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UN to boost Manila’s investigative capacity

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE PHILIPPINE Justice department has invited a forensic expert from the United Nations (UN) to improve local capacity in investigating extrajudicial killings in connection with the government’s war on drugs.

In a statement on Sunday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, had been invited to hold a capacity-building mission in the country

“His work speaks for itself,” he said. “His missions and projects have had an immeasurable impact on the countries he has helped.”

“He has provided closure for families of victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances,” the Justice chief said. “We are hoping for the same when he visits the Philippines.”

At least 6,117 suspected drug dealers had been killed in police operations, according to data released by the Philippine government in June 2021. Human rights groups estimate that as many as 30,000 suspects died.

The Philippine Human Rights Commission has said the Duterte government had encouraged a culture of impunity by hindering independent inquiries and failing to prosecute erring cops.

Mr. Remulla said Mr. Tidball-Binz would not be working as a special rapporteur but as an expert in the field of forensic pathology during his stay in Manila.

“He is coming in his capacity as an expert in the field to help capacitate our current doctors,” he said. “We need more capable doctors in our country to assist our law enforcement agencies in their work.”

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has said the Philippines should comply with international human rights mechanisms and cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) drug war probe.

The ICC pre-trial chamber in January granted its prosecutor’s request to reopen its probe of killings and other human rights abuses during ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s anti-illegal drug drive.

The Hague-based tribunal said it was not satisfied with Philippine efforts to probe extralegal killings.

Mr. Remulla said the UN official would help local authorities “identify the intricacies of wrongful death tragedies.” — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Marcos critics ask BIR to be fair in anti-tax evasion campaign 

People line up to file their income tax returns at the Bureau of Internal Revenue office in Intramuros, Manila, April 18, 2022. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ RUSSELL A. PALMA

A CIVIC group on Sunday asked the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to be fair in its clampdown against tax evaders, citing the tax case of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his family.   

The group made the call after the bureau filed criminal complaints on Thursday against 53 individuals and companies for evasion with combined tax dues worth P3.57 billion.  

It is high time that the President and his family pay for their estate tax deficiencies. If the BIR is truly serious in going after big-time tax evaders, it should implement the final judgment of the Supreme Court on the Marcos estate,the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA) said in a statement. 

In March last year, BIR said it had sent a demand letter to the Marcos family in December 2021 to settle their tax liabilities that have ballooned to more than P200 billion, including the principal amount and interests.  

P3.57 (billion) is a lot smaller compared with the P203 billion that the Marcoses continue to deny and ignore,CARMMA said. The revenue agency does not even have to go to court, it just has to implement a final decision of the Supreme Court.” 

CARMMA noted that BIR chief Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. is a former member of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcoslaw firm.  

We call on the BIR to show in deeds that its accountability is with the people, not with a family of proven tax evaders who have returned back to power, the group said.   

The Office of the President did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Analysts say Congress should keep watch on executive branch’s foreign policy decisions

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

THE PHILIPPINE legislature, with majority of both chambers allied with the Marcos administration, should exercise its authority as an independent body in keeping watch over the foreign policy decisions of the executive branch, analysts said at the weekend.  

The legislature is expected to play an important role in deliberating (assessing and evaluating) the viability and long-term repercussions of an emerging foreign policy or bilateral/multilateral agreement,Arjan P. Aguirre, a political science professor at the Ateneo De Manila University, said via Messenger chat.  

Under Philippine law, international treaties and agreements require a majority vote of the Senate for concurrence before ratification.   

Jaime P. Naval, who teaches political science at the University of the Philippines, said in a Zoom interview that Congress would have to act like a watchdog at the very least.  

Mr. Naval noted that while the executive branch, led by the president, is the chief architectthat initiates and implements foreign policies,The role of the legislatureis to scrutinize if ever there might be (an) errancy or inconsistency.”    

Under the current set of elected executive and legislative leaders, however, the two branches are politically fused or aligned together due to the ability of the executive to have full and effective control of the government resources (e.g. discretionary funds, appointments, etc.), Mr. Aguirre said.   

He added that a supermajority in Congressundermines the principle of institutional independence between and among our branches of government,and would lead to hasty yet inadequate passage of laws or ratification of treaties that usually harm the interest of the general public.  

Last week, the Philippine government gave the United States access to four more military bases, bringing the total to nine, under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Senate review on anti-bullying law sought

SENATOR Sherwin T. Gatchalian has filed a resolution to look into the implementation of a law that protects students from bullying and other forms of violence. 

Senate Resolution 454 comes after a recent incident in a Quezon City public high school where a student died after being stabbed by a classmate, and a physical altercation between two private school students in Davao City.   

In the midst of alarming incidents of bullying and violence in our schools, it is timely that we review the existing law to ensure that we can promote the safety and well-being of our students,Mr. Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Basic Education Committee, said in Filipino in a statement on Sunday.  

We need to stop bullying in our schools, especially because it causes damage to their learning and mental health,” he added.  

The inquiry aims to identify policy and legislative interventions that can improve the country’s enforcement of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 or Republic Act 10627. 

Citing a 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment, Mr. Gatchalian said that among 15-year-old learners from 79 countries, Filipinos remain the most vulnerable to bullying, with 65% victimized more than once a month. Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

House leader orders committee probe, charges vs onion ‘hoarders’

BUREAU OF CUSTOMS

THE HOUSE Speaker on Sunday directed the agriculture and food committee to conduct a probe and possibly recommend the filing of charges against alleged unscrupulous traders and hoarders of onion and garlic.  

Your days are numbered,Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said in a statement, calling the suspected hoarding activities an act of economic sabotage.  

We received information that these people are hoarding onions, and more recently even garlic, to create an artificial scarcity in supply and induce price increases,he added.  

Onion prices shot up to as much as P700 per kilo in recent months, prompting a Senate investigation where some farmers said traders actually bought their supply at farm gate prices of P8 to P15.  

The onion controversy has also raised issues on importation and smuggling.  

During a House agriculture committee meeting on Jan. 25, the Bureau of Plant Industry was unable to explain why onion prices soared last month. Last week, it deliberated on proposed measures looking to create institutes that would develop the local onion industry.  

Mr. Romualdez also said that the committee should look into recommending a calibrated importation of onion and garlicto force these unscrupulous individuals to unload their stocks and drive down the prices.Beatriz Marie D. Cruz 

Mati City fish port secures full funding

MATI CITY LGU

MATI CITY, capital of Davao Oriental province, has secured the full P150-million fund needed to complete its fish port complex project, the mayor announced on Friday.  

Mayor Michelle N. Rabat, in a statement, said another P2 billion has been approved under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for a 2.25-kilometer coastal highway and access road to the port.   

The DPWH Regional Office will be in coordination with the City Mayors Office as to the final details, prioritization, location, and other logistical support for the realization of these mega projects,Ms. Rabat said.  

Construction of the five-hectare Mati City Fish Port complex started in June 2021 with an initial P75-million budget from the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority.   

The remaining fund will also be released through the same agency.   

Ms. Rabat had earlier said in online interview with BusinessWorld that the city is projecting an annual fish catch of over 10,200 metric tons and more than 1,600 vessels that will utilize the port once completed.  

The fish port will greatly enhance the capability of the local government of Mati to preserve, protect, and develop the full potential of the Pujada Bay to greater management and balanced utilization in the long term,she said.  

The city government is also looking into the development of related sectors such as storage facilities, and value-added processing like cannery businesses.  

Coconut has been the main agricultural commodity of Mati, as in the rest of Davao Oriental, but various diversification programs have been launched in recent years, including aquaculture and cacao. Maya M. Padillo

New Zealand offers full scholarship to Moro, IPs from Mindanao

NEW ZEALAND is offering a full scholarship program with special focus on members of indigenous people (IP) and Muslim communities in Mindanao.  

This is not the first time New Zealand is offering scholarships to Filipinos. We have over a thousand scholars in the past years. However, there is a firm resolve to encourage applications from indigenous people and Bangsamoro Muslim practitioners and scholars,Dyan M. Rodriguez, New Zealand aid manager, said during the Kapihan sa PIA at NCCC-Victoria Plaza on Friday.  

The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships is giving priority to courses that can contribute to Mindanaos development, including good governance, peace and conflict studies, indigenous studies, climate change, agriculture, and renewable energy.  

Ms. Rodriguez said there are 16 slots for masteral and doctorate degrees, with three already taken by scholars from the Bangsamoro community.   

We hardly have any representation from the indigenous community. As a tri-people of Mindanao, we encourage representation. We are providing a platform for representation and to champion inclusion and diversity,Ms. Rodriguez said. 

New Zealand Ambassador Peter Kell said in the same forum that the scholarship program will provide young Mindanaoans an opportunity to study and experience life in New Zealand.  

This is not just about studying in New Zealand but also learning how New Zealand and New Zealanders see the world. We are trying to open New Zealand to all Mindanaoans, particularly those who are from indigenous and Moro communities,he said. Maya M. Padillo

Philippine chess team grabs bronze in FIDE Olympiad for disabled people

FIDE

THE PHILIPPINE chess team quietly left the country a week ago with nothing in mind but a miracle in the 1st FIDE Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Belgrade, Serbia.

They’re coming back with their prayers answered.

Drawing strength from Darry Bernardo’s late heroics, the Filipinos battled their way from the jaws of defeat and escaped with a 2-2 draw against the mighty Indians to complete an impressive podium finish in the six-round event that concluded Saturday.

Grasping at straws after trailing 1-2 on draws by FIDE Master Sander Severino and Henry Lopez on boards one and two and a defeat by playing coach James Infiesto on board three, Mr. Bernardo stubbornly went for a win from what looked like an equal position.

The ASEAN Para Games gold medalist’s persistence paid off as he found a way to sneak into a weak back rank by Kumar Naveen to snatch a pawn that he used to scrape out a marathon 79-move win of a Caro-Kann duel.

That was enough to forge a four-way tie with tie with India, Serbia 1 and Uzbekistan at No. 3 with eight match points apiece and eventually the bronze after emerging with the most superior tiebreaker.

And the feat will be remembered for a long time as the being of one the podium finishers in the tournament’s very first staging.

It was made more remarkable by Mr. Bernardo copping the individual board four gold with a magnificent score of 5.5 points out of the possible six and Mr. Severino snaring a silver on board one with 4.5 points to show.

Interestingly, the team almost didn’t make the trip as they encountered visa problems.

But thanks to the help of the Philippine Paralympic Committee, FIDE and the Philippine Sports Commission through commissioner Walter Torres, they made it through.

The miracle in Belgrade was one the biggest feat by the Philippine para chess squad since reigning supreme in the online world championship for the physically disabled three years ago.

That was not counting the multitudes of golden feats in the ASEAN Para Games and Asian Para Games.

These most recent ones should add to their massive collection as the team, which also consist of its lone female member Cheyzer Mendoza, fly back to the country tonight to the warm embrace of a country searching for more sporting heroes. — Joey Villar

OKC pours in record 153 points in drubbing of Houston Rockets

SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER — ALL-PRO REELS

SHAI Gilgeous-Alexander scored 42 points to help lift the host Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) to a 153-121 blowout of the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

The Thunder’s 153 points is a franchise record (not including time as SuperSonics), topping the 150 points they scored in a win over the Boston Celtics earlier this season.

In a loss to the Rockets three days earlier, Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander had one of his toughest games of the season, going just 7 of 23 from the field and finishing with 24 points.

It was quickly clear Saturday’s game was going to be a different story, though.

Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander hit his first six shots this time around, and by the time the first quarter was over, he was 7 of 10 from the field with 20 points and three steals.

It was Gilgeous-Alexander’s fifth career 20-point quarter.

While Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander thrived, Houston struggled.

The Rockets missed their first nine 3-point attempts, not hitting one until nearly eight minutes into the second quarter.

Oklahoma City led 38-19 after one quarter.

Houston got going offensively in the second, shooting nearly 62 percent from the floor.

But the Thunder didn’t slow down, building their lead as big as 29 points and scoring 41 in the frame to tie a season high with 79 first-half points.

The Thunder also had plenty of defensive highlights, including Jaylin Williams drawing two charges on Houston’s Alperen Sengun in a 40-second span.

Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander put the exclamation point on Oklahoma City’s first half with a block of TyTy Washington, Jr.’s 3-point try at the buzzer to send the Thunder into halftime with a 79-53 lead.

The Thunder kept pouring it on in the third quarter, adding 44 more points.

With the game well in hand, Mr. Gilgeous-Alexander sat the entire fourth quarter, keeping him from reaching his career high of 44 points.

He finished 14 of 23 from the floor as Oklahoma City shot 57.7 percent as a team.

Mike Muscala added 19 points, hitting five 3-pointers.

Houston shot just better than 50 percent from the floor, with Washington scoring a career-high 20 points off the bench while Josh Christopher had a season-high 20.

Jalen Green, returning from a three-game absence due to a bruised calf, was 4 of 15 from the floor for 12 points in 22 minutes.

The Rockets are now 1-8 on the second night of a back-to-back this season. — Reuters

Obiena pole vaults to golden finish in Orlen Cup in Poland

REUTERS

IT was another day at the office for World No. 3 pole-vaulter EJ Obiena.

The Filipino world championship bronze medalist brought his winning ways from Uppsala, Sweden to Lodz, Poland a few days ago with a golden effort at the 2023 Orlen Cup Saturday.

The Asian record-holder cleared 5.77 meters (m) to upstage former two-time world champion Sam Kendricks of the United States and hometown bet Piotr Lisek, who posted identical 5.70m.

Mr. Kendricks eventually hauled the silver while Mr. Lisek the bronze after edging Italian Caludio Michel Stecchi via count back.

“Happy to take the gold medal here today (Saturday). It was a difficult battle, both physically and mentally,” said Mr. Obiena on his social media account.

It came just a few days after he matched the national indoor record of 5.91m and copped the bronze in the Mondo Classic 2023 in Uppsala that was topped by pole vault demigod Armand Duplantis of Sweden.

In all, it was the second gold for Mr. Obiena and fourth podium finish in as many meets to start the year.

He hopes to haul more as he plunges back into action in the Copernicus Cup Wednesday in Torun, Poland.

Mr. Obiena is using these tournaments to prepare for the one thing that he dreamed about the most — a medal in next year’s Paris Olympics. — Joey Villar

Sotto and Adelaide 36ers crash out of NBL playoff contention

ADELAIDE 36ERS FB PAGE

KAI Sotto and the Adelaide 36ers crashed out of playoff contention in the 2022-2023 Australia National Basketball League (NBL) with a costly 116-107 defeat against Melbourne United on Sunday at the John Cain Arena.

Playing in a must-win battle for its last regular season assignment, Adelaide stood its ground and nearly completed a comeback win only to falter in crunch time en route to another early exit.

At eighth place with a 13-15 record, it’s the second straight playoff miss for the 36ers in Mr. Sotto’s second season with the squad after finishing at seventh place with a 10-18 slate last year.

The 7-foot-3 Mr. Sotto, after serving as the team’s steady starting center for the majority of the season, suited up for only one minute and 45 seconds with only a rebound to show.

Antonius Clevelend showed the way with 30 points while Sunday Dech had 20 for Adelaide, which could have kept a slim playoff hope alive with a win.

A 36ers victory and a loss by the Perth Wildcats (14-13) against reigning champion and No. 1 seed Sydney at press time would have forged a three-way tie at No. 6 with Melbourne for the last playoff ticket.

Ian Clark (14), Robert Franks (13) and Daniel Johnson (10) contributed in a foiled cause for the wards of coach CJ Bruton, who ruled the NBL preseason only to fall short in the main tournament. Rayjon Tucker paced former champion Melbourne with 31 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Adelaide stared at an 80-87 deficit after three quarters but roared on to take the driver seat, 98-95, in the last four minutes before Melbourne closed it out with a searing 21-9 run. — John Bryan Ulanday

Everton halts Arsenal march, Liverpool slide continues

REUTERS

LIVERPOOL — Arsenal suffered a reality check in their pursuit of the Premier League title on Saturday, losing 1-0 at struggling Everton in manager Sean Dyche’s first game in charge, while Liverpool imploded in their third consecutive away defeat.

James Tarkowski’s second-half header sealed Everton’s first victory since October, briefly moving them out of the relegation zone — although they ended the day back in it.

While there was joy on the blue side of Merseyside, Liverpool’s miserable league campaign continued as they were crushed 3-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Liverpool trailed 2-0 after only 12 minutes with Joel Matip’s own goal and a debut effort for Craig Dawson. Ruben Neves added a third for the hosts after the break.

Manchester United consolidated their top-four position with a 2-1 victory at home to Crystal Palace, although it came at a cost with midfielder Casemiro shown a straight red card.

United edged above Newcastle United into third place with 42 points and Newcastle failed to reclaim the position later as they could only draw at home to West Ham United.

Callum Wilson gave Newcastle the lead in the third minute but West Ham levelled through Lucas Paqueta just past the half hour mark — the first goal Newcastle have conceded in the league since early November.

Newcastle have now drawn four of their last five league games and scored only twice in that spell.

Arsenal’s second league loss of the season left them on 50 points, five ahead of champions Manchester City who are at fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

With no signings in the January window and Everton in a horrendous run of form, the omens were not good for Dyche as he began his rescue mission at Goodison Park against an Arsenal side whose only previous league defeat came in September.

But Everton took full advantage of a rare Arsenal off-day with Dwight McNeil’s corner being powered home by Tarkowski — two players who had worked under Dyche at Burnley.

Everton are in 18th place with 18 points, behind Leeds United, who play Sunday, on goal difference. West Ham have 19 points with Wolves on 20.

For Arsenal it was a wake-up call and they will be hoping for a favor from Tottenham, who play second-placed Manchester City on Sunday. Arsenal host Manchester City on Feb. 15.

Southampton remain rooted to the bottom after a 3-0 defeat at Brentford, while Bournemouth are second from bottom after losing late on at Brighton and Hove Albion who moved into sixth spot thanks to Kaoru Mitoma’s late goal in a 1-0 win.

Leicester City also allayed their relegation fears as they picked up their first league win since November, twice coming from behind to win 4-2 at Aston Villa.

Everything was going smoothly for Manchester United after Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty and then Marcus Rashford scored his 11th goal since the World Cup to make it 2-0 at Old Trafford.

But Casemiro was dismissed in the 70th minute for grabbing Will Hughes around the neck during a melee caused by a foul on Anthony. Palace made it a nervy ending when Jeffrey Schlupp halved the deficit.

United saw out a 13th consecutive win at Old Trafford but they will now be without Casemiro for three games.

“I’ve seen the incident, where the Crystal Palace player takes a big risk to bring an injury to Antony and then the emotions got really high, for several players,” Erik ten Hag said. “They (VAR) pick one player out.” — Reuters