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House panel supports travel tax exemptions for OFW dependents

THE House Ways and Means Committee on Monday approved a measure extending the travel tax exemption to dependents of overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) and establishing an OFW Sovereign Fund to encourage investment.
The panel approved the Substitute bill to House Bill No. 6138, which extends coverage of the OFW travel tax exemption to dependents.
At present, Philippine nationals pay P1,620 and P2,700 travel tax for economy and first class passage, respectively, charged upon departure from the Philippines or upon purchase of the plane ticket. Already exempted from the payment of travel tax are OFWs, while their dependents are entitled to a reduced travel tax rate of P300 for economy passage and P400 for first class.
The Department of Finance (DoF) and the National Tax Research Center (NTRC), however, did not support the measure, arguing that current laws already privilege OFWs.
“We have recognized the importance or the role of the OFW in our economy. There have been a lot of laws that give them privileges,” Finance Director Juvy C. Danofrata told the panel. “Granting it or expanding it further… is not supported by the DoF, primarily because there’s already a law that gives the privilege of reduced travel tax to OFW dependents.”
She said that with the reduced tax rate in place, the government had foregone revenue of P176.76 million in 2018. This covered over 133,000 OFW dependents that benefited from the reduced travel tax in 2018.
For his part, National Tax Research Center (NTRC) Officer-in-Charge Deputy Executive Director Donaldo M. Boo said “Additional outright exemption of dependents from travel tax might be deemed too generous for the government to grant because there are already a number of laws granting OFWs certain privileges. We suggest to maintain the status quo.”
Also on Monday, the panel, led by Vice-Chair Lianda B. Bolilia of the 4th district of Batangas, approved the tax provision of House Bill No. 6519, or the “OFW Sovereign Fund Act.”
“The proposed measure seeks to provide a safe alternative for OFWs, their immediate family members and other overseas Filipinos to invest their hard-earned income or savings through the OFW sovereign fund,” Kabayan Rep. Ron P. Salo told the panel. “This fund will be a viable income for OFWs to put their investments and to avoid being victimized by syndicates.”
If signed into law, the bill will require the Bureau of Treasury to create a separate special fund for OFWs to invest in. The proceeds of the fund will be finance “significantly urgent national government and private projects,” as directed by the President.
As for the tax provision, the Committee agreed to do away with the proposed interest income tax exemption under section 6, and adopt the concerned provisions, as approved in House Bill No. 8645, or the “Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act.”
“We don’t express any disagreement in the possibility of making this consistent with what has already been approved by this Committee, we just don’t want it to be archived,” Mr. Salo said in response to concerns raised by the DoF and the NTRC.
House Bill No. 8645, which is the fourth package of the comprehensive tax reform program, proposed to simplify the tax regime for financial products and impose a unified 15% income tax rate on interest, dividend, and capital gains from the current zero to 30% range.
“Currently the taxation of passive income including interest on financial securities… is characterized by a complicated structure. The taxation of interest income depends on many factors like currency, issuer, residency of the income earner, so that’s what we want to rationalize or to reform under Package 4,” NTRC OIC-Executive Director Boo said.
“We don’t want to be inconsistent with such measure. We suggest the status quo be maintained for the meantime, while we’re pushing for the reforms.” — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Bukidnon officials express opposition to plans to import sugar more liberally

OFFICIALS from Bukidnon province filed a resolution urging the national government not to liberalize the sugar industry, noting that the province accounts for 72% of the land planted to sugar in Mindanao and 75% of the island’s output production.
The resolution, sponsored by 2nd district Provincial Board Member Nemesio B. Beltran Jr, claims 11,395 sugarcane farmers in Bukidnon and two mills — Busco Sugar Milling Co. and Crystal Milling Sugar Co. which will be disadvantaged if the government allows more liberal sugar imports on the model of rice tariffication.
“The unregulated entry of imported sugar will lead to drop in purchases of sugar produced by farms and mills in the Bukidnon sugar milling district, loss of livelihood of sugar farmers in the area most of whom are small farmers, unemployment of farm and mill workers, closure of businesses allied to sugar production and overall slowdown of economic activity in the Province of Bukidnon,” according to the resolution.
The resolution said that sugar farming and milling industries generate P90 billion annually from the sale of sugar and its by-products, in 20 provinces. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio

DoE reaffirms 100% electrification goal

By Victor V. Saulon
Sub-Editor
“ELECTRICITY FOR ALL,” was Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi’s brief response when asked about his main goal for the rest of his term.
“Hundred per cent electrification,” he said in an interview a few days before the end of 2018. “The tasks have been given to the DUs (distribution utilities), the electric cooperatives, and all. I just have to make sure that [those] that were given the task, do their work,” he said.
“An EO (executive order) will be a big support,” he said, adding that a directive from the president would compel those tasked to meet his full electrification target by 2022.
Mr. Cusi said when he started out as secretary of the Department of Energy (DoE) around mid-2016 the country was facing problems, the biggest of which were frequent brownouts.
“That we immediately addressed,” he said by directing distribution utilities, energy generation companies and the grid operator “to get their acts together” by generating reserve power.
He did not discuss in detail his other initiatives but early in his term, he did away with the previous administration’s energy mix policy and adopted instead a technology-neutral stance that did not favor any energy resource.
He was also vocal about his opposition to extending the feed-in tariff scheme, the past leadership’s initiative to encourage the development of renewable energy, saying it had served its purpose.
All these, despite admitting at first that he was not an expert in the energy sector. His previous government job was in the air transport sector, and in a private capacity, in shipping.
Mr. Cusi said the development of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry had always been among his objectives at the onset.
“LNG was included when we were checking on the problem of surging electricity rates, especially during the maintenance of Malampaya,” he said.
“Those dependent on gas were using alternative fuel, condensate, which is more expensive,” he said, citing the P10-billion increase in electricity cost that had to be shouldered by consumers at that time.
The DoE has since issued Department Circular No. DC2017-11-0012 or the Rules and Regulations Governing the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Industry, and is now in the process of reviewing proposals to build an LNG import terminal.
Ahead of the depletion of the Malampaya gas field starting in 2024, the country needs to develop the infrastructure for LNG receiving, storage, liquefaction and regasification, Mr. Cusi said.
“We are hoping that we can do it before the year ends,” Mr. Cusi said when asked about when he expects to announce the final selection of the LNG hub proponent.
“The timeline is within 30 months, two-and-a-half years to three years,” he said on the completion of the facility.
Building an LNG import terminal would allow continuity for the five gas-fired power plants in Batangas province, which have a combined capacity of 3,211 megawatts (MW). It will also provide fuel for other proposed gas-fired power plants.
While the DoE is evaluating the project proposals, it has coordinated with the Senate Committee on Energy to draft a law governing the natural gas industry.
The legislation will make sure that there are off-takers of the imported fuel’s power output, ensuring that the proponent of the import terminal will have a ready and lasting market for its infrastructure. Should it be passed into law, it will also institutionalize third-party access to the terminal.
In November, the DoE launched the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program (PCECP), which heightens the agency’s intent to develop the petroleum exploration industry.
The program is the revised and transparent petroleum service contract awarding mechanism that would allow investors to bid for exploration projects through a competitive selection process or by nomination.
The LNG terminal project and the PCECP were the biggest initiatives of the DoE in 2018. Among others, they will help address the agency’s goal of achieving energy security and sustainability.
Based on DoE data, the country’s total primary energy supply was 57.7 million tons of oil equivalent. Of this, indigenously sourced energy accounted for 51%, while the rest consisted of imported coal, oil and biofuels. The need to boost the development of indigenous energy sources could reduce exposure to price vulnerability in the international market.
The Philippines has a total installed generation capacity of 23,687 MW, of which coal power plants have the highest share at 37.3%, followed by renewable energy at 30.2%. Oil and natural gas made up 17.9% and 14.6%, respectively.
Power demand in 2019 is expected to peak at 11,200 MW in Luzon, nearly 4% higher than the 10,800 in 2018. In Mindanao, the peak is expected at around 2,200 MW, up 10% from the expected 2,000 MW. It is also expected to register the biggest growth in power demand. Peak demand in the Visayas is expected at 2,300 MW, up 9.5% from 2,100 MW.
Mr. Cusi has said that to ensure energy security of power supply, the DoE’s simulation showed that with an average annual economic growth rate of 5.7%, assumed power reserve margin of 25% above peak demand, the country will be needing an additional 43,765 MW by 2040.
The Luzon grid has 4,264 MW from committed power projects, but will need 24,385 MW more by 2040. Visayas has 919 MW of committed capacity and will need 9,180 MW more. Mindanao, which currently has excess capacity, will still need 10,200 MW by 2040.
The year 2040 may be far off, but the DoE has been looking for short- and long-term solutions, including nuclear energy.
“In the spirit of technology neutrality, I decided to reignite the discourse on nuclear power despite its being taboo,” Mr. Cusi said after meeting with members of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Dec. 10.
He said the DoE was considering the feasibility of introducing nuclear power into the energy mix in order to provide uninterrupted, secure, reliable, sustainable, and affordable electricity.
He said bringing down the cost of electricity “is a longer battle” but nuclear energy could provide the answer. Initial steps include the submission in April 2018 to the Office of the President of the DoE’s proposed national position on nuclear energy. A legislative bill to proceed with the regulatory framework on nuclear energy has cleared third reading at the House of Representatives, he said.
The pending bills on natural gas and nuclear energy may just ensure continuity of his goals beyond his term, should they be passed into law.
Mr. Cusi said if his performance were to be rated, it should be based on “what I did, the problems that I solved. How did I solve, how did the DoE solve the intermittent power of the past when you used to get red alerts, when you used to get brownouts.”
“Based on the way we are doing things, you can see a better year, better 2019. And I hope that will be better access to electricity for our people, and we are better secured in our energy,” he said.

Wrapping up your January tax checklist

In two days’ time, we are about to end the first month of the year. Time really flies so fast, especially when we are too preoccupied with loads of tasks that need to be done. It may be a bit too late now for some, but making a last minute run-down of our tax compliance to-do-list for January should not be given any less attention, even at this point in time. So waste not a single second, go grab that journal and desk calendar, and let us start ticking off the remaining items on your list.
Submission of computerized books of account. For taxpayers adopting a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-registered computerized accounting system, the submission of the Compact Disk-Recordable (CD-R), Digital Versatile Disk-Recordable (DVD-R), or other optical media containing the computerized books of account and other accounting records are due on Jan. 30, 2019.
Annual inventory list. For taxpayers engaged in business activities where inventories of stock-in-trade, raw materials, goods in process, supplies, and other goods are maintained (e.g., for construction, retail, manufacturing, or wholesale industry), another report that needs to be accomplished and submitted on or before Jan. 30, 2019 is the annual inventory list. This submission deadline applies if the taxpayer is adopting the calendar year for its accounting period. Soft copies of this annual inventory list, including other applicable schedules, must be submitted through in DVD-R format with a notarized certification duly signed by the taxpayer’s authorized representative, certifying that the data or information in the DVD-R are true and correct.
Summary list of regular suppliers. This information report may not be new to those classified as large taxpayers, Top 20,000 Private Corporations, or Top 5,000 Individual Taxpayers for quite some time. But, in case you are one of those included in the BIR’s October 2018 list of Top Withholding Agents, you need to update your checklist and make sure that you’ve included this in your to-do list this month. The Summary List of Regular Suppliers (SRS) of goods and/or services should be submitted on a semestral basis to the Large Taxpayer Assistance Division or Revenue District Office (RDO) where the taxpayer is registered on or before Jan. 31 (for the second semester: July to December) and July 31 (for the first semester: January to June).
Annual information return of income taxes withheld on compensation and final income taxes withheld. Also due every Jan. 31st is the filing of the Annual Information Return of Income Taxes Withheld on Compensation and Final Income Taxes Withheld. In 2018, the BIR issued Revenue Regulation (RR) No. 11-2018, which implements the separate submission of the Annual Information Return on Final Income Taxes Withheld (BIR Form 1604F) and the Annual Information Return of Income Taxes Withheld on Compensation (BIR Form 1604C). As of this writing, however, the BIR has not released the new forms yet. Since the deadline for submitting the said annual information returns is only a few days from now, taxpayers may have to use the old return form (BIR Form 1604CF) for taxable year 2018, until an advisory has been issued by the BIR. At any rate, be sure to watch out for relevant announcements or issuances from the BIR.
Aside from the annual information returns, taxpayers also need to ensure that the alphalist of employees’/income payees, which are required attachments to the returns, will also be submitted on time. Since alphalists are among the basic documents used by BIR examiners during tax audits, taxpayers must ensure that the information indicated are complete, accurate, and tally with the amounts declared in the monthly withholding tax remittance returns filed during the calendar year.
Distribution of certificates of compensation payment/tax withheld (BIR Form 2316). Employers must distribute to their current employees the Certificates of Compensation Payment/Tax Withheld or BIR Form 2316 on or before Jan. 31, BIR Form 2316 is a return that details an employee’s income earned during the calendar year with the corresponding tax withheld and remitted to the BIR by the employer. For employees who are qualified for substituted filing, BIR Form 2316 serves as their final annual income tax return; thus, they no longer need to file BIR Form 1700 on or before April 15.
Income payor/withholding agent’s sworn declaration. Under RR No. 11-2018, income payors or withholding agents shall execute a sworn declaration stating the number of income payees who have submitted their sworn declarations with the accompanying copies of their BIR Certificate of Registration (or BIR Form 2303). Such declaration of the income payors/withholding agents shall be submitted with the list of payees to the concerned BIR office where registered on or before January 31 of each year or 15 days following the month when a new income recipient has submitted the payee’s sworn declaration.
Annual registration. Most business entities are probably already done renewing their business permit with the local government units (LGU), the deadline of which was Jan. 20. Fortunately, some LGUs have provided extensions to taxpayers to settle their dues until end of this month.
As for the BIR, however, there is no extension for filing and paying the annual registration fee of P500, which is due on Jan. 31, 2019.
The to-dos above are only some of the general tax compliance requirements due every January. Depending on the industry, formation, or size of your business, there could still be other reports you may need to submit by the end of this month. It is important, therefore, that you double-check your list of to-do’s with reference to tax and other related issuances to make sure you have everything covered.
Now that you are done going through your list, how many have you completed so far? If you have ticked off most of your tasks, or maybe even all of them, congratulations! You will be wrapping up January with fewer things to worry about. But, if there are still unchecked items in your list, stay calm and be positive. Two days is still equivalent to 48 hours, anyway.
 
Arianne Cyril L. Mandac is a manager of the Tax Advisory and Compliance Division of P&A Grant Thornton.
Arianne.Mandac@ph.gt.com
+63(2) 988-2288

Palace defends martial law after Jolo blast

MALACAÑANG ON Monday defended the continued implementation of martial law in Mindanao, in the wake of Sunday’s twin blasts at the Jolo Cathedral in the predominantly Muslim island and municipality of Jolo.
The terror attack, which followed a week after a largely peaceful plebiscite on a proposed law that would hand over political administration to rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front, has prompted international condemnation including by Pope Francis as well as the government to order a lockdown on the town, even amid the ongoing enforcement of martial law in Mindanao for more than two years now.
Terror incidents have been reported in Mindanao despite martial law. On the other hand, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said on Monday, “If there was no martial law there, then there would have been chaos and anarchy there. You see how they were able to get Marawi? There was no martial law then.”
“One or two [bombings]. That’s little,” he also said, referring to last Sunday’s attack and the New Year’s Eve bombing of a mall in Cotabato City.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte, as of this reporting Monday night, was scheduled to fly to Jolo. “Well, of course, he was so angry, for one,” Mr. Panelo said.
Meanwhile, the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in a statement on Sunday night, “Based on the CCTV footage recovered by authorities, the Ajang-Ajang group perpetrated the said bombing incident. Ajang-Ajang is a notorious group linked to the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the province of Sulu.”
“The group has been held responsible for killings of law enforcers, particularly soldiers and policemen in Jolo. They are also blamed for other heinous crimes in the area,” WesMinCom also said.
Reports from the ground said that an Alias Kamah, a brother of a slain Abu Sayyaf leader, was a suspect in the double bombing which killed 20 government troopers and civilians and wounded 112, according to the count as of this reporting.
But the Islamic State, according to its news agency Amaq on Sunday, has also claimed responsibility for the attacks.
“That’s still a propaganda as at this time,” AFP Spokesperson BGen. Edgard A. Arevalo said in response. “They have been doing false claims in the past.”
Leaders of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) held a press conference on Monday also to speak out on the terror attacks. In a pastoral statement, they said in part: “For the past few months now, we have observed how the culture of violence has gradually prevailed in our land. The recent bombing of the cathedral of Jolo where scores of people were killed and several more were injured is a further evidence to the cycle of hate that is destroying the moral fabric of our country.”
For his part, Sulu Governor Abdusakur A. Tan II said in a statement, “There has never been an episode in the post colonial history of Sulu when wars were fought due to religious differences. Sulu can rightly claim to be the most tolerant of any Muslim-dominated provinces in the region. Neighbors before the war of the ‘70s are still good neighbors until this very day.”
Mr. Tan also asked the public to avoid “speculations and rumors” and let the authorities conduct the investigation to “bring the perpetrators of this heinous and inhuman act to account for what they did to Sulu and its people.”
Pope Francis and other world leaders have themselves condemned what the Pope described as a “terrorist attack.” Speaking in Panama during a prayer for the dead and wounded, the Pope said: “May the Lord, Prince of Peace, convert the hearts of the violent ones.” — Reports by Arjay L. Balinbin, Vince Angelo C. Ferreras, Mindanao News Bureau, and Reuters

House passes criminal liability bill

By Charmaine A. Tadalan, Reporter
THE HOUSE of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading the measure lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12 years old from the current 15 years old.
With 146 affirmative votes, 34 negatives and zero abstention, House Bill No. 8858, which will amend Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, hurdled the chamber.
Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, who was among those who voted “No,” argued the measure is “anti-child,” as opposed to the claims of Justice Committee Chair Salvador C. Leachon of the 1st district of Oriental Mindoro.
“Lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility will just encourage criminal syndicates to use even younger children. What should be done is not to sanction children but to have a more intensified campaign against criminal syndicates exploiting children and treble the penalty imposable on them,” Mr. Lagman said in his explanation of Negative vote.
He also raised the lack of funding for the creation and nationwide operation of “Bahay Pag-asa,” which may result in the confinement of children in “jail-like” facilities. “There is no new appropriation for the creation and maintenance of ‘Bahay Pag-asa’ in the proposed 2019 national budget,” Mr. Lagman also pointed out.
The bill provides that children aged 12 years old and above, but below 18 years old are exempt from liability, but will be subjected to an intervention program, unless the child acted with discernment.
In such case, the bill proposed to subject children in conflict with the law to penalties two degrees lower than that prescribed by law. In cases of imprisonment, the duration will be reduced to two-thirds of the total period and only up to 12 years for those sentenced to life imprisonment.
As for any person or syndicate that will exploit children to commit a crime, the bill proposed to sentence them with reclusion temporal, if the crime is punishable by imprisonment of six years or less, or reclusion perpetua, if more than six years.
Moreover, the measure will also subject parents to mandatory counseling or intervention programs. “Failure of such parents to undergo mandatory intervention, unless prevented by a lawful cause, shall be a ground for imprisonment for at least thirty days but not more than six months,” section 7 of the bill stated.

Dismissed official rehired to DoLE

AFTER firing him in October last year, President Rodrigo R. Duterte has reappointed Joel B. Maglunsod to the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).
The President appointed Mr. Maglunsod as Executive Director III of DoLE’s National Maritime Polytechnic, according to his appointment paper dated Jan. 25. Mr. Maglunsod was replaced by Ana C. Dione.
Sought for comment, Mr. Maglunsod said in a phone message to BusinessWorld that he accepted the position because he still wants to serve the labor sector. “Gusto ko pa rin magpatuloy ang serbisyo ko sa mga manggagawa’t mamayan,” he said.
Mr. Duterte said in a speech last year that Mr. Maglunsod’s affiliation with left-leaning labor groups was the main factor for his dismissal.
For his part, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III told reporters, “Siguro inisip ni Mr. President na mas bagay siya doon.” (Perhaps the President thinks he [Mr. Maglunsod]might be more suitable there [in his new post]).
The Palace also released the appointment papers of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Kelvin Lester K. Lee, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) member Antonio N. Gardiola, Jr., Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) member Paul Christian M. Cervantes, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative to the Philippines to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia Noel Eugene Eusebio M. Servigon, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Chile (with concurrent jurisdiction over Ecuador and Peru) Ma. Teresita C. Daza. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Oil prices up for 4th week

OIL COMPANIES are raising the prices of petroleum products for the fourth straight week, closing the month of January with a total increase of nearly P4.00 per liter (/L) for gasoline and more than P2.00 for diesel. Gasoline prices are increasing by P0.20/L this week, while diesel prices will rise by P0.55. The cost of kerosene will also go up by P0.40/L. Oil companies that have sent their advisories as of Monday afternoon said they would implement the price hike at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Last week, the per liter prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene went up by P0.10, P0.40 and P0.15, respectively. This month’s four consecutive weeks of increase followed three straight months of price cuts in the prices of fuel products. Oil firms imposed one of their biggest price increases for diesel on the second week of January at P2.30/L. In the same week, gasoline went up by P1.40 while kerosene by P2.00. — Victor V. Saulon

SC upholds decision clearing military officer in mayor’s murder

THE SUPREME Court (SC) has affirmed the Court of Appeals’ (CA) decision clearing 41st Infantry Battalion Commander Officer Noel P. Mislang of charges for allegedly conspiring to kill a former town mayor in Abra. In the decision dated Oct. 15, 2018 but was released only on Monday, the SC first division denied the petition of the Ombudsman to reverse the CA’s Oct. 15, 2012 decision and June 7, 2013 resolution, saying the Ombudsman does not have jurisdiction over the case as it was a non-graft and corruption case. The Ombudsman in 2011 found Mr. Mislang guilty of grave misconduct for allegedly conspiring to kill former Lagayan mayor Cecili S. Luna in 2004. “(T)he AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) General Court Martial’s exercise of jurisdiction is to the exclusion of the Ombudsman exercising concurrent jurisdiction. Necessarily, the present petition must be denied,” the SC said. The AFP and the Ombudsman signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Jan. 28, 2004 wherein the Ombudsman would endorse to the AFP non-graft and corruption cases against military personnel. Mr. Mislang along with former Abra governor Vicente P. Valera and Military Intelligence Group agents Mauro Durwin and Florencio Baharin were charged with grave misconduct before the Ombudsman for allegedly conspiring to kill Ms. Luna. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Cops linked to QC prosecutor’s murder ordered to submit counter-affidavits

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) has started the preliminary investigation on the killing of Quezon City Assistant Prosecutor Rogelio A. Velasco, who was ambushed May 11, 2018. Senior State Assistant Prosecutor Peter L. Ong asked the respondents of the murder complaint to submit their counter-affidavits on Feb. 19. The respondents are Senior Police Officer (SPO) 2 Rodante S. Lalimarmo, PO3 Arthur Y. Lucy, and PO1 Jose L. Mercado. The National Bureau of Investigation and Vanessa N. Velasco, Mr. Velasco’s daughter, have also been asked to submit their reply on March 11, while the respondents have until March 25 to submit their rejoinder. Mr. Velasco was ambushed while driving in front of a restaurant along Don Antonio St. in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City. He was declared dead on arrival at the East Avenue Medical Center. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Hotshots’ Lee and Barroca savor Gilas Pilipinas call-up

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
APART from keeping themselves busy preparing for their PBA Philippine Cup debut later this week, the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok duo of Paul Lee and Mark Barroca are also sharpening themselves up for another tour of duty with the national team as part of Gilas Pilipinas.
Named to the 14-man pool of the Philippine Basketball Association-backed Gilas team set to see action in the sixth and final window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers next month, both players said they are savoring the opportunity given to them to wear the country’s colors anew and excited to contribute their fair share in helping the team make it to its second consecutive World Cup stint.
Mr. Lee makes his return to the team after missing the last window in December.
The call-up is being viewed by Mr. Lee, the best player of the conference in last year’s Governors’ Cup and part of the champion team, with huge honor and he has vowed to give his all and help Gilas Pilipinas, something he was not able to do last time around.
“I’m honored to be selected again and be part of the pool. I’m happy that I was given the opportunity to help the team bounce back in the next window of the qualifiers,” said Mr. Lee at the Gilas practice last week at the Meralco Gym.
“As a player I really wanted to help the team last time. The team gave their all in the last window and it’s just unfortunate that things did not go our way. Hopefully this time it will be different,” he added.
In the two games in the last window which were both held here in Manila, Gilas lost each time, bowing to Kazakhstan, 92-88, on Nov. 30, and to Iran, 78-70, on Dec. 3.
The twin defeats dropped the Yeng Guiao-coached Philippine team to fourth place in the merged Group F of the qualifiers with a 5-5 record and now needing to win its remaining two games to have a shot at advancing to the next round by landing in the top three in the group for automatic entry or as the best fourth-placed team in the two groups left. Gilas will play its remaining games on Feb. 21 against Qatar and Feb. 24 versus Kazahkstan.
Mr. Barroca, meanwhile, is once again part of the Gilas pool, nearly a decade since suiting up for the team under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.
The finals most valuable player of the Governors’ Cup said that to be back in Gilas was something he did not see coming but nonetheless welcomes.
“I’m so happy to be back with the team. Some of them were my teammates in the first Gilas team and I’m looking forward to playing with them again,” said Mr. Barroca.
In choosing the Hotshots duo as part of the pool, Mr. Guiao said the two were selected for their on-court chemistry that was clearly exhibited when they won the Governors’ Cup title.
Having served the national team was also considered since they already know what is expected of them.
Apart from Messrs. Lee and Barroca, also part of the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the six window are naturalized player Andray Blatche, Jayson Castro, Scottie Thompson, Marcio Lassiter, Gabe Norwood, Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar, JP Erram, June Mar Fajardo, Raymond Almazan, and Roger Pogoy.
Christian Standhardinger, meanwhile, will serve as a backup naturalized player. Messrs. Lee and Barroca and the Hotshots will make their PBA Philippine Cup debut on Feb. 3 against the TNT KaTropa.

Sandiganbayan denies Rep. Garcia’s appeal to dismiss graft case

THE SANDIGANBAYAN Second Division has denied the motion for reconsideration of Cebu 3rd District Rep. Gwendolyn F. Garcia seeking the dismissal of her anti-graft case over the controversial purchase of the Balili property in Naga, Cebu. Associate Justice Lorifel L. Pahimna, in denying the motion, cited that Ms. Garcia’s arguments were mere repetition of her motion to dismiss. “Applying the foregoing and without being too repetitious, this court finds that there is clearly no violation of movant’s constitutional right to speedy disposition of her cases as the time it took the Ombudsman to complete the investigation and the time the plaintiff has prosecuted the instant cases before this court can hardly be considered an unreasonable and arbitrary delay,” read the resolution dated Jan. 22. Ms. Garcia, who is running for Cebu City mayor in May, along with several others are facing violations of Section 3(e) and 3(g) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as amended; and violation of Article 220 (illegal use of public funds or property) of the Revised Penal Code. In 2008, the Cebu provincial government, which was then headed by Ms. Garcia, purchased the Balili property with 249,246 square meters consisting of 11 parcels of land situated in Tinaan, Naga City for almost P99 million. It was later discovered that 196,696 square meters of the property were underwater and part of a mangrove area. — The Freeman

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