Salazar, former DTI, BoI official, dies at 69

February 18, 2019 | 10:02 pm

MELITO S. SALAZAR, JR., a former president of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), and former senior government official, educator and board member of various companies and schools, died Saturday at age 69, the association announced.
According to a profile provided by MAP, Mr. Salazar became the 64^th president of the group in 2013.
Mr. Salazar was chair of Inter-Asia Development Bank; columnist and Vice President of the Manila Bulletin; chair of the International Center for Innovation, Transformation and Excellence in Governance, an non-governmental organization founded by former senior government officials; chair and president of Quickminds Corp; vice chair of PVB Card Co.; and Director of the University of St. La Salle Bacolod and PhilsFirst Insurance Corp.
Mr. Salazar served on the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), vice chair and managing head of the Board of Investments, Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, Director of the University of the Philippines (UP) Institute for Small Scale Industries, and Associate Professor of the UP College of Business Administration.
He held BSBA (Accountancy) and MBA degrees from UP and underwent further training in Harvard Business School, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of North Carolina, and the Euro-Asia Centre of INSEAD.
Mr. Salazar was also the first Filipino given the Special Honor Award by the World Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, as a pioneer in SME development.
Mr. Salazar’s wake is at Arlington Memorial Chapels & Crematory at Aeternum, Heritage Park, Bonifacio Global City, and will run until Feb. 22. — Janina C. Lim

DICT targets new common tower policy by 2nd quarter

February 18, 2019 | 10:01 pm

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said it is targeting the drafting of a revised common tower policy by the second quarter of this year.
DICT Assistant Secretary Alan A. Silor said in a briefing on Monday that the government continues to develop the draft and may release it soon.
“The policy should be out as soon as possible. We are trying second quarter of this year,” he said.
Last year, Presidential Adviser Ramon P. Jacinto presented a draft common tower policy which restricted the number of cell site builders to two registered tower providers.
Stakeholders objected to Mr. Jacinto’s draft, which led the DICT to put the policy on hold and sign memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with interested common tower companies in the meantime. The MoUs promised the DICT’s aid in obtaining permits for tower construction as the prospective providers solicit business from telecom firms.
On Monday, the DICT called a meeting of incumbent telcos Globe Telecom, Inc., Smart Communications, Inc. and the third player, Mislatel Consortium, together with the eight tower providers that have signed MoUs with the government.
DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. said the telcos and tower providers support amendments to the common tower policy, with the parties given two weeks to submit their preferred locations for towers and the number of cell sites they would like to be set up to aid in their planning.
“Today (Monday) we had the telcos meet with the tower companies, and there is some synergy coming in,” he said. “We will have 15 days for the telcos and DICT to come up with the number of cell sites or towers that they would like to put up this year.”
Mr. Rio said after the list of preferred locations and cell site numbers is submitted, the telcos may then “come up with their tenders” for the tower providers.
So far, the DICT had signed MoUs with eight tower companies: ISOC Infrastructures, Inc.; ISON ECP Tower Pte. Ltd.; IHS Holding Ltd. (IHS Towers); edotco Group Sdn Bhd; China Energy Equipment Co. Ltd.; RT Telecom Sdn Bhd.; Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc.; and MGS Construction, Inc.
Today, the DICT is also scheduled to sign agreements with three more tower companies: Frontier Tower Associates Management Pte. Ltd.; GNI-JTower Inc. Consortium; and American Tower Corp. — Denise A. Valdez

The vetoed tax amnesty: Expectations vs reality

February 18, 2019 | 10:00 pm

News of the approval of the Tax Amnesty Act as Republic Act No. 11213 came out early morning on Sunday, February 17. It was signed on Feb. 14. The reports also indicated that the President vetoed the provisions on the general tax amnesty.
I have three scheduled briefings on the tax amnesty and, for these, I prepared a 50-page slide presentation. After hearing the news of the veto of the general tax amnesty provisions, I am now faced with the problem of fulfilling my two-hour commitment with a 25-page presentation on what is left of the tax amnesty. I am pretty sure my audience will no longer be interested in discussing the expectations prior to the veto, while we are now faced with the reality that there is no more general tax amnesty on ongoing assessments and open years. I hope, though, that the approved Continuing Professional Education credits for the module will not be diminished. This, of course, should be the least of our concerns on tax amnesty.
There are companies that are currently under Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) audit and have opted to defer preparing reconciliations and retrieving supporting documents to contest the assessment on the expectation of a general tax amnesty. They have confirmed the value of their assets and computed the amount of amnesty tax payable. Not that they are tax cheats or evaders. It is simply because they think the amount is reasonable, considering that it will cover all open years, including possible fraud allegations beyond the three-year prescriptive period for audit. In a BIR audit, preparing tax reconciliations and supporting documents alone takes time and resources. There are also regulations and documentation requirements that taxpayers usually have difficulty complying with. Taxpayers expect that they will end up paying some deficiency taxes to close the assessment. The reality is that taxpayers currently undergoing tax audit should go back to their worksheets and supporting documents to protest the factual and legal bases.
The general tax amnesty provision was vetoed because of the absence of provisions lifting the bank secrecy for applicants, the legal provisions for compliance with international standards on exchange of information, and the safeguards against abuse and erroneous declarations.
What provisions survived in the Tax Amnesty Act of 2019?
The estate tax amnesty survived, but minus the provision that allows payment of one amnesty tax to cover all transfers of property. Hence, if the property is still in the name of your great grandfather, an amnesty tax has to be computed and paid for the transfer to your grandparent, to your parent, and, finally, to you — three amnesty taxes in all. Remember, though, that the value of the property at each transfer should be the fair market value at the time of the death of each transferor. You need to first check if the property can be covered by the exemption under the prevailing laws. Prior to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, the family home is exempt up to P1 million and there is a standard deduction of another P1 million. The valuation of building and improvements, though, will be tricky. We will need to wait for the BIR guidelines.
The provision on the presumption of the correctness of the estate tax amnesty return has also been stricken out. The veto message notes that the valuation of the properties is a technical aspect that cannot be left to a mere self-declaration. An erroneous valuation will not only affect the amnesty amount, but also impact subsequent transfers, whether by sale, donation, or gift. Hence, the expectation is that the implementing regulations will give the BIR an opportunity to evaluate the truthfulness of the declarations related to the application for estate tax amnesty.
The amnesty on delinquent taxes also survived. The amnesty tax is 40% of the delinquent tax, 50% if there is a final decision of the court, 60% if the case involves tax evasion, and 100% in case of unremitted taxes withheld.
With this reality, though, there are still expectations that can only be answered by the implementing regulations.
If the taxpayer has an ongoing assessment for 2017 and the BIR issues, after the enactment of the Tax Amnesty Act, a Final Decision on Disputed Assessment (FDDA) that the taxpayer opts not to further protest or appeal, the assessed tax will be considered a delinquent tax if unprotested after a 30-day period. Will the amnesty on delinquent taxes be applicable? Can the taxpayer apply for amnesty by paying 40% of the basic tax? These expectations will be resolved if the implementing regulations provide for cut-off periods for qualification.
For taxpayers whose applications for compromise settlement are pending BIR approval, the Tax Amnesty Act provides that they can still qualify as delinquent taxes, even if the BIR has denied the application for compromise settlement before the issuance of the implementing regulations for the tax amnesty. Can they credit the 10% or 40% taxes paid under the compromise settlement program and avail of the tax amnesty instead? I understand that paying the 40% amnesty tax will almost automatically vest the amnesty privilege, while an application for compromise settlement takes time while being routed for approval by at least five offices at the regional level and another five at the national office of the BIR.
Cases in court involving 2017 and prior-year assessments can also qualify as delinquent accounts if the court can issue a final decision that will become executory before the issuance of the implementing regulations. Is it at all possible that the BIR and the courts can also agree on a set of guidelines to allow willing taxpayers to request an immediate issuance of an unfavorable decision, so the taxpayer can qualify for the amnesty?
The Tax Amnesty Act requires the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations within 90 days from the effectivity of the law.
In the veto message, the President expressed hope that Congress can pass a separate general tax amnesty bill that would carry with it the necessary safeguards so that both tax administration and revenue expectations can be met. It seems like we can still raise our expectations after all.

Lina P. Figueroa is a partner of the Tax Advisory and Compliance Division of P&A Grant Thornton. P&A Grant Thornton is one of the leading audit, tax, advisory, and outsourcing services firms in the Philippines.
Lina.Figueroa@ph.gt.com
+63(2) 988-2288.

Communication Strategy

February 18, 2019 | 9:56 pm

In a world torn apart, where clashing forces are driven by a singular objective of annihilating one another, superior strategy is the key to victory.
Some think naively that the good side always triumphs. But history and current events refute this. From my viewpoint, the bad forces — authoritarians, fascists, killers, racists, misogynists, plunderers, and the like — at present dominate the world.
But then, the naïve will say the good will inevitably win. But as wise men say, one cannot accurately predict the future; one cannot predetermine the future. Having faith is a virtue, but it in itself does not make the world a better place.
Liberation movements led by communists possess a just cause — the end of exploitation and oppression, the elimination of poverty and the realization of equality, the attainment of democracy and independence.
Some revolutionary movements like neighbors China and Vietnam succeeded, but others like Indonesia and Malaysia failed. The Philippine communist movement, its armed struggle re-launched in 1968, is still struggling, and its victory is nowhere in sight.
Communists of course do not have a monopoly of what is good and just. Think of Nandy Pacheco, the advocate of peace, good governance, and moral politics; the founder of Gunless Society and Ang Kapatiran, a political party that describes itself as an “alliance for the common good.” Nandy Pacheco is pure of heart, but he and his party are marginalized in Philippine politics.
In short, having a just cause or being good is not a predictor of victory.
I have read about how Ho Chi Minh and his band of revolutionaries won their “just war.” How could have a poor country defeated the most powerful force on earth?
An insight from historian Jeffery Record, as cited by journalist James A. Warren (“The Genius of North Vietnam’s War Strategy,” Daily Beast, November 18, 2017), is spot-on: “a superior strategic grasp of the political and social dimensions of the struggle.” Accordingly, “the Americans were not so much outfought in Vietnam as outthought,” said Warren.
There you are, strategy is the key. I attempt to elaborate on this but not in a comprehensive manner. Rather, some facets of strategy are worth retelling.
In my search for strategy, I found a 2007 article written by Richard Halloran titled “Strategic Communication” for Parameters (Autumn 2007), a US Army War College quarterly. Methinks this is essential reading for both the good and the bad guys.
The ten-page article began with a story, again about Vietnam. There was a Colonel Harry Summers who was part of a delegation sent to Hanoi after the war. At the airport, he had a chat with North Vietnamese Colonel Tu. Colonel Summers told Colonel Tu: “You know, you never defeated us on the battlefield.” Colonel Tu took about a minute to respond, but his response was witty. “That may be so. But it is also irrelevant.” Touché!
Another anecdote from the article was about the remark of a Singaporean diplomat and scholar named Koshore Mahbubani, who was asked about “what puzzled him about America’s competition with Osama bin Laden. The diplomat’s answer was a question: “How has one man in a cave managed to out-communicate the world’s greatest communication society?”
Strategy revolves around communication. Strategy is about the struggle of ideas, of “out-thinking,” and “out-communicating” the adversary.
War is but an extension of the political struggle. And the political struggle is about winning the war of ideas. Thus in crafting strategy, communication plays a most essential role.
Communication strategy is the new term for propaganda. One must embrace propaganda, though its original meeting has been lost. Halloran reminds us that the term propaganda is derived from the Latin propagare, which means to spread.
To quote Halloran: “Strategic communication means persuading allies and friends to stand with you. It means persuading neutrals to come over to your side or at least stay neutral. In the best of all worlds, it means persuading adversaries that you have the power and the will to prevail over them.” Note the emphasis on the verb “persuade,” which likewise applies to the relationship with the enemy.
The victorious Vietnamese and Chinese communists are adept at persuasion. They share the common slogan of arousing, organizing and mobilizing the masses, winning over the middle, and neutralizing or isolating the enemies.
Communication strategy is in fact a modern reiteration of what great thinkers and strategies said centuries ago. It’s about Sun Tzu’s “breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” Or Clausewitz’s statements like “war is politics” and “the enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect plan.”
Sadly, the forces of the good have not learned these lessons well.
How can the Duterte opposition win over the people when the message being repeated is to blame the Duterte voters for the triumph of evil? The problem with this message is that the support for Duterte is no longer confined to his voters but has covered the majority of the population. Surveys by the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia show that Duterte’s trust and performance ratings remain quite high. Like it or not, Duterte’s message resonates across the country, even as we grope for the core values that he represents.
The challenge then is how the opposition can “out-communicate” and “out-think” Duterte. Blaming the Duterte voters and supporters for his rise only intensifies polarization but further isolates the opposition. The unwarranted belligerence shows in other ways: Ferociously attacking an apolitical Lea Salonga, who unfortunately made a politically incorrect though innocent statement. Or accusing a Marvic Leonen, always a champion of progressive if not radical causes, of being an opportunist and a coward for asking his colleague, former Chief Justice Meilou Sereno, to resign. Here, criticism is welcome, but it should be tempered and constructive when directed at a friend or a potential ally.
These actions run counter to persuading, winning over, and uniting the many. To quote Halloran, actions, more than words, are “the better purveyors of strategic communication.”

Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III coordinates the Action for Economic Reforms.
www.aer.ph

Global Prosperity Rankings: Where is the Philippines?

February 18, 2019 | 9:55 pm

The Legatum Prosperity Index (LPI) offers unique insights into how prosperity is changing across the world. The LPI defines prosperity “as more than just the accumulation of material wealth, but also as the joy of everyday life and the prospect of being able to build an even better life in the future.” The Legatum Institute is a London-based think-tank with a global vision: to see all people lifted out of poverty (https://www.prosperity.com/).

The LPI contains data on 149 countries, for 89 variables, spread across nine dimensions of national well-being: Economic Quality, Business Environment, Governance, Education, Health, Safety & Security, Personal Freedom, Social Capital and Natural Environment.
ASEAN COMPARISONS
Singapore led the major ASEAN countries in the overall prosperity index rankings. It ranked 21^st in the world. It was followed by Malaysia, 44^th, and Indonesia, 49^th. The Philippines, 62^nd, ranked fourth. Thailand, 74^th, was next and finally, Vietnam, 81^st.
Based on the latest rankings, with the exception of outlier Singapore, the Philippines landed 62^nd among the major ASEAN countries. It placed last on economic quality, business environment, health, and safety and security. It rated well on personal freedom and natural environment.
Indonesia did very well on social capital and ranked a distant 2nd (after Singapore) on safety and security.
Malaysia performed best on economic quality and business environment, governance, education, health and natural environment. It scored lowest on the personal freedom pillar.
While Singapore led in many of the pillars. It rated low on personal freedom.
Thailand scored high on health and economic quality, but low on governance and personal freedom.
Vietnam performed best on economic quality and education but scored low on personal freedom and governance.
Since the Index began in 2007, the Philippines has moved up the rankings table by 11 places, Vietnam by seven places, and Indonesia by 28 places. By contrast, Malaysia was down eight places and Thailand, 21 places.
If the Philippines wishes to belong to the upper third (No. 50) of the 149 economies, the country has to improve on six of the nine pillars. Long way to go.
This article reflects the personal opinion of the author and does not reflect the official stand of the Management Association of the Philippines or the MAP.

Rolando T. Dy is the Co-Vice Chair of the MAP AgriBusiness Committee and the Executive Director of the Center for Food and AgriBusiness of the University of Asia & the Pacific.
map@map.org.ph
rdyster@gmail.com
http://map.org.ph

Growth and electric cooperatives

February 18, 2019 | 9:53 pm

On the Philippines’ GDP growth rates, the good news is that from 2010 to 2018, the Philippines has been growing above 6% yearly except in 2011. High growth was experienced in 2010 with 7.6% (recovery from 2008-2009 global financial turmoil) and 2013 (election year) with 7.1%.
The bad news is that these growth rates are not enough. The Philippines, with 106 million people, has a GDP size in 2017 of only $314 billion while neighbors with their smaller populations had similar or larger GDP sizes: Malaysia (32M) has $312B, Singapore (5.8M) has $324B, Thailand (69M) has $490B. We need to grow 7-10% per year for many years before we can even catch up with Thailand or Malaysia (Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook [WEO] October 2018).
Among the important factors to have high and sustained growth is to have high and rising supply of cheaper and stable electricity. There are numbers that show a correlation between GDP growth and electricity consumption growth especially for developing countries like the Philippines (see Figure 1).

Among the ASEAN 6, a similar pattern can be observed, also with China and Japan. The Philippines’ low GDP size is reflected in its low electricity consumption in tera-watt hours (TWH) (see figure 2).

There are many factors why our electricity supply and consumption is low compared to our neighbors, like the thick, expansive bureaucracies and permits required before one can explore and develop new power plants.
We focus on the role and “mis-role” of electric cooperatives (ECs). Since they are geographical monopolies granted with congressional franchise to distribute electricity, they can help expand or restrict power demand. If an EC for instance is mismanaged and does not pay the power generation company (genco), even if the genco has big plans to expand power capacity, it cannot do so.
The Department of Energy (DoE) has issued two media releases related to problematic ECs dated February 01 and February 06. It noted that many ECs are failures in expanding rural electrification because of “inefficient management, corruption, unnecessary political interference, institutional conflicts.”
So DoE will conduct a performance review of ECs, especially those that burden their communities with persistent and unresolved brownouts, because they have heavy debts and do not pay their power supply. Underperforming ones will be assisted while non-performing ones will be recommended for cancellation of their franchises.
DOE has identified 17 ECs that are chronic failures to provide satisfactory services to their customers as stipulated in their congressional franchise. Seven are from Regions IV-B and V — ALECO (Albay), CASURECO III (Camarines Sur), FICELCO (Catanduanes), MASELCO (Masbate), OMECO (Occidental Mindoro), ORMECO (Oriental Mindoro), and PALECO (Palawan). Other problematic ECs are PELCO (Pampanga), BASELCO (Basilan), LASURECO (Lanao), SULECO (Sulu), ZAMCELCO (Zamboanga), and DANECO (Davao del Norte).
Then certain islands have rising missionary subsidies — which are then passed on to all electricity consumers nationwide via high universal charges.
In three previous articles in this column, “Unstable power supply due to problematic electric cooperatives” (February 08, 2017), “How the bureaucracy works against cheap and stable electricity (March 08, 2017), and “Corporatization of electric cooperatives can reduce system loss” (September 29, 2017), it is argued that ultimately all ECs should be corporatized and depoliticized, be registered as corporations with SEC, and not with NEA.

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the president of Minimal Government Thinkers.
minimalgovernment@gmail.com

How Gloria Arroyo’s appointees in the Comelec and Supreme Court debased the Party-List Law

February 18, 2019 | 9:51 pm

President Gloria Arroyo was prohibited by law to run for reelection in 2010. But in her lust for power, even if only a fraction of what she wielded as president, she decided to run for representative of the 2^nd District of Pampanga. Her son Mikey, then the representative of the district, had to give way to his Mom as the candidate for the position.
To prevent the further diminution of the power of the family, Gloria Arroyo wanted her son Mikey to remain a member of the House of Representatives like her other son Dato. So, they inveigled the officers of the party-list Ang Galing Pinoy, which represents tricycle drivers and security guards, to nominate Mikey as the party’s representative in Congress if the party garnered the required number of votes to be represented in Congress.
“A mockery of the principles of the party-list system,” cried leaders of groups from the truly marginalized sectors. They claimed that the intention of the party-list law was to bring them from the parliament of the streets where they had been holding rallies for decades into Congress.
The 1987 Constitution created the party-list system. It mandates that under-represented community sectors or groups, including labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous, cultural, women, youth, and other such sectors must be represented in the House of Representatives. In 1995, Congress enacted Republic Act No. 7941 or the Party-List System Act.
It mandates that “The State shall promote proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives through a party-list system of registered national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions thereof, which will enable Filipino citizens belonging to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, organizations and parties, and who lack well-defined political constituencies but who could contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole, to become members of the house of representatives.”
The leaders of the marginalized groups claimed, and rightly so, that Mikey Arroyo was never a tricycle driver or security guard, or operator of tricycles or owner of a security agency. Not only that, the biggest group of security guards disowned him. And the Comelec had disqualified other would-be party-list candidates for not being from the marginalized sector.
Mikey Arroyo’s net worth of P99 million placed him way above not only the marginalized sector but the middle class of society as well. He was part-owner of a stable which had 20 race horses, some of them worth P1 million each. In his guest appearance in Winnie Monsod’s TV talk show “Unang Hirit” in 2009, he fumbled famously as he tried to explain how his net worth increased from P76.9 million in 2005 to P99 million in 2008 and who the owner of the P63.7-million beachfront property in the United States was.
But President Arroyo’s appointees in the Comelec — Nicodemo Ferrer, Elias Yusoph, Lucenito Tagle, and Armando Velasco — helped to allow Mikey to represent the party-list group of tricycle drivers and security guards. The protesters then filed with the Supreme Court a disqualification complaint against Mikey. The Supreme Court, dominated by Arroyo appointees led by Renato Corona, who was also named chief justice by President Arroyo in contravention of the law, quickly dismissed the disqualification complaint against Mikey on the basis of a bizarre argument.
The Court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to pass upon the eligibility of Mikey Arroyo who was already a member of the House of Representatives. It acknowledged that the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal had the original jurisdiction over the petition for the declaration of Mikey Arroyo‘s ineligibility. But the complaint was not about his qualification for the House of Representatives. The complaint was about his qualification to represent a group from a marginalized sector – the tricycle drivers and security guards.
In contrast, the Corona Court readily took up Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez’s complaint regarding the House of Representatives Justice Committee impeaching her on the basis of two complaints when it had no jurisdiction to pass upon impeachment cases as only the House of Representatives has jurisdiction over such cases.
Also, the Court had ruled in 2001 that only those parties or organizations and their nominees “who belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors” were qualified to hold party-list seats. In 2009 the Court excluded the major political parties from party-list elections, since they were already well-represented in the district polls. Using that logic, the Court should have excluded Mikey Arroyo from the 2010 elections on the grounds that one family, the Arroyo family, would be overly represented.
Anyway, in October 2013 the Comelec, then headed by President Benigno Aquino-appointed Sixto Brillantes, Jr., motu proprio (acting on its own initiative) disqualified Ang Galing Pinoy from running in that year’s elections because their nominees were not tricycle drivers and security guards. Comelec First Division Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, who back in 2010 had voted against Mikey Arroyo’s eligibility as nominee of Ang Galing Pinoy, said: “The disqualification of AGP is an example of the party-list system truly serving the marginalized and underrepresented.”
However, in 2013 the Court, still dominated by Arroyo appointees, reversed its 2001 and 2009 rulings. It held that the party-list system is composed of three groups: the national parties, the regional parties, and the sectoral parties or organizations, with the national and regional parties not needing to represent any “marginalized and underrepresented” sector. The Court said it is sufficient that their members advocate common ideologies or governance principles regardless of their economic status.
The Court interpreted the words “marginalized and underrepresented” as the incapacity to win district elections for any reason. That interpretation of the Court enabled multi-millionaires, members of political dynasties, and those well-connected to the powers that be to use the party-list system as the easier and cheaper way of getting elected to the House of Representatives, thus crowding out of Congress the real marginalized folks.
In effect, the Supreme Court modified RA 7941 by discarding its original intent of giving the marginalized and underrepresented sectors who lack well-defined political constituencies but who could contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole the opportunity to become members of the House of Representatives. Once again, the Supreme Court justices, who were not elected by the citizenry, usurped the function of Congress, this time to the detriment of the marginalized and underrepresented citizens that RA 7941 meant to benefit.

Oscar P. Lagman, Jr. is a member of Manindigan! a cause-oriented group of businessmen, professionals, and academics.
oplagman@yahoo.com

UN report says PHL gov’t targeting women defenders of human rights

February 18, 2019 | 9:45 pm

WOMEN HUMAN rights defenders are being targeted in the Philippines, a United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur said in his report to the UN Human Rights Council.
The 20-page Jan. 10 report by Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, reviewed the obstacles women human rights defenders face around the world. In the Philippines, the report cited the situation of Senator Leila M. De Lima, ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno, and Rappler chief executive officer Maria A. Ressa.
“Women leaders who represent their groups and speak out on issues tend to be targeted for their visibility — not only to silence them but also to discourage broader dissent,” the report stated.
The Council, which will hold its 40^th session on Feb. 25 to Mar. 22.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo has yet to respond to queries for comment as of this reporting. However, Mr. Panelo pointed out in an interview with ANC on Monday that there are still many critics of President Rodrigo R. Duterte who are not being charged.
“Even if those persons were not subject of criticism of the President, if the evidence shows they committed a crime, they will be facing charges in court. Like (Ms.) Sereno, it was a case of… nonfiling of the SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth). With respect to (the) former Justice Secretary, her case is different, drug involvement. The President has nothing to do with it,” Mr. Panelo said.
Asked about a common denominator in the respective cases of these women, Mr. Panelo said, “They (are) perceived to have committed crimes, (regarding) which,…as far as the prosecutor is concerned, there is probable cause. And as far as the court is concerned, there is probable cause….There are so many people critical of the President who are not being sued.”
The UN report noted that Ms. De Lima has been in detention for almost two years for denouncing the President’s campaign against illegal drugs.
“She has been held on politically motivated, non-bailable charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002; while in detention, she has been subject to restrictions,” the report stated.
It also pointed out that Ms. Sereno was removed as Chief Justice after she objected to Mr. Duterte’s policies on illegal drugs and martial law.
Ms. Ressa has been charged with tax evasion, which the report cited as “political persecution in response to critical reporting on the government.”
In his report’s recommendations, Mr. Forst called on UN member states to protect the rights of women defenders, “by taking a stand against all State and non-State actors who violate” their rights.
Another UN panel has also raised concerns on the government’s treatment of Ms. De Lima. Last year, the UN Human Rights Council-Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNHRC-WGAD) called on the Philippine government to free the senator. It also referred Ms. De Lima’s case to three UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of expression, violence against women, and independence of judges and lawyers. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

For UST, much to take away from opening game

February 18, 2019 | 9:43 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses won their opening game in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, and while it did not come easy, forced by the Adamson Lady Falcons to a five-setter, the team took a lot from it to build on.
Had the better of the Lady Falcons in the opening two sets of their first game of the season on Sunday, the Tigresses saw themselves narrowly drop the next two and go to a deciding fifth set.
In the deciding frame, UST got back its groove, building an early lead and not looking back after for the 25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 24-26 and 15-6 victory.
For UST coach Kung-Fu Reyes, the Adamson game was an early test of character and he was happy with the way his players responded.
“This game tested our character. It is something we have been looking for. Before it was only Sisi but this time the others showed up,” said Mr. Reyes, referring to star outside hitter and graduating player Sisi Rondina, who in the past had to do much of the heavy lifting for the Tigresses.
While Rondina continued to lead the team in scoring, with 17 points, she was ably supported by her teammates, notably rookie Eya Laure and rookie of the year last season Minela Alessandrini.
Laure, younger sister of currently “on leave” UST player EJ, also had 17 points against Adamson while Alessandrini finished with 15.
Mr. Reyes said the opening win bodes well for them and that Season 81 could see them finally break through.
“This is a welcome change for us. In the previous three seasons we always lost in our first game. The program of UST could breakthrough this year. Maybe it’s our turn,” the coach said.
Meanwhile, having tasted seniors’ play in the UAAP, Laure, also a high school star with UST, said she enjoyed every minute of it and is looking forward to playing and helping her team have a successful campaign in UAAP Season 81.
“I’m thankful that I was able to showcase my talent. I’m happy and overwhelmed to see the UST crowd behind us,” said Laure, whose total output was boosted by 13 kills and three blocks.
“I will continue listening to my coaches and learn from them,” she added.
The Tigresses make a short turnaround and play on Wednesday against the Ateneo Lady Eagles (0-1).

Team LeBron tops Team Giannis

February 18, 2019 | 9:42 pm

CHARLOTTE — Kevin Durant scored 31 points and won MVP honors after outdueling Giannis Antetokounmpo to lift Team LeBron to a 178-164 win Sunday night in the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.
In the “First in Flight” city, players showed up Sunday ready to launch. Team LeBron attempted 90 3-pointers (hitting 35), and the teams combined for 167 tries from deep.
Durant helped put the game away for Team LeBron with a 3-pointer with two minutes left for a 171-160 lead. Kyrie Irving made a leaning floater and Durant hit a 15-footer from the wing to seal it.
“It’s cool to be out there with some of the best players to ever play the game, and to win an MVP here in front of my family and friends is pretty sweet,” said Durant, who also took home All-Star Game MVP honors in 2012.
Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 38 points on 17-of-23 shooting and drew raves from his peers, Durant included.
“He’s got potential through the roof. He’s still producing at an elite level, and it’s scary to see how far he can keep going,” Durant said. “His game is rounding into shape. He’s still getting better, but he’s leading top five, top three MVP candidates right now at 20. How old is he, 23? To be that young and already at the top of the class as one of the elites in the game, it’s a joy to watch his progression.”
Just before Durant’s closing stretch, James shook off 76ers forward Joel Embiid for a corner 3, and on the next trip, pounded home a one-handed slam on a lob from Irving that extended Team LeBron’s lead to 168-158.
As the teams traded long-distance daggers and mixed in the occasional lob off the glass, Durant connected on a pair of 3-pointers from the right side to give Team LeBron a 161-153 lead at the five-minute mark in the fourth as shots started to fall short and handles were less certain.
Stephen Curry brought the Spectrum Center to its feet at the final buzzer, catching the ball off a hard bounce from himself and throwing in a reverse jam. He did the same with a four-point play early in the fourth — knocking down a 3 from the right wing as Warriors teammate Klay Thompson of Team LeBron pushed him to the floor.
“Any possession I was going to touch the ball with him guarding me, I was going to shoot,” Curry said of facing Thompson. “I definitely sold the call. If I was going to hit any of the 23 shots I took, that was going to be it.”
All-Star teammate DeAngelo Russell added a 3 of his own, staking Team Giannis to a 148-142 lead with 8:54 left in the game.
76ers guard Ben Simmons gave Team LeBron the lead 132-131 with 36 seconds left in the third quarter, closing what had been a 95-82 deficit at halftime. Team Giannis led by 20 in the third.
Damian Lillard’s 25-footers on consecutive possessions pulled Team LeBron even at 127-all, but Russell Westbrook put Bradley Beal on skates on two straight trips for easy layups at the rim.
Thompson drained a 3 from the corner in front of the Team Giannis bench to pull Team LeBron to within 120-115 with 4:30 left in the third quarter, and Beal followed with a 3-pointer of his own off a turnover to cut the advantage to 120-118.
Played above the rim in spurts, the game threatened to become a full-fledged 3-point contest. The first half consisted of 81 3-point attempts — 29 successful — between the teams.
Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 20 in the first half. He was on a dunk-a-minute pace to start the game. In the opening seven minutes, he had 16 points to fuel Team Giannis to a 36-22 edge, while assisting on 3-pointers by Bucks teammate Khris Middleton on three of four possessions.
“Previously, my first and second All-Star, I think I was kind of nervous,” Antetokounmpo said. “This one I was a little bit more relaxed. I had my name on that MVP until the third quarter, and they got hot and took it away from me.”
Curry, the de facto player host because of his local roots, got on the board with 5:32 left in the first half and was 2 of 7 at halftime. He finished 6 of 23 from the field. — Reuters

Pro gaming team ‘Omega’ of PLDT, Smart launched

February 18, 2019 | 9:42 pm

THE growing Esports scene in the country has added another player after PLDT and Smart jointly launched their own official professional team called “Omega.”
In collaboration with Esports management Sterling Global Dragons, Omega is set to represent PLDT and Smart at The Nationals, the country’s first franchise-based Esports league, which kicks off on March 17.
Officials of the partnering groups said the launch of the pro team was in recognition of how far Esports has come far in the country and of its potential to continue to grow.
“Launching ‘Omega’ as our official professional Esports team reinforces the long-standing commitment of PLDT and Smart to elevate Esports in the Philippines, as well as provide the ultimate gaming experience for Filipino gamers, fans, and enthusiasts,” said Andrew L. Santos, FVP and Consumer Marketing Head for PLDT and Smart, in a statement.
Adding, “Experienced ‘Omega’ athletes show what Filipinos are capable of achieving with their passion and dedication to Esports. Hence, more than being a formidable team, ‘Omega’ serves as an inspiration to fellow gamers, who, with the right support, can be at par with the best in the world.
For Gerry Lim, Sterling Global Dragons president, their common vision to grow Esports makes their partnership with PLDT and Smart for Omega is primary in making it happen, something they hope to continue banking on moving along.
“We share PLDT and Smart’s vision to legitimize and professionalize Esports in the Philippines, and our strategic partnership to establish and manage ‘Omega’ is a huge step toward this goal. Collaborations like this serve as a platform for the gaming community to empower homegrown Esports athletes in a holistic way, and enable them to reach their full potential, and set high standards for the community,” said Mr. Lim.
Omega is composed of high-ranking players Julius Cesar Sto. Domingo (in-game name: Julz); Jonas Samonte (Nasjo); Jaysie Garan (Yaj); Jinn Marrey Lamatao (Palos); and Pedro de Paula (Efking), with team coach Josef Brazal (JL`) for Dota 2; Jules Carmann Marcelo (Lex); Rico J. Esto (Levi); Karl Nepomuceno (Karl); Steve Dale Vitug (Dale); and EJ Esperanza (Boo) for Mobile Legends; and Juliano Lozano (Jules) for Tekken 7.
In The Nationals, the official Esports teams of the league’s six co-founding members are pitted against each other in top competitive games, including the official Southeast Asian (SEA) Games-sanctioned titles Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Tekken 7.
Aside from PLDT and Smart, The Nationals co-founders fielding their teams are BrenPro Inc., Cignal TV Inc., Execration, HappyFeet Esports, and STI Education Systems.
The Nationals can be seen live over EGG Channel on Cignal TV and ESPN5 Plus. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Rain or Shine eyes deeper PHL Cup journey

February 18, 2019 | 9:41 pm

THE hottest team in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters welcome the situation they are in but are not content as they aim to go even deeper in the season-opening Philippine Basketball Association tournament.
Holders of a 7-1 record, the Elasto Painters lead the league in wins and are already assured of a quarterfinal spot.
They, however, were quick to point out that topping the eliminations is not their primary goal and that they have to continue to work for consistency if they want to go far.
“We are 7-1. We did not expect this. But we have to be consistent. It does not make sense if you do well in the elimination round and then just lose in the playoffs,” said Rain or Shine coach Caloy Garcia following their latest victory, a 75-74 squeaker over the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok on Feb. 13.
Mr. Garcia went on to say that the focus now for them, with a spot in the next round already assured, is to notch the needed wins to end up in the top two so as to put themselves in a better position to accomplish their goal of going deeper in the competition.
“With the quarterfinals spot assured our target now is to end up in the top two so that we can have a huge advantage entering the next round. Technically, if you have eight games won you have a good shot at top two. We just have to continue trusting the system and each other moving forward,” Mr. Garcia said.
As per tournament format, the top two teams at the end of the elimination round get a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals over their lower-seeded opponents.
Leading the Elasto Painters in their strong start is the resurgent James Yap, who has been averaging close to 15 points per game.
Mr. Yap, a two-time PBA most valuable player awardee, incidentally was the game hero in their victory over Magnolia, hitting the big shots down the stretch, including the game-winning three-point play.
Also contributing well in Rain or Shine’s more fluid and balanced attack are guard Maverick Ahanmisi (13 ppg) and big men Norbert Torres (11 ppg) and Beau Belga (10 ppg).
As a team, the Elasto Painters are averaging 93.88 points (fifth in the league), 48.25 rebounds (7^th) and 20.38 assists (8^th).
Rain or Shine returns to action on March 3 against the TNT KaTropa as the league is currently in a two-week break to give way to PBA-backed Gilas Pilipinas’ bid in the sixth and final window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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