GOVERNMENT investigators have cleared three suspected terrorists who were reported to be planning to enter the Philippines.
An anonymous email linking the three to terrorism was probably a hoax, according to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Victoria Sto. Domingo, one of the three, had passed “thorough checking,” NBI spokesman Ferdinand M. Lavin told a briefing yesterday. She also had no criminal record.
The woman earlier issued an affidavit denying her links to a terror group responsible for bombing in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Lavin said state agents had received an email saying three suspected terrorist bombers were coming to the Philippines and one of them was already here. The email could have been sent by Ms. Sto. Domingo’s father because he did not approve of her relationship with her Sri Lankan fiancé, he said.
State agents are considering filing charges against the father, Mr. Lavin said.
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said there were no arrival records for the other two suspects. “In any event, the Bureau of Immigration’s anti-terror group is on the alert regarding further movements of these persons,” he said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. has asked the Supreme Court hasten his election protest by ordering a preliminary conference.
In a motion dated Aug. 9, the losing vice-presidential bet noted that under the rules, the court must designate hearing commissioners once the ballots in his three pilot provinces are revised. The commissioners will set the dates for the submission of any evidence and other affidavits, he said.
“Public interest demands that this electoral controversy be resolved with dispatch to determine once and for all the genuine choice of the electorate for the contested position,” said Mr. Marcos, who lost buy a hair to Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo in the May 2016 elections.
The court acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal last month deferred action on Mr. Marcos’ plea to investigate alleged rigging of votes in three provinces in Mindanao until the recount of votes in his three pilot provinces — Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental — was finished. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
NINE AREAS remain positive for shellfish poisoning, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said in its latest laboratory results. The areas where the red tide alert is up are: Puerto Princesa Bay, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan; San Pedro, Maqueda, Irong-irong, Silanga and Cambatutay Bays in Western Samar; Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur; and coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol. “All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from the areas are not safe for human consumption. Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” BFAR said. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang
THE CORDILLERA Administrative Region’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) has directed all its units to assess the situation in communities and implement preemptive evacuation if necessary amid continuous rains brought by the southwest monsoon. In a memorandum issued Aug. 12, the RDRRMC said all local councils should ensure the “zero casualty” goal. Last Sunday, the regional council issued another notice saying tourism activities such as hiking, trekking, and caving are “strongly discouraged.” The Department of Public Works and Highways has also issued several notices on roads affected by landslides or slips. Among the areas affected were Mankayan and Bokod in Benguet, Mayoyao in Ifugao, and Baguio City. On Tuesday, classes were suspended in Baguio City, and some towns in Benguet and Mountain Province.
THE DEPARTMENT of Justice again asked a judge of the Angeles City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to inhibit from the proceedings in the case of the slain Korean businessman Jee Ick-Joo. In the second motion for inhibition, the prosecution noted that Judge Irin Zenaida S. Buan of RTC Branch 56 resolved their first motion for inhibition after two months since the filing, which indicates her partiality toward the accused, Police Lieutenant Colonel Rafael P. Dumlao III. Mr. Dumlao is the alleged mastermind of the killing. “Her subsequent actions and late orders indicate clear badges of partiality and bias in favor of accused Dumlao. The People and the private complainant have undoubtedly and irretrievably lost their trust and confidence that the Presiding Judge will hear the cases with utmost fairness, impartiality and probity,” the motion read. It also cited that the April 24 order of the judge allowing the posting of bail of Mr. Dumlao “casts serious doubt on her fairness and impartiality to continue hearing these cases.” Mr. Jee and his housekeeper Marisa Morquicho were abducted from his residence in Angeles City during an alleged anti-drug operation on October 18, 2016. Ms. Morquicho was later released but Mr. Jee was killed in the headquarters of the Philippine National Police and his cremated remains were reportedly flushed in a toilet. Mr. Dumlao, along with Police Chief Master Sergeant Ricky M. Sta. Isabel and Jerry A. Omlang, are facing charges of kidnapping for ransom with homicide, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, and carnapping in connection with the slay of Mr. Jee. The court on April 24 allowed Mr. Dumlao to post bail of P300,000 for each of the charges but denied the same petitions of the others accused. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
THE MARITIME Industry Authority (MARINA) lifted on Aug. 13 the suspension of motorboat operations between Iloilo City and Guimaras, with certain conditions imposed. In a memorandum signed by MARINA Regional Director Jose Venancio A. Vero, Jr., the agency said the resumption of pump boat services is “in order to address stranding of passengers” in the island province of Guimaras. The memo lays down several conditions to boat operators, including: wearing of life jackets by passengers throughout the trip, loading of only 75% of the approved carrying capacity of the vessel, overhead tarpaulins/canvass should be rolled up or removed, and fitting the vessels with distress signal equipment. Trips will also be allowed only be “from sunrise to sunset” and subject to weather conditions. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo
THREE PEOPLE were killed, including a two-year old child, while another was seriously injured in a shooting perpetrated by members of the Abu Sayyaf group on Monday morning, the military reported. In a statement released late Monday evening, the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) said a soldier and a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) were on a motorcycle traversing the Patikul-Talipao road when they were fired upon by an undetermined number of Abu Sayyaf. The two died on the spot, along with one of two children in the area while another, an 11-year old, was still in “unstable condition” as of Monday evening, according to WestMinCom. “We assure the families and friends of the victims that the JTF (Joint Task Force) Sulu will do our best to ensure that the perpetrators of this treacherous act will be brought to justice. This blatant disregard for the spirit of Islamic festivities is a clear disrespect of the Islam teachings,” said Major Gen. Corleto S. Vinluan, Jr., JTF Sulu commander. Monday was a national holiday for the Eid’l Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.
MALACAÑANG ON Tuesday advised Filipinos against traveling to Hong Kong amid continuing violent protests in the Chinese Special Administrative Region. “Avoid going there, that’s the advice. Kasi (Because) you’re not sure whether you’re going to reach Hong Kong in the first place,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo told reporters in a press briefing. Operations at the Hong Kong Airport have been disrupted since Monday as protesters hold a mass rally at the terminal. The protests were sparked by an extradition bill that would allow suspects to be sent to China for trial. Last week, Mr. Panelo said the Philippine government will not ban the deployment of Filipino workers. Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, for his part, said his office is monitoring the situation Hong Kong and studying the possibility of banning deployment. — Arjay L. Balinbin
Chinese investigators to be allowed in probe of Chinese national’s death
FOREIGN AFFAIRS Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. on Tuesday said Chinese investigators would be allowed to get involved in the probe of the death of a Chines national last week. “When a foreign national is killed on our soil, we are obliged to allow the foreign national’s state to send its own investigators to solve the crime we seem unable to. That is international practice,” Mr. Locsin said in a social media post. The 27-year-old Chinese, who was found handcuffed, died after falling through a window from the sixth floor of a building. The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Monday evening urged concerned government agencies to probe the incident and bring the “perpetrators to justice.” The embassy had also asked the Philippine government to take the necessary measures to protect the rights of Chinese citizens in the Philippines. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo, in a statement Sunday, expressed “alarm” over the incident. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
DILG warns cops vs accepting gifts
THE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned that police officers will be held liable for receiving or soliciting gifts in line with the performance of their duties. “Employees under the DILG, including police officers, will be held criminally and administratively liable if they receive or solicit gifts of monetary value from people they serve or transact with in relation to their official functions,” said DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año in a statement on Tuesday. Mr. Año issued the statement after President Rodrigo R. Duterte told cops last week they can accept ‘thank-you’ gifts, especially if these are given out of generosity for their work. The National Police Commission Memorandum Circular 2016-002 states that any “act of soliciting or accepting directly or indirectly any gift of monetary value or the act of receiving for personal use of a fee, gift or other valuable thing in the course of official duties in expectation of receiving a favor or better treatment” shall be penalized. However, Sec. 14 of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, exempts gifts of small value offered as a token of gratitude. “Although an exception is provided for in the law, may we remind our fellow workers in government, especially those in the Philippine National Police (PNP), that your services are already fully paid by the people through their taxes. Therefore, gifts received in exchange for favors or as a form of bribe is in direct violation of your oath of service and is a violation of law,” said Mr. Año. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras
Palace, DoJ support amendments to Human Security Act
JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra — PCOO.GOV.PH
JUSTICE SECRETARY Menardo I. Guevarra on Tuesday said the anti-terrorism law should just be amended instead of reinstating the law criminalizing subversion. Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año has recently called for the restoration of the subversion law, which was repealed in 1992. “Amending and giving more teeth to the Human Security Act will suffice,” Mr. Guevarra told reporters in a mobile-phone message. He said one of the provisions of the Human Security Act that has to be amended is the imposition of a P500,000 per day penalty on authorities who mistakenly accuse a person for terrorism, “even in good faith.” This, he said, are among the provisions that “weaken the entire law.” “Remember, we are dealing here with terrorism, including suicide attacks,” he said. Mr. Año wants the return of the anti-subversion law following reports of parents whose children have allegedly gone missing after joining left-leaning groups. The anti-subersion law, which was contained in Republic Act 1700, outlawed the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and being a member of the organization. Mr. Guevarra, however, said, “(M)ere membership in the CPP is not a crime unless overt criminal acts are committed… Being leftist is far from being terrorist.” He added, “as long as activism remains in the realm of ideology, there is nothing to be alarmed about.”
PALACE
Malacañang expressed the same message as it asked Congress to put more teeth to the Human Security Act in order to quell communist terrorism. “That should be addressed to lawmakers. They should provide more teeth to that,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo told reporters in a briefing when asked to comment on Mr. Guevarra’s statement. On the suggestion to increase police visibility in school campuses to limit the recruitment of students by groups linked to the New People’s Army (NPA), Mr. Panelo said he does not think this would be a solution. The NPA is the armed unit of the CPP. The spokesman said parents should also tell their children that the communist ideology is “long passed and is passé and they should not entertain joining any kind of subversive organization for their own sake.” — Vann Marlo M. VillegasandArjay L. Balinbin
AFFI President Jorge Wieneke speaks before potential business owners
In an effort to promote entrepreneurship in the Philippines, Globe myBusiness has joined hands with the Association of Filipino Franchisers, Inc. (AFFI) in bringing franchising opportunities to employees who desire to become business owners.
Franchising is a growing trend in the Philippines, thus, Globe myBusiness is upbeat on the numerous opportunities that the franchising industry brings.
Cleo Santos, Globe myBusiness sales head, pointed out that franchising is especially beneficial to those who need independence and flexibility such as company employees who are often stuck in the typical 8 am – 5 pm job. It is also a good start for those without any business experience since training and support are provided by the franchisor. Likewise, franchisees could bank on an established product and do not have to engage in advertising to promote the brand.
Globe myBusiness also sees franchising as a means to provide employment and increase the rate of job opportunities.
“As the trusted advisor and partner of MSMEs, we want to inspire and educate our entrepreneurs, especially those who are venturing into their initial foray in business, on the potential and promise of franchising. Franchisees can be assured that they can rely on Globe myBusiness on the technology front while at the same time, AFFI can provide them with the skills and business know-how in order to address any challenge that they may face, ” said Santos.
Starting at its home turf, Globe myBusiness and AFFI conducted a one-day franchising seminar and exhibition called “Be Wise, Franchise!” for over 7,000 employees of Globe which was participated in by 26 franchising brands such as Aquabest | Laundrybest, Ate Rica’s Bacsilog, Big Apple Express Spa, Cold Layers Cafe, Ecosteam, El Bonito’s Pizza, G-Spot Burger Bar, Galileo, iFranchise, Kerrimo, Lucky Lulu, Maxi Mango, Mr. Softy Ice Cream, Nitro 7, Over Mango, Pomodoro Pizza, Ritea, Shanghai Siomai, Suds Laundry, Takeaway Sisig, Tokyo Tempura, Trueblends, Ahead, Adobo Connection, Zen Zest, Cyclehouse, and EC Gas
AFFI President and Tokyo Tempura Founder Jorge Wieneke was joined by JC Martinez of EC Gas
Guest franchise operators guides interested employees on how to become a franchise owner
Michelle Velasquez of Maxi Mango, and Victor Fernando of Big Apple Express Spa in sharing tips and experiences to the employees to guide them in their franchising decisions.
The event is part of Globe myBusiness Saludo SMEs campaign which recognizes the important role that small and medium-size enterprises play in nation-building.
As the SME arm of Globe, it is the goal of Globe myBusiness to help every enterprise reach its full potential through industry-specific tips, lessons from experts in the field, and business solutions tailored to answer every business owner’s needs. The brand launch events all over the country via Globe myBusiness Academy to offer business solutions and workshops, and work with experienced entrepreneurs to inspire newer business owners in honing their craft and making the most out of digital technology.
THE Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC) has tweaked its plan to increase listed firms’ minimum public ownership (MPO) by raising the range while allowing them to propose their own timetable to hit the steeper requirement by a government deadline.
SEC Commissioner Ephyro Luis B. Amatong said corporate regulators are now looking at a 20-25% MPO, against the earlier 15-20% prospective range.
“The ASEAN standard is 25%… and there’s initial feedback since some companies in their initial offering actually go straight to 40%,” Mr. Amatong told reporters last week, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Mr. Amatong said the SEC might allow companies to propose their own timetables to reach the 25% public float, instead of imposing a uniform deadline on all.
“Rather than order companies to hit 15% within three years, then another two years for the 20% — which is what the commission presented before — right now we don’t care how you do it, as long as within five years, you’ll have 25%,” Mr. Amatong said in a mix of Filipino and English.
The SEC had said that 68 listed firms would be affected once the MPO increase is implemented. Of this complement, 39 have a public float of less than 15%.
The Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. has said that majority of the bourse’s 264 companies already have 45-47% public floats.
Four of the 30 PSEi-member firms currently have a public float of less than 25%, namely: Aboitiz Power Corp. with 19.15%; Globe Telecom, Inc. with 21.65%; Manila Electric Co. with 20.98%; and San Miguel Corp. with 15.94%.
Mr. Amatong said San Miguel has assured corporate regulators that it can raise its public float as soon as the commission finalizes the rules.
He added that companies should not have any issue with increasing the public float given current liquidity in the market, as well as positive prospects for the Philippine Stock Exchange index.
The SEC in 2017 raised the MPO of companies seeking to conduct an initial public offering to 20% from the current floor of 10%. Listed firms, however, still adhere to the 10% requirement, which has been in place since 2011.
Mr. Amatong declined to say when the SEC will finally release the guidelines for the public float increase, explaining that the commission still has several other draft rules on its plate. These include guidelines for real estate investments trusts, which it committed to release next month, and rules on digital asset exchanges.
“The long-term view is the economy is good, inflation is easing, the central bank has cut interest rates and reduced the reserve requirement, so this should be a good time to impose the rules,” Mr. Amatong said. — Arra B. Francia
PROPERTY developers remain optimistic about demand for office space despite China’s crackdown on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), citing limited exposure to such tenants.
Ayala Land, Inc. Commercial Business Group Head Jose Emmanuel H. Jalandoni said POGOs make up less than a tenth of their leasable office portfolio, limiting the company’s vulnerability to this segment.
“For the office sector, we’re limiting it to a maximum of 10% for our office portfolio. Right now it’s a little below 10%…Since we’re limiting our exposure to 10% it’s more manageable,” Mr. Jalandoni told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of an event last week of its parent Ayala Corp.
In a separate interview, DoubleDragon Properties Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Edgar J. Sia II said his company is also relatively protected from developments hounding POGOs.
“DoubleDragon’s leasable space portfolio is diversified enough that it is well-covered overall. The POGO exposure is only about 12% of 2019 total leasable space,” Mr. Sia said in an e-mail, adding that his company requires tenants to pay 12 months rental security deposits up front, on top of post-dated checks covering the entire lease term.
Mr. Sia, however, admitted that there could be downsides in terms of yields the company will get for its properties.
“The only downside if the POGO tenants are replaced by BPO and corporate tenants is that, in that case the company expects to no longer get the very high 29% yield on cost but may revert to the normal yield of 14%, which is anyway still more than double the company’s cost of fund which now stands at 6.2%.”
Concerns about the country’s office sector arose after the Chinese embassy last week asked the Philippines to stop hiring Chinese citizens in casinos and other gaming facilities, citing how a large number of them have been illegally brought into the country since Beijing has been cracking down on cross-border gambling. It also blamed offshore gaming operations in the country for increased crimes and other social problems in China.
Analysts said this move could hurt the property sector as POGOs have been driving demand for office space in recent years.
Real estate consultancy Colliers Philippines said offshore gaming firms accounted for 37% of total office transaction last semester. Total space taken up by POGOs is expected to breach 300,000 square meters for the year, according to its second-quarter office report released last week.
Despite the high demand from POGOs, Ayala Land’s Mr. Jalandoni said the company still expects business process outsourcing firms and traditional offices to boost its businesss.
“I think reports show that demand for this year and last year was mostly POGOs, but BPO demand is still there and we’re also seeing demand from traditional office so it’s a balanced demand,” Mr. Jalandoni said.
