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IPOPHL signs piracy monitoring partnership with US movie trade association

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said it entered into a partnership to monitor piracy with the Motion Picture Association (MPA), the US trade group for the movie industry. 

The IPOPHL said in a statement on Tuesday that the MPA committed to support the creation of a piracy monitoring system and a rolling site-blocking regime that will disrupt accessibility to piracy sites.

It said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on April 12 to finalize the partnership.

“This newest partnership with MPA elevates IPOPHL’s whole-of-society efforts in fostering a digital environment that respects intellectual property (IP) rights,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said.

Mr. Barba said the pandemic worsened digital privacy, leading to billions in lost revenue for legitimate content providers.

According to IPOPHL, the MOU allows for information-sharing to reduce digital piracy in the Philippines.

“The MPA also commits to conduct training on various piracy prevention measures. The group will also provide reasonable assistance to help IPOPHL and other relevant agencies effectively implement rolling site blocking and take down,” IPOPHL said.  

Jan van Voorn, MPA executive vice-president of global content protection, said piracy remained rampant in the Philippines, with a negative impact on job creation and the overall economy.

“A site blocking framework, which incorporates transparency and due process, can be incredibly effective at reducing levels of online piracy in key markets like the Philippines,” Mr. Van Voorn said.  — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

ARTA sees e-complaints management system clearing case backlog

THE ANTI-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said a new complaints management system (CSM) known as e-ARTA will help clear the case backlog for persons reporting delayed government transactions.

ARTA Director General Jeremiah B. Belgica said at a briefing Tuesday that the CMS will reduce the number of complaints that are not addressed.

“Through this system, (the backlogs) will be reduced since the government agencies will immediately act on the complaints and applications. They would be called upon not only by the public, but also by ARTA. Their answers to ARTA could be almost real-time. When the concern enters the system, they will be able to answer via online. There will also be an opportunity for them to revisit their systems and processes that actually could be causing the delays,” he added.

The e-ARTA CMS was officially launched Tuesday. It features a fully automated referral system which will be piloted between April 19 and May 19, according to ARTA Memorandum Circular No. 2022-03, Series of 2022.

The pilot project will involve the committees on anti-red tape (CART) of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Social Security System, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agrarian Reform, Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board, Land Registration Authority, Bureau of Customs, Home Development Mutual Fund, Department of Public Works and Highways, and local government units in the National Capital Region. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Sta. Romana, PHL ambassador to China and veteran journalist, 74 

THE LATE Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana talks about Philippine products at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai in Nov. 2021. — AMBASSADOR STA ROMANA FACEBOOK PAGE

JOSE Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana, Philippine ambassador to China and previously a Beijing-based broadcast journalist for over 30 years, passed away on April 19, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced.  

He was 74.   

“The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) offers its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Ambassador Chito, to our nation for its great loss,” the department said in a statement.  

Mr. Sta. Romana was appointed envoy to China in Dec. 2016 by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who pursued a foreign policy of friendly ties with China amid growing maritime tensions over the South China Sea dispute.   

He was chosen for the Beijing post “in recognition of his deep knowledge of China’s history and people,” DFA said. “We honor his important legacy of selfless service to the Filipino in the most challenging foreign post.”   

In a 2011 email interview with UCLA language students posted on the www.liwanagatdilim.cdh.ucla.edu website, when he had just retired as a journalist and was recently back in the Philippines, he talked about seeing China’s growth as an economic power.  

“The Philippines can learn a lot from the experiences of China in terms of development of economy… This includes the effort to solve the problem of poverty through appropriate policies. This problem will not be solved if we don’t focus on the progress of the economy to be able to give the poor a chance to be able to better their situations,” Mr. Sta. Romana said.  

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a statement, “After assuming the post of the Philippine Ambassador to China in 2017, he worked actively and industriously, making important contributions to promoting bilateral relations and friendship between our two peoples.”    

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, also extended his condolences to the ambassador’s family and friends.  

“China-Philippine relations have been strengthened and indeed flourished under his distinguished tenure as the Philippine Ambassador to China,” said Mr. Huang. “I greatly value our time working together and will always be grateful for his friendship and undeniable contribution to the development of China-Philippines relations.” — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

Several injured in shooting at Bukidnon IP protest attended by presidential bet Ka Leody

LABOR leader and presidential candidate Leodegario "Ka Leody" de Guzman (in black jacket and red shirt) in a consultation meeting with indigenous community leaders in Bukidnon on April 18, the night before the shooting incident. — KA LEODY DE GUZMAN TWITTER ACCOUNT 

AT LEAST five people were injured after gunshots were fired at a protest of an indigenous peoples community against alleged land-grabbing in Quezon, Bukidnon on Tuesday, which was attended by labor leader and presidential candidate Leodegario “Ka Leody” de Guzman.  

“Thank you for those who were concerned, Roy Cabonegro, David D’Angelo, and I are safe,” Mr. de Guzman said in Filipino on Twitter, referring to two senatorial candidates from his party who were also at the site.   

“An organizer of farmers and a leader of the Manobo-Pulangiyon tribe beside me were hit,” he added.   

The protest action by the Manobo-Pulangiyon IP community was against the alleged land grabbing of their ancestral land, according to a Facebook post by Mr. De Guzman’s party, the Partido Lakas ng Masa.  

The IP community claims to have been forced to leave their ancestral domain of about 900 hectares by a large corporation linked to the incumbent mayor of Quezon, said Mr. de Guzman’s media team in a Viber message.  

The municipal government of Quezon has yet to respond to a query on the response of Mayor Pablo M. Lorenzo III, who is running for reelection.   

“Those responsible did not fire warning shots, but directly fired at us which lasted for about 15 minutes,” Mr. de Guzman told a press briefing on Tuesday via Zoom. “Land grabbers look at our indigenous peoples as pigs who can be shot.”  

Election Watchdog Kontra Daya, in a tweet, also condemned the incident as an “apparent case of election-related violence” and urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct an investigation.    

Commissioner George Erwin M. Garcia said via Viber, “This is a cowardly act that should be condemned by peace-loving Filipinos. If this is an election-related incident, count the Comelec in to use all our powers to get to the bottom of this and hold accountable the culprits and face the full force of the law.”  

Presidential Spokesperson Jose Martin M. Andanar, in a statement on Tuesday, called on local authorities to investigate and prosecute those behind what he described as a “dastardly act.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez 

Storm Agaton agri damage climbs to P1.4B; death toll at 175 

PCG

AGRICULTURAL damage due to tropical storm Agaton, with international name  Megi, has risen to P1.4 billion, the Department of Agriculture reported on Tuesday.   

Damage and losses have been reported in the regions of Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen and Caraga, affecting 23,188 farmers and fishers.   

Volume of production loss stood at 35,258 metric tons (MT) across 17,384 hectares of agricultural areas.  

“The increase in overall damage and losses is due to additional reports on fisheries in Western Visayas,” the department said in its April 19 bulletin.  

Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, livestock, and fisheries.  

Available interventions include at least P662.5 million worth of financial assistance, including: P500 million worth of Quick Response Fund for the rehabilitation of affected areas, and P100 million under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council for Western Visayas.  

The department is also providing P42.07 million worth of rice seeds, P16.76 million worth of corn seeds, and P3.61 million worth of assorted vegetables.  

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation will also allocate funding to indemnify affected farmers.  

CASUALTIES
Meanwhile, search and retrieval operations were continuing as of Tuesday, according to authorities, with 110 still classified as missing while the death toll has reached 175 based on the national disaster agency’s latest report.    

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said on Tuesday that 8,823 police officers and firefighters were deployed to assist in the evacuation, search, rescue, and retrieval operations as storm Agaton triggered flooding and landslides last week, mostly in central parts of the country.   

Military officers and local emergency teams have also been part of the response operations.   

Most of those who died were due to massive landslides in the province of Leyte in Eastern Visayas, with at least 110 in Baybay City and more than 50 in Abuyog town. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson and John Victor D. Ordoñez

US donates additional P17.5 million to support ecosystem and community recovery post-Odette

THE UNITED States government has donated an additional P17.5 million to support recovery efforts for the ecosystem and communities in areas heavily affected by typhoon Odette, internationally known as Rai, which struck southern and central parts of the Philippines in mid-December.   

“This additional assistance will support local organizations in assessing the extent of damage to ecosystems and wildlife habitats, enhancing their resilience and recovery, and provide assistance to farmers, fisherfolk, and indigenous peoples whose livelihoods were destroyed by the typhoon,” the US Embassy in Manila said in a statement on Tuesday.  

American government aid for Odette response and recovery now totals P1.1 billion, it said.   

Seven civil society organizations in Siargao Island, Dinagat Islands, Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte, and mainland Caraga will be given P2.5 million each to implement projects to mitigate long-term damage and environment risks.  

The goal is to rehabilitate coastal and terrestrial ecosystems, support disaster risk reduction and management initiatives, rebuild livelihoods through biodiversity-friendly enterprises, and provide incentives for local communities helping with the rehabilitation.  

Meanwhile, China has donated over P10 million to provide assistance to those affected by tropical storm Agaton, internationally known as Megi, which hit the country last week.  

“We wish all those affected could overcome the difficulties and rebuild their homes at an early date,” Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said in a Facebook post on Monday.  

The Philippines, which sits within the typhoon belt in the western Pacific Ocean, gets an average of 20 storms every year. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

No major damage from magnitude 6.2 earthquake in Davao Oriental  

A MAGNITUDE 6.2 earthquake struck Davao Oriental province in Mindanao, the Philippine southern mainland, at mid-morning Tuesday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.   

The tectonic tremor was located offshore, about 57 kilometers east of Manay town.                   

Intensity 4 — which is generally felt indoors with vibration similar to a passing heavy truck, according to Phivolcs’ 10-level intensity scale — was reported in parts of Davao Oriental as well as in Hinatuan and Bislig City in neighboring Surigao del Sur.  

Phivolcs said no damage was expected from the earthquake but warned of aftershocks. At least 12 aftershocks were recorded by the agency as of 12 noon, ranging in magnitude from 2.9 to 4.4.  

There were no immediate reports of significant damage from local governments.   

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said power transmission services were not affected.   

“The Mindanao Grid remains intact as there are no reports of power interruption and damaged transmission facilities in Davao Oriental and nearby areas where the earthquake was felt,” it said. — MSJ

SC junks former OMB chair’s petition to dismiss graft charges 

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE SUPREME Court (SC) has dismissed the petition of former Optical Media Board (OMB) chairperson Ronald N. Ricketts to dismiss the graft charges against him for failing to file charges against sellers of pirated DVD and VCD goods during a raid in 2010.  

In a resolution dated Nov. 18 last year and made public on Apr. 19, the High Court affirmed the resolutions of the Sandiganbayan in 2012 and 2017 denying his motion for a demurrer to evidence for lack of merit.  

A demurrer of evidence asserts that the evidence presented by the opposing party is insufficient.  

Mr. Ricketts argued that the anti-graft court committed grave abuse of discretion in denying his motion as there is insufficient evidence to sustain his indictment. 

In 2010, a team of OMB agents seized 127 boxes and two sacks of pirated DVDs and VCDs along Quiapo, Manila. Three Chinese nationals were arrested and the confiscated materials were brought to the OMB office.   

The former OMB chief allegedly told his personnel to load 121 of the 127 boxes of pirated products to a truck marked “Sky High Marketing,” and no charges were filed by the agency against any person after.  

The Office of the Ombudsman filed a complaint before the Sandiganbayan against Mr. Ricketts and his co-accused for supposedly giving “unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference” to Sky High Marketing Corporation. It added that Mr. Ricketts caused damage and prejudice to the government by not filing the appropriate charges against the offenders. 

“The orderly procedure prescribed by the Revised Rules of Court is for the accused to present his evidence, after which the trial court, on its own assessment of the evidence submitted, will then properly render its judgment of acquittal or conviction,” the High Court said in its ruling. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Melbourne City dominates United City, 3-0, in AFC Champions League

UNITED City FC stumbled to its second consecutive loss in the 2022 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League, bowing to Australia’s Melbourne City FC, 3-0, on Monday night in Pathum Thani, Thailand.

The reigning Philippine titlist gave up 21 shots and nine corners to the A-League kingpins, who dominated possession at 64.8% and found the back of the net through brace-scorer Marco Tilio and Stefan Colakovski.

The loss, which came three days after a 1-0 opening defeat to Korea’s Jeonnam Dragons, left United City at the bottom of Group G.

Melbourne, with four points on one win and one draw, took the lead on goal difference against BG Pathum United, which beat Jeonnam in the other game 2-0.

Colakovski fired a right-footed shot from the right side of the box in the 34th minute to put Melbourne on the board against listless United.

Twenty-year-old forward Tilio doubled the Australians’ lead 14 minutes after restart with his low effort from eight yards then got his second goal off a Raphael Rodrigues assist in the 75th to put the game beyond reach. — Olmin Leyba

Liverpool has to be ‘angry’ and ‘greedy’ against Man Utd, says Klopp

LIVERPOOL manager Jürgen Klopp has told his players to view their Premier League game against Manchester United later on Tuesday as the most important three points of their lives as they continue their push for an unprecedented quadruple.

Liverpool, who has already won the League Cup and are in the FA Cup final and the Champions League semifinals, trail league leaders Manchester City by a point with seven games left.

While fifth-placed United are on course for a fifth straight season without a trophy, Klopp told reporters on Monday that they can still cause Liverpool “massive problems” at Anfield.

“We have to be angry in a good way and all these kind of things,” he said. “Greedy, really, like you are if you have won nothing, like you would be with nil points and it is the most important three points in your life.

“That’s actually the attitude we need for this game because the quality is too high and they are too good for not being in that mood.”

Ralf Rangnick has failed to inspire a turnaround in United’s fortunes since taking over on an interim basis last year and Klopp said there was no quick fix for the club’s issues.

“We had a similar situation when I started here,” he added. “We were not flying from the first day. Let me say it like this, and you might have thought after six or seven weeks: ‘Is it really much better than before?’”

“When you are in that situation, you just accept that you need all the steps. You cannot just put on a magic sprinkle and go from there.” — Reuters

76ers roll over short-handed Raptors for 2-0 series lead

JOEL Embiid had 31 points and 11 rebounds to lift the host Philadelphia 76ers past the Toronto Raptors 112-97 to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference opening round playoff series on Monday.

Tyrese Maxey added 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, Tobias Harris contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds and James Harden chipped in with 14 points as the Sixers defended their home court with a pair of wins. Danny Green also had 11.

It was the 100th career playoff win for head coach Doc Rivers.

Game 3 will be played Wednesday in Toronto.

OG Anunoby led the Raptors with 26 points, Fred VanVleet added 20 and Pascal Siakam had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Chris Boucher also scored 17.

The Raptors played without Scottie Barnes, who suffered an ankle injury in Game 1 when Embiid landed on him.

Toronto’s Gary Trent, Jr. played 10 minutes and didn’t return due to a non-COVID illness. He was scoreless on 0-for-3 shooting.

The Sixers went ahead 59-46 when Harden drove to the basket and scored with 5:09 left in the second quarter.

Precious Achiuwa responded with a jumper on Toronto’s ensuing possession.

Philadelphia then surged to a 67-52 lead heading into the locker room thanks in large part to Embiid’s 19 points. All 19 came in the first quarter.

VanVleet paced the Raptors with 17, though he shot 6 of 18 overall.

The Sixers came out aggressive on both ends of the court to begin the third and opened a 19-point advantage after dunks by Embiid and Harris.

Philadelphia held a 95-71 lead at the end of the third.

Toronto’s frustration became evident when Siakam was whistled for a technical foul with 10:19 remaining in the fourth.

The Raptors responded and soon closed within 97-84 after Anunoby hit a trey with 7:31 to go.

Following an empty Sixers possession, Toronto came back with a tough layup by Khem Birch.

Maxey halted the 20-2 run with a 3-pointer and a 100-86 lead.

The Sixers cruised to the win from there. — Reuters

Barca’s shock loss to Cadiz puts Real on verge of LaLiga title

BARCELONA — Barcelona’s faint hopes of catching LaLiga leaders Real Madrid suffered a huge blow as they slipped to a shock 1-0 home defeat by relegation-threatened Cadiz on Monday.

Real’s last-gasp victory at Sevilla on Sunday extended their advantage over Barça in second to 15 points, but Xavi Hernandez’s in-form side were expected to close the gap by beating Cadiz at the Camp Nou.

The hosts never really got going, however, in front of a disgruntled crowd and Cadiz had the better first-half openings with Lucas Perez missing a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock.

Cadiz kept coming after the interval and Perez scored in the 48th minute before the visitors wasted further big chances to extend their advantage — Alex Fernandez slotting wide when it looked easier to score.

Barça piled on the pressure but lacked that killer pass as they slipped to a first defeat in 16 LaLiga matches stretching back to December. They remained on 60 points from 31 games, 15 behind Real who have one hand on the trophy.

“We had the chances, more than enough to take the three points, but we have to rise from this and think about the next games,” Xavi said.

“We have to change our form as soon as possible. We have got back into the Champions League places but we have to keep going.

“It’s a very bad week for us and we need to change the dynamic as soon as possible.”

Aside from their shock Europa League exit at home to Eintracht Frankfurt last week, Barça has enjoyed a revival under Xavi in recent months to climb back into the title race.

Not only had they gone 16 matches unbeaten in the league, they had won their previous seven LaLiga games in a row, scoring 22 goals in the process.

Other than Ousmane Dembele’s shot, they did not look like scoring in the opening period, with Cadiz, looking for their first-ever win in the Nou Camp, much the better side.

The decisive strike came at the third attempt after Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a fine double save, with Perez picking the perfect moment to score his first league goal of the season.

Ter Stegen saved Barça on several occasions before substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang almost snatched a point for Barcelona who have now lost two home games in a row for the first time since 2003. — Reuters

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