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Sugar industry says import plan depressed prices

REUTERS

SUGAR FARMERS urged the government to drop plans to import 200,000 metric tons (MT) of sugar after the domestic price for raw sugar dropped by nearly 10% in some markets.

On Feb. 4, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) issued Sugar Order No. 3, which authorized the import of those quantities, citing the need to maintain a buffer stock between milling seasons.

“Two days (after the order), week-ending sugar bids closed (lower),” planters said in a statement, noting that mill prices per 50-kilogram bag (Lkg) ranged from P99.12 to P230.”

 “(It) is evident that the ill-timed announcement of SRA to import led to a price drop,” former SRA Board Member Emilio Bernardino L. Yulo said.

He said that the 10% drop will impact the livelihoods of small sugar farmers, which account for more than 80% of sugar producers.

“These small farmers are barely surviving due to the high cost of farm inputs, particularly fertilizer and fuel, (whose prices are) increasing steadily each week and will now suffer more because of this drop in sugar prices,” he added.

Mr. Yulo attributed the drop to “the premature announcement” of SRA Administrator Hermenigildo R. Serafica.

“He knew that this will have an immediate effect on sugar pricing,” he added.

Asociacion de Agricultores de la Carlota y Pontevedra, Inc., an organization of producers in those two Negros Occidental towns, reiterated their appeal for a price freeze on farm inputs to reduce the burden on farmers.

“Since last year, we have appealed to the SRA, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yet there has been no action. Instead, SRA released Sugar Order No. 3 knowing that we are in the peak of the milling season and this led to the drop of prices,” the group said. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Fuel marking program revenue tops P367B; volume 36B liters

PHILSTAR

TAXES collected from marked fuel products amounted to P367.26 billion as of last week, dating back to 2019 when the program started, according to the Department of Finance.

The volume of marked fuel topped 36 billion liters since Sept. 4, 2019, according to data sent by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III to reporters on Viber Monday.

As of Feb. 11, revenue collected included P337.44 billion in Customs duties, along with P29.81 billion in excise tax.

Almost three-quarters of the fuel was marked in Luzon, with more than a fifth in Mindanao and 5% in the Visayas.

Diesel accounted for more than 60%, while gasoline had a 39% share, and kerosene the remainder.

The program seeks to deter fuel smuggling by injecting a special dye into the products to signify tax compliance. The absence of the dye is an indication the fuel was smuggled.

In 2021, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) collected nearly P166 billion in duties from the fuel marking program.

The BoC last year marked over 17 billion liters of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene.

It also intercepted nearly 87,000 liters of smuggled diesel and kerosene worth P5.16 million last year, along with two tanker trucks containing unmarked fuel valued at P7.4 million.

Customs collections in 2021 hit P645.77 billion, or 20% higher than the previous year and 4.7% above the bureau’s target as international trade rebounded after the pandemic-driven economic downturn. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Caraga mining output up 8.9% by value on higher metals prices

BW FILE PHOTO

THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said the Caraga mining industry, which extracts much of the country’s nickel, posted growth of 8.93% by value in 2021 due to higher metal prices.

Gross sales of Caraga shipments of mining products increased to P78.86 billion in 2021 from P72.39 billion a year earlier, the MGB said in a statement.

“The increase of the mineral sales for 2021 was mainly due to the increase of metal prices in the world market. The nickel producing mines in the region have been consistent in gaining considerable earnings even in the previous years,” the MGB said.

“The Caraga mining industry has significantly contributed to the country’s economic development as well as the foreign-exchange earnings through mineral exports,” it added.

The value of the region’s gross sales rose 21.19% to P52.75 billion in 2021.

The mining season for the majority of nickel and iron mines in the region ends in the fourth quarter every year.

Caraga in northeastern Mindanao, also supplies gold, copper, chrome, nickel, iron and limestone. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

PHL support for four-day work week among strongest in region

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Yibei Geng from Unsplash

SURVEY respondents from the Philippines were among the most receptive in Southeast Asia to a four-day work week, according to a survey conducted by consumer data and analytics firm Milieu Insight.

Milieu Insight said on Monday that on a survey in which participants ranked propositions on a scale ranging from zero to 10 (where a response of 10 indicates greatest receptivity), 74% of the 1,000 respondents from the Philippines were in the 8 to 10 range, while 21% selected 5 to 7 range and 6% answered between zero and 4 range.

The survey defined a four-day work week as having the same number of hours compared to a five-day schedule.

“In this arrangement, an employee is expected to still work 40 hours/week (10 hours/day), and will have three days off instead of the usual two every week,” Milieu Insight said.

Other countries with responses in the 8 to 10 range were Vietnam (78%), Singapore (76%), and Thailand (75%). Indonesia came in at 69% and Malaysia 48%.

“Receptiveness towards compressed four-day work week is rather positive, with at least 7 in 10 in Southeast Asia indicating at least an 8 from a 0 to 10 scale when asked how much they would like this arrangement to be implemented at their workplaces,” Milieu Insight said.

The survey also found that 39% of respondents from the Philippines were not willing to take a pay reduction to go on a four-day week. Some 19% expressed openness to a 20% pay cut to work four days, 17% were willing to take a 10% pay cut, 13% said they will accept a 15% pay cut, and another 13% indicated that they are willing to take a 5% pay cut.

Milieu Insight found that 67% of respondents in Southeast Asia said a compressed work week will allow for improved work-life balance; 64% said they will be able to spend more time with their loved ones; 48% said they will have more time to be creative and generate ideas; while 45% expect increased productivity.

The survey was conducted in December and involved 500 senior employees and 500 junior employees each in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Clarifications and guidance on tax-free exchanges of property

Over the years, government agencies have been continuously innovating to simplify government services and reduce the time to complete transactions. Constant improvements also build trust and confidence on the part of taxpayers.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) recently issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 19-2022 which provides clarification and guidance to Revenue District Officers (RDOs), other internal revenue officers, and others involved in the issuance of the Certificate Authorizing Registration (CAR) without a prior confirmation or tax ruling on tax-free exchanges of property, while at the same time ensuring that the proper taxes due to the BIR on their subsequent sale or disposition are protected and collected.

Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 5-2021 state that “No gain or loss shall be recognized on a corporation or on its stock or securities if such corporation is a party to a reorganization and if it exchanges property in pursuance of a plan of reorganization solely for stock or securities in another corporation that is a party to the reorganization as defined under Section 2 hereof.” 

No gain or loss shall also be recognized if property is transferred to a corporation by a person, alone or together with others, not exceeding four persons, in exchange for stock or unit of participation in such a corporation, of which as a result of such exchange, the transferor or transferors, collectively, gains or maintains control of said corporation, provided, that stocks issued for services shall not be considered as issued in return for property. Sale or exchange of property used for business for shares of stock covered under this subsection shall not be subject to value-added tax (VAT).

In all of these instances of exchange of property, a prior BIR confirmation or tax ruling are not required to avail of the tax exemption. The concerned parties can implement the transaction covered by, but not limited to, the issuance of the CAR by the RDO where the property is located, in case of real property, or by the RDO where the business is registered, in case of shares of stock, subject to post-transaction audit by the Bureau.

Under Section 40(C) (2) of the 1997 Tax Code, as amended by the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, the following transactions are covered by the tax-free exchanges of property, which are (i) reorganization and (ii) transfer to a controlled corporation. In reorganization, these include the usual corporate transactions involving mergers or consolidations and other transactions involving the sale or exchange of voting shares of a corporation resulting in the acquisition of control of the buying corporation as well as recapitalization. On the other hand, transfer to a controlled corporation pertains to the transfer of property to a corporation by a person, alone or together with others, not exceeding four persons, in exchange for stock or unit of participation in such a corporation of which as a result of such change, the transferor or transferors, collectively, gains or maintains control of said corporation.

The substituted basis of the properties transferred shall be the original basis of the property, stock, or securities to be transferred less money received, if any, and the fair market value of the other property received, if any, plus the amount treated as dividend of the shareholder, if any, and the amount of any gain that was recognized on the exchange, if any, for stock or securities. However, for property in the hands of the transferee, the substituted basis shall be the original basis in the hands of the transferor plus the amount of the gain recognized to the transferor on the transfer.

Illustrations and further explanations on the determination of the substituted basis of the properties transferred and stocks received in the exchange are found in existing revenue issuances as follows: RR No. 18-2001, RMR No. 1-2001, RMR No. 1-2002, RMR No. 2-2002, RMO No. 32-2001, and RMO No. 17-2016.

The substituted basis shall be the basis for determining gain or loss on a subsequent sale or disposition of properties subject of the tax-free exchange transactions under Section 40(C)(2) of the 1997 Tax Code, as amended, by the CREATE Act. The recent BIR issuance explicitly laid out the requirements set forth under RR No. 18-2001 for the proper monitoring of the substituted basis. The transfer of properties in exchange for shares of stock made pursuant to Section 40(C)(2) shall be exempt from capital gains tax, creditable withholding tax, income tax, donor’s tax, value-added tax, and documentary stamp tax on conveyances of real property and shares of stock, except original issuance of shares in exchange of real property transferred.

For purposes of the issuance of the CAR for the transferred properties pursuant to the tax-free exchange, the parties to the transaction shall submit the documentary requirements listed in Annex “B” of RMC No. 19-2022 to the RDO having jurisdiction over the place where the property is located, in case of a real property, or in case of shares of stock, the RDO where the issuing corporation is registered.

In case the transaction involves the transfer of multiple real properties and/or shares of stock situated in various locations covered by different RDOs, the CAR shall be processed with the RDO having jurisdiction over the place where the transferee corporation is registered. The CAR should specify, among others, that the transaction is a tax-free exchange under Section 40(C)(2) of the Tax Code of 1997, as amended by CREATE, the date of transaction, and the substituted basis of the properties subject therefor.

Taxpayers are not prohibited from seeking legal opinions or ruling to resolve legal issues and taxability affecting the transactions made pursuant to Section 40(C)(2) of the Tax Code. The Law and Legislative Division of the BIR National Office shall evaluate whether the request involves question/s of law that would merit the issuance of a ruling. Otherwise, it shall endorse the request to the concerned RDO for appropriate action.

With the recent BIR issuance, corporate taxpayers will no longer suffer the ordeal of complying with previous intricate procedures issued by the tax authority just for them to avail of tax-free exchange transactions. The recent guidelines are appropriate to the current situation and will definitely benefit many corporate taxpayers in their transactions involving exchange of property.

Let’s Talk Tax is a weekly newspaper column of P&A Grant Thornton that aims to keep the public informed of various developments in taxation. This article is not intended to be a substitute for competent professional advice.

 

Mark Anthony Ponte is an associate from the Tax Advisory & Compliance division of P&A Grant Thornton, the Philippine member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd.

pagrantthornton@ph.gt.com

Pacquiao declines invite from Quiboloy network

SENATOR MANNY PACQUIAO FB PAGE

BOXING champion and Senator Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao on Monday declined an invitation to a presidential forum from a media network owned by President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s spiritual adviser.

“As much as I would like to participate in every debate and public forum related to my bid for the presidency, I am compelled to decline the invitation of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), which is owned by Apollo Quiboloy, who, according to the US government, has molested and abused children,” he told reporters in a Viber message.

“I cannot, in good conscience, be part of any activity organized by a man wanted for detestable crimes and who unconscionably used the name of the Lord in vain for religious scams,” he added.

A federal warrant has been issued for his arrest after a California district court on Nov. 10 convicted him of the crimes.

Mr. Pacquiao also said that he has a pending cyber-libel case against the religious leader, so “it is better to decline the invitation of SMNI.”

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, Sr., another presidential candidate at this year’s elections also chose not to attend the debate, noting that Mr. Quiboloy had endorsed Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. for president and his running mate Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio.

“Senate President Tito Sotto and I are skipping the SMNI debates,” he tweeted. “The network’s chairman, Pastor Quiboloy, has already openly endorsed his preferred presidential and vice-presidential candidates.”

Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo also declined the SMNI invitation, citing a prior commitment.

“Leni Robredo has a proven track record of attending debates and interviews regardless of the personal histories or affiliations of its sponsors,” her spokesman Ibarra M. Gutierrez III said in a statement. But she has to meet with leaders and supporters on Panay Island on the day of the debate.

“She will be unable to attend this privately sponsored event, but will definitely be present for all the upcoming Commission on Elections-sponsored and accredited debates,” he added.

Mr. Marcos and labor leader Leodegario “Ka Leody” de Guzman have agreed to join the debate.

Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos has declined an invitation to a presidential debate organized CNN Philippines, citing a conflict of schedule.

In a statement, the network said the son of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos is the lone presidential hopeful who won’t be able to make it to the debate on Feb. 27. A separate debate for vice-presidential candidates will be held a day earlier.

Ms. Carpio had also ditched the debate, CNN Philippines said. She did not say why.

Also on Monday, Mr. Pacquiao and Mr. Lacson said they were not worried about Mr. Marcos’s lead in Pulse Asia Research’s January presidential opinion poll.

“We are not worried about the polls that come out,” Mr. Pacquiao said. “I am fighting for the future of our people, especially the poor. Our support is growing every day. We have solid ground support.”

Mr. Lacson asked his supporters not to lose hope. “To our brave supporters: If you don’t see in the surveys the support that you feel on the ground, don’t get disheartened.”

“Our fight to enlighten a benighted land shall continue in ways that are determined, decent, serious and honest. We will never give up for our country’s sake,” he added.

Mr. Marcos remained the top runner, with six of 10 Filipinos likely to vote for him, Pulse Asia said at the weekend. Ms. Robredo was a distant second with 16%.

Mr. Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso got 8% each, while Mr. Lacson got 4%.

Among those with a first choice for president, 24% said they would vote for Mr. Domagoso in case their candidate withdraws from the race, Pulse Asia said.

Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio topped the poll for vice-president with 50%, followed by Senator Vicente C. Sotto III (29%), Senator Francis “Kiko” N. Pangilinan (11%) and Willie Ong (5%). — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Metro kept under Alert Level 2 until end of the month

MANILA, the capital and nearby areas will remain under Alert Level 2, the presidential palace said on Monday, as the country posted its lowest daily tally this year. 

A coronavirus task force had kept the lockdown level for the capital region until Feb. 28, presidential spokesman Karlo Alexei B. Nograles said in a statement on Monday.

Metro Manila, which accounts for about a third of the country’s economic output, has been under Alert Level 2 since the start of the month amid decreasing coronavirus infections.

The region’s 17 mayors recommended that it be kept under Alert Level 2 for the rest of the month, saying relaxing the lockdown could result in so-called super spreader events especially with the start of the campaign period for the May 9 elections.

Health authorities have put Metro Manila under moderate risk classification, from critical in early January.

Under Alert Level 2, more business establishments may operate at higher capacities, ranging from 50% to 70% depending on whether these are operating indoors or outdoors.

Meanwhile, Iloilo City, Iloilo Province and Guimaras in central Philippines and Zamboanga City, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental and South Cotabato in the nation’s south will remain under Alert Level 3.

All other areas will be under Alert Level 2 until Feb. 28.

The Department of Health (DoH) posted 2,730 new coronavirus infections on Monday — the lowest daily tally this year — bringing the total to 3.64 million.

The death toll reached 55,094 after 164 more patients died, while recoveries rose by 7,456 to 3.5 million, it said in a bulletin.

The agency said 10.7% of 28,620 samples on Feb. 12 tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-190, still above the 5% threshold set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Of 76,609 active cases, 2,310 did not show symptoms, 69,574 were mild, 2,970 were moderate, 1,443 were severe and 312 were critical.

DoH said 96% of the new cases occurred on Feb. 1 to 14. The top regions with most infections in the past two weeks were Metro Manila with 467, Calabarzon with 330 and Central Visayas with 283 cases. It added that 52% of new deaths occurred this month and 32% in January.

Sixty-eight duplicates were removed from the tally, 52 of which were recoveries, while 121 recoveries were relisted as deaths. Two laboratories failed to submit data on Feb. 12. The country has started accepting fully vaccinated foreign tourists.

Mr. Nograles said in a separate statement an inter-agency task force had also approved the acceptance of vaccination certificates of Malaysia and Ireland.

The Philippines is scrambling to test more people as it reopens the economy.

It had fully vaccinated 60.01 million people as of Feb. 9, while 60.67 million have received their first dose, data from the Health department showed. About 8.01 million booster shots have been injected.

DoH last week said the coronavirus was not yet endemic because infections have yet to stabilize. The government is preparing for an eventual shift to Alert Level 1, which will become the so-called new normal.

On Thursday, the government took delivery of 3.4 million doses of Pfizer, Inc.’s coronavirus vaccines donated by the United States under a global initiative for equal access.

The government’s two-day vaccination campaign on Feb. 10 to 11 would be extended until Feb. 18, DoH said. — KATA

Nomura reiterates Robredo’s ‘market-friendliness’ after local economists’ support; Ka Leody vows higher pay for teachers

NOMURA Global Research on Monday reiterated that presidential candidate Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo is more market-friendly than her main political rival after a group of local economists backed the opposition bet, citing her pandemic recovery program and good governance platform. 

“This is consistent with our view that Robredo is viewed by the private sector as the more market-friendly candidate, given her national experience and her strategy to boost the recovery from the pandemic,” Nomura Global Research said. 

More than 160 economists, including five former socioeconomic planning secretaries, recently endorsed Ms. Robredo’s candidacy, saying her solid economics and legal background will be “necessary for crafting policies to accelerate economic recovery.” 

“In addition, the economists highlighted her proven track record of hands-on leadership and good governance,” Nomura said. 

Ms. Robredo’s main rival, the late dictator’s son Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr., is still leading pre-election surveys. 

Nomura said frontrunner Mr. Marcos is likely benefiting from the popularity of her running mate, presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Caprio, citing latest survey results. 

A recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia, Inc. from Jan. 19 to 24 showed that Mr. Marcos widened his lead against Ms. Robredo, with an approval rating of 60% versus the opposition bet’s 16%, up from 53% in the survey in early December. 

“Marcos, Jr. appears to be enjoying broad-based support, according to the survey results,” Nomura said. 

London-based think tank Capital Economics said in a report last week the country’s situation is “unlikely to improve” and “could easily get worse” under Mr. Marcos’s administration. “What we do know about him is far from encouraging.” 

It noted that Mr. Marcos has refused to participate in traditional pre-election debates. “We know nothing about his plans to help the economy recover from the pandemic, on fiscal policy or how to improve the business environment.” 

The group also said Mr. Marcos has a poor legislative track record.

KA LEODY
Meanwhile, labor leader and presidential candidate Leodegario “Ka Leody” de Guzman said on Monday that he would increase teachers’ pay if he wins.

“If police officers can have their salaries doubled, why can’t we help our teachers, who shape our future leaders’ minds, and prepare those 

who will contribute to society,” Mr. de Guzman said at the Radyo Veritas Catholic E-Forum in Filipino on Monday.

Mr. De Guzman also said he plans on allocating more funds for building schools to bring teachers closer to their place of work and their communities. 

“Teachers won’t have to cross great lengths like rivers and valleys to serve our youth,” he said. 

“That’s a welcome statement and knowing that Ka Leody has consistently championed the welfare of the working people, including those in government service,” Benjo Basas, head of Teacher’s Dignity Coalition, said in a Facebook messenger chat.

“I am sure that he is sincere about this. We look forward to the same commitment from other candidates and we’ll soon challenge them to put it in writing,” he added. 

Mr. De Guzman also reiterated his labor-first platform with his plan to empower farmers and workers by addressing issues on wages and shifting away from past administrations’ focus on the success of big businesses. 

He noted that he is not anti-capitalist but is against prominent companies monopolizing industries at the expense of workers. 

“The prominent businessmen are so rich that the country’s wealth is concentrated among them, they will never run out of wealth,” he said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and John Victor D. Ordonez

Presidential candidate Isko to give fire victims financial aid from campaign funds

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

MANILA Mayor and presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso visited victims of a recent fire in Cavite on Sunday where he promised to give 790 families P10,000 each from “personal funds and donations from friends and supporters.”

“Every family whose house was burnt will receive P10,000,” he was quoted as saying in Filipino in a statement released on Monday. “Don’t use it for (gambling), okay? Use it to buy roofing materials and plywood for your walls.”

Commission on Elections Spokesperson James B. Jimenez said in a press briefing earlier this year that candidates are banned from giving money or anything of value, and call it aid, locally known as ayuda, during the campaign period, which started Feb.8. 

“You can no longer give money away and say it’s for ayuda. You cannot walk around with a cash gun and make it rain,” he said.

Vote buying or selling is a prohibited act under the Omnibus Election Code. A case will have to be filed and go through the prescribed legal process.

Mass housing is one of the main programs under the Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer’s governance agenda. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan

Lawmakers call for price freeze, stop to agri imports

A SENATOR on Monday called on the Agriculture department to stop issuing certificates for importations, especially during the local harvest season as he cited the recent drop in raw sugar prices for two straight weeks. 

“First it was rice and corn, then pork, beef, chicken, and fish. Now it’s sugar. If we don’t put a stop to this ill-timed importation program, our local sugar prices will be in freefall for the coming weeks,” Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said in a statement on Monday. 

He was referring to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Sugar Order No. 3, which aims to stabilize prices and supply deficits caused by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) by importing 200,00 metric tons of standard and premium grade sugar.

“We cannot allow this to happen. Our sugar farmers will be suffering next sugar crop year, with high production costs and lower productivity,” he said. 

He cited that in Negros Occidental, the country main sugar-producing province, mill gate prices dropped by P240 per 50-kilogram bag at Victorias Milling Company and by P136 at First Farmers, among others. 

“Now that sugar prices are up because of rising farm input costs, the DA and SRA (Sugar Regulatory Administration) are coming out with an importation program to stabilize prices,” said Mr. Zubiri. 

The senator said he will ask the Senate Agriculture committee to conduct an investigation on this matter. 

At the House of Representatives, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene D. Brosas said the government should impose a price freeze on basic goods and remove consumption taxes to control the impact of surging global oil prices. 

“It’s infuriating that the Duterte regime has not taken any action to curb the rising oil prices,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino in a statement on Monday.

“When it comes to granting tax incentives to big corporations, they act quickly. But when it comes to removing the VAT (value-added tax) and excise tax that would ease the burden of ordinary citizens, the government becomes blind and deaf to it.” 

Ms. Brosas, along with representatives of Bayan Muna, ACT Teachers and Kabataan party-lists, filed House Resolution 3210 last year calling on the national government to enforce a price freeze on basic goods based on the extended state of calamity proclamation. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan and Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan

South Korean, Taiwanese drug dealers nabbed

TWO FOREIGN nationals, a South Korean and a Taiwanese, both wanted in their respective countries for illegal drug trade, were arrested by Philippine immigration officers last week. 

The Bureau of Immigration (BI), in a statement dated Feb. 13, reported the arrest of a South Korean fugitive in Pasay City and a Taiwanese fugitive in Tambo in Parañaque City.

The South Korean is facing charges for trading psychotropic substances, which violates his country’s narcotics control act.

The fugitive was also accused of using social media platforms to solicit payment from buyers of these illegal drugs. 

Immigration Chief Jamie H. Morente issued a deportation warrant against the South Korean in 2019 for living as an undocumented and “undesirable alien.” 

BI records showed that the fugitive had been hiding in the Philippines since 2017. He was caught during an entrapment operation.

BI Fugitive Search Unit Chief Rendel Ryan Sy, meanwhile, reported the arrest of a Taiwanese wanted for drug trafficking.

The BI database showed that the Taiwanese national had been in the country as an overstaying alien as his visa expired more than a year ago. 

Both fugitives are detained in the BI holding facility in Taguig while awaiting deportation. They are now included in the bureau’s blacklist, which bars them from re-entering the Philippines. — John Victor D. Ordoñez 

Arrest order on Lin suspended due to hospitalization, but Gordon says Pharmally probe not over

AN ARREST ORDER issued against a congressional candidate linked to a controversial company that allegedly sold overpriced medical supplies to the government was suspended for 10 days due to her hospitalization. 

“If Rose Nono Lin is indeed ill and needs to have surgery in a hospital, we are not heartless people to not allow such required procedure to be performed on her,” Senator Richard J. Gordon, Blue Ribbon committee chair, said in statement on Monday. 

Ms. Lin’s lawyers said she is currently under hospital confinement for a surgical procedure. 

The committee issued an arrest order for Ms. Lin and several other individuals for ignoring the subpoena to attend the probe on Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp., which was awarded P11 billion worth of contracts by the Budget department’s procurement service. 

Mr. Gordon said the investigation will continue as necessary until “the whole truth of the scandal is uncovered and the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

“It must also be emphasized that Rose Nono Lin is not exempt from appearing in the continuing investigation nor will her supposed illness exempt her from justice,” he added. 

The Blue Ribbon committee has released an initial report recommending the filing of charges against Pharmally executives as well as government officials, including President Rodrigo R. Duterte for alleged betrayal of public trust. It is pending approval by the Senate, which is currently on recess. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

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