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Batanes still under signal #1 as Liwayway strengthens on its way out

SEVERE TROPICAL storm Liwayway continued to intensify as it moves out of the Philippine area, placing Batanes under typhoon cyclone wind signal #1 for a second day. In its 5 p.m. update on Tuesday, weather bureau PAGASA said Liwayway, coupled with the southwest monsoon, will continue to bring rains today over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon), northern portions of Palawan including the Calamian Islands, Mindoro provinces, and the Cordillera Administrative Region. Liwayway is expected to be out of the country between Wednesday late evening and Thursday morning. Meanwhile, PAGASA is monitoring another low pressure area off the southeastern part of the country.

Cebu City creates task force with DPWH to address flooding

A TASK force composed of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the city’s own Department of Engineering and Public Works has been created to address the longstanding and worsening flooding problem. “The flood yesterday (Sunday) was like an eye-opener for us,” Mayor Edgardo C. Labella told reporters Monday. Among the heavily flooded streets following rains over the weekend were N. Bacalso Avenue, Sanciangko Street, Colon Street, and Manalili Street. In a coordination meeting Monday, Mr. Labella said he was told that the DPWH-Cebu City District Engineering Office has ongoing flood control projects worth P1.2 billion for Cebu City and neighboring Mandaue City this year. The city government, meanwhile, has P1.5 billion worth of flood-control projects unutilized from the continuing appropriations in the 2015 budget. “The inter-agency task force will make an evaluation study on these flood-control programs of both the city and the DPWH so that there will be no overlapping and so that there will be coherence in implementing these projects,” the mayor said. DPWH District Engineer Florida P. Nuñez said her office will also assist the city in the regular clean-up of drainage systems to lessen flooding incidents. — The Freeman

DCWD still awaiting Davao City gov’t approval for P300M septage project

THE DAVAO City Water District (DCWD) is ready to rollout the proposed P300-million septage project, but it is still awaiting the local government’s approval. “The DCWD is ready to invest P300 million for the project,” said spokesperson Bernardo D. Delima Jr. The project requires a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the city government, but the city council has yet to pass the ordinance giving the mayor authority to sign. Mr. Delima said the budget will initially cover the construction of two treatment plants. Waste from household septic tanks will be collected by DCWD for a fee, which is also pending approval. “It is similar to the environmental fee as in other places… Whatever is the amount of water that you use, it is also the amount of water that you waste,” he explained. Under the proposed city council ordinance on the project, the city government would “adopt and implement a comprehensive and integrated septage and sewerage management program, which shall among others, reduce, if not eliminate, the prevalence of waterborne and excreta-related diseases and pollution in bodies of water and encourage greater public-private partnership.” — Carmelito Q. Francisco

It’s Tuna Festival in GenSan

GENERAL SANTOS’ annual Tuna Festival opened last Friday and various events have been lined up this week for the celebration of the city’s main industry. For a taste of tuna, and a variety of other seafood and meat, the Atlantis Food Park at the Oval Plaza Grounds will be open until Sept. 15. The Sugbahan sa Dalan, the street grilling party, is scheduled today along Pioneer Avenue. The fish fest at the GenSan port was celebrated yesterday while the 21st National Tuna Congress will hold on Sept. 4–6.

Nationwide round-up

Supreme Court junks petition to legalize same-sex marriage

THE SUPREME Court (SC) junked a lawyer’s petition seeking to legalize same-sex marriage in the country. In a statement, the court said that while it acknowledges that the 1987 Constitution “does not define, or restrict, marriage on the basis of sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression,” petitioner lawyer Jesus Nicardo M. Falcis III lacked legal standing, violated the principle of hierarchy of courts and failed to raise an actual controversy. Mr. Falcis filed in 2015 the petition seeking to declare unconstitutional provisions in the Family Code which limits marriage to male and female. The SC held oral arguments on the petition in June 2018. The decision penned by Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen also says it recognizes the discrimination faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other genders, but “official recognition of their partnership may, for now, be a matter that should be addressed to Congress.” The court also cited Mr. Falcis and his co-counsels — Darwin P. Angeles, Keisha Trina M. Guanko, Christopher Ryan M. Maranan — for indirect contempt, saying “[t]o forget [the bare rudiments of court procedure and decorum]-or worse, to purport them, but really only to exploit them by way of propaganda-and then, to jump headlong into the taxing endeavour of constitutional litigation is a contemptuous betrayal of the high standards of the legal profession.” It added, “Good intentions are no substitute for deliberate, conscious and responsible action. Litigation for the public interest for those who have been marginalized and oppressed deserve much more than the way it has been handled in this case.” — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Supreme Court affirms dismissal of Mamasapano case vs Aquino, others

THE SUPREME Court affirmed the Office of the Ombudsman’s 2017 resolution dismissing the multiple homicide complaints against former President Benigno S.C. Aquino III and two others. The case was in connection with the Mamasapano clash in 2015 where 44 members of the police Special Action Force (SAF) were killed. “The Court held that the Ombudsman did not commit grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in dismissing the complaints for 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide filed against private respondents,” SC Public Information Chief Brian Keith F. Hosaka said in a briefing. The other two included in the complaints are former Philippine National Police chief Alan L.M. Purisima and the former PNP-Special Action Force director Getulio P. Napeñas, Jr. The Sandiganbayan late last month granted the motion of Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires to withdraw the charges after the lifting of a temporary restraining order by the SC. Mr. Martires previously said they moved for the withdrawal of the cases as Mr. Aquino cannot be charged of usurpation of authority and graft as he was the chief executive when the clash happened. Aside from the 44 SAF officers, 18 others from the Moro Isalamic Liberation Front and its splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were killed in the encounter. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

2 complainants withdraw estafa complaint versus KAPA

TWO PRIVATE complainants in the estafa complaint against Kapa-Community Ministry International, Inc. (KAPA) have withdrawn their case. The Assistant State Prosecutor Ma. Lourdes C. Uy said the two filed their affidavit of resistance on the complaint on the ground that they donated their money to KAPA. The panel of prosecutors said they have just accepted the affidavit and have yet to decide on it. The third private complainant, meanwhile, has also prepared her withdrawal but was not able to attend due to illness. The panel said the complainant could have her affidavit sworn before a public prosecutor. “(W)e need to be sure na (that) this affidavit of desistance are voluntarily executed,” the Assistant State Prosecutor Xerxes U. Garcia told reporters. Aside from the syndicated estafa complaint, the three KAPA investors and the National Bureau of Investigation last July 8 also recommended the charging of 14 KAPA officials, including founder Joel A. Apolinario, of violating Section 8 (Requirement of Registration of Securities) and Section 26 (Fraudulent Transactions) the Securities Regulation Code. The three private complainants said they “donated” a total of P575,000 to KAPA, which they tried but failed to recover following reports of the group’s alleged illegal operations. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

DILG says Sept. 29 deadline for road, sidewalk clearing stands

THE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) “will not be extending” the 60-day deadline for local government units (LGUs) to clear their roads and sidewalks from obstructions, Secretary Eduardo M. Año said on Tuesday. In a press conference in Quezon City, Mr. Año said cities in Metro Manila are the “most compliant” with the directive of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. The DILG issued an order in line with the directive, which marked the start of clearing operations on July 29 and a deadline of Sept. 29. Local chief executives who fail to implement the order may face administrative charges. Mr. Año also said 43.3% of LGUs nationwide have reported conducting road-clearing operations. In Metro Manila, he said a total of 139,959 meters of roads and 52, 831 meters of sidewalk have been reportedly cleared of obstructions and illegal structures. “Our operations further resulted in 1,444 illegal vendors, 49 terminals, 1,292 illegally parked vehicles, and 813 obstructions displaced from roads,” he added. To sustain the cleared roads, the directive requires LGUs to enact or revisit related ordinances. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Nation at a Glance — (09/04/19)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Nation at a Glance — (09/04/19)

UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball starts today

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE MARQUEE men’s basketball event of Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines kicks off today with a triple-header set at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

A deviation of sorts from the typical weekend opening of UAAP basketball, the new season will also see an earlier start of the games for the midweek offering of the league.

Kicking off the season is the match between the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers and the University of the East Red Warriors at 10:30 a.m. followed at 12:30 p.m. by the battle between the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and Far Eastern University Tamaraws.

Capping off opening day is the “avian war” between the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles and the Adamson Soaring Falcons at 4 p.m.

Finished sixth in last year’s race with a 5-9 record, the España-based Tigers are looking to improve on the finish, notwithstanding they will be parading a young team, composed majority of freshmen.

One of last year’s top rookies, CJ Cansino, is back from the ACL injury that cut his season and is the team’s captain. Joining him are holdovers Zach Huang, Renzo Zubido and Enrique Caunan.

“Nine of the 16 players we have are first-year players. They still lack in exposure but hopefully as the season progresses their game will show and help our cause,” said UST coach Aldin Ayo at the season press conference on Sunday.

On the same boat of having young players in its fold is UE, which finished last year with the worst record of 1-13.

But it is not allowing it to hinder the team from aiming high and going for a better finish.

“We have a rookie-laden team this year, but we’ll always fight. We will still compete,” said Red Warriors athletic director Rod Roque, who represented coach Joe Silva at the press conference.

Meanwhile, last year’s runner-up UP looks to build on the significant headway it had in Season 81.

Key additions for the Maroons are Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero. They will join holdovers Juan and Javi Gomez De Liano, Jun Manzo and Bright Akhuetie.

Souped up its roster is, UP said it is hoping that its preparation pays off and it gets lived up to the expectations.

“I think that the expectations for our team are in place. Every team is going to be prepared and hopefully, we can live up to the expectations thrown at us,” said UP coach Bo Perasol.

First to test the Maroons are the Tamaraws, losing semifinalists from last year.

FEU saw some key departures from Season 81 and it would be relying on new faces to backstop the team’s veterans in this year’s campaign.

“You’ll be seeing a different FEU team. You’re used to see experienced players, but half of our team are rookies so were investing on our youth and hopefully, they can help us,” said FEU coach Olsen Racela, whose team is led by veterans Wendell Comboy, Barkley Ebona, Hubert Cani and Kenneth Tuffin.

With its champion team’s core still intact, Ateneo is considered as a title favorite anew.

But the Blue Eagles are expecting a tough challenge as they go for a third straight UAAP title.

Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said they have made full use of the offseason to establish consistency in their game in preparation for the tough grind ahead of them.

Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, Matt and Mike Nieto as well as big man Angelo Kouame are back to lead the charge of the Blue Eagles.

Adamson, for its part, looks to redeem itself after it was unceremoniously booted out in the Final Four last year after a strong elimination round performance.

Veteran Jerrick Ahanmansi will lead a young team as the Falcons try to go deep in the tournament.

“I’m handling one of the youngest teams I’ve ever handled, but hopefully they adjust to the seniors level right away,” said Adamson coach Franz Pumaren.

Bencic stuns No. 1 Osaka

NEW YORK — Naomi Osaka was upset 7-5 6-4 by Belinda Bencic at the US Open on Monday as the Japanese lost her grip on both her title and number one status while the Swiss reached the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows for the second time.

Bencic got off to a bright start on a rainy day in New York, breaking the world number one under the closed roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium, and her superior serving carried the day as she won 82% of her first serve points.

Momentum swung firmly in the 22-year-old Bencic’s direction in the second set when Osaka double faulted to hand the 13th seed a 3-2 lead and the top-seeded Japanese, who appeared to struggle with a troublesome left knee, was unable to recover.

Bencic improved to 3-0 this year against the 21-year-old Osaka, who came through an emotional straight sets win over 15-year-old American Coco Gauff in the third round on Saturday.

Osaka’s defeat means Australia’s Ash Barty, who lost in straight sets to China’s Wang Qiang in the fourth round on Sunday, will regain the world number one spot from the Japanese.

Osaka said that although she was disappointed with Monday’s result she still considered her trip to New York a success.

BIG CHALLENGE
Bencic, who also reached the US Open quarterfinals in 2014 when she was just 17 but has struggled with injuries in recent years, said that taking Osaka’s powerful serve early and keeping her energy up was the key to winning the match.

“I was so excited to come on the court, the challenge could not be bigger so I had to be on top of my game,” she said in an on-court interview.

Despite the lack of a big serve, Bencic played fluently, finishing with 29 winners to just 12 unforced errors and breaking Osaka three times.

Osaka’s loss comes the day after top seed Novak Djokovic fell to another Swiss, Stan Wawrinka.

Next up for Bencic is a meeting with Croatia’s 23rd seed Donna Vekic, who beat Germany’s Julia Goerges 6-7(5) 7-5 6-3 on Louis Armstrong Stadium court earlier on Monday.

RAFA OUTWITS CILIC
Rafa Nadal faced his stiffest challenge yet at the US Open but raised his game to beat Marin Cilic 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-2 on Monday and continue his quest for a fourth Flushing Meadows title.

The second-seeded Spaniard was in cruise control as he took the first set behind some superb serving and stout defence but the big-hitting Croatian battled back to snatch the second.

That was as good as it would get for Cilic, however, the momentum shifting decisively in Nadal’s favour when he jumped in the air to hit a spectacular overhead smash that electrified the crowd.

Cilic would double fault later in the game to give Nadal a 3-1 lead and he would never threaten again on a hot and humid night in New York, with Tiger Woods among the star-studded crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium cheering on the Spaniard.

Nadal fired a forehand winner on match point to seal the victory and make his 40th quarterfinal at a Grand Slam event.

The 33-year-old has had a relatively stress-free time at the tournament so far, dropping just one set and getting a walkover in the second round.

Next up for the 18-time Grand Slam champion is a meeting with Argentine Diego Schwartzman, who toppled Alexander Zverev in their round of 16 clash earlier in the day.

The diminutive Argentine has faced Nadal seven times and lost every meeting but has proven a difficult test in the slams, forcing the Spaniard to go four tough sets at the 2018 Australian and French Opens.

Nadal is on a collision course with third seed Roger Federer and could meet his old rival in Sunday’s final if both players advance. Federer faces Grigor Dimitrov in the quarters on Tuesday. — Reuters

Gilas Pilipinas tries to avert going winless in group play versus Angola

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

WINLESS and already eliminated from the running in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the Philippine men’s national basketball team tries to finish group play on a high note and have something to build on heading into the classification side of the tournament.

To take on fellow Group D tailender Angola in the scheduled 3:30 p.m. match today at the Foshan International Sports & Cultural Arena in China, Gilas Pilipinas looks to catch a break after two gut-wrenching losses.

Gilas saw its World Cup bid dashed after bowing to world number four Serbia on Monday, 126-67. It was in follow up to the 108-62 defeat it absorbed at the hands of Italy on opening day on Aug. 31.

The twin losses effectively ousted the Philippines from the knockout stages and having to settle for the classification round.

Against Serbia, led by National Basketball Association All-Star Nicola Jokic, Gilas played better than it did versus Italy, where it was flat right at the onset.

The Philippines battled early in the contest, with Paul Lee finding his mark.

Gilas was on top, 9-7, at the 5:39 mark of the opening frame before Mr. Jokic and the Serbian team started to make their move and pull away.

Serbia proved to be too much for the Philippines in the middle quarters, outscoring the latter, 71-35, which pretty much sealed the fate of Gilas.

CJ Perez once again stood tall for the Philippines, top-scoring with 16 points followed by Mr. Lee with 15.

June Mar Fajardo had eight markers while Japeth Aguilar and Robert Bolick finished with seven points each.

Gilas naturalized player Andray Blatche only had five points and four rebounds before fouling out.

The Philippines lamented another tough loss but recognized Serbia was just too much.

“Tough loss. We wanted to make the game close. They’re just the number one team right now. Our goal was just to raise our game to a higher level. Serbia is just too much for us,” said Mr. Lee after the game.

World number 31 Gilas now hopes to have a breakthrough win when it collides with Angola, which is several rungs below it in the world rankings at 39th.

Angola is led in scoring by Carlos Morais and Yanick Moreira.

Philippines versus Angola will be shown live over TV5 and ESPN5.com.

Acclaimed artists rally behind Filipino athletes for SEAG

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

FILIPINO athletes seeing action later this year in the 30th Southeast Asian Games have received a boost from acclaimed performing artists of the land.

Tony awardee Lea Salonga, National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab and Palanca-award winning writer and director Floy Quintos have teamed up to create the theme song for the SEA Games which the country is hosting from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.

Entitled “We Win As One,” the lyrics were of Mr. Quintos and music was by Mr. Cayabyab.

Ms. Salonga lends the voice and the face in the music video that comes with it.

The theme song was unveiled on Tuesday at The Grand Bar and Lounge of Resorts World Manila, with the artists and SEA Games organizers expressing excitement over the project team-up and support for the athletes.

“The inspiration for the song is in the SEA Games tag itself, ‘We Win As One.’ It’s a big inspiration for me because it talks about not only about our relationship as a community and country but also our relationship with our neighbors. Yes we compete but we win as one,” said Mr. Cayabyab of the SEA Games song.

The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) shared the when the theme song project was being conceptualized it had no artists in mind but those involved in “We Win As One,” which was also arranged by noted music director and producer Jimmy Antiporda.

“I was excited and I was honored because they asked me [to be part of this],” shared Mr. Cayabyab.

For Ms. Salonga, to represent the country in such a way is both exciting and fun even as she said that she hopes the athletes get inspired from it.

“When I represent the country I make it a point to always put my best foot forward. And this is one of those times and I’m mindful that I bring out only the best. It’s amazing to sing for this kind of arena and I hope the athletes get inspired by it,” Ms. Salonga said.

The 2019 SEA Games is touted to be the biggest to be staged in the Philippines, involving 11,000 athletes and officials from the 11 member nations, 9,000 volunteers, 530 events and 56 sports.

Forty-four venues have been short-listed for the event scattered in different parts of the country, including the world-class facilities at New Clark City in Tarlac.

The last time the country hosted the SEA Games was in 2005.

PVL: Choco Mucho out to halt skid in game versus PetroGazz

HAVING LOST their last two matches, the Choco Mucho Flying Titans try to halt their skid when they take on the PetroGazz Angels in Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference action today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Set for 2 p.m., the Flying Titans (2-3) seek to move back to the .500 mark in the ongoing PVL tournament against the streaking Angels (3-2).

The last of the losses of Choco Mucho came at the hands of undefeated league-leaders Creamline Cool Smashers in four sets, 25-12, 25-22, 19-25 and 25-18, on Aug. 31.

The duo of Kat Tolentino and Maddie Madayag tried to tow their team to the victory but the veteran crew of Creamline, led by Alyssa Valdez, proved to be too much to handle for Choco Mucho as it bowed to the defeat.

Misses Tolentino and Madayag led the attack of the Flying Titans, finishing with 20 and 13 points, respectively.

Arianna Angustia was the third leading scorer for Choco Mucho with eight points.

Out to add to the struggles of the Flying Titans are the Angels, winners of their last two matches.

The most recent of PetroGazz’s wins was over the Philippine Air Force Lady Jet Spikers, which came in straight sets, 25-16, 25-20 and 25-23, on Sept. 1.

Leading the balanced attack of the Angels were Cherry Nunag and Jovielyn Prado with 10 points each followed by Stephanie Mercado and Jeanette Panaga who chipped in eight apiece.

Happy with the win, PetroGazz hopes it gets to continue to improve and keep rolling.

Meanwhile, playing in the middle game at 4 p.m. are Creamline (6-0) and the PacificTown-Army Lady Troopers (2-2) to be followed by the match at 6 p.m. between the Banko Perlas Spikers (4-2) and BaliPure Purest Water Defenders (2-3). — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

UTP junior netters in Malaysia for ATF 14-and-under tilt

A TEAM of Unified Tennis Philippines (UTP) national junior tennis players are in Malaysia to represent the country in the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) 14-and-under series.

The team, composed of Exequiel Jucutan, Joewyn Pascua, Alexa Milliam, and Marielle Jarata are hopeful that they will be able to repeat or even best the performance of last year’s team.

“Our goal as a team is to consistently play our best, not just aim to be champions but to show that we can make our mark in international competitions.” said Marielle, the team’s youngest player.

“We’ve seen how these kids are on the Philippine courts and I’m confident that they are at par with their opponents who will come from different nations. I wish them good luck and expect them to make our country proud,” said UTP president Jean Henri Lhuillier.

The UTP national team members were selected through a national ranking system. UTP is an all-inclusive, non-stock, non-profit sports organization founded and supported by some of the country’s biggest tennis patrons and aficionados whose mission is to develop fresh talents who will represent the Philippines in international competitions.

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