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Pangilinan sees chance to attract supporters amid UniTeam discord

Francis “Kiko” N. Pangilinan — PHILSTAR

ONE of the main figures of the opposition in the Philippines has called for openness among their ranks to any dialogue with those supporting the personality-driven alliance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio as it may tend to a shift in political tides.

Speaking on Thursday, former senator Francisco “Kiko” N. Pangilinan of the Liberal Party said insulting words aimed at people who backed the so-called UniTeam alliance in 2022 polls does “not help advance the cause we fought for then and continue to fight for now.”

In particular, Mr. Pangilinan was referring to social media posts and memes with the phrase, “tama nga kami” (we are correct) and followed by the phrase “tanga kami” (we are stupid).

There have been calls for opposition forces to recalibrate their strategies to expand their bases in the face of the word war between the President and his predecessor, Rodrigo R. Duterte, which is believed to widen the gap between Mr. Marcos and Ms. Duterte-Carpio, who both ran under a platform of unity in the 2022 elections.

“We need to persuade and convince. We do not need to ridicule and insult,” Mr. Pangilinan said. “We need to communicate and listen, not insult and start a fight.”

In a rally in Davao City last Sunday, Mr. Duterte called his successor a “drug addict” and his son, Davao Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte, publicly asked Mr. Marcos to resign. The following day, Mr. Marcos remarked that his predecessor’s tone could be a result of fentanyl — a drug Mr. Duterte previously said he had taken as a pain reliever.

While the President has since said he would maintain Ms. Duterte-Carpio in his Cabinet and, in turn, the Vice President thanked Mr. Marcos for his trust in her, their coalition is seen by opposition forces as an opportunity to provide political alternatives to the public.

“A divided UniTeam means a division in their numbers which is ultimately a good opening for the opposition — old or new,” WR Numero Research chief executive officer and President Cleve V. Arguelles said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

Mr. Arguelles stressed that getting elected to power “is a math game as much as it’s a battle of ideas and platforms.”

“If we look at past polling data and election results, the Marcos and Duterte factions when divided can mobilize less numbers than what they currently enjoy. Like around 30% each,” he said. “That leaves the rest of the country, at around 40%, to be convinced that a country led by the opposition leaders is a country better governed.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

SC denies seaman’s benefits

THE SUPREME COURT (SC) has affirmed a Court of Appeals (CA) ruling dismissing the claim of a seafarer’s widow to Social Security System (SSS) death benefits, failing to prove an employer-employee relationship with a shipping firm when her husband died.

In an eight-page resolution, the SC said the widow of the seaman in this case failed to provide evidence that her husband’s accident in 1994 that resulted in a contusion in his left lumbar was the cause of his death six years later.

Also, the High Court affirmed the CA ruling that upheld the SSS finding that the widow had failed to prove her husband’s employer-employee relationship with Philimare Shipping, Inc. at the time of his death.

It cited that the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) had also denied the death benefits claim, since her husband stopped working as a seaman until the time of his death.

The commission had ruled that there was no proof that the seaman was suffering from a lung ailment at the time he was onboard a vessel. The High Court noted that the widow failed to include certified true copies of the ECC’s decision in her claim.

“Clearly, petitioner failed to substantiate her claim that her husband’s accident in March 1994, which led to a contusion on his left lumbar, ultimately led to his death in December 2000 due to tuberculosis,” the SC ruling stated. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Angkas eyes four-wheel service

RIDE-HAILING mobile app, Angkas, is targeting to launch a four-wheel service called Angcars, the motorcycle taxi and delivery service provider said on Thursday.

“Angcars is designed to be an advanced ride-hailing app that seamlessly blends affordability with user-friendly navigation,” Angkas Chief Executive Officer George Royeca said in a statement.

The soon-to-be-launched app seeks to introduce options like Angcars Economy and Angcars Plus, which would allow a passenger to request four-seater or six-seater vehicles, respectively.

For the motorcycle taxi app, the company is eyeing to include service features such as Angkas Health and Angkas Padala.

Angkas Health will provide “straightforward five-step process” that includes home blood testing by licensed medical professionals, while Angkas Padala will be equipped with digital seller tools, payment and disbursement access. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Probe women’s cases, UN agent told

BW FILE PHOTO

A PRO-WOMEN’S party-list lawmaker on Thursday called on United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan to investigate cases of alleged “state-perpetrated” violence against women in the Philippines amid the lack of action in Congress.

“With the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and under the Anti-Terror Law, many women experience abuses and have been filed trumped-up cases,” Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene D. Brosas said in a statement.

She lamented that despite the submission of 33 resolutions before the House of Representatives during the 18th Congress, no progress has been made on inquiries into alleged rights violations of women human rights defenders and activists.

“It is alarming how the government has been wielding its power to silence women who are fighting for the rights of the people amid the lack of decent jobs, meager wages, lack of genuine land reform, and deteriorating human rights situation in the country,” Ms. Brosas said.

Party-list Rep. Raoul Danniel A. Manuel, also submitted a separate report to Ms. Khan calling for an investigation on the government’s alleged attacks against student groups.
Human rights group Karapatan reported that there are 795 political prisoners in the country with 84 arrested under the Marcos administration as of November last year. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

DTI coffee hub to boost MSMEs

THE Tsokokapetearia Café of the Department of Trade and Industry Region 12 in Koronadal City is a very promising venture to boost micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which was launched early this week. Photo by THE PHILIPPINE STAR/JOHN FELIX M. UNSON

KORONADAL CITY — In support of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-12) opened here this week a coffee shop with a “pasalubong center” showcasing goods from local enterprises in central Mindanao.

DTI-12 Director Flora P. Gabunales said the opening of TsokoKapetearia aims to connect coffee producers in Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronadal, General Santos, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani to external markets.

“We capacitate them (MSMEs) to become self-reliant and agents of social change,” she said of the café, which was originally planned for launching in 2021 but delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement Thursday, Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, who chairs the Regional Development Council 12, said she will support the establishment of other TsokoKapetearia outlets in other provinces in the region to further capacitate MSMEs. — John Felix M. Unson

Gov’t urged to investigate Dutertes

HUMAN rights group Karapatan urged the Marcos administration on Thursday to investigate testimonies given by whistleblowers that incriminate former president Rodrigo R. Duterte in violent excesses during his administration’s bloody war on drugs.

“Not only have the whistleblowers implicated Duterte’s group in the DDS killings. They have pinpointed Rodrigo Duterte as one of, if not the biggest, drug lord in the country who used his aggressive anti-drugs war as a convenient cover and an opportunity to eliminate rival drug kingpins,” said Kaparatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay.

She was referring to previous testimonies given by self-confessed hitman, Edgar Matobato, retired police officer Arturo Lascañas.

Last Wednesday, Mr. Lascañas named Mr. Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, as well as Senators Ronald M. Dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence T. Go as responsible for the “war on drugs” that killed thousands.

In response, Ms. Duterte-Carpio called the accusations “a new script” from critics.

“In my years as a vice mayor and mayor of Davao City, my name was never involved in any of these issues,” she said in a statement.

But Ms. Palabay said that Mr. Matobato’s previous testimony on the alleged involvement of the Dutertes and their allies on vigilante killings in Davao City must also be revisited.

“It is high time that these revelations not only be seriously investigated through Philippine domestic mechanisms. For the sake of the victims, who number in the tens of thousands, the investigations must exact justice and accountability from the perpetrators,” she said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

 

Shares drop as Powell rules out March rate cut

COURTESY OF PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE, INC.

PHILIPPINE SHARES closed lower on Thursday as US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell said they were unlikely to cut rates next month following their policy meeting this week.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped by 23.43 points or 0.35% to 6,623.01 on Thursday, while the broader all shares index declined by 13.46 points or 0.38% to 3,486.03.

“This Thursday, the local market dropped by 23.43 points to 6,623.01 due to negative spillovers from Wall Street overnight as the Federal Reserve downplayed rate cut hopes for March in its first meeting for the year,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research and Engagement Officer Mikhail Philippe Q. Plopenio said in a Viber message.

“With the current path of inflation in the US, Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that the committee is not yet confident to cut rates in their next meeting,” he added.

Asian shares faltered on Thursday after Wall Street took a late spill, while investors stuck to bets for sizable cuts in US interest rates this year even if the kickoff might now be a little later than first hoped, Reuters reported.

The Federal Reserve committee’s decision to hold rates at 5.25-5.5% on Wednesday was no surprise, it took a dovish twist by emphasizing that rates would not be cut until it had more confidence that inflation was truly beaten.

In a media conference, Mr. Powell flatly stated a cut as early as March seemed unlikely, but also conceded that everyone on the committee was looking to ease this year.

“Oil prices spiked following the US-Iran conflict. Since Friday, Iran militants have killed three US soldiers, and this development raises crude supply concerns,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan added in a Viber message.

Most sectoral indices ended lower on Thursday. Mining and oil fell by 135.42 points or 1.46% to 9,111.97; property dropped by 25.13 points or 0.86% to 2,896.36; services went down by 8.83 points or 0.54% to 1,609.46; industrials retreated by 34.67 points or 0.38% to 8,885.31; and holding firms declined by 23.84 points or 0.37% to 6,305.23.

Meanwhile, financials rose by 5.44 points or 0.28% to 1,891.19.

“Among the index members, Century Pacific Food, Inc. was at the top, climbing 3.49% to P34.10. Nickel Asia Corp. lost the most, dropping 2.89% to P4.70,” Mr. Plopenio said.

Value turnover decreased to P4.15 billion on Thursday with 280.66 million issues switching hands from the P6.76 billion with 423.55 million shares traded the previous day.

Decliners outnumbered advancers, 118 to 46, while 55 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign buying climbed to P460.42 million on Thursday from P256.1 million on Wednesday. — R.M.D. Ochave with Reuters

Rogen Ladon and Aira Villegas advance to Boxam Elite semis

FILIPINO Olympian pug Rogen Ladon

FILIPINO Olympian pug Rogen Ladon and Aira Villegas pulled off contrasting results to assure themselves of a bronze medal in the Boxam Elite in La Nucia, Spain Tuesday.

Mr. Ladon, a 2016 Rio de Janerio Games veteran and World Championship bronze winner, did just enough to edge Nick Richards of Wales, 3-2, while Ms. Villegas routed Ireland’s Caitlin Fryers, 5-0, to barge into the semis.

There, Mr. Ladon squares off with Mexican Ari Bonilla, a 4-1 winner over Hungarian Attila Bernath, while Ms. Villegas battles England’s Kelsey Oakley, who routed Hungary’s Petra Mezei with an identical 5-0 result.

Mr. Ladon is on the comeback trail after failing to make the cut for what could have been his second Olympic stint in the 2021 Tokyo Games where the Filipino boxers scooped up two silvers from Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio and a bronze from Eumir Marcial.

The wins by Mr. Ladon and Ms. Villegas cushioned the impact of the losses suffered by countrymen Riza Pasuit (women’s 60kg), Mark Ashley Fajardo (men’s 43lg) and Ronald Chavez, Jr. (-71kg).

Ms. Pasuit succumbed to Kazakhstan’s Aidana Zabynbekova, 4-1; Ms, Fajardo sputtered against England’s Cameron McKay, 3-2; and Mr. Chavez fell to Uzbekistan’s Asadullaev Khavasbek, 5-0.

Filipinos left standing were Mr. Paalam, Ms. Petecio and Hergie Bacdayan, a former wushu fighter and 2022 world champion in vovinam.

They are all eyeing spots to this July’s Paris Olympics and join already qualified Marcial. — Joel Villar

Eala outlasts Yashina and moves to W50 Indore quarterfinals

FACEBOOK.COM/ALEX EALA

ALEX EALA zoomed to another playoff run, carving out a 7-6(1), 6(4)-7, 6-0 win against Russian Ekaterina Yashina to move on to the W50 Indore quarterfinals in India.

Ms. Eala, now the WTA No. 184 for her new career-best ranking, needed everything she could handle in the first two sets before flashing her brilliance in the perfect third-set performance for the gritty win in two hours and 39 minutes.

The 18-year-old Filipina tennis sensation flipped a 5-6 deficit in the first set and emerged victorious in the tiebreaker before absorbing the same fate in the second after wasting a 5-4 cushion.

But there was no stopping Ms. Eala, seeded No. 3, in the clincher by unloading crisp serves behind five aces and breaking Ekaterina’s own attempts for the win.

It’s the second straight quarterfinal stint for Ms. Eala in as many singles outings in India after also a Top-8 finish in W50 Pune last week.

In the same tournament, Ms. Eala captured her first doubles championship in the women’s professional circuit with partner Darja Semenistaja from Latvia.

Ms. Semenistaja, the No. 1 seed, however exited early in W50 Indore with a stunning 6-3, 6-4 defeat against Japan’s Saki Imamura in the second round.

Up next for Ms. Eala is the winner between No. 6 seed Anca Alexia Todoni and Japan’s Rina Saigo for a seat in the Final Four of the elite $50,000 tourney. — John Bryan Ulanday

IM Quizon seen to top ‘Bolok’ Memorial Open chess tourney

DANIEL QUIZON — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

OLYMPIAD-bound teenage International Master (IM) Daniel Quizon eyes a third title this year as he wades into battle in the Antonio “Bolok” Santos Memorial Open chess tournament set Feb. 10 in Brgy. Dela Peña, Marikina City.

The 19-year-old Mr. Quizon would come in riding the crest of his sterling triumph in the Philippine National Championships also in Marikina City last month that earned him a spot to the team seeing action in this September’s FIDE World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.

He followed it up with triumph in the Predator a week later in Pasig City that put him as the early favorite to win the seven-round event that is staking P10,000 to the eventual winner.

Other notable titled players joining are Grandmaster (GM) Darwin Laylo, IMs Chito Garma, Barlo Nadera, Ronald Dableo, Rolando Nolte, Ronald Bancod, Hamed Nouri, Angelo Young, Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Cris Ramayrat and Ricky de Guzman, FIDE Masters Roel Abelgas, Christian Gian Karlo Arca, Noel dela Cruz, Alekhine Nouri, Adrian Pacis and Ed Garma, and WGM candidate Kylen Joy Mordido.

The event is part of Mr. Quizon’s preparation for the Olympiad as well as in his search for the GM title. — Joey Villar

Capital1 Solar Energy assembles young and veteran players for PVL

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

CAPITAL1 Solar Energy will parade a mix of young and veteran players out to prove themselves worthy of a place in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference unfolding Feb. 20 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Heather Guino-o, Jannine Navarro, Vira Mae Guillema, Jorelle Singh, Aiko Urdas, Arianne Layug, Lourdes Clemente and Janeca Lana were among the first to make it to make it to the team and should bring in their vast experience.

Also making the cut were Rovee Instrella, Renesa Melgar, Sydney Niegos, Shyra Umandal, Cathrina Dizon, Kath Villegas, May Macatuno, Jel Quizon, Rica Rivera, and Bingle Landicho.

Romero siblings Milka and Mandy — coming from a sports oriented family — are convinced their players will go out and play their best each game after being given their second chance.

“This will be a good opportunity for them to shine and be recognized so we are giving our all-out support to the team,” said Mandy, who heads the family-owned solar energy company. “My sister and I are hoping we can grow together in support of PHL sports, especially volleyball.”

“We are not in a hurry, we take it one step at time until we build a winning culture. That’s our goal,” Milka, for her part, said. — Joey Villar

Angelos family agrees to sell Baltimore Orioles for $1.725B

THE Angelos family on Monday formally announced their intent to sell the Baltimore Orioles to a group of private equity billionaires led by David Rubenstein and others, including Hall of Famer and lifelong Oriole Cal Ripken, Jr., for $1.725 billion.

Mr. Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of the Carlyle Group, will become the controlling owner of the Orioles upon the close of the transaction. The Angelos family will continue to hold a sizable investment in the Baltimore Orioles, and John Angelos will serve as senior advisor to the organization.

Major League Baseball still must approve the sale. The owners are scheduled to meet next week in Orlando, Florida.

“When I took on the role of Chair and CEO of the Orioles, we had the objective of restoring the franchise to elite status in major league sports, keeping the team in Baltimore for years to come, and revitalizing our partnership group,” Mr. Angelos said in a statement. “This relationship with David Rubenstein and his partners validates that we have not only met but exceeded our goals.”

Puck News reported earlier in the week that the group will start off owning roughly 40 percent of the club. When John Angelos’ 94-year-old father Peter Angelos dies, Mr. Rubenstein and Michael Arougheti will buy up the remaining 60 percent.

Mr. Rubenstein is joined in the investment by Mr. Arougheti, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ares Management; Mitchell Goldstein and Michael Smith, co-heads of the Ares Credit Group; Kurt Schmoke, former Baltimore mayor; Grant Hill, NBA Hall of Famer; and Mike Bloomberg, entrepreneur and philanthropist, among others. — Reuters

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