Metro Manila’s Construction Materials Retail Price Index
THE growth in wholesale prices of construction materials in Metro Manila eased to a 15-month low in May as high borrowing costs dampened construction demand. Read the full story.
‘Powerful’ syndicate likely behind drug operation cover-up — Abalos
THE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday said a “powerful” criminal syndicate operating within the Philippine police force could be behind the cover-up of an operation involving P6.7 billion worth of illegal drugs cover-up.
“Investigators told us that the government is up against a very powerful syndicate and these are very evil people,” DILG Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. told CNN Philippines in mixed English and Filipino.
He said investigators reported having a difficult time getting information from other law enforcers on the attempted theft of 42 of the 990 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine seized during the operation.
Mr. Abalos Jr., however, warned the masterminds behind the cover-up saying the government is bent on weeding out erring cops.
“We want to make sure that they know that we are serious about cleaning house and putting them in jail,” he said.
The National Police Commission and the Philippine National Police have filed criminal complaints against 50 cops linked to the cover-up, Mr. Abalos said on Tuesday.
He said his agency will file additional administrative complaints against these officers in the coming weeks, while authorities try to determine where the illegal drugs were sourced.
Last month, national police chief General Benjamin C. Acorda, Jr. said cops arrested 24,197 suspects in more than 18,000 anti-illegal drug raids this year.
As of May 27, law enforcers seized around $110 million or about P6.16 billion worth of illegal drugs.
That same month, Mr. Abalos said a five-man advisory panel had recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against four senior police officers over their alleged ties to the illegal drug trade.
The interior secretary earlier called on all colonels and generals to resign after a probe found many senior police officers were involved in the illegal drug trade. Nearly a thousand top police officers had submitted their courtesy resignations.
ESPINOSA
In another development, a regional trial court in Leyte has granted the bail plea of self-confessed drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa and four other suspects in an illegal drug case.
In a six-page resolution, Leyte Regional Trial Court Branch 14 Presiding Judge Carlos O. Arguelles said there were no eyewitnesses who could testify that Mr. Espinosa and his co-accused committed the supposed illegal drug activities.
“Admittedly, the prosecution witnesses testified only in their official capacities, and absolutely they have no personal knowledge of the commission of the crime,” the court said.
This ruling comes after a Makati court cleared Mr. Espinosa of drug trafficking charges due to lack of evidence.
The Leyte court set the bail at P700,000 for each of the suspects.
In a 2017 Senate probe, Mr. Espinosa admitted that he paid off former police and drug enforcement officials to continue his illegal drug activities in Eastern Visayas, a region in central Philippines.
The Leyte court said the confession was not enough to convict Mr. Espinosa as the evidence presented will have to determine the guilt.
The self-confessed drug lord earlier took back his allegations against former senator Leila M. De Lima, who has been detained since 2017 on drug-related charges. Two of the three cases against her have been dismissed.
A Muntinlupa court rejected the former senator’s motion for bail for the last pending case, saying it could not overlook the testimonial evidence against her.
Ms. De Lima, one of ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s staunchest critics, on Tuesday asked the court to reconsider the denial. — John Victor D. Ordoñez
CEAP survey shows most Catholic school students against mandatory ROTC
MAJORITY of students in Catholic schools are against a proposal to revive the mandatory military training for college students, according to a survey by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP).
The poll, conducted among 20,461 senior high school and first year undergraduate college students from April 3 to 24, showed 53% of the respondents opposed bringing back the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) as a compulsory program.
Of those opposed, 32% expressed strong disagreement to the program.
On the other hand, 28% of student respondents supported a mandatory ROTC, with 6% saying they strongly agree.
The remaining 19% are undecided.
Of those interviewed by CEAP for the survey, 65% or 13,210 are female and the rest are male.
Those not in favor of the program cited threats of violence and corruption as their reason. Students also thought the mandatory ROTC would be an additional burden and expense to them and their families.
Others said it contradicts their religious beliefs, while some students also cited medical conditions, threats to safety, the possibility of physical and mental abuse as well as hazing and bullying, among others.
“As genuine representatives of the people, let us listen and stand with the youth,” Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Danniel A. Manuel said in a statement on the survey.
Respondents who supported the measure said they wanted to learn basic military training, physical exercise, disaster preparedness, and civic management.
They believe that the mandatory ROTC would instill nationalism and patriotism as well as discipline and self-defense skills among students. Some consider there will be “compensation” through military uniforms.
Another survey in March, conducted by Pulse Asia and commissioned by Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, indicated that 78% of Filipinos supported the mandatory ROTC revival.
Mr. Gatchalian’s survey, however, did not indicate whether its 1,200 respondents included students.
He earlier filed Senate Bill 2034, which seeks to revive a compulsory two-year military training program that will cover students in both public and private universities, colleges and vocational schools.
The measure includes basic military, leadership and civic training as well as enhanced preparedness during disaster response operations.
The proposed military training for tertiary level students is seen to enhance the capacity of the nation and its human resources in times of war, calamities and disasters, as well as national or local emergencies. It is a priority bill of the Marcos Jr. administration.
The House of Representatives in December passed a similar bill in which students who complete a two-year training will become part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ reserve force.
The ROTC program is currently optional under a two-semester national service course.
Youth groups against the proposal said that military training for students should be voluntary. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
Dawlah Islamiya terror group leader killed in Marawi
THE LEADER of local terrorist group Dawlah Islamiya was killed by security forces during a brief gunfight in Marawi City early Wednesday, the regional police chief said.
Bangsamoro Police Regional Director Allan C. Nobleza said the joint military and police team were to serve several warrants of arrest issued against Faharudin Pumbuaya Pangalian, also known as known as Abu Zacharia and was considered the “emir” or ruler of the Islamic State-linked group.
Mr. Nobleza reported that the Dawlah Islamiya head, who was wanted for more than 20 high-profile criminal cases pending in different courts, resisted arrest and provoked a gunfight.
He said the operation, intended to peacefully arrest Faharudin Pangalian, involved different military and police units and intelligence agents of the Army-led anti-terror Task Force Marawi under the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom).
Members of the multi-sector Lanao del Sur Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) told the media that Maranao villagers supportive of the peace and security programs of Gov. Mamintal A. Adiong, Jr. reported the presence of Mr. Pangalian in Marawi’s Sarimanok area to authorities.
Mr. Adiong, chairman of the Lanao del Sur PPOC, last week called on his Muslim and Christian constituents to help security forces clear all of the city’s villages and the province’s 39 towns from Dawlah Islamiya presence.
“We are thankful to the vigilant Marawi City residents who led the joint Army and police raiding team to the hideout of Abu Zacharia,” WestMinCom Commander Roy M. Galido said.
RETALIATION
Mr. Pangalian was the leader of all Dawlah Islamiya groups in Mindanao and was recently proclaimed “East Asian emir” by supporters. He also had links with the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
Both groups have a reputation for fomenting hatred for non-Muslims and are together tagged in all deadly bomb attacks in Mindanao since 2014.
“We are bracing for possible retaliations. (But) we will never give his sympathizers a chance to do that,” Mr. Nobleza said.
More than 300 members of both groups have surrendered since late 2021, according to police and military records.
Police forensic experts found grenades, improvised explosive devices and two M16 assault rifles in Mr. Pangalian’s hideout. — John M. Unson
Marcos pushes for rice sector consolidation
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday called for wider consolidation in the rice sector as he led the launch of a provincial program that seeks to mechanize and organize contiguous farming of the staple commodity.
Mr. Marcos Jr. said the Consolidated Rice Production and Mechanization Program, a project of South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. would help the country achieve rice self-sufficiency, which he said is needed amid supply issues facing the country’s major sources of rice.
He was addressing rice farmers from a pilot farm under the project, which seeks to bring together local rice growers to form consolidated areas of at least 1,000 hectares.
“Why is consolidation important? It’s very simple. The production cost here in the Philippines, which includes the labor such as harvesting and planting, is doubled compared to Thailand and Vietnam,” he said.
“How did that happen? The easy answer is mechanization,” he added.
And maximizing the use of machinery, he said, requires big farm areas. “By using big machinery, production cost, and labor cost go down while the produce yield per hectare goes up.”
Under the consolidation and mechanization program, the government would also set up a corporation to market the rice, dismantling the old model of middlemen getting more profit than farmers, he said.
Mr. Marcos last month said the government will work towards achieving 97.5% rice self-sufficiency by 2028, a level which he described as adequate to meet the country’s needs.
The new target reflects a drop from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) former goal of 100% self-sufficiency by 2027.
The DA, which Mr. Marcos also heads, said in April that it expects to achieve 100% self-sufficiency in rice by 2027 through the Masagana Rice Program 2023-2028.
The program aims to stabilize rice supply at between 24.99 million metric tons (MT) and 26.86 million MT, and in the process lower the hike in prices to less than 1% annually. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
June 28 declared a holiday for Feast of Sacrifice celebration
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has declared June 28 a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.
In a proclamation, the president said the date was upon the recommendation of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, following the 1444 Hijrah Islamic Lunar Calendar.
The Eid’l Adha is an annual holiday in the country based on Republic Act No. 9849 signed in 2009.
Eid’l Adha and Eid’l Fitr are the two main holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide.
Muslims make up about 6.01% of the Philippines’ total population, according to a 2017 report by the Philippine Statistics Authority. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
SC orders PhilHealth to reinstate QC Eye Center, pay claims
THE SUPREME COURT (SC) has ordered the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to lift its suspension against the Quezon City Eye Center and to settle all unpaid claims related to cataract operations conducted between July 2009 and June 2010.
In a 30-page decision dated Feb. 6 and made public on June 13, the tribunal said there was no evidence presented that would hold the medical institution liable for supposedly engaging in unethical practices as an accredited health care provider.
“There is no substantial evidence showing that it (Quezon City Eye Center) directly or indirectly solicited patients for cataract screening, operation, and treatment during medical missions or under any circumstance prohibited under Circular No. 19, series of 2007 as to render it liable for Breach of the Warranties of Accreditation,” according to the ruling penned by Justice Amy. C. Lazaro-Javier.
PhilHealth had issued a circular that ordered the suspension of claims for cataract operations performed during medical missions and through “other cataract sweeping recruitment schemes.”
It said it was acting on reports of supposed irregularities in the recruitment of patients that stemmed from a complaint from a group of doctors.
In 2015, the PhilHealth Arbitration Office ordered the suspension of Quezon City Eye Center’s accreditation after it was found that one of its ophthalmologists performed a total of 1,179 operations from July 2009 to June 2010.
The firm argued that it had entered into an agreement with Heidelberg Ventures Corp., an independent group of ophthalmologists, to only lease its facilities to their doctors to treat patients, which the court agreed with.
“In this light, the Court will not penalize health care providers, whereas in this case, there is an abject lack of substantial evidence to support a finding of administrative liability against the petitioner for Breach of the Warranties of Accreditation,” the tribunal said.
“To do otherwise would ultimately result in the deprivation of the right of the people to health and patient care services and the chance to have a better quality of life and well-being.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez
UAE invites PHL to join exchange program to boost business ties
EXECUTIVE Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin has been directed to draft a memorandum of understanding regarding the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) proposal to the Philippines for an exchange of information program.
The Presidential Communication Office (PCO) made the statement after UAE officials met with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday.
“In terms of the economy, the UAE said there are a lot of companies in their country wanting to build their businesses in the Philippines as they emphasized that they wanted to introduce a new program which is similar to what they have been doing to other countries,” the PCO said.
The exchange program by the Office of the Prime Minister is now participated in by 40 countries including Egypt, Spain, and Jordan, UAE Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary H.E. Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi told Mr. Marcos Jr.
“The Ambassador explained that the program was launched in 2018 as a ‘platform knowledge,’ where the Philippine and the UAE governments, for example, can exchange information to be covered by a memorandum of understanding, should President Marcos approve the proposal,” the PCO said.
The UAE officials also told Mr. Marcos that they want the Philippines to become a member of the Global Mangrove Alliance, the PCO said.
“We have made great efforts to preserve and restore our mangrove ecosystem. As a matter of fact, the law in the Philippines is, you cannot touch mangroves at all, and because of that, the mangroves have grown back,” Mr. Marcos told them.
“In fact, they grow back so much that sometimes they are already beginning to block the rivers. So maybe there is much you can learn on the management of it because I think we have done as much as we can in terms of preservation,” he added.
Mr. Marcos said he would want to study the structure of the alliance and how the group works.
“But again, the preservation of the mangroves is a very big issue. It is a very important point for the Philippines because of all the waterways that we have,” he added.
The UAE officials also invited Mr. Marcos to attend the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in December this year in Dubai. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
Rights group asks Kalinga gov’t to review ‘red-tagging’ policy
A HUMAN rights group has asked the Kalinga provincial government to review a resolution issued by the local anti-communist task force that tagged 18 non-government organizations as fronts for the communist movement.
In a statement, Karapatan said the policy puts these organizations based in the Cordillera region in danger and makes them vulnerable to threats, harassment, and intimidation.
“This resolution likewise undermines the fundamental principles of freedom of association and is violative of international laws and human rights norms,” it said.
“We call on the Kalinga provincial government to review this resolution, which dangerously puts human rights defenders in harm’s way.”
The group also called on the Commission on Human Rights to ensure that local anti-communist task forces uphold international human rights commitments and standards.
The task force’s resolution also requires all entities representing themselves as non-government organizations to secure permits from the local government unit before they can conduct any activity.
Among the groups tagged as communist fronts are Karapatan’s Cordillera chapter and the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance.
Karapatan said the task force baselessly tagged these groups even though none of them have been found guilty of any crime or violation.
“They (non-government organizations) play a vital role in facilitating grassroots participation, advocating for marginalized groups, and holding governments accountable for their actions,” it said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez
Pinoy ace Yulo plunges in action in Asian AGC in Singapore today
FILIPINO dynamo Carlos Yulo will take the first important step in his quest for an Olympic gold as he wades into battle in today’s Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships (AGC) at the OCBC Competition Hall in Singapore.
The pocket-sized spectacle from Leveriza in Manila will plunge into action in all six apparatuses starting with the pommel horse, which unfurls at 9:30 a.m. to be followed by still rings at 10:05 a.m., vault at 10:40 a.m., parallel bars at 11:15 a.m., horizontal bars at 11:50 a.m. and floor exercise at 12:25 p.m.
If he does well, and everyone will agree he would, Mr. Yulo will book his place in the World Championships slated Sept. 30 to Oct. 8 in Antwerp, Belgium where he will try to book his place in the Mt. Olympus of all sports — the Olympics in Paris next year.
The apparatus finals are set Saturday and Sunday.
And the two-time world champion is expected to bring in his best and bedazzle everyone including the excited spectators, who are expected to come in droves expecting nothing less from the event’s biggest, if not the biggest, draws.
Mr. Yulo flew in last Monday with the 12-strong Philippine team that included his younger siblings Karl Eldrew and Elaiza, who competed in the junior division of this same event a few days back.
He came in determined not to miss the Paris Olympic bus.
So determined that he had already decided to skip the Hangzhou Asian Games, which runs smack with the Antwerp tilt, for that precious berth to the Olympics where he would want to bury the ghost of the Tokyo Games past and claim the one piece of hardware that is missing in his massive trophy collection — the Olympic gold. — Joey Villar
PHL Azkals face Nepal Gorkhalis in international friendly match at Rizal Memorial Stadium pitch
Match Thursday
(Rizal Memorial Stadium)
7 p.m. — Philippines vs Nepal
THE PHILIPPINE Azkals return to the Rizal Memorial Stadium pitch against Nepal tonight in an international friendly they intend to use as a jump-off point for a targeted renaissance.
Now under comebacking German coach Michael Weiss, the Pinoy booters are fighting to regain relevance and win back fans after losing luster in the last few years.
For the Azkals, a winning performance in the 7 p.m. matchup with the Gorkhalis should be a good start in this quest.
“The last couple of years weren’t the best time for the Azkals but we’re looking forward to starting a new journey,” said defender Daisuke Sato in yesterday’s pre-match presscon.
Mr. Sato and fellow veterans are reunited with Mr. Weiss, who’s back in the reins after a nine-year absence. The German mentor previously called the shots from 2011 to early 2014 and led the side to the bronze medal in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup held in Nepal.
“I believe with the core players and coach Mr. Weiss, we can achieve some really good things. I also hope the fans come back. I kinda feel we lost connection with the fans a little bit and we want to get it back,” said the Fil-Japanese.
The Azkals are unbeaten in five matches against Nepal since 2011.
The Filipinos won the first four, including a 4-1 victory at home in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in March 2017. However, the Gorkhalis forced the Azkals to a goalless draw in the return match in Kathmandu eight months later.
After Nepal, Mr. Weiss’ troops duke it with Chinese Taipei on Monday, also at Rizal.
The twin friendlies serve as part of the Azkals’ buildup for the joint Asian Cup and Fifa World Cup Qualifiers set later in November. — Olmin Leyba
Vanessa de Jesus reinforces Gilas Pilipinas as naturalized player
DUKE University’s Vanessa de Jesus can’t wait to finally don national colors in honor of her family and country when Gilas Pilipinas vies in the 2023 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division A next week in Sydney, Australia.
Ms. De Jesus, 21, said playing for the national team is the realization of her dream and of her proud Filipino parents as she reinforces the Southeast Asian Games core of Gilas against the continent’s best teams.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to suit up for the Philippine national team. Two of the most important things in my life are family and basketball,” said Ms. De Jesus in an online media availability with the local press late Tuesday night.
“Having the opportunity to represent both on a national level is something I’m very excited about. And I’m very excited to go both as a player and as a leader by competing on the global stage.”
Ms. De Jesus, an incoming senior, is the first Asian player to ever play in the elite Duke women’s basketball program — making her a highly-sought prospect for the Philippines for years now.
She’s one of the primary guards for Duke, which reached the US NCAA Division I second round this year, with averages of 5.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 66 games so far.
Though born to both Filipino parents — Phillip and Maria — in California, the 5-foot-8 ace will fill the naturalized player spot for Gilas in the Asia Cup slated on June 26 to July 3.
Ms. De Jesus obtained her Philippine passport last month but FIBA requires players to secure one before turning 16 in order to be considered as a local player.
She will join Gilas in Melbourne, where the wards of coach Pat Aquino will arrive this weekend, for their final build-up before flying to Sydney next week.
Gilas is bunched with five-time champion Japan, host Australia and Chinese Taipei in Group B of the Asia Cup that also serves as a qualifying event for the Paris Olympics. — John Bryan Ulanday