SUPPORTERS OF Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo on Wednesday sought anew approval by the Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), of their contributions to Ms. Robredo’s counter-electoral protest against former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr., her rival in the 2016 vice-presidential contest.
Petitioners and proponents of the Piso Para Kay Leni, led by Museo Pambata founder Cristina Lim-Yuson, filed at the SC a 13-page Motion for Reconsideration asking the Tribunal to allow them help pay the second tranche of Ms. Robredo’s counter-electoral protest fee amounting to P7.4 million.
The petitioners first sought the Tribunal by filing a Petition in Intervention to be allowed to “submit payment for the cash deposit required of the protestee, [Ms. Robredo].” But the PET on July 11 denied that petition.
Counsel Purification S. Bartolome-Bernabe, in a press conference after the filing, said the petitioners have a standing on the case as it is “a matter of transcendental importance.”
The group said it has come to their attention that Ms. Robredos’camp was having difficulty raising the counter-electoral protest fee for the second installment.
“They are fearful that as citizens and voters, they would be deprived of the outcome of the election — the victory of [Ms. Robredo] which was a direct result of their exercise of the constitutional right of suffrage because she could not come up with cash deposit,” the motion reads.
“Hence they started to raise funds for the purpose of helping [Ms. Robredo] to pay the second installment, and more importantly, to protect the votes they cast,” the group added.
Ms. Bernabe said the group wants “to make a direct deposit to the PET,” since Ms. Robredo, an elected official, is barred from accepting donations and gifts under the anti-graft law.
“IF PET grants our petition to intervene, we will deposit it directly to the PET hence it will not go through the OVP. It is also direct citizen’s action, in protection of the right of suffrage,” Ms. Bernabe added.
Meanwhile, the Tribunal has ordered the creation of an exploratory mission/retrieval team that will locate and examine the ballot boxes contested in the electoral and counter-electoral protest of Mr. Marcos and Ms. Robredo.
In a resolution dated Aug. 8 and made public yesterday, the PET designated the following SC employees for the said task: lawyers Mercedes Mostajo and Linuel Alindogan of the Office of the Chief Attorney as leaders; Joy Jemima Reyes and Jeffrey Raymond Atienza of the Cash Collection and Disbursement Division as Special Disbursing Officers; and Joery Gayanan and/or any official/employee to be recommended by the Office of the Administrative Services as Chief Security Officer and/or Assistant Chief Security Officer.
They will receive a monthly compensation of P5,000.
The Tribunal also noted that revision committees will be composed of a coordinator who is a lawyer, a recorder and a representative, each from the protestant and protestee. The PET also ordered the two parties to assign their respective alternative representatives.
A compensation of P1,500 for each revision committee will also be provided by the Tribunal. The coordinator will receive a compensation of P780 while the recorder will be entitled to P480. The remaining P184 will be for their supplies or materials.
The Tribunal also ordered the office of the acting chief administrative officer to post vacancies for the members of the revision committees and accept applications for the staffing complement.
The acting clerk of the Tribunal, meanwhile, will screen the applicants for the position of coordinators of the revision committee.
The case stemmed from an electoral protest filed by Mr. Marcos after losing in the vice-presidential race by a slim margin of about 260,000 votes to Ms. Robredo after leading by almost a million votes early in the election count. — Kristine Joy V. Patag
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday, Aug. 22, said the government is looking into the expensive travels allegedly made by an official who is not under the executive branch as he vowed anew to fight corruption.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte answers question during an interview with the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) at the Malago Clubhouse, Malacañang Park in Manila on August 21, 2017. — KJ ROSALES/PHILIPPINE STAR
“May isang opisyal tayo dito sa gobyerno na tinignan namin ang travel (There is this one government official whose travels are subject of our scrutiny). Hindi sa departamento ko, not the Executive department,” Mr. Duterte told members of the Philippine Air Force Dragon Boat team in a speech at Malacañang.
“Kung mag-sakay ng eroplano, mag-abroad, first class, tapos yung mga hotel niya, yung mga suite. May isang presidential suite pa ang kinuha. Tang ina (That official went abroad sitting first class and even stayed in a presidential suite. Son of a bitch),” he added.
The President then recalled again the numerous occasions where he fired allegedly corrupt government workers and said that the details of the trips made by the unnamed official will “come out.”
“I said, ‘I will stop corruption.’ And I’m doing it. I have fired several people now,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a chance interview yesterday, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella declined to identify the official that the President referred to in his speech, telling reporters to wait for “clear” details.
Mr. Abella also did not confirm when asked by journalists if Mr. Duterte was referring to Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno, who could possibly be facing impeachment complaints in Congress.
Early this month, the SC granted the request of two groups for documents that will support their impeachment case against the High Court’s head.
The impeachment case, however, will have to be endorsed by a lawmaker to be formally lodged in the House committee on justice for hearing.
Malacañang earlier said Mr. Duterte, with whom Ms. Sereno had been at loggerheads since June last year, will take his hands off the case.
The complainants’ memorandum flagged several administrative orders by Ms. Sereno, including the appointment of Atty. Brenda Jay Mendoza as chief of Philippine Mediation Center of the Philippine Judicial Academy, granting foreign travels and allowance to staff of the Office of the Chief Justice, and “long delay” of appointment of posts.
Mr. Duterte won the 2016 elections on a platform of weeding out corruption and crime by implementing on a national level hardline measures that he imposed during his more than two-decade mayoralty in Davao City.
He had sacked several high-ranking government officials accused of graft and corruption, including aides whom he appointed and were close to him.
“I will never tolerate corruption in my administration, not even a whiff of it. Let the dismissal of several high-ranking officials — whom I myself appointed — serve as a warning to all that I will never back down on my commitment to cleanse this government and corporation,” he said during his second State of the Nation Address.
FOLLOWING the debut of its men’s counterpart early this week, the Philippine national women’s volleyball team makes its first on-court appearance today in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Philippine national women’s volleyball team competing in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. — PHILIPPINE SUPERLIGA FACEBOOK ACCOUNT
Set to take on the host team at 2 p.m. at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Center 11, the Philippine women’s spikers look to begin their bid in the regional biennial sporting meet on a winning note as they aim for a podium finish to improve on their fifth-place showing in the previous edition of the Games in Singapore in 2015.
Tasked to banner the country’s cause in women’s volleyball is a selection of professional and collegiate standouts, who trained for the past couple of months and competed in different tournaments, the last one in the AVC Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship held here in the country, to better prepare themselves for the tough grind awaiting them in Kuala Lumpur.
Making up the team are Aby Maraño, Mika Reyes, Jaja Santiago, Kim Fajardo, Maika Ortiz, Alyssa Valdez, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Dawn Macandili, Frances Molina, Rhea Dimaculangan, Gen Casugod and Jovelyn Gonzaga.
On the reserve list are Kim Dy and Denden Lazaro. Coach of the team is Francis Vicente, the bench tactician of the University of the East Lady Warriors at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
In the 2017 SEA Games, the Philippines is bracketed in Group B of women’s volleyball, along with Malaysia and Vietnam.
In Group A are defending gold medalist Thailand, Myanmar and Indonesia.
Tournament format calls for the top two teams from each group advancing to the crossover semifinals with the winners battling it out in the gold medal game after.
In 2015, the Philippine women’s team failed to get past the group stages.
In the 2017 AVC Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship where it competed in prior to going to the SEA Games, the Philippines finished at eighth place out of the 14-team field.
Along the way, however, it got to defeat Vietnam, making their SEA Games encounter tomorrow, all the more anticipated.
In the lead-up to its debut, it has been reported that team officials have decided to limit the team’s engagement with the media covering the games so as to keep it focused on the task at hand.
But they also said the players are in good spirits and excited to get it going and compete.
“We are hopeful that the training and exposure and the hard work that the [women’s and men’s teams] put in preparation for the SEA Games will translate to them being competitive,” said Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas, Inc. President Joey Romasanta in a text message to BusinessWorld yesterday.
THE Philippines averted a gold medal-less day yesterday after decathlete Aries Toledo and sprinter Anthony Beram produced top hardware last night in the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Anthony Beram of the Philippines took home the gold in the men’s 200m final to take the country’s gold tally to 10 medals as of 10 p.m. last night. — KUALA LUMPUR 2017 TWITTER ACCOUNT
Messrs. Toledo and Beram came to the rescue of Team Philippines in averting a gold medal drought by ruling the men’s decathlon and men’s 200 meter dash.
Nueva Ecija native Toledo, 23, outclassed his rivals by collecting 6849 total points, punctuated by a solid run in the final event of 1500m where he finished way ahead of the competition, to win the gold.
Coming in second was Suttisak Singkon of Thailand with total points of 6678 while Vietnam’s Biu Van Su won the bronze with 6207 points.
Mr. Toledo’s efforts were seconded by sprinter Beram, winning the gold in the men’s 200m final with a time of 20.84 seconds.
Behind Mr. Beram were Jirapong Meenapra (21.22) of Thailand and Thevarr Gunasegaran (21.26) of Malaysia, who took the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
The latest gold medals from track & field were in addition to the one won by Filipino-American sprinter Eric Cray in the men’s 100m final on Tuesday night. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
UBER PHILIPPINES (Uber Systems, Inc.) said it has spent around P100 million for financial assistance to its over 36,000 drivers who have been affected by the month-long suspension of its operations by the government.
Uber, represented by country manager Laurence Cua and the company legal team, said yesterday during a hearing at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that they have been shelling out about P19.9 million per day to compensate the 36,367 drivers or driver-operators who have temporarily lost their livelihood.
Payments are disbursed through an automated system to operators, who then decide how much to give to their respective driver/s.
“We communicate [the sending of the payments] with drivers and operators,” Mr. Cua said.
The hearing was set after Uber filed a manifestation and motion to pay a P10-milllion fine instead of serving the suspension. The hearing was also intended to tackle the motion for intervention filed by lawyer Vigor Mendoza II of the group Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon (KAPIT).
Mr. Mendoza, who is questioning Uber’s P10-million offer, said he is not against the payment of a fine but that allowing the ride-hailing company to settle with money in lieu of a suspension will set a precedent for future cases.
“It’s a shift in policy direction, a standard… that suspension can be converted to a fine,” Mr. Mendoza said.
Mr. Mendoza also said that Uber should pay a much higher amount of P6 billion, taking into consideration the fines that Uber should be slapped with for operating around 50,000 “colorum” (informal term for illegal) vehicles and the alleged millions earned by the company per day.
LTFRB Board Member and Spokesperson Aileen A. Lizada, however, rebuffed this suggestion.
“That is too much… We do listen, we are reasonable,“ Ms. Lizada told reporters.
Meanwhile, LTFRB officials asked Uber to show documents of their payments to drivers and operators.
Uber’s manifestation has been set for resolution and Ms. Lizada told reporters they would decide on the matter “as soon as possible.”
TAXI INCREASE
Ms. Lizada also told reporters that the planned increase in the number of regular taxis will not be immediate.
LTFRB Chairman Martin A. Delgra III said in a briefing on Tuesday in Malacañang that they have consulted academics and experts about increasing the number of taxis “to put in more supply in order to address demand.”
Ms. Lizada said this will increase the “baseline” of the number of taxis without harming the “special lines” or transport network companies (TNCs).
Ms. Lizada also said that they are planning to talk with the owners of Micab, a taxi ride-hailing app to be launched in Metro Manila in September, to assess what consumers want to see from the taxi sector. — Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo
FOLLOWING her gold-winning performance in the uneven bars category of the women’s artistic gymnastics event of the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on Tuesday, 17-year-old Filipino-American gymnast Kaitlin de Guzman added more medals to the Philippines’ total haul by winning silver and bronze medals yesterday at the women’s floor exercise and beam events.
Kaitlin de Guzman of the Philippines competes in beam event of women’s artistic gymnastics competition of the 29th Southeast Asian Games yesterday. She scored 12.3 to clinch the bronze medal. Ms. De Guzman also won the silver in the women’s floor exercise later in the day. — PSC-POC MEDIA GROUP
The second-generation gymnast, whose mother Tammy dela Cruz was a former SEA Games gold medalist, scored 13.025 in the floor exercise event to earn the silver behind Malaysian Farah Ann (13.250).
Also yesterday, Ms. De Guzman got the bronze in the beam event after tallying a score of 12.3 points behind gold medallist Rifda Irfanaluthf (13.125) of Indonesia and silver medallist Tan Ing Yueh (13.100) of Malaysia.
The Kuala Lumpur Games is the first time that Ms. De Guzman is representing the country in the SEA Games and said it brings her honor to be given the chance to do so.
“I can’t say how to feel right now; I’m so happy. It really feels good to represent the country and duplicate what my mom achieved in the past,” said Ms. De Guzman.
Also churning out a bronze medal yesterday was teammate and fellow gold medalist Reyland Capellan in the men’s vault event.
On Tuesday, he won the gold medal in the men’s floor exercise. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
MANILA WATER Company, Inc., through one of its consortiums, has signed a joint-venture agreement (JVA) for water supply services in Obando, a town immediately north of Metro Manila. The JVA was between Obando Water Consortium Holdings Corp. (OWCHC) and the Obando Water District (OWD). OWCHC is a consortium of Manila Water and its wholly-owned subsidiary Manila Water Philippine Ventures, Inc. Under the deal, OWCHC and OWD will form a joint-venture company that will undertake the design, construction, rehabilitation, operation, maintenance, financing, expansion and management of water facilities and the provision of water and sanitation services in Obando.
THE Blackwater Elite continued to pile up the wins in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup yesterday just as they kept the Alaska Aces winless and reeling following a 111-106 double overtime (OT) victory in midweek action at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Blackwater Elite have won three straight in the PBA Governors’ Cup after their 111-106 double OT win over the Alaska Aces last night. — ALVIN S. GO
One of the rolling teams currently in the season-ending PBA tournament, the Elite (3-3) stretched their win streak to three games after the win while adding to the woes of the Aces (0-5), which have lost 13 games in a row, dating back to the previous conference.
The game started competitively with both teams looking to establish control of the game early.
Blackwater, however, would go on a late charge in the opening frame to establish a 12-point cushion at the end of the first quarter, 25-13.
The Elite continued to hold sway to open the second period, working on establishing their biggest lead of the contest of 14 points, 39-25, in the first seven minutes.
Turning to their pressing defense, the Aces went on a 10-0 blast in the next two minutes to cut their deficit to 39-35.
Import Henry Walker and Michael DiGregorio combined to give the Elite some breathing space thereafter but the Aces would not allow them to distance themselves by a mile and kept their lead manageable, 44-40, by the halftime break.
Alaska kept crowding Blackwater in the third period.
Just like in the previous quarter though, the Elite would find ways to stay ahead, with Mr. Walker, JP Erram and Bam Gamalinda leading.
The quarter ended with Blackwater still up, 68-60.
At the start of the payoff period it was the Elite who were on the firing end as Mr. Walker and Niño Canaleta waxed hot.
They built an 11-point lead 79-68 with eight minutes remaining.
Showing resilience, the Aces came back strong, with guards Jayvee Casio and Simon Enciso showing the way, cutting down their deficit to just four, 81-77, at the four-minute mark of the last quarter.
Mr. Erram though would string up four straight points to keep the Elite afloat until he was called for a flagrant foul 1 on Alaska import LaDontae Henton with 2:57 remaining in rhe game.
The Aces used it as a rallying point to rack up six straight points to level the count at 85-all with 2:49 left on the clock.
Mr. Walker then answered with four points in a row to keep his team ahead, 89-85, with two minutes on the clock.
The two teams exchanged baskets thereafter to keep the game tight at 91-89 with the Elite still with the lead with 32 ticks to go.
Mr. Enciso tied the game, 91-all, with a floater down the lane with 22 seconds remaining.
Both teams had chances to finish the game but failed to consummate them to send the game to overtime.
Mr. Casio and Roi Sumang traded baskets to start the extra period.
Drought would fell on both squads for most of OT until Mr. Gamalinda scored with 1:11 on the clock, which Mr. Henton answered with a bucket seconds later to level things at 95-all.
Mr. Walker put Blackwater on top anew, 97-95, with a basket with 24 seconds remaining which Mr. Henton negated to send the game to a second OT.
The cardiac affair continued in the second OT. Alaska took a two-point lead, 103-101, with 1:50 remaining on a Henton bucket.
Mr. Gamalinda retaliated with a triple to reclaim the lead only for Mr. Casio to answer back.
Mr. DiGregorio hit a three-point shot of his own to push Blackwater ahead, 107-106, with less than 30 seconds to go.
It was a lead that the Elite would use to bring home the win.
Mr. Walker led the Elite with 35 points while Messrs. DiGregorio and Gamalinda had 17 and 15 points, respectively.
Mr. Henton, meanwhile, paced the Aces with 31 points. Mr. Casio finished with 25.
“This game showed there are no easy wins in the PBA. We thought we had it in control with six minutes left in regulation but Alaska came charging back. Good thing we showed the character needed to win the game,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac after the game.
THE PHILIPPINE Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) will bid out eight condominium units and eight parking slots located in Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City on Aug. 31. The properties, with a total value of P69.5 million, are under the name of closed Export and Industry Bank. PDIC, in a statement, said it will accept bids only from direct buyers between 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Penthouse of the SSS Building, 6782 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino St., Makati City. PDIC advised prospective buyers to physically inspect the properties, examine documents, and determine any unpaid taxes, fees, charges and/or expenses before submitting their bids. The properties for bidding are listed on PDIC’s website, www.pdic.gov.ph
AYALA LAND, Inc. (ALI) is ramping up its expansion outside Metro Manila with the allocation of P46 billion to fund two estates in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
Gatewalk Central in Mandaue City, Cebu — www.ayalaland.com.ph
In a statement on Wednesday, the listed property giant said it will be spending P26 billion to develop a 17-hectare estate in Mandaue City called Gatewalk Central. Located inside the Cebu Business Park, the integrated mixed-use development is being developed in partnership with AboitizLand, Inc.
ALI is also allotting P20 billion for the Azuela Cove, a 25-hectare development in Davao City in partnership with the Alcantara group. The company is pouring in an initial P8 billion for the first phase of the project.
“For economic growth to be truly felt by more people, real estate developments should expand beyond Metro Manila. We see this shift as a positive development and Ayala Land is committed to contribute to the transformation and progress through its projects in the Visayas and Mindanao,” ALI Visayas-Mindanao Chief Operating Officer and Aniceto V. Bisnar, Jr. was quoted as saying in a statement.
Mandaue City’s Gatewalk Central will include office buildings, residential developments, retail projects, as well as an Ayala Mall. ALI’s residential brand Avida Land will be the first development to rise in the estate, which will target young professionals and families. The Ayala Mall in Gatewalk Central is slated to open in 2019 and will feature a business process outsourcing office building on top of it.
Aside from Gatewalk Central, ALI will soon launch a 14-hectare estate in Mactan in partnership with the Gaisano Group.
Meanwhile, Azuela Cove is being developed as a waterside lifestyle, business, and residential distrct in Lanang, Davao City. The estate will be divided into three zones: an urban gateway park, a central valley park, and a waterfront park.
The first phase will feature Ayala Land Premier — ALI’s high-end residential segment — St. Luke’s Hospital, a retail center, an events tent that can hold up to 2,000 people, as well as an interim sports facilities area.
Gatewalk Central and Azuela Cove are two of eight projects by ALI located in the Visayas-Mindanao region. Nationwide, the property arm of the Ayala group has a total of 22 estates.
Shares in ALI shed 40 centavos or 0.94% to P42.2 each on Wednesday. — Arra B. Francia
SUDDENLY ascending Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers eye a streak-extending win today when it visits the San Sebastian Stags in the latter’s home in this week’s edition of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) “On Tour.”
The Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers go for their third win in a row today in NCAA Season 93. — ALVIN S. GO
Winners of their last two games, the Kalentong-based Bombers (4-3) jostle with the NCAA Season 93 hosts Stags in a battle of middle-of-the pack teams who are looking to boost their respective top four push as the first-round of the eliminations of the country’s longest-standing collegiate league comes to a close.
Venue is the San Sebastian Gym in Mendiola, Manila, and is set for 4 p.m.
JRU enters the contest off a big win over the College of St. Benilde Blazers, 81-53, last Friday. Prior to that, the Bombers also won by a wide margin over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 77-48.
Against the Blazers, JRU used a balanced attack anew, turning a close game in the opening period into a blowout as the game wore on.
Ervin Grospe led the Bombers with 14 points to go along with five assists while Teytey Teodoro had 13 points, going 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Jed Mendoza and Abdul Sawat had 12 and 10 points, respectively, in the Bombers’ victory.
“We’re happy that finally we got to win consecutive games. Like what I have said in the past, if we continue to play with a lot of energy and aggressiveness like today we can compete with the best in the league,” said Vergel Meneses, JRU coach, following their latest victory.
BACK-TO-BACK WINS
Looking to halt JRU’s streak while fashioning out their own back-to-back victories are the Stags, who won in their previous game over EAC, 75-73.
San Sebastian survived the ejection of Michael Calisaan in said game to hold off the Generals. Calisaan scored a team-high 19 points but was thrown out after he was called for his second flagrant foul on EAC’s Sydney Onwubere with over a minute left in the third quarter.
In his absence, Ryan Costelo stepped up, firing 10 of his 11 points in the final period.
RK Ilagan also came up big for San Sebastian, churning out all-around numbers of 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.
“We’re lucky to have come out with a win in a close game like this. I give credit to the players. Hopefully we get to sustain it,” San Sebastian coach Egay Macaraya said.
Incidentally, the match between JRU and San Sebastian is a rescheduled game after it was postponed because of typhoon “Gorio” on July 27.
The NCAA on Tour is one of the notable changes for the league this season. It has the league holding games in the premises of member schools. The NCAA said the reason behind it is to bring the league closer to its various stakeholders, particularly the students, and to further enhance interest in the league among them. In holding the games on the road, the NCAA said it has made sure that the venues are at par with tournament standards and security is beefed up to guard the safety of the participants and spectators. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral and Kristine Joy V. Patag Reporters
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Wednesday said he will not justify the Aug. 17 killing of a 17-year-old high-school student in the hands of cops, saying the incident, which caused public outcry, was “really bad.”
President Rodrigo R. Duterte answers questions from the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) at the Malago Clubhouse, Malacañang Park in Manila on August 21, 2017. — KJ ROSALES/PHILIPPINE STAR
According to police who seized the teenager in a fresh wave of anti-drug operations last week, Kian Loyd Delos Santos resisted arrest, prompting them to fire back at him. Reportedly recovered from Mr. Delos Santos were a .45 pistol and two sachets of suspected shabu (methamphetamine).
But this report has come under fire after a CCTV footage aired by local television networks showed Mr. Delos Santos being dragged by two policemen to a place where his dead body was later found. Eyewitness accounts also claimed that cops forced Mr. Delos Santos to fight back.
In his speech at the inauguration of a factory in Batangas, Mr. Duterte said the killing of Mr. Delos Santos was not done in “performance of duty” as he repeated his warning to policemen not to commit crimes.
He then reminded the police force tasked in carrying out his brutal war on drugs to only shoot those who violently resist arrest, saying a cop is “not supposed to die doing his duty.”
“What I reminded again the military and the police is that it should be in the performance of duty. That you are not allowed to kill a person who is kneeling down, begging for his life — that is murder,” Mr. Duterte said.
“I ordered them to destroy the apparatus of a drug organization. Hindi ko matapos yan kung hindi ko patayin yung nagluluto ng droga and pag-neutralize ko yung distribution,” he added. (I cannot put an end to that problem if I don’t kill those ‘cooking’ the drugs and neutralize the distribution.)
Mr. Delos Santos’s death has sparked outrage over the government’s revitalized drug war in the form of “one-time, big time” anti-drug operations, which saw their bloodiest outcome yet last week.
Religious leaders have added their collective voice to the clamor against the conduct of the drug war, and so too have Mr. Duterte’s allies in the Senate.
Mr. Duterte earlier vowed to bring justice for Mr. Delos Santos and assured the public that the cops behind the slay will “rot in jail” if proven guilty.
But despite the simmering public anger over the case, Mr. Duterte yesterday said his tough policy against drug-traffickers — which has been a hallmark of his three-decade political career — will remain.
“There will be war against drugs….I have a sworn duty to protect the people and defend the Republic,” he said.
“Why should I be afraid to neutralize you? My order was to destroy, and if to ‘destroy,’ the police and the military would kill you, that is your problem, that is not mine,” he added.
‘ENTERPRISING’ SON
In the same speech, Mr. Duterte defended anew his son, Davao City Vice-Mayor Paolo “Pulong” Z. Duterte, from corruption allegations after the presidential son’s name was dragged in the multi-billion shabu mess hounding the Bureau of Customs (BoC).
A BoC broker earlier this month claimed that allegedly corrupt officials of the bureau invoked the younger Mr. Duterte. But the broker admitted having no personal knowledge about the vice-mayor, only to often hearing his name mentioned as part of a so-called “Davao group.”
According to the President, his “enterprising” son frequents seaports to help in-laws in their family business, which is involved selling jars and garments.
He then reiterated his vow to give up the presidency if his son is found to be corrupt.
“’Yung mga pinapalusot ng in-laws niya (The in-laws he allegedly lets off the hook), if that is smuggling, then give me an accounting and I will resign. Walang problema ’yan sa akin (That’s no problem to me),” the chief executive said.
“But what I’m really committed to do is there will be no corruption in this government. I will not allow it,” he added.
Congressional hearings on allegations of corruption at the BoC, once cited by the President as one of the top three dirtiest government agencies, came to the fore following the shipment of P6.4 billion worth of methamphetamine from China that was able to pass through customs last May.
The BoC was back in the spotlight on Wednesday, following Senator Panfilo M. Lacson’s privileged speech on the extent of corruption in the agency, the same afternoon as Mr. Duterte’s remarks.
Responding to the issue, the Davao City vice mayor had denied the allegations against him and qualified the BoC broker’s claims as “hearsay.”
Mr. Duterte’s eldest child had earlier been linked by former Davao policeman Arthur Lascañas to a shipment of shabu, also from China.
UNICEF ADDS VOICE
Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef)-Philippines has added its voice to the mounting concern over the drug war.
“A fair and transparent investigation into Kian’s death should be undertaken as a matter of urgency,” Unicef-Philippines said in part, in a statement on Tuesday. “This investigation must be undertaken in a manner that seeks to guarantee the best interests of children and promote respect for their rights. Those who are responsible for killings and deliberate violence against children must be held accountable.”
The statement also said: “The Philippines, as a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, has a legal and moral obligation to promote, protect and fulfill the human rights of every child. Every child’s right to life, to develop to her or his full potential, to be heard, and to be protected from all forms of violence are universal and inalienable. There are no exceptions. These rights apply without qualification.”
It added: “Unicef-Philippines joins the many organizations and individuals coming together to demand action to prevent any further loss of children’s lives. There is no higher value for a society than to protect its own children and youth.”
PROTECTIVE CUSTODY
For her part, Senator Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel, in a news conference on Wednesday, said witnesses in the killing of Mr. Delos Santos will remain on her watch, pending a request of transfer by the Department of Justice (DoJ) and Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).
Ms. Hontiveros said the witnesses remain in her protective custody until an official request is filed in her office, adding: “Consult family nila saan sila panatag ang loob and ligtas, and they said as of now panatag kung nasaan sila.” (We consulted their family where they will be at peace and secure. They said, as of now, they feel secure where they are.)
The senator visited the wake for Mr. Delos Santos on Saturday, Aug. 19, and offered protective custody to witnesses who have come forward and belied police reports that the student fired at them.
Mr. Delos Santos’s family then sought the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) for a case buildup against the Caloocan cops who carried out a roundup of suspected drug users and peddlers in Caloocan City.
The three police officers behind Kian’s death — Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares and Police Officers 1 Jeremiah Pereda and Jerwin Cruz — claimed that the student fired at them, prompting them to retaliate. Reportedly recovered from Mr. Delos Santos were a .45 pistol and two sachets of suspected shabu (methamphetamine).
But this version has come under fire after a CCTV footage aired by local television networks showed Mr. Delos Santos being dragged by two policemen to a place where his dead body was later found.
The senator said the three witness under her custody are two minors, 13 years old and 16 years old, and one adult. She declined, however, to further disclose their background, citing security reasons.
“Mga children takot and may malalim na trauma. (The children are scared and they have deep trauma. The witnesses) Mga saksi got the legal services of Atty. Minerva Ambrosia,” Ms. Hontiveros added.
But Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II warned that a known critic of the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte may taint the credibility of the witnesses who will testify against the cops who led the raid and allegedly gunned down Mr. Delos Santos.
“Of course it will affect the credibility of these witnesses considering the bias of their handler,” Mr. Aguirre said.
Mr. Aguirre on Monday said the DoJ is ready to offer government protection to the family of Mr. Delos Santos and the witnesses. He pointed out: “It is the [Witness Protection Program (WPP)] which has the mandate to protect witnesses.”
After the press conference, Ms. Hontiveros went to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Children Protection Unit (CPU) to let other government authorities meet with the witnesses.
Members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and Office of the Ombudsman were present in the meeting which was closed to the media. Members of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), however, could not attend, due to a scheduled budget hearing in Congress.
Ms. Hontiveros said the witnesses have already executed and signed their affidavit for the filing of the case and for the Senate hearing on the incident scheduled today at 2:00 p.m.
