How PSEi member stocks performed — September 13, 2018

September 14, 2018 | 12:00 am

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

Philippine Stock Exchange’s most active stocks by value turnover — September 13, 2018

Ultralotto 6/58: what are the odds?

September 14, 2018 | 12:00 am

Iran tops Philippines, 81-73, in Tehran

September 13, 2018 | 10:41 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter
IRAN continued to roll in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, defeating the Philippines, 81-73, at the start of the second round of the competition on Thursday night at the Azady Gym in Tehran.
Opted not to play big man Hamed Haddadi for much of the contest, the Iranians still proved themselves a handful for the Philippine team, anchoring their attack on their size advantage and timely shooting from the outside.
Iran got off to a fast start, scoring four straight points in the opening minute care of guard Sajjad Mashayekhi.
But the Philippines would recover no sooner led by Asi Taulava and Gabe Norwood.
The Filipinos overtook the Iranians, 9-8, with 5:32 remaining in the first quarter after which the two teams went back-and-forth.
But led by Christian Standhardinger the Philippines would finish strong, holding a 22-21 lead after the first 10 minutes.
The protagonists continued to jostle to begin the second quarter before Iran made a 7-0 run midway into it to build a 36-30 advantage by the 3:05 mark.
The Philippines regained its footing, responding with a 7-0 blast of its own to reclaim the lead, 37-36, after a minute.
Iran though would eventually go on top, 40-38, as the opening half drew to a close.
Paul Lee jump-started things for Team Pilipinas at the beginning of the third quarter, scoring four straight points to give his team an early 42-40 advantage.
A slugfest ensued before Iran made another crevice, 53-49, as the third period hit the halfway juncture.
Alex Cabagnot though strung up five straight points after to give back the lead to the Philippines, 54-53, with five minutes remaining.
Mohammadsamad Nik Khahbahrami then took charge for the Iranians, leading his team to a 63-59 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Iran continued to give it to the Philippines at the start of the payoff quarter, racing to a 68-62 advantage with7:29 left in the game.
It went on to build on it in the next three minutes, extending its lead to nine points, 75-66.
The Philippines tried to find a way to rally back but got little headway before eventually bowing to the hosts.
Mr. Nik Khahbahrami led the way for Iran with 21 points to go along with eight rebounds.
Mr. Mashayekhi had 19 points while Arsalan Kazemi Naeini had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Mr. Standhardinger had a game-high 30 points and 12 rebounds while Alex Cabagnot had nine points and five assists.
With the win, Iran moved to solo first place, as of this writing, in the merged Group F with a 6-1 record while the Philippines dropped to 4-3, good for third.
The top three teams from the two merged groups at the end of the second round automatically advance to the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

Duterte sends 4 Cabinet officials to storm area

September 13, 2018 | 9:53 pm

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on Thursday assigned four Cabinet officials to Northern Luzon that are expected to be affected by super-typhoon Ompong.
In a command conference together with the full Cabinet on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 13, with the storm having entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), Mr. Duterte ordered Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Ricardo B. Jalad, and Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis N. Tolentino to go to areas in Northern Luzon where Ompong is headed before leaving PAR by Sunday at the latest.
“I would need a face there. Dapat may makitang mukha sila doon (There must be a face that people should see there),” the President said in a press conference after the command conference at the Operation Center of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Camp Aguinaldo.
Mr. Duterte appointed Mr. Tolentino his “conduit” for disaster response. The President made the on-the-spot assignments after asking the members of the NDRRMC if they are “in constant communication with each other.”
During the televised command conference, Mr. Duterte showed attentiveness and asked several questions to his Cabinet officials.
“I suggest [that] there [should be] one line for all government agencies,” the President said, adding: “Another for the military and the police” for central communications.
For his part, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol assured the President on the prices of rice. “We’re expecting stabilization of rice prices in the market within the next two to three weeks,” he said.
Mr. Duterte also said he would rather rely on radios and not on cellphones in times of disasters.
“The use of cellphones becomes inutile at some point,” he said.
EXPERIENCE OF YOLANDA
With alarms sounded and initial preparations having started as early as Sunday, authorities are hopeful of a zero casualty scenario as typhoon Mangkhut, with local name Ompong, sweeps through the Philippine’s northern area.
Spokesperson Edgar L. Posadas of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), in a press conference yesterday, said the country has learned from super typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda) in 2013, the strongest to ever hit the country.
“Nag-improve tayo lahat (We all improved) after Yolanda, hoping and praying na zero casualty this time,” Mr. Posadas said.
Haiyan left more than 7,350 people dead or missing, mainly in the Eastern Visayas Region.
Typhoon Mangkhut, which has already blasted through the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, is speeding across the Pacific with winds that can gust as high as 255 kilometers per hour.
Thousands began evacuating in seaside areas of the northern tip of the main Philippine island of Luzon, where the storm is expected to make landfall early Saturday.
“The pre-emptive evacuation is going on in our coastal municipalities, the villages that are prone to storm surge,” Cagayan province spokesperson Rogelio Sending told AFP. “We are going to evacuate more.”
Most local government units in the typhoon’s path have declared suspension of classes and work beginning Friday, Sept. 14, while corn and rice farmers rushed to harvest their crops a few days ahead of the schedule.
Officials of state weather bureau PAGASA have warned that Ompong will bring heavy rains, strong winds, and storm surges. — reports from Arjay L. Balinbinand AFP

Duterte meets Sung Kim

September 13, 2018 | 9:52 pm

UNITED STATES Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim met with President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Wednesday, Sept. 12, to discuss defense and economic cooperation with the Philippines.
In a press briefing on Thursday, Sept. 13, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. confirmed that Messrs. Duterte and Kim met at Malacañang on Wednesday night. “No details were released. It was classified as a private meeting,” Mr. Roque said.
Mr. Kim also confirmed the meeting in a Twitter post, saying: “Excellent meeting with President Duterte to discuss shared goals including defense priorities and economic partnership. Our alliance remains strong and ironclad.”
Sought for comment, Mr. Roque said: “Well, we’ve always had (a) good relationship with the United States. And I’m sure that every meeting between the President and the US Ambassador will result in closer relations.”
Mr. Duterte has been critical of the US for some time, following the latter’s admonition against defense purchases with other countries being considered by the Philippines.
Sought for comment, international studies professor Renato C. de Castro of De La Salle University said in a phone interview: “I bet it was the Philippines, it was Malacañang that asked Ambassador Kim to come to the Palace. It was to assure him probably that: ‘You know, what I said was just basically for public consumption; but honestly, I want to maintain a peaceful and stable relation with the United States.’”
“He is calculating. He likes to play this game of left and right jabs. Probably, he conveyed his position that we are still simply considering buying submarines from Russia. We haven’t made a decision yet. In fact, based on what [Defense Secretary Delfin N.] Lorenzana said after his visit to Moscow [last month], we cannot afford to maintain those submarines,” Mr. de Castro also said. — A. L. Balinbin

Second Makati court defers Trillanes’s arrest

September 13, 2018 | 9:50 pm

MAKATI CITY Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 has deferred the issuance of a Hold-Departure Order (HDO) and arrest warrant against Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV.
Judge Andres B. Soriano of Branch 148 ordered the camp of Mr. Trillanes to file a rejoinder to the prosecution’s reply to his comment on their motion for the senator’s arrest and travel ban.
The court’s move to defer the prosecution’s motion follows after a similar order earlier this week by Branch 150 of the Makati Regional Trial Court, where Trillanes is facing rebellion charges.
Branch 148 dismissed in 2011 the coup d’etat case against Mr. Trillanes, in connection with the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, following then president Benigno S.C. Aquino III’s amnesty for the senator and former mutineer.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trillanes has formed a legal team, which includes University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law Dean Pacifico A. Agabin and former solicitor-general Florin T. Hilbay.
The opposition senator said the lawyers volunteered to help him before the Supreme Court and the Makati courts.
Law professor Joselito G. Chan of the Chan Robles & Company and Mr. Trillanes’s chief counsel Reynaldo B. Robles are also part of the senator’s legal team.
“While I believe that the illegal voiding of my amnesty and the cases filed before the Makati Regional Trial courts related to this are part of Duterte’s political harassment, I have talked to some of the best legal minds in the country who are willing to stand for the rule of law,” Mr. Trillanes said in a statement.
Mr. Trillanes said on Thursday said he may attempt to leave the Senate. “There is no categorical statement from AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) that they will not arrest me. I will try later to leave the Senate. Let’s’ see… We’ll do it quietly,” he told reporters. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Camille A. Aguinaldo

Prosecutors in Ampatuan massacre case to update Duterte

September 13, 2018 | 9:48 pm

PRESIDENTIAL Spokesperson and Presidential Adviser on Human Rights Harry L. Roque, Jr. on Thursday said he will meet anew with prosecutors tasked with the 2009 Ampatuan massacre case to update President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
In a press briefing at the Palace on Thursday, Mr. Roque, who once served as a private prosecutor for the victims’ families, said: “Obviously, I have a sort of delicadeza issue here. But nonetheless, because this is a public interest case, I’d like to inform the public that I’m arranging a meeting with the panel prosecutors in the Palace again. And again, I would like to invite the President to join us in our meeting. So that the President can be apprised by the prosecution team on what’s happening.”
Mr. Roque also noted “that apparently, there are some witnesses” against the prime suspect, former Datu Unsay mayor Andal U. Ampatuan, Jr., “who have retracted their testimonies.”
“But I have been assured by the panel of prosecutors that, so far, despite the retraction, the case against Unsay [Mr. Ampatuan, Jr.] remains strong,” he added.
Last June, Mr. Roque announced that the President had “instructed the prosecution panel to do its best to get partial judgment against some of the accused within the year.”
“That is the marching order of the President when he conferred with the prosecution panel. And we hope to do that,” Mr. Roque said.
In his meeting with the relatives of the Ampatuan massacre victims last year, the President made a promise that justice will be served “under his watch.”
Nov. 23 this year will mark the ninth anniversary of the massacre in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao, which claimed the lives of 58, including 32 identified with the media. — Arjay L. Balinbin

‘Witness’ in the alleged 2016 polls fraud to appear in the Senate

September 13, 2018 | 9:43 pm

THE witness of Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III on his alleged elections fraud claims may appear in the next Senate hearing on the issue, Senator Aquilino L. Pimentel III said on Thursday.
“In the next hearing, we will just have to produce the witness of the Senate President so that we can confront allegations under oath with the answers of Comelec (Commission on Elections). So we will not be debating this issue to death,” he said during the hearing of the joint congressional oversight on the automated elections system.
Mr. Pimentel made the statement after Mr. Sotto remained unsatisfied with the Comelec’s response on the senator’s allegations that suspicious “queuing servers” were installed by Smartmatic during the transmission of votes in the 2016 polls.
At the hearing, Comelec Executive Director Jose M. Tolentino, Jr. dismissed the claims, saying the queuing servers were not used by Comelec.
“Just like what we’re saying, we have no queuing server. That is just probably a conclusion made by some IT experts,” he said.
The Comelec has also said in a written statement to congressional panel that the concept of the queue server may have been confused as well with the complex technical infrastructure of the telecommunications systems used in the elections.
However, Mr. Sotto stood his ground on the credibility of the source who he said was an employee of Smartmatic.
“An employee from Smartmatic gave me… This is why I cannot accept what you’re saying that the issue was just a suspicion of someone else. Someone from the inside has told me,” he said.
Mr. Sotto in his privileged speech last March said the issue with the queuing servers was the “one that really tainted the outcome of the elections.” He has said his allegations could be backed by a “concerned and impeccably reliable source.” — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Nationwide round-up

September 13, 2018 | 9:42 pm

Comelec mulls extension of voter registration

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) is reviewing a possible extension of the voter registration period the postponement of the filing of candidates’ certificate of candidacy (COC) for the mid-term elections next year.
In a social media post on Thursday, Comelec Spokesperson James B. Jimenez said, “Subsequent activities are currently being reviewed for possible schedule adjustments as needed, as a result of moving the COC filing period to 11-17 Oct 2018.”
Comelec moved the COC filing period for the national and local polls after Congress issued House Concurrent Resolution No. 20 earlier this week.
The resolution requested Comelec to reschedule the COC filing to give Congress time to finalize next year’s national budget and discuss priority bills.
Opposition lawmakers also filed a resolution asking Comelec to reschedule the deadline of voter registration from Sept. 29 this year to Jan. 2019.
Comelec reported last June that it expects almost two million people to register this year for the 2019 elections. — Gillian M. Cortez

Palace downplays ‘wiretapping’ issue

MALACAÑANG ON Thursday downplayed allegations that President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s use of wiretapped information against his critics could be an impeachable offense.
In a televised press conference last Wednesday, opposition lawmaker Gary C. Alejano said, “It seems that the President is allowing a foreign country to intervene with the communication of the Filipino people.”
“That is a breach of security already in our country. And if it is the President allowing this by publicly announcing that there is intercepted communication within the country, [that’s] problematic ‘yun assuming it’s true…We have Anti-Wiretapping Law. And if he is allowing it, he is violating the law,” he added.
The Magdalo Party-list representative also said that this could be a ground for the President’s “impeachment.”
Sought for comment during a Palace briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said, “Let him file another impeachment complaint, wala rin namang mangyayari diyan kasi wala naman talagang saysay (It will not prosper anyway because it’s pointless).”
In an interview with Radyo Singko, he explained in Filipino that the President did not order the wiretapping, that it is a given that all foreign embassies gather intelligence as part of their work, and that the information was voluntarily given to Mr. Duterte.
“Well, sa panahon na ito talaga, dahil sa teknolohiya, talagang maraming pagsubok pagdating doon sa karapatan natin na magkaroon ng privacy sa ating komunikasyon. Pero importante rito, unang-una, hindi si Presidente ang nag-order ng wiretapping. Pangalawa, dapat maintindihan ng lahat na lahat ng delegasyon, lahat ng mga dayuhan na may embahada rito ay talagang isa na sa tanggap na trabaho nila ay kumuha ng Intel ‘no. At pangatlo, boluntaryong ibinigay iyan kay Presidente. At siya naman, nais nga niyang i-share iyan sa ating taumbayan kaya nga po mayroon ng proseso na pinapa-declassify iyang impormasyon na iyan,” he said.
As for reports that he was one of the individuals who signed the petition urging former president Benigno S.C. Aquino III to grant an amnesty to Antonio F. Trillanes IV, Mr. Roque said, “I do not deny that. In fact, I have openly admitted that at some point in time, I supported Trillanes and I considered him as a friend. We parted ways noong tuluyan siyang naging dilaw (when he became a ‘Yellow’ (Aquino) follower).” — Arjay L. Balinbin

As typhoon Ompong sweeps through the Philippines…

September 13, 2018 | 9:41 pm

Food and communication readied

A team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) set up a Broadband Global Area Network system for telephone calls and internet connection while police officers assist in hauling rice supply in the capital town of Basco as as part of the preparations for typhoon Ompong (international name: Mangkhut), which is expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds in the Batanes islands.

Local gov’t orders: Be alert, don’t get drunk

FOLLOWING THE suspension of work and classes, the Ilocos provincial government has also declared a liquor ban until typhoon Ompong has left the country. Based on the executive order, the prohibition covers sale, giving, offering, purchase, and consumption of alcoholic drinks “to mitigate the effects of the typhoon by preventing diminished mobility and other possible effects of liquor intoxication.” Section 2 of the order states that “any person caught under the influence of liquor may be held in custody until he or she regains sobriety,” and later possibly face legal charges.

Class suspensions, blue alert status raised

CLASSES IN all levels has been suspended in parts of the Visayas, including Tacloban City and Leyte in the eastern side, while a blue alert has been raised in Iloilo City in the west. A blue alert is the second-level status and activates all preparedness measures for possible disaster-response activities. Iloilo Mayor Jose S. Espinosa III, who also chairs the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, ordered the activation of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center for monitoring and response coordination. Engr. Ronaldo Naragdao of weather bureau PAGASA said the Western Visayas Region can expect cloudy skies with light to moderate and occasional heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

Davao City delegation to skip Batang Pinoy games in Baguio

THE DAVAO City delegation for the Batang Pinoy sports championship set in Baguio City on Sept. 15-21 has been ordered to forego the games to avoid possibly getting stranded in Luzon due to typhoon Ompong. “It is with a heavy heart that we cancel the trip… We cannot compromise on the safety of the children, coaches, and support staff,” Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said. The delegation is composed of 301 athletes, coaches and support staff. The city government said athletes and coaches who will pursue their travel to attend the games shall do so at their own risk. — Carmencita A. Carillo

Zamboanga tourism office suspends pink beach trips, other boat services

THE ZAMBOANGA City Tourism Office has suspended all scheduled trips for local and foreign visitors to the pink beach of Sta. Cruz islands, including the newly-opened 11 islands (Onse Islas) tour. “Since the Philippine Coast Guard has already suspended all light water vessels to travel due to the high waves, we also suspended the transport of tourists to the said islands,” said City Tourism Officer Sarita Sebastian-Hernandez. The local government, through the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), has also called off classes in all levels, both in public and private schools. “The Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (BDRRMCs) are directed to continuously monitor situation in their areas particularly those susceptible to floods, landslides and storm surge,” the statement from the CDRRMO said. — Albert F. Arcilla

Cebu City incurs P1-B losses in SRP loan

September 13, 2018 | 9:40 pm

AFTER 22 years, the Cebu City government has incurred P1 billion net foreign exchange loss in paying for the South Road Properties (SRP) loan. The outstanding balance is owed to the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) and Land Bank of the Philippines. “In 1996, the city has incurred the Y12.315 billion loan or about P3.1 billion for the reclamation of the SRP,” City Councilor Jocelyn G. Pesquera told members of the council. With this, Ms. Pesquera said the city government should pre-terminate the loan or pay off the outstanding balance to “lessen the burden” of hefty interests and other charges. — The Freeman
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/exrQHK

NFA monitoring

September 13, 2018 | 9:39 pm

National Food Authority (NFA) personnel are deployed to the retail shops in parts of Sultan Kudarat to ensure that government-subsidized rice is available and sold at P27 per kilo. Government officials have repeatedly assured that there is enough rice stock to meet demand amid shortages in markets nationwide and soaring prices of commercial supply.