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Father of slain family in Bulacan offered government protection

THE FATHER of the family brutally slain at their residence in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan has been offered government protection, a ranking Justice official said on Thursday.

Justice Undersecretary Erickson H. Balmes, in a message sent to reporters, said the Witness Protection Program (WPP) has been offered to Dexter Carlos, Sr., although his application will still be subject to evaluation.

In the meantime, Mr. Balmes said that Mr. Carlos already accepted provisional protection under the WPP, specifically a transfer in residence. This is apart from the free legal service provided by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) to the bereaved father.

“We want [Mr.] Carlos to know that the Department of Justice is more than willing to extend any assistance that he may need in getting justice for what was done to his family,” Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II said in a statement.

“If he feels threatened or if he fears for his safety, we will study if he can be placed under the Witness Protection Program which the DoJ (Department of Justice) administers during the duration of the trial of the case to be filed against the suspects. If qualified, we will expedite his admission into the program,” Mr. Aguirre added.

Last June 27, Mr. Carlos found his mother-in-law, wife, and three children stabbed to death in their home in Ridge Royal Subdivision. Initial reports said the two female adults were also raped after they were killed.

Mr. Aguirre earlier ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a parallel probe on the case. — Kristine Joy V. Patag

Ombudsman pursues forfeiture case vs Purisima’s P29.3-M unexplained wealth

THE OFFICE of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of a forfeiture petition before the Sandiganbayan against former Philippine National Police director Alan LM. Purisima and his family over the alleged unexplained wealth amounting to P29.29 million.

In a consolidated resolution dated July 4, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales directed that forfeiture proceedings be initiated against Mr. Purisima, his wife Ma. Ramona Lydia, sons Rainier Van Albert, Eumir Von Andrei, Alan, Jr., and Jason Arvi.

Ms. Morales also ordered the filing of nine counts of perjury “for willfully and deliberately failing to disclose all of his properties in his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) for 2006 to 2014.”

In the parallel administrative case, Mr. Purisima was found guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and acquisition of unexplained wealth and was ordered dismissed from the service.

However, since Mr. Purisima was already dismissed from service due to his administrative liability over the alleged anomalous gun courier deal in 2011, his penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to his salary for one year.

According to the Ombudsman, Mr. Purisima received salaries, allowances and other benefits in the total amount of P9,550,621.44 for 14 years from 2000 to 2014, while his wife received a gross total compensation and other income of P6,382,530.84 as an employee of the AFP Mutual Benefits Association, Inc. for the same period. Thus, their combined lawful earnings amounted to P15.93 million only.

Mr. Purisima declared business interests and financial connections with RAS Construction from 2000-2006 as partner; I@Link Computer Center from 2002 to 2006 as proprietor; Aliakbar Hauling and Trucking Services from 2008 to 2014; and EALRAJ Corporation, a family owned general merchandising corporation, from 2012 to 2014. Ombudsman investigators said that Mr. Purisima’s net worth for 2014 was P16.76 million.

“Based on the investigation and analysis made by the Ombudsman, General Purisima and his family accumulated unexplained acquisitions totaling at least P29,292,459.92. It was also found that Purisima had other properties and business investments under his name and/or that of his wife or sons, which he failed to declare in his SALN,” the Ombudsman said.

PROPERTIES
The properties, according to the Ombudsman, consisted of: real properties in Aulo, Palayan City; residential land in Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija; 11 parcels of land in Talisay, Batangas; land in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur; and personal properties consisting of firearms acquired from 2010 to 2014.

The Ombudsman also noted that Mr. Purisima “made frequent travels abroad” from 2001 to 2014, with 19 foreign trips, 12 of which were “official in nature,” while seven of his foreign trips “were financed from private funds.”

Respondent Ramona had 19 travels abroad; Rainier, 10; Eumir, four; Alan, Jr., five; and Jayson, seven, the Ombudsman said.

“[S]aid travels show that they lived a lavish lifestyle which is not commensurate with their declared earnings and financial resources,” the Ombudsman resolution read.

In its resolution, the Ombudsman observed that “respondent P/DG Purisima effected wholesale amendments of his annual income tax returns (ITRs) for calendar years 2004 to 2013. The wholesale amendment was completed on Nov. 18, 2014, or 24 days after the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued a Certification dated Oct. 28, 2014 in compliance with the subpoena issued by the FFIB-MOLEO (Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices) during the fact-finding stage.”

However, the Ombudsman said in amending his ITRs, Mr. Purisima used a “different BIR form for business, profession, and compensation income and all of a sudden declared sales, revenues from businesses, professional income and combined net taxable income for himself and Ramona.” He also paid about P5.01 million in income tax only in November 2014.

“[A] closer scrutiny of respondent P/DG Purisima’s amended ITRs also reveals they are replete with badges of falsity and misdeclaration,” Ms. Morales said in the resolution.

“The fact that he took so long to declare these other income casts doubt as to their existence. Clearly, amending his ITRs for CYs 2004 to 2013 was a mere afterthought in response to the lifestyle check then being conducted by the FFIB MOLEO,” she added.

On Mr. Purisima’s claim that the properties registered under the name of his sons were legitimate as they were gainfully employed, the Ombudsman said that as “there is no sufficient proof that reasonably supports the financial or earning capacity of P/DG Purisima’s children, the inevitable conclusion is that their acquisitions and investments were made possible through the funds of P/DG Purisima himself who failed to account for the sources of these.”

PERJURY CASES
For the perjury cases, the Ombudsman found probable cause to file raps against Mr. Purisima for failing to disclose three properties in Aulo, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija; residential land in San Vicente, Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija; agricultural land in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur; and four firearm in his SALN.

The Ombudsman also referred Purisima’s acquisition of the property located in Aulo, Palayan City to the Agriculture department as the lots are covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

The Consolidated Resolution covers 15 complaints filed by the Fact-Finding and Investigation Bureau of OMB-MOLEO, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, Coalition of Filipino Consumers and Jose Teddie del Rosario. — Raynan F. Javil

BI thwarts nine Indians in human smuggling try

NINE INDIAN nationals bearing fake visas and bogus travel documents were stopped from entering by immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last July 5, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported yesterday, a case that is suspected to be a human smuggling attempt.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said the Indians were intercepted upon their arrival at the NAIA Terminal 3 aboard a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong.

The Indians — identified as Chinchorkar Udayan Raju, Surjit Singh, Kari Ram Kiran, Tandel Gatiraj Narsinhbhai, Jaspreet Singh, Gore Chetan Vinod, Toppo Clinson Christophar, Varinder Singh, and Amandeep Singh — were booked on the first available flight to their port of origin and have now been included in the immigration blacklist for violating Philippine immigration laws.

Marc Red A. Mariñas, BI Port Operations Division chief, said the nine, who claimed to be seafarers from Mumbai, “presented counterfeit single entry visa-upon-arrival (SEVUA) visas instead of valid seaman’s visas that the law requires them to secure from a Philippine consulate abroad.”

“Verification made with the concerned BI offices confirmed that their visas were not issued by the bureau. These were later found to have been fraudulently manufactured,” Mr. Mariñas added.

The ports chief said the nine insisted that they were legitimate seamen who were about to join a ship docked at the Batangas port. However, upon verification, it was established that the vessel they named already left the port and is currently in Singapore.

“Our seaport operations section also reported that it never received any advice or notice from a shipping agent here informing us about the impending arrival of these alleged foreign seafarers,” Mr. Mariñas said.

The bureau will conduct an investigation on the incident to find out if any BI personnel, or employees from other agencies, are involved in the human smuggling attempt. — Kristine Joy V. Patag

6.5-strong earthquake rocks Leyte

A 6.5-MAGNITUDE earthquake struck the central Philippines Thursday, killing at least one person inside a collapsed building with more people feared trapped inside, a local official said.

Rescuers were rushing to the town of Kananga where a three-storey commercial building collapsed as the tremor struck the central island of Leyte, Mayor Rowena N. Codilla of Kananga town told DZBB radio.

“We were able to retrieve one dead and one wounded,” Ms. Codilla said.

The rescue is hampered by aftershocks that continued to rock the area and lack of proper equipment, she said.

The official said she did not know how many more people were inside the building.

The 10-year-old building housed a small hotel upstairs and shops on the ground floor, Ms. Codilla said, adding there was little damage elsewhere in the town.

The quake hit at a depth of around six kilometers, the US Geological Survey said. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology’s (Phivolcs) bulletin put the epicenter around the town of Jaro.

There was no immediate warning of a tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines also reported that the earthquake caused no damage to airports operating in Leyte island, although the one in Ormoc was still being evaluated as of 6 p.m. for possible runway cracks.

Large parts of Leyte were devastated by super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in November 2013.

Huge tsunami-like waves smashed the city of Tacloban and nearby areas, leaving 7,350 people dead or missing.

A receptionist at Hotel XYZ told AFP the quake was felt in Tacloban, but did not damage buildings there.

“It was far away from here, were are okay,” the receptionist said.

A receptionist at a hotel in another part of the city reported the quake was felt but did not cause damage in the area. “We are safe,” he said.

In Cebu, the biggest city in the central Philippines, a receptionist at a hotel also said there had been no major damage.

But people across the region of mostly farming and fishing communities reported feeling a powerful quake.

Marlon Tano, a Leyte farmer and journalist, told AFP it knocked him off his feet at his eggplant farm in Borauen, a town near the quake’s epicenter.

“It was so strong that I fell,” Mr. Tano said.

“I saw buses and motorcycles stopping on the highway and people getting off them,” he added.

Phivolcs said tremor intensities were recorded as far south as Surigao del Norte province and as far northwest as Roxas City on Panay Island.

In February, a 6.5-magnitude quake killed eight people and left more than 250 injured outside the southern city of Surigao in Mindanao.

The following month, a 5.9-magnitude tremor killed one person there.

Before the Surigao quakes, the last lethal earthquake to hit the country was a 7.1-magnitude tremor that left more than 220 people dead and destroyed historic churches when it struck the central islands in October 2013.

The Philippines lies on the so-called Ring of Fire, a vast Pacific Ocean region where many quakes and volcanic eruptions occur. — main report by AFP

Drilon: Martial law extension in the hands of Congress

“ONLY CONGRESS has the power to extend martial law,” said Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Thursday, disproving claims of Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo that President Rodrigo R. Duterte could just issue a new proclamation if Congress does not extend Proclamation 216. Mr. Drilon stressed that the President can only “recommend” an extension that Congress, in joint session, will have to discuss and decide upon. He cited Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution, which state that: “[U]pon the initiative of the President, the Congress may, in the same manner, extend such proclamation or suspension for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.” — Jil Danielle M. Caro

NCAA Season 93 kicks off

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Reporter

THE country’s longest-standing collegiate league is back as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) begins Season 93 tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Hosted this year by the San Sebastian College-Recoletos de Manila, the new season will have the theme “NCAA Strong @ Season 93” in line with the league’s goal to be “bigger, bolder and stronger” as it approaches a century of championing collegiate sporting excellence.

NCAA Season 93 proceedings commence with the basketball tournament with defending champions San Beda College Red Lions taking on hosts San Sebastian Stags in the opening game at 2 p.m. Following it is the clash between last year’s runners-up Arellano University Chiefs and the Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals at 4 p.m.

The games follow the opening ceremonies scheduled for 12 noon.

A noted feature of the basketball tournament this season is the holding of the “NCAA on Tour” that will have with some games played in the premises of member schools. Organizers 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.

FAVORITE ANEW
Coming off an impressive showing in the preseason, San Beda is once again installed as tournament favorite anew, something it expressed readiness to embrace but recognized as well as needing much work from its end.

“We’re in for a tough season because our opponents have gotten better. It will be tough for me as well since I’m coming back. I’ve not seen a lot of our opponents yet save for the FilOil preseason tournament but based from the other NCAA teams’ performance there league parity this season would very good,” said San Beda’s comebacking NCAA coach Boyet Fernandez.

“The goal for San Beda is always to win the championship. But it would not be given to us of course and we have to work for it as every team this season has improved. I admire all the coaches that I’m competing against and looking forward to a competitive season,” added the San Beda coach, who took over the reins with the departure of erstwhile coach Jamike Jarin.

For their opening game against rival San Sebastian, Mr. Fernandez said they are expecting no less than a tough challenge as has been the case each time the two teams meet.

“We are expecting a tough challenge from San Sebastian. Coach Egay Macaraya has done a good job developing the team and they continue to grow,” said Mr. Fernandez, who shared that they will be banking on having an “intact core” to propel them in Season 93.

On the part of San Sebastian, playing the talent-laden Lions it said is a tall order at the onset but it would not stop it from competing.

“San Beda is a very talented team and we just have to compete. It has to start from our defense and take it from there,” Mr. Macaraya said.

For the other opening day-playing teams Arellano and Mapua, they said they are using their season debuts to test the water but nonetheless out to get the win.

“For our first game we are going to keep it simple, we are just going to run our plays. We are using it to have our players get acclimatized with our system and build on it,” said Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera.

“On our part, it will be a challenging situation for us this season with some key players in the past not with us this year. But our players get to play this year and I hope it motivates them,” said Mapua assistant coach Ed Cordero, whose team will be sans some key cogs for Season 93, notably two-time league most valuable player Allwell Oraeme, who has decided to sit out this year.

NCAA Games will be broadcast live over S+A and S+A HD and via livestreaming on sports.abs-cbn.com.

Murray, Nadal through, heartbreak for Kvitova

LONDON — Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Venus Williams breezed into the third round at Wimbledon on Wednesday, while fellow former champion Petra Kvitova tumbled out.

Williams, Kei Nishikori and Johanna Konta had to grind their way into the last 32, while new mum Victoria Azarenka continued her comeback bid for Grand Slam glory.

Dustin Brown, the dreadlocked German with Jamaican roots, knocked out Nadal in the second round two years ago at the All England Club.

However, world number one Murray was not caught out by his extrovert drop shots, racing to a ruthless 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory on Centre Court.

“Once I got the break in the first set, I felt the momentum was with me. I started to see the shots he was going to play a little but quicker and that allowed me to get to some of the drop volleys,” the British star said.

Next up for Murray is a clash with colorful Italian 28th seed Fabio Fognini.

Fourth seed Nadal, fresh from winning a historic 10th French Open, had a comfortable ride against fellow left-hander Donald Young of the United States, the Spaniard winning 6-4, 6-2, 7-5.

He faces Russian 30th seed Karen Khachanov next.

“I’m happy now, it’s great to be back in the third round without losing a set,” Nadal said.

“I take it easy now, just trying to enjoy every moment. I’m having a great season.”

KVITOVA FEELING SICK
Two-time champion Petra Kvitova, the bookmakers’ title favorite, lost 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 to Madison Brengle of the United States.

Kvitova, playing in her second Grand Slam since recovering from a terrifying knife attack in her home, needed medical assistance during the third set.

“I just could not breathe, and I was feeling a bit sick,” the Czech 11th seed said.

“I felt like an animal. But a very slow animal.”

Troubled US five-time champion Williams survived a scare against Chinese rising star Wang Qiang, eventually winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Williams is trying to concentrate on tennis against the backdrop of impending legal action back home over a fatal car crash.

“The past is something that you can’t change, if it was good or bad. I like to live in the future. I don’t want to think about the past, per se. It’s done,” she said.

Williams next faces Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who ousted Czech 22nd seed Barbora Strycova.

Former world number one Azarenka, playing her first Grand Slam tournament since giving birth to first child Leo in December, knocked out Russian 15th seed Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-3.

She hopes to become the first mother to win the Wimbledon singles since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.

“It’s really fun that I’m able to go home and spend time with my son,” the Belarusian said.

Azarenka next faces British wildcard Heather Watson, who downed Latvian 18th seed Anastasija Sevastova.

BIG DAY FOR BRITS
British sixth seed Konta reached the Wimbledon third round for the first time with a marathon 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 10-8 win over Donna Vekic which left her opponent in tears.

With Konta, Watson, Murray and Aljaz Bedene’s wins, four British players have reached the Wimbledon third round for the first time since 1997.

But Murray said: “I’d rather set the goal at reaching second weeks and quarter-finals and contending for Slams.”

Nishikori dug deep to keep his Wimbledon hopes alive as the Japanese ninth seed ground out a 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) win over Ukrainian qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky. He next faces Spanish 18th seed Roberto Bautista Agut.

Fans shielded their faces from the sun with towels, programs and napkins as temperatures reached 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit), while several players bothered by an invasion of flying ants.

“I almost wanted to stop because they were hitting you in the face when you were trying to hit balls,” said Sam Querrey.

The American and his fellow seeds Marin Cilic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Muller, Steve Johnson made it through.

Russia’s temperamental Daniil Medvedev, who had knocked out world number three Stan Wawrinka, crashed out to Belgian qualifier Ruben Bemelmans.

Medvedev threw coins at the umpire’s chair before apologizing for the bizarre gesture which he insisted was not meant to imply the official was corrupt.

In the women’s draw, second seed Simona Halep went through in straight sets, while fellow seeds Elina Svitolina (4th) and Dominika Cibulkova (8th) also made it.

French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko joined them in the third round with a late evening three-set win over Canadian qualifier Francoise Abanda. — AFP

Can a driver use a cellphone when stuck in traffic?

THE ANTI-DISTRACTED Driving Act, under Republic Act 10913, took effect again beginning yesterday after government agencies sorted out the implementing rules and regulations (IRR), which were previously unclear, prompting public confusion and anger. Among the provisions of the IRR is that a driver, even when at a stop and stuck in heavy traffic, “as long as he is behind the wheel,” cannot hold and use a mobile phone or other gadgets to “make or receive calls; write, send or read text-based communications; play games; watch movies; perform calculations; read e-books; compose messages; surf or browse the Internet; or other similar acts,” based on the guidelines issued by the Department of Transportation (DoTr). For 15 other items of the guidelines, see the DoTr’s list on https://goo.gl/3z6gkd

Another NAIA runway closure affects flights

FOR THE second time in just over a month, a runway at the country’s main gateway had to be closed for emergency repairs, affecting several international and domestic flights. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), in a notice to airmen, said runway 06/24 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) could not be used from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 6 due to an “emergency pavement repair.” The secondary runway remained open, but only for flights using aircraft like Airbus 320 or Boeing 737 and smaller planes. The affected flights were either delayed or diverted to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga. On May 30, a NAIA runway was also closed for four hours in the afternoon due to potholes and debris.

Push for excellence, sense of family drive San Miguel Beer

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Reporter
success

THE San Miguel Beermen punctuated their standing as the most successful franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association with their 24th title following their annexing of the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup title recently. It is something stakeholders said is a product, in large part, of the culture fostered within the organization, particularly those of striving for excellence and a sense of family.

In celebration of their second straight PBA title this season, which put them in great position for another PBA grand slam after that of 1989, the Beermen held a victory party with their fans and San Miguel employees on Wednesday at the conglomerate’s head office in Ortigas.

During the party, the team basked in the result of its hard work on the court while also underscored the keys that have made them a success.

“Twenty-four titles say a lot of the kind organization that San Miguel has. Of course, in every venture, whether it’s in sports or business, you strive for excellence and we in San Miguel definitely submit to that,” said San Miguel Governor and PBA Chairman Robert Non in an interview with BusinessWorld on the sidelines of their victory party.

“Every championship brings pride and honor to the company and we welcome that. This is apart from the fact that it helps to have a winning brand as well. In the case of San Miguel, there is a correlation between winning and rise in sales for example and that’s good for business,” he added.

The San Miguel team official also shared that the culture of family within the organization has been a key aspect propelling the success of the team, and it all starts from no less than San Miguel Corp. President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang.

“Despite the load of his work, Boss RSA (Mr. Ang) always has time to watch the games whether live or through tapes. Time to time he will call the players just to talk to them which in effect helps the players be at ease playing for the team and feel at home. He’s a father figure for all of us and that makes him different. And that spills over not only for the teams but also to the employees,” Mr. Non said.

“And with that it really makes our job easy because we don’t need to motivate our players that much since the higher-ups are doing their part in that,” he added.

And with the lead of Mr. Ang, the San Miguel employees are also invested in the team.

“Treatment of the teams by the employees of SMC is really like a family. Whether you are with Purefoods and Barangay Ginebra, too, all are treated like family and are given support. That has been the culture here,” Mr. Non said as he also mentioned the other teams under the SMC umbrella.

FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE
One player who has firsthand experience of how players are being treated with the San Miguel organization is Arwind Santos, a one-time PBA most valuable player and key cog for the Beermen.

“I consider myself to be lucky playing for the San Miguel franchise. I’m with the team for almost 10 years now and the experience has been great,” said Mr. Santos in a separate interview.

“Boss RSA, in particular, has been like a father to me. Rarely do you see a boss who gives his full support, taking time to talk to you and even cooking for you. He gives advices to make sure that you are doing okay and taking care of your body. That said, it only motivates me more to do my share for the team. It’s going to be a shame if you don’t do your part as player knowing the boss of the team is showing genuine concern for you,” he added.

Now in a position to have further success with a possible grand slam anew in sight, both Messrs. Non and Santos said the team is going for it.

“This is who we are. We don’t look at this as just something we need to do because this is our work. We are more than motivated because we are San Miguel and we are family,” Mr. Santos said.

Authorities confirm NPA plot to launch offensives in NIR

MILITARY and police officials have confirmed a New People’s Army (NPA) plot to attack several police stations, army detachments, and kill retired intelligence operatives and local government officials in the Negros Island Region (NIR). Senior Superintendent Rodolfo D. Castil, Jr., officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental provincial police, said they have already carried out precautionary measures, and informed those who are being targeted for “liquidation.” Colonel Eliezer L. Losañes, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the military has also laid out the ground work to protect the individuals being targeted, as well as specific police stations and detachments. Former Army Sgt. Ronnie Montejo, whose name was included in the target list, died two weeks ago during a Special Partisan Unit operations of the NPA in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental. These supposed NPA planned attacks, based on documents recovered by the military in recent encounters with the communist rebels, are supposed to be carried out from May to July this year. — The Freeman

Gilas needs to submit 24-man pool on Friday — team manager Butch Antonio

AFTER submitting the final lineup for the William Jones Cup, Gilas Pilipinas’ next task is to present the 24-man roster for the FIBA Asia Cup tomorrow, July 8, before finalizing the 12-man unit and submit it to the organizing committee on or before July 25.

This was bared by Gilas Pilipinas team manager Butch Antonio to BusinessWorld in a telephone interview.

“Coach Chot and Commissioner (Chito) Narvasa are always talking,” Mr. Antonio said. “We need to submit the 24-man this week. The 24-man is easier because we can include the players who are in the pool. The hardest part is the final 12.”

Earlier, Mr. Reyes named the lineup for the William Jones Cup headed by second generation players Kiefer Ravena and Kobe Paras. They are two of the newest inclusions in the Gilas program along with import Mike Myers, and Fil-German center Christian Standhandinger.

They will join mainstays Jio Jalalon, Roger Pogoy, Matthew Wright, Kevin Ferrer, Mike Tolomia, Carl Bryan Cruz, Von Pessumal, Almond Vosotros, Fonzo Gotladera, Ed Daquioag, Raymar Jose and comebacking Mac Belo in the lineup.

Mr. Reyes also named the lineup for the Southeast Asian Games which will be held a few days after the FIBA Asia Cup.

In the SEA Games, Ray Parks, Gilas mainstay Troy Rosario, PBA up and coming star Baser Amer will join the other members of the team that will play in the William Jones Cup.

Meanwhile, Mr. Antonio said Gilas management is still negotiating with naturalized player Andray Blatche to reinforce the Philippine squad in the FIBA Asia Cup.

“We’re still talking. He wants to come in, but nothing has been finalized yet,” added Mr. Antonio.

Two years ago, the Philippines placed runner-up to China, which automatically gained an Olympic berth.

The Filipinos had to undergo through the qualifying stage, an event which it hosted last year, but the team failed to qualify after losing to powerhouse teams France and New Zealand in the group stage matches. — Rey Joble

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