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Opposition senators seek scrapping of VP intel fund

VICE-PRESIDENT Sara Duterte-Carpio — PHILIPPINE STAR/ RUSSELL PALMA

By Alyssa Nicole O. Tan, Reporter

AN OPPOSITION senator on Monday asked his peers to scrap the Philippine vice-president’s  (VP) intelligence funds for next year worth P500 million.

“The Office of the Vice-President is not entitled or should not be given confidential funds — that is my position,” Senator Aquilino Martin D. Pimentel III said in Filipino during plenary budget debates.

He said confidential funds are used for the surveillance activities of government agencies dealing with civilians, adding that the P500-million fund is better given to the Philippine Postal Corp. (PhilPost) to support so-called franking privileges.

“We learned last week that there are many [agencies] in need of funding, and here we have confidential funds that can be let go,” he said.

The P500-million intelligence fund is part of the vice-president’s P2.3-billion budget for next year.

Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara, who heads the Senate finance committee, disagreed with Mr. Pimentel’s proposal.

“Although PhilPost may have a need, I think maybe we should look for other sources and not prejudice the Office of the Vice President,” he said. “That’s the second-highest official of the land who deserves our support.”

Twenty of the 24 senators are part of the majority that has largely allied itself with the ruling government. Two are part of the minority, while two more claim to be independent.

Mr. Pimentel said Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s office would still have P1.8 billion. “Do we still say we are not supportive of the Office of the Vice President, even with a P1.8-billion budget,” he asked, citing the office’s P702-million budget this year.

Mr. Angara defended the triple increase by citing the budget boost in the past years. He also said Ms. Carpio needs the funds to support her livelihood programs, free rides during a coronavirus pandemic and disaster response.

Mr. Pimentel earlier proposed to halve the Office of the President’s intelligence budget to P2.25 billion, saying there are agencies doing the job for the office.

Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel during plenary debates inquired about the P150-million confidential fund of the Education department, which is also headed by Ms. Carpio.

“I hope that our colleagues in the Senate will share the view that there are no extraordinarily compelling reasons to provide a confidential fund to the Education agency,” she told the Senate floor.

“We should empower school authorities to collaborate, and for national and local agencies to address and respond to peace and order, law enforcement and security needs,” she said in mixed English and Filipino. “We can use the confidential funds for more important priorities for young learners.”

25 cops in drug war charged, Philippine DoJ tells UN rights council

PHILIPPINE STAR/JOHN UNSON

AT LEAST 25 policemen have been charged with murder in connection to what could have been wrongful deaths in the Philippine government’s war on drugs, its Justice chief told the United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday.

“The government does not hesitate to take action when there is compelling evidence to do so,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla told the UN council during a review of the Philippines’ human rights situation in Geneva.

“We will leave no one behind,” he added, based on a livestreamed video on the UN website. He added that an inter-agency task force on extralegal killings has investigated at least 17,000 cops.

The Justice chief reiterated the government’s goal to change the culture of the local justice system, which he said was prone to delays.

He added that the government would continue coordinating with civic groups to address human rights issues such as extralegal killings.

“We will dispel the mistaken notion that there is a culture of impunity in our country,” he said. “We will not tolerate denial of justice or any violation of human rights.”

The Philippine Commission on Human Rights has said the government of ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte had encouraged a culture of impunity by hindering independent inquiries and failing to prosecute erring cops involved in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Philippines’ daily COVID average rises by 43% 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE PHILIPPINES posted 9,069 coronavirus infections in the past week, with the daily average rising by 43% from a week earlier, according to health authorities. 

The daily average for Nov. 7 to 13 hit 1,296, the Department of Health (DoH) said in a bulletin. Of the new cases, six were severe and critical. 

The agency said it had verified 113 new deaths in the past week, 41 of which occurred from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13. 

It added that 524 of 2,465 intensive care unit (ICU) beds had been used as of Nov. 13, while 5,363 of 20,825 non-ICU beds were occupied. There were 613 severe and critical admissions, it added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

Police chief tells jail boss to answer allegations in court, not in media

SCREENGRAB FROM PNP FACEBOOK PAGE

A SUSPENDED prison chief should face allegations of his involvement in the murder of a local broadcaster in court instead of answering them in media interviews, the national police chief said on Monday.  

“We base the charges against the suspects on the evidence, circumstances and statements given by the witnesses,” national police chief Rodolfo S. Azurin, Jr. said in mixed Filipino and English at a livestreamed briefing.    

“We should not be answering each other through the media, and it would be best for him to discuss these matters in court.”   

Suspended Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerald Q. Bantag told several television interviews on Nov. 11 that he is ready to face a murder complaint in relation to the killing of radio journalist Percival C. Mabasa.  

“We have a group of lawyers who already went to the Department of Justice, got the paperwork so we can submit our comments,” he earlier told CNN Philippines. “We will face it like a man, definitely.”  

Mr. Bantag also alleged that another convicted drug trafficker could be behind the killing.  

Last week, Philippine police filed a complaint against Mr. Bantag for allegedly ordering the murder of the late journalist.  

The jail chief had denied his involvement, saying he had nothing to gain from it.  

Mr. Mabasa’s YouTube channel showed that he was critical of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte and some of his officials.  

The alleged gunman surrendered to authorities on Oct. 18, claiming he and three other cohorts had been hired by someone inside the national penitentiary  

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla earlier said one of the supposed middlemen who contracted the killers died inside the national jail.  

The National Bureau of Investigation’s initial autopsy report showed that the man did not show any signs of external injury.  

Forensics expert Raquel del Rosario-Fortuno, who was asked by the Justice department to conduct a second autopsy, said the alleged middleman could have died by suffocation using a plastic bag.  

“Hopefully, this issue will be laid to rest the way it should be when crime is committed against a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines, especially this time we are talking about a member of media,” Mr. Remulla told a news briefing last week. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

No Filipino victim reported so far in Istanbul bombing — DFA

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FACEBOOK PAGE

THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it is still verifying the safety of about 3,000 Filipinos residing in Istanbul after an explosion in a busy shopping area of the Turkish city on Sunday that killed six and injured 81.  

“So far, the Embassy and Consulate General have not received any report of Filipino casualties,” Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Maria Theresita C. Daza told reporters via WhatsApp.  

“The Philippine Embassy in Ankara and the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul express their condolences to the families of those who lost their lives at the explosion in Istanbul yesterday,” she said.  

The DFA will continue to monitor the situation and report any development, she added. 

Filipinos in Istanbul include household service workers, spouses of Turkish nationals, expats working in foreign companies and English teachers.  

“We call on the Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Foreign Affairs to respond immediately to ensure the condition and safety of our compatriots in Istanbul, Turkey,” Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva said in a statement on Monday.  

The senator also extended his condolences to the victims.  

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said the incident has been deemed as a terrorist attack, according to state news agency Anadolu. “We consider it to be a terrorist act as a result of an attacker, whom we consider to be a woman, detonating the bomb.”  

The suspected bomber, along with several others, had been arrested, the state agency also reported quoting Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu on Monday. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Bill proposes issuance of education bonds for underprivileged children

PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE HOUSE committee on higher and technical education on Monday approved a bill that seeks to issue educational bonds worth P25,000 for each child born to an underprivileged family, with a maturity period of 18 years.    

House Bill 638 proposes that the bonds, with a fixed interest rate and non-transferable, be used for the beneficiary’s tertiary education in either a public or private institution.    

Under the measure, qualified beneficiaries must be part of a household included in the poverty data under the Community Based Monitoring System Act.    

“Despite the many financial assistance programs extended by the government and private sector to poor students, the education system remains plagued with deep inequalities,” Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda, author of the measure, said in the bill’s explanatory note.   

The bill states that education bonds assigned to disqualified beneficiaries — such as those who are removed from the poverty list — will be placed on the auction one year after the date of maturity. The proceeds will revert to the National Treasury.   

The Commission on Higher Education will be appointed as trustee of the bond. It will oversee funds from the issuance of the bond.   

Funding for the proposed law will be appropriated from any funds not lodged into the budgets of any government agency. It will be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.   

“The primary objective of the proposed bill is to put up a mechanism, that is the issuance of government securities or treasury bonds that would guarantee future funds for the education of the underprivileged Filipino youth that is insulated from the vagaries of politics and economic uncertainties,” Mr. Salceda, who also chairs the House ways and means committee, said. — Matthew Carl L. Montecillo

Party-list rep seeks urgent certification on bills to lower fuel prices

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

A PARTY-LIST representative on Monday called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to certify as urgent several bills that lower oil prices to help consumers burdened by inflation.   

An urgent certification from the president means these bills can be fast-tracked by being passed on third reading immediately after the second reading.  

“Malacañang and the legislative leadership should concentrate more on measures that would alleviate the suffering of ordinary Filipinos especially in lowering oil price, so that other products will have decreasing prices as well,” ACT-Teachers Party-list Rep. France L. Castro said in a statement.   

Ms. Castro and two other progressive party-list representatives filed House Bills (HBs) 400, 3003, 3004, 3005 and 3006 to reduce the price of oil and other petroleum products by removing excise tax, renationalizing Petron, unbundling oil prices, institutionalizing a procurement process for petroleum and regulating the downstream oil industry, respectively.   

HB 400 seeks to scrap excise tax and value-added tax on petroleum products. It will amend Section 49 of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law and Section 109 of the National Internal Revenue Code.   

HB 3003 proposes that the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) acquire a majority stake of subscribed stocks of Petron Corp. during the first year of its effectivity. The government will appropriate P4 billion for the initial purchase of stocks.   

Under the bill, the PNOC will reacquire 100% ownership within a four-year period.   

“As can be seen there are numerous House measures just waiting to be prioritized by Malacañang and the House leadership,” Ms. Castro said.   

“This bills package when made into law can lower oil prices, cause a domino effect in lowering basic products and services and at least alleviate the suffering of consumers.” — Matthew Carl L. Montecillo

Philippine fertility rate drops to lowest since 1970s at 1.9

PARK-GOERS enjoy a ride at the Quezon Memorial Circle in this November 2021 photo, when the government started to further ease restrictions in Metro Manila. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE AVERAGE number of kids of Filipino women of childbearing age has gone down to 1.9 this year from 2.7 in 2018, bucking an expected increase due to limited access to family planning services during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM). 

In a statement on Monday, POPCOM noted that the fertility rate of females aged 15 to 49 “has been on a downward trend since the 1970s, which was at six children per woman.”    

It added that “the decline from 2017 to 2022 was the sharpest ever recorded.”  

The latest fertility rate was based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s National Health Demographic Survey 2022 presented Friday.   

Lolito R. Tacardon, POPCOM officer in charge-executive director, said this development “can be considered as a ‘breakthrough’ for the country’s programs on population and development as well as family planning, which were instituted more than five decades ago.”  

He said the fertility rate decline presents an opportunity to speed up and enhance socioeconomic growth.     

“Economic gains from the demographic transition can be funneled to reduce poverty and improve labor force participation. The country will continue to see a robust labor force at over 63% of the population until 2030 or 2035, which is a full dozen years away,” he said.   

“At the household level, lower fertility also means greater opportunity for personal development of couples and individuals, which can redound to more savings and investments,” he added.   

The Philippines’ fertility rate is now the third lowest among southeast Asian nations, after Singapore’s 1.1 and Thailand’s 1.5, Mr. Tacardon noted.   

At the same time, the POPCOM head acknowledged that the country must also address concerns on teenage pregnancies and reducing fertility in rural areas “where the rates are still high.” — MSJ 

Gilas Pilipinas caps its Window 5 assignments in FIBA with a bang

KAI SOTTO delivers 11 markers, nine rebounds, and three assists. — FIBA

GILAS Pilipinas blasted new-look Saudi Arabia, 76-63, yesterday morning (Manila time) in Jeddah to cap its Window 5 assignments in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers with a bang and come out of its Middle East road trip unscathed.

Fired up by a big Filipino crowd that virtually transformed the King Abdullah Sports City Arena into a “home” court, the Nationals took care of business against a rival who provided a tougher challenge than the ones they previously routed, 84-46, in Jordan Clarkson’s Manila homecoming back in August.

The 13-point victory in Jeddah came three days after Gilas stamped its class on fancied Jordan in its territory in Amman, 74-66, giving coach Chot Reyes’ crew a perfect 2-0 in the November window.

“They (Saudi) came out and played hard, they came in with a good game plan, and we expected it,” said Mr. Reyes of the Saudis, who paraded a retooled squad under Dutch mentor Johan Raijokkers for the return match.

“We knew the high quality of this team so we mentally prepared ourselves to struggle, especially coming from a tough game in Jordan,” added Mr. Reyes.

The Filipinos started to find their groove in the second quarter, where they stifled Saudi to nine points en route to a six-point separation at the break. They cranked it up some more in the final 20 minutes, seizing a 16-point tear and keeping the home side no closer than eight heading home.

And throughout this run, the roaring OFWs in Jeddah were rallying them on.

“We stayed patient through our early struggles and I think we got a lot of energy from the crowd. They really gave us a huge boost. They wouldn’t allow us to lose until we hit our stride and hit our shots,” said Mr. Reyes. “Then we’re able to use our defense essentially to pull off the victory.”

Without Mr. (Jordan) Clarkson this time around, Gilas turned to a balanced assault to repeat against Saudi.

RR Pogoy and Dwight Ramos shot 13 apiece while Kai Sotto delivered 11 markers, nine rebounds and three assists, CJ Perez netted 10 and reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson accounted for nine points, nine boards and three assists.

“In the first half, we were too excited and committed a lot of turnovers,” said Mr. Thompson. “Good thing we recovered in the second half and pulled it off.”

Counting its dispatching of Saudi in the fourth window, the Philippines has now won its last three matches in the qualifiers.

The 2023 World Cup co-hosts ranked third in Group E after this set of games with 13 points on a 5-3 record behind fellow qualified teams Lebanon (15 on 7-1) and New Zealand (14 on 6-2). Jordan sat at No. 4 with 12 points (4-4) ahead of Saudi (10 on 2-6) in the race for a ticket to the global extravaganza.

Gilas will resume its campaign in February in front of home supporters with Justin Brownlee eyed as a possible naturalized player versus Lebanon and Jordan. — Olmin Leyba

The Scores:

Philippines 76 — Ramos 13, Pogoy 13, Sotto 11, Perez 10, Thompson 9, Parks 8, Aguilar 6, Kouame 5, Malonzo 1, Oftana 0, Erram 0, Quiambao 0.

Saudi Arabia 63 — Ma. Almarwani 19, Abdel Gabar 16, Mo. Almarwani 8, Kadi 6, Aljohar 5, Ashoor 4, Shubayli 2, Mohammed 2, Belal 1, Saleh 0, Almuwallad 0, Albargawi 0.

Quarterscores: 16-16, 31-25, 55-45, 76-63.

Cignal, F2 Logistics stay in semis berth hunt against PLDT, Akari at the Big Dome

CIGNAL HD Spikers — PVL

Games Tuesday
(Smart Aranata Coliseum)
2:30 p.m. — Cignal vs PLDT
5:30 p.m. — F2 vs Akari

CIGNAL and F2 Logistics aim to stay in the semifinal hunt as the two tackle PLDT and Akari, respectively, today in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The HD Spikers and the Cargo Movers are currently tied at fourth spot with identical 3-2 records and a win in their games set 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. would send them back at No. 3 alongside the Petro Gazz Angels (4-2) and closer to the next phase.

Cignal is coming off a 25-22, 34-32, 15-25, 16-25, 15-13 squeaker over Petro Gazz Thursday while F2 is riding the crest of a giant-sized, come-from-behind 22-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-19, 15-11 upset of title favorite Creamline last week also at the Big Dome.

The HD Spikers will have their hands full against their sister team, the HD Spikers, who are fighting for dear semis life with a 2-4 mark.

PLDT stayed in contention after eliminating Akari, 25-11, 25-21, 25-19, also Tuesday.

Cignal will depend again on Tai Bierria and Ces Molina, who uncorked 19 and 13 points, respectively, as well as Riri Meneses, who had a solid 11-hit performance the last time out.

For F2 Logistics, it is out to extend its streak to four as it hopes to draw another powerful effort from the prolific Lindsay Stalzer and the power-hitting Kim Dy, who starred last game with 27 and 18 points.

“We just have to keep working hard,” said F2 Logistics mentor Benson Bocboc.

Kalei Mau had a rough game against Creamline but managed to chip in 11 points, the same output by grizzled vet Abi Marano.

And expect F2 Logistics to throw everything it has against a Prisilla Rivera-led Akari, which is already out of the running but will try to salvage some measure of pride and close out its campaign with a win. — Joey Villar

Raph Trinidad bags silver at Singha IWWF World Championship in Thailand

EZRA ACAYAN/RED BULL

THE 21-YEAR-OLD Red Bull wakeboarding athlete Raph Trinidad took home silver in the Men’s Wakeboard Finals Open at this year’s International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) Championship on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, in Thailand at Esc Thai Wake Park.

The young Filipino wakeboarder scored an 85.67, earning him second place and racking up another impressive accolade to the wakeboarding virtuoso’s young career.

Following his run at the championship, Mr. Trinidad shared a highlight reel of his final run in which he stated, “Super stoked to land the run I’ve always dreamed of and so thankful to bag another silver medal from the world championships.” He then expressed his admiration from the crowd involved and let his admiration be known to everyone who’s been part of his preparation ahead of the competition.

Mr. Trinidad is no stranger to bringing glory to his country as he’s been known as the first Filipino to earn himself a spot at the world rankings in cable wakeboarding by the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation. In 2019, the Filipino wakeboarder gave the Philippines its first silver medal at the 10th IWWF World Wakeboard Championships and secured another silver medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

At such a young age, the world of wakeboarding is looking bright for Mr. Raph Trinidad and the Philippines can count on this young man to carry the country’s pride on his shoulders with every competitive run throughout his career.

CSB tries anew to book Final Four slot against SSC-R

Games Tuesday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12 p.m. — SSC-R vs CSB
3 p.m. — UPHSD vs AU

DENIED last time, College of St. Benilde (CSB) tries one more time for a victory that would propel it to the Final Four for the first time in two decades as it squares off with a desperate San Sebastian College (SSC-R) today in NCAA Season 98 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Playing shorthanded without three players, the Blazers tried but failed to book that precious semis spot last game only to succumb to the University of Perpetual Help (UPHSD) Altas, 89-83, Friday and reel to third spot and a 10-4 record.

But they will have another opportunity when they tackle the Stags at 12 p.m.

“If we win, we are in the Final Four,” said CSB coach Charles Tiu.

The last time CSB made it that far was in 2002, two years after it claimed its first and only seniors championship in the league to date.

They almost ended the long drought when it finished fourth in the standings only to lose in the play-in, a novel system which was implemented only last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season, and eventually crashed out a season ago.

CSB will remain without Mark Sangco and Chris Flores, who will serve the last of the two-game suspensions assessed to them for their involvement in the John Amores-centered brawl last week.

Big man Ladis Lepalam, for his part, returns to action after serving his one-game ban last time.

CSB is expecting it to be tough though as it will face a SSC-R squad clinging to its diminishing Final Four hope.

The Stags fell to the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates (11-5) in a 73-65 defeat Sunday but remained in the race with a 6-8 record.

That is assuming they could sweep their last four remaining games and pray at least one of the Blazers and the San Beda Lions (10-5) would drop all their last assignments.

Meanwhile, UPHSD (7-9) and Arellano University (6-9) battle it out at 3 p.m. in a non-bearing contest. — Joey Villar

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