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Senate bill seeks amendment to emergency procurement law 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

A BILL has been filed in the Senate proposing to amend Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act after an ongoing committee investigation has shown gaps in provisions on emergency purchases.   

Senator Francis N. Tolentino on Monday filed Senate Bill 2433 which seeks to update the law’s provisions on negotiated procurement by requiring documents that will prove a bidders’ financial capacity to deliver the requirements set by the government. 

Under RA 9184, a negotiated procurement scheme may be conducted by the government directly with suppliers or contractors “in case of extraordinary circumstances,” on the condition that the chosen private firm is technically, legally, and financially capable.  

Mr. Tolentino noted, however, that it failed to provide guidelines in determining whether a supplier or contractor is efficient enough to fulfill their contractual obligations. 

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee has been investigating the Budget department’s procurement service for awarding P12 billion worth of contracts to a company which was only several months old and had only P650,000 in paid-up capital.  

In one hearing, Huang Tzu Yen, chairman and president of the controversial Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., himself admitted that the company had no funds when it bagged government contracts, which was why it needed former economic presidential adviser Michael Yang to step in as guarantor and financier.  

Under the proposed law, potential government suppliers, contractors, and consultants “are mandated to submit documents to prove their financial capacity,” whether under a negotiated or emergency procurement.  

“The pandemic laid bare disparities in our laws, particularly those related to health care, travel, transportation, and procurement,” said Mr. Tolentino in a statement on Thursday. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

Bohol gov’t gives legal help to investors of unregistered ‘Repa’ entity 

THE SECURITIES and Exchange Commission (SEC) has declared another entity, known as Repa or Repa Paluwagan, which is collecting money from the public with a promise of high interest as unregistered and no authority to solicit investments.   

REPA, based on reports submitted to the SEC, operates in Bohol, Davao, Bukidnon and Cebu.   

The Bohol provincial government has organized a venue to provide free legal assistance to those who were duped into shelling out money without returns, which has reached at least P451 million as of Oct. 13.   

In a report posted on its official Facebook page, the provincial government said 152 people have so far sought help, and 26 “administrators” of REPA who may face charges have been identified.  

“We encourage all who wish to clear their names to come forward to help us shed more light on the situation and to bring those who are guilty to justice,” it said.  

The SEC said these REPA administrators and “‘sellers’ communicate with their victim-buyers thru contacting them via Facebook, Messenger or other chat groups and personal transactions and offering them ‘limited slots’ for investment packages” with a “40% interest rate of return in just a short period of time of two weeks.” 

“The operations of this entity is a ‘Ponzi Scheme’ which is defined as an 

investment fraud that involves the payment of purported returns to existing 

investors from funds contributed by the new investors,” SEC said.  

“The Ponzi scheme will collapse or result in a total breakdown and the new investors at the bottom of the pyramid will not receive their returns anymore.” — MSJ 

Communist party says Isko not qualified to be one of them 

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE POLITICAL wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines has denied that Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso is a communist, citing his political views.   

Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), said in a statement Thursday that the claim that Mr. Domagoso is a communist is a lie peddled by the “propaganda agents of his political rivals.”   

The claim is unfair to both the Manila chief who denies supporting the communist ideology, and to the CPP “which has a high ideological, political and organizational standard for membership,” he added.    

“Let us respect Isko’s declaration that he is not a communist because in the first place he is not qualified to be one,” Mr. Sison said, noting that Mr. Domagoso is dedicated to preserving the current economic and political system in the country. 

Mr. Domagoso, the standard bearer of centrist political party Aksyon Demokratiko, denied in an online forum on Wednesday that he is a communist  after his pictures with Mr. Sison and other NDFP officials surfaced online.  

The picture was taken when Mr. Domagoso participated as an observer in the peace talks between the Philippine government and the communist movement.  

Mr. Domagoso said in the forum that he does not subscribe to communist ideas as he supports reducing the state’s restrictions on businesses.  

He also said he is open to brokering a deal between Filipino private companies and private players in China for the exploration and possible extraction of natural resources in Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

Judges ordered to prioritize cases on women and children, commerce, gov’t projects  

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE SUPREME Court has directed judges of first and second level courts to prioritize cases involving women and children, government projects, commerce and economy, human life, and those with urgent reliefs.  

In a circular dated Oct. 13 and released on Thursday, the High Court said the directive came from Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo in his message during the Philippine Judges Association’s First Virtual Convention last month.   

The order also calls for the use of alternative dispute resolution to speed up the disposition of cases.   

In his speech, Mr. Gesmundo called on judges “to give primacy” to cases involving women and children; those seeking a temporary restraining order; applications for writ of habeas corpus, amparo and habeas data, and kalikasan; government expropriation and infrastructure projects; commercial- and economic-impact cases; and those that affect the liberty of the accused in criminal cases.  

In June, the High Court also released a resolution to amend its internal rules in an effort to unclog case dockets and speed up the judicial system.   

The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, made up of 22 business organizations, called on the Supreme Court in March to strengthen the implementation of the Philippine Constitution provision that states that “all persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies.” — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

TnT Tropang Giga go for KO to secure PHL Cup Finals berth

THE TnT Tropang Giga go for the knockout to secure a spot in the finals of the PBA Philippine Cup in Game Six of their best-of-seven semifinal series against the San Miguel Beermen on Friday. — PBA IMAGES

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE TnT Tropang Giga go for the knockout (KO) to secure a spot in the finals of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup in Game Six of their best-of-seven semifinal series against the San Miguel Beermen on Friday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Playing at 3 p.m., TnT aims for the jugular that would send it to the finals of the Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino tournament for the second straight season.

The Tropang Giga, losing finalists last year, moved to a position of advantage following a 110-90 rout of the Beermen in Game Five on Wednesday that broke a 2-2 tie in the series.

It was a dominant performance by TnT right from the start, never allowing San Miguel to get its game going.

The Tropang Giga opened the contest with a 30-9 run in the first nine minutes of the match and never looked back from there.

The team played with added bounce, playing with a full complement of players.

Previously unavailable Kelly Williams (health and safety protocols) finally returned and injured JP Erram (fractured cheekbone) fought through and played.

The two combined for 22 points and nine rebounds while also doing their share in countering San Miguel’s big men.

“I have to give credit to those two guys (Williams and Erram). They came out and played, giving us huge minutes,” said TnT coach Chot Reyes in the post-Game Five press conference.

Also stepping up big for the Tropang Giga in the win was veteran guard Jayson Castro, who finished with 19 points and eight assists apart from being a steadying presence.

Rookie Mikey Williams and Roger Pogoy each had 18 points. The latter bounced back from a two-point showing in the previous game and was efficient with a 50% (7-of-14) shooting clip from the floor.

Troy Rosario, meanwhile, had 17 points and eight boards.

In last season’s Philippine Cup Finals, TnT fell to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in five games.

It is seeking its eighth PBA title in franchise history and first since winning the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup.

MAGNOLIA MAKES ANOTHER GO
Meanwhile, the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots make another go for a spot in the Philippine Cup Finals after being frustrated by the Meralco Bolts in Game Five of their own semifinal series.

Held a 3-1 series lead entering the last game, the Hotshots tried to close out the Bolts, but fell short, 102-98.

Allein Maliksi, Nards Pinto and Chris Newsome towed Meralco to the gutsy win.

Magnolia was led by Mark Barroca and Calvin Abueva, finishing with 25 and 19 points, respectively.

Game Six of the Magnolia-Meralco series is set at 6 p.m.

Rebisco reiterates support for national volleyball program

REBISCO recently backed the campaigns of the country’s squads in the 2021 Asian Volleyball Confederation Club Championship in Thailand as part of the local federation’s national team development program. — AVC

PHILIPPINE volleyball has a stern believer in Rebisco, the biscuit and snack food firm said.

A major supporter of the national men’s and women’s teams, Rebisco is glad and honored to be given an opportunity to do its share in keeping volleyball in the country alive notwithstanding the prevailing conditions with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Most recently, Rebisco, in partnership with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), backed the campaigns of the country’s squads in the 2021 Asian Volleyball Confederation  (AVC) Club Championship in Thailand as part of PNVF’s national team development program.

And while the men’s and women’s teams had it rough in the Thailand competition, finishing out of a podium placing, Rebisco is still of the belief that going through such is part of an arduous journey and that it is “a great opportunity for our local athletes to get the all-important foreign exposure that will hone their game.”

In the Club Championship, Rebisco supported all three teams — two for women and one for men — that the PNVF fielded.

Chuco Mucho and Rebisco women finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in the seven-team field while the Rebisco men ended up at ninth in the 10-team competition.

Rebisco and the national team are moving on and preparing for more activities and competitions to participate in, including next year’s Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, where the country is looking to do well in the sport.

In the last edition of the SEA Games in 2019 held in the country, the men’s team broke through with a silver medal finish while the women’s team had its struggles in finishing fourth, but showed promise and competed nonetheless.

“Our dream is to help the PNVF grow the sport and make this game an expression of the Filipino soul, locally and internationally. Our long-term goal is to make the Philippines a recognized international power in volleyball,” Mr. Ng said.

Part of Rebisco’s three-year partnership with the PNVF involves providing regular funding to enable participation in different competitions.

WINNING NOTE
Meanwhile, while the Rebisco men’s team had a tough campaign in the AVC Club Championship, it did not stop it from salvaging pride by winning its final game on Wednesday to avoid landing at the bottom of the standings.

The Philippine team defeated Sri Lanka’s CEB Sports Club in five sets, 25-14, 22-25, 25-18, 21-25, 15-11, in the ninth place game at the Terminal 21 competition hall in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Jao Umandal capped a tournament-long impressive showing by scoring 28 points, including a kill that sealed the Filipinos’ victory. He also had five blocks and three service aces.

“This is our first exposure and we hope to become better for the next edition,” national team head coach Dante Alinsunurin said of their outing which saw them go 1-4 in five total matches.

“We are hopeful for the continued rise of the level of Philippine volleyball on its return to the international scene,” he added.

It was the Philippines’ third appearance in the men’s continental club competition and the first since the country, represented by Cignal HD, finished 12th in 2015 in Chinese-Taipei.

The Philippines booked its best finish in the Manila 2014 edition where PLDT placed seventh. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Jenelyn Olsim settling well in atomweight division

TEAM LAKAY’S JENELYN OLSIM — ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

TRADITIONALLY a strawweight fighter, up-and-coming Team Lakay female athlete Jenelyn Olsim said she is settling well in fighting in the atomweight division of mixed martial arts.

The decorated muay thai fighter, Ms. Olsim, 24, made a successful debut in the 52.2-kg weight class, defeating Vietnamese-American Bi Nguyen by unanimous decision at ONE Championship’s “Battleground III” event in August.

It was a victory that Ms. Olsim (5-2) said is indicative of the kind of fighter that she is — banking on hard work and discipline to take on new challenges, including testing her skills against the best in the atomweight class.

“I only tried to do my best. That has been our mantra from the moment I started training with coach Mark [Sangiao] and Team Lakay,” said Ms. Olsim, a muay thai silver medalist in the 30th Southeast Asian Games held here.

It is the same mindset that she is bringing when she returns to the ONE Circle in November where she will fight against Jihin Radzuan of Malaysia in a ONE Women’s Atomweight Grand Prix alternate bout at ONE: NEXTGEN II.

She was originally to take on in an alternate bout American Grace Cleveland in September, but the latter pulled out days before, forcing Ms. Olsim to put her atomweight grand prix push on hold.

“I’m very excited to earn my spot in the Grand Prix. I know Jihin is a very good technical fighter and she’s very dangerous on the ground, so it’s something I will have to be wary about,” she said.

Adding, “I’m really happy to get this opportunity again even if I’m only considered as an alternate. This is one of the main reasons why I moved weight classes, because I really wanted to be part of the Grand Prix.”

Meanwhile, ONE Championship holds “First Strike” on Friday, which will showcase world-class kickboxing action.

It will be headlined by the featherweight kickboxing world championship fight between Italian Giorgio Petrosyan and Superbon of Thailand.

ONE: First Strike will be shown live over One Sports and One Sports+ at 8:30 p.m. as well as on ONE Championship’s super mobile app. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Australia cancels men’s and women’s Open tournaments due to COVID-19

MELBOURNE — Australia has canceled its men’s and women’s Open tournaments in a hammer blow for the struggling domestic game as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and travel restrictions continue to bite.

Organizers had planned a late-January, early-February window for the men’s Australian Open in Sydney after its original November schedule proved untenable.

But Golf Australia boss James Sutherland said enduring travel curbs and the country’s mandatory 14-day quarantine had left organizers with no choice, but to cancel the flagship event for a second year in a row.

The women’s Australian Open, a stop on the elite Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, had been scheduled for February in Adelaide.

Australia’s borders are effectively shut and unlikely to open to non-residents until 2022, while the two-week isolation is putting off the nation’s top players from coming home from the US and European tours to support the domestic game. — Reuters

Steve Nash: Nets’ decision on Kyrie Irving ‘difficult’

KYRIE IRVING — REUTERS

A DAY after the Brooklyn Nets determined star point guard Kyrie Irving will not participate in team activities until he is vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), head coach Steve Nash called the decision “difficult.”

“Everyone had their say,” Nash told reporters after the Nets’ practice on Wednesday. “It takes time to make decisions like that. This is a difficult decision. But I think it was a sound one and one that makes complete sense to everyone.”

Nash addressed the team on Wednesday. Star guard James Harden said it’s time to proceed without Irving, but both said they would happily welcome him back.

“We are just going to move on, and if things change, it would be incredible to have him back in the fold,” Nash said. “It was a tenuous situation to have a player in and out like that. There’s more clarity, and we can focus on the future and get going.”

Irving, 29, has been staunch against getting vaccinated, despite a New York City order requiring the shot if he is to play or practice with the team at home this season.

“Given the evolving nature of the situation and after thorough deliberation, we have decided Kyrie Irving will not play or practice with the team until he is eligible to be a full participant,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement on Tuesday. “Kyrie has made a personal choice, and we respect his individual right to choose. Currently, the choice restricts his ability to be a full-time member of the team, and we will not permit any member of our team to participate with part-time availability.”

Harden said he and star forward Kevin Durant talked with the personnel involved in the Irving decision and that all parties see eye-to-eye.

“Sean, Steve, me, KD, Kyrie, we all had conversations,” Harden said. “Kyrie believes in his beliefs, and he stands firm and strong on that. And for us, we respect it. We all love Ky. But as far as us, we have a job to do.

“Individually, myself, I am still wanting to set myself up for a championship. And I feel like the entire organization is on the same path and we are all in this as a collective unit.”

The Nets, who lost to the eventual National Basketball Association (NBA) champion Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, are scheduled to open the regular season at Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

The New York COVID mandate prohibits unvaccinated individuals from working in or attending events at many indoor spaces, including entertainment and sporting venues. Similar rules are in place in San Francisco and will go into effect in Los Angeles as of Nov. 29.

Irving’s stance potentially could cost him millions, although the players’ association could move to challenge salary withholdings over vaccination status.

Marks said on Tuesday that Irving would not be paid for home games he misses while “ineligible.” The NBA isn’t forcing players to get vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but it is going to withhold pay for any player who misses games due to local regulations.

Irving is due $35.3 million this season in the third year of a four-year, $136.5-million deal he signed July 6, 2019.

Marks said the team’s decision is not indicative of an impending trade. — Reuters

Bucs’ Rob Gronkowski, two others ruled out vs Eagles

TAMPA Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski has been ruled out of his third straight game due to his injuries.

Linebacker Lavonte David (ankle) and safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. (concussion) will join Gronkowski in sitting out on Thursday’s game against the host Philadelphia Eagles (2-3). Those three players did not practice this week for the Bucs (4-1).

While those three players will not play on Thursday, center Ryan Jensen (hip), defensive lineman Pat O’Connor (calf) and edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder, hand) are listed as questionable for the game. Those three players were listed as full participants in Wednesday’s practice.

Gronkowski previously told FOX Sports he sustained “four cracked ribs, one broken rib and a punctured lung” in the Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Gronkowski, 32, has collected 16 receptions for 184 yards and four touchdowns this season.

David, 31, is expected to miss three to four weeks with a high ankle sprain he sustained during Tampa Bay’s 45-17 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

David has 34 tackles and one sack in five games this season. The 10-year veteran has spent his entire career with the Buccaneers and was an All-Pro in 2013 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2015.

Winfield, 23, will miss his second straight game on Thursday. He has 25 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble in four games this season.

Quarterback Tom Brady, 44, is a full-go for Thursday’s game. He injured his right (passing) thumb against Miami.

Philadelphia right tackle Lane Johnson (personal matter) remains away from the team and will miss his third straight game. — Reuters

Dodgers vs Giants in Game 5: ‘This is what baseball wants’

TWO pitchers who were difficult to beat in the second half of the regular season — and have continued to be one game into the postseason — will command the spotlight with the season on the line on Thursday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the San Francisco Giants in the decisive Game 5 of the National League Division Series (NLDS).

The teams have alternated wins and losses in the best-of-five series, with the Giants’ Logan Webb (1-0) getting San Francisco off to a strong start with 7 2/3 shutout innings in Game 1. Then, the Dodgers’ Julio Urias (1-0) countered with five innings of one-run, three-hit ball in a bounce-back win in Game 2.

The two pitchers will oppose each other on Thursday night.

After Game 2, the clubs repeated a similar split in Los Angeles. Now, the National League (NL) West rivals are a win away from an National League Championship Series (NLCS) date against the Atlanta Braves — and a loss from having nothing, but a week’s worth of playoff experience to show for one of the greatest two-team duels in baseball history.

While the Giants have captured the close games — winning 4-0 and 1-0 — and the Dodgers dominating the blowouts — 9-2 and 7-2 — each club was left on Wednesday on their off day wondering how to handle the other’s red-hot pitcher in a win-or-pack-the-gear showdown.

“This is what baseball wants,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after his team’s stay-alive win in Game 4. “We’re going to be the only show in town. So if you have a pulse or you’re a sports fan, you better be watching Dodgers-Giants. It’s going to be a great one.”

While Roberts left Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night confident his guys had solved the Giants’ pitching, rival manager Gabe Kapler assured reporters that he and his staff still had homework to do in preparation for a final exam against Urias.

“That’s going to take some planning and conversation. I’m happy to discuss that with the guys,” Kapler said. “We’re going to take a look at the last game against Urias and make adjustments accordingly.”

The Giants had their chances against the 20-win left-hander in their last matchup on Saturday.

Austin Slater hit a ground-rule double in the first inning; the Giants put two on with no outs in the second, scoring once on a Donovan Solano sacrifice fly; then Buster Posey provided a leadoff double in the fourth.

But besides that sac fly, the Giants went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position in Urias’ five innings. He won for the 12th straight time since June 21, an 18-game stretch in which the Dodgers have gone 16-2.

The Dodgers got just three baserunners into scoring position in Webb’s 7 2/3 innings in Friday’s opener, one the result of a first-inning error.

By the time Corey Seager and Will Smith had doubled in the sixth and seventh innings, the Giants had built a 2-0 lead and Webb was on the way to his 11th straight win dating to May 11.

San Francisco has gone 19-2 in those games.

Neither team will have its standout first baseman available again, with San Francisco’s Brandon Belt (broken thumb) and Los Angeles’ Max Muncy (dislocated elbow) relegated to cheerleading.

But the status of the rest of the rosters isn’t as equal, as Giants second baseman Tommy La Stella is battling a sore Achilles and Kapler has been prompted into making 10 pitching changes in the past two games, resulting in a taxed bunch.

The Dodgers are coming off a game in which six different players got two hits, while Roberts has had to go to the bullpen just seven times in the past two games. — Reuters

Medvedev sent packing in fourth round of Indian Wells

DANIIL Medvedev was knocked out in the fourth round of Indian Wells by Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday as the world number two’s near-flawless start turned nightmarish in a (4-6, 6-4, 6-3) defeat.

Medvedev broke Dimitrov’s serve to open the match, easing through a near-perfect first set in which he won all, but four of his first-serve points and fired off three aces with just five unforced errors.

The Russian, who won his maiden major title at the US Open last month, was up two breaks in the second set and seemingly on track for an easy victory.

But Dimitrov came roaring back, winning five games in a row to wrest control of the momentum as Medvedev unraveled, converting on break point to close out the second set, before winning another three games in a row to open the third.

“Little by little, I was just trying to stay in the game, stay in the moment, and really fight through every opportunity I had. I really had to go for it,” Dimitrov said after the match.

Down 15-40 and 4-1, Medvedev’s frustrations boiled over as he missed a first serve and angrily flung his racquet to the ground. He then double faulted, handing Dimitrov the break.

Medvedev broke back and then held serve, but it was too late, as the world number 28 completed the stunning comeback in the following game, before thrusting his arms aloft in triumph.

“I really wanted to play this match to be completely honest. I think what he has been able to accomplish this past, like, year and a half is pretty amazing. I think it really pushes me also to do better,” Dimitrov told reporters.

Medvedev, who picked up his fourth Masters 1000 title earlier this year in Toronto, told reporters he struggled to control the ball, particularly on the first serve and said he was growing tired just as Dimitrov “flipped the switch.”

“I don’t remember myself losing three service games, even four service games ever, I guess, on hard courts,” he said.

“That shows how slow this court is and the conditions, more like clay, I would say, which I don’t like, because to lose four times the serve is just unacceptable.”

Dimitrov has now recorded two wins against Medvedev and next faces eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz in the quarterfinal round. — Reuters

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