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Senator: 2019 polls a fight against ‘historical revisionism’

By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
SENATOR Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel on Thursday said the upcoming 2019 midterm polls would be a “fight against national amnesia” following the senatorial bid of former Senate president Juan F. Ponce Enrile and Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos.
“This is a battle to defend and save historical truth and the democratic gains of the EDSA people power revolution from people who have brazenly denied the atrocities committed during Ferdinand Marcos’ bloody Martial Law. This is against national amnesia,” she said in a statement.
She then appealed to voters to oppose historical revisionism and to never forget the years of human-rights violations and corruption that occurred during Mr. Marcos’s martial-law regime, which Mr. Enrile served as its administrator. He later bolted the Marcos camp in a dramatic four-day uprising that led to the dictator’s ouster in 1986.
Asked about the chances of the opposition’s senatorial candidates in the elections, Ms. Baraquel acknowledged that this would be a “challenge” but noted that the candidates were ready to fight. She added that despite the President’s high satisfaction ratings, his figures have been declining across socioeconomic classes.
“Yes, it’s a very challenging situation now but the opposition has a strong appetite in the elections, just like how we continue to fight for trying to fiscalize the President through constructive criticism and providing alternatives amid the high prices crisis facing our citizens,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino during the Kapihan sa Senado forum.
The Opposisyon Koalisyon of the Liberal Party has fielded Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary C. Alejano, Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV, De La Salle University law dean Jose Manuel “Chel” I. Diokno, former Bangsamoro Transition Commission member Samira Gutoc, former Solicitor General Florin T. Hilbay, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, former Interior Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, and Quezon City Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” R. Tanada in its senatorial slate.
The senator also said the minority will continue to push for an anti-political dynasty law since this has been the Constitution’s directive to Congress for the past 30 years. In response to inquiries on her view regarding the Cayetanos, Binays and Dutertes seeking various positions in elective offices, she cited the study of Ateneo School of Government dean Ronald U. Mendoza wherein issues of conflict of interest and poverty incidence were more prevalent in areas with dynasties or with many family members holding positions simultaneously.
“In fat dynasties, it cannot be avoided that the democratic process of elections is captured. This is because there is no level-playing field for those who can contest the position and power,” Ms. Baraquel said.

CCTV cameras in courts proposed in interviews for SC associate

NOMINEES for the Supreme Court associate justice position vacated by former Chief Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro said they would install CCTV cameras in courts and bring “a breath of fresh air” if appointed to the position.
Sandiganbayan Judge Alex D.L. Quiroz said during his panel interview by the Judicial and Bar Council he would push for the installation of CCTV cameras for each courtroom especially in first and second level courts.
“I will maintain…to have a camera or CCTV for each court room especially in the first and second level court so as to monitor the conduct and the norms of the trial and it would be a deterrent to all presiding judges that the Supreme Court or through the Office of the Court Administrator are watching them,” he said.
He also said that as CCTVs and cameras are connected to the Internet, courts in far-flung areas could be monitored by the High Court.
He also wanted to have an electronic court and wanted to avoid vagueness of the law to avoid giving much discretion to lower courts.
Lawyer Rita Linda V. Jimeno for her part said, “I have come across and handled many complex cases and I think this has prepared me well in the analysis of issues, analysis of facts, and the application of proper law.”
She cited her 32 years of experience as lawyer and in the academe, adding that, “as someone coming from the private sector, I think I can bring into the court a breath of fresh air in the sense that I know how the public looks at the judiciary and I think that I have also gathered some insights on what people think should be done to improve the judicial system.”
Other nominees who have been interviewed are Courts of Appeals Justices Oscar V. Badelles, Manuel M. Barrios, Apolinario D. Bruselas, Jr., Rosmari D. Carandang, Stephen C. Cruz, Edgardo L. Delos Santos, Japar B. Dimaampao, Ramon D.R. Garcia, and Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, and former Ateneo Law dean Cesar L. Villanueva.
Ms. De Castro, now retired, vacated her position of associate justice on Aug. 25 upon her appointment as the top magistrate. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Stronger cooperation needed to protect Sulu-Sulawesi marine habitat

GERMAN INTERNATIONAL development cooperation agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has called for immediate cooperation among the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia to save endangered species in the Sulu-Sulawesi waters from overfishing and habitat degradation.
GIZ said the satellite tagging and photo identification of whale sharks in Honda Bay is the first confirmed international movement of a whale shark, which traveled from Honda Bay in Palawan, Philippines to Lahad Datu, Sabah in Malaysia, and back.
GIZ said the monitoring was undertaken by the Large Marine Vertebrate Research Institute, with the support of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)- Biodiversity Management Bureau, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and Conservation International also conducted research to show the importance of the Sulu-Sulawesi habitat for marine animals and people who depend on it for livelihood.
One of the researches, with the Sabah-based Marine Research Foundation, said there is a need to improve the protection of green turtles in the Philippines throughout their life course by forming the country’s first network of national marine protected areas for green turtles.
The 430,318-hectare network is composed of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan, and the Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary in Tawi-Tawi.
GIZ noted that another policy study demonstrated to Tawi-Tawi stakeholders that the trade ban on the fish species cannot be lifted yet due to low population and limited information on the species. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio

3 police escorts of FDA chief killed by suspected NPA members

THREE POLICE escorts of Food and Drugs Administration Director General Nela Charade-Puno were killed in an ambush in Camarines Sur on Thursday morning, Oct. 18. Police authorities reported that the incident happened at 9:10 a.m. along the national highway in Barangay Napolidan while Ms. Puno and her escorts were on their way to Daet, Camarines Norte. Around 20 “communist terrorists,” referring to the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed groups of the Communist Party of the Philippines, attacked the patrol car of the security escorts. The victims were identified as Senior Police Officer 1 (SPO1) Percival S. Rafael, PO3 Carlito S. Navarroza, and PO1 Ralph Jason D. Vida. Three other escorts were injured and rushed to the Bicol Medical Center. Philippine National Police Director General Oscar D. Albayalde said the suspects might have been targeting the firearms of the police. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

DoJ junks Garin’s motion to admit Dr. Lo’s affidavit

By Vann Marlo M. Villegas
THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) has denied the motion of former Health secretary Janette Loreto-Garin to admit the supporting affidavit of Doctor Raymundo W. Lo in connection with the Dengvaxia cases, due to late submission of the plea.
In the six-page order dated Oct. 10, the DoJ noted Section 3(c) Rule 112 of the Rules on Criminal Procedure, which states that an accused shall submit his/her counter-affidavit along with the affidavits of the witnesses and other supporting documents.
Ms. Garin filed her counter-affidavit to the cases linking her to the alleged deaths due to Dengvaxia inoculation on June 25, 2018, while the complainants, through the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), filed their reply on Aug. 1.
The ex-health chief then filed her rejoinder on the reply on Aug. 28, but the motion to admit Mr. Lo’s affidavit, which questioned the finding of the PAO’s Forensic Team and credibility of Erwin P. Erfe, was filed only on Sept. 21.
“It cannot therefore be denied that respondent Garin was given ample opportunity to ventilate her defense,” the order read, noting that Ms. Garin had one month to file to counter the complaints against her upon receiving the last two of the nine Dengvaxia-related complaints on May 24.
The DoJ said that Ms. Garin had more than enough time to secure the affidavits of her witnesses, including that of Mr. Lo.
“It is indeed very late in the day for her to submit the affidavit of a witness at this time when she had already filed her Rejoinder-Affidavit. More importantly, there is nothing in the Motion which shows any valid and justifiable reason for the very late submission of Dr. Lo’s affidavit in support of respondent’s defense,” it stated.
On Oct. 1, the complainants countered the affidavit of Mr. Lo, saying his credibility is questionable as he was part of the team that purchased the Dengvaxia vaccine.
Ms. Garin and 37 others are facing a total of 17 complaints linked to the alleged deaths due to Dengvaxia.
PAO is set to file 10 more complaints on Oct. 30.

It’s a women’s match for Cebu governor


TWO WOMEN, both currently in elective positions, are vying for the governor’s seat in Cebu in next year’s midterm elections. Cebu Vice-governor Agnes A. Magpale and Cebu 3rd District Representative Gwendolyn F. Garcia filed their respective certificates of candidacy, along with a third candidate, media personality Roliveth “Boyet” Cortes, who is on his third try for the province’s top post. Ms. Magpale said there is no tension between her and her fellow woman opponent, unlike in 2013 when she replaced Ms. Garcia as acting governor after the latter was suspended. “I’m open (to reconciliation)… But maybe in time, kaya syempre (because of course) the hurt from 2013 suspension maybe is still there,” Ms. Magpale said. Ms. Garcia, for her part, said she considers Ms. Magpale as a “worthy opponent” and that she will do her best to win. For the vice-gubernatorial race, incumbent Governor Hilario P. Davide III will be Ms. Magpale’s running mate, while businesswoman Marie Daphne Salimbangon, daughter of Cebu 4th District Rep. Benhur L. Salimbangon, has teamed up with Ms. Garcia. Ms. Salimbangon admitted that she’s “a little bit scared” since her opponent is the incumbent governor. — reports from The Freeman

4 BIFFs arrested in Maguindanao; 2 Maute group members surrender in Lanao

FOUR MEMBERS of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were arrested by government forces on Oct. 17 in a dawn raid in General Salipada K Pendatun, Maguindanao. The military’s 33rd Infantry (Makabayan) Battalion (33IB) reported that the suspects “offered no resistance” when armed soldiers and policemen stormed their hideouts to serve the arrest warrant against Datu Parido Balabagan, also known as Commander Banog of the BIFF. Commander Banog, along with eight of his men, evaded arrest by using a secret passage behind the compound where he was hiding. Lt. Col. Harold M. Cabunoc, 33IB commaner, identified the suspects as Ronex Langalen, 47; Anwar Abdullah, 26; Allakbar Sekung, 20; and Renante Milan, 37. They were handed over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for the legal cases that would be filed against them. The BIFF is a breakaway group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a peace deal with the government that paved the way for the new Bangsamoro Organic Law.
LANAO DEL SUR
Meanwhile, two members of the extremist Maute group surrendered in Lumbaca-Unayan, Lanao del Sur afternoon of Oct. 16, the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) reported. Mubarak Dimasangkay Bassit and Alinok Muntik, who were part of the group that attacked the military’s Barangay Pantar detachment during the Marawi siege last year, yielded to Lt. Col. Ian Noel P. Ignes, commanding officer of the 55th IB, which is part of Joint Task Force (JTF) Ranao. WesMinCom said 10 Maute “remnants” have surrendered to JTF Ranao this month. “It is but more fulfilling to end terrorism without a single bloodshed,” said Lieutenant General Arnel B. Dela Vega, WesMinCom chief. “We hope that more bandits will decide to surrender instead of engaging in armed confrontations,” he added.

Documenting Tagum’s IP traditions

A young member of one of Tagum City’s Indigenous Peoples (IP) perform during the culmination of the 16th Kaimunan Festival on Oct. 10, 2018, where the Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) and Indigenous Knowledge System and Practices (IKSP) documents of the three major tribes in Tagum — Mandaya, Mansaka and Kagan — were launched. The compilation and production of the IPS and IKSP are intended to safeguard as well as preserve the heritage of these tribes. Another celebration, the Pakaradjan Festival dedicated to Muslim Tagumenyos, is slated on Oct. 29-31. Tagum City recently bagged three Pearl Awards from the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) and the Department of Tourism (DoT) for its community-based tourism program and for best tourism-oriented local government.

Nation at a Glance — (10/19/18)

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

Peso weakens anew versus dollar

THE PESO weakened on Thursday in tandem with Asian currencies as the dollar strengthened following the release of the US Federal Reserve meeting minutes.
The local unit ended Thursday’s session at P53.965 versus the greenback, weaker than its P53.89-per-dollar finish the previous day.
The peso traded weaker the whole day, opening the session at P53.98 versus the dollar. It slipped to as low as P54.045, while its intraday high stood at P53.94 against the greenback.
Dollars traded slid to $729.25 million from the $872.95 million that switched hands on Wednesday.
A foreign exchange trader said the peso weakened versus the greenback as it consolidated throughout the day.
“We saw the peso trading weaker today, just in tandem with the region. With the yields in the US moving higher also, I think the dollar was bid up,” the trader said in a phone interview on Thursday.
In the minutes of the Sept. 25-26 meeting of the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), central bankers backed raising benchmark rates amid US President Donald J. Trump’s view that the tightening moves have gone too far, Reuters reported.
The hawkish stance of the US central bank also pushed the dollar index higher to 95.65 against a basket of six major currencies.
“The peso depreciated following the release of hawkish FOMC minutes, which showed continued support for gradual US rate hikes,” another trader said.
The first trader added that the peso consolidated yesterday as the market is still awaiting whether the local unit will continue to strengthen or if there will be demand from oil companies as well as importers, which will likely take the opportunity to buy greenback.
“There is still a chance for the peso to improve since the market is expecting the inflation to peak already despite the fact that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is saying it might be [faster] for October.”
For Friday, the first trader expects the peso to move between P53.80 and P54.05 versus the dollar, although noting that the range will depend on the market’s performance overnight.
The other trader gave a P53.85-P54.05 forecast range, saying the peso could weaken further “in view of stronger greenback due to the upbeat US unemployment expectations.” — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

PSE index posts gains on hawkish Fed minutes

The local bourse climbed on Thursday amid last-minute buying and a hawkish US Federal Reserve.
The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi)inched up 0.58% or 41.57 points to 7,141.25. The broader all-shares index also climbed 0.46% or 20.12 points to 4,632.40.
“Our index ended positive due to last-minute buying spree as investors try to retest the 7,200 level despite the absence of fresh local catalysts to lure back foreign investors in our stock market,” Jervin S. de Celis, trader at Timson Securities, Inc., said in a mobile phone message.
Mr. De Celis said yesterday’s movement was expected as the index stocks were heavily sold down last week following a triple-digit drop by the Dow Jones for two straight days. As such, the current factors do not point toward an actual recovery for the market.
“I guess this is more of a rebound but not convincing enough to assume that we’re in a reversal trend since most of the news coming from the west are still supportive or indicative of future strength for the US dollar and a hawkish stance from the US Fed which can further the foreign selling in our market,” Mr. De Celis added.
Regina Capital Development Corp. Managing Director Luis A. Limlingan said the “slightly hawkish” minutes of the recent Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting also pushed the local index upward.
“FOMC minutes from the September meeting showed that Fed officials debated how high to push interest rates, with a majority appearing to favor an eventual and temporary move above the level they deem neutral for the economy in the long run. The committee was otherwise in broad agreement over continuing on the current, gradual path of rate increases,” Mr. Limlingan said in a mobile message.
“The major indexes traded in a wide range before the minutes were released as investors grappled with a flood of corporate earnings and weakness in the housing market,” Mr. Limlingan added, also noting easing crude prices and the temporary halt on trade tensions between the US and China as positive factors.
Back home, all counters ended in the green. Mining and oil saw the biggest gains, soaring 3.04% or 278.25 points to 9,406.86; holding firms rose 1.22% or 83.16 points to 6,883.73; services climbed 0.31% or 4.63 points to 1,489.19; financials went up 0.28% or 4.56 points to 1,605.77; property increased 0.24% or 8.54 points to 3,556.40; and industrials inched up 0.05% or 5.93 points to 10,837.66.
Advancers outpaced losers, 92 to 85, while 47 issues were unchanged.
Value turnover totaled P4.02 billion as 457.65 million shares were traded, lower than the previous day’s P5.74 billion worth.
Foreigners continued to dump shares although selling eased to a net P149.63 million from the P633.66-million net outflow logged on Wednesday. — Janina C. Lim

Archers expect tough battle with similarly styled Falcons

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
SIMILARLY earning their card on defense, the De La Salle Green Archers know all too well that when they take on the Adamson Soaring Falcons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines it is going to be a battle.
To face each other for the second time in UAAP Season 81 this weekend, the Archers (5-3) said they are bracing for another close fight with the Falcons (6-2), much like their first joust that was not decided till it went to overtime.
“I think it’s a given that when you play a team that puts defense first in the order it’s going to be a tough battle,” said La Salle coach Louie Gonzalez when asked for his thoughts on their reengagement with Adamson, coached by former Archers champion coach Franz Pumaren.
“Good thing that as far as the schedule we will enter the game like them. We played today (Wednesday) and then on Saturday. Physically and mentally we are on the same level,” said Mr. Gonzalez, referring to both teams playing on Wednesday, Oct. 17, where they beat their respective opponents.
The La Salle coach went on to say that they are viewing the match against Adamson with much significance considering how teams are currently stacked up in the standings.
“We know the importance of that game as far as the race to the playoffs. I’m very focused on the standings right now, not necessarily the opponents but more on our team. We want to get as many wins as we can regardless of who we face,” Mr. Gonzalez said.
FIRST ROUND
In their first encounter on Oct. 13, the Archers and Falcons fought to a slugfest with the former eventually surviving, 79-78, in overtime.
It was tight right from the get-go with both teams showing great resolve to see their respective causes through.
The Falcons held a five-point cushion, 64-59, with three minutes to play in the fourth period but saw it overhauled by the Archers with Santi Santillan and Aljun Melecio conspiring to level the count at 64-all for the remainder of regulation to force overtime.
In extra time, La Salle jump-started things with a 9-0 blast to race to a 73-64 lead.
Adamson though would not go away without a fight, coming to within two points, 77-75, with 18 seconds to go.
But no comeback would go the Falcons’ way as the Archers hang on to book the victory.
Melecio led La Salle with 22 points, going for 8-of-18 shooting from the floor.
Big man Justine Baltazar had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds while Santillan had 16 and nine for La Salle.
Jerrick Ahanmisi, meanwhile, paced Adamson with 27 points while Sean Manganti added 23.
In the ongoing season, the Archers and Falcons are two of the top three defensive teams with La Salle second in points allowed with 70.4 and Adamson third with 71 points per game.
The La Salle-Adamson game is set for 2 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to be followed by Ateneo de Manila University versus Far Eastern University at 4 p.m.

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