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DPWH postpones Quezon-Bicol road feasibility study to third quarter

THE feasibility study for the Quezon-Bicol Expressway (QBEx) is now expected to be submitted in the third quarter to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the delay is due to the additional work needed in regard to finalizing the road’s alignment.

Secretary Mark A. Villar said on Wednesday: “It’s going to be done third quarter of this year… Paglabas ng FS, isa-submit na namin kaagad sa NEDA (After the feasibility study, we’ll submit it to NEDA right away),” he told reporters on Wednesday after inspecting the C5 South Link Project in Taguig City.

“The expressway is about 220 kilometers. It’s a big project… It’s very complicated. There will be bridges too. It’s really long,” he added.

In February, DPWH Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Director Alex G. Bote said the agency is hoping to submit the QBEx feasibility study to NEDA in March. At the time, the road was expected to run between Lucena City and San Fernando, Camarines Sur, which is near Naga.

In a text message on Sunday, Mr. Bote said the alignment of QBEx may still change until the detailed engineering design is completed, which is the next step after NEDA evaluates the plans.

“Available alignment (conceptual) for QBEx still has a chance of moving/changing, kasi magkaron lang talaga yan ng finality ‘pag may detailed engineering design na [because it will only have finality once there’s a detailed engineering design]. Now, FS for QBEx is ongoing,” he said.

Once the DPWH finishes the feasibility study, the NEDA will determine the cost of the project and its mode of financing. Mr. Bote earlier said it may take a public-private partnership scheme, financing from official development assistance (ODA) or the general appropriations act (GAA), or a mix of any of the three modes. — Denise A. Valdez

DoLE expecting Thai deal to employ more English teachers

THE Department of Labor and Employment will soon sign an agreement with Thailand for the deployment of English teachers.

On Sunday, DoLE announced that Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello is expected to sign a bilateral agreement with the Thai Labour Minister in the next few weeks.

The proposed labor agreement between DoLE and the Thai Ministry of Labour (MoL) will allow Thailand to employ Filipino teachers for its “English for All” Project in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

The EEC is a $43 billion development plan for the eastern provinces of Chonburi, Rayong, and Chachoengsao.

Mr. Bello said: “Filipino teachers are the preferred nationals needed by the government of Thailand because of their excellent English proficiency and competence.”

Thailand is home to 16,704 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), including 11,848 teachers. Under the “English for All” project, Filipino teachers can expect salaries of about 25,000 baht a month (P45,000). Benefits to be paid for by the MoL include work permit charges, round-trip airfare, and accident insurance. — Gillian M. Cortez

CTA cancels Standard Insurance tax deficiency from 2001, cites prescription

THE Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) canceled the P218.9-million tax deficiency assessed on Standard Insurance Co., Inc. for 2001, ruling that the maximum allowed period for collecting the tax has lapsed.

In a 40-page decision on March 25, the CTA second division granted the petition for review of Standard Insurance Co., Inc. and set aside its alleged documentary stamp tax (DST) deficiency as assessed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

“Thus, the attempt of respondent to collect the alleged deficiency DST through the issuance of the January 31, 2017 Decision of then Commissioner (Caesar R.) Dulay, produces no effect as prescription has already set in,” according to the decision written by Associate Justice Cielito N. Mindaro-Grulla.

The CTA found that the BIR issued the Final Assessment Notice in May 2004 which Standard Insurance contested in the same month. The appeal was denied by the bureau’s regional director in September 2004 which led to the filing of request for reconsideration.

However, BIR suspended the service of warrant of distraint/levy in a Memorandum in January 2005. The CTA said “there is no evidence” that the said Memorandum was served to Standard Insurance.

The next action on the part of the BIR was on Jan. 31, 2017 when Mr. Dulay denied the request for reconsideration.

According to the Tax Code, internal revenue taxes may be collected within five years from a taxpayer’s receipt of the BIR’s assessment notice, which in the case of Standard Insurance was May 5, 2004, lapsing on May 5, 2009.

The CTA also said that under the Tax Code, there are grounds which warrant the suspension of tax collection such as when the Commissioner is prohibited from making assessments or distraint or a proceeding in court, when a taxpayer requests a reinvestigation, and when the taxpayer cannot be located. However, none of these conditions was met.

“As to the first cause for suspension, while records, indeed, show that petitioner had requested Deputy Commissioner Jose Mario C. Buñag, through a letter dated Jan. 21, 2005, to hold in abeyance the issuance of warrants of distraint/levy and garnishment and that the same was granted by the latter in his Memorandum dated Jan. 24, 2005, it appears, however, that petitioner was not informed or notified of the existence of such Memorandum,” the CTA said.

“For such reasons, respondent’s defense that the prescriptive period provided for the collection of the assessed tax was suspended by the issuance of the said Memorandum has no leg to stand on,” it added.

Associate Justice Juanito C. Castañeda, Jr. concurred in the decision. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Australian firms most likely to expand in the Philippines

THE Philippines is now preferred to Vietnam as an area of potential expansion by Australian businesses, according to a recent survey by the Australia-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Chamber of Commerce.

The “Australian Business in ASEAN Survey 2019,” issued in early March, showed that Australian businesses continue to anticipate expansion in ASEAN, with 82% of firms planning to expand their trade and investment in the region over the next five years with the Philippines as the top choice.

“The Philippines is now the most popular market for expansion with 24% of firms planning expansion there, overtaking Vietnam (23%) as the most common destination for Australian investment,” according to the survey report.

For the Philippines, the survey noted the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program as among the draws.

“The country is also currently undertaking major economic reforms as well as programs to improve its competitiveness and ease of doing business performance to attract more foreign direct investments,” it added.

The report also identified barriers to further boosting investments in each ASEAN country.

For the Philippines, they were identified as restrictions to ownership and investment, corruption and infrastructure gaps, which were named as the main hindrances to investment by 41% of respondents.

Also among the major concerns turned up by the study are road congestion, bureaucracy, and the tax system.

Services make up more than one-third of Australian business in the Philippines. Together with information and communications technology and education and training, these sectors account for more than 60%.

About 73% of firms saw ASEAN as a “priority” region for their company.

The growth in the consuming class in ASEAN continues to be an attraction for almost two-thirds of firms. — Janina C. Lim

Sangley targeted for general aviation use within the year

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said it is moving forward with its plans to develop the Danilo Atienza Air Base in Sangley Point, Cavite amid plans to have the airfield ready for general aviation within the year.

Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo told reporters last week that the department completed in January the restoration of the runway in Sangley, extending it to 2,300 meters. This will allow it to handle flights that normally use runway 13/31 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

“We have a budget of P500 million for the Danilo Atienza Air Base… If you recall, matagal nang hindi name-maintain masyado [it hasn’t been maintained for quite some time]. The runway was shortened to 1,200 meters only. Now, I’m happy to tell you, it is back to 2,300 meters. Tapos na [It’s done],” he said.

“Our target is to complete all of this will be within the year. Within the year it should be operational,” he added.

After finishing the runway, Mr. Tamayo said the department is now moving to build hangars and a passenger terminal building at the airfield. Other works include a new tower and equipment to make night operations possible.

The national government is waiting for the government of Cavite province to firm up its $10-billion proposal to build Sangley airport at the site of the former naval base.

Asked how the DoTr’s current works in Sangley will affect their plans, Cavite 7th district Rep. Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said in a text message on Sunday: “That is a good step for General Aviation. Any takeover proposal will involve the reimbursement of these expenses, since they are capital assets.”

Last month, Mr. Remulla said the Cavite government is looking to raise P200 billion (about $3.8 billion) through a bond issue to finance the Sangley airport proposal. The project involves adding two runways and building a commercial facility at the airport.

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said he wants the Cavite government to finalize its Sangley airport proposal by mid-2019, noting that he believes in the “value and use of Sangley” and will not allow unsolicited proposals to prevent the government from maximizing its potential.

Mr. Tamayo has earlier said opening Sangley to general aviation will help decongest NAIA as business jets may then be pulled out of Manila and moved to the nearby provincial gateway.

Mindanao seen playing major role amid heightened trade with Hungary

DAVAO CITY — Davao Region and other parts of Mindanao stand to benefit from expanded trade as outlined by the inaugural Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (JCEC) between Hungary and the Philippines, particularly in terms of investment promotion, manufacturing, information and communications technology (ICT), education, culture, tourism and sports.

“With the bilateral agreements signed, markets are now open for our entrepreneurs to explore new opportunities and develop business-to-business partnerships… to spur economic growth,” Mindanao Honorary Consul for Hungary Mary Ann M. Montemayor said in an interview with BusinessWorld last week.

Ms. Montemayor said the opening of the Consulate of Hungary in Davao City in October 2018 recognizes the southern island’s role in expanding the economic cooperation between both countries.

“We hope that Davao could provide valuable opportunities in deepening the economic engagement of Hungary in the country and develop a mutually rewarding partnership,” she said.

The Philippines and Hungary convened the inaugural JCEC on April 2-3 in Budapest.

The discussions were led by Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo and István Joó, Deputy State Secretary for Export Development of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.

“They identified key fields of interest that are our region’s strengths and these are trade and investment promotion, manufacturing, ICT, education, culture, tourism and sports,” Ms. Montemayor said.

Investment opportunities for automotives, electronics, and food and non-food trade were also discussed.

Private sector representatives talked about their respective markets and potential partnerships.

Among the government-to-government documents signed were: a Memorandum of Intent between the Philippine Board of Investments and the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency; a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Philippine International Trading Corp. and the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency; and an MoU on sports development between the Philippine Sports Commission and the Ministry of Human Capacities of Hungary. — Maya M. Padillo

Entrepreneurs inspire!

Every two years, the Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) Philippines program stages a road show to announce the start of the nomination period for entrepreneurship awards. In our recent road shows in Cebu and Davao, the local reporters were curious to know our observations on entrepreneurship in the country since we launched the awards in 2003. This was a good point to reflect on after 16 years of celebrating the best among Filipino entrepreneurs.

It would be best to go back to the very start when we introduced the program. The biggest challenge then was to define who or what an entrepreneur is. The prevailing notion at the time was that we were referring to people who run buy-and-sell enterprises or “mom and pop” stores. Of course these are entrepreneurs by all means, but it was a limited view of entrepreneurship. In our view, the entrepreneur has evolved.

SO, WHAT IS AN ENTREPRENEUR?
Entrepreneurs include both founders of companies and those who organize, manage, and assume the risks of a business or enterprise in the companies’ life or development. They are active in the leadership of the company. This definition applies to a wide range of people.

Traditionally, the entrepreneur is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of an organization. However, the definition nowadays has been stretched to include CEOs who come on board to join an existing business. In select cases, the CEO/President of a subsidiary of a company may also be considered an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs can also be multi-generational as with family businesses that are passed from one generation to the next.

Whether the entrepreneur goes by the traditional or expanded definition, the key is that he or she finds creative and venturesome ways to acquire capital resources, build their team, and innovate to achieve their goals and to grow their business. For family businesses, the next generation of leaders should exhibit their own form of risk management and make their mark on the business. All in all, entrepreneurs are those who create value for themselves, their employees, their customers and their communities.

HOW ABOUT A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR?
And speaking of communities, we used to get asked a lot about what it means to be a social entrepreneur. Would an entrepreneur who runs a feeding program in his or her community, donates to charities or provides scholarships qualify as a social entrepreneur?

In fact, when the program started in 2003, we had an award category called “Socially Responsible Entrepreneur.” The winners were recognized for their strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. However, sometime in 2006, we collaborated with a global social entrepreneurship nonprofit organization that helped us set the qualifications for one to be considered a social entrepreneur.

We then included a Social Entrepreneur Award to refer to people who run businesses that are for-profit or non-profit and whose “approach to social and environmental challenges applies innovation, creativity and resourcefulness to create opportunities for social transformation.” These are enterprises that specifically address social issues such as poverty and the environment with sustainable solutions, not simply those with established CSR programs. After a few years, the category ceased to be a stand-alone award because we had seen how many entrepreneurs have embraced social entrepreneurship, embedding it in their organizations.

WHAT ELSE?
In the past 16 years, we have also seen the increased participation of women entrepreneurs. While we are aware that there are numerous enterprises founded and managed by women, there were times when women entrepreneurs were underrepresented with as few as one qualifying as a finalist. However, there has been a growing network of women entrepreneurs, perhaps spurred on by the more visible advocacy for gender parity.

Younger entrepreneurs are also now more participative in the program, which is worth encouraging. With the advent of social media and online businesses, we have seen how many among the younger generation have boldly taken on entrepreneurship as their career. When we launched the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines in 2003, very few schools offered programs in entrepreneurship. Today, it has become a popular degree choice among college students.

BUT SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE
Entrepreneurs may differ in responsibility, age, approach or gender but we’ve also noticed that there is some consistency in being an entrepreneur. Regardless of the times or circumstances, entrepreneurs remain passionate about their dreams. They are innovators who may have a single idea that can spark a business evolution, create new possibilities or disrupt the status quo. They are inherently visionaries who leverage new ideas to challenge old paradigms and seize opportunities to develop enterprises that have the potential to transform industries and support economic growth. They are dedicated and hardworking. They have stories to tell and these stories inspire others to become like them.

Back in 2003, our nominees would submit reams of documents that we needed to hold in balikbayan boxes. But times have changed indeed because we ourselves have gone paperless. Nominations are now in sync with the digital world. By simply visiting https://geoy.ey.com you can help us recognize and celebrate our world-class Filipino entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs inspire us, and that never changes.

***

Nominations to the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2019 will be accepted until May 31 2019.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinion expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Maria L.V. Balmaceda is Senior Director of SGV & Co. and Program Manager of the Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines.

Duterte to seek ‘regular’ meetings with business leaders

By Arjay L. Balinbin
Reporter

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte wants to meet with business leaders “on a regular basis,” the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said on Sunday.

Mr. Duterte said this in a meeting with business leaders and some Cabinet officials at Malacañang last Wednesday, April 3.

“I was abroad and didn’t attend, but I was told the discussion went well and even the water issue was covered,” PCCI Chairman George T. Barcelon said in a phone message.

He added: “PRRD, I was told, would like to have a meeting with the business community on a regular basis.”

Asked what could be the reason for the regular meetings, Mr. Barcelon said: “I surmised to get regular feedback and inputs.”

Business leaders who attended the meeting, based on a photo released by The Philippine Star on Sunday, were CLSA Exchange Capital Corp. Chairman and CEO Luis Virata; International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Senior Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific Region Christian Gonzalez; Udenna Corporation President and CEO Dennis Uy; Go Negosyo Adviser on Agripreneurship and Mindanao Project Head Ginggay Hontiveros; Go Negosyo Adviser on MSME Development Merly Cruz; PCCI President Bing Limjoco; and Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. President Henry Lim Bon Liong.

Also present at the meeting were Wilcon Depot Founder and Chairman William Belo; Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corp. President and CEO Alice Eduardo; SM Prime Holdings Director Hans Sy; LT Group, Inc. President and COO Michael Tan; PLDT Chairman and CEO Manny Pangilinan; Federal Land, Inc. Chairman Alfred Ty; Filinvest Development Corp. President and CEO Josephine Gotianun-Yap; Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. President and CEO Robina Gokongwei-Pe; Aboitiz Equity Ventures Executive Vice President and COO Sabin Aboitiz; Philex Mining Corp. Senior VP of Corporate Affairs Mike Toledo; Megawide Construction Corp. Chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra; and Pilipinas Global President and CEO Ernesto “Bong” Sta. Maria.

The business leaders were joined by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. A. Concepcion III, House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo.

Ms. Puyat said in a phone message that the meeting was organized by Mr. Concepcion.

“We talked about tourism, agriculture, infrastructure development, and digitalization,” she said.

The President, in turn, “spoke about his drive against corruption and illegal drugs,” she also said.

In a social media post, Mr. Conception said: “I discussed the three pillars for inclusive growth including tourism, agri-business, and digitalization.”

Sought for comment, Ms. Limjoco, PCCI president, said in a phone message: “We believe that these three areas will greatly contribute to the goal of inclusive growth and development in the country.”

She said the President “talked most of the time” for about “one and a half hours” during the meeting.

Mr. Pangilinan, according to Ms. Limjoco, “reported what Maynilad has done” regarding the water crisis.

Asked if the President had any feedback, Ms. Limjoco said: “Not really. But he was listening.”

Mr. Lopez, Ms. Limjoco said, “reported that SM and Robinsons City mall [have] helped in Go Lokal,” which is DTI’s market access platform for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines.

Also asked if the President had instructions for officials that would be beneficial to the business sector, she said: “He focused on drugs.”

Analysts weigh in on Bangsamoro powers, functions

THE national government “may have to devolve powers” further to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), according to a former official of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), noting that the newly-established region cannot be seen as a template for federalism.

Former ARMM Regional Board of Investments (BoI) chair Ishak V. Mastura said, “There may be a need to again devolve powers (in) the Bangsamoro similar to the ARMM’s experience of issuing Executive Orders through an Oversight Committee under [its regional charter], Republic Act 9054.”

Mr. Mastura was one of the speakers at the Institute for Autonomy and Governance’s (IAG) “National Forum and Launch of the Policy Report on Prospects and Proposals for Charter Change and Federalism” held in Makati City on April 5.

He noted that the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) has been often referred to by public officials as a template for federalism. “However, it is far from being a template for federalism because it is crafted in compliance with a unitary state constitution,” he said.

“The basis for autonomy in the Bangsamoro region is the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which has no federal features at all even in the set-up of autonomous regions because there is no shared sovereignty concept in it.”

He said further that “being subject to national laws weakens autonomy as it defeats the hierarchy of laws that makes the Organic Act superior to other laws as upheld by the Supreme Court and allows changes to the BOL without need for a plebiscite whenever national laws are changed.”

The Bangsamoro parliament, Mr. Mastura explained, may be reduced to “a mere rule-making body with no power to pass original legislation as it has to be careful that national laws are not violated.”

Without clarifying their supervisory powers through a devolution process, Mr. Mastura said “there is always the risk that Bangsamoro authorities may be perceived to exercise ‘color of authority’,” which he defined as “the appearance or presumption of an official or legal power given to a person or an institution to do something.”

“In ordinary Filipino parlance, we have the word ‘colorum’ to refer to a semblance of legal authority to operate from what is actually a franchise violator,” he said.

‘POWERS REMOVED’
Mr. Mastura said there were powers removed in the grant of autonomy that “shows the unitary intent of the BOL.”

He said the “Local administration, municipal corporations and other local authorities….” were “deleted in the final version” of the BOL.

“This could mean that the supervisory jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro government over local governments has been revoked,” he noted.

“By removing it from the original BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law), it curtails Art. VI of the BOL that states: SEC. 10. Bangsamoro Government and its Constituent Local Government Units – The authority of the Bangsamoro Government to regulate the affairs of its constituent local government units shall be guaranteed in accordance with this Organic Law and a Bangsamoro local government code to be enacted by the Parliament. The privileges already enjoyed by local government units under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the ‘Local Government Code of 1991,’ as amended, and other existing laws shall not be diminished,” he further explained.

Other existing national laws, he stressed, “remain applicable to the LGUs in the Bangsamoro; and with the removal of primary jurisdiction over local administration and its autonomous powers being subject to national laws, future national legislation on local governments will prevail over the BOL.”

For his part, Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco of the Ateneo Policy Center and the IAG said he, too, does not subscribe to that idea that the BOL is a template for federalism because, similar to what Mr. Mastura pointed out, the law “does not even contain the very fundamental feature of a federal structure and that is the ‘shared-rule and self-rule’ arrangement.”

“The BOL is a regional autonomy set-up, plain and simple. Accordingly, I treat the BOL as the perfect template for a local autonomy regime alternative to our current one established under the Local Government Code of 1991,” he said in an e-mail on Sunday.

As far as the BARMM is concerned, he said the BOL is still an improvement from RA 9054, or the ARMM Law, specifically with the mandate to organize intergovernmental relations (IGR) bodies.

“So for the BTA (Bangsamoro Transition Authority), it is not necessary to look at the BOL as a template for federalism. I think the BTA must instead focus on utilizing the IGR bodies to assert regional autonomy. This is the way to differentiate the BARMM from the ARMM,” he added.

Sought for comment, BTA member Omar Yasser C. Sema said the devolution of powers is no longer needed.

“No need. The BOL is clear in terms of the powers that have been already granted in the Constitution and specified and itemized in the BOL…. This is signified and indicated in the block grant, which gives the parliament the power to appropriate with the conditions stated in the BOL, like salaries, wages, etc. So in a way, there’s no more need for the devolution of powers. We can establish the ministries, and then these ministries can exercise the powers that have been allocated in the BOL,” he told BusinessWorld in an interview.

Mr. Sema further explained that “the minutes of the bicam is clear that those powers that have already been itemized and specified in the BOL can no longer be exercised by the national government, and there is a specific provision there that somehow supports that point of view, like national programs and projects shall continue to be funded by the national government.”

“I don’t think there will be overlapping of functions. In case of conflict in the exercise of these powers, the IGR that is stated in the BOL can mitigate or resolve the matter,” he added.

NEW LOCAL AUTONOMY LAW
For Mr. Yusingco, if President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s federalism initiative does not push through, the “alternative is to totally revamp the current local autonomy set-up.”

“To do this, I propose the enactment of a new local autonomy law to replace the Local Government Code of 1991 using the BOL as a basic template.”

This new law, according to Mr. Yusingco, must then institute “a regional governance framework, clear power-sharing between the local government and the national government as well as amongst the different levels of local governments, and intergovernmental relations (IGR) mechanisms.”

“Furthermore, precisely because of substantial devolution of public functions and funds, other measures to ensure the sustained and significant involvement of the people in local politics such as an anti-local dynasty mechanism and political party prescriptions are likewise imperative in this new local autonomy law.”

“[We’re] (k)eeping in mind of course that the engagement of the community in local-level governance is crucial to the success of the enhanced local autonomy regime itself. Without institutions to enable the people to participate in local governance, local dynasties will be further entrenched. This will not bode well for the development aspirations of the regions,” he said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Immigration agents to be investigated for alleged extortion

By Vann Marlo M. Villegas
Reporter

JUSTICE Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said he will issue a directive to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate 18 Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents allegedly involved in an extortion try.

This stemmed from Immigration Commissioner Jaime H. Morente’s recommendation to Mr. Guevarra for the preventive suspension of the 18 agents allegedly involved in an extortion attempt on 15 Koreans in Angeles, Pampanga, on March 6.

The BI said in a statement on April 6 that the commissioner also requested the NBI to conduct its own probe.

“The NBI can initiate its criminal investigation motu proprio (upon motion). But I will formally issue a department order giving the directive. As to the administrative/disciplinary side, the DoJ (Department of Justice) will immediately assume jurisdiction,” Mr. Guevarra said in a text message.

“I will go over the letter request of the BI Commissioner on Monday and will act on it promptly,” he added.

According to a report by GMA News on March 29, the BI agents threatened the Koreans with detention, which they did to the amount of P9 million before their release.

In its statement, the BI said its recommendation for the suspension of its personnel was in line with an order by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, while the matter was being investigated.

The BI said the Koreans filed a complaint against the BI agents before the Office of the President and the Department of Justice.

Mr. Morente said his agency is “serious in sweeping its ranks” to remove corrupt and erring personnel. “The President’s directive is clear, we will weed out corruption in the BI. No one will be spared,” he said.

2 Davao areas added to Red tide alert areas

DA BFAR

THE COASTAL areas of Balite Bay in Mati City, Davao Oriental and Sta. Maria in Davao Occidental have been added to the areas under red tide warning, based on the latest laboratory results from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). In its April 4 bulleting, BFAR said these two areas have high contents of red tide toxins and all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as alamang are not fit for human consumption. The three areas under red tide alert in the previous bulletin also remain positive for the paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond regulatory limit. These are: Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur, San Pedro Bay in Western Samar, and the coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol. Fish, squid, shrimps and crabs from these areas “are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” BFAR said. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Redtide

Troops recover body of another slain Abu Sayyaf in pursuit operations

TROOPS FROM the Marine Battalion Landing Teams 1 and 3 conducting clearing operations in Simisa Island, Sulu have recovered the body of another slain Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member, the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) reported on Sunday. Last Friday, the military reported that three members of the kidnap-for-ransom group were killed in pursuit operations, where three Indonesian captives were rescued, though one died from drowning as they escaped by swimming towards Bangalao Island. WestMinCom said the clearing also yielded one M14 rifle, a Garand rifle, five clips with 50 rounds of caliber .30mm ammunitions, which were found under the vast mangrove area. “The recovered cadaver and high-powered firearms are believed to be hidden and left behind by the evading ASG members during an encounter on Thursday (April 4),” Joint Task Force Sulu Commander Brigadier General Divino Rey Pabayo is quoted in the statement. Meanwhile, last April 4, the Marine troopers also seized an indigenous boat called bote, which is believed to have been used by the group as means of transportation and carrier of firearms. The military has intensified operations since January against the ASG, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, following twin bombings at a church in Jolo, Sulu. They are believed to be still holding two foreign and three Filipino captives. “Our troops are gaining grounds and so we intensify our operations further so as to neutralize the remaining bandits in the area,” WestMinCom Chief Arnel B. Dela Vega said.

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