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ASEAN Foreign ministers seek code of conduct talks

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS — FACEBOOK/DFAPHIL

Foreign ministers in Southeast Asia want to resume talks with China on a code of conduct in the South China Sea, according to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

In a statement on Wednesday, DFA said the ministers met on Monday to discuss peace prospects in the region.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. called for “full support and sincere cooperation to achieve our collective aspiration for the South China Sea to be a sea of peace, security, stability and prosperity.”

The sea should not be “a moat between the members of the family of Southeast Asian nations but a wide watery highway for trade and connection,” he said.

The foreign ministers had also reiterated their commitment for the full implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, DFA said.

They also expressed concern about the situation in Myanmar. Mr. Locsin also pushed for a dialogue and reconciliation, restoration of the status quo before the military coup and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees.

The meeting marked the 30th anniversary of relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

China pledged continued support for ASEAN state members in addressing the coronavirus pandemic by providing vaccines, DFA said.

The Philippines has filed several diplomatic protests against China due to its continued presence within the country’s exclusive economic zone in the disputed sea.

An international tribunal in 2016 favored the Philippines and rejected China’s claim to more than 80% of the disputed waterway based on a 1940s map. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

PCA lacks personnel to implement projects under Coco Levy act   

PCA.DA.GOV.PH

THE PHILIPPINE Coconut Authority (PCA) said it does not have enough manpower to implement different projects under Republic Act No. 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, according to its top official.

PCA Administrator Benjamin R. Madrigal, Jr. said during a virtual roundtable at Lido on Wednesday that the PCA currently has around 500 plantilla personnel, which is 61% of the 826 available positions.

“The current PCA is not as big as it was back in the day. This is a 500-something personnel agency which will implement different projects under the law,” Mr. Madrigal said.

“We are compensating the PCA’s lack of personnel with partnerships among different government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and leaders of coconut farmer organizations,” he added.   

Mr. Madrigal explained that the law provided for the designation of different government agencies with the corresponding projects that match their mandates.

Among the more than 10 implementing agencies include the Department of Public Works and Highways for infrastructure development, the Commission on Higher Education for scholarship program dedicated to coconut farmers, and the Cooperative Development Authority for organizing coconut farmer organizations.   

This set-up, however, is likely to overwhelm farmers due to the number of implementing agencies, according to former agriculture secretary Leonardo Q. Montemayor.

He suggested closer collaboration between the PCA and local government units to tap more resources and personnel support.   

“They (local governments) will welcome the PCA if ever the agency reaches out to them and to other groups related to the coconut sector,” Mr. Montemayor said.

“The PCA should also target the LGUs with the impending implementation of the Mandanas ruling which will increase the internal revenue allotment of LGUs next year,” he added.   

Signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Feb. 26, Republic Act No. 11524 permits coconut farmers to utilize the taxes collected from them during the Marcos administration. The said taxes were diverted towards the procurement of corporate assets for the gain of Marcos’ associates.   

The funds will be used based on the Coconut Industry Development Plan. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Anti-red tape agency recommends charges vs FDA exec over 412 drug use applications 

THE ANTI-RED Tape Authority (ARTA) recommended charges against a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official for alleged delays in processing 412 drug use applications.

ARTA recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman 412 counts of failure to render government services under the time allotted in the Ease of Doing Business law against FDA Center for Drug Regulation and Research Director Jesusa Joyce N. Cirunay.

The FDA drug regulation center recently released 408 out of 412 automatic renewal applications following a show-cause order issued by ARTA in May.

Noting alleged delays in applications dating as far back as 2014, the order directed the center to conduct an inventory of all pending permits, release pending applications, and submit a compliance report.

ARTA said in a statement on Wednesday that Ms. Cirunay, in her responses to the order, admitted to delays in processing applications in her office.

“Cursory perusal of Respondent Director Cirunay’s attachment in both her Letters would show that there has been delay in the processing of the Four Hundred and Twelve (412) applications,” ARTA said.

Renewal application processing at the FDA should take 20 days, according to the agency’s citizen’s charter.

ARTA said that its recommendations were filed to initiate action against Ms. Cirunay “and for other appropriate crimes as the Honorable Ombudsman may see fit.”

Ms. Cirunay and the FDA have not yet responded to requests for comment as of deadline time.

The law requires government agencies to observe three types of deadlines: three business days for simple transactions, seven business days for complex transactions, and 20 business days for highly technical applications.

Government workers found to have violated Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act can be suspended or dismissed from public service, imprisoned, or fined. — Jenina P. Ibañez

103 groups, individuals press court, government action vs anti-terror law 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

MORE than 100 human rights groups, religious organizations, and individuals jointly urged Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra and Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo to act against the anti-terror law and protect human rights defenders.

“We… are writing to you to express our profound and urgent concern on the recent extrajudicial killings, judicial harassment, arbitrary arrests and detention and threats through red-tagging against human rights defenders, including Karapatan human rights workers, human rights lawyers, trade unionists and public sector unions, and organizers of community pantries in the Philippines,” the 103 groups and individuals said in a June 7 letter to the two officials.

In the letter, they appealed for specific actions such as a review and revision of rules on search and arrest warrants, a ruling on the pending cases against the Anti-Terrorism Act filed before the Supreme Court, and publicly recognize the legitimate and essential work of human rights defenders. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

House rep asks senator to name state official behind troll farms

@FERDINANDGAITE

A MEMBER of the House of Representatives on Wednesday asked Senator Panfilo M. Lacson to name the public official supposedly organizing troll farms nationwide to attack opposition bets in the 2022 elections and other candidates not aligned with the administration.

Mr. Lacson earlier said an undersecretary tapped his former staff to assist in the creation of at least two troll farms in every province in the country.

“We ask Sen. Lacson to share the details of these illegal operations and to name the public official spearheading it,” Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Ferdinand R. Gaite said in a statement.

Mr. Gaite asked whether the troll farms supposedly created by a state official are the same artificial users involved in red-tagging progressive groups and in sharing fake news and offensive posts targeting government critics.

He said the senator should divulge details regarding the serious issue to determine whether public funds are being used to perpetrate such illegal operations.

Mr. Gaite and other members of the progressive House bloc Makabayan last year asked government agencies to launch independent investigations into the involvement of the country’s police and military in the creation of over 100 fake social media accounts, which were taken down by Facebook.

Also last year, Facebook shut down 155 accounts, 11 pages, nine groups, and six Instagram accounts that originated in China with posts expressing strong support for the leadership of President Rodrigo R. Duterte and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is supposedly being urged to run for president next year.

Political observers have said fake accounts, which are involved in the perpetration of fake news, would be a threat to the 2022 polls. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

EDSA traffic congestion solved, claims Duterte

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday night claimed that the traffic congestion along the capital region’s main thoroughfare has been solved, saying his government exhausted public funds to fix the issue.

“Ang traffic ngayon sa EDSA maluwang na (The traffic flow along EDSA has eased). But early on sa (in my) administration ko, it was a crisis there,” he told SMNI Channel.

The President said grants from other countries were poured into improving the capital’s transport infrastructure.

He cited that travel time between Cubao and the international airport, a distance of about 15 kilometers, now takes just about 15 minutes.   

Infrastructure think-tank InfrawatchPH could not disagree more.

“We’d like to know which parallel universe the President is in, to say without blinking that EDSA traffic has been resolved,” InfrawatchPH convenor Terry L. Ridon said in a Facebook messenger chat.

“Even in the middle of the pandemic, rush hour traffic from Magallanes to Quezon City is still at least an hour’s pace,” he added.

Citing a 2014 report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Metro Manila Development Authority has previously said the capital region’s heavy traffic jams cost the economy P3.5 billion daily in 2018.

The President, who admitted in 2019 that he failed to solve his campaign promise of addressing traffic woes in EDSA, should “stop deluding the public about the real accomplishments of his administration” in the last months of his presidency, Mr. Ridon said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

3 cops face complaints in death of Calbayog City mayor

COMPLAINTS have been filed against three cops involved in the ambush of Calbayog City mayor Ronaldo P. Aquino and his companions last March, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

Major Gen. Alfred S. Corpuz, PNP director for operations, said three counts of homicide and frustrated homicide were filed last April 16 against three police officers at the prosecutor’s office in Calbayog City, citing a report by the Police Regional Office.

At the same time, he said two counts of murder were also filed against Ronald Mark F. Aquino, son of the slain mayor, a police officer, and several unidentified individuals for the death of two policemen who were killed during the shooting incident.

Police Colonel Oliver Cinco added that another complaint of frustrated murder was filed against the younger Aquino, a police official and several unidentified individuals. A grave threats complaint was also filed against the younger Aquino.

Mr. Aquino, in the same briefing, denied his involvement saying he was not at the scene during the shooting.

Meanwhile, an official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which conducted a separate probe, said they are ready to file complaints.

NBI Eastern Visayas Regional Director Jerry Y. Abiera said in the hearing that they will file multiple murder and frustrated murder complaints against six cops, three individuals, and several unidentified individuals. He added that investigation showed that the mayor had been subject to monitoring as early as Oct. 2002. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Antique’s molecular lab gets license to operate

@PROVINCEOFANTIQUE

ANTIQUE’S own bio-molecular laboratory has been accredited for operations and will soon start testing samples for coronavirus, which will cut the waiting time for results, the provincial government announced.

In a statement on Wednesday, the local government said the Department of Health issued on June 7 the license to operate for the facility located at the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital.

Chief of Hospital Jose Lyndion Perez said with the laboratory for RT-PCR coronavirus tests, specimens no longer have to be sent to various facilities in Iloilo City.

Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao, in a post on her Facebook page, acknowledged Rep. Loren B. Legarda for helping expedite the accreditation process.

Antique has the second lowest number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in Western Visayas, which is currently experiencing a surge in patients.

As of June 8, Health department data show Antique had 414 COVID-19 patients out of the 1,665 recorded since the start of the pandemic. It had 1,192 recoveries and 58 deaths.

The Western Visayas Region had 9,173 active cases with the highest in Iloilo City at 2,201. The other patients are in: Bacolod City, 1,531; Negros Occidental, 1,877; Iloilo province, 1,763; Capiz, 700; and Aklan, 549. The lowest number of active cases were in the island province of Guimaras at 128.

The region has 18 laboratories.

Key matches for Gilas, Korea in FIBA Clark ‘bubble’ next week

THE PHILIPPINES and Korea are up for key matches in next week’s FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers third window in Clark, Pampanga. — FIBA

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

ACTION in the third window of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup Qualifiers kick off next week in a “bubble” setup at Clark City in Angeles, Pampanga, with the Philippines and Korea up for key matches.

The two top teams in Group A, Gilas Pilipinas (3-0) and Korea (2-0) look to make full use of their scheduled games in the competition, happening from June 16 to 20, to solidify their spots in the Asia Cup happening later this year.

Gilas has three matches in the window while the Koreans will be busier with four games on tap.

For the competition, the Philippines will be going all-cadet as part of the long-term program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to sustain the development of the national team.

Majority of the pool of players for Gilas played in the second window of the qualifier in November in Jordan where the team beat Thailand twice.

They include Dwight Ramos, Matt Nieto, Mike Nieto, Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Will Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, Dave Ildefonso, Justine Baltazar and Javi Gomez de Liaño.

Added were Jordan Heading, Tzaddy Rangel, SJ Belangel, RJ Abarrientos, Carl Tamayo, Jason Credo, Geo Chiu and Lebron Lopez.

Also set to see action is newly naturalized player Angelo Kouame, who the SBP believes will be a big boost to the team.

“As we assembled potential naturalized players, we looked at those who can be great rebounders, great locker room players, great rim protectors, and guys that play with a lot of energy and will be great teammates, and I believe Ange Kouame fits all of that,” SBP Gilas program director Tab Baldwin was quoted as saying.

International basketball campaigner Kai Sotto is currently in the country and signified his desire to play for the national team but his status for next week’s competition remains to be determined.

Gilas opens its campaign on June 16 against Korea. It then returns on June 18 versus Indonesia (1-2) and on June 20 versus Korea anew.

The Koreans, for their part, are out to make up for lost time.

As per the FIBA website, the Korea squad is to be led by naturalized player Ra GunA (former Philippine Basketball Association import Ricardo Ratliffe), Lee DaeSung and Lee JungHyun.

It will also feature highly touted prospects Lee Hyunjung and Yeo JunSeok.

Korea last played in the first window of the qualifiers, beating Thailand, 93-86, on Feb. 23, 2020 in Seoul. Kim Jongkyu led the Koreans in the win with 19 points.

The team did not play in the second window in November over coronavirus concerns, forcing FIBA to set possible penalties for the team which could affect its ranking points in the grouping. But considering where Korea is at, the penalties are expected to have minimal impact.

Thailand (0-4) is the lone team still winless in Group A.

Qualifier format has the top two teams in each group qualifying directly to Asia Cup 2021. The six last-placed teams in each group are eliminated.

Meanwhile, the six third-placed teams in each group will then play in a separate qualifying tournament. Teams will be placed into two different groups of three teams. The top two teams of those respective groups will then lock in their spots at Asia Cup 2021.

Aside from Group A, the Clark bubble will also host games in Groups B and C. All the matches will be played behind closed doors as part of health and safety protocols.

Eala, Russian partner barge into QF of French Open girls’ doubles

FILIPINO tennis ace Alex Eala and doubles partner Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2021 French Open girls’ doubles on Tuesday night (Manila time).

FILIPINO tennis ace Alex Eala and doubles partner Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia advanced to the quarterfinals (QF) of the 2021 French Open girls’ doubles on Tuesday night (Manila time).

The Eala-Selekhmeteva tandem made short work of Sofia Costoulas of Belgium and Laura Hietaranta of Finland at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France, to keep its tournament hopes alive.

Mses. Eala and Selekhmeteva, who finished as runners-up in the W25 Platja D’Aro in Spain last month, surrendered the opening game of the match but once they got their groove, they were not to be stopped.

They broke their opponents’ serve in the fifth, seventh and ninth game to nab the easy 6-3 first set win then raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set and never looked back from there.

In the quarterfinals, the Filipino-Russian duo is set to face either the pair of Barbara Palicova of the Czech Republic and Annabelle Xu of Canada, or the duo of USA’s Qavia Lopez and French Mathilde Ngijol-Carre.

Ms. Eala, a Rafa Nadal Academy scholar and long-time Globe ambassador, is looking to win her second doubles title in a Grand Slam event. She and Indonesian partner Priska Nugroho won the 2020 Australian Open title. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

31st SEA Games in Vietnam mulled to be postponed

ATHLETES looking to compete in the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games later this year may have to wait some more if plans of organizers to postpone the event to next year over prevailing conditions with the coronavirus pandemic pushes through.

In an emergency meeting on Wednesday, the organizing committee in Vietnam, this year’s SEA Games host, proposed to postpone the biennial Games because of the new virus outbreak there.

The SEA Games is to take place from Nov. 21 to Dec. 2 in Hanoi and 11 other locations, which according to reports coming out of Vietnam have been at the center of the fresh outbreak of the virus.

The development has hampered considerably the ability of Vietnam to prepare for the hosting the best way it can, forcing it to propose at least for the postponement of the Games until March next year.

During the SEA Games Council meeting on Wednesday, majority of the competing countries, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino said, voted against the postponement.

These are the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Timor Liste.

They, however, recognize that the final decision is still with the Vietnam government.

A final decision on whether to proceed or postpone is expected next week, Mr. Tolentino said.

In the event the SEA Games is postponed, it will be the second time in its history, the first in 1963 when political unrest in Cambodia prevented the event from being staged.

For the 2021 Vietnam SEA Games, the POC said it intends to send 626 athletes who will be competing in 39 sports.

Vaccination of national athletes is currently ongoing so as to adhere to the “no vaccine, no participation” policy that will be in effect in the Games.

“Bubble” training for a number of national teams has begun with more squads set to follow suit.

The Philippines is the defending SEA Games champion. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition winner to be revealed

THE FIGHT for the top prize on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition is now down to Filipino Louie Sangalang and Venezuelan Jessica Ramella. — ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

JUDGMENT day has come for The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition as the winner is to be revealed on Thursday.

After 12 episodes that saw the original 16 finalists’ business acumen and physical abilities tested with different challenges, ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong is now to choose on who between former mixed martial arts champion Louie Sangalang from the Philippines and Singapore-based sales director Jessica Ramella from Venezuela will be the last person standing and awarded the position of ONE’s new chief of staff.

Mr. Sangalang and Ms. Ramella bested Monica Millington of the United States and Irina Chadsey of Russia in the Final Four to book their respective spots in the finale.

The two remaining finalists have been consistent top performers throughout the contest, making strong cases to be The Apprentice.

Baguio-born Sangalang has built a reputation in the show as being a “silent assassin,” a strong strategic threat, and a capable executive, banking on his experience in overcoming many challenges in his life.

A cancer survivor, Mr. Sangalang, 43, has moved forward from a troubled past and is continuing to cultivate himself as an individual.

In the show, he won twice as a project manager and was sent to the boardroom only once.

“I didn’t really have a game plan coming into the competition because I didn’t know what to expect. So my preparation was quite simple: I told myself that I’m just going to be my best professional self and practice mental toughness, then I will adapt to the situation along the way,” Mr. Sangalang shared to Filipino mediamen of the mind-set he had heading into the show.

He also looks at working at ONE as a great situation to be in.

“I think that working for ONE Championship will give me a lot of resource estimate and further develop me as a good team player. I have a lot to offer and that’s the reason I want to be part of ONE Championship [which] embodies the values that I also look up to and the practices that I like,” he said.

Ms. Ramella, meanwhile, has been carving her path since she was 18 years old, traveling from country to country, chasing her professional dreams in a competitive corporate world.

Throughout the show’s inaugural season, she has showcased her resourcefulness and superior problem-solving skills.

She only won as project manager once, but she never ended up in the boardroom for elimination.

For the final episode of the The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition, Mr. Sityodtong and special guest Anthony Tan, CEO of Grab, will put Mr. Sangalang and Ms. Ramella through an intense interview to discover who they really are.

The two CEOs will attempt to break down their walls and get to the core of their personalities in order to make the final decision and crown the winner, who will earn a $250,000 job offer to work in ONE as chief of staff in the organization’s global headquarters in Singapore.

The season finale of The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition will be on AXN on Thursday, June 10, at 8:50 p.m., on TV5 on Saturday, June 12, 11 p.m., and on One Sports on Monday, June 14, at 9 p.m. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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