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Aquino to be charged over Mamasapano operation

OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio-Morales has affirmed the finding of probable cause to charge former president Benigno S.C. Aquino III before the Sandiganbayan for the Mamasapano operation of 2015, the Office of the Ombudsman said in a statement on Thursday, Sept. 14.

Mr. Aquino, the statement said, will face trial for one count of violation of Section 3(a) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) and one count of Usurpation of Official Functions (Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code).

The “botched 2015 Mamasapano operation,” as the Ombudsman’s statement describes that incident, was a police operation in pursuit of terror suspects that led to the slaughter of 44 members of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) by Muslim-Filipino rebels who had forged a peace deal with Mr. Aquino’s government. The aftermath of that operation led to the biggest crisis in Mr. Aquino’s presidency and stalled a planned autonomous region from his peace deal with the rebels.

In a Consolidated Order approved last Monday, Sept. 11, Ms. Morales denied the separate motions for reconsideration filed by Mr. Aquino and complainant Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and affirmed the findings in a Consolidated Resolution last June 13.

She said “President Aquino’s act of utilizing the services of the preventively suspended (Alan L.M.) Purisima for Oplan Exodus prior to and during its implementation, despite an OIC PNP Chief having been already designated, caused Purisima to perform under pretense of official position, the acts pertaining to the PNP Chief without being lawfully entitled to do so, in violation of Article 177 of the RPC on Usurpation of Official Functions.” It added that “President Aquino’s act of utilizing the services of Purisima for Oplan Exodus under the aforesaid circumstances constituted an act of persuading, inducing or influencing another public officer to perform acts constituting a violation of the order of preventive suspension and a commission of usurpation of official functions in violation of Section 3(a) of R.A. No. 3019.”

Mr. Aquino in his motion said all actions he carried out during the briefing for Oplan Exodus and its implementation were perfectly within the bounds of his powers and functions as the President. He noted, among other things, that “his only intent was to utilize the expertise of Purisima and not for Purisima to command or plan anything but just to help him understand what (SAF director Getulio P.) Napeñas (Jr.) and his people were talking about and that he was a passive receiver of information regarding an on-going operation.”

Mr. Aquino also claimed he was denied due process as he was not informed of the nature and cause of the accusations against him.

The VACC, on the other hand, claimed reckless imprudence and negligence on Mr. Aquino’s part in at least three instances: approving Oplan Exodus which was later found to have serious flaws; allowing a suspended officer to oversee the operation; and failing to send reinforcement and aid to the SAF 44 as they were besieged by anti-government forces.

The VACC, for its part, said Mr. Aquino’s negligence is the proximate cause of the deaths of 44 SAF soldiers within the contemplation of the law on reckless imprudence. Complainants added that the first act that set off the chain of events that led to the death of SAF 44 was President Aquino’s reckless imprudence and negligence in at least three instances (1) approving Oplan Exodus which was later found to have serious flaws; (2) allowing suspended Purisima to lead and oversee Oplan Exodus, tactically, strategically and operationally; and (3) failing to send reinforcement and aid to the SAF 44 as they were besieged by superior anti-government forces, until they died.

Ms. Morales, for her part, said the “theory that 44 counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide lie against respondents is clearly bereft of merit.”

The statement said: “In affirming the charges, the Ombudsman reiterated that ‘any negligence during the planning, preparation and actual implementation of Oplan Exodus was subsequently broken by the occurrence of an efficient intervening cause,’ which was the intentional act of shooting by the hostile forces. The Ombudsman added that ‘on certain points of law concerning the quasi-offense of reckless imprudence, the careless act is single whether the injurious result affects one person or several persons, and criminal negligence remains one and the same and cannot be split into different crimes and prosecutions.’ In other words, in an instance of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, only one count of Information may be filed against an accused regardless of the number of deaths involved, and only one penalty is imposed, not as many counts as the number of deaths.”

The Ombudsman also “highlighted that the prescribed penalty for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide as insisted to be filed by VACC is only four months and one day to four years and two months (except in an instance arising from the use of motor vehicle). On the other hand, Usurpation of Official Functions carries the penalty of six months and one day to four years and two months while the graft charge carries a penalty of imprisonment of six years and one month to fifteen years.”

Ms. Morales noted, contrary to Mr. Aquino’s claim, that “the evidence on record regarding the extent of Purisima’s actual participation…shows that he was certainly much more than a mere resource person.” The Ombudsman also junked Mr. Aquino’s claims that he was denied due process.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte had earlier belittled the Ombudsman’s case against Mr. Aquino as being designed to fail. He has also since criticized Ms. Morales for her “selective justice” in the exercise of her office. Ms. Morales was appointed by Mr. Aquino to her position and also stood as witness in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona as pursued by Mr. Aquino.

The Informations against Mr. Aquino are set to be filed before the Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman’s statement said.

Avoiding carmaggedon

By Zsarlene B. Chua, Reporter

“If we [were able] to solve the traffic problem in Metro Manila then that would [give us] a Nobel Peace Prize,” said Brian C. Gozun, dean of the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business at De La Salle University Manila, during a recent forum on transportation demand management (TDM).

While this was said partly in jest, it was telling of how massive the problem has become – in fact, during the one-day forum held at a coffee shop in Poblacion, Makati, two of the main resource persons were over an hour late mostly due to the ever-present heavy traffic at the main thoroughfares in the metropolis.

And solving it might really warrant such a prestigious prize since Metro Manila has been cited as having some of the worst traffic conditions in the world: in a 2015 article posted on its web site, Waze (the community-based GPS, traffic and navigation app), said that the Metro Manila has the “worst traffic in the world” with a traffic index score of 0.4 in urban areas, followed by Bandung, Indonesia with 0.5, and Guatemala with 0.6. The study covered 38 countries.

The same app pegged the average commute of a Filipino at 45.5 minutes, followed by Jakarta at 42.1. In contrast, in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, which had the best traffic index score, the average commute is 37.5 minutes.

Waze is not alone in showing what the denizens of Metro Manila go through every single day – the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2014 noted the country is losing P2.4 billion a day because of heavy traffic and warned it could balloon up to P6 billion a day by 2030 if not solved.

“Preliminary analysis in the study showed that the average low income group households have to spend no less than 20% of their monthly household income for transport. Without intervention, traffic demand will likely increase by 13% by 2030, and transport cost will be 2.5 times higher,” the report posted on its web site said.

Local data also showed that the metropolis is fast running out of usable roads for motor vehicles. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) noted in 2014 that there are only 1,032 km of national roads in the National Capital Region (NCR) serving 2.1 million registered cars at the time, which meant there is only a kilometer of road for every 2,000 cars.

That was back in 2014, and the number of cars has increased over time. As BusinessWorld motoring columnist Vernon Sarne mentioned in his Sept. 6 column, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) recorded 474,341 new vehicle registrations in 2016, 25% of which were in Metro Manila.

(In the same column, Mr. Sarne noted there are 3,723 km of local roads aside from the main roads but that most cars pass through the main arteries anyway so gridlock ensues.)

The government currently has in place several projects meant to alleviate traffic, most of which include building new road infrastructure including the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 project – meant to connect the South Luzon Expressway via Buendia, Makati to the North Luzon Expressway via Balintawak, Quezon City using a 14.8 km elevated expressway. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2019.

And then there’s the $7-billion Metro Manila Subway project which was approved by NEDA on Sept. 12. The subway system is meant to traverse Quezon City, Pasig, Makati, Taguig, and reach the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City. The project will be funded by a JICA loan with a targeted completion date of 2025.

But while the projects are all well and good, Marie Danielle V. Guillen of the German Corporation for International Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, or GIZ for short) remarked during the forum, “we can’t build our way out of congestion.”

TDM
So what do we do in the meantime while we wait for these projects come into fruition?

Well, according to Mr. Gozun and Ms. Guillen, people should start thinking about Transportation Demand Management because “there is really no one best solution to the traffic problem,” Mr. Gozun said.

Transportation Demand Management, TDM for short, is “the flipside to infrastructure,” according Mr. Gozun in his presentation.

“It focuses on understanding how people make their transportation decisions and helping people use the infrastructure in place for transit, ridesharing, biking, and tele-working,” he added.

His Powerpoint presentation noted that TDM is “cost-effective in guiding the design of our transportation and physical infrastructure so that alternatives to driving are naturally encouraged and our systems are better balanced.”

The goal of TDM is to “maximize the efficiency of an urban transport system by promoting more effective, healthy, and environment friendly modes. And discouraging unnecessary public vehicle use,” said Ms. Guillen.

TDM measures are meant to influence whether, why, when, where and how people travel, motivating them to shift their modes of travel (walk, cycle, take transit, rideshare), make fewer trips (shop online, telecommute), and drive more efficiently (do several things on each trip, avoid peak traffic hours and congested routes).

Cities such as Guelph in Canada and Seattle in the USA, among many others, have applied strategies in order to keep on “moving people and goods rather than motor vehicles,” according to the Seattle Mobility Plan published on the city’s web site in 2008.

Several TDM strategies include congestion pricing (as Singapore does), flextime/telecommuting, and car-free planning.

The strategies include the improvement of transport options (e.g. walking and cycling improvements, rideshare/commute trip reduction programs, carsharing services, and guaranteed ride home programs, among others), economic measures (e.g. the aforementioned congestion pricing, distance-based fees, parking pricing and regulations, fuel tax increases), smart growth and land use policies (transit-oriented development, parking management, car-free planning, transport planning reforms, among others), and other programs like school and campus transport management, freight transport, and tourist transport management.

In Metro Manila, while there are a lot of options for transportation aside from private cars like the MRT/LRT, buses, jeeps, tricycles, and UV Express (though their reliability and safety can be a concern), both Mr. Gozun and Ms. Guillen advocate the shift from motorized to non-motorized modes of transport like cycling.

“The funny thing here is, cycling is a good recreational sport. A lot of people do cycling for recreation… but [they] don’t use bicycles to go to work. Some people are okay with cycling as a sport but cycling [is not used] for utilitarian purposes,” said Mr. Gozun.

He acknowledged, citing a 2008 study he authored alongside Ms. Guillen, that despite the benefits of cycling and other non-motorized modes of transportation as a way to commute, there are barriers to their use that are still relevant now, including “unavailability of bicycles, inability to use bicycles, security issues, and a perceived hostile environment.” But he maintained that cycling is a good way to avoid traffic and stakeholders should look into this option to lessen the traffic build-up.

Ms. Guillen, meanwhile, noted that several cities are taking such initiatives, pointing to Marikina which has branded itself as a “cycling city” after adding bike lanes to existing roads in 2000.

(Of course, the Marikina initiative isn’t fool-proof as just last year, Lorelie Melevo died after being run over by a dump truck while cycling along a bike lane on Mayor Gil Fernando St. in Marikina.)

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2014 proposed that all roads to be constructed should come with bike lanes. The initial proposal included four meters of side walk and four-meter bike lanes, though consultations with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) pared the numbers down to one meter each.

Among other initiatives in Metro Manila’s cities include Pasig City’s “Carless Sundays” which, as it name suggests, prohibits motorized vehicles from plying the usually busy streets such as F. Ortigas Jr. Ave. every Sunday from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. The program started in 2012.

“There is a need to promote the use of non-motorized transportation, specially biking, as an alternative healthy and environmentally sound mode of transportation which could also reinforce the Pasig Green City initiatives, conserve foreign exchange, and promote small and medium scale enterprises,” said a city ordinance quoted by GMA Network on its web site in 2012.

Again, these might all be band-aids to the great yawning cut that is the traffic problem in Metro Manila, but these band-aids – while not perfect – might be able to influence a greater movement that would save everyone from Carmaggedon.

JRU notches 7th win after beating Letran

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter

THE Jose Rizal University (NCAA) Heavy Bombers strengthened their hold of solo third place in the standings of Season 93 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) yesterday with a gutsy victory over the Letran Knights, 77-68.

Absorbed a tough loss in their last game, the Kalentong-based JRU made sure not to fall for a second straight time just as it gave its tournament push a favor by notching its seventh win in 11 matches, on track for a Final Four spot if it gets to sustain its form.

The contest got off to a competitive start with the protagonists fighting to a 12-all stalemate at the end of the first quarter.

The Heavy Bombers though would make a spirited run in the second canto, led by guard Teytey Teodoro and Ervin Grospe, to seize command of the match.

JRU steadily built a lead as the frame progressed, outscoring Letran, 24-15, to create a 36-27 cushion by the halftime break.

The Vergel Meneses-coached Heavy Bombers maintained their dominance over the Muralla-based Knights early in the third canto, building a 14-point lead, 48-34, in the first five minutes.

They would use it as a jump-off point to hold sway as the quarter drew to a close, 58-45.

Letran upped its intensity in the fourth quarter, knowing that it had to double its efforts if it was to come back in the game.

The Knights cut down their deficit to eight points, 66-58, with four minutes remaining in the game.

JRU, however, answered with five quick points after to stretch their lead anew with the game down to its last two minutes.

It was an advantage that the Heavy Bombers would not let their hands slip away from en route to winning the match.

Teodoro and Grospe each had 15 points for JRU with guards Jed Mendoza and Mark dela Virgen finishing with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

For Letran (5-6) it was JP Calvo who led the way with 21 points. Rey Nambatac had 14 points while Bong Quinto had a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.

“We just focused on our end-game composure. Last time around we were not able to do it and that did it for us against Arellano. This time around we made sure that we would not be rattled to come up with the win,” said Teodoro, named player of the game after.

“It’s a big win for us but we must continue taking it one game at a time and stick to the game plan of Coach Vergel,” he added.

Meanwhile, the NCAA caps off the week with a triple-header also at the FilOil Flying V Centre today.

Opening game at 12 noon will see league-leading and still unbeaten Lyceum Pirates (11-0) battle the Arellano Chiefs (4-6).

Next will be the encounter between the Perpetual Help Altas and College of St. Benilde Blazers at 2 p.m.

The final game at 4 p.m. will be the collision of defending champions San Beda Red Lions and Season 93 hosts and rivals San Sebastian Stags.

Motivated Diaz, Alora to compete at 2017 AIMAG

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter

THE 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) will begin this weekend in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, with Filipino Olympians Hidilyn Diaz and Kirstie Elaine Alora bannering the Philippines’ campaign.

Part of the country’s 100-plus delegation, both women said they are very determined to come up with a podium finish in their respective events to bring pride and honor to the country and at the same time provide further “motor” to do what they are doing.

Admitting to having a difficult time getting back to the grind of training after the long layoff she had after her silver medal-winning performance in last year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 26-year-old weightlifter Diaz said that the about-to-begin indoor tournament carries much weight as far as her career goes not only for now but for the future as well.

“It is really challenge. After one year this will be my comeback. So during training there were a lot of questions on my part if I still have it in me. Whether I can match or even double what I did in Rio. I put a lot of sacrifices and discipline as I prepare for the AIMAG, so we will see,” Ms. Diaz shared to sportswriters at a luncheon meeting last week hosted by the College of St. Benilde, where Ms. Diaz is a Business Management student.

“I’m not really pressured of what others can do but it is more of me. I relaxed for four months after Rio so the comeback is filled with a lot of questions like what I have said. I really have to work hard to sustain the strength and discipline,” added Ms. Diaz, who also shared that she is using the 2017 AIMAG as one of the gauges if she would compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

But the competitor that she is, Ms. Diaz said the goal is always to do well in every competition she joins in.

“My goal is to have a podium finish, particularly to finish first. Some of my competitors in Rio will be there and I have seen them on their social media posts how they have been training hard. It’s a challenge but I’m willing to take it on,” said the Olympic medallist who is set to begin her campaign at the AIMAG in the women’s -53 kilogram (kg.) event on Sept. 19.

PAYBACK FOR ALORA
While Ms. Diaz had her struggles early in training, the case is the not the same for taekwondo jin Alora, who is to enter the AIMAG not lacking in motivation especially after the tough experience she had in the recent Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Ms. Alora, an Olympian in Rio in 2016, lost in the finals of the women’s kyorugi -73 kg. category to Cambodian Sorn Seavmey, 13-6, something that she is aching to make up for at the AIMAG.

The loss marked the fourth time that Ms. Alora, a Benildean alumna, lost to Ms. Seavmey in various tournaments.

“The loss hurt which was why I did not waste much time going back to training as soon as I got back from the SEA Games,” said Ms. Alora also during the luncheon meeting.

“I want to do well and beat Seavmey if I get to face her along the away. The SEA Games was a learning experience and I’m bent on using the lessons from it to do well in the competition,” added Ms. Alora, who is also to compete on Sept. 19 in the women’s -73 kg. category.

The 2017 AIMAG will run until Sept. 27.

Influential business group flags series of impeachment cases

THE INFLUENTIAL Makati Business Club (MBC) in a statement on Thursday, Sept. 14, flagged the series of impeachment cases of late that the group warned may have an “unfavorable impact” on the government’s socioeconomic agenda.

“The Makati Business Club remains steadfast in its position that an impeachment process is a vital part of the country’s democratic system of checks and balances,” the group said, adding:

“However, we are deeply concerned over the unprecedented number of impeachment complaints lodged against high-ranking officials from the President, the Supreme Court Chief Justice, the Ombudsman and the COMELEC (Commission on Elections).”

“We believe that the impeachment process engraved in the Constitution must not be invoked arbitrarily to persecute and silence individuals with opposing views, nor to undermine independent institutions, the bulwark of our nation’s democracy,”

“The impeachment cases must be substantiated by strong evidence of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption or other high crimes, and not supported by mere accusations or anecdotes,” the group also said.

“We also wish to express serious concern over the implications of impeachment cases on our nation’s development.”

“We worry that these would divert the attention of Congress away from addressing the heavy legislative agenda which, in turn, will have an unfavorable impact to the attainment of the government’s ten-point socioeconomic agenda.”

“Undoubtedly, impeachment cases will also negatively affect investors’ perception to the economic and political stability of our country. As such, we respectfully remind Congress to be judicious in applying this ultimate accountability tool and to treat this as a weapon of last resort, as our Constitution intends it to be.”

Despite its character as being essentially a business organization, the MBC, founded in 1981, has also taken an active civic role in the country’s modern history — beginning with the aftermath of the Aquino assassination in 1983, when the Central Business District of Makati became the new Plaza Miranda of street protests against the Marcos dictatorship, to the later chapters of the Estrada and Arroyo administrations.

Luke Rockhold takes on David Branch at UFC Fight Night 116

FORMER Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion Luke Rockhold returns to the Octagon on Sunday (Manila time) where he will take on David Branch in the main event of “UFC Fight Night 116.”

To take place at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mr. Rockhold (15-3) makes his UFC comeback after losing the middleweight gold to reigning champion Michael Bisping in June last year.

In losing the belt by knockout (punches) in the opening round, Mr. Rockhold saw his title reign come to an abrupt end after securing the belt in his previous fight over Chris Weidman.

Against Mr. Branch (21-3), the former champ and currently number three-ranked fighter in the division aims to get his career back on track after suffering an injury that derailed his supposed UFC return in November against Ronaldo Souza.

Mr. Branch (#9), meanwhile, is out to extend his 11-fight winning streak.

His last win was over Krzysztof Jotko by split decision last May. Other fights in UFC Fight Night 116 are welterweight Mike “Platinum” Perry against Alex “Pitbull” Reyes, middleweight Hector “Showeather”Lombard vs. Anthony “Lionheart” Smith, lightweight Gregor “The Gift” Gillespie versus Jason “Nicoya” Gonzalez, welterweight Kamaru “Nigerian Nightmare” Usman (#13) against Sergio “The Panther” Moraes, and heavyweight Justin “El Blanco” Ledet versus Zu “8th Wonder” Anyanwu.

UFC Fight Night 116: Rockhold vs. Branch will be shown live on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. over Hyper Ch. 91 in SD or 261 in HD on Cignal TV. Replay is at 6 p.m. on the same day.

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. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Stakeholders in wage increase petition bare P21 hike in NCR

A P21 INCREASE on top of the existing P491 daily minimum wage for workers in Metro Manila was approved on Thursday, Sept. 14, according to a labor alliance and two stakeholders who took part in the vote in the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).

But an official of the board who was sought for comment to confirm this development has not replied as of Thursday evening.

Also sought for comment, Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECoP) President Donald G. Dee in a telephone interview said he voted against the proposed increase.

Mr. Dee said “nobody (is) happy” with the increase. “Labor says they will go to PRRD (President Rodrigo R. Duterte), (and) on employer side, we will be making proposals to improve the purchasing power of the peso.”

“What I am saying is we cannot put (the) burden of all inefficiency in our economy on wages,” Mr. Dee also said, adding:

“If we do not correct this situation, we cannot expect to get more investments.”

Affirming Mr. Dee’s remarks about Mr. Duterte’s possible assistance, spokesperson Alan A. Tanjusay of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) said in a statement: “We have no other choice but to come and ask President Duterte to grant our long-standing request…to provide a P500 monthly CCT (Conditional Cash Transfer)-like cash voucher subsidy to minimum-waged workers who helped build our high economic growth.”

“The P21 increase in daily wage remains insufficient for families to cope with rising prices of goods and increasing costs of goods. P21 is only 4.27% of the current P491. So it obviously did not lift workers out of poverty. Workers who helped built a high economic growth of 6.9% average Gross Domestic Product do not deserve this very small amount,” he added.

TUCP Vice-President Angelita D. Senorin, who also took part in the vote, said in a text message “the increase is inadequate to the needs of the workers.”

“But remember that the board is a collegial body and in this case labor is always minority. The increase amount is based on the latest CPI (consumer price index) and IR (inflation rate) presented by NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority),” she added.

Also sought for comment, TUCP General Emeritus Cedric R. Bagtas said in an online message: “The regional board missed an opportunity to escape from the flawed decades-old wage determination tied only to keeping in step with inflation.”

Last June, ALU-TUCP and another labor alliance, the Association of Minimum Wage Earners and Advocates-Philippine Trade and General Workers Organizations, petitioned, respectively, for an across-the-board wage increase of P184, and an across-the-board increase of P175 in four tranches. TUCP had also filed a separate petition of P259 for all workers including those inthe Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (BMBE). — Mario M. Banzon

PFL-leading Meralco Sparks return to action in Cebu

OUT of action in the Philippines Football League (PFL) for three weeks, league-leading FC Meralco Manila Sparks resume their campaign tomorrow in Cebu City when they collide with host side Global Cebu FC.

Sporting a league-best 12-4-2 record and 40 points, the Sparks are out to create further separation from second-running Global (9-6-4 and 33 points) when they face each other at 4 p.m. at the Cebu City Sports Complex (CCSC).

Meralco enters the contest off a 1-1 draw with JPV Marikina FC on Aug. 23, a result that stopped for the Sparks a string of four straight wins.

The long tournament break resulted from the recent international break to allow some PFL players to fulfill their national team duties.

Heading back to the pitch anew, the Sparks said they are very excited, more so they are facing a team like Global whom they have met twice in the season already but have not had much success against with to date.

In their first encounter in July, the two teams fought to a 2-2 draw while Global claimed the second game in August, 2-1.

“This is an important match for the players and the club,” said Meralco coach Aris Caslib in the lead-up.

“We have to manage their fast and good players up front as well as their quality defenders. This is an important stage in the league for our team. Everyone knows the September campaign is crucial and it starts with the game against Global Cebu. Everyone has to step up and focus,” he added.

Looking to spoil Meralco’s visit is Global, a 3-1 winner over Davao Aguilas FC last Wednesday in Cebu.

Brazilian Wesley Dos Santos (24’), Darryl Roberts (62’) and Paolo Salenga (71’) provided the goals for Global in the win in front of its home fans, which towed the team to solo second spot in the newly formed national football league.

“This morale-boosting win is a testament that Global can achieve anything as long as we play as a team,” Global Cebu skipper Misagh Bahadoran said after the game.

Tickets for the Meralco-Global match are priced at P20 for the grandstand, P100 for premium seats and P200 for the VIP area and are available at the Cebu Football Association office right beside CCSC. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Senate committee approves Defense budget, but could propose realignment of police intel funds to military

By Mario M. Banzon

THE SENATE finance subcommittee approved the 2018 proposed budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) on Thursday, but senators raised doubts the agency would have enough funds for intelligence operations.

The subcommittee, chaired by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, green-lighted the proposed budget of P195.476 billion, of which P144.679 billion would be the regular fund and only about P1.5 billion for intelligence.

Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV pointed out that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) only has an increase in intel funds of P220 million for next year, less than half of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) P500 million hike.

“Mas mabigat ang problema ngayon sa Mindanao and other security threats gaya nung sa West Philippine Sea kaya I believe na mas kailangan madagdagan ‘yung intel funds ng AFP (The problem in Mindanao and other security threats like the one in the West Philippine Sea are bigger, that’s why I believe that AFP should have additional intel funds),” Mr. Trillanes said in an interview with Senate reporters.

Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, in an interview after the hearing, said the DND already has “something like P1.5 billion” for intelligence fund in 2018, including the P220 million increase.

“Yun na-approve na budget namin (That is what has been approved), so we have to live with it, so okay na ‘yun,” he said.

Mr. Lacson also found the AFP’s intelligence fund lacking.

“Hindi enough ‘yan. (That’s not enough) We really need to buy more intelligence information. Kulang talaga (It’s not sufficient),” he said in a separate interview after the deliberation.

REALIGNMENT
Mr. Lacson advised Mr. Trillanes to bring the matter up to Senator Loren B. Legarda, chair of the committee on finance.

“After all, I’m not the one defending the budget of the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) family. Sa akin ang DND. So ako (me), I have no objection,” Mr. Lacson said.

The police is under the DILG.

He also pointed out that realignment of funds from the PNP to the AFP is subject to the approval of the plenary.

“It will be put into a motion kung pwede i-realign (if it is possible to realign) the P900 million, and if approved in the plenary, we will still have to deal with the bicameral (joint House of Representatives and Senate),” he explained.

In another matter, Mr. Trillanes also asked Mr. Lorenzana about a certain “rumor” concerning Mr. Trillanes himself. According to the rumor, which came from a forum of military academy graduates, Mr. Trillanes is recruiting men in preparation for a coup.

Mr. Lorenzana said that he has not heard of such rumors and denied that the DND is conducting any investigation on the matter.

Mr. Lorenzana added that there is nothing to worry about as there are no reports of destabilization plots.

AboitizPower prepares bid for Masinloc plant

By Victor V. Saulon, Sub-Editor

ABOITIZ POWER Corp. is in the advanced stage of preparing its bid for AES Corp.’s controlling stake in the 630-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Masinloc, Zambales, its top official said.

“We’re studying (the AES asset). It’s very advanced,” Antonio R. Moraza, AboitizPower president and chief operating officer, told reporters on Wednesday night on the sidelines of a media gathering.

In July, AES Corp. was reported to be looking to sell its stake in the plant in a deal that potentially values the asset at $1 billion, at least. The company is said to be unloading assets to pay debts.

Although the company has not yet reached a stage when it has placed a value for the Masinloc power plant, Mr. Moraza remains interested.

“We’re interested,” he said. “If it’s a power project in the Philippines, or if anything is for sale, we’re interested.”

Mr. Moraza expects stiff competition in bidding for the plant, saying there are more than 15 groups interested.

“It’s big, quite large… plus there’s expansion potential. So I guess everybody is [interested],” he said. “Given the size, even the international players would be [interested]… They want something sizable.”

Asked about when he expects the bidding to be completed, he said: “I’m under the impression before the end of the year.”

Mr. Moraza also said that the company would make the bid on its own, without a partner.

Separately, Erramon I. Aboitiz, chief executive officer of AboitizPower, said: “I think AES is going through a process, so I guess we have to wait for that and to hear from them.”

This year, AboitizPower expects to finish the 68.8-MW Manolo Fortich hydro power plant in Bukidnon and the 8.5-MW Maris Canal hydro project in Isabela through its subsidiary SN AboitizPower.

Together with partners, it is also completing the 340-MW Therma Visayas, Inc. baseload power plant in Toledo, Cebu and the 400-MW Pagbilao Energy Corp. plant expansion. It is commissioning an 8.8-MW biomass power plant in Lian, Batangas.

AboitizPower has one of the widest portfolios of energy sources in the country. It has a significant array of renewable power plants — geothermal, large hydro, run-of-river hydro, and solar power plants.

The company operates a number of coal power plants for baseload capacity and oil-fired power plants for reliable peaking supply.

The company is pursuing projects in coal, geothermal and biomass to meet its target of achieving 4,000-MW net sellable capacity by 2020.

Shares in AboitizPower slipped 1.47% or 60 centavos to P40.10 apiece on Thursday.

Fil-Aussie Jason Day replaces bag carrier Col Swatton but will remains as his mentor

CHICAGO — Australia’s Jason Day became the latest high-profile golfer to split with his caddie, but said his long association with Col Swatton is far from over.

On the eve of the BMW Championship at Conway Farms near Chicago, Day said Swatton had been a “bit shocked” at the news, after carrying the 29-year-old Australian’s bag for all of his career.

“Unfortunately it just didn’t work out,” Day said. “I’m trying to find my footing here. I had to do it at some point.”

Day’s dominance from late 2015 through the first half of 2016 saw him capture a first career major and rise to number one in the world.

But a lackluster 2017 campaign has seen him slide to ninth in the world.

Day said Swatton would remain as his coach, but his friend, Luke Reardon, will be on the bag this week.

“He’s not out of my world one bit,” Day said of Swatton. “I’m hoping things move forward with us like they always have… because we both love each other like family.”

In June, five-time major winner Phil Mickelson split with caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay after 25 years.

And last month former world number one Rory McIlroy parted with his longtime caddie J.P. Fitzgerald. — AFP

DPWH, JICA to ​expand PHL highway network master plan

THE JAPAN International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will develop an expanded highway network master plan that is intended to ease traffic congestion along national roads and boost investments in the regions.

DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar and JICA Philippines Office Chief Representative Susumo Ito yesterday signed the Records of Discussion (RD) for the second phase of the JICA-assisted High Standard Highway (HSH) Network Development Master Plan, a follow-up on the master plan drafted in 2010.

The first study covered areas within the 200-kilometer radius from Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and the Tagum-Davao-General Santos Corridor in Mindanao.

The new HSH plan will cover the entire Philippines and identify infrastructure projects that could be implemented until 2040.

“The project complements the Build, Build, Build program of the Duterte administration as it will define a comprehensive and quality highway network and infrastructure priorities in the entire Philippines, and revitalize economic activities at the regional level,” said Mr. Ito in a statement released by JICA.

The study will also factor in resilience against disasters and hazards as presented in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan 2011-2028.

“Through this initiative, JICA also aims to support the Philippines in building resiliency against natural disasters since the study will promote quality infrastructure, and identify emergency routes and road network redundancy,” he said.

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