By Kristine Joy V. Patag
Reporter

THE SUPREME Court (SC) on Tuesday, July 4, upheld President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216, placing Mindanao under martial law.

Voting 11-3-1, the SC justices sitting in full court dismissed the consolidated petitions challenging the sufficiency of the factual basis of Mr. Duterte’s martial law declaration.

In a press briefing, SC Spokesperson Theodore O. Te said that 11 justices voted to dismiss the petitions, three justices voted to partially grant the petition, while one justice voted to grant the petition. Mr. Te, however, did not identify how the justices voted, saying this was all he was “authorized to say.”

“All 15 Justices have circulated their respective Opinions, whether concurring or dissenting. All Opinions will be finalized and submitted by tomorrow,” Mr. Te added.

Mr. Duterte, in an ambush interview yesterday while visiting a wake for a massacred family in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, said he “would give due respect to the opinions, the dissenting (views) questioning the martial law power of the President.”

He earlier warned he would ignore an SC decision against his proclamation and even threatened to jail critics of his proclamation.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella, for his part, said that with the SC affirming Proclamation No. 216, “the whole government now stands together as one against a common enemy.”

Clashes between the government forces and pro-Islamic State (IS) Maute militants broke out in Marawi City on May 23, triggering one of the biggest internal security crises in the Philippines in years.

Following the clashes, Mr. Duterte placed the entire Mindanao and its islands under martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus there. He said this was to foil what he said was Maute’s plan to establish a caliphate for IS in Marawi.

But the fighting has dragged on for six weeks and only two weeks remain for martial law’s effectivity.

Three groups of petitioners — composed of lawmakers, residents of Marawi City and human rights groups — challenged before the SC the “sufficiency of factual basis” of Mr. Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216, as held under Section 18, Article 7 of the 1987 constitution.

The current Constitution contains safeguards on martial law such as limiting its enforcement to 60 days and allowing the high court and Congress to review the proclamation.

This is to prevent a repeat of the abuses under the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, who detained his critics during his martial rule and used this to stay in power for another 14 years. Mr. Marcos was overthrown in 1986 by a People Power revolution led, among others, by the PDP-Laban, Mr. Duterte’s own party.

The SC, for the three petitions, held a three-day consecutive hearing via oral arguments on June 13 to 15. Solicitor General Jose C. Calida, who represented the named government officials as respondents, issued a statement minutes before the SC made its official announcement.

Mr. Calida said the SC’s dismissal of the petitions is a “monumental decision,” as it “underscores the existence of a real and present rebellion that threatens the lives of our fellow Filipinos in Mindanao, and their much-cherish liberties.”

He further extended his gratitude to the high court “for allowing [Mr.] Duterte to perform his prime duty of protecting the Filipino people,” adding: “As the conscience of our nation, the [SC] did not sit idly to watch our country get dismembered.”

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief General Eduardo M. Año, who appeared before the high court on the third day of its hearing, said in a statement that the military forces “[take] this (decision) as a vote of confidence that we are doing what is right and what is necessary for the restoration of the rule of law, peace and order in the whole island.”

“The mission is not yet done but we can assure our citizens that we are focused and determined to carry on the fight (un)til peace and order in Mindanao is fully restored and the liberation of Marawi is achieved at the soonest possible time,” Mr. Año added.

Petitioner Renato Reyes, who is also Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) secretary-general, told reporters he was not surprised with the decision, but warned the “SC has only made it easier to declare martial law all over the country. They made it easier to commit human rights violations in many parts of the country.”

“This is a bad omen that militarists and the President will be more emboldened to continue martial law beyond 60 days, and it’s possible that this would be imposed all over the country,” Mr. Reyes added.

Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, in a statement, said the decision was an “important component of the mandated checks and balances to martial law.” She added, however, that, “We expect that Congress will likewise fulfill its Constitutional duty to review, on behalf of the people, the declaration of martial law in Mindanao.”

Some senators also called for vigilance on Mr. Duterte’s proclamation, especially as the 60-day period imposed by the Constitution is about complete.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, in a statement, noted, “But what is more important today and in the next 17 days is how to end the fighting in Marawi which has already claimed the lives of many of our soldiers, displaced thousands of residents, and disrupted all forms of human and economic activity in the area.”

“Immediate and effective aid must come to the people of Marawi and I call on our government to immediately prepare a long-term rehabilitation plan that will bring normalcy back to the affected areas,” Mr. Drilon said, adding, “I urge the Senate leadership to ask the Executive for an update on the situation in Marawi.”

Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV, for his part, said: “Let’s focus on giving displaced Filipino families the support they need and be ready to pour all efforts to rebuilding Marawi, reestablishing our schools, and creating jobs and livelihood for the community.”

Mr. Duterte’s proclamation ends on July 23, the eve of his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel also backed Mr. Reyes’s fear that the SC decision “sets a dangerous precedent for undemocratic governance.”

“Lest we forget, bad precedents stem from seemingly justifiable measures. With the ruling, martial law becomes the “default response” of the state to address all acts of violence and lawlessness,” Ms. Hontiveros said.

The SC has yet to rule on two other petitions filed against Proclamation No. 216 and seeking to compel Congress to convene and deliberate on the declaration.

Mr. Calida in his comment on the said petitions — filed by former solicitor-general Florin T. Hilbay and ex-senator Wigberto E. Tañada — said: “The Constitution only provides for the conduct of ‘voting jointly’ and only for the purpose of revoking or extending the proclamation or suspension.”

Senator Joel T. Villanueva, for his part, said in a mobile phone reply to BusinessWorld that the “request for extension should come from the President.”

“We will be ready to assess and make that decision if there’s really a need to extend the declaration on [martial law],” Mr. Villanueva added.

Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito in his text message, when sought for comment, said he “will suggest that defense and security officials brief the Senate before the 60-day deadline, so that we’ll have a better grasp of the situation.” — with Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral, Jil Danielle M. Caro, and Raynan F. Javil

A SENATE committee will investigate police actions after a Reuters report detailed how officers have used hospitals to cover up executions in President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s year-old war on drugs, the committee’s head said on Monday.

The Reuters article, published on Thursday, detailed how police have been sending corpses of drug suspects to hospital after they were killed in anti-drug operations. Witnesses and family members said the suspects were executed and their bodies removed in a police cover-up.

Interviewed for the article, Metro Manila Police Chief Oscar Albayalde promised to investigate the findings, which were based on eight months of official crime data and interviews with witnesses, family members, doctors and police.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director-General Ronald M. dela Rosa, who declined to be interviewed for the piece, challenged its contents on Friday and said police are not medically qualified to determine whether a victim is dead or alive. A spokeswoman for Reuters said the news agency stood by its reporting.

On Monday, responding to an opposition call for an investigation of Reuters’ findings, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs told Reuters there would be an inquiry.

“I will conduct an inquiry basically because there are witnesses named in the Reuters report,” added the chairman, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, Sr. Witnesses are invited to testify under oath.

The Senate is small, with only 24 seats, but its members are influential. The Senate has also been home to Mr. Duterte’s fiercest critics.

Since the drug war began, senators have grilled top police officers and former hitmen in often sensational televised hearings that have enraged Mr. Duterte and mesmerized millions of Filipinos.

There was no immediate response from Mr. Duterte’s office to the Senate move.

The Reuters report, based on data from two of Metro Manila’s five police districts for the first eight months of the drug war, showed that of 301 victims sent to hospital after police anti-drug operations, only two survived. The rest were dead on arrival.

In July 2016, the first month of the drug war, there were 10 dead-on-arrival cases, or 13% of police drug-shooting deaths. By January 2017, the tally had risen to 51 cases, or 85%.

A police commander who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said the increase was not a coincidence and police were trying to prevent crime-scene investigations and media attention that might show they were executing suspects.

In a three-page resolution calling for an inquiry, opposition Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV also cited an earlier Reuters report that described how police were paid to kill drug suspects and plant evidence. A police spokesman at the time called the payment claim “implausible.”

No date has been fixed for the inquiry. The Senate resumes at the end of July.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dela Rosa on Tuesday said he wants to recall all Special Action Force (SAF) members assigned to the New Bilibid Prison, following Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II’s remarks on Monday about the revival of the drug trade there.

“I want to recall also because of them, their apprehension. Our names might be damaged here. The drug trade will continue and we cannot control, our names will only be damaged, you better relieve us here,” Mr. Dela Rosa said.

“We do not totally deny that,” he said of Mr. Aguirre’s claim. “We are not washing our hands.”

Mr. Dela Rosa also said he has already talked with Chief Supt. Benjamin M. Lusad, SAF director, regarding his plans to recall the troops.

“I have talked to the SAF director. Even them, they want to be recalled from there because they have no complete control over the Bilibid drug lords, right? Before, the Bilibid drug lords were in Building 14, guarded by SAF. Now, they were transferred to the maximum (security facility),” Mr. Dela Rosa said.

“The SAF now guards Building 14 and the maximum. But there are also drug lords transferred to the medium. I just don’t know about the minimum,” he also said.

“We just want the public to know that we do not totally manage the Bilibid. The only areas guarded by the SAF are the maximum and Building 14. If the drug lords were transferred to the minimum, the SAF no longer has control over them. If there are gadgets such as cellphones and laptops that slipped, the SAF will not know about them because they no longer have control,” the PNP chief added.

In a related development, the notorious prison gang Sputnik has surrendered illegal drug paraphernalia, following Mr. Aguirre II’s disclosures on the drug trade at Bilibid.

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director-General Benjamin C. delos Santos said the “Sputnik group of Quadrant 3 voluntarily surrender[ed] 31 pieces plastic sachet of suspected shabu” on the morning of July 3.

In a message relayed through Justice Undersecretary Erickson H. Balmes, Mr. Delos Santos said the surrender of drugs was “as a result of the dialogue/negotiation conducted last Saturday.” — Reuters, with Jil Danielle M. Caro and Kristine Joy V. Patag

By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral, Reporter

OFWs to be aided by new, multipurpose ID LABOR SECRETARY Silvestre H. Bello III on Tuesday, July 4, said the overseas employment certificates (OECs) for Filipinos working abroad will be replaced with a universal identification card that can be used for government transactions and eventually as a passport.

In a press briefing at Malacañang, Mr. Bello said “all bona fide” overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be given an ID called iDOLE or “ID of the Department of Labor and Employment,” which they could also present at the airport to skip paying travel tax and terminal fee.

The initiative is one of the major priorities of the Duterte administration as many OFWs had long complained about the difficulty and long queues in obtaining OECs whenever they have to return home or fly back to their workplaces abroad.

According to Mr. Bello, Filipino expats could also use the iDOLE for their Social Security System, Pag-Ibig (Home Development Mutual Fund), and PhilHealth transactions, adding that his department, together with President Rodrigo R. Duterte, would launch the program on July 12.

“That (iDOLE) to me is a major gift of the President to our OFWs who we always call as the ‘bagong bayani,’” Mr. Bello said.

Mr. Bello said DoLE would also coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Justice (DoJ) to explore a system that would allow iDOLEs to be eventually used as passports by OFWs.

“That will be through diplomatic channels,” the Labor chief said.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that an estimated 2.2 million Filipinos work abroad from April to September 2016, with Saudi Arabia being their leading destination.

Other preferred workplaces are the United Arab Emirates (15.9%), Europe (6.6%), Kuwait (6.4%), and Qatar (6.2%).

Money sent home by OFWs totaled $2.083 billion last April, 5.9% lower than the $2.213 billion last year and down a fifth from the record-high $2.615-billion inflow seen in March.

In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas attributed the drop in remittances to the repatriation of workers under Saudi Arabia’s 90-day amnesty program for undocumented foreigners.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has reappointed four Cabinet officials who were bypassed by the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA).

Mr. Duterte signed the appointment letters of Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael V. Mariano, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial and Social Welfare Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo on June 1, but released only by Malacañang on July 4.

To recall, the CA was not able to confirm the ad interim appointments of Ms. Taguiwalo, Mr. Mariano, and Ms. Ubial when Congress went on recess last month, while Mr. Cimatu has yet to face the powerful commission.

Meanwhile, Mr. Duterte’s vice-presidential running mate and former senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano was confirmed by the CA last May as new Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary within minutes after session opened.

Congress reconvenes on July 24 for its Second Regular Session, with Mr. Duterte delivering his second State of the Nation Address. — Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral

By Raynan F. Javil, Reporter

THE House of Representatives has withheld the issuance of a show-cause order against justices of the Court of Appeals (CA) who granted the petition of writ of habeas corpus on the so-called ‘Ilocos 6.’

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny T. Pimentel said in an ambush interview yesterday that they have filed a motion for inhibition against justices of the CA Special Fourth Division and they will wait for a resolution on their pleading.

“Kung naalala niyo (If you remember), I already signed the show-cause order (as to) why they should not be cited for contempt. But considering that on June 29, we filed for a motion for inhibition, so we would just await muna (first) if the three justices will inhibit,” Mr. Pimentel said in an ambush interview.

Mr. Pimentel chairs the House committee on good government and public accountability, which is conducting a congressional probe on the alleged irregularities on the purchase of minicabs, buses and trucks amounting to P66.45 million using the Ilocos Norte tobacco excise-tax collection share.

Six Ilocos Norte officials remain detained at the House of Representatives since May 29 as they were cited in contempt for giving “dismissive answers” during the previous hearings bythe committee.

The six officials petitioned the appellate court for a writ of habeas corpus, which the court granted. But the House ignored the order and instead issued a show-cause order against the three justices of the CA Special Fourth Division.

The CA Special Fourth Division is composed of Justices Stephen Cruz, Edwin Sorongon, and Nina Antonio-Valenzuela.

“We hold the show-cause order until such time our motion for inhibition to the justices will be acted upon,” Mr. Pimentel said.

His committee will resume its probe on July 25. The chamber already issued a show-cause order against Ilocos Governor Imee R. Marcos after she skipped the previous hearings.

A GUNRUNNING syndicate based in Lipa, Batangas, believed to have been in operation for 22 years, has been taken down by the police and the weapons seized are similar to those rounded up from the local terror group that has wreaked havoc on Marawi City, according to police Director-General Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa.

In a press conference yesterday where the confiscated weapons were presented, Mr. Dela Rosa said, “Take note of the gun, the spikes, the seal. If you will remember, there are pictures here, high powered firearms seized in Marawi… Look at the color, the mark, the brand, same.”

At least 1,012 firearms, gun parts, and accessories were confiscated during the raid on July 1.

The alleged leader of the syndicate, Romel Litan delos Santos, who claimed to be a gunsmith selling assembled and refurbished 5.56 M16 rifles and short firearms was arrested along with several cohorts. Charges have been filed against them on July 3.

Chief Superintendent Roel B. Obusan, director of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), said there are leads that some of the firearms from the syndicate were transported to Marawi City for the local terrorist group Maute.

Mr. Obusan said, “We already filed a case against him (Mr. Delos Santos) on [gun] assembling and operating without license. However, based on the record book we confiscated, we already have leads how many were deployed to Marawi, how many were bought by politicians, policemen, and military. We have to identify where these firearms really went, and even if we want to connect this to rebellion, we still do not have evidence.” — Jil Danielle M. Caro

GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES and communists leaders are eyeing to revive the stalled peace process in August while “informal meetings” will be carried out this month to discuss socioeconomic reforms as well as the possibility of declaring another “interim unilateral cease-fire.”

In a press briefing at Malacañang on Tuesday, government chief negotiator Silvestre H. Bello III said he has agreed with his communist counterpart, Fidel V. Agcaoili, to continue the negotiations in a bid to seal a bilateral cease-fire agreement to end one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies.

“Mag-uusap na sila para pagdating ng August, maliwanag na (They will start talking so that come August, issues will be more clear),” Mr. Bello said. “This is the best legacy that our President can give to our country: an enduring and lasting peace for everyone.”

The fifth round of peace negotiations, scheduled May 27-June 1, was derailed after the New People’s Army (NPA), the communists’ armed wing, ordered intensified attacks amid President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s May 23 declaration of martial law in Mindanao in response to the Marawi crisis.

But Mr. Bello said the recent cancellation of peace talks was “not attributed to the [NPA] attacks.”

“The reality is that there is an existing armed conflict. That is the reason why we are talking to end the armed conflict,” he said.

The NPA faction in the southern Mindanao area, where the President comes from, yesterday claimed to have killed seven soldiers in an attack in Monkayo, Compostela Valley on July 1.

In a statement, the NPA also chided Mr. Duterte for calling them “double-faced” for the continued attacks amid the peace talks.

“President Rodrigo R. Duterte is hallucinating if he thinks mere words and not deeds can stop the revolutionary war waged by the New People’s Army and the revolutionary forces in the country,” the NPA said. — Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral

THE TASK force that will handle the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City is planning to seek authority for emergency procurement procedures to hasten the rebuilding work.

“Well, I hope they will allow us to do that because if we will follow the normal procurement process, it’s very time consuming. It’s lengthy, and once the fighting [ends], I would like to start the rehabilitation immediately,” said Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, head of Task Force Bangon Marawi, which means Rise up Marawi.

Mr. Lorenzana led yesterday’s first meeting of the group, which includes representatives from various government agencies and civil society organizations, to discuss preparations for the early stage of rehabilitation as soon as the battle ends.

“Our bulldozers, we need all the equipment, the materials, the cement, the steel bars, and then we have to hire laborers also, and these are also covered by the emergency procurement,” he said.

Mr. Lorenzana said only about 10% of the city remains to be cleared of the Islamist militants who have been fighting government troops for six weeks.

The government is hopeful that the seige will not last for another week.

“This is just my estimate, I think just one more week. It could be longer. As we can see, the areas they [Maute] hold continues to lessen. It depends on the intensity of the resistance of the enemy. It could be shorter but if they are really strong, and they will fight to the [end], then it will be longer,” Mr. Lorenzana said, adding that the armed forces aim to fully reclaim Marawi City before President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24.

“That is what we want to happen. But we are leaving it to the ground commanders to do their pace, not us, we will not. We are not micromanaging the events there. It is up to the ground commanders, they have their own. We [only] give them guidance on what they should do. We would like it very much that the fighting will end by the time the President delivers his SONA,” he said.

Sought for comment on the possible extension of martial law in Mindanao, declared on May 23 when the rampage broke out, Mr. Lorenzana said, “We will know about that in a couple of weeks. We will make our own recommendation. We are still studying the situation on the ground not only in Lanao del Sur, Marawi, but all over Mindanao.”

The martial law declaration is valid for 60 days and will be subject to Congressional approval for extension. — Jil Danielle M. Caro

Homes and buildings in parts of Marawi City, as shown in this photo taken on June 26, has been destroyed by the fighting between government forces and IS-inspired local terror groups, which is now on its 7th week. — AFP

THREE ASPIRANTS for a seat in the highest court, which will be vacated by Associate Justice Jose C. Mendoza, faced the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) yesterday morning for their public interview.

The three, who are among 13 nominees, are Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard A. Mosquera, Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo.

First to face the council was Mr. Gaerlan, who was asked on the controversial cases that he has acted upon in the appellate court. He said that he concurred in the CA’s recent decision to acquit controversial businesswoman and alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet L. Napoles on the illegal detention case involving former aide and second cousin Benhur K. Luy.

“Upon review, there was no serious illegal detention because [Mr.] Luy was free to go out and contact family,” Mr. Gaerlan said.

He was likewise asked by the panel on what his decision would be on the petitions challenging the factual basis of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao. The said petitions were also acted upon, and dismissed, by the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Gaerlan said that he believes that “there is sufficient basis” of Mr. Duterte’s declaration, adding that there is rebellion and invasion in the area.

Mr. Gesmundo, for his part, was grilled on the low disposition of cases in the Sandiganbayan. He pointed out the “peculiarity of cases” in the anti-graft court, specifically those that involve more than one accused.

Last to face the council was Mr. Mosquera, who stressed his “independence” should he be given a chance to serve the high court.”I will not be influenced. I have always stood up for my principles, resolved cases on basis of facts, evidence, applicable law.”

Others who seek to replace Mr. Mendoza but whose previous interviews have been held valid by the council are: CA Presiding Justice Andres B. Reyes, Jr. and Associate Justices Ramon M. Bato, Jr., Apolinario D. Bruselas, Jr., Rosmari D. Carandang, Stephen C. Cruz, Japar B. Dimaampao, Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, and Jose C. Reyes, Jr.

The public interview of SC Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez, who faced the Council last June 19, also remains valid.
Mr. Mendoza, the fourth SC justice to retire under Mr. Duterte’s administration, is set to hang his robes on Aug. 13. — Kristine Joy V. Patag

THE PRESIDENTIAL Security Group (PSG) lacks the required number of bomb sniffing dogs to protect President Rodrigo R. Duterte, as well as his guests, the Commission on Audit (CoA) said in a report.

In an annual report released on July 1, CoA said “the prime duty of the PSG in securing the safety of the President may not be effectively carried out,” noting that 11 military dogs retired in 2016 and another five are expected to retire in 2018.

“In turn, the PSG has only 20 effective bomb dogs as of Dec. 31, 2016, which falls short from the ideal number of 25 bomb dogs necessary in the realization and concretization of its prime duty in protecting the President through effective bomb detection operations during presidential engagements,” the state audit body said.

Under PSG rules, the trained dogs should be retired after eight years of service, and be disposed within three months after retirement through “public auction” and procedures in accordance with the existing rules of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“The Command did not procure any bomb dog for the last 12 years and almost all of the existing effective bomb dogs were acquired through donation,” the CoA pointed out.

It added that “reasonable” inventory of military dogs should be maintained and its acquisition should be “properly planned and completed on time,” since the training of “K9s necessitates a tedious process before they are utilized in military operations.”

For its part, the PSG said they already requested for the procurement of 11 military working dogs for bomb detection during presidential engagements, but the “proposal was not considered by the Higher Headquarters.”

“Accordingly, the Agency will submit a separate request to Higher Headquarters citing the urgency, importance and detrimental effect it will have on the protective security operation for the President and other Very Very Important Persons (VVIPs),” the PSG management told the state auditors.

The CoA recommended that the PSG fast-track the acquisition of 11 military working dogs and propose to the Budget department the inclusion of a provision for procurement in the agency’s annual budget. — Raynan F. Javil

LEAK REPAIRS will be undertaken by Manila Water Co., Inc. (MWC) at the DoST pumping station, which will mean a water service interruption from 10:00 p.m. of July 6 to 5:00 a.m. the next day. The affected areas are: Central, Upper, Lower, and New Lower Bicutan; Maharlika; Bagumbayan; and North Daang Hari in Taguig City; and St. Martin de Porres in Parañaque City.

AN 11.8-kilometer “patrol road” will be built at the Clark Special Economic Zone to beef up security at the Clark International Airport for the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings scheduled in November this year. The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and subsidiary Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) has signed an agreement with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the P70-million project. Under the agreement, the AFP will provide the manpower, labor, and the general construction equipment and tools while CIAC will be in charge of the detailed engineering design and the BCDA will oversee implementation. The BCDA said in a statement that the road “will also serve as a long-term solution to strengthen security measures” at the airport.