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Gov’t lawyer says it backs free press despite Rappler ban

THE government’s top lawyer supports the ban of online news website Rappler from presidential events, saying it failed to present a “genuine issue on the alleged” abridgment of free press.”

Rappler failed to comply with accreditation requirements and attempted to portray the coverage ban against it as an “alarming threat to press freedom,” the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) said in a statement yesterday.

“The government recognizes the role of free press in our democracy,” it said. “But our people deserve news reports from legitimate media organizations that comply with rules on accreditation, respect the decisions of tribunals and obey the Constitution and our laws,” it added.

Rappler and its reporters in April asked the Supreme Court to stop the illegal coverage ban, saying it violated press freedom.

Rappler also argued the ban violates the right of a free press to self-regulate, the right to due process and the equal protection clause because it had been singled out.

Rappler palace reporter Patricia Marie I. Ranada was first barred from entering Malacañang on Feb. 20, 2018. The ban was later expanded to all events of the president. The ban was then extended to all Rappler reporters including correspondents in the provinces.

Mr. Duterte in March last year ordered the ban against Rappler at any of his events, accusing it of misreporting.

“The mere act of the government enforcing its accreditation rules does not, in any way, affect or trample upon the petitioners’ constitutional freedom of the press,” the Solicitor General said.

“This constitutional right certainly does not include the right to demand a special press pass, special accreditation, or special spot at any news conference or press briefing.”

The high court in July ordered the Office of the President, Office of the Executive Secretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office, Media Accreditation Registration Office and Presidential Security Group to comment on Rappler’s petition.

The court also allowed 41 reporters and columnists from various media to intervene in the case. The ban stays in the absence of a court injunction. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Palace debunks talks on Scarborough Shoal

THE presidential palace yesterday dismissed a Supreme Court magistrate’s claim that China will have reclaimed the Scarborough Shoal by the time President Rodrigo R. Duterte finishes his term.

Presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo told a press briefing, said Supreme Court Justice Antonio T. Carpio was “very fond of engaging in speculations.”

Mr. Carpio earlier said Beijing would attempt to reclaim the disputed shoal before the signing of the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea before Mr. Duterte’s term expires in 2020.

“As the president said, he will not allow during his incumbency any assault on our sovereignty,” Mr. Panelo said.

He said the 2016 United Nations arbitration ruling that voided China’s claims to more than 80% of the South China Sea “is final, binding and not subject to appeal.”

“Anything that will go against the arbitral ruling would be of course objectionable for us,” he said. “We are against any intrusion into the sovereign affairs of the land.”

Mr. Panelo said the Philippines “can always try” to stop China if it attempts to reclaim the shoal. “We will have to file a diplomatic protest.”

The Supreme Court has rejected a plea from fishermen and a lawyer’s group to force Mr. Duterte’s government to protect three disputed shoals in the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the fishermen in April asked the court to compel the government to protect the Scarborough Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal and Mischief Reef. — Arjay L. Balinbin

President still trusts his police chief

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte still trusts his police chief after reports of his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade inside jails, his spokesman said yesterday.

“Until such time the president says otherwise, he remains in full trust and confidence of the commander-in-chief,” presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said at a briefing in Malacañang, referring to General Oscar D. Albayalde.

Mr. Panelo said he personally believes in Mr. Albayalde, noting that 124 rogue cops have been killed in entrapment operations. “We are succeeding in the war on drugs,” he said.

He said Mr. Duterte would be validating the existence of the so-called ninja cops.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said he would issue a lookout bulletin order against the alleged drug queen involved in recycling illegal drugs with rogue cops.

The order would allow authorities to monitor her whereabouts overseas, he said.

Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Krizia Dana M. Sandoval said the suspect’s travel records showed that she had left the country “with no derogatory records.”

The Philippine National Police has said it was conducting a case build-up against the drug queen so it can file appropriate charges.

Former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong earlier told senators top police and jail officials were involved in the recycling of illegal drugs. — Arjay L. Balinbin and Vann Marlo M. Villegas

San Beda notches win number 14 with repeat over Perpetual Help

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE defending National Collegiate Athletic Association champions San Beda Red Lions raced to their 14th straight win in Season 95, defeating the Perpetual Help Altas, 75-62, in league action on Thursday afternoon at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Found themselves in a dogfight in the early goings of the match, the Lions turned to another “flip the switch” effort in the second half to outlast the Altas on their way to sweeping their season series and keeping their record unblemished at 14-0.

Towed by better shooting and ball movement and execution, the Altas made it tough for the Lions in the opening half.

San Beda held a slim 14-12 lead at the end of the opening quarter before Perpetual Help got their wind in the second quarter to seize the lead at the break, 33-31.

The Altas shot better from the field in the first half at 48% to the Lions’ 32% and had more assists 11 to 8.

In the third quarter the Lions came out with firmer footing on the lead of forward Calvin Oftana and guard Evan Nelle.

But despite that, the Altas stood toe-to-toe with their foes, down by just a point, 41-40, midway into the frame.

San Beda, however, would finish the quarter on a 9-6 run to take a four-point cushion, 50-46, entering the final 10 minutes of the game.

Finally getting the momentum they were angling for all game long, the Lions picked up from where they left off in the third quarter.

Oftana, Donald Tankoua and James Canlas were in the zone as they towed their team to a 13-point lead, 59-46, with seven minutes to go in the contest.

Kim Aurin and the rest of the Altas tried desperately to keep in step but San Beda was just firm in its stand and push.

The score was at 70-53 in favor of the Lions entering the last two minutes and it was all San Beda from there.

Tankoua paced the Lions with 17 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.

Oftana also had 17 points to go along with nine rebounds while Canlas finished with 16 markers.

Nelle, meanwhile, had eight assists on top of four points.

For Perpetual Help (3-9), was led by Aurin with 13 points with Ben Adamos ending up with a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards.

Maute terrorist convicted for grenade possession

A QUEZON City court has convicted an alleged member of the Maute terrorist group for illegal possession of an explosive device.

In a 20-page decision dated Sept. 25, Judge Eleuterio Larisma Bathan sentenced Unday Macadato or “Solaiman Omar” to 20 to 40 years in jail.

The court said Mr Unday had failed to prove his claim that the grenade found in his possession was planted and did not belong to him.

“He failed to disprove with concrete evidence the existence of the subject hand grenade in his possession or control,” according to a copy of the ruling.

“In fact, he failed to substantiate his defense of planted evidence, in spite of accused Unday’s testimony claiming that there was a CCTV camera there in F. Manalo in Cubao where he was arrested,” it added.

Authorities arrested Mr. Unday in Cubao, Quezon City in May last year after. Police caught him in the act of loading his firearm and recovered from him a bag containing a flag/handkerchief with a logo of the Islamic State and a grenade.

He claimed he was not Mr. Unday and that his name was“Solaiman Omar.” He claimed not to speak Tagalog, but was able to testify using the language during his trial, the court said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Stallion Laguna FC and Kaya FC-Iloilo hack out huge PFL wins

IT WAS a fruitful midweek outing for Stallion Laguna FC and Kaya FC-Iloilo at the Philippines Football League after the two hacked out huge victories against separate foes on Wednesday.

Stallion was a 9-1 victor over Global Cebu FC in their match at the Biñan Football Stadium while Kaya made it two wins in as many games on its home turf in less than a week with a 5-0 victory over the Philippine Air Force FC.

Jhan-Jhan Mellizza led the way for Stallion, finishing with a hat trick as they dominated Global right from the get-go.

Goals from Darwin Regala (3’), Edris Najm (7’) and Dodong Villareal (39’) set the tone for the Stallions as they built a 3-0 lead by the halftime break.

Then came the juggernaut that was Mr. Mellizza, who scored three straight goals in a span of 20 minutes — 46’, 50’ and 67’ — in addition to the goal of Fitch Arboleda in the 55th minute to practically put the game away at 7-0.

But the Laguna-based team continued to lord it over Global with Nate Alquiros padding their lead some more to 8-0 in the 74th minute.

Global though got to break its drought in the 85th minute when Paolo Salenga found the bottom of the net off a penalty kick to make it an 8-1 affair. Mr. Alquiros then put the finishing touches to Stallion’s master class with his second goal in added time.

The win improved Stallion’s record to nine wins to go along with five draws and five losses for 32 points, good for third place in the race.

The 5-0 victory was in follow up to its 2-1 win over the Airmen last weekend to ensure a winning return for Kaya in Iloilo.

Jordan Mintah provided the firepower for Kaya in its repeat over Air Force, scoring four goals (14’, 48’, 50’ and 73’).

Jovin Bedic scored the other goal off a penalty kick in the 85th minute for the win that pushed Kaya FC (14-1-3) to 43 points, six down from undefeated league leader Ceres-Negros FC (16-1-0). — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

All-pro Gilas Pilipinas pool of players for SEA Games

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

INSTEAD of a mix of amateur and professional players, the Philippine national men’s basketball team seeing action at the 30th Southeast Asian Games here in the country will be composed of players coming from the Philippine Basketball Association.

In a press briefing at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City, on Thursday following the league’s board meeting, officials of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the PBA as well as newly appointed Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone bared the names of 15 players from the pros making up the SEA Games roster.

Majority of the players in the pool came from Mr. Cone’s Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings with the rest handpicked by the Gilas think tank.

The reason for the change of tack, Mr. Cone said, was the limited time to prepare by the team with the SEA Games just a little over two months away and with the PBA season still ongoing.

Players making up the pool are LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson, Stanley Pringle, Japeth Aguilar, Art Dela Cruz and Greg Slaughter from Barangay Ginebra, June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Christian Standhardinger and Chris Ross from the San Miguel Beermen, Troy Rosario, Jayson Castro and Roger Pogoy from the TNT KaTropa, Vic Manuel from the Alaska Aces, and Matthew Wright from the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters.

“We’re going for familiarity. With limited time to practice, limited time for tryouts we decided to go with such approach. It’s not about getting the best players but forming the best team considering the circumstances that we have,” said Mr. Cone, named new Gilas coach early this week to replace Yeng Guiao, who stepped down from his post after the rough campaign of the Philippines at the recent FIBA World Cup.

Mr. Cone likened the approach to that of the 1994 Philippine team that competed in the Asian Games where the country was represented by the San Miguel team coached by Norman Black and backstopped by players from other teams, namely Alvin Patrimonio and Rey Evangelista of Purefoods and Johnny Abarrientos of Alaska, and Kenneth Duremdes and Marlou Aquino from the amateur ranks.

No amateur players were named to the SEA Games pool as National Collegiate Athletic Association and University Athletic Association of the Philippines season are ongoing.

The team will begin once-a-week practices on Monday and progress to twice-a-week by November.

Present at the press briefing were SBP president Al Panlilio and members of the PBA board led by chairman Ricky Vargas of TNT and league commissioner Willie Marcial.

The SEA Games happens from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.

DA gives away farming tools to Iloilo farmers

THE Agriculture department has given away P135.4 million worth of farming equipment to rice and corn farmers in Iloilo, it said in a statement yesterday.

Farmers received 27 hand tractors, 20 rice threshers, 20 pump engines, a corn sheller, two walk-behind transplanters and a ride-on transplanter. Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar led the distribution on Sept. 24, which also included four floating tillers, four mini four-wheel tractors and two mobile dryers.

The National Food Authority of Western Visayas also gave away farming machinery to cooperatives that help procure palay or unmilled rice to ensure the country has enough rice buffer stock.

The equipment included 15 mobile dryers, 11 mini four-wheel tractors, 11 combine harvesters, 11 transplanters and 250 granule applicators.

Mr. Dar encouraged farmers to form cooperatives so they will have “leveraging powers” and help develop the agriculture sector.

The Agriculture department has distributed P675,000 financial assistance to farmers, while the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. has awarded P147 million in insurance coverage, the agency said. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

UAAP: Ateneo shoots for sweep as first round comes to an end

THE FIRST round of the eliminations of Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines comes to an end this weekend with defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles looking to complete a sweep of their assignments.

Currently sporting a 6-0 record, the Eagles have been solid in their campaign where they hope to chalked up a third straight UAAP title.

The latest of the wins of Ateneo came on Wednesday over the University of the East Red Warriors, 85-68.

The Eagles had a hard time against UE (1-5) in said game, especially in the opening half where they actually trailed, but in the end the true game of Ateneo showed, resulting in its six straight win.

Foreign player Angelo Kouame was a tower power anew for Ateneo with 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks with Thirdy Ravena and Adrian Wong adding 15 and 11 points, respectively.

While they are still undefeated and on track for a sweep of the first round, Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin underscored that there is still work that needs to be done on their part, with the UE game providing a good picture of that.

“I think it’s probably appropriate to talk more about UE than us. They came out with a good game plan. They obviously took notes watching us play. They used some counters to some of our defensive tactics which were effective particularly in the first half. I was a little bit annoyed with the team. I think we shouldn’t need timeouts we shouldn’t need halftimes to adjust. We have to expect that when you play a little different style that teams are going to pick you apart, they’re gonna analyze it, they’re gonna have counters to what you are doing, we should anticipate them, we should expect that,” said Mr. Baldwin postgame.

“The third quarter was the kind effort I wanna see in the team all the time. They played with some fire, some determination. The second you think you have nothing to prove you should get out of sports because the very nature of competition is that you have something to prove to your opponent if nobody else. I think in the third quarter we figured that out. We began to play with assertiveness. I think for us when we’re assertive, effectiveness comes with that so we can’t be passive, we can’t be tentative,” he added.

To complete a sweep, Ateneo faces the streaking University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons (5-1) on the final day of the first round on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 4 p.m..

It is going to be a rematch of last season’s UAAP finals, something Mr. Baldwin said they are approaching as another game but nonetheless mindful that they should be at their best.

“It’ll be really interesting to see that game. All of us are still trying to prove who we are at this point. Maybe it will have a playoff-type atmosphere. But for us, we will approach it as just the next game. We’ll go out and play good basketball. I have no idea how UP will approach it. You have to ask them. But for us, we will know the job before Sunday but something we’ll be working on tonight. I don’t have any different expectations of my team except to come out and play good basketball,” the Ateneo coach said.

The final weekend of the UAAP first round will see the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers battle (4-2) the De La Salle Green Archers (2-4) at 2 p.m. and the Adamson Soaring Falcons (3-3) and Far Eastern University Tamaraws (2-4) at 4 p.m. on Sept. 28, and UE versus the National University Bulldogs (1-5) at 12 noon on Sept. 29. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Nationwide round-up

DoH alarmed by antibiotic misuse


THE Department of Health (DoH) will come out with twin guidelines on the use of antibiotics after reports that antimicrobial resistance remained a global threat, it said in a statement on Thursday.

Its National Antibiotic Guidelines will tell people how to use medicines for common ailments and diseases, while the Philippine National Formulary features rational use of 619 types of antibiotics.

The UN Interagency Coordination Group on antimicrobial resistance in April said resistance to antibiotics was fast becoming a global health concern. It said 700,000 people who die yearly due to drug-resistant diseases. If not addressed, the deaths could reach 10 million yearly by 2050.

“The irrational use/misuse of antimicrobials was identified as a major driver of antimicrobial resistance, which has been associated with various management and health care provider concerns,” Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique D. Domingo said in the statement.

The Health department will print and distribute the formulary manual later this year. The manual will guide healthcare facilities and professionals in prescribing and using medicines for various illnesses, Mr. Domingo said.

“The drugs listed in the formulary are those considered essential or vital in addressing the major disease burden in the country,” he said. “So it helps the government make sound decisions on health care prioritization,” he added. — Gillian M. Cortez

DoJ starts releasing convicts

THE Justice department was scheduled to start releasing yesterday convicts who surrendered but whose release was not for good conduct, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said.

At least 25 convicts in the first batch were to be released because they were freed earlier after being pardoned or paroled, he told reporters.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte earlier fired his prison chief Nicanor E. Faeldon for allowing the release of about 2,000 felons convicted of various heinous crimes. The law disqualifies them from early release for good conduct.

He gave the convicts until Sept. 19 to surrender or they will be hunted down “dead or alive.” Mr. Perete on Monday said 2,221 convicts had surrendered.

The DoJ and the Department of the Interior and Local Government has revised the rules implementing the law on early release for good conduct, disqualifying recidivists, escapees, habitual delinquents and convicts of heinous crimes.

Mr. Guevarra said he asked government prosecutors to help the Bureau of Corrections in reviewing the records of inmates. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Bill to help jeepney operators

A LAWMAKER has filed a bill that seeks to help drivers and operators who will be affected by a government plan to phase out old jeepneys.

House Bill 4823 by Party-list Rep. Michael Edgar Y. Aglipay will give P100,000 in financial assistance to “lighten the capital burden of modernization.”

The measure also allows the government to buy out old public utility jeepneys for P400,000 each.

Further, the bill provides that existing single unit operators shall be allowed to take part in the modernization program and to continue to hold on their franchise, as long as they comply with the required vehicle specifications and operations.

Mr. Aglipay told reporters separately drivers and operators support the modernization effort but they want it to be implemented fairly.

Jeepney drivers and operators are scheduled to hold a nationwide transport strike on Sept. 30 to protest the phase-out of old jeepneys by July next year. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Prices of 120 patented drugs face cuts

THE prices of about 120 patented medicines will be cut by 56% under the Department of Health’s list of maximum drug retail prices, it said in a statement yesterday.

The list will cover medicines used to treat top health concerns of Filipinos. Most of these medicines are patented by their manufacturers and don’t have a generic counterpart.

The proposed list covers 120 drugs addressing leading diseases and catastrophic conditions in the Philippines such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung diseases, neonatal diseases, and major cancers.

The list also covers high cost treatments for chronic renal disease, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, which were requested by several patient organizations and medical societies for inclusion in the list, DoH said. — Gillian M. Cortez

Sixers see Simmons to launch 3-point shots

PHILADELPHIA 76ers point guard Ben Simmons has never made a 3-pointer during his two NBA seasons.

That 0-for-17 accuracy rate hasn’t deterred an offseason experiment where Simmons shot bushels of 3s in hopes of becoming a factor from behind the arc.

Sixers coach Brett Brown says the 23-year-old All-Star point guard will be counted on to hoist long-range shots this season.

“The time that he has invested over the course of this summer is the best by a long shot that he ever has,” Brown told reporters on Wednesday at a media luncheon. “His awareness of this thing in the marketplace, he’s prideful, he gets it. His confidence that I saw when he came back to Philadelphia and played in our gym over the last few weeks just stood out, it shone as if he had invested time and he was looking forward to showing us.”

Simmons, who averaged 16.9 points last season, has been reluctant to fire up 3-pointers, even when teams back off and leave him open by five feet and sometimes up to 10 or more.

Brown said that will change. He just wants Simmons to make smart decisions while showing more aggressiveness in taking them.

“With Ben, we’re not going to hunt 3s,” Brown said. “When they are available, I want him to shoot them. The reckless use of 3s doesn’t tie into my initial statement of our team being huge.

“I do think we can play a style of play that is just smash-mouth defense and bully-ball offense, I think this team has the ability to do that. And so it leans more toward that than, let’s come down and crank out 3s.”

Brown said that Simmons hiding near the baseline on offense will no longer be a regular occurrence. Simmons will now venture into the corners and, as he gains confidence, he may be situated by the 3-point line in the middle of the floor.

Brown also indicated that the health of All-Star center Joel Embiid will again be a priority. — Reuters

Belingon wants to settle rivalry with Fernandes once and for all

BELIEVING it could well be the last time that he would face Brazilian champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes in their tightly contested ONE Championship rivalry, Filipino Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon wants to settle things once and for all when the two collide anew at “ONE: Century” in Tokyo, Japan, next month.

Fighting for the fourth time since 2016, Messrs. Belingon and Fernandes clash for the ONE world bantamweight title, which the latter currently holds, as one of the co-main events of part two of the two-pronged Century event of ONE on Oct. 13 at the famed Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

Mr. Fernandes (23-4) holds the upper hand in his encounters with Mr. Belingon (20-6), taking two wins out of three matches to date.

The Brazilian champion submitted the Filipino in their first match three years ago before Mr. Belingon got back at him with a split decision victory in November last year to take the bantamweight title.

Mr. Fernandes reclaimed the title in March this year in their trilogy after Mr. Belingon was disqualified over what were deemed illegal blows to the back of the head that ended the match abruptly to the dissatisfaction of both fighters.

If he would have his way, Team Lakay stalwart Belingon said he wants to settle any doubts and talk as regard their rivalry in grand fashion with a knockout and him holding the bantamweight belt anew.

“It is hard to tell how it will end, but I’m looking for a knockout so that all talks will be settled. It’s hard to leave this to the judges because there would be doubts there. I have to get that knockout win,” said Mr. Belingon, 31.

The Filipino bantamweight fighter is right smack in the middle of preparations for his upcoming fight.

He said that his fourth match with Mr. Fernandes will be a tricky one since they practically know each other’s moves.

But nonetheless he expressed readiness for it.

“More than ever, I am familiar with Bibiano — his style, the way he moves. I already know what to expect and what I’ll do in our fourth match,” he said.

“For our game plan, I’m leaving it to coach Mark Sangiao so I can effectively counter his striking and takedowns,” Mr. Belingon added.

Headlining part two of ONE: Century is the light heavyweight title clash between reigning champion Aung La N Sang of Myanmar and heavyweight champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera of the Philippines.

Part one of the offering, meanwhile, has the atomweight world championship fight between current champion Angela “The Unstoppable” Lee of Singapore and challenger and women’s strawweight champ “The Panda” Xiong Jing Nan of China. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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