Miriam’s party vows support for Duterte daughter next year

July 7, 2021 | 8:11 pm

THE POLITICAL party founded by the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has pledged support for Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio if she runs for President next year.

The mayor carries the principles of the feisty senator, her husband and People’s Reform Party President Narciso D. Santiago, Jr. told a news briefing aired on state media on Wednesday.

He also expressed support for the potential senatorial candidacy of presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr., who is a party member.

Ms. Carpio could continue the legacy of Ms. Defensor-Santiago, who died in 2016 after battling cancer, the palace spokesman told the same briefing.

Ms. Carpio’s regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), entered into an alliance with the PRP in 2018 for the 2019 elections.

The alliance may be renewed for the 2022 elections if the President’s daughter, who is also being backed by other traditional parties, decides to run, Mr. Santiago said.

Hugpong earlier formed a coalition with five political parties.

The Lakas-Christian and Muslim Democrats headed by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. and National Unity Party (NUP) have vowed to support Ms. Carpio’s presidential run. Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso III, who is among the favored presidential candidates for next year, is a member of the NUP.

Former President Joseph E. Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino is set to back the Hugpong’s presidential and vice presidential bets, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada said.

“It is the HNP that will choose the standard-bearer for the presidency and the vice-presidency,” he told the ABS-CBN News Channel.

Mr. Estrada said he, Mr. Revilla and Ms. Carpio met for lunch in Taguig City last week to renew their friendship. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

PHL seeks US help on data recorders for military plane crash probe

July 7, 2021 | 8:10 pm

THE PHILIPPINES will send black boxes of a Lockheed C-130 aircraft that crashed at the weekend to the United States to seek expert help in opening and analyzing them, the military chief said on Wednesday.

The United States has committed to help extract information from the flight data and cockpit voice recorders that could shed light on the tragic incident that killed 53 people in the southern province of Jolo, Cirilito Sobejana said in a local television interview.

Mr. Sobejana said the Philippines has no such capability. He gave no timetable for when the US experts could complete data extraction.

The aircraft was carrying troops bound for counter-insurgency operations when it crashed with 96 aboard, killing 53 in the country’s worst military air accident in nearly three decades. Among the dead were three civilians on the ground and the rest of the crew were injured.

Asked if bad weather or human error could be the reason for the incident, Mr. Sobejana said he would await the investigators’ official report.

“I told them to do it as fast as we can, but this should be deliberate,” he said. “We wanted to get the accurate information or the facts.”

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin offered additional support to Philippines counterpart Delfin Lorenzana when they spoke by phone on Tuesday to discuss the crash.

They also discussed critical medical evacuation support provided by US personnel and other possible assistance, including victim identification, according to a statement released in Washington.

Mr. Sobejana said 16 of the casualties have been identified.

Some victims were burned beyond recognition, and authorities would rely on the dental records and forensic testing to identify them, he said. — Reuters

Comelec to open voter registration booths at Robinsons malls

July 7, 2021 | 8:10 pm

Comelec-Robinsons-@ROBINSONSPLACEPAVIA-FB-PAGE — ROBINSONS PLACE PAVIA FB PAGE

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) will be opening registration booths in select Robinsons shopping malls nationwide to encourage more voters to participate in next year’s elections.

“Our aim is to give the public an accessible and efficient registration experience and provide alternative satellite registration sites,” Comelec Spokesperson James B. Jimenez said in a statement on Wednesday.

Comelec will sign an agreement with Robinsons Land Corp. on July 12. Voter registration booths were set up in Robinsons malls in Aug.-Sept. 2019 for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

“We will release the final list of mall registration schedule once available. But the public may contact their local Comelec office directly to inquire about schedules specific to their city or municipality,” Mr. Jimenez said.

Registrants can submit documentary requirements and have their biometrics data taken at the mall sites.

Comelec said the satellite sites will accept a limited number of applicants daily in consideration of mall hours, and only residents of the locality or those intending to transfer their registration records will be accommodated.

Voter registration will be until Sept. 30.

Mr. Jimenez, in a virtual forum in late June, said they have already exceeded the target four million new registrants for next year’s polls. There are currently about 60 million registered voters. — MSJ

Expanded Ilocos Sur port ready for cruise tourism

July 7, 2021 | 8:10 pm

THE EXPANDED Salomague Port in Ilocos Sur, located about 430 kilometers north of Manila, will be formally inaugurated on Thursday in anticipation of the revival of the tourism industry, the Transportation department said.

Developed as a cruise port, completed construction works include a reinforced concrete platform back-up area and pier extension.

“The completed development projects in Salomague Port are expected to promote local economic sufficiency as job opportunities, especially in the tourism sector, will be offered once the port becomes fully operational,” the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said in a statement on Wednesday.

The port is close to tourist areas and beaches in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

Noting proximity to Hong Kong and south China ports, the DoTr said that it expects cruises to the Philippines to increase.

“Before the pandemic, several regional cruise operators have already included the Ilocos region in their regular rotations,” DoTr said.

The department last year said the cruise port was already in use but will be formally inaugurated.

Cruise companies across the globe are experiencing setbacks as they try to restart operations amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

British firm Cunard Line recently confirmed that crew members have tested positive for the virus ahead of its restart, while Royal Caribbean Cruise delayed its Hong Kong “cruises to nowhere” launch to follow local vaccination and quarantine rules.

Philippine tourism revenues last year dropped 83% to P81.4 billion after pandemic-related restrictions prompted a significant decline in both domestic travel and foreign visitors. — Jenina P. Ibañez

DA to establish 1^st agricultural imports inspection facility in Subic

July 7, 2021 | 8:09 pm

THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) is setting up the first of several border control facilities for agricultural imports at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales.

In a statement on Wednesday, the DA said Secretary William D. Dar met with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairperson Wilma T. Eisma on June 30 to discuss the proposal to use a 2,000 square meter lot at the freeport zone for a 25-year period and renewable upon mutual agreement.

“The DA and the SBMA have agreed in principle, pending approval of the SBMA Board, to establish the country’s first of the five planned so-called ‘first border control facility,’ aptly termed as the Cold Examination Facility in Agriculture,” the department said.

The other planned locations are at the ports of Manila, Batangas, Cebu, and Davao.

These facilities are intended to conduct full and thorough inspection of containerized agricultural commodities through risk assessment, together with x-ray screening by the Bureau of Customs, subjecting all agricultural and food imports to 100% sampling and laboratory testing.

“Each facility will feature controlled temperature systems that will capacitate quarantine officers to thoroughly inspect the contents of an identified high-risk containerized shipment and prevent the possible spread of hazardous biological agents, such as toxins, and radioactive elements carried by imported agricultural products,” the DA said.

The inspection facilities have a P521-million allocation from the Office of the President, according to the DA. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Davao City water distributor completes infra for bulk water supply

July 7, 2021 | 8:09 pm

Apo-Agua-bulk-porject-apoagua.com — APOAGUA.COM

THE DAVAO City Water District (DCWD) has completed the rehabilitation and expansion of its distribution network in preparation for the bulk supply project that is expected to be online before yearend.

DCWD Spokesperson Jovana Cresta T. Duhaylungsod said they have finished construction for storage facilities and ground reservoir as well as 108 kilometers of newly-laid pipelines.

“These are on top of the existing storage facilities and pipelines that will be used for the bulk water project,” Ms. Duhaylungsod told Businessworld via text message.

She added that DCWD is working closely with its project partner, Aboitiz-controled Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc., (AAII), for preparations pertaining to the commissioning of the bulk water supply facility.

“We are already ready to start accepting and distributing water to the customers,” Ms. Duhaylungsod said.

DCWD is also carrying out further expansion work, with another 65 kilometers of pipelines being laid out to serve more customers.

In April this year, AAII operations head Shake A. Tuason said they are aiming to start operating the bulk supply facility by the end of the year. The original launch date of mid-2021 was delayed by coronavirus-related restrictions.

AAII, a joint venture between Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. and JV Angeles Construction Corp., will provide the water district 300 million liters of water per day sourced from the Tamugan River. — Maya M. Padillo

5 weak eruptions recorded in Taal on Wednesday

July 7, 2021 | 8:09 pm

FIVE WEAK eruptions were recorded at the Taal Volcano main crater on Wednesday, emitting magma and sending out plumes of up to 300 meters high, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The phreatomagmatic events, or when magma erupts through water, all occurred in the morning with the first at 5:18 a.m. The second one was at 8:47 a.m., and two took place between 9-9:30. The fifth was at 11:56 a.m.

Phivolcs maintains an alert level 3 over Taal Volcano, meaning magma is being released from the main crater which could prompt an explosive eruption.

Meanwhile, Batangas Rep. Hermilando I. Mandanas said emergency response operations are being carried out smoothly following lessons from the volcano’s major eruption in Jan. 2020.

At the Palace briefing Wednesday, he said measures are also being observed to avoid a potential outbreak of coronavirus transmissions at the evacuation sites.

“We have isolation units… the family tents from DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), Red Cross… and the province as well,” he said in Filipino.

He acknowledged that social distancing is a challenge, especially as evacuees understandably feel “tense” over the situation.

He said this is why it is important to continue with the ongoing vaccination at the temporary shelters. “That is why the answer there is the vaccine. If there are transmission, the vaccine will help in minimizing severe cases.”

Over 6,500 families have been displaced by the threat from Taal Volcano, of which more than 1,170 are staying in 24 evacuation centers.

Forensic pathologist says activists killed in southern Luzon were ‘shot to be killed’

July 7, 2021 | 8:08 pm

WOUND PATTERNS in the bodies of nine slain activists in southern Luzon last March 7 indicate that they were “shot to be killed,” said the chairman of the University of the Philippines’ Department of Pathology.

“All of the victims had gun shots in the chest, indicating that they were shot to be killed,” Raquel B. del Rosario-Fortun said in a press conference held by a human rights group on Wednesday.

She said the death of the activists must be investigated for homicide.

The nine were killed in separate search warrant operations carried out by the police in provinces within the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), a region south of the capital Manila.

At least seven of the dead were identified as members of progressive and indigenous groups, according to human rights group Karapatan.

Ms. Fortun also said the bodies “were not in good shape” when she received them, noting that some embalming had been undertaken and the gunshot wounds were already sutured.

Ms. Fortun also narrated that labor rights leader Dandy Miguel, who was the one who coordinated with her for the examination of the bodies, was gunned down while riding his motorcycle in Laguna three weeks after the incident.

“Who wanted him killed?” she said.

Human rights lawyer Josalee S. Deinla, meanwhile, stressed the need to review the rules in issuing search warrants, and that “most important is to have a leader who does not encourage law enforcers to kill.”

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra told reporters in a group message on Wednesday that he has ordered to expedite the investigation on the incident, but was informed that the sites were extremely difficult to access.

“Be that as it may, the Calabarzon incidents remain high in the priorities of the AO (Administrative Order) 35 committee,” he said.

“My understanding is that some of the places where the incidents occurred are quite remote and the terrain is difficult, but it will be much clearer after we have conferred with the investigating teams or we have seen their reports,” he said. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Paul leads Suns’ win in Game 1

July 7, 2021 | 7:07 pm

CHRIS Paul scored 32 points and handed out nine assists while Devin Booker contributed 27 points as the Phoenix Suns leaned on their trusted guard play Tuesday to earn a 118-105 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals.

Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 19 rebounds for the Suns, who are playing in their first NBA Finals since 1993. Phoenix has never won an NBA title.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who returned from a hyperextended left knee, finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds in 35 minutes after missing the last two games of the Eastern Conference finals. Khris Middleton had 29 points for Milwaukee, and Brook Lopez scored 17.

Paul, who was playing in his first Finals game in his 16^th NBA season, scored 10 of Phoenix’s 12 points in a 2:35 stretch late in the third quarter to turn a 74-62 Suns lead into an 86-68 advantage.

Paul scored 16 total points in the third as the Suns outscored the Bucks (35-26) to take a 92-76 lead into the final period.

The Bucks cut the deficit to 101-94 on a basket by Antetokounmpo with 7:16 to go before Booker and Paul made back-to-back baskets for the Suns. Milwaukee never got closer than nine the rest of the way.

Appearing inspired by Antetokounmpo’s return, the Bucks took a 20-18 lead with 3:37 remaining in the first quarter. A 3-pointer by Cameron Johnson seven seconds later gave the Suns a 21-20 advantage, and they never trailed again, leading 30-26 at the end of one quarter and 57-49 at half time.

Mikal Bridges ended the night with 14 points while Johnson and Cameron Payne had 10 each for the Suns. Phoenix starting forward Jae Crowder, the only player on either team with NBA Finals experience, scored one point and was 0-for-8 from the field.

Paul and Booker, who led the Suns in scoring during the regular season, were a combined 20 of 40 from the field and 5 of 15 from 3-point range. The Suns shot 32.4 percent (11 of 34) from distance overall while the Bucks were at 44.4 percent (16 of 36).

Jrue Holiday compiled 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for the Bucks, who were just 9 of 16 on foul shots. Antetokounmpo was 7 of 12 from the line.

The Suns made 25 of 26 free throws.

The Suns won despite losing backup big man Dario Šarić to a knee injury in the first quarter. Saric entered the night averaging 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in 13 playoff games this year. — Reuters

United City, Kaya play penultimate ACL group matches

July 7, 2021 | 7:07 pm

ACLphoto-(2) — PHILIPPINE clubs United City Football Club and Kaya FC-Iloilo play their penultimate group play matches in the 2021 AFC Champions League on Thursday. — AFC AND KAYA FC

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

PHILIPPINE clubs United City Football Club and Kaya FC-Iloilo hit the homestretch of their respective 2021 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) campaigns as they play their penultimate group play matches on Thursday.

It has been a struggle for both United City and Kaya in the ongoing tournament which has seen them still winless and tail-ending up to this point.

Local pro league champion United City (0-1-3) is in joint third in Group I with a point to show for while Kaya (0-0-4) is at fourth in Group F.

United City plays China’s Beijing FC (0-1-3) in Thursday’s game at the Lokomotiv Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, set for 10 p.m. (Manila time).

The two teams fought to a 1-1 draw in their first encounter and are looking to get the better of the other to avoid winding up in last place in their grouping.

United City is coming off a 0-2 loss to Group I-leading Kawasaki Frontale FC of Japan on July 6.

Kaya, meanwhile, takes on hometown bet BG Pathum United in a match at the Pathum Thani Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, at 6 p.m.

The Filipino side lost to BG Pathum, 1-4, in their first meeting on June 26.

Kaya has been competing better since then but has yet to notch its first-ever win in the ACL.

While it has been a struggle for the team in their debut ACL tournament, Kaya coach Graham Harvey said the campaign is not a lost one for the experience the club has been getting.

“[The] opportunity to learn in these big moments will stand us in good stead when we go back to the PFL. It will stand us in good stead for the next two games, to show that since we’ve been here, we’re competitive. We’ll make sure that in all the games we’re in, we’re hard to beat,” he said.

In the AFC Champions League, the top teams in each of the groupings advance to the Round of 16 with the second-place clubs qualifying if they end up as among the best runner-up teams.

Play-in tourney likely will return

July 7, 2021 | 7:06 pm

NBA commissioner Adam Silver expects the play-in tournament for postseason berths to continue next season.

Giving his annual state-of-the-association address before the start of the NBA Finals on Tuesday in Phoenix, Silver weighed in on topics including player injuries amid a condensed 2020-21 schedule, the potential for the Toronto Raptors to return to playing in Canada and the dearth of Black and female head coaches.

Play-in events were added this season, with the ninth- and 10^th-place teams in both conferences earning the opportunity to make the postseason. The No. 9 Memphis Grizzlies took advantage by making the Western Conference playoffs.

Silver said of the play-in format, “It’s my expectation that we’ll continue it next season.”

He added that the arrangement remains subject to approval by the team owners and the National Basketball Players Association.

The league absorbed plenty of flak for a playoff season that has seen a huge list of star players miss time due to injuries following a compacted 72-game schedule.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, the Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving and James Harden, the Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley all got hurt in the postseason. — Reuters

Eala, Nugroho team up anew for Wimbledon girls’ doubles event

July 7, 2021 | 7:06 pm

Ealadoubles — ALEX EALA of the Philippines (right) and Indonesia’s Priska Nugroho are looking to win their second girls’ doubles Grand Slam together in Wimbledon in addition to the 2020 Australian Open they won. — ALEX EALA FB PAGE

THE CHAMPION girls’ doubles tandem of Alex Eala of the Philippines and Priska Nugroho of Indonesia is back this time for the Wimbledon Championships.

Won the 2020 Australian Open, the Eala-Nugroho duo was set to make its Wimbledon debut later on Wednesday (Manila time) against the Japanese-American team of Erika Matsuda and Valencia Xu.

The match was originally set for Tuesday in London (early Wednesday morning here) but rescheduled because of heavy downpour.

Rafa Nadal Academy scholar Eala, 16, is looking to win her third girls’ doubles Grand Slam, in addition to the 2020 Australian Open and French Open title she won earlier this year.

In Wimbledon, the Eala-Nugroho tandem is ranked third.

Ms. Eala, a long-time Globe ambassador, is also competing in the Wimbledon girls’ singles event and is through to the second round after beating Argentina’s Solena Sierra (6-2, 6-4) in her first match.

Ms. Eala is to face Spanish netter Ane Mintegi Del Olmo in the round of 32 on Thursday.

The Filipino tennis wunderkind is the number three junior player in the world and currently ranked 629^th in the Women’s Tennis Association. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo