DT_20190713

GODDESSES 

OF THE EARTH 

TOYOTA RECALLS 

12,000 UNITS OVER 

AIRBAG ERROR 

READY TO FLY 

PAGE C17 LIFESTYLE 

NAVAL OIL TANKER 

ESCORTS SET 

PAGE B13 

WORLD 

PAGE B9 

BUSINESS 

GRACE POE’S 

UNDISCLOSED 

SECRETS 

PAGE A5 

COMMENTARY 

PAGE D21 

SPORTS 

Palace rips 

UNHRC reso 

By Kristina Maralit 

MOST 

INNOVATIVE 

BROADSHEET 

2018 

EXCLUSIVE 

44TH 

PHILIPPINES 

BUSINESS 

EXPO 

MANILA, PHILIPPINES SATURDAY, 13 JULY 2019 

Malacañang yesterday slammed as 

“grotesquely one-sided, outrageously narrow, 

and maliciously partisan,” the decision of the 

United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) 

to adopt a resolution calling for a probe on 

killings allegedly resulting from President 

Turn to page A2 

Water firms cheat public 

Plunder urged on Manila Water, Maynilad 

Actually when 

Singapore was 

rehabilitating its water 

ways, it took them 

about 10 years 

By Chito Lozada 

Water concessionaires Manila 

Water and Maynilad have been 

“duping” consumers for a long 

time since both do not have 

water treatment facilities but 

collect fees for these through the 

monthly bills. 

In an exclusive pre-State of 

the Nation Address interview 

with the Daily Tribune, 

President Rodrigo Duterte said 

that the public can even sue both 

private firms for “plunder” since 

they have been collecting fees for 

services that they do not provide. 

“There are several buildings 

along Pasig River, fronting it and 

back, we have to ask everybody 

to provide a new system of 

sewerage so that they can collect 

the water and go to big pipes that 

would run to the water treatment 

facilities,” Mr. Duterte said. 

He noted that this is a critical 

need since even water from 

the canals will go there. 

The President, however, 

conceded it may take time for 

the country to have an 


Fools’ row Water services in Metro Manila do not impress the President who said the private concessionaires have been 

hoodwinking consumers. 

Beleaguered bet sues for backing 

By Hananeel Bordey 

It seems Taguig Rep. Alan 

Peter Cayetano is now unsure 

of a smooth path towards the 

post of Speaker despite the 

term-sharing formula between 

Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano 

and Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan 

Velasco securing the approval of 

President Rodrigo Duterte. 

Mr. Duterte said in an 

exclusive pre-State of the Nation 

Address interview with The Daily 

Train tracks branch out 

The 53-kilometer Malolos-Clark Railway Project (MCRP) 

that would connect New Clark City and Clark International 

Airport (CIA) with Manila and Calamba is expected to 

be completed ahead of its 2025 schedule after President 

Rodrigo Duterte ordered that priority be given for its 

construction. 

Mr. Duterte witnessed the signing between Finance 

Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Asian Development 

Bank (ADB) Vice President Ahmed Saeed of the P66.6 

billion loan agreement for the country’s first airport express 

railway service. 

In his address during the Government Owned and 

Controlled Corporation (GOCC) day, Mr. Duterte said the 

railway project was also made possible through GOCC 

remittances. 


Tribune he will not take offense 

if his House allies will not favor 

his proposed compromise. 

“It’s okay with me, that is just 

my formula. I said, it’s time for 

me to talk… since conflict had 


ANNECY, France 

— Flamboyant French 

chef Marc Veyrat has 

railed against Michelin, 

demanding that his top 

restaurant be withdrawn 

from the guide, after 

telling AFP that its 

inspectors claimed 

he had used English 

Cheddar cheese in his 

Cheese 

chagrin 

souffle. 

Veyrat’s La Maison 

des Bois restaurant in 

the French Alps was 

downgraded to two stars 

from the maximum three 

in January and he said 

the loss had plunged 

him into a six-month-long 

depression. 


In good hands President Rodrigo Duterte holds an issue of The Daily Tribune while showing his patented smile that should 

be an endorsement for readers to patronize the newspaper. 

DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG 

DU30 ‘incites’ police force 

The Philippine National 

Police (PNP) gets guidance 

from President Rodrigo 

Duterte not on the 

alleged summary killings 

that international groups 

have falsely accused him 

of having instigated but 

in the drive to weed out 

misfits from the force and 

on the streets, National 

Capital Region Police Office 

(NCRPO) director Maj. Gen. 

Guillermo Eleazar said. 

In the regular “Straight 

Talk” with The Daily Tribune 

forum last Thursday, Eleazar 

said the decision to dismiss 

711 erring Metro Manila cops 

as part of the PNP internal 

cleansing program was 

based on the firm position of 

the President against even 

the smallest irregularity in 

government. 

The President started his 

reform campaign by giving 

direction against petty 

crimes such as vagrancy, 

vandalism and public 

drinking to rid communities 

of undesirables. 

The PNP backed up Mr. 

Duterte’s campaign through 

the strict implementation 

of various ordinances in 

Metro Manila that led to 1.2 

individuals being arrested in 

the capital region, according 

to Eleazar. 

“We continue to help 

local government units of 

Metro Manila to implement 

their ordinances because we 

all have the same goal which 

is to make Metro Manila 

streets safe,” Eleazar said. 

Violators of the smoking 

ban topped the numbers 

arrested with a total of 

277,048 that accounted for 

23.26 percent of all the 

arrests. 

Minors violating curfew 

hours is the second biggest 

number at 74,547 or 6.26 

percent of all those arrested 

in Metro Manila during the 

period. 


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A2 NEWS 

Saturday, 13 July 2019 

Daily Tribune 

Excruciating wait Pasig City residents form a queue to have their containers filled with water from a firetruck as water service fell short in the area. 

YUMMIE DINGDING 

Water firms cheat public 

They have started to require buildings 

and restaurants to connect to a pipe 

that will go to a water treatment 

system 

From page A1 

efficient system to clean and recycle water which, in turn, 

is crucial in the rehabilitation of waterways. 

“Actually when Singapore was rehabilitating its water 

ways, it took them about 10 years…” he said. 

“We may have to turn Greater Manila upside down,” 

he added. 

“The end game there is that they (water) would go… 

the lower level of the topography and join marine life 

there… so I would say that, I’m not the one… you have to 

give a President something like 10 years to do this. All the 

improvements that can (be done),… Mr. Duterte added. 

The President said that Congress and local governments 

have started to provide help in cleaning up the water system. 

“They have started to require buildings and restaurants 

to connect to a pipe there that will go to a water treatment 

system,” he said. 

Mr. Duterte cited as example, the water treatment scheme 

in advanced countries like Canada where toilet water are 

recycled to something which can be safe to drink. 

“I went there and they asked me to drink but I refused. 

All of these water that we collect from the bathrooms and 

everything goes to one big lake and you can just scoop water 

there and drink,” the President said. 

We continue to help local government units of Metro 

Manila to implement their ordinances 

From page A1 

Parents reprimanded 

Eleazar said the minors were 

turned over to the parents, 

who get a lecture from the 

police and barangay officials on 

their failure to discipline their 

children. 

The NCRPO also apprehended 

63,844 individuals, or 5.36 percent 

of the total arrests, for going to 

public places “half-naked”. 

Those drinking in public places 

came next, with 54,223 rounded up, 

accounting for 4.55 percent of the 

total number of violators. 

The rest, 721,428 people, or 

60.57 percent of the total arrests, 

were violators of other city and 

municipal ordinances in NCR. 

The Quezon City Police District 

(QCPD) still had the biggest number 

of arrests — 644,335 violators — 54.10 

percent or more than half of all those 

arrested in Metro Manila. 

The Eastern Police District (EPD) 

placed second with 259,602 persons 

(21.80 percent) apprehended, 

followed by Northern Police District 

(NPD) with 121,141 (10.17 percent), 

Manila Police District (MPD) with 

96,391 (8.09 percent) and Southern 

Police District (SPD) with 69,621 

(5.85 percent). 

Eleazar said most of the violators 

were immediately released after 

paying a fine or due to humanitarian 

considerations. 

Out of the apprehended 

individuals, 223,186 violators have 

been fined while 168,487 have been 

charged and 799,417 were given a 

warning. 

The implementation of city and 

municipal ordinances is part of the 

NCRPO’s peace and order strategy. 

The intention is to get rid of 

street bullies, who are usually 

drunk, who prey on passing 

strangers in their communities 

and even harass women who would 

pass by their drinking session area, 

mostly along the streets. 

He added with Mr. Duterte’s 

direction, the police came up 

with its own concept in internal 

cleansing program. 

“We fully support the vision 

of the President and we saw its 

results. We became effective in 

Damocles sword hangs 

The President earlier threatened to fire officials of state 

regulator Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System 

(MWSS) and terminate the contracts of the two water 

concessionaires due to the poor water service mainly in 

Metro Manila. 

Mr. Duterte met with officials of the state regulator and 

the water firms where presidential spokesman Salvador 

Panel said the Chief Executive was “obviously outraged.” 

“In a stern message delivered without even once 

looking at the officials, the obviously outraged President 

threatened to fire the MWSS officials and terminate the 

concessionaires’ contracts,” Panelo said. 

“The meeting which was more of a presidential 

monologue lasting for about 40 minutes, was abruptly 

ended by the President by ordering the officials to submit 

a report on the water shortage after which he will decide 

whether heads will roll or whether the contracts of the 

concessionaires will be terminated,” he added. 

Only excuses 

The livid President refused to listen to their explanations 

tagging them as “just plain excuses” for neglecting their jobs 

to provide water services in Metro Manila. 

The Chief Executive told them he was not going to listen 

to their explanation as to why there was a water shortage 

as such would be just plain excuses. They simply did not 

do their job. 

Moreover, Panelo said the officials knew of the problem 

leading to the disruption of water flow but “they did not 

resolve to prevent it from happening.” 

DU30 ‘incites’ police force 

Violators of the smoking ban 

topped the numbers arrested 

with a total of 277,048 that 

accounted for 23.26 percent 

of all the arrests. 

our campaign where we noted a 

57-percent decline in crime and 

that is because of the vision of the 

President,” Eleazar said. 

“This is the first time in 

my 36 years of service since 

I joined the PMA (Philippine 

Military Academy), that I saw a 

President who has a genuine 

concern for the military 

and police. His concern 

for us is really obvious to 

the point that he gives 

us what we request but 

in return, we should do 

our jobs well. Otherwise, 

we will be fired,” he said. 

Simple guidance 

The guidance 

from the 

President is 

simple which 

is to remind 

p o l i c e 

officers and 

soldiers to 

abide by the 

Constitution. 

“As for our 

ranks, we do 

not have any 

thoughts of 

doing anything 

that will violate 

the Constitution,” 

Eleazar said. 

Chito Lozada 

All clear Recto Avenue in Divisoria have never been this spacious and free of debris. In one of his maiden efforts, 

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno ordered vendors to be limited on the sidewalk and not to spill onto the street. ROMAN PROSPERO 

The resolution demonstrates how Western powers are scornful of our sovereign 

exercise of protecting our people from the scourge of prohibited drugs 

From page A1 

Palace rips UNHRC reso 

Duterte’s signature campaign against illegal 

drugs. 

In a statement, presidential spokesman 

Salvador Panelo also branded the Iceland 

resolution that the UN body voted to adopt as 

reeking of “nauseating politics completely devoid 

of respect for the sovereignty of our country.” 

Panelo said the resolution was also bereft of the 

gruesome realities of the drug menace in the country. 

The 17 other nations who ruled in favor of 

adopting the resolution “certainly have 

been misled by Iceland,” he said. Iceland 

in turn was led astray by the continuing 

and relentless false news, published by 

a few biased media in the country and 

elsewhere, according to Panelo. 

He furthered by saying that the UNHRC 

resolution was “designed to 

embarrass” the Philippines 

before the international 

community. 

“The resolution 

demonstrates how Western 

powers are scornful of 

our sovereign exercise 

of protecting our 

people from the scourge 

of prohibited drugs that 

threaten to destroy the 

fabric of our society,” 

Panelo said. 

“Their intrusive 

abuse is patent and 

condemnable,” he 

added. Despite 

this, Panelo 

maintained 

Good riddance NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar says he’s 

happy to sign dismissal orders for scalawag cops.YUMMIE DINGDING 

that the country remains a sovereign state 

“undeserving of any intrusion by any country, 

under whatever disguised lofty principle it 

advances.” 

Gov’t undaunted 

He also stressed that Mr. Duterte remains 

uncowed by the adoption of the resolution. 

“This administration remains unwavering 

and unstoppable in its continuing campaign to 

provide a safe environment for every Filipino,” 

asserted Panelo. 

“The Chief Executive will be unyielding in his 

constitutional duty to serve the general welfare 

of the citizenry, protect the Filipino people from 

the peril spawned by illegal drugs, and to fiercely 

preserve the Republic from the enemies of the 

state,” he said. 

Iceland resolution that the UN body 

voted to adopt as reeking of “nauseating 

politics completely devoid of respect for 

the sovereignty of our country. 

The President has earlier expressed confidence 

that an investigation on alleged state-sponsored 

killings to be conducted by an international body 

will only happen if he permits it. 

Vigilance key — PNP 

The Philippine National Police (PNP), for 

its part, said it will remain vigilant to prevent 

occurrence of crimes and will continue to perform 

its mandate to enforce the law with utmost 

respect for human rights. 

PNP Spokesman Police Colonel Bernard Banac 

made the remark in response to the UNHRC vote 

to adopt the Iceland resolution. 

“The Philippines’ official response to the UN 

action will be appropriately addressed by the 

Department of Foreign Affairs,” Banac said. 

“Meantime, the PNP will remain guided by 

instructions of higher authorities.” he added. 

Banac, at the same time, said that the PNP 

will submit to the better judgment and wisdom 

of higher authorities when it comes to this issue. 

“Matters involving foreign affairs and 

diplomatic policy are beyond the authority of 

the police to tread on,” Banac said. FTW 

Double purpose Department of Public Works and Highways worker puts fresh pant on the side of a bridge that also serves as a traffic sign. 

ROMAN PROSPERO


Daily Tribune 

PAGE THREE 

On Amal Clooney as Ressa counsel 

DU30 not 

worried at all 

I’m excited to debate with her. Atty. Amal is 

misinformed. Maybe when we see each other, to use 

the word of the President, I will educate her 

By Kristina Maralit 

PANELO 

Public support 

against Reds urged 

The DILG and DBM are co-chairman of the PGC 

Good match. 

That’s how President Rodrigo Duterte described the looming confrontation 

between his spokesman, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo and 

international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney who was recently added to the legal 

team of Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa. 

The President expressed no worries at all when asked for his reaction on Clooney’s 

inclusion. 

“(Salvador) Panelo can handle that. Good match,” Duterte told reporters in a 

chance interview following the 2019 Government Owned and Controlled Corporations 

Day rites held in Malacañang last Thursday, 11 July. 

Clooney, along with Caoilfhionn Gallagher, will be the lead counsels of Ressa’s 

international legal team and will work closely with the embattled journalists’ 

Filipino lawyers. 

Ressa and her online news outlet have been facing legal hurdles including 

cyber libel, tax evasion and violation of the anti-dummy law which the President’s 

staunch critics tagged as an oppression of press freedom and “an act of 

persecution.” 

Clooney described Ressa as a “very courageous journalist” who is being 

persecuted for “reporting the news and standing up to human rights abuses.” 

Panelo, earlier this week, said the 41-year-old Lebanese-British barrister 

is “welcome to defend Maria” as she may just be needing someone 

to “match up with him.” 

The President’s mouthpiece, while he welcomes Clooney’s 

addition to Ressa’s legal team, however, stressed that the celebrity lawyer 

is “misinformed” about the cases hounding the journalist and her online 

media outlet, Rappler. 

“I’m excited to debate with her. Atty. Amal is misinformed. 

Maybe when we see each other, to use the 

word of the President, I will educate her,” 

Panelo said. 

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 

Secretary Eduardo M. Año called on the support of the public to 

help the government end the 50-year-old communist insurgency in 

the country. 

Año made the call during the Pre-SONA (State of the Nation 

Address) forum of the Participatory Governance Cluster (PGC) held 

in Cebu City. 

Año, together with Department of Budget and Management 

(DBM) officer-in-charge Janet Abuel, presented the accomplishments 

of the PGC in Cebu during the Pre-SONA forum 2019 dubbed: “Tatak 

ng Pagbabago: Patuloy na Malasakit at Pagkakaisa”. 

The DILG and DBM are co-chairman of the PGC. 

The PGC is one of the six clusters organized by the President 

through Executive Order 24 which aims to enhance citizen 

participation in government processes. 

According to Año, by declaring the New People’s Army (NPA) 

as persona non grata and at the same time, convincing them to lay 

By Hananeel Bordey 

Andaya refuses to enter plea 

Former Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando 

Andaya Jr. refused to enter a plea during 

his arraignment for 97 counts of graft and 

97 counts of malversation of public funds 

through falsification of public documents 

related to the alleged misuse of P900 

million Malampaya Funds. 

During the formal reading of the 

information charge against Andaya, 

Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang 

entered a not guilty plea for the former 

legislator on all his cases following Section 

1(c) of Rule 116 of the Revised Rules of 

Criminal Procedure. 

Previously, co-accused businesswoman 

Janet Lim-Napoles together with her 

children Jo Christine and James Christopher 

Napoles as well as her brothers, Reynald 

down their arms and 

rejoin society, it could help 

CLOONEY 

hasten their eventual demise. 

“Help us convince the communist 

rebels that armed conflict is not the solution 

to the country’s problems. Poverty, injustice, 

and corruption are the usual issues that they are 

exploiting and yet right from the start, this government 

under President Duterte has set these issues as top priorities 

to be addressed through good governance and focused efforts to 

improve the plight of the people,” Año said. 

Based on records from the interagency Task Force Balik-Loob, 

more than 8,300 rebel surrenderers yielded to the government as 

of December 2018. A total of 2,129 former rebels — 1,505 NPA and 

624 Militia ng Bayan — have also been provided with benefits and 

assistance from 2018 and 2019 through the Enhanced Comprehensive 

Local Integration Program. 

FTW 

and Ronald Francisco Lim also refused to 

enter plea on the same charges prompting 

the Sandiganbayan to follow the same 

Court rules. 

After their arraignment, the Sandiganbayan 

set the pre-trial of their cases on 9 August. 

The pre-marking of evidences from 

all the accused except Andaya has been 

completed urging the former Budget 

Secretary’s camp to pre-mark their 

evidence on 24 to 26 this July. 

Andaya’s arraignment was delayed due 

to the motion to quash that he filed before 

the Court and the petition for certiorari with 

a prayer for a temporary restraining order 

before the Supreme Court. 

Cabotaje-Tang who chairs the 

Sandiganbayan Third Division said that since 

there is no pending legal obstacle, the Court 

proceeded with the arraignment. 

SENATOR Bong Go seems happiest interacting with the people he vowed to serve. 

Go wants working senator tag 

SAN MATEO, Rizal — True to his vow of 

being a working legislator, Senator Christopher 

Lawrence “Bong” Go, regardless of his hectic 

schedule, continues to visit and provide immediate 

assistance to fire victims around the country. 

On Thursday at a fire visit in San Mateo, 

Rizal, he told the members of the press during 

an ambush interview that he takes this as an 

opportunity for him to be more hands-on in 

providing government services and to be in touch 

with his constituencies and listen to their concerns. 

He continued that in the Senate, only four days 

are allotted for sessions and committee hearings 

and that he has the rest of the week to work and 

be in touch with the people he is representing. 

Go further said that these experiences provide 

him insights to the daily struggles of Filipinos 

most especially in the areas where accidents and 

calamities happen. 

He cited that in his visits all over the country, 

he has heard countless of times from the people 

themselves that prevalence of illegal drugs has 

lessened but there are still some areas being 

terrorized by illegal drug peddlers. He said that 

although the Duterte administration is striving to 

address the issue of illegal drugs, more can be done 

through legislation and with the help of the Senate. 

“That’s what I will report to the committee or 

plenaryso that they will hear the concerns of the 

people,” Go said.

A4 COMMENTARY 


Daily Tribune 

Demonization 

overdrive 

“The 

stand of the 

administration 

of Rody is 

that the 

responsibility 

to protect 

starts with 

protecting 

the innocent 

against 

the vicious 

elements of 

society. 

Daily 

Tribune 

WITHOUT FEAR • WITHOUT FAVOR 

WITHOUT FEAR • WITHOUT FAVOR 

Chito Lozada 

Aldrin Cardona 

Dinah Ventura 

John Henry Dodson 

Roy Pelovello 

Larry Payawal 

Komfie Manalo 

Geraldine Datoy 

The shrill voices of the international detractors of President 

Rody Duterte, notwithstanding, public order had recorded huge 

strides particularly in the reduction of crime on the streets in 

the three year of his administration. 

According to the latest data of the Department of the Interior 

and Local Government (DILG), the crime volume from July 2018 

to June 2019 fell by 11 percent compared to the previous year 

mainly as a result of the government’s focus on public order. 

DILG secretary Eduardo Año attributed the improvement to 

“participatory governance” among the government, local agencies 

and ordinary citizens 

President Rody Duterte bombards listeners of 

his speech about the need for citizens to be 

assertive and alert while government have 

to respond quickly to calls for assistance. 

The basic tenets of Rody’s pursuits 

for a better life for Filipinos is based 

on the best way that he can 

achieve reforms within 

the limited term of six 

years. Such a philosophy 

have been lost to his 

international opponents 

who are fed with 

unproven conjectures. 

Another proof that 

the efforts of the 

administration had led to 

improved lives was the three 

notches gain in the country’s 

ranking in the 2019 Global Peace Index 

in which it placed 134th out of 163 countries, 

up three places from 137th. 

Through the maligned war on drugs, DILG 

records showed 12,099 barangays have been 

declared as “drug-free” while 1.3 million drug 

dependents have surrendered to the police. 

Año said those who yielded were given 

a second chance in life through the Balay 

Silangan Program and institutionalized the 

community-based drug rehabilitation program 

in all local governments which counter 

allegations of executions of those involved in 

the drugs menace. 

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), 

in a close vote, adopted an Iceland-initiated 

resolution to initiate an international probe 

on the anti-narcotics campaign through 18 

votes in favor, 14 against and 15 abstentions. 

Department of Foreign Affairs secretary 

Teodoro Locsin Jr. questioned the validity of the UNHRC 

resolution since it was not universally adopted. 

“It does not represent the will of the Council, much less that 

of the developing countries who are always the target of such 

resolutions,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, said in 

a statement. 

He noted that the usual detractors of 

“Through 

the maligned 

war on drugs, 

DILG records 

showed 12,099 

barangays have 

been declared 

as “drug-free” 

while 1.3 

million drug 

dependents have 

surrendered to 

Patricia Ramos 

Board Chair 

Willie Fernandez 

Publisher and President 

Executive Editor 

Managing Editor 

Associate Editor 

Digital Editor 

Central Desk Editor 

Central Desk 

Advertising 

and Marketing 

Rody, which are mostly European countries, 

pushed for the resolution to impose their 

arrogance on developing countries who must 

not stand up to them. 

The Iceland resolution was solely based 

on data provided by the political opponents 

of Rody who have concocted extrajudicial 

killings figures which were already debunked 

by official data and investigations conducted 

by Congress. 

Locsin described as politically partisan 

and one-sided the Iceland resolution, 

reiterating Manila’s position to reject it. 

“We will not accept a politically 

the police. 

partisan and one-sided resolution, so detached from the 

truth on the ground. It comes straight from the mouth of the 

Queen in Alice in Wonderland, ‘First the judgment, then the 

proof’,” he said. 

Fourteen nations voted against the resolution including 

Angola, Bahrain, Cameroon, Hungary, China, Cuba, Egypt, 

Eritrea, India, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Somalia. 

Japan, South Africa, Brazil and Pakistan abstained. 

“We renew our solidarity with our true friends who have stood 

by us in this farce. But we will not tolerate any form of disrespect 

or acts of bad faith. There will be consequences; far-reaching 

ones,” Locsin said. 

The UNHRC action boils down to the methods on the war on drugs 

which the European nations wanted changed so that addiction is 

treated as a health problem instead of a social menace. 

Such a shift is untenable for the country since it is expensive 

and would encourage syndicates to thrive. 

The stand of the administration of Rody is that the 

responsibility to protect starts with protecting the innocent 

against the vicious elements of society. 

Rody once said “Your concern is human rights, mine is human 

lives” which is a pretty straightforward and basic English but 

which his prejudiced faultfinders refused to understand. 

“The only 

reason 

why the 

president 

gave the 

suggestion 

is those 

vying for 

it went to 

him and 

sought 

his wise 

suggestion 

to settle 

the row 

between 

and 

among 

them. 

Apparently, 

the reported 18th 

Speaker, Alan Peter 

Cayetano, may not 

become the 18th 

Speaker after all — if 

a House vote called 

before the President’s 

State of the Nation 

Address rejects him. 

Presidential son, 

Davao City Rep. Paolo 

Duterte was said to 

have thrown broad 

hints that the speakership fight 

is far from over as it seems that 

Cayetano does not have the votes, 

and that one of three candidates 

for Speaker will be challenging the 

Duterte endorsed speaker. 

This message was the hint 

to House members in a sense a 

negative vote for Cayetano. 

The talk of a House coup of sorts 

is not quite an all-out coup, as a 

takeover by another candidate as 

it will reportedly be done through 

a congressional vote, which then 

would be done according to 

constitutional and House rules. 

And it does look like Cayetano 

may not even be speaker for 

a day, despite being President 

Duterte’s candidate for the top 

House post especially since the 

Palace the other day came out to 

state that the speakership depends 

on the members of the House 

FRONTLINE 

Ninez Cacho-Olivares 

The ambitious infrastructure 

development program of 

“While the government has spurred 

most of that unprecedented capital expansion 

stigma was initiatives from both the government 

due to the and the private sector. Government 

needs money, more money to build 

failure of 

those roads, ports, airports and 

the Aquino bridges which it hopes will not 

administration merely upgrade our crusted old 

to spend for infrastructure facilities enough to 

infrastructure attract foreign direct investments 

much (FDI) and produce real growth but 

required in the short run, likewise provide 

spending that is a principal driver of 

and needed 

GDP. Hopefully these catalyze true 

by FDI. and meaningful employment that 

leads to economic inclusivity. 

It’s a development roadmap that 

the previous administration did not 

only dismiss as it stole away credit 

from previous economic initiatives, 

but one sorely necessary given 

exclusivities of its growth rhetoric 

and the eventual hollowness of its 

promises. 

Seeing such government initiatives 

from the sidelines, the private sector 

has taken its cue. They’ve likewise 

been catalyzed to invest. And we 

are not only talking about the large 

business consortia that have come 

together to build airports and dams. 

There are quite a number of small 

time investors who buck the trend 

and have been bravely and boldly 

speculating on real property likely 

to increase in value once water, 

electricity and accessibility features 

are developed from government’s 

“Build, Build, Build” program. 

Local businessmen are naturally 

more approving of the government’s 

economic initiatives. They seem to be 

leading the way far in front of foreign 

equity investment. Note the sudden 

House coup? 

of Representatives to 

elect its own leaders. 

Moreover, Sal 

Panelo, Palace 

spokesman, in a press 

briefing made it clear 

that it is the members 

of the House who make 

the decision on their 

next speaker. 

“In the ultimate 

analysis, the vote on 

the speaker would 

lie on members of 

Congress. The only reason why 

the president gave the suggestion 

is those vying for it went to him 

and sought his wise suggestion to 

settle the row between and among 

them,” Panelo said. 

“He’s not interfering. They 

approached him so they granted 

their request. It’s up to them,” 

Panelo added. 

The Palace’s seeming turnaround 

on the issue may be traced to the 

congressional perception that 

Cayetano just doesn’t have the 

gravitas of a fourth successor to 

the presidency. And quite honesty, 

he fails to gain the respect of other 

members of Congress, as Cayetano 

is not only a divisive leader, as his 

days in the Senate serve as proof of 

not only his divisiveness but worse, 

his well-known penchant to accuse 

without proof, then needlessly 

destroys reputations of those he 

Deeper in Debt 

increase in credit lines 

opened by rural builders 

and contractors outside 

the metropolis. 

Unfortunately, there 

is a stigma carried 

over from the last 

administration with 

regard to attracting 

FDI. While most of that 

stigma was due to the 

failure of the Aquino 

administration to spend 

for infrastructure much 

required and needed by FDI’s, 

Duterte’s own infrastructure program 

has been delayed by a number 

of snags the most notorious of 

which was the just-concluded budget 

impasse created by openly vicious 

disputes on congress’s pork barrel 

insatiability and our congressmen’s 

underlying propensity for greed and 

corruption. 

These FDI 

stigma and the 

unnecessary delays 

in fund drawdowns 

and expenditures 

caused by dirty 

rotten partisan 

politics at the House 

of Representatives 

impact on an 

investor’s choice of 

sources for capital 

expansion and 

investments. 

“Local 

businessmen 

are 

naturally 

more 

approving 

of the 

government’s 

economic 

initiatives. 

Risk mitigation has become a 

more important factor than it would 

normally be had not the delays and 

political volatility been present and 

continuing. Investment horizons 

for equity are shorter and greater 

internal rates of return are expected 

when risks margins are included 

wants destroyed to aggrandize 

himself. 

On a congressional vote — and 

if one other candidate that has the 

majority votes in his pocket — whoever 

are still with Cayetano in their 

belief that he is the presidential 

anointed — will make a U-turn and 

dump Cayetano, instead give their vote 

to whoever has the numbers — and 

whichever committee leaders have 

the promised choice committees in 

the bag — should the other candidate 

get the majority vote. 

“Even 

Cayetano 

knows he 

doesn’t have 

the majority 

of the 

congressional 

vote. 

BYSTANDER 

Dean de la Paz 

As the 

presidential son 

stated: “There is 

still an election on 

22 July and I am 

more interested 

in that on who 

will win because 

there are reports 

that someone is 

planning to launch 

a coup that day. It seems that the 

fight is not yet over for the three 

candidates and their supporters.” 

It should be fairly easy for the 

House majority with a challenge 

to junk the speakership bid of 

Cayetano, given that he has the 

least votes in the House, and he 

knows it, which is why he rushed 

to Malacañang and cried for help 

from President Duterte. 

He did not even have the votes 

to become the vice president in 

the electoral battle in 2016, and 

even as Duterte’s vice presidential 

bet. And he hasn’t even shown 

strong leadership qualities, which 

may mean that he can’t get the 

programs of Duterte going. 

If one of two other candidates 

for the Speakership get together, 

they certainly can get their 

supporters in the House to jointly 

vote for the strongest candidate 

between the two contenders to 

end Cayetano’s bid, as he has the 

least supporters, should it come 

to a vote for him as speaker in a 

few weeks. 

The way it really looks, even 

Cayetano knows he doesn’t have 

the majority of the congressional 

vote, which is the reason he ran to 

get Duterte’s open endorsement, 

which may not work for his bid on 

House election day. 

Still, if some House members 

toe what they think is the 

presidential line, the supporters 

of the two other candidates, 

Lord Allan Velasco and Martin 

Romualdez don’t vote for 

Cayetano and vote for one of two 

bets, Cayetano will not win the 

vote for the speakership, which 

is Cayetano’s just desserts. 

But if the majority of 

congressmen toeing the presidential 

line give their vote obediently to 

Cayetano, a repeat of another 

congressional coup may yet further 

cut short Cayetano’s 

speakership — if he 

ever gets it. 

in discounting future 

cash flows. Added to the 

tendency toward risk 

sharing these altogether 

compel those with 

expansion plans into 

debt financing more 

than the equity route. 

Such debt bias 

is noticeable and 

measurable, manifested 

especially in recent 

months. 

At the start of the 

year our total outstanding debt 

rose to a new high of P7.494 trillion. 

Domestic debt, which accounts 

for nearly two-thirds of the total 

outstanding amount, increased 2.8 

percent month-on-month in January 

and 10.8 percent year-on-year to P4.91 

trillion. 

The increase in locally sourced 

debt is due to the net issuance of 

government securities which, other 

than fund government’s programs also 

offsets the downward valuation of 

onshore dollar bonds brought about by 

the fluctuations of the peso. The latter 

was evident when the peso appreciated 

slightly over the dollar recently. 

From the start of the year through 

to the end of the last quarter, even as 

domestic debt remained at two-thirds 

of outstanding, its absolute amounts 

grew even where the peso eventually 

depreciated. Domestic debt from P4.91 

trillion in January is now P5.26 trillion. 

This total includes an additional P50.95 

billion secured through Treasury 

bills and bonds. All told, at the end 

of 2019’s first semester total debts 

effectively rose by as much as 8.5 

percent compared to the end-2018 level. 

Count the money. We are indeed 

deeper in debt. 

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Daily Tribune 

“There 

are those 

of us who 

hate to be 

reassigned, 

to cover 

beats 

other than 

what we 

do at the 

moment 

some 

have been 

known to 

quit and 

work at 

a rival 

newspaper 

instead to 

remain in 

place. 

This must have been well before 

the turn of the millennium, around 

1998, when as financial reporter 

at The Daily Tribune with the red 

masthead I was sent on an errand 

as proxy of the business editor. 

Then, as now, the business editor 

was busy at the desk and delegated 

the task of meeting then Sen. 

Gloria Arroyo at dinner. As soon 

as I entered the room I already 

wanted out because all the big 

names in all the news publications 

were there with their fine clothes, 

their big stories and their hearty laugh. But one 

of those guys, Philip Lustre, who hardly knew 

me personally, quickly saw that I hesitated and 

would have none of what I was planning to do. 

He would ask for my name and introduced me 

to everyone and when that was done and the 

conversation went quickly back to normal, he 

would say to my ear, “don’t go small over these 

big guys at table. At some point ahead, you, 

too, will be editor.” 

Philip and I would toast about that aborted 

early evening turnabout over his favorite bottle 

of beer in Timog many years later. I would 

Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares desperately 

wants to be in the news as often as possible. The 

on-going power struggle for the leadership of the 

House of Representatives has relegated Poe to the 

sidelines. For almost all of the last two weeks of 

June, nothing was heard from her. 

In the Senate, neophyte 

“Commuters 

will be pleased 

to know that last 

November 2017, 

the DoTr officially 

terminated its 

contract with Busan 

Universal Rail Inc., 

the maintenance 

service provider 

engaged by 

the Aquino 

administration for 

“In a 

sense 

there is 

some truth 

to this 

assertion 

as the 

military 

often did 

express 

concern 

over 

domestic 

issues 

and did 

something 

about it. 

senators led by Christopher 

Lawrence “Bong” Go have 

filed so many bills upon 

assuming office, enough to 

upstage Poe. 

Poe is still recovering 

from her embarrassment 

in the May 2019 senatorial 

polls. She was expecting 

to reprise her first place 

finish in the 2013 senatorial 

elections. Alas, the honor 

this year went to Senator 

Cynthia Villar. 

Being dislodged from 

the MRT-3 system. 

first place was enough to upset Poe, and to make 

her assistants regret it. Her failure to make it to 

number one indicates that Poe’s plans for another 

presidential run in 2022 will not be a walk in the 

park after all. Cynthia Villar is now in Poe’s list 

of possible adversaries for the highest office 

in the land. 

Last week, when Poe criticized the 

administration of President Rodrigo 

Duterte for what she alleged as the slow 

pace in the renovation of the mass 

transport system in the metropolis, 

particularly the MRT-3 train system, 

she wasn›t really concerned 

about the transport woes of 

the citizenry. She simply 

wanted to give the public 

the wrong impression 

that a vital need of the 

populace — adequate 

transportation — is 

being neglected by 

LIMBAROK 

Jun Vallecera 

Is the military restless? 

If we are to go by the Mr. Duterte’s 

public pronouncements and the subsequent 

clarifications by his people, the answer is yes. 

The men and women in uniform are agitated, 

but not necessarily for the reasons he stated. 

In his remarks after holding talks with 

the three presumptive bets for the House 

speakership, Mr. Duterte said he needed the 

House to be quickly in order because of the 

urgent need to amend the 1987 Constitution 

to avoid an uprising by the military, which, 

according to Mr. Duterte, was “really hot on it.” 

A rough English translation of Mr. Duterte’s 

mix of Tagalog and English remarks reads: “I 

said, ‘If you want to change the Constitution, 

do it now. I am still here.’ And I can tell the 

military, ‘No, no, no. You better… Because 

tempers are rising in the military. And I have 

told you all the corruption in the government, 

its worse in the higher positions.” 

As is usual with Mr. Duterte’s often 

elliptical and garbled stream of consciousness 

pronouncements he did not clearly elaborate 

on what he exactly meant. 

Mr. Duterte’s mouthpiece Salvador Panelo 

subsequently explained Mr. Duterte’s explosive 

remarks about the military’s supposed 

intentions about giving the jackboot to this 

administration. 

Panelo speculated the military brass 

may have told Mr. Duterte of the growing 

dissatisfaction among troops even if both 

military and the police publicly assured there 

were no plans to oust Mr. Duterte. 

Last Tuesday, Armed Forces of the 

Philippines (AFP) spokesperson reassured 

the public with the usual and appropriate 

statement the military “shall remain loyal to 

Reporters and editors 

remind him of that dinner a few 

times since then and he would 

always say he does not remember. 

But I do. 

Among my own set of colleagues 

in reporting, very few aspire for 

an editing job. Most would rather 

remain reporters all their lives. 

Recto Mercene comes to mind. 

He’s been at it for so long he’s 

been said to have “shot” Benigno 

“Ninoy” Aquino Jr. on that fateful 

day in August decades ago. He 

reported on the country’s foreign 

policy when the Department of Foreign Affairs 

was simply known then as the foreign office 

and he knows airlines and airports far more 

than anyone reporting on the subject at 

present. There are those of us who hate to be 

reassigned, to cover beats other than what we 

do at the moment some have been known to 

quit and work at a rival newspaper instead to 

remain in place. There is wisdom in covering 

as much of the field as one possibly can, be a 

well-rounded reporter, but for some of us the 

inertia is just too immense. 

In my own time, when I was finally asked 

Jackboot 

to move up and do desk work, I, too, initially 

refused. The thought of sitting on your ass for 

the greater part of the day cleaning after other 

people’s mess is just too much. I would have 

none of it. I said no quite a number of times 

then and it was all the guys upstairs could do 

to persuade me to change my mind and handle 

other people’s copy. What got me in the end was 

not the strength of the argument that it is more 

professionally rewarding upstairs. To some 

extent that is true but most of that argument is 

bull. Editing copy at six in the evening knowing 

that colleagues are out there drinking beer and 

hobnobbing with sources is not my idea of fun. 

But I did go, finally, at some point, convincing 

myself this was for professional growth, as 

confusing as that sounds. 

I must admit that I keep looking back. I 

remember the editor who would teach me 

financial reporting, Ely Lopez, who would not 

tolerate factual and grammatical mistakes. He 

was one loose to using P.I. curses on a mistake 

as important at the proper use of prepositions 

and idioms. Then there was Butch del Castillo 

who would ask me to explain inflation, GDP and 

other economic concepts in Tagalog, unmindful 

that my Bisaya tongue that often gets in the 

Grace Poe’s undisclosed secrets 

the administration. 

Poe pretends to be unaware that the Department 

of Transportation (DoTr) has arranged for the 

purchase and delivery of high-grade rail tracks for 

the MRT-3 train system. The tracks were purchased 

from Nippon Steel, an industrial giant based in 

Japan. A shipment consisting of 50 percent of the 

total order will arrive at the port of Manila before 

the end of August 2019. 

The Japanese-made steel tracks are sturdier 

and smoother than the low-grade existing tracks 

installed on the MRT-3 system by corrupt officials 

identified with 

President 

Benigno 

Aquino III 

and his 

the flag, to the Constitution, and to the Filipino 

people.” 

Panelo, however, could not adequately 

explain what the military wanted. “It is not 

clear what changes in the Charter are being 

proposed to specifically solve corruption, drugs, 

terrorism and other problems supposedly raised 

by the military. When asked about it Panelo 

gave two unrelated examples: the removal 

of restrictions to foreign investment, and the 

solution to EDSA traffic…” as one news report 

had it. 

Nonetheless, in other news reports Panelo 

said “the premise there, under the Consitution 

the AFP is the protector of the people. So, if 

the military knows there are anomalies and 

corruption… they react, why is it like that?” 

In all of the above, it is obvious the Palace 

wants us to believe that whatever is agitating 

the military it is about pressing domestic 

concerns like corruption. 

In a sense there is some truth to this 

assertion as the military often did express 

concern over domestic issues and did something 

about it. 

Recent history bears out this assertion 

as the Reform the Armed Forces (RAM) in 

the Marcos years, the Young Officers Union 

(YOU) in the Cory Aquino and Ramos years, 

and the Magdalo in the Arroyo years had the 

unmistakable stamp of expressing domestic 

concerns, not only about corruption but 

also whether or not the military should grab 

political power in face of those concerns. 

Panelo is also correct to emphasize the 

constitutional provision stating the AFP is “the 

protector of the people,” a key phrase which 

has defined the military’s relations with civilian 

government. 

cohorts in the now disgraced Liberal Party. 

Commuters will be pleased to know that last 

November 2017, the DoTr officially terminated 

its contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc., the 

maintenance service provider engaged by the 

Aquino administration for the MRT-3 system. 

When the rehabilitated MRT-3 system becomes 

fully functional, train capacity is expected to 

double to 650,000 commuters daily. There will 

be no more endless waits, surprise stops, and 

malfunctioning coach doors, thanks to the quality 

of the Japanese supplies. 

Article II, section 3 of the 

Constitution reads: “Civilian 

authority is, at all times, supreme 

over the military. The Armed Forces 

of the Philippines is the protector 

of the people and the State. Its 

goal is to secure the sovereignty of 

the state and the integrity of the 

national territory.” 

Much have been made out of 

this constitutional phrase “the 

protector of the people and the State” ever 

since the ouster of Marcos. The provision led 

to many an acrimonious debate on what is the 

military’s exact role in the country’s politics 

were and whether or not the provision led 

dangerously to military adventurism. 

The debates quieted down 

“The recent 

incident 

involving 

Filipino 

fishermen 

left to drown 

in the Recto 

Bank showed 

where the 

military 

stood. 

in recent years owing to the 

singular fact the previous 

governments have started 

modernizing the military. 

The military modernization 

program is preoccupying the 

military as recent as yesterday. 

Our recent times, however, 

and in particular in face of the 

geo-political troubles in the 

West Philippine Sea, brought 

to the fore the other important 

provision that the military is 

“to secure the sovereignty of the state and the 

integrity of the national territory.” 

It is quite obvious the Palace did not 

want to stray into that explosive provision 

or acknowledge it as another reason for the 

military’s supposed restlessness. 

One can see many reasons for this, but one 

pronounced reason is Mr. Duterte’s view any 

COMMENTARY 

A5 

way to on air discussions, in his mid-day radio 

program. He would call without warning, certain 

that I could wing whatever it was he requested 

explained to his noontime audience. He would 

teach me to think fast and to think clearly, 

something that I and most others could do only 

with practice. 

But I would remember 

the most about this source 

who would not speak to me 

for five years, who would go 

livid whenever I was in the 

room and behave abhorrently 

every chance he gets. He was 

mistakenly sore at me for 

something my own editor did 

and would not listen to any 

of my explanation. While this 

“In my 

own time, 

when I was 

finally asked 

to move up 

and do desk 

work, I, too, 

initially 

refused. 

was happening, my paper would not have the 

important stories that can only come from him 

and my editor, who started the fire himself, 

would continue to push for stories unmindful of 

the firestorm he created. But I would tame that 

fire after five years and that man would give 

me a story that won me a citation as reporter 

of the year. The man, who insists on his privacy 

even now, taught me patience. 

By next year, the tram system 

in Metropolitan Manila will be 

expanded and major stations will 

be interconnected using safe, 

durable and reliable rail tracks 

and coaches. 

Before Poe continuous with 

her unfounded attacks against 

the administration, she should 

engage in some stocktaking 

about herself and her political 

game plan. 

There is still no legal 

closure to Poe›s claim to 

natural-born Philippine 

citizenship. As a 

foundling whose 

military assertion in the West 

Philippine Sea is hopeless and 

a useless sacrifice of soldiers’ 

lives. 

But there are indications, all 

done in private and not publicly, 

the military is not at all happy 

about the civilian leadership’s 

seemingly lack of resolve, 

at the moment, in asserting 

constitutional provisions about 

protecting resources in the contested seas. 

If anything, the recent incident involving 

Filipino fishermen left to drown in the Recto 

Bank showed where the military stood. 

Immediately after the incident came to light 

the military brass immediately condemned the 

incident in no uncertain terms. It was only 

after Mr. Duterte broke his prolonged silence 

on the matter that the military moderated its 

reactions. 

At any rate, I must express caution here 

as this is still a quick take on what has been 

publicly said so far on the issue. There is still 

the matter of what in the journalist trade is 

called access journalism, which means making 

sources involved in the issue talk. In this case, 

reticent soldiers who still loathe having their 

view made public. 

So, as we anxiously await what soldiers 

really say of their wants, what I have just 

said can still turn out naively inappropriate 

and even untrue. Still, this does prevent us 

from making a momentary conclusion that Mr. 

Duterte is playing a game of chess with the 

military. And whatever comes out of that game 

will have a tremendous impact on all of us. 

OUT AND ABOUT 

Nick V. Quijano Jr. 

biological parents remain unidentified 

up to today, Poe cannot be considered 

a natural-born Philippine citizen 

based on the explicit provisions of the 

Constitution. 

The decision of the Supreme Court 

(SC) which her allies cite as a ruling 

favorable for Poe is not doctrinal, 

which, therefore, does not create 

a binding legal precedent. For the 

ruling to be doctrinal, it must have 

the affirmative vote of at least eight 

of the 15 justices of the SC. From all 

indications, the ruling has the support 

of just seven justices, one vote shy of 

the majority requirement. 

The de facto Chief Justice Maria 

Lourdes Sereno and then Solicitor 

General Florin Hilbay were the 

only notable legal personalities who 

sympathized with Poe. Fortunately, 

they are no longer around to corrupt 

Philippine jurisprudence. 

In other words, Poe›s citizenship 

may still be questioned if she runs 

for president in 2022. 

At the height of the 2016 presidential 

campaign, Poe›s American husband 

promised to obtain Philippine 

citizenship whether or not Poe wins 

the presidential election. Poe’s camp 

has repeatedly dodged that question 

for the past three years. 

Instead of criticizing the 

administration, Poe should prioritize 

her obligation to explain, among 

others, the citizenship issues haunting 

her and her husband. 

Email: nevqjr@yahoo.com.ph 

“Poe 

pretends to 

be unaware 

that the 

Department of 

Transportation 

has arranged 

for the 

purchase and 

delivery of 

high-grade 

rail tracks 

for the MRT-3 

train system.

A6 NEWS 


Daily Tribune 

Beleaguered bet 

sues for backing 

Cayetano sought a 

meeting yesterday with 

his rivals for the House 

leadership, Velasco 

and Leyte Rep. Martin 

Romualdez 

From page A1 

started. All of them were asking, 

what did Duterte say? Actually, 

before the elections, we were 

together (referring to Cayetano)… 

so he had told me someday 

he will run for congressman 

and Speaker… then Lord (Allan 

Velasco)… came in and he is also 

interested so let us see,” Mr. 

Duterte said. 

Cayetano sought a meeting 

yesterday with his rivals for the 

House leadership, Velasco and 

Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, 

after Davao City Rep. Paolo 

Duterte hinted that a looming 

coup will be initiated by one of 

the three candidates on 22 July. 

Stay please 

On Thursday night, Cayetano 

met with the members of the 

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino 

(PDP), the night after he met 

with some allies of endorsed 

Majority Floor Leader Romualdez 

and few members of the Partylist 

Coalition. 

Rep. Duterte disclosed in 

social media that a coup was 

being planned by “one of the 

three candidates.” 

During his speech, Cayetano 

asked the congressmen to “stay 

beside him” and not work behind 

him as he take the top post for 

15 months. 

“I only have 15 months with 

you, so I will ask you to help me 

in the same way that you help 

your constituents. It’s not enough 

that you vote for me on July 22, 

2019. I hope you will join me in 

the next 15 months,” Cayetano 

said. 

“I hope you stay beside me 

and not behind me. We will do 

this together Martin as will keep 

reminding me. I promise always 

Cong. Velasco that we will talk 

and then the three of us will join 

forces,” he added. 

Alan runs to Al 

Cayetano said he aims to 

reform House specifically on its 

credibility. 

“We will have to reform the 

House before we reform others 

because what is our credibility 

to reform others?” he said. 

He added that whoever will be 

elected as Minority Leader, will 

be given the opportunity for full 

debates since he doesn’t want 

to silence the members of the 

minority. 

“We will win the debate 

because the President’s sgenda 

is better than the opposition not 

because we have a big number (in 

the majority),” he said, 

Cayetano also asked Energy 

Secretary Alfonso “Al” Cusi, who 

represented party chairman and 

President Rodrigo Duterte during 

the meeting, to encourage the 

members of the Cabinet to have 

a better relationship with the 

Congress. 

“It is not true that the Cabinet 

keeps on dictating. We just want 

a better relationship with the 

judiciary, better relationship 

with the Senate and better 

relationship with the Cabinet to 

make things faster,” the endorsed 

speaker added. 

Sonny’s idea 

Previously, Buhay Rep. Lito 

Atienza revealed that the Cabinet 

members have thrown their 

support to Cayetano and dipped 

their hands in the speakership 

battle to gain dominance in the 

budget deliberations. 

He named Finance Secretary 

Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez III as 

the one who insisted the termsharing 

idea to the President. 

However, Dominguez denied the 

Modern comfort Model of a modern train terminal of one of the railway projects will become a reality within three years. 

Cheese chagrin 

From page A1 

“How dare you take your chefs’ health 

hostage?” he seethed in a blistering letter 

to the guide, regarded as the bible of haute 

cuisine. 

Veyrat, 69, took particular umbrage at 

inspectors “daring to say that I put Cheddar 

in our souffle of (local) Reblochon, Beaufort 

and Tomme (cheeses). 

“They have insulted my region,” he told 

AFP on Wednesday. “My employees were 

furious.” 

“We only use the eggs from our own hens, 

the milk is from our own cows and we have 

two botanists out every morning collecting 

herbs,” the horrified chef declared. 

Veyrat, who made his name with his so-called 

“botanical” cooking, using wild herbs gathered 

around his restaurants in his native Haute 

Savoie region, denounced the “profound 

incompetence” of the guide’s famously 

rigorous inspectors. 

“You are impostors,” he fumed, “who 

only want (to stir up) clashes for your own 

commercial reasons.” 

“We are pulling our restaurant out of the 

Michelin,” he said. 

But the iconic red guide said Thursday 

that it would not withdraw its listing, despite 

Veyrat travelling to the French capital to 

confront its editors face to face. 

“Michelin guide inspectors visit restaurants 

across the world anonymously. They pay their 

bills like every other customer,” said its new 

director Gwendal Poullennec, who disputed 

a claim by Veyrat that the inspectors may not 

have eaten at his table. 

In 2018, La Maison des Bois landed the 

coveted Michelin third star, the summit 

of culinary achievement, for the alpine 

establishment with Veyrat declaring that he 

had felt “like an orphan when I wasn’t in the 

Michelin.” 

I said, it’s time for me to 

talk… since conflict had 

started. 

allegations. 

Cayetano said that they are 

planning to conduct a majority 

caucus next week. 

On Thursday morning, the 

president’s son revealed that 

he is interested in the elections 

of the Speaker on 22 July as 

he received information that 

there will be a coup that will 

happen and some will not heed 

to the President’s endorsement 

to Cayetano. 

Paolo, who formed a coalition 

with his sister Davao City Mayor 

Sara Duterte as head of the 

Hugpong ng Pagbabago, has 

not manifested support yet to 

Cayetano. 

The Duterte Coalition fielded 

Davao City 3rd District Rep. 

Isidro Ungab as their speaker 

I am directing the Department of Transportation to fast-track 

the completion of the MCRP and observe the highest quality 

standards 

From page A1 

candidate. 

Sara told the Daily Tribune 

that HnP has yet to deliberate 

whether they will heed to her 

father’s endorsement or not. 

Agri as priority 

In the same interview, Mr. 

Duterte said agriculture, “the 

weakest link in the economy,” 

will be the highlight of the State 

of the Nation Address (SoNA) late 

this month. The President said he 

is leaving no stones unturned in 

his vision of every Filipino having 

lands they can call their own. 

To achieve this, the Chief 

Executive said he will shift his 

sights on strengthening the 

agriculture sector for the next 

three years of his presidency. 

“Agriculture is a major 

priority. We will do whatever 

enhances out agriculture,” Mr. 

Duterte said. 

One area the national 

“The project highlights the crucial 

role of the Asian Development 

Bank in bolstering our country’s 

infrastructure development program. 

The loan facility of ADB has provided 

for initiatives such as the MCRP 

and has indeed complemented 

our GOCC’s remittances towards 

achieving our national development 

agenda,” he said. 

“I am directing the Department 

of Transportation to fast track the 

completion of the MCRP and observe 

the highest quality standards as we 

complete this railway project,” the 

President added. 

Mr. Duterte said that by the 

time the project is completed, he 

expects residents of Central Luzon 

will greatly feel the impact of the 

government’s “Build, Build, Build” 

program. 

ADB, Japanese financing 

The project will be co-financed 

by the ADB and the Japanese 

government through the Japan 

International Cooperation Agency 

(JICA). 

ADB will primarily finance the 

51.2 km Malolos-Clark-CIA section 

and will also finance the 1.9 km 

Solis-Blumentritt section in Manila. 

The MCRP is expected to provide 

affordable, reliable, and safe public 

transport, reduce greenhouse gas 

emissions, and cut travel time from 

Manila to CIA to less than one hour 

from the current travel time of two 

to three hours by car or bus. 

The project will use cutting-edge 

technology to build an elevated 

railway line, with a maximum train 

speed of 160 kilometers per hour, to 

help ease chronic road congestion in 

and around Metro Manila, reduce air 

pollution, cut the 

costs of transport 

and logistics, 

and encourage 

economic 

Safe work it’s not Workers hang dangerously without harnesses in a construction project in Malate, Manila. 

Nudge needed The past three years that was marked by resolve and crucial reforms, the agriculture sector 

remained the weakest link in the economy which even President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledged. 

It’s okay with me, that is just 

my formula. 

government will prioritize, said 

the President is the coconut 

industry. 

“Money should be put to good 

use in improving the research 

on coconut -- how the money is 

spent and inproving government 

services (for coconut farmers),” 

he stated. 

The export of coconut oil, 

the country’s top agricultural 

export, has drastically decreased 

this year mainly due to the 

oversupply of global palm oil 

coupled with the decline in local 

copra production. 

Add to that the bad reputation 

coconut and palm oil has been 

getting for its supposed bad 

effects to one’s health. 

According to the President, 

more efforts must be exerted to 

revitalize the coconut industry. 

In doing so, Mr. Duterte wants 

to arrest the conversion of prime 

agricultural land for commercial use. 

Train tracks branch out 

growth and a population shift outside 

the capital. 

The JICA is also providing financing 

of up to $2 billion for the rolling 

stock and the railway systems. The 

Malolos–Clark project is a result of 

close collaboration between ADB, JICA 

and the Department of Transportation 

(DoTr). During project preparation, a 

joint technical team from the DoTr and 

the two institutions conducted regular 

“Build, Build, Build” meetings, with 

regular reporting to DoTr secretary 

Arthur Tugade. 

ADB’s safeguard and resettlement 

policies were adopted and are being 

implemented for the project. 

Parallel projects ongoing 

Ongoing is the the construction of 

six stations for the Tutuban to Bocaue 

segment of the North-South Commuter 

Railway (NSCR) Project. 

The loan facility of ADB has 

provided for initiatives such as 

the MCRP. 

The railway project will connect 

PNR Clark Phase 1 (Tutuban-Malolos), 

MCRP and the PNR Calamba Project, 

which will run from Manila to Calamba. 

It will also link with existing 

railway lines LRT-1, LRT-2, MRT-3 and 

the Metro Manila Subway. 

The DoTr said the stations that 

will be built are Solis, Caloocan, 

Valenzuela, Meycauayan, Marilao and 

Bocaue which comprises the first 

package of the project. 

The DoTr has awarded to the 

consortium of DMCI Holdings Inc. and 

a Japanese firm the first construction 

package of the PNR Clark Phase 1 

Project. 

The civil works and building 

components of the project have 

two contract packages: the first 

covers elevated structures, seven 

stations and a depot while the second 

includes elevated structures and 

three stations. CL 

ROMAN PROSPERO


Daily Tribune 

Obstruction of justice mulled 

METRO 

A7 

Albayalde slams Metrobank’s delay in allowing probers in after heist 

By Pat C. Santos 

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General 

Oscar Albayalde warned yesterday that executives 

of the Metrobank branch that was robbed in 

Binondo on Thursday may face obstruction of 

justice charges. 

Albayalde issued the statement as he noted 

complaints by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko 

Moreno” Domagoso and Manila Police District chief 

Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao that police investigators 

were only allowed to enter the bank two hours 

after the heist. 

“This is one of the problems we are 

encountering, whether banks, malls or 

hotels. They take a while before allowing our 

investigators to go inside (crime scenes),” 

Albayalde said in Filipino. 

“With that delay, that may have been the reason 

why we were not able to catch or to identify fast 

the perpetrators,” he added of the robbery at the 

Sto. Cristo Street branch of the bank. 

Mayor Zamora tagged a ‘dictator’ 

#Strong8 councilors deny walking out 

By Neil Alcober 

Eight members of San Juan’s City Council 

accused Mayor Francis Zamora of being 

a dictator for allegedly meddling in the 

selection of committee chairs. 

Calling themselves the #Strong8, the 

council members claimed Zamora wanted the 

post chairman of Appropriation Committee 

to go to his ally. 

The eight councilors were Jana Ejercito, 

Mary Joy Ibuna Leoy, Cris Mathay, Raissa 

Laurel, Chesco Velasco, Arthur Aquino, 

Vincent Rainier Pacheco and Vic Reyes. 

They said they did not walk out of the 

council session as claimed by the mayor. 

“There’s no walk out because the special 

session has not yet started. We decided to 

leave the session hall because we cannot 

stomach what the mayor wants to happen,” 

they said. 

They said the main agenda of the special 

session was to ratify and give Mayor Francis 

Zamora the power to sign the check that 

would allow the payment of salaries of 

job order personnel. 

“This is an obligation that was 

already settled by former mayor Guia 

Gomez and former vice mayor Janella 

Ejercito Estrada, but we are just 

wondering that he chose to 

take the councilors under 

his control and dictated 

Don’t lie, 

waiter 

tells 

solon 

By Elmer Manuel 

The waiter in Legazpi 

City who was punched 

in the face by Ang 

Probinsyano partylist Rep. 

Alfred de los Santos is 

demanding a public apology. 

In a radio interview, 

Christian Kent Alejo said that 

while the lawmaker had already 

apologized to him, the lawmaker should 

go on record about his misdeed and also to tell 

the truth. 

De los Santos issued an apology after a video 

of the incident had gone viral on social media. 

“He approached me and apologized, but I said 

that if he will apologize, then he should do it 

publicly and tell the truth,” said Alejo. 

Alejo: I was walking away when he 

accosted me. 

De los Santos claimed he lost his temper 

because the waiter allegedly uttered unpleasant 

words to him and his friends, an assertion the 

waiter had flatly denied. 

“It’s clear from the CCTV that I was walking 

away already when he called me and accosted 

me,” said Alejo. “I answered him politely.” 

Alejo also clarified social media speculation 

that he was extorting money from the House 

member and stressed that he has already filed 

a blotter report on the incident. 

The Ang Probinsyano Partylist has yet to say 

if the incident would affect the status of De los 

Santos as its representative in Congress. De 

los Santos is set to assume his seat in the 18th 

Congress on 22 July. 

In a separate interview, De los Santos on 

Thursday insisted that he was neither a “bully” 

nor a “troublemaker. 

“I am not a bully or a troublemaker. The 

people who know me well can attest to that,” 

he said. “This single incident does not represent 

me or my values, and I will prove it by working 

hard to deliver our party platform and campaign 

promises to fellow probinsyanos.” 

“From hereon, I will conduct myself as an 

exemplary public servant worthy of the trust 

and confidence our people placed on us last 

election.” 

“Upon reflection on what had happened, I 

am really sorry that I have reacted the way I 

did. I should have known better, for that I am 

truly sorry. My emotions got the best of me,” 

he added. 

“I have no excuse, only regret and the promise 

that it will not happen again,” said De los Santos. 

in choosing the committee chairmanship 

instead of prioritizing the welfare of job 

order personnel who are still waiting for 

their salaries.” 

They said most councilors have agreed to 

have a special session on that day as they 

want to fast-track the release of salaries of 

job order personnel. 

“It’s sad that Mayor Zamora did not 

respect the guarantee of the Constitution 

separating the legislative and executive of 

the local government,” they said. 

For his part, Zamora said 

he called for 

a special 

session to 

discuss some 

important 

matters 

with the City 

Council. 

“Only Vice 

Mayor Warren 

Villa and 

six of the 

By Alvin Murcia 

Seven men wearing mostly guard uniforms, with 

helmets on and other face coverings, robbed the 

bank which opened a few minutes before operating 

hours, prompting suspicions of an inside job. 

In a press conference, Domagoso said he will ban 

the wearing of any face coverings inside financial 

establishments like banks. 

Danao had said that at least one of the 

suspects caught on closed circuit television may be 

identifiable as his cap failed to hide his face. 

Domagoso has offered 

a P1-million reward for any 

information leading to the 

suspects’ arrest. 

Councilors were present. 

And because of this, the 

special session did not 

push through, and I was 

not given the authority 

to sign the checks of 

the city government,” 

Zamora said in a 

statement. 

“And because of this, the salaries of the 

employees of the city hall and San Juan 

Medical Center will be delayed. They have 

not yet received their salaries since June. 

And on Monday if I’m still not given the 

authority to sign the checks, 

the salaries for 15 July will 

also be delayed,” the mayor 

added. 

Zamora said he is 

hoping that the councilors 

would finally allow him 

to sign the checks on 

Monday. 

“Let’s set aside 

politics for now and 

think first what is 

good for the City of 

San Juan,” he said. 

Easy does it Rescuers 

of the Metropolitan Manila 

Development Authority heave a 

motorcycle rider injured from an 

accident along Libertad Street 

in Pasay City. BOB DUNGO JR. 

Six robbers, six cops 

Six street robbers met more than their 

match in six Makati policemen who chanced 

upon them robbing a hapless Chinese national 

at the crack of dawn Friday. 

The stick-up men, including one deadly 

serious with his criminal trade being armed 

with a .22 magnum revolver, had just robbed 

Jonas Wang along Washington Street corner 

Buendia Avenue when a Makati police patrol 

car arrived. 

Seeing the cops, the suspects scampered 

in all directions, sparking a street chase that 

ultimately resulted to their being arrested 

as the young cops proved up to the task of 

running them down. 

Now behind bars are Dioshua Dellera, 19, 

fisherman by day robber by night; Jeffrey 

Honradez, 30, jeepney dispatcher, jeepney 

barker Lester Honradez, 25,; Hazel Arong, 21; 

Ruben Quilana, 30; and Arben Gonzales, 29. 

Lester yielded the gun whose .22 caliber 

bullets may be small but they pack potentially 

lethal magnum power. 

Effecting the arrest were P/Cpls. Romulo 

Soriano, Jr., Joseph Tingcawa Jr. and Reynard 

Matabang; and Patrolmen Joshua Revilles, 

Mark Edhyson Arinabo and Arlon Mallari. 

The victim, Wang, a resident of Oriental 

Garden hotel and residences along Pasong 

Tamo Street in Makati, is working in the 

country in an information technology 

company. 

Back you all go Makati City deputy chief of police for operations P/Maj. Gideon Ines (left) admonishes 

the six suspects as they are returned to jail following their inquest for robbery. 

PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde says commercial establishments should not hinder police 

probers from doing their jobs. 

Punish the bad, 

reward the good 

From A7 

much-improved image of cops,” he said. 

“It’s still a work in progress but we are getting there. 

That’s why we are putting in order our recruitment as 

part of our internal cleansing process,” Eleazar added. 

Culpable 

The latest to be dismissed, said Eleazar, was ex-Cpl. 

Rocky delos Reyes over three separate incidents in all of 

which he was found culpable, including in the shooting 

of a boy in Caloocan City. 

Aside from dismissal, Delos Reyes is facing murder, 

frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms 

charges over the incidents enumerated by Eleazar. 

The NCRPO chief said that the PNP has graduated 

sanctions but even a one-day suspension results to a 

policeman’s forfeiture of his bonuses for the year. 

He explained that retraining and other sanctions 

await policemen like the one caught in a viral video 

in San Juan threatening a man and another who beat 

up an eight-year-old boy. 

“When I see that the sanction is dismissal, I no 

longer read that. I am so happy, that’s already okay. 

But when it’s exoneration, that’s when I check. I ask 

why is he being cleared?” 

“I will not think twice dismissing a few rotten 

cops who taint the entire organization the majority 

of whose members are good, dedicated cops,” 

Eleazar said. 

Summary firing 

He reasoned that if there’s “summary hiring” 

there should also be “summary firing” after the facts 

had been established and due process requirements had 

been satisfied. 

On Friday, Elezar signed for the NCRPO a memorandum 

of agreement with the Ayala Foundation Group of 

Companies for the Pulis Magiting Program to recognize 

exemplary cop who go above and beyond the call of duty 

to serve. 

The rewards will be given to deserving policemen by 

the Ayala Foundation on a regular basis. 

“This truly inspiring program tells us policemen that 

we are being monitored even by our business community 

and that we must be doing something good to merit their 

attention, encouragement and care,” he stressed. 

Ayala Foundation president Raul Maranan signed the 

MoA with Eleazar at the NCRPO headquarters in Camp 

Bagong Diwa, Taguig City. 

Eleazar said his management policy as head of the 

five police districts of Metro Manila came from Albayalde 

himself which us to “reward the good, but punish the bad.” 

He revealed that he has given thousands of awards to 

NCRPO policemen which should dispel the notion that 

most policemen are bad. 

First to be awarded the Pulis Magiting was P/Cpl. Claro 

Fornis of the Makati Police Community Precinct (PCP) 

1 for acting as guardian during enrolment to a student 

whose parents were in jail. 

The student, Angela Perez, 14, told the police that 

she wanted to enrol in school but her parents were 

in jail, thus could not sign the documents required 

for the registration. 

Roadworks slated anew 

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 

announced the resumption of the road improvement works 

in Metro Manila starting at 11 p.m. Friday until Monday, 

15 July. 

In a statement, DPWH-National Capital Region 

(DPWH-NCR) director Ador Canlas said that road repairs 

will be done at the southbound of EDSA -- from Guzent 

Construction Equipment Sales and Rental to Culiat Bridge, 

1st lane from sidewalk; from Magallanes to Baclaran Bus 

Stop going to Magallanes to Alabang Bus Stop, outer lane 

and from Eugenio Lopez Drive to Scout Borromeo and at 

the northbound of after Aurora Boulevard Service Road, 

second lane from sidewalk. 

Canlas addd that road rehabilitation works will be 

done at the southbound of Circumferential Road 5 (C-5) 

from fronting SM Aura, third lane from median; and at 

the northbound from fronting SM Aura, second lane from 

median. 

In Quezon City, southbound of Katipunan Avenue from 

after P. Tuazon, second lane from sidewalk will also have 

road repairs, while the westbound of Quirino Highway 

from Kingfisher Street to Primerose Street, second lane 

from sidewalk; the westbound of General Luis Street from 

Pascual Street to before Oriental Tin; and the northbound 

of Regalado Avenue from Mindanao Avenue Exit to Quirino 

Highway, second lane from sidewalk will also be covered 

by the reblocking repairs. 

The Public Works department is advising motorists 

to expect traffic slowdown in the affected areas and use 

possible alternate routes. 

Raymart T. Lolo

A8 

METRO 

John Henry Dodson, Editor 


Daily Tribune 

Punish the bad, reward the good 


The National Capital Region Police (NCRPO) has 

dismissed 711 police personnel for various offenses in 

the past three years by the end of June 2019, Maj. Gen. 

Guillermo Eleazar has told Daily Tribune in an exclusive 

interview. 

As Metro Manila police director, Eleazar said he 

himself has been signing orders sanctioning 

policemen in an almost daily basis as part of 

the internal cleansing program of Philippine 

National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar 

Albayalde. 

P/Cpl. Fornis is first Pulis Magiting 

awardee. 

In a roundtable discussion with editors 

and writers, Eleazar said that he, in fact, does 

not have second thoughts sacking policemen 

who taint the organization with their misdeeds 

or criminal acts. 

“Most of them were AWOL (absent without 

official leave), followed by (those involved 

in) extortion. Others were into 

illegal drugs,” Eleazar 

said in Filipino. 

As in any 

organization, 

Eleazar said 

the PNP 

follows due process in dealing with policemen against 

whom charges had been filed. 

The 711 were dismissed because of administrative 

cases, while 190 were demoted and 1,278 were 

suspended in the first three years of the Duterte 

administration, he said. 

“Every day, I sign orders handing out sanctions 

and we are not stopping (weeding out 

bad eggs) because there are so many 

who want to be policemen. We are 

processing 300 applications for 

NCRPO right now with over 4,000 

applicants,” Eleazar said. 

Eleazar credited President 

Duterte for the big surge in the 

number of young men and women who 

want to become policemen, especially 

the Chief Executive increasing the base 

pay of policemen to about 100 percent. 

“Many also want to become 

policemen now because they see the 

improvement in our organization 

– the newfound trust and the 


Exemplary service Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar and Ayala Foundation president Ruel Maranan hand P/Cpl. Claro Fornis the Pulis Magiting award, the first recipient of the accolade. NCRPO Photo 

PITX: 7M served 

and counting 

By Miguel Paolo Togonon 

About seven million passengers 

had been served already by the 

Parañaque Integrated Terminal 

Exchange (PITX) from its opening 

in November 2018 to the end of 

June this year. 

Eight months since the 

first “land port” in the country 

started operating, service at the 

air-conditioned PITX had vastly 

improved, according to transport 

officials. 

Trips to Baguio start 

Monday; Vis-Min routes 

planned. 

Mark de Leon, 

Undersecretary for Road 

Transport and Infrastructure 

of the Department of 

Transportation (DoTr), said 

yesterday that PITX has come 

a long way in so short a time. 

While the opening of the 

terminal encountered some 

bumps on the road, De Leon 

said the DoTr never wavered in 

trying to change the culture and 

attitude of passengers, as well as 

drivers and operators of public 

utility vehicles. 

Members of media were given 

a tour of the terminal on Friday 

by De Leon, Land Transportation 

Franchising and Regulatory Board 

chair Martin Delgra, Megawide 

head of corporate affairs Jason 

Torres and PITX general manager 

Mariano Arroyo Jr. 

The PITX serves as end-and-start 

of terminals serving provincial 

buses from the province of Cavite. 

It hosts city buses, traditional and 

modern jeepneys and Asian utility 

vehicles for rides into various Metro 

Manila destinations. 

On Monday, PITX will post 

a milestone when it rolls out a 

point-to-point route to and from 

Baguio. In the second half of 

this year, long-haul routes to 

Visayas and Mindanao will be 

unveiled. 

BoC purge seen coming 

Media tour The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange will 

soon host trips to and from the Visayas and Mindanao. 

YUMMIE DINGDING 

Honest labor, 

it’s not 

Robbers divest job applicant of his allimportant 

laptop 

G i a n t 

tilapia A 

Pasig River 

Rehabilitation 

Commission 

volunteer 

displays a 

giant tilapia 

which serves 

as a testament 

to their efforts to 

rehabilitate the river 

system. PRRC Photo 

Maronilla said rampant corruption touched off sacking 

at Customs 

By Elmer N. Manuel 

A Bureau of Customs (BoC) 

official on Friday said President 

Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement 

that he will fire 64 Customs officials 

and employees due to corruption 

did not come as a surprise. 

In a radio interview, Customs 

Assistant Secretary Jet Maronilla 

said Customs officials and 

employees had been sufficiently 

warned about the government’s 

intensified drive to stop 

corruption in the bureau. 

“The President’s statement 

came as no surprise because we 

have intelligence reports that there 

are still anomalies in the bureau 

despite the efforts of Commissioner 

Rey Guerrero,” Maronilla said. 

Maronilla said aside from 

the complaints received by the 

bureau, President Duterte also has his 

own intelligence information regarding 

corruption in the BoC. 

Duterte, during the signing ceremony 

for the Malolos-Clark railway project 

in Malacañang on Thursday, said he is 

planning to dismiss 64 BoC employees for 

corruption. 

Duterte later told reporters that he is 

relieving them of their duties “to prevent 

further damage to government interest.” 

The said BoC employees had been 

summoned by the President to the palace. 

They will be asked to resign or face charges. 

He said, however, that he leaves it 

up to the Office of the Ombudsman to 

file charges against supposedly corrupt 

Customs employees. 

The President said he could cut 

corruption in the government by a third 

once he weeds out crooked officials and 

employees at the BoC, which he has 

repeatedly criticized. 

In 2018, Duterte said he wanted the 

Armed Forces of the Philippines to take 

over the agency after billions of pesos 

worth of illegal drugs slipped past its watch. 

By Neil Alcober 

A man intending to earn an honest living and two 

dregs of society awaiting jail time or, worse, a date 

with the grim reaper, have crossed paths. 

The 22-year-old man, Jeson Diaz, a visual display 

assistant, was on his way to a job interview Thursday 

when two men aboard a motorcycle robbed him at 

gunpoint in San Juan City. 

Diaz told the police that he was walking at Lake 

Street in Barangay Salapan when the two men 

stopped by his side and asked for directions going 

to Divisoria. 

Then, to Diaz’s shock and apprehension, one of 

the men drew a gun, pointed it at him and brusquely 

asked that he hand over his bag. 

Taken from the victim was his black laptop 

bag, two bank debit cards, two wallets, a backpack 

containing clothes, P560 in cash and a mobile phone. 

The laptop was especially important for Diaz in 

his line of work creating graphic contents. 

Police investigators have scoured the area and 

sought closed circuit television footage with the 

hope of identifying the suspects or at least their 

getway vehicle. 

According to the victim, the suspects were both 

wearing helmets, black jackets and black shorts.

98-METER PASSENGER 

FERRY ARRIVING OCT. 

1.3B ‘MULTIDIMENSIONALLY 

POOR’ — UN 

B10 

B10 

‘5% CME SHOULD 

NOT BE EXPENSIVE’ 

B14 

SHOPEE PHL EYES 5-FOLD 

ORDER VALUE GROWTH 

B11 

Jun Vallecera, Editor 


Daily Tribune 

BUSINESS 

B9 

Toyota recalls 12,000 units over airbag error 

INAPPROPRIATE computer programming of airbags installed on Toyota Rush units has forced a recall on 12,124 

of the vehicles. It was found that a rear wheel impact could cause the airbags to deploy. 

Willful leadership 

transforms Manila 

THE Z PERSPECTIVE 

Joe Zaldarriaga 

COMMENTARY 

“The eloquent mayor 

turned those offers 

down, and moved on to 

pursue his mission to 

remove the dirty image 

that his city has grown 

through the years. 

It is one thing to lead by words, and another to lead by action. 

That exemplifies the ‘new kid on the block’, the Tondo boy who 

worked as garbage collector in his younger days to meet both ends 

meet, became a TV celebrity for his boyish look, and now leading 

to transform the once dingy, dangerous and ‘abandoned’ Manila, 

into a tourist destination. 

While Manila is the most popular city in the Philippines, 

famous worldwide, and while it remains the nexus of our entire 

country, it was simply allowed to rot by previous mayors during 

the 30 post-EDSA years. 

Manilenos cheered when Manila Mayor Isko Moreno hit the 

ground running in the City of Manila, clearing the clogged roads 

of illegal vendors and setting a clear policy agenda to reverse that 

city’s slow death. 

Moreno is the product of the public’s expectation for willful 

leadership and effective governance. People expect their mayors 

and governors to be both compassionate and decisive. Because we 

have a willful President today that leads an effective governance, 

it trickles down to the local executive level. 

When Moreno reported for work on his first day at office, he 

readily rolled his sleeves to clear the busy streets of Divisoria, 

Blumentritt, and even beyond that, cleaning up Carriedo, Plaza 

Miranda and its underpass. That’s when I realized that Manila is 

fortunate to have a man of action in charge — who clearly knows 

and envisions what he wants and how to do it. 

A small, seemingly minor community program like a clearing 

operation may not be sexy, but the important steps toward greatness 

rarely are. So, it is a wonder when the government’s resources are 

actually put into good use, as they are being used right now, such 

as firetrucks being utilized to clear out the grimy streets of Manila. 

But it is with these small baby steps that we see a man striving to 

give his city a new life, refreshed in its own way, but with a better 

outlook on life. 

Mayor Isko revealed that he got an offer of P5 million a day 

to close his eyes on the anomalous situation. The eloquent mayor 

turned those offers down, and moved on to pursue his mission to 

remove the dirty image that his city has grown through the years. 

The initial results of his campaign during his first week in 

office did not go unnoticed. The press reported and posted photos 

of places like Divisoria, looking almost unrecognizable without the 

messy crowd of people trampling around the place. There is order, 

there is peace, and it is a beauty to watch. 

Moreno’s willful leadership is also getting good raves from 

government officials with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana 

looking to personally congratulate him for the reforms that he is 

putting in place. 

Turn to page B10 

Special service campaigns are issued to inform 

customers on technical issues in specific products 

which may be inspected, repaired or replaced with 

no expiration date 

By AJ Bajo 

It should be fairly easy for the Philippine Gaming 

and Amusement Corp. (PAGCOR) to generate P8 

billion from so-called Philippine Offshore Gaming 

Operators (POGO). 

This was learned from Pagcor Chairman and 

CEO Andrea Domingo who expressed the optimism 

despite the exit of three gaming operators who 

were apprehensive of the impact on changes in the 

tax system. 

“We will make it. We’re going to collect another 

P8 billion,” Domingo told reporters at the sidelines 

of the Phil-Asian Gaming Expo on Friday. 

The PAGCOR chief said the tax authorities are 

all “very intelligent and mature people” who will tax 

POGO correctly and that these companies “could 

still make a profit enough for them to stay here” as 

competition from other countries is tight. She said 

the Philippines has more lenient rules and cheaper 

operational costs. 

“There’s a lot of competition from other countries 

like in Cambodia. You only have to pay $1,000 and 

you can put up an operation. I think Laos is even 

thinking of opening up and I don’t know if Japan 

will open up to offshore gaming, but they’ve already 

(issued) three licenses,” she added. 

The establishment of POGO hubs is also another 

issue that PAGCOR is looking into. 

“I think it’s good. First, it legitimizes the presence 

of offshore gaming in the Philippines. It assures 

transparency in all transactions. It assures players 

that they’re no longer going to fear for their bets 

because we are here to assure that there’s fair play,” 

Domingo said. 

Industry leader Toyota 

Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) 

is issuing a special service 

campaign for the curtain shield 

airbag computer of 12,124 Toyota 

Rush units. 

In an advisory to the 

Department of Trade and 

Industry signed by TMP first vice 

president Rommel Gutierrez, 

TMP said the recall covers units 

sold in the Philippine market 

from 2 April 2018 to 7 February 

this year. 

“Due to inappropriate airbag 

computer programming of the 

involved units, the Curtain Shield 

Airbags may deploy upon impact 

on the rear wheel,” TMP’s advisory 

read. The campaign is in line 

with the automaker’s “corporate 

commitment to product safety and 

quality,” it said. 

TMP said it will notify 

concerned customers through 

official notification letters. The 

ADJUSTMENTS in the country’s tax regime has allegedly forced three offshore gaming operators to 

leave. Still, the head of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is certain the agency’s P8-billion 

collection target is within reach this year. 

PAGCOR says P8B income 

from POGO possible 

She noted the country is no longer 

the illegal gambling capital of 

the world and that “everybody 

is looking at the Philippines as 

somebody who has actually done 

a very good intervention in the 

offshore gaming sector industry” 

“(Also,) it assures the government that we are 

collecting the gaming revenues through our audit 

service provider...so that every single centavo 

that goes to the government legally, will go to the 

government legally,” she added. 

According to her, the POGO hub, being a new 

revenue source for the PAGCOR, is still being studied 

noting on the agency’s focus on how to establish it, 

attract operators and how to regulate the gaming 

portion of it. 

Further, the PAGCOR boss said they will provide 

licenses with a longer effectivity period for those 

operators who choose to set their operations within 

the hubs while those that will operate outside the 

hubs will also be licensed, but with a much shorter 

effectivity period. 

“Since it’s easier for us to regulate when they 

are in hubs, then there are some special privileges 

there like five-year licenses for those inside the hub 

but for those outside, three years, which is better 

because before, it was only effective for a year,” 

Domingo explained. 

On the exit of three gaming operators the 

PAGCOR chief attributed to their fear of upcoming 

tax rules and regulations, Domingo said the 

Philippines succeeded in creating a good 

regulatory regime for such operators. 

“We were able to successfully convince 

about 59 operators to get to the Philippines. 

We have a very good model now. We do 

not segregate the operators from the 

service provider to circumvent revenue 

collection,” Domingo said. 

She noted the country is no 

longer the illegal gambling capital 

of the world and that “everybody 

is looking at the Philippines as 

somebody who has actually done a very 

good intervention in the offshore gaming 

sector industry.” 

She said operations against illegal POGO have 

already began with some 170 operators closed by 

operations from the National Bureau of Investigation 

and the Philippine National Police. Joshua Lao 

owners of the affected units may 

bring it to any authorized Toyota 

dealer for a free replacement of 

the airbag computer assembly. 

Special service campaigns 

are issued to inform customers 

on technical issues in specific 

products which may be inspected, 

repaired or replaced with no 

expiration date. 

In April last year, TMP also 

recalled more than 10,000 units 

of its models Alphard, Corolla, 

Vios and Yaris produced from 

January 2013 to December 2014 

over a defect in the units’ airbag 

inflator. 

This was followed with a 

September recall of 15,000 Toyota 

Wigo models manufactured in 

2017 due to a faulty wire. 

BoC halfway 

past P10-B tariff 

collection target 

The Bureau of Customs (BoC) has 

already collected P5.889 billion from rice 

imports under the new rice tariff law, 

officials said on Friday. 

The amount translates to over 50 percent 

of its total target collection. 

According to Customs Commissioner 

Rey Leonardo Guerrero, the BoC is on track 

to meet the P10 billion target rice tariff 

collection set under Republic Act 11203 also 

known as the Rice Import Tariffication Law. 

The law, which took effect on 5 March 

this year, was created to address the rice 

shortage in 2018. 

Tariffication replaced the former quota 

system on rice imports that make it easier 

for importers and traders to import rice to 

meet local demand, ease consumer prices 

and by extension the country’s inflation 

rate. Food accounts for the bulk of the 

consumer price index and rice is a key 

component. 

According to the BoC, the Bureau 

reported an increase in privately imported 

rice under RA 11203 with a volume of 

966,690 metric tons in March to June period 

as compared to only 185,100 metric tons 

for the same period in 2018. Likewise, an 

increase of 422.25 percent in volume was 

also observed and attributable to RA 11203. 

An average of 256,445 metric tons 

per month of rice imports after the 

implementation of RA 11203 was noted 

compared to only 46,275 metric tons per 

month in the same period last year. 

In a statement. the BoC said the volume 

of rice importation is a strong indication that 

the BoC will meet the target of P10 billion 

pesos in tariff collection this year earmarked 

for remittance to the Rice Competitiveness 

Enhancement Fund. 

CUSTOMS officials reported having already 

collected this early half, or P5.89 billion, 

of its full year goal in rice tariff revenue 

this year, raising hopes the target should 

be met.

B10 BUSINESS 


Daily Tribune 

98-meter passenger 

ferry arriving October 

Chelsea grew its net income by 21 percent to P139 

million in the first quarter from P115 million in the 

same period last year on the back of increases in its 

shipping and logistic segments 

By AJ Bajo 

The tenth new roll on-roll off passenger (ropax) ferry procured by 

Dennis Uy-led Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp. 

with carrying capacity of 740 passengers, 22 buses and six trucks is 

slated for delivery in October this year. 

In a disclosure to the stock exchange on 12 July, shipping and logistics 

firm Chelsea said the 98-meter M/V Trans-Asia 20 (Hull No. S-1190) was 

launched on 5 July at the Japan shipyard of its builder Kegoya Deck Co., Ltd. 

Chelsea president and chief executive officer Chryss Alfonsus Damuy 

said that there are “a number of new projects still in the pipeline” under 

its agreement with Kegoya, in line with its bid to support the shipping 

industry’s modernization. 

“We expect our fleet expansion program to contribute to our 

market dominance and to continue to provide an alternative reliable 

transportation to Filipinos,” Damuy was quoted as saying. 

M/V Trans-Asia 20 brings Chelsea’s total fleet to 89 vessels. This includes 

30 ropax vessels, 11 fast crafts, 15 cargo shops, 12 tankers, 15 tugboats, four 

barges and two floating docks. The addition also wraps up Chelsea’s plan 

of acquiring two new vessels this year, as it has also received a 67-meter 

ropax last April. 

Chelsea and Kegoya has also started the construction of another 

98-meter bed/seat ropax ferry, which has a gross tonnage of 5,100 

CALCULATIONS by the Asian Institute of 

Petroleum Studies show that coco diesel blend 

of 5 percent from 2 percent at the moment 

should push the per liter price higher by only 

20 centavos or way cheaper than government 

projection of P2.49 per liter. 

‘5% CME 

should not be 

expensive’ 

Coco-biodiesel makes diesel 

fuel burn easily and completely, 

leading to more power and mileage 

improvement 

The Philippine Biodiesel Association (TPBA) 

on Friday urged regulators to increase the 

biodiesel component in locally available diesel 

from 2 percent at the moment to 5 percent. 

At 5 percent, the TPBA said the cost of 

biodiesel should not top 20 centavos more than 

they cost at present, unlike what some people 

are saying at the Department of Energy who 

claim the higher CME blend could push the 

price higher by P2.49 per liter. 

“We need to correct the wrong computation 

and right now that’s a hurdle that we have to 

overcome because the people in the Department 

of Energy, they think that what they’re doing 

is correct,” Rafael Diaz, Asian Institute of 

Petroleum Studies Inc. president, told reporters. 

The 11-company TPBA supports the phased 

increase in biodiesel starting with 3 percent 

this year and 5 percent by 2021. 

Coco-biodiesel, or coconut methyl ester 

(CME) was first adopted in 2007 with the 

implementation of Republic Act 9367 or the 

Biofuels Act of 2006 when diesel was 1 percent 

CME and 2 percent the following year. The 

proportion has not changed since then. 

We need to correct the wrong 

computation and right now that’s 

a hurdle that we have to overcome 

because the people in the Department 

of Energy, they think that what they’re 

doing is correct. 

According to Diaz, Malaysia and Indonesia 

currently have an oversupply of palm oil, hence 

the increase in their use of palm-biodiesel. The 

Philippines can do the same with the oversupply 

of coconut oil. It should be noted however that 

coconut oil is far more superior as a biodiesel 

feedstock compared to palm oil and other types 

of oil (including soya bean oil, canola oil, and 

sunflower oil), which would make our local 

biodiesel better in quality. 

Diaz said increasing the CME blend may not 

lower pump price of diesel at this time, but the 

fuel savings translates to measurable mileage 

gain and the savings can be substantial. 

“Coco-biodiesel makes diesel fuel burn easily 

and completely, leading to more power and mileage 

improvement,” Diaz explained. “If there is a 10 

percent mileage improvement and diesel cost is at 

P40, you can effectively save P4 per liter.” 

He brushed aside claims that CME is 

expensive and anti-consumer, saying these are 

unsubstantiated past issues. Maria Romero 

NEARLY two dozen buses, half a dozen trucks and 740 souls could be 

accommodated with comfort at the 98-meter roll-on roll-off ferry purposely 

built in Japan for Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp set for 

delivery in over three months. 

equipped with similar capacity as M/V Trans-Asia 20. It will be finished 

and delivered in April 2020. 

In the latter part of June, the company said that it signed an 

agreement with another Japan-based shipbuilder, Fukuoka Shipbuilding 

Co. Ltd., for the order of a 123-meter ropax vessel. The ship will be 

delivered by June 2021. 

Chelsea’s units include Chelsea Shipping Corp., Starlite Ferries Inc., Fortis 

Tugs Corp. and TransAsia Shipping Lines, which it acquired early this year. 

Chelsea grew its net income by 21 percent to P139 million in the first 

quarter from P115 million in the same period last year on the back of 

increases in its shipping and logistic segments. 

FRIDAY 

12 JULY 2019 

PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE 

NAME OPEN HIGH LOW CLOSE VALUE (P) 

FINANCIALS 

BANKS 

ASIA UNITED 58.9 58.9 58.9 58.9 294,500 

BDO UNIBANK 145.1 149.1 145.1 148.2 319,915,340 

BANK PH ISLANDS 80.5 82 80.4 81.05 386,705,392.50 

CHINABANK 27.15 27.45 27.15 27.45 2,761,895 

EAST WEST BANK 12.14 12.22 12.1 12.16 7,866,000 

METROBANK 72.2 73.6 72.2 72.9 204,927,283 

PB BANK 13.2 13.2 13.2 13.2 25,080 

PBCOM 20.5 20.55 20.5 20.5 229,620 

PHIL NATL BANK 54.15 54.25 53.3 53.85 6,479,242.50 

PSBANK 58 58.4 58 58 175,760 

RCBC 26.4 27 26.4 27 375,670 

SECURITY BANK 180 183 178.4 179 120,884,435 

UNION BANK 62.2 62.2 60.9 61 1,123,983.50 

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 

BRIGHT KINDLE 1.24 1.24 1.24 1.24 73,160 

BDO LEASING 2.36 2.36 2.35 2.35 587,510 

COL FINANCIAL 18.76 18.76 18.7 18.7 155,234 

FIRST ABACUS 0.53 0.53 0.53 0.53 10,600 

FERRONOUX HLDG 4.87 4.87 4.78 4.8 125,040 

IREMIT 1.3 1.35 1.3 1.35 6,650 

MEDCO HLDG 0.48 0.48 0.475 0.475 332,550 

NTL REINSURANCE 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 71,280 

PHIL STOCK EXCH 188.1 190 188.1 190 11,305 

SUN LIFE 1,751 1,752 1,751 1,752 35,025 

INDUSTRIAL 

ELECTRICITY, ENERGY, POWER & WATER 

ALSONS CONS 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.35 1,350 

ABOITIZ POWER 36.5 36.9 36.5 36.5 38,495,310 

BASIC ENERGY 0.26 0.265 0.26 0.265 314,750 

FIRST GEN 26.5 26.8 26.1 26.8 198,044,640 

FIRST PHIL HLDG 89.2 90.25 89.2 89.95 41,163,492 

MERALCO 385.4 385.4 381.4 381.4 57,837,114 

MANILA WATER 25.3 25.55 24.85 25 24,640,255 

PETRON 5.7 5.7 5.61 5.61 30,135,346 

PETROENERGY 4.76 4.78 4.72 4.77 342,560 

PHINMA ENERGY 2.42 2.45 2.4 2.44 14,449,690 

PHX PETROLEUM 12.06 12.06 11.9 12.06 27,404 

PILIPINAS SHELL 39.2 39.2 38.85 39.05 9,764,465 

SPC POWER 6.54 6.59 6.48 6.49 1,534,514 

FOOD, BEVERAGE & TOBACCO 

AGRINURTURE 14.5 14.5 14.3 14.48 12,565,708 

CNTRL AZUCARERA 15.52 17 15.52 17 122,840 

CENTURY FOOD 14.6 14.8 14.52 14.62 4,961,442 

DEL MONTE 6.05 6.19 6.05 6.1 34,102 

DNL INDUS 10.26 10.28 10.08 10.1 41,007,092 

EMPERADOR 7.54 7.55 7.5 7.55 16,601,990 

SMC FOODANDBEV 103 104.9 102 102.3 29,293,077 

ALLIANCE SELECT 0.8 0.84 0.8 0.82 1,386,840 

GINEBRA 57.5 58.3 57.5 57.7 9,141,188.50 

JOLLIBEE 282 282.6 280.4 280.4 254,900,036 

MACAY HLDG 8.96 9.39 8.9 9.39 109,955 

MAXS GROUP 13.8 14 13.8 13.86 30,101,478 

PEPSI COLA 1.81 1.84 1.74 1.77 10,895,490 

SHAKEYS PIZZA 14.1 14.44 14.1 14.36 15,973,210 

ROXAS AND CO 1.35 1.36 1.35 1.35 186,470 

RFM CORP 4.94 5 4.94 5 1,203,640 

ROXAS HLDG 2.08 2.1 1.94 2 137,480 

UNIV ROBINA 173.1 174.5 171.7 171.7 83,536,758 

VITARICH 1.21 1.23 1.2 1.23 1,405,590 

VICTORIAS 2.58 2.58 2.58 2.58 12,900 

CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE & ALLIED SERVICES 

CONCRETE A 89 94.95 87.5 93.4 1,192,255 

CONCRETE B 105 108.9 100.4 108.9 625,627 

CEMEX HLDG 2.86 2.87 2.8 2.8 9,189,980 

EAGLE CEMENT 15.24 15.42 15.24 15.3 6,308,926 

EEI CORP 11 11.28 11 11.18 7,526,118 

HOLCIM 14.6 14.96 14.22 14.48 22,877,840 

MEGAWIDE 18.98 18.98 18.88 18.9 8,779,526 

PHINMA 9.25 9.25 9.25 9.25 92,500 

TKC METALS 1.2 1.2 1.17 1.19 238,120 

VULCAN INDL 1.4 1.4 1.35 1.36 3,674,060 

CHEMICALS 

CROWN ASIA 1.97 1.98 1.96 1.98 161,330 

MABUHAY VINYL 3.28 3.42 3.27 3.42 78,960 

PRYCE CORP 4.86 4.86 4.8 4.84 480,240 

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS & EQUIPMENT 

CONCEPCION 40.3 40.3 40.3 40.3 8,060 

GREENERGY 2.6 2.61 2.54 2.58 21,576,610 

INTEGRATED MICR 10 10 9.92 10 3,244,356 

IONICS 1.7 1.7 1.66 1.69 182,440 

PANASONIC 5.86 5.87 5.86 5.87 706,381 

SFA SEMICON 1.1 1.12 1.08 1.1 376,760 

CIRTEK HLDG 17.3 17.6 17.1 17.42 6,618,848 

HOLDING FIRMS 

ABACORE CAPITAL 0.98 0.99 0.95 0.99 18,354,210 

ASIABEST GROUP 12.74 13.3 12.74 13.24 1,263,886 

AYALA CORP 910 921.5 910 917 244,270,900 

ABOITIZ EQUITY 56.8 57.1 56 56 61,512,908 

ALLIANCE GLOBAL 15.74 15.74 15.5 15.5 79,049,806 

AYALA LAND LOG 3.78 3.9 3.76 3.89 8,788,080 

ANSCOR 7 7.01 7 7 1,444,103 

ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.73 0.74 0.73 0.74 43,360 

ATN HLDG A 1.29 1.29 1.28 1.28 2,186,970 

ATN HLDG B 1.31 1.31 1.28 1.31 1,269,160 

COSCO CAPITAL 7.06 7.08 7.02 7.08 58,214,151 

DMCI HLDG 10.16 10.4 10.1 10.1 26,055,552 

FILINVEST DEV 13.96 13.98 13.6 13.98 2,954,752 

FORUM PACIFIC 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.24 24,000 

GT CAPITAL 881 901 881 900 284,496,745 

HOUSE OF INV 6.37 6.41 6.37 6.41 703,937 

JG SUMMIT 68.6 68.95 67.85 67.85 85,867,551 

LODESTAR 0.495 0.495 0.485 0.485 24,400 

LOPEZ HLDG 4.46 4.46 4.38 4.4 6,816,680 

LT GROUP 15.7 15.8 15.62 15.76 39,826,420 

MABUHAY HLDG 0.63 0.67 0.62 0.64 4,378,990 

METRO PAC INV 4.82 4.86 4.78 4.78 197,695,860 

PACIFICA 0.04 0.042 0.04 0.04 2,293,700 

PRIME MEDIA 1.78 1.81 1.73 1.76 4,974,660 

REPUBLIC GLASS 2.81 2.81 2.81 2.81 14,050 

SOLID GROUP 1.4 1.4 1.36 1.37 88,950 

SM INVESTMENTS 980 981 960 960 168,262,805 

SAN MIGUEL CORP 177 177.5 175.5 176 61,820,125 

SOC RESOURCES 0.83 0.85 0.81 0.84 61,920 

TOP FRONTIER 262 262 261 262 34,050 

WELLEX INDUS 0.244 0.244 0.24 0.244 272,320 

ZEUS HLDG 0.305 0.305 0.295 0.3 622,400 

PROPERTY 

ARTHALAND CORP 1.06 1.1 1.04 1.07 17,155,840 

AYALA LAND 52.6 53 52.3 53 599,248,429.50 

ARANETA PROP 2.01 2.04 2 2.03 137,330 

BELLE CORP 2.3 2.35 2.3 2.31 109,320 

A BROWN 0.88 0.9 0.86 0.87 5,701,960 

CITYLAND DEVT 0.91 0.94 0.91 0.94 18,320 

CROWN EQUITIES 0.24 0.246 0.24 0.246 612,970 

CEBU HLDG 6.35 6.35 6.35 6.35 635 

CEB LANDMASTERS 5.16 5.2 5.16 5.18 2,016,649 

CENTURY PROP 0.62 0.63 0.61 0.62 11,170,800 

CYBER BAY 0.45 0.45 0.445 0.445 454,250 

DOUBLEDRAGON 24.7 25.1 24.6 24.7 6,095,495 

DM WENCESLAO 9.81 9.89 9.7 9.76 5,891,136 

EMPIRE EAST 0.47 0.475 0.465 0.475 2,869,450 

EVER GOTESCO 0.123 0.123 0.122 0.122 26,850 

FILINVEST LAND 1.82 1.91 1.81 1.91 238,630,000 

GLOBAL ESTATE 1.38 1.41 1.38 1.41 2,449,590 

8990 HLDG 15.5 15.54 15.5 15.5 12,741,932 

PHIL INFRADEV 1.73 1.73 1.7 1.72 3,060,960 

Willful leadership 

transforms Manila 

From page B9 

Senator Lacson also extols Moreno saying: “Leaders like him 

make me think about retirement.” Senator Recto also said: “Isko 

Moreno is the glowing ‘Exhibit A’ of the reality that many of the 

country’s problems can be solved without having to rewrite the 

constitution.” 

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano also throws his support to 

Moreno’s programs, saying that he should keep up the good work 

and stay true to his programs. Ano highlighted the clearing of 

informal settlers from creeks and other danger zones to help the 

Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program. 

On top of his clean-up drive, the articulate Moreno is also saying a 

lot of right things. He said he is preserving the Arroceros pocket forest, 

cleaning up Manila Zoo and working with the Department of Tourism 

to develop Intramuros as a safe tourist district. 

Mayor Isko wants to develop a “tourism circuit” that would link 

Intramuros to the National Museum, Rizal Park, Binondo and other 

heritage districts in the city. The Mayor also said he plans to work with 

the Intramuros Administration (IA) to support its “urban regeneration” 

initiative. 

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat supports Mayor Isko. She 

noted that “Manila is the crucible of Philippine history and culture, 

and the primary gateway to the country’s 7,641 island destinations. We 

share the vision and enthusiasm of Mayor Moreno in providing our 

international visitors a great first impression of the Philippines as soon 

as they set foot in Manila.” 

Nobody said it would be easy, but heavy is the head that wears the 

crown. But if it is any indication, it looks like many of our new mayors 

are up to the task. They exude an aura that they are tired of the old 

way of doing things. The new blood wants change, and they want it 

now. And now that they are making the moves, they are now changing 

people’s hearts and minds. And sometimes that is all you need to build 

a better tomorrow. 

As for Mayor Isko, he said he has just gotten started and alleviated 

fears he is all ningas cogon. The public for sure will keep tab on that. 

NAME OPEN HIGH LOW CLOSE VALUE (P) 

CITY AND LAND 0.78 0.81 0.78 0.81 68,440 

MEGAWORLD 6.16 6.3 6.11 6.3 193,287,155 

MRC ALLIED 0.345 0.35 0.34 0.345 3,079,050 

PHIL ESTATES 0.48 0.51 0.48 0.51 137,500 

PRIMEX CORP 2.15 2.16 2.15 2.15 411,120 

ROBINSONS LAND 27 27.5 26.8 27.5 167,011,285 

PHIL REALTY 0.405 0.405 0.405 0.405 4,050 

ROCKWELL 2.29 2.35 2.29 2.3 3,268,920 

SHANG PROP 3.18 3.19 3.07 3.19 388,270 

STA LUCIA LAND 1.98 2.01 1.91 2 2,501,220 

SM PRIME HLDG 39.2 39.25 38.3 38.3 286,074,870 

STARMALLS 6.2 6.2 6.11 6.2 287,598 

SUNTRUST HOME 0.83 0.89 0.8 0.83 4,952,420 

VISTA LAND 7.24 7.34 7.23 7.27 36,495,863 

SERVICES 

MEDIA 

ABS CBN 17.56 17.68 17.48 17.5 1,363,046 

GMA NETWORK 5.4 5.4 5.31 5.33 840,039 

MANILA BULLETIN 0.51 0.55 0.51 0.53 451,740 

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 

GLOBE TELECOM 2,200 2,240 2,112 2,200 84,279,270 

PLDT 1,224 1,245 1,214 1,214 168,172,265 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 

APOLLO GLOBAL 0.047 0.052 0.047 0.052 11,569,600 

DFNN INC 5.96 6.2 5.9 6.2 61,446 

IMPERIAL 1.91 1.95 1.91 1.95 75,090 

ISLAND INFO 0.117 0.12 0.117 0.119 141,020 

ISM COMM 5.96 6.03 5.71 5.8 47,111,315 

NOW CORP 2.65 2.68 2.56 2.59 13,954,310 

TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.35 0.35 0.34 0.35 1,095,550 

PHILWEB 4.1 4.36 4.05 4.24 34,211,310 

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES 

2GO GROUP 11.18 11.2 10.9 11 70,526 

ASIAN TERMINALS 21.6 21.6 21.6 21.6 2,160 

CHELSEA 7.95 8.04 7.7 7.87 36,454,485 

CEBU AIR 92.9 94 92.9 93.5 30,187,463 

INTL CONTAINER 143 144.7 142.8 143.6 152,539,484 

LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.9 0.9 0.87 0.89 501,660 

MACROASIA 19.5 19.52 19.4 19.48 3,276,176 

PAL HLDG 9.3 9.4 9.2 9.2 63,010 

HARBOR STAR 2.15 2.15 2.11 2.12 3,391,450 

HOTEL & LEISURE 

ACESITE HOTEL 1.42 1.45 1.4 1.45 396,710 

BOULEVARD HLDG 0.063 0.065 0.061 0.063 8,869,760 

WATERFRONT 0.79 0.81 0.78 0.8 7,995,680 

EDUCATION 

CENTRO ESCOLAR 7.01 7.01 7 7 15,407 

FAR EASTERN U 894.5 894.5 894.5 894.5 17,890 

IPEOPLE 9.7 9.9 9.7 9.9 120,530 

STI HLDG 0.8 0.8 0.77 0.8 2,723,300 

CASINOS & GAMING 

BERJAYA 2.72 2.72 2.62 2.63 840,930 

BLOOMBERRY 11.4 11.54 11.36 11.5 114,472,346 

PACIFIC ONLINE 2.98 2.98 2.85 2.9 543,690 

LEISURE AND RES 3.72 3.72 3.64 3.7 1,547,590 

MANILA JOCKEY 3.3 3.41 3.29 3.3 2,155,440 

PH RESORTS GRP 5.18 5.2 5.16 5.19 209,709 

PREMIUM LEISURE 0.71 0.74 0.7 0.71 10,848,830 

TRAVELLERS 5.38 5.55 5.38 5.5 7,005,590 

RETAIL 

METRO RETAIL 2.6 2.64 2.59 2.63 3,147,720 

PUREGOLD 45.6 46.15 45.6 45.9 101,914,580 

ROBINSONS RTL 78.75 80 77.95 80 48,320,891 

PHIL SEVEN CORP 132 140 132 140 33,163,520 

SSI GROUP 3.54 3.58 3.43 3.44 13,247,810 

WILCON DEPOT 16.86 16.92 16.82 16.82 19,044,742 

OTHER SERVICES 

APC GROUP 0.56 0.56 0.52 0.53 5,499,320 

EASYCALL 9.98 10 9.62 9.62 188,398 

GOLDEN BRIA 428.4 428.4 420 420 147,818 

IPM HLDG 5.7 6 5.7 5.75 53,770 

PRMIERE HORIZON 0.88 0.89 0.85 0.85 16,860,560 

SBS PHIL CORP 9.39 9.49 9.35 9.49 320,416 

MINING & OIL 

MINING 

ATOK 12.3 12.3 11.48 12.08 35,332 

APEX MINING 1.11 1.14 1.1 1.14 2,518,450 

ABRA MINING 0.0018 0.0019 0.0016 0.0018 3,538,100 

ATLAS MINING 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 2,700 

BENGUET A 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 60,000 

CENTURY PEAK 2.84 2.84 2.81 2.81 510,300 

DIZON MINES 7.87 7.87 7.78 7.78 3,906 

FERRONICKEL 1.45 1.46 1.43 1.44 634,920 

GEOGRACE 0.222 0.222 0.218 0.218 34,980 

LEPANTO A 0.107 0.11 0.107 0.109 34,650 

LEPANTO B 0.123 0.123 0.123 0.123 19,680 

MANILA MINING A 0.0077 0.0077 0.0075 0.0075 120,200 

MARCVENTURES 1.23 1.23 1.15 1.18 747,460 

NIHAO 1.04 1.04 1.03 1.03 89,620 

NICKEL ASIA 2.25 2.27 2.19 2.25 2,869,420 

ORNTL PENINSULA 0.84 0.85 0.84 0.85 49,230 

PX MINING 3.55 3.6 3.53 3.54 177,330 

SEMIRARA MINING 22.35 22.9 22.35 22.5 33,297,500 

OIL 

ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 2,641,800 

ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 18,000 

PHILODRILL 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 38,100 

PHINMA PETRO 4.7 4.8 4.68 4.8 1,167,820 

PXP ENERGY 7.65 7.9 7.65 7.75 3,779,587 

PREFERRED 

HOUSE PREF A 96.95 97 96.9 96.95 1,458,671.50 

AC PREF B1 490 490 488 490 1,379,800 

AC PREF B2 483.2 490 483 490 294,732 

ALCO PREF B 100 100 100 100 20,000 

DD PREF 99.05 99.05 99 99 5,950,400 

SMC FB PREF 2 990 1,000 990 990 6,255,150 

FGEN PREF G 104.1 104.1 104 104 582,470 

GLO PREF P 499 499 499 499 209,580 

GTCAP PREF A 950 985 950 985 900,950 

GTCAP PREF B 945 945 945 945 103,950 

LR PREF 1 1 1 1 15,000 

PNX PREF 3B 106 106 106 106 474,880 

PCOR PREF 3A 1,011 1,011 1,010 1,011 4,094,500 

PCOR PREF 3B 1,011 1,012 1,011 1,012 374,340 

SMC PREF 2B 75.2 75.2 75.15 75.2 324,854 

SMC PREF 2C 76.2 76.75 76.1 76.75 2,219,621 

SMC PREF 2D 73 73 73 73 73,000 

SMC PREF 2E 74.95 74.95 74.95 74.95 1,049,300 

SMC PREF 2F 74.85 74.95 74.5 74.5 2,790,125 

SMC PREF 2G 73.3 74.5 73.25 74.5 982,395 

SMC PREF 2H 73.5 73.8 73.5 73.8 882,600 

SMC PREF 2I 74 74 74 74 2,220 

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS 

GMA HLDG PDR 5.37 5.37 5.25 5.37 94,151,040 

WARRANTS 

LR WARRANT 1.84 1.87 1.83 1.84 105,130 

SMALL, MEDIUM & EMERGING 

ITALPINAS 4.96 5.09 4.96 5.05 1,232,627 

XURPAS 1.09 1.1 1.08 1.09 2,121,180 

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 

FIRST METRO ETF 122 122.4 122 122.2 851,306


Daily Tribune 

BUSINESS B11 

Shopee Phl eyes five-fold 

order value growth 

SINGAPORE headquartered e-commerce platform Shopee projects an expansion of online transactions in the 

Philippines at five times the gross value this year than last. 

(Our) fourth-quarter target is four to five times higher 

for orders and GMV compared to last year 

AJ Bajo 

International e-commerce firm 

Shopee is eyeing five times more 

gross merchandise value (GMV) 

in its Philippine operations by 

year-end as the country’s retail 

space expands. 

Shopee.ph is currently the lead 

shopping platform with over 19.5 

million unique users in the first half 

of the year and over half a million 

active sellers. 

Associate director for Shopee 

Philippines, Martin Yu, said the 

e-commerce platform registered 

transaction values worth $3.5 billion 

in Asia in the first quarter this year 

alone, up 81.8 percent from $1.9 

billion in the same period last year. 

The amount is equally 

spread over its operations 

in Malaysia, Thailand, 

Vietnam and 

the Philippines, 

with Indonesia 

and Taiwan as 

off-shooters owing to its larger 

population and bigger retail 

spending. 

The company is expecting 

the four to five-fold growth in 

transactions in the fourth quarter 

as the period marks the big sale 

season which typically begins at the 

onset of the Ber months. 

“(Our) fourth-quarter target is 

four to five times higher for orders 

and GMV compared to last year. 

The fourth quarter is basically the 

start of the big sale season in the 

Philippines,” Yu told reporters at 

the sidelines of the Shopee ball in 

Pasay on 11 July. 

Compared to Taiwan’s online 

retail orders, which accounts for 10 

to 15 percent of total orders, only 

one or two percent of retail shopping 

is done online in the Philippines, Yu 

said. This leaves a “huge potential” 

in online shopping “when people get 

used to buying online.” 

Meanwhile, the company said it 

is in discussion with the Intellectual 

Property Office of the Philippines 

to ensure that it is in compliance 

with trademark laws. While the 

company has a counterfeit policy in 

place, Yu said Shopee still requires 

the manual work of over 70 people 

to check if any of the “hundreds of 

thousands” worth of items uploaded 

every day are counterfeit. 

“Despite the automation that 

we already do, this listings team is 

one of the biggest teams we have 

because it’s quite a lot of work. As 

much as we’d like to (automate 

everything), it’s very hard to set 

the rules. Once people know the 

rules, it’s easy to find ways around 

automation. As much as we have 

tried, it’s actually both parts working 

together now,” he said. 

Shopee has stopped merchants 

from selling medicine online after 

it, along with other online seller 

Lazada, received summons from 

the Department of Health over 

medicines being sold online without 

the necessary permit. 

Shopee is headquartered in 

Singapore under Sea Ltd., which 

is listed in the New York Stock 

Exchange under the ticker SE. 

Sea’s other units include digital 

entertainment platform Garena and 

its financial services arm AirPay. 

85.5% of budget already spent 

It is only June but already 

the Department of Budget and 

Management (DBM) has released 

P3.130 trillion, or 85.5 percent of 

the P3.662 trillion 2019 obligatory 

spending program. 

Allotment releases to the line 

departments reached P1.882 

trillion. These include funds 

allocated for agencies in the 

Executive branch, Congress, the 

Judiciary and other constitutional 

offices. 

In addition, fund releases from 

Special Purpose Funds (SPFs) 

amounted to PhP159.8 billion. 

Special Purpose Funds (SPFs) 

are budgetary allocations in 

the GAA allocated for specific 

socio-economic purposes such as 

Budgetary Support to Government 

Corporations, Allocation to Local 

Government Units, Contingent 

Fund, Miscellaneous Personnel 

Airlines 

report higher 

on-time 

performance 

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines 

(PAL) and Cebu Pacific reported 

significantly improved on-time 

performance (OTP) over two 

weeks after signing a pledge of 

commitment with the Department 

of Transportation (DoTr) Aviation 

and Airports Sector. 

PAL Vice President for Flight 

Operations Captain Stanley Ng 

said PAL’s monthly average OTP 

improved from below 60 percent 

in April to nearly 80 percent in 

June that by July averaged even 

higher to 82 percent. 

For Cebu Pacific, Michael Ivan 

Shau CEBPAC Chief Operation 

Officer said that from 60 percent 

in June, their OTP improved to 77 

percent in July, with peak days 

reaching 80 percent. 

OTP rating for airports are 

measured by the number of 

departures and arrivals that take 

place in less than 15 minutes 

after their scheduled departure 

and arrival times, including flight 

cancellations. 

Both airlines said the 

improvements came on the 

heels of the signing of the 

Pledge of Commitment on 26 

June 2019, when top officials 

of five local airlines vowed to 

support initiatives on air sector 

improvements with the Manila 

International Airport Authority, 

the Civil Aviation Authority of 

the Philippines and the Civil 

Aeronautics Board. 

Under the commitment, 

airlines pledged to aid in the 

decongestion of the Ninoy 

Aquino International Airport 

through improved on-time 

flight performance, support the 

development of other gateways, 

including the Sangley Airport in 

Cavite and improve the travel 

experience of air passengers. 

Benefits Fund, National Disaster 

Risk Reduction and Management 

Fund, and Pension and Gratuity 

Fund. 

The immediate release of funds 

by the DBM will ensure that 

national government agencies are 

able to swiftly implement their 

programs and projects, such as the 

construction of new roads, schools, 

and hospitals, and the protection 

and promotion of the welfare of 

the poor and marginalized sectors, 

among others. 

Automatic Appropriations 

Allotment releases for 

automatic appropriations reached 

PhP1.055 trillion, or 98.4 percent of 

the FY 2019 program for automatic 

appropriations. 

The release includes 100 

percent of the 2019 program for 

the retirement and life insurance 

The Department of Energy 

(DoE), through its Renewable 

Energy Management Bureau 

(REMB) on Thursday conducted 

the third leg of public consultations 

on the draft department circular 

(DC) that would guide end-users, 

RE suppliers and network service 

providers in facilitating the option 

taken to choose RE resources to 

supply their energy needs. 

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. 

Cusi said, “The DoE is committed 

to establish an energy-secure future 

and bolstering our country’s RE 

resources is one avenue to achieve 

this. I am confident that the GEOP 

will give rise to a reliable market 

for RE generation and enhance 

competition among RE and other 

power suppliers.” 

The draft circular providing the 

“Guidelines Governing the Issuance 

of Operating Permits to Renewable 

Energy Suppliers under the Green 

Energy Option Program (GEOP)”, 

serves as a follow through to the 

implementation of DoE Circular No. 

2018-07-0019 entitled “Promulgating 

the Rules and Guidelines Governing 

the Establishment of the Green 

Energy Option Program Pursuant to 

the Renewable Energy Act of 2008”. 

The public consultation focused 

on the guidelines and procedures 

in the issuance, administration and 

revocation of Operating Permits to 

RE suppliers. 

program, internal revenue 

allotment, pension of ex-president/ 

ex-president widows, net lending 

and interest payments. 

Automatic appropriations refer 

to appropriations programmed 

annually or for some other period 

prescribed by law. 

The DBM has also released 

P8.4 billion as of end-June from 

the continuing appropriations of 

the 2018 GAA, comprising releases 

for line departments and releases 

from SPFs. 

Continuing appropriations 

refer to appropriations available 

to support obligations for a 

specified purpose or project, such 

as multi-year construction projects 

which require the incurrence of 

obligations beyond one fiscal year. 

Moreover, unprogrammed 

appropriations in the amount 

of P24.1 billion have been 

REMB Director Mylene 

Capongcol and the recently 

appointed Chairperson of the 

National Renewable Energy Board 

Monalisa Dimalanta headed 

the discussions which covered 

released for the foreign-assisted 

projects of the Department of 

Transportation, and for the 

payment of pension adjustments 

of the Military and Uniformed 

Personnel (MUP) under the 

Armed Forces of the Philippines 

— General Headquarters 

(AFP-GHQ), Philippine National 

Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire 

Protection (BFP), and Bureau of 

Jail Management and Penology 

(BJMP). 

Unprogrammed appropriations 

are standby appropriations which 

authorize additional agency 

expenditures for priority programs 

and projects when revenue 

collections exceed the resource 

targets or when additional grants 

or foreign funds are generated. 

Allotments for other automatic 

appropriations, amounting to P1.2 

billion, have also been released. 

POWER TO CHOOSE GREEN: Participants are all smiles during the photo-op on the Public Consultation on draft 

Department Circular, “Guidelines Governing the Issuance of Operating Permits to RE Suppliers under Green Energy 

Option Program,” held yesterday (11 July) at Batangas City. The event aims to discuss the process and requirements 

for the application and issuance of various RE permits. 

DoE green energy consultation 

I am confident that the GEOP will give rise to a 

reliable market for RE generation and enhance 

competition among RE and other power suppliers 

relevant sections such as RE 

supplier qualifications, application 

requirements, processing and 

approval procedures, and the 

revocation or cancellation of 

operating permits. 

On the other hand, Andresito 

Ulgado, Division Chief of the Hydro 

and Ocean Energy Management 

Division presented the GEOP Supply 

Agreement, which will guide parties 

interested to avail the GEOP. 

GRADUATE school students at the Ateneo de Manila have been challenged 

to identify promising areas for foreign direct investment. Such should not 

only be lucrative but sustainable over the next 10 years. 

OBG launches inaugural 

investment challenge 

Oxford Business Group (OBG) 

has made its extensive range 

of research tools available to 

students at Ateneo Graduate 

School of Business (AGSB) who 

are taking part in a five-week 

Investment Challenge. 

The challenge was organized 

by OBG and AGSB with the 

aim of encouraging students to 

identify promising opportunities 

for foreign direct investment. 

Participants were set the task 

of providing a detailed answer 

to a question about investing in 

emerging economies on 8 July 

and must submit their answers 

by 9 August. A range of prizes 

is being offered to winners 

which includes: a complimentary 

subscription to OBG’s resources; 

a tuition rebate; free parking 

at the university; and priority 

enrolment. 

To complete the challenge, 

students are required to 

answer the question: “Assuming 

you possessed the required 

resources, of all the markets 

covered by OBG reports, in which 

country and sector do you identify 

the most promising opportunity 

for FDI to generate sustainable 

and lucrative ROI over the next 

10 years?” 

Under the rules, participants 

can focus on any industry or 

sector of the economy but must 

choose a market other than the 

Philippines to analyze. 

Details of the challenge and 

OBG’s resources were relayed 

to students at a launch event 

on 8 July, during which Patrick 

Cooke, OBG’s Regional Editor 

for Asia, delivered a talk on 

‘unleashing entrepreneurship in 

the emerging world.’ 

Commenting after the launch 

event, Cooke said the Investment 

Challenge was a creative and 

timely way of encouraging 

students to explore the diverse 

range of openings in emerging 

markets beyond the Philippines. 

“The current global 

investment landscape requires 

business leaders to adopt an 

outward-looking approach when 

seeking untapped opportunities, 

while efforts to strengthen 

regional economic integration 

and trade linkages are gaining 

momentum,” he said. “Many 

of the students that have 

signed up for this initiative 

today will number among the 

entrepreneurs and executives of 

tomorrow. I’m delighted that we 

have been able to support them 

in this challenge by giving them 

access to our extensive range of 

research tools and we wish them 

luck, both in the coming weeks 

and beyond.” 

The winners of the Investment 

Challenge will be announced on 

17 August.

B12 


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Daily Tribune 

U.S., ALLIES START TALKS 

Naval oil tanker 

escorts set 

WORLD 

B13 

WASHINGTON — The United States and its 

allies are discussing plans to provide naval 

escorts for oil tankers through the Gulf, a 

top US general said Thursday after Iranian 

military vessels menaced a British tanker. 

General Mark Milley, nominated to become 

the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a 

Senate hearing that the US has a “crucial role” 

in enforcing freedom of navigation in the Gulf. 

I think that that will be developing 

over the next couple weeks. 

He said the US was attempting to put 

together a coalition “in terms of providing 

military escort, naval escort to commercial 

shipping,” he said. 

“I think that that will be developing over 

the next couple weeks.” 

Milley, currently chief of staff of the army, 

confirmed less specific remarks by current 

Joint Chiefs Chairman General Joseph Dunford 

earlier this week. 

Dunford told media that the Pentagon was 

working to identify possible partners in an 

effort to protect navigation in the Straits of 

Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab on either side 

of the Arabian peninsula where much of the 

world’s crude oil traffic passes. 

Milley’s remarks came after London said 

Thursday that armed Iranian boats tried to 

block a supertanker before being warned off 

by a British warship in a dramatic escalation 

in the Gulf. 

The British defense ministry said three 

Iranian boats tried to “impede the passage” 

of the British Heritage, a 274-meter (899-foot) 

tanker owned by BP that can carry a million 

barrels of oil. 

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards denied 

involvement but also cautioned both the 

United States and Britain that they would 

“strongly regret” the British detention of a 

tanker carrying Iranian crude oil off Gibraltar 

last week. 

AFP 

SIBERIAN tigers, just some of the 300 born at the China Hengdaohezi Feline Breeding Center in 

Hailin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, at end of February this year. 

XINHUA 

Sudan military foils coup 

Officers and soldiers from the army and National Intelligence and 

Security Service, some of them retired, were trying to carry out a coup 

KHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudan’s ruling 

military council foiled a coup attempt, a 

top general announced on state television 

Thursday, saying that 12 officers and four 

soldiers had been arrested. 

The announcement came as the ruling 

military and civilian protesters agreed 

last week to end a political impasse after 

the army in April ousted longtime ruler 

Omar al-Bashir on the back of a popular 

uprising. 

“Officers and soldiers from the army and 

BEIRUT, Lebanon — More than 100 fighters were 

killed in clashes between regime and jihadist-led 

forces in northwest Syria, a war monitor said 

Thursday, as violence raged on the edge of an 

opposition bastion despite a September truce deal. 

Eight civilians also died in the latest violence, 

the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Six 

of them, including a child, were killed in regime air 

strikes on the town of Jisr al-Shughur. 

A car bombing killed 13 people in nearby Afrin, 

the city that Turkey-backed rebels seized last year 

from Kurdish fighters. 

Syria’s civil war has killed a total of more 

than 370,000 people and spiraled into a complex 

conflict since starting in 2011 with the repression 

of anti-government protests. 

Russian and regime aircraft have since late April 

ramped up deadly bombardment of the Idlib region 

of some three million people in northwest Syria, 

despite a deal to avert a massive government assault. 

Regime forces have also been locked in battle 

with jihadists and allied rebels on the edges of the 

bastion held by Syria’s former Al-Qaeda affiliate 

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), including the north 

of Hama province. 

Syria’s civil war has killed a total of more 

than 370,000 people. 

Clashes raged since Wednesday night in northern 

Hama after a small advance by jihadist-led forces, 

the Syrian Observatory said. 

Fighting and bombardment since the launch of the 

attack late Wednesday killed at least 57 regime forces 

and 44 jihadists and allied rebels, the Britain-based 

war monitor said, giving a revised death toll. 

“The fighting is ongoing as regime planes and 

artillery pound the area,” Observatory head Rami 

Abdel Rahman said. 

HTS spokesman Abu Khaled al-Shami said the 

jihadist and rebel fighters attacked after dark, taking 

control of the village of Hamameyat and a hilltop. 

In air raids Thursday, a civilian was killed in 

a Russian strike on the Idlib town of Latamneh, 

the Observatory said, while rebel shelling cost the 

life of a woman in regime-held outside the jihadist 

stronghold. 

Elsewhere in Syria, eight civilians were among 

the 13 people killed in a car bomb near a checkpoint 

outside Afrin, the Observatory said. 

Turkish troops and Syrian proxies took control of 

National Intelligence and Security Service, 

some of them retired, were trying to carry out 

a coup,” General Jamal Omar of the ruling 

military council said in a statement broadcast 

live on state television. 

“The regular forces were able to foil the 

attempt,” he said, but did not say when the 

attempt was made. 

Omar said of the 12 officers arrested, 

five of them were retired, and that security 

forces were looking for the mastermind of the 

attempted coup. 

AFP 

BRITISH Royal Marines member training his sight on an Iranian oil tanker off the Gibraltar strait. 

Taliban welcomes women, now 

DOHA, Qatar — An Afghan campaigner who took part 

in breakthrough talks with the Taliban said Thursday 

that she saw subtle improvements in the attitude towards 

women of the insurgents, who severely curtailed their 

rights while in power. 

In a meeting earlier this week in Qatar, the Islamist 

militants sat down with Afghan representatives and issued 

a joint statement that called for assuring women’s rights 

“within the Islamic framework of Islamic values.” 

The conference, co-organized by Germany, came as the 

United States negotiates with the Taliban to pull troops 

from Afghanistan — with women’s rights not explicitly 

on the agenda. 

Asila Wardak, a women’s rights campaigner who works 

for the Afghan foreign ministry, said she was surprised 

at the positive atmosphere in Doha as women mingled 

directly with the Taliban over dinner and tea breaks. 

“It was interesting to me as an Afghan woman as they 

didn’t shake hands but they warmly welcomed us,” she 

told a symposium at Georgetown University on the peace 

process, speaking by video from Kabul. 

Two Taliban delegates even showed flashes of humor, 

telling the Afghan women that they heard they would be 

coming and saying, “’Please don’t give us a hard time,’” 

she said. 

BENGHAZI, Libya — A car bomb exploded during the 

funeral of an ex-army commander in the Libyan city of 

Benghazi on Thursday, killing at least four people and 

wounding more than 30 others, hospitals said. 

A security official said the attack, the first in over a year 

in the bastion of Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar, 

targeted servicemen at the funeral of Khalifa al-Mesmari, 

a special forces chief under Libya’s ousted leader Moamer 

Kadhafi. 

The Mediterranean city’s hospitals, giving a revised 

casualty toll of four dead and 33 wounded, said two of those 

killed were civilians. 

The attack, the first in over a year in the 

bastion of Libyan military strongman Khalifa 

Haftar, targeted servicemen at the funeral of 

Khalifa al-Mesmari, a special forces chief under 

Libya’s ousted leader Moamer Kadhafi. 

The other two were special forces members, Haftar’s 

Bodies pile up as fight rages 

Afrin from Kurdish forces they consider “terrorists” 

in March last year after a two-month air and ground 

offensive. 

Those killed also included four fighters. 

“Among the victims, at least six are originally 

from Eastern Ghouta,” a former rebel bastion near 

Damascus retaken by the regime last year, Abdel 

Rahman said. 

There was no immediate claim of responsibility 

for the blast, but a commander with a pro-Ankara 

faction accused Kurdish fighters. 

Since the Turkish-backed rebel takeover, the 

UN and human rights groups have documented 

widespread abuses in Afrin. 

The UN and Amnesty have also reported patterns 

of house appropriations by fighters and civilians 

bussed to Afrin during the surrender last year of 

Eastern Ghouta. 

Half of the Kurdish enclave’s 320,000 residents 

have fled, according to a report by the UN 

Commission of Inquiry, and most are unable 

to return. 

Also on Thursday, several people were 

wounded in a car-bomb blast near a church 

in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli 

in northeast Syria, an AFP journalist 

PEOPLE gather at the scene of a car bomb explosion outside the Syriac Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary in northeast Syria. 

AFP 

“Maybe I’m wrong but their attitude has totally changed 

towards women, towards government employees,” she said. 

Ghizaal Haress, a constitutional scholar at the American 

University of Afghanistan, said it remained unclear what 

the Taliban were saying by signing the declaration in Doha. 

“The term ‘Islamic regime’ is very vague, it’s very 

broad and there is a fear of what it will mean under the 

interpretation of the Taliban,” she said. 

“Do we mean an Islamic regime like the one in Malaysia 

or Indonesia? Do we mean an Islamic regime like Saudi 

Arabia or Iran? Or do we mean one like Pakistan?” she 

said, referring to governments with varying degrees of 

openness toward women. 

The Islamist militants sat down with Afghan 

representatives and issued a joint statement 

that called for assuring women’s rights “within 

the Islamic framework of Islamic values.” 

The Taliban were notorious for their harsh treatment 

of women during their five-year rule of Afghanistan, which 

ended with the US-led invasion after the 11 September 

2001 attacks. 

The insurgents forced women to cover themselves 

completely under burqas, banned them from working 

and restricted most education for girls. AFP 

Car bomb kills four 

and state media said. 

The metal gate of the church was slightly dented 

by the blast, but the building otherwise emerged 

intact. 

Endless rounds of UN-led peace talks have failed 

to stem the bloodshed in Syria. 

UN peace envoy Geir Pedersen, however, is 

pushing ahead with a 17-month-old effort to form a 

committee to write a post-war constitution. 

Both he and Damascus on Wednesday expressed 

spokesman General Ahmad al-Mesmari, who was among the 

mourners at the funeral, told a press conference. 

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the 

attack. 

Benghazi, Libya’s second city and the cradle of the 2011 

uprising that overthrew Kadhafi, was hit by years of violence 

targeting diplomatic offices and security forces after his fall. 

An attack on the US consulate on 11 September 2012, 

killed US ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other 

Americans. 

The last attack in Benghazi in May 2018 left seven 

people dead. 

In 2017, Haftar drove hardline Islamists and jihadists out 

of Benghazi after a brutal three-year battle. 

He went on to seize Derna, the last city in eastern Libya 

outside his control. 

In early 2019, Haftar ordered his self-styled Libyan National 

Army to purge the south of what he called “terrorist groups 

and criminals.” 

AFP 

“progress” towards forming the panel, whose 

composition has been the subject of dispute. 

Shored up by a series of Russian-backed victories 

since 2015, the regime wants to amend the current 

constitution, but the opposition wants an entirely 

new one. 

A September deal between Moscow and Ankara 

was supposed to avert a massive regime offensive 

on Idlib, but it was never fully implemented and 

HTS took full administrative control in January. AFP 

AFP

B14 WORLD Saturday, 13 July 2019 

Daily Tribune 

UN: 1.3B ‘multidimensionally poor’ 

There are vast inequalities across countries, and 

among the poorer segments of societies 

UNITED NATIONS, US — A United Nations index report published 

Thursday showed that 1.3 billion people across the world are 

“multidimensionally poor.” 

The 2019 global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) from the UN 

Development Programme showed that, in the 101 countries studied 

-- 31 low income, 68 middle income and two high income -- 1.3 billion 

people are “multidimensionally poor,” which means that poverty 

is defined not simply by income, but by a number of indicators, 

including poor health, poor quality of work and the threat of violence. 

There are vast inequalities across countries, and among the poorer 

segments of societies, the report said. 

“Action against poverty is needed in all developing regions,” the 

report said, noting that sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are home 

to the largest proportion of poor people, some 84.5 percent. 

Within these regions, the level of inequality is described as 

“massive.” In sub-Saharan Africa, it ranges from 6.3 percent in South 

Africa to 91.9 percent in South Sudan. The disparity in South Asia 

is from 0.8 percent in the Maldives to 55.9 percent in Afghanistan. 

Many of the countries studied in the report show “extensive” 

internal levels of inequality. In Uganda, for example, the incidence 

of multidimensional poverty in the different provinces ranges from 

6 percent in Kampala to 96.3 percent in Karamoja. 

More than half of the 1.3 billion people identified as 

poor, some 663 million, are children under the age of 

18, and around a third, some 428 million, are under 

the age of 10. 

The vast majority of these children, 

around 85 percent, live in South Asia and 

sub-Saharan Africa, split roughly equally 

between the two regions. The picture is 

particularly dire in Burkina Faso, Chad, 

Ethiopia, Niger and South Sudan, where 90 

percent or more of children under the age of 10 

are considered to be “multidimensionally poor.” 

One section of the report evaluated the 

progress being made in reaching Goal 1 

of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable 

Development, namely ending poverty “in all 

its forms, everywhere.” 

The report identified 10 countries, with 

a combined population of around 2 billion 

people, to illustrate the level of poverty 

reduction, and all of them have shown 

statistically significant progress toward 

achieving Goal 1. The fastest reductions were 

seen in India, Cambodia and Bangladesh. 

However, the report noted that no 

single measure is a sufficient guide to both inequality and 

multidimensional poverty, and that studies such as the MPI, 

Human Development Index, and Gini coefficient, which 

measures countries’ wealth income distribution, can each 

contribute important and distinctive information for 

policy action to effectively reduce poverty. Xinhua 

AN AFGHAN 

boy holds his 

sister at a slum 

area in Kabul, 

Afghanistan an 

area hit hard by 

poverty left by 

war. XINHUA 

‘CLEAR, CONSISTENT OPPOSITION’ 

China army slams 

Taiwan arms sale 

The Chinese military has lodged solemn representations with 

the US side 

BEIJING, China — The Chinese 

military on Thursday expressed strong 

dissatisfaction with and resolute 

opposition to the United States State 

Department’s approval of a plan to sell 

weapons worth about $2.22 billion dollars 

to Taiwan. 

The Chinese military has lodged 

solemn representations with the US side, 

said Wu Qian, spokesman for China’s 

Cuba lessens 

tourists 

target 

Despite the US government’s 

measures to curb tourism in 

our country, we will welcome 

4.3 million visitors in 2019 

HAVANA, Cuba — Cuba has revised 

down by about 15 percent its forecast for 

the number of tourists visiting this year, 

after a US ban on cruise ship stopovers 

in the Communist island, the government 

said on Thursday. 

President Donald Trump’s 

administration announced the ban on 4 

June, aiming to cut an essential revenue 

source for a country that Washington 

accuses of helping prop up Venezuelan 

President Nicolas Maduro. 

“Despite the US government’s 

measures to curb tourism in our country, 

we will welcome 4.3 million visitors 

in 2019,” Minister of Tourism Manuel 

Marrero said in a televised address to 

parliament. 

That is around 15 percent down on 

forecasts of 5.1 million tourists in 2019 

and around 10 percent lower than the 

number of visitors in 2018. 

Nearly 900,000 tourists visited the 

island on cruise ships last year, and 

almost 40 percent were American, 

according to official figures. 

Cuba seemed set to welcome record 

numbers of US cruise ship tourists this 

year. In the first four months of this year 

250,000 arrived, double the rate of the 

previous year. AFP 

Ministry of National Defense. 

Taiwan is an inalienable part of 

China. China’s firm opposition to US 

arms sales to Taiwan is clear and 

consistent, Wu said. 

The erroneous actions of the US side 

seriously violate the one-China principle 

and the provisions of the three China-US 

joint communiques, interfere in China’s 

internal affairs, harm China’s sovereignty 

and security interests, seriously endanger 

the development of bilateral and 

military-to-military relations, and 

seriously harm peace and stability across 

the Taiwan Strait, he said. 

As an internal affair of China, the 

Taiwan issue concerns China’s core 

interests and the national feeling of the 

Chinese people, and brooks no external 

interference, he said. 

China urges the US side to honor its 

commitment, abide by the one-China 

principle and the provisions of the three 

China-US joint communiques, immediately 

withdraw the aforementioned arms sales 

to Taiwan, and stop all forms of military 

contact with Taiwan so as to avoid further 

damage to the relations between the two 

countries and their armed forces, he said. 

The Chinese armed forces have 

the firm will, full confidence, and 

sufficient capability to thwart any 

form of interference by external forces 

and separatist acts of the “Taiwan 

independence,” and will take all 

necessary measures to safeguard national 

sovereignty, security and territorial 

integrity, he said. 

Xinhua 

ALGAE, caused by the warming of sea temperatures and the edible seaweed farming off the coast, surround boats in a bay in Qingdao, 

China’s eastern Shandong province. 

AFP 

Venezuela leaders OK talks 

The Barbados talks were an extension of the first round of 

negotiations in Oslo in May, which ended with no concrete advances 

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s 

government and opposition have agreed to 

set up a platform for ongoing negotiations 

to resolve the country’s simmering political 

crisis after three days of talks in Barbados, 

mediator nation Norway said Thursday. 

Representatives of President Nicolas 

Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido 

met from Monday to Wednesday in the 

Caribbean island nation for negotiations, 

which Maduro has hailed as successful. 

The Barbados talks were 

an extension of the first round 

of negotiations in Oslo in May, 

which ended with no concrete 

advances. 

“After an intense day of work, we 

developed six points with the government 

of Norway and the opposition,” 

Maduro said Thursday in 

a television 

and radio interview, though he did not 

specify what the points were. 

Earlier, Norway’s Foreign Minister Ine 

Eriksen Soreide said in a statement that 

the two sides had established a negotiation 

table that will “work in a continuous 

and efficient manner to reach an 

agreed-upon solution within 

the framework of t h e 

Constitution.” 

“It is foreseen that 

the parties will carry out 

PARTICIPANTS run next to Nunez del Cuvillo fighting bulls and steers on the sixth bull run of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain on Thursday. 

consultations in order to advance the 

negotiations,” the statement added. 

Venezuelan government negotiator 

Hector Rodriguez said he anticipated a 

“complex path,” but one that leads to an 

“agreement of democratic co-existence” 

where each side recognizes the other. 

Guaido representative Stalin Gonzalez 

said on Twitter that Venezuelans need 

“answers and 

results,” and said 

his delegation 

would “make 

consultations 

toward 

progress and 

putting an 

end to the 

suffering.” 

AFP 

AFP 

WORLD BRIEFS 

Trump defeated 

WASHINGTON — US President 

Donald Trump backed down 

Thursday from a push to force a 

controversial question on citizenship 

onto the 2020 census following a 

backlash by civil rights campaigners. 

Critics said the administration 

wanted to add the question to 

suppress participation by immigrant 

communities in the once-a-decade 

survey that helps officials determine 

where to allocate federal resources. 

“We are pursuing a new option to 

ensure a complete and timely count 

of the non-citizen population,” the 

president told a news conference at 

the White House. 

Two weeks ago, the Supreme 

Court seemingly ended a legal 

and political battle over the issue. 

It concluded that the Trump 

administration’s stated reasons 

for including the question were 

“contrived,” and blocked the move. 

Stung by the conservative-majority 

high court’s 5-4 decision, Trump 

raised the possibility of forcing the 

issue with an executive order, or even 

postponing the census. AFP 

Soc-Med attack 

WASHINGTON — President Donald 

Trump ramped up his attacks on 

Silicon Valley giants on Thursday with 

a call for “regulatory and legislative 

solutions” to what he described as 

unfair treatment of conservatives by 

major online platforms. 

At a White House social media 

“summit,” Trump excluded internet 

firms from the gathering of 

conservative activists who have been 

curbed on social media. 

But he said he would invite those 

companies in the coming weeks for “a 

big meeting and a real conversation” 

on the topic. 

Speaking to his supporters, Trump 

repeated his argument of political 

bias, claiming some activists were 

blocked or limited on social platforms. 

Trump, a frequent Twitter user 

who has more than 60 million followers 

on that service, nonetheless renewed 

his complaint over “terrible bias” on 

social media, and vowed a response. 

He offered no specific proposal 

but said he was directing his 

administration “to explore all 

regulatory and legislative solutions 

to protect free speech and the free 

speech of all Americans.” AFP 

Immigrant raids 

WASHINGTON — Democrats in the 

US Congress demanded Thursday 

that President Donald Trump protect 

families and children ahead of 

expected immigration raids this 

weekend. 

Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement (ICE) will launch 

sweeping deportation operations on 

Sunday as the administration expands 

its crackdown on undocumented 

immigrants, the New York Times 

reported. 

ICE has obtained court orders 

for the removal of about one million 

undocumented migrants, according to 

a senior administration official, but 

the initial raids will target some 2,000 

across at least 10 cities, the Times said. 

Democrats lashed out at the plans, 

saying they threaten people who have 

lived in the United States for many 

years and built families that include 

US citizens. 

AFP


Daily Tribune 

NATION 

B15 

Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary 

Menardo Guevarra yesterday ordered a special 

investigation team to look into the killing of a 

radio commentator in Kidapawan City. 

Eduardo Dizon, a news anchor in 97.5 

Brigada News FM Kidapawan was gunned down 

last Wednesday by motorcycle riding gunmen 

while he was driving home. Authorities said 

LOCAL 

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AUSTRALIA 

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IBP wants talk 

with fishermen 

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) will 

ask the Supreme Court (SC) to give its lawyers time 

to speak with the Palawan and Zambales fishermen 

who earlier filed a petition to compel the government 

to protect the West Philippine Sea. 

The development came after Solicitor General 

Jose Calida said that the fishermen had disowned 

the Writ of Kalikasan plea where they were named 

petitioners. 

In a statement, IBP President Domingo Egon 

Cayosa said IBP stands firmly with the fishermen 

and the lawyers involved in the petition. 

The IBP also said the handling lawyers will ask 

the Court for time to confer with the fishermen 

so that they can act “more appropriately” on the 

development in the case. 

On Tuesday, Calida claimed that the 19 fishermen 

who were named as petitioners in the environmental 

suit executed an affidavit manifesting their desire to 

withdraw from the plea as they do not support the 

filing of the petition. 

In its statement, the IBP said the 

handling lawyers will ask the Court for 

time to confer with the fishermen so 

that they can act “more appropriately” 

on the development in the case. 

The submission of the fishermen’s affidavit was 

objected by Chel Diokno, one of the fishermen’s 

lawyers, saying the government bypassed the 

petitioners’ lawyers by obtaining their statements, 

violating legal ethics. 

Because of the revelation, the oral arguments in 

the case was suspended; Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin 

called the parties instead to a closed-door conference. 

Calida after emerging from the meeting claimed 

the government and the petitioners’ lawyers agreed 

that the case be dismissed but Diokno said they will 

file a joint motion updating the Court as to their 

next move. 

Through the Writ of Kalikasan, the petitioners 

asked the SC to order the Duterte administration 

to permanently stop “neglecting the performance 

of their duties in violation of environmental laws” 

and protect the resources in Panatag Shoal, Ayungin 

Shoal and Panganiban Reef. 

According to the petitioners, Chinese fishermen 

and vessels have been harvesting endangered 

species and using cyanide and dynamite in Panatag 

and Ayungin Shoals and constructing activities in 

Panganiban Reef. 

AMurcia 

DoJ: Probe journalist killing 

THE residents of Navotas start clean up in barangays. 

the victim succumbed to five gunshot wounds. 

“As chair of the Presidential Task Force on 

Media Security, I have given instructions for 

the creation of a special investigating team 

or SIT, which will surely include the National 

Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an 

inquiry into the killing of Eduardo Dizon 

and to file appropriate charges against the 

IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon — The Philippine Army has 

denied the allegation of a left-leaning Indigenous People’s 

group that they are the ones responsible for the killing of 

a tribal leader in neighboring Cabanglasan town. 

The commander of the army’s 8th Infantry Battalion (8IB) 

of the 4th Infantry Division Lt. Colonel Ronald Illana said the 

allegation of Kalumbay that the paramilitary group Alamara 

and the members of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical 

Unit under the 8th Infantry Batallion were behind the killing 

of Datu Mario Agsab was “baseless and malicious.” 

By Aldwin Quitasol 

BAGUIO CITY — The Cordillera Administrative Region 

(CAR) has revived calls for an autonomous Cordillera. 

In a speech during the Baguio leg of the gong relay 

in preparation to the 32nd founding anniversary of CAR 

this 15 July, Baguio City Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan 

admitted that the realization of an autonomous region 

is still “far away,” due to the presence of political 

uncertainty, corruption, different political ideologies 

and insurgency. 

The people of CAR hold unity gong relay every year 

to express their desire to be autonomous. 

CAR was established in 15 July, 1987 under the Executive 

Order 220 of the administration of then President Corazon 

By Jonas Reyes 

STA. CRUZ, Zambales — A 26-year-old man was 

arrested for illegal possession of firearms 

in Barangay San Fernando of this town 

on Wednesday. 

According to Police Major Randy 

Mendoza of the Sta. Cruz Municipal 

Police Station, suspect Mark Hebron 

perpetrators,” Guevarra said. 

According to Guevarra, the DoJ had previously 

formed investigating teams in extra-judicial 

killing cases against human rights advocates 

and labor leaders, among others. 

“Our SITs are headed by prosecutors 

in the field who assist in case build-up, 

and they coordinate actively with local law 

Army denies hand in lumad death 

Illana has denounced the lumad leader’s 

killing, saying Agsab is a “strong partner” of 

the military in attaining peace in the region. 

He also said that the suspects named by Kalumbay did 

not appear in the ongoing police investigation. 

Agsab, a chieftain of the Umayamnon tribe was killed 

by motorcycle riding gunmen at his residence in Barangay 

Iba, Cabanglasan on 8 July. 

Illana has denounced the lumad leader’s killing, saying 

Agsab is a “strong partner” of the military in attaining 

peace in the region. 

“The late Datu Agsab was known and respected Lumad 

leader who always engages with 8IB in all activities for 

peace and development. In fact, he was the one who 

facilitated the mass surrender of 118 NPA members and 

THESE volunteers help speed up Manila’s rehabilitation. 

supporters,” Illana said, referring to the New People’s 

Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the 

Philippines. 

Illana added that the tribal chieftain was known for 

his strong belief and resistance against the “NPA-terrorist 

group,” hinting that the rebels were 

responsible for the killing. 

The Army official further noted 

that Agsab was instrumental in the 

military’s launching of the Convergence 

Areas for Peace and Development 

in Brgy. Iba, Cabanglasan, on 28 June, 

where hundreds of residents benefited from 

various services offered by participating 

government agencies. 

Meanwhile, Brig. General 

Rafael Santiago Jr., 

Police Regional Office-10 

director vowed a speedy 

investigation on the case. 

“I have ordered the 

provincial director of Bukidnon to assist the chief of 

police of Cabanglasan town in the investigation for 

the immediate resolution of the incident. I extend my 

condolences to the bereaved family,” Santiago said. 

KAC 

CAR wants autonomy 

Aquino. It unified Benguet, Mountain Province, Kalinga, 

Apayao, Ifugao, Abra and Baguio City. 

The campaign for autonomy started right after the 

creation of the administrative region. 

“We should study how the predominantly Muslim 

provinces of Mindanao evolved in the establishment of the 

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao but we should 

not stop there,” Olowan said. 

Olowan has called on the multi-sectoral groups of the 

region to show their unity by tightening their cooperation 

in campaigning for a Cordillera Autonomous Region for 

the government to see how serious Cordillerans are in 

its petition. 

Olowan received the unity gong in the absence of 

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. 

Man arrested for illegal firearms 

was accosted by virtue of a warrant of arrest for 

possessing a .38 caliber revolver, 

live ammunition and a grenade 

inside his house in Barangay 

San Fernando. 

The suspect violated Republic 

Act 10591 or the illegal possession 

of firearms and was detained at 

the Sta. Cruz Municipal Police 

Station for proper disposition. 

ROMAN PROSPERO 

enforcement agents including 

the NBI. For media killings, 

the presidential task 

force has an executive 

director, Joel Egco, 

who supervises all 

investigations directly,” 

he said. KAC 

AL PADILLA 


D A I L Y G O S P E L 

Saturday of the Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time 

Jesus said to his Apostles: “No 

disciple is above his teacher, no 

slave above his master. 

It is enough for the disciple 

that he become like his teacher, 

for the slave that he become like 

his master. If they have called the 

master of the house Beelzebul, 

how much more those of his 

household! 

Therefore do not be afraid of 

them. Nothing is concealed that 

will not be revealed, nor secret 

that will not be known. 

What I say to you in the 

darkness, speak in the light; 

what you hear whispered, 

proclaim on the housetops. 

And do not be afraid of those 

who kill the body but cannot kill 

the soul; rather, be afraid of the 

one who can destroy both soul 

The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed a clerk 

of court for sneaking away from a court a computer 

set containing information on drug cases. 

Lou Laranjo, Clerk of Court II in the Municipal 

Circuit Trial Court in Misamis Oriental was found 

guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty 

after he “surreptitiously took away” the computer 

set used by MCTC Court Stenographer I Neza 

Malinao and returned it to the Municipality of 

Naawan, Misamis Oriental, which had earlier 

donated it to the court. 

The computer files allegedly contained sensitive 

information, such as the identities and testimonies 

of confidential agents and informants in search 

warrant applications in illegal drug cases. 

The SC said Laranjo’s act was “arbitrary” and 

“unauthorized” as the computer set was taken 

during nighttime and on a weekend. 

The SC concurred with the findings and 

recommendation of the Office of the Court 

Administrator (OCA) which found substantial 

evidence against Laranjo. 

The OCA’s observation that the circumstances 

cast doubt on Laranjo’s real intention in taking 

out the computer set, considering his arrest for 

involvement in illegal drug activities was given 

weight by the SC. 

The Court said Laranjo’s act was 

“arbitrary” and “unauthorized” as 

the computer set was taken during 

nighttime and on a weekend. 

Aside from the lack of authorization, the 

SC ruled the records are bereft of any credible 

justification on Laranjo’s part as to why he pursued 

such course of action. 

The SC has dismissed Laranjo from service. It 

also perpetually disqualified Laranjo from holding 

public office. 

In a separate decision, the High Court ordered 

the dismissal of Alan Javier, Sheriff IV of the 

Regional Trial Court in Tanauan City, Batangas 

for soliciting money from a complainant. 

Javier was found guilty of grave misconduct, 

dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best 

interest of service. 

He was also barred from holding public office. 

The SC affirmed the report of OCA which 

found substantial evidence to prove that Javier 

had violated Section 10 Rule 141 of the Rules of 

Court for soliciting and accepting money from a 

complainant. 

The SC however increased the recommended 

penalty of OCA from suspension to dismissal. 

The SC held that grave misconduct and 

dishonesty are punishable by dismissal from the 

service even if committed for the first time by the 

erring public servant. 

It stressed that Javier tarnished the image of the 

judiciary and should be severely punished for having 

disregarded his sworn duty and responsibility to 

serve with honor and dignity and to keep the 

people’s confidence in the judiciary undiminished. 

Matthew 10: 24-33 

GUEVARRA 

Employee sneaks 

away computer 

and body in Gehenna. 

Are not two sparrows sold 

for a small coin? Yet not one of 

them falls to the ground without 

your Father’s knowledge. 

Even all the hairs of your 

head are counted. 

So do not be afraid; you are 

worth more than many sparrows. 

Everyone who acknowledges 

me before others I will 

acknowledge before my heavenly 

Father. 

But whoever denies me before 

others, I will deny before my 

heavenly Father.”

B16 NATION 


Daily Tribune 

‘NPA rebels 

are victims’ 

New 8ID commander vows rescue 

I see them not as enemies but as victims whom we have to rescue. We have to get 

them out of the predicament they are entrapped in 

Newly-installed Army 8th 

Infantry Division (ID) commander 

Maj. Gen. Pio Diñoso II has vowed 

to “rescue” New People’s Army 

(NPA) rebels from being victims to 

the deception by the Communist 

Party of the Philippines. 

Diñoso, at the same time, said 

he is up for the challenges ahead 

of him as military commander in 

Eastern Visayas or Region 8 — a 

known hotbed of the NPA. 

“If this is really a hardship 

assignment, then I came to the 

right place,” Diñoso said. 

He, however, stressed that 

he intends to rescue, instead of 

neutralizing, NPA rebels within 

his area of responsibility. 

“On the NPA rebels, I see them 

not as enemies but as victims, 

victims whom we have to rescue. 

We have to get them out of the 

predicament they are entrapped 

in,” he said. 

Diñoso succeeded Maj. 

Gen. Raul Farnacio who opted 

to retire a month ahead of his 

mandatory retirement to give 

way to younger officers to be 

promoted. 

Farnacio admitted 

that Eastern Visayas is 

a great challenge for the Army but 

he assured Diñoso of the support 

of professional men and women 

of 8th ID. 

Army chief Lt. Gen. Macairog 

Alberto presided over the change 

of command ceremony and 

challenged Diñoso to piursue 

lasting peace in Eastern Visayas 

Region. 

At the same time, Alberto 

commended Farnacio for his 38-year 

military career and his successful 

The distribution of the FRB is part of the government’s 

Pagbabago Livelihood and Development Program designed 

to assist small-scale fishermen 

By Daniel Yap 

TAGBILARAN CITY — The Bureau 

of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 

(BFAR) in Central Visayas recently 

turned over at least 19 fiberglass 

motorized boats (FRB) to marginalized 

fisherfolk and fishing organizations 

in Bohol. 

On Thursday, the Provincial 

Fishery Office of the BFAR 

distributed nine units of 20-footer 

FRB to the marginalized fisherfolk 

in Candijay town. 

Candijay town is about a couple of 

hours away from capital Tagbilaran 

City. 

One boat was given to two 

beneficiaries, according to a statement 

from BFAR-Central Visayas. 

The recipients of the boats were 

identified via BFAR’s Targeted Actions 

to Reduce Poverty and Generate 

Economic Transformation program. 

accomplishments as 8th ID 

commander. 

Prior to his new appointment, 

Diñoso previously served as 

the Deputy Chief of Staff for 

Logistics of the Armed Forces of 

the Philippines. 

Deceived? NPA fighters 

in training. 

Marginalized fisherfolk 

get boats from BFAR 

The beneficiaries are known to be 

among the poorest of the poor. 

Ten 10 units of 22-footer FRB were 

also distributed yesterday by BFAR- 

Central Visayas. 

The beneficiaries came from the 

towns of Talibon, President Carlos 

P. Garcia, Inabanga, Bien Unido and 

Buenavista. 

The BFAR said that the 

distribution of the FRB is part of the 

government’s Pagbabago Livelihood 

and Development Program designed 

to assist small-scale fishermen to 

improve their living conditions and to 

engage them as primary contributors 

of the fishery industry. 

Salad feast marks abundant harvest 

The 800 kilograms of 

vegetables came as 

donation from farmers 

of Benguet and other 

stakeholders 

By Aldwin Quitasol 

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—Some 

800 kilograms of tossed vegetables 

were served yesterday to local 

folks in this town as part of the 

celebration of abundant harvest 

and the observance of the Highland 

Vegetable Industry Week. 

The blended vegetables were 

served at the La Trinidad Municipal 

Gym as treat to farmers and other 

stake holders to encourage them to 

continue planting. 

The celebration of the Highland 

Vegetable Industry Week was 

institutionalized by the 

local government through 

By Raymart T. Lolo 

celebrate abundant harvest. 

an ordinance aimed primarily at 

sustaining the area’s vegetable 

industry for a sustainable economy. 

League of Associations of 

Vegetable Traders President Nora 

Ganase said that they targeted to 

feed 3,000 people with the salad 

feast. 

Ganase said the activity was 

aimed at instilling to the people’s 

minds that the highland vegetable 

industry is a reliable economy as 

long as it is properly pursued and 

the products are promoted to other 

areas of the country. 

The Department of Public Works and 

Highways (DPWH) yesterday announced 

that the P8.55 billion flood control project 

in Cagayan de Oro City is now in full swing. 

Funded by the government of 

Japan, through the Japan International 

Cooperation Agency, the Flood Risk 

Management Project for the Cagayan de 

Oro River aims to reduce flooding in the 

entire Region 10 or Northern Mindanao. 

According to the DPWH, three contract 

packages covered the P8.55 billion project 

which is currently moving into implementation 

stage. 

Undersecretary Emil Sadain, of the 

DPWH-Unified Project Management Office 

Operations and Technical Services, said that 

the project will expand protection to flood 

prone areas and strengthen the resiliency to 

climate change and other hydrometeorological 

hazards of the communities along the Cagayan 

de Oro River stretch. 

In the past, flashfloods brought by 

upstream rains reaching the downstream of 

the river have affected thousands of families 

in Cagayan de Oro City and destroyed not 

just properties but also agricultural crops and 

public infrastructure. 

The construction of flood protection 

measures will prevent flashfloods from 

recurring and contribute to the sustainable 

and stable economic development in Cagayan 

de Oro City. 

The Cagayan de Oro River project features 

innovative technology and design approach 

based on a 25-year flood return period for 

resilient flood management to protect an area 

of about 290 hectares and 18,100 structures 

after full completion in 2023. 

The project involves the construction 

of 11,928 meters earth dike, 3,259 meters 

concrete flood wall including 1,449 meters 

‘Vegielicious’ Stakeholders in La Trinidad, Benguet prepare some 800 

kilograms of mixed vegetables for the salad feast for 3,000 persons to 

According to Ganase, the 800 

kilograms of vegetables served 

yesterday came as donation from 

farmers of Benguet and other stake 

holders. 

She said they only provided the 

paper plates and the dressings 

for the vegetable salad. Ganase 

also stressed that most of the 

ingredients were organically grown 

like the romance lettuce. 

With such activity, Ganase 

expressed hope that they also help 

promote the benefits of eating 

vegetables to the people’s health. 

P8.5-B CDO infra in full swing 

reinforced concrete slope protection, 2,756 

meters of new road and raising of existing 

road for evacuation, installation of three steel 

slide gates and 19 flap gates, improvement of 

Kagayan River, and construction of retarding 

basin, concrete box and pipe culverts and 

headwall and drainage outlets. 

In Mandaue City, various infrastructure 

projects amounting to P158 million were given 

the go signal barely two weeks after Mayor Jonas 

Cortes was re-installed as local chief executive. 

The project involves the construction 

of 11,928 meters earth dike, 3,259 

meters concrete flood wall including 

1,449 meters reinforced concrete 

slope protection, 2,756 meters of new 

road and raising of existing road for 

evacuation 

This, after the Mandaue City Council, 

during its first regular session last Monday, 

adopted and authorized resolutions granting 

Cortes the authority to enter into contracts 

for the implementation of at least nine 

infrastructure projects. 

The biggest among the projects was the 

P51,842,764.88 flood control structure (Phase 

1) in Barangay Tipolo with the duration of 237 

calendar days for completion. 

Also underway is the renovation of the 

Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex 

in the amount of P29,135,008.44 with 120 

calendar days duration. 

The road concreting project along Albano 

St. from corner M.L. Quezon St. to Admacor 

(Phase 1) in Barangay Maguikay amounting to 

P24,147,652.95 was also given the green light. It 

is set to be completed within 90 days. 

Cortes said that during his previous terms 

from 2007-2016, the city government has 

started to implement the comprehensive 

drainage masterplan. 

The Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP- 

AKG) welcomed the decision of a Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) 

sentencing to life imprisonment a 42-year-old woman for kidnapping a 

six-year-old boy more than three years ago. 

Police Lt. Col. Elmer Cereno, chief of the AKG’s Public Information 

Office, identified the convicted as Loida Annaway, a resident of 

Barangay Porok 4 East. Gibraltar, Baguio City. 

Annaway was accused of kidnapping Angelo Aligo, a resident of 

Dagupan, Centro, Tabuk City, Kalinga. 

Woman gets life for kidnapping 

Cereno said last 2 July, Judge Roberto Buenaventura of 

the Quezon City RTC Branch 86 sentenced Annaway to life 

imprisonment and to pay moral and civil damages of up to 

P300, 000. 

Records disclosed that on 19 April 2016 at 9:50 p.m. Cid 

Aligo, the victim’s father, reported to Tabuk City Police Station, 

Kalinga province that his son went missing at about 6 p.m. of 

16 April 2016. 

Aligo reported the incident after receiving a text message 

New boats, new hopes Same models of these fiberglass 

motorized boats were distributed by the Bureau of Fisheries and 

Aquatic Resources to Bohol fisherfolks. BFAR-REGION 7 

demanding P100,000 in exchange for the safe release of his son. 

Series of negotiations ensued between the victim ‘s family and 

the kidnappers until operatives of the PNP-AKG tracked down the 

recipient of the money sent through LBC remittance center. Angelica 

Soriano redeemed the cash at SM City Rosales in Pangasinan. 

Soriano readily cooperated with police upon being identified on 22 

April 2016. 

Hours after, the victim was rescued by PNP-AKG at SM North EDSA 

in Quezon City and arrested Annaway along with Francis Annaway.

RETURN TO CORREGIDOR 

C18 

EUGENE 

DOMINGO AS 

JOSEPHINE 

BRACKEN 

C19 

SAME 

MARQUEE 

NAMES 

C20 

CHUN, 

SHARP 

SHARE 

LEAD 

D22 

Dinah S. Ventura, Editor 


Daily Tribune 

LIFESTYLE 

C17 

Prior to winning the title, the entrepeneur host joined previous 

national pageants where she competed and placed in Miss Earth 

Philippines 2014 (Top15) and Miss World Philippines 2015 (Top 13) 

By Gilbert Kim Sancha 

Photos by David Cubangbang 

“I want to be of service to my countrymen and 

Mother Earth. I want to help strengthen more 

communities through eco-tourism. I’m a firm 

believer of the Chinese proverb, ‘Give a man a 

fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man 

how to fish and you’ll feed him for a lifetime.’” 

Her response, when asked why she wants 

to be Miss Philippines Earth 2019 in one of her 

interviews, likely gave Janelle Lazo Tee, the 

waterlily of Pasig City, the crown. 

She bested 39 other blossoms of the country to 

win the pageant during the coronation day held 

at The Cove, Okada Manila, Wednesday, 10 June. 

Tee, winner of the 19th edition of Carousel 

Productions’ annual beauty pageant, was a co-host 

of Wowowin on GMA 7 and lifestyle show host in 

ANC’s Chinoy TV on ABS-CBN. 

The coronation was the first in its 

pageant history to stage the finals at 4 

p.m., to promote conservation and save 

energy. 

Prior to winning the title, the entrepeneur 

host joined previous national pageants where she 

competed and placed in Miss Earth Philippines 2014 

(Top15) and Miss World Philippines 2015 (Top 13). 

Her consistent performance before and during 

the finals made her one of the frontrunners. 

She was one of the top 10 scorers in the figure 

and form and intelligence segments during the 

preliminary competition and was chosen as 

darling of the crowd in one of the pre-pageant 

events by the the sponsor. She also cinched the 

catwalk challenge. Her video was awarded as 

best eco video and she was named Miss Connext 

Holdings for being best advocate, as revealed 

during the finals. 

What made her blossom stand out was when 

she answered the timed final question: “Which 

do you think is a better strategy to encourage 

people to be environmentally conscious: give 

incentives for 

good environmental 

practice or penalize bad 

eco-habits? Why?” 

The Mass Communications 

graduate from Ateneo de Davao 

University responded by saying, 

“I would choose to give incentives 

because as a productive country, 

we know that we have a lot of 

communities that truly need help in 

terms of livelihood projects, which is 

what I’ve been doing with ABS-CBN 

Foundation. That’s why I want to 

choose incentives because we have 

to teach them how to fish, rather 

than just give them fish for the day. 

If you teach them how to fish, then 

it will be there for a living. It will be 

there sustainably in them. Thank 

you,” she answered. 

Passionate lady 

gets Air 

The fire tree representing the 

fiery passion of her hometown 

Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental 

was crowned Miss Phillipines 

Air 2019. 

Fresh graduate Ana Monica 

Tan who has nurtured a passion 

for the art of taekwondo since 

at the age nine, advocates 

the conservation and 

management of watersheds 

and natural resources, 

intangible goods and sites 

of residential, agricultural and commercial 

use. Tan was also best in cultural 

costume and in talent. 

Hopeful lass takes Water 

The chrysanthemum representing 

Tacloban City is this year’s Miss 

Philippines Water. 

Chelsea Fernandez, a 20-year-old 

Broadcasting graduate at Asian 

Development Foundation 

College, is a beautiful lass 

full of hope, optimism 

and joy during the entire 

competsition advocates 

education. 

One of the favorites to 

win the title, Fernandez 

was the winner of the 

long gown, beach wear and 

face of the night during the 

pre-pageant rounds, as 

well as one of the top 

10 scorers in all 

three rounds 

during the 

preliminary 

competition. 

Communicator 

rules Earth 

The bougainvillea 

representing Marikina City was 

crowned Miss Philippines Fire 

2019. 

Twenty-five-year-old Alexandria 

Marie Dayrit has a Communication 

degree from the Ateneo de Manila 

University and currently works as 

director of Business Development 

in Gold’s Gym Philippines. As 

a trainer and communicator, 

she advocates responsible 

consumption and production and 

wants to use her talents to serve 

and empower young Filipinos to 

become Earth warriors. 

Eco Tourism warrior 

The bamboo flower 

representing Maasin, Iloilo 

was named Miss Philippines 

Eco Tourism 2019. 

NEWLY crowned Miss 

Philippines Earth 2019 

Janelle Lazo Tee. 

Karen Nicole Piccio who is an International 

Studies major at De La Salle University in Manila 

has three environmental advocacies: Information, 

Education, Campaign, reforestation and plastic 

refusal, the exact same reasons why she emerged 

as the winner of the title. 

Since she is an advocacy and partnership 

officer at PLCPD and coordinator at Child Rights 

network, she wants to voice out these causes and 

to partner with different foundations to reach a 

wider scale for Filipinos. 

Early start 

The coronation was the first in its pageant 

history to stage the finals at 4 p.m., to promote 

conservation and save energy. Instead of using 

electrical lighting, a ray of sunlight illuminated 

the cove where the 40 candidates danced and 

introduced themselves. 

The Philippines holds the record for the 

most number of Miss Earth titles and 

the first and only country in the world 

to achieve a back-to-back victory. 

The event was hosted by all four Miss Earth 

titleholders from the Philippines — Karla Henry 

(2008), Jamie Herell (2014), Angelia Ong (2015) 

and Karen Ibasco (2017). 

The Philippines holds the record for the most 

number of Miss Earth titles and the first and only 

country in the world to achieve a back-to-back 

victory. 

From 40, the candidates were trimmed down 

to 15 based on scores during the preliminary 

competition. 

The top 15 walked in their sampaguita-inspired 

swimsuits while being judged in figure and form. 

They were narrowed down to 10 who graced 

the stage, all wearing white evening gowns to 

be judged in face and poise, accompanied by 

an a capella performance of “Bulaklak” by the 

Philippine Madrigal Singers. 

Finally, the top five finalists were revealed 

and faced the last hurdle by answering the same 

timed question. 

This year’s judging panel was composed of Arnel 

Papa (International jewelry designer), Michelle 

Tañada (Founder of Miss Earth Foundation, 

CMO ActiveAsia), Jeffrey de la Paz (HR manager 

of Diamond Hotel) Paolo Castro (head of 

Communications, Connext Holdings), Ricky Reyes 

(CEO of Gandang Ricky Reyes), Lorraine Schuck 

(executive VP of Carousel Productions), Harvey 

Ong, (CEO of Alfa Mart), Margot Chua (CEO of 

HANA Cosmetics) and Christine Jacobs-Sandejas 

(TV host/CNN News Anchor). 

(FROM left): Miss Philippines Earth 2019 Eco Tourism Karen Nicole Piccio, Miss Philippines Earth-Air Ana Monica Tan, Miss Philippines Earth 2019 Janelle Lazo Tee, Miss Philippines Earth-Water Chelsea Fernandez and 

Miss Philippines Earth-Fire Alexandra Marie Dayrit.

C18 

LIFESTYLE 


Daily Tribune 

Corregidor Now aims 

to show that learning 

history is never 

boring 

By Louise Lizan 

Corregidor, one 

of the most 

well-known 

islands in the 

Philippines, is a witness 

to the events of World 

War II. Considered 

a strategic defense 

location through the 

centuries, it provided 

fortification for both 

the American and 

Filipino soldiers and 

was referred to as the 

the heart of the country. 

While regarded mostly 

as an historical site, it is 

a place full of fun and 

adventure. 

Seventy-four years from when 

it played its crucial role in the 

nation’s defense, Corregidor Island 

has taken on a new identify, this 

with the launching of Corregidor 

Now, the latest campaign actively 

promoting the re-living of the 

island through various activities 

and tourist attractions. 

“For years, Corregidor 

seemed to be perceived solely 

as a popular historical site, with 

its idyllic features unknown to 

CYNTHIA Carreon (fourth from left) goes hand-in-hand with the representatives of TPB and TIEZA for Corregidor 

Now. 

many,” President Duterte’s newly 

appointed chairperson and CEO 

of the Corregidor Foundation 

Inc., Cynthia Carrion, said. 

“With our campaign, we hope 

that it will usher in a new era 

for this eco-historical location, 

making it known as a place of 

sanctuary where one can enjoy 

a relaxing opportunity to revel 

in the past,” she added. 

Corregidor Now, spearheaded 

by the Corregidor Foundation 

RELIVE the history of the island through the campaign. 

Inc., the Department of 

Tourism through its marketing 

arm, the Tourism Promotions 

Board (TPB), and the Tourism 

Infrastructure and Economic 

Zone Authority (TIEZA), aims 

to entice tourists to relive the 

history of the Philippines and 

appreciate its beauty. 

Corregidor Now sets the bar. 

As a tourist destination, it will 

be known no longer just for its 

rich role in the events of the 

past, but the adventure and 

fun that one can have. This will 

be especially true in the near 

future when various targets of 

the foundation shall have been 

achieved. 

A mix of history 

and beauty 

Corregidor Now aims to show 

that learning history is never 

boring, especially with how the 

NEW and exciting light with 

upcoming activities are in 

store for the tourists. 

campaign will highlight more of 

the island’s various attractions 

— middle-side barracks, battery 

grubs, Pacific War memorial 

complex, Cine Corregidor, 

Japanese garden of peace, 

Spanish lighthouse, Filipino 

heroes’ memorial, Malinta tunnel 

and Lorcha dock. 

For years, Corregidor 

seemed to be perceived 

solely as a popular 

historical site, with its 

idyllic features unknown to 

many. 

Tourists, especially millennials, can 

expect to join in various on-the-go 

activities that the island can boast 

of - biking, bird watching, camping, 

fishing, hiking, island runabout, 

and kayaking. In response, hotels 

and tourism-related businesses 

have explored the possibility of 

leasing land on the island. 

To bolster the potential of 

the island, TIEZA is developing 

a comprehensive master plan 

for redeveloping Corregidor and 

rehabilitating the Corregidor 

South Dock Pier. Carrion has 

said that the master plan 

will be finished by the end of 

December. 

Some 12 million pesos have 

been invested on the island for its 

tourism development, but it will 

take more than that to redevelop the 

whole island. 

To book a tour or know more 

about Corregidor, please email 

info@corregidorisland.com. 

phor visit www.corregidorisland. 

com.ph or call +632.8233281. 

CHINESE HOROSCOPE 

Empress Li 

13 to 19 July 2019 

Your animal sign 

RAT (1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008) 

You just entered a very lucky week. There are opportunities 

for you particularly in the business arena. There are chances 

of increased profit and additional income. Divine blessing is at 

your side. You have lots of friends and supporters who are there 

for you. Networking luck is high. This is the right time to open 

a new business or start a project. You will be successful. Face 

your lucky direction. 

OX (1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009) 

A hectic week lies ahead. You will be preoccupied which will 

cause you to be hyperactive. Backlog demands your attention. 

Take time to relax. Money luck is excellent. Enjoy but know your 

limitations. Wear white color to balance your yang energy. 

TIGER (1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010) 

This is not a lucky week for romance. You may face some 

unexpected event that will involve your love life. Be careful in 

handling your love affair. You may feel down as it seems that 

nobody cares for you. Just take all the necessary precautions 

when dealing with people that you think may take advantage of 

you. There are some changes at work that can affect you. Think 

of it as a new way of gaining friends. Let this week pass. 

RABBIT (1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011) 

This is a fantastic week for you. You have all the reasons to 

feel good about life. Your dream may transform to reality. Good 

luck comes from every direction which will bring happiness and 

fulfillment of the lasting and best kind. These are positive events 

that will help you achieve your dream. Your social life is on the 

right track and getting more attention will help you with your 

new project. At work, there are people who will try to put you 

down. Do not to worry because the lucky star is aligned with you. 

You will be victorious. Place fresh flowers on your working table 

to keep you focused at work. 

DRAGON (1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012) 

This is a lucky week for the Dragon. You will receive divine 

blessing. Things are looking great for you especially in career 

and business. Opportunities abound, projects are moving and 

big profits are coming. There will be people who will lend their 

helping hand and give their assistance and support. Remember 

to plan ahead. Try not to join the stock market or gamble. Career 

prospects are bright. Your work will be noticed. Face your career 

direction. Spend more time with your family. 

SNAKE (1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013) 

This is an inauspicious week for the Snake. You may experience 

financial loss or get betrayed by a friend. Avoid making any major 

changes or decisions in your life. It is a time to lie low and avoid 

taking risks. Office politics may affect your work. It is better 

to mind your own business and work alone. Take this week off. 

HORSE (1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014) 

This is not a good week for the Horse. It is best to lie low and 

maintain the status quo. This is not the right time to start a new 

project or open a new business. Try to engage in a competitive 

situation like bidding. You are likely to be successful but things 

will not run as smoothly as expected. If you plan to travel, make 

sure that you are protected. It is, however, better to reschedule 

your trip. Wear red for your protection. 

SHEEP (1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015) 

This is a fabulous week for the Sheep. The heaven and wealth 

stars fly to your chart this week. This could bring success and 

opportunity for you. Tap these lucky stars to bring all the luck you 

need. If there is something you want to pursue, this is the right 

time for you. Your career luck is excellent. You have a big chance 

to get promoted. Face your good directions for a win-win result. 

MONKEY (1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016) 

This is a creative week for the Monkey. Try to use this 

opportunity to express your ideas. Try new things like developing 

communication skills or even writing a book. This will be a busy 

week. You will find fulfilment in your personal life. You will also 

have promotional luck. Try to keep up the good work. Place some 

fresh flowers in the north direction of your home or office. 

ROOSTER (1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017) 

This week will affect your health luck. The illness star stays 

in your chart. Be aware of what you are eating, especially street 

food. Avoid this as much as possible because you could suffer 

from stomach upset which may lead to diarrhea. Friends will 

support you in your undertaking. At work, you will be noticed 

by your superior for a job well done. Money luck is also high. 

Opportunities are there for you. Just watch out for your health. 

DOG (1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018) 

This week, heaven’s luck shines bright upon you. It will bring 

opportunities and success in your career. Watch your back because 

some people envy you. A huge improvement in your career awaits 

you. There are also opportunities to travel for both work and 

business. There is a saying that says, “Crossing waters will attract 

money luck into your life.” If you are looking for love, make it a 

point to go out and meet new friends. Spend time with your family. 

PIG (1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019) 

Good fortune shines this week. The heaven star pays you a 

visit which means everything you undertake will have an excellent 

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Money luck is high. Face your success direction. 

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qqq 

Email address: empressli888@yahoo.com 

Q . I’m single and living in a condominium. I want to 

apply feng shui in my new home. Which direction should the 

entrance to my unit face? 

— Bella 

A. Use the same direction based on where the tenants of 

the condominium usually enter. Be sure you know how to use a 

compass and take note where the ‘true’ north faces. 

Mimkwaka, 

Empress Li


Daily Tribune 

SPOTLIGHT 

C19 

Humanistic Astrology offers a person-centered 

approach in which the stars’ imprint within the 

person at birth describes his or her most personal 

and unique essence — and in many ways his or her 

life’s destiny. 

ASTRO PROFILES Bibiana Ganza 

Cherry Pie Picache 

Born 27 May 1970 

CLARITA marks Jodi’s first foray into the horror genre. 

Asia’s first demonic possession on film 

This work is inspired by the real-life story of Clarita 

Villanueva, whose name was all over the news 

in the 1950s because of the claims that she had 

experienced a demonic possession 

It was in 1953 when the name, 

Clarita Villanueva, became 

the talk of the town because 

of an unusual phenomenon. 

In different accounts, it was 

claimed that she was possessed 

by demonic spirits while in jail. 

The story of the 17-year-old 

— the first reported demonic 

possession in Asia — is the 

inspiration behind Black Sheep’s 

movie Clarita, which locally has 

a total gross of over P70-million 

as of 27 June. 

The film is inspired by the 

mystery behind the story on what 

occurred during Clarita’s (Jodi 

Sta. Maria) demonic possession 

and exorcism, where her faith 

and those of the people who tried 

to help her were tested because 

of the obstacles they had to 

overcome. 

The film’s director, Derick 

Cabrido, studied the records of 

Villanueva’s case and found out 

that she was from the province 

and went to Manila to look for 

her father. She was then jailed 

and although it was suspected 

ACROSS 

1 Waterless 

4 Wearing boots 

8 Diner shield 

11 Utter deliriously 

13 Jab playfully 

14 One of us 

15 Region 

16 Domed recess 

17 Pull 

18 Army meals 

20 Hardy heroine 

21 “Big Blue” 

22 Oliver Stone film 

24 Backup strategy 

(2 wds.) 

27 Surly 

30 Bell sound 

31 Bigfoot’s kin 

32 Ballpark fig. 

34 Boy 

35 Zorro’s marks 

that the possessions started even 

before that time, it became more 

haunting when she was already 

behind bars. 

The film’s director, Derick 

Cabrido, studied the 

records of Villanueva’s case 

and found out that she was 

from the province and went 

to Manila to look for her 

father. 

Meantime, this is Jodi’s first 

foray to this genre, which she 

admitted really pushed her to 

her limits, especially since she 

chose to do all her scenes without 

a stunt double. “It was not easy, 

the process in making the film 

was not easy. But seeing the 

finished product, we can say it 

was rewarding,” said Jodi. 

Also part of the film are 

Ricky Davao, Nonie Buencamino, 

Romnick Sarmenta, Arron 

Villaflor and Alyssa Muhlach. 

Overall, according to the 

movie review by Julia Alende 

published on the entertainment 

NEA Crossword Puzzle 

© 2018 UFS, Dist. by Andrews McMeel Syndication for UFS 

36 Humorist — 

Bombeck 

37 Hudson tributary 

39 Beseech 

40 Increases 

41 Hot time in Paris 

42 Engrossed 

45 Unoccupied 

49 Gloating cry 

50 Not clothed 

53 Far East cuisine 

HER faith was tested because of the 

demonic possession. 

SHOOTING the film pushed her to the limits. 

54 The nearest star 

55 Mr. Stravinsky 

56 Spinnaker or jib 

57 Nautical assent 

58 “Wild West” 

showman 

59 Lunch counter 

order 

DOWN 

1 Pharmacist’s 

weight 

2 Not plentiful 

3 Montand of the 

movies 

4 Muscular tic 

5 Short flight 

6 Approves 

7 Poor grade 

8 Memory unit 

9 Promissory 

notes 

10 Pesters 

12 Letting up 

19 Wane 

20 Fight ender 

22 Little bits 

SUDOKU 

23 Calendar abbr. 

24 TV network 

25 Machine for 

weaving 

26 Part of A.D. 

27 Docile 

28 Certain 

29 Austen title 

31 Evergreens 

33 Walk quietly 

35 Microwave 

36 Votes in 

38 Lean-to 

39 School org. 

41 All 

42 Santa — 

43 Nautical greeting 

44 Warsaw native 

46 Whaler of fiction 

47 Fasten 

permanently 

48 Go against 

Galahad 

50 Razor brand 

51 In time gone by 

52 Actor — Steiger 

Answer to previous puzzle 

by Ramon Lorenzo 

Write a numeral from 1 to 9 in each box so that each 

appears only once in each row, column and 3 x 3 box. 

Answer for yesterday’s puzzle 

portal Pep.ph, Clarita is “proof 

that Filipino horror can achieve 

greater heights and can be both 

grotesque but sophisticated at 

the same time.” 

Clarita screens on 14 July 

in Paris, France; 26 July in the 

United States; 28 July in Dublin, 

Ireland; and 4 August in Oslo, 

Norway. 

For the cinema list, visit mytfc. 

com/theaters, emea.kapamilya. 

com, or visit and like TFC’s 

Facebook page applicable to your 

area. Follow @KapamilyaTFC 

and @KapamilyaGlobalPR on 

Twitter and Instagram. 

She sees through things and, being at heart a 

romantic, expresses what she sees in terms that 

have a universal appeal to her circle, whatever 

it may be 

With the combination of the Sun in Gemini and the Moon in 

Aquarius at the time she was born, Cherry Pie Sison Picache has 

extraordinary gifts of foresight and insight, a kind of visionary 

intellectual quality that makes the potentialities of the future 

clear to her in terms of the present. She has a ready intuition for 

things and for people and through ability to organize and express 

what she understands so clearly, can achieve success wither in 

the sciences, the arts, or in any branch of activity that requires 

control over the minds of men, such as politics, law, or religion. 

In romance, her idealism leads her far and wide in 

search of perfection and complete sympathy, so that 

she may appear fickle and unstable. 

She sees through things and, being at heart a romantic, she 

expresses what she sees in terms that have a universal appeal 

to her circle, whatever it may be. She is genuinely humanitarian 

in her outlook, generous-minded and desirous of helping others, 

probably through improving them intellectually or aesthetically. 

This is an excellent position for a teacher, but whatever walk of 

life she may be in, she will in some way lead and teach others. 

In romance, her idealism leads her far and wide in search 

of perfection and complete sympathy, so that she may appear 

fickle and unstable. If, (without some aspects to her Sun or Moon 

not mentioned here) this may be a relaxed and unprogressive 

position, for daydreams and imaginings absorb her and vitiate 

action. But if there are challenging aspects, she will go far through 

her expression of what she intuitively knows, and winds up with 

considerable influence and perhaps authority. 

Eugene Domingo as 

Josephine Bracken 

IWANT original series Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 3 star Eugene Domingo. 

Actress Eugene Domingo 

returns to her iconic role as herself 

in the mockumentary Ang Babae 

sa Septic Tank 3: The Real Untold 

Story of Josephine Bracken, the 

follow-up to the two critically 

acclaimed Septic Tank movies that 

will make its way to the streaming 

service iWant as an original series. 

Eugene’s character goes 

out of her comfort zone 

and challenges herself by 

directing, taking on the lead 

role, and producing her own 

film about Bracken. 

Streaming on iWant this 17 July, 

Septic Tank 3 boldly and wittily 

takes on historical biopics, after 

its satire prequels poked fun at 

the indie film industry and the 

Filipino rom-com that made the 

Septic brand popular. 

In Septic Tank 3, Eugene’s 

character goes out of her comfort 

zone and challenges herself by 

directing, taking on the lead role, 

and producing her own film about 

Bracken, Jose Rizal’s well-known 

paramour. 

As a first-time director, Domingo 

make the calls and decisions, 

gathering the best talents in the 

industry to produce her movie. 

Before the seven-episode 

series drops on iWant, users can 

watch the first two Ang Babae sa 

Septic Tank movies for free on the 

streaming service. 

Stream the series on the iWant 

app (iOs and Android) or on iwant. 

ph. For updates, like www.facebook. 

com/iWant, and follow @iwant on 

Twitter and @iwantofficial and @ 

dreamscapedigital on Instagram, 

and subscribe to www.youtube. 

com/iWantPH. 

WE ARE HIRING! 

Looking for highly motivated and results-oriented 

individuals for the following posts: 

Admin Assistant 

Page Editors 

Reporters 

Digital Assistant Editors 

Video Production Crew 

Applicants may bring or email their resumé to the Daily Tribune 

at 3450 Concept Bldg., Florida St., Makati City. 

dailytribune@tribune.net.ph / 8337085

C20 SPOTLIGHT 


Daily Tribune 

Run with Meg, 

Rovilson and Rio 

By Kathleen A. Llemit 

The status quo has remained, 

it seems, for this year’s 

45th edition of the annual 

Metro Manila Film Festival 

(MMFF). 

Big names are here to 

stay with the likes of Vice Ganda, Anne 

Curtis, Vic Sotto, Maine Mendoza, Derek 

Ramsay and Kris Aquino headlining 

the first four films competing in the 

full-length category of the December 

festival. Festival opens on Christmas 

Day, 25 December. 

These names have been staples in the 

annual film tilt, either starring together 

or headlining one in movies that are 

projected to bring in the millions, even 

billions of revenues for the MMFF. 

I would like to suggest, with your 

permission and approval 

and within the means 

of one’s resources and 

time, to hold the film 

fest twice a year. Let’s 

help each other. 

Derek and Kris team up 

for (K) Ampon, horror film 

directed by King Palisoc and 

produced by Quantum Films. 

hosts Vice 

Ganda and Anne bring their 

TV chemistry to the big 

screen with their fantasy 

Twice a year? 

Moves to have the festival staged twice a 

year surfaced this week with the induction of 

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go as 

a new member of the executive committee 

of the MMFF on 12 July. 

Pursuant to Presidential Decree 

(PD) 1459, an Executive Committee was 

formed to handle MMFF. In 1977, PD 1647 

reconstituted the Executive Committee 

and transferred the management of 

MMFF to the Office of the Metro Manila 

Commission, the precursor of today’s 

Metro Manila Development Authority. 

During his speech, he shared that he 

has friends in the industry who shared 

their concerns about the industry. 

“I have a lot of friends in the 

industry and many of them shared their 

sentiments about it. They asked for my 

help once I become a senator to craft 

bills that would protect the interests of 

VICE Ganda and Anne Curtis for “Momalland.” 

DEREK Ramsay will star with Kris Aquino. 

AQUINO returns to the horror genre in (K) 

Ampon. 

“As a senator, I thought of how I can 

help our Filipino artists. I noticed that 

many are looking forward to its staging 

every December, not only here in Metro 

Manila but also in the provinces. 

I would like to suggest, with your 

permission and approval and within 

the means of one’s resources and time, 

to hold the film fest twice a year. Let’s 

help each other,” he said. 

Moves to have the festival staged 

twice a year surfaced this week 

with the induction of Senator 

Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go 

as a new member of the executive 

committee of the MMFF on 12 July. 

Actress Meg Imperial and TV host and model 

Rovilson Fernandez join Coach Rio dela 

Cruz lead thousands of runners in a race 

for charity, Run With Me X, Resorts World 

Manila’s annual celebrity-led charity fun run 

Television and movie actress Meg Imperial first joined 

Run With Me in 2017 as a celebrity team leader, where she 

and her team emerged as the champions. 

“I was happy and proud to win Run With Me 2017, of 

course,” Meg, who again joins the event this year in the same 

capacity, says. “But beyond the physical achievement, the 

experience was made more meaningful knowing we helped 

people in need by doing something we loved. It was also 

a lot of fun to run alongside my friends from the showbiz 

industry and of course, the fans.” 

Joining Meg in her return to Run With Me as a celebrity 

team leader is TV host and model Rovilson Fernandez who 

has joined Run With Me every year as a team leader since 

it was opened up to the public in 2017. 

“I’m an active guy, and getting me to sign up to endorse 

an activity that encourages people to get fit would have been 

easy enough,” says Rovilson. “The fact that we raise millions 

for charity makes it a no-brainer. Run With Me is the sort of 

event that deserves people’s time and energy, because just 

by signing up, you’re already a winner because it means 

you’ve already helped someone.” 

Celebrity running coach Rio dela Cruz, who is best known 

for helping popularize the sport of running in the Philippines, 

has also been working with Resorts World Manila (RWM) 

from the very first Run With Me when it was just an RWM 

employee-exclusive event in 2016. 

His organization RUNRIO has been RWM’s event partner 

for Run With Me, helping the company with race logistics 

and even providing expert advice to race participants with 

(FROM left) Danilo Lim, Sen. Bong Go and Sta. Rosa City Mayor Dan Fernandez. 

entry, Momalland, to be directed by Barry 

Gonzales. ABS-CBN Film Productions and 

Viva Films will co-produce. 

Their noontime rival hosts, Vic and 

Maine, are back again as partners in the 

family comedy Mission Unstapabol: The 

Don Identity, which will be directed by 

Linnet Zurbano. Vic’s M-Zet Production 

will partner with APT Entertainment in 

the production of this flick. 

These are deemed as the best among 

the 26 scripts from 22 companies 

by the members of the Selection 

Committee headed by National 

Artist Bienvenido Lumbera. 

Aga Muhlach and Nadine Lustre 

complete the first four roster of films 

adjudged as a finalist based solely on 

the scripts submitted. They are starring 

in the remake of the hit Korean 

AGA Muhlach, Nadine Lustre with Viva big boss Vic Del Rosario. 

the people working in the industry,” the 

senator said in Filipino. 

Likewise, Senator Go made a proposal 

to make the MMFF twice a year to 

further help the film workers and artists 

as he believed that many Filipinos will 

be supporting the said festival. 

He also emphasized on the 

importance of crafting bills related to 

the movie industry. 

“I can see that the film fest unites 

most Filipino. Most of us would go to 

the theaters and watch these films. 

Most are supportive of Filipino films 

that’s why I thought of how to help 

those working in the industry, especially 

those from below the ranks. Their 

welfare and security are important, 

especially when they will be in their 

old age. They contributed a lot in the 

industry,” he shared. 

It can be remembered that Go was 

one of the judges at last year’s MMFF. 

HEALTH buff stars participate in this year’s Run With Me at Resorts 

World Manila. 

the Run With Me Run Clinics in the months leading up to 

the race. 

“I’ve always advocated running as a sport and hobby, and 

I’m happy that so many Filipinos are now into running,” 

Coach Rio says. “We’ve helped organize hundreds of races 

over the years, but Run With Me holds a special place in my 

heart because it lets us give back to the community through 

the millions we raise for charity.” 

RWM, through Run With Me and two smaller employee 

charity runs in 2014 and 2015, has raised nearly P10 million 

pesos for charity, with nearly 10,000 total runners. Beneficiary 

charities over the years include HERO Foundation, YesPinoy 

Foundation, ERDA Tech Foundation, Right Start Community 

Development, Inc., Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines, EPCALM 

Adult Leukemia Foundation of the Philippines, Empowering 

Brilliant Minds Foundation, and more. 

Celebrity running coach Rio dela Cruz, who is best 

known for helping popularize the sport of running in 

the Philippines, has also been working with Resorts 

World Manila (RWM) from the very first Run With 

Me when it was just an RWM employee-exclusive 

event in 2016. 

Running enthusiasts with charitable hearts can now 

register online and join the annual celebrity charity run 

which will be held on 25 August 2019 at the SM Mall of Asia 

Concert Grounds. 

Now on its fourth year Run With Me X promises to be the 

biggest yet, as RWM celebrates its 10th year as the country’s 

first integrated resort. 

Interested runners may log on to www.runwithme.ph and 

run alongside celebrities for a day of camaraderie and charity. 

VIC Sotto and Maine Mendoza will star in a family comedy. 

family-comedy tearjerker, Miracle in Cell 

#7, which will be directed by Nuel Naval. 

This is the second entry and produced 

movie under Viva Communications, Inc. 

These are deemed as the best among 

the 26 scripts from 22 companies by the 

members of the Selection Committee 

headed by National Artist Bienvenido 

Lumbera. Criteria were artistic 

excellence (40 percent), commercial 

appeal (40 percent), Filipino cultural 

sensibility (10 percent) and global 

appeal (10 percent). 

The next four official entries that will 

complete the “Magic 8” will be chosen 

among the finished films submissions. 

Their deadline is on 20 September. 

Aside from the full-length category, 

the Short Film Category is due for 

submission on 15 August. 

GRAMMY-winning star announces Manila stop of his latest tour. 

Sting to be 

back in Manila 

“Sting: My Songs Live in Manila” is scheduled on 2 

October at the Smart Araneta Coliseum 

Ovation Productions is 

bringing back Sting later this 

year as part of its 40th year of 

promoting the biggest names 

in live entertainment. It also 

produced the rock icon’s previous 

sold-out Manila concerts back in 

2012 and 1994. 

The Grammy-winning 

superstar has just launched the 

“Sting: My Songs Live in Manila 

Tour” TVC for his anticipated 

comeback scheduled on 2 October 

at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

“Sting: My Songs Live 

in Manila” is presented 

by Cherrytree Management, 

Live Nation and Ovation 

Productions. Ticket prices 

are at P20,595; P18,480; 

P16,370; P13,200; P7,920; 

P6,865; P3,700; and P2,640 

available via www.buytickets. 

asia, www.ticketnet.com. 

ph, and all TicketNet outlets. 

For inquiries, call (02)911-5555 

or (02)532-8883. Log on to 

www.sting.com, or follow 

on Facebook (facebook. 

com/sting), Twitter (@ 

officialsting) and Instagram 

(@theofficialsting).

ASIA’S FIRST DEMONIC 

POSSESSION ON FILM 

C19 

NO 

DOUBTING 

THOMAS 

D22 

VARGAS 

STAKES 

CLEAN 

SLATE 

D23 

LIONS 

SINK 

BOMBERS 

D24 

Julius Manicad, Editor 


Daily Tribune 

SPORTS 

D21 

WESTBROOK JOINS ROCKETS 

Ready for takeoff 

MAJOR 

LEAGUE 

BASEBALL 

National League 

East Division 

W L Pct GB 

Atlanta 54 37 .593 — 

Philadelphia 47 42 .528 6.0 

Washington 47 43 .522 6.5 

New York 40 50 .444 13.5 

Miami 33 55 .375 19.5 

Central Division 

Chicago 47 43 .522 — 

Milwaukee 47 44 .516 0.5 

St. Louis 44 44 .500 2 

Pittsburgh 44 45 .494 2.5 

Cincinnati 41 46 .471 4.5 

West Division 

Los Angeles 60 32 .652 — 

Arizona 46 45 .505 13.5 

San Diego 45 45 .500 14 

Colorado 44 45 .494 14.5 

San Francisco 41 48 .461 17.5 

No games Thursday 

(Friday in Manila) 

American League 

East Division 

W L Pct GB 

New York 57 31 .648 — 

Tampa Bay 52 39 .571 6.5 

Boston 49 41 .544 9 

Toronto 34 57 .374 24.5 

Baltimore 27 62 .303 30.5 

Central Division 

Minnesota 56 33 .629 — 

Cleveland 50 38 .568 5.5 

Chicago 42 44 .488 12.5 

Kansas City 30 61 .330 27 

Detroit 28 57 .329 26 

West Division 

Houston 57 34 .626 — 

Oakland 50 41 .549 7 

Texas 49 42 .538 8 

Los Angeles 45 46 .495 12 

Seattle 39 55 .415 19.5 

Game Thursday 

(Friday in Manila) 

Texas 5, Houston 0 

It will be very interesting and fun. James and Russell 

wanted to play together 

NEW YORK — Russell Westbrook has been traded from the Oklahoma 

City Thunder to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul and two first-round draft 

picks, according to multiple reports Thursday. 

Citing unnamed sources, The Houston Chronicle and ESPN reported 

the agreement, the latest blockbuster move in an off-season of major 

relocations for NBA stars and huge lineup changes for many clubs. 

Eight-time All-Star Westbrook, the 2017 Most Valuable Player (MVP), 

will be reunited with 2018 MVP James Harden, his former Thunder 

teammate who was traded to the Rockets in 2012. 

Harden and Westbrook wanted to reunite the backcourt tandem they 

enjoyed for three seasons with the Thunder. 

“It will be very interesting and fun. James and Russell wanted to 

play together,” Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta told Houston’s Fox 26 TV. 

“I said at the end of the year we’re never going to stand pat. We’re 

always going to try to get better. I think this makes us a better team. 

I hate to lose Chris Paul, but we felt like we did what we had to do to 

become a better team.” 

Paul, who at age 34 could be looking at yet another trade deal, 

according to reports, joins a rebuilding Thunder squad along with 

Houston’s first-round NBA Draft selections in 2024 and 2026 as 

well as the right for the Thunder to swap first-round picks with the 

Rockets in 2021 and 2025. 

Harden led the league in scoring the past two seasons, averaging 

36.1 points a game this past campaign. 

Westbrook averaged triple doubles for the past three seasons, 

this past campaign producing 22.9 points and career highs of 11.1 

rebounds and 10.7 assists. 

I think this makes us a better team. I hate to lose 

Chris Paul, but we felt like we did what we had to do to 

become a better team. 

Together, Harden and Westbrook form a super pairing as 

potent as any in the Western Conference, which now includes last 

month’s Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and ex-Thunder star Paul George 

with the Los Angeles Clippers, plus LeBron James and Anthony Davis 

with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Add improved teams in Denver, Utah and Portland and Stephen 

Curry-led Golden State, the finalists the past five years, and the 

Western Conference next season figures to be up for grabs after 

years of dominance by the Warriors. 

Caesars Sportsbook in Las Vegas improved the odds of the 

Rockets winning next year’s NBA title from 10-1 to 7-1, putting 

Houston fourth behind the Lakers (7-2), Clippers (4-1) and 

Milwaukee Bucks (9-2). 

The first major off-season move came 30 June when Golden State’s 

Kevin Durant and Boston’s Kyrie Irving both signed with Brooklyn. 

The next blockbuster came when the Clippers sent five first-round 

picks and two players to Oklahoma City for George, which enabled them 

to win a three-team pursuit for Leonard, who departed Toronto after 

leading the Raptors to an NBA crown. 

AFP 

RUSSELL Westbrook is set to bring his high-flying antics to Houston following a deal between the 

Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

AFP 

MLB bans Marisnick 

After thoroughly reviewing the 

play from all angles, I have 

concluded that Jake’s actions 

warrant discipline 

NEW YORK — Houston Astros 

outfielder Jake Marisnick was suspended 

for two games and fined an undisclosed 

amount by Major League Baseball (MLB) 

after colliding with Los Angeles Angels 

catcher Jonathan Lucroy. 

Marisnick appealed the punishment 

for the home plate play in a game Sunday 

and was thus active for Houston’s game 

Thursday against the Texas Rangers. 

On the key play, Marisnick was ruled 

out for violating a rule preventing runners 

from deviating from the base path to 

make contact with a fielder. 

“After thoroughly reviewing the play 

from all angles, I have concluded that 

Jake’s actions warrant discipline,” said 

Joe Torre, MLB’s chief baseball officer. 

“While I do not believe that Jake 

intended to injure Jonathan, the contact 

he initiated in his attempt to score 

violated rule 6.01(i), which is designed 

to protect catchers from precisely this 

type of collision.” 

The crucial play came in the eighth 

inning of Houston’s 11-10 home victory 

over the Angels when George Springer 

lofted a fly ball to Angels right fielder 

Kole Calhoun. 

Calhoun threw the ball to home 

plate to try and prevent Marisnick from 

scoring, but the angle of the toss brought 

Lucroy in front of home plate while 

Marisnick took a line inside the baseline 

path to the plate. 

Marisnick slammed into Lucroy, 

resulting in a concussion and broken 

nose for the Angels catcher. Even though 

the ball got away, Marisnick was ruled 

out for not taking an indirect route 

home. An Astros challenge on the play 

was denied. 

Angels manager Brad Ausmus, a 

former catcher, called for a suspension. 

Marisnick denied deliberately running at 

Lucroy, saying after the game he made 

“a split-second decision at full speed 

to slide headfirst on the inside part of 

the plate.” 

“That decision got another player 

hurt and I feel awful,” Marisnick 

tweeted. 

AFP

D22 SPORTS 


Daily Tribune 

GERAINT Thomas 

shuts down his 

doubters by climbing 

the leaderboard in 

Stage 6 of Tour de 

France. AFP 

McIlroy 

on prowl 

I think they were pretty 

generous in terms of the 

course set-up because they 

have never been here before 

LONDON, United Kingdom — Matt 

Kuchar and Edoardo Molinari were 

among a four-way tie for the lead on eight 

under par on a low scoring first day of 

the Scottish Open while Rory McIlroy 

remained in contention four shots back. 

Molinari, who is hoping to qualify for 

next week’s Open Championship where 

his brother Francesco defends the title, 

won the Scottish Open back in 2010 and 

continued his fine form after a top-10 

finish at last week’s Irish Open. 

Kuchar and Molinari hit two eagles 

each to card rounds of 63 alongside 

France’s Romain Wattel and Italy’s Nino 

Bertasio. 

McIlroy was less clinical in his first 

outing since the US Open, but the world 

number three still recorded six birdies 

for a round of four under par. 

“I think they were pretty generous in 

terms of the course set-up because they 

have never been here before,” McIlroy 

said. 

“The rain softened the greens and 

any links course we go to where there 

is not much wind people are going to 

rip it apart.” 

Andy Sullivan, Jamie Donaldson, 

Kalle Samooja, Thomas Aiken, Lee 

Slattery and Erik van Rooyen made 

up a group of seven just one shot off 

the lead. 

Former Open champion Henrik 

Stenson and Ian Poulter were among 

the six-strong chasing pack on six 

under. 

AFP 

CHUN Youngin fires 

a 64 to join Alena 

Sharp on top of 

the LPGA Marathon 

Classic standings. AFP 

I didn’t know I shot 64 

HEART OF A CHAMPION 

No doubting Thomas 

It’s one of those climbs where you really have to be 

patient 

PARIS, France — Defending Tour de France champion Geraint 

Thomas defied his doubters while Belgian Dylan Teuns won Stage 

6 and his breakaway partner in Giulio Ciccone snatched the yellow 

jersey by just a few seconds on an iconic mountain stage. 

Teuns won the tough mountain stage to Planche des Belles 

Filles when he and Ciccone crossed the summit finish line as sole 

survivors of a mass breakaway. 

Behind them, Thomas dispelled skepticism over his form. 

This was the Tour’s first foray into the mountains. It was a 

stage that defending champion Thomas described as “the big 

day.” He was expected to drop time, instead he showed strong 

form by beating all his main overall title rivals. 

For Teuns, this was a prestige win. He enters a 

storied history of the Planche des Belles Filles finish. 

Meanwhile, Ciccone goes down as the 269th yellow jersey 

in its 100-year history. 

“When it came down to the two of us, we stayed calm. 

We talked about it,” said Teuns, hinting that the pair did 

a deal for a win-win instead of risking it all by not 

collaborating and getting caught by the big guns. 

Ciccone was less relaxed about his feat. 

“It’s just unbelievable,” said the Italian after 

taking the overall lead from Frenchman Julian 

Alaphilippe by just six seconds. 

Alaphilippe put in a heroic defense of his 

lead, but missed out due to the bonus seconds 

over the final two summits that prompted the 

young Italian to edge him. 

“It feels strange, to have the yellow jersey 

on my back feels so strange,” said Ciccone. 

“I wanted to win the stage for the team 

NOAH Lyles vows to pour it all in the men’s 100-meter event of the Diamond League. 

WASHINGTON — South Korean teen rookie 

Chun Youngin and Canada’s Alena Sharp both 

fired a seven-under par 64 to share the lead after 

the opening round of the LPGA Marathon Classic 

Thursday. 

Chun, a 19-year-old who has missed eight cuts 

in 11 starts this year, fired the low round of her 

LPGA career, a bogey-free effort to stun herself by 

topping the leaderboard at Highland Meadows 

in Sylvania, Ohio. 

“I didn’t know I shot 64,” Chun said. 

“The funniest thing is that I finished par on 

18 and then I saw the leaderboard and there’s a 

7-under and I was like, ‘Who is that?’ I asked 

my dad. ‘I think I shot 6, right?’ He said, 

but I never believed it would be possible to take the lead,” said the 

24-year-old, who rides for the same Trek-Segafredo team as Richie 

Porte. 

The stage ended as a battle not only for the stage and the overall 

lead but for the psychological control of the race with Thomas gaining 

an edge. 

Chris Froome won the first finish on the mountain in 2012 to 

confirm his potential before he went on to win the 2013 Tour -- and 

Thomas must have sensed something special. 

The Welshman gave food for thought to those who called him a 

one-hit wonder after his 2018 win, who raised eyebrows when he lost 

a few seconds on a climb at Epernay earlier in the week and who 

had tipped Ineos teammate Egan Bernal. 

“I don’t listen to tips,” said Thomas. 

“I felt pretty good. I thought it would be more of a solid day.” 

“I was feeling good but I was unsure. I thought the steep climbs 

weren’t my cup of tea.” 

It’s just unbelievable. 

‘No, you’re 7.’ So it was me.” 

“There are three more rounds, but I’m just happy 

that my name is up there.” 

Sharing second on 65 were Caroline Masson of 

Germany, Jenny Haglund of Sweden, Stacy Lewis 

of the United States and Azahara Munoz of Spain. 

Chun’s best LPGA result came in her 2017 debut 

when she shared 43rd at the New Zealand Women’s 

Open. 

“First year on LPGA, kind of tough year. But my 

shots are getting better and better,” Chun said. 

“When I make a mistake, ball go left, but this week 

I’m trying to start right side of the pin.” 

Chun hit only seven of 24 fairways but recovered 

well on a course she had played only once, in a 

Monday pro-am. 

“My driver wasn’t that good, but iron was so good,” 

Chun said. “Narrow fairway but small green. I’m just 

focused on trying to make birdies.” 

Thomas and Bernal, who dropped nine seconds to the Welshman, 

were part of an impressive Ineos team effort that controlled the pace 

over the most of the course as the peloton crossed seven mountains. 

Thomas waited until first Mikel Landa, then Thibaut Pinot and, 

finally, the overnight leader Alaphilippe himself had attacked before 

showing his form was back after a nasty fall in the Tour de Suisse 

in June. 

“It’s one of those climbs where you really have to be patient,” the 

33-year-old Thomas said. 

Other good performances came from Colombia’s Nairo Quintana, 

Briton Adam Yates, Irishman Dan Martin and Frenchman Thibaut 

Pinot, who grew up in the region. 

Two of the overall contenders lost significant time as 2014 champion 

Vincenzo Nibali and Frenchman Romain Bardet suffered on the 

slopes. 

AFP 

Lyles to assert might 

It was really exciting 

MONACO — Fast-emerging American sprinter Noah Lyles fired 

a warning shot by insisting that he would push himself to the 

maximum in the 100 meters of the Diamond League meet Friday, 

just a week after becoming the fourth-fastest 200 meters sprinter 

of all-time. 

The 21-year-old timed a breath-taking 19.50 seconds in Lausanne 

with only Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Michael Johnson having 

gone quicker. 

“It was really exciting,” Lyles said of his performance. 

“Running is my passion, so running fast each and every time 

and getting better and better is the exciting part of track so it 

makes my job even more exciting.” 

Lyles added: “The 200 meters went really well. I have definitely 

seen an improvement there and we have been doing practice in 

the 100 meters so I think Friday could be a race where I can put 

everything together and see how far I can push myself.” 

“There are nothing but fast times expected, all round.” 

But Lyles would not commit to what time he expected would 

win the race, which also features American veteran Justin Gatlin, 

the 2004 Olympic gold medalist and current world champion. 

“I’m not going to say a time. Any time I say a time all of a 

sudden we’re going to hear ‘It’s world record pace, world record 

pace!’” 

In attempting to improve his century dash start, Lyles said he 

had been working with Ralph Mann, a 1972 Olympic 400-meter 

hurdles silver medalist for the United States, who went on to 

become a leading sports biomechanist who also helped Gatlin. 

Lyles said Mann had him working on strength using pressure 

pads with the goal being to apply that pressure from the blocks 

into his start. 

“I have definitely gotten a lot stronger,” he said. “I’m finally 

starting to get it.” 

AFP 

Chun, Sharp share lead 

“The green is so small here, if you put it on the green 

you’re going to birdie chances. My putter was good.” 

Chun had back-to-back birdies at the third and 

fourth holes and again at the par-5 seventh and 

par-3 eighth. She also ran off three birdies in a row 

starting at the 13th. 

Sharp birdied three of the first four holes but took 

her lone bogey at the par-3 second. She birdied the 

eighth as well as back-to-back back nine birdies at 

11-12 and 15-16. 

“I played really well right from the first tee shot. 

I felt really calm,” Sharp said. 

“I’m hitting it really well, so I think I took advantage 

of a little bit softer greens. I hit a lot of good wedges.” 

“The challenge is on the tee shots to get the right 

spot on the fairway. I did that well. As I made more 

and more just the hole looked bigger and seemed 

easier to make putts today than it has the last couple 

weeks.” 

AFP 

Lewis skirts controversy 

It is definitely not going to be 

an easy weekend 

SILVERSTONE, United Kingdom — Lewis 

Hamilton did his best to avoid controversy 

when he ducked comparisons with 

other drivers and heaped praise on his 

countrymen ahead of his home British 

Grand Prix. 

The defending five-time world 

champion and current series leader 

was asked to respond to claims by 

rival Red Bull team boss Christian 

Horner that Max Verstappen was 

now the “best driver in the world.” 

Horner suggested that the 

21-year-old Dutch driver, who ended 

Mercedes’ winning start to 2019 by 

winning last month’s Austrian Grand Prix for 

Red Bull, would beat Hamilton if they raced 

in equal cars. 

“I don’t compare myself to anybody,” 

Hamilton said. 

“I don’t need to. I don’t really have a 

response to his claims. Ultimately every 

now and then someone needs certain 

attention.” 

“I think Max has been doing a great job 

and it is really exciting to watch. I think 

the last race was fantastic. It will be really 

interesting to see how they go moving 

forward.” 

Asked where he would be in 2024 and 

beyond, Hamilton said he could not imagine 

what he would be doing, but that if was still 

coming to Silverstone, it would be as a driver. 

“And if not, I won’t be here in any other 

capacity.” 

Hamilton will be seeking a record sixth 

British Grand Prix win this weekend, as 

Mercedes try to bounce back from their defeat 

in the Styrian Alps. 

“I think we are fully aware that the Red 

Bulls and Ferraris have taken a step forward 

and the pace that they had at the last race 

was great,” he said. 

“I expect this weekend that it will be closer 

between us all.” 

“Last year, Ferrari was super fast here 

as was the Red Bull. I think the Red Bulls 

were a little bit down, but now they have 

the new engine I think they will be even 

quicker. It is definitely not going to be an 

easy weekend.” 

He explained how much his home event 

meant to him. 

“It really is a spectacular weekend,” he 

said. 

AFP


Daily Tribune 

SPORTS 

D23 

Creamline 

seeks crown 

The best is to win Game 2, so that would be our focus 

Creamline shoots for the clincher against an embattled PetroGazz 

squad, looking not only for a 13th straight victory but also another 

sweep of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference crown 

at the Filoil Flying V Center. 

Game time is at 4 p.m. 

The Cool Smashers have yet to yield a game in two months and they 

go all out to cap that remarkable run with another victory against 

the squad that dealt them their first and only setback last 25 May. 

The Cool Smashers actually lost the first set of Game 1 of their 

best-of-three series, but fought back and dominated the next two 

before thwarting the Angels’ late charge to fashion out a 24-26, 25-16, 

25-16, 25-22 victory last Wednesday. 

The win moved Creamline a win away from duplicating its sweep 

of PayMaya last year. 

The Cool Smashers went on to capture the Open conference crown 

against the Motolite-Ateneo Lady Eagles also via sweep. 

But Creamline is actually bracing for the worst, knowing PetroGazz 

will pour it all out to force a sudden death. 

“We’re thinking of the worst but we’re also thinking of the best 

for our team,” said Creamline top local Alyssa Valdez who with Risa 

Sato, Michele Gumabao, Jema Galanza, Jia Morado, Kyla Atienza and 

Melissa Gohing have provided the needed firepower and hustle to 

imports Thai Kuttika Kaewpin and Venezuelan Ale Blanco, scoring 

16 hits in the series’ opener. 

“The best is to win Game 2, so that would be our 

focus.” 

Hard-pressed to equalize, the Angels remain confident 

of their chances with imports Wilma Salas and 

Janisa Johnson vowing to even things up and keep 

PetroGazz’s bid for a breakthrough win going. 

“Everyone’s reflecting, including myself,” said Johnson, 

who joined Salas to deliver a combined 38-point 

output in Game 1. The duo took two of the top four 

spots in scoring in the double round 

eliminations and normed 

a combined 42 points 

in the Final Four. 

SIMONA Halep 

declares readiness 

to spoil Serena 

Williams’ bid of 

matching the 

Grand Slam 

record of Margaret 

Court. AFP 

FIBA, Go for Gold 

forge deal 

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) tapped Go for 

Gold to promote worldwide FIBA events in the Philippines until 30 

June next year. 

According to FIBA media and marketing services director general 

James Leenders, they tapped Go for Gold because they want to 

capture more attention in Asia Pacific, especially since the FIBA 

Basketball World Cup would be held in China next month. 

“The national team competitions within FIBA basketball are key. 

We want to capture more attention and more followers for FIBA 

basketball,” Leenders said. 

“We want fans to get excited about their national team moving 

towards our primary competitions. By seeking out partners in the 

Philippines and bringing FIBA Basketball World Cup trophy to the 

country, we’re engaging our fans and helping them feel a part of the 

World Cup competition this year.” 

The collaboration will kick off with Go for Gold spearheading 

the attempt to break the Guiness World Record for most number of 

people dribbling basketball simultaneously. 

The standing record is 7,556 notched in an event organized by the 

United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza Strip in Palestine in 2010. 

Go for Gold is looking at least 10,000 participants in the event that 

fires off on 21 July at the Mall of Asia concert grounds. 

Oragons, Express collide 

The National Basketball League Season 2 resumes with Iriga City 

and CamSur clashing on Sunday at the JMR Coliseum in Naga City. 

The Oragons and the Express tiff is at 6 p.m. following the Laguna 

Pistons and Zambales Converge Fiber X-Men battle in the 4 p.m. 

appetizer. 

But on Saturday, the Express face the X-Men at 4 p.m. while the 

Oragons tackle the Pistons at 4 p.m. in an explosive double-header 

that will be shown live on BTV. 

The Oragons are currently in third place with a 5-2 record while 

the Express hold sixth place with a 5-3 card behind Taguig and 

Pampanga, who are on top with a 7-2 and 7-3 cards, respectively. 

WOODS FIRES UP SERENA 

Tiger of tennis 

Those athletes, Tiger obviously, what he did at the Masters, was on top of my 

mind 

LONDON, United Kingdom — Tiger Woods’s remarkable Masters win this year at age 

of 43 serves as an inspiration to Serena Williams, who is just three years shy of 40 

herself, after reaching her 11th Wimbledon final on Thursday. 

Williams, who will match Margaret Court’s Grand Slam singles haul of 24 

if she beats Simona Halep in the finals, believes that technology helped her 

continue to succeed even after taking time out to have a baby. 

The American superstar lost just three games to her 33-year-old semifinal 

opponent Barbora Strycova to ease to a 6-1, 6-2 victory in less than an 

hour on Thursday. 

“I think technology has really changed,” said Williams, who at 37 years 

of age and 291 days is the oldest Grand Slam finalist in the modern era. 

“That’s the only reason why I’m able to compete.” 

“I feel like if we had this technology 20 years ago, maybe Michael 

Jordan would still be playing basketball.” 

“I just feel like we know so much more about our bodies.” 

“Things I do different now than when I first was on tour, it’s 

lengthening my career.” 

Williams, whose early part of the season was affected by a knee 

injury, said it was not just her who is enjoying extended careers. 

“It’s not just me; Roger (Federer), Tom Brady and Peyton Manning 

all played forever.” 

“There are so many athletes now that are able to do better and 

play longer, even play some of their best way after 30s.” 

“Those athletes, Tiger obviously, what he did at the Masters, 

was on top of my mind.” 

“Those athletes are incredibly inspiring. That’s one thing that 

keeps me moving forward.” 

Williams said despite being proud of what she was 

achieving at her age, she still hankered after her 

mentality when she was younger. 

She revealed she had recalled prior to her 

semifinal match how she felt when she won 

her first Wimbledon title beating elder 

sister Venus, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, in 2002. 

“I was trying to tap into those 

emotions,” said Williams. 

“I was really calm. I remember I 

think I hit an ace.” 

“I just remember, like, how it’s so, 

so different when you’re younger as 

opposed to now.” 

Williams, whose two sets win 

took her to 200 career sets won at 

Wimbledon joint second with Chris 

Evert in the all-time women’s list behind 

Martina Navratilova (249), said she is in a 

better frame of mind than she was when 

she ended up losing in both the Wimbledon 

SERENA Williams draws inspiration from Tiger Woods, who won a Masters crown at 43. 

AFP 

and US Open finals last year. AFP 

Halep, Williams seal title duel 

We always have great 

matches. I look forward 

to it 

LONDON, United Kingdom 

— Simona Halep is the last 

woman standing between 

Serena Williams and 

achieving her long held 

ambition of matching 

Margaret Court’s Grand 

Slam title record 

after both recorded 

easy victories in 

their Wimbledon 

semi-finals on 

Thursday. 

Seven-time 

champion Williams 

made short work of plucky unseeded 

Czech Barbora Strycova, whose 

experience of her first ever Grand 

Slams singles semifinal in her 53rd 

campaign lasted just under an hour as 

she lost 6-1, 6-2. 

Former world number one Halep’s clash 

with Ukrainian Elina Svitolina lasted a bit 

longer, but the 27-year-old ran out a 6-1, 6-3 

victor to become the first Romanian woman 

to reach the Wimbledon final. 

Williams missed the chance to tie 

Australian Court’s record on two occasions 

since returning from giving birth as she 

lost last year’s Wimbledon final and then a 

bad-tempered defeat in the US Open final. 

“It feels good to be in the final again after 

the year I had,” the 37-year-old Williams said. 

“I have just needed matches to feel 

good and do what I do best and that is play 

tennis.” 

“I love what I do. I have a great job and I 

am still pretty good at it. I get a remarkable 

experience every time.” 

Williams produced a dominant 

performance that has not always been the 

case during the Championships and she 

said she would not be taking seventh-seeded 

Halep lightly. 

“She’s a tough opponent,” said Williams. 

“We always have great matches. I look 

REY Vargas puts his unbeaten record on the line when he clashes with Tomoki 

Kameda for the World Boxing Council super bantamweight title. 

AFP 

forward to it.” 

Strycova, who never managed to 

impose her delightful stroke-filled game on 

her opponent, at least has the consolation 

of perhaps winning the women’s doubles. 

Halep, who was French Open champion 

in 2018, will be playing in her fifth Grand 

Slam final. 

“It’s an amazing feeling but I am also 

excited and nervous. It is one of the best 

moments of my life,” Halep said. 

“The match was not easy, the games 

were long and went deep. 

“I fought hard to win this match and 

I was strong mentally and physically and 

had the right tactics.” 

Halep, who had knocked out new star, 

15-year-old Coco Gauff in the Last 16, lost 

in her previous semifinal appearance at 

Wimbledon to Eugenie Bouchard in 2014. 

She, however, said she was a different 

player now and had taken to grass. 

“I have more experience, I don’t give up 

anymore,” she said. 

“I plan to be the best version of myself 

and fight to the end.” 

AFP 

Vargas stakes 

clean slate 

We fought a long time ago but that doesn’t count. 

Right now, it’s a new story 

LOS ANGELES — Undefeated super bantamweight champion 

Rey Vargas of Mexico defends his World Boxing Council crown on 

Saturday in suburban Los Angeles against Japanese top-ranked 

challenger Tomoki Kameda. 

The showdown at the home stadium of Major League Soccer’s 

Los Angeles Galaxy will be the fifth time Vargas, 33-0 with 22 

knockouts, defends the title he won by winning on a decision 

against Britain’s Gavin McDonnell in February 2017. 

Vargas last fought five months ago when he took a unanimous 

decision over Venezuela’s Franklin Manzanilla. 

Kameda is 36-2 with 20 knockouts, his only losses coming in 

2015 World Boxing Association bantamweight title bouts against 

Britain’s Jamie McDonnell. 

Since then, Kameda has won five times, most recently by unanimous 

decision over Spain’s Abigail Medina last November in Japan. 

Neither fighter sees much that can help them now in their fight 

as amateurs. 

“Kameda is a good rival,” Vargas said. 

“We fought a long time ago but that doesn’t count. Right now, 

it’s a new story.” 

“It’s going to be a different fight in terms of style and quality. We’ve 

both improved. I can promise you it’s going to be a good fight. Whatever 

kind of tune he dances to, I’ll dance to that as well.” AFP

D24 SPORTS 


Daily Tribune 

GOV’T TO ORGANIZE SEAG 

Rody nixes Phisgoc Foundation 

I have to be responsible for this. Give (the SEA 

Games) to government 

By Aldrin Cardona 

Citing government accountability, President Rodrigo Duterte on 

Thursday night shot down efforts by the privately-formed Philippine 

Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Foundation to 

snatch the hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games from the Philippine 

Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). 

Speaking for the first time about the government’s sports program 

during an exclusive interview by Daily Tribune, Mr. Duterte explicitly 

said that he would not allow the Phisgoc 

Foundation to organize the hosting of the 

SEA Games. 

The Games are set from 30 November 

to 10 December at different venues, with the New Clark City 

serving as the main hub for centerpiece events athletics and 

swimming. 

“I have to be responsible for this. Give (the SEA Games) to 

government,” the Chief Executive said in reply to Daily Tribune’s query 

about the leadership deadlock permeating the hosting chores. 

The Philippines attracted the SEA Games hosting following 

Brunei’s withdrawal from the chore in 2015 before the turnover right 

after Singapore’s turn at the hosting. 

Yes, it should be (the POC). 

But it was not until 2017 after the end of the Marawi terror siege 

that the Philippines could assure the SEA Games Federation that 

it can host the event as government prioritized the reconstruction 

of what used to be Mindanao’s most prosperous city that was 

wrecked by the war initiated by the local affiliates of the ISIS 

terror group. 

The first organizing body for the SEA Games led by Miguel Zubiri 

had also quit chasing the prospect of bringing the SEA Games to the 

Philippines for the fourth time. The country hosted the Games in 

1981, 1991 (when it placed second overall) and in 2005 (when it won 

the overall championship). 

But the government’s resolution of the Marawi armed conflict also 

changed the complex of the country’s readiness to show its best side to its 

neighbor countries. 

POC President Jose “Peping” Cojuangco seized the opportunity to secure the 

hosting and appointed then Foreign Affairs Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano to lead what 

was formed as the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee or Phisgoc. 

The original Phisgoc had Cayetano as chairman with PSC Chief William 

“Butch” Ramirez and Cojuangco as co-chairmen. 

But a court order to proceed to a re-vote of the POC presidency resulted 

in the ouster of Cojuangco. 

Replacing Cojuangco as POC president, Ricky Vargas immediately forged 

a partnership with Cayetano. Together, they incorporated the Phisgoc 

Foundation (not the original Phisgoc in which government was included) 

with the Securities and Exchange Commission. They also booted out Ramirez 

from the original leadership composition. 

Cayetano’s staff together with Vargas and his men founded Phisgoc 

Foundation to be able to independently raise funds from the private sector. It 

took longer than usual for the government to assure the SEA Games hosting 

Lions sink 

Bombers 

We’re glad that we pulled off 

this one despite having so many 

mistakes in execution 

By John Eric Mendoza 

San Beda University had a bad game, but 

still found a way to cream Jose Rizal University, 

74-52, to grab an early lead in Season 95 of 

the National Collegiate Athletic Association 

men’s basketball tournament yesterday at 

the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan. 

James Kwekuteye and Calvin Oftana 

carried the fight for the Red Lions, who had 

some scary moments before cruising to their 

second straight win in the country’s oldest 

collegiate league. 

We did a good job in the first 

quarter, but during the second and 

third quarters, we lost it. We need 

to emphasize on our execution in 

practices. 

San Beda’s solo lead, however, may not 

last long as its bitter nemesis in Lyceum of 

the Philippines University is still clashing 

with Emilio Aguinaldo College at press time. 

Kwekuteye and Oftana had 17 markers 

apiece on top of a combined 18 rebounds 

while Evan Nelle made a stellar job in the 

playmaking department with 14 assists, 

11 of which coming from that torrid first 

half rally. 

“We’re glad that we pulled off this one 

despite having so many mistakes in execution. 

We missed so many shots and our defense was 

messed up,” said San Beda head coach Boyet 

Fernandez, whose wards unleashed a 21-10 

bomb early in the game. 

“We did a good job in the first quarter, 

but during the second and third quarters, 

we lost it. We need to emphasize on our 

execution in practices.” 

Even Nelle admitted that he failed to live 

up to expectations. 

“It was a bad game for me. I struggled 

with my shots,” he said. “So I made a lot of 

passes to James and Calvin to let them do 

the job. After all, my job is to pass.” 

Marq Dioniso had 13 points, six rebounds 

and three assists while Ry Dela Rosa had 11 

markers for JRU, which was obviously groping 

for form under the new system of former 

La Salle coach Louie Gonzales. 

EXCLUSIVE 

SPORTS 

By Nap Gutierrez 

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte (right) wants the government to spearhead the organization of the 30th Southeast Asian Games. 

with fund as the national budget was delayed. 

Cayetano had also resigned from his Department of Foreign Affairs post 

to seek a congressional seat. 

That Phisgoc Foundation only muddles up the issue. 

Cayetano sought P7.5 billion from government to fund the SEA Games. But 

the national budget approved allocated just P5 billion, which was made part 

of the PSC budget as it is the rightful agency to disburse funding for sports. 

Cayetano contested the awarding of the budget to the PSC but to no avail. 

Then, he sought a supplementary P1 billion fund from President Duterte. 

The Chief Executive gave it his approval but still lodged the money under 

the PSC’s care. 

Cayetano’s Phisgoc Foundation, however, was questioned by the POC 

executive board, which did not give its imprimatur to the new, private 

body. 

The Council’s leadership also questioned the Phisgoc Foundation’s 

deal for the supply of uniform and training gears, which seemed 

overpriced by several hundredfold, including pairs of socks costing nearly 

P3,000 each. The deal was voided soon after as only the POC can enter 

into contracts related to the hosting. 

The Phisgoc Foundation also made itself the organizing body for 

JAMES Kwekuteye and San Beda College brush off a lethargic 

performance to pull off a 74-52 win over Jose Rizal University. 

BUZZ 

Will Arwind stay? 

Aerieal Patnongon was spotted watching his boyfriend June 

Mar Fajardo and San Miguel Beer during their recent game at 

the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Does it mean that they’re back in each other’s arms? 

q q q 

The mother of a popular cager is stressed. 

The reason? Their electricity has been cut off and her son 

has yet to send her money for the past two months. 

Oh well. 

q q q 

A PBA import has two children from different women. 

Both kids are below five years old. 

Yet, he still remains single. 

q q q 


A Filipino-American dribbler is dating a beauty queen. 

Little did he know that his girlfriend isn’t loyal; she’s seeing 

other guys on the side. 

The funny thing is that one of her side boys is another 

basketball player. 

q q q 

A team wants Arwind Santos very badly. 

But the question is: Will the Beermen release him? 

I doubt. 


all international sports events to be hosted by the Philippines in the 

future. The POC also countered this as the Foundation does not have 

the recognition of the SEA Games Federation, the Olympic Council of 

Asia and the International Olympic Committee. 

It, however, resulted to the resignation of Vargas. The POC is expected 

to hold another round of elections on 28 July. 

Asked by Daily Tribune if he is taking immediate action in settling the 

SEA Games hosting issue, Duterte said he is giving the POC a freehand 

in organizing the biennial multi-sports event. 

“Yes, it should be (the POC),” the President said. 

“First, it should be the government,” Duterte reiterated as he referred 

to the PSC, which has control over the release of the budget for sports. 

It also determines if purchases related to the event are within bounds 

of government control and limitations. 

“Government is the most interested in winning the medals. That 

Phisgoc Foundation only muddles up the issue. So many fingers are 

dipping into the hosting. It should only be government. I want just 

one, just the government,” the President said. 

“This is how it should be. I will execute whoever will be responsible if 

we do not win medals. That chandelier should be strong enough to hold 

the bodies of the (PSC chairman and his commissioners) if they don’t 

deliver,” the President said in jest. 

Right event, wrong group? 

As a Games expert, we’re 

on track 

By Joel Orellana 

Unaware of President Rodrigo 

Duterte’s stumping of the 

controversial Phisgoc Foundation, 

one of its officials on Thursday 

night tried to ease the fear of some 

chiefs of mission (CDM) over the 

number of sports that would be 

played in the 30th SEA Games 

that the country will host from 30 

November to 11 December. 

Phisgoc Foundation chief 

operating officer Ramon Suzara 

said the 56 sports that the SEA 

Games Federation Council 

approved in a meeting last year will 

still be held but the final number of 

events remains pending. 

Suzara presented the 

Phisgoc Foundation’s report not 

knowing that President Duterte 

had denied recognition of the 

private group. 

Duterte said he would let the 

Philippine Sports Commission 

and the Philippine Olympic 

Committee to manage the 

hosting of the biennial event. 

The President’s statement 

effectively nullified all of the Phisgoc 

Foundation’s misrepresentation of 

itself as the official organizer of the 

SEA Games. 

Taguig Rep. Alan Peter 

Cayetano serves as chairman 

of the Foundation. 

“We will try very hard all 

the events are in place. We’ll 

try very hard not to remove the 

sports and change another event 

After I led by four after 10 holes, 

I knew I was in control already 

CARMONA, Cavite — Angelo Que marked 

his return to local turf in big fashion, 

outclassing a stellar international 

field with a six-under 65 that netted 

him a five-stroke triumph over 

Tim Stewart in the ICTSI Manila 

Southwoods Championship here 

Friday. 

Two up over American 

Christopher Hickman and 

Justin Quiban after 54 

holes, Que made it a bit 

more interesting with 

a bogey on the first 

hole that sparked hopes 

even from the other 

pursuers, wanting to get 

a crack at the coveted 

crown in the $100,000 

championship. 

But the long-hitting 

shotmaker cut short all 

his expectations with a 

rash of birdies, hitting 

five to close out the 

frontside with a 31. 

Back up by three 

already approved. Anyway, all 

the changes have to be approved 

by the council,” said Suzara 

during the second CDM meeting 

at the Hilton Manila. 

Chris Chan, Singapore’s 

national Olympic committee 

secretary general, expressed 

concern over the number of 

sports after Phisgoc declared 

that it is out to host the biggest, 

the grandest biennial meet ever. 

The last time the country 

hosted the SEA Games was 

in 2005 with only 443 events 

in 40 sports. The government 

shelled out only P350 million 

while First Gentleman Miguel 

Arroyo and Philippine Olympic 

Committee president Jose 

“Peping” Cojuangco managed 

to solicit P150 million more from 

the private sector. 

Que posts 5-shot victory 

ANGELO Que savors the 

sweetness of his victory after ruling 

the ICTSI Manila Southwoods 

Championship 

with nine holes left, Que birdied the first two 

holes at the back, including a 25-footer on No. 

10, to all but wrap up the chase for honors. 

“After I led by four after 10 holes, I 

knew I was in control already,” said Que, 

whose third six-under card on a course he 

calls home netted him a 72-hole total 

of 22-under 262. 

Stewart, who led in the first 

round with a 63, rallied in a flight 

ahead with back-to-back closing 

birdies, shooting a second straight 

67 and snatching runner-up honors 

with a 267 worth $11,500 that kept 

the big-hitting campaigner from 

Sydney winless. 

Quiban lost in a 

power duel with Que 

and Hickman, but 

matched Stewart’s 

birdie-birdie 

windup to card a 

69 for solo third at 268 

worth $7,000. 

“I hit the ball great but 

missed my putts,” said Hickman, 

who rued his birdie chances 

on Nos. 13, 14, 15 and 15. He 

actually tied Que at 15-under 

with a birdie on the second 

hole coupled with Que’s bogey 

on No. 1.

DT_20190713

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