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Marcos appoints new Air Force chief

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. leads the Philippine Air Force (PAF) Change of Command of outgoing Lt. Gen Stephen P. Parreño and incoming Lt. Gen Arthur M. Cordura at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Thursday. — PHILIPPINE STAR/NOEL B. PABALATE

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Thursday appointed Arthur M. Cordura, former vice-chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), as new chief of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

In a change of command of ceremony in Pasay City, Mr. Marcos urged Mr. Cordura to guide the Air Force to make it “more agile, credible, and responsible to the demands of an ever-evolving security landscape.”

“These times call for vigilance and for resolve. There is no room for complacency, for any pause in our efforts to risk compromising the safety and welfare of the Filipino people,” the Philippine leader said.

Before his latest appointment, Mr. Condura served as vice chief of staff of the AFP.

Mr. Cordura, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Bigkis-Lahi” Class of 1990 and a member of the PAF Flying School Class of 1992, joined the 15th Strike Wing and attained all levels of flight qualifications as Combat Crew Training Pilot, Element Lead Training Pilot, and Instructor Pilot of the MD-520 Military Gunship.

He also held other key positions in his military career, such as vice-commander and chief of air staff of PAF, commander of Air Force Reserve Command, and wing commander of the 520th Air Base Wing, among others.

Mr. Condura replaced Stephen P. Parreño, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Dec. 12.

Mr. Marcos cited the former PAF chief’s contributions to the PAF, including the 2,500 flying hours dedicated to external defense and 450 maritime patrol missions aimed at protecting the country’s territorial integrity.

“These are not just records. They represent vigilance, determination, and an unwavering resolve to safeguard our airspace. In these efforts, our skilled pilots have remained resolute, intercepting threats [and] monitoring unidentified tracks that encroach upon our airspace,” Mr. Marcos said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

House may propose suspension of monthly PhilHealth payment

PNA/JOAN BONDOC

THE House of Representatives considers recommending the suspension of members’ monthly contributions to state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for a year, should an investigation reveal its existing funds are underutilized, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said on Wednesday.

Mr. Romualdez said the chamber would conduct an investigation into the management of PhilHealth funds amid concerns over its financial performance next year, when Congress resumes session next year.

“Next year, the House of Representatives will… conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into how PhilHealth’s funds are being managed,” Mr. Romualdez said in plenary.

Philippine lawmakers, during their bicameral conference committee on the 2025 budget bill, decided to cut PhilHealth’s supposed P74-billion state subsidy, citing billions of its unused funds.

The state health insurer has a surplus fund amounting to P150 billion, fund reserves totaling P280 billion, and investment funds of P490 billion, PhilHealth Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. told lawmakers during a House of Representatives hearing on Tuesday.

Mr. Romualdez said the House investigation would focus on ensuring that “every peso in PhilHealth’s coffers works for the benefit” of Filipinos.

“If this investigation reveals that existing funds are being underutilized or are in excess of what is needed for current operations, we will… suspend premium payments for one year,” he said.

The chamber would also look at reducing premium contributions to reduce the burden of workers paying for monthly contributions, he added.

Lawmakers would also recommend for further expansion of healthcare benefits for Filipinos, including additional medical services and hospitalization support, according to Mr. Romualdez.

“PhilHealth exists to provide security and comfort in times of medical emergencies. It should not hoard resources at the expense of its members,” he said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Free train rides today — Marcos

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Thursday said Light Rail Transit (LRT)-1, LRT-2, and Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT)-3 will offer free rides on Dec. 20.

About 1.1 million commuters are expected to benefit from the free ride program, he said in a social media post.

Mr. Marcos said the initiative seeks to help Filipinos save money for their Christmas celebration. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

PLDT, Smart block online abuse

PHILIPPINE STAR/IRISH LISING

TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) on Thursday reported blocking over 1.6 million uniform resource locators (URLs) and online content linked to online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (OSAEC) since June 2021.

“We are keen to explore further areas of collaboration with UNICEF to foster industry-wide awareness on child rights and actively manage the impact of digital technology on children,” PLDT and Smart First Vice-President and Chief Sustainability Officer Melissa V. Vergel de Dios said in a statement.

“As well as support our government in the continuing fight against OSAEC,” Ms. Vergel de Dios added.

The latest SaferKidsPH research reported that Filipino youth have a similar internet usage pattern. As early as five years old and as late as fifteen years old, children already have access to the internet, which makes them vulnerable to OSAEC.

As defined by the Republic Act 11930 or the Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM Act of 2022, OSAEC is the use of information and communication technology to abuse and exploit children sexually.

According to the Situation of Children in the Philippines report, OSAEC is one of the most prevalent protection issues in the country and has become a ‘profitable industry’ that is “extremely difficult” to address.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. last September said one in every 100 Filipinos, or half a million children, have been victimized by OSAEC.

“It is the horrible scourge of Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children or OSAEC, which remains widespread now in our country,” he said during the Iisang Nasyon, Iisang Aksyon: Tapusin ang OSAEC Ngayon Summit 2024.

To help combat the growing issue, the PLDT and SMART have partnered with different sectors and groups to implement “awareness-raising campaigns” on child rights, online protection, and the risk of OSAEC among its employees, customers, and stakeholder communities.

In addition, the companies have mobilized resources to support the SaferKidsPH consortium of UNICEF, Save the Children, the Asia Foundation, and the Australian Government on community-based interventions to strengthen child protection systems against OSAEC in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City, Quezon City, and Angeles, Pampanga.

It also addresses child labor problems by upholding a minimum employment age in human resources practices and integrating child safeguarding considerations into their marketing sponsorships and supply chain management processes. — Almira Louise S. Martinez

Location tracking manipulation spurs rising text hijacking cases

DICT.GOV.PH

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Wednesday that the inaccuracy in detecting the location of threat actors perpetuates the rising cases of text hijacking in the Philippines.

“The challenge really is to locate and apprehend,” DICT Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Renato A. Paraiso told BusinessWorld in an interview.

“You have to understand that these threat actors and these devices have to be turned on all the time for us to detect it,” Mr. Paraiso said.

“Because of the practice of turning it on in a specific place then they turn it off again, that’s the challenge,” he added.

On Tuesday, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas warned the public against rising cases of text hijacking, a method of delivering smishing attacks wherein fraudsters use false Sender IDs to send malicious text messages.

“As of late there is a rise in the reports on data of text hijacking,” Mr. Paraiso said. “CICC (Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center) and DICT’s consumer protection hotlines received various complaints already with regards to text hijacking.”

Mr. Paraiso added that the newest form of text hijacking is the “mobile and portable device” based on a certain radius.

“It targets directly your handheld devices and smartphones. It does not go through the usual networks already,” he said.

In 2022, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) mandated telecommunication companies to block or deactivate domains, including TinyURLS, SmartLinks, and QR codes in text messages to reduce scams and fraudulent activities.

“If you see a link, more likely than not, it’s a scam message that would lead you to either a phishing website or a website that would get your financial details and get your money,” Mr. Paraiso said.

“People should always treat someone who sent a link, regardless of who sent it, as someone who is phishing,” Elizze F. Serna, division head of data breach notification at Deep Web Konek, a cybersecurity advocacy group, added.

The DICT plans to ramp up its technologies to “detect, apprehend, and prevent” threat actors from further harming Filipinos in the digital world.

“Scammers right now are using advanced technologies including AI to execute their nefarious activities that’s why we also have to use the same technology,” Mr. Paraiso said.

“Even with the laws, we are proposing it has to be flexible enough, it has to be adaptable to the ever-changing landscape of ICT technology.”

Through the eGov Super App of the DICT, Scam Watch Pilipinas in a social media post said victims can directly file an official report by uploading a screenshot of the text scams and calling the Inter-Agency Response Center (I-ARC) Hotline 1326. — Almira Louise S. Martinez

P63-M illegal drugs foiled in NAIA-BoC 

LOREN BISER-UNSPLASH

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) said on Thursday that it seized P63 million worth of illegal drugs from a smuggling attempt at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In a statement, BoC said it foiled 9,276 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” inside a black suitcase containing assorted clothes and two vacuum-sealed translucent plastic bags of the illegal drug.

Customs said the arriving passenger and the seized illegal drugs were turned over to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

It said that a further investigation is underway for violations of Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Republic Act No. 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

The operation was in coordination with the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group.

“We are ramping up efforts to prevent the smuggling of dangerous substances that endanger our communities,” Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

SC dismisses Biliran court judge

WIKIMEDIA/PATRICKROQUE01

The Supreme Court (SC) dismissed the Presiding Judge of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Biliran-Cabucgayan, Biliran, for gross misconduct in manipulating medical supply procurement for Manila City.

The SC en banc affirmed the findings of the Judicial Integrity Board (JIB), emphasizing that the judge’s actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for judicial ethics.

In 2016, the judge proposed a P50 million pharmaceutical supply project to the petitioner (a pharmaceutical supplier), assuring him of securing the deal for four hospitals in the capital city.

He claimed his wife, the Executive Secretary of former Manila Mayor Joseph E. Estrada, could fast-track the procurement without public bidding.

The high court, in a ruling promulgated in July, dismissed the judge from service, stripping all due benefits away except accrued leave benefits. The ruling was publicized on Dec. 19

It also ordered the judge to show cause in writing within ten days of notice of why he should not be disbarred.

The case stemmed from a series of bank deposits and personal deliveries of money by the petitioner to the judge for over three years.

When payments approached P20 million without any progress on the promised project, he recognized the fraud and filed an administrative complaint against the judge for gross misconduct.

During the investigation of the JIB, the judge claimed he was merely acting as a messenger for his wife to retrieve documents from the petitioner as a gesture of gratitude for her help in rebuilding his home after Super Typhoon Haiyan, locally called Yolanda.

He also said he and his wife had been separated for over 30 years.

Meanwhile, the wife argued that her busy schedule as an officer at the Manila City Mayor’s Office led her to delegate document retrieval to the judge. She further asserted that upon discovering the petitioner’s bidding documents, she offered to return the payments.

The JIB found the judge guilty of gross misconduct, citing violations of the New Code of Judicial Conduct.

It emphasized the importance of judicial integrity and proprietary, under Canon 2 and Canon 4 of the Code, requiring judges to uphold public confidence in the judiciary and avoid any semblance of impropriety.

The top court upheld these findings, noting that despite knowing the illegality of his wife’s actions, the judge actively participated by serving as her intermediate, receiving bidding documents and money from the petitioner.

“Indeed, his actions tainted the image of the judiciary. For knowingly participating in the act of manipulating the process of public bidding in violation of Sections 356 and 366 of Republic Act No. 7160 in relation to Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 the Court finds [him] guilty of gross misconduct under the New Code of Judicial Conduct,” the 21-page ruling read. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Pangasinan to produce more salt

PHILIPPINE STAR/ EDD GUMBAN

BAGUIO CITY – Pangasinan is targeting to produce more of its signature salt in 2025.

Upholding to its roots “pag-asinan” (where salt comes from), the Pangasinan Salt Center (PSC), operated in Bolinao town, dreams to produce 8,000 metric tons of salt next year.   

With its P50 million allocation this year by the provincial government, the PSC’s salt production is further propped up as a response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s call to revive the salt industry of the country, said Governor Ramon V. Guico III.

PSC was established two years ago under Mr. Guico III’s stewardship, who made salt production and its maintenance as one of his priority projects.

The PSC salt farm in Bolinao churned out 6,400 metric tons this year, making it one of the major suppliers of salt in the country.

Salt production in Pangasinan was further fortified with the grant of P90 million to the Pangasinan State University’s “Accelerating Salt Research and Innovation” (ASIN) program.

The ASIN program received the grant through the Niche Centers in the Regions for Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Three Basilan clan wars settled amicably

COTABATO CITY — Officials settled on Tuesday three different deadly clan wars in Tabuan-Lasa town in Basilan, ending longtime hostilities that have exacted fatalities on protagonist camps.

The leaders of the feuding groups signed a common peace covenant together brokered by officials of the 101st Infantry Brigade, the 4th Special Forces Battalion, Tabuan-Lasa Mayor Moner S. Manisan and Basilan Gov. Hadjiman H. Salliman during a reconciliation rite in Barangay Bukut-umus in Tabuan-Lasa.

The signatories to the compact printed on a tarpaulin, among them municipal leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front, also pledged then to thrive in peace again, in the presence of barangay officials and Muslim religious leaders in Tabuan-Lasa.

They sealed the agreement with a handshake and tight hugs after they each promised, before Brig. Gen. Alvin V. Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade, Mr. Manisan and Mr. Salliman, to end their deadly squabbles for control of the territorial seas in Tabuan-Lasa where their followers catch blue and yellow fin tunas that they sell to retailers in markets in different towns in Basilan. — John Felix M. Unson

Recto: CREATE MORE will make PHL more attractive to investors

FINANCE SECRETARY RALPH G. RECTO — PCO

THE Department of Finance (DoF) said it expects more foreign investment pledges to materialize next year following the signing of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act.

“The economic outlook for 2025 is brighter as we see foreign investment pledges materialize and local businesses grow stronger because of this law,” Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said in a statement on Thursday.

Last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed the CREATE MORE Act into law. It further reduces the corporate income tax to 20% from 25% for registered business enterprises (RBEs).

The DoF also noted that the law was highlighted in roadshows by the economic team during Philippine economic briefings (PEBs) and investor roundtables.

The PEBs are platforms that showcase the government’s reform initiatives to improve the investment climate.

“During the roadshow in Tokyo, Japanese investors welcomed CREATE MORE as a solution to their long-standing concerns about VAT refunds, as it exempts export-oriented enterprises from paying VAT up front,” the DoF said.

Last year, Japanese firms threatened to leave the country due to the government’s onerous value-added tax refund process under the previous version of CREATE law.

Meanwhile, US investors at the PEB in Washington, DC called CREATE MORE “a gateway to their swift entry” into the Luzon Economic Corridor after the Philippines-US-Japan Trilateral Alliance summit.

Participants in the London roadshow described CREATE MORE as “one of the cornerstones bringing predictability and stability to doing business” in the Philippines, the DoF said.

The DoF said the Philippines’ fundamental advantage remains the  young, well-educated, and English-speaking workforce.

“Overall, international investors who have ongoing investments in the Philippines expressed their desire to expand their operations in the country,” he said.

More PEBs and investor roundtable meetings are scheduled next year, as the government completes the implementing rules and regulations of the CREATE MORE Act. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Six power projects endorsed to ERC for operating permits 

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it endorsed six new and existing power projects with a combined capacity of 440 megawatts (MW) to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in November.

“In November 2024, the DoE issued six CoEs (certificates of endorsement) to ERC, which are composed of two amendments and four new applications,” the DoE said in a document posted on its website.

A CoE is a prerequisite for generation facilities to be issued a certificate of compliance (CoC), a license issued by the ERC that grants permission to operate.

The biggest project on the list was Malita Power, Inc.’s 300.05-MW Malita Circulating Fluidized Bed Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant in Davao Occidental.

The DoE also endorsed Citicore Solar Batangas 1, Inc.’s 125.21-megawatt-peak (MWp) Lumbangan Solar Power Project in Batangas; DMCI Power Corp.’s 8.83-MW Arbolan Peaking Power Plant in Palawan; and SUWECO Tablas Energy Corp.’s 3.36-MW diesel facility in Santa Fe, Romblon.

The list also includes National Power Corp.’s 1.63-MW Zumarraga Diesel Power Plant in Samar and Samar II Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s 1.10-MWp Paranas Solar Power Project in Samar.

In the first 11 months, the DoE endorsed 138 power projects. Of these, 69 are conventional facilities, 47 are renewable energy facilities, and 22 are energy storage systems.

Last year, the ERC issued a resolution requiring CoCs for the operation of new generation facilities without the need for renewal but with an obligation to maintain the validity of the underlying permits. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

South Korea FTA seen boosting banana exports

DA

THE Department of Trade and Industry said banana exports are set to improve due to the free-trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea.

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque made the remarks during a market visit.

“Jan. 1 is the start of the Korean FTA, which we have signed, so the banana tariffs will go down,” Ms. Roque added.

According to Food and Agriculture Organization, the Philippines has lost its place as the second-largest banana exporter even after shipments rose 3% to 2.3 million metric tons (MT) in 2023.

On Tuesday, National Economic and Development Authority Board approved the release of an executive order that will implement the tariff commitments under the Philippines-South Korea FTA.

“When other countries had the same tariffs as ours, our exports of bananas were like $300 million, now, bumaba na siya ng (they fell by) $160 million because other countries no longer have tariffs on bananas, as we still do with South Korea,” she said.

She added that as the FTA comes into force, export price for Philippine bananas will fall gradually.

South Korea currently levies a 30% import tariff on bananas from the Philippines, according to the DTI.

Under the agreement, tariffs will be reduced annually in equal increments until they fall to zero on the fifth year of effectivity.

Bananas are the Philippines’ top agricultural export, followed by pineapples, avocados, and coconuts. — Adrian H. Halili

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