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SWS survey shows crime down but fear remains

PROPERTY CRIMES and victimization by common crimes fell to a record low of 3.1% and 3.7%, respectively, whereas physical violence was at a steady 0.6% in the past six months, according to the Social Weather Stations’ (SWS) Second Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey.

The survey was conducted from June 23 to 26, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide, 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao (with sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, and ±6% for each of the said regions).

The survey found a record-low 3.1% (or an estimated 706,000) of families losing property to street robbery, burglars (break-ins), or carnappers within the past six months. “This is 3.2 points below the 6.3% (est. 1.4 million) in [March] 2017, and is 1.4 points below the previous record-low 4.5% (est. 1.0 million) in December 2016,” SWS said.

The survey also found 0.6% (est. 149,000) of families with members hurt by physical violence within the past six months, similar to 0.7% (est. 155,000) in March, 0.7% (est. 166,000) in December last year, and 0.7% (est. 162,000) in September last year, the polling group said.

“This yields a record-low 3.7% (est. 840,000) of families reporting victimization by any of the common crimes. This is 3.1 points below the 6.8% (est. 1.6 million) in March 2017, and is 1.2 points lower than the previous record-low of 4.9% (est. 1.1 million) in December 2016,” SWS added.

The group noted further that, except in March 2013 when it was at 10.5%, victimization of families by any common crime was at single-digit levels from March 2012 to June 2017, with the new record-low of 3.7% last June.

STREET ROBBERY, BREAK-INS
The survey found a 3-point decrease of families victimized by street robbery during the past six months, from 5.3% (est. 1.2 million) in March to a new record-low 2.3% (est. 525,000) in June. This is 1 point below the previous record-low 3.3% (est. 754,000) in December last year, SWS noted.

The survey also found 1.1% (est. 260,000) of families victimized by break-ins, 0.8 points below the 1.9% (est. 435,000) in March.

Of families owning any type of motor vehicle, the survey found that 0.2% (est. 21,000) were robbed of it in the past six months, down by 0.8 points from 1% (est. 83,000) in March.

Families robbed of their personal property outside their homes in the past six months fell by 7.7 points in Metro Manila, from 12% in March 2017 to a new record low of 4.3% in June 2017. SWS said this surpassed the previous record low of 6.7% in March 2000, June 2015, and December 2016.

Quarterly victimization by street robbery fell by 3 points in Balance Luzon, from 4.3% in March to 1.3% in June.

It fell by 1.7 points in the Visayas, from 4.7% in March to 3% in June; and by 1.3 points in Mindanao, from 3.7% in March to 2.3% in June.

In Mindanao, the survey did not find any case of families victimized by break-ins — which were down from 2.3% in March, surpassing the previous record low of 0.7% in September 2007 and June 2008 for this area.

Quarterly victimization by break-ins fell by 0.7 points in Balance Luzon, from 1.7% in March to 1% in June.

It remained steady in Metro Manila at 3.7% last March and June.

However, it rose by 0.3 points in the Visayas, from 0.7% in March to 1% in June.

Families with any member hurt from physical violence in the past six months fell by 0.7 points in the Visayas, from 1.0% in March to 0.3% in June.

Quarterly victimization by physical violence in Metro Manila fell by 0.3 points from 1.3% in March 2017 to 1% in June.

It was unchanged in Mindanao, having been at 0.7% since December 2016. No incidences of physical violence were found in the Mindanao sample in September 2016.

FEAR OF CRIMES
Except for Metro Manila and, also in terms of fear of unsafe streets, Balance Luzon, fear of burglaries and unsafe streets has risen elsewhere, according to the survey.

Families fearing burglaries fell by 3 points in Metro Manila, from 65% in March to 62% in June, the survey said.

However, it rose by 11 points in Mindanao, from 49% in March to 61% in June, and rose by 2 points in the Visayas, from 48% in March to 50% in June.

It also rose by 1 point in Balance Luzon, from 60% in March to 61% in June.

Families fearing unsafe streets fell by 3 points in Metro Manila, from 54% in March to 51% in June.

It also fell by 2 points in Balance Luzon, from 54% in March to 52% in June. However, it rose by 13 points in Mindanao, from 42% in March to 55% in June

It rose by 1 point in the Visayas, from 47% in March to 48% in June.

DRUG ADDICTS, CARNAPPING
The presence of drug addicts fell by 11 points in Metro Manila, from 65% in March to 54% in June. It fell by 9 points in Balance Luzon, from 57% in March to 48% in June.

However, it rose by 4 points in Mindanao, from 44% in March to 48% in June. It also rose by 3 points in the Visayas, from 40% in March to 43% in June.

Vehicle-owning families who experienced carnapping fell by 1.4 points in Metro Manila, from 3.4% in March to 2% in June.

The June 2017 sample had no case of carnapping in the Visayas. Except for the 0.8% in December 2016, there have been no case in the Visayas sample since April 2016.

The sample also had no case of carnapping in Balance Luzon. It fell from 0.9% in March to zero in June. Prior to the 0.9% in March, there were no cases of carnapping in the Balance Luzon sample for three consecutive quarters in 2016.

There was also no case of carnapping in the Mindanao sample in June 2017, down from 0.8% in March.

Since 1989, SWS has been asking respondents of each quarterly survey whether any household member became a victim of street robbery, home break-in, or violence in the past six months.

SWS said it added motor vehicle theft to its list of crimes specifically monitored, beginning 1992.

The polling group also noted that victimization by common crimes reported in its surveys is much higher than the number of crimes actually reported to the police.

Sought for comment, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella said “the government’s successful campaign against crimes and illegal drugs continues to be felt by our people.”

“Indeed much more progress has been achieved in ensuring public safety in the first year of the Duterte administration; however, much more needs to be done, especially in making sure that our streets, neighborhoods, and communities are kept permanently safe, not only within Metro Manila but also in the rest of the country,” he added.

Ramon C. Casiple, Executive Director of Institute for Political and Electoral Reform said in a text message that although “there are too many variables involved to have judgment, the anti-drug campaign seems to impact on the general peace and order situation.”

“However, there is not much significance in the figures cited, either negative or positive,” he added. — Rosemarie A. Zamora

SWS survey shows crime down but fear remains

Hontiveros says Aguirre plotting against her

AKBAYAN SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Monday called for the resignation of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, whom she accused of plotting to file cases against her.

In a privileged speech, Ms. Hontiveros presented as evidence a digital photo of Mr. Aguirre sending text messages during the Senate hearing on the killing of Kian Loyd delos Santos last Tuesday (Sept. 5). The senator said that when the picture was enlarged, it revealed that Mr. Aguirre was texting a certain “Cong. Jing” who said that, “Naturuan na ni Hontiveros ang testigo [Hontiveros has coached the witness]. Her questions are leading questions.” Mr. Aguirre responded by saying that, “yon nga sinasabi ko dito [That’s what I’m saying here]. Very obvious. Kaya nga expedite natin ang cases niyo vs her [That’s why we must expedite your cases against her].”

Ms. Hontiveros said that her office obtained the photo from an anonymous source who took a picture of Mr. Aguirre and inadvertently captured the text message exchange on the phone of the Justice secretary. The senator said she consulted with several photography experts, who all confirmed the authenticity of the digital photo.

The senator said that according to her office’s investigation, the “Cong. Jing” Aguirre was texting is former Negros Oriental Representative Jacinto “Jing” Paras. He is also a member of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC).

It was reported that VACC is the same group that filed impeachment raps against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.

“Is the DoJ Secretary plotting a case against a sitting Senator while a Senate proceeding is going on, right inside the Senate session hall? Is Secretary Aguirre accusing me of witness manipulation? Kung kaya ito gawin ng Justice secretary sa isang sitting Senator, ano pa kaya sa ibang mga mamamayang Pilipino? The culture of political vindictiveness that allows Justice secretaries to make a mockery of justice springs from the same poisonous well that encourages policemen to plant evidence, fabricate stories about their targets, and become cold-blooded killers,” Ms. Hontiveros said.

“Siya po (Aguirre) ay nakikipagkuntsabahan sa isang grupo para magsampa ng kaso – kaso na opisina din niya ang magpapasya kung may probable cause o wala. There are no words for this kind of lutong Macau,” Ms. Hontiveros added.

Ms. Hontiveros said this supports the growing perception that cases are being filed against members of the opposition in order to silence and harass them. “Hindi ako magtataka kung sa mga susunod na araw ay may mga kaso nang isasampa laban sa akin si Justice secretary o ang kanyang mga galamay sa VACC [I won’t be surprised if in the next few days, charges are filed against me by the Justice Secretary or his minions in VACC]. If the Justice secretary wants to file cases against me, see you in court, Mr. Aguirre!” she said.

Ms. Hontiveros said that several days after Mr. Aguirre texted Mr. Paras, a standoff ensued between Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who has given sanctuary to the minor witnesses in the Kian delos Santos killing, and the VACC and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

The VACC tried to acquire custody of the child witnesses by pressuring the father of one of the witnesses, who had been in the custody of the CIDG. At first, the father wanted his children to leave the Catholic Church’s custody. However, after the father and children had met, and after a long-distance call to his OFW wife in Oman, the father decided that he wanted to leave police custody and join his children under the Church’s protection.

“Why does the Aguirre-supported VACC, with the aid of the CIDG, want to take custody of witnesses who don’t want to be with them in the first place? First, it was PAO, now it’s them. Are they using the custody and protection of some of the witnesses to muddle the search for truth and justice in the Kian killing?” Ms. Hontiveros asked.

She said Mr. Aguirre’s behavior is unethical and unbecoming of a member of the civil service.

“Secretary Aguirre is in violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. He undermines our justice system, and his continued stay in office is a vulgar insult to the Filipino people and our efforts for a more just society. All these lead me to the conclusion that there is no other respectable option but to call on the Justice Secretary to resign,” Ms. Hontiveros concluded. — interaksyon.com

Faeldon surrenders but keeps off Senate inquiry

ABOUT THREE hours into the Senate blue ribbon committee’s eighth public hearing on illegal drugs, resigned Customs chief Nicanor E. Faeldon surrendered to the Senate Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms (OSAA) on Monday, Sept. 11.

Mr. Faeldon, who has been cited in contempt for being a no-show at the Senate inquiry since last week, went directly to the OSAA and did not, as he had previously stated, participate in the committee’s investigation. The committee has been looking into the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China last May and the related corruption at the Bureau of Customs as tackled by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson’s recent privileged speech linking as well Mr. Faeldon.

Upon being informed of Mr. Faeldon’s arrival, Richard J. Gordon, committee chairman, called for a recess so he could talk to the former Customs chief.

“Sabi niya respetado naman niya ang Senado at handa siya na mag-stay dito at makulong at hahabulin daw niya sa korte. Pero ang pakiramdam niya habang nandito hindi siya mananagot dito dahil ang mga senador ay may mga karapatan tulad ng privilege speech,” Mr. Gordon said.

(Mr. Faeldon said he respects the Senate and that he is ready to stay here. He will just pursue his case in court. He just felt however that while he is here, he wouldn’t be able to defend himself because of the senators’ privileged speeches.)

Mr. Gordon added that if Mr. Faeldon felt maligned by a senator’s privileged speech, he has the right to file an ethics case. The senator also noted that Mr. Faeldon will be detained until he decides to cooperate.

“He was very respectful. He said I came here. I don’t defy the Senate and I respect the Senate except the two,” Mr. Gordon said, quoting Mr. Faeldon. According to the senator, Mr. Faeldon was referring to Mr. Lacson and Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV, who said accused Mr. Faeldon of being at the “heart of the BoC controversy.”

Mr. Gordon further stated that it is the committee which will decide on where to detain Mr. Faeldon.

“Nasa committee ‘yun. I will not take it upon myself. Puwede kong pananagutan na he is in contempt,” he said.

For his part, Mr. Lacson said: “Ang kinuquestion niya di lang batas kundi Saligang Batas. Maliwanag sa Section 11, Article 6 ng Constitution na kami, di kami pwede ma-held liable sa aming mga speeches, sa debate, sa plenaryo man o sa committee, sa pag-pursue ng aming mandated duties,” Mr. Lacson said. (He is questioning not only the law but the Constitution. It is clear in Section 11, Article 6 of the Constitution that we are not liable for our speeches, in the debates, in the plenary or in the committee, as we pursue our mandated duties.)

Mr. Lacson said he has complete documentation on the charges that he said he will file against Mr. Faeldon and other Customs personnel. “Sabihin na nating kumpleto ang documentation (Let’s just say our documentation is complete). Fina-finalize na lang namin (We are finalizing) and we are about to draft the complaint I will lodge before the Office of the Ombudsman against Faeldon and some other Customs personnel,” he said.

Mr. Trillanes, for his part, said: “Alam ninyo ako nakulong ako e (You know I’ve been jailed before). Kahit na magkaiba ‘yung opinion namin (Even if we have differences in opinion), I wouldn’t wish that to my enemies.”

‘QUICK CONVERSATION’
On Monday’s hearing, Ret. Brig. Gen. Allen A. Capuyan, Assistant General Manager for Security and Emergency Services of the Manila International Airport Authority; and Ret. Capt. Milo Maestrecampo, former director of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) Import Assessment Services (IAS), denied their involvement in the smuggling and bribery inside the BoC.

Earlier in the hearing, Mr. Gordon showed text messages between broker Mark Ruben G. Taguba II and the contact he has identified as a certain Tita Nanie, implicating Messrs. Capuyan and Maestrecampo as part of the so-called “tara” bribery system. Senate protection for Mr. Taguba had been removed but was restored on Monday. For his part, he claimed that he had given a P1-million check to Tita Nanie as intended payment for Mr. Capuyan, which the latter denied at the hearing. Mr. Taguba did not state, however, the recipient he wrote on the check.

But Mr. Capuyan acknowledged that he had met Mr. Taguba through Tita Nanie and Jojo Bacud, whom he had worked with. According to Mr. Capuyan, Mr. Taguba sought his help regarding the entry of his shipments.

“It was a quick conversation since there were other people at the table whom I needed to talk to about airport matters…If I am not mistaken, it was a certain Nanie talking about his (sic) concern at Customs. Out of courtesy to the people around, I politely said I will try to look into his concerns, but no commitments. But certainly, I was of no help because I am not familiar with customs operations and (it) is not (in) my official capacity to do so. It was my first and last meeting with Mr. Taguba,” Mr. Capuyan said.

He added, but without elaborating, that Mr. Taguba has been under investigation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Mr. Capuyan also identified Mr. Bacud as someone going back to their time in the Philippine Military Academy. “I meet him again when I was assigned at the airport. I observed conducting intelligence gathering and custom-related functions,” the retired officer said. Mr. Bacud introduced him to Tita Nanie and a certain Noel as “business partners.”

For his part, Mr. Maestrecampo denied ever meeting Mr. Taguba or any of the people mentioned by the broker. He added that the IAS can only flag certain shipments but does not have the power to lift any alert.

Mr. Gordon expressed skepticism over these claims by Messrs. Capuyan and Maestrecampo. The committee will resume its inquiry on Sept. 19. — Mario M. Banzon

Boy found dead not ‘Kulot’ — PNP

POLICE ON Monday said the body found in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, is not that of 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman, based on DNA tests.

Mr. De Guzman, fondly called “Kulot” (curly), went missing on the night of Aug. 17 after he was seen with fellow Cainta, Rizal resident, 19-year-old former University of the Philippine student Carl Angelo Arnaiz, going out to buy snack nearby.

The cadaver of the boy found floating in a creek called Kinamatayang Kabayo in Gapan’s Brgy. San Roque had 28 stab wounds. His head was wrapped in plastic, adhesive tape, and black cloth and his feet were tied and covered with a sack.

His body, which had burns on its side, also smelled of gas, indicating that his killer attempted to set the boy on fire.

Eddie de Guzman earlier said he was able to positively identify that the cadaver belonged to his son Reynaldo through a mark on the boy’s leg and a wart on his knee.

An autopsy conducted by forensic experts from the Public Attorney’s Office showed that the boy suffered three fatal stab wounds to his heart and lungs and that he was continuously stabbed even though he was already dead.

Last Sunday, Sept. 10, Tomas Bagcal showed up after hiding for some days but didn’t say anything about Mr. de Guzman.

According to the 54-year-old taxi driver, who is now under the custody of Rise Up for Life and for Rights, a group of church people and human rights advocates, only one person — Mr. Arnaiz — robbed him. — interaksyon.com

Marcos’s 100th birthday draws praise, protests

SUPPORTERS OF the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos gathered on Monday to celebrate his 100th birthday outside his resting place, amid protests against what his foes believe are moves to restore his powerful family’s tainted image.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who has been accused of glorifying the authoritarian rule of Marcos, granted the family’s request to declare his birthday a holiday in his home province of Ilocos Norte and said on Saturday the former strongman was a “hero” to many Filipinos.

Marcos family supporters held a short rally at the cemetery, where a memorial service was planned, but dispersed before the arrival of about 200 protesters. The protesters carried placards in the pouring rain denouncing Marcos and what they say is Duterte’s “Marcosian” leadership style.

Marcos ruled the Philippines for two decades and put the entire country under martial law in 1972, during which time tens of thousands of suspected communist rebels and political foes were killed.

Critics lament what they see as Mr. Duterte’s dictator-like tendencies and fear history is repeating itself, with widespread allegations of human rights abuses in his administration’s war on drugs that has killed thousands of Filipinos.

Mr. Duterte has also placed Mindanao under military control until the end of the year to tackle Islamist extremists, the longest phase of martial law since Marcos. He has repeatedly threatened to expand it to the rest of the country.

Opponents are outraged by what they see as a lack of sensitivity by Mr. Duterte and the possibility his government could grant the Marcos family immunity from prosecution in exchange for the return of part of what many believe was its ill-gotten wealth.

Some independent experts have estimated as much as $10 billion was siphoned off during Marcos’s rule.

The family has offered to return “a few gold bars” but may ask for immunity from criminal prosecution, according to Mr. Duterte.

Karapatan, a human rights advocacy group, said Mr. Duterte’s “shameless concessions” with the Marcos family “will whitewash Marcos’s heinous crimes against the Filipino people, while his family creeps back into power”.

Marcos was overthrown in a 1986 “people power” uprising and died in exile a few years later. His family started to win back political power after returning to the Philippines in the 1990s.

His wife Imelda is a congresswoman, daughter Imee is Ilocos Norte governor, and his son and namesake, popularly known as Bongbong, has sought a vote recount after finishing runner-up in last year’s vice-presidential election.

Mr. Duterte allowed Marcos to be buried with military honors at the Heroes’ Cemetery in Manila last year, despite strong opposition, saying he was fulfilling a campaign promise and all presidents were entitled to be buried there. — Reuters

Philippine Eagle Foundation seeks more financial support

By Maya M. Padillo
Correspondent

DAVAO CITY — The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) is seeking more financial support to improve the Eagle Center and expand exhibit areas to attract more visitors, its top official said.

“We don’t have enough support and investors to improve our facilities and space to expand our exhibits which, in turn, will hopefully pay for itself through increasing visitor traffic,” PEF Executive Director Dennis Joseph I. Salvador said in an interview with BusinessWorld.

Mr. Salvador also said that the recent bird flu incidents in Pampanga and Tarlac, although geographically far and now contained, have highlighted the need for them to look into the development of alternative facilities in case the virus reaches Mindanao. He said they need to have space further away from poultry farms and the migratory path of birds.

The PEF official said while they have a steady set of government, private sector, and international funders, along with eagle sponsors, corporate and individual members, and donors (www.philippineeaglefoundation.org/partners), the expanse of their work requires more funding.

The maintenance for the Eagle Center alone, he said, costs about P5 million a year. The Philippine Eagle Center sits on an 8.4-hectare area located at the foothills of Mt. Apo in Malagos, Davao City.

PEF focuses on the protection of the endangered Philippine Eagle through the preservation of forest habitats alongside sustainable use of resources by communities living there.

“Over and beyond these are logistics to carry out field work and expeditions in Leyte, Samar and Luzon, education campaigns as well as funds to ‘incentivize’ communities in areas where eagles occur,” Mr. Salvador said.

In terms of public awareness, he said there is still a long way to go in terms of fully understanding the value of the country’s national bird and its role in the forest ecosystem.

“Even in areas where the eagles are, people continue to shoot them. Clearly knowing is not enough. We have to invest further in changing values and attitudes,” he said.

The PEF, in partnership with the Asian Raptor Research and Conservation Network (ARRCN) is hosting the 10th ARRCN Symposium on Oct. 18-22 at the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU). The event is co-organized by ADDU, Davao City government, Department of Tourism-Davao Region, and the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. This year’s symposium theme would be “Renewing Raptor People Ties through Community Based Initiatives”.

The PEF recently received a donation of P1.156 million from the Marco Polo Hotels, with the check handed over by Philippe Caretti, Wharf Hotels vice-president for operations; Francis R. Ledesma, Halifax Davao Hotel, Inc President; and Dottie Wurgler-Cronin, general manager of Marco Polo Davao.

Mr. Salvador said, “We deeply appreciate Marco Polo Davao and Philippe Caretti for making it possible for the entire Marco Polo Hotels family to support PEF. Realizing our many needs, they went out of their way to orchestrate a fund-raising project which engaged both its guests, associates and members of the local community. In doing so, it enhanced public awareness about our national bird not just in the Philippines but other parts of the world.”

Duterte makes fourth visit to Marawi

By Rosemarie A. Zamora

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday, Sept. 11, made his fourth visit to Marawi City to check the condition of military troops in the battle area, Malacañang said.

During his visit, he went to the Grand Islamic Mosque, where the Maute group held its hostages and which they also used as their command and control center at the height of the clashes which began on May 23.

Mr. Duterte also went to the retaken Mapandi Bridge and to the main battle area where he accommodated a photo opportunity with soldiers.

Earlier that day, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella said at the Palace that “the fight against a Daesh-inspired rebellion in the Islamic city of Marawi is in its last miles.”

Armed Forces of the Philippines Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto F. Padilla, for his part, said “We’re entering the last and final stages of our fight in Marawi.”

“That is being mentioned because the remaining areas where the rebels are holed up are getting smaller and smaller by the day. And as we clear more buildings, we deny them the opportunity to retake additional facilities or installations where they can hide. So they are actually concentrated on only a few,” he added.

The President first visited the city on July 20 when Mapandi Bridge was retaken. he returned on Aug. 4 after troops were able to retake the Safrullah M. Dipatuan (SMD) General Hospital and again on Aug. 24.

Mr. Duterte arrived in Marawi City together with Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon, AFP Chief Eduardo M. Año and Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” T. Go.

The fighting in Marawi is on its 112th day, with enemies killed reaching 655, recovered firearms now at 685.

Trillanes to face ethics probe, signs waiver on alleged bank accounts

SENATOR Antonio F. Trillanes IV on Monday, Sept. 11, disputed President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s claim that he had overseas accounts, saying that some of the banks mentioned by the President were non-existent.

Meanwhile, the Senate Ethics Committee, chaired by Senator Vicente C. Sotto III, found the ethics complaint filed by Senator Richard J. Gordon against Mr. Trillanes sufficient in form and substance.

In his press conference on Monday, Mr. Trillanes presented a signed waiver to have the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) investigate his alleged off-shore accounts at the Hongkong Shanghai Bank — Raffles and Premiere Center Auckland Branch, UBS Bank Switzerland — Zurich Branch, Habib A.G. Bank — Zurich Main Branch, Deutsche Bank — Geneve Main Branch, Nova Scotia Bank — Toronto Main Branch, ANZ Bank — Auckland Main Branch, Equitable Bank — Toronto Main Branch, DBS Bank — Alexandra Branch, CIM Bank — Geneve Main Branch, and ComerzBank A.G. Bank — Zurich Branch.

“Consistent with the foregoing principle and to debunk false allegations being circulated that I have secret bank accounts with various offshore banks, I am hereby voluntarily executing this waiver and I am authorizing the Office of the Ombudsman and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to open and look into the supposed bank accounts (including closed accounts if any) allegedly under my name,” the senator said in his sworn waiver.

Mr. Trillanes also said he plans to file libel cases against journalists Erwin Tulfo and Ben Tesiorna and social media personality Mocha Unson for “spreading fake news.” The three have also accused Mr. Trillanes of maintaining offshore accounts.

As for his ethics case, Mr. Trillanes said he respects the decision of the committee.

“I will submit to the process. I will face it wholeheartedly because I am confident that I didn’t do anything unparliamentary,” he said.

Mr. Trillanes added that he will submit his ethics complaint against Mr. Gordon later this week or early next week. — MMB

NCAA: Arellano Chiefs go for back-to-back wins

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter

HARDLY having a solid run in the ongoing National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament, the Arellano Chiefs are training their sights on a mini win streak when they collide with the struggling Mapua Cardinals in league action today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Victorious in their previous game against erstwhile rolling Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers, 115-109, in double overtime, the Chiefs (4-6) look to fashion out a rare string of victories for them in Season 93 in their 2 p.m. set-to with the Cardinals (1-10), who have lost nine straight games.

Playing in the 4 p.m. match, meanwhile, are season hosts San Sebastian Stags against the Perpetual Help Altas.

Against the Heavy Bombers last week, Arellano, losing finalist in Season 92, saw itself needing to dig deep anew to stave off JRU while giving its NCAA second-round campaign a push.

In the first round, the two teams also fought in overtime with the Chiefs wounding up triumphant, 73-72.

Arellano was seemingly on its way to the victory last time around until JRU guard Teytey Teodoro decided to crash things with clutch back-to-back triples as regulation expired, 83-all.

In the first OT, the Chiefs turned things around, spoiling the party for JRU as Arellano shooting guard Zach Nichols drained a key triple to send the game to another extension, 100-all.

In the second extra period, however, the Chiefs were not to be denied of the win as more players joined in the fray which the Heavy Bombers could not match up with, giving the Arellano the victory.

Rence Alcoriza came off the bench to top-score for Arellano with 23 points while big man Lervin Flores had a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Floor leader Kent Salado also had 17 markers to go along with seven assists.

Marwin Taywan and Michael Canete were also in double figures with 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Chiefs, who moved to joint sixth place after the victory.

“It was a crazy game with both teams having their spurts. Good thing we made the stops in the end to come out with the win,” said Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera following their hard-earned win.

“This is a big win for us and we hope this will start something big for us,” he added.

GET SOME BREAK
Much like Arellano, Mapua is out to get some break from the major slump it has been in all season long.

After barging into the win column in their second game, it has been all downhill for the Cardinals, who have been struggling with players being injured as well as red-shirting this season.

The latest loss of Mapua was dealt by the defending champions San Beda Red Lions, 88-70, last Friday.

Meanwhile, in the second game, San Sebastian (5-5) shoots for an above .500 mark in the standings against Perpetual Help (4-6), itself looking to give its NCAA campaign a shot in the arm halfway into it.

Bases land sale to help plug AFP’s pension gap

THE Finance department said that it will tap land sales by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to help fund military pensions.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said that he has asked the BCDA to sell its military bases to aid in plugging the pension gap.

“We are working with BCDA… it was set up basically to help modernize the military so we are discussing with them what kind of assets they can assign to cover these liabilities,” Mr. Dominguez told reporters last week.

The government plans to transfer the pension scheme of uniformed and military personnel to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

GSIS Chairman Francisco T. Duque III has said that the system will require a seed fund of up to P7 trillion for it to operate the new pension scheme.

Asked whether potential BCDA assets are enough to cover the funding requirement, Mr. Dominguez said: “We don’t know. We don’t know the figure yet, we don’t know what assets they have. But we are starting to talk to them already.”

“They own a lot of land, they own land in Fort Magsaysay, in Fort Bonifacio, so we’ll see what assets are there that can be utilized for this,” he added.

BCDA did not respond when sought for comment on the value of its land holdings.

Economic managers have been poised to propose the new pension scheme since taking office in June last year.

In the 2017 Development Budget Coordinating Committee fiscal risk report, they flagged the “ballooning uniformed personnel pension cost,” as it is non-contributory, meaning that the pensions for uniformed individuals are taken solely from the appropriated budget.  

“In 2016, the pension budget amounts to P71 billion which is projected to more than double in eight years at P187.9 billion. In view of the foregoing, a reform must be effected for a more sustainable pension system,” the report read.

Pensions for retired military and uniformed personnel are currently pegged to the salary of counterparts in active service, meaning that benefits escalate in step with active-duty pay. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Cine Europa shows 24 films on its 20th year

CONSIDERED ONE of the longest film festivals in the country, Cine Europa – which celebrates the best European cinema has to offer – is back for a landmark 20th year with an impressive roster of 24 films from 16 countries.

The film festival will run from Sept. 16 to 26 at the Shang Cineplex Cinema 2 of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City. Admission is free on a first come, first served basis. “[In its 20 years] Cine Europa has always strived to be more dynamic, unique and vibrant… a cut above the rest,” Jerome Riviere, first secretary of the European Union (EU) delegation to the Philippines, told the media during the Sept. 6 press conference at the Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City.

This year, he said, the festival will both look back towards the classics of European cinema and look forward to contemporary works.

“The heterogeneous [offerings] present the EU in its diversity… and how it shows life in Europe is fusion,” he explained.

Included in this year’s festival are entries from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, theb Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Norway.

Among the movies to be shown at this year’s festival is 1988 Best Foreign Film Academy Award winner from Denmark, Babettes Gæstebud (Babette’s Feast) by Gabriel Axel, which follows the story of Babette, a Parisian fugitive following the 1871 Commune of Paris uprising as she changes the lives of the Danish villagers who take her in. The film is based on a story by Isak Dinesen. Cited as one of the world’s best 1,000 films by The New York Times, the 1962 Spanish film El ángel exterminador (The Exterminating Angel) by Luis Bunuel is a satirical work where guests at a dinner party discover they’re unable to leave the room. Over the days that follow, they each shed their perfect façades and pretenses of power to reveal the uglier side of human nature. Sharp and surreal, this is a film sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers.

Sult (Hunger) by Henning Carlsen in 1966, the second Danish film, features a young penniless poet as he scrambles to survive in Oslo in 1890. Based on the novel by Knut Hamsun, the story follows the poet as his hunger takes over and the line between fantasy and reality becomes increasingly blurry.

The 1992 German thriller Lola rennt (Run Lola Run) by Tom Tykwer will keep viewers on the edge of their seats as they follow a two-bit Berlin criminal who enlists the help of his girlfriend Lola when he must come up with 100,000 Deutschmarks in 20 minutes after making a mistake delivering smuggled loot for his boss.

In Terror – Ihr Urteil (The Verdict), the 2016 film by Lars Kraume, terrorists have hijacked a plane and are steering it towards a football arena. Major Lars Koch faces the difficult question of whether the lives of a few are worth sacrificing to save the many.

Swedish film Flickan, Mamman och Demonerna (The Girl, The Mother and the Demons), a 2016 film by Suzanne Osten, is the harrowing tale of Ti, whose mother claims that demons have taken over the apartment where they live.

Italian drama 20 Sigarette (20 Cigarettes), 2010 film by Aureliano Amadei, follows a filmmaker who was once caught up in a terrorist attack while shooting on location in Iraq who, years later, decides to set the story straight through a novel.

Inspired by a legend from the 12th century, the 1987 Norwegian film Veiviseren (Pathfinder) by Nils Gaup, tells the story of a young boy who sees his family slaughtered by a fearsome tribe, is taken prisoner, and must act as their pathfinder. The first feature production ever to be shot in the Sami language, the film follows the boy as he attempts to escape his captors.

Also from Norway is Bølgen (The Wave), a 2015 film by Roar Uthaug, which takes place shortly before the real-life disaster of a tsunami caused by the collapse of a mountain 80 years ago. The film focuses on a geologist and his family as they scramble to stay alive.

The 2013 Austrian film Deine Schönheit ist nichts wert (Your Beauty is Worth Nothing) by Huseyin Tabak, follows 12-year-old Veysel as he flees with his family to from Turkey to Vienna and struggles to fit in, turning his attention to his studies, as well as towards Ana, a classmate he’s in love with.

Academy Award-nominated actress Isabelle Huppert stars in the 2016 French film Souvenir by Bavo Defurne, as a forgotten European singer who fades into obscurity as she works in a pâté factory. However, the arrival of a young aspiring boxer causes her to start dreaming again and planning her comeback.

Francois Truffaut’s 1962 classic Jules et Jim (Jules and Jim) revolves around an offbeat love triangle. Jim moves in with his friend Jules and his family, but things get messy when Jules asks Jim to start seeing his carefree wife Catherine in the hopes that she will stay at home with him and their daughter.

In Monkey, a 2016 Bulgarian film by Dimitar Kotsev, two adolescent half-sisters get a taste of the real world as they make decisions that could dramatically change their lives.

In the 2015 Spanish film Truman by Cesc Gay, a terminally ill actor is surprised by an unexpected visit from his childhood friend. As they set out to tie up loose ends, including finding a home for the actor’s faithful dog, the two men must find a way to say goodbye.

From the United Kingdom comes Shola Amo’s 2016 film A Moving Image, about a young stifled artist who returns to her community after a long absence. Soon painted as a symbol of gentrification, she struggles with her own complicity, and embarks on a mission to create a piece of art that can bring her community together.

Drawing inspiration from paperback crime novels, the 2015 Slovakian film Wilsonov (Wilson City) by Tomas Masin follows an unlikely pair of detectives as they search for a mysterious murderer in a German town that would eventually be known as Bratislava.

Some family issues prove to be too difficult for even death to resolve, as seen in Utóélet (Afterlife), a 2014 film by Virac Zomboracz. In this Hungarian comedy, a neurotic man starts seeing the ghost of his recently deceased father. As he helps his father cross over to the afterlife, the two must work out their unfinished business.

The 2017 Romanian film Aniversarea (The Anniversary) by Dan Chisu, zooms in on a family drama when relatives and friends of Radu Maligan comes together to celebrate his 94th birthday. The party quickly unravels when half the guests try to convince him to confess his sins, while the others argue that no one should be forced to do something beyond their will.

Another film from Romania is Doua lozuri (Two Lottery Tickets), Paolo Negoescu’s 2016 movie, where the tables keep turning on Dinel who has won the lottery. Unfortunately, the bag with his ticket is stolen by two gangsters. With the help of his best buddies, he sets off on a madcap journey to chase them down.

Then there is the story of Hassan, a baron who wants to do more than just lounge about and pursues a career of making people laugh. Hailing from Belgium, Les Barons (The Barons) by Nabil Ben Yadir (2009) is lighthearted fun.

Crime meets comedy in 1950s Italian masterpiece I Soliti Ignoti (Big Deal on Madonna Street) by Mario Monicelli, where a group of small-time thieves attempt to burgle a state-run pawnshop in Rome. Known for its incredible cast and breezy jazz score, this film is considered one of the best of its era.

Lovers of fantasy are in for a treat with Anděl Páně 2 (An Angel of the Lord) by Jiri Strach, a 2005 comedy from the Czech Republic that follows Angel Petronel’s quest to retrieve fruit of the Tree of Knowledge that has fallen down to earth. His adventures lead him to discover the power of friendship, love, and forgiveness.

Perinbaba (The Feather Fairy) by Juraj Jakubisko is a charming 1985 Slovakian adaptation of a short story by the Brothers Grimm.

And finally, sports enthusiasts will enjoy De He van ’63 (The Hell of ’63), the 2009 film by Steven de Jong, which is based on the true story of a day in 1963 when thousands of skaters were injured as they competed in a 200-km ice-skating race in the Netherlands.

For inquiries and screening schedules, call 370-2500 loc. 597 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage. – Z.B. Chua

Del Toro’s The Shape of Water wins Venice Golden Lion

VENICE – The Shape of Water, a dazzling sci-fi romance by Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, won the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice film festival on Saturday.

“If you remain pure and stay with your faith, with what you believe in – in my case, monsters – you can do anything,” Del Toro told the festival, the world’s oldest, as he dedicated the award to young Latin American directors.

The quirky, other-worldly tale set in the Cold War era sees a cleaner (Britain’s Sally Hawkins) in a high-security government laboratory stumble across a classified experiment that leads to an unlikely – and rather slimy – love affair.

Del Toro, the director behind such Gothic horrors as The Devil’s Backbone (2001) and Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), had described the flick as “an antidote to cynicism” and enchanted reviewers hailed it as his greatest work yet.

“I’m 52 years old, I weigh over 110 kilograms (242 pounds) and I’ve done more than 10 movies,” he said as he held up his Lion.

Even so, he said, this had not stopped him from “doing something different.”

“As a Mexican, I dedicate this award to all those Mexicans and Latin American directors dreaming of doing something as a parable, who are told it can’t be done. It can be done.”

“I believe in life, in love and in cinema,” he added.

The Silver Lion for Best Director went to France’s Xavier Legrand for Custody, a powerful divorce tale in which a child is held hostage to the escalating conflict between his parents. – AFP

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