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The future of chess?

7th Altibox Norway Chess
Stavanger, Norway
June 3-14, 2019

Final Standings

1. Magnus Carlsen NOR 2875, 13.5/18

2-3. Yu Yangyi CHN 2730, Levon Aronian ARM 2752, 10.5/18

4-5. Fabiano Caruana USA 2819, Wesley So USA 2754, 10.0/18

6. Ding Liren CHN 2805, 8.5/18

7-8. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave FRA 2779, Viswanathan Anand IND 2767, 8.0/18

9-10. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov AZE 2774, Alexander Grischuk RUS 2775, 5.0/18

The organizers of this event had a new format to deal with the problem of excessive draws (in their opinion) among the elite players.

Players receive two hours for each classical game, with a 10-second increment only after move 40. No draw offers are allowed until move 30. Classical games are worth two points for a win, but in case of a draw players get half a point and play an Armageddon game for the remaining point.

In the Armageddon game White has 10 minutes to Black’s 7, with a three-second increment from move 61. In case of a draw the player with Black gets the full point.

If there’s a tie for first at the end of the tournament a blitz playoff will take place, each player getting three minutes for the entire game with a 2-second increment after every move.

Only the classical games are rated.

So, to summarize, players will get the following points per round:

Win main game: 2 points

Lose main game: 0 point

Draw main game and lose Armageddon: 0.5 point

Draw main game and win Armageddon: 1.5 points

Magnus Carlsen won the event by three points over his closest pursuers, but the intention to avoid draws was not achieved. Out of a total of 45 games only 11 (roughly one-fourth) were decisive and the rest had to go to Armageddon with its “pieces falling off the board” randomness.

Here are what the standings would be if we only consider classical games:

1-2. Ding Liren CHN 2805, Magnus Carlsen NOR 2875, 5.5/9

3-4. Wesley So USA 2754, Fabiano Caruana USA 2819, 5.0/9

5-6. Levon Aronian ARM 2752, Yu Yangyi CHN 2730, 4.5/9

7-8. Viswanathan Anand IND 2767, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave FRA 2779, 4.0/9

9-10. Alexander Grischuk RUS 2775, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov AZE 2774, 3.5/9

Both Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren won two games and drew seven. Take note that Magnus finished no. 1 while Ding Liren was way down in 6th place. The difference between the two is that in the seven Armageddon games that they played Carlsen was given the win in six while Ding only won one. A prime example of the “randomness” mentioned above is Wesley So in a superior position and needing only to draw against Aronian instead falling for mate in 1. Many people, including this writer, were rather dissatisfied with the results of this experiment.

In fact, it could be said that the new format was a temptation for some players, especially specialists in blitz and speed chess like Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (MVL), to just go straight for the draw in the classical portion and then try to win in the Armageddon. Take a look at his games — more often than not he would offer a draw immediately after passing the 30th move.

But let me make this clear — the world champion Magnus Carlsen is arguably the best rapid and blitz player in the world, but to assume that he would have tried to win more games had he not had the Armageddon to fall back on is pure speculation and not borne out by the games — Carlsen appears to be going for a win at all times, except perhaps for his 30-mover versus MVL — Sveshnikovs every Black game, no quick draws, etc. Take a look at his very powerful victory over Alexander Grischuk.

Carlsen, Magnus (2875) — Grischuk, Alexander (2775) [D85]
7th Norway Chess 2019 Stavanger NOR (3), 06.06.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Be3

Nowadays the trend is to avoid 7.Nf3 Bg4 and to play Be3 right away. Later on, when the white queen has moved to d2, then perhaps he can play Nf3 because …Bg4 the knight is not pinned and can move, for example, to g5.

7…c5 8.Rc1 Qa5 9.Qd2 0–0

Going into the endgame with 9…cxd4 10.cxd4 Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2 is not attractive for many players because the White side is easier to play. The typical arrangement for his pieces is 11…0–0 12.Bd3 e6 13.Ne2 Nc6 14.Rc4 Rd8 15.Rb1 Radjabov, T. (2751)-Kamsky, G. (2729) 2008 Dresden Olympiad 1–0 36.

10.Nf3 Bg4 11.d5 b5

A new idea. In the 2014 version of Norway Stavanger Grischuk managed to defeat Kramnik with 11…Nd7 12.c4 Qa3 13.Be2 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bd4 15.Bxd4 cxd4 16.0–0 Ne5 17.Qxd4 Nxf3+ 18.gxf3 Qxf3 19.Rc3 Qe2 20.f4 Qxa2 21.f5 Kramnik, V. (2783)-Grischuk, A. (2792) Stavanger 2014: 0–1 (40).

12.Be2 Nd7 13.0–0 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 c4 15.Be2 Rfd8 16.f4 Nb6 17.Bf3 Qa3 18.h4

Grischuk thought Black was just lost here.

18…e6 19.h5 Na4 20.hxg6 hxg6 <D>

POSITION AFTER 20…HXG6

Black’s queen and knight are stuck in the queenside [so naturally Carlsen opens as many lines as possible in the kingside.]

21.f5! exf5

[If 21…Nxc3 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.Bg4 Nxe4 24.Bxe6+ Kh7 25.Qe1! White’s attack is winning]

22.exf5 Qd6 23.Bf4 Qb6+

Grischuk cannot interpose with the bishop because then 23…Be5 24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.fxg6 fxg6 26.Bg4! Rxd5 27.Qh6 Qg5 28.Be6#

24.Kh1 gxf5 25.d6 Rab8 26.Bd5 Nc5 27.Bg3 Ne6

Grischuk saw that 27…Ne4 28.Bxe4 fxe4 is refuted by 29.Rxf7! Kxf7 30.Qd5+ Kg6 31.Qxe4+ Kf7 32.Rf1+ Kg8 33.Qe6+ Kh7 34.Rf5 with mate coming up.

28.Rxf5 Rxd6 29.Bxd6 Qxd6 30.Qe3 Qb6 31.Qf3 Rf8 32.Rf1 Nd8 33.Rh5 Qc7 34.Qe4 1–0

Mate is unavoidable.

Ironically enough the best game of Wesley So was in Armageddon, played in the last round against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. MVL is sort of a difficult opponent for Wesley. Out of 40 games played in all time controls Wesley has only won four times, and most of them in blitz. On the other hand MVL has 10 victories and this includes eliminating Wesley from the 2015 World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan. This was a very painful loss as the Filipino ace had already defeated the Iranian hope Parham Maghsoodloo in the first round, Hungarian GM Csaba Balogh in the second and the Vietnamese no. 1 Le Quang Liem in the third. If he had gotten past MVL he would enter the quarterfinals, the big money rounds.

So, Wesley (2754) — Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2779) [E61]
7th Altibox Norway Chess Armageddon 201 Stavanger (9.3), 14.06.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e3 0–0 5.Be2 d6 6.Nc3 Bf5 7.0–0

In the Isle of Man Open last year MVL had a nice win after 7.Nd2 e5 8.d5 e4 9.g4 Bc8 10.g5 “winning” a pawn, but Black strikes back hard. 10…Nfd7 11.Ndxe4 f5 12.gxf6 Nxf6 13.Ng3 Bh3 14.e4 Nbd7 15.Bg5 c6 16.Qd2 Qa5 17.f3 Ne5 18.Rg1 cxd5 19.cxd5 Rac8 Black has more than enough compensation for the pawn. Jumabayev,R (2605)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2780) Douglas 2018 0–1 36.

7…a5 8.Nd2 e5 9.d5 Na6 10.e4 Bd7 11.a3 Nc5 12.b3 c6 13.Rb1 cxd5 14.cxd5 Qc7 15.Re1 Rfc8 16.f3

Perhaps better was 16.a4 to prevent Black’s …a5–a4.

16…Bh6

This was a 10-min vs. 7-min game so we should not really criticize Black’s moves too much, but 16…a4! would be very strong here. After 17.b4 Nd3! 18.Bxd3 Qb6+ 19.Kh1 Rxc3 20.Be2 Rac8 Black is the one going for the win.

17.Kh1 a4! 18.b4 Bxd2!

Obviously 18…Nd3 no longer works because the Black queen does not have a check on b6. After 19.Bxd3 Qxc3 20.Nc4! White has grabbed the upperhand.

19.Bxd2 Nb3 20.Bg5 Nh5 21.Na2 Qc2 22.Qxc2 Rxc2 23.Nc1 f6 24.Nxb3 fxg5?

This is a mistake. Better is 24…axb3 25.Be3 Rxa3 26.Bd1 Rc4 27.Rxb3 Ra1 28.Rg1 Ba4 29.Rd3 Bxd1 30.Rdxd1 Rxd1 31.Rxd1 f5! 32.exf5 gxf5 33.Rb1 Nf6–+ the crucial pawn on d5 falls and Black wins.

25.Na5 Nf4 26.Bf1 Rac8?

Another mistake and this one is decisive. Black probably thought that saving the pawn with 26…b6! was useless because after 27.Nc4 Wesley wins one of the pawns anyway, but there is a difference. After 27…Bb5! 28.Nxb6 Bxf1 29.Rxf1 Ra6 Whie is still a pawn up but his advantage is now minimal.

27.Nxb7 R8c3 28.Nxd6 Rxa3 29.b5!

This passed pawn will win the game for White.

29…Rb3 30.b6 Rcb2 31.Rxb2 Rxb2 32.b7 Rb6 33.g3 Nh3 34.Rc1 Kf8 35.Rc8+ Ke7 36.b8Q Rxb8 37.Rxb8 Kxd6 38.Rd8 Kc7

Trying to save the knight with 38…Nf2+ 39.Kg2 Nd1 does not work because of 40.Bb5.

39.Rxd7+! Kxd7 40.Bxh3+ g4 41.Bf1!

Of course not 41.Bxg4+? Kd6 White cannot stop the queening pawn on a4.

41…a3 42.Bc4 gxf3 43.Kg1 g5 44.g4 Kd6 45.Kf2 1–0

Whether or not the mix of classical chess with armageddom will be the tournament format of the future remains to be seen. What seems obvious to me is that the new format did not contribute anything towards making the players go into more aggressive chess.

Armageddon is a “fun chess,” just like the bullet chess (1-minute games) that is so popular in the chess servers. For serious chess though I don’t recommend it.

 

Bobby Ang is a founding member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and its first Executive Director. A Certified Public Accountant, he taught accounting in the University of Santo Tomas for 25 years and is currently Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies.

bobby@cpamd.net

Back in business

Considering the countless ways in which the blockbuster trade between the Lakers and Pelicans can be viewed, it’s no surprise that both praise and criticism have been heaped in equal measure. From the vantage points of the dramatis personae, however, there can be no questioning the necessity of the deal pushing through. For one quarter, it represents the consummation of a pursuit for a superstar that was highly publicized and thereby resulted in bruised egos and fractured chemistry. For the other, it provides an opportunity to minimize the pain normally associated with reboots. Simply put, a win-win situation was reached, making the development a rarity in the cutthroat National Basketball Association.

For the Lakers, the impending arrival of all-world Anthony Davis underscores their continued relevance, but for all the right reasons. Even as franchise annals are littered with examples of headline-hogging acquisitions, their less-than-respectable showing on and off the court in recent memory appeared to rob their name of significant luster. Their 2018-19 campaign closed with a whimper and resulted in a sixth straight absence from the playoffs. Meanwhile, they suffered from trade-deadline stumbles, top management upheaval, and a poorly executed coaching transition. And yet, the embarrassments they were subjected to failed to prevent them from ultimately claiming their target.

There is still much to be done for the Lakers, to be sure. They had to gut their roster for Davis, leaving them with just five players under contract after their agreement with the Pelicans is formalized. The grapevine has them still on the prowl for a third marquee name, but the legitimacy of their effort depends on timing. Depending on when they get to include The Brow on their payroll, and hinging on his appetite for waiving a $4-million trade kicker, they will have anywhere from $23 to $32 million to play around with. The cachet will be good for one max-salary slot (to offer, say, Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, or Jimmy Butler) or a couple of mid-level free agents (among them J.J. Redick, Malcolm Brogdon, and Danny Green), and then rounded out by scrubs on scale.

Nonetheless, the Lakers cannot but be considered legitimate contenders, especially with the West wide open following the de facto weakening of the otherwise-dominant Warriors. If nothing else, their odds in Las Vegas reflect the dramatic rise in their estimation; as spotty as their immediate future may be, they’re now 3/1 favorites to claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy this time next year. Indeed, Davis is that good, and his partnership with James guarantees the purple and gold an unparalleled inside-out presence.

Whether the Lakers manage to meet outsized expectations is anybody’s guess. If there’s anything the 2019 postseason proved, it’s that absolutely nothing can be etched in stone. That said, this much is clear: They’re back in business.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operation and Human Resources management, corporate communications and business development.

‘A little accident’ — Duterte on boat sinking

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter

SPEAKING for the first time on the June 9 sinking of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel, President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday described the incident as a “little maritime accident,” and reiterated anew that the Philippines is “not ready to go to war” with China.

In his speech at the 121st Philippine Navy Anniversary celebration held at Sangley Point in Cavite City on Monday evening, Mr. Duterte said: “In this matter of the incident na nagbanggaan iyong mga (on the collision of the) fishing boats… with all the galit (anger), even urging sending grayships doon sa (to) China Sea, alam mo gusto ko yan, kung ako lang. Gusto ko ng aksyon. (I want that, if it were up to me. I want action.) But I am not in my boyhood age anymore. I have a duty, a burden, sometimes more than I can carry.”

He stressed there are rules being followed by the government in dealing with the issue, saying: “There will be rules for a military confrontation; there will be rules for a mistaken identity attack; there’s a rule for fishermen’s boats. There is a rule for aircraft carrier bumping a fishing boat.”

“That is a maritime incident. ‘Wag kayong maniwala sa pulitiko na bobo. Gusto papuntahin ang Navy. (Don’t believe the stupid politicians who want to send the Navy.) You do not send grayships there… Alam na miscommunication ‘yan. (That’s miscommunication.) We are not ready in a nuclear war.””

“Dalawang bangka lang ‘yan (Those are just two boats), now you go there and create a tension. Hindi ako gago na Presidente…. (I’m not an insane President).”

“It is a maritime incident. I will not issue a statement because there is no result of an investigation. Give the other party the right to be heard.”

“Wag muna tayo makialam (Let’s not meddle). Do not allow a little maritime accident…”

PINOL TO HEAD GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
Also on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol was named chairman of the government response to the controversy over the June 9 sinking of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement on the Cabinet cluster meetings held Monday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles said the government response will be “focused primarily on assisting the 22 affected fishermen, with Region IV-B CORDS (Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security) (Energy) Sec. Alfonso Cusi as as co-lead.”

“Sec(retary) Piñol has been directed to tap all available government resources — including assistance from DA and DSWD — to assist our countrymen, with components of the support package to come from other government agencies,” Mr. Nograles also said.

“Aside from this, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Region IV-B Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) have conducted initial inquiries regarding the incident to determine the extent of the liabilities involved and in order to ascertain the most effective legal means to obtain justice for our countrymen. These efforts will be complemented by further investigations to be jointly led by the Maritime Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard.”

PALACE’S ACCOUNT
Mr. Nograles said the “joint meeting of the Economic Development and Security, Justice, and Peace clusters was held to tackle issues relative to the West Philippine Sea/Reed Bank incident that resulted in the sinking of the fishing boat F/B Gem-Vir 1 that endangered the lives of its 22-man Filipino crew — who were later fortuitously rescued by a Vietnamese vessel.”

He added, “Initial action has already been taken, with the filing of a strongly-worded diplomatic protest that was handed over to the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Government on June 13.”

In an interview with ANC, Mr. Piñol said in part, “this is just a simple maritime incident which should be handled at our level. I don’t understand why people are blowing this out of proportion. In fact, some people have even come up with theories about CIA involvement.”

For his part, the captain of the rammed boat has backed out of a scheduled meeting with President Rodrigo R. Duterte due to an illness, according to San Jose Mayor Romulo Festin of Occidental Mindoro.

“May sakit, kaya nag-backout. Tinanong ko kung ayun dahilan niyan, sabi niya, ayun daw…Wala daw kasing tulog,” Mr. Festin said in a phone interview on Monday. (He is not feeling well, that’s why he backed out. I asked him if that’s his reason and he said it is….He was not able to sleep well.)

Mr. Festin said Mr. Insigne, along with the owner of F/B GimVer 1, and the crew cook, were already in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, at dawn when he asked to be dropped off.

“Nandun na sila sa Roxas, Oriental Mindoro para sumakay ng Roro sa Calapan (They were already in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro to transit via roll-on/roll-off vessel in Calapan),” said the mayor. “Talagang hindi na raw niya kakayanin papuntang Maynila, kaya bumaba na daw siya (He can’t really go as far as Manila, so he just asked to be dropped off).”

“‘Yung iba gusto na nilang umuwi sa kanilang mga barangay….Ayun nga bibigyan ko ng pamasahe. Sabi ko, maghintay-hintay muna kasi darating pa ‘yung director ng DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) kung ano maiko-commit nilang suporta,” said Mr. Festin. (Some of them already wanted to return to their barangay…So I gave them money so they could go home. But I also told them to wait a while because the director of DOLE will arrive to commit their support.) — with Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

IRR out on switching of mobile networks

By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter

THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) released on Monday the guidelines for the implementation of the Mobile Number Portability Act, which allows mobile users to switch networks and service types without changing their numbers.

Memorandum Circular No. 03-06-2019 set the implementing rules and regulations for Republic Act No. 11202, which was signed into law in February. It will take effect 15 days from its publication in a newspaper.

Based on the rules, any subscriber who does not have an outstanding balance with a network provider, has used a mobile number for at least 60 days and is not blacklisted by any network provider may apply to switch networks and retain his or her mobile number.

The service may be availed from a mobile number portability service provider (MNPSP), which will be chosen by telecommunications companies (telcos) within four months from the rules’ effectivity.

Telcos Globe Telecom, Inc. and PLDT, Inc. are required to take an equal share in the capital expenditure for software, hardware and other facilities that the chosen MNPSP will need to acquire.

The MNPSP’s operating and maintenance costs will also be shared with the telcos, depending on their to-be-determined agreement.

The application to switch from network to network and from postpaid to prepaid service is free of charge, as the rules said “no fees and charges related to the mobile number portability service shall be collected from the subscribers.”

Subscribers who wish to avail themselves of the portability service must request from his or her network provider a nine-digit unique subscriber code. This code will be processed by the network provider the subscriber is switching into. The porting process must not take longer than 48 hours.

In the case of subscribers wishing to move from prepaid to postpaid service or vice-versa, a network provider must complete the porting process in 24 hours.

The Mobile Number Portability Act is intended to promote consumer welfare by “(fostering) the freedom to choose and to respond to quality, price and other relevant considerations without the consumers having to change their mobile numbers whenever they change mobile service providers or subscription plans.”

Fratman in Castillo hazing convicted

A MANILA court has found Aegis Juris fraternity member John Paul S. Solano guilty of obstruction of justice in connection with the September 2017 hazing-murder of University of Santo Tomas law freshman Horacio “Atio” Castillo III.

Judge Carolina J. Esguerra of Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 14 sentenced Mr. Solano to a minimum of two years, four months and one day to four years, two months, and one day of imprisonment for violation of Section 1 (i) of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1829, on “Penalizing obstruction of apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders.”

Mr. Solano, however, was cleared of perjury charges.

The court said “it is clear that he gave false and fabricated information to mislead the police or prevent them from apprehending those responsible for the death of Castillo.”

“Consequently, his liability for violation of Section 1 (i) of Presidential Decree 1829 has been proven beyond reasonable doubt,” the court ruled.

Mr. Castillo was declared dead on arrival at the Chinese General Hospital on Sept. 17, 2017, after attending the welcoming rites of the fraternity.

The accused initially told authorities that he saw Mr. Castillo’s body at the corner of H. Lopez Boulevard and Infanta Street in Tondo, Manila, while he was passing by and stopped a vehicle and brought him to the hospital.

The court cited Mr. Solano as saying that he made the incorrect statements “due to uncontrollable fear for his life and for fear of being implicated/charged with the death of Castillo.”

“Along this line, accused’ fear of being implicated in the death of Castillo is not imminent. Had accused spoken of true incidents prior to bringing Castillo to the hospital, the matter would have been investigated first by the police before hailing him to court should they find that they acted in complicity with the others in bringing Castillo’s injuries,” the court said.

“(T)he fear which the accused claims to have overtaken him is not, in contemplation of law, as imminent as he believed, and is even speculative at that. Thus, his defense that he acted under the impulse of uncontrollable fear for his life or limb has no leg to stand on,” it added.

The court also acquitted Mr. Solano from the charge of violation of Section 1 (f) of PD 1829 or obstruction of justice for making or presenting any document with knowledge of its falsity, saying it was not Mr. Solano who made the Judicial Affidavit.

The parents of Mr. Castillo said they are “very happy with the conviction” for obstruction of justice.

“It can be shown, ‘yung cover-up na nangyari (cover-up that transpired). And hopefully, we will file cases again doon sa mga kasama, even ‘yung mga lawyers na involved doon sa cover-up (against those, even the lawyers, involved in the cover-up),” Mr. Horacio Castillo, Jr. told reporters.

Bail hearing at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20 is still ongoing for the 10 members of the Aegis Juris fraternity charged with violation of Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 8049 or Anti-Hazing Law.

Nationwide round-up

UNICEF commends IRR on protecting children in armed conflict

A CHILD attends a disengagement ceremony held at one of the base camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in this 2017 file photo. As part of the United Nations-MILF action plan to address the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, children involved in the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces of the MILF were identified and separated. — PHOTO COURTESY OF UNICEF.

THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a statement said it commends the Philippine government in taking the next critical step toward improving the plight of children in conflict zones with the recent signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the law to protect Children in Situations of Armed Conflict (CSAC). Chief for Child Protection Grace Agcaoili was quoted in the statement as saying that “the release of the IRR of this first-ever comprehensive national law (Republic Act 11188) on CSAC is further proof of the government’s commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.” She also reaffirmed UNICEF’s support in implementing the law as it marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

11 US fugitives deported

ELEVEN fugitives have been returned to the United States after Philippine officials helped tracked them down in Manila. In a statement, the US State Department said its Diplomatic Security Service at the US Embassy in Manila “located and apprehended 11 US fugitives wanted for crimes ranging from conspiracy to commit murder, securities fraud, child abuse, and sexual assault.” “We thank the Government of the Philippines for their longstanding support, and look forward to our future cooperation as friends, partners, and allies,” the State Department said. — Gillian M. Cortez

House holds orientation on legislation

FIFTEEN incoming first-term congressmen attended the first day of an orientation program and executive course on legislation, about a month before the 18th Congress begins. The three-day crash course, with three batches, was conducted by the House of Representatives together with the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG). “Ang pag-aaralan nila ay kung paano sila gagalaw bilang bagong representatives. Tutulungan namin sila na malaman nila kung paano ang legislative process, policy process, paano sila gagalaw sa policy system na meron tayo,” UP NCPAG dean Dr. Fe Mendoza told reporters. (They will learn how to act as new representatives. We will help them learn the legislative process, the policy process, and how they will adjust to the policy system that we have.) Some of the subjects covered are understanding development concepts, public policy, budget process, legislative process, and citizen engagement. The new lawmakers will conduct a mock committee meeting and will also be required to work on a legislative agenda at the end of the training. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

DILG flags ministry to LGUs

THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has called on local government units to revoke the business permits of Kapa Community Ministry International Inc. following President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s call to shut down its operations. In a memorandum issued on June 13, DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año cited the Local Government Code and the mandate of city and municipal mayors “to issue licenses and permits and suspend or revoke the same for any violation of the conditions upon which said licenses or permits had been issued pursuant to law or ordinance.” “Marami na ang naloko at marami pa sa ating mga kababayan ang maloloko sa investment scam na ito kung hindi ito aaksyunan ng mga mayor,” Mr. Año said in a statement on Monday. (Many have been tricked and more people may be lured into this investment scam unless the mayors take action.) The DILG directive came after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoked Kapa’s certificate of registration and secured over P100 million of its assets in accordance with a freeze order by the Court of Appeals. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Terror suspects nabbed in QC

POLICE have arrested two suspected terrorists linked to Daulah Islamiyah in Tandang Sora, Quezon City on Saturday. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde presented and identified the suspects as Arnel Cabintoy, alias Abu Mus’b, and Feliciano Sulayao, alias Abu Muslim, whom the PNP chief described as “Islam converts who joined the Daulaw Islamiyah Philippines under Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.” “Cabintoy and Sulayao are the subjects of an Order of Apprehension of Personalities Involved in the Rebellion in Mindanao issued by the Secretary of National Defense, who is administrator of the Martial Law in Mindanao that remains in effect until the end of this year as ratified by the joint houses of Congress,” Mr. Albayalde said in a press briefing, referring to the alleged involvement of the suspects in the Marawi Siege of 2017. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Kalibo Meat Plant due for rehabilitation

THE Philippine Slaughterhouse Management and Operation, Inc. (PSMO) and the Municipality of Kalibo are set to rehabilitate and renovate the Kalibo Meat Plant with the aim of having the facility attain double “AA” accreditation, which would ensure access to clean and secure products. “The project, which was undertaken as a joint venture under a public-private partnership scheme, uses the PPP Code of Aklan, as adopted by the Municipal Government of Kalibo and approved by its local Sanggunian, as its legal framework,” the company said in a statement. The rehabilitation of the meat plant is expected to be completed within 12 months. PSMO is also tasked to improve the slaughterhouse. “The rehabilitation of the meat plant will also allow higher daily production capacity of the slaughterhouse,” it said. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Police director flags extortion group

THE Police Regional Office has warned the public about an extortion group using the name of Brig. General Marcelo C. Morales, director of the office. Mr. Morales said the group has been sending “intimidating text messages to their potential victims” using his name. “I have not authorized anyone to use my name for any purpose,” he said, adding that he has deployed police units to pursue the extortionists. Mr. Morales also urged the public to report to the police any extortion attempt by this group. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

US awards micro-grants for rehabilitation of Marawi, other areas

THE US government has awarded 75 micro-grants to communities and business owners displaced from Marawi, a statement Monday by the US Embassy said. According to the statement, Acting Mission Director Patrick Wesner of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Field Office Manager and Assistant Secretary Felix Castro of Task Force Bangon Marawi visited Marawi and Iligan on June 11 for the community grants handover events. “The micro-grants, each valued at P260,000, will assist displaced families as they restart their livelihoods and small businesses, and will help host communities build small scale infrastructure and convene community events critical to the recovery,” the statement said, adding that the micro-grants and training program are part of USAID’s three-year, P1.35-billion Marawi Response Project, “which supports the economic recovery and social cohesion of displaced and host communities in Marawi, Lanao Del Sur, Lanao Del Norte and Iligan.” The micro-grants in Iligan City were awarded in collaboration with the Bangon Marawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI), an association of entrepreneurs displaced from the most affected area of Marawi.

Comelec: No fraud in Maguindanao town

THE COMMISSION on Elections in a statement on Monday denied poll fraud allegations by mayoral candidate Sam Zailon Esmael of Datu Salibo, Maguindanao, who posted on social media a photograph of a ballot box left in floodwaters. “Contrary to allegations made by Esmael and in the absence of any proof of fraud, Datu Salibo Election Officer Mary Ann Marohombsar maintains that the conduct of the May 13 polls in her jurisdiction was fraud-free,” the Comelec said, adding that the ballot box was stolen, as per the account of Datu Salibo municipal treasurer Ali A. Mamoribid. — Gillian M. Cortez

Nation at a Glance — (06/18/19)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Nation at a Glance — (06/18/19)

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