How PSEi member stocks performed — June 15, 2021
Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
Overseas Filipinos’ Cash Remittances (Apr. 2021)
MONEY SENT HOME by migrant Filipino workers jumped by 12.7% in April, the fastest since November 2016 and reflecting the global economic recovery amid a coronavirus pandemic, according to the Philippine central bank. Read the full story.
Arts & Culture (06/16/21)
Silverlens participates in Art Basel’s Online Viewing Room
SILVERLENS is participating in Art Basel’s first curator-led “Online Viewing Room: Portals.” Leading this edition are curators Christina Li, Magali Arriola, and Larry Osseih-Mensah. Opening from June 16 through 19, “OVR: Portals” will spotlight artistic practices that tackle the parameters that have shaped our contemporary condition, both through current and historical lenses. For this occasion, the gallery will be presenting selected works by YEE I-Lann, from her exhibition, “Borneo Heart.” This interdisciplinary show took place in the Sabahan artist’s home region, and was only very recently concluded. The exhibit will be on view at the Silverlen’s website from June 16-19.
Online discussion on the state and future of theater
SEVERAL La Salle theater guilds, their professors, mentors and students will discuss the current state of theater and its possible future in an online discussion entitled “Playing the Pandemic.” The forum will delve into the trials and triumphs of online theater and its nature despite the lack of traditional elements such as live performances with live audiences. It will also touch on the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a driving force for the possible redefinition of the art form. It emphasizes the role and contribution of the arts in alleviating the emotional crises brought upon by the pandemic. Hosted by the Arts and Culture Cluster of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the event is curated and moderated by instructor, consultant and former Associate Dean for Benilde Arts and Culture Cluster Dr. Sunita Mukhi, the Artistic Director of DeviDiva Productions. “Playing the Pandemic” will be held on June 17, 3-5 p.m. It is free and open to the public and will be held via Zoom with a livestream on the official Facebook page of Benilde Arts and Culture Cluster (https://www.facebook.com/benildearts). Interested participants may register at https://forms.gle/Eap9y4D6EYucUtmB8.
Ayala Museum holds virtual field trip for kids
COMMEMORATE Jose Rizal’s birthday on June 19 with Ayala Museum’s RIZAL@160 Virtual Field Trip via Zoom for children ages nine to 12 years old. Join Ayala Museum and celebrate Jose Rizal’s 160th birth anniversary by going on an adventure around the world. Follow his footsteps and visit places from his childhood and the countries he travelled. Finally, learn about his life and legacy that we celebrate to this day. Part 1: Rizal’s Childhood and Early Education (June 19, 10 to 11:30 a.m.) and Part 2: Rizal’s Travels and Legacy (June 19, 4 to 5:30 p.m.). Tickets are priced at P1,300 for a Season Pass (for two tours); P750 for regular, and P600 for AGC employees, Ayala Museum members and ARC cardholders). To register, visit bit.ly/Rizal160VirtualFieldTrips. For more information and instructions, visit www.ayalamuseum.org/events or e-mail education@ayalamuseum.org.
Instituto Cervantes pays tribute to filmmaker Berlanga
TO CELEBRATE the birth centenary of Spanish filmmaker Luis García Berlanga (1921-2010) this June, Instituto Cervantes is presenting the online film series Berlanga Turns 100. The films are shown through the Instituto Cervantes channel on the Vimeo platform (vimeo.com/institutocervantes) and are freely accessible for 48 hours from their start date and time. The film cycle continues on June 19 and 20 with the third movie, the comedy Plácido (1961), a sarcastic Christmas story about a motorbike driver hired in a sordid advertising promotion campaign called “Let a Poor Man Sit at Your Table.” The movie will be accessible through this link: https://vimeo.com/548754638.
Ortigas Foundation releases new edition of church architecture book
IN RECOGNITION of historian Benito J. Legarda, Jr.’s major contribution to the history of Hispanic Church architecture in the Philippines, the Ortigas Foundation has published a memorial edition of his essay on early churches Hispanic Philippine Churches: An Architectural Study. The book includes photographs by Betty Lalana and Lino Arboleda. To order, e-mail ortigasfoundation@ortigas.cm.ph. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/Ortigas.Foundation.
Dance training webinar to discuss benefits, importance
ARTISTIC director, choreographer and coach Mycs Villoso will discuss the impact of dance training and its positive benefits beyond being a performance art in a free public webinar. Ms. Villoso will elaborate on scientific and academic theories, backed up by real-life testimonies of coaches, trainees and students, which assists trainers to effectively mentor dance majors. Interviews will likewise showcase the values earned from this discipline, such as mindfulness, initiative and culture-sensitivity. Director of the 2016 and 2017 Hip-Hop Dance Convention and co-producer of the 2019 and 2020 Street Styles Summit, she is instructor at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Dance Program. Hosted by the Arts and Culture Cluster of DLS-CSB, the webinar will be moderated by Nina Anonas, professor and Chairperson of the Benilde Dance Program. The webinar will be conducted via Zoom on June 19, 3 p.m. Interested participants may register through https://bit.ly/3poBvOf.
Showcase of experimental short films
TEN students from Mapúa University’s Digital Film and Multimedia Arts programs have collaborated with 10 creators from the Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCAD U) for the Narratives Through Global Space 2021, a showcase of experimental films to be held on June 21 to 25 through OCAD U’s screening events at www.ocadu.ca/live. Twenty emerging artists from nine countries — the Philippines, Canada, Portugal, Mexico, Iran, India, Hong Kong, China, and South Korea — produced materials that give a refreshing take on art due to their diverse and varying cultures and perspectives. It brings together filmmakers, visual artists, digital artists, animators, photographers, writers, and musicians with different experiences to respond to issues of gender, sexuality, religion, language, and identity, among others. The screening events by OCAD U will include a behind-the-scenes process and panel talks from the creators, mentors, and university faculty. The films will also be featured in the Reel Asian International Film Festival in July.
British Council launches weaving project
THE BRITISH Council announces the launch of Weaving Futures — Cultural Exchanges and Design Collaboration, an action research project led by the Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, in partnership with the Enrique Zobel Foundation and Philippine Women’s University. Through a series of consultations, Weaving Futures will map the communities’ distinct cultural heritage, relationship with nature, indigenous knowledge, and vision for the future. The result will be a new design process to help broaden perspectives on artisanship and design, as well as renew and refresh weaving practices. This initiative will also open up opportunities for working collaboratively across communities with designers, artisans and makers in the UK and the Philippines. The research project will engage four weaving communities in the Philippines: the Kiyangan Weavers Association in Kiyangan, Ifugao; the Kulibanbang Weavers Association of Bontoc women now residing in La Trinidad, Benguet; the Serukadang Menuvu Tribal Organization of Bukidnon; and the Sunrise Weaving Association of Ibaan, Batangas. Weaving Futures responds to findings of a British Council study, Crafting Futures — sustaining handloom weaving in the Philippines. The report described craft as a “sunset industry” despite its contributions to women empowerment, cultural expression and sustainable development. The British Council’s Pilar Aramayo-Prudencio and the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, Dr Khaled Azzam, among others, will grace the digital launch event on June 16. For inquiries, contact arts@britishcouncil.org.ph.
4 shows at West Gallery
THERE are four exhibits currently running at the West Gallery until June 26. These are Dex Fernandez’s “Synchrodelic Hybrid Fractals Screenshots” featuring works which use photographic medium, pigments, and threads; Gino Bueza’s “Mt. Synonym”; Veronica Peralejo’s “new holes,” in which she plays with the nature of translucent materials and its different levels of opacity; and, Indya Gokita’ “This Is How We Walk On The Moon.” Visitors are welcome by appointment only. To make an appointment, call 3411-0336.
Jürg Casserini has new show at Artologist Gallery
FROM June 12-30, mixed media artist Jürg Casserini presents his “Bangka” art assemblage and driftwood art pieces at The Artologist Gallery at the Art Plaza Level 4, Main Wing, EDSA Shangri-la Plaza. The Swiss-born artist has been collecting bits and pieces of wooden boats that wash ashore in Bohol. What others might see as trash or even kindling for fire, Mr. Casserini sees as elements for his found objects collages. Mr. Casserini, a former diplomat and his wife have fallen in love with the Philippines and have decided to make the country their retirement haven. They spend time between their place in the business district and their leisure apartment in Bohol. The exhibit features 20 Bangka collages and seven driftwood pieces. The Artologist Gallery is open daily from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Health protocols are strictly observed. For more information, call 8696-3244, 0945-5112568; e-mail artgallery@artologist.net; visit www.facebook.com/artologist or www.instagram.com/the_artologist or log on to www.theartologist.net.
BP releases dance video for Independence Day
BALLET Philippines (BP) celebrates the country’s 123rd Independence Day by taking part in Len Cabili’s campaign, “Dama ko Lahi ko,” which celebrates being Filipino by experiencing culture through each of the five senses, promoting Philippine culture as a collective soft power. BP’s contribution is a dance called “Dama Ko, Lahi Ko,” choreographed by Joseph Phillips, featuring music by Boy Yuchengco, “Imna Na” by the Pinikpikan band. The video can be seen on BP’s website, ballet.ph.
SLMC offers non-COVID vaccines via drive-thru
ST. LUKE’S Medical Center (SLMC) is offering drive-thru vaccination services for non-COVID diseases.
Adults can get shots for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); flu; varicella (chickenpox); pneumonia; and human papillomavirus at SLMC-Global City.
Children, meanwhile, can be immunized in both Bonifacio Global City and Quezon City.
Booking is done through St. Luke’s Product Information Hub (PIH), which assists patients throughout their booking, teleconsultation, and payment. The same process applies for parents who wish to vaccinate their children.
“With SLMC’s drive-thru vaccination sites, parents can take a step in protecting their children from various diseases while having the peace of mind that they will not catch the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) virus due to the enforcement of stringent health protocols,” said SLMC President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Arturo De La Peña.
For more information, contact the Product Information Hub at productinfo@stlukes.com.ph or visit facebook.com/StLukesPH. Both vaccination sites — Bonifacio Global City and Quezon City — are open Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
DoF warns climate change could wipe out PHL economic gains
THE climate change crisis, if unaddressed, holds the potential to wipe out the economic gains made by the Philippines in recent years, the Department of Finance (DoF) said Tuesday.
“People do not realize it, but climate change will hit us like a tsunami if we continue to do nothing about this worsening crisis. It could wipe away all our economic gains in one go if we fail to mitigate it,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said at a virtual event, Sulong Pilipinas 2021: Climate Change and the New Normal with the Youth Sector.
“As bearers of the future, the youth — who will have to live through 2030 and beyond — have the greatest stake in overcoming this crisis… We need (their) determination to build a greener, healthier, and climate-resilient future,” he said.
The Philippines accounts for 0.3% of global carbon emissions, yet is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, particularly typhoons, according to Finance Assistant Secretary Paola Sherina A. Alvarez.
During the briefing, she said successive typhoons had an impact on inflation starting January after disrupting the harvest in late 2020.
“In January 2021, the general price level clocked a higher rate of year-on-year growth of 4.2%. Because we had back-to-back super-typhoons at the end of November, the prices of vegetables and rice went up,” Ms. Alvarez said.
Vegetable prices rose 21.2%, while rice recorded a 0.10% increase.
Ms. Alvarez said the Philippines is expected to incur P177 billion worth of losses to its public and private assets due to typhoons and earthquakes each year.
“In the next 50 years… the country has a 40% chance of experiencing a loss exceeding P989 billion and a 20% chance of experiencing a loss exceeding P1.5 trillion,” she said.
She said the estimate for implementing climate change mitigation measures in the energy, forestry, industry, transport sectors is about $4.12 billion between 2015 and 2030.
In 2019, the World Bank issued two tranches of catastrophe bonds to insure the Philippines against losses due to earthquakes and storms for three years. The insurance cover was valued at $225 million. — Angelica Y. Yang
Central bank to simplify MSME loan applications
THE Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it is developing a simplified loan application form for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
At an online event Tuesday, BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said, “(w)ith the support of DTI and industry associations, BSP is developing a simpler loan application form (for use by banks in small-business landing).”
The Philippine Statistics Authority estimates that in 2019, MSMEs accounted for 99.5% or 995,745 of the 1.5 million businesses operating in the Philippines, with companies classified as large at 0.5% or 4,761.
Micro enterprises accounted for 89% or 891,044, small enterprises 10% or 99,936, and medium-sized enterprises 0.5% or 4,765.
Mr. Diokno said the BSP, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, has recently launched a supply chain market development study for innovative lending approaches for MSMEs.
Mr. Diokno said the National Identification System of the Philippines, which is currently in progress, will improve the delivery of government services and provide MSMEs better access to digital technology.
“The rollout of the Philippine National ID System, with more than 11 million registrants completing data collection, will transform government service delivery and access by enabling online authentication for seamless digital onboarding to make it easier for clients to open (bank) accounts… (and will) quicken the innovation and digitalization of financial services to reduce the cost of financial transactions for microentrepreneurs and microfinance institutions alike,” he said.
The Citi Foundation, in partnership with the BSP, Citi Philippines, and the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc., organized the online event to present awards to the winners of the 18th Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards.
Microfinance helped some MSMEs grow during the pandemic, including some of the awardees, which included food businesses, Citi said. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago
Complaints vs pyramid scams surge during COVID-19 crisis
THE VOLUME of pyramid scheme complaints filed in the four months to April had more than doubled the full-year total for 2020, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.
Complaints involving pyramid schemes totaled 28 as of April, as opposed to the 12 filed in 2020, the DTI said in a statement Tuesday, citing its fair trade enforcement bureau.
Pyramid schemes mainly make profits from recruiting more members rather than product sales.
“They claim that this business structure is pandemic-proof to make (it) more enticing and promising to interested investors,” the department said.
The DTI warned the public to avoid such schemes currently being promoted on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Victims can report the schemes to the DTI or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
“Those companies taking advantage of consumers by disguising their pyramid sales scheme as a legitimate business opportunity in the form of multi-level marketing have to be investigated, charged, and penalized if warranted,” DTI Assistant Secretary Ronnel O. Abrenica said.
The SEC has said that Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, and so-called boiler room operations — the use of high-pressure sales tactics to sell penny stocks — are the most common investment scams. Such schemes have increased during the pandemic as more Filipinos lose their jobs.
Pyramid schemes to sell consumer products are banned under Article 53 of Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines. Violators are liable for fines, imprisoned or both. — Jenina P. Ibañez
ERC approves Isabela power distributor’s P65.4-M capex plan
THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved a P65.4-million capital expenditure (capex) application filed by Isabela I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Iselco I) which will go towards the installation of a new power transformer and related equipment in one of its substations.
In a decision posted on its website, the commission said Iselco I had applied to commit funds to install a new 20/25 megavolt ampere power transformer at its Reina Mercedes substation to address capacity issues.
Iselco I said its Reina Mercedes substation had exceeded the 70% capacity threshold prescribed by a distribution utility planning manual for electric cooperatives.
“Without the implementation of any capacity augmentation project/s, approximately 10,000 customers of Iselco I may be affected by a series of rotational brownouts,” the electric cooperative told the ERC in its petition.
In a ruling implemented on June 11, the commission ruled that the proposed project is “technically feasible” and offers the most affordable option for addressing capacity concerns.
“The Commission recognizes that this project will ensure the integrity of Iselco I’s distribution system and will allow Iselco I to accommodate both existing and new consumers,” it explained.
The ERC said Iselco I obtained access to P10.18 million and P50 million worth of financing from the Rural Electrification Financing Corp. and Development Bank of the Philippines, respectively, in 2018 and 2019 to finance the project.
According to the regulator, Iselco I had failed to secure clearance before acquiring the loans. As a result, the ERC said it will issue a show-cause order to Iselco I.
The commission also required the company to pay permit fees of P490,503, as authorized by its capex guidelines and revised schedule of fees and charges.
The decision was signed by the agency’s Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Agnes VST Devanadera, and four commissioners.
Iselco I holds an exclusive franchise to distribute power in two cities and thirteen municipalities in Isabela. — Angelica Y. Yang
LANDBANK expands lending program to include ex-extremists
STATE-RUN Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has widened its lending program for former rebels to include former violent extremists.
In a statement, the state lender on Tuesday said the expanded lending program would also cover cooperatives and associations with former extremists as members.
It added that the program, now known as the ‘Balik-Loob’ lending program, is part of the National Government’s initiative to help former rebels and extremists and their families with the financing of small businesses and agricultural enterprises.
“Centered on our thrust of financial inclusion, we are offering financial assistance for the social re-integration of those who have voluntarily abandoned armed struggle to improve their livelihood,” LANDBANK President and Chief Executive Officer Cecilia C. Borromeo said.
The updated terms of the lending program now allow interested former rebels and extremists to apply for a loan as long as they will designate an immediate family member as a co-maker, the bank said.
Eligible borrowers should be at least 21 years old, do not have a pending legal case and has a government certification that verifies the identities of former rebels and extremists upon their return to the fold of the law.
The lending program launched in 2018 has provided financial lending assistance to different livelihood projects such as mom-and-pop stores, ready-to-wear retailing, fruits and vegetables retailing and curtain making.
It also covered agricultural enterprises such as crop protection, piggeries and poultry projects.
“Eligible borrowers also attended capacity building and skills trainings endorsed under the enhanced-comprehensive local reintegration program,” the state bank said.
The program provides more benefits based on the specific needs of former rebels and extremists and their families, such as financial assistance, housing, education, skill training, healthcare and legal assistance, among other aid it added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
Program delivery at local government unit level seen as key to addressing undernutrition
IMPLEMENTATION of nutrition policy needs to be improved to address undernutrition among Filipino children, a Zuellig Family Foundation official said.
“We are not lacking in good nutrition laws. We are also not lacking in assessment reports,” he said. “Our challenge really is implementation,” Zuellig Family Foundation Chairman Ernesto D. Garilao said at the launch of a World Bank report on undernutrition.
Local governments are key to implementing such laws, he said, but noted limited understanding of nutrition challenges among public officials.
“Oftentimes, it is reduced to feeding (programs). But the multi-sectoral approach is just not there.”
Mr. Garilao said that the heads of local governments must have targets to address nutritional issues to guide the investment of resources into programs with specific goals. Current programs should also be coordinated, he added.
The World Bank on Tuesday released its report, Undernutrition in the Philippines: Scale, Scope, and Opportunities for Nutrition Policy and Programming.
It found that the coronavirus pandemic has compounded high rates of food insecurity and stunted growth among Filipino children.
“The Philippines has the basic infrastructure to deliver essential nutritional investments to its people. But the delivery mechanisms are fragmented, and gaps may have widened as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the World Bank said.
Childhood stunting in the Philippines is at 30%, making it one of the top 10 countries for this particular indicator, it said.
“The country’s rate of stunting is high not only for its level of income but also compared with the rates of most of its neighbors. Other countries with similar levels of income have rates of stunting averaging around 20%.”
The report found that municipalities face common problems when implementing nutrition interventions. Municipalities have insufficient funding for programs and lack full-time nutrition and health staff. Nutrition is rarely a priority for local government units (LGUs) that focus on other infrastructure projects, the World Bank said, leaving non-government organizations to fund nutrition programs.
LGUs also lack reliable information on their nutrition problems and progress.
“Increasing the budget allocation and providing a separate budget for nutrition would demonstrate strong support for the nutrition agenda of the LGUs,” the report said.
“Both executive and legislative bodies in the municipalities need to prioritize and vigorously support nutrition interventions.” — Jenina P. Ibañez
Palace rejects call for drug war probe by ICC
By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter
THE PALACE has rejected the recommendation by the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor to formally open a probe into the alleged crimes against humanity committed in Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s war against drugs, saying the development is “legally erroneous and politically motivated.”
The move is legally flawed “because the ICC has no jurisdiction over the subject matter of crimes against humanity,” Presidential Spokesperson Herminio L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news
ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda recently asked the Hague-based tribunal’s pre-trial chamber to allow her office to probe the killings relating to the Philippines’ anti-drug campaign.
“I announce that the preliminary examination into the situation in the Republic of the Philippines has concluded and that I have requested judicial authorization to proceed with an investigation,” Ms. Bensouda said in a statement on June 14.
Ms. Bensouda said her office has already been “taking a number of measures to collect and preserve evidence” in anticipation of a possible probe.
Mr. Roque said the President and his government would not cooperate with the ICC on any potential investigation.
He said ICC’s latest move is “barred by the principle of complementarity” and is “not pursuant or in aid of substantial justice.”
The Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC, Mr. Roque said, adding that the international tribunal would not be able to build a case without Manila’s cooperation.
The Philippine Supreme Court in March junked petitions challenging Mr. Duterte’s unilateral decision to withdraw from the ICC, which took effect in 2019 or exactly a year after Manila announced leaving the only permanent war crimes tribunal.
A withdrawal from the ICC shall “take effect one year after the date of receipt of the notification,” according to court rules.
Ms. Bensouda, however, said, “Although the withdrawal of the Philippines from the Rome Statute of the ICC took effect on 17 March 2019, as the Court has previously found in the context of the Burundi situation, the Court retains jurisdiction over crimes that are alleged to have occurred on the territory of that State during the period when it was a State Party to the Rome Statute.”
“Moreover, these crimes are not subject to any statute of limitation,” she said.
Mr. Roque earlier said ICC should only “exercise jurisdiction” if local courts are unwilling or unable to hold people accountable for international crimes.
LAST RESORT
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in a separate statement, said the ICC is intended as “a court of last resort.”
DFA cited that State Parties to the Rome Statute, which formed the ICC, “envisioned a court with a complementary, not primary, jurisdiction for the prosecution” of the persons responsible for most serious crimes of international concern.
The Statute also requires the Court and the Office of the Prosecutor to respect and defer to the primary criminal jurisdiction of the State party, “while proceedings are ongoing in the latter,” DFA said.
The Philippine Department of Justice has formed a special panel to review cases relating to alleged extra-judicial killings committed during illegal drug operations.
DFA said the government has taken “concrete and progressive steps” to address concerns on the anti-illegal drugs campaign and finalized with the United Nations a Joint Program on Human Rights.
“All these affirms the Philippines’ adherence to human rights norms and its long track record of constructive engagement with international and regional partners in human rights promotion and protection,” it said.
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, for his part, said the development at the ICC “has absolutely no effect” on his department’s “ongoing work of the review panel on drug deaths, as well as on the Philippines-(United Nations) joint program on technical cooperation on human rights.”
National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) President Edre U. Olalia, meanwhile, said the potential investigation before the international court “should be a wakeup call to rouse those who are fast asleep while thousands they have silenced are still in mourning.”
On Monday, hours before the ICC statement was posted, a human rights group assisted by the NUPL submitted a supplemental pleading to the ICC asking for an investigation on the alleged human rights violations in the Philippines and to issue a warrant of arrest for Mr. Duterte while the probe is ongoing.
Mr. Duterte, on the other hand, renewed his threat against those involved in the illegal drug trade.
“Do not destroy my country, I will kill you,” he said in a televised public address on Monday night. “Do not destroy the youth of the land.”
At least 122 children were killed in the government’s deadly drug war between July 2016 and Dec. 2019, according to the World Organization Against Torture.
Government data showed that authorities have killed 6,117 people supposedly involved in the illegal drug trade since Mr. Duterte assumed the presidency in 2016.
Tens of thousands of drug suspects may have been killed in police anti-drug operations, according to the United Nations.
Ms. Bensouda said “any authorized investigation” into the Philippine drug war will fall to her successor, Karim Khan, as her term is set to end this month.
DFA said the move of the prosecutor before she ends her term “preempts the prerogative of her successor” to conduct a full evaluation of cases. — with reports from Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Bianca Angelica D. Añago