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Duterte advises brass he might step down

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday, Aug. 14, said he advised officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) at a recent command conference that he was thinking of stepping down.
“I want you to know that I am thinking of stepping down because I’m tired,” Mr. Duterte said in his remarks at the launching at Malacañang of business advocacy group Go Negosyo’s “Pilipinas Angat Lahat” program as he recalled his recent joint command conference with the AFP and the PNP.
He added: “My chase against graft and corruption seems to be endless and it has contaminated almost all government departments and offices.”
“I’m tired and I don’t think I can fulfill the promise of ending these problems.”
He said the problem on drugs will “not end” by the end of his term.
Mr. Duterte also said he ordered court martial proceedings against Brigadier General Edwin Leo Torrelavega, commander of the AFP Health Service Command. “Create a court where he will appear in a court with his peers and give him the most humiliating….Fire them all,” he said.
The President then fired on the spot Philippine Military Academy (PMA) comptroller Hector Maraña. He said the official “malversed” P15 million in cadets’ allowance.
“I love my soldiers, even those who didn’t graduate. But do not go into corruption. I will give you hell,” he said.
“Send the guy to hell,” he said on signing Mr. Maraña’s dismissal papers.
The President also claimed that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was “speculating” that a ton of shabu had slipped past Customs officers. “There’s no more shabu laboratory here because they know that if we meet in one corner, I’ll just kill them,” he said.
“I just say, do your job, better luck next time,” he added.
With regards to her constitutional successor, Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo, he said: “I am hesitant to suggest a constitutional succession. I have nothing against Robredo. She’s a lawyer, you’ve heard her talk, but I do not think she can improve on anything here.”
“I am getting exasperated. I do not think in the limited three years remaining, I don’t think I can make a dent,” he also said.
He also jokingly said that “There is another dictator in the offing, not me, but she has a Duterte surname. If you go to Davao at 12 midnight everything closes.”
“We have to be careful of the next president,” he added.
Explaining why he conveyed his wish to step down to the AFP and PNP, Mr. Duterte said, “They are only the organizations (that) can control….You must maintain order. That’s your job. Whatever you want to do after, I leave it up to you.”
“No Illusions about dictatorship. At this time, I am willing to step down and retire. Maraming salamat po (Thank you very much),” Mr. Duterte said.

Gordon: Tulfos, PTV4 execs liable for graft

By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
FORMER tourism secretary Wanda T. Tulfo-Teo and her brother Ben T. Tulfo, as well as a number of PTV4 officials may face graft charges in connection with a controversial advertising deal involving the Department of Tourism (DoT), PTV4, and the Tulfo-owned Bitag Media Unlimited, Inc.
Senator Richard J. Gordon told reporters after the inquiry on the advertising deal Tuesday led by the blue-ribbon committee which he heads: “Graft. I don’t think it will be a case for plunder. First of all, they used the money for TV advertising, it wasn’t pocketed. And they made a business out of it, that’s the bad part. It seemed that aid was given to the business of the sibling.”
The issue surfaced last April when a Commission on Audit (CoA) report flagged the payments made to Mr. Tulfo’s Bitag Media by PTV 4 for airing advertisements of the DoT. At the time, the DoT was headed by Ms. Teo.
According to PTV4 President and General Manager Dino Antonio C. Apolonio, about P75 million was paid to Bitag Media while the government station earned P19.8 million from the DoT ads.
At the hearing, Ms. Teo maintained that the ad placements went through the proper channels and processes.
“With confidence, I can say that there is nothing illegal in the said contract. The transaction was between DoT and PTV4. It is a government-to-government contract within the executive department,” she said in her opening statement.
Ms. Teo said further she did not know that her brother was identified with the show, “Kilos Pronto,” which aired the DoT ads in the government channel.
“They (PTV4) could’ve told me. If I knew it, I would not have signed the contract,” she said.
For his part, Mr. Tulfo said Bitag Media has delivered with its contract with PTV4 and has done nothing illegal with the advertising deal. He maintained there was no conflict of interest since Bitag Media’s contract was with PTV4, not DoT.
Mr. Gordon, however, pointed out that the signed contract mentioned there would be ad placement by the DoT.
“In the contract that you signed, you already know that PTNI (referring to PTV4) and DoT have a contract. And you know the Secretary of Tourism is your sister,” Mr. Gordon asked Mr. Tulfo.
“There was no connection with my sister. I did not knock in their doors or asked for a favor or asked for advertisements or commercial,” Mr. Tulfo said, adding that he was not “close” with his sister.
For their part, officials of PTV4 clarified that it was their decision to place the DoT ads and that they were not influenced into choosing to air the DoT advertisements in Mr. Tulfo’s show.
“No one suggested. We suggested to DoT the proposal,” Mr. Apolonio said.
Mr. Gordon was not convinced that Ms. Teo or PTV4 officials were unaware of the possible conflict of interest from the advertising deal since the parties involved were clearly stated in the contracts.
“I don’t think they didn’t know it was Tulfo. They should’ve known. They should have blown the whistle, ‘Boss, that’s conflict of interest, we may get implicated,’” the senator told reporters after the hearing.

Duterte to China and EU: ‘Rethink’ your policies

By Arjay L. Balinbin
President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday, Aug. 14, talked tough against the People’s Republic of China, demanding that it should “rethink” its policy in the disputed South China Sea region.
The President also told the European Union (EU), which has been critical of his war on drugs, to review its human rights policies. “You might want to take a closer look at your policies… You don’t humiliate leaders. You don’t send investigators here. That is really not allowed,” Mr. Duterte said in his remarks at the launching at Malacañang of business advocacy group Go Negosyo’s “Pilipinas Angat Lahat” program.
As for China’s behavior in the South China Sea, the President said: “They have to rethink that because that would be a flashpoint someday.”
He added: “And [I’m] even warning. You cannot create an island [there]. It’s man-made, and you say that the air[space] above this artificial island is yours. That is wrong. Because those waters are considered international sea and the right of innocent passage is guaranteed.”
“It does not need any permission to sail through the open seas. And if it’s nearby territorial water, you guarantee what you would call the right of innocent passage,” the President also said.
His spokesman Harry L. Roque, Jr. last Monday said that the Philippine government will continue to assert its sovereign rights over the disputed territories in the South China Sea despite the latest incident where a Filipino pilot was threatened by the Chinese Navy while flying over the area.
“They will not stop us. We will continue with our flights. We will assert our sovereignty. And if need be, Filipino pilots will die for our sovereignty,” Mr. Roque said in a press briefing at the Palace.
He also said that an investigation will be conducted. “And if the information is true, the good news is that the pilot did not cower at the Chinese threat and carried on with his flight. That means that we are upholding our title, that we are asserting our sovereignty. We conducted the flight over our islands,” the President’s spokesman added.

Water service interruptions announced

By Victor V. Saulon, Sub-Editor
MAYNILAD WATER Services, Inc. will reduce water production because of the increase in turbidity at Ipo Dam resulting in increased sediment concentrations in the raw water it distributes, Metro Manila’s west zone concessionaire said on Tuesday.
“There has been a significant increase in the turbidity of the raw water coming from Ipo Dam due to strong rains brought on by the southwest monsoon or habagat,” Maynilad said in a statement.
“This has constrained us to reduce the production of our La Mesa Treatment Plants. Reducing our production will enable us to remove increased sediments from the raw water during treatment before release of potable water to the distribution system,” explained the statement.
“Because of this, some of our customers currently have low pressure to no water supply, and we are now deploying mobile water tankers to deliver potable water to these areas,” it added.
The company said its water production will be maintained at reduced levels because rains over the Ipo watershed continue to stir up sediments in the raw water of the dam.
“In our efforts to optimize the limited supply, we are constrained to implement service interruptions daily, until such time as the turbidity situation improves. Affected areas include some barangays in Bulacan, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Quezon City, Manila, Pasay, Makati, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, and Cavite,” Maynilad said.
It said the specific areas that might be affected and the duration of the service interruptions per area would vary daily, “Depending on the level of turbidity in the raw water coming from Ipo Dam.”
Maynilad advised its customers in the affected areas to store water when supply is available.
“To mitigate the effect of our reduced production, we are deploying mobile water tankers to deliver potable water to affected areas.” it said.
“Please expect some discoloration in the water supply following the resumption of service. Should this happen, let water flow from your faucet for a few seconds until the water clears.” it added.
Separately, Manila Water Co., Inc. said it would proceed with its pipe-laying and interconnection activity along EDSA’s southbound service road near the corner of Shaw Blvd.
The east zone water concessionaire said the activity would result in temporary water service interruption affecting around 466,000 population in 93,237 households, commercial and business establishments in 33 barangays in Mandaluyong City, San Juan City, Pasig City, and Quezon City.
The water interruption will begin on Thursday, Aug. 16 at 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 17.

Business concern on federalism mounts

IN A joint statement on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 19 organizations have joined seven business groups that flagged on Sunday their concern over the costs and risks of transitioning toward a federal system.
These organizations are Alyansa Agrikultura, Asia Pacific Real Estate Association (APREA), Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP), Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), Investment House Association of the Philippines (IHAP), Judicial Reform Initiative (JRI), National Real Estate Association (NREA), Organizations of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP), People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), Philippine Constructors Association (PCA), Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PHILWEN), Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, nc. (SEIPI), Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines (SharePHIL), Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA), Tax Management Association of the Philippines (TMAP), UP School of Economics Alumni Association, and Women’s Business Council Philippines (WBCP).
Their statement read: “At this time when financial markets in developing countries are being roiled following the difficulties of Venezuela and Turkey, it is all the more important that all sectors are seen as solidly behind the call of our economic managers for fiscal prudence, more dialogues and a well-considered approach in the shift to federal form of government. Both the private and public sectors cannot be perceived as lacking in resolve on the fiscal front, seeing how financial markets are so sensitive. Hence, the ongoing meltdown occurring in some beleaguered markets.”
“For this reason, many other organizations join the 7 large business organizations in calling for legislators to weigh carefully the costs and risks associated with the proposed monumental shift to a federal system of government.”
Last Sunday, the Cebu Business Club (CBC), the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), the Makati Business Club (MBC), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI), and Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) urged legislators in a joint statement to consider the implications of the shift to federalism on the country’s finances.
Sought for comment on the impact of federalism on ease of doing business, as business groups have cautioned, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said via text: “I don’t think it will automatically dampen EODB (ease of doing business) in the country.”
“Also, there are national policies and standards that will still be applied,” he added.
“Each state may try to do their own improvement in continuous streamlining and automation of systems. States will try to be more competitive to attract more investments in their areas. It is their chance to uplift the quality of life for their constituents.”
“Then there should be no impact on EODB,” Mr. Lopez said. — with Janina C. Lim

Duterte to visit Israel, Jordan

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
MALACAÑANG confirmed on Tuesday that President Rodrigo R. Duterte will also visit Jordan after his visit to Israel in September.
In a press briefing at the Palace, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said Mr. Duterte “has accepted the invitation of the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the State of Israel from 02 to 05 September 2018.”
“I can also confirm that after the Israeli visit, the President will also fly to Jordan — although a separate press release will be written for that purpose,” he added.
Also on Tuesday, a Palace advisory confirmed that the President is set to meet with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Shiekh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani at Malacañang Palace on Wednesday, Aug. 15.
Mr. Roque also said the official visit to Israel “will be the first by a Philippine President since diplomatic ties were established between the two countries 61 years ago in 1957.”
He said the “historic event will highlight the enduring friendship between Filipinos and Israelis which began when Manuel L. Quezon opened the doors of the Philippines as a sanctuary to an estimated 1,300 Jewish refugees who were fleeing the Holocaust.”
Messrs. Duterte and Netanyahu “are expected to discuss common concerns and ways of expanding cooperation in the areas of labor, tourism, trade, agriculture, counter terrorism, security and law enforcement,” Mr. Roque also said.
“The President will also meet with the President of Israel Reuven Rivlin to discuss development cooperation and the close historical and people-to-people ties between the two countries. A business delegation representing different sectors of Philippine economy will join the visit and participate in a business forum to be keynoted by the President. Several agreements are expected to be signed during the visit,” he added.
“Finally, the President will meet members of the Filipino community while there,” Mr. Roque said.

Nationwide round-up

Palace ‘happy’ Maza can now go back to NAPC work

 

NAPC Chief Liza Maza — PCOO.GOV.PH

NATIONAL ANTI-Poverty Commissioner Liza L. Maza can now come back to work after being cleared of murder charges, Malacañang said on Tuesday, Aug. 14.
“Well of course, that proves that the legal system is working. We’re happy that Secretary Liza Maza can come back to work,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing at the Palace.
He added: “Now that she has no outstanding warrant of arrest, I suppose she can go back to work.”
A court in Nueva Ecija last Monday dismissed the case filed against Ms. Maza and two former Makabayan congressmen, Satur C. Ocampo and Teddy A. Casiño, and former Agrarian Reform secretary Rafael V. Mariano.
Citing insufficient evidence, the court also junked the arrest warrant issued against them. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Robredo camp asserts use of ballot images in Marcos electoral protest

VICE-PRESIDENT Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo has asserted the use of ballot images from 25 precincts to invalidate the electoral protest of losing candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.
In a statement on Tuesday, Ms. Robredo’s lawyers said they have filed a motion requesting the Presidential Electional Tribunal (PET) “to deny the motion of Marcos to hold in abeyance the use of decrypted ballot images in 25 clustered precincts in Camarines Sur and Iloilo.”
In an interview, one of Ms. Robredo’s legal consultants, lawyer Emil Marañon III, questioned why Mr. Marcos refuses to use the ballot images.
Earlier this year, Mr. Marcos was granted access to the soft copies of the decrypted ballot images by the PET, but he later questioned its “validity” in a Strong Manifestation and Strong Opposition with Motion he filed last month.
“Bakit takot na takot siya malaman iyong katotohanan? [Why is he so afraid of finding out the truth?] Because as we all know, the ballot images actually will prove that the result of the election is correct, honest, and accurate,” Mr. Marañon said.
In the counter manifestation, Ms. Robredo cited the Strong Manifestation of Mr. Marcos, which states that “The decrypted ballot images are compromised and should no longer be used,” but he has so far failed to present evidence on this.
“Marcos has not filed any pleading or motion nor has he submitted any evidence to the Honorable Tribunal to substantiate his allegations that the decrypted ballot images have been compromised,” Ms. Robredo’s camp said.
The vice-president’s spokesperson on the case, Romulo B. Macalintal, said in a statement on Tuesday: “Now, as no less than four (4) documents consistently confirm the votes received by the parties and the results of the elections, protestant Marcos has resorted to misleading the Honorable Tribunal.”
“Now that the decrypted ballot images will confirm the victory of protestee Robredo and his defeat, protestant Marcos is now assailing the integrity of his own evidence,” he added. — Gillian M. Cortez

Prince Retail to invest P250M on new outlets in Luzon, Mindanao

CEBU-BASED Prince Retail Holdings Inc., will spend at least P250 million this year to open five more branches in Central Luzon and Mindanao.
Prince Retail Holdings founder and Chief Executive Officer Robert L. Go announced on Monday that the additional Prince Hypermart stores will bring their network to 50 by end-2018. Mr. Go said despite the climbing inflation rate, the retail business in the Philippines remains lucrative.
The company started its entry in Luzon this year with the opening of Prince Hypermart Nueva Ecija and Bulacan. In the next few months, “missionary hypermart outlets” will be opened in other parts of Central Luzon.
“There are also untapped locations in Mindanao,” Mr. Go said, citing the small but progressive towns. Prince Retail has been able to anchor its edge on the sari-sari store owners’ market and its membership program, with over 850,000 members across the country.
Mr. Go said while some giant retail players have expressed intent to partner with Prince Hypermart, the company is currently focused on operating and expanding on its own. — The Freeman

Roadblock

A section of the main highway in Sitio Napu, in Bontoc, Mountain Province is blocked by a landslide following continuous southwest monsoon rains. As of Aug. 14, the Department of Public Works and Highways said 11 road sections were closed to all types of vehicles, seven of which were in the Cordillera Administrative Region and four in Region III (Central Luzon). Aside from landslides, other causes of the closure are flooding, road collapse, damaged slope protection, mudflow, roadslip, soil collapse, oversaturation of road, or debris flow. Six other road sections, meanwhile, had limited access due to flooding, rockslide, and damaged pavement.

MMDA stands pat: Test run of driver-only ban on EDSA starts today

THE METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Tuesday that the test run of the ban on driver-only vehicles along EDSA will be enforced starting today, Aug. 15. The advisory came after Senator Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares, chair of the Senate committee on public services, appealed to the MMDA to first ensure that the alternate routes and other major roads in the capital could handle the affected motorists. She also reminded the MMDA to take into consideration solo parents, parents who drop their kids on their way to work, spouses who work in different cities, and other professionals who cannot hire their own drivers. “If not, we will just be replicating the horrors of EDSA traffic everywhere,” she said in a statement. The MMDA said there will be no apprehension during the dry-run period, but violators will be redirected out of EDSA at the nearest exit point. — Camille A. Aguinaldo
>> See related story on https://goo.gl/qvqi5r

13 Dumaguete flights affected after PAL plane tire failure

FLIGHTS TO and from Dumaguete City were delayed on Tuesday, Aug. 14, after a Philippine Airlines (PAL) plane from Manila experienced tire failure while on landing roll, causing runway closure. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), in a statement, said the PAL Airbus A320 plane, under flight PR 2541 landing at 6:31 a.m., suffered a damage on the left main gear of its rubber tires. Everyone on board, composed of 113 adults, two infants and six flight crew members, were deplaned safely, according to Dumaguete Airport Manager Mark Michael Anthony P. Diamaoden. Apart from towing the airplane out, “the runway will need to be cleared of Foreign Object Debris before it can resume its normal operations,” CAAP said. The 13 flights affected include two others of PAL, seven of Cebu Pacific, and four of CebGo.

Dureza assures IPs of inclusive Bangsamoro law implementation

THE NATIONAL government has assured the indigenous peoples (IPs) of Mindanao that the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) will include their development by addressing their specific concerns. “There must be inclusivity, not exclusivity,” Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza is quoted in a statement released Tuesday night after meeting with representatives of IP communities in Magpet, Cotabato. Mr. Dureza stressed that the BOL “is not only for the Moro National Liberation Front, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the Bangsamoro people, but for all.” He pointed out that the government has created the IP Peace Panel, recognizing that: “You are among the most affected. We are not only here to listen but act on your concerns.” IP Peace Panel chair Reuben Dasay A. Lingating, for his part, rallied the IP communities to join hands and come up with comprehensive and concrete initiatives for the development of their communities. “There must be convergence. It would be difficult to move on if you don’t have concrete plans,” said. Mr. Lingating, former head of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Nation at a Glance — (08/15/18)

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

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