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Diving gear. Divers carry special gear that will allow them to go down to 250 feet and stay nearly two hours under water
to look for the wreckage of the plane that crashed into the sea carrying Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and two pilots. Inset
shows the passenger manifest that divers recovered at the bottom of the sea. DIOSDADO BRIONES
A fateful day in history. This statue of Ninoy Aquino in Makati
shows aviation security ofcials escorting the former senator down
an aircraft moments before he was killed at the tarmac.
Shes back. Miss
World Philippines
Queenierich Reh-
man arrives at the
Ninoy Aquino In-
ternational Airport
after competing
in the 62nd Miss
World Pageant in
Mongolia. ERIC
APOLONIO
TODAY
www.manilastandardtoday.com mst@mstandardtoday.com
Vol. XXVI No. 160 12 Pages, 2 Sections
P18.00 Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Standard
Manila
Robredos family still hopeful
but realistic about outcome
Wider, deeper
sea search on
Nation marks Ninoys death anniversary
Police sketch
of Rolito Gos
abductor out
Church warns Catholic schools
Oil prices up as much as P1.80/liter
Prayer rallies over sea row set
Its Pia this time who
plagiarizedblogger
Belmonte eyes
dialogue with
anti-RH solons
By Eric Apolonio
and Sara Fabunan
AIRPORT ofcials, various
groups and supporters will offer
owers and prayers during a Mass
to commemorate the heroism and
assassination of the father of Pres-
ident Aquino at Manilas interna-
tional airport 29 years ago, airport
ofcials said on Monday.
Airport General Manager Jose
Honrado said the commemora-
tion activities would start with a
wreath laying at the tarmac where
former senator Benigno Aquino
was shot dead as he stepped down
the aircraft that brought him home
from exile in the United States.
At the departure lobby, owers
will be offered at the foot of the
bust of the former senator where
a program will be held to present
the First Ninoy Aquino Medal for
freedom ghters awards.
The death of Ninoy Aquino
triggered a people power revolt
that led to the downfall on Febru-
ary 25, 1986, of strongman Ferdi-
nand Marcos, who ed to exile in
the United States.
The name of the airport has
been changed to Ninoy Aquino
International Airport to honor the
former senator. August 21, the
date of his death, has been de-
clared a national holiday.
Vice President Jejomar Bi-
nay, a known Aquino supporter,
said the assassination stirred the
minds of the Filipinos from apa-
thy and moved the nation to stage
By Maricel V. Cruz
SPEAKER Feliciano Belmonte
Jr. said Monday he will meet with
lawmakers opposed to the repro-
ductive health bill to set ground
rules so the deliberations on the
hotly debated measure will not
be further delayed.
Ill be conducting a private
dialogue with my colleagues
who are against the passage of
the RH measure [and ask them
to] refrain from delivering
privilege speeches, but if they
cant agree [to do this], they
should limit the time and not
deliberately delay the plenary
proceedings, Belmonte said in
an interview.
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
AN INTERNET blogger accused Sena-
tor Pia Cayetano on Monday of using
in her speeches words of other people
without attribution, the second senator
charged with plagiarism, as the Senate
began deliberations on the controversial
Reproductive Health Bill.
The blogger, who identied himself
as columnist police, said at least two of
Cayetanos speeches carried paragraphs
lifted from on-line sources, but she did not
make the proper attributions.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente
Sotto has interesting company. Sen. Pia
THE Catholic Church said on Monday
that it would strip schools of their afli-
ation with the it if they taught anything
contrary to its ofcial teaching particu-
larly on life issues.
Archbishop Jose Palma, Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philippines
president, said this was possible if a
Catholic school and other institutions
violated the ethical and religious direc-
tives of the church.
If we are a Catholic school, we
should not teach anything contrary to
the ofcial teaching of the church,
Palma said.
He admitted that there was a clash of
beliefs between the church and the teach-
ers of some Catholic schools.
POLICE on Monday released
a sketch of the leader of the
gang that allegedly kidnapped
convicted killer Rolito Go and
his nephew Clemence Yu from
the New Bilibid Prison last
week.
Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo
said the sketch was based on
Gos descriptions, which put
him at 55 or 56 in height and
about 38 years old.
Go said the leader was the
only one with a gun, a .45-cal-
iber pistol.
OVER 300 cities and towns in the Phil-
ippines, United States, Canada, Eu-
rope, Australia and other Asian coun-
tries will conduct simultaneous prayer
rallies today, Tuesday, for the peaceful
resolution of the territorial disputes in
the South China Sea or West Philip-
pine Sea.
In a statement posted in the US
Pinoys for Good Governance website,
the organizers said the prayer rallies
would be held as part of the Global Day
of Prayer for Peace in the Scarborough
Shoal.
The group is also calling on people
to boycott all China-made products.
According to USPGG spokesman
Ted Laguatan, the boycott was a non-
violent way to dramatize their protest
against Chinas bullying tactics to-
wards the Philippines and other claim-
ants in the South China Sea.
THREE oil rms on Monday lifted the
freeze on pump prices in the calamity
stricken areas effective today, Tuesday, and
by as much as P1.80 per liter.
Shell, Total and Eastern Petroleum
raised the price of premium plus and un-
leaded gasoline by P1.80 a liter, kerosene
and diesel by P1.60, and regular gasoline by
P1.50 to P1.70.
Please note that Total adjusted its pump
prices at 6 a.m. Monday only in the areas
declared under a price freeze last week--
Metro Manila, Bataan, Zambales, Tarlac,
Pangasinan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Pagsanjan
in Laguna, and Bacoor, Rosario and Kawit
in Cavite, Total said in its advisory.
We are lifting the price freeze [and
increasing prices by an] average of P1.70
effective 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday in Metro
Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, Zambales
and Bataan, Eastern Petroleum chairman
Fernando Martinez said.
Shell said its price adjustments were effective
Transport Secretary Mar Roxas said
deep-sea divers had gone as deep as 300
feet in search of the plane, but the search
could go as deep as 1,000 feet and that
would need using remote-operated vehi-
cles from the United States, which were
on their way from Subic.
A team that would be interpreting data
from the ROV would also be arriving in
Subic at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Roxas said.
Two American scuba divers helped
load the remote-operated vehicles on a
speed boat to take them to the search area.
Retracing the planes route. Transport Secretary Mar Roxas retraces on the map
the route of the aircraft that took off from Cebu and crashed on Ticao pass in Mas-
bate with Secretary Robredo and two pilots on board. DANNY PATA
WEATHER
TYPHOON Igme may stay inside
the Philippine area of responsibility un-
til Wednesday or Thursday, a weather
forecaster said Monday.
Nikos Pearanda said Igme was mov-
ing north slowly and if did not change its
movement it was expected to be in Tai-
wan by Thursday.
Igme may overlap
with new storm
21pray-arman/pageone
By Sara Susanne D. Fabu-
nan, AP
Next page
Next page
By Joyce Pangco Paares
THE governments search for the Piper Seneca
plane carrying Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo
that crashed on the waters of Masbate on Saturday
went wider and deeper on Monday, with the Army
searching a bigger area and ofcials saying special
diving equipment from the United States were on
the way to join the search for the planes wreckage.
The sketch of the gang leader.
News
ManilaStandardToday mst.daydesk@gmail.com AUGUST 21, 2012 TUESDAY
A2
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Police...
Justice Department and
prison officials earlier were
skeptical of Gos account and
treated his disappearance from
the prison compound Tuesday
night as an escape.
Go is serving a life sentence
for killing engineering gradu-
ate Eldon Maguan over a traf-
fic argument in 1991.
Maguans family on Monday
urged Justice Secretary Leila
de Lima to cut Gos special
privileges at the prison, in-
cluding the use of several cell
phones, a computer and other
appliances.
Maguans sister Grace said
prison officials regularly al-
lowed Go and other wealthy or
high-profile prisoners to enjoy
such privileges.
She added that with his cell
phone, Go could easily call his
driver to pick him up at the na-
tional penitentiary and leave
the prison compound.
Mr. Go is well-equipped
and a big-time businessman
even he inside the prison com-
pound, Grace said, noting that
he conducted his money-lend-
ing business using a laptop.
Go enjoys not only liv-
ing out but also sleeping out
privileges. He has his own hut.
Actually, it looks like a resort
house while common prisoners
are congested in small cells,
Grace said.
Gos hut is equipped with a
television, refrigerator, DVD
player, electric fans, a radio
and a water cooler, she said.
The structure has electrical
outlets and running water for a
well-maintained bathroom, she
added.
The Maguan family is also
asking De Lima to conduct an
immediate investigation into
reports that Go has been able
to go in and out of New Bilibid
Prison without being stopped
by the guards.
Bureau of Corrections of-
ficials allowed Go to be a
living out inmate in March
2008, even though he was not
qualified, Grace said. The bu-
reaus former director, Oscar
Calderon, then granted him
sleeping out privileges as
well, Grace said.
Ferdinand Fabella
Prayer for peace. Loida Nicolas Lewis, chairman of the US Filipinos for Good Governance, gestures
during a press conference in Makati. Lewis and her group will lead a Global Day Of Prayer For Justice and
Peace In The Scarborough Shoal on Aug. 21 as they seek a peaceful resolution to the conict between the
Philippines and China over the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Aaron Favila, AP
Nation...
a non-violent campaign to
fight a repressive regime.
There is no better way to
commemorate Ninoys death
than to continue and live by
his principles and pursue our
commitment to truth, account-
ability and service to our peo-
ple, Binay said.
Many people recall that
the assassination sent shock
waves across the country and
many wept as word spread that
the charismatic opposition
leader has been killed.
His death came at a time of
turmoil in the Philippines with
the government battling Mus-
lim and Communist rebels and
the gap between the rich and
the poor was widenng because
of the faltering economy.
Aquino was a formidable
opposition figure when Mar-
cos declared martial law in
1972. He was thrown in jail
and sentenced to death by a
military commission.
The death sentence was
never carried because he was
allowed to go to the United
States to seek medical treat-
ment for his heart ailment.
After three years in America,
Ninoy decided to come home
and was killed at the tarmac
by a suspected assassin identi-
fied as Rolando Galman, who
authorities said, penetrated the
tight security at the airport.
The killing of Aquino led to
the Edsa revolt on February
22-25, 1986 that ended Mar-
cos 20-year authoritarian rule.
With Ben Cal
Oil...
only in the areas where it had
previously frozen its prices:
Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pam-
panga, Bataan, Zambales and
Rizal, Sta. Cruz and Pagsan-
jan in Laguna and Bacoor,
Kawit and Rosario in Cavite.
Energy Secretary Jose
Rene Almendras earlier said
oil prices had been going up,
so that the local oil distribu-
tors were justified in adjust-
ing their prices.
He had praised the oil com-
panies for freezing their prices
in the calamity-stricken areas.
The fact they did not raise
prices in the affected areas will
result in losses to these compa-
nies, Almendras had said.
They are willing to take
the risk to support initiatives
because of what happened.
They are willing to take a hit
for that.
The total increase in pump
prices for August have
amounted to P2.60 per liter of
unleaded and premium gaso-
line, P2.50 per liter of regular
gasoline, and P1.90 per liter
of diesel and kerosene.
The Energy Departments
oil review committee, mean-
while, is set to come out with
its report on the reasonable-
ness of pump prices by the
end of the month.
Alena Mae S. Flores


Prayer....
In his State of the Nation
Address on July 23, Pres.
Aquino asked for solidarity
from the Filipino people re-
garding the issue of Chinas
illegal occupation of the
Scarborough Shoal. He asked
us to speak with one voice
on this issue, and on August
21 we will, with one voice,
express our solidarity with
the Filipino people and tell
China not to dare invade the
Philippines, Laguatan said
in a statement released on
Monday.
In the Philippines, Laguatan
said, there were 200 Church
leaders of all faiths and de-
nominations as well as top
political and business lead-
ers who would join the prayer
rally and express their united
stand on the issue.
The prayer rally will
be attended by differ-
ent speakers, such as US
Pinoys national chair Lo-
ida Nicolas Lewis, Rep.
Walden Bello, Rep. Riza
Hontiveros, Pastor Fran-
cis M. Nicolas, Bishop
Leo Alconga of the Philip-
pine for Jesus Movement,
Bishop Chito Sanches of
the Philippine Council for
Evangelical Churches, Al-
bay Gov. Joey Salceda and
former Gov. Grace Padaca
of isabela.
In June, the USPGG held
a rally in front of the United
Nations headquarters calling
for a boycott of Chinese prod-
ucts, urging Beijing to stop its
creeping aggression toward
countries around the South
China Sea.
China claims ownership of
90 percent of the South China
Sea based on its nine-dash line,
some of which are also being
contested by the Philippines,
Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, In-
donesia and Malaysia.
Two months ago Beijing es-
tablished Sansha City and built
a military garrison to adminis-
ter control of the islands and
waters in the South China Sea
despite strong protests from
Manila and Hanoi.
The city also established
its own legislative body and
elected members of the munic-
ipal government, while Beijing
sent officers and soldiers from
the Peoples Liberation Armys
to man the garrison.
In an interview, Foreign Af-
fairs spokesman Raul Hernan-
dez said that Manila will try to
resolve the issue through dip-
lomatic means and through the
application of the United Na-
tions Convention on the Law
of the Sea or Unclos.
However, the Chinese gov-
ernment had said it preferred
to settle the issue through bi-
lateral talks with concerned
countries.
Beijing is also at loggerheads
with Tokyo over the Senkaku
Island, which the Chinese call
Diaoyu, and which both coun-
tries claim as their own.
Belmonte...
Gabriela party-list Rep.
Luz Ilagan, who supports the
RH bill, welcomed Belmon-
tes plan to set a deadline for
the passage of the bill by the
end of August.
While the anti-RH lawmak-
ers are determined to block
its passage, Ilagan said the
leadership must be able to
sustain the momentum to pass
the measure in time.
I am hopeful that the RH
bill will be passed on second
reading and on third reading
by the end of the month, as
planned, Ilagan told the Ma-
nila Standard.
But is depends on the po-
litical will of the House leader-
ship. The anti-RH lawmakers
are determined to block it, she
added.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman,
the principal author of the bill,
shared Ilagans view, saying
House leaders should be able to
come up with rules against fili-
bustering or delaying the vote
with longwinded speeches.
This privilege to speak
is subject to the permission
of the presiding officer who
shall determine
whether the request is in or-
der, Lagman said.
He added that the RH bill,
like the proposed national
budget for 2013, should fol-
low a definite time frame.
House leaders were sup-
posed to discuss the proposed
amendments to the RH bill last
week but were unable to do so
after anti-RH lawmakers deliv-
ered several privilege speeches
of various topics.
Cebu Rep. Benhur Salim-
bangon talked about the higher
electricity rates on Bantayan Is-
land and Paranaque Rep. Roilo
Golez discussed the devastation
brought by the southwest mon-
soon, effectively preventing the
chamber from discussing the RH
bill, which is now in the period
of amendments.
The Catholic Church,
which opposes the RH bill,
has threatened to withhold
support for any lawmakers
who vote for it.
Various versions of the bill
have failed to reach a vote
over the last decade because
of delaying tactics by Church
allies in Congress.
Church...
The Cebu archbishop said
they were trying to solve the
problem through a dialogue.
In some places, we first talk
to them because some teach-
ers may have some misunder-
standing of what they think of
freedom of conscience or aca-
demic freedom, said Palma.
In some of the universi-
ties, we say that if you want
to teach that idea, do not do it
in a Catholic school because
we are confusing the students.
Do it in other universities, he
said.
They [parents] are hoping
that their children will learn
the Catholic teaching and
also the Catholic formation,
he said, [But] it will be a con-
tradiction if we will bombard
them with ideas which are
against the official teachings
of the Catholic faith, added
Palma.
On Aug. 12, around 160
professors of the Ateneo De
Manila University had openly
expressed their support for
the passage of the reproduc-
tive health bill opposed by the
Church in an open letter they
released to the media.
The professors said they
believe that the RH Bill a
vital piece of legislation that
needs to be passed urgently.|
It upholds the constitu-
tional right of couples to found
a family in accordance with
their religious convictions;
honors our commitments to
international covenants and
conventions; and promotes the
reproductive health and repro-
ductive rights of Filipinos, es-
pecially of those who are most
marginalized on this issue -
our women, poor families, and
young people.
The statement was consid-
ered a lethal blow to the po-
sition taken by the Catholic
Church, which had openly
campaigned against the pas-
sage of the bill in both houses
of Congress.
Last month, the Vatican has
withdrawn the Catholic iden-
tity of the Pontifical Catholic
University of Peru, because
some of its policies were not
compatible with the discipline
and morals of the church.
Igme...
Pearanda, however, said
that Igme may also overlap
with a tropical depression
spotted in Guam and enhance
the southwest monsoon that
could bring rains over North-
ern Luzon.
He added that they are
monitoring the new weather
disturbance that may enter
Philippine territory on Thurs-
day. The tropical depression,
he said, will be named Julian
once it enters the country.
A Pagasa report Monday af-
ternoon said that Igme was last
seen at 300 kilometers south-
east of Aparri, Cagayan with
maximum sustained winds of
85 kilometers per hour near
the center and gustiness of up
to 100 kilometers per hour.
Igme was moving at seven
kilometers per hour north and
may be at 260 kilometers east
northeast of Basco, Batanes
by Tuesday morning, and 230
kilometers northeast of Basco,
Batanes by Wednesday morn-
ing. It may be 310 kilometers
north-northeast of Basco Ba-
tanes or over Taiwan by Thurs-
day morning.
Public storm signal number
1 has been hoisted over Ca-
gayan and Isabela, which ar
expected to experience five to
15 millimeters of rain.
Igme will also hit Benguet,
Baguio, Pangasinan, La Un-
ion, Ilocos provinces and Cen-
tral and Southern Luzon, espe-
cially the western section.
The rest of Luzon, including
Metro Manila, will be mostly
cloudy with scattered rain-
showers and thunderstorms,
while Visayas and Mindanao
will have partly cloudy to
cloudy skies with isolated
rainshowers or thunderstorms.
By Jonathan Fernandez
The weather bureau warned
residents living in Northern Lu-
zon especially in low-lying and
mountainous areas against pos-
sible flashfloods and landslides.
It also advised fishing boats
and other small seacrafts not to
venture out into the eastern sea-
boards of Central and Southern
Luzon due to big waves caused
by tropical storm Igme and the
southwest monsoon.
Its Pia...
Cayetano, who gleefully
joined the chorus of Sotto
bashers over his plagiarized
anti-RH bill speech, has some
explaining to do as well, the
columnist police said.
American blogger Sarah
Pope accused Sotto of using
her words without attribution
in his speech against the RH
bill last week, calling the sen-
ator a thief. Sotto apologized
to Pope.
Cayetanos alleged plagia-
rism was exposed by Elisa
Sangalang in the website
Pinoy Templars, according to
the columnist police. He de-
scribed The Pinoy Templars
as Filipino Catholic apolo-
getics blog.
In her speech on Febru-
ary 23, 2011, Cayetano said:
Mothers do not routinely
choose to deliver in health
facilities and avail of profes-
sional services due to several
barriers such as hostile hospi-
tal system, poor interpersonal
skills of staff and financial,
physical, social and cultural
constraints are deterrents to
actual service utilization.
It was copied from a Power
Point presentation of Health
Undersecretary Mario Vil-
laverde in April 2008, titled
Accelerating a unified strat-
egy to save mothers, new-
borns and children.
In another speech, Cayetano
said: Practically speaking, a
Green Economy is one whose
growth in income and em-
ployment is driven by public
and private investments that
reduce carbon emissions and
pollution, enhance energy
and resource efficiency, and
prevent the loss of biodiver-
sity and ecosystem services.
It was copied from the
website of the United Nation
Environment Program, which
defined the Green Economy,
the columnist police said.
The columnist police said
the same wrods were used
by the Katribu Partylist in its
website, but it was responsi-
ble enough not to claim own-
ership.
Cayetanos plagiarism
could probably be excused
as mere oversight at most or
a careless mistake at the very
least. But a woman of her stat-
ure and pedigree is definitely
way beyond a mistake that
could very well have been
committed by an elemen-
tary pupil or a reckless high
school student submitting a
plagiarized term paper, the
columnist police said.
When sought for comment,
Cayetano said she respects
the Intellectual Property
Code that protect ones liter-
ary work and said she usually
attributes her sources.
If at any time, I fail to at-
tribute, I immediately make
the necessary corrections,
she said.
Wider...
Meanwhile, the Armys 9th
Infantry Division had started
searching in the areas of Burias
Island in Masbate and in the
nearby coastal towns of Matnog,
Bulan and Donsol in Sorsogon
and Pasacao in Camarines, offi-
cials said.
A technical diver said a side-
scan sonar device was being
used to create images of large
areas of the sea floor in the vi-
cinity of the crash.
Authorities have reported a
20-foot-wide oil slick a couple
of meters from the skid marks of
the ill-fated plane on Tuesday.
Robredo was due to fly to Ma-
nila on Saturday on board a Cebu
Pacific flight, but then decided
to hire the Cessna plane that
later developed engine trouble,
missed the airport in Masbate
and crashed into the sea.
Roxas said some divers had
found on the seabed found parts
of the aircraft that could have
been carrying Robredo.
A friend of the Robredo fam-
ily on Monday told ABS-CBN
that one of Robredos daughters,
Jillian Therese, was blaming her-
self for what had happened to
her father because he had been
rushing to get home to join the
party for her for her winning in a
swimming competition.
Aika, Robredos eldest
daughter, told ABS-CBN that
the family was hopeful but
realistic about their fathers
chances of survival.
We are still hoping, but we
are realistic because he has been
missing for three days, she said.
The US Embassy in Manila
sympathized with the Robredo
family.
Our thoughts and prayers are
with the family of Secretary Ro-
bredo and the others, US Am-
bassador Harry Thomas Jr. said
in a statement.
Administrators of President
Benigno Aquino IIIs official
Facebook account said the Presi-
dent told Sec. Jesse Robredos
family to believe in miracles.
He assured them that the gov-
ernment is exerting all efforts to
find all those who are missing in
Saturdays plane crash.
Social Welfare Secretary Cora-
zon Soliman said Mr. Aquino had
promised to get to the bottom of
the crash.
Officials and employees of
the National Police Commis-
sion are holding a mass on
Wednesday for Robredo.
It is our hope that Secretary
managed to swim to safety or
was brought by fishermen to a
remote island, where communi-
cation happens to be difficult,
Napolcom vice chairman Edu-
ardo Escueta said.
Presidential spokesman Edwin
Lacierda said Malacaang would
be making an announcement on
who would be appointed officer in
charge of the Interior Department
as soon as we are authorized to
release the announcement.
We assure the public that the
normal operations of the DILG
and its attached agencies con-
tinue and are unhampered by the
ongoing rescue effort, he said.
He said the government would
also study a proposal by Senate
President Juan Ponce Enrile to
acquire official planes for Cabi-
net secretaries.
Enrile earlier said Robredo
might have been ill-advised in
taking a small propeller-drive
plane.
Mr. Aquino returned to Manila
on Tuesday after meeting with Ro-
bredos family in Naga City.
But he ordered Roxas, De-
fense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin,
Presidential Communications
Developement Secretary Ramon
Carandang, Budget Secretary
Florencio Abad, and Cavite Rep.
Jun Abaya to remain in Mas-
bate. With Sara Susanne D.
Fabunan, Ferdinand Fabella,
Diosdado Briones and Oliver
Samson
AUGUST 21, 2012 TUESDAY
A3 News
ManilaStandardToday mst.daydesk@gmail.com
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Justice hit for inaction on killings
IN BRIEF
Pilots skeleton found
two months later
11 Indonesians
rescued in Zambales
Competitive pay to keep
the best, brightest in govt
Buy SME-made goods,
DSWD and donors told
Magsaysay seeks housing units, livelihood for squatters
Command post. President Aquino and Transport Secretary Manuel Roxas II meet Butch Robredo, brother of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo
at Lasala Resort in Barangay Ibinggay, Masbate where a command post for the search-and-rescue team has been set up. DANNY PATA
RELIEF agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare
and Development or private donors will do well if they buy
goods from small-and-medium enterprises instead of prod-
ucts from other countries like China, a ranking lawmaker
said on Monday.
The idea behind this proposal is two-pronged: Promote and
support the livelihood of other Filipinos, according to Rep. Ro-
del Batocabe, vice-chairman of House committee on coopera-
tives development.
Weve been trying to encourage the DSWD to buy our own,
said Batocabe of Ako Bicol party list.
We have been practicing it in Bicol, where we buy relief
goods from enterprising Bicolanos so that we hit two birds with
one stonewe support Bicolano livelihood and also address the
needs of calamity victims, Batocabe said.
Instead of buying wholesale from places like Divisoria or
Quiapo, it is better to buy from people directly engaged in small
enterprises that manufacture the goods, he said.
For all we know, the products we buy from Divisoria would
be imported from other countries like China, Batocabe said.
In the end we would not be supporting our own industries.
Recently, he said, his group transported two truckloads of
woven mats and hard brooms from Bicol to Manila to be distrib-
uted to the ood victims of Malabon, Quezon City, Pampanga
and Caloocan.
The mats and brooms were all products of Bicolanos, Bato-
cabe stressed.
We had trouble finding another truck because we were
only expecting to fill one truck with the goods, he said.
Maricel V. Cruz
Rep. Jerry Treas of Iloilo,
chairman of the committee on
public accountability, said that
the Supreme Court took note of
the fact that there has yet to be
a law dening extra-judicial kill-
ing and enforced disappearance.
House Bill 3594, princi-
pally authored by Treas, is
pending action of the justice
panel chaired by Treas prov-
ince-mate, Iloilo Rep. Niel
Tupas, Jr.
Treas expressed concern that
the Philippines has a humiliat-
ing reputation of being one of
the most dangerous countries for
journalists.
By approving HB 3594 and
having it enacted into law, he
said, a legal presumption that
the execution or abduction of a
member of the media was com-
mitted with a political motive
shall be acknowledged as a crime
of extralegal killing and enforced
disappearance.
Unless proven otherwise,
the abduction or execution of a
journalist shall be considered as
a crime of extralegal killing or
enforced disappearance, Treas
said.
Treas cited the opinion of the
High Tribunal, which states that,
as the law now stands, extra-
judicial killings and enforced
disappearances in this jurisdic-
tion are not crimes penalized
separately from the component
criminal acts undertaken to carry
out these killings and enforced
disappearance and are now pe-
nalized under the Revised Penal
Code and special laws.
The high tribunal stated that
the simple reason is that the
Legislature has not spoken on
the matter: the determination
of what acts are criminal and
what the corresponding pen-
alty these criminal acts should
carry are matters of substan-
tive law that only the Legisla-
ture has the power to enact,
Treas added.
HB 3594 seeks to prevent the
execution and abduction of
members of media.
It noted that based on the spate
of extralegal killings and en-
forced disappearances reported
nationwide, it is obvious that
these crimes were committed be-
cause of political considerations
or motives.
Hence, a political motive
should be the gauge that would
determine whether the act com-
mitted is beyond the regular felo-
nies contained in the Revised Pe-
nal code, the bill reads.
It also notes that in September
2007, the high tribunal approved
the Rule on the Writ of Amparo,
which is a remedy available to
any person whose right to life,
liberty and security has been
violated or is threatened with
violation by an unlawful act or
omission of a public ofcial or
employee, or of a private indi-
vidual or entity.
Even with the Writ of Amparo
that covers both existing killings
and enforced disappearance or
threats thereof, it alone cannot
abate the commission of these
heinous crimes, Treas said.
The high court crafted the
said rule only as a remedial mea-
sure. A substantive law is neces-
sary in order to prosecute these
crimes, he pointed out.
By Maricel V. Cruz

A RANKING congressman on Monday
criticized the House committee on justice
for inaction on the measure, which was
supposed to protect the Filipino people
from crimes of extralegal killing and
enforced disappearance, where some of the
victims include journalists.
Still waters. The waters off Masbate are deceptively calm. DANNY PATA
AN OPPOSITION stalwart on Monday
demanded that the Aquino administration
come up with a comprehensive relocation
program for squatters to ensure that they will
not return to build shanties along waterways
that endanger their lives and contribute to the
perennial ooding in urban areas.
The government has the right idea in
clearing the waterways of illegal settlers to
eliminate the blockages that prevent ood-
waters from owing during heavy rains
but they must also be made to understand
that if they will be thrown to areas that are
inaccessible by progress, they will still re-
turn to the places where they came from,
Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay said.
Earlier, Public Works Secretary Rogelio
Singson revealed a P5-billion plan to clear
Metro Manila waterways of trash and il-
legal structures and squatters.
Singson did not say whether the clear-
ing operations will include providing live-
lihood for the informal settlers.
Magsaysay, for her part, said the gov-
ernment must be able to create sustain-
able communities, with livelihood oppor-
tunities and access to the major markets
where they will be able to work or sell
their products.
This way, we can also rehabilitate and
orient residents of these slum areas to give
them a chance to be productive members
of society, an opportunity that probably
has evaded them in the congested cities
due to strong competition in the employ-
ment market, Magsaysay said.
There were 544,609 squatter-families in
Metro Manila as of 2007, according to the
Metro Manila Development Authority.
This developed as militant legislators led
by Bayan Muna party-list Teddy Casino
called for a congressional of the policy of
some Business Process Outsourcing com-
panies requiring their employees to work
despite the torrential monsoon rains recently.
BPO workers are not waterproof. Such
unfair labor practice endangers and vio-
lates the rights of vulnerable employees of
this sector, House Resolution 2677 reads,
directing the House committee on labor
and employment to investigate BPO com-
panies that required employees to report
for work even during calamities for pos-
sible violations of Philippine labor laws.
Last Aug. 6, the rain poured nonstop
in most parts of Luzon, ooding several
cities and major thoroughfares. On Au-
gust 7, President Benigno Aquino III re-
leased Memorandum Circular 33-A sus-
pending work in all ofces in the private
sector in Metro Manila and nine other
provinces in Luzon.
Despite the weather conditions and
Aquinos memorandum, certain BPO
companies sent messages to their employ-
ees and required them to report to work,
allegedly on the basis that BPO companies
are not required to follow directives from
the government.
Business Process Association of the Phil-
ippines president Benedict Hernandez in a
statement earlier said that while employees
can skip work due to the inclement weather,
there are critical services that need to be in
operation even during disasters.
Being the fastest growing component of
the services sector employing thousands of
Filipinos, we need to investigate the work
policies of BPO companies, especially dur-
ing calamities, and see if these policies go
against the human and labor rights of their
employees, the resolution reads.
While the Aquino administration said
that all BPO companies are covered by the
memorandum released on August 7, the
resolution noted, there were still various
reports that reveal that some companies
still forced their employees to go to work,
some even without additional pay.
Only through proper investigation
could we determine if violations were in-
deed committed. Maricel V. Cruz
THE skeleton of the missing
pilot Maj. Neil Tumaneng, still
in an Air Force uniform, was
shed out by shermen from
the waters in the vicinity of
La Mongha Island off Bataan,
Capt. Aurelio Kigis, spokes-
man of the Northern Luzon
Command said on Monday.
The La Mongha Island is lo-
cated between Corregidor and
Mariveles.
Kigis said the Air Force of-
cials have positively identied
the skeletal remains as that of
Tumanengs.
Tumaneng was with 1Lt.
Micahel Arugay, his fellow
graduate from the Philippine
Military Academy (PMA),
ying an SF-260 trainer plane
on May 18 for a prociency
ight when they suddenly
nosed-dive off the coast of
Mariveles town.
The two pilots took off from
Sangley Point in Cavite and were
declared missing several minutes
after. Florante Solmerin
AUTHORITIES rescued on
Sunday 11 Indonesian nation-
als after the tugboat they were
riding encountered problems
while sailing on rough seas off
Sitio Laoag, Barangay Malo-
ma, San Felipe, Zambales.
Senior Inspector Randy
Mendoza, chief of police of
the San Felipe Municipal Po-
lice Station, said three of the
victims were rst rescued by a
sherman who informed them
about eight more who needed
to be rescued from inside the
drifting tugboat Harlina 3.
The rescued seamen were
identied as ship captain Fir-
man Ichsandy, 35; Jam Hari,
25, chief ofcer; Mr. Aseng,
25, oiler/mechanic; Mr. Jose;
Mr. Soduino, 48; Mr. Suher-
manto, 26; Mr. Agustinus
Massor, 20; Mr. Nurudin, 25;
Mr. Akram, 24; Mr. Miftahul
Huda, 27; and Mr. Sulaiman,
34. Florante Solmerin
A MEASURE seeking to pro-
mote a continuing education for
government workers who will
be provided with a competi-
tive compensation package has
been led before the House of
Representatives.
This is to prevent brilliant hu-
man resource and talented fresh
graduates from shying away from
government service, according to
House Bill 6227, authored by Ca-
marines Sur Rep. Diosdado Maca-
pagal Arroyo and former president
and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Maca-
pagal Arroyo.
The bill stresses that education
is a passport to success for every
individual, the authors said.
Our nation puts premium on
education because it gives our
people, especially the youth,
the opportunity to improve their
lives, they said.
Stressing the importance of
education, the authors explained
there is a great need that we em-
power our people and should insti-
tutionalize and strengthen an exist-
ing program for free education to
deserving government employees
both national and local.
This bill is being introduced
as a humble attempt to profes-
sionalize the government sector
further, the Arroyos said.
The bill provides the grant
of scholarships in the skills and
training level, as well in courses
leading to an academic title and
graduate school programs to de-
serving government employees.
The bill also said the program
presents an advantage for gov-
ernment as it concentrates on
core areas of studies which may
be the demand of the future.
The proposed statute provides
for short-term training grants,
baccalaureate degree grants, and
graduate school grants.
For this purpose, the Arroyos
said the existing Local Schol-
arship Program (LSP) and the
Local Scholarship Program for
Skilled Workers in Government
(LSPSWG) being undertaken
and handled by the Civil Service
Commission (CSC) shall be incor-
porated into the Tulong Aral sa
Kinabukasan program under the
proposed Act. Maricel Cruz
Opinion Adelle Chua, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com AUGUST 21, 2012 TUESDAY
A4
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III
will have a lot on his mind as he
commemorates the death anniver-
sary of his father, who was killed
within minutes of returning to Phil-
ippine soil 29 years ago.
For the past two days, the Pres-
ident has personally overseen the
search-and-rescue operation for
missing Interior and Local Gov-
ernment Secretary Jesse Robredo
and two pilots who were on board
a private plane that crashed off
the coast of Masbate province
Saturday afternoon. On his way
back to Manila, Mr. Aquino went
to the Robredos home in Naga
City to assure the secretarys wife
that everything was being done to
find her husband.
Robredo, a longtime mayor of
this city prior to his stint with the na-
tional government, is one of the few
members of the Aquino administra-
tion who has refused to trumpet his
achievements and hog the headlines
in self-promotion. It is this humility
and diligence that have earned for
him the support and sympathy of an
entire nation.
Mr. Aquino must be realizing
how he should have surrounded
himself with more people like Ro-
bredo instead of those openly sali-
vating for plum posts. Secretary
Leila de Lima, for instance, has
demeaned her ofceand exposed
her characterby throwing a t
after being disqualied from the
search for the next chief justice of
the Supreme Court. De Lima had
the stomach to accuse the Integrat-
ed Bar of the Philippines, the Judi-
cial and Bar Council, and the high
court itself of conspiring to prevent
her from the running.
Unfortunately, instead of keeping
his opinion to himself, Mr. Aquino
criticized the list as unfair in obvi-
ous reference to De Lima. This even
as he said he hac no choice but to
name the next top jurist from among
the eight picked by the JBC. Mr.
Aquino is expected to announce his
choice on or before Monday.
Whoever the next chief justice
will be will also be tested imme-
diately upon assuming ofce. For
decades, the Judiciary has suffered
perceptions of ineptitude and cor-
ruption. It was also recently tested
with the impeachment and eventu-
al ouster of its former head, Renato
Corona. The new top judge must
show what independence actual-
ly means, and possess management
skills besides.
President Aquino will likely
claim, before his fathers grave,
that he has been doing his best for
the past two years even though be-
coming President was not in his
plan in the rst place.
It is up to him to muster all the
resources of government to nd a
missing secretary, but Mr. Aquino
must not forget he is expected to
muster all resources anyway to com-
bat all the other problems plaguing
the country at the same timere-
forming the penal system, strength-
ening law enforcement, pushing key
legislation, enabling people to deal
with disaster, and even tempering
the delivery of justice with compas-
sion when it comes to dealing with
his ailing predecessor.
All these put Mr. Aquino to test.
He cannot choose only to devote
himself full time to others while
abandoning the rest. The ability
to stay in controlwhether one is
physically present or notis what
denes a leader. His father would
have agreed.
Tests of character
EDITORIAL
B.S. Aquino, M.D.
I AM, frankly, quite mystied by the
refusal of this administration to al-
low former President Arroyo to seek
medical treatment abroad. Consider
the facts so far:
Shes already had three operations
in the Philippines, the second one last-
ing eight hours, the third one lasting
14 hours. The surgeons have operated
through the front of her neck as well
as the back. Were talking here about
a 65-year-old grandmother who stands
under ve feet and now weighs less than
a hundred pounds. How many more un-
successful operations must she have
before the administration admits that
the kind of care she needs is simply not
available here?
The doctor at Makati Med whos
been issuing her medical bulletins, Dr.
Bobby Anastacio, is not just a cardiolo-
gist. He originated the Anastacio pro-
tocol, a software-based protocol which
made possible the crystal-clear CT scan
plates that we saw on TV. Hes also a
former TOYM awardee. How much
more independence and expertise does
the Palace want? Or is their denition of
independence the same one theyve
been using to browbeat the Judiciary
on behalf of their favored candidate for
Chief Justice?
One Leo Olarte, an orthopedic sur-
geon cum lawyer and vice president
of the Philippine Medical Association,
has opinedpurely from what he saw
on TV like the rest of usthat Mrs Ar-
royo can be xed with a simple three-
hour operation. By the way, this is the
same guy who raised a fuss when the
former Chief Justice begged to leave the
impeachment hearings because of his
medical condition. Do Olartes views
represent the rest of his noble profes-
sion who might care more about patient
rights and welfare, or who might be less
aficted by whatever brand of politics
hes espousing?
It doesnt make sense at all. Mrs Ar-
royos condition wont go away just
because you ignore it. As and when
it worsens over time, more and more
peoplehere and abroadwill start to
sit up and take notice. And should she
in fact experience sudden death, the
blame will lie squarelyand onlywith
a President who seems psychologically
incapable of empathy. He will have to
answer for it--if not in this world, then
in the next one where his parents await
his accounting.
* * *
On the other hand, its possible that
readers might be concerned about the
plunder case thats been leveled against
Mrs. Arroyo and now serves as the proxi-
mate excuse to prevent her from leaving
the country. This case alleges her plun-
derous participation in the misuse of
over P350-mMillion of condential intel-
ligence funds of the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Ofce from 2008-2010.
In response, Mrs. Arroyos lawyers
contend that the charges are grounded,
not on established facts and evidence on
record, but on mere presumptions, sus-
picions and conjectures which are insuf-
cient to pierce the shield of the con-
stitutional presumption of innocence in
favor of GMA and the other accused.
Consider the following:
The Ofce of the Ombudsman it-
self admits that Mrs Arroyos participa-
tion was limited to approving the addi-
tional CIF [through a marginal notation
of OK], an act that it agrees is not ir-
regular per se. Mrs Arroyo was simply
performing her ofcial function under
LOI No. 1282, which requires her to ap-
prove the CIF of all government owned
and controlled corporations-GOCCs,
including the PCSO.
Such Presidential approval by it-
self cannot be construed as misuse,
sinceagain by the Ombudsmans own
admissionthe approval still has to
pass through the PCSO board for con-
rmation, and thence through PCSO
management for release, disbursement,
use, and liquidation.
No evidence has been offered to
show that Mrs Arroyo received even a
single cent of the CIF funds over the
subsequent three-year period, nor that
she intervened in any way in the dis-
bursement and use of those funds.
All the disbursements were audited
by COA and found to be compliant with
COA Circular 2003-002. [As a reward
for their pains, the poor chairman of
COA, Reynaldo Villar, together with ca-
reer auditor Nilda Plaras, were included
in the charge sheet as part of the alleged
conspiracy!]
The Supreme Court has previously
ruled [in Arias v. Sandiganbayan] that
there should be facts other than mere
signature or approval appearing on a
document, in order to sustain a conspira-
cy charge. Likewise, in Magsuci v. San-
diganbayan, the High Court also ruled
that there can be no conspiracy charge
if the ofcial was simply performing his
duties without any foreknowledge of
irregularity. The Supreme Court recog-
nized, given the enormity of their work,
that (a)ll heads of ofces have to rely
to a reasonable extent on their subordi-
nates and on the good faith of those who
prepare documents.
So there you have it. Do the facts of
this case warrant a de facto death sentence
on Mrs Arroyo? (Note that plunder may
be non-bailable, but it is still not a capital
offense punishable by death.) Or are we
simply bereft of the profound medical in-
sights that may in fact be available to one
BS Aquino, MD?
gbolivar1952@gmail.com
If you happen
to be the enemy,
there is no
sympathy left
over for you from
Aquino.
Sympathy
PRESIDENT Noynoy Aquino has
made it perfectly clear that he cares
about his missing interior secretary,
Jesse Robredo. And while it is doubt-
ful that the Presidents presence in
Masbate, where Robredos plane
crashed last week, would have im-
proved the chances of the Cabinet
secretarys survival, Aquino has at
the very least made it known that Ro-
bredo is important enough to him that
the President himself has to be there
to oversee the rescue operations.
On the other hand, Aquino could
also make a real difference in the
life of his predecessor, former Presi-
dent Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, by
allowing her to go abroad for proper
medical care if he
truly wanted to.
Unfortunately for
Arroyo, Aquino
couldnt care less
if the person he re-
placed in Malaca-
ang Palace lives
or dies, which is
why not a lot of
people are expect-
ing the President
to intervene on
behalf of the ailing
congresswoman
from Pampanga.
But perhaps it
is incorrect to say that Aquino doesnt
care what Arroyo does or what hap-
pens to her. As he has made clear
through his various spokesmen and
political allies, Aquino has long ago
decided that he wants Arroyo here
preferably in jail.
Last week, Arroyos doctors de-
clared that the former President would
require surgical procedures that are
only available in Austria. They said
that Arroyos deteriorating health
could dramatically worsen if she is
not allowed to go abroad, something
that only the courts and Malacaang
can allow her to do.
It is supremely ironic that Aquino
cannot rise above the petty and vin-
dictive politics when his father ben-
eted from the magnanimity of his
own political nemesis in the past. For-
mer Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. was
allowed by then President Ferdinand
Marcos to seek treatment for his heart
ailment in the US, despite the fact that
a court had already convicted the cur-
rent Presidents father of murder and
other high crimes.
Of course, the elder Aquino was
convicted by a kangaroo court un-
der an authoritarian regime. But
that still doesnt take anything away
from the fact that Marcos let Ninoy
leave when the latter asked him to,
obviously because Marcos was not
as heartless as Aquino and the po-
litical opposition at the time would
have us all believe.
On the other hand, Arroyo has
not even been convicted by any
court yet, despite the prevailing be-
lief amongst Aquinos supporters
encouraged by the pro-palace media
that she is already t to be hanged
tomorrow for her alleged crimes.
And now that she wants to seek
medical treatment abroad, Aquino
cannot be as magnanimous as the
man who vanquished his father and
put him in jail.
So strong is the belief in Malaca-
ang that Arroyo should never be al-
lowed to leave the country (or even
the connes of a jail cell) that no one
seems to even consider the possibility
that her health may have truly dete-
riorated to the point where immediate
medical attention abroad is required.
And even the doctors who argue that
Arroyo should be allowed to leave
are looked upon with skepticism that
does not extend to actually nding out
what the state of her health truly is.
And this is why Aquinos outward
show of sympathy for Robredo and
his family leaves me cold. To Noynoy,
there is no cost too high, no effort too
daunting, if it means making a differ-
ence in the life of a political ally like
his missing Cabi-
net secretary.
But if you hap-
pen to be the en-
emy, there is no
sympathy left
over for you from
Aquino. Never
mind if Aquino
and his own family
had beneted from
similar sympathy
before.
* * *
It is becoming
more and more
apparent with
each passing day that Interior Secre-
tary Jesse Robredo did not survive the
crash of the plane he was in off the
coast of Masbate province. And if the
Aquino administration loses Robredo,
it will have lost one of the few truly
respected and capable members of this
governments largely underwhelming
Cabinet.
Robredo was never part of Presi-
dent Noynoy Aquinos charmed inner
circle but his track record, integrity
and work ethic made him survive the
repeated attacks on his authority by
other people who wanted his job for
themselves. It must have been dif-
cult for Robredo to go to work each
day knowing that some of the heaviest
hitters in and out of the administration
lusted for his position, but he never
publicly expressed any frustration
about his beleaguered situation.
None of the people who wanted
to replace Robredo had his sterling
track record in school, the private
sector and in local governance.
They could only see how being
secretary of interior and local gov-
ernment immediately made one a
political demigod, with supervision
and control over all governors, may-
ors and other local executives in the
country, and the de facto boss of the
150,000-member national police.
And now, with Robredo gone, this
position will probably lled by some-
one of a more self-serving, larcenous
and power-hungry bent. No wonder
Aquino seems truly concerned that
Robredo must be found alive: if the
wrong person becomes DILG secre-
tary, he might as well hand over his
government to the political operators,
thieves and gambling lords who have
always wanted the job.
ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO Publisher
RAMONCHITO L. TOMELDAN Managing Editor
CHIN WONG/ RAY S. EANO Associate Editors
JOEL P. PALACIOS News Editor
ROGELIO C. SALAZAR President & CEO
MEMBER
Philippine Press Institute
The National Association
of Philippine Newspapers PPI
can be accessed at:
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AUGUST 21, 2012 TUESDAY
A5 Opinion Adelle Chua, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III says
that he is not satised with the names
submitted to him from which he would
choose the next chief justice of the
Supreme Court.
Is he insulting the Judicial and Bar
Council as well as the other nominees
who made it to the short list?
This is because Justice Secretary
Leila de Lima, who has displayed her
loyalty to him, was excluded for facing
two disbarment cases led against
her before the
Integrated Bar of
the Philippines.
The President
still doesnt get
it, does he? He
should in fact be
thankful that De
Lima was not on
that list. Otherwise,
his critics would be
having a eld day.
Mr. Aquino now
has no choice but to
name the next chief
justice from among
the eight names
submitted to him. He is not happy?
Does that mean that whomever he
names might face another impeachment
trial?
***
The escape (or kidnapping, if you
believe that story) of convicted killer
Rolito Go and another killer-rapist from
the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa
is just the tip of the iceberg. It does not
quite show the real picture of what is
happening at the national penitentiary.
Many horror stories have been
going aroundand they seem to defy
the imagination. For example, convicts
in both the maximum and minimum
security compounds are said to be
able to go out of prison as they please.
Remember the case of former Batangas
Gov. Antonio Leviste?
And then there is the fact that
high-prole inmates are able to live
luxuriously though detained, having
their own air-conditioned huts inside
the prison compound.
I had a talk with former prisons
director Dionisio Santiago who told me
that anomalies and irregularities abound
at the national penitentiary. Among
the activities are drug-trafcking,
prostitution and money lending. Former
and current employees are running an
underground economy inside the prison
facility, in connivance with high prole
and inuential convicts. He calls this
group The Family.
There are also anomalies in the
procurement of food and other
equipment.
And I thought these things happen
only in the movies!
During his term, Santiago reported
all these to the Department of Justice.
He did not get any support.
And this is not isolated. This is
happening in all penal colonies all over
the country, Santiago said, referring
to other colonies in Palawan, Davao,
Leyte, Mindoro and Zamboanga.
It will take a Herculean effort
the clean up the system. If Justice
Secretary Leila de Lima is bent in
cleaning up the prison system, she
should start now. She better do this
instead of complaining about her
disqualication from the search for the
next chief justice of the Supreme Court.
Foremost, there is need to decongest
the New Bilibid, which has more than
2,000 inmates in a facility good for
only 1,200. This contributes to the
horror stories we are getting.
During the Ramos administration,
there was a plan initiated by then-
Nueva Ecija Rep. Rene Diaz to relocate
Bilibid to the 33,000-hectare Fort
Magsaysay.
Unfortunately,
the plan was
scuttled by then-
Governor Tomas
Joson, who was on
the opposite side
of the political
fence as Diaz. The
same plan is now
getting the backing
of Governor
Aurelio Umali. If
President Aquino
has political will,
he will start the
relocation now.
The plan includes privatizing
Bilibid. Then, out of the proceeds,
maximum and minimum security
compounds in Laur, Nueva Ecija would
be built. Minimum security inmates
will also be involved in agriculture and
reforestation activities.
Prisons are supposed to rehabilitate
criminals, not make them more
hardened than they are.
***
The rate at which Transportation
and Communication Secretary
Manuel Roxas II is protecting
domestic and foreign airlines is
leading me to ask: Whom are Roxas
working for? Roxas has denounced
the protest of government employees
from the Bureau of Customs, Bureau
of Immigration and Bureau of
Quarantine over the suspension of
their overtime pay for their work at
the airport.
Because of the protests, Roxas and
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima
have decided to have, instead, three
shifts at the airport, doing away with
overtime.
Do Roxas and Purisima know what
that means? And do they know that
they are in deance of a Supreme Court
decision that has directed the airlines to
pay for overtime?
***
I was taken aback when I learned that
Philippine National Oil Co. President
Antonio Cailao is included in a plunder
charge before the Ombudsman. This is
in connection with a supposed irregular
importation of over $5.36 million
worth of Indonesian coal.
I cannot believe Cailao would ever
get involved in such an anomaly. He
worked hard to build his reputation
over the years. I believe some people
just want his job or are plainly harassing
him.
Horror stories
at the penitentiary
Let the sunshine in
IF SOLAR energy is held as the poster
child of the renewable energy initiative,
it has also attracted criticisms. As I
have earlier explained in this energy
series, the rst criticism is the proposed
cost-per-kilowatt-hour Feed-in-Tariff
rate of solar energy, which the Energy
Regulatory Commission has now
pegged at P9.68 (lowered from the last-
proposed P14.65), is perceived to be
higher than the rates Filipino consumers
pay for power.
That perception already exposes
aws in that argument against solar
production. Just to recap: consumers
dont pay the FiT outright, the rate they
pay is computed based on production
and distribution costs plus the consumer
base served; depending on the production
mix each distributor purchases, the
solar-FiT rate averages out with inputs
from lower-rate technologies like fossil
fuels into the nal cost consumers pay;
and solar-FiT, or the investments for
solar power infrastructure, is living
with a known xed cost over time,
compared to gambling with the volatile
variable, historically upward-trending
cost of fossil fuels. Coupled with the
other benets of solar energy, the scales
should be tipped towards letting the sun
shine on Philippine energy policy.
The immediately-appreciable
benets of solarzero emissions,
essentially free (though intermittent)
fuel supplyare well-understood and
need not be repeated. We focus instead
on the Philippines surprising suitability
for solar power generation.
Even considering the heavy rain
which have all but washed out Luzon the
rst two weeks of August, on average
the Philippines gets enough sunlight to
provide around 4.5-5.5 kWh per square
meter per day, according to the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory. One of
the benets of the tropics, compared
to latitudes closer to the poles, is the
longer duration of sunlight, both within
the day and across the year, boding well
for sustained solar energy production.
The other key advantage of the
Philippines is its specialization in
electronics, and its potential for the
manufacture of photovoltaic (PV)
cells, the basic unit of solar electricity.
In fact, we are well-poised to be a
power player in solar power, argued a
2008 Bloomberg Businessweek article,
considering that the country hosts the
manufacturing plants for SunPower and
Solaria, a well-educated and exible
engineering workforce, and a strong
electronics backgroundfor solar cell
export. Both boasted of the ingenuity
of its Filipino engineers in making PV
cells more efcient and affordable to
manufacture. All thats needed, the
article continues, is to encourage a
local market for PV cells, for domestic
consumers to purchase solar energy.
PV cells lend themselves to easy
deployability and distribution. On the
industrial scale, Deutsche Gesellschaft
fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit
GmbH, Renewable Energy Developers
Center, and WWF Philippines argue
that solar plants are faster to throw
up than their fossil fuel equivalents: a
1-MW plant within six weeks, or an
Italian 70-MW affair in nine months,
compared to at least three years for a
coal plant. At the user end, PV cells can
be quickly and easily set up in a day
or two, through the use of increasingly
affordable home/rooftop solar energy
kits, or integrated into the architecture
of new and existing buildings in urban
areas. Already this series had touched
on solars deployment to power isolated
and detached communities. It is not too
labor or investment-intensive, apart
from the costs of PV cells themselves
(and again, increasing use generally
decreases costs), to embed solar energy
onto the already-existing Philippine
electrical infrastructure.
On that note, further governance
incentives to mainstream solar energy can
ensure its place in the Philippines energy
agenda. Allies as politically diverse as
Bayan Munas Rep. Teddy Casio and
Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and
Manuel Villar are pushing solar in their
respective legislative agendas, to extend
nancial incentives and loan assistance
from government institutions to promote
homeowner and end-user solar energy.
Right now, we as a country are too familiar
and comfortable with fossil fuel energy,
even as we bemoan oil and coal prices;
perhaps these legislative initiatives, if
passed, will be the proverbial kick out
of the nest for a edgling Filipino solar
market.
In deance of its critics, solar energy
is not the cost-burden, exotic, before-
its-time bugaboo that should be warily
approached. Rather, solar energy is
surprisingly exible, readily deployable,
can be made affordable, a perfect t for
the Philippinesif we act now. Even the
savings alone from the reduced need to
import oil and coal to fuel power plants
(at the producer level), or end-user solar
energy production reducing household
energy budgets, and the need to purchase
electricity from the grid, justies taking
that rst step towards sunlight. Yet that
rst step, to reiterate a theme of this series,
can radically transform the energy sector
and even Filipino lives.
Let solar light the way for the
Philippines renewable energy agenda,
and its future.
Facebook Page: Dean Tony La Vina
Twitter: tonylavs
EMIL
P. JURADO
TO THE POINT
DEAN TONY
LA VIA
EAGLE EYES
By Christina Rexrode
NEW YORKIts not just in your
head. Mondays really are the worst.
Monday is the only day the stock
market is more likely to fall than to rise.
The Dow Jones industrial average has
been down 10 of the past 11 Mondays.
And the two worst days in market history
are both known as Black Monday.
Theres no single reason why
Mondays are so blue. Then again,
theres no single reason the market rises
or falls on any given day, driven as it is
by the whims of traders placing millions
of individual buy and sell orders.
Some anecdotal evidence comes to
mind: Companies are prone to release
bad news on Friday nights, when fewer
people are paying attention. Monday is
the rst day investors can react.
And when companies collapse, they
often do it late Sunday or early Monday,
after spending a last weekend trying to
stay aoat. See Wachovia, Bear Stearns
and, most famously, Lehman Brothers
investment bank, on Sept. 15, 2008.
Maybe people are just grumpier.
They are at least more anxious: The
so-called Vix, a gauge of investor fear,
tends to go up on Mondays, notes Ryan
Detrick, senior technical strategist for
Schaeffers Investment Research in
Cincinnati.
The Vix has risen on two-thirds of
this years Mondays. On Tuesdays, the
second-most-anxious day, the Vix was
up just 58 percent of the time.
Or maybe its a ukeanother
pattern people latch on to make the
market seem more understandable,
same as the stories that hemlines go
up in bull markets, or that stocks rise
if a team from the NFC wins the Super
Bowl.
Burton Malkiel wrote about those
last two theories in his nance classic,
A Random Walk Down Wall Street.
He stuck them in a section called A
Gaggle of Other Technical Theories to
Help You Lose Money.
He found the blue Monday
phenomenon equally underwhelming.
Far from dependable, he says, and
most likely due to chance.
Still, there is a pattern.
Howard Silverblatt, senior index
analyst for S&P Dow Jones Indices,
crunched numbers for the Standard &
Poors 500 stock index back to 1928
and found that melancholy Mondays are
a long tradition.
Over the past 84 years, the S&P has
declined on 52 percent of the Mondays,
Silverblatt says. Same goes for the Dow,
going back to 1900. On each of the other
four days, the market is more likely to
rise than fall.
The S&P averages a decline of 0.12
percent on Mondays over history. On
each of the other four days, the market
averages a gain. (The best is Wednesday,
averaging an increase of 0.08 percent.)
This year follows the pattern: For
both the S&P and the Dow, Monday is
the only day to average a loss.
Notably horrible was Monday,
June 11, when the Dow fell 142 points
because of worries about Spanish debt.
Almost as bad were June 25, also
capsized by worries about Spain, and
April 9, after an anemic jobs report.
Maybe over the weekend, thats
when reality sets in, says Tim
McCandless, senior stock analyst at
Bel Air Investment Advisors in Los
Angeles.
Three of the ve worst days in the
history of the S&P 500 were Mondays,
including two days known as Black
Monday: Oct. 19, 1987, when stocks
plunged more than 20 percent, and Oct.
28, 1929, which helped set off the Great
Depression.
So pity the poor Monday. Even pop
culture is stacked against it. The Mamas
& the Papas sang that every other day
of the week is ne. Nobody names a
restaurant T.G.I. Mondays. The Titanic
sank on a Monday, for crying out loud.
It wasnt always like this, with Mondays
representing the dreaded beginning of the
workweek in Western countries. Monday
probably got its bad name when the
Roman emperor Constantine invented the
weekend, as David Ewing Duncan, author
of a book on the history of the calendar, is
fond of saying.
Constantine made Sunday a rest
day, an attempt to please both sun-
worshippers, who were already
observing it, Duncan says, and
Christians, who Constantine knew could
be persuaded because they believed in
the resurrection of Christ on a Sunday.
So Monday, named for the moon,
became the day for going back to work.
Which, in some ways, is only tting.
Theres always been some mystery
around the moon, Duncan says. Much
like how the stock market works on
Mondays. AP
Are Mondays the worst?
BONG C.
AUSTERO
ARE WE THERE YET?
Bullying the bully
AS A human resource management
professional and immediate past
president of the largest professional
association of HR professionals in the
country, I have been asked many times in
the last few days variations of the same
question: What does the community of
HR professionals in the country intend
to do with Robert Blair Carabuena? The
question has been made on account of
the fact that Carabuena is reported to be
a human resources manager of Philip
Morris.
I dont mind being asked for my
opinion about the case; heck, I dish out
opinions in this space twice a week. But
I do nd it a bit disconcerting when the
person asking has obviously formed a
conclusion about the extreme kind of
punishment that needs to be meted out
to Carabuena and expects everyone else
to join in a public lynching.
I can understand the outrage. I must
admit that I was also overcome with
anger when I saw that video showing
Carabuena in a t of rage. There are
social factors in the situation that make
us fully empathize with Metro Manila
Development Authority trafc enforcer
Saturnino Fabros. Carabuena was
driving a Volvo, which automatically
added a class dimension to the case.
Based on reports, he violated trafc
rules by beating a red light, which
painted him as a member of the ruling
elite who aunted rules with impunity.
His physical build, and that of his
brother who was with him when he
was accosting Fabros, conveyed the
impression of unwarranted use of
physical dominance. The fact that
Fabros showed humility throughout
the exchange and did not raise his
voice or asserted his authority as a duly
authorized trafc enforcer, and the fact
that reports indicated that Carabuena
was an alumnus of the Ateneo de Manila
University, further damned him as an
oppressor of the lowly.
Lets be clear about one thing. Yes,
Carabuenas behavior as shown in that
video cannot be justied. There is no
provocation that merits that kind of
behavior. What he did to Fabros was
inexcusable. He put his company, his
family, and the HR profession in a very
bad light.
Carabuena deserves to be made
accountable for his behavior. For this
reason, Fabros with the help of the
MMDA has led a case against him
in the proper courts. Philip Morris
should also initiate administrative
proceedings against Carabuena. The
company has already suspended him
and has issued a statement saying in
effect that they are awaiting more
developments in the case. I personally
think that the video that has gone viral
provides more than enough bases
for the company to proceed with
administrative proceedings.
But Carabuena deserves his day in
court. He must be afforded due process
not just because it is his right but also
because not doing so would make all
of us guilty of the same offense that he
is being accused of. He acted rashly
and arrogantly without regard for the
implications of his actions, the feelings
of others, or consideration of the law.
That doesnt give us the right to do the
same.
There is a part of me that is heartened
by the quick reaction against Carabuenas
behavior particularly among netizens.
Without the massive outpouring of
condemnation, the case would not
have merited the kind of attention it is
getting. But there is also a part of me
that worries about the unabated and
unbridled bullying that many have
resorted to. There are people who make
fun of his physical size calling him all
kinds of unsavory names. Theres even
a call to harm him physically. Some
people who should really know better
have initiated calls for him to be jailed,
unilaterally red from work, banished
from the country, etc. Come on, we
are a country of laws, lets not resort to
barbaric measures. This is why I also
got alarmed when the bright boys in the
Palace seemed to have issued a blanket
approval of the cyberbullying that has
happened in social networking sites.
Lets teach Carabuena a lesson, but
lets not drag everyone else into the fray.
Lets spare his family, his company,
his alma mater, and everyone else that
is associated with him by afnity. His
actions were his own, and not necessarily
reective of everyone else associated
with him.
Actually, Carabuena should
step up and be man enough to own
responsibility for his actions and face
the consequences. He should spare
his company and the HR profession by
resigning voluntarily. He should make
amends by issuing a public apology
and reaching out to Fabros. He should
atone for his transgression and accept
whatever punishment comes his way
including even voluntarily accepting
revocation of his drivers license. Only
then can he really redeem himself before
the bar of public opinion.
I thought
these things
happened only in
the movies.
News
ManilaStandardToday
mst.daydesk@gmail.com AUGUST 21, 2012 TUESDAY
A6
Biazon
focuses
on paper
revenues

IN BRIEF
Taguig
had funds
for fuel
David defends Immigration ofcers
Poe monument to rise on Roxas Blvd
Skl Makati salutes tourism notables
Still a good day. Metro Manilans mill at the promenade of the Mall of Asia in Pasay City even as two weather disturbances threatened to
again dump monsoon rain on Luzon on Monday. EY ACASIO
By Joel E. Zurbano
FACED with a revenue shortfall equivalent
to an entire months worth of collections,
Customs Commissioner Rozzano Runo
Biazon now wants to credit non-cash items,
specically imaginary duties from govern-
ment agencies, as part of his collections so
that he could meet his target.
The Customs chief explained
that the non-cash items, called
tax expenditure fund, is an ac-
count to which duty payments
from government agencies are
credited, in lieu of actual cash,
for their importations.
As much as possible, I want
(TEF collections) to be updated
so the BoC could reect its true
monthly collections, said Bi-
azon, who hopes to collect some
P3 billion from the National
Food Authority for their impor-
tation from January to July.
He said the agency managed
to collect only P688 million in
non-cash items although TEF
records showed that the cus-
toms bureau has P4.55 billion
to its credit some for rst seven
months of the year.
Aside from the NFAs rice
importations, these imaginary
duty payments also covered
the Department of Nation-
al Defenses importation of
weapons and the equipment
importations of the Department
of Transportation and Commu-
nications and Department of
Public Works and Highways.
Customs ofcials said up-
dating the TEF account would
reduce the agencys collection
shortfall which already reached
P31.36 billion in July, the equiv-
alent of more than a months real
cash collection.
The agency collected
P167.25 billion from January
to July as against its target of
P198.61 billion.
For the month of July, only
the ports of Clark and Davao
were able to meet their collec-
tion targets out the 17 collection
districts. All of the collection
were in the form of real cash and
no revenue came from the TEF.
Ofcials said the practise
of utilizing the TEF account
for reportorial purposes was
a frequent practise by past ad-
ministrators, particularly when
they fail to meet their collec-
tion targets. But former Cus-
toms commissioner Angelito
Alvarez discouraged the prac-
tise because he believed the
agency should focus on real
cash collections.
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
MANILA Mayor Alfredo S. Lim an-
nounced on Monday that he will unveil
a memorial monument to the late actor
and National Artist Fernando Poe Jr. at
the Plaza Ferguson across the United
States Embassy on Roxas Boulevard in
Manila on December 14, the death an-
niversary of the defeated presidential
candidate.
The people will continue to remem-
ber Poe not as a presidential candidate
but for the kind of life he led, which
continues to inspire his fans that are still
there to show their support for him, Lim
said during a memorial service at the
Manila North Cemetary for the national
artists 73rd birth anniversary.
The memorial service, ofciated by
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iiguez Jr.,
was attended by relatives, friends and
supporters, led by Lim and Poes daugh-
ter Grace Poe-Llamanzares, chairwoman
of the Movie and Television Review and
Classication Board.
Poe ran for president in 2004, but
was defeated by former President Glo-
ria Arroyo. Poe contested the result of
the election which eventually became
the subject of an election sabotage case
against the former president at the Pasay
City Regional Trial Court.
Arroyo eventually tried to mend fenc-
es upon Poes death in 2004 by issuing
a presidential proclamation declaring the
former actor a national artists, but the
Poe family declined the award.
Last July 12, however, President
Aquino signed Proclamation No. 435
posthumously confering the Order of
National Artists on the late action king.
His widow, actress Susan Roces, ac-
cepted the award from the President last
July 16.
Aside from his blockbuster movies,
Poe was also instrumental in establish-
ing the Movie Workers Welfare Fund
(Mowelfund) along with the late com-
edy king Dolphy and former President
Joseph Estrada.
In memoriam. Manila
Mayor Alfredo S. Lim of-
cers candles at the grave
of action star and National
Artist Fernando Poe Jr. dur-
ing the actors 73rd birth
anniversary at the Manila
North Cemetery. The memo-
rial service was presided by
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias
Yiquez and attended by
Poes daughter, MTRCB
chairwoman Grace Poe
Llamanzares.
By Eric B. Apolonio
AFTER Transportation Secre-
tary Mar Roxas accused Cus-
toms, immigation and quarantine
(CIQ) personnel of mulcting the
airlines, Immigration Commis-
sioner Ricardo David Jr. came
to the CIQ ofcers defense
and said hard-working public
servants should get the benets
mandated by the law.
David made the remarks af-
ter he made a surprise inspec-
tion of the immigration area at
the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport Terminal 1 on Monday
morning to make sure there
was no work slowdown amid a
silent protest on the suspension
of their legal benets.
All of our employees at the
airport terminals are working
hard and are professionals as
immigration ofcers. They are
all here even during holidays,
David said. Our people are do-
ing their job to the country well
beyond their time, so they should
be given what is due to them.
Immigration ofcers are
like soldiers and policemen who
do not enjoy holidays and time
for themselves. Despite rain or
ood, they are always at their
posts, in different parts of the
Philippines, to serve the public,
David added.
David, who arrived around 9
a.m., met with Immigration of-
cials and personally inspected
immigration procedures at both
departure and arrival areas to en-
sure that international criminals,
particularly terrorists, do not slip
in or out of the country.
The immigration commis-
sioner was earlier criticized
for passenger congestion at the
NAIA, so he sought the employ-
ment of 100 immigration ofcers
to meet the personnel shortage.
For 2012, David said they
have already deployed 49 new
immigration ofcers at NAIA
who underwent the rigid train-
ing course at the Philippine Im-
migration Academy, but they
are still short of ofcers because
many of them were re-assigned
to other international airports
and border crossing stations.
David said he has been im-
migration commissioner for over
a year and has seen the integrity
of most immigration ofcers,
although 18 personnel at the Di-
osdado Macapagal International
Airport were dismissed last year
after they were implicated in hu-
man trafcking by another im-
migration ofcer.
I can say that most immigra-
tion ofcers are very competent
and hardworking, said David,
adding that he has spoken with
Secretary Leila De Lima regard-
ing the overtime pay and the
government is trying very hard
to solve the issue.
THREE captains of industry, an airline
chief executive and the countrys tour-
ism czar topbill this years Tourism Per-
sonality Awardees which is awarded by
the Skl International Makati on Sept. 5
at the New World Hotel in Makati City.
Jaime Bautista, chairman of the
awards committee, said the three recipi-
ents of the New Captain of the Tourism
Industry Personality of the Year Awards
are Dr. Manuel V. Pangilinan, Dr. An-
drew L. Tan and Henry Sy Jr.
The Airline Personality of the Year
honor will go to Ramon Ang, president
of Philippine Airlines, while the Govern-
ment Personality of the Year Award will
be conferred on Tourism Secretary Ra-
mon Jimenez, Bautista added.
The Media Personality of the Year
award is being bestowed on Philippine
Star president Miguel Belmonte.
The other awardees are Ilocos Norte
Gov. Imee Marcos, Local Government
Personality of the Year; New World Hotel
General Manager Farid Schoucair, Hotel
Personality of the Year; National Asso-
ciation of Independent Travel Agencies
Cebu chapter President Jennifer Franco,
Travel & Tour Operator Personality of
the Year; and Boracay Regency Chair-
man and President Henry Chusuey, Re-
sort Personality of the Year.
New Members to be inducted are
Jacqueline Tan, managing director and
owner of Sheridan Beach Resort & Spa
and other Sheridan group of companies,
and president of Mutya ng Pilipinas Inc.;
Christine Dayrit, travel columnist, own-
er of Miladay Jewels Inc. and chairman
of the Cinema Evaluation Board of the
Film Devt Council of the Philippines;
Karl Chusuey, owner and vice president
of Marketing of Henann Resorts Group
and Tricia Sarabia, owner and general
manager of Boracay Tropics and Hotel
Celeste.
Skl International Makati, established
in 1981, is one of the Philippine chapters
of Skal, an international association of
travel and tourism professionals promot-
ing global tourism and friendship.
Garbage disinfection set
THE Department of Health has or-
dered the disinfection of uncollected
garbage still lying on streets around
Metro Manila.
We will not wait for an outbreak
of various illnesses like u, fever,
diarrhea, cholera and skin problems
to happen thats is why sanitation
and disinfection teams were already
dispatched around specic areas to
disinfect the mounds of garbage that
are accumulating, said DOH Cen-
ter for Health Development, Nation-
al Capital Region Director Eduardo
Janairo.
He said the recent monsoon has
left huge amounts of trash, junks and
litters lying around streets which
pose a threat to public health and the
environment.
Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona
directed the disinfection and sanita-
tion activity to prevent any possible
outbreak of diseases that can be
brought about by harmful microor-
ganisms and diseases from garbage
and human waste.
Macon Ramos-Araneta
Alert vs fake drug agents
THE Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency on Monday warned the pub-
lic against criminals masquerading
as PDEA ofcials recruiting anti-
drug agents.
PDEA chief Jose Gutierrez Jr. is-
sued the warning following the arrest
of Jocelyn Mendoza-Domingo, 49, a
resident of No. 9 Diamond Street,
Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City,
for alleged swindling estafa.
The suspect, according to Guti-
errez, introduced herself as a cer-
tain Lieutenant Colonel Josephine
Mendoza of PDEA and fraudulent-
ly enlisted people to become roving
PDEA agents for a P1,560 PDEA
recruitment and processing fee.
Mendoza-Domingo was arrested
in an entrapment operation conduct-
ed Sta. Maria policemen in Bulacan,
based on the complaint of a trafc
enforcer named Salvador Dela Cruz.
Jonathan Fernandez
By Rio N. Araja
THE Metro Manila Develop-
ment Authority had allocated
funds for a pump station in
Taguig City, but an ofcial was
remiss in his job so he wasnt
able to take delivery of the die-
sel fuel the pumps needed to
prevent the ood that inundat-
ed the city.
Chairman Francis Tolen-
tino blamed Baltazar Melgar,
former head of the agencys
Flood Control Management
Ofce, for not ensuring that
the pumping stations in Taguig
and Cubao, Quezon City were
operational before the oods
hit these areas.
I approved his request as
early as June for a stock of diesel
until September. Why blame me
for his negligence? Tolentino
said shortly after Senator Allan
Peter Cayetano asked him to ex-
plain why there was no fuel for
the pumps in Taguig.
But Tolentino said Melgar
was lax to the point of incom-
petency and that was why he
was sacked and replaced by
Maxima Quiambao, an engi-
neer and head of the MMDAs
Operations and Maintenance
Division 1.
Tolentino also hit Melgar
for his failure to rehabilitate
a barge of the agency off the
Malabon-Navotas River up to
this very moment.
Cayetano said Tolentino
red the wrong guy after Mel-
gar wrote him a letter, claiming
that Tolentino failed to approve
the budget for the fuel
Cayetano presented Mel-
gars letter to MMDA Assistant
General for Finance Edenison
Fainisan asking him to compel
the fuel supplier to deliver the
fuel as soon as possible, but
Tolentino said Melgar could
have just telephoned the sup-
plier himself.
THE edgling Asean Basketball
League faces a critical year with a new
man at the helm in President and Chief
Executive Ofcer Anthony Macri. I
was able to talk at length with Macri
and I do believe the league is in good
hands with him in charge.
According to Macri, the rst thing in
his calendar is to get a good grasp of the
status of the league right now.
Weve been around for three years.
This is going to be our fourth year.
Right now Im in the middle of wel-
coming tour, going around to meet our
ownership group, get a sense of what
their needs are, what their desires are,
what their visions are, so that we can
produce the best basketball league we
possibly can in the region, said Macri.
The new ABL CEO had just come
from Singapore when he sat down for
the exclusive interview with this writer.
He planned to talk to the ownership of
the San Miguel Beermen and then the
Thailand group so that he could have a
good idea on how to move forward.
The ABL is a regional basketball
league, designed to compete around
the Southeast Asia region. There are
10 countries here. Right now, we have
eight teams from six countries. We need
to engage the public in basketball. The
Philippines has a tremendous history
in basketball, but the rest of the region
does not. I think we need to bring high
level professional basketball in the re-
gion, said Macri.
The ABL CEO says he is well aware
of being in an international stage and
not a national league like the Philippine
Basketball Association or the national
league in Indonesia the National Bas-
ketball League. The fact that he is deal-
ing with different countries and cultures
is a welcome challenge for Macri.
I need to make sure that were grow-
ing basketball at a high level, showcas-
ing the great talents of players around
the world and developing players from
the member countries. And so its a
little different in many aspects. Except
for the Philippines, the countries are
not hotbeds of basketball. Were on a
region where basketball has never been
IN BRIEF
FCVBA leaves for Brunei
Teng is UAAP top cager
FILIPINO-CHINESE Veterans Basketball
Association, bannered by former Philippine
Basketball Association hotshots, leaves for
Brunei today to defend its three titles in the
four-day 21st ASEAN Veterans Basketball
Tournament starting on Thursday.
Lim Eng Beng, honored by PBA as one of
the 25 Greatest Players 12 years ago, spear-
heads the back-to-back bid of FCVBAs
60-years-old and above team, along with
Welcoat House Paints co-owner Terry Que,
former Crispa enforcer Bong dela Cruz and
MICAA veteran Zotico Tan.
Aside from the 60-years crown, FCV-
BA, according to its president Jimmi
Lim of Ironcon Builders, is also out
to defend its titles in the 40-years and
50-years and above divisions of the an-
nual tournament that gathers more than
20 teams from the region.
LA Salles Jeron Teng continues to live up to
the hype that hes the best rookie in the Uni-
versity Athletic Association of the Philippines
mens basketball tournament this season.
Already one of the Green Archers most
consistent performers, Teng showed that
hes at the top of his game when he exploded
for 35 points in La Salles nal game of the
rst round.
Also impressive was how Teng starred in
every clutch situation in the same game to
lead the Green Archers to a double overtime
victory over the National University Bull-
dogs, 87-86, last Saturday.
Tengs 35-point output, which was
matched by NUs Bobby Ray Parks in the
same game, was the highest score in a single
match in the last 10 years of the seniors tour-
nament.
The feat earned the 18-year-old Teng the
UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week award,
the citation given by sports scribes covering
the collegiate beat and ACCEL 3XVI.
AUGUST 21, 2012 TUESDAY
A7 Sports Riera U. Mallari, Editor
ManilaStandardToday
sports_mstandard@yahoo.com
Moments before being hon-
ored again in his hometown,
where they still love him and
always will, James stood among
family members and friends.
With the days in this summer of
summers dwindling quickly, this
was another moment to savor. So
as he waited to be introduced,
James hugged his mom, Gloria,
around the neck, took out his
phone and snapped their picture.
He was home.
I know this place, he said,
and it knows me.
Fresh off leading the US mens
team to a gold medal at the
London Olympics, James was
praised Sunday during a minor
league game for his recent bas-
ketball accomplishmentsan
MVP award, NBA title and the
goldand for giving back to
Akron, where his Wheels For
Education initiative has provid-
ed inner-city kids with supplies,
programs, mentors, and above
all, hope.
LeBron savors summer
AKRON, OhioLeBron James
squeezed his moms hands, the way he
did as a kid.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
ABL faces critical year
ROOKIE Ardie Dizon and
veteran Franklin Mancio came
up with sizzling performances
for the Olivarez College Sea
Lions yesterday in the 11
th
Universities and Colleges
Athletic Association mens
basketball tournament.
Dizon and Mancio hacked
out 21 and 20 points,
respectively, for the Sea
Lions, who demolished the
Manuel L. Quezon University
Stallions, 122-68, at their own
home courtthe Olivarez
College gymnasium in Sucat,
Paraaque.
The Sea Lions drew 18
points from Dizon, a manage-
ment freshman, in the fourth
period, where he delivered
the nishing touches for Oli-
varez Colleges fth straight
win.
The Michael Saguiguit-
coached Sea Lions unbeaten
record allowed them to sweep
the rst round of this cagefest
supported by Mikasa and Mol-
ten Balls.
Mancio scored 11 points in
the rst period as he helped
the Sea Lions get off to a great
start with a 27-16 advantage.
Maganda ang start namin.
Dahil sa depensa, lamang
agad kami, said Saguiguit.
Triples from Cameroonian
Danny Masso and Mancio in
the second period allowed the
Sea Lions to erect a 60-33 edge
at halftime.
The Stallions, who won over
the Philippine School of Busi-
ness Administration Jaguars,
80-67, last Friday, dropped to
fourth at 2-3. Windell Buman-
glag tallied 19 points for Stal-
lions in their game against the
Jaguars.
Sea Lions
sweep
1
st
round
SAN FELIPE, ZambalesNoel
Bartolome Jr. pulled off one of the
most convincing victories in his
young offroading career, driving away
with the overall crown of the 2nd Gov.
Jun Ebdane 4x4 Offroad Challenge in
Barangay Sindol here on Sunday.
Bartolome, 25, took on the sand-
and-mud Tracks A and B that were
more challenging and vicious than
expected with relative control and was
similarly dominating in Track C that
combined the technical and difcult
phases of both tracks to emerge
champion of the event Zambales Gov.
Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has been
offering enthusiasts of the sport for the
second-straight year.
I am very proud of this victory, I
wasnt expecting much to dominate
here, said Bartolome, who also
outshone in the process his illustrious
father, Noel Sr. Both are racing for the
Land Rover Club of the Philippines.
We had aimed both at entertaining
the local and tourist spectators, and
provide a much-needed boost to our
local tourism industry. And we achieved
both. Congratulations to the organizers
and everyone behind this project. And
congratulations of course to all the
racerswinners or losers, said Ebdane.
Bartolome rst took on Track B
in the eliminations and although it
was the easier of the two tracks,
he nished second to last among
10 drivers who went under the
25-minute qualifying time with 21
minutes and 38.16 seconds.
Track A squeezed everything from
the participants, but not Bartolome
as he conquered with an amazing
best time of 6:49.85. He totaled
28:28.01 for both tracks, second-best
behind Pampanga Offroaders Clubs
John Sambo (11:07.04, 5:08.29
and 16:16.13 total) and ahead of
Angeles City 4Wheel Drive Clubs
Arthur Sicat (14:12.62, 15:49.87and
30:02.49 total).
Bartolome Jr. rules
Ebdane 4x4 meet
I was one of these kids, James
said. It means everything to me to
be able to give back. I have a passion
for it. I love seeing kids smile, and
for them to have someone who can
lead them. For me to be in this posi-
tion and being able to help and give
back, means a lot.
James received a warm ova-
tion from the crowd of 3,843 -
more than double the average at-
tendancewhen he walked onto
the ineld at Canal Park, home
of the Double-A Akron Aeros,
during the middle of the eighth
inning escorted by Akron Mayor
Don Plusquellic.
As James reached the area in
front of the pitchers mound, in-
elders for the Reading Phillies
lined up on the grass between
rst and second base and gawked
at the superstar.
It was also going according to
plan before a malfunctioning mi-
crophone caused several anxious
and awkward moments.
Plusquellics comments kept
cutting out over the ballparks
speaker system, allowing two
anti-James fans, one of them
wearing a Cleveland Browns
jersey, sitting a few rows behind
Akrons dugout to shout trai-
tor and other insults at James,
who seemed unsure of what to
do as the delay dragged on and
stadium personnel scrambled to
nd a new microphone.
When it became apparent
James would not be able to ad-
dress the crowd, he posed for
pictures and then left the eld,
slapping hands with a few Read-
ing players who leaned over their
dugout railing to greet the All-
Star, who was mobbed by fans as
he made his way up the aisle.
It was somewhat poetic, James
going in one week from stepping
onto a gold-medal podium with
his teammates on the worlds
largest stage to a mix-up inside a
minor league ballpark where he
grew up and where Thursdays
postgame entertainment will in-
clude midget wrestling. AP
Santos captures 3 titles
YOUNG Alexie Xira Santos enhanced a
promising tennis career when she bagged
three titles in the second Olivarez-Philta
Open Tennis Championships presented by
Palawan Pawnshop Express Pera Padala, in-
cluding the 14-and-under crown, at the Oli-
varez Sports Center in Sucat.
Santos, a 12-year-old emerging talent from
Puerto Princesa, outplayed Monica Cruz, 6-2,
6-1, in the nals of the 14-U last Sunday then
overwhelmed Melanie Dizon, 6-1, 6-2, to
claim the 12-and-under diadem yesterday.
She also teamed up with Nicole Amis-
tad to defeat Charito Capadocia and Bianca
Cruz, 7-5, 6-0, and capture the girls 14-U
doubles crown in the event sponsored by
Palawan Pawnshop Express Pera Padala
with Dunlop as ofcial ball.
By Peter Atencio
FOR now, seven-foot veteran Brook
Lopez just wants to enjoy traveling to
places like the Philippines and have
fun watching Filipinos fans play 3-on-
3, taking part in clinics and hanging
out with people and kids, who enjoy
the sport.
It was fantastic and so much fun,
said Lopez on his second day in the
country, with still a month go before
he joins the pre-season training camp
of the Brooklyn Nets.
Watching kids and adults alike play
3-on-3 gave Lopez get a glimpse of Fili-
pino fans, who love the game so much.
When he gets back to the United
States, Lopez will be ready to bounce
back from an injury, which forced him
to miss the rst 32 games of the short-
ened 2011-2012 season of the National
Basketball Association.
From injuries, you just never let it get
you down. You have minor setbacks. But
you just keep going and keep working to
be your best, said Lopez during a one-
on-one interview at the Music Hall of the
SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Lopez is in the country for a four-
day visit, as part of the NBA 3x, a
3-on-3 competition (age group and
open divisions) presented by Sprite.
He was joined by members of the
Charlotte LadyCats, the cheerdancers
of the Bobcats.
The 24-year-old center, who grew
his brunette hair long during his long
layoff, said he is looking forward to
joining the training camp next month
and is upbeat about blending in with
members of the team, like former
Utah Jazz point guard and Olympian
Deron Williams.
Nets Lopez vows to bounce back from injury
REUEL VIDAL
SPORTS CENTER
TOP Asian judges Adrian Kim Guan Tey of Malay-
sia and Chang Wei Wei of Taiwan will grace the 7th
and 8th International All-Breed Dog Shows of the
Canine Handlers and Trainers Association of the
Philippines, an afliate of the Asian Kennel Club
Union of the Philippines, Inc. on Sunday at Tiendes-
itas en Frontera Verde, Ortigas Ave. cor. E. Rodri-
guez Jr. Ave., Pasig City.
Tey who is a graduate of the Middlesex University
in London is a management consultant and currently
a partner of a European consulting rm in Kuala
Lumpur. He is a member of the East Malaysia Dog
Association and has judged in international all-breed
dog shows under Federacion Canina Internacional in
Malaysia, Korea and the Philippines.
Chang, on the other hand, has been with the Tai-
wan Kennel Club, the oldest kennel club in that
country for 25 years, where he served as Foreign Af-
fairs chairman for half of that period.
An eminent German Shepherd Dog specialist,
Chang had judging stints in Taiwan, Korea and the
Philippines.
According to CHATAP President Dennis Javier,
both judges will have their own set of awards for
the best baby puppy, best Philippine-born, and the
top award, the best in show, from among the seven
breed groupingsherding, sporting, terrier, toy,
non-sporting, working and hound.
Top Asian judges at Tiendesitas dog shows
Noel Bartolome Jr. (third from left) receives his trophies as overall champion, Track A rst place and
Track C best time from San Felipe Mayor Carolyn Farinas (right) and Zambales Sports and Youth
Development head Eric Matibag (left). Joining them are Noel Bartolome Sr.
THE dragon boat row-
ing team bound for
the ICF World Cham-
pionships will be the
main guests in todays
holiday session of the
Philippine Sportswrit-
ers Association Forum
at its new home in
Shakeys Malate.
Talking about the
Filipinos coming
campaign in the Sept.
2 meet in Milan, Ita-
ly, are national coach
Len Escollante and
PCKF secretary gen-
eral Jonie Go.
Also appearing in
the 10:30 a.m. session
presented by Smart,
the Philippine Amuse-
ment and Gaming
Corp, and Shakeys, is
boxing promoter Bebot
Elorde, who will dis-
cuss the coming `Bak-
bakan sa Elorde card.
PSA tackles dragon boat
that big a sport before. Building up the
league is a unique challenge which will
be a lot of fun to do, said Macri.
* * *
While there were eye-popping talents
that were undoubtedly too good to pass
up (Calvin Abueva, Clifford Hodge, Chris
Ellis, and yes even June Mar Fajardo) in
the past Rookie Draft, the Philippine Bas-
ketball Association teams pretty much
picked according to their needs.
With 34-year-old Dorian Pea get-
ting long in the tooth, the Petron Blaze
Boosters, who desperately need a center
after they gave up on the Ateneo pair of
Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Nonoy Baclao,
picked 611 June Mar Fajardo.
The San Miguel Corporation ag-
ship team in the PBA has not been shy
in its avowed goal this year to go after
a Grand Slam and has left no stone un-
turned to achieve that goal.
Fajardo is the most polished big man
to join league in decades. He reminds me
of a young Bong Hawkins (but six inches
taller), who accurately reads the defense
and reacts accordingly. Fajardo does not
play beyond himself and is astonishingly
mature for his age. He gives Petron every-
thing they need in a big man and more.
With the third pick, instead of going
for the better talent in Hodge the Boost-
ers again went with their need and draft-
ed Alex Mallari, a 64 swingman, who
can play off guard and small forward
with equal facility.
Picking second, the Alaska Aces se-
lected San Sebastians do-it-all forward
Calvin Abueva, who leads the National
Collegiate Athletic Association in as-
sists and rebounds. He gives the Aces
the much-needed shot in the arm in the
shooting guard and small forward spots.
The 66 Hodge was picked next, by
the Meralco Bolts, where he is expect-
ed to shore up Coach Ryan Gregorios
shaky frontline.
Barako Bull then selected Far Eastern
Universitys Aldrech Ramos with the
fth pick. Then came Barangay Ginebra
with Ellis. At seventh, Governors Cup
champion Rain or Shine selected former
Smart Gilas skipper Chris Tiu. Ginebra
used the eighth overall pick on 64 Fil-
American Keith Jensen.
At ninth, the Commissioners Cup
champion B-MEG Llamados traded their
pick, plus seldom-used forward Val Acuna
to new member Global Port for forward
Sean Anthony. Later B-MEG traded their
12th overall pick plus Anthony to acquire
Ramos which nets them another long and
lanky big man in the mold of the ageing
Ra Reavis and Marc Pingris.
In the draft, the teams pretty much
picked the players they needed the most.
AUGUST 21, 2012 TUESDAY
A8
Veteran Suba stamps class in karting series
STA. ROSAVeteran ace karter Vencer John
Suba, who recently joined the San Miguel Racing
Team, held his ground against the rallying Este-
fano Rivera of FERN-C Racing on the nal lap to
emerge champion in the Enchanted Kingdom leg
of the 2012 Coca-Cola Karting Super Series at the
EK Kart Track here.
It was the second straight victory for Suba, who
forged a twin-kill as he captured the titles in both
the ROK Overall and ROK Senior classes of this
event sanctioned by the Automobile Association
Philippines and sponsored by Coca-Cola, Yoko-
hama Tires, Motorstar and Aeromed.
The race was also held in line with the 17th
anniversary celebration of the Enchanted
Kingdom, made even more special with the
entry of Coca-Cola as title sponsor of the an-
nual karting series.
The Final race turned grueling and intense as
Suba, Milo Rivera of FERN-C Racing and lady
karter Sacha Feliciano of Marcelo Racing took
turns at the lead until Suba nally wrested the top
spot on the 19
th
lap.
But Estefano Rivera, who was forced out in the
dying laps of the Pre-Final Heat after a pebble hit
his carburetor, staged a raging comeback from the
tailend to move up to second and challenge Suba
for the top spot.
But in the last 70 meters going to the nish
line, Estefano Rivera made a risky move to slip
past Suba by charging into the inside lane. The
move, however, backred as the slight collision
stalled Riveras kart as Suba seized victory even
with a damaged front fender.
Suba completed the 28-lap Final race in 15 min-
utes and 7.698 seconds to clinch the ROK Overall
and ROK Senior crowns by 2.261 seconds ahead
of runner-up Milo Rivera.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Sports
Manila Standard TODAY
sports@manilastandardtoday.com sports_mstandard@yahoo.com Riera U. Mallari, Editor
Spoelstra preaches the Culture of Champions
EXPERIENCE is the best
teacher, but I learned the most
from my failures.
With these simple but wise
words, did Coach Erik Spoels-
tra sum up almost one-and-a-half
hour of remarkable lecture called
The Culture of Champions, an
exclusive session that lled up the
Meralco Theater with First Pacic
leaders, managers, basketball fans,
sports enthusiasts and guests ,who
came to listen to the visiting coach
of the Miami Heat, the 2012 NBA
Finals champions.
To Filipinos, basketball is not
just a sport, as it is also a pastime,
a part of our culture, and a way
of life. The visit of the Fil-Am
coach of a champion basketball
team only made it much sweeter,
as Spoelstra shared his experience
as a sportsman given the
task of steering a team
of different personali-
ties, echoing the idea
that sports, like busi-
nesses, is all about
managing people
effectively and re-
sources efciently.
The audience eas-
ily warmed up to the
charismatic coach, who
was proud of his Filipino roots
and his humble beginnings.
His recent success with the Mi-
ami Heat, he humbly revealed, is
not a sudden stroke of luck. It
wasnt an overnight opportunity.
I started out as an intern. I was
fortunate enough to earn the trust
of my boss (Pat Riley). That
overnight opportunity became
a 13-year opportunity,
he said. He credits the
Heats legendary coach
as his true mentor,
boss and guiding
light in the sport.
He said that main-
taining constant
communication is
one of the reasons
why his team had
seamless connection
with one another.
Managing Personalities, Treat-
ing Everyone as Equals
Managing personalities is
tough. (But) I tell them that
Ill give them everything that I
have, he said on the challenge
of handling some of the most fa-
mous names in American basket-
ball, the so-called Big Three in
the Miami Heat LeBron James,
Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh.
Ive had my share of discon-
nects with some of them, like I
had tiffs with LeBron during the
match with the Dallas Mavericks
in 2010. Also, there were times
when Dwayne and I had a shout-
ing match. But at the end of the
day, we were all family and did
not resent each other. There was
nothing personal; it was all in a
days work, he revealed.
In managing the team, he placed
everyone on equal footing. One
of the rst thing we decided to do
on our training camp in 2010 was
to eliminate the Big Three and the
Little 12 and we have 15 players.
We will never really call them the
Big Three. They are the Miami
Heat, he said.
Coach Erik Spoelstras presen-
tation is the 2nd of First Pacic
Leadership Academys program
called the Executive Talks, which
aims to inspire corporate leader-
students by inviting experts to
share their ideas and experiences.
Formerly known as the Meral-
co Development Center, its tran-
sition to become the First Pacic
Leadership Academy was made
at the start of 2012, a reection
of its change as a corporate col-
lege where corporate leaders are
trained to become the countrys
future business leaders.
To know more about FPLA, call
632-8111. First Pacic Leadership
Academy is located along Sumu-
long Highway in Antipolo, just
one hour drive from Makati and 45
minutes from Quezon City.
By Peter Atencio
ROCKY Acidre provided the
answer to coach Koy Banals
prayer yesterday in the 88th
National Collegiate Athletic
Association mens basketball
tournament.
Acidre red 22 points and
scored two
c r u c i a l
charities in
the last 8.2
seconds, al-
lowing the
Ar el l ano
University Chiefs to escape with
an 83-82 verdict over the Jose
Rizal University Heavy Bombers
at The Arena in San Juan.
Coming off the bench this
time around, Acidre shot 13
points in the nal period and
keyed several crucial baskets,
which enabled the Chiefs to earn
their fourth win in 10 games.
This is the second time Rocky
gave us this. Ilang games din kami
na mabagal ang start. So I tried
something new and he came off
the bench, said Arellano Univer-
sity coach Banal, who revealed he
prayed for something positive and
consistent to happen to the team
earlier in the day.
John Pinto, who suffered from
cramps towards the end of the last
canto, made seven of his 16-point
tally in the third period for the
Chiefs. He came into the picture
as Arellano University moved
away from a 34-all halftime dead-
lock and took a 50-45 edge in
the last ve minutes, helping the
Chiefs pull off their rst win over
the Heavy Bombers since joining
the league in 2009.
The Heavy Bombers, who
dropped to a share of second
spot with the San Sebastian
Stags at 7-3, got 21 points from
Nate Matute.
Byron Villarias had 17, in-
cluding nine in the last quarter
as JRU fought back to within
a point in the last 15.4 seconds
with his trey, but the Bombers
ran out of time.
Robert Bollick made a game-
high 41 points, 10 rebounds and
11 assists to lead the La Salle-
Greenhills Greenies to a 95-76
crushing of the Perpetual Help
Junior Altas. The Greenies are
in fourth with their 7-3 record.
The Jose Rizal Light Bomb-
ers (4-6), led by Nick Abanto
with 19 points and 14 rebounds,
turned back the Arellano Junior
Chiefs, 53-48.
Acidre lifts
Chiefs past
Bombers
GILAS VS KOREA
By Jeric Lopez

THE top rookies from this years draft class
are ready to take the Philippine Basketball
Association by storm.
SANDUGO-San Sebas-
tian tests Cagayan Val-
leys mettle in a duel of
opening-day winners,
while defending cham-
pion Army shoots for a
share of the lead in the
second playdate of the
Shakeys V-League Open
at the Ninoy Aquino Sta-
dium today.
The Lady
Stags lived
up to the
hype, but
needed to
sweat it out
before re-
pulsing rst conference
champion Ateneo, 27-
25, 25-19, 25-20, to cap
a three-match sweep in
the opener of the leagues
ninth seasons second
conference Sunday.
Earlier, Army opened
its title-retention cam-
paign with a 25-14, 25-
14, 25-13 romp over
Navy while newcomer
Cagayan Valley upended
Far Eastern U, 25-20, 25-
12, 25-21, to share the
lead in the early going of
the league sponsored by
Shakeys Pizza.
How the gutsy Ca-
gayan crew will handle
Sandugos awesome
firepower will be known
starting at 2 p.m. with
Thai hitter Jeng Bualee
expected to carry the
scoring load
again for the
Lady Stags
after spray-
ing the Lady
Eagles with
16 hits, in-
cluding 14 kills.
Games can viewed live
on streaming on www.v-
league.ph, according to the
organizing Sports Vision
and aired on a delayed ba-
sis on AKTV.
Meanwhile, the Ca-
gayan-FEU match will
be aired on AKTV start-
ing at 7 tonight with the
Sandugo-Ateneo duel to
be shown next at 9 p.m.-
11 p.m.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Sandugo, Cagayan
duel for volley lead
Since last seasons rookies did not dis-
appoint, the incoming newbies for the
coming season are challenged to make the
same impact for their respective teams.
Top picks June Mar Fajardo of Pet-
ron Blaze and Calvin Abueva of Alaska,
among others, expressed their readiness
to play in the big league.
Kinakabahan din ako, pero sa palagay
ko naman handa na ako. Mas pagbubutihin
ko talaga kasi kailangan yun dito sa PBA.
Sana makatulong na din ako sa Petron,
said the 611 top overall pick.
Ready na ako. Yung ginagawa ko sa
collegiate league, mas pagagandahin ko
pa pagdating sa PBA. Pinaghandaan ko
talaga ito, said the reigning National
Collegiate Athletic Association Most
Valuable Player Abueva, the No. 2 pick
of the Aces.
Not to be outdone, No. 3 overall selec-
tion in Alex Mallari, also from the Boosters,
shared what he can offer to the table when
he starts playing.
P0.0M+
P0.0M+
6/55 000000000000
6/45 000000000000
4 DIGITS 00000000
3 DIGITS 000000
2 EZ2 0000
LOTTO RESULTS
Top rookies vow to impress
I can play multiple positions. I
guess thats what I can give Petron.
I can play the No. 2, No. 3 and No.
4 positions and create possible mis-
matches, said Mallari.
As for another sought-after cager in Chris
Tiu, who was selected seventh by Rain or
Shine, its also about making a mark in an-
other environment.
I was fortunate to have played in the
University Athletic Association of the
Philippines, the Philippine Basketball
League and in international competitions
and now, its time for me to give the PBA
a try. I hope I can be successful here as
well. Im so excited to start this new ca-
reer, said the popular 27-year-old Tiu.
Even PBA commissioner Chito Salud
expects a lot from these bunch of talented
rookies in the coming 38th season of the
pro loop. For him, theres no reason for
the the young blood not to make their
mark in the league.
It is the beginning of something new
with these new pool of talent coming in.
More is expected from the rookies. Marami
tayong fans and they want them to show
Salud added that he expects nothing less
from the rookies.
We have a lot of talent coming in and
I expect them to deliver just like the rook-
ies from last season. A lot is expected from
them and I know they will not disappoint,
added Salud.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra, B-MEG
and Barako Bull ofcially changed their re-
spective team names to Barangay Ginebra
San Miguel, SanMig Coffee Mixers and
Barako Bull Energy Colas, respectively,
heading to the new season.
TAIPEISmart Gilas Pilipinas held a
hard practice during its break in the
34th Jones Cup here Monday, bracing
for an acid test against South Korea
at the TPEC Gymnasium here Tuesday.
The nationals (2-0) play the Koreans (2-
0) at 3 p.m., the start of a killer stretch
of six straight tough games, where
Gilas will later take on Japan, Lebanon,
Iran, Chinese Taipei and the US.
Vencer John Suba (center), who is now with the San Miguel
Corporation Racing Team, captured both the ROK Overall and ROK
Senior crowns in the 2012 Coca-Cola Karting Super Series at the
Enchanted Kingdom. With him at the podium are (from left) fourth
placer Sacha Feliciano, runner-up Milo Rivera, third placer CJ Tsui and
fth placer Matthew Chan.
Games today
2 p.m. Sandugo-SSC
vs Cagayan
4 p.m. Navy vs Ateneo
6 p.m. FEU vs Army
Spoelstra
Smart Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes maps out a game strategy for his players during a break in the team's game against Chinese Taipei-B in the 34th
Jones Cup at the TPEC Gymnasium on Sunday. The nationals shoot for their third straight win when they take on South Korea today at 3 p.m.
Games Thursday
(The Arena in San Juan)
2 p.m. Lyceum vs
San Sebastian (jrs)
4 p.m. Letran vs
Mapua (srs)
6 p.m. Lyceum vs
San Sebastian (srs)
Business
Manila Standard TODAY
AUGUST 21, 2012 TUESDAY
B1
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Ray S. Eano, Editor extrastory2000@gmail.com
Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor
IN BRIEF
Mining production down 26%
Govt set to turn over WESM operations
Food imports from the US seen to hit $850m
Cigarette smoking costly
to PH economyFinance
VOLUME 853.100M
PSE COMPOSITE INDEX
Closing August 17, 2012
OIL
PRICES
TODAY
P584-P695
LPG/11-kg tank
P47.15-P53.07
Unleaded Gasoline
P38.40-P41.05
Diesel
P40.30-P52.20
Kerosene
P27.20-P31.00
Auto LPG
FOREI GN EXCHANGE RATE
Currency Unit US Dollar Peso
United States Dollar 1.000000 42.3180
Japan Yen 0.012604 0.5334
UK Pound 1.573900 66.6043
Hong Kong Dollar 0.0128922 5.4557
Switzerland Franc 1.029124 43.5505
Canada Dollar 1.013993 42.9102
Singapore Dollar 0.800705 33.8842
Australia Dollar 1.048658 44.3771
Bahrain Dinar 2.652661 112.2553
Saudi Arabia Rial 0.266667 11.2848
Brunei Dollar 0.797512 33.7491
Indonesia Rupiah 0.000105 0.0044
Thailand Baht 0.031786 1.3451
UAE Dirham 0.272264 11.5217
Euro Euro 1.236200 52.3135
Korea Won 0.000882 0.0373
China Yuan 0.157089 6.6477
India Rupee 0.017979 0.7608
Malaysia Ringgit 0.319693 13.5288
NewZealand Dollar 0.808407 34.2102
Taiwan Dollar 0.033378 1.4125
Source: PDS Bridge
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Friday, August 17, 2012
PESO-DOLLAR RATE
40
42
44
46
48
P42.420
CLOSE
Closing AUGUST 17, 2012
5,206.81
12.7
HIGH P42.200 LOW P42.430AVERAGE P42.318
5200
4460
3720
2980
2240
1500
1200
By Othel V. Campos
THE countrys metallic mineral
production dropped 26 percent to P51.21
billion in the rst six months of 2012 from
P69.24 billion year-on-year due to a 95-
percent decline in the gold purchases by
the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
Given the continuing high
price of gold and the increasing
number of small-scale mining
areas, the decrease in gold
purchases by the BSP clearly
indicates that gold output is
going to the black market and
smuggling activities, said
Environment Secretary Ramon
Paje.
The Mines and Geosciences
Bureau said the decline in gold
purchases started in the second
half of 2011 when the Bureau
of Internal Revenue imposed
a 2-percent excise tax and 10-
percent withholding tax from
the sale of small-scale miners
and traders.
The BIR reduced the
withholding tax to 5 percent in
April this year.
The Bangko Sentral, through
its ve buying stations in Baguio
City, Davao City, Zamboanga
City, Naga City and Quezon
City, deducts the taxes from
small-scale miners and traders
and remit them to the BIR.
Mines bureau director Leo
Jasareno said the signicant
drop in the gold purchases of
the Bangko Sentral led to the
lower production.
He said total gold production
fell to 8,382 kilograms in the
six-month period from 22,804
kilograms while value declined
by 59 percent to P18.18 billion
from P44.52 billion year.
Gold purchases by the
Bangko Sentral accounted for
just 786 kilograms from 15,003
on year.
In effect, the BSP gold
purchases shared only a dismal
9.37 percent of the entire gold
production, compared with
74 percent a year ago, said
Jasareno.
Nickel outperformed other
metals, accounting for 44
percent of the total metallic
mineral output value in the rst
semester with P22.40 billion.
Gold was in second with a 35-
percent share or P18.18 billion,
followed by copper at 18 percent
share or P9.02 billion.
Silver, zinc, chromite and
iron accounted for 3 percent
valued at P1.61 billion.
Gold had dominated metal
production, contributing about
50 percent of the value in
previous years.
Paje expressed condence the
mining industry would bounce
back amid increased projects.
We see big mining projects
in the pipeline, encouraged
by the clearer direction the
government is now taking in
view of the issuance of E.O.
No. 79, or the mining policy
of the Aquino administration,
he said.
The developmental works
of the $300-million Didipio
Copper-Gold Project of
OceanaGold in Nueva Vizcaya
and the $1.2-billion nickel
processing plant of Taganito
HPAL in Surigao del Norte are
in full swing, Paje said.
We can add to this the
advanced exploration works
in the $800-million copper-
gold project of Goldelds Ltd.
in Benguet, the $800-million
Kingking copper-gold project of
Nadecor in Compostela Valley
and the $800-million Silangan
copper-gold project of Philex
Mines in Surigao del Norte, he
said.
Alcala visits Kayapa. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (center) assures Mayor John Balasya (right) of Kayapa, Nueva
Vizcaya of the Agriculture Departments support to transform the town into a major producer of semi-temperate or chopsuey
vegetables. The assistance consists of farm equipment and inputs, including the establishment of trading centers and agricultural
tramlines (inset) such as the one in Barangay Tubongan, worth P1.9 million, that transports vegetables from upland production
areas to the nearest road and onto public markets. With them is Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization
director Rex Bingabing.
By Alena Mae S. Flores
THE Energy Department is prepared to
turn over the operations of Philippine
Electricity Market Corp., operator of the
Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, to an
independent body.
Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras,
however, said lawmakers had raised some
clarications on the independent market
operator concept for WESM during the
agencys recent presentation to the Joint
Congressional Power Comission.
There were few more questions so we
had to answer that. Epira says [the transfer
is] upon the recommendation of the DoE
and approval of the JCPC. The senators
and congressmen want to understand
the structures [on] how you shift it to an
independent market, Almendras said.
He said the department had prepared
the transition framework and mechanism
for the IMO and was just waiting for the
go-signal of the JCPC.
The IMO is expected to dispel
concerns of government intervention in
the WESM.
There are international conventions
as to how an independent market should
be operated. The senators wanted to
understand whats happening in other
markets abroad and why we want to do it
this way, Almendras said.
He said PEMC needed a board that
will sit above the stakeholders who are
not players in the industry because that
board is the oversight to ensure that the
market operates to the best interest of the
consuming public.
Almendras said the departments
challenge was to create a truly independent
board not composed of the government
or stakeholders.
He said discussions were also ongoing
if the government would continue to have
a presence in PEMC.
Eventually that can be a result. There
can be a government representative that
will just sit as a member of the board. But
government will not be in a position to
drive or inuence in a way. There will
be an oversight of course in case of an
emergency, Almendras said.
The independent entity, or IMO, should
have been designated one year after
WESMs implementation under the Electric
Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.
THE US expects food and
beverage exports to the
Philippines to grow 11.7 percent
to $850 million this year, the
Foreign Agricultural Service of
the United States Department of
Agriculture said.
The USDA said based on the
Global Agricultural Information
Network report, the Philippines
remained the largest market for
American food and drinks in
Southeast Asia, with sales rising
27 percent to $761 million in
2011 from a year ago.
It said food exports to the
Philippines continued to grow
this year. Sales are up 16 percent
from January to May 2012 and are
expected to reach $850 million
by year-end. The Philippines
continues to be the largest F&B
market in Southeast Asia and one
of the fastest growing markets in
the world for its high value, job
generating sector, the report
said.
The report projected that
export sales would double
within three years, way ahead
of the ve-year target of the
White House National Export
Initiative.
Another contributing factor is
the expected recovery of sales of
US meats due to an agreement in
March that sought the removal of
most of the trade barriers to meat
trade.
The volume of red meat exports
to the Philippines fell 26 percent
year-on-year to 29,204 metric
tons in 2011 due to restrictive
regulations on the sale of frozen
meats in wet markets as well as
the increase in the price of US
pork.
US exports of dairy and cheese
products, processed fruits and
vegetables, fresh fruits and veg-
etables, wine and beer, and snack
foods are expected to remain ro-
bust as well as the sales of or-
ganic, healthy, and conve-
nience foods.
Othel V. Campos
By Bernadette Lunas
THE Bureau of Internal Revenue
is optimistic tax collection will
breach the record P1-trillion
mark this year.
BIR Commissioner Kim
Henares said the agency was
not sure if it would achieve the
P1.066-trillion target for the
year.
The trillion is I think
achievable. The question is
whether we will hit the P1.066
[trillion]. But the P1 [trillion] is
I think possible, Henares told
the Manila Standard.
The BIR, the governments
main revenue agency, is tasked
to collect P1.066 trillion in
2012, higher than the previous
years goal of P940 billion. It
is the rst time on record the tax
bureau will attempt to breach
the P1-trillion mark.
Henares assured that
with the agencys efforts to
enhance its core processes and
establish reforms as well as
measures against tax evaders,
the country could expect a P1-
trillion contribution from the
BIR.
Finance Secretary Cesar
Purisima also said the BIR
would hit its P1-trillion
target this year, adding
Henares would be the first
trillionaire commissioner in
the country.
Data, however, showed that
BIRs collection as of July
amounted to just P604.7 billion,
short by nearly 3 percent of its
P622.7-billion target for the
seven-month period.
Globe modernization
GLOBE Telecom has completed the
modernization of its infrastructure facilities in
northern and eastern Metro Manila, as well as
the province of Rizal.
Globe said in a statement it had modernized
its equipment in high-trafc areas such as
Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela,
Marikina City, as well as the towns of Angono,
Antipolo, Baras, Binangonan, Cardona, Jala-
Jala, Morong, Pililla, Rodriguez, San Mateo,
Tanay and Teresa in Rizal.
Globe chief technical adviser Robert Tan said
infrastructure change-outs were being rolled out
to complete the rst phase of Globes network
modernization program.
He said a part of the $700-million network
modernization program involved a wider coverage
of 3G and 4G services, a tenfold increase in data
capacity and the rollout of an additional 12,000
kilometers of ber optic cables to enhance
Internet speeds and service reliability.
It said once the new equipment has been
installed, Globe would gradually activate 3G,
4G HSPA+ and advance capabilities to deliver
superior customer experience. Lailany P. Gomez
Subic maritime conference
SUBIC BAY FREEPORTThe Subic Bay
Freeport is hosting the Subic Bay Maritime
Conference that will discuss the viability and
attraction of the area as the ideal alternative
port to the Manila International Container Port
in serving the countrys rising container cargo
volumes over the next ve years.
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and
Subic Bay International Terminal Corp., private
operator of the two container terminals and
a wholly-owned subsidiary of International
Container Terminal Services Inc., will organize
the conference on Thursday and Friday.
Over 300 investors, shippers, logistics and
supply chains executives conrmed their
participation in the event, which will be held
at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention
Center with the theme Subic Bay: Asias
Emerging Logistics and Investments Hub.
Senior government executives involved in the
development of shipping, logistics and maritime
activities are expected to outline the Aquino
administrations roadmaps on how Subic Bay
will be promoted.
These include Trade Secretary Gregory
Domingo, Transportation Secretary Manuel
Roxas II, Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon,
National Economic and Development Authority
director-general Arsenio Balisacan, Philippine
Economic Zone Authority director-general Lilia
de Lima and Bases Conversion Development
Authority president Arnel Casanova.
Willie E. Capulong
Henares
says P1-t
tax haul
possible
THE Finance Department
said the economic costs of
cigarette smoking exceed the
tax collection of the state from
the tobacco industry, even as it
pushes for increased take from
the so-called sin products.
Finance Secretary Cesar
Purisima said during the rst
hearing of Senate ways and
means committee hearing on
House Bill 5727, or the sin tax
bill, all smoking-related diseases
in 2011 burdened the economy
with P177 billion in health care
costs, productivity losses and
premature death.
These far outweighed the
excise tax collections of P26
billion from the tobacco industry
in the same year, said Purisima.
He said the Philippines in 2007
led countries with the most number
of cigarette stick consumption a
year in Southeast Asia, followed
by Indonesia and Vietnam.
There are 17.3 million
smokers in the country who
consume 1,073 cigarettes per
year, Health Secretary Enrique
Ona, who was also in the Senate
hearing, said.
Citing the World Health
Organizations report on the
global tobacco epidemic, Ona
said cigarette smoking stood
as a risk factor for six of the
eight leading causes of deaths
in the world.
Bernadette Lunas
THE message
was as clear
as a biblical
command.
Millions of
bloggers who
have made
M u l t i p l y
(www.multiply.com) their home on the Web will have to move
out by Dec. 1 this year, when the company closes the door
on its blogging and photo-sharing services to concentrate on
online buying and selling.
From December 1st, we will unfortunately no longer be
able to support Multiply in its current formnotably we will
be removing the social networking and content sharing part
of Multiply (photos, videos, blogs, social messaging, etc.),
said the companys newly minted chief executive, Stephan
Magdalinski, in a blog post earlier this month.
Indicating the kind of upheaval in store, Magdalinski posted
the announcement from the companys new headquarters in
Jakarta, after relocating from Boca Raton, Florida, to be
nearer its biggest markets, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Ironically, the basis for Multiplys latest move was an
acknowledgement that people were violating the companys
original terms of use by selling their wares through the
social network. So while Multiply, with 11 million registered
users worldwide, fell far behind the likes of Facebook (1
billion users), Twitter (500 million users) and LinkedIn (175
million users) in recent years, a vibrant online market had
developed inside it, with Indonesians and Filipinos being
particularly active. Now the company hopes to cash in on
this phenomenon, bring some order to its defacto bazaar
and evict tenants who do not t its new mandate.
For users who still have blogs in Multiply, Magdalinski
promised easy ways to download their photos, blogs and
content or to migrate them to other online services. He
also said users who paid for premium accounts would be
refunded.
I am aware of how disruptive this news may be, and
understand the disappointment that it may cause. Ultimately
this was a business decision, critical to our to success moving
forward, Magdalinski said. We are excited to pursue our
own mission to give the 350 million consumers in Indonesia
and the Philippines a great way to buy and sell items online.
Our singular focus now is for Multiply to retain its status as
a vibrant e-commerce destination in Southeast Asia in the
years ahead.
The new CEO was right on at least one score: his
announcement drew more than 3,500 comments, many of
them from angry users who clearly felt they were being
unceremoniously evicted.
In the Philippines, the announcement was met with less
rancor, but astute users pointed out what should have been
obvious to Multiplys owners and managers.
Most of our buyers use Multiply as a social networking
site, so what will happen if theyre gone? said one user,
designercentral. In all honesty, I see a lot of sellers already
moving their business to Facebook with the recent changes
made by Multiply and I honestly believe that removing
the social networking side of Multiply will force sellers to
abandon their Multiply stores altogether.
Like most Multiply sellers, I also advertise my products
through photo albums as I nd it easier than using the product
listing, so removing that will really affect my site.
I understand that Multiply would like to concentrate on
e-commerce more, but who will purchase items in Multiply
if only sellers remain?
A video interview with the companys country manager,
Jack Madrid, on TNM (http://thenewmedia.com/) seemed to
stir up even more resentment from Multiply users.
What a load of drivel from Jack. Just about as bad as
Stefan, really, said changethechannel, in one blog.
Other users even criticized the wine collection in the
background.
Note the wine collection behind him. He even stops to sip
a bit. Fat cat liar, said bennett1.
Yeah, the wine collection, added dnoakes. Thats rich,
aint it? Right out of the faux I got Taste School of the
Visual Arts.
He added: Typical corporate typeyou have to read
between the lines on everything he says. I been at store
meetings where bozos like this are supposed to tell the
regular staff something encouraging when changes come up.
But they wind up nicely saying in 20 different ways, Forget
it, youre all screwed.... I wouldnt let this guy wash my dog
if I still had a dog.
Can an online company survive and prosper by alienating
and evicting a good chunk of its loyal user base? And will
sellers who thrived in an informal environment stick it out
when more rules are put in place? Multiply will certainly
be an interesting case study in business re-engineering in
months to come.
Column archives and blog at:
http://www.chinwong.com
Business
ManilaStandardToday
extrastory2000@gmail.com
AUGUST 21, 2012 TUESDAY
B2
Go forth
but dont Multiply
EU leaders set talks to defuse crisis
CHIN WONG
DIGITAL LIFE
New Accord to silence critics
Facebook
investors
face more
pressure
Japan fails to produce weaker yen
EUROPES leaders plan a week of
intensive shuttle diplomacy to help defuse
the continents debt crisis, amid dissension
on the European Central Banks role and
how to help Greece.
With the single currencys
continuing crisis threatening the
global economy, Jean-Claude
Juncker, the Luxembourg premier
who heads the group of euro-area
nance ministers, is expected in
Athens on Aug. 22 to discuss
Greek Prime Minister Antonis
Samaras request of a two-year
extension for the countrys scal
adjustment program. Samaras
travels to Berlin and Paris on Aug.
24 and 25 after French President
Francois Hollande and German
Chancellor Angela Merkel meet
in the German capital on Aug.
23.
Europes leaders are returning
from vacation with agreement
still elusive on measures to
support Greece and to prevent
Spain and Italy being shut out of
sovereign debt markets. Spain
urged unlimited ECB support
over the weekend after its 10-
year bonds last week advanced
for the rst time this month,
as Merkel signaled conditional
support for the ECBs plan to
help reduce indebted countries
borrowing costs.
The sovereign-debt crisis
mustnt become a bottomless
pit for Germany, even though
Europes biggest economy would
pay the highest price in a breakup
of the euro region, German
Finance Minister Wolfgang
Schaeuble said on Aug. 18 during
his ministrys open day in Berlin.
There are limits, he said, as he
ruled out another aid program for
Greece.
The ECBs governing
council may decide at its next
meeting in early September to
set yield limits on the debt of
each country, Spiegel reported
Sunday, without saying where it
got the information. Given the
banks ability to print money,
it will have unlimited funds to
buy the securities and prevent
speculators from driving interest
rates over the set rate, Spiegel
said. An ECB ofcial declined
to comment on the report.
German 10-year bund prices
fell last week on the view the
European Central Bank and
European Union will take steps
to bail out the Iberian nation.
Expectations of European
economic stimulus drove the
regions stocks to the highest
level in 13 months.
ECB president Mario Draghi
said earlier this month the
central bank could purchase
sovereign debt alongside euro-
area bailout funds. While the
ECB said that it would undertake
bond purchases only if countries
applied for similar support
from Europes rescue fund and
accepted strict conditions in
return, Italy and Spain have
yet to decide whether theyll
request help.
ECB bond buying on the
secondary market should be
unlimited in duration and size to
support Spains debt, Economy
Minister Luis de Guindos told
the Spanish news agency Efe
in an interview on Aug. 18.
Terms for the assistance will
be discussed at a euro area
meeting in the second week of
September.
Any new conditions arent
expected to differ much from
what Spain has already planned
through 2014, De Guindos
said. A budget outline sent to
the European Commission on
Aug. 3 sets out cuts of more
than 100 billion euros ($123
billion), reducing the shortfall
for the euro areas third-largest
economy to 2.8 percent of gross
domestic product in 2014, from
8.9 percent last year.
Prime Minister Mariano
Rajoy, who returns to work
today from a two-week summer
break, reiterated on Aug. 14
he would consider a bailout if
it were in the best interests of
Spaniards. The country has so
far taken 100 billion euros of
European loans to aid its banks,
as Rajoy struggles to restore
investor condence amid the
second recession since 2009.
Bloomberg
DETROITHonda wants to
silence its critics when it rolls
out the new Accord this week.
The automaker, chastened for
cheapening the Civic compact
earlier this year, says that
wont happen with the midsize
Accord.
It better not. The sedan is up
against the toughest competition
its ever seen.
It faces a new Nissan Altima
that leads midsize sedans in
highway fuel economy at 38
miles per gallon, and a revamped
Toyota Camry that has cemented
its place as the best-selling car
in America. The stylish Hyundai
Sonata, the redesigned and lower-
priced Volkswagen Passat, and a
new, more efcient Chevrolet
Malibu also are on sale. And then
theres the European-looking
Ford Fusion due out in the fall.
Its certainly a battle royal
in the midsize sedan segment,
says Sage Marie, a Honda
public relations executive who
is coordinating the Accords
marketing launch. And we have
a lot of condence.
Just ve years ago, leading
the midsize segment wasnt that
difcult. It was pretty much a
two-car contest between Accord
and Camry, with the Altima a
distant third. Camry and Accord
still lead, but in the past few
years, other car companies have
upped their games. American,
South Korean and German rivals
are chipping away at their sales.
Honda and Toyota can no
longer take it for granted that
this is going to be a two-horse
race, says Jesse Toprak, vice
president of market intelligence
for the TrueCar.com auto pricing
service. Its a remarkable
change, how competitive the
segment has become.
The new Accord has a fresh
athletic look and nicer interior.
Honda says its aiming to beat
Camry in sales to individual
buyers. That excludes sales to
rental car companies and other
eet buyers.
The company has released only
a few details about the 2013 ve-
seat Accord, which it will start
making Monday at its factory
in Marysville, Ohio. It says the
Accords fuel economy will be
competitive with the Altima.
And the price will be similar to
the current Accord, which starts
at $21,480.
The cars look is still
conservative, and in pictures, it
resembles the 2012 version. But
side creases give the new version
a little more style. And the front
and rear look more aggressive
and athletic.
The car is a little smaller on the
outside and bigger on the inside,
says Hondas Marie. It is shorter
making it easier to handle and
parkand more aerodynamic,
giving it better gas mileage. AP
This undated product image provided by Honda shows the 2013 Honda Accord. The sedan hits showrooms in a couple weeks, with a fresh
athletic look and better fuel economy. Honda, burned by criticism that it cheapened its new Civic earlier this year, says that wont happen with
its newest remake. AP
FACEBOOK Inc. shares, which
fell to a record low after insiders
could sell stakes for the rst time
since the initial public offering,
will face more pressure when
another 1.44 billion shares are
freed up through November.
Facebook last week unlocked
271.1 million shares, the rst
of ve insider sale restrictions
scheduled during its rst year as
a public company.
While Facebook chief
executive Mark Zuckerberg
operates the worlds largest
social-networking service,
hes facing investor concerns
about how it can generate more
revenue from its growing user
base. That, plus the end of the
rst lock-up, drove the shares
to half the offering price of $38,
wiping out almost $46 billion in
market value.
Is this something impatient
or nervous investors should be
worried about? said Herman
Leung, analyst at Susquehanna
International Group. Yes, but for
the long-term investors, I view this
as an opportunity to potentially get
a stock at a pretty good price.
Regulatory lings as soon
as this week will disclose how
many major shareholders sold
their stock. Insiders are seen
selling about 55 percent of the
1.2 billion shares that are set
to come unlocked on Nov. 14,
according to an Aug. 9 research
note by Brian Wieser at Pivotal
Research in New York.
Hedge funds that are using so-
called short sales to benet from
the stocks decline may be active
ahead of mid-November, said
Jay Ritter, professor of nance at
the University of Florida. These
investors will probably sell
shares with the aim of buying
them back at a discount at a later
date, he said. Bloomberg
BANK of Japan Gov. Masaaki
Shirakawa, who set the nations
rst ination goal six months ago
to halt a decade-long struggle
with deation, has failed to
produce the weaker currency
craved by exporters.
The yen slid as much
as 8.8 percent against the
dollar in the weeks after
the BoJ shocked markets in
February by announcing a
1-percent inflation target
and expanding its asset-
buying fund. The relief for
exporters was fleeting, as
the central bank refrained
from expanding stimulus since April and the
currency resumed its climb toward a postwar
record. Futures traders raised bullish bets
to a five-month high as consumer prices
continued their decline.
The yen slid 1.6 percent last week and touched
79.66 per dollar Monday, the weakest since July
12. Its averaged 79.54 in 2012, stronger than last
years record 79.71 level.
Blocking Shirakawas path to a weaker
currency is the popularity of Japanese government
bonds, which returned more than US, UK
and German debt after adjusting for ination,
attracting overseas demand
for the securities and the yen
needed to buy them. Battered
by the stronger exchange rate,
Sony Corp., Sharp Corp. and
Panasonic Corp. have cut
employees, earnings forecasts
or both. Finance Minister Jun
Azumi is calling for more
measures from the central bank
to stem gains.
The BoJ did not deliver as
much easing as was initially
expected, and as a result, the yen
also didnt depreciate as much,
said Frederic Neumann, the co-
head of Asian economic research
in Hong Kong at HSBC Holdings Plc. The BOJ is
seen as being very timid.
The central bank pioneered so-called
quantitative easing a decade ago, buying bonds
and other assets to support market prices and
stimulating the economy through low interest
rates. With benchmark borrowing costs near
zero, the central banks primary policy tool in
recent years has been its asset-purchase fund,
which it has expanded to 45 trillion-yen ($565
billion). BoJ members left the fund unchanged at
the Aug. 9 meeting, rejecting calls by lawmakers
for more action. Bloomberg
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Public Works and Highways
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
Second Cotabato Engineering District
Villarica, Midsayap, Cotabato
Fax No. (064) 2298925 Tel. No. (064) 2298494
I NVI TATI ON TO BI D
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) , Cotabato Second
Engineering District, Villarica, Midsayap, Cotabato through its Bids and Awards
Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply to bid for the following contract(s):
1. a. Contract ID: 12-MD-0065
b. Contract Name: Construction of Raradangan Bridge along Barangiran-
Dado Provincial Road, Alamada, North Cotabato
c. Location of the Contract: Raradangan, Alamada, Cotabato
d. Scope of Work: Structure Excavation, Common, Above OWL, Structure
Excavation, Below OWL, Structure Fill, Bored Piles
(dia1200mm), Reinforcing Steel Bar, Grade 60 (Bridge
Structure), Reinforcing Steel Bar, Grade 60 (Bored Piles),
Structural Concrete Class A (Superstructure), Structural
concrete Class A (Substructure), Structure Concrete
Class C, Lean Concrete, Structural Steel (Hauling &
Launching), 200mm x 770mm x 33mm thk, Neophrene
Bearing PaD (Duro 70), 12mm Preformed Expansion
Joint Filler w/ 12 x12mm thk. Sealant, Gabion (1x1x2) @
pier area only, Mobilization/Demobilization, Construction
Safety and Health, Shoring and craneway.
e. Cost of bid documents: 10,000.00
f. ABC: P19,519,815.02
g. Duration: 308 CD
h. Source of Fund: GOP-LUMPSUM-CY-2012
RE-INVITATION
1. a. Contract ID: 12-MD-0058
b. Contract Name: Asphalt Overlay along Midsayap-Makar Road,
Poblacion Midsayap Section
c. Location of the Contract: Midsayap, Midsayap.km.1694+634-km.1695+450
w/exception (816.35 Ln.m.)
d. Scope of Work: Bituminous (Tack Coat, SS-1), Bituminous Concrete
Surface Course (hot Laid), Refectorized Thermoplastic
Pavement Marking: Edgeline, Centerl;ine, Pedestrian,
Mobilization.
e. Cost of bid documents: 10,000.00
f. ABC : P 9,816,231.30
g. Duration: 45 CD
h. Source of Fund: GOP-MVUC-2012
Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in
accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulation.
To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) and
must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with the DPWH, (b) Filipino
citizen of 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative or joint venture
with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (c) completion of
similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (d) Net
Financial Contracting Capacity of at least equal to ABC, or Credit Line Commitment
of at least 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the
eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids.
Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration
to the DPWH-POCW Central Offce before the deadline for the receipt of LO.
The DPWH POCW-Central Offce will only process contractor's applications for
registration, with complete requirement, and issue the Contractor's Certifcate of
Registration (CRC) .
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below:
BAC Activities Schedule
1. Receipt of LOI s from prospective Bidders 4:00 P.M. August 27, 2012
2. Issuance of Bidding documents From: August 14 to September 3, 2012
3. Pre-bid Conference
ID No. 12-MD-0058and 12-MD-0065 Date: August 22, 2012
4. Receipt of Bids Deadline: 10:00 AM Date: September 3, 2012
5. Opening of Bids Right after the dropping of bids Date: September 3, 2012

Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specifed
in the Bidding Documents (BD's) in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the
BAC Chairman, The frst envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid,
including the eligibility requirements. The second envelope shall contain the fnancial
component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive
Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and the post-qualifcation.
Prospective bidders may download the Registration from the DPWH website
www.dpwh.gov.ph . The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents at DPWH
Cotabato Second Engineering District, Villarica, Midsayap, Cotabato. Prospective
Bids must accompanied by a bid security in any acceptable form in the amount stated
in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR.
Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents (BDs), if
available, from the DPWH website. The BAC will also issue hard copies of the BDs at
the same address to eligible bidders upon payment of a non-refundable fees of the
amount stated above for Bidding documents. Bidders that will download the BDs from
the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their bids.
The DPWH-Cotabato Second Engineering District, Midsayap, Cotabato reserves
the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding process anytime
before Contract Award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders.


APPROVED BY:

BARTOLOME T. PAGADUAN
(BAC Chairman)
(MST-Aug. 21, 2012)
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Public Works and Highways
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER
Cebu 1st District Engineering Ofce
Regional Equipment Services Compound
V. Sotto Street, Cebu City
I NVI TATI ON TO BI D
(MST-Aug. 16 & 21, 2012)
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Department of Public Works
and Highways, Cebu 1
st
District Engineering Ofce, through its Bids and Awards
Committee (BAC), invites contractors to bid for the aforementioned project :
Item No. 1
a. Contract ID : 12HD0047
b. Contract Name : Cluster XXIII Flood Control and Drainage System:
1. Drainage System along BCMDR, Php1,999,616.89
KO119+000-KO122+000 with -
exceptions, Poblacion-Antipolo
Section
2. Drainage System along Antonio Y - Php1,999,616.89
de Pio Highway, KO123+000-
KO124+207 with exceptions,
Kinawahan Section
3. Guiwanon Revetment along -
Toledo-Tabuelan Road, Php1,498,234.93
KO106+179
Total - Php5,497,468.71
c. Contract Location : Medellin, San Remigio and Tabuelan, Cebu
d. Scope of Work : Repair and Maintenance of Line Canal and Revetment
(Grouted Riprap)
e. Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php5,497,468.71
f. Contract Duration : 63 Calendar Days
g. Funding Source : RA Fund 101-General
h. Bid Document
Fee
: Php10,000.00
Procurement will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures
in accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations.
To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) and
must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino
citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture
with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (c) completion of
a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (d)
Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment
for at least 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the
eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids.
Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration
to the DPWH-POCW Central Offce before the deadline for the receipt of LO. The
DPWH-POCW Central Offce will only process contractor's applications for registration,
with complete requirements, and issue the Contractor's Registration Certifcate (CRC).
Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph
The signifcant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below:
1. Issuance of Bidding Documents : August 16, 2012 to August 28, 2012
2. Pre-bid Conference : August 24, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.
3. Receipt of LO's from Prospective Bidders : August 27, 2012 to August 29, 2012
4. Receipt of Bids : September 05, 2012
at 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
5. Opening of Bids : September 05, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.
Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accompanied forms as specifed in
the BD's in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The frst
envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include the
eligibility requirements. The second envelope shall contain the fnancial component
of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as
determined in the evaluation and the post qualifcation.

The Department of Public Works and Highways Cebu I
st
District
Engineering Ofhce reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul
the bidding process anytime before Contract award, without incurring any liability the
affected bidders.
Approved by:
(Sgd.) MARIETTA D. ECARMA
BAC Chairman
NOTED:
(Sgd.) WILFREDO AV. ENCISO, CEO VI
District Engineer
Business
ManilaStandardToday extrastory2000@gmail.com AUGUST 21, 2012 TUESDAY
B3
Big Chill considers PSE listing
Tetra Pak launches six
new packaging designs
Philexim to lend to electric co-ops
TETRA Pak, the worlds leading food processing and packaging
solutions company, recently unveiled six innovative packaging
designs at the Anuga Foodtec in Cologne, Germany.
The latest additions to the Tetra Pak portfolio are Tetra Brik Aseptic
Edge portion packages, Tetra Rex Pearl package, Tetra Gemina
Aseptic Leaf package, Tetra Gemina Aseptic Crystal package and two
new openingsHeliCap 27 and Lokka. The products pioneer ease-
of-use, intelligent design, exibility, production efciency, on-the-go
convenience and environmental concernin line with the companys
tradition of offering innovative food packaging solutions.
We are extremely pleased to be able to announce these additions
to our packaging portfolio. These six additions are highly distinctive
with functional new designs and are the result of our long-standing
commitment to innovation and design excellence. We are condent
these products will be enthusiastically received by our customers
and will raise the bar even higher in terms of functionality and
differentiation, said Charles Brand, Tetra Pak vice president for
marketing and product management.
Tetra Pak and its food and beverage industry customers are always
on the lookout for exible packaging solutions to address the growing
demands of consumers. Tetra Pak has launched the new Tetra Brik
Aseptic Edge portion packages which are convenient for consumers who
handle drinks on-the-go and also caters to single-person households. The
large sloping top and contoured side panels of the Tetra Brik Aseptic
Edge package also gives additional branding opportunities for customers
and enhanced product handling for consumers.
With increasing consumers expectations for products with
outstanding looks and excellent functionality, solutions that are apt
for premium beverage products have also been developed.
Tetra Rex Pearl package, specically designed for premium milk
and juice products, will be launched in the rst quarter of 2013. It has
a more curvaceous, simple droplet-shaped keyline which creates an
impactful side prole. The absence of a front horizontal crease line
of the package creates one large front panel which opens up branding
possibilities and also affords the space for a large, premium-looking
closure.
Suzuki upbeat. Suzuki Philippines Inc. presented the Kizashi model during the 4
th
Philippine
International Motor Show organized by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc.
at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Aug. 16 to 19. Suzuki Kizashi marks Suzuki Philippines entry
into the luxury vehicle sector. Shown during the event are (from left) Campi president Rommel Gutierrez,
Suzuki Philippines general manager for sales and marketing, automobile division Shuzo Hoshikura,
Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez and Suzuki Philippines president Satoshi Uchida.
By Alena Mae S. Flores
STATE-OWNED Philippine
Export-Import Credit Agency
has agreed to provide nancing
to electric cooperatives to enable
them to meet the security deposit
required by the wholesale
electricity spot market, an
ofcial said.
Philippine Electricity Market
Corp. president Melinda Ocampo
told reporters the electric coop-
eratives found it difcult to comply
with the prudential requirement of
the WESM, which serves as the
trading oor of electricity.
WESM members are required
to comply with the minimum
prudential requirement or
security deposits, which serve as
assurance for payments.
On Philexim Bank, we
asked, would you like to create
or establish a facility within the
PEMC so you will be catering to
those [who cannot comply with
the] prudential requirement.
They [Philexim] are agreeable...
but they will have to talk with the
NEA [National Electrication
Administration], Ocampo said.
The NEA, as regulator of the
electric cooperatives, may serve
as guarantor of the proposed
nancing from Phileximbank.
Ocampo said the PEMC,
which operates the WESM,
encountered problems with
electric cooperatives because of
their inability to comply with the
prudential requirement.
The PEMC ofcial said the
prudential requirement on
electric cooperatives was not
included in their rates, which
meant they had to raise it either
through loans or from internally-
generated funds.
If we look into methodology
of ECs, they are just breakeven,
they dont have buffer. Where
will they get the prudential
requirement... So we asked
Phileximbank, Ocampo said.
Ocampo said the prudential
requirements of electric
cooperatives varied, depending
on their respective consumption
and market exposure.
The Energy Department earlier
issued a circular that would help
electric cooperatives comply
with the prudential requirement
or security deposits required for
WESMs trading participants.
Energy Undersecretary Josena
Asirit said the circular was issued
to assist the electric cooperatives in
Luzon and the Visayas to comply
with the prudential requirement.
The business environment in
energy is very progressive so they
have to cope. ECs are now in a
changing environment, Asirit said.
Department Circular 2012-
06-007 directs NEA to develop
a mechanism for ensuring
the compliance of the electric
cooperatives with the requirements
of the WESM.
By Jenniffer B. Austria
FRUITS and vegetables grower
AgriNurture Inc. plans to list its fruit shake
chain Big Chill Inc. with the Philippine
Stock Exchange.
AgriNurture president and
chairman Antonio Tiu said
the company had declared
AgriNurture shares in Big
Chill as property dividends
to shareholders. He said the
move would widen the public
ownership of Big Chill and
make it qualify for PSE listing
by way of introduction.
The Big Chill is a corporation
engaged in the business of
selling beverages and food
products under the brands Big
Chill, Fresh Bar, CVerde
and Canefusion.
AgriNurture acquired 51
percent of Big Chill for P20
million last year, as the company
expanded into the retail business.
It also advanced P244 million to
Big Chill to expand its network
of stores from the current 40
branches.
It said subject to the terms and
conditions of the agreement and
the result of the due diligence
review, the P244-million
advances could be converted
into equity. Once converted,
AgriNurture will have an 80-
percent interest in Big Chill.
Tiu said AgriNurture had
big plans for Big Chill and
would use the fruit shake
chain to expand within the
region. The company is
initially putting up a Big
Chill outlet at the Hong Kong
International Airport.
He said Big Chill would also
complement the companys
coffee business.
Early this year, the company
ventured into the coffee shop
business with the signing of a
master license agreement with
Tullys Coffee International
Pte. Ltd. of Singapore, the
franchising subsidiary of
Seattle-based Tullys Coffee.
Tullys Coffee is a specialty
coffee retailer and wholesaler,
owned by Green Mountain
Coffee Roasters Inc. Its
stores serve specialty coffees,
espresso, baked goods, pastries
and coffee-related supplies.
AgriNurture is primarily
into exports of banana, papaya,
pineapple and mango to parts of
Southeast Asia, Canada, Europe,
South Korea and the Middle
East. The bulk of its produce is
shipped to China.
It is now into the planting
of rice, corn and high-value
vegetables. Since these products
are perishable, the company
is looking to extend the shelf
life putting up cold storage
facilities.
MAYOR Leonardo Escobillo
of Tampakan, South Cotabato,
the site of one of the worlds
largest undeveloped copper-gold
mines, met recently with visiting
Australian ambassador to the
Philippines William Thomas
Tweddell and initiated discussion
on assistance for vocational and
technical education program
initiatives.
Tampakan is asking for help
in the delivery of technical
education programs and
courses and we hope to address
this issue with help from
the Australian ambassador,
Escobillo said.
Tweddell, who was in
South Cotabato as a visitor of
Sagittarius Mines Inc., said the
Australian government is keen on
identifying areas in the education
sector in the Philippines where
it can help, including technical
skills education for out-of-
school-youth.
Tweddell was with Australian
minister counselor for trade
Anthony Weymouth in his visit
to Tampakan.
Tampakan is the site of the
proposed Tampakan copper-gold
project, technically managed
by Swiss-Australian company
Xstrata plc, with SMI as its
local unit and the Philippine
government as contractor for the
project.
Education is a terric
amount of what we do in the
Philippines, and its one of our
agship programs that we have,
Tweddell said.
The Embassy is very
committed in identifying the
needs of the communities in
terms of education, Weymouth
added.
Weymouth also said the
Australian government is working
with the Philippine education
department in order to implement
the K-12 system in the country.
We continue to look for
opportunities where we can
Tampakan mayor meets with Aussie envoy
help in the improvement of the
education sector, Weymouth
said.
Escobillo said the Tampakan
local government was working
with different private sector
partners such as SMI in its
education programs and
initiatives.
We need more instructional
equipment for our technical
courses as well as fund to hire
technical instructors, Escobillo
said.
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
AUGUST 21, 2012 TUESDAY
B4
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Manila Standard TODAY
Provinces
Edited by Leo A. Estonilo www.manilastandardtoday.comleoestonilo@gmail.com
IN BRIEF
Watchdog: Party-listers well-heeled
26 automatic weather stations installed
Isabela tops
Cagayan jail
awards
Onemigs ood aid
ORANIFormer actor turned businessman
Juan Miguel Onemig Bondoc distributed
packs of rice to more than 1,000 ood-
displaced families in Bataan.
The outreach covered Orani and
Dinalupihan towns.
Bondocs team took a boat to reach the
isolated Sitio Pulo, Barangay Kabalutan,
this town, where he distributed rice to
households before proceeding to Barangay
Kaparangan.
May Zuniga, who joined the mission, said
stranded families were eating porridge once a
day at the height of the torrential rains amid
waist-high oodwaters. Bondoc also
distributed rice packs to more than 400
families in Dinalupihan.
Fellow Mason Alex Manluta said the
mission would include other calamity-strck
sections of the province.
Bondoc, who is running for vice governor
next year, hails from Abucay town and
resides in Mariveles where hes a registered
voter. Butch Gunio
Irrigation turned over
MALUNGON-Sarangani Governor
Migs Dominguez joined Upper Biangan
Chairman Reumero Geonson in receiving
a communal irrigation package worth
P3,932,718.
The Silway-Buayan Regional Irrigation
System under the National Irrigation
Administration turned over the facility
to association president Juralde Deposo
witnessed by Board Member Eleanor
Saguiguit and Engr. Gina Lozano, acting
chief of ofce of Silway-Buayan RIS-
Sarangani Province.
The Upper Biangan project is part of
NIA head Fernando Nagels thrust to
rehabilitate, restore and construct irrigation
systems to help achieve food security and
alleviate poverty in the countryside.
Started in March 14 last year and
completed Aug. 14, the project is composed
of 290 meters lined main canal and 2,320
meters lined lateral canal.
Jenny Rose G. de Guzman SIA
By Dexter A. See
BAGUIO CITYTwenty six localities
in Northern and Central Luzon recently
received automatic weather stations
from the League of Cities of the
Philippines.
League president Jeremy Philippe
Nishimori said the partnership of
government and the private sector in
climate change adaptation and disaster
risk reduction and mitigation is fast
gaining support from various sectors
led by Union Bank, Aboitiz Power and
Weather Philippines Foundation.
We want our cities to be appropriate
equipped in monitoring weather
patterns and disturbances anywhere in
the country, Nishimori told Manila
Standard, adding that being able to
monitor weather disturbances on real
time would allow contingency plans
to be implemented to reduce casualties
and damages.
The station keeps track of
metrological conditions such as
rainfall, wind speed and direction,
humidity and temperature with hourly
analysis which is posted online to
update weather reports.
Celso Caballero, Weather Philippines
Foundation general manager, said
the advocacy supports government-
run weather forecasting for wider
reach aiming for zero-casualty during
calamities.
We will be distributing around
1,000 AWS devices around the country
in the next several years and that such
devices will be linked to a weather
portal, thereby enhancing the countrys
weather monitoring capabilities,
Caballero told Manila Standard.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan
said weather stations would boost
disaster preparedness to guide us in
decision-making, particularly in the
early suspension of classes and the
evacuation of people in risky areas
around the city.
The stations were deployed in
Baguio and Tabuk in the Cordillera
Administrative Region; Laoag and
Batac in Ilocos Norte; Vigan and
Candon, Ilocos Sur; San Fernando
City, La Union; Tuguegarao, Cagayan;
Ilagan, Cauayan and Santiago in
Isabela; Urdaneta, Dagupan, Alaminos
and San Carlos in Pangasinan; San
Jose, Cabanatuan and Gapan in Nueva
Ecija; Tarlac; City of Sanfernando
and Angeles in Pampanga; Olongapo
in Zambales; Bataan and Balanga in
Bataan; and Meycauayan, Bulacan.
By Jessica M. Bacud
TUGUEGARAO CITYThe Bureau of Jail Management
and Penology in Region 2 chose
Isabela Provincial Ofce as Cagayan Valleys detention
center of the year along with Santiago City District Jail and
Gattaran Municipal Jail.
Senior Supt. Abraham Abella, regional director, said
recognizing the exemplary performance and efforts of jail staff
would motivate them to be faithful to their duty in promoting
public safety while providing humane safekeeping and
Senior Inspector Ruben Domingo bagged the staff ofcer of
the year award along with Chief Inspector Mark Brian Dirain,
as top provincial administrator.
Completing the outstanding ofcers are Senior Inspector
Juliet Miranda, district jail warden; Inspector Rodolfo Arao,
junior ofcer; SJO4 Stanley Ginez, municipal jail warden;
SJO4 Antonio Guiyab, male junior non-commissioned ofcer;
JO2 Wilma Borrinaga, female junior non-commissioned
ofcer; SJO4 Anabel Guitering, female warden of the year;
JO1 Mark Dominic Albano, male JNCO unit level; JO1
Lourdes Calimaran, female JNCO unit level; and Jarrissa
Sebes, non-uniform personnel of the year.
Abella also recognized partner agencies and private
organizations for their contributions together with religious
groups and Rotary Club-Rainbow for outreach programs
benetting detainees.
By Christine F. Herrera

AFTER An Waray, Ako Bicol and Abante
Mindanao won seats in Congress, known
rich politicians, who lost in the legislative
district race, will also run representing
their localities to return to power through
the party-list system.
These were Abyan Ilonggo,
Ako Ang Batang Sora, Ako
Bisaya Political Party, AKO
Karay-A, Alliance of Mindanao
Elders and Agbiag! Timpuyog
Ilocano.
The Kontra Daya anti-fraud
group wanted all of them
disqualied.
According to Kontra Daya
convenor Fr. Joe Dizon, the
Abyan Ilonggo led a petition
with the Commission on
Elections as a political party
based in Region VI. The group
was represented by former Iloilo
Rep. Rolex Suplico as the party
president.
But Dizon said the list released
by the Comelec included the
Abyan Ilonggo among the
accredited party-list groups.
Suplico was the No. 1
nominee with Diana Biron, Jose
Christopher Fornier II, Lyndeen
John Deloria and Francis Lavilla
as other nominees.
It is unclear which
marginalized and
underrepresented sector Abyan
Ilonggo seeks to represent.
However, following the title
of its original petition with the
Comelec, Abyan Ilonggo is
trying to represent the whole
of Region VI, the Western
Visayas, Dizon said.
This fact clearly disqualies
AI to participate in the party-list
system because Region VI is not
a sector as enumerated under
the law, nor a marginalized and
underrepresented sector, he
said.
Dizon said Region VI is
fully represented in Congress,
covering Aklan, Antique, Negros
Occidental, Capiz, Guimaras
and Iloilo with 16 districts.
Suplicos groups second
nominee Biron does not
belong to the marginalized
and underrepresented sectors.
She is the President of Phil
Pharmawealth, which is
involved in drug importation
and trading business.
The Web site of Philippine
International Trading Corp.
lists ve branches of FERJ
Pharmacies in the province of
Iloilo.
Biron is also the mother of
incumbent Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel
Biron. Birons listed net worth
in 2004 is P231 million.
Neither does third nominee
Jose Christopher Fornier II
belong to the marginalized and
underrepresented sector. He
comes from the Forneir clan of
Antique, Diaz said.
He raised the same issue
against Ako Ang Batang
Sora, alleging that it has
no intention of genuinely
representing the marginalized
and underrepresented is if
its nominees have the same
surnames or are related as a
family as this ABS party list
is.
ABS rst nominee is Vanessa
Rose Susano Francisco, the niece
of former Quezon City Rep.
Mary Ann Susano. Co-nominee,
Maricel Susano Francisco is the
sister of Vanessa Rose. A third
nominee, Michael Ryan Susano
Francisco, is the brother of the
1st and 2nd nominees.
Clearly, ABS has no bona
de intention to represent
the marginalized and
underrepresented sectors they
claim to represent, Diaz said.
Rather, ABS is established
to promote the interest and
maintain political power of the
Susano Francisco clan.
Dizon said Agbiag claiming
to represent farmers had no
nominee belonging to the
agriculture sector.
Its rst nominee for 2013 is
incumbent Agbiag Rep. Patricio
Antonio, who allegedly had a
P55.642 million net worth in
2011.
Agbiag has no bona de
intention to represent the
agriculture sector as it claims,
Dizon said. During its term in
Congress, it failed to contribute
any legislation which beneted
the farmer sector.
For three years, as member
of the 15th Congress, Agbiag,
through its representative
Antonio, authored three House
Resolutions and no bills at all,
Dizon noted.
These three resolutions do
not pertain to anything related
to the farmer or agricultural
sector.
SOUTH East Asian Airlines has teamed up with
the Department of Tourism to launch its travel
drive at the Kadayawan Festival in Davao.
Two brand-new SEAIR Airbus 320s with the
message Its More Fun in the Philippines
on their fuselage will fly daily from Clark
International Aiport to
Singapore, Bangkok,
Hong Kong, Kota
Kinabalu, and Kalibo-
-the gateway to
Boracay.
SEAIR has imbibed
the spirit of the DOT
campaign with the
creative application of
our new tourism slogan,
Tourism Secretary Ramon
Jimenez Jr. said. It is
the first airline in the
Philippines to help spread
the word that its more fun
in the Philippines, and
we congratulate SEAIR
for taking the initiative
to promote Philippine
tourism in such a unique
way.
Chief executive Patrick
Tan of SEAIR expressed support to Jimenezs
campaign.
With SEAIRs daily regional flights, we are
spreading the news that Philippines is where
travel is at its best, he said. The sights and
sounds that our country has to offer are some
of the best-kept secrets in the world and we are
proud to be able to play a role in getting the word
out and getting more travelers to experience all
the things we have to offer.
SEAIR launched the drive during Davaos
Kadayawan harvest festivities.
The airline has two flights a day to the premier
Mindanao hub from the Manila Domestic
Airport, also known as Ninoy Aquino International
Airport Terminal 4.
DOT has granted SEAIR the right to use the
campaign logo and slogan for the next three
years.
We will ensure that the fun begins when
travelers first step onboard our flights for a
seamless, comfortable, and safe journey to the
Philippines via Clark, Tan said.
Tiger Airways recently announced that it has
acquired a 40 percent stake in SEAIR to beef up
its regional expansion.
SEAIR unveils fun theme at Kadayawan Festival in Davao
Victor Jose Luciano, Clark International Airport Corp. president and chief
executive (left) joins SEAIR co-founder Iren Dornier, Tourism Secretary Ramon
Jimenez Jr., SEAIR chief executive Secretary Patrick Tan and SEAIR co-founder
Nikos Gitsis at the campaign launch.
Warm welcome. House Assistant Minority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin FM Romualdez is met by students of Sta. Fe Central
School where he distributed more than 900 text books for grade 1 to 6 levels. VER NOVENO