengue mosquito 47 Beet soup (var.)

48 Corset’s cousin 51 Urn homophone 52 Stubborn plus 54 “Jive Talkin’” group (2 wds.)

58 Opposite of credit 59 Goddess of spring 61 Shaft 62 Buffalo puckster 63 Totally amazed 64 Appoint 65 Twisted the truth 66 Is a groom 67 Siberian city DOWN 1 Natural elevs.

2 Latin 101 word 3 Construction toy 4 Prepare to land 5 Small streams 6 Awaits judgment 7 Whichever 8 Scorch 9 Lunchbox items 10 Window grating 11 Sulu of “Star Trek”

SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016

12 16 21 23 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 35 38 39 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 53 55 56 57 60

Without empathy Gaelic Faints, with “over” Sound off Not chubby 100 centavos Technical sch.

Come to — Essayist’s pseudonym Hillside, to Angus Shocks Cast-of-thousands movie Grab a snack Limerick writer — Nash River in France Spaghetti herb Compliment Very pleased Raises, as sheep Is on the go Best possible Torah reciter Flowed out Soften up Student’s ordeal Boulevard liners Cast around for Dolly the clone

be a welcome assistance that gives our viewers an idea on how they can turn their business into a reality, or even bring these ideas to an international platform,” said Emmanuel Lorenzana, President & CEO of MediaQuest Holdings, which runs Cignal TV. “With BloombergTVPh, Filipino businessmen will have the access in the multi-platform business and financial news network which provides continuous coverage of the people, companies and ideas that move not only the local market but the global market as well,” Jane Basas, Cignal TV President said, supporting Lorenzana.

Bloomberg TV Philippines (BloombergTVPh) is a Philippine-based satellite business news television channel of Cignal TV, Inc. launched on Oct. 05. It is the 11th Bloomberg channel in the world and the country’s first 24/7 business news channel.

BloombergTVPh is also distributed across the country via local cable affiliates. For more channel info and program updates, follow the channel’s social media accounts: /BloombergTVPh.

SAT URDAY : A PRIL 9, 2016

SHOWBITZ

ISAH V. RED EDITOR

isahred @ gmail.com

E

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GMA STARS LIVEN UP ‘BANGUS FESTIVAL’

xpect Dagupan City to party as stars of GMA Network join in the monthlong celebration of Bangus Festival with none other than Pambansang Bae Alden Richards himself kicking off the celebration yesterday.

The other half of the phenomenal AlDub love team made sure his fans up north had a great time during the Kapuso Fan’s Day in Dagupan City Plaza. Alden was joined by comedian John Feir, host the said event.

The following week, April 15, Kapuso artists Louise delos Reyes and Juancho Triviño will make the celebration of the “Festivals of the North” extra colorful as they participate in a Kapuso Float Parade.

Capping off the Bangus Festival 2016, GMA will have its own stage along Judge de Venecia Highway in Dagupan City where a Kapuso Night will be held on April 30. The cast of the hit rom-com series Because of You – Carla Abellana,

Rafael Rosell, Joyce Ching, and Kristoffer Martin will spread love among Dagupenos that night. They will be joined by The Millionaire’s Wife lead stars Andrea Torres and Mike Tan. GMA Network was again chosen by the City Government of Dagupan as its strategic partner for this year’s Bangus Festival.

The partnership signing was held on March 31 at CSI Stadia attended by GMA’s Senior Assistant Vice President for Regional Business Development Division Oliver Amoroso, GMA TV Dagupan Station Manager Jojo Balingit and representatives of the City Government of Dagupan led its Mayor Belen Fernandez. Kapuso actress Rhian Ramos also graced the event as special celebrity guest.

The Kapuso Network, in turn, expressed its gratitude to the Dagupan City government for the renewed trust.

“We are honored to be working again

with the City of Dagupan for this year’s Bangus Festival,” said Amoroso. “GMA will always support the festival which has grown to become the biggest festival in North and Central Luzon—and one of the most significant and much-anticipated festivals in the Philippines. Our 2016 partnership with the City of Dagupan for the Bangus Fest affirms GMA’s commitment in promoting the best in and of the Filipino,” he added.

Referred to as the “Bangus Capital of the Philippines,” Dagupan City continues to attract tourists during this annual celebration of the delicious bangus or milkfish products.

To know more about the Network’s regional events, follow GMA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gmanetwork and GMA Regional TV at www.facebook.com/ GMARegionalTV and on Twitter and Instagram via @GMARegionalTV.

Fun and laughter in ‘Sarap Diva’ Regine Velasquez-Alcasid rounds up a battalion of guests today in the cooking-cumtalk-cum-music show called Sarap Diva.

The guests include singer/comedian Arnel Ignacio. “Super Sireyna” winner Francine Garcia, and Dear Uge co-host Divine.

It will be another hour of fun and laughter with the three comedians and Velasquez-Alcasid.

Throw in Strastruck Season 6 finalist Jay Arcilla and expect an even more riotous episode.

“Sarap Diva” host Regine Velasquez with guests Arnel Ignacio, Teri Gian, Francine Garcia, Jay Arcilla, Divine Grace Aucina

In today’s episode of “Sarap Diva,” host Regine Velasquez prepares a special recipe

Watch out for Velasquez-Alcasid’s special dish. She will prepare it based on a recipe sent by an

avid Sarap Diva viewer.

Sarap Diva airs Saturdays on GMA Network right after Maynila.

New ‘palengke queen’ in Cartimar She went to Divisoria and most recently she scoured Cartimar, surprising both tenants and shoppers.

It seems Heart Evangelista is taking a liking to going to mar-

kets, like 168 at Tutuban Mall in Divisoria and now Cartimar. The actress was amazed to see a lot animals in the numerous pets shops in Cartimar.

She is grateful that the show

“Juan Happy Love Story” stars Dennis Trillo and Heart Evangelista

owners allowed her to pet some of the animals. The owners were similarly glad Heart had the time to visit their shops.

Heart is a spokesperson of Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

Apart from Cartimar, Heart also visited Pasay Victory Mall and Libertad Market.

In the provinces she visited she also passed by public markets and the crowd had a heyday getting up close and personal with Senator Chiz Escudero’s beautiful wife.

As the elections draws closer, there’s not just one Poe-Escudero tandem that’s going around the country, but two. The other composed of Lovi and Heart is intensely campaigning for Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero.

In fact, even if there was a taping the previous day for Juan Happy Love Story, the new series she is starring in with Dennis Trillo, she would board an airplane for a provincial destination to help her husband in his campaign sorties.

Pambansang Bae Alden Richards opens the month-long celebration in Dagupan

Touristars Yohan, J-Morning captivate 4th judge Gate 3, or the third elimination round, opened for the Top 12 Touristars last weekend and gave the studio audience the power to choose who among the contestant would move on to Gate 4 in ABS-CBN’s original singing competition for 100 percent nonFilipinos who love OPM music, I Love OPM. The Top 12 Touristars were grouped into four, with each Touristar having a special “Karaoke Night” with one of the Himigration Officers as their coach.

In Gate 3 or also called as the “Kababayan Bump-Off ” round, only two from every group would be moving on -- the first being the “Kababayan’s Choice” chosen by 100 audience members and the other being the “Judges’ Choice” selected by the Himigration Officers.

Last weekend saw Yohan Hwang and J-Morning moving on to Gate 4 when both became the “Kababayan’s Choice,” with Ryan Gallagher and DBD selected by the Himigration Officers, ending the runs of Daniel Herrington (USA) and Uchusentai: Noiz (Japan) in the competition.

Yohan charmed the “Kababayans” once again with his smooth delivery of Ronnie Liang’s “Gusto Kita” and J-Morning got emotional with their heartfelt version of Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak.” Ryan, on the other hand, again showed true emotions with his rendition of Basil Valdez’ “Sa Dulo ng Walang

Hanggan.” DBD successfully showcased their harmony with Sarah Geronimo’s “Kilometro.”

Next week, the remaining six Touristars Matthew May (UK), Moses Akoh (Nigeria), Fathin Amira (Singapore), Jeena Dimaandal (USA), Dio Smith (Pakistan), and Naisa Lasalosi (Australia) enter Gate 3 to face the “Kababayan Bump-Off ” round.

Who will be the top “Kababayan’s Choice”? Who will survive the “Kababayan Bump-off ” round? Who will be crowned as the grand winner?

Don’t miss I Love OPM every Saturday right after MMK, and every Sunday after Rated K on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

Catch up via iwantv.com.ph or skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers. For updates, follow @iloveopmtv on Instagram and Twitter or like www.facebook. com/iloveopm on Facebook.

Korean charmer Yohan Hwang

K-pop band and “I Love OPM” Touristar J-Morning

SAT URDAY : A PRIL 9, 2016

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ISAH V. RED EDITOR NICKIE WANG WRITER

isahred @ gmail.com

SHOWBITZ

MEET LUCAS, THE SON ONLY A MOTHER CAN LOVE

Supernatural horror. “Elemento” is a story about Kara (Cristine Reyes) and her struggle when her son Lucas (Albert Silos) returned from school field trip, with a different soul.

Playing the role of Lucas, this film is a big break for young actor Albert Silos who appeared in Turo Turo which was part of MMFF New Wave competition in December last year. Elemento also stars Jake Cuenca as Lucas’ father.

See how Elemento takes Pinoy horror to a new direction. The film is in theaters nationwide now.

ISAH V. RED

E

arly this year, VIVA International Pictures gave us the heart-pumping blockbuster horror movie, The Boy. If you’re one of those who enjoyed the psychological tension brought by its leading character, Brahms, then brace yourself for another story of an ominous boy in VIVA Films’ Elemento.

While on a field trip to a forest, gradeschool student Lucas (Albert Silos) answers a call of nature and relieves himself among the foliage. Unknown to him, he was being observed by a couple of children who seem displeased by what he did. Upon his return home, Lucas starts to exhibit unusual behavior that makes even his own dog ill at ease around him.

Kara (played by Cristine Reyes), who is a very doting mother to Lucas, also cannot ignore the fact that her mild-tempered son has become menacing. A neighbor (played

by Elizabeth Oropesa) tells her of the dreadful possibility that something from the woods may have possessed her son.

Kara’s fear intensifies when she receives a call from a boy who sounds like Lucas, frantically begging her to rescue him in the forest. The harrowing ordeal that follows also leads to a shocking discovery.

Elemento is Mark Meily’s first creative venture into the horror genre. Aside from being the director, he also wrote the screenplay, basing it on his own child’s supernatural experience. As evident in the trailer, Meily has made a gripping movie that is worth watching in full.

His roster of films include the acclaimed movies like Crying Ladies, La

Another bomb threatens to explode on ‘Bastille Day’

Filmmaker Mark Meily ventures into horror genre for the first time with “Elemento”

Visa Loca, ABNKKBSNPLAko, and award-winning historical masterpieces Baler, and El Presidente.

As timely as today’s headlines and government around the world’s concerns in battling terrorism comes the riveting action film Bastille Day based on true events starring Idris Elba and Richard Madden out to stop a series of bomb attacks in Paris.

Bastille Day is a story with buried layers - personal, action, and geopolitical - and, even though it’s a very, very fast paced action thriller, it does touch on the anger that a lot of people have in terms of feeling disenfranchised from the political process. You see it in London, you see it in Paris, and it is a big theme in the plot because the bad guys exploit it.

Actors Idris Elba and Richard Madden in a scene from the American action film “Bastille Day”

Taking the lead is Idris Elba as Sean Briar, the CIA operative who has been confined to a desk job in Paris after a mission in the Middle East went wrong.

Elba describes Sean Briar as “a CIA veteran, he’s been around for a long time and the posting in Paris is a step down for him after the high profile covert work he was doing before. He’s an army guy who just wants to get the job done and go home. His boss, Karen, instructs him to go and get Michael, who’s the prime suspect in the bombing, but Briar believes that there’s more to the story than that. So he has to follow his hunch even though he’s disobeying orders. These two characters - Briar, and Michael- make for an unlikely duo of heroes. They’re thrown into and are forced to team up and navigate their way through the twists and turns of the impending catastrophe. It’s not just action for action’s sake. It’s an actionpacked film; but at the heart, there are characters that you care about and there’s a very compelling storyline.”

Bastille Day opens April 20 in theatres nationwide from Axinite Digicinema.

Charlotte le Bon and Idris Elba in a film directed by James Watkins and written by Andrew Baldwin