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Smart Giga Hitters out to build on opening-day win

GOT their Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference bid to a winning start, the Smart Giga Hitters are out to prove it was no fluke in their return to action today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Set to face defending champions Petron Blaze Spikers in the 7 p.m. nightcap of the scheduled triple-header playdate, Smart tries to build on its three-sets win over the Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors, 25-20, 25-19 and 25-23, on opening day on Oct. 30 to take its place among the early leaders of the tournament.
Gretchel Soltones led the way for the Giga Hitters in their debut win, finishing with 17 points and providing the needed the spark for Smart to pull away with the victory.
Looking to halt Smart’s momentum is Petron, which is once again on a roll, winning its first two matches.
The latest of the Blaze Spikers’ victories was at the expense of the Generika-Ayala Lifesavers, 25-18, 25-22 and 25-13, on Tuesday.
Veteran Aiza Maizo-Pontillas spearheaded the attack with 11 points while middle blockers Remy Palma and Mika Reyes chipped in nine and seven markers, respectively, for the Blaze Spikers in the victory.
While they are on a roll, Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos said they have to continue being on top of their game, especially against a Smart team looking to take flight in the All-Filipino tournament.
“Smart is such a good team. So we will go back to the drawing board to plot how we can neutralize them,” Mr. Delos Santos said.
Other games set for today are the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers (2-0) against the Cocolife Asset Managers (0-2) at 2 p.m. followed by the Foton Tornadoes Blue Energy (2-0) versus Sta. Lucia (0-2) at 4:15 p.m.
PSL All-Filipino Conference matches are shown live over ESPN5, Hyper HD and Aksyon TV. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Minority senators seek probe on massacre of Sagay farmers

By Vann Marlo M. Villegas
MINORITY SENATORS sought an “immediate” Senate investigation into the Oct. 20 massacre of nine sugarcane farmers in Sagay City, Negros Occidental and urged the government to look into the implementation of the agrarian reform program.
In a press statement dated Nov. 6, the senators said they filed Senate Resolution No. 929 saying the massacre of the nine farmers which included two minors and four women should compel the government to look into the “decades-old failure” of the agrarian reform program.
“The indiscriminate and thoughtless killing of the members of the impoverished and marginalized sectors of the society by those who circumvent the law, such as powerful landowners and local warlords, must be put to an end,” the resolution read in part.
The minority senators also noted a fact-finding mission by human rights and leftist groups which claimed that Hacienda Nene lessor Allan Simbingco and other landowners linked to a big political clan were behind the killings of the farmers.
“This (killing) is not an isolated case as it only reflects the prevailing situation in many farm lands around the country, necessitating immediate attention of government to address the plight of our Filipino farmers,” they stated in the resolution.
“The death of the farmers should lead to a stronger program to implement social justice measures and protect our impoverished countrymen and women. It should not be used as a political device to impute criminal acts against critics of this administration without any factual basis,” they added.
They also noted that the government should look into the implementation of Republic Act No. 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law as its effective implementation is a way for a just distribution of agricultural lands which should be prioritized as stated in the Constitution.
“Aside from the pockets of investigations led by various agencies seeking accountability for the lives lost in this eventuality, the government should not only prosecute those responsible to the killings but should probe and swiftly respond to the primal causes of the continued landlessness of many Filipino farmers that shackle them and their families to the chains of poverty and social injustice,” they said.
On Oct. 20, nine farmers who were members of the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NFSW) were killed by around 40 unidentified armed men in Hacienda Nene in Brgy. Bulanon, Sagay City, Negros Occidental.
The senators also claimed local police authorities have identified a certain Rene Manlangit and Rogelio Arquillo who allegedly recruited the slain farmers to the NFSW which the Philippine National Police “accused of being a ‘legal front’ of the communist rebels.”
The resolution was filed by Senators Leila M. de Lima, Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV, Risa N. Baraquel-Hontiveros, Francis N. Pangilinan, Antonio F. Trillanes IV, and Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon.

Good coaching

The Philippine Olympiad team has had a lot of bad coaches over the years. There was one, for example, who spent the whole day in the casino and only showed up the next morning to announce the line-up for the games in the afternoon. There was another very horrible person who even stole the ball pens furnished by the organizers for the players.
Then there were some very good ones, and I would like to mention in particular (Grandmaster) GM Jayson Gonzales who handled the women’s Olympiad team for the 2018 Batumi Olympiad.
When I went through the games of our women players I noticed that they were always prepared in the openings and knew how to transition to endgames with minimal complications, always observing the DAUT rule. This is the mark of a good coach.
What is the DAUT rule? Many years ago the English GM John Nunn wrote a book on the “Secrets of Practical Chess” and invented that term, which is an acronym for “Don’t Analyse Unnecessary Tactics.” According to him, “tactical analysis is an error-prone activity. Overlooking one important finesse can completely change the result of the analysis. If it is possible to decide on your move on purely positional considerations then you should do so; it is quicker and more reliable. There are, of course, many positions in which concrete analysis is essential, but even in these cases you should not analyse specific variations more than necessary.” And that advice is coming from a great tactician, 3-time world problem-solving champion, and in his time among the Top 10 players in the world.
I have always been impressed with WIM Bernadette Galas. She is the leader of the UAAP Chess Champion Dela Salle University Lady Archers, leading them to the gold medal with an unbeaten 12/13 score in the last season and also being adjudged Most Valuable Player for the entire league.
Bernadette played a huge role in the Philippines’ 3-1 upset of 15th seed Spain. Here is her wonderful win over WGM Monica Calzetta Ruiz who had started the Olympiad strongly with 3.5/4.

Galas, Bernadette (2080) – Calzetta Ruiz, Monica (2080) [A45]
43rd World Chess Olympiad (6), 16.10.2018 [WIM Bernadette Galas]

This was my first game using 1.d4 and I never thought that this game will turn out just fine.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4.f3 Nf6
The Trompowsky. Coach GM Jayson Gonzales noticed that my opponent, WGM (Woman Grandmaster) Monica Ruiz Calzetta, has a poor score with Black against the Torre/Trompowsky lines and convinced me to go into this.
5.dxc5 Qa5+ 6.Qd2 Qxc5 7.e4 g6
My opponent almost always plays the Sicilian against 1.e4 and I assume that was what she was trying to do here, to transpose to a Sicilian-like formation. When we were going through the various lines our coach GM Jayson pointed out to me that 7…g6 is a blunder because White can win a pawn, and I couldn’t believe my eyes when my opponent actually played it! It is not so easy to see how the pawn can be won, just watch!
8.Nc3 Bg7
So now the trap begins.
9.Be3 Qa5 10.Nb5 Qxd2+
No choice. 10…Qd8? 11.e5 Ng8 12.f4 a6? (12…Nc6 will not lose immediately but Black’s position is unenviable) 13.Qf2! (threatening Bb6) 13…Qa5+ 14.b4 Qxb4+ 15.c3 Black has to give up her queen or else lose a whole rook in the corner.
11.Kxd2
White’s double threat of Nc7+ and Nxa7 cannot both be parried — Black has to give up the pawn on a7.
11…Na6 12.Nxa7 0–0
After winning the pawn I was thinking that my kingside pieces have not yet been properly developed so to limit the possibility of my opponent taking advantage of this I decided to immediately exchange pieces and go into the endgame.
13.Bxa6 bxa6 14.Nxc8 Rfxc8 15.Ne2 Rab8 16.Rab1 d5 17.e5 Nd7 18.f4 Nc5 19.c3 Ne4+
And now after this move, I am completely has the advantage, according to engines.
20.Kc2
After this move, I was thinking, what if I played Kd3 instead? but then I realized that she can play again Nc5+ and I dont want to exchange my bishop to her Knight too early.
20…e6 21.Bd4 h5 22.b4 Rc4 23.Kd3 Bh6
All I ever think during this game was to restrict all of my opponent’s pieces so that she will not have the chance to recover and to counter.
24.Rhf1 Rbc8 25.Rb3 Bf8 26.Ng3 Nxg3 27.hxg3 Be7 <D>
POSITION AFTER 27…BE7
Now comes my favorite move of the game.
28.Ra1!
Preparing to push my queenside pawns. I have studied this position for several hours after the game and do not see a defense for Black against this plan. Afterwards coach GM Gonzales told me that this was “Karpovian Technique” in reference to the 12th world champion. I was really very happy to hear that! There are hardly any tactics to calculate for the rest of the game — just a plan and to stick to it.
28…R4c6 29.a4 Rb8 30.b5 Rc4 31.b6 Bc5 32.Bxc5 Rxc5 33.a5
In order to win I have to bring my king to the queenside to support the pawns there. It looks like Ra1–a4 followed by c3–c4 is the only way to do that.
33…Kf8 34.Ra4 Ke8 35.Kd4 Rcc8 36.c4 dxc4 37.Rxc4 Rd8+ 38.Kc3
OK, my king is in the queenside. Now I have to find a way to bring it up the board.
38…Rd5 39.Kb4 Rbd8 40.Ka4
So that I can play Rc4–c7 and be able to interpose with the rook on b4 should Black play …Rd5–d4+.
40…Rb8 41.Rc7 Rd4+ 42.Rb4 Rd2 43.Rbc4 Ra2+ 44.Kb4 Rb2+ 45.Ka3
I did not play 45.Kc5 because of 45…Rb5+ followed by Black taking the a5–pawn, but in reality 46.Kc6 Rxa5 47.b7 is still won for White. But anyway even if I had seen this I wouldn’t have played it as the text move wins just as easily with no complications.
45…Rb5 46.R7c5 Rxc5 47.Rxc5 Rb7 48.Rc6
[48.Rc8+ wins as well]
48…Kd7 49.Rd6+ Ke7 50.Kb4 f6 51.Kc5 fxe5 52.fxe5 Rb8 53.Kc6 Rc8+ 54.Kb7 Rc5 55.Kxa6 Rxe5 56.Rd3 1–0
WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego is Bernadette’s teammate both in the Philippine Olympiad team and in La Salle. Here we get to see her excellent preparation.

San Diego, M. Antoinette (2102) — Gvetadze, Sofio (2325) [E90]
43rd Olympiad Batumi 2018 Women Batumi (7.3), 01.10.2018
[WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 g6
I expected this setup from (International Master) IM Gvetadze, I looked through her recent games and I noticed that this is the setup she usually goes for.
4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 0–0 6.Nf3 d6 7.h3 e6 8.Bd3 exd5 9.exd5 Re8+ 10.Be3 Nbd7
My coach and I analyzed 10…Bh6 If my opponent went with this move, I think I would already have the advantage. 11.0–0 Bxe3 12.fxe3 Nbd7 (12…Rxe3? 13.Qd2 Re8 14.Qh6 Nbd7 15.Ng5 Re7 (15…Qe7 16.Nce4 with a winning attack. Sambuev, B (2562)-Khruschiov,A (2440) Tula 2004 1–0 23) 16.Nb5 White has a clear, if not winning, advantage) 13.Qd2 Nh5 14.e4 Ne5 15.Nxe5 Rxe5 16.Rf3 Bd7 17.Raf1 likewise, the first player has the advantage. Alonso Rosell, A (2524)-Latorre, M (2298) Linares 2016 1–0 30.
11.0–0 a6 12.Qd2
Just doing the last thing in the opening principles, to connect the rooks plus the possible threat to exchange dark-squared bishops.
12…Rb8 13.a4 Nh5N
I spent a lot of time thinking about this move. My idea is to prevent her move f5 and to threaten her Knight to go back to his square. Even though it weakens my King’s position, I think it is worth it because I was gaining space. Little did I know she won’t mind the threat…
14.g4 Ne5 15.Nxe5 Rxe5 16.Rfe1
[16.gxh5 was possible: 16…Bxh3 17.Bf4 Bxf1 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Bxf1 Qh4 20.Bg2 with White a piece up but still under attack]
16…Qh4 17.Bf1 Bxg4 18.hxg4 Qxg4+ 19.Bg2 f5
If she had captured on c4 19…Qxc4 then my plan was to play 20.a5 followed by Ra4 to cover the 4th rank with the rook.
20.Qe2 Qh4 21.Qd3 Rbe8 22.Bd2 Nf6?
Better was 22…Nf4 23.Qg3 Nxg2 24.Kxg2 Qxc4 and Black’s attack is still going strong and in the meantime she already has three pawns for the sacrificed piece.
23.Rxe5 Rxe5 24.f4?
Now is my time to falter. I moved this with the idea of exchanging queens after Qh3 but I missed Black’s next move. Better was 24.Rf1. The f4 square must be kept open for Bf4 in case Black attacks with …Ng4.
24…Ng4 25.fxe5
After this move Black forces perpetual check.
25…Qf2+ 26.Kh1 Qh4+ 27.Kg1 Qf2+ 28.Kh1 Qh4+ 29.Kg1 Qf2+ 30.Kh1 Qh4+ 31.Kg1
½–½
 
Bobby Ang is a founding member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and its first Executive Director. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he taught accounting in the University of Santo Tomas for 25 years and is currently Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies.
bobby@cpamd.net

Suspect in 2009 Ampatuan massacre submits evidence to support alibi

FORMER Datu Unsay mayor Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. has submitted his formal offer of evidence to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221 in connection with his case stemming from the 2009 Ampatuan Massacre.
The purpose of the evidence is to prove that he was in a meeting at the Municipal Building of Datu Unsay in Maguindanao province from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. of Nov. 23, 2009.
Fifty-eight (58) people, including 32 journalists and other workers in the media, were massacred that day in the town of Ampatuan, Maguindanao, as they were accompanying a group filing the candidacy of a rival of the Ampatuan family, Esmael G. Mangudadatu. The incident remains widely regarded as the biggest political crime in the post-Marcos era.
Among the evidence submitted are minutes of the meeting dated Nov. 23, 2009 and other judicial affidavits that aim to prove that Mr. Ampatuan was in that meeting.
Others in the Ampatuan family charged in connection with the crime include Mr. Ampatuan’s father, Andal Sr., tagged as the mastermind, who died of cancer on July 17, 2015.
This year marks the ninth-year commemoration of the Ampatuan massacre. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Unwritten rule

Heading into the 2018-19 season, the National Basketball Association thought to implement rules changes designed to amp up scoring. Among the more prominent: It moved shot-clock resets to 14 seconds and reworked the definition of clear-path fouls for easier determination. Most importantly, it banned all the clutching and grabbing that hitherto formed integral parts of a perimeter defender’s arsenal. And, as commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged last week, the decisions of the competition committee looked to be accomplishing exactly what it intended.
Indeed, scoring is up, and how. The pace-setting Warriors are posting 123.5 markers per outing, a whopping 10.7-point increase year on year. Nearly two-thirds of the league are norming at least 110, reflecting an overall boost not seen since the Celtics-dominated sixties gave way to the parity-driven seventies. Needless to say, well-timed memoranda from Silver’s office along with game arbiters’ strict application of the written word precipitated the spike; players got the message and began to act accordingly. Get free. Shoot when free. Get able. Shoot when able.
Certainly, it was in this context that Jamal Murray went about his scoring binge against the Celtics the other day. Even as the Nuggets under head coach Michael Malone implemented a system that had leather meeting nylon as often as practicable, he had the kind of showing where everything seemed to click from start to finish. And that his career performance came against the defense-first stalwarts of the green and white served only to underscore the gravity of his feat.
The Nuggets wound up on the right side of the scoreboard when the buzzer sounded, thanks in no small measure to Murray’s 48 points on 19-of-30 shooting from the field. He was on target from opening tip, and he knew it; even against two- or three-man coverages specifically aimed at getting him to give the ball up, he made the hoop his friend. And, not surprisingly, he aimed to get to the half-century mark even with the outcome already decided. He missed a reverse layin that would have put him right at the number, and then a jumper from beyond the arc in garbage time. Not that he was complaining in the aftermath.
The Celtics were, though. Murray’s last heave proved particularly offensive, with top dog Kyrie Irving seeing fit to throw the game ball to the stands at the buzzer in order to prevent the star of the day from getting it as a mantelpiece. The visitors felt disrespected, the five-time All-Star said, and “the ball deserves to go in the crowd after a bulls — t move like that.” Under the circumstances, an argument could likewise be made that he already did all the “disrespecting” that mattered before launching the controversial shot.
From Irving’s perspective, an unwritten rule was broken. And it bears noting that his position was shared even by others involved in the encounter. That said, what was truly more disrespectful? The understandable reach for the half-century mark or his dangerous reaction? Spectators could have been hurt, a possibility acknowledged by the powers that be in fining him $25,000. And he didn’t help his cause any by subsequently rejecting the handshake of Nuggets assistant Jordi Fernandez, an unsportsmanlike reaction that trumped any other slight, perceived or otherwise.
No doubt, the blowback on Murray’s action was magnified by his predilection to show up the competition. And, as a repeat “offender,” he had even less leeway. Nonetheless, the unwritten rule he breached runs counter to the NBA’s preferential option for higher scoring, not to mention the very definition of competition. There are at least 48 minutes to a game, and the fans pay a pretty penny to see players exert maximum effort in every second of those 48, not in just 47 and change for fear of ruffling feathers.
Sure, the notion of going all out until there is no time left on the clock regardless of circumstance can and will run scores up. On the other hand, real respect for the sport presupposes the need to fight to the very end. And, if nothing else, the NBA should emphasize its support for the mindset by clamping down on actions such as Irving’s. In the final analysis, any and all disrespect shown the other day was his and his alone.
 
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

CoA suspends audit based on complaints vs poll candidates

By Charmaine A. Tadalan, Reporter
THE Commission on Audit (CoA) has suspended special or fraud audits against 2019 poll candidates in its bid to keep its political neutrality during the election period.
A resolution, dated Oct. 2, showed the suspension period set by the Commission began from the filing of Certificates of Candidacy on Oct. 11 until Election Day on May 13, 2019.
The CoA has disclosed receipt of complaints or requests for a special or fraud audits against candidates both in the national and local elections, and party-list nominees.
“It is necessary for the Commission on Audit, as an independent constitutional body, to uphold its political neutrality by implementing measures aimed at preventing opportunities and circumstances that may impair independence, neutrality and professionalism of the Commission, its officers and employees,” the resolution read.
The commission has decided to desist from organizing teams tasked to audit candidates, based on complaints and/or requests filed or to be filed within the said period.
The suspension will not cover preliminary procedures required in creating special or fraud audit teams.
“The conduct of initial assessment of evaluation of requests for fraud/special audits and such other preliminary procedures prior to the creation of fraud/special audit teams shall not be suspended,” the CoA stated.
Further, special or fraud audits based on complaints or request filed ahead of the CoC filing will not be suspended.

SSS releases P443M worth of EC benefit

THE Social Security System (SSS) reported yesterday that P442.38 million worth of benefits was disbursed to over 17,619 Employees Compensation (EC) pensioners from Jan. 2017 to Oct. 2018, following President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s approval of the EC benefit increase last May. Mr. Duterte signed Executive Order No. 54. s. 2018 on May 8, which provided the P1,150 across-the-board increase in EC monthly disability pension of all EC permanent disability pensioners and qualified beneficiaries in the private sector, as well as the P425 monthly increase in carer’s allowance. “Funds were already released to our partner-disbursing banks on October 19, 2018 ,” SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc said in a statement. The SSS said that the increases in the benefits did not affect the state insurance fund’s life. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Metro Manila P25 wage hike to take effect Nov. 22


THE P25 daily increase for minimum wage earners in private companies in the National Capital Region (NCR) takes effect on Nov. 22 following its publication in a newspaper yesterday, Nov. 7. The new rates are: P500 for those in manufacturing companies with less than 10 workers and retail/service establishments with up to 15 workers; and P537 for others in both the non-agriculture and agriculture sectors. Wage Order No. NCR-22, approved last Oct. 30 by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, covers all workers “regardless of their position, designation or status of employment.” The order also provides that, “Any increase granted by an employer… within three (3) months prior to the (order’s) effectivity… shall be credited as compliance….” The increase, however, does not cover domestic workers (kasambahay) and those employed by registered Barangay Micro Business Enterprises. Appeals relating to the new wage order may be filed within 10 days from publication.

Bacolod-Silay Airport closed Friday morning

THE Bacolod-Silay Airport will be closed from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Friday, Nov. 9, for exercises in compliance with its Aerodome Certification. In a statement yesterday, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said it has already issued a Notice to Airmen on the closure of runway 03/21, which will be used for a “Full Scale Emergency Exercise.” CAAP advised affected passengers to contact their respective airlines for flight schedule adjustments.

6 foreigners arrested for illegal mining, working sans permit

Bureau of Immigration (BI) logoTHE BUREAU of Immigration (BI) arrested six foreigners in Bulacan last Oct. 18 for working in the country without permits and engaging in illegal mining operations. In a statement yesterday, the BI identified the foreigners, who were caught working in their offices at the Xiaobo Scrap Trading Co., as Taiwanese Cheng Yi Huang, and Chinese nationals Junbo Deng, Yunli Zhou, Jun Li, Wei Lin, and Weike Qu. BI Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said only Mr. Cheng has a valid resident visa while the Chinese nationals were found to be overstaying in the country. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

5 years on, less than a quarter of typhoon Haiyan target relocation houses taken

FIVE YEARS ago today, Nov. 8, super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) made its first landfall in the central part of the Philippines, lashing through towns and cities that have been used to storms, but proved to be unprepared for what would be one of the strongest recorded in global history.
“Yolanda has taught us a hard lesson in public service, particularly on the need to respond to our people’s plight with more compassion and urgency,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador L. Panelo said in a statement on Nov. 7.
Citing data from the Presidential Assistant for Special Concerns, the oversight official for the Yolanda rehabilitation project, Mr. Panelo said that as of Dec. 31, 2017, a total of P146.156 billion has been released to national government agencies, government-owned-and-controlled corporations, and local government units for the relief and recovery program.
Half of these funds, he said, were allotted for housing programs and ancillary basic utilities.
However, of the 205,128 permanent housing targets for Yolanda victims, less than half, or 100,709, have been completed as of Oct. 30 this year.
Of the built houses, only 46,412 have already been occupied.
Many of the typhoon survivors, majority of whom are from the Eastern Visayas Region, have declined the relocation, citing lack of basic services in the sites as well as proximity to livelihood opportunities.
Mr. Panelo acknowledged this, and said the Duterte administration, which took over in July 2016, has been working “harder to fast track the recovery efforts.”
“To speed up resettlement, we are addressing issues that cause the delay, which include limited availability of titled lands for resettlement, slow processing and issuance of permits and licenses for construction projects and absence of sustainable livelihood opportunities, among others,” the Palace spokesman said.
He added that the Department of Finance and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are now drafting a joint order to create a one-stop shop for relief distribution, similar to a proposal made by Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara. — Arjay L. Balinbin

NUPL lawyer is 34th killed under Duterte administration

A FOUNDING member of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) was gunned down in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday night, Nov. 6, the 34th lawyer killed under the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Atty. Benjamin T. Ramos, 56, was shot by two unidentified gunmen in Barangay 5 at 10:30 p.m., according to the police report.
He sustained three gunshot wounds and was rushed to Holy Mother of Mercy Kabankalan City Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
“These beastly attacks by treacherous cowards cannot go on. Not a few of our members have been attacked and killed before while literally practicing their profession and advocacies in the courts, in rallies, in picket lines, in urban poor communities, and in fact-finding missions,” said NUPL President Edre U. Olalia in a statement on Wednesday, Nov. 7.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said the murder of lawyers is also an attack on the rule of law.
“Each unsolved and un-prosecuted murder of the officers of our courts of law is an attack against the rule of law. It cripples or paralyzes the moving parts of the justice system upon the well-founded apprehension that the attacks are a direct result of the discharge of their functions,” the IBP statement read.
International group Human Rights Watch (HRW) also denounced the killing of Mr. Ramos and described his death as a product of “impunity” under the Duterte administration.
“His murder is a further indictment of the impunity that has worsened under the administration of President Duterte. It is a blow to the human-rights movement in the country. We demand an impartial investigation into Ramos’s murder and the many other attacks against lawyers in the Philippines and that the authorities bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Carlos H. Conde, researcher for the HRW Asia division of HRW.
Mr. Ramos was the lawyer of University of the Philippines Cebu alumna Myles Albasin and five of her companions who where arrested last March after allegedly firing at government troops.
They tested negative for gun powder residue.
Mr. Ramos and his colleagues at NUPL also provided pro bono services to the keen of the victims of the Sagay 9 massacre.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has started its investigation on the case following an order from the Department of Justice.
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said he instructed the NBI to include the case of Mr. Ramos in the investigation on the Sagay 9 massacre if they find any connection. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

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