Marcos appoints new DND secretary amid coup rumors

January 9, 2023 | 7:59 pm

PBBM-Marcos-Galvez — PRESIDENT Marcos speaks with Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., whom he has appointed Defense secretary to replace Jose Faustino, Jr. — PCO

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has appointed a new Department of National Defense (DND) secretary, the presidential palace said on Monday, amid rumors of destabilization plots.

Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., the presidential adviser on peace, will replace Jose Faustino, Jr., who quit. The palace did not say why.

Mr. Marcos in June appointed Mr. Faustino as temporary senior undersecretary and officer-in-charge of the Defense department, which supervises the country’s armed forces.

He was put under a one-year ban on the appointment of retired military officers after he retired in November 2021.

Mr. Galvez, a retired general of the Philippine Army, headed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, Mr. Marcos’ predecessor. He also served as vaccine czar and chief enforcer of the country’s coronavirus pandemic plan.

Mr. Faustino’s resignation came after an unexpected change of command in the military at the weekend with the reappointment of General Andres C. Centino as military chief of staff.

A few hours after the ceremony, reports of alleged destabilization moves by military officials circulated on messaging apps and social media platforms.

A supposed Philippine National Police (PNP) memo, which the PNP had disowned, placed all police units under a heightened alert status “in view of the resignation of all [Defense] personnel in Camp Aguinaldo.” The AFP has also dismissed reports of alleged destabilization attempts by its members.

“The military bloc is a major political bloc in the post-EDSA era,” Arjan P. Aguirre, who teaches politics at the Ateneo De Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat, referring to the February 1986 uprising that ousted the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, the current president’s father.

“They have learned to politicize their role that’s why they have remained to be one of the stable sources of personnel who can be appointed to important government posts,” he said. “These appointments are just the offshoot of their ability to negotiate and compromise with the new administration.”

Mr. Aguirre said the military bloc is “not homogenous and monolithic” since there are factions that have political loyalties and access to patronage networks.

“These factions have learned to coordinate and cooperate with other bigger military factions that have managed to get bigger shares and offers for political gains and positions,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine military ruled out loyalty checks among its ranks.

“We do not need a loyalty check because the Armed Forces of the Philippines is professional,” military spokesman Medel Aguilar told Radyo 5. “We will support anyone appointed by the president as chief of staff.”

At a separate televised briefing, police spokesperson Jean S. Fajardo said the PNP’s cyber-crime unit was investigating the source of the destabilization rumors on social media.

“The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group has started its probe and is determining who is the source of these social media posts spreading the destabilization rumor,” she said in Filipino. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and John Victor D. Ordoñez

Angara calls for institutional reforms in CAAP after air traffic system mishap

January 9, 2023 | 7:59 pm

CAAP-building-CIVIL-AVIATION-AUTHORITY-OF-THE-PHILIPPINES — CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

A SENATOR has called for institutional reforms in the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) after technical mishap on Jan. 1 that downed the country’s air traffic control system, causing flight cancellations and delays in all airports.

“The technical glitch that took place last January 1 was a wake-up call for all of us about the need to address the gaps in our air transport systems and the CAAP is front and center in all of this, which is why we have to institute the necessary reforms to provide the agency the tools necessary to effectively fulfill its mandate,” Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” E. Angara said in a statement on Monday.

He recommended the passage of Senate Bill 1003, which will mandate the inclusion of the secretaries of tourism and national defense as additional members of the CAAP board.

Two representatives from the private sector, appointed by the President, will also sit in the CAAP board.

Under the bill, the agency’s fiscal autonomy will also be enhanced, as it will be exempted from Republic Act 7656 or the Dividend Law to maximize the use of its revenues.

The bill will also exempt the CAAP from the coverage of the Governance Commission for state-owned corporations and the Salary Standardization Law in consideration of the highly technical nature of its functions.

The Senate Committee on Public Services will investigate the incident that affected about 65,000 domestic and international passengers.

Mr. Angara said the focus of the probe should be on pinpointing accountability and ensuring that the relevant systems and institutions are capacitated in preparation and response to sudden occurrences.

Senator Mary Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares, who chairs the committee, on Monday said officials of the Department of Transportation, Manila International Airport Authority, and other concerned executives have been invited to attend the hearing.

“We want to know what the agencies plan to do so that this does not happen again,” she said in a statement. “We should find out who are responsible. If there’s somebody whom we can call out, who may have been negligent, of course they have to be reprimanded if not fired.” “This did not happen overnight. Obviously, it stems from many years of transactions and maintenance upgrades,” she added.

Ms. Poe also said it is time to tap the private sector to modernize the country main gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“We have always pushed for privatization not just of the air traffic control system but of the airport itself,” she said. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

QC trial court acquits 10 human rights workers of perjury

January 9, 2023 | 7:58 pm

10-rightsdefenders-acquitted-KARAPATAN-FACEBOOK-PAGE — KARAPATAN FACEBOOK PAGE

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter

A QUEZON City trial court has acquitted 10 human rights workers from perjury charges filed by a former national security adviser in 2019.

In a 45-page decision released on Monday, the court said government prosecutors failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the respondents deliberately lied in their petitions that named former National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr.

“Conviction must rest no less than on hard evidence showing that the accused, with moral certainty, is guilty of the crime charged,” Associate Justice Aimee Marie B. Alcera said in the ruling.

“The Supreme Court recognizes that perjury strikes at the very administration of laws that is the policy of the law that judicial proceedings and judgements shall be fair and free from fraud.”

The human rights workers earlier filed a petition for a writ of amparo and habeas data before the Supreme Court, where they sought protection after attacks against rights officials were reported in 2019.

The writs would grant members of the groups protection and would compel state actors to destroy information about them.

The petition detailed the attacks and harassment against human rights workers by the military and other state officials.

The writs of amparo and habeaus data are legal remedies available to anyone whose right to life, liberty, and security is violated by a public official or employee.

Mr. Esperon filed the perjury charges against representatives from rights group Karapatan, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines and the Gabriela Women’s Party after they included him in the list of respondents in the petition.

The Supreme Court granted the petition and ordered the Court of Appeals to hear the petition, which the appellate court dismissed. The petition is still on appeal before the same court.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla told the United Nations Human Rights Council in November that the government does not sanction attacks, harassment or intimidation of human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists.

He also said the government should be able to respond to its detractors.

“It is also at the heart of every criminal proceeding that every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt,” the Quezon City court said.

In a statement reacting to the court decision, House Deputy Minority Leader France L. Castro said in Filipino, “We are elated that our friends from Gabriela, Karapatan at Rural Missionaries of the Philippines were acquitted from the malicious case against them by General Esperon.”

“We are hopeful that other made-up cases against other human rights defenders will be junked,” the ACT Teachers Party-list representative added.

“This decision serves as a reminder that the fight for human rights and justice must continue, and that those who stand up for these values should not be silenced or punished.” — with Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Ex-Leyte rep, TRC official found guilty of corruption over PDAF funds

January 9, 2023 | 7:58 pm

THE PHILIPPINES’ anti-graft court has convicted of graft a former representative of Leyte and an executive of the defunct Technology and Resource Center (TRC) over the release of P24.2 million for fictitious government projects.

In a 52-page decision on Jan. 9, the Sandiganbayan First Division sentenced former Leyte 3^rd District representative Eduardo K. Veloso and former TRC group manager Maria Rosalinda M. Lacsamana to six to 10 years for the two counts of graft and 12-18 years for two counts of malversation.

“With the foregoing, the court arrives at the inevitable conclusion that the accused acted with unity of purpose and through manifest partiality and evident bad faith and caused undue injury to the government in the total amount of P24.20 million,” Associate Justice Efren N. Dela Cruz said in the ruling.

The tribunal ordered them to pay a fine of P24.2 million, the same as the amount malversed.

Mr. Veloso and Ms. Lacsamana could not be immediately reached for comment.

The decision can still be appealed before the anti-graft court and the Supreme Court.

The former congressman was accused of exclusively endorsing the TRC as the implementing agency for the proposed anomalous projects bankrolled through the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) given to lawmakers.

The PDAF, also referred to as pork barrel funds, has been abolished after the Supreme Court declared it as unconstitutional in a 2013 ruling.

The Sandiganbayan said the TRC official drafted and signed the memo that recommended the release of Mr. Veloso’s proposed funds to the Aaron Foundation Philippines, a partner non-government organization for the non-existent programs.

OTHER TRC EXECS
Meanwhile, the court dropped the malversation and graft cases against former TRC executives Dennis L. Cunanan, Francisco B. Figura and Marivic V. Jover due to lack of evidence.

In October, the anti-graft court junked graft charges against the TRC officials saying government prosecutors failed to prove their guilt over the release of more than P20 million to a group allegedly owned by a lawmaker.

The court earlier rejected a plea by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the so-called mastermind of the PDAF scam, to suspend malversation cases against her.

She is under trial in a separate graft case involving the release of congressional funds worth P15 million for a nonexistent livelihood project in Nueva Ecija province.

The PDAF allowed legislators to fund small-scale projects in their districts that were not part of the national infrastructure program. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

South Korea provides $1.28-M fund for 5 PHL projects under BIMP-EAGA support program

January 9, 2023 | 7:58 pm

SOUTH KOREA will fund five projects worth $1.28 million (P70.58 million) in southern Philippines under a program that supports development within the special economic grouping covering Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines.

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), in a statement on Friday, said the five projects are among the 10 approved under the four-country East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (BKCF).

The Philippine projects include the University of Southern Mindanao–North Cotabato Campus’ Developing Land Management Options for Diverse Cacao-based System in Mindanao; Department of Trade and Industry’s Mainstream Energy Efficiency in MSME buildings in the Philippines; and Peace Crops Incorporated’s Creating Livelihood Options through Agroenterprise Development towards the Reinvention of the Municipality of Butig as a Premier Agro-Ecotourism Destination in Lanao del Sur.

It also includes Project Zacch’s Farm Konek Agri-Tech Supply Chain Platform for BIMP-EAGA Markets, and Light of Hope Ph Venture, Inc.’s Off-grid Solar Home Systems Deployment in Disaster Vulnerable Low-income Communities in Surigao Islands.

The BKCF, established in 2021, aims to promote inclusive and balanced growth in the EAGA areas as well as enhance connectivity within the ASEAN.

“We are eager to serve the region as the convergence platform for various BIMP-EAGA Pillars with the robust features of our farmer accelerator and Agritech clustering platform, and to build an ecosystem where profit, sustainability, and impact are well distributed and attained,” Project Zacch Chief Executive Officer John Vincent Gastanes said in the statement.

The BIMP-EAGA, established in 1994, seeks to develop remote and less developed areas in the four neighboring countries.

In the Philippines, the areas covered are Mindanao and the province of Palawan.

MinDA serves as the Philippine secretariat for BIMP-EAGA. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Pasig City offers tax-free special permit to sari-sari stores

January 9, 2023 | 7:57 pm

THE PASIG local government has introduced a tax-free special permit for neighborhood convenience shops, referred to as sari-sari stores, in the city that are earning not more than P250,000 annually.

Mayor Regis “Vico” N. Sotto, in posts on his official social media pages, announced the implementation of new guidelines for sari-sari stores as contained in Pasig City Ordinance No. 54 approved last year.

“Let us help the small businesses in Pasig so that the local economy can further grow,” Mr. Sotto said in Filipino.

The free annual special permit will be equivalent to the customary business permit.

Under the ordinance, applicants for the special permit must present their sanitary and health certificates, which will also be free of charge, along with proof of selling food items with a Sangkap Pinoy seal, which is given to manufacturers who fortify their food products with iron, vitamin A, and iodine.

These provisions, the mayor said, are intended to boost public health by encouraging regular medical check-ups among business owners and selling of more nutritious products.

Existing shops will have to retire their existing business permits before applying for a special permit.

The city’s Business Permit and Licensing Department will assess the eligibility of applicants based on start-up capital and/or gross sales and receipts as well as compliance with the documentary requirements.

Random inspections will also be undertaken year-round by the department to ensure compliance and continued eligibility of special permit holders. — Marifi S. Jara

COVID-19 cases drop 9% in 1^st week of Jan.

January 9, 2023 | 7:57 pm

commuters-face mask — COMMUTERS pass through a walkway in Recto, Manila, Aug. 25. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE PHILIPPINES posted 3,127 new coronavirus infections in the previous week with a daily average of 447, according to health authorities.

The daily average from Jan. 2 to 6 was 9% lower than the average cases per day from a week earlier, the Department of Health (DoH) said in a bulletin on Monday.

Of the new cases, seven were severe and critical, it added.

DoH said 79 new deaths were “verified” in the past week, 17 of which occurred from Dec. 26 to Jan. 8.

It said 431 of 2,379 intensive care unit (ICU) beds had been used as of Jan. 8, while 4,185 of 19,373 non-ICU beds were occupied. There were 507 severe and critical admissions, it added.

The Health agency said 73.79 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus with 21.19 million having received booster shots. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Eala bows to Doi in first round of Australian Open qualifiers

January 9, 2023 | 6:33 pm

alex-eala_fb — FILIPINA tennis ace Alex Eala — ALEX EALA FACEBOOK PAGE

Djokovic with hamstring problem, beats Korda

ALEX Eala crashed out of contention in the 2023 Australian Open, running out of steam in a tough 6-4, 6-7, 3-6 defeat against Japanese Misaki Doi for an early boot in the Round 1 of the qualifying draw at the Melbourne Park.

Heeding the challenge of her first-ever women’s Grand Slam tourney, Ms. Eala took a rousing opening-set victory behind her crisp groundstrokes and looked headed to Round 2 with ease following a big lead in the second salvo.

But the 17-year-old Filipina eventually succumbed to the pressure of the 31-year-old Japanese veteran as she fumbled a 5-2 upperhand en route to a narrow loss in the tiebreaker to pave the way for a decider.

Ms. Doi, WTA No. 172 and with almost 300 pro matches under her belt, just stamped her class from there on by keeping the WTA No. 215 Eala at bay for a thrilling comeback win in two hours and 37 minutes.

Save for a defeat in the first set, Ms. Doi was near perfect from then on by netting five aces with only one double fault. Ms. Eala had four faults, majority of which came in the latter part of the match that she controlled until the end of the second set.

Ms. Doi thus advanced in the second round of the qualifiers and will face WTA No. 118 Laura Pigossi of Brazil, who took care of business against Belgium’s Magali Kempen with an easier 6-2, 6-2 win.

Ms. Eala, for her part, kissed goodbye to her hopes of advancing to the main draw in her women’s Grand Slam debut.

A scholar of the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain, Ms. Eala is a winner of juniors doubles Slams (2020 Australian Open, 2021 French Open) and singles title (2022 US Open) on top of her two professional crowns in Spain and Thailand.

DJOKOVIC LOST SLEEP TO DEAL WITH HAMSTRING PROBLEM
Novak Djokovic said he worked with his physiotherapist all night to fix a hamstring issue before the Serbian beat Sebastian Korda in the Adelaide International 1 final on Sunday ahead of this month’s Australian Open.

Mr. Djokovic underwent treatment on his left leg during Saturday’s semi-final victory over Daniil Medvedev after he hyper-extended his left hamstring while stretching to make a forehand.

But the 35-year-old moved freely on the court in Sunday’s final before he dug deep to save a match point and seal a 6-7(8) 7-6(3) 6-4 victory.

“I woke up all right. Went deep into the night last night with work done with the physio,” Mr. Djokovic told reporters. “Talk with the doctors, as well, of the tournament, etc.

“There was a lot of care going into today’s match about the hamstring. It was all right.

“Few times in the match I felt was tightening up the muscle, but nothing that would worry me for my performance.”

At the Jan. 16-29 Australian Open, Mr. Djokovic will be bidding for a record-extending 10^th title to draw level with Rafael Nadal on 22 Grand Slam crowns.

“I couldn’t ask for a better preparation and lead-up to Australian Open,” Mr. Djokovic said.

“I look forward to Melbourne. Rod Laver is probably my most — not probably, it certainly is my most successful court in my career. I love playing there. I look forward to it.

“I have a week off for recovery now and working on specific things in terms of my game, my body, getting my mind in the right state for the best-of-five and two long weeks hopefully.” — John Bryan Ulanday with Reuters

Newly elected VP of AWF to make sure weightlifting remains in ’28 LA Games

January 9, 2023 | 6:31 pm

hidilyn-diaz-monico-puentevella — SAMAHANG Weightlifting ng Pilipinas chief Monico Puentevella (right) with Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo (left). — MONICO PUENTEVELLA FACEBOOK PAGE

SAMAHANG Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) President Monico Puentevella was recently elected as Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) vice president in Doha, Qatar.

After earning his mandate, the AWF honorary president’s first order of business is to make sure the sport, which delivered the country its breakthrough Olympic gold medal in the 2021 Tokyo Games, will remain in the 2028 Los Angeles Games calendar.

While weightlifting will see the day in next year’s Paris Olympics, there is a chance it may not in the next staging in LA as following its removal from the initial list of disciplines to be played there by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“From being AWF honorary president to vice president simply means I would like a more active role within the new AWF and IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) boards to make sure our beautiful sport doesn’t get scrapped in the 2028 LA Olympics and all Games thereafter,” said Mr. Puentevella.

Just before his election, Mr. Puentevella received an award for his exemplary performance as AWF honorary president as well as an inclusion to the IWF Hall of Fame.

Under his leadership, the Philippines won its historic Olympic gold courtesy of Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo in Tokyo.

And there is hope more will be won in Paris. — Joey Villar

Nets edge Heat on Royce O’Neale’s score in final seconds

January 9, 2023 | 6:28 pm

KYRIE Irving scored 29 points and dished six assists as the Brooklyn Nets overcame a second-half injury to Kevin Durant to beat the host Miami Heat 102-101 on Sunday night.

Brooklyn’s Royce O’Neale scored the go-ahead basket on a putback with 3.2 seconds left. He rebounded an Irving 3-point miss.

Miami’s Jimmy Butler missed a contested drive in the lane off the backboard as time expired. The Heat wanted a foul on an O’Neale bump at the end of the play.

Mr. Durant left in the third quarter due to a bruised right knee. He appeared to get hurt when Mr. Butler accidentally rolled onto his leg. Mr. Durant finished with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists. He entered the game averaging 30.0 points.

The Nets, who have won 14 of their past 15 games, also got 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks from Nic Claxton.

Mr. Butler led Miami with 26 points along with eight rebounds. Tyler Herro, who returned after missing one game due to back spasms, added 24 points.

Miami’s Bam Adebayo was limited to 28 minutes due to a thigh injury. Mr. Adebayo finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. He entered the game averaging 21.8 points.

Brooklyn led by as many as nine points early on, but the Nets held just a 31-30 advantage at the end of a wild first quarter. Brooklyn’s T.J. Warren made a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left, and Miami’s Gabe Vincent answered with his own trey at the buzzer as he was falling out of bounds.

Miami’s Haywood Highsmith made a fortuitous 3-pointer earlier in the quarter, banking his bucket in off the side of the backboard with the shot clock near zero.

Mr. Irving led all first-quarter scorers with 11 points as Brooklyn shot 57.1 percent from the floor, including 5-of-8 on 3-pointers.

The Nets extended their halftime lead to 66-64. Mr. Irving led all second-quarter scorers with 13 points, and Brooklyn shot 61.1 percent from the floor, including 4-of-8 on 3-pointers.

The Heat ended the third quarter on a 12-3 run, taking an 82-79 lead into the fourth. Both teams cooled off in the third quarter as Miami shot just 25 percent, and Brooklyn made 27.8 percent.

Brooklyn held on in the fourth and finished the game shooting 51.3 percent from the floor, including 12-of-33 on 3-pointers.

Miami shot 41.3 percent, including 13-for-35 on 3-pointers. — Reuters

Jalen Hurts, Eagles land top playoff seed in National Football Conference by beating NY Giants

January 9, 2023 | 6:28 pm

JALEN Hurts returned after a two-game absence, Jake Elliott kicked five field goals and the Philadelphia Eagles finally clinched the No. 1 seed in the National Football Conference (NFC) with a 22-16 win Sunday over the visiting New York Giants.

Hurts had missed the last two games, replaced by Gardner Minshew in losses to Dallas and New Orleans as the Eagles (14-3) failed to secure the top seed. Sunday’s win also locked up the NFC East title for Philadelphia.

Mr. Hurts led six scoring drives and the Eagles never trailed the Giants (9-7-1), who had already sewn up the No. 6 seed and opted to rest quarterback Daniel Jones, Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley and other starters.

Philadelphia secured a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and also broke a franchise record for wins set in 2004 and 2017 (both 13-3). That 2017 squad also earned the No. 1 seed and went on to win Super Bowl LII.

Mr. Hurts passed for 229 yards with an interception, Boston Scott ran for a touchdown and A.J. Brown caught four passes for 95 yards.

The Giants will kick off their first postseason since 2016 on the road next weekend with a wild-card game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Davis Webb, who had never even attempted a pass since entering the league in 2017, made his first career start and completed 23 of 40 passes for 168 yards.

Mr. Webb’s 14-yard TD run in the fourth quarter pulled New York within 19-9 and his 25-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Golladay made it 22-16 with 1:38 remaining.

The Eagles recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

Mr. Elliott’s 32-yard field goal gave Philadelphia a quick 3-0 lead. On his first snap since Dec. 18, Mr. Hurts began the drive with a 35-yard completion to Mr. Brown.

Mr. Scott’s 8-yard touchdown run- —his 10^th score in eight career games against the Giants — made it 10-0.

Mr. Elliott added two field goals in the second quarter (52 and 39 yards) for a 16-0 lead at halftime. It was 19-0 when he struck from 54 yards midway through the third quarter.

New York got on the board with Graham Gano’s 24-yard field goal late in the third quarter.

Mr. Elliott’s 22-yarder, his career-best fifth field goal of the game, came with 3:21 remaining in the game.

Mr. Brown finished the season with 1,496 yards, breaking Mike Quick’s 1984 single-season Eagles record of 1,409. — Reuters

Rahm storms back to win Tournament of Champions

January 9, 2023 | 6:27 pm

JON Rahm overtook Collin Morikawa with a 10-under 63 in the final round to win the Sentry Tournament of Champions on Sunday in Kapalua, Hawaii.

The Spanish star went five under over a four-hole stretch on the back nine and Mr. Morikawa fumbled his lead by bogeying Nos. 14, 15 and 16. He had played the entire tournament to that point without a bogey, explaining his six-stroke lead on the field entering Sunday.

Mr. Rahm finished at 27-under 265 for the week, with Mr. Morikawa shooting a 72 and having to settle for second at 25-under 267. Tom Hoge (64 on Sunday) and Max Homa (66) tied for third at 23 under. Mr. Rahm, in fact, began his round with a bogey 5 at No. 1, falling seven behind Mr. Morikawa before completing the largest comeback in tournament history.

“You never want to see somebody have a bad day down the stretch,” Mr. Rahm said. “But I feel like with that lead he had, I needed to play really good and he needed to make a couple mistakes.”

Mr. Rahm bounced back with a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-3 second and made three more birdies at Nos. 4-6, including a nearly 21-footer at No. 4, and one more birdie at the ninth.

But the key for Mr. Rahm was holing birdies at the par-4 12^th, 13^th and 14^th holes and converting an eagle at the par-5 15^th. Mr. Rahm stuck his approach at No. 12 to about 2 feet and chipped onto the green inside a foot at No. 14. His eagle putt dropped from 11 1/2 feet.

“At that point I got in the thick of things and never did I think that going into my third shot on 17 I was going to have a one-shot lead,” Mr. Rahm said. “That’s when I had to change a bit of the mindset of chasing and needing birdies to, ‘All right, let’s get this up-and-down, hopefully birdie 18 and give ourselves the best chance.’”

Mr. Rahm did birdie No. 18, but a par would have been enough to beat Mr. Morikawa.

After three birdies on the front nine, Mr. Morikawa skulled his shot out of the sand at No. 14 en route to his first bogey. His third shot on the par-5 15^th, a pitch shot uphill toward the green, only traveled 7 yards.

By that point, Mr. Rahm was in the lead, and Mr. Morikawa missed a 7-foot par save at No. 16 to add to his misery.

“You work so hard and you give yourself these opportunities and just bad timing on bad shots and kind of added up really quickly,” said Mr. Morikawa, who had at least a share of the lead after the first rounds. “Don’t know what I’m going to learn from this week, but it just didn’t seem like it was that far off. It really wasn’t. — Reuters