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VP Duterte denies kill threat vs President Marcos, kin

VICE-PRESIDENT SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO FACEBOOK PAGE

VICE-PRESIDENT (VP) Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio “vehemently denies” the threats she made against President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., her lawyers said in a letter to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after she skipped Wednesday’s probe.

“Our client vehemently denies having made any threat constituting Grave Threats under Art. 282 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Sec. 6, RA (Republic Act) 10175, terrorism or any other punishable act under RA No. 11479, or any other crime,” read the two-page letter submitted by her lawyers to NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago.

The letter also said Ms. Duterte’s “prudence in her cooperation…, and her desistance” from appearing in the investigation comes as she sees Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla as the “President’s alter-ego” and Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin as the “President’s chief alter-ego.”

Mr. Santiago said the letter was not a counter-affidavit and was not sworn under oath, noting they will proceed with their investigation with what they have.

Ms. Duterte, the running mate of the President in the 2022 national elections, made the kill threats via online conferencing last month, saying she hired assassins to kill the first couple and his cousin, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, if she gets killed herself.

The country’s second highest official made the remarks after the House Committee on Good Government ordered the transfer of her chief of staff, Zuleika T. Lopez, to the Women’s Correctional Facility in Mandaluyong City from the lower chamber’s detention facility.

Congressional questions into her confidential funds at the Office of the Vice-President and the Department of Education began last year.

President Marcos had said earlier that he will not stand idly, vowing to “fight back” after the Vice-President’s threat. Ms. Duterte’s tirades has also triggered a response from the National Security Council, which considered her remarks a “matter of national security.”

In a separate press briefing on Wednesday, Ms. Duterte called the investigation unfair as the NBI filed cases against her even before they started their probe.

“It’s better that they know that if I die, I will not die in vain,” she said in mixed English and Filipino. “I’m at peace with whatever happens to me.”

She said she does not plan on leaving the country or hiding if an arrest warrant is released against her.

The NBI initially summoned Ms. Duterte to appear before investigators on Nov. 29, but she requested a rescheduling to attend a House Committee hearing, which was ultimately canceled.

The bureau then re-set the hearing to Wednesday, Dec. 11, during which the letter was submitted in lieu of Ms. Duterte’s attendance.

The Vice-President skipped the investigation as she opted to attend a thanksgiving lunch for reporters covering her office and another meeting at her headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

The Department of Justice previously said that it would employ the full force of the law to investigate the Vice-President’s statements, which the administration classified as a “national security issue.”

She is also facing two impeachment cases filed at the House of Representatives for allegations of graft and corruption, bribery, and betrayal of public trust among other crimes. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Marcos bats for shopping festivals, easier visa access to boost tourism 

PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. — PCO.GOV.PH

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday approved suggestions of his private sector advisors to a nationwide shopping festival and to ease visa access to foreigners, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

In a statement, the agency said the President greenlit the recommendations during Wednesday’s meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC).

PSAC was eyeing to launch a nationwide Shopping Festival Philippines ahead of the New Year holiday to incentivize foreign visitors to spend more and to ultimately boost tourism revenue.

“We’ve talked about this shopping festival. Again, I think it’s properly categorized as an easy win. So, we’ll do that,” Mr. Marcos said.

The President on Monday signed into law a measure allowing foreign tourists to claim value-added tax for goods worth at least P3,000 and were taken out of the country within 60 days of purchase.

The measure is seen to boost tourist spending by at least 30% and benefit mostly micro, small, and medium enterprises.

PSAC had also suggested to make it easier for those with American, Japanese, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore, or United Kingdom visas to visit the country.

“I think we should stop messing around with this system. It’s so clear already. And again, it’s something that we don’t have to pilot because it has been done for us in many, many airports,” the President said. – John Victor D. Ordoñez

House, Senate OK bills extending foreign land lease limits 

ANFLOINDUSTRIALESTATE.COM

THE Senate and House of Representatives on Wednesday separately approved on second reading bills that seek to extend land lease limits for foreign investors to 99 from 75 years in a bid to entice foreign investments.  

Approved by congressmen via voice vote, House Bill No. 10755 liberalizes Philippine land lease policies to help improve the country’s investment climate, which is expected to result in “economic growth and create jobs,” according to the measure. 

Senate Bill No. 2898 also allows foreign investors to sublet properties unless barred by a contract. 

Under the House bill, foreign private land leases related to tourism will be limited to investments of not less than $5 million, 70% of which must be infused within three years after a contract is signed.   

“[It aims] to promote the Philippines as a top investment destination, encourage investors to engage in strategic investments and ensure that the country’s regulatory environment is conducive to business operations,” Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel G. Biron, who heads the House trade and industry committee, said in his sponsorship speech on Tuesday. 

The measure is a legislative priority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s government. It seeks to amend the 31-year-old Investors’ Lease Act, which allows foreign investors to lease private land for an initial period of 50 years, renewable once for a period no longer than 25 years. 

The Philippines is hard-pressed on attracting foreign investments despite being one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies as weak infrastructure, high electricity costs and tight regulations deter foreign investors.  

A total of $8.9 billion in foreign direct investments flowed into the Philippines in 2023, compared with Singapore’s $159.6 billion, Indonesia’s $21.6 billion and Vietnam’s $18.5 billion, based on an Association of Southeast Asian Nations report. 

The proposal will permit foreign investors to lease land for agriculture, agroforestry and ecological conservation purposes, according to an amendment by Baguio Rep. Mark O. Go accepted by the House floor.  

The measure provides that lease agreements for lots outside economic zones or freeport areas will be subject to the Board of Investments’ approval. It also aims to allow foreign investors to sublet their leased land. 

Foreign investors who fail to initiate their planned investment projects on the leased lands within three years risk having their land contracts terminated by the Trade secretary or the heads of economic zones or freeport areas, according to the bill. 

The proposal also imposes a jail term of up to six years and a fine of as much as P6 million on lessees and investors who use the leased land contrary to Philippine laws. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio and John Victor D. Ordonez 

Clemency for Mary Jane Veloso urged

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE FAMILY of Mary Jane F. Veloso, a Filipina convicted of drug charges in Indonesia, has appealed to Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to grant her clemency on humanitarian grounds, Migrante International said on Wednesday.

Ms. Veloso’s parents, together with Migrante International and their legal counsel from the National Union of People’s Lawyers, delivered the letter for clemency through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday.

In a meeting with DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose A. de Vega, her parents also appealed for Ms. Veloso’s return to the Philippines by Christmas.

“When Mary Jane returns here to the Philippines, we hope that she is returned directly to our home so that we can be together with our daughter. We are very eager to be together with our daughter once again after suffering for so long without having done anything wrong,” wrote Cesar Veloso, the father of Mary Jane, in Filipino. Mr. De Vega agreed to forward the letter to Mr. Marcos during the same meeting.

Also on Wednesday, a resolution urging Mr. Marcos to grant clemency to Ms. Veloso was filed at the House of Representatives.

“Mr. Marcos must urgently grant clemency to Mary Jane F. Veloso,” Party-list Rep. Arlene D. Brosas said in a statement. Ms. Veloso has been incarcerated in Indonesia for over a decade due to drug smuggling.

House Resolution (HR) No. 2128 stated Ms. Veloso’s clemency is “long time coming considering that she is a victim of human trafficking, and not drug trafficking.”

The Filipino overseas worker was sentenced to death in Oct. 2010 and was granted a stay of execution in April 2015. Ms. Veloso, who was caught smuggling 2.6 kilograms of heroin hidden in the lining of a suitcase, was a victim of human trafficking, according to her lawyers.

On Nov. 19, Mr. Marcos and the DFA said the government reached an agreement with its Indonesian counterparts on Ms. Veloso’s return to the Philippines to serve her remaining sentence.

Philippine and Indonesian authorities last week signed an agreement on the repatriation of Ms. Veloso, with Jakarta’s human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra hoping she will be returned to Manila before Dec. 25, Reuters reported.

However, Ms. Veloso “will not be immediately released” once she is returned to the Philippines, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo A. de Vega earlier said.

Ms. Brosas said the government should industrialize local enterprises and develop the agriculture sector to create “decent jobs,” preventing Filipinos from going overseas for employment opportunities.

“Ms. Veloso’s case starkly illustrates how the government’s labor export policy continues to endanger Filipino women,” she said. “Desperately seeking work abroad due to the lack of decent jobs at home, our women become vulnerable to trafficking syndicates and exploitation.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

POGO ban won’t leave big economic dent

A sign protesting the presence of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) is seen at a posh residential village in Muntinlupa City, July 13. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

SHUTTERING Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) will not leave a big dent in the country’s economy as the government tries to run after these outfits and wind down their operations by the end of the year, according the Interior and Local Government secretary.

“I think other revenue enhancing measures of the Department of Finance will make up for this (closing down POGOs),” Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victo C. Remulla, Jr. told a Palace briefing on Wednesday.

“As per the National Economic Development Authority, 0.25 of 1% of the total gross domestic product will be affected (by the closure), we don’t see a significant dent in our economy.”

Mr. Remulla said his agency will go after underground or “guerilla” POGO companies as the administration tries to shutter all of these by the end of the year.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. earlier issued an executive order ordering the ban of POGOs due to their links to organized crime such as human trafficking.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco told a forum on Tuesday that the government was on track to shut down POGO firms by year-end.

“As per the President’s instructions, we will make it very difficult for them until they say that is no longer worth operating in the Philippines,” Mr. Remulla said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Bill regulating secret funds filed

BW FILE PHOTO

A bill regulating the use of government secret funds was filed at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Filed by Manila Rep. Joel R. Chua and members of the House good government committee, House Bill (HB) No. 11192 seeks to prevent the unauthorized use of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) by limiting it to agencies concerned with national security concerns.

“What we submitted limits the agencies that have nothing to do with national security, peace and order, and intelligence gathering [operations],” Mr. Chua said in a media briefing in Filipino.

The good government panel forwarded the proposed law after a series of hearings into the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in CIF funds by Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio under the Office of the Vice-President (OVP) in 2022 and the Education department in 2023, when she sat as its secretary.

The OVP did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

HB No. 11192 seeks to prohibit the use of secret funds for operations “not directly related to peace and order or intelligence gathering” programs.

The measure also revokes the confidential status of secret funds if state auditors flag doubtful spending by issuing a notice of disallowance. “The CF (Confidential Fund), including all the information and documents related thereto shall then be subject to inquiries and investigations, with documents and related information to be made public, without need of compulsory processes.”

Officials who violate the bill would be permanently barred from holding public office, with their benefits being forfeited. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

IBEX eyes safety, talent among factors to boost its growth in Davao City

DAVAO CITY — An official of IBEX Philippines considered the safety and availability of quality talents that help boost its presence and growth in Davao City.

IBEX is a global leader in business process outsourcing (BPO) and AI (artificial intelligence) -powered customer engagement solutions. It recently launched its second Davao City site at Felcris Centrale occupying the 5th and 8th floors.

According to Angel “Potski” Alvarez, president of IBEX Philippines, when full, the new site could house about 2,000 to 2,500 employees.

Bob Dechant, chief executive officer of IBEX, told Davao media that what makes the company continue to grow in Davao City is the safety that is being experienced by its employees and the availability of talent.

“Our clients choose to go because they believe in the management, they believe in the community, and the talents that exist here. That’s important. One of the most important is safety,” he said.

Mr. Alvarez agreed that it is the safety and the quality of talents that make BPO companies continue to thrive in Davao City.

“We put our investment here. This is us trusting (the) Davao location and the city government of Davao and most importantly, the Davao talents that keep on joining IBEX and keep on growing with IBEX,” he said in an interview.

Felcris is IBEX’s second site in Davao City after it opened its first site at SM Lanang Premier in 2015. The new site is also IBEX’s 9th site in the Philippines.

According to Mr. Dechant, IBEX spent almost $10 million in capital expenditure, including the equipment for Phase 1 and Phase 2 components for the Felcris site.

“Our newest and nicest site and it is not just a site for us as we grew in, Felcris as you all know to all our employees this is their second home. The more you expand, the more opportunities there are. The new site also represents many families that we are supporting in Davao,” Mr. Alvarez said.

Mr. Dechant said currently IBEX is carrying six prestigious clients that belong in the top 100 Fortune’s list.

IBEX operates in six countries with over 30 operations facilities worldwide.

IBEX states that it is committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences to leading global brands across industries such as technology, healthcare, and finance. — Maya M. Padillo

Over 1,000 Moro villagers benefit from Army humanitarian activity

COTABATO CITY — More than a thousand Moro villagers benefitted from an Army humanitarian mission in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday.

Major Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID), told reporters on Wednesday that the beneficiaries of the medical, dental and feeding activities are residents of Datu Saudi Ampatuan’s now peaceful Barangays Salbu, Elian, Dapiawan, Gawang, Kitango and Madia, former bastions of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Dawlah Islamiya.

More than a thousand members of both terror groups, known for fomenting animosity towards non-Muslims, had surrendered in batches to units of the 6th ID since 2002.

The outreach activity in Datu Saudi Ampatuan on Tuesday was jointly facilitated by the 92nd Infantry Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Christian V. Cabading, the 1st Brigade Combat Team and the 6th ID.

The outreach teams had also fed 537 Moro children with nutritious food during the event, according to municipal officials.

Mr. Nafarrete said 53 Moro boys were circumcised for free by Army medics then. — John Felix M. Unson

Another ethnic group chieftain in BARMM shot dead

MAX KLEINEN-UNSPLASH

COTABATO CITY — Another chieftain of an indigenous non-Moro group died in a gun attack in Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur last weekend,

The slain chieftain is the 83rd influential tribesman killed in similar atrocities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) since 2019.

The slain 40-year-old Baywan L. Angan of Central Mindanao’s Dulangan Manobo community was popular for his extensive involvement in the settlement of conflicts between tribe members and intruders grabbing agricultural lands in their ancestral domains in the borders of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao del Sur provinces.

Brig. Gen. Romeo J. Macapaz, director of the Police Regional Office in BARMM, told reporters on Wednesday that Mr. Angan was shot dead by armed men right in their family yard in Barangay Mantao in Datu Hoffer in Maguindanao del Sur.

Mr. Angan was a former member of the barangay council in Mantao, according to local officials and leaders of the Teduray tribe in the municipality.

Residents of Barangay Mantao had told reporters that Mr. Angan, known to them as a non-violent tribal leader, was unarmed when he was killed by men with assault rifles while his arms were raised, pleading for his life.

A Teduray member of the 80-seat Bangsamoro regional parliament, Froilyn Tenorio Mendoza, had condemned the brutal killing of Mr. Angan and called on the police to put a closure to the incident.

Records obtained from Army and police units in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur provinces, both in the Bangsamoro region, and in Sultan Kudarat in Region 12, indicate that Mr. Angan is the 83rd leader of an indigenous tribe killed in wanton gun attacks in the autonomous region since since 2019. — John Felix M. Unson

Over P5-M cannabis torched in Benguet, Kalinga

ELSA OLOFSSON-UNSPLASH

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET — Dedicated anti-narcotics operatives of the Cordillera police command torched down P5.2 million worth of cannabis (marijuana) in a series of operations in Benguet and Kalinga provinces on Tuesday.

According to Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. David K. Peredo, 9,890 pieces of fully grown marijuana plants (FGMJP), 800 marijuana seedlings, and 20,000 grams of dried marijuana stalks, leaves, and fruiting tops, reaching P4.4 million were discovered in remote hinterland barangays Kayapa in Bakun and Tacadang in Kibungan, both in Benguet.

While policemen joined by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Cordillera operatives also swooped down on 4,000 pieces of harvestable marijuana shrubs valued at P800,000 in remote barangay Ngibat, in Tinglayan, Kalinga on that same day.

Mr. Peredo assured that all the discovered marijuana shrubs were uprooted and burned onsite.

He added that operatives are into deep probing other marijuana plantation sites elsewhere in the highland Cordillera region with the promise to apprehend those responsible behind the illicit cannabis farming. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Tigresses force rubber match at UAAP women’s basketball finals

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS TIGRESSES — PHILIPPINE STAR/RUSSELL PALMA

Games on Sunday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
10 a.m. – UST vs UE (JHS Boys’ Game 2)
1 p.m. – NU vs UST (Women’s Game 3)

REIGNING champion University of Santo Tomas denied National University (NU) a dream 16-0 perfect campaign with a herculean 78-68 win in Game 2 to force a winner-take-all setto in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Tigresses did not just lick the wounds of their heartbreaking 72-71 defeat in Game 1 but dealt the first — and biggest — scratch on the Lady Bulldogs this season behind a scintillating 24-9 start en route to the massive triumph.

Brigette Santos erupted for a career-best 27 points on 11-of-21 clip laced by two rebounds, four assists and two steals to lead the pack as the Tigresses kept their title retention bid flickering.

It was Ms. Santos who drained the go-ahead basket in Game 1 to give Santo Tomas a momentary lead only for NU to snatch the game on rookie Cielo Pagdulagan’s game-winner to extend an unbeaten run to 15 games.

Santo Tomas took its turn this time around in banking on a first-year player in the biggest stage with Karylle Sierba tying her career-high of 18 points on four triples to complement ace Kent Pastrana’s 11 points.

Agatha Bron added eight while Angelika Soriano and Nicole Danganan chipped in six each for the wards of coach Haydee Ong, who unseated the Lady Bulldogs from their seven-year reign last season in Game 3.

“It’s one hell of a game from Brigette and Karylle,” said Ms. Ong.

Santo Tomas also seized command of Game 1 right out of the gates but lost steam down the stretch and relinquished a 14-point lead as outright finalist NU stayed unbeaten via escape act to shore up its revenge tour.

The Tigresses were pushed to the brink of a history repeat after the Bulldogs, as expected, stormed back to snatch a 43-39 lead early in the second half.

But Santo Tomas learned its lessons hard, running away from a deadlock at 57 midway through the payoff period behind a 19-8 rally capped by Ms. Danganan’s triple.

Overall, the Tigresses outscored the Lady Bulldogs, 30-19, when it mattered the most in the final quarter to drag them to a last dance on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ms. Pagdulagan (16), Camille Clarin (12), Karl Ann Pingol (11) and Angel Surada (10) had their numbers but the Lady Bulldogs fell short from reclaiming their lost queendom right there and then with a foiled perfect run.

In junior high school basketball, Jhon Canapi rifled in 30 points on five triples to go along with an assist, six rebounds and three steals as Santo Tomas drubbed University of the East, 98-84, to take Game 1 of the similar best-of-three series.

Meanwhile, Ateneo’s Kacey dela Rosa captured her second straight Most Valuable Player award to join an elite group of back-to-back winners in history.

Ms. Dela Rosa dominated the entire competition with league-best averages of 22.1 points, 16 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 2.3 assists for 96.286 statistical points.

Joining Ms. Dela Rosa in the Mythical Five were Santo Tomas’ Kent Pastrana, Louna Ozar of University of the Philippines, Sarah Makanjuola of Ateneo, and NU’s Angel Surada. — John Bryan Ulanday

The Scores:

UST 78 – Santos 27, Sierba 18, Pastrana 11, Bron 8, Soriano 6, Danganan 6, Maglupay 2, Tacatac 0, Ambos 0, Serrano 0.

NU 68 – Pagdulagan 16, Clarin 12, Pingol 11, Surada 10, Fabruada 5, Villanueva 5, Betanio 4, Konateh 3, Canuto 2, Cayabyab 0, Talas 0.

Quarterscores: 20-9, 32-25, 48-49, 78-68.

Arca wins Asian Youth chessfest in Bangkok

CHRISTIAN GIAN KARLO ARCA — PNA

THE Philippines’ Christian Gian Karlo Arca continued to make the country proud in the international stage as he emerged the blitz champion of the 18th Asian Youth Chess Championships in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday night.

The 15-year-old Filipino FIDE Master split the point with countryman Oscar Joseph Cantela in the ninth and final round to end up tied for No. 1 with Turkmenistan’s Serdar Bayramov with 7.5 points apiece.

But Mr. Arca took the gold via the winner-over-the-other-rule since he bested Mr. Bayramov in the third round.

It was the third medal for Panabo, Davao del Norte native after plucking a pair of silvers in the individual and team events where he teamed up with Mr. Cantela and Lemmuel Jay Adena.

Mr. Cantela missed out on a bronze after being edged out by Mongolian FM Khishigbat Ulziikhishig but lost via tiebreak while Mr. Adena finished sixth also in individual blitz.

Also delivering a medal were Arleah Cassandra Sapuan, Kate Nicole Ordizo and Beatrice Ann Bombales, who took the team bronze in the rapid side. — Joey Villar

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