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Alaska Aces make it three wins in a row

THE Alaska Aces gave further legs to their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup “turnaround” yesterday after defeating the Kia Picanto, 102-94, for their third straight win.

Lost their first six games in the season-ending PBA tournament, the Aces have completed a trifecta of victories to gain further respectability and keep their narrow chances of advancing to the next round alive.

The Aces fashioned out the win by coming from behind on the strength of a late charge in the fourth period.

The Picanto took the opening period, 27-23, before maintaining control at the halftime break, 51-46.

Alaska made an early run to start the third canto but Kia would fight back to stay in command, 63-58, halfway into it.

Kia would then outscore its opponent, 14-9, the rest of the way to extend their lead to 10 points, 77-67, end-third quarter.

The Aces started the final quarter with a 12-5 run to cut the Picanto lead to just five points, 82-79, with less than eight minutes remaining.

They would eventually tie the knot at 84-all halfway into payoff period.

The combatants fought to a 91-all affair with 2:34 to go in the game.

Calvin Abueva would then give the Aces a three-point cushion, 94-91, thereafter only to be answered by Kia import Geron Johnson with a triple to level the count anew.

But Alaska was not to be denied of a comeback with as import LaDontae Henton and JV Casio conspired for five straight points to get some separation from which Kia could not get back itself from, giving the Aces the win.

Mr. Abueva took charge for the Aces with 26 points and 15 rebounds while Messrs. Henton and Casio had 20 points apiece.

For Kia it was Mr. Johnson who led with 39 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

With the win, Alaska improved to 3-6 while Kia remained winless in nine games. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Senate resumes probe on BoC, drug shipment

THE SENATE blue ribbon committee resumes its hearing today, Sept. 11, on the P6.4-billion drug shipment from China and alleged systematic bribery at the Bureau of Customs (BoC), with resource persons seen to bring focus back on the probe’s main issues.

In last week’s hearing, Davao City Vice-Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte, along with his brother-in-law, lawyer Manases R. Carpio — who were both mentioned in previous hearings as possibly involved in a supposed “Davao Group” that is into the illegal drug trade — appeared before the committee. The discussion veered towards other matters as Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV accused Mr. Duterte, son of the President, of being a member of a Chinese triad based on a tattoo on his back and his bank accounts.

Senator Richard J. Gordon, blue ribbon chair, said in a telephone interview with BusinessWorld on Friday that they will question today, the 8th in the series of hearings, other resource persons as former BoC commissioner Nicanor E. Faeldon has expressed refusal to participate in the proceedings.

Among the resource persons who are expected to be questioned today are Col. Allen A. Capuyan, who was mentioned by broker Mark Ruben Taguba II as being part of the Davao Group, and the alleged bag man, lawyer Christopher Bolastig, who has already submitted an affidavit to the committee, according to Mr. Gordon.

Mr. Faeldon, who has been slapped with contempt by the committee, said on Friday that he will appear at the Senate today to surrender but will not take part in the probe again, citing the impartiality of “certain lawmakers.”

In a separate telephone interview with reporters on Friday, Mr. Gordon said he is still ready to give Mr. Faeldon a chance to clear his name. If the former BoC chief declines, he would be put in detention either at the Senate or another facility.

Meanwhile, in a separate radio interview, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said that he plans to ask the BoC officials the origin of the systematic corruption at the bureau.

Mr. Lacson said his intention is to bring the hearing to its “logical conclusion, which is the Ombudsman.” — Mario M. Banzon

PFF formally inaugurates national training center

GEARED towards sustaining the development of football in the country, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) over the weekend held the turnover ceremonies of the FIFA Football Turf Field at the National Training Center in San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

With PFF officials and Manila Jockey Club, Inc. (MJCI) officials present, the doors to the training center were opened three years since breaking ground.

The National Training Center is part of the two-hectare lot provided by the MJCI to the PFF which also includes the yet-to-be-built PFF House of Football.“It is the culmination of what began three years ago when we broke ground for this field. Through this FIFA Football Turf Field, our national team players can finally call this place their home,” said FIFA Council Member and PFF President Mariano V. Araneta during the turnover ceremonies.

“We would like to thank the Manila Jockey Club for providing the PFF the lot inside the San Lazaro Leisure Park. Their efforts in ensuring that Philippine football will reach even greater heights are well appreciated,” added the PFF official, who has overseen the growth of football in the country in the last half decade.

During the turnover ceremonies of the turf field, which got a two-star field rating from FIFA, a number of activities were held, namely a grassroots festival and two exhibition matches.

The women’s exhibition match was contested between the University of the Philippines Women’s Football Team and the UAAP champion De La Salle University Women’s Football Team. While the Men’s Exhibition Match pitted the National Collegiate Athletic Association champion San Beda College against University Athletic Association of the Philippines champ Ateneo de Manila University. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Sin tax collections seen at P150B in 2018

THE GOVERNMENT aims to collect a little over P150 billion in sin taxes in 2018, as the Sin Tax Reform Law matures, the Finance department said.

Finance Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran told reporters on Thursday that the tax take from alcohol and tobacco excise taxes, or “sin taxes,” is projected at “P150.2 billion for 2018.”

“The target for this year is P143.5 billion, growing at 4.7%,” he said.

Republic Act No. 10351, or the Sin Tax Reform Law, matures by the end of this year.

The law requires sin taxes to be increased by 4% annually starting Jan. 1, 2018 through revenue regulations to be issued by the Department of Finance (DoF).

The law was enacted in December 2012, with a goal of discouraging the public from consuming “sin” products.

As of end-July, the DoF said that it collected P73.28 billion in sin taxes, up 8.67% from a year earlier.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said the government will initiate the mandated review of the impact of the law next year.

“We are going to review that as mandated by law.  It looks okay, but again there are issues that we have to look at,” he said.

Mr. Dominguez said smuggling may become more attractive given the yearly increases in sin taxes.

“I think now that the low-end producers are out of the process prices will rise. You know what will happen when prices rise, people will be incentivized to smuggle,” he added.

“I told [the Bureau of Customs], that is something you have to watch because you know already prices will go up, there are cheap producers in other countries and they will try to smuggle it here,” Mr. Dominguez said.

The review of the law will also be in conjunction of its preparation for the health package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN).

“People were saying why don’t we include it now, I said you know actually the process we should let this thing run until the end of 2017 and then take the data there then review it. No sense jumping ahead of the TRAIN,” he said. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Businessman renews call for use of x-ray at Davao port

By Carmelito Q. Francisco
Correspondent

DAVAO CITY — The operator of the designated examination area (DEA) here that the Bureau of Customs (BoC) closed down in 2010 has again called on the National Government to reopen the facility and help the agency fight corruption and improve security.

The operator of Aquarius Container Yard, Rodolfo C. Reta, said that the reopening of his company’s DEA will help government flag illegal shipments as well as improve revenue collections.

“The government needs it now as the BoC needs all the help if it wants to fight smuggling,” said Mr. Reta, whose DEA was mentioned when the Senate called on Vice-Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte and lawyer Manases R. Carpio to a hearing last week in relation to a P6.4-billion illegal drugs shipment that passed through Customs in Manila.

In his testimony, Mr. Carpio, one of Mr. Reta’s lawyers and son-in-law of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, told the senators that they met with then BoC commissioner Nicanor E. Faeldon to brief him about the importance of the DEA to the BoC’s operations in Davao.

Mr. Reta said he is “thankful to Atty. Carpio because he has been helping me in bringing my case to the consciousness of the National Government.”

It was in 2015 when Mr. Carpio, husband of Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio, joined Mr. Reta’s legal team after a “lengthy due diligence” following the closure of the DEA.

Mr. Reta signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the government in 2009, with the BoC then under commissioner Napoleon L. Morales, for the operations of the DEA, which hosts a P250-million x-ray machine and other facilities, for 25 years.

The MoA provides the BoC with the use of the x-ray machine “free of charge,” while Mr. Reta would exclusively handle trucking services inside the DEA.

In February 2010, however, following a controversy over a misdeclared rice shipment that Mr. Reta flagged, then BoC collector Anju Nereo Castigador ordered the closure of the DEA on the ground that the former was not delivering his part of the agreement.

Mr. Reta filed cases against Mr. Castigador and several other BoC officials, who have since been terminated or suspended. Mr. Castigador’s appeal is pending in court.

New World Hotels & Resorts Golf Cup back for second year with new partners

INSPIRED by its successful staging last year, New World Hotels & Resorts will be bringing back its “Golf Cup” event for a second run with new partners and aiming for bigger funds raised.

To happen on Sept. 29 at the The Orchard Golf & Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite, “Golf Cup 2” aims to raise funds this time around for the young scholars of Springboard Foundation, a nonprofit, nongovernment organization established in 2002 which advances causes of improving the lives of Filipino children through its various programs.

The golfing event, done in partnership with its sister establishment the New World Manila Bay Hotel, is in line with the group’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) thrust designed to give back to the community it serves.

Apart from the Golf Cup, New World Hotels & Resorts also holds “fun runs” whose proceeds go to various charity groups and a platform it also uses to promote health and wellness.

“We chose the Springboard Foundation as our beneficiary this year because it has an effective and sustainable system in place that assures quality education for its scholars. New World Hotels & Resorts is a strong advocate of education, and this is one of our many initiatives to support this platform. We are very pleased to find a partner and kindred spirit in an organization which is so visibly passionate in what they do,” said Farid Schoucair, general manager of New World Makati Hotel, during the media preview for Golf Cup 2 last week.

“This we will be our second year and as far as getting sponsors it was easier for us. Our aim is to generate more funds so we can give a bigger amount to our chosen beneficiaries. We are aiming at least 80 golfers this year, nearly double from last year. And hopefully we succeed in that,” added Mr. Schoucair.

To make the event more “fun” and “informal,” the format of the tournament is scramble.

In it teams of four players each will compete against one another will less emphasis on individual scores.

The scramble format has each golfer on the team hitting a drive, the results of which will be compared, with the best one selected and marked and the other golfers on the team picking up their golf balls and moving them to that location.

The second strokes are then played, and the process is repeated — select the best ball, move the other balls to that spot and play the third strokes. And so on, until the ball is holed for one team score.

A champion team will be awarded after and so do second and third runner-up teams. — MASM

Rohingya insurgents declare temporary cease fire

YANGON — Rohingya militants, whose Aug. 25 raids in Myanmar’s Rakhine State sparked an army crackdown that has seen nearly 300,000 of the Muslim minority flee to Bangladesh, on Sunday declared a unilateral one-month cease-fire.

“The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) hereby declares a temporary cessation of offensive military operations,” it said in a statement on its Twitter handle @ARSA_Official, adding it was to allow for humanitarian aid to reach the battered region.

Nearly 300,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh and 30,000 non-Muslim civilians have been displaced inside Myanmar after the military launched a counter-offensive following attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) insurgents on 30 police posts and an army base on Aug. 25.

“ARSA strongly encourages all concerned humanitarian actors resume their humanitarian assistance to all victims of the humanitarian crisis, irrespective of ethnic or religious background during the ceasefire period,” ARSA said in a statement.

The impact of the move is unclear. The group does not appear to have been able to put up significant resistance against the military force unleashed in Myanmar’s northwestern Rakhine state. In the last two weeks, thousands of homes have been burned down, dozens of villages uprooted and thousands of people are still on the move towards the border with Bangladesh.

The wave of hungry and traumatized refugees pouring into Bangladesh has strained aid agencies and local communities already helping hundreds of thousands displaced by previous waves of violence in Myanmar.

In its statement, ARSA called on the military to also lay down arms and allow humanitarian aid to all affected people.

Myanmar says its security forces are carrying out clearance operations to defend against ARSA, which the government has declared a terrorist organization.

Rights monitors and fleeing Rohingya say the army and Rakhine Buddhist vigilantes have mounted a campaign of arson aimed at driving out the Muslim population.

HELP FOR BANGLADESH
On Friday, the United Nations (UN) in Bangladesh found tens of thousands of refugees who had not been counted before, raising the count to 270,000 from some 164,000 the day before. On Saturday, that jumped by another 20,000 to 290,000.

On Saturday, thousands of Rohingya were milling on the road near the camp of Kutapalong, carrying bamboo and tarpaulin to build shacks. Children and women flocked to every stopping vehicle, begging.

Aid workers say a serious humanitarian crisis is also unfolding on the Myanmar side of the border.

Red Cross organizations are scaling up their operations in Rakhine after the UN had to suspend activities there following government suggestions that its agency had supported the insurgents. The UN evacuated non-critical staff from the area.

Thousands of displaced people in Rakhine have been stranded or left without food for weeks. Many are still trying to cross mountains, dense bush and rice fields to reach Bangladesh.

“The UN and INGOs have not been very welcome in Rakhine and…they are not able to operate and ensure the safety and security of their staff and volunteers,” said Joy Singhal of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The government had invited the Red Cross to assist them, he said.

Aid workers worry many Rohingya had been left without food since mid-July, when the World Food Programme (WFP), which had been providing food and cash assistance, was unable to operate.

The government said it would set up camps for internally displaced people in Rakhine but the move could draw opposition from UN humanitarian experts. — AFP and Reuters

Ormoc earthquake evacuees return home

AT LEAST 139 families who have been living in 13 evacuation centers in Ormoc City after the magnitude 6.5 earthquake last July 7 were given clearance to return to their homes on Saturday. Ciriaco E. Tolibao II, city disaster risk reduction management officer, said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has certified that dwellers in Puroks 1,2, 3 and 4 of Barangay Lake Danao can now be allowed to return home, except those living in 45 houses that have been declared “unsafe.” The decision to allow the evacuees to return home was reached by the technical working group on earthquake recovery and rehabilitation chaired by Councilor Benjamin Pongos, Jr. Mr. Tolibao said another 311 families from the declared “danger zones” of Puroks 5,6,7 and 8 are also poised to leave evacuation centers, not homebound but off to a temporary relocation area in Barangay Lake Danao, which has been declared “safe” by the MGB. Temporary learning centers will also be put up in Lake Danao for the displaced children as the primary school in the area had been declared unsafe for any use. For another 267 families from Barangay Milagro, their stay at the evacuation camps will be extended as their homes have been declared “uninhabitable” by the MGB. These are houses lining the cliffs along the highway’s upland areas, some of which have already tumbled down the ravine. The city is still looking for an area for their temporary shelters. City legal counsel Jasper M. Lucero said Mayor Richard I. Gomez has directed to make this a priority but acquiring lots is not easy given government procedures and problems with properties registered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. The National Housing Authority, for its part, said it is ready with the funds to construct at least 887 houses for the earthquake victims. About 2,272 families in the city were affected by the earthquake. — The Freeman

Energy dep’t orders power bills to include consumer’s meter deposit

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it instructed the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to require all distribution utilities and electric cooperatives to include in a consumer’s monthly bill the deposits paid upon installation of their electric meters plus the interest earned through the years.

“We have instructed ERC to require the DUs (distribution utilities) and the cooperatives to put a line [in the monthly power bill stating] how much is the deposit made by the consumer, and how much [they] have earned,” DoE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi told reporters in an informal briefing.

He said the move should shift the “burden of proof” to the part of electric utilities from that of consumers, who might have no document to show when they opt for electricity disconnection.

“The burden of proof is with the consumer. You paid, you made your deposit, yet when you have to get your refund, the burden of proof is yours,” Mr. Cusi said.

He said the DoE’s move was meant to promote transparency, and making consumers informed of what they are entitled to, including their rights as electricity users.

He did not give an estimate of the amount that has been collected as security deposit, but a utility with six million of customers and collects about P5,000 in deposit would count up a total collected amount in the billions of pesos.

Mr. Cusi said instances when consumers hypothetically move residence from the franchise area of Manila Electric Co. to that of the Visayas Electric Co., Inc. (VECO) may mean these consumers do not have their original contracts with them. But when they go to the utility, they might be required to present documents to prove the refund claim.

Sought for comment, Jaime Jose Y. Aboitiz, vice-chairman and president of VECO, said the information on consumer deposit and interest would not be difficult on the part of the company as is readily available.

“It’s not a big deal,” he said.

He said the deposit is equivalent to around a month’s electricity cost, which was computed based on the customer’s available electric-powered appliances and usage.

“It’s going to be more of an additional work for the company — to calculate, to add it into the bill,” said Anton Mari G. Perdices, chief operating officer of VECO. — Victor V. Saulon

Amanda ‘The Lioness’ Nunes retains UFC women’s bantamweight title

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter

ULTIMATE FIGHTING Championship (UFC) women’s bantamweight champion Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes retained her title yesterday by edging challenger Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko by split decision in the main event of “UFC 215” in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Rendered a technical fight in five full rounds, Brazilian Nunes did just enough, particularly in the fifth round where she got to do some vital takedowns, to win by split decision, 47-48, 48-47 and 48-47, and make it a second successful title defense.

Incidentally, Nunes vs. Shechenko 2 was forced to be the main event after the supposed main fight between UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and challenger Ray Borg was scratched at the last minute because of injury to the latter,

In the co-main event, Rafael Dos Anjos made it 2-of-2 in the welterweight division after submitting number six contender Neil Magny in the opening round of their encounter by way of an arm triangle.

Misses Nunes and Shevchenko fought tightly in the first four rounds with both fighters having their strong moments to make the outcome of the contest still open entering the fifth and final round.

In the last round, the two fighters started aggressively, exchanging blows before the champion went for takedowns that the challenger tried desperately to fight off.

But Ms. Nunes would be successful a couple of times of taking down Ms. Shevchenko which turned out to be enough to swing the tally in her favor en route to claiming the victory.

“We knew she will come out strong for this fight so I trained hard in the gym and worked on what I needed to do and it paid off tonight,” said Ms. Nunes, who improved to 15-4 and won her sixth straight fight.

Understandably, Ms. Shevchenko (14-3) was upset that things did not go her way anew.

“I don’t believe how the decision would go the other way. Just because of takedowns in the last round? I had her in the full fight. Look at her face? I don’t believe it,” a disappointed Shevchenko, who also lost in January last year to Ms. Nunes (unanimous decision) in their first fight, said.

A WELTERWEIGHT FORCE
Former lightweight champion Dos Anjos, meanwhile, made a strong case for himself in his new weight division of welterweight with another impressive victory this time over Mr. Magny.

Brazilian Dos Anjos got good leverage early after dropping Mr. Magny and got top position.

Mr. Magny tried to wiggle his way out but Mr. Dos Anjos was not to allow the American to do so, punishing the latter with heavy ground and pound.

Mr. Dos Anjos managed to put himself on full mount and landed heavy elbows on Mr. Magny before locking a tight arm triangle that eventually forced his opponent to tap out and the referee calling a stop to the fight at the 3:43 mark.

“I’m coming for that welterweight belt. I’ve been training hard. I’m a former lightweight champion. I’m coming for that belt,” said Mr. Dos Anjos as he made known his intention to go after the title currently held by Tyron Woodley.

“I’m happy to have come up to 170 pounds and I believe this is the right weight for me at this point,” he added.

With the win, Mr. Dos Anjos improved to 27-9, 2-0 in the welterweight division.

Mr. Magny, for his part, dropped to 19-6 and fell anew after winning in his previous fight.

In earlier fights, flyweight Henry Cejudo won over Wilson Reis via a second-round technical knockout (punches), light heavyweight Ilir Latifi beat Tyson Pedro by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28 and 30-27), and featherweight Jeremy Stephens defeated Gilbert Melendez by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26 and 30-25).

Next for the UFC is “UFC Fight Night 116” that will showcase the middleweight fight between former champion Luke Rockhold and David Branch in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 17 (Manila time).

In the Philippines, Cignal TV, the country’s foremost direct-to-home (DTH) company, is the home of the UFC after the two groups agreed to an extensive deal that will see the UFC beamed on various platforms.

Firms to be ‘opportunistic’ in tapping bond mart

By Krista A.M. Montealegre,
National Correspondent

CORPORATES embarked on US dollar debt deals that received overwhelming demand from investors hungry for Philippine investments, but future issuances in the dollar bond market will be “opportunistic,” an investment bank said.

BDO Unibank, Inc. raised $700 million from an offshore dollar bond issue on Aug. 31 before Ayala Corp. followed it up with another $400 million in senior notes, the first fixed-for-life corporate debt deal out of Southeast Asia, last week. Both issues were significantly oversubscribed.

“There is strong demand (as) Philippine issuers are far and few already. Issuers need to have a natural hedge to reduce foreign exchange risk,” BDO Capital and Investment Corp. President Eduardo V. Francisco said in a mobile phone message over the weekend.

Dollar debt deals from the Philippines, one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, have been scarce. The government is the lone issuer this year, with a $2-billion offer in January.

Corporates have been relying on the domestic fixed-income market and bank lending to support their funding requirements. Year to date, new listings at the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. reached P154.52 billion, 38% higher than the P109-billion value of total listings in 2016 and surpassing its P150-billion target for the entire year.

Corporates are seen to take a “more opportunistic” stance in tapping the US dollar bond market.

“If investors (are) willing to invest at really low spreads then other corporates will consider,” Mr. Francisco said.

Ayala Chief Finance Officer Jose Teodoro K. Limcaoco said in an interview last week the conglomerate tapped the dollar market to refinance maturing dollar-denominated loans and fund future dollar requirements.

“The currency matches,” Mr. Limcaoco said.

“People like to invest in Philippine names and there has been little Philippine names issuing bonds. It’s a testament to what people think of the Philippines,” he added.

The Ayala bonds is the first corporate fixed-for-life with no step-up (and reset) deal in the Philippines, which means the debt that has no maturity and the interest rate will never change. The principal for this bond will never be repaid to investors, but instead will have a stream of interest payments forever.

“It is a very unique instrument that the issuers has to be high quality and trusted by investors. Forever may be too much of an exaggeration, but you trust that Ayala will be there for a long time,” Mr. Limcaoco said.

Ayala is “done for now” with its fund-raising and is on track to spend the budgeted P185 billion for capital expenditures this year, Mr. Limcaoco said. 

The conglomerate announced in June a plan to raise as much as P30 billion through the sale of corporate bonds over a three-year period.

Cebu’s weekend food market to open daily in bigger venue

SUGBO MERCADO Food Bazaar, Inc., (SMFBI) will soon open a daily food bazaar to give Cebu’s home-based “foodtrepreneurs” an expanded venue to sell their products. SMFBI President John Paul Chiongbian said in a press conference last week that the company will open a 3,000-square meter food market, to be called The Market, at the North Reclamation Area (NRA). “We want to reinforce our advocacy in bringing up the entrepreneurial spirit of Cebuanos,” said Mr. Chiongbian. He added that a container-van food market concept is part of the expansion plans of SMFBI, which is celebrating its second year in business since opening the 1500-square meter Sugbo Mercado weekend food market at the Cebu Business Park. The new food park at the NRA is set to open in the first quarter of 2018, with slots for 25 exclusive tenants. “We are excited to announce our intent to enter Mandaue City with week-long operations and a themed setup in the burgeoning entertainment and lifestyle hub in the area,” said SMFBI Marketing and Communications Director Michael Karlo Lim. The company is also looking at opening a park in Mactan. In 2016, Sugbo Mercado was officially endorsed by the Department of Tourism-Central Visayas as Cebu’s “First Weekend Food Market.” — The Freeman

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