Banks told to monitor digital vote buying, selling during village polls

October 12, 2023 | 8:12 pm

PASIG ELECTION — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

By Keisha B. Ta-asan, Reporter

BANKS and financial institutions should monitor large transactions that could point to vote-buying and vote-selling activities during the village election period, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

In a memo to central bank-supervised financial institutions signed by BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi G. Fonacier on Oct. 10, BSP called for vigilance.

“In line with the National Government and Commission on Elections’ efforts to curb vote-buying and vote-selling… the BSP strongly calls for the adoption of enhanced surveillance and monitoring measures to prevent the misuse of financial institutions as conduits for this illegal activity,” it said.

Banks should tighten controls in detecting or preventing fraudulent accounts and transactions as the election date nears, it added.

Filipinos will vote for the village and youth council officials on Oct. 30. The campaign period started on Oct. 19.

BSP also warned financial institutions about the possibility of online banking and mobile wallet applications being used for vote-buying activities.

They were told to reinforce their customer onboarding processes, fraud management systems and transaction-monitoring capabilities.

Banks should consider any significant number of account registrations in areas where vote-buying or-selling is known to be rampant, and unusually large cash transactions during the election period as scenarios in calibrating their fraud management systems.

Under the BSP’s Manual of Regulation for Banks and Nonbank Financial Institutions, lenders must submit suspicious transaction reports to the Anti-Money Laundering Council when needed.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, persons found guilty of vote-buying or -selling face imprisonment of as long as six years, disqualification from public office and being barred from voting.

The Philippines has been included among jurisdictions under increased monitoring by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in June 2021. It needs to prove it has implemented tighter measures against dirty money and terrorism-financing to exit the FATF’s “gray list.”

Meanwhile, in a separate memo signed by Ms. Fonacier on Oct. 10, the central bank reminded lenders to apply appropriate customer due diligence measures on so-called politically exposed persons — those who are politically prominent here or overseas, as well as officials of international organizations.

The central bank noted that if these people are related to suspicious transactions, financial institutions should obtain senior management approval before continuing any business relationships.

Financial institutions should also take reasonable measures to establish the source of wealth of customers and prominent beneficial owners.

Lenders should use risk-based assessment to determine whether there are any residual risks or a significant influence posed by the customer, it added.

DICT says local hacker behind PSA data breach

October 12, 2023 | 8:12 pm

By Jomel R. Paguian

THE DEPARTMENT of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) confirmed on Thursday that a local hacker is behind the recent data breach of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) systems.

DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy made the revelation in the wake of the cyberattack on the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), attributed to the Medusa group which is a “very professional international cybercriminal syndicate.”

During an interview with One News PH, Mr. Dy explained that while the PhilHealth breach was executed by the highly sophisticated Medusa group, the PSA data breach was the handiwork of an individual hacker.

“A lot of enterprising individuals wanted to replicate the damage done in PhilHealth. Some of these are local researchers, some are security researchers, and some are just enthusiasts,” he said, describing them as copycat attempts “inspired” by the PhilHealth incident.

Mr. Dy revealed that the DICT already has leads on the identity of the PSA data breach perpetrator due to the less sophisticated methods employed.

“We are more than willing to provide this information after our initial investigation with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, so they can follow up by coordinating the manhunt and the arrest of the individual,” he added.

Interviewed by One Balita Pilipinas, PSA Legal Service Director Eliezer P. Ambatali said the local hacker did not demand a ransom and seemed more interested in attention.

“We have not received any communication from the hacker asking for money in exchange for the downloaded files. But based on his posts, it seems that he just wants attention,” Mr. Ambatali, speaking in Filipino, said.

The hacker managed to infiltrate the PSA system due to weak website configurations, as noted by Mr. Dy, who pointed out that the DICT detected the breach ahead of the PSA.

“We also told them (PSA) about certain weaknesses in their systems; unfortunately, they still got hacked. But we did send them information about certain things they need to do to reinforce their cybersecurity,” the DICT official said.

The cyberattack targeted the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS), which hosts demographic data collected through the agency’s survey forms.

“So, what the hacker got were files submitted to PSA about surveys,” said Mr. Ambatali. “It includes data about the surveyor, about who was being interviewed, unfortunately, it also includes data about household classification, how many children are in that household.”

However, he clarified that the breach did not extend to the National ID system managed by the PSA, which comprises the Civil Registration System and the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) and is distinct from the affected CBMS.

Upon his assessment, DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said in Filipino: “The damage is still substantial because the breach is significant.”

However, he said that while other government agencies also experience data breaches, creating a centralized agency for government cybersecurity is unnecessary.

Instead, Mr. Dy recommended that each agency establish its cybersecurity organization and an organizational-level computer emergency response team, properly equipped and trained to tackle threats.

At present, the DICT provides technical support for government agencies’ systems but is not directly responsible for safeguarding them from cyberattacks. This decentralization of cybersecurity efforts is seen as a necessary approach.

Notably, the DICT recently lost P300 million in confidential funds from the 2024 national budget.

Mr. Renato A. Paraiso, DICT Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs, highlighted the potential utility of these funds for enhancing cybersecurity efforts and expressed disappointment over the lack of funding.

On Wednesday, Mr. Uy who heads the department announced that an appeal would be submitted to Congress to reinstate the department’s confidential funds.

These developments at the PSA and PhilHealth, he said, underscore the urgency of bolstering cybersecurity measures in the Philippines amid an escalating wave of cyber threats.

Politicized encounters called out

October 12, 2023 | 8:11 pm

PHILIPPINE government officials should be cautious of visits and appearances with public figures as these encounters may be politicized and associated with personal interests, a lawyer and policy analyst said on Thursday.

“Public officials should always be wary of encounters that will compromise their integrity in the eyes of the public,” Michael Henry LI. Yusingco said in a Facebook Messenger chat, following the separate visits made by Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio and House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) executive minister Eduardo V. Manalo on Oct. 2 and Oct. 6, respectively.

“These types of meetings will always make the public suspect that favors and patronage are being arranged,” Mr. Yusingco said.

For Jean S. Encinas-Franco, who teaches political science at the University of the Philippines, the visits “provide good optics [for the two government officials] since we know that the Iglesia has a strong influence on its flock.”

The vice president’s visit happened following weeks of receiving flak over the P125 million in confidential funds spent by her offices in less than two weeks last year. The House of Representatives had stripped the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), both led by Ms. Duterte-Carpio, of P650 million in confidential funds for next year.

Meanwhile, Ms. Arroyo faced controversies over her removal as senior deputy speaker in May and the filing of graft and malversation charges against her over the Malampaya deal early this month.

Mr. Yusingco said their meetings high-profile individuals like Mr. Manalo “will never be perceived as a ‘harmless visits’” and called their timing “suspicious.” “This harms governance more than it helps it,” he added. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

ASEAN tackles transnational crime

October 12, 2023 | 8:11 pm

PHILIPPINE officials and members of the judiciary on Thursday met with their regional counterparts in Bangkok, Thailand to exchange expertise on combatting transnational organized crime, the Department of Justice (DoJ) said.

In a statement, DoJ Spokesman Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV said officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Supreme Court and the DoJ highlighted efforts of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), an inter-agency body identifying crime hotspots in the Philippines, at the meeting of member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“We are committed to continued collaboration with our international partners to address the shared challenge of transnational organized crime,” Mr. Clavano IV said at the United Nations regional conference in Bangkok.

“We are proud of the innovative work being accomplished by the JSCC in the Philippines, and we are thrilled to have this platform to share our strategies with other nations.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Peacebuilding key to investments

October 12, 2023 | 8:11 pm

COTABATO CITY — The implementation of peacebuilding programs for the 63 Bangsamoro villages located within Cotabato province will be intensified to create a more business-friendly atmosphere for capital-intensive agricultural ventures, officials said on Thursday.

“Strong governance in these barangays is so essential in generating confidence of investors in the local business climate,” Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño Mendoza said, following her meeting with the Army’s 602^nd Infantry Brigade about helping decentralize basic services and see through the secure completion of on-going infrastructure projects in these Bangsamoro areas located in Region 12.

“Our business communities in the province (Cotabato), which are not under the Bangsamoro government, stand to benefit from that too,” she stressed.

Brig. Gen. Donald M. Gumiran, who heads the 602^nd Infantry Brigade, said the governor’s thrust is in support of the efforts of the Bangsamoro Business Council and the Regional Board of Investments to entice foreign capitalists to invest in rich agricultural areas.

Mr. Gumiran said Thursday that the construction of more than a dozen barangay halls in Bangsamoro villages in Region 12 this past year is a testament to the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s cooperation with state agencies and neighboring local government units to look after the welfare of Moro rebels residing in beneficiary-areas outside of BARMM.

“They now feel the presence of government and investors from outside, in effect, also feel now that coming in to propagate short-term crops, or plant Cavendish bananas, or oil palm trees is viable,” Mr. Gumiran said.

Mayor Rolly C. Sacdalan of Midsayap, where there are Bangsamoro barangays, cited that the MILG-BARMM granted P83 million worth of farming equipment, including tractors, mechanized harvesters, rice and corn planters, to his Moro constituents last July to boost their rice and corn harvests that they sell to Christian traders in the town center.

“We support peace programs needed to sustain the cordiality among Muslim farming communities and the Christian merchants in town centers in Cotabato province,” Mr. Sacdalan said. — John Felix M. Unson

Milk for plastics in Manila

October 12, 2023 | 8:11 pm

ALASKA Milk Corp. has partnered with the Manila City government for an incentive program that allowed city residents to get milk products in exchange for single-use plastic waste.

The milk product manufacturer said it signed a memorandum of agreement with Manila City for the company’s wrapper redemption program, which enables Manila residents to trade post-consumer single-use plastics for Alaska powdered milk drink.

Alaska Milk Managing Director Tarang Gupta said their goal is to “promote proper waste management and encourage recycling within the city while introducing proper nutrition through milk consumption to the community.”

The wrapper redemption program is one of the key components of Alaska Milk’s AlasKalikasan corporate social responsibility initiatives. Manila City Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan praised the success of the program in promoting sustainable practices and raising awareness about waste management.

The program has diverted 1,250 metric tons of single-use plastics from leaking to the environment since it was launched in 2020. — Revin Mikhael Ochave

Chiba Jets beat undermanned TNT in East Asia Super League

October 12, 2023 | 7:21 pm

DESPITE the presence of the prolific Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Quincy Miller, the manpower shortage and overall lack of match fitness proved too much for TNT.

The Tropang Giga, playing without key players Calvin Oftana (on a break after the Asian Games campaign), Roger Pogoy (health), Poy Erram (injury) and Mikey Williams (vacation), tumbled to a 75-93 defeat to the Chiba Jets at the start of the East Asia Super League Season 2 Wednesday night in Japan.

The Jets, runners-up in the Japan B. League, dropped a 26-12 bomb in the third quarter to break away from the reigning PBA Governors’ Cup titlist coming off a slim one-point edge.

The home squad banked on a sizzling 10-of-21 shooting from beyond the arc in the second half to take the fight out of TNT in the Group A opener.

Overall, Chiba knocked down 16 triples out of 39 attempts for a 41 percent clip from deep — a far cry from TNT’s 6-of-27 and 22 percent long-distance touch.

Mr. Hollis-Jefferson, suiting up just five days after Jordan took placed second to Gilas Pilipinas in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, and five assists to back up Mr. Miller’s 22.

Mr. Hollis-Jefferson struggled with a 6-of-28 field goal and missed all nine of his three-point attempts.

TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa said game shape level, more than the missing players, did the Tropang Giga in.

“When I was asked at half time what my concerns were in the second half, I said stamina was going to be a big question for us. Obviously, we played really well in the first half. We stayed with them, both on offense and defense. But, in the second half, we lost our stamina,” he said.

“We’re only two weeks into our practice and our season in the Philippines won’t start until November 5. So we are two weeks in, and Rondae just came in yesterday without any practice. So there are a lot of things going on also. But we will be really good down the stretch if we get in shape.”

Ira Brown, a former San Miguel Beer import, led Chiba with 19 points and 12 rebounds, providing the muscle inside.

TNT will try to get back at the Jets when they meet again in Manila on Nov. 1. — Olmin Leyba

The Scores:

Chiba 93 – Brown 19, Stephens 19, Kanechica 18, Okura 12, Mutts 9, Nishimura 6, Ogawa 6, Togashi 2, Arao 2, Kaishu 0, Sekiya 0.

TNT 75 – Miller 22, Hollis-Jefferson 15, Khobuntin 15, Castro 12, Montalbo 4, Heruela 4, Reyes 3, K. Williams 0, Flores 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0.

Quarterscores: 21-22; 45-44; 71-56; 93-75.

EAC Generals eye end of 14-year Final Four wait

October 12, 2023 | 7:19 pm

Games Friday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
2 p.m. — SSC-R vs UPHSD
4 p.m. — AU vs EAC

EMILIO Aguinaldo College (EAC) coach Jerson Cabiltes doesn’t care about any streak but one — end its 14-year Final Four wait.

“I’m not here to break any record or winning or losing streaks,” said Mr. Cabiltes moments after surging into the magic four following a shock 83-76, overtime win over the pace-setting Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Pirates Wednesday.

“I’m only looking at one streak, that’s making it the Final Four,” he added.

Thanks to their most recent masterpiece, the Generals have caught up with the San Beda University Lions at No. 4 with identical 3-2 records and pushed them closer at earning a legitimate shot at a breakthrough Final Four appearance since entering the league in 2009.

To sustain it, EAC would need to hurdle Arellano University (AU) in today’s NCAA Season 99 resumption at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Like the Generals, the Chiefs are also coming off a big win after the latter slew the San Juan de Letran University Knights, 87-80, Sunday.

It was AU’s first win in five starts and its coach Chico Manabat is craving for more.

“We hope this is the start of something bigger for us,” said the 45-year-old Mr. Manabat, who played college ball for National University under then coach and now his consultant Manny Dandan.

EAC’s progression wasn’t on mere luck alone as its other win came at the expense of three-peat champion Letran, 75-65, last Oct.1.

And it’s all coming a full season after its forgettable effort that saw the Generals ending up 10^th and dead last after managing just three wins in their 18 elimination round games.

“We’re going to need to work harder to achieve our goal,” stressed Mr. Cabiltes.

In the other game, San Sebastian College-Recoletos (2-3) and University of Perpetual Help (1-4) face off at 2 p.m. — Joey Villar

Pasig City guns for rubber match against Caloocan City in MPBL North quarterfinals

October 12, 2023 | 7:17 pm

PASIG CITY MCW Sports coach Boyet Fernandez — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

PASIG City MCW Sports fights for its dear life when it goes on the road against Caloocan in Game 2 of the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) quarterfinals today (Oct. 13) at the Caloocan City Sports Complex.

Game time is at 8 p.m. for the main event of the explosive playoff showdown with Pasig eyeing to stave off elimination and force a rubber match after surrendering a narrow loss in Game 1.

“I’m happy with how we played in Game 1. We had a chance to make it and win it. We’ll be back,” said Pasig City MCW Sports coach Boyet Fernandez as his team beams with confidence to stand its ground anew in spite of the homecourt disadvantage.

Both teams played in a neutral arena in Game 1 at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga, where Caloocan escaped by a whisker, 71-69, after a thrilling dogfight.

The same toe-to-toe duel is expected this time but the team owned by basketball executive Buddy Encarnado is hopeful to turn the tide in its favor to drag the series to a winner-take-all Game 3 next week.

“It will be tough for us but we’ll improve,” added Mr. Fernandez, who has a long-treasured and proven connection with Mr. Encarnado way back during their PBA glory days with Sta. Lucia.

Veterans Robbie Manalang, Ryan Costelo, Josan Nimes and Jason Ballesteros along with rising stars Kenny Roger Rocacurva and Michael Maestre will banner Pasig’s resistance.

Standing in their way is a stacked Caloocan core led by ex-PBA stalwarts Mac Baracael, Reil Cervantes, Ronnie Matias, Paul Sanga and Gabby Espinas, who drained the game-winner in Game 1.

In the opening game at 6 p.m., No. 1 seed Pampanga aims to finish off Marikina in Game 2 after an 82-70 Game 1 win to earn a quick ticket to the semifinals of the North Division. — John Bryan Ulanday

Benzema tempted by Saudi Arabia’s ‘huge’ football project

October 12, 2023 | 7:17 pm

KARIM Benzema was lured by Saudi Arabia’s “huge project” and the fact it is a Muslim country when he decided to end a trophy-laden stint with Real Madrid to move to Al-Ittihad, the French striker said on Wednesday.

Mr. Benzema became one of many big names to move to the Saudi Pro League when he joined Al-Ittihad as a free agent in June, signing a deal reportedly worth more than €100 million ($106 million) after ending his glittering 14-year stay at Real.

He was joined by compatriot and World Cup winner N’Golo Kante, Brazilian midfielder Fabinho and Portuguese winger Jota as Al-Ittihad splashed out in a bid to retain their league title amid fierce competition from big-spending challengers.

“When the football project started here, it seemed like a huge project in all respects, and I wanted to be a part of it and help advance the game in Saudi Arabia, and this is one of the reasons that made me come here,” Mr. Benzema said in an interview with the Saudi Pro League, posted on messaging platform X.

“Also, Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country and they welcomed me with open hands, and I felt loved immediately. As a Muslim when you are in Mecca you feel at peace … it is an exceptional place.”

Mr. Benzema has scored three goals in seven league matches this season and provided two assists.

“There is a lot of passion and football history here and I am happy with the level of the game. I am really surprised by the level in Saudi Arabia because in Europe we don’t watch a lot of football matches here,” the 35-year-old added.

“But now there are lots of people (in Europe) who are watching the Saudi league after many big names were brought in.”

Al-Ittihad lie fourth in the league table with 19 points, four adrift of leaders Al-Hilal. — Reuters

Three referees meted three weeks suspension by UAAP

October 12, 2023 | 7:17 pm

THE UAAP has suspended three referees for three weeks due to “subpar” evaluation grades in the quadruple header of the men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The UAAP basketball commissioner’s office, led by commissioner Xavier Nunag, said the decision was a result of the dismal rating of the officials in the Referee Game Report Card serving as its quantitative performance evaluation during games.

“We take the responsibility of providing competent and professional referees to the league very seriously, and it is essential that all officials maintain the highest level of integrity and accuracy,” said Mr. Nunag.

“The suspension is intended to give the referees the opportunity to reflect on their actions and to improve their performance.”

Names of the three referees have not been disclosed in respect of privacy, added the UAAP.

The UAAP featured four games for its second week of action, including two close matches between the University of the Philippines (UP) and Far Eastern University (FEU), as well as Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the East (UE).

UP subdued FEU in overtime, 80-76, as Ateneo fended off UE in the end game, 76-69. Other games had National University and De La Salle University blowing out University of Santo Tomas, 87-69, and Adamson University, 71-58, respectively.

“Please be assured that we will make every effort to find suitable replacements during the suspension and we will continue to monitor the performance of all our referees with the help of concrete data to ensure the highest standards are maintained,” added Mr. Nunag. — John Bryan Ulanday

Lionel Messi still in doubt for Paraguay qualifier — Scaloni

October 12, 2023 | 7:17 pm

ARGENTINA captain Lionel Messi is still a doubt for the World Cup qualifier against Paraguay, coach Lionel Scaloni said on Wednesday.

Mr. Messi was included in the world champions’ squad despite being sidelined by the muscle problem he sustained last month which has kept him out of action for his US side Inter Miami.

Mr. Scaloni said the 36-year-old forward had been training well ahead of the match on Thursday.

“For him, one more training session is important and I will talk to him to decide whether he plays or not, but I have to talk to him first and above all I have to be sure that he can start,” Mr. Scaloni told reporters.

The squad did not include the injured Angel Di Maria and Angel Correa, but did feature Paulo Dybala, who suffered a knee injury playing for AS Roma on Sunday. — Reuters