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Canada ‘working to resolve’ garbage

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter

THE EMBASSY of Canada in Manila responded on Wednesday to President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s warning that he would declare war on Canada if it will not pull out its trash shipped to the Philippines about five years ago.

The embassy said the governments of the Philippines and Canada have been “working to resolve the issue.”

“Canada is strongly committed to collaborating with the Government of the Philippines to resolve this issue and is aware of the court decision ordering the importer to ship the material back to Canada,” the embassy said in a statement.

It also noted that “a joint technical working group, consisting of officials from both countries, is examining the full spectrum of issues related to the removal of the waste with a view to a timely resolution.”

“In 2016, Canada amended its regulations around hazardous waste shipments to prevent such events from happening again. We are committed to working collaboratively with the Government of the Philippines to ensure the material is processed in an environmentally responsible way,” the embassy said.

The embassy also said both countries are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations this year.

“The relationship is built on strong people to people ties, our common interest in strengthening political, economic and cultural relations and in our mutual commitment to peace,” it said further.

Mr. Duterte made his remarks regarding the waste issue at the Provincial Capitol of Pampanga in San Fernando City last Tuesday during a situation briefing on last Monday’s earthquake as it affected Region III.

“‘Yung basura ng (The trash from) Canada, I want a boat prepared. I’ll give a warning to Canada maybe next week that they better pull that thing out or I will set sail doon sa (to) Canada. Ibuhos ko ‘yang basura nila doon (I will dump their trash there),” he said.

He added: “I cannot understand why they are making us a dump site…. Well, not this time. Magka-away kami (We are enemies)… Eh ‘di ano. Awayin natin ang (We will fight) Canada. I will declare war against them. Kaya ‘man natin ‘yan sila (We can defeat Canada).”

For his part, Magdalo Representative Gary C. Alejano said in a statement: “Tama naman ang Pangulo na hindi tayo dump site ng Canada para tanggapin ang kanilang basurang iligal na pumasok dito sa bansa (The President is right in saying that we are not Canada’s dump site as to just accept their garbage that was illegally shipped to our country).”

“However, I can’t help but notice how the President finds it so easy to express outrage over Canada’s trash, but never when China infringes on our sovereignty and national interest,” the Otso Diretso senatorial candidate also said.

He said China and Canada “have both done something against our national interest.”

“[B]oth cases warrant an appropriate response from the government. I hope this administration stops making us look like fools with senseless theatric displays and just get to work already.”

Duterte to dismiss more corrupt officials

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday said he would issue “so many letters of dismissal” against corrupt government officials.

In his speech at the opening ceremony of the 7th Union Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Pasay City on Tuesday night, Mr. Duterte said he would issue dismissal letters against officials who linked to corruption before flying to Beijing to attend the second Built and Road Forum.

“If you ask me if I’m happy with the job, I am not, because of so many corruption and I have to fire [some officials]. I’m leaving for China, and before that I will leave so many letters of dismissal,” he said.

“Corruption is really — [it] seeps down [to] the core. You have to [do] something more than just a warning,” he said.

“I’m the only President who — ako lang ang Presidenteng nangbubugbog ng tao (beats up a person). Tanungin mo ‘yang mga guwardiya diyan (Ask the guards),” he added.

He reminded his audience, who were mostly health workers, to make sure that their services reach the poorest Filipinos.

“They are the ones who need it most. They are the ones who live in squalor, in blighted areas. No nutrition and very susceptible to bacteria and virus,” the President said.

“The health workers have to penetrate the mountains and areas where I said plight of squalor abound.”

“I’m 74 years old, I do not want to die of TB. I do not want to die of lung cancer. As a matter of fact, I got — I acquired Buerger’s disease from smoking. That is why my doctor is here. She gets my blood. Was it… Ah see? Almost every other day.”

“It’s about Buerger’s disease. But I have stopped smoking. When I became mayor in Davao City, I stopped smoking and said it cannot be done, because Filipinos, you know…. And I said, if I catch you smoking in public, you will just have to eat your cigarette. Choose. I’ll blow your balls out or you eat your cigarette.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

Ex-cop, others ordered arrested over 2018 shabu shipment

By Vann Marlo M. Villegas, Reporter

A MANILA court has ordered the arrest of former police officer Eduardo Acierto, former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy S. Guban, and six others in connection with the 2018 importation of multi-billion pesos worth of shabu kept inside magnetic lifters that slipped past the Bureau of Customs (BoC).

The arrest warrant issued on April 12 by Judge Ma. Bernardita J. Santos of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 35 also includes Deputy Director General for Administration Ismael G. Fajardo, Jr. of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Others also ordered arrested are Chan Yee Wah, Zhou Quan, Vedasto Cabral Baraquel, Jr., Maria Lagrimas Catipan, and Emily Luquingan. No bail was recommended in the arrest warrant.

They are charged with violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, in connection with the importation of the said illegal drugs, following criminal complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation and PDEA last year.

The case stemmed from the P2.4-billion shabu shipments kept in two magnetic lifters found at the Manila International Container Port in August 2018 and the P11-billion worth of the same illegal drugs placed in four magnetic lifters found in Cavite also that month.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) recommended the charges on April 8. Its prosecution panel, however, dismissed for lack of probable cause the criminal complaints against 40 others, including Customs officials and employees.

The panel also endorsed to the Office of the Ombudsman for preliminary investigation the graft complaints against Messrs. Fajardo, Acierto, Guban, former BoC commissioner and now Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director-General Isidro S. Lapeña, and eight other BoC officials. The panel further recommended to the Ombudsman a dereliction-of-duty complaint against Mr. Lapeña and four others.

Mr. Acierto previously surfaced in March, claiming that President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s economic adviser Michael Yang is involved in illegal drugs.

Peso weakens ahead of US GDP

THE PESO weakened further on Wednesday as the dollar strengthened across Asian currencies ahead of the first-quarter US economic data release.

The local unit closed Wednesday’s session at P52.23 versus the greenback, 19 centavos weaker from the P52.04-per-dollar finish recorded last Monday.

The peso traded weaker the whole day, opening the session at P52.14 per dollar. It reached a low of P52.325, while its intraday high was at P52.10.

Trading volume climbed to $1,373.48 billion from $976.9 million that changed hands the previous session.

Peso trading was suspended on Tuesday following the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that shook several parts of Luzon, prompting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to close treasury operations.

A foreign exchange trader said in a phone interview that the peso weakened yesterday, mimicking the downward move of its peers versus the dollar.

“We saw a strong dollar across the region. This is ahead the US GDP (gross domestic product) data on Friday. I guess people are expecting a strong print,” the trader said.

The trader added that resistance levels were broken yesterday, continuing the weakening move of the peso last Monday.

“There was a lot of pent-up demand in the morning, we saw a lot of corporate demand in the morning as well, pushing it higher,” the trader added.

Meanwhile, another trader attributed the depreciation of the peso to upbeat US corporate earnings which drove dollar demand.

“The said reports also reinforced views of lingering strength in the US economy despite worries of an ‘earnings recession’ from the recent weakening in global demand,” the trader said in an e-mail.

For today, the first trader expects the peso to move between P52.15 and P52.35, while the other trader gave a P52.10-P52.40 range. — K.A.N. Vidal

Shares climb on bargain hunting, earnings bets

By Arra B. Francia, Senior Reporter

LOCAL EQUITIES rose on Wednesday as investors went bargain hunting on the back of optimism for good earnings results in the first quarter.

The 30-member Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) firmed up 0.35% or 28.06 points to close at 7,846.99 yesterday, ending its two-day losing streak. The broader all-shares index likewise climbed 0.14% or 7.01 points to close at 4,846.05.

“Market rebounded today on bargain hunting as foreign investors continued to buy as manifested by the sustained net foreign buying & initial first quarter earnings showed positive growth as disclosed by BDO & RFM despite reenacted government budget,” Diversified Securities, Inc. Equity Trader Aniceto K. Pangan said in a text message on Wednesday.

BDO Unibank, Inc. reported on Monday that its net income surged by 66% to P9.8 billion in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the P5.9 billion it posted in the same period a year ago.

Meanwhile, listed ice cream and pasta manufacturer RFM Corp. said in a regulatory filing that net income attributable to the parent grew by 4.7% to P221 million, after gross revenues went up by 11% to P3.11 billion.

Net foreign buying also persisted for the third straight session, swelling to P1.85 billion from P494.66 million on Tuesday.

The PSEi tracked the positive results seen in Wall Street overnight. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 0.55% or 145.34 points to 26,656.39. The S&P 500 index edged higher by 0.88% or 25.71 points to 2,933.68, while the Nasdaq Composite index inched up 1.32% or 105.56 points to 8,120.82.

“There was some push with US stock benchmarks rallying on Tuesday to notch record closing highs as Wall Street cheered stronger-than-expected quarterly profits from some of the largest publicly traded US companies,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a mobile phone message.

Sectoral indices were equally split between gainers and losers. The mining and oil counter led advancers, jumping 3.01% or 230.03 points to 7,870.96. Holding firms increased 1.2% or 89.97 points to 7,586.10, while property gained 0.92% or 38.87 points to 4,229.56.

Meanwhile, services plunged 1.68% or 26.96 points to close at 1,577.43. Industrials shed 0.62% or 71.46 points to 11,458.58, while financials slipped 0.1% or 1.79 points to 1,731.59.

Decliners outpaced advancers, 105 to 87, while 51 names were unchanged.

Turnover improved to P8.10 billion after some 652.13 million issues switched hands, higher than the previous session’s P6.60 billion.

Most Southeast Asian stock markets also rose on Wednesday as a swathe of strong US corporate earnings perked up risk appetite and spread positive sentiment across Asia.

SC sought to enjoin Comelec to allow voter verification of ballots

ELECTION watchdog Mata sa Balota on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to compel the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to strictly follow the March 2016 high court ruling, allowing voters to verify if their votes have been counted.

In a 26-page petition filed weeks before the May 13 midterm elections, Mata sa Balota argued that the Comelec and automated election system provider Smartmatic Total Information Management should abide by the Court’s 2016 decision allowing the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).

“VVPAT is the one and only rare opportunity for a Voter to be sovereign in at least that specific moment of auditing the trustworthiness of a machine,” the petitioner said.

The Comelec appealed the SC decision, saying VVPAT issuance is time-consuming and assumes that a voter with receipt is presumed “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” of vote-selling.

The petitioner asked the SC to declare as unconstitutional Section 2(f) of Comelec Resolution No. 10088 in April 2016 which banned the use of capturing devices including cellphones and digital cameras inside the polling place for “whatever purpose,” adding that there is no time stating within which the prohibition of camera use applies. It said the ban is contrary to the Omnibus Election Code which allows watchers to take photographs of proceedings and incidents.

Mata sa Balota noted in the petition that “Audit Trail” can be done at the close of polls by allowing volunteers to use their own cameras to take photos of each VVPAT which must strictly remain in the precinct. It said this could prevent vote-selling.

It said that voters expected to use their cameras for the “Audit Trail.”

“VVPAT receipts went rolling out from the machine but only for a fleeting moment for voter peep and then down to its ‘coffin’ forever with no audit,” Mata sa Balota said.

“Voters cannot assert their right and watchers cannot accomplish their duty to ‘take photographs of the proceedings and incidents’ under Omnibus Election Code Section 179 because doing so is unlawful under Comelec Resolution No. 10088 Section 2(f),” it said.

Mata sa Balota on April 16 also filed a petition before the Comelec questioning its rules on taking photos during election day. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Aftershocks still felt in quake-hit Luzon areas; Clark Airport resumes operations

A MAGNITUDE 4.5 aftershock shook parts of Luzon early Wednesday morning as people were still reeling from the 6.1 earthquake that struck on Monday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s (Phivolcs) monitoring showed the aftershock’s epicenter at 15 kilometers northeast of Castillejos, Zambales, with a depth of 11 kilometers below the ground.

The quake was felt in parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, but there was no immediate report of damage.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Wednesday that the number of injured people in the Luzon quake has risen to 86, and 14 remain missing.

Phivolcs also monitored on Wednesday a magnitude 4.7 earthquake off Banganga, Davao Oriental and magnitude 4.5 off Sarangani, Davao Occidental, but both were far offshore to be felt on mainland Mindanao.

On the magnitude 6.5 earthquake in the Visayas on Tuesday, the NDRRMC said 10 people were reported to have suffered injuries.

Messages of condolences from the international community have been sent out, among these from Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda, who also offered assistance.

“We would like to extend our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and express our sympathies to all those afflicted… As a country that has been tackling with earthquakes, Japan is ready to provide assistance needed by the Philippines to the extent possible. We sincerely wish for the early recovery of the disaster-affected regions,” he said in a statement.

CLARK AIRPORT
Meanwhile, the Clark International Airport resumed operations Wednesday afternoon after a shutdown prompted by last Monday’s tremor.

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) said in a statement the airport was ready to operate as of 4 p.m. as the structural damage sustained by the airport was restored after clearing and repair works were initiated Tuesday.

It added that the power supply, flight information systems and security cameras at the airport were all functioning.

The DoTr secretary earlier ordered officials of Clark International Airport Corp. to implement an emergency procurement, which means no public bidding is required, for the necessary materials and services to fix the damaged facilities of the airport, with an estimated cost of P30 million.

Local carrier Cebu Pacific started flying out of Clark Wednesday evening. Philippine Airlines said it will resume operations Thursday, and AirAsia Philippines did not announce further flight cancellations aside from those scheduled Wednesday. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras and Denise A. Valdez

DoTr-PCG sets speed limit, penalties for vessels crossing Cebu-Mactan Channel

THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD (PCG), a unit under the Department of Transportation (DoTr), published on Wednesday a memorandum setting the harbour speed limit and other rules for vessels at the busy Cebu-Mactan Channel, with corresponding penalties of up to P100,000. The memo, which takes effect 15 days from publication, is intended “to enhance the safety of navigation, efficiency of vessel traffic and the protection of marine environment.” The speed limit is set at eight knots and a “no overtaking” policy will be implemented in consideration of the “volume of traffic and constricted width of the channel.” Exceptions to the rule must have prior approval from the PCG. For the first offense, violators will be fined P50,000 “each for the Captain/Master/Patron and Ship Owners or Operators.” A second offense would cost P100,000 each, and the third violation would lead to the suspension of license and non-issuance of berthing permit or port clearance. The PCG’s Central Visayas District is tasked to designate vessels for monitoring as well as rule on all reported violations.

Classes suspended, building inspections ordered in Tacloban City After Tuesday’s earthquake

TACLOBAN CITY Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez ordered the cancellation of classes in all private and public schools on Wednesday following a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Eastern Samar on Tuesday afternoon, which was felt at intensity 5 in the city. The Executive Order said the suspension is intended “as precautionary measure against possible aftershocks…and to make way for structural assessment of structures and buildings.” Ms. Romualdez also issued a separate order to the City Engineer’s Office and City Architect’s Office for an inspection and structural assessment of all public buildings in the City, the regional center of Eastern Visayas. Meanwhile, the Leyte Metropolitan Water District issued an advisory assuring consumers that its distribution network and other infrastructure were not affected by the tremor. “Per initial assessment ‘no major damages’ occurred on its pipeline network. The no water supply in some households are isolated cases and the affected service lines are now being repaired. The Water treatment plants in Pastrana and Dagami, Leyte are both operating normally and that the public has nothing to worry,” the water utility said.

Envoy says PHL trusting China but staying vigilant over Pag-asa Island

CHINA HAS assured the Philippine government it will not occupy Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Group of Islands located off Palawan, Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana said on Wednesday.

The Philippines is trusting China on its word, but Mr. Sta. Romana said it will remain on high alert in asserting its sovereign rights over the island, which is inhabited by a small community and is home to military facilities.

”In terms of Pag-asa, through the diplomatic discussions, the Chinese have sought to reassure us that they have no intention to use force or to occupy Pag-asa,” Mr. Sta Romana said in a televised briefing on the Philippines’ participation on the Belt and Road Forum in China, Wednesday.

”But, you know, the diplomatic action is take them on their word, but verify and keep your vigilance high. So, trust, but verify.”

Mr. Sta. Romana noted that the presence of Chinese vessels near Pag-Asa Island was among the issues tackled by the Bilateral Consultative Mechanism (BCM) in early April.

During the discussions, he said their counterparts committed to keep an “appropriate distance” to prevent the issue from escalating.

”The Chinese have also given the assurance that the traditional fishing rights of the Filipino fisherman there will be safeguarded, together with the Chinese,” Mr. Sta. Romana said.

”What we are hoping for and what we’ve communicated is self-restraint, mutual self-restraint for both sides to avoid any miscalculation and any conflict,” he added.

PROTECTED AREAS
In a related development, National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr. said the Philippines is pushing for the declaration of marine protected areas in the highly-contested West Philippine Sea.

“That’s really in the discussions. We want to propose that because I’m sure they would also want to preserve or take care of the fisheries resources and all other things that are within that marine protected area. We did it in (the) Philippine Rise so we would like to do it somewhere in the Ayungin area,” said Mr. Esperon in a chance interview with reporters on Wednesday, April 24.

The statement comes after the reported harvesting of giant clams by Chinese vessels in the Panatag, also known as Scarborough, Shoal.

He added, “If we prohibit people from going there then we should do it to everyone. That is why we are designating the area so that we could concentrate our enforcement forces there,” noting that a protected area declaration would be useless if there would be no security forces to monitor and implement the policy.

Mr. Esperon noted that the government, through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, has been guarding the country’s fishing waters.

“May ginagawa din ang BFAR ngayon, ‘yung (BFAR is also doing something, the) 24 fishing grounds. These are the, from the north all the way to the Sulu … east and west (we will designate places) where we could have task groups or smaller task forces that will get together and enforce fisheries not only against unregulated or illegal fishing, unreported violations but also to nurture, shepherd or take care of the fisheries,” he said.

In a separate statement, Mr. Esperon also said that the presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea is “illegal and a clear violation of our sovereign rights and economic jurisdiction as defined in the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).”

”We maintain that the Kalayaan Island Group, and all the features in the West Philippine Sea, are subject to the effective and exclusive control and management of the Philippines,” he said. — Charmaine A. Tadalan and Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Security, health measures set for 2019 Palarong Pambansa in Davao City

THE 18,000 delegates, including athletes and their supporting parties, have started arriving this week in Davao City for the 2019 Palarong Pambansa on April 27-May 4, and officials assured that all is set for the biggest national games for the youth.

The City Information Office said the City Health Office has completed the inspection of all billeting quarters of the athletes and coaches, particularly the toilets and shower rooms. CHO officer-in-charge Josephine J. Villafuerte said they have also cleared possible breeding sites of mosquitoes as well as set up health desks in the billeting areas and the playing venues. On security, the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) said all its units, along with force multipliers, are also prepared. PSSCC deputy head Angel B. Sumagaysay said there will be about 3,366 security personnel to be deployed coming from Task Force Davao, Philippine National Police, The 10O3rd Brigade, the 3rd Infantry Battalion, and Civil Security Unit. The games are scheduled to open on Sunday, April 28, at the Davao City-University of the Philippines-Mindanao Sports Complex. Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, in a statement, said, “We are more than thrilled to welcome around 18,000 of the country’s best student-athletes, coaches, delegation, officials, and technical officials here in the durian and cacao city of the south.”— Maya M. Padillo

TPMT cites Marawi City rehabilitation as one of crucial components in Bangsamoro transition

OPAPP

THE INDEPENDENT Third-Party Monitoring Team (TPMT) of the Bangsamoro peace process, in its 5th Public Report released on Tuesday, said the “immediate rehabilitation” of war-torn Marawi City is one of the crucial components in the region’s transition under the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

In a statement, the TPMT said it is “imperative” for the stakeholders to “monitor and support efforts to ensure the immediate rehabilitation of Marawi City that respects and responds to the proposals of the local residents especially of the most affected area.”

It added, “Programs that will holistically and proactively prevent violent extremism should also be developed.”

Last week, the military announced that the last remaining leader of the Maute group that laid siege to Marawi, identified as Owardah Marohombsar alias Abu Dar, was killed in an encounter in Tuburan, Lanao del Sur on March 14.

“Right now, they are already leaderless. Although we are still closely monitoring through our intel in the communities if the ideology of Dawlah Islamiyah will still remain,” Lt. Col. Gerry M. Besana, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said in an interview.

Colonel Romeo S. Brawner Jr., 103rd Infantry Brigade commander, said in a statement, “We will not rest until we neutralize all the other remnants of this terrorist group.”

DECOMMISSIONING
Another recommendations of the TPMT in its latest report covering the period July 2017 to February 2019 is for the government “to implement a viable plan on the disbandment of private armed groups, as this will greatly impact the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) decommissioning process and the security situation in the region during the transition.”

The decommissioning of MILF combatants is part of the Normalization Track under the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). An Executive Order that will serve as a framework for the normalization and its timeline is now being drafted, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. announced last month.

Last April 23, top military and police officials, and front and base commanders of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces of the MILF met in Maguindanao in a security and socio-economic forum for the implementation of the Normalization Track.

In a statement, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said Mr. Galvez stressed during the forum “the need to strengthen relationships among the parties for the successful implementation of the Normalization track, which deals largely on the decommissioning of the MILF combatants and their weapons, and the transformation of their camps into peaceful communities.”

The other recommendations of the TPMT are:

• Discuss and agree on the way forward so that the CAB provisions that have been deleted or amended in the BOL may still be implemented;

• Finalize and implement an overall transition plan. It should lay down the primary and essential steps to be undertaken to ensure a smooth administrative and bureaucratic transition from ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to Bangsamoro ARMM, including priority parliamentary actions and development programs for the BTA (Bangsamoro Transition Authority) as well as the necessary trainings for BTA officials and staff;

• Revisit the Normalization Program and if necessary make amendments to the CAB in terms of policing as this may entail changes to the schedule of the various normalization components;

• Start implementing key recommendations of the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission; and

• Further strengthen efforts to make the process more inclusive, and particularly for the MILF-led BTA to demonstrate their sincerity and willingness to partner with all groups in the region.

“The collective commitment of all parties to continue to strive for peace has been impressive,” the TPMT said, “with continued diligence in implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro the foundations of a peaceful future for Mindanao will strengthen.”

The TPMT — established in 2013 as part of the peace process between the Philippine government and the MILF — is currently chaired by former European Ambassador to the Philippines Alistair MacDonald with the following members: Karen Tañada of the Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute, Rahib Kudto of the United Youth for Peace and Development, Huseyin Oruc of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, and Sam Chittick of Asia Foundation. — Marifi S. Jara with a report from Tajallih S. Basman