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1 soldier, 2 IS-inspired group members killed in Maguindanao clashes

A SOLDIER and two members of a local Islamic State-inspired group died in clashes in two Maguindanao towns on March 2, the military reported on Tuesday. “The operation was launched in response to a report from the communities regarding the presence of the armed group,” Major Gen. Diosdado C. Carreon, commander of the Joint Task Force Central, said in a statement from the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom). Government forces started with air and artillery assets against members of an extremist group led by Salahudin Hassan, then deployed ground troops in Barangay Salman in the town of Ampatuan. The ensuing clash left two members of the terror group dead and two soldiers wounded, one of whom died while being airlifted to hospital, WestMinCom said. Another gunfight took place in neighboring Datu Hoffer town, where military forces set up a blocking operation. Another soldier was wounded. “We will continue the momentum and sustain our gains on this operation in order to safeguard the civilians and put an end to this threat of society,” said Col. Jose H. Narciso, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade. The recovered bodies of the Hassan followers were turned over to the Maguindanao police for identification.

Indigenous communities assured of assistance with declaration of Dakeol Forest as critical habitat

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE (IP) communities in Dakeol Forest have been assured of livelihood support as protective measures are put in place with the planned declaration of part of the woodland as critical habitat. The Department of Environment and National Resources-SOCCSKSARGEN Region (DENR-12), in a statement Monday, said they have already “identified some 3,000 hectares of forest lands to be declared as ‘critical habitat.’” In a stakeholders meeting last week, DENR-12 officials asked the IP representatives from the village of Batian for their full support to the forest’s protection while addressing concerns on allowance for volunteer forest guards and livelihood programs. The area is home mostly to the Tboli, who are engaged in hog farming, sugarcane, and upland rice production. “Establishing Dakeol Forest as a critical habitat is for your benefit… We are partners in the protection of Dakeol,” said Elizabeth Ramos, chairperson of the civil society group Maitum Advocates for Sustainable Environment (MASE).

EAGLE’S HOME
The forest is the nesting site of a Philippine Eagle named Sarangani Pride, which was rescued in the village in 2017. It is also home to various flora and fauna such as red lauan, wild orchids, ferns, bats, birds, and monkeys. A profiling of the species will be undertaken by DENR-12 this year as part of preparations for the inclusion of Dakeol Forest in the list of critical habitat areas by 2021. Last February 4, DENR-12, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Kiamba, and the local government of Maitum signed an agreement for the creation of a multi-sectoral task force that will implement environmental protection measures and the establishment of a central nursery in Maitum. “The agreement will address the issues on social conflicts, environmental, and economic problems, thru establishing the DENR-LGU (local government unit) central nursery which shall provide livelihood to the upland dweller and other interested people’s organization of the town,” DENR-12 said. — MSJ

Nationwide round-up

Over $1B in laundered, dirty, and terrorist money entered PHL

MORE THAN $1 billion was brought into the country last year linked to money laundering schemes, terrorism, and illegal online gaming operations, according to Albay Rep. Jose Maria Clemente S. Salceda, who also chairs the House ways and means committee.

“There’s consensus among the resource persons that it is laundering and possibly terrorism, and then illegal POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators), although there is no consensus on drugs,” he told reporters in an ambush interview on Tuesday.

“Most likely po ‘yung mga (those) escorted deposits, ‘yun po ang mga (those are the ones) undocumented. Undeclared,” he added.

Mr. Salceda said if the situation is not addressed, it could affect the country’s credit rating and threaten national security.

He said the committee on ways and means has created a technical working group to “remedy” the “policy gaps” in addressing money laundering schemes in the country.

He added that the panel is working on a measure “instituting procedures for bulk foreign currencies importation.” — Genshen L. Espedido

Leachon accuses Villafuerte of P6B pork barrel insertion

ORIENTAL MINDORO Representative Doy C. Leachon, who was recently ousted from chairmanship of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, has accused Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte, Jr. of having pork barrel insertions in the 2020 national budget amounting to almost P6 billion.

“It’s quite obvious that he was hit hard and then purposely evaded the issue about his pork barrel insertions of almost 6 Billion pesos in the 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA) including the Iconic Capitol Building Phase 1 worth (P)750M with the convention center at Pili, Camarines Sur,” Mr. Leachon said in a statement on Monday.

Mr. Villafuerte denied the allegation, calling it “not only preposterous; it is an insult to all lawmakers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, including himself.” — Genshen L. Espedido

Anti-terror law amendments face opposition

THE CONSOLIDATED bill amending the Human Security Act of 2007 is facing opposition from various fronts, citing the necessity or legality of the proposed changes.

“Why fix it if it ain’t broke?,” former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri J. Colmenares said in a hearing at the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

He cited that proponents could not say that there have been members of terrorist groups who were not caught due to defects in the existing law.

Marawi civic leader Samira Ali Gutoc-Tamawis, for her part, said fighting radicalism should be about addressing the “underlying acts of terrorism.”

“Have we addressed the educational system that should deepen the democratic values of our co-Muslim Filipinos? Are we addressing deeply the roots of terrorism as we have always been questioning?” she said.

Former Dean of Ateneo School of Government Antonio Gabriel M. La Viña said there is a legal question on the consolidated bill as it “provides powers to the Executive branch” that properly belongs to the judiciary.

“You’ve done a good job and you have labored to produce this. The one thing you don’t want is for the Supreme Court to later on decide the provisions unconstitutional,” he said. — Genshen L. Espedido

Sotto asserts Senate independence after Dela Rosa remarks

PHILSTAR

SENATE PRESIDENT Vicente C. Sotto III on Tuesday asserted the chamber’s independence after a Duterte-backed Senator hit anew the move to clarify the Senate’s role in the abrogation of international agreements.

“Perhaps, later on he will realize that being a senator is different than being just a follower of the administration,” Mr. Sotto said in a briefing.

Neophyte Senator Ronald M. dela Rosa has maintained his position that the 1987 Constitution’s silence justifies the power of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to unilaterally terminate treaties.

Voting 12-0-7, the Senate on Monday adopted a resolution asking the Supreme Court to rule whether its concurrence is needed in the abrogation. Mr. Dela Rosa, among those who abstained, said Monday’s voting showed a division in the majority, to which he belongs.

He said he expected the other members of the majority bloc to join them. “But we are not able to get the majority votes. meaning kami na ang (we are now the) minority dito sa Senado (here at the Senate).”

The senator said this was not the first time he felt as if he were a member of the minority.

To recall, Mr. Dela Rosa also abstained from the voting on the resolution asking Mr. Duterte to reconsider the abrogation of the Philippines’ Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States.

The resolution was passed by the chamber ahead of Mr. Duterte’s directive to begin the 180-day notification period before the termination officially takes effect. The cancelation of Mr. Dela Rosa’s visa to the United States triggered the termination. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Spies are dealt with through ‘discreet’ operations — Guevarra

JUSTICE SECRETARY Menardo I. Guevarra on Tuesday said discreet operations are used in dealing with alleged spies entering the country, following the claim of a senator that Chinese spies have infiltrated the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

“Everything is possible in espionage. And it’s neither discussed openly nor investigated by law enforcement agents. Discreet counter-intelligence operation is the usual way to deal with it,” Mr. Guevarra told reporters in a mobile-phone message.

His statement came after he was asked if he will order the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the matter.

Senator Richard J. Gordon earlier said there is a possibility that China is using POGO firms to spy on the Philippines.

“I’m saying everything is on the table nothing is exempted, it could be espionage, it could be economic sabotage,” Mr. Gordon told reporters on Monday.

He also noted that China has the “biggest number of intelligence operatives in the world.” — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

New anti-drug war committee co-chair vows to be a ‘team player’

NEWLY-APPOINTED Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) Co-Chair Dante L. Jimenez said the drug war of the Duterte administration is not a “massive failure,” contrary to the claim of his predecessor, Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo.

“Let us disprove the peddled yet unfounded claim that the government’s war on illegal drugs is a massive failure. In fact, it is the strong support for the war on illegal drugs that has been critical in the immense public support for the President,” Mr. Jimenez said during his formal acceptance of the post on Tuesday.

Mr. Jimenez also said that he is a “team player” and will work well alongside Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director general Aaron N. Aquino, who reportedly said he found it “uncomfortable” when Ms. Robredo was ICAD co-chair. — Gillian M. Cortez

Nation at a Glance — (03/04/20)

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 — (03/04/20)

Bureau of Immigration hollowing out

In December 2016, or barely six months into an administration that is very strong on fighting corruption, two high ranking Deputy Commissioners of the Bureau of Immigration, Al Argosino and Michael Robles, were arrested based in an entrapment operation for demanding and receiving the grand sum of P50 million as extortion money from a Chinese gambling personality named Jack Lam.

It was supposedly for the release of about 1,300 Chinese arrested for working illegally in Pampanga. Argosino and Robles are facing the charge of plunder — despite a missing P1,000 bill that was going to downgrade the crime. Fifty million happens to be the threshold amount for plunder that is punishable with the highest penalty of reclusion perpetua.

Who was the head of the Bureau of Immigration in 2016?

In 2020, the whiff of corruption has become a firestorm. Based on the account of a whistleblower from the Bureau of Immigration, Chinese visitors were entering the Philippines on an expedited basis for grease money of P10,000 per entry. According to Senator Risa Hontiveros who exposed the systematic corruption, the estimated total take is P1 billion considering the number of Chinese coming in and out of the country.

Worse, VIPs or those blacklisted or with dubious records can freely pass through the immigration counters without their passports being checked or stamped for the measly sum of P50,000 each time.

“Patriotism, Integrity and Professionalism” is the official motto of the Bureau of Immigration and ring empty in the face of the realities of petty and grand corruption in the agency. It is the premier immigration office that polices and protects the country from undesirable aliens and criminal elements. It controls and regulates, and, when necessary, prevents the entry of and deports persons that are harmful to our society and citizens.

It is an office under the Department of Justice precisely because of the importance and sensitive nature of its function to secure our peace. What is happening is the opposite — immigration officials are expediting the entry and exit of shady characters and downright criminals — no entries, no record, no nothing. These make these government officials conspirators and as guilty as those they escort. It is the exact opposite of their sworn duty and a bastardization of what the Bureau aspires and stands for.

And yet another sacking of those involved and revamping of the bureau. These do not solve the problem as these people are recycled when things cool down. Sacking does not remove scalawags whether from the Bureau of Immigration or the Philippine National Police; revamping at the Immigration or Customs results in the same old tarnished names.

I remember a story from some years ago of a little boy who was walking along the seashore. He sees a man standing who seemed to be covered in black. He steps closer — mosquitoes were actually on every part of him and sucking the life out of him. He ran towards the man to drive away the mosquitoes but the man shouts, “Stop!” The boy said, “I want to help.” The man replied, “If you shoo them away, new, hungry mosquitoes will come and it will be worse for me. At least these mosquitoes are already full.” The boy turns away.

The man represents us, our institutions, the strength and bedrock of our democracy. But the corrupt are not the mosquitoes for they kept on sucking and only get bigger and greedier.

And this is the President’s responsibility. When one wants good food, he hires a chef. When one wants to ride a plane, he trusts in a skilled pilot. But for many of our agencies, the qualification is personal ties with the appointing authority. Never mind competence, the set of skills for an officer to meet the mandate of the office; disregard integrity, the essential ingredient for any public servant; forget professionalism, the ability and passion to get things done for the greater good regardless of the sacrifice.

If our institutions are run by such people, they are hollowing out and are in fact hollowed out. They are only Departments and Bureaus in name. In reality, they are vehicles for private gain and personal aggrandizement.

With the wave of criminality from those working in gambling companies and the destruction of our sense of right, there is no need for violent war — the damage is far more permanent and wide-ranging. The foreign invasion is not through destroyers and fighters planes, it is in the buying out of our morality and selling out of our ideals and traditions. It is the capturing of the pockets and loyalties of those who swear to serve and protect us.

The immediate effect of the cosmetic moves is the long lines at our airport terminals that jeopardize bona fide travelers and tired compatriots. The images of the hellish queues and the anguish on faces of passengers represent the worst of what was once the proud and honorable Bureau of Immigration.

The conversion of an ordinary stock corporation to a one person corporation

With the end in view of keeping abreast of changing times and easing doing business in the Philippines, the Revised Corporation Code (RCC) introduced the concept of a corporation with a single stockholder. Under the RCC, a natural person, trust, or an estate can now establish a One Person Corporation (OPC). For purposes of transition, it also allows an old domestic stock corporation (OSC) incorporated prior to the enactment of the RCC to be converted into an OPC. Pursuant to this, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released its proposed guidelines on the conversion of an OSC to an OPC for public feedback.

PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS
Pursuant to the guidelines, an application for conversion from an OSC to an OPC will be processed as an amendment of the articles of incorporation.

The guidelines further provide that when a single stockholder acquires all the stocks of an OSC, the OSC may apply for conversion into an OPC by submitting, among others, the following requirements: 1.) an affidavit of conversion which must be executed by the single stockholder who has acquired all the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the ordinary stock corporation and countersigned by the corporation’s corporate secretary, setting forth the: total number of shares of the OSC issued and outstanding, a list of stockholders of the OSC before the acquisition of all the outstanding shares by the single stockholder, and, the name of the single stockholder who acquired all of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of an OSC in his own name in the books of the corporation; 2.) original copy of the document effecting the transfer(s); and, 3.) Articles of Incorporation of the OPC, duly prepared, signed and acknowledged by the single stockholder and by the corporation’s treasurer in accordance with the SEC Guidelines on the Establishment of an OPC.

The articles of incorporation of the OPC should retain the provision indicating the names and addresses of the original incorporators of the OSC and should modify the provisions on the number of directors, their names and addresses, their subscription and payment details, to reflect name, address, subscription and payment details of the single stockholder. The corporate name of the corporation should likewise be amended to include the letters “OPC” either below or at the end of its corporate name.

Upon the issuance of the Certificate of Filing of Amended Articles of Incorporation by the SEC reflecting the conversion to an OPC, the articles of incorporation and by-laws of the OSC shall be deemed superseded and the OPC shall succeed the OSC, own all its properties, assume all rights and obligations, and be legally responsible for all the OSC’s outstanding liabilities. The OPC will retain the company registration number of the OSC and will have the “OPC” prefix in order to reflect its nature as an OPC.

COMPARISON OF OPC AND OSC
Given the simplicity of the process provided by the guidelines, it is enticing to convert an OSC into an OPC. However, one should first consider the benefits and drawbacks of converting an OSC into an OPC before proceeding to do so.

In an OPC, when an action is needed on any matter, it is sufficient to prepare a written resolution which shall be signed and dated by the single stockholder and recorded in the minutes book of the OPC. In contrast, a majority of the Board of Directors of an OSC must meet and approve the action and resolution. Therefore, it is easier for an OPC to approve a course of action to address a certain matter.

Given that both OPC and OSC are corporate entities with separate personality from their respective stockholders, the stockholders of both an OPC and an OSC can take advantage of the limited liability feature of corporate entities. As such, stockholders of both an OPC and an OSC generally should not be held personally liable for the debts and liabilities of the corporation more than their actual or promised investments in the corporation.

In an OPC, however, the sole shareholder claiming limited liability has the burden of showing that the OPC is adequately financed and that the property of the OPC is independent of the single stockholder’s personal property. Failure to do so may render the stockholder solidarily liable for the debts and liabilities of the OPC. In contrast, the stockholders of an OSC can generally claim limited liability without proving that the OSC is adequately financed and that the property of the OSC is independent of the stockholder’s personal property.

In the end, the decision to convert to an OPC would depend on various circumstances. At least with these guidelines, existing OSCs shall have the option to convert into an OPC and no longer need to establish a new corporation.

This article is for general informational and educational purposes only and not offered as and does not constitute legal advice or legal opinion.

 

Leia Clarissa Veronica R. Veracruz is an Associate of the Corporate & Special Projects Department of the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW).

crveracruz@accralaw.co

(02) 830-8000.

A winter of confusion

In his play, Richard III, William Shakespeare coined the phrase “winter of our discontent,” drawing an analogy between the dark and dreary winter season and the misfortunes and challenges that confronted his characters.

As I write this, I feel that we are experiencing a “winter of confusion” — with so many alarming events swirling about us, in the Philippines, in the US, and around the world, that threaten our very existence or that could change the trajectory of our lives.

The world is reeling from the threat of the coronavirus, leap-frogging from China to the rest of the world. In America, people are confused as President Donald Trump accuses the media and the Democrats of spreading “fake news” about the seriousness of the plague while every sensible expert warns of worse times ahead. As Americans hopelessly look to Trump to lead the country through the crisis, the stock market takes a steep dive, losing trillions in value, and small investors see their savings inexorably dissipate before their eyes.

Unbelievably, Trump has prevented health authorities from speaking candidly about the coronavirus, thus leaving the populace wondering how severe the problem is. Some quarters claim that the coronavirus is not as deadly as the flu (pointing out that the flu has also claimed thousands of lives, without setting off panic buttons), while others warn that the virus is so malignant, it can infect anyone who has contact with fellow human beings, thus it is best to stay indoors and avoid socializing.

Because people have no idea how to properly assess the coronavirus threat, they simply assume the worst and recede into their shells.

The effect on the economy has been devastating. When families stop socializing or going to the theaters or sports events or shopping centers, and when they stop making purchases and spending their money, the result is a business slowdown and a domino effect on manufacturing, imports, exports, marketing and, overall economic activities, worldwide.

It has been said that when the US economy has a cold, the rest of the world comes down with pneumonia. What could then be worse than seeing the United States and China, the biggest economic engines in the world, sputtering? Inevitably, the rest of the world sputters too. The economic impact is immediately felt, like a body being deprived of oxygen.

Trump’s incoherence and deviousness have simply made matters worse. But worse yet, Trump could win a second term as the contenders for the Democratic Party presidential nomination bash each other in a desperate effort to win at all costs. Thus the dire prospect of four more years of bad leadership has been coupled with the uncertainty posed by the coronavirus, coupled with the prospect of a worldwide economic recession, exacerbated by lack of reliable information on the multifarious problems.

In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has been sending conflicting signals concerning the fate of ABS-CBN Network, while his surrogates crucify those in Congress who are conducting hearings on the renewal of the network’s franchise. Duterte himself claims he has nothing to do with the mess that he actually began.

ABS-CBN has not been lacking in enemies and media rivals. The network’s enemies see an opportunity to get even, while the network’s media rivals have chosen to stay out of the fray despite the threat to press freedom which could also affect them. These media rivals may see a short-term advantage in the demise of a giant competitor, but down the road, they may find the same fate befalling them.

Anti-Duterte activists in the Philippines and the US have used the ABS-CBN issue as leverage to demand Duterte’s ouster in support of press freedom. But they surely know that Duterte will want to stay in power over their dead bodies. The activists are, perhaps, hoping the White House and Capitol Hill will dispatch someone to tell Duterte to “cut and cut clean,” the way they told Marcos. But, at present, Washington has other concerns and may not be inclined to upset Duterte while he plays the Chinese card.

Meanwhile, Chinese incursions in the Philippines have begun to trigger alarm buttons. Senator Richard Gordon (said to be an “Amboy”) has warned about trillions in funds from China being laundered in the Philippines, while thousands of Chinese “workers” — who could actually be members of the Chinese military — pour into the country in what some suspect as positioning for a takeover should the US decide to depose Duterte.

This happened in Cuba when President Fulgencio Batista was deposed and Russian-backed Fidel Castro wrested power. This was right at America’s virtual backyard.

Who says it can’t happen in the Philippines?

What if President Xi offers Duterte a presidency-for-life? Do we think Bong Go and Dennis Uy will object?

As these events are sensationalized in media, supporters and detractors of those involved are making an already confused situation even more confusing. Social media has become the propaganda battleground of choice because anyone can add to the cauldron of disinformation and misinformation for free and with no corresponding sanctions. Social media has become today’s Tower of Babel.

As a media practitioner with access to inside information, I must confess to being, at times, overwhelmed by the tsunami of events and the conflicting opinions being given by both well-meaning observers and DDT (Department of Dirty Tricks) specialists. One can imagine how much more confused the average citizen is who must depend on media and on balitang barbero (barbershop gossip) to keep abreast of developments.

If even reasonably intelligent individuals can be confused and misled, how can we blame the ordinary man on the street for being reactive and defensive?

Indeed, we are facing a winter of confusion. As worrisome as a winter of discontent.

One can only hope that a clear-headed and selfless leader will emerge to lead us out of the mists of misinformation, and to reassure and remind us that the world has been through worse times but has survived.

Europe went through the Dark Ages but eventually saw the light. Great Britain had Winston Churchill to keep the people’s spirits alive during the worst period of Nazi attacks. The British survived.

The United States had Roosevelt during the Great Depression to remind Americans that the only thing they had to fear was fear itself. The US survived.

America will survive Trump. But there will always be Republicans and Democrats who will promise heaven, albeit with stop-overs in hell.

The Philippines survived Marcos. No doubt, the country will survive Duterte. But then, there will always be other politicians who will take over. Who knows if they will be better or worse?

The lines of Percy Bysshe Shelley in his “Ode to the West Wind” are the logical denouement of Shakespeare’s “winter of discontent,” as well as our own winter of confusion:

“Oh wind, when winter comes, can spring be far behind?”

Yes, spring will come. Of course, after spring, winter will come again. C’est la vie!

 

Greg B. Macabenta is an advertising and communications man shuttling between San Francisco and Manila and providing unique insights on issues from both perspectives.

gregmacabenta@hotmail.com

Quo warranto and the pitfalls of populism

In a world that runs on the ideas of neoliberalism and free trade, transnational actors have reshaped how domestic politics work. After the downfall of communism — from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the transition of China into a global powerhouse of trade, and now, Vietnam’s growth — it can easily be said that trade has changed the world from what it was.

Giving power to the people, to consumers, to the market and decentralizing the economic authority from a select few, further democratizing trade and choice fueled the free-market ethos. Unshackling the economic potential of the world was only possible by recalibrating power structures away from the state authority to the market. Global trade has evolved from the early days and has helped push innovation and global development further than it was known and in a short time.

But also, a counter to the prevailing norm is the rise of economic nationalism, protectionism, and populist rhetoric. A common line between these is the re-consolidation of power back to the state apparatus. With populists winning the top political seats in various nations worldwide, it has cast a tall shadow on the growth of trade and industry and has drastically altered the politics of business. One such case is the long dragging trade war between the United States of America and China. With Trump pushing for tariffs for what he personally sees as an action to equalize trade and later China retaliating, nations are now pushed towards the conundrum of having to choose between the two economic powerhouses. Following suit, populists have taken their stand and have dragged their politics into the fold, such as the pivot of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, not only transitioning away from long-established trade partners but also defense policies, angling towards newfound allies China and Russia.

Now, the espoused free flow of industry meets a critical bottleneck all because of the re-centralization of power and authority to key personalities; Trump, Xi, Putin, Johnson, Bolsonaro, and Duterte, among many.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE PHILIPPINES
In the Philippines, the prevalence of populism was sparked by the public’s frustration with past administrations. Battered by the constant barrage of government mismanagement, corruption, and failure to improve social mobilization across the classes, the public was forced to seek a political leader that was a far from the cookie-cutter names known to have maintained dynastic hold of political power through the decades, to a name that was only known in the southern part of the Philippines, and that candidate was the brash, and unpredictable Mayor of Davao, Rodrigo Duterte.

After winning the Presidential race, now President Duterte has carried over many of the traits that endeared and polarized the voting population. From his folksy and working-class demeanor to his complex nature and mercurial temperament, his politics were far different from his predecessors’. Half-way into his term, President Duterte has time and again proven to be a tough puzzle to solve, leaving many to question the administration’s economic and political direction.

STRUGGLES OF POPULISM RED HERRINGS AND THE QUO WARRANTO
Being a populist is a full-time commitment. The only way to reinforce the public’s support for his administration is to constantly be ahead of its perception, which means his policies are dominated and highly influenced by both public satisfaction and opinions. Treading carefully to pursue public interest while balancing it with personal clout pushes populists to their limits, to a point of overextending and losing the long game. To protect against this, populists often consolidate power and authority by creating an external foe that the public can rally against and deflect all blame, much like a Red Herring fallacy. From communists, to the war on drugs, and now, big businesses; this formula has been used by the administration over the last few years and is again being utilized in the case of Solicitor General Calida against ABS-CBN. It’s use comes at a very opportune time when several issues remain unresolved such as the VFA issue, illegal POGO businesses, ballooning debt, and the lackluster infrastructure drive of the government.

POPULISM: BAD FOR BUSINESS
As manifested in the last senate hearing, the media institution did not commit offenses that can justify the non-renewal of its franchise. Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go stated that the President’s feelings were hurt by ABS-CBN, which only points to the impression that hurt feelings was the motivation for the case, despite Solicitor General Calida’s claims that the President is keeping his hands off the case.

The hearing leaves businesses with the impression of the government abusing its power and authority by using its mechanisms for personal vendettas — a primary example of the pitfalls of populism and why decentralization of power matters, because centralizing authority in one man can poison a whole nation with his politics.

 

Ren de los Santos is a Fellow at the Stratbase ADR Institute

Coronavirus is a risk to the Olympics, in 2020 and beyond

By Adam Minter

IN 1906, preparations for the 1908 Olympics were underway in Rome when Mount Vesuvius erupted and devastated Naples. The Italians, already strapped for funds to build Olympic venues, used the disaster as an excuse to back out of their commitment. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) didn’t miss a beat: In November 1906 — a mere 15 months before the opening ceremonies — London was selected as a replacement and held the games on time. Among other feats, the city built the first dedicated Olympic Stadium.

In 2020, the new coronavirus is a much graver threat to the Olympics than any volcano. Cases are spreading across Japan, qualifying events are being canceled, and countries around the world are cutting off travel to the country. With three weeks until the start of the torch relay, and five months until the opening ceremonies, the future of the 2020 Summer Games is less certain than any Olympics in decades. The IOC and Tokyo organizers recently told the news media that there is no “Plan B.” But even if Tokyo 2020 proceeds as originally planned, future games probably won’t. The coronavirus could change the Olympics in ways that may make them safer but certainly less appealing to athletes, spectators, and commercial sponsors.

The Olympics have always entailed risk, mostly financial. The 1896 Athens games incurred at least a 1,000% cost overrun (for a final price of roughly 3 million drachmas). During these early years, risk was managed by evaluating potential liabilities and — yes — buying insurance policies. The only phenomenon powerful enough to interrupt the games outright was a world war: The 1916, 1940, and 1944 games were canceled.

Since then, the games have grown mostly unimpeded, becoming the world’s biggest, most complex, and most expensive sporting event. Despite decades of promises that the games would be scaled back, and alleged reforms to produce that result, there’s little evidence of progress in reducing the size or risk. The 1964 Tokyo Olympics cost $282 million; costs associated with the 2020 edition may exceed $28 billion.

To manage the challenges of a metastasizing Olympics, organizers have elevated risk management to be the organizing principle in games planning. Candidate cities are evaluated, in part, on their capabilities to handle emergencies. Later, organizers list, evaluate, and game out potential scenarios for host cities. Some of these scenarios are manageable; the organizers of the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, fended off a cyberattack in part because it was a possibility that many feared and expected.

In one sense, disease outbreaks are just another manageable, albeit dangerous, risk. The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City experienced a flu outbreak; measles were imported during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games; norovirus swept through Pyeongchang. Tokyo 2020’s organizers, too, have prepared for a range of risks, including an earthquake (judged the greatest threat), terrorism, and a range of endemic and imported known diseases, including measles, rubella, dengue, and sexually transmitted infections. None are welcome, but if handled properly — and protocols exist — they wouldn’t derail the games.

An emergent pandemic, however, presents a different set of issues. Unlike an outbreak of flu or measles, a pandemic by its very definition isn’t just local. If Japan is successful in containing the coronavirus (and it is a long way from that), other countries might not be — at least, not in time for July’s opening ceremonies. Regional outbreaks are already interfering with training and Olympic qualification events; they’ll also have the knock-on effect of deterring travel by spectators and some commercial partners. Even if a replacement site existed for the 2020 games, it would face the same challenges as Tokyo. There is no repeating 1908 in 2020; the games are just too complex, expensive, and global.

This probably won’t be the last time that the Olympics face this scenario. For years, scientists have observed that pandemics are growing with frequency. It was only a matter of time before one threatened to cancel the games (in fact, Zika virus nearly derailed the 2016 Rio games, and SARS hung over Athens 2004). Now that it’s happened, the lack of a Plan B doesn’t just pose problems for Tokyo 2020. It calls into question the economic, political and athletic viability of the games in their current form. Already, the IOC struggles to find cities willing to compete for the right to spend billions hosting the games. Tokyo’s troubles will make that quest even harder. Likewise, marketing and broadcast partners will face questions about the value of their yearslong, multimillion- and billion-dollar investments in a vulnerable short-term event.

That doesn’t mean the end of the Olympics, of course. But it does mean that a complex global event with multiple vulnerabilities must become less centralized and more risk-averse. There are several ways the IOC might go about doing this, all with considerable drawbacks. The committee could select two or three geographically diverse cities to share the games in any year, thereby reducing the risks associated with a single host. Similarly, the IOC could designate two or three permanent, alternating host cities that — among other duties — might serve as backups in case of a disaster (though that’s unlikely to be of much help in a global pandemic). Or, most radically of all, the IOC might finally concede that the modern Olympics are mainly a television event — and eliminate or significantly reduce the number of fans in the stands. This latter approach is under serious consideration for some 2020 qualification events. Already, Japan will hold a spectator-less sumo tournament this month — a first since World War II.

Obviously, none of these scenarios will deliver the experiences that have made the Olympics so valuable to athletes, commercial sponsors, spectators and host cities over the decades. Will sponsors pay millions to be associated with events held in mostly empty venues? These changes might even make the games more expensive to hold while doing little to protect from a global pandemic. But if the games are to persist as a safe experience for future spectators and athletes, a radical rethinking of how they are held is now the most pressing item on the IOC’s agenda.

 

BLOOMBERG OPINION

Heat beat Bucks for second time this season

MIAMI — The host Miami Heat held reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to 13 points and became the first team to beat the Milwaukee Bucks twice this season, prevailing 105-89 on Monday night.

Miami is 2-0 against Milwaukee, which has the best record in the NBA at 52-9.

The Heat have struggled on the road (13-18), but they have the third-best home record in the league (26-4).

Antetokounmpo was removed from the game with 4:33 left in the fourth quarter as Miami had a 15-point lead. His 13 points tied his season low. He made just 6-of-18 shots from the floor, including 0-for-4 on 3-pointers. He had three assists and a game-high 15 rebounds.

Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder scored 18 points apiece to lead Miami. Bam Adebayo had 14 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

Brook Lopez had 21 points for Milwaukee.

Bucks wing Kris Middleton, who missed the past two games due to a sore neck, returned and had 10 of his 12 points in the first quarter.

The game was a contrast of styles. Milwaukee had a 46-30 edge in paint points but made just 20.6 percent on 3-pointers (7-for-34). The Heat made 48.6 percent on treys (18-for-37).

Miami led 31-26 after one quarter. Miami’s Kelly Olynyk had one stretch of 69 seconds in which he scored eight straight of the Heat’s points. For the quarter, he went 2-for-2 on 3-pointers and 2-for-2 on free throws.

The Heat stretched their lead to 12 points in the second quarter before Milwaukee rallied and trailed just 53-52 at halftime. Crowder had 16 points in the first half, including 5-for-7 shooting from deep.

Heat backup point guard Goran Dragic, who was held scoreless in the first half after missing all five of his shots, put up nine points in the third, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

That gave the Heat an 81-70 lead. Miami then cruised in the fourth, winning its 39th game, tying its total from last season. The 89 points represented a season low for the Bucks.

Miami is 19-0 at home when leading after three quarters. The Heat is also 17-1 against the Eastern Conference at home. — Reuters

Breakthrough athletes to be given special awards at PSA event

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

YOUNG and breakthrough athletes will get their share of the spotlight at the Annual Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night on March 6 at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

Tennis phenom Alex Eala, gymnastics gold medal winner Daniela dela Pisa, future grandmaster Daniel Quizon and ace swimmer Miguel Barreto are to be conferred the Milo Junior Athletes of the Year award.

It is in recognition of their exemplary performance in their respective fields which brought not only individual recognition for them but also pride to the country.

Eala, 14, made tennis history for the country after winning the 2020 Australian Open Juniors women’s doubles title along with Indonesian partner Priska Nugroho.

The two beat the pair of Ziva Falkner of Slovenia and Matilda Mutavdzic of the United Kingdom in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2 to win the title.

Eala’s historic run and her strong performance in the singles’ competition gave her a total of 1,718.75 points to catapult her to fourth in the world currently from a previous career-best ninth.

With her steady ascent in the rankings, Eala is expected to be able to compete and see more action in high-level women’s tournaments in her bid to further improve her game.

Dela Pisa, meanwhile, provided one of the feel-good stories and standout moments in the 30th Southeast Asian Games which the country hosted in December.

The 16-year-old Cebu native bagged a gold in the hoop final of the women’s rhythmic gymnastics competition of the recent biennial meet. It was the only gold produced by Filipino gymnasts outside of the two won by Olympic-bound Carlos Yulo (artistic all-around and floor).

Making her feat more impressive was the fact that when she was four years old Dela Pisa survived ovarian cancer and continued to pursue her passion for the sport.

Apart from a gold medal, she also won a pair of bronze in the rhythmic ball and clubs, respectively, at the SEA Games.

After winning gold in the U16 standard competition of the Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championships in Bangkok in August, 14-year-old Quizon earned an International Master title.

He was likewise the best-placed Filipino in the blitz side event of the Asian Continental Chess Championship in China in June where he toppled three Grandmasters in Wan Yunquo and Liu Yan of China, along with Venkataraman Karthik of India.

Quizon is the youngest in the top 20 Filipino chess players in the country today.

Barreto, meanwhile, distinguished himself as the most bemedalled athlete in last year’s Palarong Pambansa by winning a total of seven gold medals in anchoring the National Capital Region’s dominance over at the pool.

The 16-year-old pride of Malolos, Bulacan highlighted the feat by shattering the record in the boys’ 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly.

He was also part of the Philippine swimming team, which advanced to the men’s 400-meter freestyle in the SEA Games.

UST clinches fourth straight UAAP men’s judo title

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas leaned on both a rookie and a seasoned senior to turn it around and edge out University of the Philippines, claiming its fourth straight UAAP men’s judo title on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

The Golden Judokas garnered 18 points off two golds, a silver, and a bronze in the day’s events to slip past Day 1 leaders Fighting Maroons, for a 34-32 final count.

League debutant Gabriel Ligero’s run set the tone for the day, stopping heavy favorite David Gordon of De La Salle University in the quarterfinals of the featherweight class. He eventually topped rookie Miguel Gonzalvo in the finals to claim an important gold for UST.

Ligero and his teammates went into the mats with no pressure despite the deficit going into the day. “Lagi lang sinasabi lang sa ‘min ni coach to play our best. Kung mananalo hanggang gold, eh ‘di better. ‘Yun lang naman din.

“Pinu-push pa rin naman kami ni coach na mag-champion. May mga natatalo, pero hindi namin sila hinahayaang matapos sa isang game. Pinapabawi namin sila sa mga next,” he continued.

Senior Eric Uy and sophomore Rafael De Leon finished 1-2 in the lightweight class to lead Ateneo de Manila University’s charge during the second day. They were in title contention but eventually finished in third place with 23 points.

UP needed to take both the golds in the extra-lightweight and half-lightweight class in order to end a 12-year drought, but only Edward Figueroa emerged with a title.

The graduating Fighting Maroon took care of a Ryan Benavides, who went into the final tired after a marathon semifinal against UP’s Hyesung Lee, to bag the -66 kg gold.

Russel Lorenzo needed to fend off UP sophomore Paolo Cruz in the -60 kg final in the golden score round to seal UST’s fourth straight crown.

Ligero, with his heroics and dominant showing, claimed the Most Valuable Player award. Meanwhile, middleweight gold medalist and Fighting Maroon Jayvee Ferrer bagged the Rookie of the Year title.

“Sa ‘kin, gusto ko lang mag-champion, paulit-ulit. ‘Yun lang naman ‘yung nasa isip ko. Masaya kasi first time ko, tapos champion ulit kami. Bonus na lang ‘tong kung ano man ‘tong mga nakuha ko,” the season MVP declared.

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