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Plunder conviction of Napoles affirmed

THE Sandiganbayan First Division has affirmed the conviction of Janet Lim Napoles for the misuse of the P224.5-million Priority Development Assistance Fund of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

In a resolution dated March 13, the anti-graft court affirmed its ruling that Ms. Napoles is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of plunder and sentenced to reclusion perpetua.

“Wherefore, in light of all the foregoing, this Court denies the Motion for Reconsideration of accused Janet Lim Napoles for lack of merit,” the resolution stated.

Also “found guilty beyond reasonable doubt” and sentenced to life imprisonment was Richard A. Cambe, former chief of staff of Mr. Revilla who was released last December after his acquittal from plunder. The case stemmed from the multi-billion pork barrel scam exposed in 2013 in which Mr. Revilla and two other senators were implicated.

The resolution stated, “Napoles cites several grounds for the reversal of the said Decision, first of which is that she, being a private individual, could not be the main plunderer.”

It added, “At the same time, Napoles avers that while the prosecution’s evidence points to Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. as the main plunderer, the assailed Decision allegedly does not identify who the main plunderer is. Without a determination on who the main plunderer is, the crime committed could not be plunder.”

“The Information clearly specifies that both Revilla and Cambe, as the public officers are being charged as main plunderers, together with accused private individual and movant Janet Lim Napoles.”“While the Court did not find sufficient evidence for the pronouncement of guilt on the part of Revilla, there is overwhelming evidence presented to show that his co-accused-movant Janet Lim Napoles are the main plunderers in this case.”“A conspiracy between Cambe and Luy, to the exclusion of Napoles, could not be possible, because the NGOs, through which the funds were diverted, were all creations of Napoles. Napoles has control of the bank accounts of these NGOs.”

“Napoles has control of the bank accounts of these NGOs. In fact, every time a big withdrawal is made from these bank accounts, it was Napoles whom the bank calls to verify or confirm the withdrawals, instead of the NGO’s president or officers.”“It is clear that in the act of amassing and accumulation of ill-gotten wealth, Cambe did not act alone. He had a private individual, accused-movant Napoles, who not just aided him but was one in his design to amass and accumulate ill-gotten wealth and performed the necessary acts to fulfill the evil design of plunder.” — VACF

Sytin denies plotting brother’s murder in counter-affidavit

By Vann Marlo M. Villegas
Reporter

THE BROTHER of slain businessman Dominic L. Sytin denied in his counter-affidavit being the mastermind behind the murder on Nov. 28 last year.

Alan Dennis L. Sytin maintained his innocence in his counter-affidavit submitted to the Department of Justice (DoJ) on Monday.

“I deny the charges against me for being false and gravely unjust. I am innocent. I did not nor did I have anything to do with the killing of my brother, Dominic Sytin,” Dennis Sytin said.

“I regret that although the police investigators themselves have acknowledged that I was cooperative in their investigation and that I gave them all the information I had, I am now forced to defend myself against the Complaint of the police who now point me as responsible for my own brother’s death despite the fact that they never asked me to make a statement,” he added.

Mr. Sytin is facing complaints of murder and frustrated murder before the DoJ in connection with the murder of his older brother and wounding of his bodyguard Efren Espartero.

In a press conference on March 11, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar D. Albayalde tagged Mr. Sytin as the alleged mastermind after he was identified by confessed hitman Edgardo Luib in his testimony.

In his counter-affidavit, Mr. Sytin described Mr. Luib as a “’polluted source’ whose statements must be viewed with the greatest caution and circumspection.”

He also said there was no clear and categorical statement from Mr. Luib that he is the mastermind and that he and Oliver Fuentes, a former United Auctioneers, Inc. (UAI) employee fired by the slain Mr. Sytin, were the ones he met at All Hands beach in September last year to plot Dominic Sytin’s murder.

“Luib was uncertain when he purportedly identified the alleged mastermind of the murder of Dominic from the few photographs presented to him by police investigators,” Dennis Sytin said.

“Luib’s unsureness as to his identification of the ‘Boss Dennis’ that he allegedly met with is in contrast to his certainty as to his identification of Oliver as ‘Ryan Rementilla,’” he added. He also noted that there is no physical evidence which would link him to the crime.

Mr. Sytin also claimed that “overwhelming evidence on record” show that Mr. Fuentes was the mastermind of his brother’s murder.

“Oliver had motive. He was a disgruntled former trusted employee whom Dominic fired in August 2018 for allegedly padding Job Orders and pocketing Php1 Million from UA collections,” Dennis Sytin said in his counteraffidavit.

He pointed out further that Mr. Fuentes has a standing warrant of arrest for murder and was the one who called Mr. Luib, fetched him from the bus terminal, and gave him instructions and information on Dominic Sytin’s whereabouts.

Dominic L. Sytin is the CEO of UAI, chairman of Foton Philippines, and director and chairman of the board of listed LMG Chemicals Corp. He was shot dead outside the Lighthouse Hotel at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

In the same March 11 press conference, Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon) Regional Director Police Brig. General Joel Napoleon Coronel said the Sytin brothers were in conflict over business, while Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Director Amador V. Corpus said the younger Sytin was fired in 2015 by Dominic Sytin for diverting equipment to his own company.

PPCRV partners with AMAES for better election monitoring technology

THE PARISH Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), in partnership with the AMA Education System (AMAES), will be deploying more advanced technological systems to strengthen their poll watchdog duties this coming midterm elections.

PPCRV, the citizens’ arm of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the national and local elections in May, renewed its ties with AMAES on Monday through a memorandum of agreement (MoA) signing, making this their 4th partnership deal.

“We are delighted to again partner with AMAES in fulfilling our mandate as the citizens arm for responsible voter education, poll watching, and parallel quick count,” PPCRV Chairman Myla C. Villanueva said on Monday.

PPCRV Board Trustee William S. Yu said that the technology they will be using for this 2019 elections will be better.

“As we get better at running this exercise, we’re of course upgrading the system as well. One of the enhancements for 2019 is the machines we’re using with AMA are newer. We want the processing to be faster… because the validation is predominantly manual so it does take time to encode,” he said.

AMAES Chief Information Officer Edwin E. Santos said more efficient machines and systems will be used, especially in reporting incidents during the election period.

“(W)e will be rolling out an election reporting system. Aside from the election returns being reported by the team, (it) can also report other items not related to the election results like election violence, violations etc. or good things that are happening in certain areas… and it can be seen by the PPCRV command center,” Mr. Santos said.

The PPCRV officials also said that video conferencing facilities from the AMAES campuses and the software used for the school’s Blended Learning program will be vital for training PPCRV volunteers.

These will also be utilized in communicating operations of PPCRV nationwide.

AMAES President Felizardo R. Colambo said the institution’s role as the information technology partner of PPCRV “is a manifestation of our commitment to democracy as a whole. We keep telling people that democracy should not end in the election itself but more so in the participation.”

For his part, AMAES Founder and Chairman Amable R. Aguiluz said in a statement on Monday, “As educators, we highly believe in our civic duty to be part of ensuring that the electoral process remain clean and honest.” — Gillian M. Cortez

3 arrested for transporting cocaine hidden in children’s books

THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested three individuals last week for transporting 3.3 kilos of cocaine, hidden in five children’s books, which were intended to be brought to Brazil via Thailand. In a press statement on Monday, NBI Director Dante A. Gierran identified the individuals as Ma. Clara Q. Bedico, Alvin J. Avila, and Antonette R. Mendiola. The three were presented Monday for inquest proceedings before the Department of Justice for violations Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 5 (Transportation of Dangerous Drugs) in relation to Section 26 (Conspiracy to Transport Drugs) of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. According to the NBI, Ms. Bedico just landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and went to a nearby fastfood to meet Mr. Avila, who would assist her in rebooking her plane ticket. They were arrested on March 28. Upon further investigation, the NBI found that the two were set to meet Ms. Mendiola in a motel in Pasig City for securing the luggage of Ms. Bedico. She was arrested on March 29. The NBI said the operation revealed that the Western African Drugs Syndicate recruit Filipinos to be couriers through “work abroad scheme posted in Facebook.” — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

ISIS flags found in house of 2 suspected extremist group members in Cagayan

TWO ISLAMIC State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flags were seized by the police and military during a joint operation last week at Baggao, Cagayan. The flags were found by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group during the serving of search warrant at the houses of brothers Greg and Altero Cariaga, who are suspected members of an ISIS-inspired group called Northern Jihadist Group. “Apparently, parang (it seems) they are pledging support to the ISIS,” said PNP chief PGen. Oscar D. Albayalde during a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday. Mr. Albayalde said this was the first ISIS-inspired group monitored outside Mindanao, particularly in northern Luzon, but he allayed fears that the extremist group is expanding in the country. He said there have been no reported hostilities or atrocities carried out by the group in the area. “Kaya nga (That is why) this is one of the preventive measures that we do together with the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), na kapag may mga na-monitor na ganyan (if we monitor something like that) we do preventive measures already,” he said. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Flood control protection for Cabagan, Isabela

THE 241-meter flood control project in Cabagan, Isabela has been completed and is expected to provide protection to Barangay Garita and other communities with a combined population of more than 43,000. “The area is situated on low lying plain fields and flood control structures are needed to help reduce or prevent the detrimental effects of flooding during rainy season. The completion of Garita flood control project will benefit thousands of residents as it will save lives and properties increasing protection in times of flood and calamities,” Department of Public Works and Highways Region 2 Director Melanio C. Briosos said in a statement. The project was built at a cost of P95.1 million. Construction Chief Engineer Jose B. Tobias said the project will be expanded in the coming years as part of the flood mitigation structures and drainage systems in the Cagayan Valley River Basin. Isabela province was among the hardest hit during typhoon Rosita (international name: Yutu) in Oct. 2018.

3 more Iloilo towns could be placed under state of calamity

THE ILOILO Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) is looking into the possibility of declaring the towns of Lambunao, Janiuay, and Cabatuan towns under a state of calamity due to the prevailing El Niño phenomenon. PAO said damage has so far been estimated at P911 million. Assistant Provincial Agriculturist, Elias V. Sandig said the amount was based on reports submitted by 39 local government units as of March 15. Around 24,176 farmers have been affected with 6,712 hectares of farms that are totally damaged and 16,985 hectares partially damaged. Last week, the municipality of Bingawan already made a state of calamity declaration due to losses in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. “Our total loses is already P53,172,976 covering rice losses worth P37,947, 976, corn (P1.7 million), livestock (P380,700) and fisheries (P3 million),” Mayor Mark P. Palabrica said in a phone interview. He added that more than 25 units of small farm reservoir in the town have also been affected by the dry spell. Mr. Palabrica said they have started implementing mitigating measures to combat the effects of El Niño. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Ifugao cooperative gets meat processing center from DAR

THE HAPAO Multi-Purpose Cooperative (HMPC) in Hungduan, Ifugao has received a processing center for the expansion of its meat production business, complemented by training on various aspects of business operations. The P300,000 processing facility, which was turned over late March, was funded under the Village Level Farm Focused Enterprise Development of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). To further develop and standardize the cooperative’s products, the Department of Science and Technology provided a smoking chamber, a digital weighing scale, a stuffer, an upright freezer, a meat grinder, and an impulse sealer. The Department of Trade and Industry, meanwhile, organized a seminar on entrepreneurial skills. The HMPC is currently applying for a license from the Bureau of Food and Drugs, which will allow the cooperative to market its products outside Ifugao province.

Police asserts Negros Oriental operations were legitimate

THE PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) on Monday said the recent police operations in various parts of Negros Oriental, where 14 suspected communist supporters were killed, were legitimate and cannot be considered a massacre.

“Itong mga operations na ito (These operations) are all covered by search warrants. They have 36 search warrants in different parts of Negros Oriental. Hindi po ito nangyari sa iisang lugar. Hindi totoo na ito ay masaker (This did not happen in one place. It is not true that this was a massacre),” said PNP chief Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Monday.

Fourteen people were killed and 12 others were arrested in joint military and police operations in two towns and one city in Negros Oriental on Saturday.

Police reports said the 14 arrested were suspected to be members and supporters of the New People’s Army, the armed units of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Eight of the fatalities were from Canlaon City, four from Manjuyod, and two from Santa Catalina.

Mr. Albayalde claimed that those killed fought back.

“Meron pong hindi nanlaban at naaresto. Itong mga 14 ito yung mga sinasabi nilang nanlaban. Hindi naman siguro magpapaputok yung ating mga pulis kung hindi naman talaga nanlaban itong mga taong ito (There were some who did not fight back. Police said that these 14 fought back. I don’t think our policemen will fire shots if these suspects did not fight back),” he said.

On the other hand, Kabataan Party-list claimed that those 14 killed were farmers.

“Fourteen farmers killed, 12 arrested in a day in Negros Oriental from joint military and police operations targeting members of peasant and plantation workers’ groups in the guise of ‘anti-criminality.’ This horrendous massacre brings the death toll of farmers killed under the Duterte administration to 197,” said Rep. Sarah I. Elago in a statement on Sunday.

Mr. Albayalde countered that based on police intelligence, there was no indication that the suspects were farmers.

Rather, he added, they had previous participation in an alleged ambush of police officers and a master sergeant from the Philippine Army.

For his part, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, a former police chief, asked the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of National Defense to provide assistance to government forces amid the controversy.

“Now, more than anytime, they should be assisted by their superior officers until and unless it is proven that they violated the established rules of engagement and the existing laws of the land,” the senator said in a statement on Monday.

He added, “When farmers possess rifle grenades, fragmentation grenades, handguns, shotguns, ammunition, phones and subversive documents, it says a lot about their tactics in their insurgency campaign aimed at a protracted guerilla warfare aimed at overthrowing the duly constituted authority.” — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras and Charmaine A. Tadalan

DoH-Davao raises alert as dengue cases in the region rises

HEALTH OFFICIALS in the Davao Region have raised the alarm after the number of dengue cases increased in the first quarter of the year, with two deaths reported due to the mosquito-borne disease. Based on a report of the Department of Health Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, there were 1,551 dengue patients in the first three months, almost triple the number during the same period last year. The deaths were one each in Davao City and Davao Oriental. Majority of the cases were in Davao City at 644. City Health Officer Josephine J. Villafuerte called on the public to cooperate with authorities in implementing mitigation programs, particularly in ensuring cleanliness in their communities. “We have never stopped in our campaign (against dengue), (but) we are asking the community to help us because we cannot do it all,” said Ms. Villafuerte. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Military takes hold of Abu Sayyaf arms cache in Sulu

TROOPS found an arms cache of the Abu Sayyaf group in Patikul, Sulu on March 26 as military pursuit operations continue against the bandit group. The Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) reported that among the items retrieved from the hideout were a 60 mm mortar, two M16 rifles, bandoliers with magazines, improvised explosive device paraphernalia, flags with ISIS markings, a military map, a handheld radio, and a night vision monocular. Following the discovery, soldiers tracked some of the group’s members and a 30-minute gunfight ensued. WestMinCom said there were no reported casualties among the soldiers. “We remain resolute in crumbling terrorist groups to address security threats and to pave the way for stability in Mindanao,” said Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela B. Vega, WestMinCom commander, “Rest assured that we will fulfill our mandate of securing the area of responsibility by ending insurgency to pave the way for development here.”

Peso edges down ahead of inflation data

THE PESO moved sideways against the dollar on Monday ahead of a slew of economic data and following the World Bank’s downward adjustment of its growth forecast for the Philippines for this year.

The peso closed yesterday’s session at P52.505 versus the greenback, barely moving from the P52.50-per-dollar finish on Friday.

The peso opened the session weaker at P52.60 per dollar, which was yesterday’s worst showing. Meanwhile, its intraday high stood at P52.47 against the US currency.

Trading volume thinned to $801.52 million from the $901.77 million that switched hands in the previous session.

A foreign exchange trader said trading was “very quiet” yesterday as volume thinned.

“The market was just awaiting more details for this week because we have a lot of data coming in. We have CPI (consumer price index) data later in the week,” the trader said in a phone interview yesterday.

Analysts said in a BusinessWorld poll that inflation likely maintained its descent in March as rice and food costs propped further, yielding a median estimate of 3.5%.

If realized, this will be slower than February’s 3.8% pace. This will keep inflation on a downtrend for the fifth straight month.

Apart from local inflation data, the trader added that the market is also anticipating unemployment figures in the US as well as developments in the US-China trade negotiations.

Meanwhile, another trader said the peso depreciated versus the greenback after the World Bank trimmed down its Philippine growth outlook for 2019.

The multilateral lender expects the country’s gross domestic product to grow 6.4% in 2019, a percentage point slower than its December 2018 estimate.

The World Bank flagged the risks of a mild El Niño, which is expected to cut farm output, as well as the delays in the 2019 national budget.

The country’s economic managers were forced to slash their growth target to 6-7% for 2019 from 7-8% previously. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said a budget deadlock that lasts until April will bring down full-year growth to 6.1-6.3%, well under the government’s original 7-8% target and likely level with the 2018 pace of 6.2%.

The government is currently operating on a reenacted 2018 budget, which leaves new programs and even the state’s big-ticket infrastructure projects unfunded.

“When the news came out, we saw a weak peso naturally. We also saw the local stock market falling. But the market just brushed it off. I think the market is just being cautious ahead of the data that will come out this week,” the first trader noted.

For today, traders expect the peso to trade between P52.40 and P52.60 versus the dollar. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

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