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AirAsia Philippines concerned over proposed caps on fares

PHILIPPINES AIRASIA, Inc. is opposing the plan of the Civil Aeronautics Board to impose caps on domestic airfares, saying the said move “could lead to the demise of smaller carriers and dampen the tourism industry.”

In a letter addressed to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo A. Arcilla dated Sept. 25, Philippines AirAsia said it hopes the CAB will reconsider its position on the “re-regulation of fares,” warning this could set a precedent for regulation in the future.

The budget carrier was reacting to the CAB’s draft resolution which proposed a ceiling on the lowest and highest fares for domestic flights.

AirAsia sought clarification on what CAB defines as “economy class basic fares” and explanation on the bases of its plans to fix the lowest rate at 20% of ceiling rate and to apply a 30% maximum reduction rate.

It also asked the CAB to clarify how it will determine the ceiling rate per route, noting that airlines have different operating costs and break-even load factors.

“The imposition of a floor and ceiling rate on domestic fares may unnaturally skew average domestic fares to higher levels while fares for international flights will remain as is. This may paint an unfavorable picture of the domestic aviation industry and affect domestic tourism as passengers will opt to travel internationally where fares are lower,” AirAsia said.

The airline said the proposed caps on domestic fares “will only benefit 1% of the travelling public as most travelers plan their trips and are able to take advantage of lower priced offers when tickets are purchased well in advance.”

“The remaining majority will be aversely affected by the rise in lower tiered fares due to the 20% cap of the highest fare,” AirAsia said.

It noted the entry of low-cost carriers has “enabled the market to grow by making air travel affordable to majority of the population,” while the dynamic revenue management system allowed the airline to offer promotional fares.

“As evidenced by the 20% growth in domestic traffic in 2006 after the introduction of the promotional fares as low as P1, the (low cost carrier) model has truly revolutionized air travel in the Philippines,” the airline said.

Philippines AirAsia is planning to raise up to $250 million from an initial public offering by mid-2018. Proceeds from the planned offering which will be used mainly to expand its facilities.

AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes earlier said the planned IPO of the Philippine and Indonesian units is part of a plan to consolidate its Southeast Asian units under one listed holding company. — P. P.C. Marcelo

Wells Fargo bounces back after scandal

WELLS FARGO & Co. Chief Executive Officer Tim Sloan will tell lawmakers that the bank has undergone a dramatic transformation in sales practices and customer service in the year since its bogus-account scandal became public.

Company executives acted too late to address problems that resulted in millions of accounts being opened without customers’ consent, Sloan said in a testimony prepared for a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Tuesday. He apologized for letting customers and employees down and outlined the steps the bank is taking to fix the problems that led to the scandal, according to a copy of the remarks obtained by Bloomberg.

“The past year has been a time of great disappointment and transition at Wells Fargo because we recognized too late the full scope and seriousness of the problems,” Sloan said. “The past year has been humbling and challenging.”

The San Francisco-based bank has undergone a major transformation, changing its sales practices, establishing an office for investigating customer complaints and holding senior executives accountable by implementing a new compensation structure, Sloan said.

He said Wells Fargo also has hired back more than 1,780 employees who left the bank during the years the alleged phony accounts were opened. The company has eliminated $180 million in senior executive compensation, and not one member of the operating committee who was serving before September 2016 received a bonus last year, Sloan said. Top executives in the community banking division where the fraud occurred were terminated and their bonuses weren’t paid, he said.

COMPANYWIDE REVIEW
Sloan also summarized the findings of its own companywide review of the scandal, which has involved outside consultants, regulators, independent directors and lawyers.

Wells Fargo has remained in hot water with lawmakers and customers after revealing last month that possibly a million more customers were affected than earlier estimated.

The lender is also facing legal backlash from borrowers who said they were charged fees for the bank to lock in promised rates on new mortgages and others who were hurt by its auto-lending division billing for unwanted car insurance.

The scandal erupted last year, engulfing the bank in criticism and legal challenges over its improper account practices and leading to several firings of senior executives. The lender had to comb through millions of accounts potentially tainted by employees’ drive to meet sales goals, including through the deliberate creation of fake accounts that may have totaled as many as 3.5 million. — Bloomberg

DTI says no decision on Mitsubishi appeal yet

THE Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) is still reviewing Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp.’s (MMPC) appeal against the decision ordering the car maker to recall some of its Montero Sport vehicles.

“It’s still under review but I know that there was already a technical evaluation. As far as I know, Mitsubishi presented itself to the FTEB. They showed that there is no technical defect. They sent in engineers, they sent in other car models, including the Mitsubishi vs. the other brands and compared the distance of the pedals and all that. They showed that there’s no technical defect in the design,” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez told reporters last Friday.

To recall, the FTEB began receiving complaints against the Montero Sport for alleged sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) in late 2015.

On May 10, 2017, the FTEB ordered MMPC to stop selling and recall all Mitsubishi Montero Sport automatic transmission models 2010-2015. The car company was also ordered to pay a fine of P300,000.

In its decision, FTEB said it found no basis for any of the claims of SUA in the Montero Sport. However, it noted the said models had a defective pedal placement design, which may be “unsafe.”

Mr. Lopez noted MMPC had filed a motion for reconsideration with the FTEB, and presented evidence to disprove the bureau’s findings.

“There’s no verdict yet. I’m just saying now that part of the (motion for) reconsideration, part of that is the presentation of technical credibility and of course they will say that the decision of FTEB is wrong. That’s why they filed for a motion of reconsideration and if it’s still not solved there, then it will be elevated to the (Trade) secretary,” Mr. Lopez said.

Mitsubishi declined to comment on the matter.

In June, MMPC had said it remained confident of the technical integrity of the Montero Sport models, and “will robustly defend its safety compliance.”

“It is important that the findings of the DTI-FTEB found that there is no basis for any claims of (SUA) in the Montero Sport… No safety-related concerns on SUA have been raised in any other market concerning the Montero Sport (2010-2015) automatic, of which 360,000 units have been sold around the world,” MMPC had said. — A.G.A. Mogato

Peso rebounds on profit taking

THE PESO posted a slight recovery versus the dollar yesterday, with the sideways move driven by profit taking that lent some support to the local currency despite stronger bets of a rate hike in the United States.

The local unit closed at P51.05 against the greenback, up three centavos from Monday’s P51.08-per-dollar finish.

The peso opened weaker at P51.23 versus the dollar. It hit P51.26 as its intraday trough during the morning session. It eventually touched P51.04 as its best showing for the day before settling at the closing rate.

Traders interviewed yesterday said the currency initially traded weaker due to news of strong factory output in the US, with the dollar’s strength clipped later in the day as corporates cashed in.

“The peso initially depreciated due to better-than-expected US manufacturing data, but gained towards the end of the day due to profit taking,” one trader said.

US manufacturing activity posted a 60.8 reading in September, the highest recorded since May 2004 according to the Institute for Supply Management survey. A reading above 50 meant the sector was expanding.

The pickup in industrial output in the US bolstered bets that the economy could be on track with its recovery, which would allow the Federal Reserve to proceed with a third rate hike for the year by December.

A second trader added that profit taking – both locally and offshore – drove the exchange rate to post a slight improvement from the previous day.

“At P51.20, we saw increased flows coming in. Exporters also saw it as favorable rate to sell that coupled with profit taking, which drove the spot rate lower,” the trader said separately.

Dollars traded on Tuesday reached $792.8 million, lower than the $888 million which exchanged hands the previous day but higher than the usual range of $500-600 million.

The second trader said the above-average volume was due to strong market interest rather than a reflection of the central bank’s intervention during trading.

For today, the first trader expects the peso to trade within P50.90-P51, moving range-bound ahead of jobs data in the US as well as speeches from Fed officials, as market players look for fresh signals as to whether the December rate adjustment is certain.

The second trader sees a wider range at P50.95-P51.15, but noted that the peso may simply “consolidate” ahead of the release of key economic data. — Melissa Luz T. Lopez

Cebu-based AMTC eyes more ASEAN connections

By Arra B. Francia,
Reporter

CEBU-BASED shipping firm Asian Marine Transport Corp. (AMTC) is looking to take advantage of the optimism on the logistics sector by establishing more connections between the Philippines and countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

AMTC Chief Executive Officer Paul Rodriguez said they are eyeing to introduce routes to Vietnam and Thailand in the coming years.

“We’re looking at connecting Vietnam and Thailand in the coming years. In about a year or two, it depends now on how the ASEAN would also welcome us to connect. But we are very bullish that they are also equally excited to have a direct connection with ASEAN countries,” Mr. Rodriguez told BusinessWorld last month at the sidelines of the ASEAN Business Awards where the company won the Priority Integration Logistics Sector Award.

So far, Mr. Rodriguez said they have already started negotiations with Vietnam, noting talks have been “very promising.”

“It’s really sustainable because there’s really a big traffic. It’s just a matter of connecting this, we’re quite optimistic that this will happen very soon,” the executive said.

Incorporated in 1999, AMTC owns and operates the Super Shuttle Ferry, Super Shuttle Roro, and Shuttle Fast Ferry vessels. According to its Web site, the company has an estimated nationwide market share of 35% for containerized cargoes and 80% for rolling cargo. 

The company was the first to use the Batangas port as its hub in 2010. To-date, the company employs a total of 1,080 people, both land- and sea-based. Mr. Rodriguez further noted the company took the lead in connecting Davao-General Santos-Bitung trade route this year.

AMTC’s expansion plans come amid a bullish outlook for the logistics sector as well as the sustained growth of the Philippine economy.

“We are venturing into new areas to connect. We feel that the economy is very good… This will really hasten the progress to the countryside as well as connecting the islands which used to be cut away from the main market, so it’s part of farm-to-market road. So it brings prosperity throughout the country, not just Manila or the big cities but the entire country,” Mr. Rodriguez said. 

Several conglomerates in the country have started venturing into the logistics sector, which businesses see as integral to their development given the archipelagic nature of the Philippines.

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. earlier this year acquired Ace Logistics, while SM Investments Corp. bought an indirect stake in integrated transport solutions provider 2GO Group, Inc. through its parent Negros Navigation Co.

Ombudsman officials charged in Malacañang

By Rosemarie A. Zamora

THE INVESTIGATORS may become the investigated, as officials of the Office of the Ombudsman were slapped with administrative complaints filed in Malacañang on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

In their complaint, former congressmen Jacinto V. Paras of Negros Oriental and Glenn A. Chong of Biliran accused Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur H. Carandang of Grave Misconduct and Gross Dishonesty constituting Betrayal of Public Trust.

Mr. Paras filed the complaint at the Office of the President on Tuesday.

Mr. Paras said in his complaint that “unlawful disclosure of Mr. Carandang on the records of bank transactions of the President and his family which turned out to be falsified and spurious” caused them to file the complaint.

“Carandang claimed that the documents he showed to Henry Omaga-Diaz which turned viral to the entire country accusing the President of amassing billions is in fact denied by the AMLC or the Anti-Money Laundering Council,” the former congressman added.

A separate complaint was filed by lawyers Manuelito R. Luna and Eligio P. Mallari against Mr. Carandang and Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo M. Elman — who were charged with graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust — as well as the Fact-Finding Investigation Team/Field Investigation Unit of the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao, were accused of gross misconduct.

According to Mr. Luna, the investigation team was liable for leaking information on the bank transactions of the Duterte family “when it’s still in the fact-finding phase.”

“Tapos nangialam na dito si Carandang and he has been reckless. Pumunta sa media, nagbigay ng statement, notwithstanding the fact na wala palang report coming from the AMLC, tapos sinasabi niya na kaparehas yung mga entries — where did he get those entries? Eh, the mere possession of bank transactions and bank accounts eh criminal offense na ‘yan sa bank secrecy law and mere disclosure also is a crime,” he added.

(Then, Carandang meddled at that point and he has been reckless. He went to the media, released a statement, notwithstanding the fact that there was no report at all coming from the AMLC, and he claimed the entries were similar — where did he get those entries? The mere possession of bank transactions and bank accounts is a criminal offense under the bank secrecy law, and mere disclosure is also a crime.)

Mr. Paras for his part said, “Feeling ko itong si Carandang, appointed ito ni Noynoy Aquino at yung Tindig Pilipinas at ‘yung ibang grupo ngayon. Alam niyo very, very disturbing, kasi right after na dinisclose ni Carandang na spurious and falsified yung mga dokumento, kasi ‘di naman ‘yun galing sa AMLC, the next day, nag-ano kaagad itong mga destabilizers, ‘yung mga Tindig Pilipinas, ‘yung mga iba, na mag resign ang ating Pangulo.”

(I think this Carandang was appointed by Noynoy Aquino and the Tindig Pilipinas and other groups now. You know, this is very, very disturbing, because right after Carandang disclosed that the documents are spurious and falsified documents, because they didn’t come from the AMLC, the next day, the destabilizers, Tindig Pilipinas and the others, immediately clamored for the President to resign.)

“Parang pinag-usapan na ito, parang (It seems this has been discussed and) synchronized to destabilize the government,” Mr. Paras also said, adding: [H]indi naman gagalaw itong si Carandang kung walang go signal ni (Ombudsman Conchita) Carpio-Morales.”

(It seems to be that it was planned to destabilize the government. Carandang will not act if [Conchita] Carpio-Morales did not give her go signal.)

For his part, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella also said on Tuesday: “The Office of the Ombudsman is showing its true political color. We must remind them that it is an independent and anti-graft body that is supposed to conduct an impartial and fair investigation.” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella said.

Mr. Duterte himself has stepped up his attacks on officials of the Ombudsman, amid their investigation into his alleged hidden wealth.

While the Ombudsman may only be removed by impeachment, Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6770, or the Ombudsman Act of 1989, provides in part, “A Deputy or the Special Prosecutor, may be removed from office by the President for any of the grounds provided for the removal of the Ombudsman, and after due process.”

SWS survey shows about half of respondents believe drug offenses punishable by death

FORTY-SEVEN PERCENT (47%) of Filipinos mistakenly believe using illegal drugs is a crime punishable by death, while a higher percentage, 59%, also mistakenly believe that selling illegal drugs is punishable too by death, the results of a poll by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) have shown.

As SWS noted, the latest results from its Social Weather Survey of June 23-26 are in contrast to the fact that “Philippine law currently does not allow death penalty for any criminal offense.”

“Capital punishment was effectively abolished on June 30, 2006 during the term of then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through passage of RA 9346 by the 13th Congress titled “An Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines,” SWS said.

The survey noted that “belief in existence of death penalty for drug use” is higher in the Visayas and Mindanao, both at 52%.

Metro Manila had the lowest proportion of respondents, at 39%, who believed that drug use is punishable by death.

“However, the June 2017 survey found no by-area differences in terms of the belief that selling illegal drugs is punishable by death. It was 61% in the Visayas, 59% in Metro Manila, and 58% each in Balance Luzon and Mindanao,” the survey noted.

The survey also showed that 44% know of a rehabilitation program for so-called drug surrenderers.

Metro Manila had the highest proportion, at 62%, of those who know of rehabilitation programs for surrenderers, followed by Balance Luzon at 43%, and the Visayas and Mindanao, each with 40%.

Trillanes strikes back in speech vs Duterte

SENATOR Antonio F. Trillanes IV, locked in a heated exchange with President Rodrigo R. Duterte over their respective bank accounts, on Tuesday afternoon disclosed in a privilege speech that he has unearthed alleged Duterte bank transactions amounting to PhP2,207,257,961.79 covering the period September 2006 to December 2015.

The accusation comes in the wake of Mr. Duterte’s pronouncement recently that he is willing to be shot if it is proven that he has financial wealth in excess of P40 million. “You can shoot me, overthrow me if you want kapag sumobra ako doon (if I have more than that),” he told soldiers engaged in the fight against terrorists in war-torn Marawi City.

“I assure you, all in all, it would not go beyond P40 million,” Mr. Duterte declared during the induction of officers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines at the SMX Convention Center Saturday night.

He elaborated that parts of the amount are from his inheritance and properties which Davao residents know about only too well.

Mr. Trillanes said he felt compelled to defend against attacks on his credibility by going to Singapore to personally disprove allegation of offshore bank accounts that Mr. Duterte has attributed to him.

In the privilege speech Tuesday, Mr. Trillanes claimed that, in April 1, 2014, four of Duterte’s accounts purchased so-called Life with Investment insurance policies worth P20 million each for a total of P80 million in just one day. — interaksyon.com with an additional report from the Philippine Star

Meralco Bolts race to 2-0 series lead over Star Hotshots

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter

THE Meralco Bolts got the better of the Star Hotshots anew in Game Two of their best-of-five Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup semifinal affair last night in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. But unlike in the series-opener where they came from behind for the win, the Bolts were every bit dominant in the second game en route to winning, 98-74, and moving a win away from making a return trip to the finals.

While in the previous game they struggled to get their game going at the onset, the Bolts were in synch right from the start in Game Two.

Behind the hot shooting of the trio of import Allen Durham, Baser Amer and Chris Newsome, Meralco raced to a 30-11 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Star competed better in the second period but Meralco stayed commanding, answering everything that the Hotshots threw at it and maintained a 21-point lead at the halftime break, 53-32.

The Meralco onslaught continued in the third frame, staying ahead of Star on both ends of the court.

Seldom-used player Alvin Abundo tried to infuse some energy and firepower for Star but it was hardly enough to deter the charge of the Bolts, who built their biggest lead of 30 points, 73-43, at one point.

The Bolts kept the same distance at the end of the third quarter, 78-48.

Star started the final quarter with a 14-3 run in the first three minutes to cut its deficit to 19 points, 81-62.

Meralco, though, was quick to nip the rally in the bud, scoring seven straight points thereafter to create more distance, 88-62, by the 5:42 mark before coasting to the win the rest of the way.

Mr. Durham, Jarred Dillinger and Ranidel De Ocampo each had 18 points to lead Meralco while Mr. Durham added 25 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

Mr. Amer had 16 points and eight assists in their resounding victory.

Mark Barroca, meanwhile, had 16 points to lead Star while Mr. Abundo finished with 14 points.

Import Kris Acox had another subpar game of nine points and 12 rebounds for the Hotshots, who saw guard Paul Lee play limited minutes because of a knee injury.

“Coach [Norman Black] told us not to have repeat of the bad start we had in the first game. So we just did our best, especially the first group, to set the tone for the game,” said Mr. De Ocampo, named player of the game, after their win.

“We are now up 2-0 in the series but we don’t want to be complacent. We have to continue playing hard and be ready for the next game,” he added.

The Bolts have a chance to complete a sweep of the series and advance to the championship in Game Three on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ranidel de Ocampo and the Meralco Bolts are now up 2-0 in their best-of-five PBA Governors’ Cup semifinal series with the Star Hotshots after a resounding 98-74 Game Two win last night. — ALVIN S. GO

Dela Rosa dares CBCP to present policemen who sought sanctuary

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL Police (PNP) Chief Director-General Ronald M. dela Rosa challenged the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to have policemen who reportedly sought sanctuary with Church officials execute affidavits and testify before the Senate.

At the same time, Mr. Dela Rosa lashed at critics of the war on drugs, calling them “ingrates,” even as he agreed with respondents of a recent survey who said the poor have borne the brunt of the killings that have marked the government’s anti-narcotics campaign.

On Monday, Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, CBCP president, said a number of lawmakers who were “troubled by their consciences” had sought protection from them and indicated willingness to tell about their participation in extrajudicial killings.

Reacting to this, Mr. dela Rosa said: “Sana naman huwag nila gawing fishing expedition. Kung totoo man i-present nila sa Senado, kunan nila affidavit (We hope they don’t turn this into a fishing expedition. If this is true present them to the Senate, take their affidavits).”

The PNP chief also said there was a need to profile the law enforcers should they testify because “we are talking about testimonies. Paano maging credible kung kwestiyunable source ng testimonya, example ‘yung prinesent sa senado … then afterwards nag-recant ng statement, so dapat ‘yung katotohanan, kahit na kami tatamaan basta katotohanan lang huwag lang fabricated (How can testimony be credible when the source is questionable, for example one presented in the Senate … then afterwards recants their statement, so the truth is needed, even if we are targeted so long as it is the truth and not fabricated).”

“The pill may be bitter but we can swallow that bitter pill,” he added.

Also, he warned that officers who seek the CBCP’s protection would still be subject to the PNP’s rules if by doing so they become absent without official leave.

As for the PNP’s critics, Mr. Dela Rosa had this to say: “Ako, prangka ako (na) tao (I am a frank person), you can criticize us to high heavens but I can tell you straight sa mga mata, ‘yung mga critic, sabihan ko kayo … ‘Ingrato kayo’ (in your eyes, the critics, I can tell you … ‘You ingrates’).”

He also claimed: “Alam ko (I know) deep inside your heart alam mo nakikinabang kayo sa (you are benefiting from the) peace and order idinulot ng (brought by the) war on drugs.”

As for the results of a Social Weather Stations survey in which 60% of respondents said the war on drugs has targeted only poor Filipinos, Mr. Dela Rosa said it was true but clarified this was because “mas marami mahirap na nagbebenta droga kaysa mayaman (more poor people peddle drugs than rich)” because of the “structure of the drug pyramid” where the base is made up of street level pushers, mostly poor.

He denied that the war on drugs exclusively targeted the poor, citing the late mayors Reynaldo Parojinog of Ozamis City and Rolando Espinosa, Sr. of Albuera, Leyte, who were both killed by police, the former in drug raids, the latter in his jail cell in what authorities claimed was a shoot-out.

Mr. Dela Rosa predicted more killings, saying these would only end “kung wala nang lumalaban (when no one fights back anymore).”

Police claim all deaths during anti-drug operations are from shoot-outs with suspects resisting arrest.

However, in August, the deaths of Kian Loyd delos Santos and Carl Angelo Arnaiz, teenagers police claimed were killed in gunfights but subsequent investigations tended to indicate may have been executed, reignited public anger at a war on drugs believed to have claimed more than 13,000 lives since last year, either in police operations or in vigilante murders many of which are also believed carried out by authorities. — Jeff Caparas, News5

UAAP: Adamson and UP dispute spot in top four

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter

THE ADAMSON Soaring Falcons and University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, currently tied at number four with 3-2 records in Season 80 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), look to break off from their logjam and pad their respective tournament bids when they collide in midweek league action today.

Happening at 2 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Falcons and Maroons are eyeing to join the idle Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws at third place with a 4-2 record and stay close with the tournament leaders as the first round of the eliminations nears its end.

Adamson right now is riding a two-game winning streak following a shaky start to the tournament that saw it go 1-2 in its first three games.

Cameroonian Papi Sarr has been anchoring the Falcons’ attack with averages of 14 points, 12.3 rebounds and a steal per game.

Guard Robbie Manalang has been good for 10.2 points and 3.2 assists while Jerrick Ahanmisi is chipping in 9.6 points and 6.6 rebounds.

In their last game, the Falcons practically had their way against the struggling University of the East (UE) Red Warriors en route to a 79-60 win.

Sarr had a double-double of 15 points and 16 rebounds to lead a balanced attack for Adamson, which led from start to finish.

Sean Manganti had 10 points and eight rebounds with five other players scoring seven points or more.

Drawing contributions from various sources is indicative of how his team is slowly building chemistry on the court, Adamson coach Franz Pumaren said.

“The players are showing that they are developing a feel for one another’s game which is only good for us,” said Mr. Pumaren following his team’s win over UE.

Incidentally, it has been reported that Mr. Pumaren has taken a leave of absence of one year from his Philippine Basketball Association coaching duties with GlobalPort Batang Pier to concentrate on his work with the Falcons.

RETURN TO WINNING
On the other end, UP saw its two-game win streak come to a screeching end when they were routed by FEU last time around, 78-59.

While they competed well early on, the Maroons just wilted as the game progressed and were left with little answer to the Tamaraws’ charge.

It did not help UP’s cause that leading scorer and energy guy Paul Desiderio had it rough on the scoring end, finishing with just nine points and 24% shooting, a result in large part of the defense that FEU employed on him.

Ibrahim Ouattara of Mali and rookie Juan Gomez de Liano tried to pick up the cudgels for UP with 17 and 16 points, respectively, but it was just not enough against the Tamaraws, who played with a lot of fire and determination to see their cause through.

After the game, UP coach Bo Perasol said they have to maintain their focus and game toughness if they are to survive and mix it up with the top teams.

Also playing today are the defending champions De La Salle Green Archers (4-1) and UE (0-5), which will go into battle at 4 p.m.

The Archers shoot for their second consecutive win to stay within striking distance of the league-leading Ateneo Blue Eagles (6-0) while the Warriors look to book their first win of the season.

Meanwhile, Ateneo’s Chibueze Ikeh was the latest recipient of the UAAP’s player of the week honors after averaging 12.5 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and 1.5 blocks last week to help his team keep its unblemished record.

“The coaches have been teaching me other facets of the game such as shooting and dribbling and they are giving me confidence,” said Ikeh of his improved play of late.

In winning the award, given by the UAAP press corps, the Ateneo big man beat out Adamson’s Sarr and FEU’s Ron Dennison and Arvin Tolentino.

After grilling on ‘frequent’ trips, CA defers decision on Health chief’s confirmation

THE COMMISSION on Appointments (CA) deferred for the second time yesterday the ad interim appointment of Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial, leaving her with just one more chance to face the CA members amid issues of frequent travels and policy decisions.

During the deliberations, Senator Vicente C. Sotto III pointed out that Ms. Ubial, who has been previously bypassed twice by the CA, made six foreign trips in just two and a half months.

Ms. Ubial, who took the post of Department of Health (DoH) secretary on July 1, 2016, said she had traveled 15 times, most of which were “two activities in one travel.”

She added that three of those trips were ordered by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Ms. Ubial also said that the trips were funded by the government and international agencies, not by pharmaceutical companies.

No date has been set for the next CA hearing on her confirmation and Congress will end its session on Oct. 13.

If Ms. Ubial’s appointment is not decided upon before Congress closes, it would be deemed bypassed. Under the new CA rules, an official bypassed for the third time would not be eligible for reappointment.

Apart from her trips, Mr. Sotto also asked Ms. Ubial about the DoH’s purchase of condoms.

“Eto P159 million pang-condom lang, is this correct? This is what we saw in the 2017 budget,” asked Mr. Sotto.

“I’m still trying to look for it but the majority of the HIV/AIDs budgets is actually the anti-retrovirals that will be procured and test kits for screening HIV/ AIDS because of the increasing numbers of individuals with this disease in the country,” the health chief replied.

Furthermore, Ms. Ubial said that the DoH is no longer “procuring any condom commodities for 2017 and 2018 because there are still about 10 million on stock.”

For his part, CA member Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao cryptically asked Ms. Ubial if her family supports her in her endeavors, particularly her son, Karl.

However, due to time constraints, she wasn’t able to answer Mr. Pacquiao’s query.

“Actually, when I was designated secretary in June I didn’t have office staff to work with me so my son went with me to all the functions and I had to have an ID from the Department of Health (for him). So he signed a contract, P1 consultant. He has a contract as a consultant of the DoH because of this ID,” she explained to the media after the deliberations.

She added that her son, Karl, worked with her between the months of June and July before starting his schooling in August.

“My son travels with me but I pay for everything,” she added.

Asked if he was satisfied with Ms. Ubial’s answers, Mr. Sotto told the media that the answers demand follow-up questions.

For now, the senator said, “No, I’m not kasi hindi kumpleto ang sagot (the answers are incomplete).”

Ms. Ubial is also facing three oppositors, namely: Kabayan Representative Harry L. Roque, lawyer Restituto Mendoza, and ACTS OFW Representative Aniceto John Bertiz III. — Mario M. Banzon

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