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Duterte, Austin renew commitment to bilateral ties By Joyce Pangco Pañares VISITING United States Defense chief Lloyd Austin and President Rodrigo Duterte renewed their commitment to further bilateral security cooperation between the Philippines and the US. Austin’s two-day official visit coincides with 75th anniversary

of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty. Prior to his arrival in the Philippines – America’s oldest treaty ally in Asia – the Pentagon chief criticized Beijing’s excessive claims in the South China Sea, saying these have “no basis in international

law.” “It was a good meeting,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told Manila Standard. He did not elaborate. However, he said the draft side pact to the Visiting Forces Agreement was not on the table during Austin’s courtesy call on the President.

“It is not part of the agenda,” Lorenzana added. In a pre-SONA forum last week, Lorenzana said aside from extending the VFA with the US, the Philippines will sign an addendum or side agreement to the treaty. “The VFA will not be changed. There will be a side agreement to

Presidente Duterte welcomes United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III with a fist-bump during a meeting in Malacanang Palace on Thursday, July 29, 2021.

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NCR mayors: GCQ with more restrictions By Joel E. Zurbano, Willie Casas, Vito Barcelo, Othel V. Campos and Macon Ramos-Araneta

ETRO Manila mayors have agreed to add more restrictions under a general community quarantine (GCQ) for two weeks beginning Aug. 1, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. said Thursday.

SELECTIVE LOCKDOWN. Government health workers in protective suits and policemen scour an alley in a Barangay San Dionisio

Tramo 2 in Parañaque City to enforce a ‘granular lockdown’ in two areas in the city from 5 a.m. of Thursday, July 29 until August 2 as a precaution against the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. Two residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Latest government data showed Parañaque City has a total of 29,790 COVID-19 infections, including 493 active cases. Norman Cruz EUMIR MARCIAL

This as the Department of Health (DOH) said the Philippines’ COVID-19 risk classification is now back to “moderate” from the previous low risk as growth in cases swelled in the past two weeks. “Such restrictions include no dine-in services and other measures to prevent the Delta variant [from spreading]. We are suggesting this based on the assessment on the ground,” said Abalos in a Zoom meeting with reporters. “If possible, let’s do away with dinein and go with take-out for now. Let’s restrict the mobility of people,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino. On Wednesday, the Metro Manila

Council asked the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to put the National Capital Region under an Enhanced Community Quarantine to prevent the spread of a more transmis-

Marcial wallops foe, sends strong message By Riera Mallari

TOKYO – Let this be a warning to all middleweight boxing contenders at the Summer Olympic Games here – Eumir Marcial packs a wallop. “He is more powerful now,” said the Philippine Boxing Team’s

Olympic Head Coach Don Abnett after Marcial won a shortened bout against Algerian Younes Nemouchi via a Referee Stopped Contest due to Injury (RSC-I) at 19 seconds of the first round to advance to the quarterfinals of the 69-75kg boxing competition at the Kokugikan Arena. In control of the match from the

opening bell, the middleweight Marcial immediately gave the Algerian a taste of his power as he unleashed a right cross to the kisser, sending Nemouchi down and eliciting a standing-8 count from Slovakian referee Radoslav Simon. “Dikit ‘yung laban namin. Pasok Next page

Hidilyn: West Philippine Sea is ours “THE West Philippine Sea is ours.” This was asserted by the country’s first Olympic gold medalist and newly-promoted Air Force Staff Sgt. Hidilyn Diaz when

asked about her sentiments on the maritime dispute. “To ordinary people who do not know much about the [ninedash] line and on international

disputes, this is what I want to tell them because this is what I know: the West Philippine Sea is ours,” Diaz told members of Next page

Experts see need to raise immunity goal amid Delta By Willie Casas and Joel E. Zurbano MEMBERS of the Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) on Thursday said there is a need to raise the country’s target from 70 percent, to 99 or even 100 percent, for herd immunity from COVID-19 because of the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant. “We need to aim higher and do it faster... This Delta variant is a real concern,” VEP head Dr. Nina Gloriani said in a Department of Health (DOH) forum. Gloriani said the goal should be to vaccinate “100 percent” of the population. “For us to get a better immunity at the population level, maybe we should increase our target in a scenario where we have the Delta variant,” VEP member Dr. Rontgene Solante added. Next page

1,572,287

HIDILY PROMOTED. Air Force Commanding General Allen Paredes pins the staff sergeant chevrons on the sleeves of the Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who gets promoted for bringing honor to the country and flag. PAF

5,735

56,273

27,577

176

1,488,437

4,069

(As of 4 PM, JULY 29)

Finance chief thumbs down tax exemption for ‘winners’ By Julito G. Rada, Maricel V. Cruz FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said Thursday he is not amenable to proposals in Congress to tax-exempt the re-

wards and gifts given to weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and other potential winners in the current Olympic Games, saying everyone has a duty “to share in the cost of the provision of public goods to society.”

This was Dominguez’s reaction when asked by reporters to comment on the bills filed in the two houses of Congress to give tax exemption to the gifts and rewards given to Diaz for her unprecedented feat in the Olympics being held

in Tokyo, Japan. “No,” Dominguez replied. “ All Philippine citizens and residents have an obligation to share in the cost of the provision of public goods to society,” he explained.

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Binay slams DOH inaction on ‘Delta’ ant that was first detected in India has the potential to “bring our country to its knees.” “This is why everyone is concerned and putting forward possible courses of action to stop it from spreading. But we do not see any urgency in the actions of the DOH leadership. They seem to be oblivious to the fact that by their inaction, they are again putting in danger the lives of doctors, nurses, and other medical frontliners. They seem to be treating lightly the untold sufferings that an outbreak of Delta may bring to the people,” he said. The former Vice President added: “The DOH leadership is saying we don’t need to worry. They are ready. The last time they said that was last year, when the first cases of COVID were officially confirmed. Look where we are now.”

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority expressed its support to the DOH’s appeal to intensify local COVID-19 responses with the local transmission of the highly infectious Delta (B.1.617.2) variant in the country. MMDA chairman Banjamin Abalos Jr. said the best defense against any COVID-19 variant, including Delta, is a combination of consistent adherence to the minimum public health protocols, vaccination, and having healthy lungs. “While the government is implementing response against COVID-19, the public play a vital role in protecting their own health and wellbeing. Let us strictly follow the health protocols set by the DOH and stop smoking and vaping to keep yourself healthy from any infectious disease,” he said.

“If their recommendation is to impose ECQ as long as there is assistance, I do not know where we will get the funds for the assistance,” Roque said. “If there will be a decision to sible Delta variant of the COVID-19. declare ECQ pursuant to the request of The MMC, composed of 17 mayors the mayors, it will be contingent on the in NCR, is the governing board and assistance that we can give.” policy-making body of the MMDA. President Rodrigo Duterte, in his preAbalos said the mayors are amenable to a return to an ECQ provided that the recorded Talk to the People on Wednesnational government releases financial day night, merely approved the IATF’s proposal to extend the implementation of assistance to help families that will be GCQ “with heightened restrictions” in affected by the two-week lockdown. “What we are recommending is ECQ Metro Manila until Aug. 15. Roque said the quarantine classificaand today we will submit it (resolution) tions for the month of August are still to the IATF,” said Abalos. “If not, we are proposing several restrictions. Let’s subject to LGUs’ appeal. The growth rate of COVID-19 cases put more restrictions on the GCQ with in the Philippines jumped to 1 percent heightened restrictions.” in the past two weeks from a negaMalacañang earlier declared that Metro Manila will remain under GCQ tive 10 percent rate some three to four weeks ago, Health Undersecretary with heightened restrictions. Maria Rosario Vergeire said. Abalos said the mayors agreed that From July 22 to 28, the Philippines’ the imposition of stricter measures average daily reported COVID-19 cases must be coupled with the allocation was at 1,013, which is 285 cases higher of at least 4 million vaccines for the than the average the prior week, Vergeire National Capital Region, which they said during an online press conference. commit will be administered during Nearly all regions are showing an the two-week period. “To achieve this, the mayors request increase in cases, with the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) as the lone [the government] to open vaccination to the general population without clas- high-risk region in the Philippines, data from the DOH showed. sification,” he said. While hospitals in CAR are half Abalos said three to four weeks ago, full, the growth of cases in the region the growth rate of COVD-19 cases in jumped to 10 percent from 8 percent, the NCR was at -6 percent. with its average daily attack rate in the “However, for the past one to two weeks, there is a significant increase in past 2 weeks at 7 percent, the DOH growth rate which is now at 19 percent. data showed. The National Capital Region (NCR) Further, the average daily attack rate “is a cause of concern” as the DOH (ADAR) in the NCR for the previous saw more COVID-19 cases in several three to four weeks was only at 4.69, cities, Vergeire said. which is comparatively low as against “In NCR, we are flagging 11 areas that of the past one to two weeks which but we do not call this a surge,” Veris 5.55,” he added. geire said. “As it is, there is now an increase of “We do not want the public to panic... COVID-19 cases in the NCR. In fact, but we have to be careful.” she said. projections made by health experts Makati, Las Piñas and Pasay are show that daily cases may reach up to considered high-risk areas in Metro 11,000 by the end of September 2021 Manila due to their high average daily with the assumption that Delta variattack rate, Vergeire said. ant of COVID-19 is 60 percent more Makati City’s intensive care units transmissible and that the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate (PDITR) are 82 percent full, while similar beds in Las Piñas are already 93.10 percent strategy and vaccination performance occupied, she said. is status quo,” the MMDA chief said. The growth rate of cases in Pasay The IATF met Thursday to discuss zoomed to 25 percent in the past two the mayors’ recommendations. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque weeks from -9 percent, data showed. The prevailing COVID-19 variants said the IATF’s decision would depend of concern in the Philippines are the on the availability of funds to grant financial aid in case their localities are Alpha and Beta variants, but the DOH urged the public to guard against the placed under ECQ. “We always listen to our mayors be- possible spread of the Delta strain, which is twice more contagious than cause they are implementing our policies. That’s why the IATF will listen to other coronavirus mutations. “The Delta variant has entered our the mayors’ proposal this afternoon,” Roque said in an online press briefing. country. We’ve seen it in different places so what we need to do now is to Roque, however, admitted that the cut its transmission,” Vergeire said. government lacks sufficient funds The DOH said there was a need to to heed the mayors’ request for cash shorten the interval between detection assistance. of cases and isolation. He noted the government took two weeks to approve the recommendation “Rapid antigen tests may be used for confirmation of suspect or probable to provide assistance to individuals cases and close contacts,” she said. living in Iloilo City and its province, “Facility isolation and quarantine Cagayan de Oro, and the City of Ginhave to be prioritized to prevent housegoog in Misamis Oriental which are hold transmission,” she added. currently under ECQ.

The independent OCTA Research Group earlier urged the national government to launch a “circuit-breaker lockdown” to curb the spread of the Delta variant, but the IATF opted to maintain the status quo. The DOH and the UP-Philippine Genome Center and the UP-National Institutes of Health reported the detection of 97 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant cases, 83 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant cases, 127 Beta (B.1.351) variant cases, and 22 P.3 variant cases in the latest batch of whole genome sequencing results. Of the 97 new cases of the Delta variant, 88 were local cases, six were returning overseas Filipinos (ROF), and three were being verified. Ninety-four cases have been tagged as recovered and three were fatalities. The DOH is coordinating with the respective local government units to determine other information, such as exposure and vaccination status. The total number of Delta variant cases is now 216. As of Thursday, Metro Manila and its four adjacent provinces, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Cavite, will remain under the general community quarantine (GCQ) “with heightened restrictions” from Aug. 1 to 15, the Palace said. Roque said President Duterte approved the recommendation of the IATF to extend the GCQ with heightened restrictions due to the emergence of the more transmissible COVID 19 Delta variant. Iloilo province, Iloilo City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Gingoog which were placed under the strictest Enhanced Community Quarantine since July 16 will remain under Ecq until August 7, Roque said. At the same time, Roque said families in areas under an ECQ will receive P1,000 to P4,000 in cash aid. Roque said President Duterte approved the cash aid of P1,000 each for 1 million residents in need in areas under the strictest COVID-19 lockdown. This will be P1,000 per individual, and a maximum of P4,000 per family, Roque said. “The funds are being downloaded to the local governments of Iloilo province, Iloilo City, Cagayan De Oro City, and Gingoog City,” he said. The four areas were placed under ECQ, the toughest of four lockdown levels, on July 16. They would keep their ECQ status until Aug. 7. The Philippines logged 5,735 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections to 1,572,287. One hundred seventy-six new fatalities brought the COVID-19 death toll to 27,577. The DOH also reported 4,069 persons who recently recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 1,488,437. Active cases were at 56,273, of which 93.5 percent were mild, 1.2 percent were asymptomatic, 1.4 percent were critical, 2.3 percent were severe, and 1.61 percent were moderate. Nationwide, 59 percent of the ICU beds, 49 percent of the isolation beds, 45 percent of the ward beds, and 38 percent of the ventilators, were in use.

By Joel E. Zurbano

ORMER Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday denounced the Department of Health for rejecting the proposal of independent researchers to impose a two-week hard lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 Delta variant. “Why the knee-jerk reaction of the DOH leadership is to contradict outright the independent experts? Why not meet and discuss instead? I thought it was a whole-of-nation approach in fighting COVID? Why didn’t they listen to other sectors?” said Binay. Despite the dire warnings made by OCTA Research, the Health department said the country is not at a level where a lockdown is needed. The OCTA group said a surge in cases would put a strain on the health care system as hospitals fill up again with

COVID-19 cases. “We respect the opinions of our experts outside of government but the decision to escalate or de-escalate [quarantine measures] would be based on health care capacity,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. “Although, we’re sounding the alarm already, based on objective discussion and analysis, we can see we are not yet at the level where we need a lockdown,” she said. But according to Binay, the more transmissible coronavirus Delta vari-

Marcial... From A1

NCR... From A1

lang siya nang pasok. Right hook ko ang tumama sa kanya sa unang bagsak, pero sobrang tibay din ng kalaban. Ilang beses ko rin siyang tinamaan ng body shots, pero nandoon pa rin ‘yung fighting spirit niya na lalaban talaga siya,” said Marcial. A silver medalist in the 2019 World Boxing Championship in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Marcial continued to press on with several powershots to the head and body of the Algerian, until the two clashed heads in the final 1:10, prompting the ring official to check the condition of Nemouchi, who suffered a slight gash above his right eye. The fight, watched by both Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham Tolentino, continued from there, but was finally stopped with 19 seconds left when the referee deemed the Algerian can no longer continue with his injury. “It is what it is, but there was no doubt, Marcial was hurting the boy out there,” said Abnett of the abbreviated game. Marcial will try to assure the Philippines of another bronze medal on Sunday against Armenian pro Arman Darchinyan, who he has already beaten in the 2018 AIBA World Championships. “Nakalaban ko na po siya (Darchinyan) noong 2018 sa Russia, tinalo ko siya doon pero siyempre, itong Olympics talagang lahat naghanda para rito. Alam ko na handang-handa siya sa laban niya. Kaya gagawin ko lang kung ano ‘yung best ko,” said Marcial of his next foe, who was as impressive 15 minutes earlier as he mauled Slovakia’s Andrej Csemez, 5-0, to set up a return match against the Filipino. “Masaya po ako siyempre sa pagkapanalo. Hindi pa ito ‘yung last fight, marami pang fights na darating. Kasama ‘yung mga coaches ko, paghahandaan pa po namin ‘yung mga susunod na laban,” added Marcial, crediting both his national team coaches Ronald Chavez, Gerson Nietes, Reynaldo Galido, Elmer Pamisa and Abnett, and pro mentor Freddie Roach, with whom he trained under at his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

Duterte,... From A1 implement the provisions of the VFA. Once it is signed by the President, that will be an official document that is attached to the VFA,” Lorenzana said. Duterte earlier said he will likely sign the extension of the VFA after speaking to Austin, the first Cabinet official under US President Joe Biden to visit Manila.

Hidilyn:... From A1 the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines. And while she acknowledged that she is not in a position to interfere in the international dispute, Diaz said: “I still want to say that it is ours.” Diaz defeated world champion Liao Quiyun on Monday to bag the country’s first-ever Olympic gold. She said the Chinese team “was a little angry” with her Chinese coach, Gao Kaiwen, for not sharing her strength status. “Of course Coach didn’t share that with China. Why would he share? He’s here to work for me and make me

stronger,” she said. T “There are mixed feelings, with the political, international issue [with] our sea. While there’s no war, I was able to represent the Philippines and beat China,” Diaz added. Earlier, Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas head Monico Puentevella said one of the things he used to motivate Diaz was the WPS issue. “This is ours. It is not China’s. I told Hidilyn, ‘You should defeat China.’” Puentevella said in a radio interview. China has refused to acknowledge a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its massive nine-dash-line claim over the South China Sea. The Philippines has filed one protest after the other over China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

Finance... From A1 Dominguez said the Bureau of Internal Revenue has already resolved that donations are subject only to 6 percent donor’s tax, payable by the donor.” Diaz won the gold medal in weightlifting’s 55kg category for women earlier this week, the first gold medal for the Philippines since it joined the Games in 1932. Reports said Diaz will receive at least P43.5 million cash and other rewards for her achievement that include P10 million from the government through Republic Act 10699 or the Natioånal Athletes and Coaches Benefits and IncentivesAct; P10 million pledged by San Miguel Corp. president and chief

executive Ramon Ang; 10 million by business tycoon Manny Pangilinan through the MVP Sports Foundation; P3 million pledged by Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero of 1-PACMAN Partylist; P2.5 million cash incentive from her hometown, the local government of Zamboanga City. Other gifts and rewards are P5 million cash and free fuel for life pledged by Siklab Atleta Sports Foundation head and Phoenix Petroleum chair Dennis Uy; P3 million house and lot in Zamboanga pledged by President Rodrigo Duterte; P14-million residential condominium unit in Eastwood, Quezon City from Megaworld; P4-million house and lot at any PHirst Park Homes community of her choice pledged by Century Properties; house and lot in Tagaytay

CebuPac gifts PH Olympic delegation with free flights CEBU Pacific, the country’s leading carrier, honors the heroic feats of the Philippine delegation to the Tokyo Olympics after they reaped multiple medals for the first time since the Los Angeles 1932 Games. CEB, along with the whole Filipino population, is beyond proud of all the 19 athletes who represented the country, and recognizes their efforts by awarding them with free flights. Every Juan of them deserves to fly: Eireen Ando, Kurt Barbosa, Hidilyn Diaz, Margielyn Didal, Luke Gebbie, Kris Knott, Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Cris Nievarez, EJ Obiena, Carlo Paalam, Bianca Pagdanganan, Juvic Pagunsan, Nesthy Petecio, Remedy Rule, Yuka Saso, Jason Valdez, Kiyomi Watanabe, and Carlos Yulo. “All our athletes have uplifted the country’s spirits amid this challenging time. We are grateful to them for going above and beyond, and we know they all have respective support teams behind them – this is why we want to have them and their loved ones enjoy free flights from us,” said Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing & Customer Experience at Cebu Pacific. Each member of the Philippine delegation will receive 25 flights for free to commemorate the airline’s 25 years of enabling “everyjuan” to fly. These tickets may be used for any domestic and short haul destination in the Cebu Pacific network. Each awarded athlete may choose to use these for themselves, or share with the rest of their teammates, families – practically anyone in their support system.

Experts... From A1 The government is aiming to vaccinate some 70 million Filipinos out of the country’s 109-million population. Last week, the DOH confirmed local transmission of the more transmissible Delta variant. Solante said it was important to determine what percentage of COVID-19 cases have the Delta variant so as to adjust the herd immunity target. “This is the experience with US, with UK, wherein they now want 100 percent vaccination of all the population because of the variant,” Solante said. Despite this recommendation, she said health workers and the elderly will continue to be prioritized in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines over children and adolescents. She also said booster shots would probably only be recommended for a special-need segment of the population. The Philippines has inoculated over 11 million people as of July 25, some 6 million of whom have been fully vaccinated. The country has so far recorded 119 Delta variant cases, 16 of which remain active. The Palace on Thursday clarified a statement by President Rodrigo Duterte, saying not everyone who wants a COVID-19 jab can get one yet. Duterte in a late-night address on Wednesday said, “Give the vaccines to those who want to be vaccinated,” as he expressed concern over the contagious Delta variant that is ripping through Southeast Asia, now a global epicenter for the virus. Gloriani, meanwhile, said people should not wander around even after completing their COVID-19 vaccination, contradicting the President, who said he did “not have any qualms about people going out if they have completed their inoculation against the coronavirus.

from Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino; lifetime free flights from AirAsia Philippines, and 80,000 free miles per year for life from Philippine Airlines. Diaz was also promoted from sergeant to staff sergeant at the Philippine Air Force. She will also be awarded a Presidential Medal of Merit. The BIR, meanwhile, said the P10 million cash incentive for Olympic gold medal winners from the Philippine government mandated under Republic Act No. 10699, “shall be considered an exclusion from gross income by virtue of Section 32(B)(7)(d) of the Tax Code.” On the other hand, donations to Olympic winners would be covered by a donor’s tax of 6 percent, payable by the donor.

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NBI told to probe Albay killings By Rey Requejo

Assassination try on La Union execs triggers tension

HE Department of Justice has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing of two activists in Guinobatan, Albay last July 25. In his Department Order No. 175, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra directed NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric Distor to file the necessary charges, if evidence warrants, against those who will be found responsible for the deaths of activists Jemar Palero, 22 and Marlon Naperi, 40. “Further, OIC Distor is hereby directed to submit reports on the progress of the subject investigation directly to the Office of the Secretary within 10 days and periodically thereafter,” Guevarra said. Human rights groups claimed that Palero and Naperi were shot dead by policemen who caught them spraypainting an anti-Duterte slogan on Banao bridge in Albay. However, the policemen involved insisted that they were on mobile patrol when they saw the activists vandalizing the Banao Bridge. Upon seeing the police, the activists allegedly fired shots at the cops who in turn shot back. Philippine National Police chief General Guillermo Eleazar also ordered a separate probe into the incident. Eleazar had directed the PNP Internal Affairs Service to look into possible procedural lapses that led to the deaths of Palero and Napire. The town’s police chief, Maj. Joel Jarabejo was relieved of his post and replaced by Capt. Ryan Flores. “I accept that because the incident happened in my area, although we are also conducting a fair investigation,” said Jarabejo, who insisted that the two activists fired first at the cops. But witnesses said the two men were unarmed. Palero’s mother said his body bore signs of torture.

COMMUNITY FAIR. Megaworld Lifestyle Malls together with the Department of Agriculture, KADIWA and the

local government of Quezon City led by Mayor Joy Belmonte (right) officially open the Market at the Gardens, a community fair featuring homegrown produce and artisanal products from marginalized farmers and MSMEs at The Clubhouse at Temple Drive in Quezon City. At the ceremonial opening are Agriculture Assistant Director Dennis Arpia, Belmonte, Alliance Global CEO Kevin Tan and Ugong Norte Brgy. Capt. Yassi Wells- Jorge. Manny Palmero

‘Build modern jails, ease crowded prisons’ By Maricel V. Cruz A LEADER of the House of Representatives on Thursday pushed for the funding and creation of more modern jails to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 and overcrowding in prisons. Deputy Speaker Neptali Gonzales II said his proposal was intended to alleviate the conditions of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the country. “In these trying times, we are hoping that Congress will also shed light on the needs of our fellow Filipinos who have been deprived of liberty. PDLs also deserve humane and safe facilities especially now that we are

in a pandemic,” said Gonzales, who served as House Majority Leader in the past Congresses. Gonzales made statement after the city government of Mandaluyong launched.on July 27 what he described as its “first fully automated, modern and state-of-the-art” eight-story city jail in the city. “Last Tuesday, July 27, together with local officials and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, we witnessed the inaugural blessing of the first fully automated, modern and state-of-the-art eight-story city jail in Mandaluyong. We hope that more of these facilities will be fund-

Chinese fugitive sent back to Beijing By Vito Barcelo A CHINESE fugitive who was intercepted by Immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is now in the hands of Chinese authorities in Beijing. The 56-year-old suspect, identified as Yao Kunmin was allowed to board the aircraft, with Chinese authorities already waiting for his arrival. Upon the aircraft’s landing, he was immediately arrested by Chinese policemen who were waiting for him at the Wuxi airport, according to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente. Yao is wanted by authorities in Beijing for his involvement in a big-time pyramid investment scam. “Upon interception, the BI Interpol operatives immediately coordinated with our counterparts in China to alert them of the arrival of the fugitive,” BI port operations chief Carlos Capulong said. According to the report, Yao was initially held at the NAIA Terminal 1’s immigration departure area after the BI officer who processed him noticed that his name registered a positive hit in the BI’s Interpol database.

The BI supervisor-on-duty then referred the matter to the BI-Interpol which confirmed that the passenger and the person who registered a hit in the computer are one and the same. BI Interpol officers relayed the information to their Chinese counterparts, who then planned and set up the operation for his arrest. Records show that between May 2019 to April 2020 Yao operated a foreign exchange investment platform on the Internet by which he was able to lure unsuspecting persons to invest in a pyramid investment scheme. The victims were allegedly promised large profits and rebates on their investments and as a result, he amassed profits from the scheme amounting to over 12 million Renminbi or roughly US$1.8 million. After laundering most of his monies via wire transfers abroad, Yao fled to the Philippines on Jan. 23, 2020 and eight months later, the public security bureau in Pei County, Jiangsu province ordered his arrest on economic crimes charges.

Bangsamoro launches nutrition drive By Nash B. Maulana COTABATO CITY—First loads of dry ration are en-route to five provinces to effectively fight malnutrition with homeand school-based supplementary feedings, the Bangsamoro’s Ministry of Social Services and Development said. Chief Minister Murad Ibrahim said three of four children are malnourished in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Malnutrition is often associated with famine, as seen in posters of some international aid organizations showing images of ‘skin and bones’ children in some poverty- or hunger-stricken countries. But in reality, the state of malnutrition is more frequently caused by poor diet, as well as the low-nutrition contents in many food preferences of children, and the poorly managed meals and foods in-take intervals, often among the young segment of the population. Minister Raissa Jajurie said “in line with the Nutrition Month celebration and in response to address cases of malnutrition in BARMM, the MSSD through its

Supplementary Feeding Program officially has started the distribution of the first batch of dry rations from July 15-21, 2021 in Maguindanao. As of July 22, a total of 13,202 children between 2-4 years have received SFP’s food items distributed in the municipalities of Barira (720); Buldon (572); North Upi (2,710); Sultan Mastura (823); Northern Kabuntalan (801); Datu Montawal (521); Pagalungan (772); Sultan Kudarat (2,285); Guindulungan (615); Datu Blah (585); Parang (1,846); and in Matanog (952) Jajurie said each child-beneficiary received packages of goods that included one sack of 25 kilograms rice; a half-kilo of dilis or dried anchovies; 1.5 kg carrots; 1.75 Kg mongo or mung beans. She said MSSD’s SFP is designed to reach 79,269 children beneficiaries across the Bangsamoro region in the coming weeks— 30,831 children Maguindanao; 11,200 in Lanao del Sur A; 11,358 in Lanao del Sur B; Marawi City 1,851 children; Basilan with 4,753 children; Sulu 9,620 children and TawiTawi - 9,656 children.

ed under the next year’s national budget,” he added The new city jail in Mandaluyong worth P515-million was first proposed. by Mandaluyong Congresswoman Queenie Gonzales in 2018 and pursued by Deputy Speaker Gonzales. The facility boasts of an energy-efficient design, a “sunning area” on the roof deck, a basketball court, and a state-of-the-art kitchen and laundry facilities. “We see this facility as the solution to the perennial problem of congestion in our jails in Mandaluyong because the old BJMP building has the capacity of around 170 PDLs but it currently houses over 700 inmates,” said Gonzales.

AN EMPLOYEE of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology was linked to the attempted murder of an executive assistant of La Union Governor Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega III, adding to the tense situation in the province following the discovery of a plot to assassinate a congresswoman and two town mayors. In a police incident report filed with La Union Police Provincial Office in San Fernando on July 25, Justino F. Casuga, executive assistant of the governor, filed an attempted murder complaint against Jail Officer 1 Juanito A. Estrebor II, a prison guard assigned in Quezon City Jail who was found roaming with a firearm near the complainant’s home. Initial investigation showed that Casuga previously reported that his life was under threat from an unidentified male roaming near his place and requested for temporary security from the PNP. The police report said that on July 25 at 4 p.m., Casuga arrived at his home from a personal meeting and upon alighting from his vehicle was approached by the suspect who had a firearm but quickly turned back upon seeing the two PNP security aides. The suspect was confronted and arrested by Casuga’s security personnel. The case is now under investigation. Anti-crime group Crusaders for Peace said, in a statement, the case heightened the tense situation in the province and bolstered suspicion that a gun-for-hire group composed of rogue police and military personnel was hired to assassinate political leaders in La Union. A former police colonel and alleged leader of the Magpali gun-for-hire group surrendered to the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame on July 26. Dismissed police colonel Wilson Magpali, who is accused as the leader of the syndicate, turned himself to police officials after President Rodrigo Duterte earlier told PNP Ilocos Region to “get the head” of the Magpali gang which was reportedly hired by some unscrupulous politicians to harass or liquidate political figures ahead of the 2022 elections.

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FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021

Ping joins Reporma, eyes NPC dialogue By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

EN. Panfilo Lacson formally joined the revived Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma (Partido Reporma) as its chairman on Thursday, saying he is ready and prepared to face the many challenges besetting the country through his presidential run. “These challenges, including the looming ones that we haven’t discussed yet, I have full knowledge of—like most likely a power shortage in middle of next year, [and] the depressing educational crisis confronting our younger generation of

Filipinos, to name some,” he said. Meanwhile, officials of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) invited Lacson for a dialogue after the filing of certificates of candidacy in October, NPC chairman and Senate President Vicente

Sotto III said Thursday. Sotto is Lacson’s running mate for vice president, and they were the first to declare their candidacies for the 2022 national elections. In related news, the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday said exsenator Antonio Trillanes IV “has always been a valued ally” of the opposition. This was after Trillanes warned the Vice President that his Magdalo Party, would pull their support for Robredo should she give way to the Lacson-Sotto tandem. Both the Vice President and Lacson confirmed meeting last Friday to try and

unite forces against the administration slate next year. Lacson took his oath as Reporma chairman before party founder and former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa, while former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez took his oath as party president. “I just took my oath as Party chairman before our Chairman Emeritus, former ES, SND, CSAFP, Chief PC, Renato de Villa at 10am today, with Cong and former House Speaker Pantaleon ‘Bebot’ Alvarez as party president and a few original Reporma founders and members way back in 1998,” said Lacson in a tweet. He said the party is now consolidating

its old and new members. His advocacies, Lacson said, are wellaligned with those of Reporma, like people’s sovereignty and democracy, decentralization and devolution of powers, social justice responsibility, strong economic foundation, environmental awareness, and voters’ education, among others. De Villa founded Reporma in 1997. It aims to “continue and improve the landmark reforms achieved during the Ramos administration that broke up monopolies and leveled the playing field for the improvement of public service, progress of the economy, and the benefit of all Filipinos.”

Coalition calls for passage of bill to extend BARMM AS THE Third Regular Session of the 18th Congress officially started last Monday, a group urged lawmakers to pass the bill extending the Bangsamoro Transition Period based on the provisions of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which they said was clearly ratified by the overwhelming majority of the Bangsamoro people. In a statement following the last State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte, Bangsamoro People’s Coalition for BTA Extension said extending the transitional period will show a responsive partnership of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The group thus held a peaceful prayer rally at Tandang Sora, Quezon City to ask for divine intervention to enlighten the national leaders on the importance of this call. “We call for the Divine Intervention to pour mercy and steadfastness and shower it upon those mindful and peace-loving people with loving hearts such as our beloved legislators for their understanding and benevolence to support our call to extend the Bangsamoro transition period by way of postponing the BARMM elections to 2025,” the group said. Under the law, the transition period is only three years from 2019. Deferring the elections of the

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao from 2022 to 2025 “will allow the BTA to fulfill its mandated duties in achieving long-term peace and prosperity in the region.” “We pray for the Divine Intervention to soften the hearts of those who continue to oppose our people’s noble proposal. We pray that our national leaders will finally acknowledge how imperative the extension will be in this time of health emergency where the spending priority should focus on economic recovery and containing health emergencies,” the coalition said. “Extending the transition period outweighs the conduct of elections in BARMM. Spending on elections in times of massive cases of economic dislocations defeats the very purpose of any economic recovery efforts. There is no truthful economic growth through spending without any production output. “Thus, elections might be rightfully held, but the situation is not only untimely but wasteful and inappropriate as well,” the Bangsamoro People’s Coalition added. Dr. Jolly Lais, coalition spokesperson, said their call to extend the BTA aims to complete programs and projects for the Bangsamoros under the political, normalization, and transition plan which was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

IN BRIEF Japan-PH high-level infra, dev’t gab ends JAPAN and the Philippines have successfully concluded the 11th High-Level Joint Committee Meeting on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation. In the virtual meeting on Wednesday, officials of both countries applauded the significant developments attained in ongoing joint infrastructure projects and pandemic-response cooperation measures, arising from the meetings they held in the past few years.

Among the big-ticket projects covered by the PhilippinesJapan engagements include the Metro Manila Subway rolling stock contract signing, LRT-2 extension, Parañaque Spillway Flood Control Feasibility Study, COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan, PostDisaster Standby Loan Phase 2, AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine provision, and cold chain facility development for the vaccination rollout. Rey E. Requejo

Single-use plastics regulation bill passed SPEAKER Lord Allan Velasco on Thursday lauded the passage of a measure that would regulate and phase out the production of single-use plastics to curb the growing problem of plastic pollution in the country. Velasco is one of the principal authors of House Bill 9147 or the proposed “Single-Use Plastic Products Regulation Act,” which the House of Representatives unanimously approved on third and final reading during Wednesday’s session. In a related development, the

House passed the priority bill creating the Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, sponsor of the substitute bill as chairperson of the health panel and one of the principal authors, welcomed the approval of CDC measure. She said the bill is “urgently necessary as the country, just like most of the health systems in the world, is ill-prepared to address the challenges of pandemics such as the COVID-19.” Maricel V. Cruz

Rody, Villar open Estrella-Pantaleon bridge THE P1.46-billion EstrellaPantaleon bridge is now open to traffic following its inauguration led by President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday. The President was joined by Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar in the symbolic unveiling of the bridge marker at Rockwell, Makati City. The Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge is one of the two projects funded by a grant of the People’s Republic of China,

the other being the BinondoIntramuros Bridge in Manila, expected to be finished by the end of the year. The President expressed his appreciation to the Chinese government’s generosity in funding the construction of the bridge “that has not only improved mobility and connectivity but also enhanced the resilience against natural disasters.” Vito Barcelo

Opinion Redundancy or retrenchment of an employee of fair and reasonable criteria in ascertaining what positions are to be declared redundant ... [To] exhibit its good faith, … there [must be] fair and reasonable criteria [to] ascertain [the] redundant positions …” (G.R. No. 235873, January 21, 2019). The Supreme Court had ruled that it is not An employee can be terminated from em- enough for a company to merely declare that ployment in different ways. He can be termi- it has become overmanned. Rather, it must nated by the employer for just causes such produce adequate proof of such redundancy as serious misconduct, willful disobedience, to justify the dismissal of the affected emneglect of duty, gross and habitual neglect ployees. Reasons include, but are not limited of duties, fraud or willful breach of the trust to, a new staffing pattern, feasibility studies/ reposed in him by the employer, or commis- proposals on the viability of the newly created sion of a crime against the employer or any positions or job descriptions, and the approval immediate member of his family (Article 297, of the restructuring by the management (G.R. Labor Code of the Philippines). No. 235873, January 21, 2019). However, the employee may be terminatIn Golden Thread Knitting Industries, Inc. ed or dismissed for involuntary or authorized v. NLRC cited in the case of Yulo v. Concencauses, also known as the labor-saving devic- trix, the Supreme Court explained that fair es of a company. In simpler words, the em- and reasonable criteria may include, but are ployee can be terminated for causes which are not limited to, the following: “(a) less prenot of his own making, such as for redundan- ferred status (e.g., temporary employee); (b) cy, retrenchment or the efficiency; and (c) secessation of operations niority. The presence of by the employer. these criteria used by the What is the According to the employer shows good case of Wiltshire File faith on its part and is difference between Co., Inc. v. NLRC, “Reevidence that the implethe two? dundancy, for purposes mentation of redundanof our Labor Code, excy was painstakingly ists where the services done by the employer in of an employee are in order to properly justify excess of what is reasonably demanded by the the termination from the service of its employactual requirements of the enterprise … The ees” (G.R. No. 235873, January 21, 2019). employer has no legal obligation to keep in In the case of Yulo, Concentrix attempted its payroll more employees than are necessary to justify its purported redundancy program for the operation of its business” (G.R. No. by claiming that on December 18, 2014, it re82249, February 7, 1991). ceived an e-mail from Amazon informing it of Redundancy may be the outcome of a the latter’s plans to right size the headcount of number of factors, such as the over-hiring of the account due to business exigencies/requireworkers, decreased volume of business, or the ments. The Supreme Court found that this onedropping of a particular product line or service page document hardly demonstrates good faith activity of the employer (G.R. No. 82249, because it lacks adequate data to justify a redunFebruary 7, 1991). At this time of the pan- dancy and is self-serving, since it was prepared demic, many employees have been declared by the unit head of Concentrix, and not by any redundant because of slow or decreased busi- employee/representative of Amazon (G.R. No. ness in restaurants, shopping malls or manu- 235873, January 21, 2019). facturing enterprises. Furthermore, aside from the lack of eviIn the past, redundancy of employees was dence to show good faith, the respondent likecaused by automation of certain types of work wise failed to prove that it employed fair and or industry. Examples include the rollout of reasonable criteria in its redundancy program. automated teller machines, machine packag- Concentrix merely presented a screenshot of ing of products, and the shifting of telephone a table with the names of the employees it services from operator serviced landlines to sought to declare redundant based on their mobile phones. While the declaration of re- alleged poor performance ratings. While effidundancy is a management prerogative, the ciency is a proper standard to determine who latter must not violate the law or declare re- should be terminated pursuant to a program dundancy without sufficient basis (Enrique of redundancy, the document does not conMarco Yulo v. Concentrix Daksh Services, vincingly show that fair and reasonable criteG.R. No. 235873, January 21, 2019). ria were employed by Concentrix (G.R. No. “[T]he law requires the employer to prove, 235873, January 21, 2019). inter alia, its good faith in abolishing the redundant positions, and further, the existence full version on www.manilstandard.net

EvEryman Polarization of political forces is under way By Ernesto G. Banawis PULSE Asia’s initial survey on the race for the presidency is misleading and hardly reliable because most of the contestants have yet to admit they are running for the position. Only Mayor Sara Duterte has been going around telling everybody she is running for president with or without her father’s permission. Since the race has not yet started, the survey showing Sara Duterte ahead smacks of poll trending. It is too early to know where the candidates stand in the race since they are still prancing around, waiting for their official nomination by their respective political parties. What the release of the survey report did was to hasten the polarization and alignment of political forces. The race is going to be delayed. Only Ping Lacson has so far announced he is running for the position.with Tito Sotto as his running mate. The team recently toured North and Central Luzon, asking the people what they need from the next administration. If Sara’s hashtag is Hugpong ng Pagbabago, Lacson has Karanasan, Katapatan at Katapangan (experience, sincerity and honesty, and courage). In a few weeks, the other aspirants will have to decide if they are joining the race. Eventually, most of them will drop out of the race. One or two will slide down to the vice presidency. Some will run for senator, congressman or governor. Others will just support a presidential candidate with a cabinet position promise. Deep differences still stalk both the administration and opposition quarters. The PDP – Laban has been split wide open. Senators Manny Pacquiao and Koko Pimentel are now the Pres-

ident’s nemesis. This reaffirms the observation that in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies. But this one could be a painful parting of ways for either or both parties. The Liberal Party, considered the nominal opposition party, has failed to unite the various anti-administration groups and critics. Doubts have been raised about Vice president Leni Robredo’s viability as the standard opposition party candidate. She and the Liberal Party seem to have been “liberal” in their accusations and criticisms of President Duterte. The 1Sambayan, led by former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, is still an amorphous political entity. But time pressure will force the presidential aspirants to finalize their slates or tickets for the general election and get ready for the gruelling campaign. Looming as a strong contender for the presidency is Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, close second to Sara in the Pulse Asia survey. He could be the official candidate of the National Unity Party headed by former Congressman Ronnie Zamora. Isko is deputy secretary general of the party which has around 60 members in the House of Representatives and several incumbent heads of local government units. Some political analysts believe that the Manila mayor will be a good alternative between the administration and opposition candidates since he is not identified closely with either side. Isko’s backers claim that Isko will anchor his candidacy on an ardent appeal for national unity. Senator Manny Pacquiao’s handlerf are eyeing the possibility of forming a Pacquiao-Moreno or a Moreno-Pacquiao ticket. The shifting political alignments remain porous and fluid. The most probable candidates for president

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EDITORIAL

Managing the Delta virus risk B A return to the ECQ mode will put Filipinos, especially workers, into a forced quarantine because of transportation restraints. It will deprive them of income to feed their families and there is no guarantee for many of them that they can reclaim their lost jobs when stricter lockdown measures are lifted.

USINESSMEN and health experts both agree that another form of lockdown is needed to preempt an exponential rise in COVID-19 cases in the country in the wake of the virulent Delta virus strain. How authorities go about stricter quarantine rules to effectively limit the spread of the Delta variant, however, is contentious.

An extreme form of lockdown only penalizes the majority of workers, who have religiously complied with the health protocols.

Metro Manila mayors, whose primary task is to track and isolate COVID-19 cases to prevent the virus spread, are again favoring a return to the strictest lockdown level, or Enhanced Community Quarantine, for two weeks as long as the national government releases financial assistance and four million vaccines in their respective jurisdictions. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, meanwhile, has conceded that a new round of restrictions will hurt all aspects of business and reduce government collections.

But the proposal of Economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua to manage the risks from the Delta variant seems to be a Solomonic decision. Achieving a faster vaccination rate and limiting severe lockdowns to local ar-

eas or sectors with the highest risk will enable the rest of the rest of the population, including those already vaccinated, to keep their jobs. An extreme form of lockdown only penalizes the majority of workers, who have religiously complied with the health protocols of wearing a face mask, frequent washing of hands and social distancing. These workers have powered the economy during the critical days of the pandemic. The response of the Department of Health, with the assistance of LGU executives, to immediately flag areas with rising transmission rates, based on twoweek growth rates, the average daily attack rate and health care utilization, may be a sounder approach to the Delta problem than an outright ECQ. The government managed the rise of COVID-19 infections from March to April this year with relative success. Coupled with a more aggressive vaccination of the population by the LGUs, the Philippines can keep COVID-19 infections at bay, until herd immunity is achieved toward the end of the year.

President Duterte’s last SONA CITIZEN BAROK LOUIS ‘BAROK’ BIRAOGO THE recent State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte is a report card on his accomplishments, and he passed the past five years with flying colors. Never mind if the communists and red sympathizers, who are all noise and nothing more, insist otherwise. Nothing short of a communist takeover of the government will please them anyway. The past five years under President Duterte brought substantial improvements in the country and in the way most Filipinos live. Before Duterte assumed the presidency, the regime of the late President Noynoy Aquino only paid lip service to the need to fight drug abuse in the country. Many people had good reasons to suspect that close allies of Aquino made an industry of the drug trade after drug raps were filed by the Duterte administration against Senator Leila de Lima, who was Aquino’s Justice Secretary. The narcotics scene changed when President Duterte assumed office. His all-out war on narcotics suddenly put drug lords, drug pushers and drug addicts on the defensive. There were casualties all right, but the President’s anti-narcotics campaign is a war on drugs, and like any war, there will be casualties, intended or otherwise. President Duterte’s war on drugs inevitably forced drug users in high posts in government to surrender and undergo forced rehabilitation. One of the more prominent officials to surrender and admit his drug addiction was Quezon City Council Hero Bautista, the younger brother of former Quezon City Mayor and ex-cinema comedian Herbert Bautista. During the Aquino regime, many streets in the

National Capital Region and other urban centers in the country were dominated by thugs using drugs. Duterte’s anti-drug campaign actually made the streets safe again for pedestrians and motorists. Many commuters and public utility vehicle drivers will attest to this. The President’s anti-drug war was so effective that halfway through the President’s first year in office, the street price of narcotics quadrupled, which translates to less drug addicts being able to afford the vice. As a result, many junkies were forced to undergo drug rehabilitation.

The all-out war on narcotics was and remains a game changer. There were, of course, rogue and abusive cops, but President Duterte made sure that those who were found out were fired and ended up at the receiving end of criminal raps. By any standard, President Duterte’s allout war on narcotics was and remains a game changer. President Duterte also proved to the people that he did not tolerate corruption in government. In many press conferences during his five years in office, the President made unscheduled announcements of the names of ranking government officials whom he booted out of office for corruption. His dislike for corrupt officials is balanced by his refusal to be swayed by mob rule. Officials who have his continuing trust and confidence remained in office, notwithstanding their being branded corrupt by the media and private interest groups. Duterte is the only President of the Philippines to openly adopt a foreign policy that is not fo-

are Sara Duterte, Isko Moreno Domagoso, Bongbong Marcos, Leni Robredo, Manny Pacquiao, Ping Lacson, and Antonio Trillianes. The presidential race will be even more exciting once President Duterte decides whom to support for president, whether he will run for vice president, and who his running mate will be if he does. President Duterte may eventually decide not to run for vice president and instead endorse either his daughter, his closest aide, Bong Go, Bongbong Marcos or Isko Moreno to succeed him. He will support a candidate who can enrich or at least preserve his legacy. The race will be hotly contested because no one among the leading candidates stands taller than the others in terms of moral and political ascendancy and eminence. What could be of grave and disturbing concern to the candidates and the electorate is the intervention of the superpowers in the coming political exercises. Opposition candidates are particularly

wary of China’s support for the administration candidate. In his recent SONA, President Duterte casually dismissed suspicions that Xi Jinping will support him and his candidate for president. He laughed off rumors that China helped him in his successful campaign for the presidency in 2016. But keen observers of the local political scene are certain that China will provide massive financial assistance to the president and his candidates. Xi Jinping would want to gain complete control not only of the West Philippine Sea but of the entire country as well. China can also provide the most advanced social media platforms to create overwhelming media hype for candidates of the admin-

Will the real scientists please stand up?

63 lawyers killed... and counting

What we need is a just and honest president.

cused or dependent on the United States. He espoused warmer ties with Russia and China, and he has taken steps to end the Visiting Forces Agreement with the Americans. Still on the matter of foreign policy, retired Aquino-era officials have been hitting President Duterte for the latter’s supposed “kid gloves” way of dealing with China’s expansionist bullying in the West Philippine Sea. Fortunately, Duterte refuses to be conned into confronting Beijing with a view to going to war. Duterte has chosen diplomacy and resort to international public opinion to resolve the maritime dispute and, in the process, he kept the country away from a shooting war it cannot win. As a lawyer, Duterte knows that under International Law, global agencies like the International Criminal Court are not allowed to meddle in the internal affairs of the Philippines when there are local courts open and functioning in the country that are able to uphold the rule of law. Duterte’s daring decision to withdraw the Philippines from the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC, showed the world that the Philippines is no pushover in the United Nations. The breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic in March last year caught all the leaders of the world, President Duterte included, by surprise. Duterte’s resort to strict and drastic quarantine restrictions kept many Filipinos safe from the coronavirus, long enough for the vaccines to arrive this year. Despite the ongoing pandemic, President Duterte’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program continues, and today, there are more roads, bridges, airports and school buildings in the country than before. With still ten months left in his term, and notwithstanding the pressing COVID-19 pandemic, President Duterte has accomplished more than what the pre-pandemic presidents of the Philippines did. No wonder he continues to enjoy a very high rate of public acceptance. istration. The United States may also support a presidential candidate who is not only an anti-communist but also faithful to democratic ideals and insitutions. Uncle Sam also has the sophisticated information technologies which can blunt Chjina’s social media operations. Joe Biden can likewise extend various kinds of assistance to its preferred candidate to ensure that the next president will not be a puppet of Xi Jinping. The coming general elections will be a watershed event for the Filipino nation. With the grave problems still confronting the country and with its leaders sharply divided and at odds with each other, the next president must be a strong-willed and honest head of state who can impose discipline and make decisions based on common sense. The country needs a leader who can inspire and unite the Filipino people. What we need is a just and honest president. Mr. Ernesto Banawis is a former general manager of the Philippine News Agency. His email address is egbanawis@gmail.com

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World 8.2 magnitude quake off Alaskan peninsula, small tsunami recorded

This photo taken on July 28, 2021 shows staff members checking a unit at a temporary ‘Fire Eye’ laboratory used for COVID-19 testing at an exhibition center in Nanjing in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. AFP

AN 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the Alaskan peninsula late Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey said, generating small waves but no major tsunami before all warnings were canceled. The earthquake hit 56 miles (91 kilometers) southeast of the town of Perryville, the USGS said. The quake struck at 10:15 pm Wednesday (0615 GMT Thursday). Perryville is a small village about 500 miles from Anchorage, Alaska’s biggest city. The US government’s National Tsunami Warning Center immediately issued an alert for south Alaska and the Alaskan peninsula but canceled all warnings about three hours later. The maximum wave height detected by the center was eight inches (21 centimeters) above tide level with small tsunamis hitting at least six points off Alaska’s coastline. Tsunami warning sirens had been broadcast across Kodiak, an island with a population of about 6,000 people, along Alaska’s coastline. Locals living close to sea level were told to evacuate to higher ground. Small waves hit the coast of Kodiak, according to a broadcaster on local radio station KMXT. She said authorities had lifted evacuation orders, with no reports of any damage. “This is the largest earthquake to happen in the Alaska region since 1965,” Michael West, state seismologist with the Alaska Earthquake Center, told Alaska Public Media. AFP

Delta clusters in 3 China provinces C

Malaysian PM urged to quit after rare rebuke from monarch

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HINA Thursday reported small coronavirus outbreaks driven by the Delta variant in three provinces as a cluster linked to an eastern airport spreads despite mass testing and a vaccination drive. The flare up, which began after nine workers at the Nanjing airport tested positive on July 20, has since seen 171 cases detected in Jiangsu province, while infections have spread to at least four other provinces. It is geographically the largest spread for several months, challenging China’s aggressive containment efforts which have relied on mass testing, lockdowns and swift contact tracing. The virus first emerged in the central city of Wuhan, but China has extolled its success in largely extinguishing the pandemic inside its borders, allowing the economy to rebound. The new outbreak, coupled with cases seeping over the porous border with Myanmar, is threatening that record. Officials in Jiangsu have locked down hundreds of thousands of residents, Lu Jing, a

member of the epidemic prevention taskforce told reporters Thursday. “Internet cafes, gyms, cinemas and karaoke bars and even libraries in Nanjing have been shut down,” he said. The city has tested all 9.2 million residents twice as officials rush to curb the spread of the disease, he said adding the highly contagious Delta variant is posing challenges to containment efforts.

Cambodia imposes fresh curbs

Cambodia imposed fresh coronavirus restrictions Thursday for eight provinces bordering Thailand, clamping down on the movement of millions of residents to curb the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. In recent weeks, scores of Cambodian migrant workers have returned home from Thailand, which is battling a Delta-fueled COVID-19 wave. The clampdown in northwest Cambodia curbs travel to and from Thailand, and between the eight impacted provinces, according to an announcement by Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday. It will remain in place until August 12, and affects a quarter of Cambodia’s population of 16 million. While the import of goods will continue from Thailand, Cambodian migrant workers wishing to return would have to wait until after the two-week period is over, the announcement said. AFP

MALAYSIA’S embattled leader was accused of treason and urged to quit Thursday after the king denounced his crisis-hit government for misleading parliament, a rare public rebuke from the revered monarch. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin leads a scandal-plagued coalition that seized power last year without an election, but his government is on the verge of collapse after allies withdrew support. Parliament convened this week after a months-long suspension under a virus state of emergency, which critics said was a bid by Muhyiddin to cling on to power. On Monday, the law minister announced the emergency would end on August 1 and that several regulations enacted under it were being canceled. But rival MPs were furious, claiming Muhyiddin was just seeking to dodge a debate – and it was not clear the monarch had agreed to revoke the emergency laws, as is required under the constitution. On Thursday the royal palace confirmed the king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, had not given his consent, and said that he expressed his “great disappointment.” AFP

GLOBAL TIGER DAY. Park rangers show off three-month old Sumatran tiger cubs Isyana (left)

and Aura at Indonesia Safari Park in Pasuruan on July 29, 2021. Global Tiger Day is celebrated every year on July 29th to raise awareness about the magnificent but endangered big cat. According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are only about 3,900 wild tigers globally – under threat from poaching and the destruction of their habitat. AFP

Japanese court upholds jail sentences over Ghosn escape

(MS-JULY 30, 2021)

A TOKYO court has upheld jail sentences for a US father-son duo who helped ex-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn flee Japan, as the pair waived their right to appeal. At their final hearing earlier this month, former special forces operative Michael Taylor was sentenced to two years in prison, and his son Peter to one year and eight months. The men had admitted helping smuggle exauto tycoon Ghosn onto a private jet inside an audio equipment box in an audacious December 2019 escape. “The verdict was fixed as of July 28” for the pair, a Tokyo District Court spokeswoman told AFP Thursday.

The Taylors and the prosecution both gave up their right to appeal within two weeks of the July 19 verdict, Kyodo News reported. Ghosn, now an international fugitive in Lebanon, fled Japan with the Taylors’ help while on bail following his shock 2018 arrest on financial misconduct allegations. The Taylors arrived in Tokyo in March after losing a battle against extradition from the United States. At their first hearing, in June, prosecutors described the almost-Hollywood details of the operation -- including that Ghosn was hidden in a large case with air holes drilled into it to slip past security at an airport. AFP

Business US economy showing signs of improvement —Fed Reserve WASHINGTON—The US economic recovery is showing signs of progress, but the Federal Reserve said Wednesday it is not yet ready to end the easy money policies it implemented as the pandemic began last year. Widespread vaccinations have helped boost business activity and employment, though the sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic “have shown improvement but have not fully recovered,” the Fed’s policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced following its two-day meeting. The US central bank cut its benchmark lending rate to zero at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and implemented a massive bond-buying program aimed at providing liquidity to help the world’s largest economy weather the damage. The FOMC cautioned that “risks to the economic outlook remain” and again pledged to keep those policies in place until it sees “substantial further progress” on its maximum employment and inflation targets. While the US economy has recovered millions of jobs and brought the unemployment rate down, it also has seen inflation surge. Fed Chair Jerome Powell again tried to tamp down concerns about the price spikes he described as mostly temporary and limited to certain sectors. “The process of reopening the economy is unprecedented, as was the shutdown at the onset of the pandemic,” Powell said. Central bankers met during an uncertain moment for the world’s largest economy. The fast-spreading Delta variant of COVID-19 has prompted some parts of the United States to reimpose mask-wearing rules and sparked worries it could undermine the recovery. Speaking to reporters after the policy meeting, Powell was alternately upbeat and cautious, but seemed untroubled by the impact of rising infections on the economy. However he acknowledged that inflation has already risen well above the Fed’s two-percent goal—the annual consumer price index (CPI) hit 5.4 percent in June, the highest since August 2008—and recognized inflation could continue higher. AFP

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021 || extrastory2000@gmail.com

Stock market up slightly; AC Energy, Jollibee gain S HARE prices inch up Thursday along with the rest of Asian markets as the Federal Reserve acknowledged the US recovery was well on track but it would not taper monetary policy just yet.

The Philippine stock Exchange Index added 23.50 points, or 0.4 percent, to 6,496.53 on a value turnover of P4.8 billion. Gainers beat losers, 109 to 70, with 54 issues unchanged. AC Energy Corp., a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp. of the Ayala Group, advanced 4.7 percent to P8.17, while Nickel Asia Corp., the biggest nickel miner, climbed 4.5 percent to P6.09. Jollibee Foods Corp., the largest fastfood chain, rose 3.4 percent to P197, while major property developer Ayala Land Inc. increased 3.2 percent to P35.15. The rest of Asian markets rose Thurs-

day while Hong Kong was lifted after China sought to reassure investors over its latest regulatory crackdown. Traders were also cheered by progress in Washington on President Joe Biden’s trillion-dollar infrastructure bill, which he has said could “transform America” and add to the monumental amounts of stimulus already pumped into the world’s top economy. The developments overshadowed concerns about the spread of the Delta coronavirus variant that is sending infection rates spiking in several countries—including those with high vaccination rates—and forcing some governments to impose lockdowns or other containment measures. While the Fed news was met with a shrug on Wall Street, Asia enjoyed gains, having endured a volatile week. Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Mumbai, Wellington, Taipei, Bangkok and Jakarta all rose. But Hong Kong was the standout, piling on more than three percent, extending Wednesday’s 1.5 percent rally. However, it was still way off clawing

back recent losses as it had dropped more than nine percent from Thursday’s close to Tuesday’s finish. Shanghai climbed more than one percent. After a closely watched meeting, the Fed said the pandemic recovery was progressing well but it was still too early to take away the ultra-loose policies that have helped nurse the economy back to health. The central bank has said it will maintain its massive bond-buying and record low interest rate scheme for as long as it takes to tame unemployment and keep inflation running hot for an extended period. It said the worst-hit sectors “have shown improvement but have not fully recovered” and cautioned that “risks to the economic outlook remain.” Referring to a time when the Fed can begin tapering, boss Jerome Powell told reporters: “We’re not there. And we see ourselves as having some ground to cover to get there.” However, he said policymakers had taken a “first deep dive” on how to begin winding the bond-buying down but no decision had been made. With AFP

PSEi July 29, 2021

TOP GAINERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

BC BCB FPI OV GMA7 LBC GMAP PRMX PHES EMP

LAST PRICE

% CHANGE CHANGE

5.16 5 0.325 0.012 12.94 17.68 11.38 2.37 0.56 13.7

0.76 0.7 0.04 0.001 1.06 1.44 0.86 0.17 0.04 0.96

17.27% 16.28% 14.04% 9.09% 8.92% 8.87% 8.17% 7.73% 7.69% 7.54%

TOP LOSERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

OPMB SLI OM ATN ATNB APC MVC SGI BKR DFNN

LAST PRICE 0.011 2.66 0.38 0.58 0.58 0.34 5.1 1.18 1.25 3.8

CHANGE -0.001 -0.19 -0.02 -0.03 -0.03 -0.015 -0.2 -0.04 -0.04 -0.12

% CHANGE -8.33% -6.67% -5.00% -4.92% -4.92% -4.23% -3.77% -3.28% -3.10% -3.06%

MOST ACTIVE

AUTO PITCH. US President Joe Biden speaks about American manufacturing and the American workforce after touring the Mack Trucks Lehigh Valley Operations Manufacturing Facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania on July 28, 2021. AFP

Ever Given finally arrives in Rotterdam four months after blocking Suez Canal HOEK VAN HOLLAND, Netherlands— The giant container ship MV Ever Given steamed into Rotterdam port early Thursday, more than four months after it got stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal, blocking shipping in one of the world’s busiest waterways. The ship, almost as long as New York’s Empire State building is tall, entered Europe’s port at around 0300 GMT, an AFP correspondent saw. “It was a great relief to see her and a special moment,” said Hans Nagtegaal, the Rotterdam port’s director of containers. “Finally we can get the job done ofﬂoading and hopefully get her back to a normal sailing routine,” he told AFP. Nagtegaal said the Ever Given will remain in Rotterdam until Monday, when she’s expected to sail for Felixstowe in Britain, before going to into a dry dock in Dunkirk in France for a further inspection. The MV Ever Given, which blocked the Suez Canal for six days in late March, ﬁnally steamed out of the waterway three weeks ago after Egypt and the vessel’s Japanese owners signed a compensation deal. The nearly 200,000-ton container vessel

became wedged in the canal during a sandstorm on March 23, blocking a vital artery from Asia to Europe that carries 10 percent of global maritime trade and provides Egypt with vital revenues. After a round-the-clock salvage operation to dislodge it, Egypt seized the ship and demanded compensation from owners Shoei Kisen Kaisha for lost canal revenues, salvage costs and damage to the canal. The Suez Canal Authority announced last month it had signed a non-disclosure agreement with the Japanese firm ahead of reaching a final deal. Cairo initially demanded $916 million in compensation before slashing that to around $550 million, but the final figure was the subject of tough negotiations. Egypt, which earns more than $5 billion a year from the canal, lost between $12 million and $15 million in revenues each day it was closed, the SCA said. In April, maritime data company Lloyd’s List said the blockage by the vessel, which is longer than four football fields, held up some $9.6 billion worth of cargo each day it was stuck. AFP

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ACEN SMPH ALI MONDE LTG JGS BDO JFC ICT NIKL

VOLUME 40867800 9224300 8509300 16289900 24574800 3674370 1990380 856590 934660 24897400

VALUE (PHP) 325089502 305172225 296115870 248642980 239938376 210925287.5 210137887 167968214 150550064 150219737

Manila

Standard

TODAY

NOTICE OF LEASE Notice is hereby given to the public that SPC Power Corporation has applied to lease an area at the Port of Tapal, Ubay with a recommended five (5) year term and the following rental rates: •

Berthing area space - 1,976.00 sq.m. @ P100.00/sq.m./month = Php 197,600/month

•

Sub-Transmission Line Steel Post - 0.26 sq.m. @ P100.00/sq.m./month = Php26.00/month

Interested parties are invited to submit comparative or counter proposal within 15 days from the date of this notice to: The Port Manager PMO Bohol PMO Administration Building Port Area, Tagbilaran City, Bohol Telephone Number (038) 501-8138 Telefax No. (038) 501-8969

JAMES J. GANTALAO Port Manager PMO Bohol Graphic on the MV Ever Given container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March. AFP

(MS-JULY 30, 2021)

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021

Diokno expects peso to rebound on forex inflows BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno on Thursday downplayed the weakness of the peso against the US dollar, saying the country’s solid macroeconomic fundamentals will support the local currency in the months ahead. “While short-run fluctuations in the peso are affected by market sentiment, its medium- to long-term movements are largely supported by economic fundamentals as indicated by the relative stability in the movement of the real effective exchange rate of the peso,” Diokno said in an online briefing. “Looking ahead, the BSP expects the peso to be supported by structural FX flows such as overseas Filipino remittances, business process outsourcing receipts and eventually by earnings from tourism activities,” he said. Diokno said foreign exchange inflows related to foreign direct investments were expected to help shore up the currency. The peso depreciated last month amid broad US dollar strength, driven by sentiments due to the potential spread of the more contagious Delta COVID-19 variant and the markets’ perceived shift to a hawkish tone by the US Federal Reserve. Diokno said the observed pick-up in corporate dollar demand with the gradual re-opening of the economy and Fitch Ratings’ outlook downgrade for the country’s sovereign credit rating also added pressure on the peso. “Recent movements of the peso are reflective of shifts in demand and supply conditions in the foreign exchange market as well as emerging external and domestic developments,” he said. Diokno said the peso was not the lone currency to depreciate against dollar as the peso-dollar trend continued to be broadly in line with regional peers. On a year-to-date basis, the peso depreciated against the US dollar by 4.62 percent to close at P50.35 on July 21, 2021 from the end-December 2020 closing of P48.02 a dollar. Most regional currencies similarly depreciated against the US dollar, as these currencies were weighed down by prospects of earlier US monetary policy normalization and uncertainties in their growth outlook due to the ongoing health crisis. Julito G. Rada

PCMC acquiring 70% equity stake in listed Prime Media LISTED Prime Media Holdings Inc. is being transformed into a mass media company through a backdoor listing. Prime Media said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday Philippine Collective Media Corp., which is engaged in radio and television broadcasting, would acquire a 70-percent interest in the company. Under the memorandum of agreement signed by both parties, PCMC will subscribe to 1.679 billion shares in Prime Media from the proposed increase in the latter’s authorized capital stock. “The transaction will result in folding-in of PCMC into the company, thereby making PCMC a subsidiary of the company. With the national franchise of PCMC, the company can engage in an active business of mass media and further leverage its franchise and network for use by existing content providers in need of broadcasting rights,” Prime Media said. Prime Media said the planned deal would also transform the company into a viable and operational business entity and address its capital deﬁciency, negative equity and non-operation. Following the disclosure, the Philippine Stock Exchange suspended the trading of Prime Media shares as the transaction is covered by the exchange’s rules on backdoor listing. “After a review of the company’s disclosures, the exchange deems that the foregoing transaction is covered by the exchange’s rules on backdoor listing. Said determination is anchored on the transaction involving a change in the controlling shareholder of Prime Media and the new business to be folded into the company upon completion of the transaction,” the PSE said. It said the trading of Prime Media shares would remain suspended, pending the submission of comprehensive corporate disclosure regarding the transaction. Prime Media shares were last traded on Wednesday at P2.56 per share. Jenniffer B. Austria

Business Fitch unit sees full recovery of PH spending by next year

ITCH Solutions, an afﬁliate of debt watcher Fitch Ratings, expects household spending in the Philippines to grow 4 percent in 2021 and achieve full recovery from the impact of the pandemic next year. “We forecast real household spending in Philippines to post growth of 4 percent year-on-year in 2021, the start of a recovery from the 8.3 percent y-o-y contraction in household spending estimated over 2020. As a result, we believe that a full recovery of Philippines’s consumer and retail sector will only take place in 2022, with conventional growth returning in 2023,” Fitch Solutions said in its latest Country Risk & Industry Research on the Philippines. The research ﬁrm said total household spending in real terms was expected to reach P10.6 trillion this year, which would remain down the pre-pandemic spending of P11.1 trillion in 2019. It said vaccination drive in the country was lagging behind the wider Asia region, with 9.9 percent

of the population having received at least a dose as of July 23. “As such, we believe that most Covid-19 related restrictions will only be removed in the late 2021, allowing for continued consumer spending growth in 2022, reaching 5.1 percent year-onyear,” it said. Fitch Solutions also said high-frequency data indicated improvements in consumer conﬁdence on the back of better employment. The unemployment rate in the Philippines trended down from a high of 17.6 percent in the second quarter of 2020 to 8.7 percent in the second quarter of 2021. “We forecast the average unemployment rate for 2021 to decrease to 11 percent, an improvement from 14.5 percent of 2020. While this is still higher than a pre-Covid environment [the un-

employment rate averaged 5.1 percent over 2019], it indicates an improving economic and employment environment, which will bolster consumer conﬁdence and spending,” it said. Fitch Solutions said that at an index score of -30.9, consumer conﬁdence in the country was still relatively low in the second quarter, compared to -26.6 in the second quarter of 2020 and -1.3 in the second quarter of 2019. However, the latest readings mark an improvement on the -54.5 score registered over the third quarter of 2020 at the previous peak of the outbreak. This better outlook comes from expectations that there will be more jobs and better incomes, fewer quarantine restrictions, and more businesses reopening, it said. It said the forecast for an improvement in consumer spending in Philippines in 2021 was in line with its country risk team’s forecast that the Philippine economy would grow by 5.3 percent in 2021, from an estimated 9.5-percent contraction in 2020.

PSE INDEX CLOSING Thursday, July 29, 2021

23.50 PTS. 6,496.53

TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL TRADES TOTAL VALUE ADVANCES DECLINES UNCHANGED

925,213,694 73,117 4,821,126,768.74 109 70 54

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2021

Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.3900

Japan

Yen

0.009098

0.4584

Pound

1.390800

70.0824

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128546

6.4774

Switzerland

Franc

1.099143

55.3858

Canada

Dollar

0.798594

40.2412

Singapore

Dollar

0.737518

37.1635

Australia

Dollar

0.737500

37.1626

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652731

133.6711

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266638

13.4359

Brunei

Dollar

0.734808

37.0270

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000069

0.0035

Thailand

Baht

0.030340

1.5288

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.7198

Euro

1.184600

59.6920

Korea

Won

0.000869

0.0438

China

Yuan

0.154071

7.7636

India

Rupee

0.013425

0.6765

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.236351

11.9097

New Zealand

Dollar

0.695900

35.0664

Taiwan

Dollar

0.035767

1.8023 Source: BSP

IN BRIEF Gov’t debt climbed to P11.17t as of June THE outstanding debt of the national government increased by 0.9 percent or P94.91 billion to P11.166 trillion as of end-June from the previous month, mainly because of the issuance of more government securities and the peso depreciation, the Bureau of the Treasury said Thursday. It said that of the total debt stock, 28.9 percent was sourced externally while 71.1 percent were domestic borrowings. “Domestic debt amounted to P7.938 trillion, which is P22.80 billion or 0.3 percent higher compared to the end-May 2021 level as a result of the net issuance of government securities,” the Treasury said. The external debt of P3.227 trillion was P72.11 billion or 2.3 percent higher from the previous month. “The increase in external debt was due to the impact of localcurrency depreciation against the US dollar amounting to P64.86 billion and net availment of foreign loans amounting to P25.52 billion,” it said. Julito G. Rada

Emperador earned P5.1b in six months

ANFLO VACCINATION. Damosa Land Inc. is on track to have its employees and their dependents fully vaccinated this year, in line with the goal of its mother company Anflo Management and Investment Corp. to vaccinate 100 percent of its workforce. DLI started the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations, procured through the private-sector-led International Container Terminal Services Inc. Foundation, for its employees and their dependents.

Jollibee finalizing venture to open 120 stores in Malaysia By Jenniffer B. Austria RESTAURANT chain operator Jollibee Foods Corp. said Thursday it is ﬁnalizing a joint venture deal that will enable it to build 120 stores in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia over the next 10 years. Jollibee said in a disclosure to the stock exchange wholly-owned Singapore-based subsidiary Golden Plate Pte. Ltd. signed a partnership with Beeworks Investment Pte. Ltd. to own and operate Jollibee stores in West Malaysia. Under the agreement, the parties will form a company in Malaysia with an initial investment of $8 million. The joint venture company will be 70-percent owned by BIPL and 30-percent held by GPPL. BIPL is majority-owned by Patrick

Chong, who is also a franchisee for Jollibee East Malaysia which covers Kota Kinabalu. His company, The Luxasia Group, is an omni-channel leader in luxury beauty and lifestyle brands in Malaysia. Jollibee said the creation of a new company in West Malaysia would enable it accelerate growth and help make Southeast Asia a more signiﬁcant business for the group. JFC’s business in Southeast Asia outside the Philippines is its fastest growing region with 885 stores. JFC has presence in Vietnam with 621 stores, Singapore with 72, Malaysia with 104 and Indonesia with 88. Southeast Asia business accounts for 6.7 percent of JFC’s global system-wide

sales. Yhe Jollibee group operates 17 brands in 33 countries. The Jollibee group had 5,816 stores globally, including 3,192 in the Philippines and 2,624 in other countries as of end-June. It had 353 stores in North American and 407 in China. The group plans to resume its aggressive store expansion with the opening of 450 new branches as it expects overall international and domestic businesses to continue to improve despite the pandemic. It budgeted P12.2 billion in capital expenditures this year, up 22 percent from the 2020 level, primarily for store expansion and upgrade of existing branches. The share price of Jollibee rose 3.4 percent Thursday to close at P197.

EMPERADOR Inc., the listed liquor company controlled by businessman Andrew Tan, posted a net income of P5.1 billion in the first half on the back of doubledigit growth in revenues. Emperador said in a disclosure to the stock exchange first-half revenues increased 18 percent to P25.3 billion, led by strong sales from international markets. Emperador president and chief executive Winston Co attributed the strong firsthalf performance to the gradual easing of quarantine restrictions in various parts of the world that boosted on-site sales. “We are extremely happy to report a record first-half net profit of P5.1 billion. Both brandy and whisky segments showed increased margins and robust profitability given the benefits from improving product mix and positive operating efficiency. We hope global economies continue to rebound and return to some form of normalcy,” Co said. Co said the company’s brandy business led by Fundador was expected to continue to grow by double digits in the UK, the US, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Canada and Asia, including the Philippines. Jenniffer B. Austria

Banks warn people vs rising online fraud THE Bankers Association of the Philippines conﬁrmed Thursday an increase in online fraud, such as phishing and other cybercrimes, especially during the pandemic. “We ask the public to remain vigilant against these schemes. Today, cybercriminals are creating more methods to defraud the public. We would like to remind the customers that banks regularly communicate the best practices that the public can utilize to ensure their cyber safety. We call on everyone to be aware of these reminders and apply them so that cybercriminals will fail in their attacks,” the BAP said in a statement. The BAP said all banks have rigorous protocols when it comes to investigating cybercrimes in order for these criminals to be apprehended and penalized. The industry also continues to make investments related to cybersecurity to protect clients’ personal data at all times, it said. “Ensuring everyone’s security in cyberspace must be a joint effort between banks and their clients,” the BAP said.

Abotiz Group reports 243% growth in net profit By Alena Mae S. Flores ABOITIZ Equity Ventures Inc. said Thursday net income jumped 243 percent in the first half to P13.5 billion from P3.9 billion in the same period last year. The company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that excluding the nonrecurring losses of P169 million, core net income in the first half hit P13.6 billion, a 246-percent increase year-on-year. “The Aboitiz Group’s positive performance in the first half is a solid foundation for optimism that our country is on the right track to economic recovery,” said Aboitiz Group president and chief executive Sabin Aboitiz. “Looking ahead, we see some headway in our own strategic growth objectives and the new CREATE law should enable businesses to make even more significant strides to regain lost ground,” Aboitiz said. He said COVID-19 Delta variant remained a very real threat “so we have to be cautious in our next steps.” “Our most important priority remains

the safety and wellbeing of our team members as we begin our company’s own vaccination program. Likewise, we continue to work closely with the national and local governments to help ensure that the Philippines succeeds in overcoming the pandemic,” said Aboitiz. AEV recorded consolidated net income of P4.9 billion in the second quarter, a 159-percent increase from P1.9 billion a year ago. Core net income in the second quarter climbed 194 percent to P4.9 billion. Power accounted for 53 percent of the total income contributions from AEV’s strategic business units in the first six months. Aboitiz Power Corp.’s net income jumped 171 percent to P10.1 billion from P3.7 billion a year earlier. “We’ve seen more economic activity in the first half with the easing of COVIDrelated restrictions. The increase in energy demand helped us recover from our financial performance in the same period last year,” Aboitiz Power president and chief executive Emmanuel Rubio said.

VEHICLE MODERNIZATION. Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., the country’s official distributor of Hyundai commercial vehicles through Hyundai Trucks and Buses Cabanatuan, turns over a fleet of modern PUVs to the Sapang Palay Tungko Grotto Transport Service Cooperative in support for the nationwide public vehicle modernization program. Attending the turnover ceremony are (from left) Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region 3 legal assistant Jess Sison, HTB Cabanatuan president Dennis San Juan, SPTGTSC chairman Delfin Engay, San Jose Del Monte Mayor Arthur Robes, Land Bank of the Philippines (Malolos) assistant vice president Ranilo Jimenez and Bulacan provincial board member Allan Ray Baluyut.

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor; Randy M. Caluag, Assistant Editor FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021

Pagunsan 5th before halted play The USA’s Sam Kendricks competes in the Men’s Pole Vault final at the 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships at the Khalifa International stadium in Doha. Kendricks, two-time pole vault champion (2017, 2019), was forced to declare forfeit for the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for Covid-19, the US Olympic Committee said. AFP

COVID infection of peers saddens, frightens Obiena By Peter Atencio

HE situation involving American pole vaulter Sam Kendricks, who tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, has saddened and frightened Filipino bet Ernest John “EJ” Obiena. Kendricks, the world no. 2-ranked pole vaulter, is now out contention in the Summer Tokyo Olympics, and so is Australia’s Kurtis Marschall and Argentina’s German Chiaraviglio. Because of this, Obiena and his coaches have decided to confine themselves inside their rooms at the CONRAD Tokyo until the qualification round begins this Saturday. Following close contact with Kendricks, Australian pole vaulters Marschall and Nina Kennedy, plus coach Paul Burgess, have been subjected to stricter

Magno’s journey not yet finished TOKYO—Irish Magno may have become the first casualty of the Philippine boxing team after bowing to a crafty Thailand foe in Jutamas Jitpong in the women’s 48-51kg division of the Summer Olympic Games’ boxing competitions at the Kokugikan Arena here on Thursday. But her Olympic journey doesn’t here. “Sa akin po, tuloy-tuloy pa rin po. Hangga’t walang ginto, hindi po tayo susuko, tuloy lang ang laban,” said Magno, who at 25 years old, is still very much in her prime. Her teammate Nesty Petecio, who on Wednesday, assured the Philippines a bronze in the featherweight division, is just 29 years old. “Siyempre po nalulungkot po ako sa naging resulta. Ang Olympics po ay hindi basta-basta, lahat naghahanda dahil gustong makapag-kamit ng medalya, kaya ibinubuhos lahat,” she said. Magno could not duplicate her win against the same opponent in the semifinals of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games as she fell to the Thai in a 5-0 unanimous decision loss that ended her Olympic dream, for now. Hopes were high on the flyweight Filipina, who started her campaign here with a dominant 5-0 blanking of Kenyan Christine Ongare, setting up her clash with Jitpong, who Magno sparred with several times during the Philippine team’s three-month training camp in Thailand. “It has been an incredible journey for Irish. She and Jitpong had some lively spars in Thailand the last three months. Reports were that it was quite even. Obviously, today the Thai girl got the better of Irish,” said Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines secretary general Ed Picson. Four of the five judges gave it to the Thai via the same score of 3027, with the fifth one scoring it at 30-28. Riera U. Mallari

protocols and are now quarantined. “He (Kendricks) is a close friend of EJ. They have been having interactions during many competitions in the past,” said Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association spokesman Edward Kho, who added that Obiena has avoided training and working at the Olympic Stadium, the main venue of athletics since he arrived in Tokyo. Obiena’s training sessions have always been done under a training bubble at the Edogawa Stadium in Tokyo. A final training session involving

Obiena ended last Wednesday. “This is bad news. You never celebrate somebody else’s misery,” added Kho. “They are in good terms. It saddens him (Obiena), and at the same time, it frightens him. He is not elated about this. This has given Obiena some unnecessary stress.” Next to world record-holder Armand Duplantis, Kendricks is another top contender for a podium finish again after bagging the bronze medal during the 2016 Rio Olympics. In 2019, Kendricks joined the “Elite 6.0 Club” when he set the American pole vault record at 6.06 meters, a mark which tied him with Steve Hooker for fourth of all time. Later, Kendricks, won the gold medal at the World Championships in Doha. The absence of Kendricks will now narrow down the field of pole vaulters who are seeing action. Aside from Duplantis, Obiena will try

to seek a podium finish against the likes of Polish bet Piotr Liosek of Poland and Thiago Braz da Silva, the Rio Olympics’ champion, who is his training partner. Despite the ongoing situation in athletics, the goal of going higher and beyond the 5.8-meter range is still one of the initial goals of Obiena, following his arrival in Tokyo last week. “We’re taking a lot of extra precautions now,” Capistrano said. “We’re bringing our own alcohol to Edogawa Stadium, where EJ practices, and we are the ones who wipe down whatever surfaces he will be in contact with. We can never be too careful anymore,” said PATAFA secretary general Terry Capistrano. Capistrano has also commissioned a van to bring the team to practice, saying he won’t allow Obiena to ride the athletes’ bus or any of those Olympicaccredited taxis anymore.

TOKYO—Juvic Pagunsan sparkled in midday heat before afternoon rain interrupted play at the Kasumigaseki Country Club yesterday, firing a fiveunder 66 for joint fifth, just three shots off the pace at the start of the men’s golf in the XXXII Olympiad. With some momentum from his recent triumph in the Mizuno Open here in the Japan Tour, Pagunsan banged away six birdies against a lone bogey as he was with several hackers finding the day’s condition of the par-71 course to their liking. Overnight thunderstorm softened the 7,447-yard course, allowing players to go for the pins. Pagunsan has just holed his sixth birdie on No. 16 when rain stopped play of the last two flights for over an hour. Austria’s Sepp Strata, a PGA Tour campaigner who’s just licked COVID-19, carded a flawless eight-under 63 for the first-round lead with Thai ace Jazz Janewattananond having his own bogey-free round of 64 for solo second. With the overnight downpour, Kasumigaseki drew a severe beating, with just 13 from the big field submitting above-par rounds. Germany’s Thomas Bel Pieters and Mexican Carlos Ortiz were tied at third at six-under then came the Filipino bet joined by Denmark’s Joachim Den Hansen and Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas at fifth. In the second to the last flight with Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent and Paraguay’s Fabricio Zanotti, Pagunsan went one-under with a birdie right on the first hole but then yielded a shot with a bogey on the par-3 No. 4. He ended the front nine at 34 with birdies on holes No. 6 and 8, and got going collecting three more birdies in the back nine for that solid 66, topping the likes of major winner Collin Morikawa and Top 10 players Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas. Closing out with a bogey, Schuaffele settled for a 68 for joint 12th with a big group including American Patrick Reed, Korean Kim Si Woo and Swede Henrik Norlander. Morikawa, the 2020 PGA champion and 2021 Open winner, and Rory McIlroy, another great gun in the field, were with another big group a shot back at 69.

New virus scare causes jitters on eve of Tokyo Olympics athletics TOKYO—Australia’s track and field team was briefly placed in isolation on Thursday as a coronavirus scare caused fresh jitters on the eve of the Tokyo Olympics athletics programme. Nearly 60 athletes and staff were confined to their rooms for more than two hours after US pole vault world champion Sam Kendricks tested positive for COVID-19. All were later released apart from three close contacts of Kendricks, who have tested negative but remain in isolation and will be tested daily. The incident was a jolting reminder of the perils facing athletes at the Tokyo Games, where their Olympic dreams are at risk of being dashed at any moment. “Members of the Australian track and field team in the Tokyo Olympic Village have been cleared to return to their regular routines,” the Australian Olympic Committee said in a statement. “The all-clear comes after three members of the team underwent PCR testing following a brief casual contact with a US track and field athlete who had tested positive for Covid-19.”

Members of Australia’s Olympic athletics team arrive at Narita International Airport in Narita, Chiba prefecture. AFP

Kendricks earlier became the latest high-profile withdrawal from the Olympics after testing positive for the virus. “We are saddened to confirm that Sam Kendricks tested positive for

Covid-19 and will not compete in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020,” the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee said on Twitter. Argentine pole vaulter German Chi-

araviglio later revealed he had also tested positive and would not take part in the Games. Organizers announced a daily record of 24 new Games-related cases on Thursday, three of whom are athletes, taking the overall number of positive cases to 193. The figures do not include all cases at airports and in training camps. Dressel gold chase In Olympics action, US swim star Caeleb Dressel notched his second triumph of the Games to stay on track for a potential six golds. Dressel arrived at the Olympics tipped to push for a Michael Phelps-style medal haul and already has two wins under his belt, with a potential four to come. The 24-year-old powered to the wall in the men’s 100m freestyle in a new Olympic record time of 47.02sec to dethrone Australia’s Kyle Chalmers. Dressel, who spearheaded the United States to the 4x100m relay title earlier this week, will also race the 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly and could feature in two other relays.

From his sickbed, Olympic medalist Serantes commends Diaz By Randy Caluag WEAKENED and thinned by his long bout with multiple illnesses, Olympic boxing medalist Leopoldo Serantes still found the strength to join millions of Filipinos in congratulating Hidilyn Diaz for her historic gold medal in the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. Serantes posed for a picture with a clenched fist while intubated and lying on his sickbed. This was posted on his Facebook account, where he wrote in capital letters “Magandang umaga sa ating lahat, binabati ko po si Hidilyn sa kanyang tagumpay para sa Bayan. Mabuhay po kayo and God bless you all.” Like Diaz, Serantes also aspired for the elusive gold in the world’s greatest sporting spectacle. He failed but still gave his countrymen back home something to cheer about by bagging a bronze medal in the boxing competition

of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Serantes came back home and was greeted by festive rites and given a tickertape parade, unlike Diaz who returned on Wednesday to a simple welcome ceremony at the airport due to strict social distancing protocols to help curb the spread of COVID-19. But life has not been kind to Serantes, who has been confined at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Quezon City due to a lingering pulmonary ailment and serious heart condition. The Philippine Sports Commission has been helping Serantes in his medical needs in recent years. Serantes, now 59 and a widower, was among the 10 most recent batch of sports legends to be enshrined into the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame. Among his co-inductees were basketball player Robert Jaworski, swimmer Eric Buhain, track and field star Elma Muros-Posadas and 1988 Olympic gold

medalist Arianne Cerdena of bowling. Obviously in pain but in high spirits, he still managed to post on social media a photo of him holding his Hall of Fame trophy. “Nakatubo po ako ngayon at hindi pa po natatanggal, nag-post lang po ako para magpasalamat sa lahat ng nagsuporta at nagtiwala upang makapasok po ako sa Hall of Fame. Maraming salamat po sa ating butihing chairman William Ramirez at sa board. Mabuhay po tayong lahat,” he said. Serantes settled for bronze following a loss to Bulgarian Ivailo Khristov in boxing’s light-flyweight semifinals. He defeated three boxers from Egypt, Liberia and Morocco before losing in the semis. It was a highly celebrated medal as it came 24 years after the Philippines grabbed a silver, courtesy of another boxer Anthony Villanueva at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics..

Leopoldo Serantes: In high spirits

Sports

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021

PSC’s web series features Zumbarangay metro entries

Doncic leads Slovenia into Olympic cage quarter-finals SAITAMA—NBA star Luka Doncic scored 25 points as Slovenia comfortably beat Japan 116-81 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. Dallas Mavericks guard Doncic also grabbed seven rebounds and got help on scoring from Zoran Dragic, the older brother of Miami Heat player Goran, who chipped in 24 points. Rui Hachimura did his best to keep Japan in the game with 34 points and seven rebounds. Doncic had scored 48 points in Slo- Slovenia’s Luka Doncic goes to the basket past Japan’s Yuta Watanabe (left) in the men’s preliminary round group C basketball venia’s opening victory against 2004 match between Slovenia and Japan during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama. AFP gold medallists Argentina. Spain can also book their place in the quarter-finals if they beat Argentina later Thursday. Teen playmaker Cade Cunningham is seen as a likely top pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, but the team with the first choice is keeping quiet about plans for the selection. Cunningham, a 19-year-old point guard, averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals a game for Oklahoma State last season. That’s after helping spark a 2019 US By Arman Carandang Games today triumph in the Under-19 Basketball (Ynares Arena, Pasig City) World Cup. AGNOLIA coach Chito Victolero isn’t exactly 12:30 p.m. -- Terrafirma vs. Magnolia Now he’s drawing comparisons to -- TNT T Giga vs. Rain or Shine relishing the good start his Hotshots are currently 3 p.m. Slovenian star Luka Doncic of the 6 p.m. -- Ginebra vs. NorthPort Dallas Mavericks ahead of the NBA’s enjoying in the PBA Philippine Cup. annual allocation of new talent to clubs. Having a 3-0 start doesn’t speak ing,” said Victolero. “Maganda iyung mate goal. We will try to find ways “I don’t like comparing myself to well what destiny his Hotshots would start, yes. But we will be humble and on how to prepare hard and how to players around my age,” Cunningham reach in the end. kailangan pa rin naming magtrabaho win,” stressed Victolero. said. “I hear a lot of Luka comparisons, And you cannot blame Victolero kasi maaga pa.” The Hotshots definitely canwhich, I can see it, but next year we’re to be worried despite winning their Victolero made it clear they want not take their opponents today for going to be playing against each other.” first three outings in the prestigious to take it one game at a time before granted as the Dyip can only be exMeanwhile, the teen playmaker conference. entertaining any other plans, more pected to play like they are in playCade Cunningham, the rookie hopeAfter all, the Hotshots racked up so since all teams have become off in their bid to barge into the win ful being compared to Doncic, is seen six straight wins after a 1-4 start in stronger. column. as a likely top pick in Thursday’s the Clark bubble only to end up 7th in “One game at a time, prepare for Talk ‘N Text returns to action NBA Draft, but the team with the first the elimination. Being seventh meant next game,” added Victolero. today after a 10-day quarantine, choice is keeping quiet about plans for they needed to win twice over then The Hotshots try to sustain their good playing a Rain or Shine team that’s the selection. quarterfinal foe Phoenix. What hapstart as they take on Terrafirma Dyip in badly beaten by Alaska (74-48) last Cunningham, a 19-year-old point pened was the then second-seeded the 12:30 p.m. opening tussle of a threeWednesday. guard, averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 reFuel Masters eliminated them right game sked today at the Ynares Arena in The Tropang Giga and the Elasto bounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals a away with in one game. Pasig City. Painters meet in the second game at 3 game for Oklahoma State last season. “Medyo mahirap, marami pang p.m., after which defending champion “Maganda start namin pero hindi That’s after helping spark a 2019 ito ‘yung tinitingnan naming na puwedeng mangyari, hindi kami pu- Barangay Ginebra collides with NorthUS triumph in the Under-19 journey na gusto namin marat- wedeng mag-relax. We have an ulti- Port in the last game at 6 p.m. Basketball World Cup. AFP

Magnolia Hotshots try to sustain hot 3-0 start M

THE coming episode of the Philippine Sports Commission’s web series Rise Up, Shape Up is set to highlight the Metro Manila entries of the Zumbarangay Pilipinas: Solo Exercise on Cam Challenge this Saturday. The Zumbarangay Pilipinas panel of judges will select qualifying entries based on forms and style, movement, vigor and energy, and Philippine cultural and artistry value. First judge will be Stephanie Sabalo, a multi-medalist dance sport athlete, who won two golds and one silver in the 19th Southeast Games, joined by Chips Beltran, best known as the Coach and Director of the 2017 and 2016 back to back World Hip-Hop International Champions in USA, UPeepz. Coach Lenlen Ruiz will also be in the panel. She served as the head coach of the aerobic gymnastics Philippine team, and coached the 2003 and 2005 SEAG editions. Professor Michiko Aseron, a dance faculty from the University of the Philippines Diliman-College of Human Kinetics, and American Council on Exercise Certified Fitness Instructor Bam Mogato will complete the panel. The episode will also feature the voices of “Igalaw-galaw ating Katawan” sisters Jamaila, Jayca, and Jawyna Ramos from Mindanao. “We are committed to encouraging young girls and women to be healthy, athletic and competitive as we chose young girls to sing PSC’s official dance exercise music. We hope that their presence and contribution to this PSC milestone will continue to inspire and empower young girls and women to maximize their potential, whether in sports or other activities,” said PSC Commissioner Celia Kiram. The Zumbarangay campaign received entries from the barangay level across its four categories. Qualified barangay entries will move on to the city/town level. PSC’s Rise Up, Shape Up is a web series streamed via Facebook and YouTube every Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. For more information on Rise Up, Shape Up, visit its official Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/riseupshapeup and YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/riseupshapeup.

Cunningham: Football’s loss is basketball’s gain By Peter Atencio TO be a better athlete, Cade Cunningham felt he needed to give up playing American football and move on to the game of basketball. The 19-year-old Cunningham, who is now considered as a top pick in the coming NBA Rookie Draft 2021, was in ninth grade when he made a decision to pick up a basketball and start playing the game. “I started thinking that I can be one of the top players in basketball when I left football, once I locked in and picked a basketball. So, from that point on I wanted to be the best,” said the 6’8” Cunningham in a Zoom session with Filipino scribes, made possible by NBA Philippines.

Presumptive no. 1 NBA Draft Pick Cade Cunningham visits The Empire State Building in New York City. AFP

Cunningham played for one season with Oklahoma State University in the first division of the US National Collegiate Athletic Association before he decided to join this year’s draft. He decided not to pursue playing for Oklahoma State after the school was sanctioned by the NCAA back in June following a federal corruption investigation into college basketball. The 220-lbs. Cunningham said he took the pains in studying and preparing for his move and his game. “It’s about studying more, and on the mindset of the tough guys, on how they approach their situation, and it helped me get to this point,” said Cunningham. The Pistons, who finished last in the Eastern Conference and are currently in rebuilding mode, are expected to pick

Cunningham, although General Manager Troy Weaver has kept their team’s choices close to his chest. For now, Cunningham could make it to the Pistons’ roster. If not, they may go for shooting guard Jalen Green and mobile center Evan Mobley. Cunningham expressed his excitement if he gets picked by the Pistons after spending time in practice with them. “If they take me, I’ll definitely be excited. They have a lot of good things going for them,” added Cunningham. Cunningham caught the attention of scouts with his smooth ballhandling and passing skills. Scouting reports point to his ability to evade traps, find open shooters or create his own shot.

Mission accomplished with Diaz gold as MVP boosts Olympians’ Tokyo bid IT WAS truly a July night to remember after Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won an historic gold medal for the Philippines at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. One of her avid supporters, PLDT and MVP Sports Foundation Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan cried tears of joy as soon as he heard the news. “Wow as in Wow. Great job, Hidilyn. We knew it was a tough jour ney for you, but every step is now well worth it. You have our continuing prayers and support albeit at the end, it is you who does the heavy lifting. Tonight, you carried the nation on your shoulders. A huge thanks,” Pangilinan tweeted. Diaz is among the 14 out of 19 Olympians under MVPSF, an organization under the MVP group that supports Filipino athletes as they train to bring honor to the Philippines in their respective sporting events. “Congratulations, Hidilyn! You make us so proud. The MVPSF was born ten years ago with its vision of winning our first Olympic gold medal. You did it,” said Alfredo S.

Panlilio, PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. President and CEO, and MVPSF President. “We at PLDT and Smart have always believed in the importance of sports in shaping individuals and communities for the better. Hidilyn embodied what puso really means,” added Panlilio, who also serves as the First Vice President of the Philippine Olympic Committee. The MVPSF has supported Diaz’s training both financially and logistically in the last two years, and has helped her form a core team of experts to build a solid strategy in her fourth shot at the Olympics. “Maraming salamat po sa MVPSF, kay Sir MVP at kay Sir Al Panlilio. Thank you so much po sa binigay niyong tiwala sa amin, sa Team HD at sa akin. Hindi ko po makakamit ang gold medal without your support,” Diaz said. Diaz will receive P10-million pesos from MVPSF as an incentive for securing the gold medal in the women’s 55kg weightlifting competition at the Tokyo Olympics, on top of other rewards from the government and other private companies.

Inspiration to all Diaz’s historic win also serves as an inspiration to other athletes who are still competing for medals in Japan. “Hidilyn’s performance has truly in-

spired the members of Team Pilipinas to do their best. We at PLDT, Smart, and MVPSF are doing our best to support these athletes on so many levels, so that they can bring glory to the country

through sports,” said Jude Turcuato, Head of Sports at PLDT and Smart. “We would also like to recognize and thank the hard work of the management, staff, families, and fans, who tirelessly supported our athletes’ journey to the Olympics,” he added. As an official broadcaster of the world’s largest sporting event happening until August 8, 2021, Smart also enables Filipinos and sports fans to catch the games and cheer for Team Philippines through gigafest.smart, which offers the most comprehensive online streaming coverage with 10 channels including the Olympics payper-view (PPV) channel, pop-up channel, news channel, and seven readyto-air channels from the Olympic Broadcasting Service (OBS). To enjoy the service, customers simply have to turn on the Smart mobile data and go to gigafest.smart on their mobile browser to watch the live events, replays, highlights, athletes’ features, and daily news throughout the entire Olympics run. For details and schedule, please click https://smart. com.ph/Pages/olympics-schedule.

Entertainment Miss World PH candidate breaks silence on malicious rumor AN EMOTIONAL Joy Barcoma faced the entertainment press in a virtual conference on Wednesday afternoon to clear her name over malicious rumors that involved the pageant candidate and a few girls in the Miss World Philippines competition. Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment, Barcoma, 22, representing the City of Mandaluyong in the annual beauty tilt, shared that she thought of withdrawing from the pageant after the issue had taken its toll on her mental health. She revealed that a fellow candidate pointed fingers at her for spreading rumors that some girls were allegedly

doing drugs. “I almost had second thoughts. This is my first national pageant. But taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, I realized that I’m not here [in the competition] just for myself, there’s something bigger than myself, and it’s the people who believe in me, and the people who will benefit for my cause,” she started. “I had to fight and now I realized that I’m not just advocating for mental health anymore, I’m now advocating for the truth, for justice, and for equality. That’s the greatest lesson I learned from this battle that I’m still overcoming until

now,” she carried on. When the rumor started to spread within the pageant circuit, Borcoma’s name was dragged into the issue. She and her team made the pageant organizers aware of the issue to have it resolved internally. “I was really hurt. Iba yung effect sa akin na lahat ng nasa environment mo ay galit sa’yo," she said Although she refused to identify the fellow candidate, the aspiring beauty queen felt that a public apology is needed to clear her name. "I want a public apology. I was bullied. This is character assassination.

I want a public apology from her,” she firmly stated. Asked if she believes that some girls in the competition were really into drugs, Barcoma said: “I don’t think so. I’ve known them and I don’t think they would do drugs. And if people want them to get tested, it’s up to the MWP Organization to decide.” Barcoma is competing against 40 other candidates at the Miss World Philippine. The coronation night— originally set on July 25 at Okada Manila—was rescheduled to Aug. 8 at the same venue. The finals will air on GMA. Nickie Wang

Nickie Wang, Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021

Joy Barcoma has broken her silence on the rumors surrounding her and her fellow candidate in the Miss World Philippines 2021.

Bold and daring Aljur in ‘NERISA’

VERY WANG NICKIE WANG

ELEVISION star Aljur Abrenica is back to doing films, and starting his renewed journey on the big screen, the 31-year-old actor banners Nerisa opposite former beauty queen Cindy Miranda.

Aljur Abrenica levels up in acting and in doing daring scenes in the new film 'Nerisa.'

Lucasfilm hires YouTube artist behind 'Star Wars' deepfake

A deepfake of the climactic scene of season two of 'The Mandalorian'—created by Jon Favreau—appeared to particularly impress Lucasfilm.

A YOUTUBER famous for making "deepfakes" of scenes from iconic film and television shows including Star Wars has landed a job at Lucasfilm after wowing bosses at the Disney-owned company. The digital artist known only as "Shamook" is famous online for using cutting-edge technology to seamlessly map the faces of famous stars onto other actors' bodies. Popular videos created by the technical whiz include pasting Robert Pattinson's visage onto Christian Bale's Batman, and imagining a young Mel Gibson had returned in place of Tom Hardy in 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road. But his work on the climactic scene of The Mandalorian season two appeared to particularly impress Lucasfilm. The Star Wars TV series set five years after

the 1983 film Return of the Jedi concluded with a surprise appearance from Mark Hamill, who was digitally de-aged to play a young Luke Skywalker once again. Many of Shamook's 90,000 followers felt his amateur reworking of the scene surpassed the official version now streaming on Disney+. Lucasfilm's visual effects team Industrial Light and Magic "is always on the lookout for talented artists and have in fact hired the artist that goes by the online persona 'Shamook'," a spokesman said in a statement sent to AFP. "Over the past several years ILM has been investing in both machine learning and A.I. as a means to produce compelling visual effects work and it's been terrific to see momentum building in this space as the technology advances." Shamook first revealed the hire on YouTube, telling followers his new title was "Senior Facial Capture Artist." Disney is working on around 10 new Star Wars TV series, buoyed by the success of The Mandalorian, which was nominated for a whopping 24 Emmys and introduced viewers around the world to the adorable fan favorite Baby Yoda. Several Star Wars films are in the works too, including Rogue Squadron from Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins, and another currently being written by Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit). AFP

Dubbed as this year’s sexiest and most daring local drama, the Viva Films offering starts streaming globally today via numerous platforms including ktx.ph, iWantTFC, TFC IPTV, and Vivamax. “I just feel so fortunate to have been given a chance to act in movies again. I’m working on a few films apart from Nerisa so this is a good start,” Aljur said in Filipino. Nerisa is the actor’s first film in five years and also his first movie produced by Viva Entertainment. “I’m thankful for the trust and I look forward to doing more projects with them,” the actor added. In the story, Aljur plays a fisherman named Obet who falls in love with Nerisa (Cindy), a woman who mysteriously floats ashore on an island. Obet saves Nerisa and they eventually start living a blissful life together until he and his fellow fishermen encounter a boat

PAGEANT CONCEPT ETON CONCEPCION THE return of the National Capital Region to general community quarantine (GCQ) status, which postponed the Miss World Philippines finals, proved a blessing in disguise for candidate Dindi Joy Pajares.. In a surprise move by the Miss World Philippines Organization, led by its national director Arnold Vegafria, the candidates were asked to vote on who they thought fit the Miss Supranational Philippines 2021 title at stake. Pajares, 28, who was in the Top 10 of the Beach Beauty Challenge fast track event, topped the candidates’ votes and was crowned Miss Supranational Philippines 2021 ahead of the grand coronation night on Aug. 8. The 5-foot-8 native of Orani, Bataan works as a flight attendant and is a sergeant of the Philippine Air Force Reserve Command. She was a member of Flight Alpha, Sinag at Lakas ng Hukbong Himpapawid (SINAGLAHI) BCMT Class of 2021 of PAF RESCOM Training. Pajares, who is on her fourth national pageant, was a pilot student when she competed in Bb. Pilipinas 2016 where she was named in the Top 15. She competed again the following year, but was unplaced. She also joined Miss Philippines Earth 2011 where she finished

accident. Nerisa gets blamed as the cause of the misfortune. Nerisa feels her husband is still alive and will do whatever she can, even offering her body, to get him back. Speaking to Manila Standard Entertainment, Aljur said that the movie “really lives up to everyone’s expectations” being a sexy drama. Talking in vernacular, the actor assured that Nerisa will awaken the senses of the viewers. “This movie is really daring. I haven’t done anything like this before. Obet and Nerisa are a couple and the movie shows what a normal couple does,” Aljur said. “But every daring scene was done professionally. And I’m glad Cindy felt that she was well taken care of during our intimate scenes. She thanked me for asking about her limitations when it comes to doing those scenes,” the actor added. Aljur said that delicate scenes were

Aljur stars opposite Cindy Miranda in the movie dubbed as one of the sexiest and most daring local features in 2021.

mostly done in one take. During the shoot, the director instructed them how the scenes would be executed but it’s his and Cindy’s responsibility on how to make the scenes “look and feel natural.” “There’s definitely respect between us. I think the reason why our pairing works is that we communicate, we talk a lot before each take,” Aljur stated. Joining Aljur and Cindy in the cast are senior actors Elizabeth Oropesa and Bembol Roco, and other rising artists such as Sheree Bautista, AJ Raval, and Sean De Guzman. The movie is directed by Lawrence Fajardo and the screenplay is written by the multi-awarded and critically acclaimed scriptwriter Ricky Lee.

Dindi Pajares wears PH sash in Miss Supranational Through “She Weaves,” she worked for the Ayta Magbukun Community and the indigenous people in Bataan in bridging the gap towards inclusive economic development, particularly, the Ayta Magbukun community “Aytapreneurs” through weaving program. The 12th edition of the Miss Supranational is happening in Nowy Sącz, Małopolska, Polan on Aug. 21 with 56 delegates from around the world competing for the title currently held by Thailand’s Anntonia Porsild. John “The Outlaw” Adajar competes in Mister Supranational Filipino Mixed Martial Artist (MMA) and 2-time URCC Global Welterweight Champion John Edgar “The Outlaw” Adajar is set to fight, not inside the caged fighting arena, but on the global male pageant stage. Adajar, 25, was named Mr. Supranational Philippines 2021 by the Dindi Pajares and John Adajar are appointed Miss World Philippines Organization. by Miss World Philippines Organization The 5-foot-11 MMA professional fighter to compete in Miss and Mr. Supranational from Laguna started his professional career pageants in Poland. in mixed martial arts, referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred and ultimate in the Top 20. fighting combat sport, in 2016, now Pajares has been a supporter of “She sporting a 5-win / 1-loss pro-MMA record. Weaves,” a social enterprise in Bataan, Read full story on manilastandard.net which campaigns for inclusivity.

Celebrities support pro-artists digital app VNT Vention STARS Ivana Alawi and Gloc 9 will be around to launch VNT Vention digital marketplace designed for local artists, including famous showbiz people. Labeled Pancakeswap Fair Launch, the launch happening today unveils the Philippines' first NFT Marketplace for artists and celebrities. Livestreaming on the site’s FB page and YouTube channel begins at 4:00 p.m. Model Daiana Meneses and businessman-influencer Marvin Faviz will host the program. NFT (Non-Fungible Token) can be used to represent items such as

photos, videos, audio, and other types of digital files. VNT Vention founder Julius Santillan, a yuppie cryptocurrency trader and entrepreneur, noted during a virtual press conference: “We wanted to support our local artists who deserved to be known and earn through their craft. We’ll help them sell their collectibles and works of art." The young visionary is on top of this digital platform that involves selling and auctioning stuff online. He hopes that Filipino artists in general will benefit from its noble cause.

The platform’s main objective is to encourage Pinoy artists, from musicians to painters to anyone in between, to use the blockchain technology to distribute their masterpieces to collectors and fans. Vention argues that “by tokenizing their works and selling them on a digital marketplace, they can maximize their reach for potential customers.” VNT Vention is a global market site focusing on artists and their creations. It is billed secure and would let anyone create, buy, sell, or collect digital merchandise with minimal platform fees. It’s the first of its kind in the Philippines as it wishes to attract more

local artists. It eyes to help by providing a marketplace for artists to be known, by safekeeping arts and crafts, connecting people to art collectors, and ensuring them of a solid, supportive community. Santillan said that they had already tapped notable artists interested in selling their collectibles. He hopes that several Filipino freelancers, especially in the field of arts, will become part of this 21st century marketplace and enjoy its good returns. For more information, check out VNT Vention’s site: https://vention. app/

VNT Vention fair launch will be streamed on its Facebook page and YouTube channel at 4:00 p.m. (July 30). The program will be hosted by Daiana Meneses and Marvin Faviz, with stars Ivana Alawi and Gloc9 as special guests.

Life

Bernadette Lunas, Editor manilastandardlife@gmail.com @manilastandardlife @MStandardLIFE

TRAVEL & LEISURE

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021

The best place for a staycation in Manila ...is the hotel that assigns all its rooms to it By Bernadette Lunas

IFE has been a rollercoaster the past couple of months. We go up (vaccines are arriving in the Philippines), and we go straight down, as in really down (Delta cases increase; lockdown looms). For a person who has been down several times most of the time, that brief moment up is precious. So when restrictions eased, establishments opened and reopened, and vaccine rollout picked up, many Filipinos booked their tickets to domestic destinations or to the nearest hotels. Hilton Manila early in July took advantage of the increase in travel confidence by launching a staycation promotion that promises “worry-free stays”. “Staycay 2.0 Your Way” is designed for families eager to spend time out of their homes and in a guaranteed safe space with all the trimmings “highlighted by an overnight stay, exceptional culinary offerings at the hotel’s Kusina Sea Kitchen (dinner and breakfast) and Hua Yuan (lunch)”, welcome drinks, and custom-made pajama sets guests can take home after their stay. Premium upgrades, according to Hilton

A CleanStay seal is attached to the room’s door.

Manila commercial director Joanne Gomez, include pizza-making activity for kids, three-hour use of Vega poolside cabanas, inroom cocktails, and Polaroid camera rental. “Our team has carefully designed an enjoyable staycation experience for the family as we value the importance of bonding and connecting especially during these trying times and what we have all been through in the last few months,” said general manager Simon McGrath. “Staycay 2.0” is part of the Resort World Manila (RWM) 2.0 property-wide initiative to further level up customer service and overall customer experience. How come Hilton Manila got to launch the promo? Because it is currently the only 100 percent staycation hotel in the whole RWM complex recognized by the Department of Tourism. Others operate at 50-50, stayca-

FOR STAYCATION ONLY. Hilton Manila — the only 100 percent staycation hotel within Resort World Manila recognized by the Department of Tourism — assures leisure guests of safety with heightened sanitation protocols implemented within the property.

tion and quarantine facility. “When we made the decision to transition from an isolation facility to a staycation hotel, we had to go through

very rigorous process to show the Department of Health and the Department of Tourism that we adhere to stringent protocols,” McGrath related.

The Staycay 2.0 packages include overnight stay, pool access, breakfast and dinner at Kusina Sea Kitchen, and lunch at Hua Yuan.

“We vacated the rooms, heavily sanitized them, then we reopened to staycation market to look after people who want to get out and enjoy themselves.” In addition to following governmentmandated protocols, the hotel further assures guests with Hilton CleanStay, a heightened hygiene and cleanliness standard powered by Lysol, “a brand”, McGrath said, “everybody knows in regards to disinfectant”. The general manager added that 90 percent of Hilton Manila staff are fully vaccinated. Staycay 2.0 packages start at P20,000 nett (deluxe) and P30,000 nett (premium). The promo is available until December.

Educating a new generation of tourism leaders

THE International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), founded in 2010, is a Silang, Cavite-based academy which specializes on education and training of those who have chosen a career in tourism industry. The National Geographic Traveller magazine honors it as the “first sustainable tourism school in the Asia Pacific region educat- The school’s modest entrance leads to a wealth of knowledge, skills, innovation, and unrelenting determination for excellence. ing a new generation of leaders”. Of course, kudos to the school’s founding Calixto-Rubiano followed suit. president, former Tourism Secretary Mina ISST diversified by launching a Food Gabor, who proudly declares ISST’s aim at Travel series, putting the spotlight on becoming the only premier school with recthe rich culinary traditions and food reognized excellence in sustainable tourism sources of different provinces. Naturally, education in Southeast Asia by 2025. Pampanga, acknowledged as the country’s Knowing the hardworking, always onculinary capital, was first to take center the-go Mina Gabor, known by everyone to stage in this program. be a continuous wellspring of new ideas, The program was a joint effort with forsuch goal is as good as achieved. mer President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Tourism ground to a halt as the pandemic and the provincial government. The twosneaked in, but it became an opportunity day event featured restaurant stalwarts who for ISST to reach out virtually to learners helped transform Pampanga into a haven for locked down in their homes. The former food tourism with its unique blend of cookTourism Secretary confided that she and her ing traditions and innovations. team used the early months of the imposed Still not satisfied with its exemplary perquarantine restrictions to record the Youformance unimpeded by the various quarTube video series, Changing Landscapes antine restrictions, ISST has trained its to provide practical pointers for potential sights on other laudable projects. Among students and lay out the groundwork for the these are the Global Faith-Based Tourism school’s online learning offerings. Conference in line with our Quincentennial When quarantine restrictions eased up, Commemoration of Christianity, a National the school conducted a very well attended Farm Tourism Conference in Bohol, and the webinar series, Sustainable Tourism OpLakbay Bukid Awards which will recognize portunities for Entrepreneurship, in col- The indefatigable former Tourism Secretary the industry’s leading personalities. laboration with the Philippine Small and Mina Gabor in action. Furthermore, the indefatigable Mina GaMedium Business Development Foundation (Philsmed) and the Philippine Ex- mercial, and other available vacant spaces bor is bubbling with excitement as she anporters Confederation (Philexport). These as a healthy food source during the various nounces her personal victory in winning virtual educational programs discussed community quarantine periods, and even the bid to host the International Ecotourism Travel Mart (IETM) here in Manila, to be the livelihood opportunities in farm tour- way beyond. participated in by global players ism and urban gardening, and and stakeholders on Ecotourfeatured prominent local and ism. The event will include new foreign experts as resource YOUR WEEKEND CHUCKLE systems and technologies in the speakers. industry which were developed The 11-year-old educational HUSBAND: My ex-wife still misses me…but her aim is as a pandemic response. institution also conducted starting to improve! All these achievements of a Lifestyle Health and New ISST make me see another facet Consciousness webinar with to it: It’s a school that trains former Health Secretary Jaime The main objective of these webinars tourism leaders to be as energetic, as hardGalvez Tan, Dr. Albert Jo, and Liz Mehta of HM Design, to address emerging issues was to educate the local government units working, as enthusiastic, and as creative as in Metro Manila and suburbs, for them to its president, Mina Gabor. I wouldn’t be surand concerns in the “new reality”. An Edible Landscaping Forum was put replicate these models in their areas toward prised to see a beeline of enrollees for the up to further enhance undertakings on food providing stable food supply to their con- school’s program offerings. security, in cooperation with the University stituents. In fact, Parañaque Mayor Edwin For feedback, I’m at of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), pro- Olivares immediately put up his city’s verbobzozobrado@gmail.com viding a garden model for residential, com- sion of these farm models. Pasay Mayor Emi

EU Delegation to the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires Rafael de Bustamante and French Ambassador to the Philippines Michèle Boccoz led the virtual launch of ‘Teatro Europa Second Edition’.

Teatro Europa returns

for the second time online By Ellicia Frentzen C. Del Mundo la Barca of Spain; University of Makati – THE COVID-19 pandemic did not stop the European Union Delegation to the Philippines to stage its first ever Teatro Europa, albeit online, last year. This year is no different. “Teatro Europa, The Second Edition” features 16 theater plays selected from various countries in Europe. Genres include comedy, tragedy, drama, and romance. “It [Teatro Europa] provides an opportunity to showcase the diversity of EuFi l ipi n o ropean culture to the audience. Specifically, it shares an artistic tradition that continues to entertain, educate, and critique contemporary society in Europe today,” French Ambassador to the Philippines Michèle Boccoz said in an online press conference. The chosen European classics will be performed by 16 partner universities – including the original seven from last year – from Metro Manila, Baguio, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Iloilo City, Bacolod City, and Ozamiz City. “Teatro Europa provides a platform for artistic Filipino youth to share their talents in acting, directing, and production design,” said EU Ambassador Luc Véron. The following are the participating universities with their assigned European classic pieces: Colegio de San Juan de Letrán –“Tartuffe” by Moliere of France; Saint Louis University – “Rur” by Karel Čapek of the Czech Republic; Wesleyan University – “Pariah” by August Strindberg of Sweden; University of the East – “Life’s a Dream” by Pedro Calderon de

“The Horrid Little Princess” by Geneviève Damas of Belgium; Meridian International College – “The Salt Princess” of Hungary; University of San Agustin – “Snow” by Stanislaw Przybyszewski of Poland; De La Salle University – “Erasmus Montanus” by Ludvig Holberg of Denmark. Also joining this year’s virtual theater festival are: Mapua University – “Riders to the Sea” by John Millington Synge of Ireland; Jose Rizal University – “The Birds” by Aris- tophanes of Greece; Arellano University – “II Vero Amico” by Carlo GolGol doni of Italy; Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina – “Lucifer” by Josst van den Vondel of the Netherlands; First City Providential College – “La Ronde” by Arthur Schnitzler of Austria; Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela – “My Three Angels” by Sam and Bella Spewack of Romania; University of St. La Salle – “Broken Heart Story” by Saara Turunen of Finland; Rizal Technological University – “Leonce and Lena” by Georg Büchner of Germany. Full performances will be live-streamed on the official Teatro Europa Facebook page from August 1 to 31. Reruns start on September 1 to 30. In addition to the virtual showcase, the EU plans to conduct a limited live theater performance on August 28 in Intramuros and a series of webinars with known theater directors on the similarities, intersections, and differences between Philippine theater and European theater.