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Agriculture sector insider likely to replace Piñol

SOMEONE ALREADY affiliated with the sector is likely to be appointed as the next Agriculture secretary, according to one of the President’s top economic managers.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, in a press briefing at the Pre-State of the Nation Address Economic and Infra Forum held in the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Monday, said President Rodrigo R. Duterte will most likely choose a new Department of Agriculture (DA) chief who “is very intimately familiar with the sector and somebody who has shown success in doing his job in that area.”

“I guess those are the main qualifications that the President will consider,” he added.

Last June 27, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol submitted his courtesy resignation and suggested to be transferred to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

In his letter to the President, Mr. Piñol recommended three undersecretaries as possible replacements for him, namely: Waldo R. Carpio, undersecretary for special concerns and legislative liaison officer of the DA; Ariel T. Cayanan, undersecretary for operations; and Francisco M. Villano, undersecretary for finance.

The resignation has yet to be officially accepted by Mr. Duterte but the President already said that he would prefer Mr. Piñol to help him with Mindanao concerns.

Sought for comment, lawyer and Ateneo Policy Center research fellow Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco said the new Agriculture secretary could be someone who is a close ally of both the President and Mr. Piñol.

“Hence, there is a very good chance that the programs that he (Mr. Piñol) started will simply be continued. The new Secretary will probably be very cautious and conservative in the performance of this job given that it is less than 3 years away till the next Presidential election,” Mr. Yusingco told BusinessWorld in an emailed response.

“He would be very averse to introduce new programs which could be controversial as this can possibly give the opposition the ammunition they need to win in 2022,” he added.

University of Santo Tomas Political Science Professor Marlon M. Villarin, on the other hand, said the new agriculture chief might be an “outsider.”

“Looking at the President’s personality and previous decision, I think he might consider an outsider as a replacement for (Mr.) Piñol, probably a known technocrat,” he told BusinessWorld in a text message.

Mr. Villarin said such a choice could be driven by the administration’s aim to meet or even exceed goals by 2022, when Mr. Duterte is due to step down.

“Probably this revamp movement of Pres. Duterte to the cabinet is both strategic and politically calibrated decision to make sure that his cabinet team are capable of meeting and hopefully exceed their desired political, economic and social outcome before his term ends,” he said. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Honasan finally assumes post as DICT secretary

By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter

FORMER SENATOR Gregorio B. Honasan II will now take the top post at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), almost seven months after his appointment as secretary in November, Malacañang confirmed late Monday.

Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, in a text message to BusinessWorld, said Mr. Honasan “took his oath as DICT secretary earlier” and that he was already joining the cabinet meeting scheduled last night.

The confirmation comes after Senator Panfilo M. Lacson announced in a tweet Monday afternoon the new role of Mr. Honasan, where he congratulated the recently retired senator.

“My heartfelt congratulations to my classmate, colleague and friend, DICT Secretary Gregorio ‘Gringo’ Honasan who is about to take his oath of office anytime now, before the scheduled cabinet meeting in Malacañang today,” Mr. Lacson wrote.

However, DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. said he was not notified by anyone of the upcoming leadership change in the department until Mr. Lacson made it public.

“Well, I was not informed. Nagulat din ako (I was also surprised). But yes, that’s expected. I think he will take his oath in front of the President this evening,” he said in a phone call with BusinessWorld yesterday afternoon.

“I don’t know kung may (if I have an) appointment as undersecretary. I’m still going to find that out tomorrow,” he added.

Malacañang issued on Nov. 22 the appointment papers for Mr. Honasan as the new DICT secretary.

Prior to that, Mr. Honasan said on Nov. 9 that he “decided to accept the offer of the President to help lead the DICT.”

Mr. Honasan was not able to assume the post immediately as he failed to submit documentary requirements to the Commission on Appointments before Congress took its Christmas break on Dec. 15.

Mr. Rio took on the role as acting secretary of the DICT when Rodolfo A. Salalima resigned from the position in September 2017.

ASEAN emergency response warehouse launched at AFP’s Camp Aguinaldo

A SATELLITE warehouse under the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) — which will hold a stockpile of different emergency needs such as food, sanitary kits, and building tools, that will be distributed during disaster response — was launched Monday in Camp Aguinaldo, the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) headquarters located in Quezon City. “This satellite warehouse will supplement the existing regional stockpile managed by the World Food Programme at the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Subang, Malaysia,” according to a press statement distributed during the launch.

The facility will be managed by the Office of Civil Defense and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance, with support from the Japanese government.

Other satellite warehouses are located in Malaysia and Thailand.

“The aim of prepositioning of ASEAN relief items in strategically located warehouses is to increase the speed and scale of an ASEAN response,” the statement said. Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, in a chance interview with reporters, said, “In the past we were caught unaware, we didn’t have preparations, we don’t have stockpiles of food and materials like these, so we had to exert a lot of time to gather these things before we can attend the victims of disasters. But now, you can just load these on the airplane and bring them to the disaster area.” — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

China rejects having 3rd party in Recto Bank probe

MALACAÑANG ON Monday said the People’s Republic of China does not want to involve a third party in the joint investigation into the June 9 boat sinking incident at the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea.

In a press briefing at the Palace on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said he received a “report” from Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana indicating that the Chinese government does not want to have a third party in the probe.

“Ambassador Chito Sta. Romana talked with the [Chinese] foreign ministry. Nagbigay siya ng (He gave a) report,” he said.

“Ang sabi naman nila, huwag na iyong third party; kailangan tayo lang ang mag-usap doon. Iyan ang (They said, no need for a third party; it should be just us talking. That is what’s) recent,” he added.

Mr. Panelo also said that the “verbal” agreement between President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016 that the Chinese government will not interfere with Filipino fishermen in the disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea is “valid and binding.”

He cited that under the law, even “verbal” agreements are valid and binding as long as there is “mutual consent” between the two parties.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila was sought for comment but had yet to respond as of this posting.

Meanwhile, in an interview at an ANC program, Mr. Panelo also explained that Mr. Duterte’s threat to jail critics who will file an impeachment complaint against him in relation to his approach to the West Philippine Sea issues was just an expression of “disgust.”

Sought for comment, Law and Business professor Antonio A. Ligon of De La Salle University (DLSU), who has also been conducting lectures on South China Sea issues, said in a phone interview: “It would be prudent to conduct an investigation if China is not included. Because if you include China, it’s like admitting that ‘Uy kasali kayo rito, sa inyo rin ito (Hey you are part of this, this is yours too), so you can investigate.’”

“It’s like disregarding what the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea said doon sa (in the) 2016 arbitration award. Nanalo na nga tayo (We have already won), and the world is saying that China should back off,” he added. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Davao court issues hold departure order vs 8 KAPA officials

THE DAVAO City Regional Trial Court Branch 16 issued a precautionary hold departure order against eight officials of KAPA-Community Ministry International Inc. in connection with the complaint they face before the Department of Justice (DoJ) for violation of the Securities Regulation Code (SRC).

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra confirmed that KAPA President Joel A. Apolinario is included in the travel ban.

Undersecretary and DoJ spokesperson Markk L. Perete said they will release a copy of the order once they receive it.

The SEC last June 18 filed a criminal complaint against KAPA, Mr. Apolinario, trustee Margie A. Danao, Corporate Secretary Reyna L. Apolinario, among others, “for perpetrating an investment scam.”

It also included Marisol M. Diaz, Adelfa Fernandico, Moises Mopia, Catherine Evangelista, and Rene Catubigan “for promoting the investment scam.”

The commission said KAPA violated Sections 8(8.1) and 28 of the SRC, which prohibits the selling or offering of securities and engaging in buying or selling of such as broker unless approved by SEC.

SEC also said the group violated Section 26 (26.3) or fraudulent transaction as it “employed a Ponzi scheme, an investment program that offers impossibly high returns and pays investors using the money contributed by other investors.”

The Commission issued a cease-and-desist order against KAPA in February and revoked its certificate of registration in April.

SEC said that it found KAPA to have enticed the public to “donate” at least P10,000 in exchange for 30% monthly return referred to as “blessing” or “love gift” for life and it “involved sale and offering for sale or distribution to the public of securities, in form of investment contracts.”

The DoJ last month also issued an immigration lookout bulletin order against 15 officers and incorporators of KAPA. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Gasoline, diesel prices higher again this week

FUEL PRICES are up for the third straight week as oil companies announced rate hikes for gasoline, diesel and kerosene effective 6 a.m. of July 2.

Gasoline prices will increase by P1.20 per liter (/L), diesel by P0.95/L, and kerosene by P1.00/L.

Data from the Department of Energy showed that prior to the announced price hikes today, the net increase of year-to-date oil price adjustments was at P3.70/L for gasoline, P2.75/L for diesel and P1.10/L for kerosene. — Denise A. Valdez

Nationwide round-up

PNP ready to arrest those who want to impeach Duterte

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde said they are ready to arrest people who want to impeach the President if found that they have violated the law. “Well, of course kung talagang ipag-utos ng Presidente at may nakita naman tayong (if it will be ordered by the President and when we see a) violation of the law, why not?,” he said at a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday. Last week, President Rodrigo R. Duterte “warned” that those who want him to be impeached will be arrested. Mr. Albayalde, however, clarified that there should be an investigation first before they could arrest anyone. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Moot and academic: SC junks petition on election source code

THE Supreme Court seal — BW FILE PHOTO

THE SUPREME Court (SC) has dismissed the 2013 petition of Senator Richard J. Gordon and Bagumbayan-VPN Movement, Inc. asking the court to compel the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to release for review the source code for the automated election. In a press release, the SC said the dismissal is based on the petition being moot and academic. The high court cited that the Comelec promulgated Resolution No. 10423 in September 2018, which modified the qualifications for source code review of interested parties. “As this Resolution No. 10423 governs the conduct of the [2019] elections and any automated election from here on unless it, itself, is superseded by another, the cause of action of the petitioners has ceased to exist,” the court ruled in a decision dated April 10. The petitioners claimed in their May 3, 2013 petition, 10 days before the 2013 elections, that Comelec failed to comply with Section 14 of Republic Act No. 8436 (Election Modernization Act), which requires the commission to allow political parties and candidates, or citizen’s arm to conduct a review of source codes. The SC also dismissed for “utter lack of merit” the indirect contempt charge filed by Mr. Gordon against former Comelec chairman Sixto S. Brillantes, Jr. for allegedly failing to comply with his commitments to the court during the oral arguments held May 8, 2013 to make the source code available for review and to grant more time to parties to comply with the requirements. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

New Baguio mayor vows environmental protection as one of priorities as city gov’t appeals to residents to manage waste following Irisan dumpsite closure

THE LOCAL government of Baguio issued an appeal to households and businesses “to find ways to manage their biodegradable wastes” following the cease and desist order (CDO) against the operation of the city’s Irisan open dumpsite. “We are requesting our residents to find ways to manage their biodegradable wastes by way of composting if there is space, if none we have to collect. We are asking the cooperation of our citizenry most specially our businessmen in the market to help reduce or manage their bio wastes,” Eugene Buyucan, head of the General Services Office (CSO), is quoted in a post on the city government’s official Facebook page. “We are hoping that the closure will be lifted as soon as possible so that we will be back to normal collection,” he added. The 5.2-hectare dumpsite, which was already ordered closed by the National Solid Waste Management Commission in 2012, was issued a CDO following a visit to the site last week by Undersecretary Benny D. Antiporda of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Mr. Antiporda said the order will be in effect pending the local government’s explanation of non-compliance to the closure order and the submission of a Safe Closure and Rehabilitation Plan as required under Republic Act No. 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Meanwhile, newly-elected Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, in his speech during his oath-taking ceremony Sunday, listed “Revitalizing the environment” as the number two priority of his three-year administration. Among Mr. Magalong’s marching orders were: “For CEPMO (City Environment and Parks Management Office) and GSO, in coordination with DENR, to immediately undertake inspection of establishments and other structures to ensure compliance with environmental laws and ordinances. Violators will be dealt with accordingly.” The new mayor, a retired police general, called on all sectors to help achieve a “better Baguio.” He said, “Together, we can and we will efficiently and effectively govern Baguio with a breath of fresh air.”

Hearing on PECO-MORE Power expropriation case resumes July 2

HEARING RESUMES Tuesday, July 2, on the expropriation case filed by MORE Electric and Power Co. (MORE Power) for Panay Electric Co. Inc.’s (PECO) assets. Iloilo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 37 Pairing Judge Victor E. Gelvezon scheduled the continuation of the hearing after denying on June 28 the motion of MORE Power to cease the hearing and decide on its application for a writ of possession (WOP) against PECO’s power distribution assets. PECO’s lead counsel Estrella C. Elamparo, in an interview, questioned MORE Power’s move saying that the power firm has no testimonial and documentary evidence to support its application. “Gusto nila wala na sila dokumentong isa-submit at ipapamarkahan (What they want is to do away with the submission and marking of documents)… because, for one, they don’t have testimonial evidence and no single documentary evidence,” Ms. Elamparo said. Among the documents required by the court for MORE Power to submit is the updated assessed total value of PECO’s distribution assets from the city treasurer’s office. Ms. Elamparo said no matter the outcome of the case, they are prepared for succeeding legal actions. MORE Power filed an expropriation case to acquire PECO’s assets after securing its congressional franchise through Republic Act No. 11212. PECO, whose franchise expired in January, continues to operate based on a provisional license issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Convicted Korean arrested at NAIA

THE BUREAU of Immigration (BI) intercepted a South Korean national wanted for economic crimes in his country upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Port Operations Division Chief Grifton SP. Medina identified the Korean as Chung Chan Ik, 63, who was nabbed hours after he arrived from Tokyo. Mr. Medina said the Korean was recently convicted for high tech and intellectual property crimes. “It appears that he fled to Japan after he was convicted and intended to hide in the Philippines afterwards,” he said. Lawyer Rommel Tacorda, head of BI’s border control and intelligence unit, said Mr. Chung’s offenses “ranged from embezzlement and breach of trust in the conduct of business and falsifying information in a public document.” — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

‘Bad faith’: DILG says ex-mayor Osmeña could face graft charges for stripping bare his office

DEPARTMENT OF Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya said former Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña could be sanctioned for violating Republic Act 3019, Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, for stripping bare his office as his term ended last Friday. “The DILG will investigate the reported act of former Cebu Mayor Osmeña of stripping the Mayor’s office of everything from ceiling to floor tiles rendering it unusable and completely bare,” Mr. Malaya said in a text message to BusinessWorld on Monday, July 1. “But the act of even removing what are considered immovable objects like ceiling, walls, and the tiles is already bad faith because it renders the office, which is government property, as unusable by his successor and therefore affects the delivery of public service to the people of Cebu City,” he said. “What the mayor should have done was to file a claim for indemnification for all the immovable improvements he introduced to the office so that he can be reimbursed for the cost,” he added. The new mayor, Edgardo C. Labella, has said that he wants to hold office at the ground floor of the city hall and not at Mr. Osmeña’s former office on the 8th floor. Mr. Labella, however, said the former mayor’s office could have been preserved and used as a lounge for VIP guests. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras with a report from The Freeman

PNP says suspected suicide bombers in Sulu blast likely to be Filipinos

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL Police chief Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde said the two alleged suicide bombers in last Friday’s explosion at a military camp in Sulu, which left eight dead and 22 injured, are likely to be Filipinos. “Ang alam lang natin (What we know is) even the Armed Forces of the Philippines ay identified itong mga taong ito (have identified these people) and they are not foreign nationals,” said Mr. Albayalde in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday. He said the investigation is still ongoing. For his part, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana said the imposition of martial law in the entire Mindanao may not exactly be the solution to the continued security problems in parts of the southern islands. “Martial law actually is not the solution to all these, because anybody can just go anywhere, because we have not controlled the movement of the people in Mindanao, they can basically go anywhere you want without any checkpoints… we just have checkpoints in areas that are dangerous, from one island to another,” Mr. Lorenzana said. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

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