SC grants writ for amparo, habeas data for rights groups

May 30, 2019 | 8:45 pm

THE Supreme Court (SC) has granted a writ for amparo and habeas data in favor of human rights groups for their protection against alleged attacks and red-tagging by the government.

In a seven-page resolution, the SC directed the Court of Appeals to hear the petition of Karapatan Alliance Philippines, Inc., Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, Inc. and General Assembly of Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership and Action (Gabriela), Inc. on June 18, as well as issue writs of amparo and habeas data and resolve the petition’s merits within 10 days after it was submitted for resolution.

The SC also required the respondents to file their comment on or before June 13, 2019.

The respondents of the case include President Rodrigo R. Duterte, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Ret. Gen. Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr., and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal, Jr., and other government officials.

The groups filed their petition for writ of amparo and habeas data on May 6 following their allegations of threats, harassment, and “red-tagging” by government forces.

The writ of amparo is a remedy available to anyone whose right to life, liberty, and security is violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission by a public official or employee.

Human rights groups also sought the issuance of habeas data which would order the government to destroy all information gathered against them.

In their petition, they claimed that red-tagging and terrorist labelling” of their organizations have worsened and become “more systematic” with the issuance of Executive Order No. 70 in December 2018 which formed the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF). — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Police encourages students to report cyberbullying

May 30, 2019 | 8:45 pm

THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) said cyberspace is emerging as a new venue for bullying, with students comprising most of the victims in reported cases. “Ito ngayon ang pinaka common na form of bullying sa ating mga kabataan (This is the most common form of bullying among the youth nowadays),” said PNP Spokesperson Col. Bernard M. Banac in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Thursday, May 30. The police recorded 22 cases of cyberbullying from 2017 to March 2019, with two so far this year. Mr. Banac encouraged the young to immediately report such cases and any form of bullying. He said, “Napakahalaga po na kaagad ito ay mai-report sa ating pulis para agad maimbestigahan at ‘yung mga suspects ay mahuli natin (It’s very important that these are reported immediately to the police, so we can investigate and catch the suspects).” The PNP will be deploying around 120,000 policemen in public schools nationwide for the opening of classes on June 3. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Road closures in Makati on May 31 for Flores de Mayo

May 30, 2019 | 8:41 pm

SEVERAL ROADS in Makati City will be closed on Friday, May 31, from 1 to 7 p.m. to give way to the annual Flores de Mayo parade. which will start from the city hall quadrangle leading to the Globe Circuit Events Grounds. The route will cover Hormiga Street, Trabajo Street, Hippodromo Street, and A.P. Reyes Street. The Makati City government said traffic enforcers will be deployed to guide motorists on rerouting schemes along N. Garcia Street and a stop-and-go scheme along A.P. Reyes Street.

Kennon, 2 other road sections in CAR closed

May 30, 2019 | 8:40 pm

KENNON ROAD, one of the routes going to mountain city destination Baguio, is closed due to a rock slide in one area, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced on Thursday. While clearing operations are ongoing, DPWH said all motorists “must pass through Aspiras-Ben Palispis (Marcos) Highway or Baguio-Bauang (Naguillian Road). Alternate route for light vehicles: Asin-Nangalisan-San Pascual-Tubao Road.” Meanwhile, two other road sections within the Cordillera Administrative Region have also been temporarily closed. One is the Banaue-Mayoyao-A. Lista-Isabela boundary road due to a series of soil erosions. The alternate route is via the Ubao-Tang Road. The other impassable road is the Busa section in Sabangan, Mt. Province of the Baguio-Bontoc highway due to a road cut. The alternate route is Nacagang-Abatan, Bauko, Maba-ay Provincial Road.

Phoenix, ROS make Commish Cup debut

May 30, 2019 | 8:39 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

PHILIPPINE Cup semifinalists Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters make their debut in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup in the scheduled double-header today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Fuel Masters play the still-unblemished and league-leading Blackwater Elite (3-0) in the 4:30 p.m. curtain-raiser while the Elasto Painters battle the Meralco Bolts (1-2) in the 7 p.m. main game.

Phoenix comes into the midseason Philippine Basketball Association tournament off their best conference showing in its history in Asia’s first play-for-pay league.

It topped the previous conference in the elimination round in wins and reached its first-ever semifinals but lost to eventual five-time champions San Miguel Beermen, 4-1.

For this conference, the Fuel Masters have brought in a familiar PBA face in Robert Dozier as import.

Mr. Dozier had two tours of duty with the Alaska team previously (2013 and 2016) and led the Aces to the title in the same conference in 2013.

In Phoenix he is reunited with former Alaska teammates Calvin Abueva and RJ Jazul as well as coaches Louie Alas and Topex Robinson.

In the lead-up, the Fuel Masters said they are banking on Mr. Rozier’s “experience and defensive capabilities” to boost their roster which also include Matthew Wright and second-year player Jason Perkins.

Out to spoil Mr. Dozier and Phoenix’s debut is Blackwater, which has been pretty solid off the starting blocks, still spotless after three games under new coach Aris Dimaunahan.

Leading the charge for the Elite are import Alex Stepheson and rookie Ray Parks, Jr.

Mr. Stepheson has been steady for Blackwater, posting monster averages of 25 points, 26 rebounds and three blocks per game.

Mr. Parks, for his part, has been good for 24 points and five rebounds in his debut conference so far. Incidentally he is the reigning PBA player of the week after helping his team to a flawless start.

Mr. Dimaunahan said he is very happy and satisfied with the way his team is performing, highlighting how his “players love playing with each other” and making things happen in their system which make the game easy for them.

He hopes that they stay on the same track even as they recognize that bigger challenges lie ahead for them.

RAIN OR SHINE
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine looks to build on its impressive run in the Philippine Cup, where it came within one win of advancing to the finals.

The Elasto Painters lost to the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok in seven games in the semis in the All-Filipino conference which they are now using as further motivation as they begin another tournament journey.

To help them in their bid, the paint masters are bringing veteran and champion import Denzel Bowles.

Mr. Bowles helped the B-Meg Llamados to the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup championship where he was also named best import.

He had three more stops with the team after but failed to win another title.

In Rain or Shine, Mr. Bowles joins a team currently experiencing a rejuvenation of sorts with a good mix of veteran and upcoming players.

Meeting the Elasto Painters at the entry door are the Bolts, who have had it roller coaster to date and are angling to catch a break for an upswing.

Import Gani Lawal has been showing the way for Meralco with norms of 32.3 points and 13 rebounds.

The Bolts are expected to welcome today new player Raymond Almazan, whom they acquired via trade in the in-between conference break from Rain or Shine.

NBA Finals today: Game 1

May 30, 2019 | 8:38 pm

TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors are playing in their first NBA Finals, and that makes the Golden State Warriors’ fifth consecutive appearance slightly different.

The Warriors will visit the Raptors on Thursday night (today, Manila time) for Game 1 after playing the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James in the previous four NBA Finals.

The Warriors won three of those encounters and are going for their third consecutive NBA championship.

“Well it’s different,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

“On the other hand, that was the exception. This is more the rule. When you (go) into the playoffs and into the Finals, you’re not supposed to play the same team every year. So that was a special era, a special rivalry and we’re thrilled to be back, and obviously Cleveland has moved on.”

Golden State’s Stephen Curry — who attended middle school in Toronto for two years when his father Dell played for the Raptors — embraces the change.

“Different energy, different city, different views, everything should prepare us to lock in, understanding that we have a prime opportunity to start off this finals series on the road and get a win and set the tone for how it’s going to be,” Curry said.

“I like the challenge and the unfamiliarity of this kind of schedule and flow. We’ve been there before, and we’ve experienced a lot, and this is, I think, something we’re capable of doing.”

The Raptors are making franchise history with their visit to the finals, but there is no indication that they are happy just to be there.

“Obviously, it’s a great accomplishment, and we’re happy to be taking that next step, but you want to win a championship, and you want to win the whole thing,” Raptors guard Fred VanVleet said. “It’s not about just making it to the Finals. We’re not satisfied. We’re not happy to be here. We’re really hungry, and we want to go out here and have a chance to win it, and we’ve earned it, and we deserve it.”

The Raptors won both meetings with the Warriors during the regular season. Of course, Raptors coach Nick Nurse said he expects them to be different this time.

“A better team playing harder,” Nurse said. “I think both teams playing harder and playing better.”

The Warriors are dealing with injuries to DeMarcus Cousins (torn left quadriceps) and Kevin Durant (strained right calf). Durant has been ruled out of Game 1, while the status of Cousins was uncertain, Kerr said Wednesday.

While the opponent will be different for the Warriors, so, too, is opening on the road.

“I think we have always been good on the road, but starting on the road presents a different challenge,” Kerr said.

“There’s a different rhythm to the series. It helps having gone through this last year against Houston where we started on the road and split the first two games and had to win a Game 7 on the road. So this group has done this before.”

“Well, it would be nice not to face a series deficit; that’s for sure,” Nurse said. “But again, I think you’ve just kind of got to take it as it comes. I think you certainly didn’t want to lose the first game against Orlando, but for some reason it ended being a really good thing for us because we looked pretty good the next four times out.

“And I don’t know, we lost embarrassingly in (Philadelphia) and played pretty good from there on out. We dropped two (in Milwaukee), and I wasn’t really that despondent about it.” — Reuters

PECO says expropriation hearings ‘premature’ without ruling on MORE Power’s franchise

May 30, 2019 | 8:38 pm

ILOILO CITY’S power distributor, Panay Electric Company, Inc. (PECO), said it would be “premature” for the Iloilo Regional Trial Court (RTC) to proceed with the hearings on the expropriation of its assets by its competitor, MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power), without a ruling on another case filed before the Mandaluyong RTC. “At this point though, it is premature to set the WOP (writ of possession) application as the Court has not acted upon PECO’s motion to suspend the expropriation proceedings given the pending case with the RTC of Mandaluyong assailing the constitutionality of MORE’s franchise,” PECO said in a statement issued by its legal counsel, the Divina Law firm. The statement was issued after the Iloilo RTC denied last Monday PECO’s motion to suspend the expropriation proceedings. PECO also said that “there is no urgency to set the expropriation proceedings” as the company was given a provisional authority to continue operating by the Energy Regulatory Commission last week. In the case before the Mandaluyong RTC, PECO is questioning the constitutionality of the Congressional franchise granted to MORE Power. PECO’s franchise expired last January and its renewal application was not approved by Congress. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Kawhi Leonard: Here for championship, not fame

May 30, 2019 | 8:37 pm

TORONTO — Kawhi Leonard loses zero sleep pondering his place in the pantheon of NBA greats. The Toronto Raptors’ All-Star is restlessly pursuing only one thing: a championship ring.

“I’m not playing the game for (notoriety),” Leonard said at NBA Finals media day Wednesday.

“I’m playing to have fun and try to be the best player I can be. I’m happy with myself and what I have done in my career and I’m just going to keep on from there. It’s not about me being famous or want to have more fame than those guys. It’s about me playing basketball and having fun on the floor.”

This is Leonard’s third trip to the NBA Finals, first going as a 21-year-old member of the San Antonio Spurs in 2013, when he was two years removed from playing at San Diego State. One of the Golden State Warriors’ five consecutive trips to the Finals came at the expense of the Spurs, but Leonard said that experience and his time in the Western Conference means little these days. — Reuters

Green Archers United books 1st PFL win; Kaya, Ceres also victorious

May 30, 2019 | 8:37 pm

GREEN ARCHERS United FC barged into the win column of the ongoing season of the Philippines Football League (PFL) after hacking out a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Global Cebu FC on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Off a 0-4 loss to Kaya FC-Iloilo in the tournament opener, GAU came out on firmer footing against Global en route to booking its first win.

Substitute Christian Zubiri was the game hero for the Archers after scoring what turned out to be the winning goal in the 72^nd minute.

It was a tightly fought match between GAU and Global until Mr. Zubiri broke through for his team.

The two teams continued to slug it out the rest of the way but in the end there was no stopping the Archers (1-0-1) from making their way to the groundbreaking victory. Also victorious on Wednesday were Kaya and defending champion Ceres-Negros FC.

Kaya defeated Stallion Laguna FC, 2-0, at the Biñan Football Stadium while Ceres was a big 5-0 victor over Philippine Air Force FC at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Iloilo-based Kaya was once again on top of its game as it blanked Stallion in its home turf.

Jovin Bedic and Jordan Mintah provided the goals for Kaya in the win with the former delivering his in the 25^th minute and the latter in the 87^th minute.

The win kept the clean slate of Kaya after two games and pushed it to the top of the standings with six points.

Despite two victories in as many games to date, Kaya is not getting ahead of itself, recognizing it is still a long season.

“It’s a long season and I hope we keep this winning streak going. We’ll be looking for another clean sheet in the next match, that’s very important for us,” said Kaya goalkeeper Mike Casas in postmatch.

Ceres (1-1-0), for its part, was solid in its win over Air Force with Bienvenido Maranon scoring a hat trick (15’, 76’ and 82’) and Curt Dizon a brace (52’ and 78’).

The win was a bounce back from its first game where it was held to a 2-2 draw by Stallion.

PFL games on Saturday are Air Force versus Stallion and Ceres against Global. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Back-to-school crowd

May 30, 2019 | 8:37 pm

With the opening of the new school year on June 3, several ports around the country have started recording higher volume of passengers this week, like at the Port of Dapa in Siargao as some the island’s student residents travel to Surigao City for enrolment. The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), together with other government agencies, have set up help desks at the ports to assist travelers and tighten security from May 27 to June 8.

French Open: No sweat for Nadal and Federer, Bertens pulls out

May 30, 2019 | 8:36 pm

PARIS — Defending champion Rafael Nadal continued to chomp his way through the French Open draw on Wednesday and Roger Federer also maintained his smooth progress into the third round.

It felt like a case of deja vu for Spaniard Nadal, the second seed, as for the second match running he dispatched a German qualifier named Yannick in brutal fashion.

After beating Yannick Hanfmann for the loss off six games in round one, he conceded seven against Yannick Maden in a 6-1 6-2 6-4 win on Court Suzanne Lenglen, crunching 43 winners in the process.

Things might get more tricky next when he faces Belgium’s David Goffin — but the 11-times champion is already on a roll.

“We know that he’s at home at the French Open. He’s the king,” 27^th seed Goffin said.

Third seed Federer also played an obscure German, 25-year-old lucky loser Oscar Otte, ranked 144^th in the world.

Federer, wearing pale brown shorts, turned the screw just enough, breaking serve at a crucial juncture of each set for a clinical, yet still eye-catching 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory.

After missing the last three French Opens he has found the groove straight away with six near-perfect sets.

“I must say I feel really good, you know, considering I haven’t played here in that long,” the 37-year-old said.

The women’s draw lost another big name as Kiki Bertens, the Dutch fourth seed, was forced to retire early on against Viktoria Kuzmova, saying she had been up all night vomiting.

She joined fifth seed Angelique Kerber and 13^th seed Caroline Wozniacki and 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko through the exit door.

There were no alarms for 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza who beat Johanna Larsson to set up a clash with ninth seed Elina Svitolina who enjoyed a walkover against Kateryna Kozlova.

Last year’s runner-up Sloane Stephens also reached the third round, beating Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-1 7-6(3).

Marin Cilic’s hopes of completing his set of Grand Slam finals came to an abrupt end as the 11^th seed lost a four-hour 23 minute five-setter against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov.

That was one of two matches that in previous years would have graced the latter stages of a Grand Slam, the other one seeing Japan’s Kei Nishikori beat home favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after losing the opening set.

Former world number three Dimitrov, unseeded this year, will have to be at his best again in the third round where he faces 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka.

The Swiss 24^th seed was in scintillating form to beat Chile’s Cristian Garin, second on the list for claycourt wins this year, 6-1 6-4 6-0.

Greek sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, tipped as the man most likely to provide a breakthrough for the next generation this fortnight, battled past Bolivian Hugo Dellien.

French hopes were boosted with youngster Corentin Moutet posting an impressive win over 19^th seed Guido Pella, while Benoit Paire beat compatriot Pierre-Hugues Herbert 11-9 in the fifth set of a thriller. — Reuters

Access Bangsamoro launched to provide online platform for BARMM discussions

May 30, 2019 | 8:36 pm

THE ACCESS Bangsamoro Website (accessbangsamoro.ph) was launched Thursday (May 30) “to promote the free flow of information, analysis, and discussions” relating to the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and the transition into the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The online and social portal, with funding assistance from the Australian government, is hosted by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance and the Policy Center of Ateneo School of Government. “During the transition period, the structures and processes to implement the BOL and rebuild democratic institutions will be put in place. Access Bangsamoro will serve as a platform for education and discussion, help create sound and effective evidence-based public policy, and engage as wide a part of society as possible,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven J. Robinson said at the launching ceremony in Cotabato City. The portal will focus on three critical issues: intergovernmental relations, public finance management, and the parliamentary and electoral system. In a message posted on its Facebook page, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag (Murad) Ebrahim said in support of the project, “While we continue to face critical issues and challenges during this transition period, we in the Bangsamoro Government will remain steadfast in pursuing good governance… We hope that Access Bangsamoro will provide a significant space for research and discussions that will promote transparency, accountability, and moral governance in the Bangsamoro.”