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Makati to handle Taguig cases

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE SUPREME Court (SC) said on Thursday that it has ordered Makati City courts to take on some legal cases pending in Taguig City, following the jurisdictional transfer of 10 “Embo” villages from Makati to its neighboring city.

In a six-page notice, the SC En Banc has designated additional courts “to assist Taguig City courts in handling cases of anticipation of their influx by January 1, 2024 in Taguig City following the transfer of the 10 barangays from Makati City.”

Seven regional trial courts (RTCs) and four metropolitan trial courts (MeTCs) in Makati have been designated to aid Taguig courts, pending the creation of additional courts in Taguig.

“Effective January 1, 2024, the Offices of the Clerk of Court (OCCs) of the RTCs and MeTCs shall require parties filing civil and criminal cases before the Taguig City Courts to provide their landline or mobile phone numbers and email addresses, which shall form part of the official records of the cases,” read part of the resolution.

The High Court added that the caption of the newly filed cases must include the identities of both the Taguig City and Makati City Courts.

The SC said the Executive Judge of the Taguig City court where the case was filed, may address immediate temporary reliefs in urgent cases as per the rules of court. This action can occur before forwarding the case to the assigned Makati City court.

The SC clarified that any motion for reconsideration shall be filed before the Makati City court while appeals from the judgment or final order of the Makati City MeTC shall be filed before the Taguig RTC.

“If no appeal or motion for reconsideration is timely filed, the case records shall be forwarded from the branch of the Makati City court to its OCC, then transmitted to the Taguig City Court for execution. The judgment or final order shall then be entered by the Clerk of Court of the Taguig City court in its book of entries of judgment.” — Jomel R. Paguian

Manibela rejects PUVMP, deadlines

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

TRANSPORT group Manibela, one of the leading protesters against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), will never be content with merely extending the franchise consolidation deadline.

Speaking to BusinessWorld on Thursday, Manibela president Mar Valbuena made it clear: “What we are lobbying for is the extension of our franchise and provisional authority to ply our jeepney units even without consolidating.”

The group’s statement is in response to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” L. Pimentel III’s proposal for a six-month to one-year deferral and indefinite suspension of the PUVMP, which mandates consolidation into cooperatives or corporations by Dec. 31, 2023, for modern PUV unit franchises.

The Supreme Court petition by transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) argues, among others, that this mandate infringes on the constitutional right to freedom of association, rendering it unconstitutional.

In a press briefing this week, Mr. Pimentel also called for the Department of Transportation (DoTr) to transparently disclose contractors and suppliers of imported modern PUV units. Labor groups, including the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and Partido Manggagawa (PM), urged prioritizing locally made options in modernizing PUV units, citing economic and constitutional considerations.

“It is already given that we should prioritize cheaper and locally made options,” PM chairman Rene Magtubo said.

The government’s one-month grace period for non-consolidating jeepneys indicates, according to PM, that the government is unprepared for the consequences of the modernization plan. The DoTr reported that only 40% of Metro Manila’s jeepneys and approximately 70% nationwide have consolidated their franchises under the PUVMP. — Jomel R. Paguian

P55M for MSU-Marawi expansion

THE DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management has released P55.65 million for the expansion of the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City.

Based on the statement it released on Thursday, the DBM’s Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) will cover the construction of MSU’s three-storey Student Center Building, which has an allocated area of 1,850 square meters.

“Our youth are the torchbearers of our future. That is why it’s important that we support them by providing the necessary equipment and facilities. This is also the marching order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said.

The building’s construction is intended to improve the university’s facilities through the promotion, development, and implementation of various student-related programs and activities of MSU.

“The implementation of this locally funded project (LFP) will be chargeable against MSU-Marawi’s built-in appropriations under the Fiscal Year 2023 General Appropriations Act,” the DBM said.

The DBM has also allotted P154.192 million from the 2024 Fiscal Year (FY) National Budget to the Free Higher Education (FHE) program in MSU-Marawi. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

P10.41-B illegal drugs seized in 2023 — Palace

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

ILLEGAL drugs worth over P10.41 billion were confiscated last year in over 44,000 law enforcement operations, the Palace said on Thursday as it touted the over 27,000 barangays cleared of the deadly vice through the Marcos administration’s “holistic” approach.

A total of 56,495 suspects were arrested in 44,000 anti-illegal drug operations last year, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement, citing data from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. vowed to shift the focus of the government’s anti-drugs program to rehabilitation.

It was his response to calls for accountability following his predecessor’s bloody war on drugs that resulted in the killing of thousands of suspects in supposed police operations gone awry, but are under investigation as alleged extrajudicial killings.

The numbers have since dropped but as of June 30, 2023, a year into Mr. Marcos’ term, a total of 342 had been killed by state actors in connection with illegal drugs, according to a report from Dahas Project, an initiative of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center.

“This is higher than the 302 reported in the last year of the Duterte administration,” it said.

The PCO said 50 provinces now have functional Anti-Drug Abuse Councils, adding that the government has put up 74 in-patient treatment and rehabilitation facilities across the country.

“The recent government successes was under President Marcos’s new approach to address illegal drugs by focusing on rehabilitation, reintegration, and preventive education programs specifically for the youth,” it said.

Last September, the President called for a “whole-of-nation approach” in dealing with illegal drugs, noting that “drug dependence is a serious mental health condition.”

“If left untreated, it becomes a growing social problem and a significant public health issue,” he said at the time.

The government estimates that at least 6,117 people were killed in Mr. Duterte’s drug war between July 1, 2016 and May 31, 2022, but human rights groups say the death toll could be as high as 30,000.

In March, Mr. Marcos, who ran in tandem with Mr. Duterte’s daughter in last year’s presidential race, said the Philippines was disengaging with the International Criminal Court (ICC) after its rejection of the country’s appeal to suspend its investigation of the drug war under the previous administration.

The ICC investigation covers crimes committed in Davao City from November 2011 to June 2016 when Mr. Duterte was still its mayor, as well as cases during his presidency up until March 16, 2019, the day before the Philippines officially withdrew from the court’s Rome Statute.

Under the Marcos administration, the Dangerous Drugs Board would continue to implement the Barangay Drug Clearing Program, with the goal of making all villages in the Philippines free from illegal drugs by 2028, the PCO said.

It said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is also intensifying its efforts against top-level drug personalities, “not only by arresting them but also by strengthening financial investigation to immobilize their assets.”

It said the administration targets to reduce the target-listed drug personalities by 10% of the annual target list by June, 2028.

It wants to achieve a 1:1 ratio of established treatment and rehabilitation facilities per province by 2028, it added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

CPP slams gov’t security agencies as peace spoilers

BAGUIO CITY — In response to the National Security Council’s (NSC) criticism, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) accused President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s  security and military officers of misrepresenting the Oslo Joint Statement.

In a statement released on Thursday, the CPP alleged that the government statements are aimed at undermining the peace negotiations and hinder discussions on addressing the root causes why communists have taken up arms.

CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena pointed out statements issued by the NSC, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as “misrepresenting the Oslo Joint Statement signed between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) as an agreement for the surrender of the New People’s Army.”

Mr. Valbuena said this misreading is being done intentionally and clarified that the Oslo Joint Statement is not an agreement for the NPA’s surrender, but rather a step toward resolving roots of the armed conflict.

He further stressed on the need for comprehensive negotiations based on the Hague Declaration of 1992, covering human rights, social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reform, and the disposition of forces.

The CPP insisted that peace talks serve as an unarmed battlefield to advance the people’s national democratic cause, addressing issues such as landlessness, poverty, political repression, and tyranny.

Despite the NSC blaming the CPP for intensifying attacks during its 55th anniversary last Jan. 26, the CPP reaffirmed its commitment to negotiations while maintaining the armed struggle as a means to address what it claimed to be the Filipino people’s aspirations. — Artemio A. Dumlao

LTFRB dismisses three-fold fare hike under PUVMP

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE LAND Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has dismissed the possibility of a three-fold fare hike once the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) is fully implemented.

In a statement released on Thursday, LTFRB Chairman Teofilo E. Guadiz, III assured the public that a fare increase of between P45 and P50 within the next five years, as projected by progressive-leaning think tank IBON Foundation, is not going to happen.

“It is statistically impossible for modern jeepneys to impose exorbitant fares,” Mr. Guadiz said.

In October, the LTFRB approved the P1 provisional fare increases nationwide, raising the minimum fare to P15 for modern jeepneys.

The estimate of IBON Foundation hinges on the higher cost to operate and maintain modern jeepneys.

To recall, the LTFRB has issued guidelines allowing unconsolidated PUVs to continue operations until the end of January, giving them a one-month grace period beyond the Dec. 31, 2023 consolidation deadline.

However, the LTFRB has yet to issue the latest consolidation data. The memorandum order, effective Dec. 25 last year, permits unconsolidated PUVs to operate in areas with less than 60% consolidated authorized units (NAUs). — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Benguet farmers urge revival of anti-smuggling task forces

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Farmers in these highlands are pushing for the revival of anti-smuggling task forces at the national and provincial levels to stem the wanton entry of smuggled vegetables, especially carrots, into the Philippine market.

Benguet-based Augusta Balanoy, speaking on behalf of the League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Areas, Inc. on Thursday, decried how smuggled carrots have been flooding the market causing prices to slide down.

Ms. Balanoy claimed the prices have been driven down to P1 a kilo, forcing local producers in this province to either give out their produce or leave them to rot in the farms.

She said they want the government to revive the task forces to see the situation on the ground. “At least, there would be people in authority watching the markets against distributors of smuggled goods,” she said in Filipino.

In late December, the peak time for disposing of Benguet vegetable produce due to increased demand during the Yuletide season, farmers experienced a significant downturn.

The market was flooded with smuggled vegetables that were not only cheaper and larger but also had a longer shelf life. This influx left farmers with the difficult choice of either giving away their produce for free or allowing it to rot in Northern Benguet farms.

Adding to the farmers’ challenges was the blatant fraud associated with the smuggled vegetables found in markets nationwide. These products were deceitfully labeled as “A.B.C. Baguio” in an attempt to conceal their illicit origin.

Ms. Balanoy said that as early as late July, there had been volumes of smuggled carrots, broccoli and cauliflowers unloaded through various ports. “Nothing happened even if we sought the agriculture department’s intercession,” she said. — Artemio A. Dumlao

WG Frayna shares second midway the National Chess Championship

JANELLE MAE FRAYNA’S (right) last victim was Olympiad veteran International Master (IM) Barlo Nadera — a 68-move, seventh-round triumph of a Torre Attack — that catapulted her to a share of No. 2 with IM Jem Garcia. — FACEBOOK.COM/NCFPCHESS

JANELLE MAE FRAYNA, the country’s first and only chess Woman Grandmaster (WG), is eyeing another date with destiny.

This time, the 26-year-old Army woman from Legazpi City is seeking to become the first woman to win a national men’s championship crown and claim a spot to the men’s national team seeing action in the World Chess Olympiad.

And she’s getting closer to achieving one of two or both as she zoomed to joint second midway through the 13-round Philippine National Chess Championships at the Marikina Community Convention Center Wednesday night.

Ms. Frayna’s last victim was Olympiad veteran International Master (IM) Barlo Nadera — a 68-move, seventh-round triumph of a Torre Attack — that catapulted her to a share of No. 2 with IM Jem Garcia, who split the point with GM John Paul Gomez in 29 moves of an English Opening, with five points each.

They were a full point behind IM Daniel Quizon, who used the King’s Indian Defense to send WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego to a 52-move submission to remain unflappable at the helm with six points going into the last six rounds of this meet presented by Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro and Congresswoman Maan Teodoro.

The champion here pockets P120,000 courtesy of Marikina City, NCFP Chairman President Prospero Pichay, Jr., POC President Abraham Tolentino, PSC Chair Richard Bachmann, the Eugene Torre Chess Foundation and Pan de Amerikana’s Jundio Salvador while the top three finishers makes the squad bound for the biennial event slated in September in Budapest, Hungary.

Ms. Frayna, who was battling Vince Angelo Medina and IM Paulo Bersamina in the eighth and ninth round, respectively, at press time, is hoping to accomplish one or both. — Joey Villar

Tiu, Goorjian join forces for Strong Group Athletics in Dubai Basketball tourney

CHARLES TIU — NCAA/GMA FILE PHOTO

BUDDING tactician Charles Tiu will leave no stone unturned in sharing the bench with a world-renowned mentor in Brian Goorjian.

Joining forces for Strong Group Athletics, Mr. Tiu as head coach and Mr. Goorjian as consultant will steer the ship for the Philippine representative in a bid to win the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship slated on January 19 to 28.

“I can’t wait to work with my good friend Brian Goorjian. It’s been a long time coming. It’s a great chance for me to learn from him. He’s a legend,” said Mr. Tiu, also the College of St. Benilde mentor in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Mr. Tiu steered Strong Group to a quarterfinal finish last year and the Mighty Sports Philippines to a historic title in 2020 to become the first non-Middle Eastern champion in Dubai.

This time for the same team owned by Frank and Jacob Lao, he will have an illustrious wing in Mr. Goorjian, best known for anchoring the first-ever bronze medal of the Australia men’s national team in the Tokyo Olympics.

But this isn’t the first time Mr. Goorjian, also six-time NBL champion and six-time NBL Coach of the Year, will be stamping his class here.

The seasoned coach, who also had stints in the Chinese Basketball Association, guided guest team Bay Area to a runner-up finish in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last year.

Mr. Goorjian and his Hong Kong-based team dominated the elimination rounds and the playoffs before falling short against Barangay Ginebra in Game 7 of the epic finale witnessed by a record-shattering crowd of 54,589 fans at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

His resume speaks for itself, providing a massive boost for Strong Group’s redemption bid in Dubai with a bevy of equally distinguished reinforcements led by NBA champion and three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard.

“With his unparalleled coaching acumen and a wealth of experience, Brian brings an invaluable perspective to all of us,” said team owner Frank Lao.

Strong Group, which will also feature UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao and other collegiate stalwarts, is scheduled to open training camp this weekend with the arrival of Howard and other aces in Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche, Andre Roberson and McKenzie Moore. — John Bryan Ulanday

NorthPort Batang Pier target Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals against Blackwater Bossing

Games Friday
Smart Araneta Coliseum
4 p.m. — Blackwater vs NorthPort
8 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs TNT

EVEN with a campaign marked by alternating streaks of two wins, two losses, three wins and two losses, NorthPort (5-4) is within range of its primary target — the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.

So the best thing to do for coach Bonnie Tan and his youthful crew is to make the most of this opportunity and ensure their hassle-free Last-8 entry with the playoffs race about to get hotter than ever after the New Year’s Day festivities.

The Batang Pier can attain that with victory No. 6 in today’s resumption of play against also-ran Blackwater (1-8) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Take care of business in the 4 p.m. gig and the Batang Pier can get rid of a possible complication in the bare knuckle fight for the three remaining quarters berths involving them, TNT (4-5), Rain or Shine (4-5), NLEX (3-7) and even Terrafirma (2-7).

Mr. Tan needs to draw the best from import Venky Jois, ace gunner Arvin Tolentino, former top pick Joshua Munzon and promising freshmen Fran Yu, Cade Flores and Brent Paraiso to get it done right away and avoid a “take-two” in a harsher, high-pressure environment against twice-to-beat-hunting Ginebra (6-3) on Sunday.

But in the Bossing they expect to find a tough customer. Though out of the running with still two games left, Jeff Cariaso’s team is bent on going out swinging and getting something to build on for the next conference.

Equally vital is the faceoff between Tropang Giga and the Elasto Painters at 8 p.m., where the winner moves to five Ws and a step closer to the “magic number” of six.

The Tropang Giga debut Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson in place of his younger brother Rondae, who suffered a neck injury in their East Asia Super League campaign last month. TNT, the Season 47 Governors’ Cup titlists, is out to pump life back into its bid after losing its last two outings, including a 78-86 Christmas Day setback to Ginebra with an all-Filipino lineup.

On the other side stand the Elasto Painters, currently the league’s hottest team.

Yeng Guiao’s team, led by the rebounding machine Tree Treadwell, has won its last four games and carries intense desire to continue its rise and salvage a quarters trip coming off a woeful 1-5 start. — Olmin Leyba

Lady Archers beat Thai club Supreme VC in friendly match

DE LA SALLE University is priming up for a title retention bid in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament this February.

Shifting to higher gears a month before the net wars, the Lady Spikers scored a big win against decorated Thailand club Supreme Voleyball Club (VC) in a friendly match.

De La Salle won four out of five sets in an open tune-up, 25-23, 25-15, 25-22, 20-25, 15-10, to kickstart its Thailand training camp in flying colors. Supreme VC was a former three-time Thai league champion and Asian Volleyball Club Championship titlist.

UAAP Season 85 Rookie-MVP Angel Canino, Best Middle Blocker Thea Gagate and Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals MVP Shevana Laput led the way as the Lady Spikers ushered in a new era.

De La Salle, still with young, capable guns, will deal with the graduation of Best Outside Spiker Jolina dela Cruz, Best Setter Mars Alba, middle blocker Fifi Sharma and ace libero Justine Jazareno entering this season.

The Lady Spikers dominated UAAP Season 85 with only a single defeat through their entire campaign, including a 2-0 sweep of former champion National University for a fitting revenge after losing in Season 84.

After the UAAP, the wards of coach Ramil de Jesus braved on and swept the SSL National Invitationals before trooping to Thailand this time around to complete their preparations. — John Bryan Ulanday

Lin, New Taipei Kings outscore undermanned Meralco

MERALCO faltered in its mission to overcome “Linsanity” as the Bolts bowed to Jeremy Lin and the New Taipei Kings, 77-89, the East Asia Super League at the PhilSports Arena Wednesday night.

Mr. Lin, the biggest draw in the well-attended Group B match, lived up to expectations and delivered a 23-point 10-rebound, four-assist performance in leading the Kings to their third straight victory in basketball-crazy Philippines.

In front of a good-sized audience led by PBA Chairman Ricky Vargas and Mr. Lin’s friend and former NBA teammate Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of TNT, the Taiwanese star knocked down two booming triples to spark an 11-0 salvo that keyed New Taipei’s breakaway in the third.

The Kings went on to outscore the undermanned Meralco Bolts in the penultimate period, 24-11, to set the tone to the convincing follow up to their 97-92 win at home last Nov. 29. “Our coaches put a big emphasis on playing on both ends and my team did a great job,” said Mr. Lin, who was backstopped by Chin-min Yang (13), Kenny Manigault (12), brother Joseph Lin (11) and Kai-Yan Lee (11).

The former NBA star was met by adoring fans excitedly asking for selfies or autographs then reciprocated the love by giving his game-worn shoes to one lucky fan in blue “Lin” shirt after the game.

“I came out here, I think it’s 2013, I played one preseason (NBA) game…People asked me how the experience was. And honestly, it was pretty crazy. The fanbase here is unreal,” he said.

Cliff Hodge led the defensive effort put up against Mr. Lin by the Bolts, who missed ailing stalwarts Chris Newsome and Aaron Black and absorbed their fourth loss in five games.

“It is physical. They played physical like Cliff Hodge is a great example,” Mr. Lin said.

“He’s playing the four-man position, he’s 6-foot-4 but I can see why. He’s very physical, he’s smart, and he does his job really, really well. He makes everything difficult for you. He plays hard, he plays physical and that’s the best type of basketball you would want to play.”

Zach Lofton, bucking an injured wrist, fired 20 for the Meralco Bolts. — Olmin Leyba

The Scores:

New Taipei Kings 89 — Lin 23, Yang 13, Manigault 12, Joseph Lin 11, Lee 11, Blankley 7, Anigwe 6, Su 4, Davis 2, Chien 0, Wang 0, Hung 0.

Meralco Bolts 77 — Lofton 20, Maliksi 12, Banchero 10, Hodge 8, Quinto 8, Ibeh 7, Almazan 5, Rios 4, Dario 3, Pascual 0, Bates 0.

Quarterscores: 21-21; 42-47; 66-58; 89-77.

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