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Carlo Paalam outclasses Irish foe to zero in on guaranteed Olympic boxing medal

delfin.dioquino editor

31/07/2024 22:35

WINNER. Boxer Carlo Paalam of the Philippines in action against Jude Gallagher of Ireland in the round of 16 of the men's 57kg division in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Piroschka Van De Wouw/REUTERS MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam stands a win away from being a two-time Olympic medalist. Paalam moved closer to that goal in the Paris Games after advancing to the quarterfinals of the men’s 57kg division, beating Ireland’s Jude Gallagher via unanimous decision at the North Paris Arena on Wednesday, July 31. Seeking to repeat as an Olympic medalist after bagging silver in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, Paalam claimed his place in the quarterfinals with scores of 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28. Up next for Paalam is fourth seed Charlie Senior of Australia as they tangle on Saturday, August 3, for a spot in the semifinals. All of the four semifinalists are guaranteed of at least a bronze. Despite moving up to 57kg after competing in the lighter 52kg class in Tokyo, Paalam remained light on his feet as he proved to be an elusive target for the 22-year-old Gallagher, who debuted in the Olympics. Paalam earned the nod of three of the five judges in the opening round then clinched the second round with a 5-0 score to virtually seal the deal. The taller Gallagher went for broke in the third round, hoping to land a knockout but to no avail as Paalam wasted precious time by circling the ring and dodging attacks from the Irish. Paalam got the Philippine boxing team back on track after Eumir Marcial (men’s 80kg) and Hergie Bacyadan (women’s 75kg) both dropped their opening bouts in the round of 16. Marcial suffered an upset loss at the hands of 20-year-old Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan, while Bacyadan bowed to top seed Li Qian of China. Aiming to join Paalam in the quarterfinals are Nesthy Petecio (women’s 57kg) and Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg) as they return to action on August 3 and 4, respectively. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Fishing banned in Limay, Bataan due to oil spill

Iya Gozum

30/07/2024 16:02

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard create improvised oil spill booms as part of containment efforts after oil tanker MT Terranova capsized and submerged off Limay, Bataan. PCG BATAAN, Philippines – A fishing ban is already in place in Limay, Bataan, Governor Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III said on Tuesday, July 30, days after MT Terranova capsized and submerged off Lamao in Limay last July 25. Garcia said the fishing ban was imposed by Limay Mayor Nelson David. Water samples taken from four barangays in Limay, Bataan, were also found to have levels of oil and grease that exceeded standard limits set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, deeming them unsuitable for fishing and swimming. Water bodies are suited for fishing if oil and grease concentration found in samples only amounted to 3 milligrams per liter (mg/L) or below, and safe for swimming if oil and grease concentration is only 2 mg/L or below. Based on a presentation on Tuesday by Raphael de Leon, officer-in-charge of Bataan’s Environment and Natural Resources Office, the four areas not suitable for fishing and swimming are: Samples from Barangay Francis I, Barangay Wawa, and Barangay Luz Kitang were taken on July 25, while the water sample from Lamao was taken on July 26. There were two stations in Barangay Luz Kitang where samples were taken. The water sample from the other station only registered 2.4 mg/L of oil and grease. Results were shown to reporters in Balanga, Bataan, on Tuesday. Meanwhile, water samples taken from three barangays in Mariveles (namely Batangas II, Lucanin, and Townsite) did not exceed standard limits for fishing and swimming. Bataan, especially Lamao, is grappling with the oil spill caused by the sunken MT Terranova, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil. In the days that followed, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) had deployed oil spill booms and is currently sealing the valves before contracted salvor Harbor Star can start siphoning operations. Experts had forecasted that the oil spill could reach Metro Manila by Tuesday, July 30. But in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan said based on their aerial inspection earlier in the day, no oil sheen was seen going toward Manila. While the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said around 11,000 fisherfolk would be affected by the oil spill, Garcia estimated that at least 14,000 fisherfolk from nine coastal municipalities in Bataan could bear the brunt of the maritime incident. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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No POGOs inside Cagayan special economic zone, says CEZA

Joann Manabat - CMS

31/07/2024 17:40

'NO POGOS IN CEZA.' Cagayan Economic Zone Authority administrator and chief executive officer, Katrina Ponce Enrile delivers her 20-minute opening remark at the third joint committee hearing of the House on public order and safety, and games and amusement on July 31, 2024. Screenshot via House of Representatives YouTube PAMPANGA, Philippines – “There are no POGOs (Philippine offshore gaming operations) in the Cagayan special economic zone and freeport. There never was and never will be.” This was part of the 20-minute opening statement of Katrina Ponce Enrile, administrator and chief executive officer of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) during the joint hearing on Wednesday, July 31, of the House committees on public order and safety, and games and amusement. Also in the hearing was her father, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and former senator Juan Ponce Enrile. The Enrile patriarch authored Republic Act 7922 or the Cagayan Special Economic Zone Act of 1995. This law established CEZA as both a gaming authority and a special economic zone. CEZA oversees and regulates offshore interactive gaming (iGaming) operations which predates the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s (Pagcor) POGOs by over a decade. Katrina said CEZA maintained a record free of the criminal activities associated with POGOs such as kidnapping, torture, human trafficking, and murder. “There has not even a single instance of crimes associated with POGOs under CEZA’s watch. It never had any instances of kidnapping, human trafficking, torture, scams, and murder,” she said. “CEZA established itself as the first interactive gaming jurisdiction in Asia and stood at the forefront of regulatory innovation. The intention was to attract established and credible gaming operators in Europe and North America to outsource their services,” she said. Katrina presented in the hearing a dozen key distinctions between the CEZA’s regulation of iGaming operations and POGOs. “”I believe that the distinction between CEZA and PAGCOR are some of the keys to our orderly regulation of iGaming,” she said. The distinction she referred were: The Cagayan special economic zone also hosts  seaport operations, tourism, real estate development, and upcoming industrial parks. Meanwhile, House Deputy Speaker and Isabela 1st District Representative Antonio Albano asked the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) to issue a public apology on the alleged presence of POGOs near Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites. The Camilo Osias Naval Base Camilo in Sta. Ana town in Cagayan province is about 7.8 kilometers from CEZA according to Google Maps. Although PAOCC refused to provide comment as of this writing, PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio has said the information was based on intelligence reports and documents from the Securities and Exchange Commission. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Pizza for a cause! a mano and Toyo Eatery collab for 3 new Filipino-inspired pies

Steph Arnaldo

31/07/2024 17:59

MANILA, Philippines – Ever had tortang talong pizza? Or Neopolitan pizza with banana ketchup-tomato sauce? What about lechon on a pizza? Amado Forés’ a mano and Chef Jordy Navarra’s Toyo Eatery have teamed up to create “Kamayan Pizza,” three unique pizza pies to celebrate a mano’s fifth anniversary while honoring the Filipino farmers of Good Food Community. “We admire Jordy Navarra and Toyo Eatery so much,” shared Forés. “Toyo Eatery has always championed Filipino ingredients and those who produce them. We agreed that we wanted to give back to those who farm the ingredients we use every day.” Starting end of July until August 26, a mano’s Kamayan Pizzas are available in all a mano’s branches, melding Toyo’s innovative Filipino takes with a mano’s traditional Italian techniques. All profits from the collaboration will go to Good Food Community, which advocates for ethical and ecological farming, supporting smallholder farmers through initiatives like deliveries and markets. Two of the three inventive flavors may not be for the picky eaters, but adventurous foodies may enjoy them! You can’t go wrong with the Si Margarita Pizza (P650), a classic and simple overall favorite that’s perfect for kids. that Using a mano’s crispy-thin Neopolitan crust, the toppings include banana-tomato red sauce (which adds a subtle sweetness to the conventional pizza sauce), creamy Kesong Puti, FiordiLatte Latteria Sorrentina, sulasi (holy basil), and fresh basil. If you love eggplant in any way, shape, or form, maybe the Tortang Talong Pizza (P810) would pique your interest? The same pizza crust and banana-tomato sauce feature thinly-sliced grilled eggplant kesong puti-ricotta blend, and egg yolk sauce drizzled on top. Because of the grilled talong, this pizza leans towards a smokier flavor profile. The Lechon & Pinya Pizza (P940) could be seen as a different and “localized” spin on the Hawaiian pizza. Strips of soft lechon porchetta are placed atop banana-tomato sauce and FiordiLatte Latteria Sorrentina. I liked the dehydrated pinya crisps on top – similar to paper-thin dried mangoes almost – that offered a sweet and tart, chewy element to the porky pizza. It’s topped with bits of crispy lechon skin, and is meant to be dipped in the homemade spiced vinegar on the side. “Because we are a mano diners to begin with, when we were asked if a collaboration pizza was something we were interested in, it was a no-brainer for us to say yes,” Chef Jordy said. Last September, AF Hospitality’s a mano made it to the 50 Top Pizza’s 2023 list of the 100 best pizzerias in the world. It was recognized as the 12th best pizzeria in the Asia-Pacific region and awarded the Best Pasta Proposal in 2024, five years after opening in 2019. a mano has branches in Bonifacio Global City, Gateway Mall, and Power Plant Mall. Celebrating humble ingredients and traditional techniques, Makati City’s Toyo Eatery has earned accolades such as the Miele One to Watch Award and the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award from the Asia’s Best Restaurants Academy. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Tiramisu inventor Roberto Linguanotto dies at 81

jreyes0314

31/07/2024 18:15

TIramisu inventor Roberto Linguanotto dies at 81. Screenshot from Tiramesù Linguanotto's YouTube page MANILA, Philippines – Italian pastry chef and owner of renowned restaurant Le Beccherie, Roberto Linguanotto, died at 81 due to a long-term illness. In a Facebook post, the Italian restaurant announced the death of the culinary legend. “We join the mourning for the passing of Roberto ‘Loli’ Linguanotto, who marked the history of Beccherie and the most beloved dessert in the world. His memory lives in our restaurant! Thank you, Loli,” the restaurant wrote in Italian. According to Le Beccherie, the Tiramisu or Tiramesù was first introduced to their menu in 1972 but its experimentation dates back to 1955. It has become a restaurant staple since then. The beloved dessert was “accidentally” born when Linguanotto spilled mascarpone, a key ingredient of Tiramisu, into a bowl of sugar and eggs. The ladyfingers soaked in espresso were then added through the help of Alba di Pillo-Campeol, perfecting the recipe that we know and enjoy. It was first served on a round tray with coffee-soaked ladyfingers and two layers of cream and mascarpone. More than ten years since it was introduced, it was published in a Treviso gastronomic magazine. When it was taken to Venice by the restaurant, its popularity grew bigger and was eventually dubbed as the culinary symbol of Italy and Veneto, a region in northeastern Italy. In honor of the late inventor, Veneto’s president Luca Zaia shared his sentiments on a Facebook post. “I join in mourning for the passing of Roberto “Loli” Linguanotto, pastry chef who marked the breakthrough of the Trevigiana and Veneta pastry shop by rediscovering and relaunching tiramisu, a traditional product today of culinary excellence recognized worldwide,” Zaia wrote in Italian. President Zaia also acknowledged the inventor’s contribution to the success of the region’s cuisine and called it “inimitable.” “To his family and friends, as well as those who appreciated him, my closeness and sympathy goes to him,” he added. – with reports from Fore Esperanza/Rappler.com Fore Esperanza is a Rappler intern. She’s taking up English language studies at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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SALN TRACKER: House of Representatives

Jodesz Gavilan

31/07/2024 17:03

MANILA, Philippines – Government officials and employees are required to submit their Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs). Journalists have always engaged in a back and forth with public officials to obtain copies of their SALNs. This is because “the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests,” according to the to Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. The Rappler research team has sent letters requesting copies of these SALNs, and we want to take readers every step of the way. Below is the tracker for SALN requests sent to each House leader, including Speaker Martin Romualdez. As of July 31, none of them has released their SALNs to Rappler. Each status refers to the following: Rappler is publishing in the coming days story pages containing trackers of SALN requests sent to each House member, categorized by province. The pages will be updated each time we receive a response. Track Rappler’s request for the SALN of other officials: – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Joanie Delgaco races for final time in Olympics, vies for 19th to 24th places

delfin.dioquino editor

31/07/2024 17:37

IN FORM. Rower Joanie Delgaco in action for the Philippines. Philippine Rowing Association Facebook page MANILA, Philippines – Filipina rower Joanie Delgaco will race for the last time in the Paris Olympics. Delgaco dropped to the classification final D of the women’s single sculls after placing fifth in her semifinal C/D race with a time of 8 minutes and 00.18 seconds at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on Wednesday, July 31. Crossing the first 500m at fourth place, Delgaco fell to sixth midway through but pushed herself in the final 500m to avoid finishing last in the race topped by Serbia’s Jovana Arsic (7:44.60). Slovenia’s Nina Kostanjsek (7:48.86) and Brazil’s Beatriz Cunha Tavares Cardoso (7:49.96) were second and third as they joined Arsic in the final C, where the 13th to 18th places will be contended. Paraguay’s Alejandra Alonso Alderete (7:56.50) beat Delgaco for fourth, while Iran’s Fatemeh Mojallaltopraghghale (8:06.23) ended up sixth. It was the slowest finish for Delgaco in the Olympics after clocking 7:56.26 in the heats, 7:55.00 in the repechage, and 7:58.30 in the quarterfinals. Delgaco, though, can end her campaign on a high note as she vies for the 19th to 24th places in the final D set on Saturday, August 3. Only Benjamin Tolentino secured a top-20 finish among the three previous rowers that represented the Philippines in the Olympics as he placed 18th in the men’s single sculls in the 2000 Sydney Games. Also competing in the men’s single sculls, Ed Maerina (1988 Seoul) and Cris Nievarez (2020 Tokyo) ranked 22nd and 23rd, respectively. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Cynthia Villar eyes return to Las Piñas politics in 2025

Bonz Magsambol

31/07/2024 17:44

File photo of Senator Cynthia Villar Rappler.com MANILA, Philippines – Senator Cynthia Villar is eyeing a return to Las Piñas politics in 2025 as her second term in the Senate ends next year. In a chance interview with reporters on Wednesday, Julu 31,, the senator said that she has yet to decide if she would run for Las Piñas mayor or as congresswoman. “Gusto ko magmayor. Si senator [Manny] Villar gusto niya mag-congresswoman ako,” Villar said.(I want to run for mayor but former senator Manny Villar wants me to run for congresswoman.) “Tingin ko malaki ang maitutulong ko sa Las Piñas. Tingin naman ni Manny mas may value ako sa Congress,” she added. (I think I can make a significant contribution to Las Piñas. Manny, on the other hand, believes I have more value in Congress.) The senator said that she will decide on which position to run for by October, when the filing of certificates of candidacy begins. She said she wants to continue her environmental advocacies in Las Piñas, among others. “May farm school ako sa Las Piñas, may river rehabilitation program, may Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park, may drug rehab center kami doon,” she said. (I have a farm school in Las Piñas, a river rehabilitation program, the Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park, and a drug rehabilitation center there.) Prior to winning a seat in the Senate in 2013, Villar served as Las Piñas representative. Villar’s niece, Las Piñas Vice Mayor April Aguilar, is said to be running for mayor in 2025. Villar’s daughter, Deputy Speaker Camille Villar Genuino, is gunning for a Senate seat next year. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Carlos Yulo shoots for Olympic gymnastics medal in loaded all-around final

delfin.dioquino editor

31/07/2024 6:16

BALANCE. The Philippines' Carlos Edriel Yulo in action during the men's floor exercise final in the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Yves Herman/REUTERS MANILA, Philippines – If things go his way, Carlos Yulo may end up as the Philippines’ first medalist in the Paris Olympics. Yulo hopes to capitalize on the first of his three shots at a medal as he competes in the men’s artistic gymnastics individual all-around final at the Bercy Arena on Wednesday, July 31. The reigning Asian all-around champion, Yulo showed he can go toe-to-toe with the best in the world after placing ninth in the qualification with a total of 83.631 points. Yulo aims to bank on his pet events as he placed second in floor exercise with 14.766 points and sixth in vault with an average of 14.683 points to reach the finals of both apparatuses. His performances in the other apparatuses were promising, with Yulo posting 14.333 in parallel bars, 13.466 in horizontal bar, and 13.066 in pommel horse – marks that were all higher than his scores in the Tokyo Games. Yulo netted his lowest score in still rings with 13.000. Former world champion Zhang Boheng of China topped the all-around qualification with 88.597 points, followed by Japan’s Shinnosuke Oka (86.865) and Daiki Hashimoto (85.064), who led their country to the team gold. His Olympic title defense in horizontal bar crushed after surprisingly failing to make the final, Hashimoto hopes to bounce back by retaining the individual all-around gold he won in the Tokyo Games. China’s Xiao Ruoteng, who finished as runner-up to Hashimoto, placed fourth in the qualification with 84.898 points, while Great Britain’s Jake Jarman (84.897) and Joe Fraser (84.666) landed fifth and sixth, respectively. Ukraine’s Oleg Verniaiev netted 84.631 points for seventh and Italy’s Yumin Abbadini edged Yulo for eighth with 83.933 points. Other notable names in the 24-man all-around final include World Artistic Gymnastics Championships medalists Illia Kovtun of Ukraine and Milad Karimi of Kazakhstan. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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[Vantage Point] Does Meralco favor imported LNG?

Glenda Gloria

31/07/2024 15:58

The Philippines is experiencing fast-growing demand for electricity. The government projects a 6.5 to 7.5% increase in peak demand in 2024, and 6.5 to 8% from 2025 to 2028. The Luzon grid alone is estimated to have a peak demand of 13,917 megawatts in 2024, compared to 12,550 MW in 2023. Between 2020 and 2040, meeting these yearly peak power requirements stays perilous if we were to factor in the economic prospects expected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This year, the Philippine economy is forecasted to be at P26.55 trillion which, if achieved, would make it the world’s 32nd largest by nominal GDP and 13th largest in Asia according to the IMF. Most analysts that Vantage Point has spoken to blame power supply issues, which could possibly throw a monkey wrench into the economy from fully blossoming. The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) believes that the threat of power supply deficiency has always been a major concern during the dry season when the El Niño weather phenomenon triggers higher-than-usual temperatures. ICSC says this weather disturbance negatively affects hydropower capacity across the country. The most affected is Luzon, where hydroelectric dispatch has been projected to decline by 22% during the first quarter of the year compared with the same period last year. Consequently, the government through the Department of Energy (DOE) will conduct within August of this year the Third Round of the Green Energy Auction (GEA-3) for hydropower and geothermal projects having a total power of 4,399 megawatts (MW). It is hoped that the green energy auctions will boost the development of renewables as the country aims to reach 35% renewables share by 2030. Analysts point out that the Philippines cannot completely take off economically due to the instability of the country’s power supply — and the unreasonable electricity costs. In a March 2024 report, global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company also projected that the Philippines’ power output and electricity generation and distribution are expected to increase by 7% year-on-year (YoY) in 2024. It  pinpointed gas, renewables, and transmission development as potential growth drivers. McKinsey also said that the Philippines could aim to generate 50% of its energy from renewables by 2040, taking advantage of its high renewable energy potential and the declining production costs. According to the report, the country could ensure energy security through the importation of liquified natural gas (LNG), noting that the Malampaya gas reserve will soon be depleted. LNG is positioned to be a transitional fuel given the country’s moratorium on coal. “High global inflation and the fact that the Philippines is a net fuel importer are impacting electricity prices and the build-out of planned renewable energy projects,” the report read, remarking how recent regulatory moves to remove foreign ownership limits on exploration, development, and utilization of renewable energy resources could accelerate growth in the country’s energy and power sector. The importation of LNG as a way to mitigate power crisis has led some sectors to question the virtual monopoly of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) in the National Capital Region (NCR). The NCR — the country’s economic hub — has for years, been reliant on a single power distribution company. The recent red and yellow alerts which signify power supply shortages have impelled  Meralco to procure up to 3,000MW of additional electricity. Critics say that by the very nature of its business, Meralco is required to buy power through the competitive selection process (CSP) with the end view of getting the lowest costs. At least 2,400 MW out of 3,000 MW went to power plants that run on natural gas, but the caveat, critics argue, is that the winning bidders operate on imported, instead of local LNG. Those operating on local gas were left empty-handed. The argument put forth by critics is that the terms of reference (TOR) are tilted in favor of plants using imported LNG. Under the TOR, qualified bidders are those which are operating for less than 10 years. Therefore, newer plants which run on imported LNG are the only ones qualified. This apparent bias, they claim, will hurt consumers because imported LNG costs more. One of the winning bidders, for instance, was a power plant that runs on imported LNG which declared a P7 per kilowatt hour (kWh) cost. In reality, however, the cost would be no lower than P8 per kWh. Because the gap between declared and actual prices is simply undisclosed or not obvious to a layperson, and constitute what are called hidden fees. More troubling, according to critics, is the attempt by some vested interests to paint local gas as the more expensive type of fuel, which to them, is an outright falsehood. They cite reports showing that a significant portion of the awarded power contracts were granted to plants running on imported LNG rather than  those tapping into the local indigenous gas reserves of the Malampaya field. The bias for imported LNG concerns them the most when cost implications are considered. Importing LNG, they say, incurs additional expenses, such as shipping and conversion costs, which significantly inflate the actual cost of electricity production. Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications, told Vantage Point in a Viber message that all the bidding rules were complied with and the lowest bidder won. He also stated that: •    Conducting a bidding that requires power plants operating for less than 10 years is in no way discriminatory. On the contrary, it is consistent with the policy objective of the competitive selection process (CSP) rules to “encourage the development of greenfield power projects to provide additional power generation capacity.” •    It is a baseless accusation that stem from the interest of those who favor certain generation facilities to continue getting long-term contracts. •    Santa Rita and San Lorenzo are the two plants that have been supplying Meralco’s requirements for the past years. Even if no limitation to greenfield projects was defined in the TOR, they were not qualified to join the 1,800MW and 1,200MW CSPs because they are still fully contracted with Meralco until August 2025 and October 2027, respectively, on the delivery date requirement for the 1,800MW CSP. •    While First NatGas Power Corporation (FNPC), another plant that uses Malampaya gas, joined the bidding for 1,800 MW capacity, its offer of P8.45 per kWh did not comply with the reserve price set by CSP. Not only was the offer significantly higher than the winning bid of P7 per kWh, which was all-in with no hidden charges, it was even higher than FNPC’s own cost under its earlier power supply agreement (PSA) with Meralco. •    Another point worth emphasizing is that, for the Santa Rita plant, which is still contracted with Meralco, the Malampaya owners raised its gas price by around 10% when they renewed the Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) in January 2024. This increase in the cost of the indigenous fuel is currently being reviewed by the Energy Regulatory commission (ERC). •    Meanwhile, the old GSPA with the San Lorenzo plant also expired last July. Meralco will have to check the next billing to see if a similar increase in the Malampaya cost will be imposed under their new GSPA. Zaldarriaga pointed out that Meralco’s mandate is to award the contract to least-cost offers because doing otherwise just to accommodate a particular energy source would not make sense. He said that, if plants using indigenous gas could indeed offer cheaper supply, then they should be able to submit the best offers. Claims that the effective rate of local LNG in March 2024 was only P5 per kWh, compared to P6 per kWh of the imported LNG, should have enabled plants using Malampaya gas to offer such a competitive rate during the actual bidding. “To say that Meralco’s TOR discriminates is just plain malicious,” Zaldarriaga declared.  He mentioned that, consistent with government policies, certain CSP TORs of Meralco particularly cite that “pursuant to the DOE Advisory dated October 11, 2023, power suppliers with natural-gas fired power plants are highly encouraged to participate in the Bidding and prioritize the use of indigenous natural gas.” He added that another bidding is underway, and plants using natural gas will have the opportunity to submit their best offers. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Teenager Carlo Acutis, ‘patron of the internet,’ to be first millennial saint

Paterno Esmaquel II

23/05/2024 18:40

NEW SAINT. Carlo Acutis, who died at the age of 15 in 2006, is dubbed as the 'patron saint of the internet.' carloacutis.com MANILA, Philippines – Italian teenager Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia at the age of 15, will be declared a Catholic saint after a miracle was attributed to his intercession, the Vatican confirmed on Thursday, May 23. Acutis will be canonized, or included in the Catholic Church’s canon or roster of saints, along with three others, according to the Vatican announcement in Italian. Acutis, a young computer programmer who died on October 12, 2006, is touted as a saint for the 21st century. He has also been dubbed “the first millennial saint,” one who even watched Pokémon and used the PlayStation. The teenager is best known for his extraordinary acts of kindness, including the time he bought a sleeping bag for a homeless man, his deep prayer life, and his effort to build a website documenting Eucharistic miracles around the world. The website, which is still online, is accessible in at least 18 languages, including Filipino. He called the Eucharist, or what Catholics believe to be the real body and blood of Christ which is offered at Mass, as the “highway to heaven.” Acutis has a huge following in predominantly Catholic Philippines, which received the faith as a Spanish colony and is now struggling to keep the faith young and relevant at a time of secularism. A Filipino Facebook group with 11,000 followers is dedicated to Acutis, and is called “Friends of Blessed Carlo Acutis Philippines.” In November 2023, the University of Santo Tomas hosted the pilgrim relic of Acutis in an effort to bring the faith closer to Filipino youth. Acutis’ mother, Antonia Salzona Acutis, addressed her son’s devotees in the Philippines in a video uploaded by Friends of Blessed Carlo Acutis Philippines. “Carlo loved very much the Philippines because it’s a very Catholic country, where the faith is very big. It’s full of saints,” Mrs. Acutis said. “Carlo loved the Philippines also because when he was small, he had a friend, Loren Jean, she was from the Philippines and she was one of his best friends. So he had a special predilection to the Philippines.” “Carlo was a child who lived an ordinary life, but because he opened the door of his heart to Jesus, his ordinary life became extraordinary,” his mother said. In the Catholic Church, a saint is considered an intercessor in heaven and a model of faith on earth. Sainthood is a complicated process that takes years or even centuries. It involves investigations into a candidate’s life – including his or her virtues and vices – and the element of the supernatural: Ordinarily, miracles need to be attributed to his or her intercession. Such a miracle needs to defy the explanations of science, which means the stringent examinations by scientists – usually medical doctors in the case of “miraculous” cures – play an important role. It takes one miracle to be declared “blessed” in a ceremony called beatification – one major step away from sainthood. Once a candidate is beatified, it takes another miracle to be declared a saint. In the case of Acutis, according to the Vatican, the miracle that led to his sainthood involves a Costa Rican woman. A woman named Liliana prayed at Acutis’ tomb in Assisi, Italy, on July 8, 2022, and left a letter of petition. In the letter, Liliana sought prayers for her daughter Valeria, who fell from her bicycle in Florence, where she was studying, on July 2, 2022. Valeria “had suffered severe head trauma, and required craniotomy surgery and the removal of the right occipital bone to reduce pressure on her brain, with what her doctors said was a very low chance of survival,” reported Vatican News. Liliana’s secretary prayed immediately to Acutis, then on July 8, 2022, Liliana herself visited Acutis’ tomb in Assisi. “That same day, the hospital informed her that Valeria had begun to breath spontaneously. The next day, she began to move and partially regain her speech. On July 18, 2022, a CAT scan proved that her hemorrhaging had disappeared, and on August 11, 2022, Valeria was moved to rehabilitation therapy,” Vatican News said. Valeria “made quick progress and, on September 2, 2022, Valeria and Liliana made another pilgrimage to Assisi to thank Blessed Carlo for his intercession,” it added. The Vatican will soon announce the date of Acutis’ canonization after the Pope convenes a consistory or a meeting with cardinals. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Trade Secretary Fred Pascual resigns

lkyu0285

31/07/2024 16:51

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual Rappler.com MANILA, Philippines – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual has stepped down from his position. Pascual’s resignation will be effective August 2, 2024, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already accepted Pascual’s resignation and acknowledged his role in steering the economy. “His focus on MSMEs was absolutely correct, and we are beginning to see the fruits of that policy. We are sorry to lose him, but we respect his decision that this is the time for him to return to the private sector,” said Marcos in a press release. In a separate statement released by the DTI, Pascual said that his time at the helm of the trade department “has been one of the most challenging yet fulfilling experiences of my career.” “After much reflection, I have decided it is time for me to return to the private sector. There, my roles will allow me to continue contributing my expertise and experience while being able to spend quality time with my family,” he said on Wednesday, July 31. Pascual’s departure from the Cabinet has long been rumored. The DTI head also did not join the economic briefing at the Senate on Tuesday, July 30, an absence much highlighted by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs. The President picked Pascual for the DTI post in May 2022. Before his stint as trade secretary, Pascual was the former president of the University of the Philippines. He also held multiple positions in the private sector, including being an independent director for Megawide Construction Corporation and lead independent director of SM Investments Corporation. Marcos has yet to name a new trade secretary, as of writing. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Save Boracay’s fruit bats, environmentalists appeal to DENR, local officials

Herbie G

31/07/2024 16:24

SLEEPING BAT. A sleeping fruit bat in Boracay Friends of the Flying Foxes AKLAN, Philippines – Environmentalists appealed to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the local government of Malay to collaborate and protect the remaining golden-crowned flying foxes or fruit bats (Acerodon jubatus) on Boracay Island. Their plea underscored a critical juncture for the island’s biodiversity, a natural splendor that once defined what has now become a bustling tourist destination. The golden-crowned flying foxes are crucial for Boracay’s ecosystem. They help regenerate forests by dispersing seeds and control pests by eating thousands of mosquitoes daily, reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue. In the 1980s, the skies above Boracay’s beaches were still filled with the majestic sight of fruit bats at dusk. The nightly spectacle was a natural attraction, drawing both locals and tourists. However, the commercialization boom that accompanied the rise of Boracay’s tourism industry has pushed these nocturnal creatures to the brink. Today, their absence serves as a silent reminder of the cost of rapid development. Julia Lervik, Friends of the Flying Foxes (FFF) president, said her group has ongoing efforts to safeguard the forest ridges of Barangay Yapak, a crucial habitat for the golden-crowned flying foxes. In 2018, environmentalists said the DENR pledged to establish these areas as critical habitats. Despite initial mapping and discussions that continued until 2021, the initiative has since stalled, according to FFF. Frustrated by the lack of response to their official communications, FFF has taken to social media, posting their letters in hopes of restarting public discussions about the dwindling population of the bats. “Boracay now has only 105 bats, based on recent counts at Balinghai Beach in Yapak,” Lervik said. “Many bats have moved to nearby Pandan, Antique, due to the noise from hotel construction.” The conflict between development and conservation has become more pronounced in Boracay. In August 2023, the Malay town council endorsed a private company’s excavation project in the same area the DENR had promised to protect. Lervik said the DENR has not revoked the company’s environmental compliance certificate (ECC), which is necessary to protect the habitat. “Can we finally declare this forest and its coral reefs as critical habitats?” she asked. “This would ensure that new buyers know the land cannot be developed. The forest ridges and Puka Shell Beach are the last pristine areas of Boracay and are vital for its biodiversity.” The official endorsement from the municipal government was issued based on the approved plan submitted and recommended by the town council’s committee on land utilization and building construction upon inspection, said Malay Councilor Dante Pagsuguiron, the committee’s vice chairman. The FFF identified the firm which secured the endorsement as the Golden TW Realty and Development Company. Livno Duran, former regional director of the DENR, said environment officials in the region may need to study the possibility of revoking the ECC given in favor of the project. Duran retired from the DENR only last June 30. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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[Be The Good] The limits of ‘master planning’

lfangeles0309

31/07/2024 17:12

FLOODING. Commuters are forced to walk through floodwaters along Taft Avenue in Manila after the enhanced southwest monsoon brought continuous rain on July 24, 2024. Rappler Two disasters related to structures built by human hands resurfaced in the past weeks, keeping our community busy and igniting anger and disappointment. Incessant rain from the enhanced southwest monsoon overwhelmed some of the flood control projects in Metro Manila and nearby cities, prompting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself to ask out loud if these should be reexamined. Days before, commuters and persons with disabilities groups snarled at the dangerously steep wheelchair ramp built by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) at the EDSA PhilAm busway station in Quezon City. We have long relied on hard infrastructure to address many of the woes that plague our communities. For politicians, infrastructure projects are loud, attention-grabbing ways to show they are helping their constituents. Definitely, infrastructure plays a part in solutions, but it cannot stand alone. It works only when it is in harmony with non-infrastructure solutions. In the case of how flood control infrastructure was tested by the southwest monsoon or habagat, which was enhanced by Typhoon Carina (Gaemi), hydraulics expert and University of the Philippines professor emeritus Guillermo Tabios III critiqued how the government is used to master planning everything. “We have been looking at always depending on master planning, which [is] done every 10 years, or every 20 years, and yet investments come in after 10 or 20 or 30 years,” he said in our interview in Rappler community show Be The Good. He argued that the ever-changing nature of our cities and communities calls for adaptive planning, which means making adjustments with each new change in the city (say a new parking lot). It’s not one plan, but many, and constantly evolving with the community. “Look at scenarios, look at all kinds of scenarios every day. It’s like playing a game of chess and looking at different [scenarios], before you have the chess championship. So that’s how we should do resilient planning — it’s continuous planning and adaptive planning,” he said. Pamela Cajilig, a design anthropologist who was also part of the episode, talked about an integrated approach to mitigating disasters. Government agencies have to see disaster resilience potential when planning housing, conservation, irrigation, drainage, building standards, land use, zoning, and more. “I think one of the problems, in general, in disaster management, not just in the Philippines but across the world, is very siloed thinking [when] so many things that we do are interrelated. Like, for example, for flood control measures…it has an impact on housing. But who is looking at the intersection between infrastructure and housing and livelihood?” said Cajilig. Then we have the MMDA which violated the country’s Accessibility Law with its overly steep wheelchair ramp in an EDSA busway station. For the leaders of Life Haven Center for Independent Living, the debacle is only one manifestation of the “puwede na” attitude pervasive among government agencies when it comes to genuine accessibility in public buildings and facilities. A Rappler report also showed how 80% of train stations in the capital region are not fully accessible for persons with disabilities. To fight this lackadaisical attitude to ensuring genuine accessibility, Life Haven and its partners launched the #DapatPWEDE campaign, calling on citizens to post photos of structures that violate the Accessibility Law and using the hashtag #DapatPWEDE. Public infrastructure that enables everyone’s right to freedom of movement is in line with Rappler’s #MakeManilaLiveable push. We and our partners support this campaign and you can expect collaborations in this direction. And so I echo a mantra often used by persons with disabilities, but applicable to anyone whose needs are ignored or set aside: “Nothing about us, without us.” Anything we build that affects communities must be built, not just with concrete and metal, but with the most human elements of all: compassion and empathy. A team of Rappler and DW Akademie trainers were in Cagayan de Oro City from Monday, July 29, to Wednesday, July 31, and gave an advanced workshop to 15 youths from several parts of Mindanao on how to spread media and information literacy in their communities. We’ve also partnered with other members of the #FactsFirstPH coalition to localize the training and make it relevant to Mindanao communities. This Movers For Facts program is supported by DW Akademie and the German Federal Foreign Office. We look forward to this cross-cultural exchange of learnings about how to combat disinformation and support truth tellers. On Sunday, August 4, the team flies to Naga City! Let your curiosity feed your hunger with Rappler’s new chat series “Ask And You Shall Eat” – live chats with Filipino food entrepreneurs in which any Rappler Communities app user can ask the guest anything and get a chance to win the guest’s best-selling dishes. We had our first live chat on Tuesday, July 30, with Lola Nena’s COO Steffi Santana. For asking great questions, Rappler Communities members @mai_mai, @Micha S., and @ianchris were the winners of the famous triple cheese donuts and toasted siopao. Getting hungry? Join the next live chat in August in the food and travel chat room of our app. – Rappler.com Be The Good is a newsletter that comes out every other Wednesday. We deliver updates straight to your inbox on how journalism and communities can work together for impact. To subscribe, follow the #FactsFirstPH movement or visit rappler.com/profile and click the Newsletters tab. Create a Rappler account that helps you manage your newsletter subscriptions. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Recto says transfer of P90-B PhilHealth funds allowed under 2024 budget

Kaycee

31/07/2024 9:25

HEALTH. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto attends the Senate inquiry on Universal Health Care and the utilization of PhiliHealth Funds, payment of Health Emegency Allowance for health workers, on July 30, 2024. Angie de Silva/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – Finance Secretary Ralph Recto told a Senate panel on Tuesday, July 30, that the transfer of around P90 billion excess funds from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the national treasury is authorized under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2024. In addressing the uproar over the Department of Finance’s directive to the state insurer to remit billions of excess PhilHealth funds, Recto, in a committee on health and demography hearing at the Senate on Tuesday, July 30, emphasized that the DOF is merely implementing what the law empowers them to do. “Hindi ito iligal (This is not illegal),” Recto said in his opening statement. “Ito ay naaayon sa batas na RA 11975 o ang General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2024. Tumatalima lang kami sa batas na pinagtibay ninyo at hindi automatic naming iniimplement ito dahil binusisi muna namin kung may merito ba ang kautusan,” Recto said. (This is according to the law, which is RA 11975 or the General Appropriations Act of 2024. We are just following the law you adopted and we are not automatically implementing this because we had to study first if the law has any merit.) The government is allowed to tap reserve funds of government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) to be reallocated as standby funds of the government for projects or when the need arises, thanks to a new provision in the 2024 GAA. When asked if PhilHealth can be spared from the collection, Recto said: “‘Pag inutos ng Kongreso, gagawin namin. (If the Congress asks us to, then we will do it.)” Healthcare workers’ groups and advocates have raised alarm over the DOF’s instructions, arguing that this violates the Universal Health Care Act. Under the law, PhilHealth’s reserve fund is separate from the national government’s general fund and should be used to increase PhilHealth benefit coverages. However, Recto assured his former colleagues that the DOF consulted legal experts before giving marching orders to PhilHealth. “Kami ay naabisuhan na hindi kasama ang subject PhilHealth remittance sa mga pondong ipinagbabawal gamitin ng gobyerno ayun sa Universal Healthcare Act. Ito ang payong legal na aming sinusunod at hindi lamang ito legal, ito ay makakatulong sa paglago ng ekonomiya at pagbibigay ng trabaho,” Recto said. (We were advised that the subject PhilHealth remittance is not among the funds that are not allowed to be used by the government according to the [UHC]. This is the legal advice that we are following and [the decision] is not only legal, but it will also help our economy grow and offer more job opportunities.) PhilHealth also did its own legal consultations. However, Tony Leachon, independent health advocate and former adviser of the Department of Health, pointed out that “such move must have undergone a public consultation and not merely followed a government agency’s directive.” PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said the state insurer will remit the excess funds back to the national government in four tranches: The P20 billion from the first tranche was used to cover the unpaid Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) of the country’s healthcare workers who served during the pandemic. Recto said that “as much as possible,” the DOF will use the excess funds for health-related projects and initiatives. Prior to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address on July 22, healthcare professionals asked the president to block the directive. Over 60 groups noted that the funds could have been used to finance healthcare needs of the Filipino people, especially indigent patients. Antonio Dans, president of the Asia Pacific Center for Evidence-based Healthcare, said that by giving away excess funds, contributing members may end up shouldering costs. “This is unjust… marami sa formal payors ang naghihirap din (a lot of formal payors don’t have it easy too.)” “PhilHealth is an insurance fund. It’s not a bank. We cannot withdraw our premiums from insurance,” Dans said. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. R.A. 11975, or the General Appropriations Act (AA) of 2024, can be considered a General Law, while R.A. 11223 can be viewed as a Specific Law. The maxim: “lex specialis doctrine,” states that “if two laws govern the same factual situation, a law governing a specific subject matter (lex specialis) overrides a law governing only general matters (lex generalis).* (Google search: legal maxim specific over general.) Further, a paragraph of Section 11 of R.A. 11223 states that “no portion of the reserve fund or income thereof shall accrue to the general fund of the National Government or to any of its agencies or instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations.” Have the legal experts of DOF (intentionally or unintentionally) overlooked this? How does this make you feel?

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Trillanes sues Paolo Duterte, Mans Carpio for drug smuggling

Jairo Bolledo

31/07/2024 14:19

Former senator Antonio Trillanes files drug smuggling charges at the Department of Justice on July 31, 2024, against Rep. Paulo Duterte, Atty. Manases Carpio, former Bureau of Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon and several others in connection with the P6.4B shabu shipment seized in two warehouses in Valenzuela City in May 2017. Rappler MANILA, Philippines – Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV has filed a drug smuggling complaint against Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte and Mans Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte. In his complaint filed before the Department of Justice on Wednesday, July 31, Trillanes tagged Duterte and Carpio in the P6.4-billion shabu haul in Valenzuela City in 2017, through the testimony of customs broker Mark Ruben Taguba. In 2017, authorities seized over 600 kilograms of shabu amounting to around P6.4 billion. Taguba allegedly facilitated the entry of the shabu shipment “without having to go through the rigorous process of examination or inspection in the Bureau of Customs.” The broker claimed he was able to breeze through the process due to the “influence and protection” of the so-called “Davao Group.” During the hearings, Taguba alleged that both Duterte and Carpio are members of the Davao Group. “This is the result of the Senate investigations conducted in 2017, in which we have identified Pulong, Charlie Tan, and Mans Carpio, as the masterminds behind the P6.4 billion shabu shipment that was allowed to slip through Customs in collaboration with its Commissioner Nic Faeldon and former Presidential Adviser Allen Capuyan who was known as the ‘Big Brother,’” Trillanes said. The rest of the respondents include: Duterte said he welcomed the complaint as it will allow them to discuss the accusations against them in the proper forum. “I have always maintained my innocence, and I am confident that the judicial process will clear my name. It is important to rely on our legal institutions rather than resorting to trial by publicity or baseless allegations,” the lawmaker said. Aside from the drug complaint, Trillanes also sued the respondents for graft. In his complaint, Trillanes argued that Duterte and Carpio are liable for corruption because based on Taguba’s testimony, the two only needed to call a customs personnel “to facilitate clearance of their special container without the danger of being flagged or alerted, in exchange for P5 million as ‘enrollment fee’ and an additional P1 million advance weekly remittance.” “Dito mo makikita na fake ang war on drugs ni Duterte. Libu-libo ang mga pinatay na hinihinalang drug addicts pero sila mismo pala ang protektor at kapartner ng mga big time drug lords. Pinatay lang nila ang kumpetisyon sa illegal drug trade,” Trillanes said. (You can see here that Duterte’s war on drugs is fake. Thousands of alleged drug suspects were killed, but the Dutertes were in fact the protectors and partners of these big-time drug lords. They just killed their competitors in the illegal drug trade.) – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. I want to express my appreciation for the efforts of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. I also want to acknowledge the open-mindedness of Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte in welcoming the complaint. I hope that the discussion will be conducted respectfully, without unnecessary bad language or tantrums that are sometimes associated with the Duterte family’s tough image. Lastly, I hope that our justice system will handle this case fairly for all parties involved. How does this make you feel?

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House orders arrest of ex-Duterte adviser Michael Yang

Jairo Bolledo

31/07/2024 16:45

PHARMALLY SCANDAL. President Rodrigo Duterte's former economic adviser Michael Yang during the House good government and public accountability hearing on September 20, 2021. Rappler screenshot MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives has ordered the arrest and detention of Michael Yang, former presidential economic adviser of Rodrigo Duterte, for failing to attend legislative hearings. Surigao del Norte representative Ace Barbers, House committee on dangerous drugs chairperson, confirmed on Wednesday, July 31, that House Secretary General Reginal Velasco has signed the contempt order against the former presidential adviser. Yang, whom the lower chamber also refers to as Hong Ming Yang, was cited in contempt on July 10 for his failure to attend the House panel’s hearings. Barbers said that based on their latest information, Yang is in Dubai. He said they will coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Bureau of Immigration to alert other countries about the pending arrest order against Yang. “We will have to provide information to the Immigration and DFA so that the DFA and our Immigration can likewise alarm other countries about the arrest order na inisyu dito sa (issued by the) House of Representatives,” Barbers said. “So that we will be able to track kung nasaan siya kasi maaaring lumipat-lipat na rin siya. So kapag may alarm, it will now provide us information kung saan nagta-travel ito because he will be using definitely his own passport,” he added. (So that we will be able to track where he is because he might be switching from one place to another. So if there’s an alarm, it will now provide us information about his travels because he will be definitely using his passport.) Barbers said House Sergeant-at-Arms Napoloeon Taas and the arresting team has already served the arrest order to the Fortun Law Offices in Las Piñas City, since lawyer Raymund Fortun previously represented Yang. Yang was ordered detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City for 30 days. The country’s legislative chambers have the power to order the arrest and detention of individuals who are cited in contempt. Among the offenses include uncooperativeness during legislative hearings or absence in probes, as in the case of Yang. Yang has been invited by the House panel for his alleged involvement in a P3.6-billion drug bust in Mexico, Pampanga, in 2023. Duterte’s former adviser was allegedly linked to the incorporator of Empire 999 Realty Corporation, a warehouse in the Pampanga town, where the multibillion-peso shabu was seized. Lawmakers said Yang’s testimony is important in the probe into the alleged illegal drug smuggling activities of Empire 999. Before he was cited in contempt earlier this month, the House had issued a show-cause order against Yang, asking him to formally explain why he failed to show up in the previous hearings. During the July 10 hearing, former anti-drug cop Eduardo Acierto reiterated the supposed links of Yang and another Chinese national, Allan Lim, to illegal drugs. In 2017, Acierto had revealed Yang’s alleged links to the illegal drug trade, and accused then-president Duterte and the police of ignoring his report. At the height of the pandemic, Yang was also tagged in the Pharmally scandal. He allegedly financed Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, the biggest winner of pandemic contracts despite having measly capital. Yang denied the allegation. More recently, Yang’s name again gained prominence due to his alleged links to illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators, as congressional inquiries continue to focus on allegations against POGOs. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Poor labor conditions may hinder foreign investments in PH – groups

jsitchon0312

31/07/2024 14:59

LABOR RIGHTS. Minimum wage workers perform tasks at a construction site in Quezon City on February 20. Jire Carreon/Rappler CEBU, Philippines – Trade unions and labor rights advocates said during a roundtable discussion in Cebu on Tuesday, July 30, that issues like union busting and exploitative working conditions may affect the entry of investments in the Philippines. Andre Garcia, Solidarity Center-Philippines senior program officer, explained that countries like the United States have put workers’ rights at the forefront of major trade decisions and agreements. Garcia cited US President Joe Biden’s Presidential Memorandum on Global Labor Rights in November 2023, which directs government institutions to elevate the labor agenda in diplomatic engagements. “In the memorandum, it’s stated that the [agencies] have to use any tools to promote labor rights and this includes trade enforcement and security…labor cannot be isolated from trade, security, and foreign policy,” Garcia said. On March 12, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met with Philippine labor organizations to discuss major labor rights issues, ranging from low wages, ENDO contractualization and attacks on freedom of association. Today in the Philippines, I met with representatives from labor organizations to hear their views on labor rights issues. Under @POTUS’ leadership, the U.S. is focused on raising labor standards globally to support more sustainable and inclusive economies.https://t.co/QV76vAOE98 Garcia said that the US was ready to make investments in the country via economic zones, especially as talks for the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) project of Japan and the US were ongoing, adding that the US might pursue stronger labor rights concessions from the Philippines for investment projects and other special trade agreements. “We want to help this government become more effective by respecting the freedom of association because that [the lack thereof] will obstruct the entry of investments to the Philippines,” Luis Corral, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines vice president for national and international affairs, said during the Tuesday discussion Corral pointed out that in the country, there were only less than 300,000 workers who have been organized and have collective bargaining agreements with their respective employers. A majority of the unions, he said, still faced threats and intimidation from company administrators. The trade union advocate also emphasized that the Philippines is among the 10 worst countries for workers, according to the International Trade Union Confederation’s 2024 Global Rights Index. Corral criticized the Philippine government’s efforts to “project compliance” with international labor standards amid claims of “record-low” unemployment and underemployment rates. As of May 2024, the country reported that its unemployment rate is at 4.1% while the underemployment rate is at 9.9%. “The real numbers show that there is a decrease in labor force participation, this means that there are fewer people looking for work because they are discouraged because there are no good and decent jobs,” Corral said. He also said that the minimum wage set for regions in the Visayas is not enough to meet the basic nutritional needs of families like nutrition. “According to the IBON databank, the family daily living wage for a family of five should be P1,197. The P468-minimum wage in Central Visayas is far from that, the P480 in Western Visayas, P405 in Eastern Visayas, it’s too far,” Corral said in a mix of English and Filipino. He said low wages have resulted in the stunted growth of children under the age of 5. According to the 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS), one in four children under the age of five in the Philippines suffered from stunting. Earlier in May, nutrition expert Cecilia Acuin said in a public forum in Cebu that the effects of child malnutrition manifested in their poor performance in the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results. “We are raising a generation of ENDO workers who will not be competitive in ASEAN…we will still end up with the assembler — low-aim, low-end, short-term, contractual ENDO work with poverty wages under a modern form of slavery,” Corral said. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Trade Secretary Fred Pascual resigns

lkyu0285

31/07/2024 16:51

Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual Rappler.com MANILA, Philippines – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual has stepped down from his position. Pascual’s resignation will be effective August 2, 2024, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already accepted Pascual’s resignation and acknowledged his role in steering the economy. “His focus on MSMEs was absolutely correct, and we are beginning to see the fruits of that policy. We are sorry to lose him, but we respect his decision that this is the time for him to return to the private sector,” said Marcos in a press release. In a separate statement released by the DTI, Pascual said that his time at the helm of the trade department “has been one of the most challenging yet fulfilling experiences of my career.” “After much reflection, I have decided it is time for me to return to the private sector. There, my roles will allow me to continue contributing my expertise and experience while being able to spend quality time with my family,” he said on Wednesday, July 31. Pascual’s departure from the Cabinet has long been rumored. The DTI head also did not join the economic briefing at the Senate on Tuesday, July 30, an absence much highlighted by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs. The President picked Pascual for the DTI post in May 2022. Before his stint as trade secretary, Pascual was the former president of the University of the Philippines. He also held multiple positions in the private sector, including being an independent director for Megawide Construction Corporation and lead independent director of SM Investments Corporation. Marcos has yet to name a new trade secretary, as of writing. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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HIGHLIGHTS, RESULTS: Team Philippines, 2024 Paris Olympics – July 31

delfin.dioquino editor

31/07/2024 1:20

MANILA, Philippines – Team Philippines hopes to win its first medal in the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, July 31, as gymnast Carlos Yulo headlines a jam-packed day for the 22-strong delegation. Here is Team Philippines schedule (Manila time): Carlos Yulo finishes the men’s artistic gymnastics all-around final in the Paris Olympics at 12th out of 24 finalists after totaling 83.032 points. Japan’s Shinnosuke Oka (86.832) strikes gold followed by China’s Zhang Boheng (86.599) and Xiao Ruoteng (86.364). Read the full story here. Save for a minor stumble, Carlos Yulo does well in floor exercise as he records 14.333 points. He ends the all-around final with a 83.032 total. No all-around medal for Yulo as he now turns his focus on the finals of floor exercise and vault, where he hopes to win the Philippines’ first Olympic gymnastics medal. Carlos Yulo registers 13.600 in horizontal bar as he improves his score from the qualification, where he tallied 13.466. With one apparatus – floor exercise – to go, Yulo totes a 68.699 total. Carlos Yulo makes a huge leap in the standings and climbs to joint 12th through four apparatuses as he earns 14.500 points in parallel bars. Yulo has a 55.099 total so far. Up next for Yulo is horizontal bar and floor exercise. Carlos Yulo shines in one of his pet events, garnering 14.766 points in vault. He lands a front handspring double pike with a half twist as Yulo posts his highest score through his first three apparatuses. Total so far: 40.599 points. Pumping both of his fists out of satisfaction after his performance, Carlos Yulo bounces back in still rings and nets 13.933 points. Yulo improves on his score of 13.000 in the qualification. His total after two apparatuses is 25.833. Carlos Yulo opens the all-around final on pommel horse and gets 11.900 points after a routine marred by a fall. Yulo can bring his total score up in the other five apparatuses. Carlo Paalam is a win away from a guaranteed medal as he advances to the quarterfinals of the men’s 57kg class after a unanimous decision victory over Ireland’s Jude Gallagher. Paalam, who hopes to repeat as an Olympic medalist after bagging silver in the Tokyo Games, wins by scores of 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28. Another Philippine boxing bet exits as Hergie Bacyadan falls to China’s Li Qian in the round of 16 of the women’s 75kg class. Bacyadan loses via unanimous decision as top seed Li earns a shutout win, with all the five judges scoring it 30-27 for the former world champion and Tokyo Games silver medalist. The pride of Kalinga is the second Filipino boxer to get eliminated after Eumir Marcial. Read the full story here. Joanie Delgaco falls to the classification final D in the women’s single sculls after placing fifth in her semifinal C/D race with a time of 8:00.18. Delgaco will vie for the 19th to 24th places in the final D. Only the top three rowers advance to the final C, where the 13th to 18th places will be contended. Read the full story here. Kayla Sanchez bows out of the Olympics as she misses the top-eight cutoff for the final of the women’s 100m freestyle. Sanchez finishes 15th out of the 16 semifinalists with a time of 54.21 seconds, unable to replicate her record-breaking performance in the heats where she set a new Philippine record of 53.67. Hong Kong’s Siobhan Bernadette Haughey records the best time of 52.64. Read the full story here. Eumir Marcial, one of the Philippines’ top medal bets, suffers a shock exit after a unanimous decision loss to Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev in the round of 16 of the men’s 80kg. The scores are 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 in favor of the 20-year-old Uzbek. Marcial, 28, bids goodbye to his goal of winning another Olympic medal after bagging bronze in the Tokyo Games three years ago. Read the full story here. Looking to take advantage of the first of his three medal chances, Yulo shoots for the stars in the men’s artistic gymnastics all-around final. Yulo, who will also vie for medals in floor exercise and vault over the weekend, advanced to the all-around final by placing ninth in the qualification. Three of the Philippines’ boxing bets open their respective bids as Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, and Hergie Bacyadan eye spots in the quarterfinals. Marcial faces Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev in the men’s 80kg, Paalam battles Ireland’s Jude Gallagher in the men’s 57kg, while Bacyadan takes on China’s Li Qian in the women’s 75kg. In swimming, Kayla Sanchez seeks to stay in the hunt as she competes in the semifinals of the women’s 100m freestyle, needing a top-eight finish to advance to the finals. Rower Joanie Delgaco resumes her campaign for a better ranking when she sees action in the semifinals C/D of the women’s single sculls. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Teachers dismayed by ‘chaotic’ rollout of Matatag curriculum

Bonz Magsambol

31/07/2024 16:11

BACK TO SCHOOL. Hundreds of public school students attend the first day of classes at the Guadalupe Elementary School in Cebu City on July 29, 2024. Jacqueline Hernandez/Rappler Johanna Savedia, a teacher for almost two decades at Muntinlupa National High School (MNHS), was excited to welcome her students back to school until she was told that she would facilitate the National Mathematics Program (NMP), an additional program under the Matatag curriculum. Her dilemma: she is not a math teacher, and has taught the Filipino subject for 16 years. “Hindi naman ako nag-major ng math, pagtuturuin ako ng NMP. ‘Yan ‘yung malaking struggle. ‘Yan ‘yung malaking problemang haharapin namin ngayon dahil magtuturo kami ng math, eh mismo kami, hindi gaano kalawak ang kaalaman roon,” she told Rappler in an interview as classes began on Monday, July 29. (I didn’t major in math, yet I’m being asked to teach NMP. That’s the big struggle. That’s the major problem we’ll face now because we’ll be teaching math, even though our own knowledge on it isn’t very extensive.) “Parang ganito lang ‘yan — ikaw, hindi ka marunong sumayaw pero pasasayawin ka…. Ano gagawin mo?” she added. (It’s like this — you don’t know how to dance but you’re asked to dance. What would you do?) The Matatag curriculum, or the revised basic education curriculum crafted during Vice President Sara Duterte’s time at the Department of Education (DepEd), was rolled out for kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 4, and Grade 7 this school year — only the first phase of implementation. It focuses on foundational subjects, such as language, reading and literacy, mathematics, makabansa or nationalism, and good manners and right conduct. The curriculum has two additional programs, the NMP and the National Reading Program (NRP), which are supposed to be done every day for 45 minutes each. Mark Joseph Fernandez, Muntinlupa City schools division curriculum implementation supervisor, confirmed that he received complaints from MNHS teachers regarding the rollout of the new curriculum. He said they were already addressing the issue. “‘Yung buong week muna ngayon, sila muna, status quo. Babaguhin natin siya next week. Ibibigay na namin ‘yung NMP for mathematics teacher,” Fernandez told Rappler. (For now, this whole week, status quo. We’ll change it next week. We’ll assign the NMP to mathematics teachers.) The Matatag curriculum, launched in August 2023, was the banner program of the DepEd under Vice President Duterte. In a speech during its launch, Duterte noted that the new curriculum was the product of a review that started during the time of Leonor Briones, who served as education secretary under the administration of the Vice President’s father, Rodrigo Duterte. Based on the “extensive” review, the Vice President also said in her speech, they found that the K to 10 curriculum “was overloaded with too many lessons or subjects” and “required instructors to teach an excessive number of learning competencies.” This “compromised [students’] mastery of fundamental skills such as reading and solving simple math problems.” The Matatag curriculum was thus created to “give greater emphasis on the development of foundational skills such as literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills,” Duterte said. “It is a significant leap towards a better, more promising future for our learners.” The curriculum’s implementation is being done in phases — kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 4, and Grade 7 in school year 2024-2025; Grade 2, Grade 5, and Grade 8 in school year 2025-2026; Grade 3, Grade 6, and Grade 9 in school year 2026-2027; and finally, Grade 10 in school year 2027-2028. For the first phase, the education department had around a year since the launch to prepare. What happened? Muntinlupa City’s Fernandez said the DepEd released the order containing the guidelines for the implementation of the Matatag curriculum only on July 23, less than a week before the opening of classes in around 47,000 public schools nationwide. He said they were not able to review and implement changes in the teaching workload because of the tight schedule. The teaching workload had already been determined and distributed at that time. DepEd Order No. 10 states that NMP and NRP facilitators should “demonstrate mastery of the subject matter or in their specialization across the curriculum.” Therefore, NMP facilitators should be mathematics teachers and NRP facilitators should be either English or Filipino teachers. Marlyn Salvio, head teacher at MNHS, said the “last-minute” release of DepEd Order No. 10 was partly to blame because they were not given ample time to fix teachers’ schedules before the start of classes. “Actually, medyo hindi talaga enough ‘yung timing ng release…. Kung talagang math teachers ang magtuturo niyan, which is ganoon naman talaga, kailangan i-consider namin ‘yung number of math teachers,” she said. (Actually, the timing of the release was really not enough. If math teachers are really the ones supposed to be teaching this, which should be the case, we need to consider the number of math teachers.) The experience of MNHS does not appear to be an isolated case. Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) chairperson Benjo Basas said his group also received complaints from teachers regarding what he described as the “chaotic” rollout of the Matatag curriculum. “‘Yung implementation ng pagpapalit ng curriculum, mahabang proseso ‘yan, lalo na kung concern din ang workload ng mga guro,” Basas added. (The implementation of a new curriculum is a lengthy process, especially when considering the workload of teachers as well.) He confirmed that TDC members only received a copy of the order on July 23. “July 23 lang ‘yun, then minadali ang training pero hindi umabot dahil bumagyo. Kaya wala halos training sa implementation,” he said. (That was only on July 23, then the training was rushed but had to be cut short because there was a storm. So, there was almost no training for the implementation.) On July 24, parts of Luzon experienced massive floods due to the southwest monsoon or habagat, which was enhanced by Typhoon Carina (Gaemi). In areas still reeling from the disaster, hundreds of public schools were unable to start classes as scheduled. The Matatag curriculum rollout also came just days after former senator Sonny Angara took over the DepEd from Duterte. In a chance interview with reporters on Thursday, August 1, Angara said the Matatag curriculum is continuously being studied. “There will be an adjustment period talaga kasi pilot talaga siya. At iyon ang maganda sa anumang pilot: kung may nais baguhin, madaling baguhin,” he said. (There will definitely be an adjustment period because it’s a pilot run. And that’s the good thing about any pilot run: if there’s something that needs to be changed, it’s easy to modify.) However, the rollout for this school year isn’t just a pilot implementation. The pilot testing had already been done in 35 schools nationwide in September 2023. The issue with the curriculum rollout is just the tip of the iceberg. In 2023, the DepEd had said that the Philippines lacked 89,506 teachers. For years, teachers have been leaving the country in their quest for higher pay and improved working conditions. Teachers’ groups have been asking the government for a better compensation package. Currently, those with Teacher 1 designation earn P27,000 per month. Experts have noted that the country needs to invest in its teachers in order to improve learning outcomes. Aside from a better compensation package, trainings and other opportunities to enhance teaching should be made accessible to them. “Teachers are the biggest inputs to classroom learning. It’s important to have high-quality teachers who are knowledgeable,” Philippine Business for Education executive director Justine Raagas told Rappler in a previous interview. Angara has expressed confidence that teachers’ salaries will increase during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. As this is a question of funding, however, it is easier said than done. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), a national commission assessing the country’s education sector, also urged the government “to address the prevailing concerns on pre-service teacher programs in the country, including quality assurance.” EDCOM 2 data show that performance in teacher licensure examinations has been dismal from 2012 to 2022, with an average passing rate of 33% for elementary and 40% for secondary teachers. “What is worse is that based on our analysis, many higher education institutions or teacher education providers — 77 offering Bachelor of Elementary Education, and 105 offering Bachelor of Secondary Education, continued to operate despite having zero passing rates,” EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Yee said. In addition, a 2016 World Bank study showed that “knowledge of subject matter among elementary and high school teachers is low in most subjects.” For instance, a mathematics teacher in high school was only able to answer 31% of questions “completely correctly,” far from even half of the questions. How can students learn to analyze and solve math equations if teachers themselves are having a hard time? Now, a new curriculum is in the mix, and along with its implementation are fresh concerns, adding to the long list of perennial problems needing solutions from the DepEd and its new chief. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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PH banks see strong H1 2024 earnings, BDO posts record-breaking income

lkyu0285

31/07/2024 11:25

MANILA, Philippines – Four major banks in the Philippines – BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO), Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Philippine National Bank (PNB), and Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) – have all reported strong financial performances for the first half of 2024, although BDO led the pack with its highest-ever semestral profit for the Sy-led bank. BDO earned a net income of P39.4 billion for the first six months of 2024, reflecting a 12% year-on-year increase. This was attributed to the “stronger momentum from its core intermediation and fee-based services.” Non-interest income also grew by 13%, partly due to the recovery in life insurance premiums. The Philippines’ biggest bank also continued to grow as its gross customer loans expanded by 13% and its total assets hit P4.7 trillion as of June 30, 2024. Total deposits also went up by 13% to P3.7 trillion. Meanwhile, BPI recorded a P30.6 billion net income, a 21.5% rise. Total revenues surged by 23.8%, reaching P81.2 billion, which the bank attributes to a 22.2% increase in net interest income (61.3 billion), a 28.8% increase in fee income (P17.0 billion), and foreign exchange gains of P2.2 billion. Total loans for the Ayala-led bank reached P2.0 trillion, up 15.8% year-on-year, while total assets reached P3.1 trillion. Total deposits also grew by 14.4% to P2.5 trillion. PNB achieved a net income of P10.3 billion, bolstered by a 17% increase in interest income from its loan portfolio and treasury assets. The bank managed to keep its net interest margin healthy at 4.37%, up from 4.14% in the same period last year. The Tan-led bank has grown its total consolidated assets to P1.26 trillion. UnionBank reported a net income of P5.1 billion for the first half of 2024, with its Q2 net income surpassing Q1 by over 50%, largely due to the reduced expenses following the completed integration of the acquired Citi consumer business. Net interest income grew by 14.8% to P27.5 billion, supported by a net interest margin of 5.7%, which the Aboitiz-led bank said was “among the highest in the banking industry.” UnionBank’s total assets stood at P1.1 trillion. The asset quality across the two big banks remained stable. BDO reported a non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 2.06%, with an NPL cover of 169%. BPI’s NPL ratio was at 2.20%, maintaining “sufficient” NPL coverage at 127.6%. Meanwhile, PNB and UnionBank did not mention information on their NPLs in their press releases. The banks also continued to invest in sustainable projects. BDO issued its third ASEAN Sustainability Bonds in late July, raising P55.7 billion for eligible projects. BPI has also announced its Fixed-Rate ASEAN Sustainable Bonds, which has an offer period that ends on August 2. Meanwhile, PNB, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, is financing the development, construction, and operation of rooftop solar PV systems. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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POGO probe turns to ex-CIDG chief for ‘firing’ raiding team

Lian Buan

22/07/2024 20:22

CIDG CHIEF. Major General Romeo Caramat was appointed CIDG chief in January 2023. Photo from CIDG Facebook Page Instead of commending police officers for a job well done, why were personnel of the Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG) relieved and reassigned instead when they raided hubs of the shady Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) in Bamban, Tarlac? That’s what lawmakers want to know. It was former CIDG chief Major General Romeo Caramat Jr. who ordered the reassignments, according to documents that Rappler has seen. “There were some instances that [reassignments of personnel who assisted in the raid] happened, I was not yet the director at the time, but today the collaboration with other agencies is strong,” Major General Leo Francisco, the new CIDG chief who replaced Caramat weeks after the relief orders, told the House committee on Wednesday, July 17. “Our term in the PNP for transfer is ‘sinibak’ [fired], instead of given commendation or award, minalas pa (met with bad fortune),” said 1-Rider Partylist Representative Bonifacio Bosita. Caramat appeared in the next House hearing on Wednesday on July 31, to confirm the reassignments in a tense exchange with lawmakers. Caramat maintained that he did not order the reassignment of the March 2024 raiding team in Bamban. “But you signed it. But there are orders coming from the higher-ups, is that what you are trying to say?” asked House committee chair Representative Dan Fernandez. “That’s correct, your honor,” said Caramat. In March 2024, when the Bamban raid happened, the PNP chief was still General Benjamin Acorda. The government raid on Zun Yuan (formerly named Hongsheng) POGO in Bamban, Tarlac, was done in the wee hours of March 13. This followed close coordination between the main POGO busters, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), and their law enforcement partners, the CIDG. The operation had some flaws because before operatives arrived, foreigners had already started leaving the compound of Baofu, the real estate firm that leased its property to the POGO, and which was co-owned by the now infamous Mayor Alice Guo. This has since led to brewing speculations that there were leaks. “We have vetted our personnel who are joining the operations, coordinating with PAOCC to provide us the necessary education…I am positive that my CIDG personnel are not the suspects on those leaks,” said Francisco during the House hearing. Still, despite the flaws, the operation was successful because they seized evidence that blew the lid open on the problem of illegal scam hubs masquerading as POGOs. But afterwards for three consecutive days, on April 17, 18, and 19, Major General Caramat relieved his men and reassigned them somewhere else. The chief of CIDG-National Capital Region (NCR), Colonel George Buyacao, was relieved first, according to documents seen by Rappler. At least nine more CIDG-NCR personnel were relieved immediately after. These were all on Caramat’s orders. Caramat said the March 2024 operation was done without his knowledge. “I was not informed of that particular operation,” he said. “Hindi mo ba napapansin na hindi ka na-iinform sa operation? (Don’t you notice that you are not informed of operations?) Why is that so?” said Representative Fernandez on July 31. “It’s only the former chief of the PNP who can answer that,” said Caramat. PAOCC chief Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said that before the 2024 Bamban raid on Zun Yuan, the February 2023 raid on the same POGO earlier named HongSheng also led to the reassignment of the raiding CIDG team. “In the first raid in 2023, the region 3 command of CIDG was wiped out,” said Cruz. Caramat said that the chief of CIDG Region 3, Colonel Joshua Alejandro, was already due to be reassigned even before the raid. He said it was his discretion as the new CIDG chief at the time to put his trusted men on command. “In the case of Colonel Alejandro, his relief has no connection to the operation in Bamban. Before the operation in February 2023, Colonel Alejandro was already informed of the impending reshuffle,” said Caramat on July 31, and added that it “was a normal rotation of regional chiefs.” Alejandro, who was also present in the July 31 hearing, confirmed that he had been informed of his rotational assignment even before the raid happened in February 2023. “Nagtrabaho sila, may magandang resulta, sinibak pa. Dapat maimbestigahan ito properly. Kung hindi natin po-protektahan ang police personnel na may dedikasyon, kapalit mamalasin pa, eh parang sinasabi natin huwag silang magtrabaho,” said Bosita. (They did their jobs, it had a good result, yet they were fired. This should be investigated properly. If we do not protect dedicated police personnel, and in exchange they suffer a bad fate, it’s as if we’re telling them not to do their jobs.) “That’s our quandary now, the investigators of our raid in Bamban are now dispersed in several units, some not even in CIDG, which makes it difficult for them to appear in our court proceedings,” PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio told the House committee. By the time Caramat appeared before the House committee, the general had already been identified as one of the police officials “under suspicion” by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is investigating Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. Caramat was the chief of Bulacan police during Duterte’s time, whose team conducted the one-time big-time operation that killed 32 drug suspects in one night in 2017. Caramat was appointed CIDG chief in January 2023 by former PNP chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. Before Caramat’s interpellation ended, Fernandez brought out a photo of Caramat with businessman Jan Patrick “JP” Samson, Alice Guo’s co-incorporator of a company called Westcars. Caramat said the photo does not mean a deep association with Samson. “As far as I know, I don’t know a JP Samson. As a CIDG director, many invite you, we are just like politicians, anybody can take a photo with us,” he said. In May 2024, weeks after Caramat’s relief orders covering the POGO raiders, newly installed PNP chief General Romeo Francisco Marbil reassigned Caramat to the area police command of Northern Luzon. Francisco took over CIDG. What is going on in the PNP? – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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WATCH: ‘And So It Begins’ trailer

Angelo Gonzales

31/07/2024 14:36

AND SO IT BEGINS. Former vice president Leni Robredo at a campaign rally during the 2022 presidential election campaigns Screenshot from And So It Begins documentary trailer MANILA, Philippines – Ramona Diaz’s And So It Begins is a documentary that looks deeper in the political scene in the Philippines leading up to the 2022 presidential election, which saw former vice president Leni Robredo and her grassroots “pink” movement go up against the machinery of eventual victor Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. It highlights as well Rappler CEO and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa in the fight for press freedom and the fight against disinformation, a subject that Diaz also tackled in the earlier A Thousand Cuts documentary. And So It Begins premieres in the Philippines in August. Watch the trailer here: – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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[Just Saying] Marcos administration must assist ICC investigation

Chay Hofilena

31/07/2024 9:30

Solicitor General Meynard Guevarra, referring to the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation of the alleged mass killings during the Duterte administration’s drug war, said that the “Philippine government through the president has repeatedly stated that we have no legal duty to cooperate or to lend assistance” to the ICC prosecutor. He also said that “that does not mean that the ICC prosecutor cannot continue his investigation, he can do so, he can interview these five people directly…all that we’re saying is that the government will not be involved.” The Philippine Government is wrong. The present Marcos administration is duty-bound to assist the ICC prosecutor. The Philippine Constitution recognizes two international law sources: treaty law and the general principles of international law, which are automatically part of the law pursuant to Section 2 of Article II of the Constitution. Between these two, there is no hierarchy. They may operate independently, or even co-exist. Let us take the Rome Statute, for example. It created the ICC and defined genocide as a crime within ICC jurisdiction, making it a ground for universal liability (Article 6). However, the idea that genocide is a universal crime obligating every state to prohibit and not commit is not dependent on the Rome Statute. It exists separately from any treaty which says so. It is a matter of jus cogens — peremptory international norms to be observed by the civilized international community. As it is with genocide, so too, it is with crimes against humanity, defined under Article 7 of the Rome Statute as including murder, extermination, and enforced disappearance of persons “when committed as a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack.” Party to the Rome Statute or not, the Philippines, as a member of the community of civilized nations has a good faith obligation to prevent, or at the very least, account for, these crimes and aid in their investigation. The Philippine government is obliged under customary international law, to facilitate whatever processes ensuring  accountability for the same. Let us turn closer to home. In Pangilinan et al. v. Cayetano et al. (G.R. No. 238875), the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the ICC “retains jurisdiction over any and all acts committed by government actors until March 17, 2019. Hence, withdrawal from the Rome Statute does not affect the liabilities of individuals charged before the International Criminal Court for acts committed up to this date.” Our own SC has stated that the government has this duty that is now being asked of it. Republic Act No. 9851, known as the “Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity” provides that Philippine courts have exclusive/original jurisdiction to hear the cases for crimes such as Crimes Against Humanity. However, Section 17 allows waiver of the investigatory part of the process in certain instances. Thus: In the interest of justice, the relevant Philippine authorities may dispense with the investigation or prosecution of a crime punishable under this Act if another court or international tribunal is already conducting the investigation or undertaking the prosecution of such crime. Instead, the authorities may surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court, if any, or to another State pursuant to the applicable extradition laws and treaties. This is exactly the Philippine situation. An international body, the ICC prosecutorial arm, is already conducting the investigation of the crimes charged relating to Duterte’s drug war. The Marcos administration, under RA No. 9851, can waive the Philippine’s prerogative to investigate, and allow the ICC to finish its own. That is the better course of action for three reasons: FIRST. The people being investigated held high government positions. Considering the scope of the crimes charged and their immense implications for the country’s own law enforcement system, an international investigation inspires more confidence, and is better insulated from destabilization, threats, violence or undue influence. SECOND. The Philippine justice system is, unfortunately, slow. While the Supreme Court and the justice department are remedying this, crimes of this magnitude may be better served by a system that can give a significant amount, if not all, of its attention to the case. THIRD. The ICC investigators are professionals, having these very crimes as their areas of expertise. This is not to look down on our own prosecutors, but it would be adding more injustice to the victims if the government will not take advantage of the chance to have highly specialized experts on this case, when the opportunity presents itself. Assisting the ICC prosecutor is a win-win situation for the Marcos administration. A finding that no ICC-cognizable crimes were committed means the redemption of the Philippines’ global reputation from a lawless and violent country. A finding, however, that crimes were committed signifies the country’s readiness to accept the truth as a first step to providing justice for all victims. Internationally, the Philippines will stand as an example for other countries that it can rise from a bloody past into a new future, an image which President Marcos Jr. seems uniquely fixated on. – Rappler.com Mel Sta Maria is former dean of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Institute of Law. He teaches law at FEU and the Ateneo School of Law, hosts shows on both radio and Youtube, and has authored several books on law, politics, and current events. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. I doubt that the Marcos administration will assist the ICC prosecutor as long as there are government officials close to PBBM who might be affected by the ICC’s actions. Additionally, I do not believe that President Marcos Jr. is truly fixated on portraying the image of the Philippines as a country that has risen from a bloody past into a new future. This portrayal seems to be for show only, as his true fixation appears to be amassing the greatest amount of wealth and power in his lifetime. How does this make you feel?

Rappler

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2024 Paris Olympics: Meet Team Philippines

Jasmine Payo

26/07/2024 22:35

MANILA, Philippines – After the Philippines’ historic four-medal romp in the Tokyo Games, 22 Filipino athletes look to match, or even surpass, the country’s record run in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Weightlifting superstar Hidilyn Diaz, who captured the country’s breakthrough Olympic gold, won’t be back, but boxing medalists Nesthy Petecio (silver), Carlo Paalam (silver), and Eumir Marcial (bronze) return to spearhead the Philippines’ campaign, as EJ Obiena (athletics) and Carlos Yulo (gymnastics) also stand as medal contenders. Here’s the elite roster vying for more glory on the world’s biggest sporting stage: – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Recto says transfer of P90-B PhilHealth funds allowed under 2024 budget

Kaycee

31/07/2024 9:25

HEALTH. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto attends the Senate inquiry on Universal Health Care and the utilization of PhiliHealth Funds, payment of Health Emegency Allowance for health workers, on July 30, 2024. Angie de Silva/Rappler MANILA, Philippines – Finance Secretary Ralph Recto told a Senate panel on Tuesday, July 30, that the transfer of around P90 billion excess funds from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the national treasury is authorized under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2024. In addressing the uproar over the Department of Finance’s directive to the state insurer to remit billions of excess PhilHealth funds, Recto, in a committee on health and demography hearing at the Senate on Tuesday, July 30, emphasized that the DOF is merely implementing what the law empowers them to do. “Hindi ito iligal (This is not illegal),” Recto said in his opening statement. “Ito ay naaayon sa batas na RA 11975 o ang General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2024. Tumatalima lang kami sa batas na pinagtibay ninyo at hindi automatic naming iniimplement ito dahil binusisi muna namin kung may merito ba ang kautusan,” Recto said. (This is according to the law, which is RA 11975 or the General Appropriations Act of 2024. We are just following the law you adopted and we are not automatically implementing this because we had to study first if the law has any merit.) The government is allowed to tap reserve funds of government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) to be reallocated as standby funds of the government for projects or when the need arises, thanks to a new provision in the 2024 GAA. When asked if PhilHealth can be spared from the collection, Recto said: “‘Pag inutos ng Kongreso, gagawin namin. (If the Congress asks us to, then we will do it.)” Healthcare workers’ groups and advocates have raised alarm over the DOF’s instructions, arguing that this violates the Universal Health Care Act. Under the law, PhilHealth’s reserve fund is separate from the national government’s general fund and should be used to increase PhilHealth benefit coverages. However, Recto assured his former colleagues that the DOF consulted legal experts before giving marching orders to PhilHealth. “Kami ay naabisuhan na hindi kasama ang subject PhilHealth remittance sa mga pondong ipinagbabawal gamitin ng gobyerno ayun sa Universal Healthcare Act. Ito ang payong legal na aming sinusunod at hindi lamang ito legal, ito ay makakatulong sa paglago ng ekonomiya at pagbibigay ng trabaho,” Recto said. (We were advised that the subject PhilHealth remittance is not among the funds that are not allowed to be used by the government according to the [UHC]. This is the legal advice that we are following and [the decision] is not only legal, but it will also help our economy grow and offer more job opportunities.) PhilHealth also did its own legal consultations. However, Tony Leachon, independent health advocate and former adviser of the Department of Health, pointed out that “such move must have undergone a public consultation and not merely followed a government agency’s directive.” PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said the state insurer will remit the excess funds back to the national government in four tranches: The P20 billion from the first tranche was used to cover the unpaid Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) of the country’s healthcare workers who served during the pandemic. Recto said that “as much as possible,” the DOF will use the excess funds for health-related projects and initiatives. Prior to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address on July 22, healthcare professionals asked the president to block the directive. Over 60 groups noted that the funds could have been used to finance healthcare needs of the Filipino people, especially indigent patients. Antonio Dans, president of the Asia Pacific Center for Evidence-based Healthcare, said that by giving away excess funds, contributing members may end up shouldering costs. “This is unjust… marami sa formal payors ang naghihirap din (a lot of formal payors don’t have it easy too.)” “PhilHealth is an insurance fund. It’s not a bank. We cannot withdraw our premiums from insurance,” Dans said. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. R.A. 11975, or the General Appropriations Act (AA) of 2024, can be considered a General Law, while R.A. 11223 can be viewed as a Specific Law. The maxim: “lex specialis doctrine,” states that “if two laws govern the same factual situation, a law governing a specific subject matter (lex specialis) overrides a law governing only general matters (lex generalis).* (Google search: legal maxim specific over general.) Further, a paragraph of Section 11 of R.A. 11223 states that “no portion of the reserve fund or income thereof shall accrue to the general fund of the National Government or to any of its agencies or instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations.” Have the legal experts of DOF (intentionally or unintentionally) overlooked this? How does this make you feel?

Rappler

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/recto-philhealth-fund-transfer-under-2024-budget-law/

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OGCC upholds LWUA takeover of Cagayan de Oro water firm

Herbie G

31/07/2024 10:31

WATER. The office of the Cagayan de Oro Water District on Corrales Avenue in Cagayan de Oro. Franck Dick Rosete/Rappler CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) upheld on Tuesday, July 30, the takeover of the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). In a legal opinion signed by Government Corporate Counsel Solomon Hermosura and Government Corporate Attorney Owen Vidad, the OGCC said LWUA’s full intervention on May 29 was based on provisions under its Financial Assistance Contract (FAC) with the local water district. Based on the contract, it said, LWUA is entitled to exercise its rights, powers, privileges, and remedies in case of “any event of default” by the COWD. It said that if there is a default, one of the cited remedies is the power of LWUA to cancel COWD’s certificate of conformance, which equates to “operating the facilities” of the water district. The OGCC opinion indicated that the LWUA’s intervention can be subsumed under this remedy. LWUA Chairman Ronnie Ong earlier said addressing the COWD’s non-revenue water (NRW), or water going to waste due to leaks, is part of the conditions stipulated in the contract between the agency and COWD. He said COWD’s NRW, which reached 49.08% by the end of 2023, was one of the major reasons that led to LWUA’s takeover decision. The LWUA intervention was also in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to LWUA to address the problem between the COWD and its primary supplier, the Manny V. Pangilinan-controlled Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Incorporated (COBI), and to consider a takeover. The OGCC said the COWD, under the assistance contract, is obliged to ensure its generation of adequate revenues. However, the OGCC said the COWD “violated its obligation to periodically conduct reviews of water rates at least once every two years, which necessitates the conduct of public hearings before it can submit water adjustment proposals.” In 2023, the COWD was supposed to implement a 60% water rate adjustment for the next three years, but the plan was deferred due to appeals from city government officials and water consumers. The OGCC advised COWD General Manager Antonio Young and the members of the water district’s board to comply with the LWUA decision and allow the interim officers to perform their tasks. “The contractual power, rights, and remedies of LWUA under the FAC should be upheld since they are in line with the LWUA’s purpose, and regulatory and supervisory powers over water districts,” a part of the OGCC opinion read. Young, who has barred the LWUA-installed interim officers from the COWD, has declined to comment, explaining that he was still discussing the OGCC’s position with his lawyer. COWD Interim General Manager Fermin Jarales, who has been subjected to sharp criticisms following the takeover, said, “LWUA’s intervention is legal and transparent, with no hidden interests as sometimes portrayed by [sidelined] General Manager Young.” Meanwhile, COBI welcomed the OGCC legal opinion, saying that it confirmed they were dealing with the proper group in addressing their corporate dispute with the water district, which involves a debt claim exceeding P400 million. “This opinion should also give the interim board some comfort to move forward with their investigation of COWD and negotiations with us,” lawyer Roberto Rodrigo, senior legal counsel for Metro Pacific Water, which controls COBI, told Rappler. Local officials, a consumers’ group, and organized COWD workers have been calling on LWUA to keep out of COWD’s affairs and organized street protests after the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a legal opinion on June 18, which they saw as an opinion against the takeover. The DOJ, however, clarified in the same document that the OGCC, being the statutory legal counsel of all government-owned and controlled corporations, including the COWD, has the primary jurisdiction over queries pertaining to the LWUA takeover. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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10 Chinese POGO workers rescued in Clark

Joann Manabat - CMS

31/07/2024 11:14

RESCUE. The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group implements seven search warrants in an alleged small-scale POGO in a villa at The Villages in Clark Freeport, Pampanga on July 30, 2024. Joann Manabat/Rappler CLARK FREEPORT, Philippines – Ten Chinese men who had escaped from a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) were rescued by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in a villa in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga on Tuesday, July 30. The CIDG carried out the operation in coordination with the Public Safety Division (PSD) of the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) after securing seven warrants to search alleged small-scale POGOs in The Villages along Prince Balagtas Avenue in the former US military air base. Authorities believe the Chinese are victims of human trafficking who escaped from the POGO Lucky South 99 Gaming Incorporated in Porac last June. The ten Chinese were in Room 701 of Family Tree Building of The Villages, where authorities also found and confiscated various computers and gadgets used in POGO activities. Following their rescue, the individuals were brought to Camp Crame in Quezon City and were set to be handed over to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for profiling and verification. As of 10 pm Tuesday, no Chinese had yet been transferred to the BI, according to spokesperson Dana Sandoval. Two Chinese women, the mothers of three babies, along with their three Filipino helpers, were left in the villa with representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) due to their family status. Other buildings were still being searched by the CIDG, as of writing. Lucky South 99 and Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated in Bamban, Tarlac are under investigation by the Senate. Both were raided earlier this year by an inter-agency team led by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and CIDG for alleged illegal detention, torture, human trafficking, and scam operations. Authorities seized eight safety vaults, documents, cellphones, computers, and other gadgets used in POGO operations during that raid. Rappler reached out to CDC for information on Tuesday’s operation, but it declined to comment as of writing. The crackdown follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent order to ban all POGOs which was announced during his third State of the Nation Address last July 22. –Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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SM Prime at 30: A legacy of innovation and shared prosperity

cmorales0331

26/07/2024 17:31

30 YEARS OF GROWTH. SM Prime Holdings executives mark three decades of groundbreaking innovation, service, and shared prosperity in the Philippine retail industry. On July 23, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. proudly commemorated its 30th anniversary as a publicly listed company at the Philippine Stock Exchange, BGC, marking three decades of service and transformative growth in the Philippine real estate industry. Founded in 1994 by the visionary Henry Sy, SM Prime has remained steadfast in its mission to develop world-class shopping, dining, entertainment, residential, and amusement destinations throughout the country and beyond. From the initial offering of four malls, SM Prime has expanded into a dominant force in Southeast Asia’s property sector. The company now has a multi-sector Philippine portfolio of 22 lifestyle cities that include 91 residential developments, 86 malls, 22 office towers, 10 hotels and 8 convention centers. This robust growth trajectory has been fueled by the trust and support of its investors and the flourishing capital market provided by the Philippine Stock Exchange. Incorporated in January 1994, SM Prime has remained committed to shared prosperity. Raising approximately P5.89 billion during its IPO, SM Prime is now one of the most active stocks in the Philippine market, alongside its parent company SM Investments Corp., and subsidiaries BDO and Chinabank. Over the years, SM Prime has faced and overcome significant challenges, including the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2008 global financial crisis, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these hurdles, the company has remained resilient, continuing to drive system growth. On its 30th anniversary year, SM Prime is opening three malls: SM City Caloocan, SM City J Mall in Cebu and SM City Laoag in Ilocos Norte. This year also marks the start of the redevelopment and expansion of SM Megamall and ongoing projects at SM Mall of Asia, SM City Cebu, SM City Iloilo, and SM City Bacolod. Additionally, SM Prime will enhance its Leisure Homes in Tagaytay and Batangas, establish new hotels with around 1,700 rooms, and continue developing mixed-use commercial buildings that combine office and retail spaces. As a leading property developer in major Philippine cities, SM Prime continues to help Filipino communities thrive. With MSMEs making up 63% of its commercial tenants, SM Prime developments offer significant job and business opportunities through various support programs and job fairs, fostering economic growth for local enterprises and the LGUs. This commitment to sustainable growth is a testament to the collective efforts of SM Prime’s shareholders, customers, business partners, and employees. The steadfast support of shareholders has been a driving force behind SM Prime’s achievements, while the loyalty and trust of customers have inspired ongoing innovations. The collaborative spirit of business partners has been instrumental in reaching new heights, and the dedication of SM Prime’s employees has been foundational to its continued success. SM Prime is dedicated to continuously integrating sustainable practices across its operations, from energy-efficient building designs to comprehensive waste management programs. SM Prime’s commitment to sustainability ensures that it maintains its positive impact on the environment and society, paving the way for a greener and more resilient future. As SM Prime celebrates this significant milestone, it extends heartfelt gratitude to all forces who have been part of its journey. Looking ahead, the company is poised to further its growth and innovation, continuing its legacy of delivering exceptional value, enriching communities, and contributing to socio-economic development as it aims for a more sustainable and prosperous Philippines. SM Prime remains committed to its role as a catalyst for economic growth, delivering innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities, thereby enriching the quality of life of millions of people. For more information, visit www.smprime.com. – Rappler.com PRESS RELEASE Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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How Chinese incursion in West PH Sea pushes Filipino fisherfolk ‘deeper into poverty’

Dwight de Leon

31/07/2024 8:03

BREAK. Filipino fishermen rest after arriving from a week-long trip to the disputed Scarborough Shoal, in Infanta, Pangasinan province, Philippines, July 6, 2021. REUTERS MANILA, Philippines – Filipino fisherfolk bearing the brunt of escalating Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea had the opportunity to narrate their struggles during a House human rights committee meeting on Tuesday, July 30. The common theme of their anecdotes, on top of assessments by other invited experts on maritime issues, is that Beijing’s activities in the country’s territorial waters have made it difficult for fishermen to make a living. “Our fishermen have not only lost income intermittently but are now essentially continuously finding it harder and harder to even make their own livelihoods. They cannot even break even on their efforts to fish,” said Jay Batongbacal, director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea. China has tremendously limited Filipinos’ access to Scarborough Shoal (also called Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc), a feature that is rich in aquatic resources off the waters of Zambales province. The Chinese Coast Guard has deployed patrols in the area since 2012, and its tactics to block fishermen drew national headlines in September last year, when Philippine Coast Guard personnel had to remove a floating barrier installed by the CCG to stop Filipinos from entering the lagoon of Scarborough Shoal. Infanta, Pangasinan Mayor Marvin Martinez said that based on his dialogue with his constituents, the last time fishermen were able to access the lagoon was in May, the start of China’s unilateral four-month fishing ban in the South China Sea. “They say if they try to sail there, rubber boats (from China) would come near them 15 to 20 miles (from the lagoon) to stop them,” the local chief executive said. The lagoon of Scarborough Shoal was their traditional fishing ground, and it is known as a haven for fisherfolk during stormy weather. “Scarborough Shoal is where they go when they can’t catch enough fish in the deep sea,” Mayor Martinez said. “That is where they can catch fish the safest during the typhoon season from July to October.” Henrelito Empoc, representative of Bigkis Mangingisda, said that before China’s presence in Scarborough Shoal, they only needed to spend P70,000 to P80,000 for fuel, ice, and other fishing resources for every trip. These days, the costs have more than doubled to up to P200,000 per operation. “What was the cause of the increase?” human rights committee chairman Bienvenido Abante asked. “We fish far from Scarborough Shoal these days, unlike before when we could enter the lagoon and had plenty of harvest,” Empoc replied. Empoc added that one operation in the past took them only three to four days; now, it takes them 10 to 15 days at sea. “That is why our budget for consumption ballooned, because we had to increase the volume of diesel, the amount of ice, and the food (for our fishermen) due to the length of time at sea,” Empoc said. Filipinos had set up fish aggregating devices – floating objects with nets – in areas farther from the lagoon to avoid Chinese patrols, but even these efforts are becoming futile. Batongbacal noted that in recent years, China has stepped up its efforts to prevent Filipinos from fishing “as far as 25 nautical miles away from the shoal” by dismantling fish aggregating devices. “They’re deliberately destroying the resources there so that Filipinos, particularly our fishermen, will have no reason to go there anymore,” Batongbacal said. “Perhaps in the future, [they will] convert it into an artificial island which is what they did in the Spratlys and essentially take control of the waters.” The Department of Agriculture acknowledged that some fishermen have turned to other means of livelihood to stay afloat. “Some have been forced to seek alternative sources of income such as construction work to avoid the tension in the sea,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said in a message that was read by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director for Central Luzon Wilfredo Cruz. For a nongovernmental organization, Beijing’s presence in the West Philippine Sea has just made it more complicated for Filipino fishermen to get out of the financial hole they are in. “The families of our fisherfolk are being pushed deeper into poverty due to China’s encroachments, resulting in the reduction of their fish catch that leads to the diminishing income,” the Peoples Development Institute said. The group is demanding economic support services from the government for fishermen and their families, and the full implementation of the 2016 arbitral ruling that rejected China’s expansive claims in the West Philippine Sea. The latter is easier said than done, as Beijing refuses to recognize the Philippines’ landmark victory in The Hague. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. Has PBBM and the DA Secretary replied to this matter? “The group is demanding economic support services from the government for fishermen and their families and the full implementation of the 2016 arbitral ruling that rejected China’s expansive claims in the West Philippine Sea.” Or will they just snub these demands? How does this make you feel?

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Carlos Yulo shoots for Olympic gymnastics medal in loaded all-around final

delfin.dioquino editor

31/07/2024 6:16

BALANCE. The Philippines' Carlos Edriel Yulo in action during the men's floor exercise final in the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Yves Herman/REUTERS MANILA, Philippines – If things go his way, Carlos Yulo may end up as the Philippines’ first medalist in the Paris Olympics. Yulo hopes to capitalize on the first of his three shots at a medal as he competes in the men’s artistic gymnastics individual all-around final at the Bercy Arena on Wednesday, July 31. The reigning Asian all-around champion, Yulo showed he can go toe-to-toe with the best in the world after placing ninth in the qualification with a total of 83.631 points. Yulo aims to bank on his pet events as he placed second in floor exercise with 14.766 points and sixth in vault with an average of 14.683 points to reach the finals of both apparatuses. His performances in the other apparatuses were promising, with Yulo posting 14.333 in parallel bars, 13.466 in horizontal bar, and 13.066 in pommel horse – marks that were all higher than his scores in the Tokyo Games. Yulo netted his lowest score in still rings with 13.000. Former world champion Zhang Boheng of China topped the all-around qualification with 88.597 points, followed by Japan’s Shinnosuke Oka (86.865) and Daiki Hashimoto (85.064), who led their country to the team gold. His Olympic title defense in horizontal bar crushed after surprisingly failing to make the final, Hashimoto hopes to bounce back by retaining the individual all-around gold he won in the Tokyo Games. China’s Xiao Ruoteng, who finished as runner-up to Hashimoto, placed fourth in the qualification with 84.898 points, while Great Britain’s Jake Jarman (84.897) and Joe Fraser (84.666) landed fifth and sixth, respectively. Ukraine’s Oleg Verniaiev netted 84.631 points for seventh and Italy’s Yumin Abbadini edged Yulo for eighth with 83.933 points. Other notable names in the 24-man all-around final include World Artistic Gymnastics Championships medalists Illia Kovtun of Ukraine and Milad Karimi of Kazakhstan. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Ad agency Gigil apologizes for controversial ‘Gil Tulog’ street signs

Russell Ku

30/07/2024 13:12

MANILA, Philippines – Ad agency Gigil, the firm behind the controversial ‘Gil Tulog’ street signs, broke its silence Tuesday, July 30, and issued a public apology to the Puyat family. “Understanding the distress the project caused, we have personally reached out to members of the Puyat family to convey our regrets and express our respect for former Senate president Gil Puyat’s legacy,” Gigil said in a statement. The agency added that it “will be putting in place more stringent measures to ensure this does not happen again.” The Puyat family filed a complaint with the Ad Standards Council of the Philippines against Gigil on Friday, July 26, saying the street signs were a “total disrespect” to the legacy of former Senate president Gil Puyat. Puyat’s son Victor said the marketing campaign, done to promote the melatonin brand Wellspring, goes against Section 1 of Article IV of the Ad Standards Council’s Code of Ethics. He added that he wanted Gigil to be “suspended or banned” from the ASC. Eagle-eyed Makati residents and social media users noticed that the street signs along various parts of Gil Puyat Avenue, named after the late political leader, were altered to “Gil Tulog Ave. (formerly Gil Puyat).” The move angered the Puyat family. “Our name is not to be violated by reasons that are financial, political, or otherwise,” Victor said in a note exclusively sent to Rappler on July 26. Makati City Mayor Abby Binay ordered the mock street signs be taken down, saying the proposals and permits for the project did not reach her office. She added that she reprimanded city officials behind its approval. “Even as all the necessary permits and clearances were secured, our approach had resonated differently and so the campaign was immediately discontinued,” Gigil said. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority passed MMDA Regulation 24-001 in January 2024 that prohibits commercial advertisements from being posted on lampposts. However, it only applies to those maintained by the MMDA. The regulation was signed by all 17 Metro Manila mayors. The Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of the Philippines suspended Gigil in 2021 over a controversial ad involving the Belo Medical Group. Wellspring apologized for this latest fiasco, saying it “made a misstep” and never intended to disrespect Gil Puyat’s legacy. Gil Puyat served as senator from 1951 until 1972. He was the last Senate president before late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared martial law. He died on March 23, 1980. Gil Puyat Avenue was renamed from Buendia Avenue through Batas Pambansa Blg. 312 on November 14, 1982. — Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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ICC prosecutor requests to talk with Philippine officials ‘under suspicion’

Jairo Bolledo

30/07/2024 15:37

FILE PHOTO: An exterior view of the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands, March 31, 2021. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo MANILA, Philippines – The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested an interview with Philippine officials it considers as “under suspicion” in its ongoing investigation of Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, the Solicitor General has confirmed. “[The individuals] are under suspicion, not suspects. The request is not the same as a summons. The subject may agree or refuse to be interviewed,” Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra told Rappler on Tuesday, July 30. Guevarra said that the request was also sent to the Philippine government “to facilitate the interview by the ICC prosecutor of certain individuals named in the request, either at The hague or in the Philippines.” Guevarra refused to name the officials being requested for an interview, but his revelation of this stage was prompted by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV publishing a confidential document from the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) naming five police officials, both active and retired: Rappler has not independently verified Trillanes’ document. Guevarra said he “cannot confirm nor deny” the document. The ICC OTP told Rappler it also cannot verify documents shared by outside sources, but the Office did confirm that this is something they do in their process. “While pursuing its investigation, the Office seeks to engage and establish dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, including national authorities and civil society,” the OTP told Rappler. It’s important to note that the document is a request from the OTP and not an order of the ICC. ICC has a chamber, or the court itself, and OTP is the prosecutor. They are independent of each other. Prosecutor Karim Khan’s investigation of Duterte’s drug war is at a stage where he can request either summons or arrest warrants against individuals. This latest update tells us that they have identified individuals “under suspicion,” although Guevarra said it cannot be equated to summons. The ICC’s process is a very complex one, and some of its features are unexplored even to lawyers practicing international law. It evolves and is known through time to those who are part of it. Another major consideration for the pace of investigation is whether it is a priority of the OTP, which is a small and underfunded office if you consider the magnitude of its investigations. The OTP’s two major investigations are the wars in Ukraine and Palestine. “The Philippine government cannot stop him [Khan] from proceeding any way he wants. He can directly interview persons of interest online, through the phone, by email, or face to face, subject to the consent of these persons. But the ICC prosecutor cannot expect that the Philippine government will facilitate it for him,” Guevarra said. This is another variation of the Marcos government’s wishy-washy position toward the ICC, at least in public: they are not against it, but they will not facilitate it. Albayalde, who attended a continuing House of Representatives inquiry into the drug war, said he was ready to face the ICC. “Kung talaga pong ganyan ang kahihinatnan ng ating serbisyo sa publiko for more than 37 years, then handa po tayong harapin (If that is really my fate after 37 years in public service, then I am ready to face it),” said Albayalde. Guevarra said his office has submitted a recommendation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but did not provide other details, citing privileged communication. Marcos has so far refused to return the Philippines to the ICC, although he once said he was studying the option. It was Duterte who pulled out the country from the Rome Statute after former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda opened the examination in 2018. The ICC prosecutor’s investigation covers the drug war until our effective exit from the ICC in 2019, and the mysterious killings of the alleged Davao Death Squad (DDS) when Duterte was mayor and vice mayor of Davao City. Self-confessed DDS hitman Arturo Lascañas has already been given limited immunity by the ICC. Duterte has so far not been named in any known requests by the prosecutor, but he’s been constantly identified in all of the reports that has led to the investigation. Under the Rome Statute, which Philippine government officials always invoke, the ICC can step aside if there is a genuine domestic investigation. Rappler has found that in the showcase 52 cases that the Philippines reinvestigated, out of 7,000 police killings and total 30,000 killings, most cases or 32 of them were closed with no further action. You may visit Rappler’s database of the 52 cases here. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Nesthy Petecio takes taller Indian to school for breezy win in Olympic opener

delfin.dioquino editor

31/07/2024 1:01

HEAD SHOT. Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines in action against Jaismine Lamboria of India in the round of 32 of the women's 57kg division in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Maye-E Wong/REUTERS MANILA, Philippines – Nesthy Petecio schooled a foe 10 years her junior for a rousing opening win in the Paris Olympics. Petecio, 32, proved to be too experienced as she beat India’s Jaismine Lamboria via unanimous decision in the round of 32 of the women’s 57kg class at the North Paris Arena on Tuesday, July 30 (Wednesday, July 31, Manila time). The five judges scored it 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 in favor of the Filipina, who put on a boxing clinic against the 22-year-old Lamboria. Petecio faced a significant height and reach disadvantage, although she ended up controlling the tempo of the fight as Lamboria struggled to land clean shots. With the victory seemingly in the bag after winning the first two rounds, Petecio took it slow in the final salvo – perhaps to save her energy for her upcoming bouts – but not without showcasing her ring prowess. At one point in the third round, Petecio flaunted impressive head movement, leaving Lamboria punching the air. Up next for Petecio is reigning European Games champion Amina Zidani of France as they lock horns in the round of 16 on Friday, August 2 (Saturday, August 3, Manila time). If Petecio advances, she will be up against formidable opponents, with Italy’s Irma Testa and Kazakhstan’s Karina Ibragimova, who went one-two in the previous world championships, also in the same bracket. The national boxing team got off to a promising start as Aira Villegas aced her first test in the women’s 50kg class, defeating Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki in the round of 32. Eumir Marcial (men’s 80kg), Carlo Paalam (men’s 57kg), and Hergie Bacyadan (women’s 75kg) open their respective campaigns on Wednesday. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Joanie Delgaco last in Olympic quarterfinal race, bows out of contention

delfin.dioquino editor

30/07/2024 16:59

LONE BET. Rower Joanie Delgaco in action for the Philippines in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Philippine Rowing Association Facebook page MANILA, Philippines – Joanie Delgaco bowed out of contention in the Paris Olympics after finishing sixth in her quarterfinal race in the women’s single sculls at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium on Tuesday, July 30. The first female rower to represent the Philippines in the Summer Games, Delgaco placed last in quarterfinal 3 with a time of 7 minutes and 58.30 seconds as she got relegated to the semifinals C/D. Reigning Olympic champion Emma Twigg of New Zealand topped the race with hardly any challenge, clocking 7:26.89 to secure her semifinals A/B spot. Switzerland’s Aurelia-Maxima Katharina Janzen (7:31.12) and Spain’s Virginia Diaz Rivas (7:34.01) also advanced, with the top three in each of the four quarterfinal races qualifying for the semifinals A/B. One of only four Asians to reach the quarterfinals, Delgaco crossed the first 500m at fifth before she got overtaken as the rest of the field battled for the top three spots. Azerbaijan’s Diana Dymchenko (7:53.76) and Serbia’s Jovana Arsic (7:56.18) ended up at fourth and fifth, respectively. It was the slowest performance for the pride of Iriga, Camarines Sur, in the Olympics after she registered 7:56.26 in the heats and 7:55.00 in the repechage. But Delgaco can still redeem herself in her last two races as she can attain the highest possible ranking of 13th place. The semifinals C/D are scheduled on Wednesday, July 31. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Another heartbreaker as PH judoka Kiyomi Watanabe suffers early Olympic exit

delfin.dioquino editor

30/07/2024 18:14

PINNED DOWN. Judoka Kiyomi Watanabe of the Philippines (blue) in action against Tang Jing of China in the round of 32 of the women's -63kg class in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Kim Kyung-Hoon/REUTERS MANILA, Philippines – A return trip to the Olympics proved to be another heartbreaker for Filipina-Japanese judoka Kiyomi Watanabe. Watanabe suffered an early exit from the Paris Olympics as she bowed to China’s Tang Jing in the round of 32 of the women’s -63kg division at the Champ-de-Mars Arena on Tuesday, July 30. The contest lasted just 51 seconds as Tang, who is ranked No. 22 in the world and bagged silver in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last year, won via ippon. In judo, an ippon can be scored by throwing an opponent on their back with force, compelling an opponent to submission with a choke or joint lock, or pinning an opponent down on their back for 20 seconds. Going to work early, Tang accomplished the last as she advanced to the round of 16. The swift defeat of Watanabe brought back memories of her painful campaign in the Tokyo Games, where she also got the boot in the round of 32, losing to Spain’s Cristina Cabana Perez via ippon in the first 38 seconds. Despite her exit, Watanabe, who delivered a silver for the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games, still achieved a rare distinction. The four-time Southeast Asian Games champion became just the third judoka from the Philippines – and the first in over three decades – to compete in multiple Olympic editions. John Baylon and Jerry Dino were the last to achieve the feat when they donned the national colors in the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Games. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Sara Duterte appeals for protection of family from ‘any violence’

Bonz Magsambol

30/07/2024 15:39

TURNOVER. Vice President Sara Duterte delivers her message during the turnover ceremony on Thursday, July 18. DepEd Facebook Page MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, July 30, appealed for protection for her family members from ‘any violence,” after the Philippine National Police (PNP) recalled its 75 personnel from her security detail. “Isa lang ang hiling ko sa inyo — ang kaligtasan ng aking pamilya. Huwag ninyong payagan ang anumang karahasan sa aking ina, asawa, at apat na anak, personal man o sa internet. At kung sakali man, huwag ninyong palampasin ang sinumang gagawa ng kapahamakan laban sa kanila,” Duterte said in a statement. (I only have one wish — the safety of my family. Don’t allow any violence against my mother, husband, and four children, physically or online. And just in case, do not let anyone who causes harm to them get away with it.) The Vice President issued the statement after Senator Bato dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, encouraged former members of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) “who are good at unarmed combat and volunteering” to volunteer for the security detail of the Vice President. “Bayanihan lang walang suweldo (Volunteer work, no salary),” Dela Rosa posted on his Facebook account on Monday, July 29. The Vice President thanked Dela Rosa and senators Robin Padilla and Bong Go, PNP and AFP staff, and ordinary people who offered to provide security for them. In a separate Facebook post on Monday, the Vice President called the removal of 75 cops from her security detail a “clear case of political harassment.” In a lengthy open letter, she called out PNP chief Rommel Marbil for allegedly “spreading lies” about the pullout of the cops. “Ang relief ng mga PNP personnel ay dumating pagkatapos ko magresign sa DepEd, pagkatapos ko inihambing ang SONA sa isang catastrophic event, at pagkatapos lumabas ang cocaine video. Let us spare our people from all the lies,” she said. (The relief of the PNP personnel came after I resigned from DepEd, after I compared the SONA to a catastrophic event, and after the cocaine video came out. Let us spare our people from all the lies.) She was referring to the video that circulated hours before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address. (READ: Face-swapped? Deepfake detector flags alleged Marcos video as ‘suspicious’) Duterte also refuted Marbil’s claim that her security detail was reduced as they saw “no threat” to her lift. Marbil had also said that the PNP lacked personnel to do ground duties, forcing others to do overtime work. “Hindi ba’t mayroong malisyosong pagpapalabas ng video footage noong ako’y nasa NAIA? Kuha sa isang lugar kung saan pawang mga empleyado lamang ng paliparan at piling mga tao ang maaring nandoon,” she said/ She was referring to the viral photo on social media which showed the Vice President and her family at the airport leaving for a “personal overseas trip” while parts of the country experienced calamitous floods. Duterte also claimed that PNP operatives recently visited the house they were renting to do “casing” activity. “Pilit pang inaalam kung nasaan mismo ang bahay na inuupahan ko. Bahay kung saan rin nakatira ang aking mga anak. Kung hindi ito napigilan ng mga nagmagandang loob na opisyal ng homeowners’ association, hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ang maaring mangyari,” she said. (They were trying to find out the exact location of the house I’m renting. A house where my children also live. If it weren’t for the intervention of officials of the homeowners’ association, I don’t know what might have happened.) In a statement on Tuesday, Senator Imee Marcos called for the return of the cops to the security detail of the Vice President. “First, she is the second highest elected official in the country whose safety must never be compromised. Second, she is a Duterte, who, like her father, is a staunch defender of law and order, hence topping the CPP-NPA’s order of battle,” the senator said. In 2022, the AFP activated for Duterte the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), which is a separate unit from the PSG. Duterte then thanked the AFP for activating tje VPSG, saying that it “may be expected to solve the challenges if, in future elections, the vice president and the president face the misfortune of having strained relations.” A Commission on Audit Report in 2022 showed that Duterte had 433 personnel for VPSPG, which was 63% of the total number of OVP staff. Her predecessor, former vice president Leni Robredo, only had 78 military personnel assigned for her security. Duterte then defended the VPSPG’s numbers, saying that additional security was needed for her roles in the Marcos Cabinet, such as the education secretary and co-vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. The Vice President resigned from both positions, effectively leaving the Marcos Cabinet, on July 19. Reporters have reached out to OVP to get the current number of personnel under the VPSPG, but it has yet to respond as of posting time. This page will be updated once we get a response. When she was vice president, Leni Robredo had far less security detail but did not make a fuss about it, said her former spokesperson, Barry Gutierrez. “VP Duterte started with 433 security personnel, over 4x that of VP Leni who only had 108 in 2016,” Gutierrez said on X on Tuesday. With the removal of 75 personnel from Duterte’s security detail, she would now have 350 people left, Gutierrez said. Leni’s security detail was down to 83 by 2020, or four years into her VP term “We never made an issue of it. No ‘open letter.’ No tantrum. No drama,” Gutierrez said. Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said that the Vice President still has a substantial number of security personnel at her side. “I don’t think it’s a bad matter to recall some of the personnel. And she still has 300 bodyguards. It’s bigger than the President’s,” Remulla said on Thursday, August 1. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. 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Swimmer Kayla Sanchez ends Paris Olympics bid after semifinal exit

delfin.dioquino editor

31/07/2024 5:31

PROUD. Swimmer Kayla Sanchez of the Philippines in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Kayla Sanchez Instagram page MANILA, Philippines – Swimmer Kayla Sanchez concluded what many hope is just the first of many Olympic stints for the Philippines. Sanchez, 23, exited the Games after finishing 15th out of 16 semifinalists in the women’s 100-meter freestyle at the Paris La Defense Arena on Tuesday, July 30 (Wednesday, July 31, Manila time). Clocking 54.21 seconds, Sanchez missed the top-eight cutoff for the final and became the eighth member of the 22-strong Team Philippines to get eliminated. Gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar, fencer Samantha Catantan, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, rower Joanie Degalco, and boxer Eumir Marcial all bowed out of medal contention in their respective events. Hong Kong’s Siobhan Bernadette Haughey topped the semifinals with 52.64 seconds followed by Australia’s Shayna Jack (52.72) and Mollie O’Callaghan (52.75) at second and third, respectively. World record holder Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden, who recorded the fastest time in the heats, made the final with a sixth-best semifinal mark of 52.87. seconds. Sanchez finished over a second off for the last final spot, with the USA’s Gretchen Walsh (53.18) making the cut at eighth. Despite her exit, Sanchez enjoyed a memorable Olympic debut for the Philippines as she shared 10th place in the heats and reset her own national record, clocking 53.67 seconds to erase her previous mark of 54.25 seconds. Sanchez made her way back to the Olympics after helping Canada win a 4x100m freestyle silver and a 4x100m medley bronze in the Tokyo Games. Born in Singapore to Filipino parents, Sanchez represented Canada from 2016 to 2022 before she decided to compete for the Philippines. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Carlos Yulo shoots for Olympic gymnastics medal in loaded all-around final

delfin.dioquino editor

31/07/2024 6:16

BALANCE. The Philippines' Carlos Edriel Yulo in action during the men's floor exercise final in the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Yves Herman/REUTERS MANILA, Philippines – If things go his way, Carlos Yulo may end up as the Philippines’ first medalist in the Paris Olympics. Yulo hopes to capitalize on the first of his three shots at a medal as he competes in the men’s artistic gymnastics individual all-around final at the Bercy Arena on Wednesday, July 31. The reigning Asian all-around champion, Yulo showed he can go toe-to-toe with the best in the world after placing ninth in the qualification with a total of 83.631 points. Yulo aims to bank on his pet events as he placed second in floor exercise with 14.766 points and sixth in vault with an average of 14.683 points to reach the finals of both apparatuses. His performances in the other apparatuses were promising, with Yulo posting 14.333 in parallel bars, 13.466 in horizontal bar, and 13.066 in pommel horse – marks that were all higher than his scores in the Tokyo Games. Yulo netted his lowest score in still rings with 13.000. Former world champion Zhang Boheng of China topped the all-around qualification with 88.597 points, followed by Japan’s Shinnosuke Oka (86.865) and Daiki Hashimoto (85.064), who led their country to the team gold. His Olympic title defense in horizontal bar crushed after surprisingly failing to make the final, Hashimoto hopes to bounce back by retaining the individual all-around gold he won in the Tokyo Games. China’s Xiao Ruoteng, who finished as runner-up to Hashimoto, placed fourth in the qualification with 84.898 points, while Great Britain’s Jake Jarman (84.897) and Joe Fraser (84.666) landed fifth and sixth, respectively. Ukraine’s Oleg Verniaiev netted 84.631 points for seventh and Italy’s Yumin Abbadini edged Yulo for eighth with 83.933 points. Other notable names in the 24-man all-around final include World Artistic Gymnastics Championships medalists Illia Kovtun of Ukraine and Milad Karimi of Kazakhstan. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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No medal repeat as Eumir Marcial drops opening bout in Paris Olympics

delfin.dioquino editor

31/07/2024 4:36

FACE TO FACE. Boxer Eumir Felix Marcial of the Philippines in action against Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan in the round of 16 of the men's 80kg in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Maye-E Wong/REUTERS MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial bid goodbye to his medal repeat bid after a shocking exit from the Paris Olympics. In a stunning turn of events, Marcial bowed to Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev via unanimous decision in the round of 16 of the men’s 80kg at the North Paris Arena on Tuesday, July 30 (Wednesday, July 31, Manila time). One of the Philippines’ top medal bets, Marcial – who won bronze in the Tokyo Games – got the boot in his opening bout as Khabibullaev won with scores of 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28. Marcial, 28, held the advantage in experience over the 20-year-old Uzbek, but the 5-foot-11 Filipino found the taller Khabibullaev a tough nut to crack. The 6-foot-1 Khabibullaev kept Marcial at bay with his jab and rock-solid defense to win the first two rounds, including a shutout in the opening salvo, and practically seal the deal. Although Marcial clinched the third round, Khabibullaev did enough to claim the unanimous decision victory and advance to the quarterfinals. Marcial had to move up to 80kg after his original weight class of 75kg, where he bagged bronze in Tokyo, got scrapped for Paris. The pride of Zamboanga City qualified for his second straight Olympics by reaching the finals of the Asian Games, where he lost to China’s Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan, another taller foe. With Marcial eliminated, only four boxers remain in the running as the Philippines hopes to capture an elusive Olympic boxing gold medal. Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg) and Nesthy Petecio (57kg) won their opening fights, while Carlo Paalam (men’s 57kg) and Hergie Bacyadan (women’s 75kg) start their respective campaigns on Wednesday. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Swimmer Kayla Sanchez ends Paris Olympics bid after semifinal exit

delfin.dioquino editor

31/07/2024 5:31

PROUD. Swimmer Kayla Sanchez of the Philippines in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Kayla Sanchez Instagram page MANILA, Philippines – Swimmer Kayla Sanchez concluded what many hope is just the first of many Olympic stints for the Philippines. Sanchez, 23, exited the Games after finishing 15th out of 16 semifinalists in the women’s 100-meter freestyle at the Paris La Defense Arena on Tuesday, July 30 (Wednesday, July 31, Manila time). Clocking 54.21 seconds, Sanchez missed the top-eight cutoff for the final and became the eighth member of the 22-strong Team Philippines to get eliminated. Gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar, fencer Samantha Catantan, judoka Kiyomi Watanabe, rower Joanie Degalco, and boxer Eumir Marcial all bowed out of medal contention in their respective events. Hong Kong’s Siobhan Bernadette Haughey topped the semifinals with 52.64 seconds followed by Australia’s Shayna Jack (52.72) and Mollie O’Callaghan (52.75) at second and third, respectively. World record holder Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden, who recorded the fastest time in the heats, made the final with a sixth-best semifinal mark of 52.87. seconds. Sanchez finished over a second off for the last final spot, with the USA’s Gretchen Walsh (53.18) making the cut at eighth. Despite her exit, Sanchez enjoyed a memorable Olympic debut for the Philippines as she shared 10th place in the heats and reset her own national record, clocking 53.67 seconds to erase her previous mark of 54.25 seconds. Sanchez made her way back to the Olympics after helping Canada win a 4x100m freestyle silver and a 4x100m medley bronze in the Tokyo Games. Born in Singapore to Filipino parents, Sanchez represented Canada from 2016 to 2022 before she decided to compete for the Philippines. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Fishing banned in Limay, Bataan due to oil spill

Iya Gozum

30/07/2024 16:02

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard create improvised oil spill booms as part of containment efforts after oil tanker MT Terranova capsized and submerged off Limay, Bataan. PCG BATAAN, Philippines – A fishing ban is already in place in Limay, Bataan, Governor Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III said on Tuesday, July 30, days after MT Terranova capsized and submerged off Lamao in Limay last July 25. Garcia said the fishing ban was imposed by Limay Mayor Nelson David. Water samples taken from four barangays in Limay, Bataan, were also found to have levels of oil and grease that exceeded standard limits set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, deeming them unsuitable for fishing and swimming. Water bodies are suited for fishing if oil and grease concentration found in samples only amounted to 3 milligrams per liter (mg/L) or below, and safe for swimming if oil and grease concentration is only 2 mg/L or below. Based on a presentation on Tuesday by Raphael de Leon, officer-in-charge of Bataan’s Environment and Natural Resources Office, the four areas not suitable for fishing and swimming are: Samples from Barangay Francis I, Barangay Wawa, and Barangay Luz Kitang were taken on July 25, while the water sample from Lamao was taken on July 26. There were two stations in Barangay Luz Kitang where samples were taken. The water sample from the other station only registered 2.4 mg/L of oil and grease. Results were shown to reporters in Balanga, Bataan, on Tuesday. Meanwhile, water samples taken from three barangays in Mariveles (namely Batangas II, Lucanin, and Townsite) did not exceed standard limits for fishing and swimming. Bataan, especially Lamao, is grappling with the oil spill caused by the sunken MT Terranova, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil. In the days that followed, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) had deployed oil spill booms and is currently sealing the valves before contracted salvor Harbor Star can start siphoning operations. Experts had forecasted that the oil spill could reach Metro Manila by Tuesday, July 30. But in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan said based on their aerial inspection earlier in the day, no oil sheen was seen going toward Manila. While the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said around 11,000 fisherfolk would be affected by the oil spill, Garcia estimated that at least 14,000 fisherfolk from nine coastal municipalities in Bataan could bear the brunt of the maritime incident. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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Japan pioneer Filipino import Thirdy Ravena heads to EuroLeague, signs with Dubai

jisaga0269

30/07/2024 16:04

FIERY. San-En's Thirdy Ravena looks to get past his defender in Japan B. League action. JAPAN B. LEAGUE MANILA, Philippines – Four years after sparking a Filipino basketball player surge into Japan, Thirdy Ravena moves on to a new career challenge. The former San-en NeoPhoenix import – the first Filipino reinforcement in Japan B. League history – officially signed with the newly formed Basketball Club Dubai (BC Dubai) of the Adriatic Basketball Association (ABA) League under the EuroLeague umbrella on Tuesday, July 30. Only formed early this year, BC Dubai now parades a growing collection of international talent, including former NBA G League player Nate Mason, Croatian-German Leon Radosevic, Serbian former NBA draftee Nemanja Dangubic, and Turkish-Jordanian Ahmet Duverloglu. Ravena figures to be a foundational piece among the veterans, especially after breaking out in his fourth B. League season and helping former cellar-dweller San-En NeoPhoenix transform into a consistent playoff contender. In the 2023-2024 season, the 27-year-old all-around guard averaged 12.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 0.9 steals on a stellar 52% shooting. The NeoPhoenix, with Ravena fully ingrained in the rotation at 27.1 minutes per game, skyrocketed to a third-place, 46-19 record before being stunned out of the quarterfinals by underdog Hiroshima. – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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[Time Trowel] The Philippine origins of mezcal and tequila distillation

Miriam Grace Go

30/07/2024 11:00

Guia Abogado/Rappler A trowel (/ˈtraʊ.əl/), in the hands of an archaeologist, is like a trusty sidekick – a tiny, yet mighty, instrument that uncovers ancient secrets, one well-placed scoop at a time. It’s the Sherlock Holmes of the excavation site, revealing clues about the past with every delicate swipe. I was sharing some distilled libations with Marlon Martin, Earl John Hernandez, and Kristian Cordero recently to celebrate our small successes in the past year. During this regular ritual, we discussed our work on decentering historical narratives to forefront Philippine contributions to humanity. And since we were enjoying some distilled spirits, I brought up the argument that the technology of distilling mezcal, and later tequila, came from the Philippines via the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade. The Galleon Trade, which lasted from 1565 to 1815, was an epic maritime trade route that connected Asia, the Americas, and Europe. This trade route played a central role in the early globalization of trade, culture, and technology. Despite the overarching influence of Spain, the direct and strong connections between the Philippines and Mexico were more pronounced due to practical, economic, and strategic reasons. In today’s column, I explore the history of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade, its significance in connecting the Pacific and the Atlantic, and the reasons behind the strong connections between the Philippines and Mexico. More importantly, I highlight an interesting historical connection between tequila and the Philippines, emphasizing the role of the Manila-Galleon Trade in the introduction of distillation techniques to Mexico. In a previous article, I also argued that the Galleon Trade facilitated the introduction of many of the plants mentioned in the song, “Bahay Kubo.” The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade began in 1565, an offshoot of the torno viaje, a relatively safe route across the Pacific, discovered by the navigator Andrés de Urdaneta. This facilitated regular trans-Pacific trade that would operate for 250 years, until Mexican independence. The trade route operated with an annual or semi-annual galleon (large, multi-decked sailing ship) voyage between Manila and Acapulco on the west coast of Mexico. From Acapulco, goods were transported overland to Veracruz, where they were then shipped to Spain and other parts of Europe. This route effectively connected the Pacific and the Atlantic, enabling the flow of goods, people, ideas, and technology across vast distances. The galleons carried a wide variety of goods, reflecting the diverse resources and products available in Asia and the Americas. From Manila, the ships transported luxury goods such as silk, spices, porcelain, ivory, and gemstones from China, India, Japan, and Southeast Asia. These goods were highly sought after in the Americas and Europe, fetching high prices in markets as far away as Madrid and Amsterdam. From Acapulco, the galleons brought silver from Mexican mines (mostly to supply the insatiable demand in China), which was used to purchase Asian goods. Other products included cacao, cochineal (a red dye), and other valuable commodities from the Americas. The trade route thus facilitated a complex exchange network that linked multiple continents and economies. While Spain was the colonial power overseeing the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade, the direct and strong connections between the Philippines and Mexico were particularly pronounced due to several factors. The Pacific Ocean posed a formidable barrier to direct trade between Spain and its Asian colonies. The route from Manila to Acapulco was the most feasible and direct trans-Pacific path, leveraging favorable currents and winds. From Acapulco, goods could be transported relatively easily across Mexico to the Atlantic coast and onward to Spain. Mexico, with its abundant silver mines, provided the primary currency for trade with Asia. The flow of silver from Mexican mines to the Philippines and then to China and other parts of Asia created an efficient economic loop. This system allowed the Spanish Empire to capitalize on its resources more effectively than a direct Spain-Asia route would have permitted. The Spanish colonial administration in the Americas, particularly in New Spain (modern-day Mexico), was well-established and capable of managing the logistics of the galleon trade. The infrastructure and governance in Mexico were more developed than in the Philippines or other parts of the Spanish Empire, facilitating smoother operations and better management of the trade route. The galleon trade also promoted significant cultural and human exchanges between the Philippines and Mexico. Many Filipinos, known as “Manilamen,” settled in Mexican coastal areas, contributing to the local culture and economy. These communities further strengthened the bonds between the two regions through shared practices, traditions, and intermarriage. One of the key pieces of evidence supporting the Filipino origins of mezcal distillation is the observation of old-fashioned distillation techniques among indigenous communities in the Americas. John G. Bourke, an American soldier and ethnologist, documented his observations of this type of distillation among the Tarascans in Mexico. He noted the simple construction of the stills used for distillation, suggesting a longstanding tradition of alcohol production among indigenous communities. This observation opens up the possibility that similar indigenous practices existed in the Philippines, where distillation was a well-established process long before European contact. It is worth noting that mezcal is a general term that refers to spirits made from agave plant, while tequila is a type of mezcal made from blue agave; its production is protected by Mexican law. Tequila is largely produced in Jalisco, but there are areas in neighboring states that are authorized to produce tequila, namely, in Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Nayarit.  A small region in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas is also allowed to produce the distilled spirit. In the Philippines, the distillation of tuba (fermented coconut sap) into lambanog (coconut arrack) was a well-established practice. This process involves the fermentation of tuba, which is collected from the inflorescence of coconut palms, followed by distillation to produce a high-proof spirit. The simplicity and effectiveness of these distillation methods indicate a sophisticated understanding of alcohol production that could have easily been transferred across the Pacific. The agave plant, indigenous to Mexico, was traditionally used in the production of pulque, an alcoholic beverage. However, with the introduction of Philippine distillation methods, agave began to be used to create what we now know as tequila. The distillation technique used by Filipinos, involving clay stills, was adapted by the local Mexican population to distill agave, resulting in the creation of mezcal and eventually tequila. This cultural and technological exchange was a significant outcome of the Manila-Galleon Trade, demonstrating the global interconnectedness even in the early modern period. The trade not only impacted the economies of the involved regions but also left a lasting cultural legacy that includes the origins of tequila. Historical accounts from Loarca and Rios y Coronel provide further evidence of the potential connections between Philippine and Mexican distillation practices. These accounts underscore the versatility of local resources and traditional drinks in the Philippines, hinting at long-standing indigenous traditions that could have similarities to mezcal production. The similarities between the distillation of tuba into lambanog and the distillation of agave into mezcal suggest a transfer of knowledge and techniques. This comparative analysis of materials and methods strengthens the argument for the Philippine origins of mezcal distillation, highlighting the interconnectedness of indigenous practices across different regions. Another possible influence in the distillation process is the presence of Japanese craftsmen in New Spain and how this might have been related to the introduction of palm-leaf techniques. This cross-cultural exchange could have played a role in shaping the distillation processes in both regions. The influence of Japanese techniques further complicates the narrative, suggesting a multi-faceted exchange of knowledge and practices. Japanese settlers and craftsmen in New Spain could have contributed to the refinement and development of distillation techniques, incorporating their own methods into the existing practices. This influence, combined with the Philippine distillation techniques, could have resulted in a unique hybrid process that led to the creation of mezcal, and later, tequila. The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade was a cornerstone of early global trade, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic worlds in an unprecedented way. While Spain was the overarching colonial power, the strong connections between the Philippines and Mexico were driven by geographic, economic, administrative, and cultural factors. The trade route not only facilitated the exchange of goods but also encouraged significant cultural and technological exchanges that have left a lasting legacy on both sides of the Pacific. This period of extensive interaction laid the groundwork for the interconnected global economy that we recognize today. The introduction of tequila distillation techniques from the Philippines demonstrates the importance of the Manila-Galleon Trade, reflecting the intricate web of global interactions that shaped the early modern world. The emergence of mezcal distillation technology also underscores that the Philippines is not just a mere recipient of things imported but a contributor to worldwide celebrations as well. Note: A PhD dissertation in 1960 by Dr. Pablo Guzmán-Rivas (University of Texas-Austin) provides the historical basis for this argument. A conversation with Dr. John A. Peterson of the University of San Carlos (Cebu) over a decade ago (over some distilled spirits) initiated the development of this concept. — Rappler.com Stephen Acabado is professor of anthropology at the University of California-Los Angeles. He directs the Ifugao and Bicol Archaeological Projects, research programs that engage community stakeholders. He grew up in Tinambac, Camarines Sur. Follow him on IG @s.b.acabado. Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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8 years after ‘sham inquiry,’ a different House welcomes Leila de Lima

Dwight de Leon

30/07/2024 13:35

FORMER SENATOR. Leila de Lima sits down with senior multimedia reporter Paterno Esmaquel II for Rappler Talk, on March 22, 2024. Rob Reyes/Rappler It was a scene that was unimaginable during the previous administration: former senator Leila de Lima being warmly welcomed and even lauded by members of the same chamber that had vilified her nearly eight years ago. The former lawmaker, jailed for almost seven years on trumped-up charges during the administration of her political nemesis Rodrigo Duterte, attended the House of Representatives investigation into the former president’s bloody drug war. She had been invited by human rights committee, chaired by Manila 6th District Representative Bienvenido, which is leading the inquiry. “I am delighted to see [former] senator De Lima who is still active,” a cordial Abante said of the human rights champion at the start of the hearing. Had she accommodated a similar invitation in 2016, the reception towards her would have been entirely different. In the first year of the Duterte administration, the man from Davao had it out for De Lima. There was a lot of animosity in that relationship after the latter conducted a probe into the supposedly Duterte-backed Davao Death Squad when she was head of the Commission on Human Rights in 2009. As Duterte’s anti-drug campaign kicked into high gear only a few days into his presidency, De Lima called for a Senate investigation into the summary killings, a move that angered the chief executive, who subsequently promised to “destroy” the senator. The attacks from the House of Representatives — dominated by Duterte’s allies — soon followed. Eleven lawmakers, led by then-speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, filed a resolution calling for an investigation into the proliferation of drug syndicates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) when De Lima was secretary of the Department of Justice, which supervises the state penitentiary. In marathon hearings beginning September 2016, the justice committee invited at least a dozen witnesses – many of them granted immunity from criminal prosecution – who pinned De Lima as the culprit of the narcotics trade at the NBP. At least five of them had pending clemency applications, posing a conflict of interest that the House just downplayed. Worse, the lawmakers dug into De Lima’s personal life, feasting on her romantic relationship with her former bodyguard, Ronnie Dayan. The congressmen asked Dayan nonsense questions, some filled with sexual innuendos. They also floated the possibility of playing an alleged sex video featuring De Lima, a plan that drew condemnation from De Lima’s female colleagues in the Senate. “It is a blow to our collective struggle to uplift the dignity of the woman, respect her agency and her autonomy over her own body, and is a form of slut-shaming that will not set a good example for the country,” read the resolution unanimously signed by four female senators back then. De Lima snubbed the House hearings, calling them a “sham inquiry” aimed at destroying her, “upon orders of the President.” In February 2017, a court ordered her arrest on drug charges, based on allegations that were echoed during the congressional probe. Eight years later, the political climate in the country has significantly changed. Duterte finished his term in 2022, ushering in a new era of leadership under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Initially seen by critics as someone who would continue the policies of his authoritarian predecessor, the late dictator’s son went a different route, and has been trying to rebrand himself on the international stage as a human rights supporter, even though drug war killings just significantly slowed down, and didn’t necessarily stop under his watch. The Marcos and the Dutertes – two dynasties in Philippine politics with a complicated relationship – have also had a falling out in the past year. In November, the court finally granted De Lima’s petition for bail, marking her release from detention for the first time in nearly seven years. “This is a breathing room from the seven years of nightmare that we thought was all over in 1986,” De Lima said in February. “Under [Marcos], we are given the opportunity to make use of a democratic space in transition from the authoritarian regime that was Duterte’s.” In June, she was cleared of all drug charges. “We are very appreciative of the former senator for gracing this affair, and congratulations for winning all your cases in court,” Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, human rights committee vice chairperson, told De Lima during Monday’s hearing. “Allow me to commend our former secretary of justice and former senator whose strength we really admired,” Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin added. “Women are usually perceived to be less stronger than men, but in the case of former senator De Lima, she has proven otherwise.” Some of the lead actors in the House probe against De Lima have faced either political or personal misfortune. Then-House justice committee chairperson Rey Umali died in January 2021 after a battle with liver cancer and COVID-19. Rudy Fariñas of Ilocos Norte, Doy Leachon of Oriental Mindoro, and Salvador Belaro Jr. of 1-Ang Edukasyon lost in their respective races in 2022. Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez was censured by his colleagues in May for disorderly behavior. Harry Roque of party-list group Kabayan, who later became Duterte’s spokesman, is among the subjects of a Senate investigation into various anomalies surrounding Philippine offshore gaming operators. Other congressmen who initiated the probe against De Lima, however, remain part of the 19th Congress. But eight years since House lawmakers launched misogynistic attacks against her, the chamber — or perhaps one committee — finally afforded De Lima the respect that she deserves, acknowledging her for, at least, the portfolio that she carries: a subject matter expert who extensively investigated the pattern of vigilante killings that persisted under the leadership of Duterte – whether as a city mayor, or president of the republic. On Monday, House members listened – when she revived her calls for the establishment of a truth commission, when she called Duterte the mastermind of the drug war killings, when she rebutted the Philippine National Police for second-guessing whether to include homicide cases in the death toll, when she called out the “practically non-existent” investigation of drug war killings by local authorities, and even when she lamented that the House may be too late the hero. “You cannot blame me if I say that we are actually better off waiting for the results of the International Criminal Court investigation, which is light years ahead of our local investigation,” she said. “I appreciate the efforts of this committee, at least we now have these proceedings, although I must say it’s rather late. But better late than never.” – Rappler.com Error. Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines. There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation. How does this make you feel?

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