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SONAsaan na ba talaga tayo ngayon? At hindi SONAsaan na tayo? — 2

(Second of two parts)

During President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22 he asked: “So where are we (the Philippines) really now today?”

I will now quote parts of the President’s speech and give my own (right or wrong) unsolicited insights.

1. “Wala akong kaibigang mayaman. Ayaw kong kaibigan ng mayaman because pagka mayaman ka, tatabi ka lang sa akin, pati ako napahiran na ng kung ano-anong hingiin mo sa gobyerno.” (I have no rich friends. I do not like rich friends because if you are rich, you will just stay beside me and even I will be overwhelmend by whatever you ask of the government.)

If the Marcoses, the Villars, the (Bong) Gos, the Revillas, the Estradas, the Macapagal-Arroyos, the (Dennis) Uys, the Quiboloys, and others as among the President’s closest friends are not rich (millionaires and billionaires), then how will he categorize the rest of the Filipinos?

2. “On Jan. 27, 2019, we officially started the Manila Bay rehabilitation. Though we have a long way to go, we are encouraged by the test results of the waters near Padre Faura. We will relocate informal settlers — I hope it can happen during my time — along the waterways and shut down establishments that continue to pollute and poison our waters.”

Highly commendable as well, just like the Boracay clean-up. However, rumors of impending new reclamation areas in Manila Bay (like the influx of Chinese establishments in Boracay, the flattening of the mountain and the flood) if true, will negate such a clean-up. And then there is this University of the Philippines study in 2017 aptly titled “Manila: A Capital is Sinking” and whose starting message goes:

“In the last 50 years the sea level has increased more than 80 centimeters, according to our map. In 10 or 20 years, coastal areas around the city, home to millions of people, will be permanently underwater, according to research by the University of the Philippines.”

3. “We also paved the way for the entry of third telecommunications provider… I challenge this new player to fulfill its commitment to provide fast and reliable telecommunication services to our people, especially in the underserved areas. DICT Secretary Honasan will be the lead man in this endeavor. “

With the Philippines ranked first in world social media use for the 4th consecutive year, and Filipino users increasing from 67 million to 76 million this year (2019), all I can say is “Everybody’s waiting!”

4. “After almost two decades of peace negotiation, the Bangsamoro Organic Law was finally passed and ratified.”

Another highly commendable achievement of the Duterte Administration, with many hoping (and praying), including me, that it will succeed this time around.

5. “Poverty incidence fell from 27.6% in the first half of 2015 to 21% in the first half of 2018. The most important number, though, is the six million Filipinos we need to pull out from poverty. Kindly help me on this.” [Applause]

The figures compare the first semester of 2015 to the first semester of 2018, but not annual figures. Researching for annual figures, I found the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recorded poverty incidence in 2015 at 21.6% from 25.2% in 2012 (during the Benigno Aquino, Jr. Administration.) I was trying to get the 2017 annual poverty incidence figures to compare “apples with apples” but the PSA does not seem to have such statistics.

6. “On the matter of the Philippine — West Philippine Sea. The avoidance of conflict — armed conflict and protection of our territorial waters and natural resources, compel us to perform a delicate balancing act. A shooting war is grief and misery multiplier. War leaves widows and orphans in its wake.

“Our ownership of the Philippine West Philippine Sea is internationally recognized. However, both the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Arbitral Award in the case of People — “Republic of the Philippines vs. People’s Republic of China” — recognize instances where another state may utilize the resources found within the coastal state’s Exclusive Economic Zone.”

As stated earlier, no applause nor laughter. One or two curses. And no matter what the President says, what this government’s rhetorical statements on “rumors of wars” and so on are, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Korea, and even far away Argentina have defended their territorial waters. China has yet to go to war with or drop its nuclear bomb on any of these brave countries defending their sovereignty.

The fact remains (and you can check our Philippine Constitution), culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, and betrayal of public trust are all grounds for impeachment.

7. “And you know, as I said, corruption is everywhere. You are free to investigate. I don’t take offense. If there is anything wrong in my department, the Executive, you are free to open the investigation anytime.”

The question in people’s mind is why not arrest Imelda Marcos who was convicted by the court? Why release those who have been accused in the pork barrel scam?

“I don’t take offense,” he said. “But I will make sure to find a way to arrest you like Leila De Lima” seems to be the message from the government. By the way, the president also said: “You file an impeachment (which is a Constitutional right) against me, I will arrest you.”

8. “I have prohibited it in Davao. And at 12 (midnight), as you see, Davao is quiet because everybody is resting already. Be it in the memorial parks, cemetery, or in the comfort of their homes.”

Nothing short of or simply a case of “curfew in disguise” — shades of Marcos’ Martial Law.

9. “I once again urge both Houses of Congress to pass a more responsive version of the bill establishing the Coconut Farmers’ Trust Fund to ensure the accelerated utilization of coco levy funds for the well-being and empowerment of the coconut farmers.”

Tell this to the Marines — este, the coconut farmers. A “Coconut Farmers’ Trust Fund” is simply the “Coco Levy Fund” from the Martial Law era. During the campaign for president, Mr. Duterte promised the farmers he would give them back their hard-earned coconut levy money worth P100 million — and they voted for him.

10. “Our goal for the next three years is clear: a comfortable life for everybody, all Filipinos… I dream of glowing days ahead for every Filipino. I dream of a Philippines better than the one I grew up with.”

This one I am 100% sure of — a comfortable life for everybody, all Filipinos. No matter how much money (Bribes?) this government gives to those who have lost children and innocent loved ones during tokhang or the 26 fisherfolk whose Philippine boat was rammed by a Chinese ship; or worse threaten them to keep quiet or retract their protests — they and the estimated 356,000 probationary workers in the county, they are Filipinos and will certainly not have a comfortable life under this Administration.

11. “SONAsaan na ba talaga tayo ngayon? At hindi SONAsaan na tayo?” (“So where are we really now? And not ‘where are we?’ Riffing off the acronym SONA.)

So where are we (the Philippines) really now? Honestly, I do not wish to answer because I really don’t know where we are at the moment (or maybe I just do not wish to share my thoughts on that). It really depends on which political side one is.

12. “God Bless the Filipino. God Bless the Philippines. Thank you very much!” [Applause]

Let me end this article with this last note as President Duterte has mentioned God time and time again. This one I am sure of. Quite a number of people, if not many in the Opposition have been asking this question, “SONAsaan na talaga ang Diyos Ngayon?” (Where is God really now?)

Peace to everyone! And as the President ended his SONA, God bless the Filipino. God bless the Philippines.

 

Benjamin Roberto Gomez Barretto is currently a part time professor with the Political Science Department of Ateneo de Manila University. He is also Vice-President for Planning and Community Services of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina as well as its Dean for the College of Management and Technology. He was the former Executive Director of the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines Foundation Inc. and was a former Administrator of the Ateneo School of Government.

Peso weakens vs dollar

THE PESO sank due to US-China tensions and the yuan’s devaluation.

THE PESO edged lower on Monday after China’s central bank devalued its own currency in retaliation against US’ planned additional tit-for-tat tariffs on China this September.

The local currency finished Monday’s session at P51.79 versus the greenback, 36 centavos lower than its P51.43-per-dollar close last Friday.

The local unit traded weaker on Monday, opening the session at P51.60 versus the dollar. Its best showing was at P51.55, while its worst was at P51.85 versus the dollar.

Trading volume widened to $1.39 billion on Monday compared to the $1.278 billion that changed hands last Friday.

“Peso’s movement yesterday was a continuation of what transpired last week that saw increasing tensions between the two countries,” a bond trader interviewed by phone said, referring to the additional 10% tariffs on $300-billion worth of Chinese goods to be imposed by US President Donald J. Trump effective Sept. 1.

“The peso weakened on heightened global market risk-off sentiment amid the renewed escalation of US-China trade tensions and after the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) set the fixing rate for the yuan below the 6.90 level, bringing market rates for the offshore yuan past the 7-yuan psychological level,” a trader said in a separate e-mail interview.

Majority of Asian currencies went down yesterday after the PBoC fixed its exchange rate at 7 yuan versus the greenback — the first time in a decade — in retaliation against Mr. Trump’s recent decision.

The second trader said that market participants were cautious ahead of key local economic data releases this week, with the peso likely to weaken today.

The government is set to report July inflation and June manufacturing output data today as well as June merchandise trade and second quarter agriculture performance data on Aug. 7. Data on the country’s second quarter economic performance are due out on Aug. 8, hours before the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) policy meeting.

“The peso might continue to weaken [today] ahead due to the likely softer Philippine July inflation report,” the second trader said.

A BusinessWorld poll of 17 analysts and a research group yielded a 2.4% median for July inflation, which settles at the midpoint of the 2-2.8% estimate range given by the BSP.

If realized, it will mark the second straight month of slower inflation from June’s 2.7% print and will be lower than July 2018’s 5.7%.

A separate poll of 15 economists bared a median estimate of 5.9% gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the second quarter, picking up from the 5.6% growth recorded in the first quarter that was the slowest in four years, albeit slower than the 6.2% clocked in last year’s second quarter.

If realized, this would bring GDP growth to 5.7% in the first half, compared to the 6-7% target set by economic managers for this year.

For today, the first trader sees peso trading between P51.50 and P52 versus the dollar, while the other gave P51.65-P51.95 range. — Mark T. Amoguis

The peso rose to a six-week high after a US Federal Reserve official’s dovish comments.

PSEi sinks to 7,800 level on US-China tensions

By Arra B. Francia, Senior Reporter

THE MAIN INDEX plunged to the 7,800 level on Monday, going down with the rest of the region due to escalating trade tensions.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) plummeted 2.95% or 239.91 points to close at 7,890.02 yesterday, mirroring the bloodbath seen across the region. This marks the PSEi’s lowest finish since May 30, when the index closed at 7,836.55.

The all-shares index likewise fell 2.14% or 105.45 points to 4,821.11.

“Philippine shares wiped out substantial gains from the previous month as President Donald Trump stoked US-China trade fears with the announcement of more tariffs,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a mobile phone message.

US President Donald J. Trump last week warned that he would impose a 10% tariff on another $300 billion worth of Chinese imports next month, amid trade negotiations between top US and Chinese officials last week.

Papa Securities Corp. Sales Associate Gabriel Jose F. Perez further attributed the market’s decline to the yuan’s weakness.

“It was a bloodbath for the PSEi as the index dropped 2.95% today amid trade war concerns and the yuan’s depreciation. Weakness was felt across the region as other indices also dropped by around the same magnitude,” Mr. Perez said in a statement on Monday.

With these concerns, Asian indices ended Monday lower. Japan’s Nikkei 225 down by 1.74% or 366.87 points to 20,720.29. The Hang Seng index spiraled down 2.85% or 767.26 points to 26,151.32, while the Shanghai Composite dropped 1.62% or 46.34 points to 2,821.50.

Wall Street indices also finished lower last Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipping by 0.37% or 98.41 points to 26,485.01. The S&P 500 index shed 0.73% or 21.51 points to 2,932.05, while the Nasdaq Composite index lost 1.32% or 107.05 points to 8,004.07.

Back home, sectoral indices ended in negative territory, save for mining and oil which climbed 1.16% or 94.31 points to 8,195.78.

The rest went down, led by property which lost 3.46% or 149.63 points to 4,174.37. Industrials shed 2.58% or 294.66 points to 11,117.47; holding firms slumped 2.56% or 202.83 points to 7,698.80; financials tumbled 2.51% or 46.89 points to 1,814.51; while services retreated 1.81% or 29.19 points to 1,583.93.

Some 964.96 million issues valued at P6.37 billion switched hands, higher than Friday’s P5.68-billion turnover.

Decliners were almost triple the advancing stocks, 149 to 55, while 47 names were flat.

Foreign investors were net sellers at P1.19 billion on Monday versus the previous session’s P256.65-million net inflow.

“Issue to watch out for tomorrow would be July’s inflation figure, but also continue to monitor how US markets perform tonight,” Papa Securities’ Mr. Perez said on Monday.

Duterte to discuss sea dispute during China visit

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte might discuss the sea dispute with China and a potential oil exploration in the South China Sea when he visits Beijing later this month, his spokesman said yesterday.

Mr. Duterte, who is set to visit China for the fifth time since becoming president in 2016, might discuss “issues of conflict” with his Chinese counterpart, presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo told reporters.

“That could be part of the discussion,” he said when asked whether the sea dispute and the joint oil exploration would be part of the talks. The two leaders will discuss issues that affect both countries, he added.

Mr. Duterte in his yearly address to Congress last month promised to defend Philippine rights in the South China Sea “in a peaceful way.” “The West Philippine Sea is ours, there’s no ifs and buts, it is ours,” the tough-talking leader said in his address, referring to the South China Sea, more than 80% of which China claims.

But his government has to temper its territorial claims with realities, noting that an armed conflict with China would only bring “grief and misery.”

Mr. Duterte blamed Benigno S.C. Aquino III, his predecessor, for allegedly giving way to China after a 2012 standoff in Scarborough Shoal that later allowed the regional power to occupy the shoal.

Mr. Panelo said Mr. Duterte would also discuss with Mr. Xi issues on terrorism, illegal drugs and project financing.

Late last month, Mr. Duterte said he wanted regular Philippine Coast Guard patrols near the islands of Batanes province amid China’s land reclamation activities in the South China Sea and ensure Batanes “remains ours.”

He said China is known to have grabbed some lands and the Philippines cannot afford to do the same. “If we steal from China, we might get fired at by missiles,” he said in Filipino.

The Coast Guard on July 25 took delivery of assets meant to upgrade its sea patrol capabilities and response to natural disasters. The assets included 73 rubber boats with outboard motors, 12 rigid-hulled inflatable boats, 90 pickup trucks, seven buses and five ambulances.

China’s neighbors are racing to empower their Coast Guard fleets amid increasing tensions in the South China Sea.

China claims sovereignty over more than 80 percent of the South China Sea based on its so-called nine-dash line drawn on a 1940s map.

It has been building artificial islands in the disputed Spratly Islands and setting up installations including several runways.

Mr. Duterte has sought closer investment and trade ties with Beijing, including over resources in the disputed sea, since he became president in June 2016.

His predecessor, Benigno S. Aquino III, sued China before an international arbitration tribunal over its territorial claims, and won. He also strengthened Philippine alliance with the US to try to check China’s expansion in the main waterway.

Police won’t endorse martial law in Negros

PHILIPPINE POLICE won’t seek martial rule in Negros Oriental despite a series of killings by suspected communist rebels, with peace and order still under control, according to its spokesman.

But local government officials might have a different view, Philippine National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard M. Banac told reporters yesterday.

“The situation in Negros Oriental is getting back to normal but local chiefs might assess it differently,” he said in Filipino.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has threatened to put the province under martial rule to “quell lawless violence” there after four policemen were killed by suspected communist rebels last month, his spokesman said last month.

The president will use his emergency powers to crush all forms of threats aimed to destroy the government, presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo told reporters earlier. Mr. Duterte would not hesitate to declare martial law on the island if the military and local government officials recommend it, he added.

Mr. Duterte thinks members of the New People’s Army — the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines — “have gone overboard,” Mr. Panelo said. His spokesman said law enforcers and civilians were being murdered with impunity.

Four intelligence cops were killed after they were ambushed by armed men in the village of Mabato in Ayungon town on July 18.

On July 13, an alleged squad leader of a mass supporter of the New People’s Army died after Army troops clashed with suspected communist rebels at the boundary of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.

At least 20 people have died in the province from July 18 to 27, with police blaming most deaths on the New People’s Army, according to the Philippine Star.

The police chief of Negros Oriental was relieved after the spate of killings, Mr. Banac said last week.

Police said Mr. Duterte would still have to listen to what local government officials have to say about lawlessness in the province.

Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana earlier said the province need not be placed under martial rule until security officials and local governments have fully assessed the situation.

Mr. Banac said two of the suspects in the killing of the four cops had been arrested at the weekend for illegal possession of explosives and firearms.

He said fighting with communist rebels might still erupt in the coming days. “We will continue to study the situation,” he added. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Ateneo law graduate named SC justice

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has appointed a Court of Appeals (CA) magistrate to the Supreme Court, replacing retired Associate Justice Mariano C. Del Castillo, Malacañang said yesterday.

Appellate court Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda, a law graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University, was appointed to the high court, Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea said in a mobile-phone message.

Mr. Zalameda, 56, bested five other nominees namely CA Justices Apolinario D. Bruselas, Jr., Japar B. Dimaampao, Ramon R. Garcia, and Jhosep Y. Lopez and Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez.

Mr. Zalameda served as a city prosecutor before his appointment to the appellate court in Sept. 11, 2008. Born in Aug. 2, 1963, he will sit as justice for 14 years before he retires in 2033.

Mr. Del Castillo, an appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, retired on July 29 when turned 70. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Manila monitoring HK crisis — Labor chief

THE Philippines is monitoring the unrest in Hong Kong to see whether there’s a need to stop the deployment of Filipino workers there, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said yesterday.

Filipinos in Hong Kong, which has been gripped by a city-wide strike and three days of violent clashes with police, should avoid areas where there are protests, the Labor chief told reporters.

A Filipino worker was arrested in Hong Kong after he was accused of participating in a street protest, Mr. Bello said. “He claims he is not a participant. He was just a bystander.”

The semi-autonomous Chinese city has been rocked by unrest since early June, and authorities are struggling to contain demonstrations that have become more violent.

The protests were sparked by an extradition bill that would allow suspects to be sent to China for trial.

Albano refiles bill on medical marijuana

ISABELA REPRESENTATIVE Antonio T. Albano has called for support on legalizing marijuana for medical purposes as he refiled House Bill 279, the Philippine Medical Cannabis Compassionate Act.

“It’s important for us to make sure that the medical aspect gets passed first before we deal with recreational because I’m totally against the recreational purposes of the marijuana, precisely because it is the stumbling block for us not to be able to dispense the medications… to everyone else,” said Mr. Albano on Monday.

Under the bill, the Department of Health shall issue registry identification (ID) cards to qualified medical cannabis patients and caregivers.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) or Bureau of Customs (BoC), meanwhile, will be in charge of ID verification and volume regulation for marijuana brought in from other countries.

“I’m proposing in this bill, the PDEA or Customs, i-che-check niya kung tototo ba itong (will check the) card, so he can only bring in a certain quantity…because the facilities here should be the one to give the dispensations of the medicines,” said Mr. Albano.

The lawmaker noted that marijuana has been proven to be effective in treatments relating to certain medical conditions, including cancer. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Storm Hanna in the northeast intensifies; LPA, monsoon blowing in from the west

TROPICAL STORM Hanna (International name: Lekima) “is expected to intensify into a Severe Tropical Storm within 24 hours,” weather bureau PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. Monday report, but it remains unlikely to make landfall. Moderate to heavy rains, however, will continue to be brought in by the southwest monsoon on Tuesday, particularly in the northern portion of Palawan, including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Mindoro provinces, Romblon, and Western Visayas. In Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, and the rest of MIMAROPA and Visayas, there will be cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. PAGASA Weather Specialist Benison Estareja also said the low pressure area located west of Northern Luzon has a low chance of developing into a typhoon.

CA rules Balanga City smoking ban oversteps Tobacco regulation law

THE COURT of Appeals (CA) has upheld the unconstitutionality of a Balanga City ordinance that expanded the smoking ban coverage in the city’s University Town. In a 13-page decision, the CA’s special 16th division affirmed the July 5, 2018 decision of the Balanga City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 93, which declared as unconstitutional and invalid Section 1 of Ordinance No. 9, Series of 2016. The court said the Balanga city council went beyond the prohibited acts specified in Republic Act 9211, the Tobacco Regulation Act, which bans selling of tobacco 100 meters from a school. The assailed ordinance passed in 2016 prohibits smoking, selling, and promotion of tobacco products within the University Town and three kilometers from its radius. “Clearly from the foregoing, the City Council of Balanga have overstepped Congress,” the CA ruled, adding that RA 9211 “should prevail” over the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The Balanga ordinance cites the WHO framework. The petitioner before the Balanga City RTC is the Philippine Tobacco Institute, Inc. The CA decision was penned by Associate Justice Jane Aurora C. Lantion and concurred in by Associate Justices Maria Elisa Sempio Diy and Jhosep Y. Lopez. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Shooter in road rage incident sentenced to 20-40 years in prison

A MANILA court has convicted and sentenced to 20 to 40 years of imprisonment a man who shot and killed a cyclist in a road rage incident in 2016. In a statement, Department of Justice (DoJ) Undersecretary Markk L. Perete said Judge Buenaventura Albert J. Tenorio, Jr. of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 14 found Vhon Martin Tanto “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” of killing Mark Vincent Garalde. Tanto, a Philippine Army reservist, shot Mr. Garalde twice on July 25, 2016 after a disagreement along P. Casal Street in Quiapo, Manila. The two fought after Mr. Garalde, who was on a bicycle, blocked Tanto’s car. The court also ordered Tanto to pay the heirs of Mr. Garalde P1.05 million in actual damages and P100,000 each in indemnity ex delicto, moral and exemplary damages. The DoJ indicted Tanto in September 2016. The prosecution presented 10 witnesses, including a closed circuit television footage of the incident. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

QC court junks Wellmed estafa cases for lack of jurisdiction

A QUEZON City (QC) court has dismissed for lack of jurisdiction the estafa charges against an officer of WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center Corp. and two whistle-blowers in connection with the “ghost dialysis” claims. In an Aug. 5 resolution, QC Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 219 Presiding Judge Janet Abergos-Samar said the dismissal of the 17 cases of WellMed owner and Vice-President Bryan Christopher W. Sy and whistle-blowers Edwin C. Roberto and Liezel Aileen S. De Leon “is without prejudice to re-filing” before a Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC). The RTC said the amounts allegedly defrauded from Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) ranged from P5,200 to P39,000, which can only be penalized with imprisonment of two months and one day to six months. A person accused of falsification of documents, meanwhile, can only be sentenced to imprisonment from two year, four months and one day to six years. Republic Act No. 129 provides that offenses punishable with imprisonment not exceeding six years should be under the first level courts, or the MTCs. The Department of Justice indicted the three as they were found to have “conspired in using falsified documents to collect payments from PhilHealth for alleged medical services to patients who were already dead.” Lawyer Rowell D. Ilagan, counsel of Mr. Sy, in a statement said the RTC’s decision is a “positive development” as it “reaffirms our position that the crime charged against Bryan Sy is not a grave felony.” On the other hand, former presidential spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr., legal counsel of the two whistle-blowers, said the dismissal of the complaint is alarming as it derails “efforts to cleanse PhilHealth preparatory to the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law…” — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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