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DSLU vs UST, NU vs AdU in UAAP women’s volleyball Final Four

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

AND the stage is set.

Far Eastern University (FEU)caught the last bus in the men’s stepladder Final Four as Adamson University (AdU)and University of Santo Tomas (UST) sealed their respective seedings in the women’s tilt at the close of the UAAP Season 85 volleyball tournament elimination round yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Center in San Juan.

The Tamaraws drubbed Adamson, 25-22, 25-14, 26-24, to book the last semifinal slot while the Lady Falcons scored a 25-22, 26-28, 25-15, 25-17 win over the Lady Tamaraws to secure the No. 3 seed in the women’s division.

Mark Calado uncorked 25 points on 23 kills and two blocks as FEU (8-6), albeit the last squad to get in, overtook De La Salle University (8-6) for the third seed due to a higher point differential.

The Tamaraws’ win also eliminated No. 5 Ateneo de Manila University (7-7) and nevertheless arranged a knockout duel with the Green Spikers in the first phase of the men’s stepladder semis.

The winner then faces No. 2 Santo Tomas in another do-or-die battle with the survivor gaining a shot at unbeaten and back-to-back champion National University (NU), which swept the two-round elims at 14-0 for an outright finals slot.

In the women’s play, the quartet of Kate Santiago (21), Trisha Tubu (18), Lorence Toring (13) and Lucille Almonte (10) led the way as the Lady Falcons set up a battle against second-ranked and reigning champion National University (11-3) with a twice-to-beat bonus.

“It’s an opportunity for greatness” said Mr. Yee, whose wards stood tall in a five-setter defeat against NU in the first round.

De La Salle University (DLSU) is the No. 1 seed with a 13-1 record and will face the fourth-seeded Santo Tomas, which was the only squad to beat this season.

FEU (6-8) and Adamson (2-12) finished their campaigns on low notes in the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively. — John Bryan Ulanday

Filipinas eye soccer gold in Cambodia SEA Games

THE ALEN Stajcic-coached Filipinas kick off their campaign in Group A against old foe Myanmar, the team they defeated for the bronze in the previous SEAG in Vietnam. — PHILIPPPINE FOOTBALL FEDERATION

THE FILIPINAS are bringing back the core of their AFF Women’s Championship-winning team as they hunt for a historic gold medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Cambodia.

Goalkeepers Olivia McDaniel and Kiara Fontanilla, forwards Sarina Bolden, Quinley Quezada and Isabella Flanigan, defenders Hali Long and Eva Madarang and midfielders Sara Eggesvik and Carleigh Frilles lead the 20-member side assembled for this mission.

The squad, which made history last year by qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and ruling the Asean championship at home, left for Phnom Penh yesterday ahead of the women’s football opener on Wednesday.

The Alen Stajcic-coached Filipinas kick off their campaign in Group A against old foe Myanmar, the team they defeated for the bronze in the previous SEAG in Vietnam.

After Myanmar, the Pinay booters go up against Malaysia on May 6 and defending champion Vietnam three days later.

The Filipinas need to finish in the Top 2 of this group to advance to the semifinals.

“We’re hoping to improve on our bronze last time,” said Ms. Fontanilla. — Olmin Leyba

Gilas eyeing camp and quality tune-up matches overseas

GILAS Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes — FIBA.BASKETBALL

THE BATTLEFIELD in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup now defined, Gilas Pilipinas’ next task is to formulate a program specifically designed to make the Nationals competitive against their group opposition.

And Gilas coach Chot Reyes is looking at the highly-productive 2014 WC buildup as a model.

The 40th-ranked Pinoy cagers are ranged against No. 10 Italy, No. 23 the Dominican Republic and No. 41 Angola — familiar faces who defeated them in previous tournaments — in Group A of the Aug 25 to Sept. 10 global hoopfest.

“The best way to describe it is: It’s not ideal but it could have been better,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes after determining their foes Saturday night.

Mr. Reyes admitted he hoped to have drawn Ivory Coast, which he felt was a better matchup for Gilas, instead of Angola, which got the better of their group matchup in the 2019 World Cup in China, 84-81 in overtime.

“It is what it is. The good thing is now, we have some clarity on who we’re playing and what kind of preparation is necessary to be at our best come August,” he said.

“Obviously, now, the next phase is to take a look at the teams we’re playing and to build a team that we think can compete with the players we know will be in the other teams,” he added.

Italy, which routed Gilas by 46 points in the 2019 world meet, may bring in NBA players like Simone Fontecchio, Danilo Gallinari and Paolo Banchero. The Dominican Republic, which beat the Philippines in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament last year, 94-67, also has troops from the NBA like Al Horford and Karl-Anthony Towns they may tap.

“Italy is ranked 10th in the world so we know that will be a very tough game. The Dominican Republic game will be difficult especially if Karl Anthony Towns is able to play. Angola will be doable but even that game will be a challenge,” noted Meralco coach Norman Black.

“If our best players are available and we are able to have an intense training program, you couple that with home court advantage and we should have a fighting chance to advance to the second round,” he added.

Mr. Reyes said the Philippine quintet is eyeing camp and quality tune-up matches overseas by June similar to the preparations for the 2014 World Cup (WC) campaign, which greatly helped Gilas give tough opponents a run for their money. “At the end of the day, it’s going to be determined by how well we can prepare, how well we get to gather the players together and how many quality tune-up games we can get before the actual World Cup,” he said.

“That’s what we’re able to do in 2014, right? I thought we’re able to put in a very good tune-up preparation schedule that when the World Cup came, we’re playing at a very high level. So hopefully, we can get to that level as well this time,” he added.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, meanwhile, is upbeat Gilas can get the job done. — Olmin Leyba

PHL cricket team assured of at least a silver in Cambodia SEAG

THE DEBUTING cricket team passed its first major test in flying colors and in doing so, assured the Philippines of at least a silver medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Cambodia.

In action days before the biennial meet’s opening, the Philippine Blue Caps delivered a thrilling 45-44 win over host Cambodia in Group B of the women’s T10 event Saturday night at the AZ Group Cricket Oval in Phnom Penh.

With this victory, the Blue Caps topped the two-team group and booked the first ticket to the championship match set for May 16. They will face whichever nation among Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore will emerge as No. 1 in Group A.

The Malaysians defeated Singapore in the competition opener, 38-37.

“It’s the first time for our women’s team to participate in an international event. It’s a young team and the girls learned their cricket and started playing only a few years ago. And to win (at least) a silver in their first SEA Games appearance is a big achievement,” Philippine Cricket Association CEO Faisal Khan told The STAR.

Batting first, the host Cambodians scored 44 runs in 10 overs. But the Philippines ably beat their score, reaching the target in just six overs en route to the milestone victory.

The lady cricketers’ triumphant debut soothed the defeats in men’s football and ouk chaktrang chess in the Games’ initial competitions ahead of the May 5 opening ceremonies.

The Azkals U-22 suffered a 0-3 setback to Indonesia in a Group A opener while Edmundo Gatus and Angelo Young bombed out of the semis race in the men’s singles 5-minute event. Messrs. Gatus and Young finished their respective groups at No. 5 with identical one-point cards.

Meanwhile, the cricket contingent launches its bid in the women’s T20i event today against Thailand in a Group A tussle.

Pinoy bets in ouk chaktrang’s men’s triples 60-minute also get going over at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. — Olmin Leyba

Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim submits final bid for Manchester United

SHEIKH Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the son of Qatar’s former prime minister, submitted his final bid for the entirety of Manchester United just before Friday’s deadline, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

In addition to offering a figure to buy the English Premier League soccer club, Sheikh Jassim’s proposal also includes a plan for a further significant amount of additional capital and infrastructure investment, the source told Reuters, requesting anonymity because the matter is confidential.

The source added that the bid is for 100% of the club and would remove all debt.

Manchester United and Raine Group, the investment bank running the bidding process, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

No financial details of the final bid have been officially revealed.

Sheikh Jassim’s offer falls short of the £6 billion ($7.54 billion) asking price set by current owners, the Glazer family, The Guardian reported earlier in the day adding that the bid was understood to be worth around £5 billion.

Manchester United’s American owners launched a formal sale process late last year and have received several bids, including from British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, founder of chemicals producer INEOS, and Finnish businessman Thomas Zilliacus.

Sky Sports News reported that Mr. Ratcliffe’s bid for a majority stake in Manchester United has also been submitted.

INEOS did not respond to a request for comment.

Any sale of Manchester United would likely exceed the biggest sports deal so far, the $5.2 billion including debt and investments paid for Chelsea, sources told Reuters previously.

United are the fourth richest soccer club in the world, according to analysis by Deloitte. They are widely seen as one of the most prized assets in all of sport. — Reuters

Murray’s huge 2nd half helps Nuggets past Suns in Game 1

JAMAL Murray scored 20 of his game-high 34 points in the second half and added nine assists, Nikola Jokic had 24 points and 19 rebounds, and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns 125-107 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday night.

Aaron Gordon scored 23 points, Bruce Brown finished with 14 points off the bench, Michael Porter, Jr. added 11 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 10 for the Nuggets in taking the 1-0 series lead.

Game 2 is Monday night in Denver, where the Nuggets have yet to lose in this year’s playoffs.

Kevin Durant had 29 points, 14 rebounds and seven turnovers, Devin Booker scored 27 points and had eight assists, Deandre Ayton had 14 points and seven rebounds and Chris Paul added 11 for the Suns. Phoenix trailed by 15 early in the fourth quarter but cut it to 10 with Mr. Durant getting a rare rest. Mr. Gordon and Mr. Murray hit layups to extend the lead to 106-92 with 8:21 remaining.

Mr. Booker converted a three-point play but Mr. Murray answered with two from deep to restore Denver’s 17-point lead and force a Suns timeout.

Mr. Paul missed a corner 3-pointer out of the timeout and the Nuggets began to pull away. Mr. Jokic scored on a finger roll, fed Mr. Brown for a dunk, and then Mr. Brown stole the ball from Mr. Durant and dunked again to put Denver ahead 118-95 with 5:09 left.

The teams emptied the benches for the final minutes.

The Suns led 32-31 after the first quarter behind 15 points from Mr. Durant but he was held to just four in the second quarter.

Mr. Booker’s layup with 9:46 left in the period put Phoenix ahead 39-38 but the Nuggets went on a 13-2 run to lead by 10. After the Suns cut the lead to six, Mr. Caldwell-Pope hit two from deep and Mr. Gordon made one from behind the arc to spark a 17-6 run to end the half and give Denver a 68-51 lead.

Phoenix got within 11 early in the third but a pair of 3-pointers from Murray made it 83-66, and the Nuggets took a 94-81 lead into the fourth. — Reuters

Defense

Ball Arena was rocking, and with reason. With a past-capacity crowd of 19,762 taking on the inspired play of the Nuggets, yesterday was far more than just the Nuggets making a statement as the National Basketball Association’s best kept secret. As they wound up taking the measure of the supposedly superior Suns, they proved their worth as top seeds in the Western Conference. For all the narratives that conventional wisdom has been putting out about their seeming lack of pedigree, they are most certainly not the same bunch that the blue and orange swept en route to the 2022 Finals.

Indeed, the current-version Nuggets are much, much better — and not simply because they have starting guard Jamal Murray healthy and in peak form. Their improved standing starts with the confidence of top dog Nikola Jokic, borne of two Most Valuable Player trophies and increased familiarity with those around him. To argue that he has become the league’s preeminent puppet master would be to understate the obvious. He plays at his own pace, bends defenses with his excellent court vision and decision making, and anchors an attack that begins with his power off the boards. Yesterday, he had 14 rebounds at the half, a mere one off the tally produced by all the Suns put together.

True, Murray was the difference maker in Game One of the West semifinal round series. As had been in full display throughout the Nuggets’ run to the conference finals in 2020, when he last graced the postseason, he went to a higher gear yesterday, his final line of 34 (on 24 shots), five, and nine justifying head coach Mike Malone’s reference to him as “Playoff Jamal.” That said, the manner in which the blue and yellow took control of the match — against opposition that boasted of proven marquee names in Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, and Devin Booker — highlighted their capacity to be greater the sum of their parts.

And, yes, the Nuggets do hang their hats on defense, the prevailing notion that Jokic has typically been less than adequate on that end of the court notwithstanding. The recipient of the last two Maurice Podoloff Trophies may not be fleet of foot, but he makes up for whatever deficiencies he has with uncanny intelligence, a willingness to bang bodies, and a keen understanding of the ebbs and flows of competition. If nothing else, the Suns know well enough not to underestimate him at their peril.

Tomorrow, the Nuggets will not be parading something new. They will continue to hit the notes they are best at trumpeting. And the bottom line is clear: The dance they know is the dance no one else can better with the same tune.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Biden urged to put pressure on Marcos to uphold human rights

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

HUMAN rights groups on Sunday urged the Biden administration to exert pressure on Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to uphold human rights.

Mr. Marcos should pave the way for the release of former Senator Leila M. de Lima, one of ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s fiercest critics, from jail and cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its investigation of the tough-talking leader’s deadly drug war, they said.

Mr. Marcos left Manila on Sunday for Washington, where he will meet with US President Joseph R. Biden at the White House on May 1.

He will also meet with some members of the US Congress during his four-day visit that Philippine officials have said is aimed at reaffirming the special relationship between the long-time allies.

“Though their meeting will highlight socioeconomic cooperation and joint commitment to enhance defense and security cooperation, it will be an opportunity for each state to discuss what actions have been made and concrete steps to be taken to fulfill human rights obligations of the Philippine government,” the Philippine Alliance for Human Rights Advocates said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

The alliance noted that no less than Mr. Biden himself had promised to promote accountability for governments that abuse human rights when the US was elected to the Human Rights Council 2021 for a three-year term.

“Now is the chance for President Biden to put values before interest.”

Mr. Marcos will be joined by officials from the Justice, Defense and Foreign Affairs departments during his US trip.

In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity said the release of Ms. De Lima and rejoining the ICC “should be of utmost priority in terms of addressing government accountability in the Philippines.”

Ms. De Lima has been in jail since her arrest in 2017 on drug trafficking charges, which critics and European lawmakers have said are baseless and meant to harass her.

Since April 2022, some of the key witnesses have recanted their testimonies against Ms. De Lima, saying they were coerced by former government officials.

“The release of Senator De Lima would strengthen the country’s position on respect for human rights and the judicial process because many of the witnesses against her have recanted,” Philip Arnold “Randy” P. Tuaño, dean of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Government, said in a Messenger chat. “There is no more basis to hold her in government custody.”

Ms. De Lima was arrested amid an investigation by a Senate committee of alleged atrocities committed in Mr. Duterte’s drug war, which is now the subject of an ICC probe.

“It is important to raise these concerns since the Philippines is a state party to several international treaties including the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights,” the human rights alliance said. “The Philippines assumes obligations and duties under international law to respect and protect human rights.”

Mr. Tuaño said the US has several laws that allow its government to withhold foreign assistance to countries that have poor democratic and human rights records.

“Civil society organizations would be able to push the agenda for greater political participation by asking the American government to just follow these laws,” he said.

Human Rights Watch in a separate statement noted that since Mr. Marcos took office in June, Washington has significantly increased assistance to the Philippines “primarily through defense spending.”

“In the past, the US government had conditioned military assistance for the Philippines on the government making progress on holding human rights abusers accountable,” it said on its website on April 27.

“Assistance has now grown, however, even as the Philippine government has failed to bring those responsible for serious abuses to justice.”

The human rights alliance said Mr. Biden had been criticized for failing to discuss human rights when he met leaders of several Middle Eastern countries in July 2022.

‘STRATEGIC BLACKMAIL’
“He was criticized during his visit and for apparently ingratiating himself with leaders of Saudi Arabia and Israel, close allies of the US, despite the killing of Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh in May 2022 and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018,” it said.

“I really do not expect the Biden government to give in to the calls of US senators to pressure the Philippine government to drop charges against former Senator De Lima,” said Arjan P. Aguirre, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila.

“Biden has just announced his plan for reelection and he intends to politicize the tension with China for this purpose.”

Mr. Aguirre said the US would likely use the ill-gotten wealth case of the Marcos family and human rights issues with his predecessor “as a leverage to get the nod of the Philippine government.” 

“The US government will guarantee that these issues won’t be raised against the Marcos government in the near future. This may be understood as strategic blackmailing.”

Mr. Marcos in his departure speech said he would meet with American business leaders to “further promote trade and investment opportunities in the Philippines.”

He and his economic team would be joined by key private sector leaders in exploring business opportunities to help boost economic growth, he said.

He said he would seek opportunities in the semiconductor industry, critical minerals, renewable and clean energy including nuclear, and infrastructure projects.

“One of my priorities for this visit is to push for greater economic engagement.”

Meanwhile, environmentalists urged Mr. Marcos to take the lead in demanding climate action and reparations from the US, one of the world’s top polluters, during his meeting with his American counterpart.

“We want to see the Philippine president putting the climate agenda on top of his agenda,” Greenpeace Philippines Country Director Lea Guerrero said by telephone.

“We also want to see him calling for payment from the US government for loss and damages, opening that topic with Biden and making sure that they are aware that the Philippines is going to call for compensation not just from the US government but also from fossil fuel companies that operate in the US,” she added.

Ms. Guerrero said it’s an opportunity for Mr. Marcos to represent small countries vulnerable to climate change during his meeting with Mr. Biden.

“We should be at the point where climate finance comes in the form of grants from the world’s top polluters, yet our president seems content with the complete lack of accountability from the US for its emissions that have caused climate change in our country in the first place,” Kalikasan spokesman Jon Bonifacio said in a Messenger chat.

“It also makes little sense to talk of the urgency of climate change on the one hand, yet encourage the expansion of the US military — the single-largest polluting institution in the world — in our country on the other.”

The Center for Energy, Ecology and Development asked Mr. Marcos to never betray his climate agenda by securing usual deals on gas and other fossil fuels.

“There should be no confusion as to what kinds of agreements the president should be demanding: that the US, as a historical climate polluter, deliver the financing it owes climate vulnerable countries like ours to advance our energy transition and put climate adaptation and mitigation efforts,” center Executive Director Gerry Arrances said in a Messenger chat.

“If he comes home with deals for more gas and other fossil fuels as he did in Japan, then the president exposes his climate agenda as ultimately nonexistent and recklessly chaining Filipinos to a catastrophic climate future,” he said.

US asks China to stop harassing Manila’s ships

THE BRP SIERRA MADRE, a marooned transport ship which Philippine Marines live in as a military outpost, is pictured in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. — REUTERS

THE UNITED STATES on Saturday called on China to stop harassing Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, pledging to stand with the Philippines at a time of simmering geopolitical tension.

“We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct,” the US State Department said in a statement.

It said China’s action was an “infringement upon freedom of navigation” in the waterway. “Imagery and video recently published in the media is a stark reminder of [Chinese] harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone.”

The Philippines on Friday accused China’s coast guard of “aggressive tactics” after an incident during a Philippine Coast Guard patrol close to the Philippine-held Second Thomas Shoal, a flashpoint for previous altercations located 105 nautical miles (195 km) off its coast.

Second Thomas Shoal is home to a small military contingent aboard a rusty World War II-era US ship that was intentionally grounded in 1999 to reinforce the Philippines’ territorial claims.

In February, the Philippines said a Chinese ship had directed a “military-grade laser” at one of its resupply vessels.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea based ona 1940s nine-dash line map. It’s expansive claims stretch more than 1,500 km off its mainland and cuts into the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

A United Nations-backed international arbitral ruling in 2016 dismissed that line as having no legal basis.

China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday said the Philippine vessels had intruded into Chinese waters and made deliberate provocative moves.

The State Department said Washington “stands with our Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order and reaffirms that an armed attack in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea, on Philippine Armed Forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard, would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.”

The US State department was referring to the near-collision incident between  a Chinese coast guard ship and a Philippine patrol vessel carrying journalists on April 23.

It happened just a day after Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in Manila where they agreed to establish more “lines of communications.”

Boosting communication lines between the two countries would help immediately resolve “any event that occurs in the West Philippine Sea that involves China and the Philippines,” Mr. Marcos said in a statement after their meeting.

The incident happened after BRP Malapascua and BRP Malabrigo of the Philippine Coast Guard approached Second Thomas Shoal, which the Philippines calls Ayungin.

The Philippine vessels were shadowed by Chinese Navy and coast guard ships while these were patrolling within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard said it had spotted a swarm of more than 100 Chinese vessels during the April 18- 24 journey.

“It appears that the Philippines is being inexorably sucked into a dangerous military response to the alarming crisis in the West Philippine Sea,” Temario C. Rivera, a retired professor of international politics at the University of the Philippines, said.

“This is the classic dilemma of an immovable object being pressured by a relentless force,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “More than ever, it is time to take seriously a political and diplomatic response to the crisis that avoids the real risk of a war in the region.”

Robin Michael Garcia, who teaches political economy at the University of Asia and the Pacific, said Washington’s statement “helps rebuild the decreased trust toward the US alliance in the Philippines and in Asia.”

“As long as there’s a constructive conversation between the Philippines and China amid the renewed US position in Asia, conflict may be put at bay,” he said.

Mr. Marcos on Sunday left Manila for Washington, where he is expected to meet with President Joseph R. Biden and talk about ways to enhance the two countries’ alliance.

The White House on April 21 said Mr. Biden would reaffirm the US’ ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines. They will discuss efforts “to strengthen the longstanding US-Philippine alliance.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza with Reuters

Gov’t to create task force on labor rights violations; MBC bats for bill on private sector-led skills training 

WORKERS’ groups banded by a common call for a wage hike hold a protest in front of the Department of Labor and Employment on March 30, 2023. — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has approved a measure creating an inter-agency body that will investigate reported labor rights violations against trade unionists, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said on Sunday ahead of the Labor Day observance. 

“It will look into alleged violations of the freedom of association as contained in the report and recommendations of the International Labor Organization (ILO)-High Level Tripartite Mission,” Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma told BusinessWorld in a Viber message.  

Under Executive Order No. 23 signed on April 30, “the Inter-Agency Committee for the Protection of the Freedom of Association and Right to Organize of Workers will be chaired by the Executive Secretary while the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment will be its vice chair,” the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement.  

Labor groups earlier proposed the establishment of a presidential commission that would look into cases of violence against workers. 

In February, a team of ILO representatives met with trade unions and government officials to discuss human rights violations against workers and union organizers.  

That same month, Philippine trade unions submitted a joint report to the ILO mission on labor rights violations.  

The labor groups said the Philippine government has consistently failed to comply with ILO conventions on freedom of association and the right to organize. 

MBC
The Makati Business Club (MBC), meanwhile, pressed the Philippine government to take more steps to tame inflation and pass a bill on apprenticeship that will support private sector-led skills training.  

“We respectfully urge the government to redouble its efforts to reduce inflation to make it easier for working Filipinos to enjoy the fruits of their labor,” the MBC said in a statement on Sunday.    

“The MBC honors Philippine workers on this Labor Day. They have enabled the recovery from the pandemic even as inflation reached a 14-year high,” the group said.    

The country’s inflation eased to 7.6% in March from the 8.6% in February but was higher than the 4% logged in March last year.    

The MBC also called for the immediate passage of a measure that will give businesses more leeway to train workers for available jobs and higher-skill employment.   

“Such a bill would allow adequate time for training — in line with practices in some of the world’s most labor-friendly countries — while ensuring it is not used to violate labor rights,” the group said.   

“We thank Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma for supporting and the House of Representatives for passing House Bill 6253. We respectfully urge the Senate to prioritize passage of their version when Congress resumes session on May 8,” the MBC said.   

The non-profit business association also asked government to expand public transportation and infrastructure to “improve worker productivity and quality of life.” 

The organization also pushed for more flexibility for workers in various industries, similar to the policy adopted for the information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) sectors.  

The amended implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 11165 or the Telecommuting Act and a Fiscal Incentives Review Board resolution allowed 100% work-from-home for IT and BPO workers while retaining their incentives.   

“We support more dialogue on other measures that will promote flexibility and competitiveness while protecting labor rights and improving healthcare and social protections, including or especially for the rising number of gig workers… We also support dialogue on issues including wage subsidies during crises such as the pandemic, unemployment insurance, and portability of retirement benefit,” the MBC said.    

CASH AID 
DoLE on Sunday held job fairs and released over P1.88 billion in cash aid to beneficiaries of its employment program for displaced workers.  

The job fairs, which will also be held in malls nationwide on Monday, will have participation from 1,286 local employers offering 126,273 vacancies, according to data provided by the department. 

At DoLE’s advanced Labor Day celebration held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Mr. Marcos said the government is optimistic about creating more jobs given the improved employment numbers in the past month.  

“Rest assured, the government will not neglect the field of employment,” he said in Filipino at the live-streamed event.  

Labor groups have scheduled protest actions on May 1, also known as International Workers’ Day, that is observed in several other countries. — John Victor D. Ordoñez and Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

New state witness’ testimony won’t prove De Lima’s guilt — rights lawyer

PHILIPPINE STAR/ RUSSELL PALMA

THE NEW state witness’ testimony against detained former senator Leila M. De Lima will unlikely add weight to the illegal drug trafficking charge against her, a human rights lawyer said at the weekend.  

“The rebuttal witness has no personal knowledge of the facts constituting the crime,” Ephraim B. Cortez, president of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, said in a Viber message.  

“He cannot attest to the truth and veracity of the content of the sworn statements presented.” 

This comes after a Muntinlupa regional trial court allowed government prosecutors to have Demiteer U. Huerta, a lawyer from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), testify in Ms. De Lima’s drug trafficking case. The court maintained its date of decision of the case on May 12. 

Justice Spokesman Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.  

“The court does not shrink from its responsibility to receive evidence in order to ferret out the truth,” Abraham Joseph B. Alcantara, presiding judge of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204, said in the court order dated April 24 and made public on April 28.  

Mr. Huerta helped ex-prison chief Rafael Z. Ragos write an affidavit that accused Ms. De Lima of abetting the illegal drug train inside the national penitentiary when she was justice secretary  

In February, Mr. Ragos took back his allegations in open court, saying he had been coerced by a former Justice chief into testifying against one of ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s most outspoken critics.  

Mr. Cortez said Mr. Huerta’s testimony will not prove anything since he only assisted in writing the affidavit and did not have personal knowledge of the allegations.  

“It will not prove any of the acts imputed against De Lima,” he said.  

Four witnesses have recanted their testimonies about Ms. De Lima’s alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade. All have claimed to have been coerced by the government of Mr. Duterte.  

One of the three-drug charges against the former lawmaker has been dismissed, while two are still pending in court. Last year, the Ombudsman cleared her and her former aide of bribery charges for lack of evidence.  

Ms. De Lima, who has been in jail since 2017, has asserted her innocence saying she was being tried for criticizing the former administration’s deadly drug war.  

In 2016, Ms. De Lima led a Senate probe into vigilante-style killings in Davao when Mr. Duterte was still mayor and vice mayor of the city. She was arrested a year later after allegations of her involvement in the illegal drug trade.  

Political experts have said her imprisonment showed how easily the Philippine justice system can be abused.   

Amnesty International has called on the Philippine government to drop what it called “fabricated charges” against her. It said the government deprived her of her right to a fair trial through her arbitrary detention.  

Human Rights Watch has said Ms. De Lima’s imprisonment showed the continuation of human rights abuses in the country and urged the current government to release her. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

New Bangsamoro shipping service to cut transport costs, open ASEAN link

POLLOC FREEPORT AND ECOZONE — BARMM FACEBOOK PAGE

A DOMESTIC shipping route launched last week in the Bangsamoro region is seen to cut cargo transport costs by as much as 30% and opens an opportunity for expanded trade between southern Philippines and neighboring southeast Asian countries.  

Bangsamoro Transport Minister Paisalin P. Tago said the new roll-on, roll-off (RORO) service between Lamitan City in Basilan and Parang in Maguindanao del Norte is an initial step towards improving logistics and connectivity in the former restive region that is in transition.    

Speaking during the launch at the Polloc Freeport and Economic Zone in Parang, he said an international shipping company is looking into the inclusion of the port in an existing ASEAN RORO network that includes Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.    

The Bangsamoro Ministry of Transportation and Communications has drawn up a Transport Logistics Roadmap that includes a list of priority projects and potential private sector investments on sea, air and land connectivity, and agro-industrial hubs.   

The strategically-located Parang is being eyed to become the new regional capital with a bill recently filed in the Bangamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliament proposing the transfer from Cotabato City.   

“Strengthening maritime trade routes and intermodal transport systems will open doors for more trade and investment in the region, including in the tourism industry,” United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn said in a recorded message at the launch ceremony.    

“Additionally, this route will bring down transport cost of businesses by as much as 20 to 30 percent and reduce wastage of agricultural products that are inevitable if transported by land due to poor road conditions and connectivity,” he said.   

USAID backed the RORO project through its Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development that is being implemented by the University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation.  

Bangsamoro Business Council Chair Ronald Halid D. Torres said the new shipping route “will provide significant benefits to the business sectors in Cotabato City, in Maguindanao del Norte and in Lamitan City and other municipalities in Basilan.” 

“It can also create new trading avenues for the business communities in these areas,” Mr. Torres said in an interview with the media on Saturday. 

Lamitan City Mayor Roderick H. Furigay said the direct sea link to the Bangsamoro center cuts travel time by half a day.     

“Imagine the exhaustion you get from travelling first by boat from Basilan to Zamboanga City from where the long overland travel to Cotabato City begins,” Mr. Furigay said.  

Basilan is mainly known for its rubber and coconut plantations, but it also produces fisheries and other agricultural commodities such as rice and coffee.  

The provincial government is also pursuing new farm income sources such as vegetable production using hydroponics with drip irrigation. — John M. Unson

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