Congress to hold joint session on martial law extension

December 10, 2018 | 8:24 pm

CONGRESS is set to hold a joint session on Wednesday, Dec. 12, to deliberate on the request of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to again extend martial law in Mindanao for another year.
“Joint session, Wednesday, nine o’clock,” Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III confirmed to reporters on Monday.
Senators were briefed yesterday by security officials on the situation in Mindanao and the factors that would justify a third extension of martial law, which was first declared on May 23, 2017 as the Marawi siege broke out.
“I think they were able to present some very compelling reasons for us to really consider the extension so we’ll discuss it within ourselves and then hopefully, let’s see how the debate goes as far as the Wednesday joint session is concerned,” Mr. Sotto told reporters after the hearing.
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto said he is of the position that martial law could only be extended until six months given that the 17^th Congress ends in June 2019.
“Our term of office is only until June. And this Congress extends martial law beyond this term… What is appealing is that they’re saying that they would be able wipe out the Abu Sayyaf with the one year extension… That is an appealing proposition to extend martial law. But then why not six months?” he said.
“If at all, maybe six months, at least (that’s) my position. And let the next Congress determine if they need six more months,” he added.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri also released to reporters Mr. Duterte’s letter to Congress, dated Dec. 6, asking the legislative branch for the martial law extension.
“A further extension of the implementation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao will enable the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), the PNP (Philippine National Police), and all other law enforcement agencies to finally put an end to the ongoing rebellion in Mindanao and continue to prevent the same from escalating in other parts of the country,” Mr. Duterte said in his letter to Congress.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the President can declare martial law in case of “invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it.” An extension of martial law may be approved by Congress, in a joint vote of at least majority of its members, “if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”
After the initial martial law declaration that was effective for 60 days as provided under the law, Congress granted a first extension until end-Dec. 2017, then a second one until end-2018. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Nationwide round-up

December 10, 2018 | 8:23 pm

Abaca production improves in first 9 months

ABACA fiber production increased by 4.5% to 49,803 metric tons (MT) in the first nine months of 2018 from the 47,644 MT in the same period last year. According to data released by the Philippine Fiber Development Authority (PhilFIDA) on Monday, Bicol emerged as the top producing region with 15,584 MT from Jan. to Sept. this year, although this is a 13.2% drop from the 17,962 MT in the first three quarters of 2017. The second top producing region was Davao at 9,921 MT, up by 18.5% from 8,371.5 MT. Third was Eastern Visayas at 6,189 MT, up 4.8% from 5,906 MT. “We are very pleased to report that production of the Philippine Abaca Fiber Industry continue its uphill climb and now at 4.5% or equivalent to 2,158.2 metric tons or 2.1582 (million) kilos or additional 95.92 40-footer container vans compared in 2017,” Kennedy T. Costales, Executive Director of PhilFIDA, said on a Facebook post. “Though it is still a far cry to where we want to be (25,000 metric tons), it is a fact that you cannot plant abaca today and harvest tomorrow. It takes an abaca plant to mature between 18 months to 24 months depending on the variety,” Mr. Costales added. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio

Arroyo daughter appointed to National Museum

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has appointed Evangelina Lourdes “Luli” Arroyo-Bernas, daughter House Speaker Gloria M. Arroyo, as chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum. The President also appointed Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Director Retired Col. Yusop A. Jimlani as Presidential Adviser on Local Extremist Groups Concerns, with the rank of Undersecretary. Another appointee, Ramon Ike V. Señeres, brother of the late 2016 presidential candidate Roy V. Señeres, Sr., is now a member of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The President signed the appointment papers of the said officials last Dec. 6. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Pichay shrugs off disqualification case

REPRESENTATIVE Prospero A. Pichay, Jr. of the 1^st District of Surigao del Sur yesterday expressed confidence that the disqualification case filed against him before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be dismissed. “I’m very confident that will be dismissed,” he said in a phone interview with BusinessWorld Monday. Mr. Pichay, who is running for reelection in the 2019 midterm elections, noted that the same case was filed against him in 2016, but the Comelec allowed him to run for office. Last month, a Petition to Deny Due Course and to Cancel Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) was filed by Mary Elizabeth O. Ty, citing a 2011 Ombudsman decision declaring Mr. Pichay guilty of grave misconduct for unlawful use of state funds. The Ombudsman decision imposed a penalty of dismissal from his position as Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Board of Trustees chairman and “forfeiture of all benefits, except leave credits, and disqualification to hold any public office.” — Gillian M. Cortez

Gasoline up, diesel continues drop

December 10, 2018 | 8:22 pm

AFTER eight straight weeks of decreases, the price of gasoline will rise by P0.40 per liter (/L) this week, oil companies advised on Monday. The prices of diesel and kerosene, meanwhile, will be on their ninth consecutive week of decline. Diesel will be cheaper by P0.10/L, while kerosene by P0.45/L. For most of the companies, the price adjustments will take place today at 6:00 a.m. “These reflect movements in the international oil market,” Petron Corp. said in its advisory. — Victor V. Saulon

Trillanes posts bail for libel cases at Pasay court

December 10, 2018 | 8:22 pm

SENATOR Antonio F. Trillanes IV again secured temporary liberty upon posting bail of P96,000 for four counts of libel pending in a Davao City court, which has issued arrest warrants against him. Mr. Trillanes made the bail payment at the Pasay City regional trial court (RTC) Branch 118, which lifted the warrants of arrest. “The Warrant of Arrest dated 07 December 2018 issued against the accused is hereby lifted and set aside,” Judge Rowena Nieves A. Tan ordered. Ms. Tan also ordered the senator to “coordinate with and/or report to (Davao) RTC Branch 54” within 30 days from the receipt of the order to follow up the date of his arraignment. The libel complaints were filed by former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Z. Duterte and brother-in-law Manases Carpio in September 2018 after the senator linked them to corruption and extortion involving ride-hailing services. In the same Davao Court, the prosecution’s motion to issue a hold-departure order against Mr. Trillanes is currently pending and he is ordered to file his comment/opposition within five days from Dec. 7. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Abu Sayyaf member in Samal raid convicted

December 10, 2018 | 8:22 pm

A TAGUIG City court has convicted an Abu Sayyaf member for murder and homicide over the group’s attack on Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Samal in 2001. In the ruling dated Dec. 3, Judge Marivic C. Vitor of the Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 266 found Hasim Alibasa Radjuli guilty of the murder of Jimmy Culam, a security guard of the resort, and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years of imprisonment. Radjuli has also been found guilty of homicide for killing resort employee Rolando Jara, with a penalty of eight to 14 years, eight months, and one day in prison. The convict is also ordered to pay the family of the victims designated amounts for damages. The verdict emphasized the testimony of a fellow Abu Sayaff member, Julashrey Abtani, who was acquitted of piracy for lack of proof. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Balangiga bells’ long journey home: Manila stopover today

December 10, 2018 | 8:21 pm

THE three Balangiga Bells, taken as a war booty by American soldiers from the Eastern Samar town with the same name in 1901, are scheduled to land at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City today before finally returning home on Dec. 14. President Rodrigo R. Duterte will attend the Saturday homecoming ceremony, but will skip the turnover in Pasay as earlier announced, according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo. In a press briefing on Monday, US Embassy in Manila Spokesperson Molly Koscina said the return of the bells was “the right thing to do” and that “is really in line with American Values.” Two of the bells had been part of a memorial for fallen US veterans located in Wyoming, USA. The third bell was in a US military base in South Korea. “They will have replicas of the original bells,” Ms. Koscina said. “There have been a number of presidents that have worked on the return of the Balangiga bells. A number of secretaries of Defense, a number of Philippine and US ambassadors. It’s been decades worth of work and decades of US veterans protesting to the return of the bells,” she said. — Gillian M. Cortez and Arjay L. Balinbin

Davao City businesses with more than 10 workers now required to get drug test clearance for permit

December 10, 2018 | 8:21 pm

COMPANIES in Davao City with more than 10 workers are now required to have at least 10% of their employees undergo illegal drug testing after Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio recently signed the implementing rules and regulations of an ordinance passed five years ago. The requirement applies to both new business permit applications and renewals. Under the ordinance, a random testing process will be implemented involving 10% of the company’s workforce, including contractors and service-oriented employees in establishments like shopping malls. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is tasked to do the testing and issue the corresponding clearance within 10 days. The City Anti-Drug Abuse Council, meanwhile, is responsible for the information campaign and monitoring the implementation of the ordinance. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

BOL campaign begins

December 10, 2018 | 8:20 pm

A banner opposing the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) hangs over the Delta Bridge approaching Cotabato City, right above a welcome sign for guests and participants to the campaign kick-off event inside the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government compound within the city. Inside the ARMM compound, various groups held banners calling for a “yes” vote. Cotabato City, under the SOCCSKSARGEN Region, is one of the areas proposed for inclusion in the Bangsamoro ARMM (BARMM) and will be among the plebiscite sites.

GenSan fireworks competition

December 10, 2018 | 8:20 pm

General Santos City is holding the 2018 Pasko sa Gensan Pyrotechnic Competition starting Dec. 10 with the first entry showcasing its display. The other competitors are scheduled on Dec. 13, 16, 19, and 21. The fireworks show will be hold at the Oval Plaza between 7 to 9 p.m.

Nation at a Glance — (12/11/18)

December 10, 2018 | 8:17 pm

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

Crazy Rich Filipinos

December 10, 2018 | 7:14 pm

‘People are casually coughing up money,’ says a social historian.

Continue

Aces look to take cue from breakthrough finals win

December 10, 2018 | 6:34 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
GOT into the win column of the ongoing best-of-seven Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup finals series last time around, the Alaska Aces look to build on it as their championship matchup with the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok moves along.
A big 100-71 winner in Game Three on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Aces arrested their skid that saw them bowing in the first two games of the finals of the season-ending PBA tournament.
Alaska was in its element throughout the contest, shedding the struggles, particularly on the defensive end, that marked its first two outings.
It is a performance that Aces coach Alex Compton hopes to use as a blueprint against the Hotshots for the remainder of the series.
“The overall story of the game was that we made a bunch of shots in the first three quarters. We didn’t commit many turnovers and we played defense with great intensity,” said Mr. Compton following their breakthrough victory.
In Game Three, Alaska used a strong effort in the middle quarters to pull away and cut the Hotshots’ series lead.
Magnolia took early command of the match, holding a 22-16 lead by the end of the first quarter.
After that, however, Alaska would cascade down on the Hotshots big time, outscoring the latter, 67-28, in the next two quarters to carry a commanding 83-50 lead heading into the final frame.
With the game pretty much settled, the Aces spent the rest of the fourth quarter holding down any attempt by the Hotshots to rally back, something they would have success in as they cruised to the victory.
Import Mike Harris led the way for Alaska in the victory with 36 points and 18 rebounds.
Vic Manuel and Carl Bryan Cruz came off the bench to chip in 14 and 10 points, respectively, while Simon Enciso had 12 markers.
Despite winning huge in their last game, Mr. Compton downplayed it and underscored the need for them to continue taking on the challenge of the tough Magnolia squad.
“If I were to choose between winning with this score and being up 2-1, of course I’d choose being 2-1 up. I’m glad that we won, but we’re still down at this point,” said Mr. Compton, who is looking to notch his first PBA title with the team.
He went on to say that they are expecting the Hotshots to make the necessary adjustments for Game Four, and the game itself anything like that in Game Three.
The ongoing finals series between Magnolia and Alaska marks the first time that the teams are meeting in the championship since the 2009-10 Philippine Cup finals where Magnolia, then playing under Purefoods, swept Alaska, 4-0.
Alaska is seeking its first title since the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup while Magnolia is gunning to win it all since the 2014 Governors’ Cup that completed for the team a rare league grand slam.
Game Four of the finals is on Wednesday.