90% of

villages in 2
W. Visayas
cleared of
illegal drugs
Some 90.25 percent of the
4,051 barangays in Western
Visayas have been cleared
of illegal drugs as of May this
year, data from the Philippine
Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) Barangay Drug Clear-
ing Program (BDCP) showed
on Friday.
In Negros Occidental, 67.89
percent of the 601 barangays
are considered drug-cleared
while in this capital city, 22.95
percent of the 61 barangays,
also have gotten rid of illegal
drugs.
Antique, which has 590
barangays, is 99.66 percent
drug-cleared; Iloilo Province,
1,721 barangays, 98.55 percent;
Capiz, 473 barangays, 91.12
percent; and Iloilo City, 180 ba-
rangays, 54.22 percent.
Both the 327 barangays of
Aklan and the 98 barangays of
Guimaras are 100 percent drug
Sat.-Sun., June 3-4, 2023
TOPNEWS
FINAL SALUTE
Brigadier Gen. Sidney Villaflor on Friday afternoon led the Reception Ceremony in Honor of the late Police Lt.
General Edmundo L Larroza, former Philippine National Police officer-in-charge, who passed away on May 22,
2023. His remains will lie in state at the Our Lady of Holy Rosary Chapel inside Camp Martin Teofilo B Delgado
in Iloilo City until 8 a.m. today, June 3, 2023. (RPIO-6 photo)
3rd Infantry Division: 49 years of
working for a peaceful Visayas
By Jennifer P. Rendon
In 1974, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division came into
existence as the Visayas region was grappling with poverty that
was partly aggravated by the communist rebellion.
Forty-nine years later, Western and Central Visayas, the re-
gions covered by the 3rd ID, have become two of the most com-
petitive areas in the country.
Western Visayas now has the fastest-growing economy in
the Philippines in 2022 while Central Visayas is the country’s
fourth-largest economy.
“And this is just one of the gains that we had in almost five de-
cades of the 3rd ID existence,” Major General Marion Sison, 3rd ID
commander, said during the unit’s 49th founding anniversary on
Wednesday at Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz.
He cited the continuous rebels’ waning support from and influ-
ence on the masses.
“For the record, five provinces were declared insurgency-free
while another five provinces were declared as peaceful and ready
for further development in 2015 and 2021,” Sison said.
He added that the 3rd ID has strengthened its thrust to deliver
committed and relentless services, inherent to its constitutional
mandate.
“Every Spearhead trooper has proved to be highly versatile
and agile, delivering the things that the people expected from
3rd/p11

Iloilo’s gun-for-hire group

cleared.
“The drug situation in West-
ern Visayas is currently on a
manageable level as evidenced
by our low drug (incident), the
fifth in the country,” accord-

leader nabbed in Makati

ing to the overall assessment
presented by PDEA-Negros
Occidental provincial officer
Jeanette Reyes during the joint
second quarter meeting of the
Provincial Peace and Order
Council and the Provincial
Anti-Drug Abuse Council at
the Capitol Social Hall here on
Friday.
Reyes said the region’s man-
ageable drug situation can be
attributed to the “successful
collaboration of all sharehold-
ers, leading to intensified an-
ti-drug operations, high vol-
ume seizure of illegal drugs,
sustainability efforts and in-
crease in the number of drug-
cleared barangays.”
Negros Occidental Gover-
nor Eugenio Jose Lacson, how-
ever, noted a “slow increase”
90% of /p11
By Jennifer P. Rendon
An alleged leader of a gun-for-hire group was arrest-
ed June 1 in Makati City, Metro Manila.
Elfren Bagatnan, 31, of Ajuy, Iloilo was collared in
his workplace at Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati
City.
He worked as a construction worker and assumed
a different name.
Bagatnan, the topmost wanted person of Western
Visayas, is the alleged leader of Bagatnan Gun-for-
Hire Criminal Gang.
Members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IP-
PO)-Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit/ Provincial
Special Operations Group (PDEU-PSOG), together with
Guadalupe Nuevo Sub-Station and other IPPO and
Makati City Police Office operatives, nabbed Bagatnan
for two murder cases.
The arrest warrant for the first case docketed as
Criminal Case No. 2020-9403 was issued on June 8,
2020 while the second one for CC No. 2022-10351 was
issued on May 12, 2022.
Judge Oscar Leo S. Billena of the Regional Trial
Court Branch 66 in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo issued both
arrest warrants.
No bail was recommended for both charges.
In his first murder charge, Bagatnan was charged
along with Arjun Bigot and Eddie Ancuna.
But Bigot was arrested in April 2021.
They were accused for the murder of Marconi
Amosin in September 2018 at Barangay Gen. Luna,
Barotac Viejo.
It was not immediately known what triggered the
suspects to kill Amosin.
Reports indicated, though, that Amosin was also a
suspect in shooting to death another person several
years back.
Police operatives are still checking on the latest ar-
rest warrant issued against Bagatnan.
Police records showed, though, that in July 2021,
another member of the Bagatnan Criminal Gang was
also arrested for two counts of murder.
Richard Villanueva and his co-accused were
charged for killing two men on June 21, 2020 at Ba-
rangay Tipacla, Ajuy.
Jovel Castor, 40, and Sonny Articuna, 50, were rid-
ing on a motorcycle around 6:10 a.m. when two men
waylaid them.
As this developed, Bagatnan is still under custody
at the Guadalupe Nuevo Sub-Station, Makati City Po-
lice Station.
He will be taken to Estancia Municipal Police Sta-
tion for custody and documentation prior to his pre-
sentation to the court.

40 alleged rebels neutralized in

Visayas in May 2023, AFP says
By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Armed Forces of the Phil-
ippines (AFP) Visayas Command (Viscom) said
government forces continue to gain ground as
40 alleged members of the New People’s Army
(NPA) were neutralized in the Visayas region
last month.
According to Viscom, a total of 15 encounters
have been reported in a month, leading to the
death of 17 NPA rebels in encounters and the
surrender of 23 others.
The casualties included the 10 deaths in a se-
ries of clashes in Negros island, particularly in
the towns of Moises Padilla and Cauayan in Ne-
gros Occidental, and Guihulngan City in Negros
Oriental on May 20 and 21.
Also, 54 firearms were seized during the peri-
od – 38 were recovered in clashes, 7 were discov-
ered through information provided by former
rebels, and 9 were surrendered.
40 alleged/p11

A TEENAGE girl and her alleged cohort were arrested for possession of P340,000 worth of suspected shabu
after a buy-bust operation in Barangay 10, Bacolod City Friday. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office)

Seven nabbed in P489-K ‘shabu’ bust

By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City - Police arrested seven persons
and seized P489,000 worth of suspected shabu
in three buy-bust operations here and in Ne-
gros Occidental on Thursday and Friday.
The latest drug haul was reported in Baran-
gay 10 yesterday which resulted in the appre-
hension of a 19-year-old girl and her alleged co-
hort, Anthony Eppie, 43, of Barangay 12.
Both suspects allegedly yielded 50 grams
of suspected shabu worth P340,000, the P500
marked money, lighter, and P981, according to
Police Captain Paul Vincent Pendon, head of Po-
lice Station 2.
Pendon said the teenager, who is from Ba-
rangay Handumanan, is a high value individu-
al (HVI), while Eppie is a street level individual
(SLI).
Police conducted the operation after receiv-
ing information about their alleged engagement
in illegal drugs.
Pendon said they will check if these suspects
have links with the two men who were also ar-
rested in Barangay 10, with 400 grams of sus-
pected shabu worth P2.7 million on Wednesday,
May 31.
He said they will also check if they have pre-
vious cases. SOME war materiel recovered by government forces in a clash with NPA rebels in the Visayas region. (Photo
Seven/p11 courtesy of Viscom via AFP)
 NEGROS Sat.-Sun., June 3-4, 2023 3

P4M aid to hog raisers readied as Intensify

efforts
NegOcc LGUs start to order bans to curb
illegal
By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Two local

government units in Negros
Occidental have banned the
entry of live hogs and other
fishing’
related products after African
By Dolly Yasa
Swine Fever (ASF) cases were
detected in Bacolod City and
BACOLOD City – Various
Pulupandan town.
fisheres’ groups here urged
Mayors Renato Gustilo of
the Bureau of Fisheries and
San Carlos City and Ella Ce-
Aquatic Resources (BFAR),
lestina Garcia Yulo of Moises
the Provincial Government
Padilla town issued executive
and coastal Local Government
orders banning the entry of
Units (LGUs) to intensify ef-
live pigs, boar semen, pork and
forts against illegal fishing.
related products from ASF and
In a joint press statement,
hog cholera affected areas.
the Negros Occidental Federa-
The ban also covers prod-
tion of Small Fishers Associa-
ucts that lack the necessary
tions (NOFSFA) and PRRM-Ne-
travel and shipping documents.
gros said efforts should also be
On Friday, Governor Eugen-
undertaken against the contin-
io Jose Lacson said that the pro-
uous taking of berried and ju-
vincial government is readying
venile crabs in the province to
cash assistance to hog raisers
ensure the sustainable breed-
whose hogs were affected by
ing of crabs
hog cholera.
They also called for the lo-
“We are considering to allo-
calization of the Blue Swim-
cate from the Department of
ming Crabs (BSC) National
Social Welfare and Develop-
Management Plan (NMP).
ment through the Assistance
Small fisher leaders from
for Individuals in Crisis Situa- (From left) Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, and Board
Member Benito Alonso at the joint Provincial Peace and Order Council and the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council meeting Friday. various parts of the province
P4M/p10
P4M /p10
further declared their continu-
ing opposition to illegal fishing

Bacolod City sends Masskara dancers

and illegal resource extraction
in coastal areas.
They called on the national

to Korea’s Busan dance fest

BACOLOD City – Another group of Masskara Festi-
val dancers from this city will perform in the 2023
Busan International Dance Festival (BIDF) in Busan
Metropolitan City, South Korea from June 2 to 4.
Councilor Em Ang said on Wednesday night that
Bacolod is participating in the event for the first time
by sending a group of dancers from Barangay Sum-ag
led by award-winning choreographer and trainer Se-
gundo Jesus Cabalcar.
“This is the first time the MassKara Festival danc-
ers have been invited to the BIDF,” she said on a social
media post.
Ten dancers from Barangay Sum-ag, the runner-up
in the 2022 Masskara Festival street and arena dance
and local governments to in-
crease their fisheries budgets
and to establish a separate De-
partment of Fisheries so as to
give more attention and sup-
competition, will perform in the three-day festival, colorful festival in New York City for the first time. port to fisheries, small fishers
which also features performers from France, Canada, On June 4, the 22-member dance group will per- and coastal communities.
Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Argentina and Singapore. form during the 125th Philippine Independence An- NOFSFA celebrated Fisher-
Bacolod had also participated in two festivals in niversary Commemoration Parade organized by the folks Day in advance on May
South Korea before the Covid-19 pandemic. Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. together 29 so as to allow its various
In 2018, the MassKara dancers performed during with the Philippine Consulate General in New York. member federations and alli-
the Andong Mask Dance Festival in Andong City and Also on June 11, five Masskara dancers will be fea- ances to hold their respective
in 2019, they were awarded Best Foreign Group in the tured at the 3rd Masskara Festival to coincide with activities on May 31, which
Daegu Colorful Festival in Daegu City. the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Long was established by the nation-
Ang, together with Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Beni- Beach, California. al government thru Presiden-
tez and other city officials, is currently in the United Hosted by the Long Beach Bacolod Association, the tial Proclamation No. 33.
States with the Masskara dance team of Barangay Masskara dancers will perform in the event for the The event bannered the
Granada, the champion in the 2022 Masskara Festival second time since 2019. (PNA) theme “Onwards the Strug-
street and arena dance contest, to showcase Bacolod’s Intensify/p10

Bacolod intensifies
measures to
curb spread of ASF
BACOLOD City – The city government here is strengthening
measures to curb the spread of African swine fever (ASF), which
has been detected in hogs from at least two villages here.
Acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran said on Thursday that four
cases of the highly contagious viral disease -- two each in Baran-
gays Taculing and Tangub -- have been confirmed by the Depart-
ment of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry.
He said the city government will initiate training for barangay
biosecurity officers from all 61 villages as part of the response to
the ASF threat.
“Representatives from the barangays will serve as force mul-
tipliers. They will be trained as paravets to help the City Veteri-
nary Office (CVO). For campaign and prevention, and to educate
our hog raisers on protocols and measures to prevent all illnesses,”
he told reporters.
In Barangay Tangub, a number of piglets have been culled after
12 hog deaths have been reported on Wednesday.
As a containment measure, culling of hogs within the
500-meter radius from an infected swine is required to be im-
plemented.
On Wednesday afternoon, the City Council passed a resolution
requesting the CVO, through Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez,
who is still on an official trip to the United States, to conduct in-
tensified testing and monitoring of live hogs in Bacolod.
“(This) will help curtail and prevent the spread of ASF within
the city and protect the (local) pork industry,” Councilor Claudio
Jesus Puentevella, who authored the resolution, said.
Also, the City Council approved another resolution for inten- DEAD pigs being buried on Wednesday (May 31, 2023) in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City. On Thursday, acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran said four
sified border inspection of pork products and live hogs entering cases of the highly contagious viral disease, of which two are in Barangay Tangub, have already been confirmed by the Department of Agriculture-Bu-
Bacolod. (PNA) reau of Animal Industry. (Photo courtesy of Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City)
4 Sat.-Sun., June 3-4, 2023
OPINION
What’s in a P20
habal habal ride?
H
abal habal rides have emerged as a vital mode of trans-
portation in remote areas of the Philippines, providing
a much-needed service where public transportation
is scarce or non-existent. While these single motorcycles offer
convenience to commuters, the issue of overpricing has become
a growing concern, particularly for resource-limited passengers
who heavily rely on these rides in their daily lives.
Considering mileage and other operational costs, the reason-
able fare for a habal habal ride typically stands at P10 per person
for a 1 to 2-kilometer journey. However, it is unfortunate that
some drivers have resorted to overpricing, charging P20 or even
P30 per person, effectively doubling, even tripling, the standard
fare. This practice has understandably caused frustration among
passengers, particularly students who operate on limited bud-
gets.
Setting aside equally-valid concerns on franchise and taxes, it
is crucial to question whether these drivers should be permitted
to charge such excessive amounts. Are they not subject to scru-
tiny from local officials and the Land Transportation Franchis-
ing and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)? Shouldn’t this be considered
a form of extortion, as passengers are left with no other viable
options?
It is important to recognize that habal habal drivers are not
equally regulated by the LTFRB,
unlike other forms of public trans-
portation. Consequently, we can
say in many cases that most enjoy
the freedom to set their own fares,
leading to discrepancies in pricing.
While some drivers adhere to the
standard fare, others take advan-
tage of their passengers’ transpor-
tation needs and charge unreason-
Herman M. Lagon ably high amounts.
Overpricing in habal habal rides
IMPULSES is not merely an inconvenience; it is
a matter of social justice. This prac-
tice disproportionately affects the Void not due to psychological incapacity
but for lack of marriage license
economically disadvantaged, particularly students who have
limited access to alternative modes of transportation and are
compelled to rely on these rides to reach their educational insti-
tutions or workplaces. Moreover, overpricing fosters a culture of

M
impunity, wherein drivers feel entitled to charge whatever they arriage can be a boon or a bane.
desire, disregarding the impact on their passengers. “Living happily ever after” as
To tackle this issue, it is crucial for local officials and the LT- most fairy tales would end, may
FRB to consider regulating habal habal rides and establishing a happen but not magically. To be political-
reasonable and fair standard fare that benefits both drivers and ly correct, a happy ending is not really an
passengers. This can be achieved by implementing measures ending but a continuing journey that en-
such as mandatory registration and permits for drivers, adher- tails a lot of effort that the parties must put
ence to regulated and fair fares, and the enforcement of penal- in, in their marriage.
ties for those who engage in overcharging. Furthermore, public Yet when one or both parties have had
education campaigns should be initiated to inform passengers enough, then they can resort to untying
of their rights and encourage them to report instances of over- the knot.
pricing. Additionally, passengers can be empowered to write There are many grounds to declare a
petitions to their local or barangay officials, urging them to take marriage void. The most commonly in-
necessary actions. voked is the affliction of psychological in-
In conclusion, addressing the problem of overpricing in habal capacity by either or both spouses pursu-
habal rides requires a comprehensive solution. While these rides ant to Article 36 of the Family Code.
serve as a valuable transportation service for remote communi- This column had written about the
ties and drivers also deserve to earn a living for their families, more realistic stance taken by jurispru-
the issue of overpricing must be confronted to safeguard passen-
gers from exploitation. Through regulation and the promotion of
dence of late in treating petitions for nulli-
ty of marriage on account of psychological
fair pricing practices, local officials and the LTFRB can help foster incapacity.
social justice by ensuring fair rates and ensuring that everyone Taking their cue from the Tan-Andal
has access to affordable transportation. case (11 May 2021) which pronounced
that psychological incapacity is a legal, not
*** a medical concept, the subsequent cases
Dr. Herman Lagon fondly describes himself as a ‘student of of Constancia Javate-Asejo v. Justiniano
and for life’ who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and Zantua Asejo and Republic of the Philip-
why-driven world that is grounded in social justice. pines, G.R. No. 247798. January 18, 2023,
Agnes Padrique Georfo v. Republic of the ity is still fresh and overpowering.
Philippines and Joe-Ar Jabian Georfo, G.R. Yet despite this quite liberal stance, the
No. 246933. March 6, 2023, essence of psychological
and Fernando C. Clavecilla, incapacity is not deemed
represented by Atty. Mar- diluted. In Sue Ann Boun-
vel C. Clavecilla v. Marivic sit-Torralba v. Joseph B.
V. Clavecilla and the Re- Torralba, G.R. No. 214392,
public of the Philippines, which was handed down
G.R. No. 228127. March 6, on December 7, 2022, it was
2023, further explained still held that a spouse who
that courts must be “sen- is a “compulsive gambler,
sitized” in terms of “power habitual drunkard, wom-
dynamics” in Filipino fam- anizer, illegal substance
ilies and their structures user, and even a drug traf-
and sensibilities, in appre- ficker”, cannot be deemed
ciating evidence proving as psychologically inca-
psychological incapacity. pacitated if such cannot
For instance, courts Legal be traced to the afflicted
must not dismiss a petition
for nullity just because the
Harbinger spouse’s personal history
that predated the marriage.
psychiatrist was not able to Atty. Eduardo Reyes III This harkens the teach-
interview the psychologi- ing in Tan-Andal which
cally incapacitated spouse states that the psychologi-
or because the only witnesses are family cal incapacity must be proven to be “dura-
members of the petitioner. To be sure, the ble” and based on “psychic cause/s”, not just
cooperation of the other spouse cannot be an aberrant or erratic behavior.
expected when he/ she has been estranged But the Sue Ann Bounsit-Torralba case
from the petitioner spouse and the animos- Legal Harbinger/p5

LEMUEL T. FERNANDEZ DANIEL Y. LABINDAO

Founding Publisher Marketing OIC-Manila Bureau WEBSITE:
is a publication of Daily Guardian Multi-Media Services, Inc. a SEC-registered company
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Manila Editorial/Business Offices Cell: 09610210564 Member:
To become an independent guardian of truth
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un-compromising exponent of positive change
and public enlightenment.
 OPINION Sat.-Sun., June 3-4, 2023 5

Nuggets’ Game 1 assault simply Financial poison

intimidating like ‘Mawar’ T
“The one thing that always bothered me
when I played in the NBA was I really got
irritated when they put a white guy on me.”—
Larry Bird
Will Erik Spoeltra’s soldiers be blown
away by the same blowtorch in Game 1 in
the remaining series games?
This is something we will have to watch
with bated breath—although the fear of
But only if they bewail the issue with
clean hands; meaning, no corrupt DPWH
official or contentious contractor will im-
mediately retort and remind them of past
favors they received from dirty sources,
he Senate hastily passed Senate Bill (SB) No. 2020 this week
creating the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF). Rush ap-
proval of the measure came after Bongbong Marcos (BMM)
certified the bill as urgent. Congress adjourned sine die last June
2 and only BBM’s arm twisting move made SB 2020 hurdle the
deadline.
Similar measure was passed by the Lower House on Decem-
ber 12, 2022 in a speedy manner, just 17 days. To cut the lengthy

A
FTER watching Game 1 “live”
Thursday night (June 1) in New
York, we now have an inkling this
early which team will win this
year’s NBA Finals.
Even if it could afford to
throw away a 20-point lead in
the last six minutes, there was
no stopping the Denver Nuggets
from drawing the first blood—as
expected—in the best-of-seven
series against the Miami Heat,
104-93, at the Ball Arena in Den-
ver, Colorado.
Jamal Murray and Nikola Jo-
kic were simply spectacular and
intimidating. Consistent and
severe maltreatment in the hardcourt has
been there from the very beginning, what
with some experts ruthlessly foretelling a
4-0 drubbing.
What else we can say but
let’s tighten our belts for the
Game 2, 3, 4 and 5 and 6, if nec-
essary.
-o0o-
No Iloilo politician is stupid
enough to declare he won’t sup-
port any congressional inqui-
ry in relation to the disgraced
Alex Vidal P680-million Iloilo flyover proj-
ect otherwise known as UFO or
ABOVE Ungka flyover in Ungka, Pavia.
and chide them for acting like a pot calling
the kettle black.
So expect more Johnny-Come-Late-lies
to also denounce the potential infrastruc-
ture project-turned-mega scam. They’re
on the right side of history actually.
-o0o-
A BOOK author from Negros Occiden-
tal was correct when she refused to install
Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant and Ring
doorbell cameras in her residence saying
they would violate their privacy.
Her misgivings about this mind-bog-
gling technology were correct.
Amazon agreed to pay more than $30
million to settle privacy complaints over
process in the bicameral committee that usually reconciles the
Senate and House versions of a measure, Congress simply adopted
the Senate version the day after SB 2020 was approved. With the
House accepting the Senate version, only the signature of BBM is
needed to make MIF a reality.
MIF is the country’s first sovereign
fund. Chief proponents of the fund
are BBM’s son, his Speaker cousin,
and the Speaker’s wife. Obviously,
the creation of MIF is a Marcos family
project. As brainchild of the Marcoses,
MIF is highly suspicious.
Proponents of the MIF trumpet-
ed the supposed benefits of having
a sovereign fund. The fund will be a
long-term source of income for the
Artchil Fernandez government thus easing the burden

&SPICY
ruthless, their powerhouse as- on the national budget they claimed.
No one will distance himself its Alexa voice assistant and Ring doorbell
saults were like the recent super
typhoon “Mawar.”
THE BELT from the limelight especially if cameras on May 31. HOT Monetary yield from the fund will be
used to finance priority projects of the
it will benefit him. The settlements with the Federal Trade government and will provide addi-
With their performance in As long as the politicians are Commission highlight claims that the compa-
Game 1, there was no question why the mentally honest and didn’t dip their fin- tional money for social services.
ny retained Ring videos and Alexa voice re- To assuage the fear of the critics of MIF, the Senate version ex-
Nuggets had waylaid the Los Angeles Lak- gers in the controversial project’s cookie cordings—including that of children—for years.
ers by a sweep in the Western Conference jars, they are always delighted to discuss plicitly prohibits the Social Security System (SSS), Government
The FTC also alleges Amazon held on to Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Health Insurance
playoffs that surprised an Ilonggo anchor- the matter openly in any fora. voice recordings and geolocation in some cases
man who adored LeBron James like his Corp., Home Development Mutual Fund, Overseas Workers
As much as possible, since this is a pop- without users’ consent and despite requests by Welfare Administration, and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office
own twin. ular issue among the middle class and the consumers for the data to be deleted.
No wonder Nuggets is being touted hoi polloi, many politicians would wish to from investing in the fund. In the original bill, these financial in-
The company in a statement disagreed stitutions are the chief sources of MIF fund. In the final version,
amazingly by oddsmakers and NBA an- be interviewed by reporters in order to with the claims and denied violating the law.
alysts as the next big thing in the NBA express their sentiments publicly, every funding for MIF will come from Land Bank of the Philippines,
However, as part of the agreement, Amazon the Development Bank of the Philippines, privatization proceeds,
championship. With due respect, Heat ap- now and then, on this controversial sub- said it will send consumers notices about the
peared unperturbed as it ran roughshod ject matter. the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and Bangko
FTC settlement as well as implement a more Sentral ng Pilipinas dividends.
amid the hometown hostility. The more they lash at this decaying robust privacy program as reported by CNN.
Heat was simply outgunned, out- project, the more their chances of being re- Despite the sweetener provided by the amendments, the cre-
(The author, who is now based in New ation of MIF is fundamentally wrong. MIF is a sovereign wealth
slugged, outmaneuvered in all the four membered by the voters in the next elec- York City, used to be the editor of two daily
quarters by the well-rested Nuggets. fund (SWF). SWF is usually established when there is surplus of
tion will increase. newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed) fund or abundant excess of fund or huge income from in-demand
commodities. Norway has the largest sovereign wealth fund in
world and set up the Norwegian Government Pension Fund from

What Trinity Sunday reminds us of

oil and gas revenues.
The basis of establishing a sovereign wealth fund is absent in
the case of the Philippines. There is no surplus of fund, no abun-
dant excess of fund, no huge income from in-demand commodi-

Y
ES, what it reminds us
of is that we need to
reflect and channel the
very Trinitarian life of God in
our own life. That means that
just as in God there are three
persons who are perpetually
engaged in perfect knowing
and loving, we too should try
our best to know and love God
and everybody else all our life
the way God knows and loves
himself and all his creation, es-
pecially us.
Obviously, in our case, this
perpetual process of knowing
and loving will have a begin-
ning, but it is supposed to end
up by being carried up in the
perpetual knowing and loving
of God in heaven. Here on earth,
we should just try our best to
live that process as far as we can.
And the way to do that is to
follow what Christ himself told
us as the new commandment
we need to live, and that is to
love one another as he himself
has loved us. Following that
new commandment of Christ
would necessarily link us in a
living way to God the Father
Legal Harbinger... from p.4
has a twist.
It turned out that apart from al-
leged psychological incapacity un-
dergirding the petition for nullity of
marriage, the petitioner further an-
chored the petition on lack of mar-
riage license based on Article 35 of
the Family Code.
Evidence revealed that the marriage
was celebrated without a marriage li-
cense as the parties had supposedly lived
together for a period of five (5) years pri-
or to the solemnization. This turned out
to be false as they did not in fact cohabit
ties. Instead of surplus, Philippines has deficit. The current debt
and the God the Holy Spirit in might have eternal life,” the We have to be properly
of the country is 13.91 trillion pesos as of April, 2023. The average
the way Christ is linked with gospel says. “For God did not known the way God the Son,
annual fiscal deficit of the country is 652.7 billion pesos data from
these two other send his Son the pattern of our humanity, is
Senate Economic Planning Office reveal. Instead of surplus, Phil-
persons in the into the world known perfectly by the Father.
ippines is in dire need of fund.
Trinitarian God. to condemn In other words, our knowledge
“With no surplus from oil discovery or trade activities and no
If we truly the world, but of God and everybody else
windfall profit of any kind, the Philippines has no justifiable rea-
follow Christ’s that the world should go as faithfully as possi-
son to form and enter into the world of sovereign wealth funds
commandment, might be saved ble as the knowledge God has of
and investment funds,” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko”
then we would through him.” himself and of everybody and
Pimentel III decried. “I have come to the conclusion that the over-
have the same We as per- everything else—a knowledge
all risk is too great that it outweighs whatever the potential bene-
sentiment that sons are pat- that is personified in the Son.
fits of the measure are, if there [are] any at all” he objected. He also
God in his Trin- terned after And we have to love God
exposed the duplicity of the MIF in relation to the pension funds.
itarian life has the Trinitarian and everybody else the way
Pimentel cited the “clever maneuver” of those pushing the bill
towards us. Or persons of God. God loves himself and every-
“when they took out the provision requiring the pension institutions
said in anoth- Like God, we body and everything else, as
from the original bill but inserted a substitute provision allowing
er way, we can Fr. Roy Cimagala have to know personified in the Holy Spirit.
voluntary investment.” In short the money of pensioners is not safe
only
Christ’s
follow
com- REFLECTIONS God and every-
body else, as far
This is what Trinity Sunday in
the end reminds us of.
since the boards of SSS and GSIS can still opt to invest in MIF. “It’s
a decision of the board, that’s why there are boards, right?” Finance
mandment if we as we can, the In the above-cited gospel,
Secretary Benjamin Diokno wryly justified the duplicitous changes.
have the same way God the we are told that only when we
It is plainly clear the funding for MIF will come from the gov-
sentiment God in his Trinitar- Father knows himself and ev- believe in Christ, “the way, the
ernment and its financial institutions. This makes MIF a financial
ian life has towards us. erybody else. truth and the life” for us, can
poison. Creation of MIF is foolish and financially suicidal.
And what is that divine We should try that our we avoid condemnation. (cfr.
The establishment of MIF is similar to the situation of a starv-
sentiment? We are clearly told knowledge of God and of ev- Jn 3,18) And believing in Christ
ing person short of money to buy food. Instead of using the mea-
about it in the gospel of this So- erybody and everything else precisely involves the process
ger money to buy food, the starving person invests the food bud-
lemnity of the Most Holy Trini- should be as perfect as God of knowing and loving God the
get hoping it will yield good dividend. What happens when the
ty that this year falls on June 4. knows himself and everybody way Christ knows and loves
investment goes awry?
(cfr. Jn 3,16-18) else. This perfect divine knowl- God and everybody else. Only
It is not surprising the standard practice in creating a SWF is
“God so loved the world that edge is personified in God the then can we reflect and channel
the use of surplus or excess fund not the principal budget of the
he gave his only-begotten Son, Son, who as God who became God’s Trinitarian life in our life.
country. In case of investment loss, the main budget is unaffect-
so that everyone who believes man offers us the “way, the Email: roycimagala@gmail.
ed. But to put the current budget of the country which is already
in him might not perish but truth and the life.” com
insufficient in risky invests is not only risky but crazy and insane.
Investments involve risk and not every investment gives plen-
tiful and handsome return. Last year, Norway’s sovereign wealth
fund lost a staggering $174 billion while Temasek of Singapore
had to write off $275 million when its investment in FTX, the
and worse, they did not submit any affi- marriage may be joined in one (1) peti- world’s third-largest cryptocurrency exchange flopped.
davit of cohabitation which is required tion. Proponents of MIF are only talking of its rosy aspects, the
by law. Thus the many variables that must be promised financial yields and returns but deliberately obscure
This convinced the Supreme Court considered in filing a petition for nullity of and ignore the risks and dangers of such venture. They only
to declare the marriage as void, not on marriage. Just like the marriage itself, that speak about the paradise of sovereign wealth fund, but gloss over
account of psychological incapacity, there are so many moving parts that the its downside, the hell it might bring when investments flop.
but because of absence of a marriage parties must reckon to keep the marriage It must not be forgotten that what the current administration
license. from falling apart, undoing the marriage will use is not excess or surplus fund but the current inadequate
Indeed, Sue Ann Bounsit-Torralba illu- can be as complicated as it can get, as well. budget of the government in the investment scheme. If the in-
mines that a marriage cannot be deemed (The author is the senior partner of ET vestment crash, the Filipino people especially the poor will suffer
void on one ground but can be a nullity Reyes III & Associates- a law firm based in since budget that should go to health, education, and social ser-
based on another ground. Iloilo City. He is a litigation attorney, a law vices will be greatly affected.
Too, this affirms the assertion that professor and a law book author. His website The Maharlika Investment Fund is a financial poison, a finan-
two (2) or more grounds for nullity of is etriiilaw.com). cial time bomb.
6 BUSINESS
Sat.-Sun., June 3-4, 2023

SEC renews membership offering

BSP begins

in ASEAN Taxonomy Board BSP bills

56-day

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reaf-
firmed its commitment to sustainability initiatives in
the ASEAN region as it renewed its membership in
the ASEAN Taxonomy Board (ATB) until 2025.
The ATB is a dedicated body formed under the
auspices of the ASEAN Finance Ministry and Cen-
tral Bank Governor’s Meeting, which aims to devel-
op, maintain, and promote the ASEAN Taxonomy for
Sustainable Finance (ASEAN Taxonomy). The ATB is
currently chaired by the Brunei Darussalam Central
Bank (BDCB), with the Monetary Authority of Singa-
pore (MAS) as vice chair.’
The ASEAN Taxonomy is a multi-tiered overarch-
ing guide and common language used to identify and
classify sustainable projects and economic activities in
the ASEAN. It is envisioned to attract investments and
financial flows into sustainable projects and activities
in the region.
SEC Commissioner Kelvin Lester K. Lee is the
principal member representing the Philippines on the
ATB, with Ms. Krizia Pauline Felice S. Ferrer of the SEC
Markets and Securities Regulation Department as al-
ternate.
Other board members include representatives
from Non-Bank Financial Services Authority (NBF-
SA) of Cambodia, Ministry of Economy and Finance
Cambodia, Financial Services Authority of Indonesia,
Bank of the Lao PDR, Bank Negara Malaysia, Securi-
ties Commission Malaysia, Ministry of Planning and
Finance of Myanmar, Bank of Thailand, Office of In-
surance Commission of Thailand, and State Securities
Commission of Viet Nam.
Apart from its membership in the ATB, the SEC is
also an active member of the ATB’s Working Group on
Market Facing and Resourcing (WG3).
The ATB published the first version of the ASEAN
Taxonomy in November 2021 , which laid out a broad
framework for the living document. On March 27 this
year, the ATB published the ASEAN Taxonomy Ver-
sion 2, which includes more guidance on the two main
methodologies that may be used to determine wheth-
er or not an activity is green - the Foundation Frame-
work and the Plus Standards.
The second version also acknowledges coal phase-
out efforts, or the transition efforts from coal energy to
attract local and international investments.
The ATB continues to conduct socialization initia-
tives to promote awareness on the ASEAN Taxonomy,
set targets for stakeholder consultation, and refine The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipi-
considerations in classifying sustainable projects and nas (BSP) will start offering 56-
activities, among other things. day BSP Bills on 30 June 2023
Before the renewal of its ATB membership this as part of its ongoing initia-
year, the SEC has been a consistent leader in promot- tives to enhance its monetary
ing sustainability in the region. In 2018, the Commis- operations under the Interest
sion adopted the ASEAN Green Bonds Standards, Rate Corridor (IRC) frame-
which provides guidelines in tapping green finance to work.
support sustainable regional growth and meet inves- The 56-day BSP Bill, which
tor interest for green investments. is an additional tenor under
The SEC subsequently adopted the ASEAN Social the BSP Securities Facility, will
Bond Standards and the ASEAN Sustainability Bond be offered alongside the 28-day
Standards in 2019, which intend to enhance transpar- BSP Bill.
ency, consistency, and uniformity of ASEAN Social Similar to the 28-day BSP
Bonds. Bills, the 56-day BSP Bill will
Recently, the Commission adopted the ASEAN Sus- be offered via auction to eli-
tainable and Responsible Fund Standards, which es- gible counterparties, with the
tablished new guidelines that will allow both local and volume initially set in small
ASEAN-member investment companies and collec- amounts before being grad-
tive investment scheme operators to offer sustainable ually scaled up as market li-
and responsible funds locally and across the region. quidity conditions allow. The
As the SEC continues its membership in the ATB, initial offer volume for the
so will it endeavor to improve on sustainability prac- 56-day BSP Bill will be an-
tices and regional cooperation. nounced two days before the
inaugural auction on 30 June
2023 consistent with current

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GCNP, Private Sector

Champions support MSME
sustainability adoption
Company participants of the UN Global Compact, through the
local network Global Network Philippines, are doubling down
on the transition to a circular economy through sustainability
adoption and programs for micro, small, and medium enterprises
(MSMEs).
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO) defines the circular economy as an ecosystem that uses
resources more efficiently by using them more than once. Imple-
menting recycling, reusing, and repairing practices create a closed-
loop system that extends the lifespan of materials and products,
reducing the need for new resource production and minimizing
waste generation that contributes to pollution and landfill build-
up.
Recently, the Private Sector Champion’s (PSC) Planet Pillar of
the GCNP organized a webinar with the theme “Enabling the Cir-
Finance Usec. for Fiscal Policy and Monitoring Maria Cielo D. Magno in a huddle with Philippine Air Force personnel. cular Economy,” reflecting its dedication to promoting sustainable
livelihood and environmental stewardship. It intends to encour-

Economic team meets with PHL

age MSMEs and other businesses to participate in environmental
protection and climate action to foster inclusive economic growth
and create green jobs.

Air Force on MUP pension reform

The economic team met with members
of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to dis-
cuss the proposed reforms to balance the
creation of a fair military and uniformed
personnel (MUP) pension system while
preserving the country’s overall fiscal
health during a dialogue held at the Colo-
nel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City
on May 26, 2023.
“As we continue to deliberate this pro-
posal, our primary focus is the morale and
welfare of our uniformed personnel, hon-
oring their service and the valuable contri-
butions they have rendered to our nation.
At the same time, we must continue to give
ample opportunities for our future genera-
tion of soldiers,” Colonel Sheillah Grace E.
Vicente said in her remarks.
Several PAF members came forward
to seek clarifications on the proposed re-
forms. Around 200 PAF members attended
the event, while 600 participated virtually.
The economic team, led by Department
of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary for Fiscal
Policy and Monitoring Maria Cielo D. Mag-
no, along with representatives from the
Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) and the office of Senator Jinggoy Es-
trada attended the dialogue.
“Our collective aim is to support the
wellbeing of our military personnel while
also considering the financial health of our
Economic/p11
During the first session of the webinar, Rondell Torres, Sus-
tainability Lead of Unilever Philippines and a member of the PSC
Planet Pillar, shared four top tips to become a waste-free individ-
ual:
-Think before you buy.
-Separate your dry and wet waste.
-Know and follow the waste collection schedule.
-Maging wais sa waste by finding ways to exchange, resell, or
process plastic waste.
In the second session, Engr. Ceidge Razon of Basic Environmen-
tal Systems and Technologies, Inc. (BEST), talked about how BEST
is enabling the shift from a linear economy to a circular economy
through their Trash to Cashback program. The program focuses
on rewarding partners who regularly exchange their recyclables
to drive behavioral change within their households and the com-
GCNP/p7
GCNP /p7
 BUSINESS Sat.-Sun., June 3-4, 2023 7

RCEP enters into force in PH

The Regional Comprehensive Eco-
nomic Partnership (RCEP) has finally
entered into force in the Philippines
on Friday, over two years since par-
ticipating countries concluded the
free trade deal in November 2020.
The Department of Trade and In-
dustry (DTI), the country’s lead agency
during the RCEP negotiations, urged
Philippine enterprises to make the
most of the new free trade agreement
(FTA) of the country.
“RCEP has a big promise to the
country in terms of being able to ex-
pand our trade with our partners in
RCEP,” Trade Secretary Alfredo Pas-
cual told the Philippine News Agency
(PNA) on the sidelines of a forum in
Taguig City Thursday.
Pascual said his office would be ac-
tive in promoting to Philippine-based
enterprises, particularly the small and
medium enterprises (SMEs), the bene-
fits available to them under RCEP.
“I enjoin, I encourage, I ask our Phil-
ippines businesses to make full use of
the potential gains in RCEP,” he added.
RCEP would also allow Filipino
SMEs to be integrated in the global
value chain, and trade with 14 other
countries at lower or zero tariff rates,
he said.
RCEP took effect in the country 60
days since the Philippine government
deposited the instrument of ratifica-
tion with the ASEAN Secretary-Gen-
eral last April 3.
This, as the Senate concurred with
RCEP ratification last Feb. 21.
The Philippines is the last country
among 15 RCEP members that imple-
mented the FTA amid concerns par-
ticularly aired by players in the agri-
culture sector.
Earlier, Pascual emphasized that
RCEP would not lead to an influx of
imported agricultural products.
The Executive Order (EO) imple-
menting the RCEP commitments has
maintained preferential tariffs of 98.1
percent of the 1,718 agricultural tariff
lines.
On the other hand, 82.7 percent of
the 8,102 industrial tariff lines do not
have any changes.
The EO also noted that there are
only 105 agricultural tariff lines in
the pipeline that will have adjust-
ments in tariff rates, but only after
20 years since the RCEP was imple-
mented.
RCEP is composed of the 10 ASEAN
countries, including the Philippines,
and its FTA partners such as China,
Japan, South Korea, Australia and
New Zealand.
The region accounts for one-third
of the world’s population and econo-
my. RCEP is currently the largest free
trade deal in the world. (PNA)

DTI chief: Offshore wind Study shows

Filipinos’ cashless
projects drive FDIs in PH payments increasing
Filipinos are becoming less reliant on cash amid the growth of
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) offshore wind energy projects in the first Meanwhile, several players in the en-
Secretary Alfredo Pascual expects off- quarter of the year. ergy sector in China are in the Philippines cashless payments in the country, latest Visa’s Consumer Pay-
shore wind energy projects to drive These investments came from three off- to look into opportunities in offshore wind ment Attitudes Study in the Philippines indicated.
foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the shore wind projects with a total capacity of energy. In a media briefing in Makati City Thursday, Visa Country
country in the coming years. 1,300 megawatts. With all the reforms of the Marcos ad- Manager for the Philippines and Guam Jeffrey Navarro said 50
On the sidelines of the Energy China Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cris- ministration to attract FDIs, Pascual urged percent of consumers carried less cash in 2022 as more of them
Offshore Wind Forum 2023 in Taguig tina Guevara said in the same forum that Chinese firms to invest in the country. use cashless payments such as cards, mobile wallets and quick re-
City Thursday, Pascual said as the gov- as of the end of May, the government “We need over 52,800 MW of addi- sponse (QR) payment.
ernment liberalizes investments in re- awarded 65 offshore wind energy service tional renewable energy capacity to reach According to the Visa study, 6.4 out of 10 purchases were made
newable energy by allowing 100 percent contracts with a potential capacity of 51.23 our renewable energy target by 2040. through cash payment last year, which was lower than the 7.8 out
ownership for these projects, many for- gigawatts. In Beijing early this year, our President of 10 purchases in 2021.
eign investors have expressed their in- To facilitate and fast-track these proj- Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted the im- “Those carrying less cash said it’s because of the availability of
terest to put up offshore wind projects in ects, Guevara said the Department of mense opportunities for investment in our cashless payments in the market. They’ve already embraced it.
the country. Energy (DOE) would issue the policy and renewable energy sector. We, therefore, The second point is in the area of safety and security so they can-
In his speech during the forum, Pascual administrative framework for the acceler- welcome Chinese and other foreign in- not be robbed. They feel safer that they are not using actual cash,
said the Board of Investments (BOI) has al- ated offshore wind development on June vestment in renewable energy projects in but in digital form,” Navarro said.
ready approved PHP390 billion worth of 18. the Philippines,” he said. (PNA) He said 82 percent of Filipino consumers attempted to go cash-
less in 2022.
About 22 percent of the respondents succeeded to go cashless
EC Pay exceeds digital merchant partnership target, for a day in 2022, while 40 percent went cashless for a few days.
These numbers were higher compared to 2021, he said.
boasts general trade retail base of over 450K “The preference and usage of cash is still very strong, but what
we are seeing over the years, cashless-behavior payment is really
on the rise and it’s gaining momentum,” he added.
Electronic Commerce Pay- bile apps catering to eMoney, of digital payments. The re- has established an expanding However, other Southeast Asian countries have embraced
ments, Inc. (ECPay) , the banking, lending, payment markable expansion of its dig- network of physical payment cashless payments faster than the Philippines.
multi-payment platform of vending machines and sari-sa- ital merchant partnerships also centers across the Philippines In terms of QR usage, Cambodia is leading the region, followed
Globe, posted a significant ri stores. Globe Group President unequivocally demonstrates by Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.
for convenience and flexibility.
increase in digital merchant and CEO Ernest Cu said this how Filipinos embrace digital Singapore is leading in cardless payment, followed by Malay-
As incidents of cybercrime
sia, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.
partners as more Filipinos achievement underlines the financial transactions,” said Cu. rise due to the pervasiveness of The Philippines is one of the leading countries in the region in
transitioned to digital chan- increasing trend of Filipinos ECPay’s platform provides the internet, ECPay maintains terms of mobile wallet usage, only behind Indonesia.
nels. Surpassing its target of embracing digitalization. seamless accessibility through an unwavering commitment Meanwhile, among the challenges of Filipinos on going cash-
449,000, ECPay now boasts “We take immense pride in its user-friendly mobile app to ensuring utmost security less include internet connectivity, acceptance of cashless pay-
a general trade retail base of the accomplishments of ECPay and website, catering to the dy- and reliability for its users. By ments in the point of sales and fraud. (PNA)
450,590. as it continues to lead the way namic lifestyles of individuals. implementing stringent mea-

This milestone signifies an
expanded reach to a larger
customer base through mo-
in this shift. This shows ECPay’s
dedication to optimizing the
convenience and accessibility
Additionally, recognizing the
preferences of those who favor
in-person transactions, ECPay
sures, it prioritizes the protec-
tion of personal and financial
information, guaranteeing
peace of mind for all.
With its ongoing expansion,
ECPay is on track to establish
itself as a prominent force in
the realm of financial technol-
ogy in the Philippines.
“We have a strong con-
viction that digital financial
transactions will be a driv-
ing force in shaping the fu-
ture of the Philippine econo-
my. In our relentless pursuit
to provide Filipinos with the
best payment services possi-
ble, we will continue invest-
ing in our technology, infra-
structure, and workforce,”
added Cu.
ECPay’s outstanding perfor-
mance has positioned it as the
primary contributor to Globe’s
first-quarter top line, account-
ing for 1.5% of gross service
revenues. The platform’s open
nature, primarily dedicated to
bills payments and prepaid load
distribution for all three mo-
bile operators in the country,
has been instrumental in this
achievement.
For more details about
ECPay and its range of services,
please visit www.ecpay.com.
ph.
NGCP...
from p.6
munities they participate in.
The PSC Planet Pillar works
with environmental cham-
pions across different indus-
tries. GCNP formally launched
the PSC initiative in 2022 by
utilizing its network of par-
ticipant-companies to help
support MSME recovery and
resiliency through enabling
and enhancing their sustain-
ability practices.
Planet Pillar Lead and PLDT
Group Chief Sustainability Of-
ficer Melissa Vergel De Dios
said the group is pushing for
the efficient use of the planet’s
limited resources by promot-
ing circularity in operations.
They aim to enable MSMEs to
green their operations from
production and distribution to
waste management.
“GCNP wants to rally the
private sector to facilitate
post-pandemic business re-
covery for MSMEs through
capacity building, anchoring
partnerships and driving ad-
vocacy campaigns for the envi-
ronment. We want to increase
awareness of the circular econ-
omy and help scale up waste
management solutions with
the use of digital technology,”
she said.
As the webinar conclud-
ed, Planet Pillar Co-Lead and
Globe Group Chief Sustainabil-
ity and Corporate Communi-
cations Officer Yoly Crisanto
underscored the importance
for MSMEs to build their
knowledge and capabilities on
sustainability, given that they
comprise over 99% of com-
mercial establishments in the
country. Crisanto said there is a
need to rethink the way prod-
ucts are consumed and waste is
managed from the workplace
to households.
“Always remember the 3 Rs.
Reduce plastic consumption
by refusing single-use plas-
tic. Reuse or repurpose plastic
containers whenever possible.
And last, recycle plastic by
segregating them at home and
bringing them to plastic waste
recyclers. Our call to action is
to have a collective effort for
us to address the issue of plastic
waste and enable the transi-
tion to a circular economy,” she
said.
Aside from Globe, PLDT and
Smart, other members of Plan-
et Pillar are Bayo Manila, Inter-
national Container Terminal
Services, Inc. (ICTSI), Metro Pa-
cific Investments Corp. (MPIC),
Manila Electric Company
(Meralco), Nestlé Philippines,
The PTC Group, and Unilever
Philippines.
8 Sat.-Sun., June 3-4, 2023
Director and lead stars offer a fresh perspective
in ‘TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS’
Director Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II) was 19
years old when Michael Bay’s first Trans-
formers film premiered, and like millions
of viewers around the world, he became
an instant fan of the series.
Watch the Transformers: Rise of the
Beasts “Filming in Peru” featurette: https://
youtu.be/Ox7mRRQJYVA
“Steven basically grew up on Michael’s
movies, and we’ve never had somebody
like that step into the director role before
now,” says Mark Vahradian, one of the
producers of Transformers: Rise of the
Beasts, in cinemas June 7. “He had a very
different view of the Transformers char-
acters and what was special about them,
ENTERTAINMENT
so to hand this movie over to somebody
like him, who’s younger and has a fresh
perspective, was a way for us to make sure
the film felt different from all the others in
the series, particularly in terms of the emo-
tional quality of the story.”
Caple recalls how much he loved the
original Beast Wars: Transformers animat-
ed series as a child and as a special treat for
fellow fans Caple purposefully included
several fun Easter eggs and sly visual nods
throughout the movie. “I dropped them in
specifically for true Beast Wars fans, and
I think they’ll be very happy with what
we’ve come up with,” he says.
To play Noah, the former Army private
struggling to support his mother and his
ailing younger brother, the filmmakers
knew they needed an actor charismatic
enough to stand toe-to-steel-toe with his
towering robotic co-stars. After getting an
advance look at the award-winning 2021
musical In the Heights, the clear choice,
says producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura,
was Anthony Ramos.
Portraying Noah in Transformers: Rise
of the Beasts was the culmination of a
boyhood dream for Ramos, who grew up
watching the Beast Wars animated TV se-
ries in his Brooklyn home.
Describing the film as an ensemble
Director/p10

Mayhem unleashed as trailer

for ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ debuts
Cowabunga! Teenage Mutant Ninja Tur-
tles: Mutant Mayhem, with a star-studded
voice cast that includes Seth Rogen, Paul
Rudd, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Jackie
Chan, John Cena and Post Malone, opens
across Philippine cinemas August 23.
Watch the trailer here:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/BvsPAPb_
cPc
Facebook: https://www.face-
b o o k . c o m /p a r a m o u n t p i c s p h / v i d -
eos/600043092104874
In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mu-
tant Mayhem, after years of being shel-
tered from the human world, the Turtle
brothers set out to win the hearts of New
Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenag-
ers through heroic acts. Their new friend
April O’Neil helps them take on a mysteri-
ous crime syndicate, but they soon get in
over their heads when an army of mutants
is unleashed upon them.
Directed by Jeff Rowe, the film is pro-
duced by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and
James Weaver.
The ensemble voice cast includes Mi-
cah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr, Hannibal
Buress, Rose Byrne, Nicolas Cantu, John
Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Natasia
Demetriou, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposi-
to, Post Malone, Brady Noon, Seth Rogen,
Paul Rudd and Maya Rudolph.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant
Mayhem is distributed in the Philippines
by Paramount Pictures through Columbia
Pictures. Connect with #MutantMayhem
#TMNTMovie and tag paramountpicsph.
(Photos and Videos: Paramount Pictures
International)
CLASSIFIED ADS Sat.-Sun., June 3-4, 2023 9
Jokic... from p.12
10 Sat.-Sun., June 3-4, 2023
Jokic hunted Aaron Gordon’s mismatch down the post and
kept on feeding him once he got the switch on the smaller Gabe
Vincent or Caleb Martin.
His unselfishness then rewarded Gordon with 12 quick points
Director... from p.8

piece about characters from different
in just one quarter and became the momentum booster that pro-
worlds who learn to rely on each other,
vided the spark for the Nuggets for the next three quarters.
Ramos says he believes the movie’s un-
The Nuggets also capitalized on Miami’s bad shooting night af- derlying message will resonate strongly
ter only converting 13 of their 39 total attempts from the rainbow with viewers from all walks of life. “The
country. connection Noah develops with these
Aside from their dismal three-point shooting, Miami also set massive robots is what makes this film
an NBA Finals record for the least attempted free throws in a interesting, and it’s an important message
championship game with only two. for the whole world. It says, whoever you
Despite the long lay-off after sweeping the Lakers during the are, and wherever you’re from, there’s a
Western Conference finals, the Nuggets never showed rust and common ground between everyone, and I
ran their high-octane sets to perfection. think there’s something beautiful in that.”
Jamal Murray was also electric in his first-ever NBA Finals When casting the role of Elena Wallace, the
dedicated museum researcher whose curiosi-
game and contributed 26 markers built from 11/22 shooting from
ty leads her to discover an alien secret hidden
the field while also recording 10 assists and six rebounds.
within a winged statuette, the filmmakers set
The Heat showed some signs of life at the start of the fourth out to find someone who could convincingly
quarter when they trimmed Denver’s 17-point lead to just nine
portray a young Brooklyn-born anthropolo-
gist with a taste for adventure. Their search led
them to award-winning actress Dominique
Fishback.
Caple says he responded to Fishback’s in-
nate sense of strength, stability and poise in
nearly every situation. “Dominique brings a
level of groundedness to whatever she does,
and when you’re creating a world filled with
imaginary robots and aliens, you need some-
body to help ground things in reality, and
Dominique does that completely.”
One of Fishback’s goals in Transform-
ers: Rise of the Beasts was to show the
audience, once and for all, that the series
is every bit as much about people as it is
about Autobots and Maximals. “Some fans
just love the robots and they don’t care
about the human characters as much, so I
told Steven that I wanted to prove why the
humans are important,” she says. “Because
the way I see it, this is really a movie about
humanity. It’s about heart and feelings.”
Returning to the action and spectacle
that have captured moviegoers around
the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
will take audiences on a ’90s globetrotting
adventure with the Autobots and intro-
duce a whole new breed of Transformer –
the Maximals – to join them as allies in the
existing battle for earth. Directed by Ste-
ven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos
and Dominique Fishback, the film arrives
in theaters June 7.

Intensify... P4M...
after a trey from Miami’s Haywood Highsmith.
Just when Miami thought they could pull their strings togeth- from p.3 from p.3
er like what they did against Boston in the first two games on the
gle of Small Fishers and Fish cidental governor Eugenio tion an amount of P2,000 per San Enrique Mayor Jilson
road, Denver showed they were built differently after halting
Workers for Ecosystem Ap- Lacson hailed the celebration household or a total of P4 mil- Tubillara said that the munic-
their run when Jokic took over in the clutch.
proach to Fisheries Manage- of National Fisherfolks Day lion pesos,” Lacson said. ipal government will extend
Jokic scored three huge buckets in the last 3:25 of the game
ment (EAFM), 10-Point Agen- and extended his support and “We will have to reassess P3,000 to P5,000 financial as-
including the fade-away dagger from the left baseline to extend
da and Blue Swimming Crabs solidarity to the small fishers and determine kon sin o ang sistance to each hog raisers in
their lead back to 14 points, 104-90.
(BSC)-National Management especially on their efforts for angay tagaan with that bud- San Enrique, where 2,253 of its
Despite a double-double performance of 26 points and 13 re-
Plan (NMP) Localization to- sustainable livelihoods. get. I am afraid indi tanan 2,692 hog population, which
bounds from star center Bam Adebayo, the Heat still couldn’t
wards Democratic and Sustain- Coscolluela, meanwhile, matagaan.» is equivalent to 83.69 percent,
keep up with the Nuggets offensively and got outscored for three-
able Fisheries.” urged the small fishers to be- Lacson made the state- died from hog cholera and oth-
straight quarters.
More than 100 small fisher come vocal voices for good ment after the second quar- er diseases, based on the report
Jimmy Butler only chipped in 13 points, seven rebounds, and
leaders from various coastal governance and advocates for terly meeting of the Provin- of the Provincial Veterinary
seven assists while the duo of Max Struss and Martin combined
towns and cities, public offi- responsible citizenship. cial Peace and Order Council Office.
for a disappointing 1/17 shooting from the field.
cials and civil society members Aside from the solidarity and the Provincial Anti-Drug Tubillara, however, main-
Miami will look to steal a game on the road and equalize the
in the province participated in messages, a major highlight of Abuse Council. tained that San Enrique re-
series on June 5, 2023, before heading back to their home floor for
the event held at the Negros the event was the signing by He said LGUS can also give mains ASF-free, as 27 of the
Game 3 on June 8, 2023.
Residences Hotel, near the Pro- the guests and participants to out assistance adding that blood samples taken from hogs

Bernadeth...
vincial Capitol. a banner signifying their com- what the province is giving is in the town yielded negative
from p.12 A short march around the mitment and support to NOFS- just like an augmentation. results.
venue with small fishers bear- FA’s Democratic and Reform Lacson also pointed out that The giving of cash aid to
her work under the sun to- Smashers continue their
ing their organizational ban- 10-Point Agenda. even without declaration of affected hog raisers, especial-
gether with her partner Sisi successful postseason run
ners and advocacy placards Noticeably absent from the the ASF case in Pulupandan ly those raising swine in their
Rondina. in the PVL.
reeled off the indoor rally. gathering were the invited town “we are already follow- backyards estimated at 600,
The tandem became the With Pons now in the line-
Among the event speakers representatives of the Bureau ing DA BAI (Department of was decided during a meeting
permanent team A of the Phil- up, head coach Sherwin Mene-
were Office of the Provincial of Fisheries and Aquatic Re- Agriculture-Bureau of Animal with members of the Munic-
ippines in several national and ses will have a deeper offensive
Agriculturist (OPA) head Dr. sources (BFAR), and from the Industry) protocols.” ipal Disaster Risk Reduction
international beach volleyball rotation together with Jema
Francis Causing representing Sangguniang Panlalawigan “We have not declared any- and Management Council.
tournaments and exceeded the Galanza, Ced Domingo, Valdez,
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, for- (SP) or Provincial Board Com- thing yet, in Pulupandan you Mayor Nicholas Yulo also
expectations of the majority Carlos, and Gumabao.
mer Party-list Cong. Pete Pico, mittee on Agriculture and must remember there were said that the Bago City govern-
when they were able to pull off The Cool Smashers are com-
former Gov. Rafael Coscolluela, Fisheries. only four samples only 1 is pos- ment will also extend financial
convincing results in the last ing off a hard-earned All-Filipi-
former Provincial Board Mem- NOFSFA has more than itive.” assistance to hog raisers, with
two to three years. no Conference championship
ber and Kabankalan City Vice 4,000 members based in more Lacson also said that Pu- amount ranging from P1,000
However, it is now time title several months ago and
Mayor Raul Rivera, NOFSFA than 80 people’s organizations lupandan Mayor Miguel Peña to P2,000 per dead swine.
for Pons to redirect her fo- will have the chance to win
chair Eduardo Espinosa, PR- (POs) spread in various local has already ordered the cull- A total of 1,178 hogs also
cus to the country’s only two-straight golden trophies if
RM-Negros Area Manager Ed- federations and alliances in 13 ing of the hogs within the 500 died in Bago City, which is 5.58
professional volleyball they clinch the upcoming PVL
win Balajadia, Manapla Crab coastal towns and cities of the meter radius of the site where percent of its 20,836 swine pop-
league and help the Cool Invitational Conference.
fisher leader Gerry Bedoya, province. Assisting it is the the suspected ASF cases were ulation, PVO records further
and North Iloilo small fisher Negros Office of the Philippine located. showed.
Republic of the Philippines
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
leader Franz Laurio from Con- Rural Reconstruction Move- “So we are following the The first two ASF cases was
6th Judicial Region cepcion, Iloilo ment (PRRM), the oldest NGO protocols and we really are try- detected Friday last week in
OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT & EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF In his message, Negros Oc- in the country. ing to slow down the hog mor- Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City,
Chief Justice Ramon Q. Avanceña Hall of Justice tality,” he added. followed by the discovery of
Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City
Republic of the Philippines Meanwhile, the local gov- another ASF infection in Brgy.
~oOo~
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT ernment units of Bago City and Mabini, Pulupandan.
6TH Judicial Region San Enrique, in Negros Occi- Pig deaths in 14 localities
UNION BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES FORECLOSURE NO. F-10675-23
BRANCH 37
Mortgagee, dental, are extending cash as- in the province totaled 8,849
-versus- Iloilo City
Email: rtc1ilo37@judiciary.gov.ph sistance to hog raisers affected with the accumulated losses
EXTRA-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE
Phone Number: (033) 337-4098 by swine diseases. amounting to P102,546,775.
OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE
SPOUSES IAN D. VILLARANDA and UNDER ACT NO. 3135 AS AMENDED
CYRIL D. VILLARANDA IN RE: PETITION FOR CORRECTION
Mortgagor – Respondent OF ENTRY OF THE CITIZENSHIP OF SPL. PROC.No. 23-15340 IN KOREAN RESTAURANT
x------------------------------------------x PATRICK GEORGE WARD IN MARRIAGE is currently looking for:
SHERIFF’S NOTICE OF SALE AT PUBLIC AUCTION CERTIFICATE NO. 2022-182, DULY
Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as Amended by REPRESENTED BY MR. PATRICK GEORGE WARD.
ACT 4118, filed by UNION BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, a banking in- Petitioner, KOREAN MARKETING MANAGER
stitution duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the
- versus -
Philippines with principal office address at Union Bank Plaza Building, Mer- • MALE or FEMALE
alco Avenue corner Onyx and Sapphire Roads, Ortigas Center, Pasig City,
Metro Manila, Philippines as mortgagee, against Ian D. Villaranda and Cyril THE OFFICE OF THE CIVIL REGISTRAR OF STA. • ATLEAST 21 YEARS OLD
D. Villaranda of Block 2, Lot 57, Glen F. Savannah Subdivision, Brgy. Abilay BARBARA AND THE PHILIPPINE STATISTICS OFFICE, • FLUENT IN BOTH KOREAN AND ENGLISH
Norte, Oton, Iloilo, Philippines, as Mortgagors/Debtors, to satisfy the indebt- Defendants,
x-----------------------------------------------------------------x
LANGUAGE
edness in the amount of ONE MILLION THREE HUNDRED SIXTY EIGHT
THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT PESOS AND 50/100 • A GRADUATE OF BSBA or OTHER RELAT-
(1,368,628.50) inclusive of accrued as of March 31, 2023, the Ex-Officio Pro- ORDER ED COURSE
vincial Sheriff of Iloilo or his duly authorized deputy will SELL AT PUBLIC In a verified Petition filed on March 8, 2023, petitioner through
AUCTION on June 22, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. at the Office of the Clerk of Court, counsel prayed to this Honorable Court to grant the correction of the • WITH OR WITHOUT EXPERIENCE
Regional Trial Court, Ramon Q. Avanceña Hall of Justice, Bonifacio Drive, citizenship entry of Mr. Patrick George Ward from Filipino to American • SALARY- 30,000.00
Iloilo City, to the Highest Bidder for Cash and in Philippine Currency, the in his Marriage Certificate No. 2022-182 and that the Municipal Civil
mortgaged property, together with all improvements thereon, particularly Registrar of Santa Barbara and Philippine Statistics Authority Region VI
described hereunder as follows: be ordered to reflect such changes. QUALIFIED AND INTERESTED APPLICANTS
Finding the Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the MAY SUBMIT THEIR RESUME AND A COPY
same is hereby set for hearing on June 28, 2023 at 8:30 in the morning, OF TRANSCRIPT OF RECORD AT:
before Branch 37, this Court, Chief Justice Ramon Q. Avanceña Hall of
Justice, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City, so that any person having objection
to the petition may personally appear or file his/her written opposition IN KOREAN RESTAURANT – 1ST FLR, K
thereto on or before the afore-mentioned date of hearing. BUILDING, ZONE V, BALABAG, MALAY, AK-
Let this Order be forthwith published at the expense of the
petitioner, in a newspaper of general circulation, in the City and LAN or send a resume at abanillaronald@gmail.
All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stat- Province of Iloilo at least once a week for three (3) successive weeks. com
ed time and date. In the event that the sale and Public Auction should not Let a copy of this Order and the Petition be furnished the Office of
take place on the said date, it shall be held on July 6, 2023, at the same time the Solicitor General at 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City;
and place without further notice and publication. the Local Civil Registrar of Santa Barbara, Iloilo and the Philippine DEED OF ADJUDICATION WITH
Prospective buyers and/or bidders may investigate for themselves the ti- Statistics Authority. WAIVER OF RIGHTS AND INTEREST
tle of the above-described property and the encumbrances existing thereon, Notice is hereby given that the property of the late Teresita D.
if any there be. SO ORDERED. Gonzales known as parcel of land with Transfer Certificate of Title
No. T-102942, Lot 110, situated in the Municipality of Dingle, Iloilo,
Iloilo City, April 27, 2023. Iloilo City, April 11, 2023. containing an area of Eight Hundred Thirty Five (835) Square meters,
more or less; is subject of DEED OF ADJUDICATION WITH WAIVER OF
RIGHTS; to her surviving heirs; Rose D. Gonzales and Rex D. Gonzales,
of legal ages, Filipinos, both single and residents of Dingle, Iloilo; do
hereby waive, relinquish and renounce her rights and interests on the
said parcel of land in favor of REX D. GONZALES. As per Doc. No. 139;
Page No. 28; Book No. LXII; Series of 2023; under Notary Public Atty.
Ernesto H. Mediodia.
WV may... from p.1
according to a PIDS press state-
ment.
Between February and
April 2023, Western Visayas
suffered power blackouts that
lasted for an aggregate of 12 to
25 hours.
If the PIDS estimate is used,
the region may have lost be-
tween P1 to 2.7 trillion in eco-
nomic opportunities.
Anne Estorco Monteliba-
no, president of the Philippine
Independent Power Producers
Association, Inc. (PIPPA) and
a webinar discussant, said the
economic consequences of a
power interruption is mea-
sured by the value of lost load
(VoLL) or “the monetary indi-
cator expressing the costs of in-
terruption of electricity supply
on a macro level”.
“In 2020, the country’s
VoLL was at PHP 20.65 per
kilowatt hour (kWh). To put
this into perspective, for every
five hours of no electricity, our
country loses about 500 mega-
watts, which equates to PHP
556 million in economic losses.
It’s a hefty amount to lose for
a developing country,” she ex-
plained.
Fellow discussant and Na-
tional Electrification Admin-
istration (NEA) Engineering
Department Manager Federico
Villar Jr. pointed out that the
power interruptions reported
by electric cooperatives are
classified into four: scheduled
(maintenance and improve-
ment work), major storms,
power provider (generation
and transmission problems),
and unscheduled (equipment
and system failures, human er-
ror, fallen trees, and unknown
causes).
“We monitor the unsched-
uled interruptions to measure
the electric cooperatives’ an-
nual reliability performance.
We also asked the Energy Reg-
ulatory Commission to include
the reliability standards for all
interruptions in our efforts to
improve their service further,”
he said.
Department of Energy
(DOE) Undersecretary Rowe-
na Cristina Guevara, who also
served as a webinar discussant,
added that insufficient power is
a “confluence of several things”,
such as supply and system is-
sues and barriers preventing
entry of private companies or
potential generators.
To mitigate the losses, Mon-
telibano shared that the ener-
gy sector can determine the
acceptable number of hours of
power interruption, known as
loss of load expectation (LOLE).
The Philippines’ LOLE is 10
days a year, significantly high-
er than Singapore’s one hour in
10 years.
“If we aim for a LOLE of
one day in a year, then our
required capacity addition
must be at least 1,164 MW of
energy to serve 250 hours in a
year. Will generators agree to
supply, build, and operate that
capacity? The short answer is
no because we need to address
several factors.”
One of these, she specified,
is how generators cannot re-
cover the cost from the Whole-
sale Electricity Spot Market
(WESM) alone with the sec-
ondary price cap at PHP 6,245/
kWh.
Generators designated as
“Must Run Units”—those re-
quired to provide additional
energy for the power system’s
security and stability—and
“Constrained-in Units”—those
with limitations that affect
its ability to produce electric-
ity—are forced to agree to the
market price even if they are
operating at a loss.
She added that PIPPA has
also repeatedly emphasized
Sat.-Sun., June 3-4, 2023 11
Capelco...
the need to address transmis-
sion lines issues. from p.1
“Our main highways (of In a press conference held Under the new policy, a connections, among others.
electricity) first need to im- Wednesday morning, Diaz P10,000 fine and an additional The cooperative will give
prove, so when they traverse said that the new policy defin- 25% surcharge on the “current bill” incentives to informants while
our local grids, energy deliv- ing the parameters of the pen- will be the lowest penalty apart their identity will remain con-
ery also improves. From Lu- alties will be based on Republic from perpetual disconnection. fidential.
zon to Visayas and vice versa, Act 7832 (Anti-electricity and The highest penalty is Last year, 110 individ-
the lines are utterly congested. Electric Transmission Lines/ P30,000 and an additional 100% uals were caught stealing
Undersecretary Guevara has Material Pilferage Act of 1994). surcharge on the “current bill” power which was valued at
said (before) that without the The higher fines are embod- plus perpetual disconnection. P4,555,842.59 in total.
congestion of the transmission ied in Resolution No. 101 series Among the violations cit- From January to May this
lines, we may see a vast im- of 2023 which was passed and ed in the resolution are illegal year, 32 persons were caught
provement and a decrease in approved by Capelco’s Board of tapping or jumper connections, with a total assessment of
power interruptions,” Monteli- Directors on May 5, 2023. meter tampering, and flying P1,571,440.24.
bano recalled.
Guevara revealed that the
DOE is pursuing renewable
energy sources to help increase
Toxic... from p.1
“Colored smoke may be a public,” he added. the EcoWaste Coalition quick-
the power supply. “For offshore
source of harm if it contains The group’s call to regulate ly ordered a couple of products
wind energy, we have 63 ap-
chemicals of concern and if it the manufacture, importation, from an online dealer.
proved service contracts. This
is improperly used,” said Atty. distribution, sale and use of col- According to the product
amounts to 170 percent of the
John Menguito, Member of ored smokes came on the heels label, “Creative Color Smoke”
current capacity in the coun-
the Board of Trustees from the of a highly publicized incident is “made in China.” While it
try,” she said.
Visayas, EcoWaste Coalition. in Bacolod City. provides a warning and some
The department is also
“Regulating colored smokes Last Monday, 20 students usage instructions, the label
considering the development
will help in avoiding smoke and two security personnel lacks manufacturer’s markings
of nuclear energy, a move
inhalation and chemical ex- fell ill after inhaling colored and ingredients’ list, the group
supported by the Duterte and
posure incidents, which can smoke used during a Physical noted.
Marcos administrations.
be dangerous, especially for Education class performance “It is essential that chemicals
“DOE is technology-agnos-
children and youth, the elderly in Bacolod City College (BCC), used to produce colored smoke
tic to potential generators, and
and people with asthma and an educational institution op- are non-toxic and are clear-
nuclear is considered in the en-
chemical sensitivities.” erated by the city government. ly identified on the label. The
ergy mix of the future… [But] at
“While paputok (firecrack- One group of students used public have the right to know
the end of the day, we need to
ers) and pailaw (pyrotechnic a colored smoke purchased the chemical composition of a
listen to our people and address
devices) are regulated and online as props for their per- product, as well as the hazards
their concerns about nuclear
controlled under Republic formance inside BCC’s activity they pose to health and the
power,” Guevara assured the
Act No. 7183 and Executive center. environment, including their
participants.
Order No. 28, series of 2017, it Emergency responders from by-products, if any,” the EcoW-
Montelibano stressed the
is not clear if pausok (smoke- the PRC, City Disaster Risk aste Coalition emphasized.
need for “a strong energy reg-
producing devices) are covered Reduction and Management Interestingly, the product in-
ulatory and policy framework”
by the law,” commented Office, Amity Volunteer Fire sert, which provides additional
to construct and operate nu-
Menguito who is also the Brigade, and the Mountain Ti- cautionary information, describes
clear plants. “We must not lose
managing trustee of the Cebu- gers Search and Rescue rushed the China-made “Creative Color
sight of the potential of other
based Philippine Earth Justice to the BCC and gave immediate Smoke” as “pyrotechnics,” fur-
technologies to achieve ener-
Center (PEJC). assistance to the victims, some ther warning “it may emit sparks
gy stability and security,” she
“As we are clueless about of whom were brought to med- while producing smoke.”
reminded. (With reports from
the toxicity of colored smokes, ical facilities for treatment. R.A. No. 7183 explicitly pro-
https://pids.gov.ph/details/
we request concerned agen- Taking its cue from the re- hibits the importation of fire-
news/press-releases/ph-los-
cies or academic institutions to ported online purchase of the crackers and fireworks as fin-
es-php-556m-per-5-hr-power-
conduct the necessary product colored smoke used by the stu- ished products, the EcoWaste
outage-green-energy-sought)
tests and to make the results dents for their performance, Coalition pointed out.

40 alleged... from p.2

Moreover, a total of 562 NPA
supporters withdrew their
tablished by the group in areas
of Samar and Northern Samar,
substantially weakened.”
The NPA has incurred devas-
Book... from p.6

support and pledged their alle-
giance to the government.
This mass withdrawal of
support led to the neutraliza-
tion of the NPA’s support sys-
tem, and the collapse of several
political-military structures es-
according to Viscom.
In a statement, Lieutenant
General Benedict Arevalo,
commander of AFP-Viscom,
said “the Communist Party of
the Philippines (CPP)-NPA in
the Visayas region has been
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Seven...
from p.2
On Thursday, June 1, a
28-year-old man was also ar-
rested in Barangay Banago
here following the seizure of
seven grams of suspected sha-
bu worth P47,000.
This operation happened
hours after the City Drug En-
forcement Unit (CDEU) con-
fiscated P1.7 million worth of
suspected shabu from a young
man in the said village.
Meanwhile, in Binalbagan
town, four persons were ar-
rested after police seized from
them 15 grams of suspected
shabu worth P102,000 at a
rented house in Barangay En-
claro last Thursday.
Police Major Randy Babor,
town police chief, identified
the subject as Jepe Balbon.
Babor said that Balbon is an
alleged street level individual
as he is not included in the po-
lice station’s drugs watchlist.
“Ga on and off man abi pres-
ence niya sa lugar,” he added.
Babor said they have been
receiving complaints about
some people going in and out
of Balbon’s house late in the
evening or before dawn.
Babor said that Balbon man-
aged to escape a drug bust in
the previous years.
The three other suspects were
alleged clients of Balbon caught
inside the latter’s rented house.
Also recovered from them
were the P500 marked money
and a digital weighing scale.
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90% of... from p.2 Economic... from p.6

in the number of drug-cleared
barangays in the province.
“From 65 percent to 67 per-
cent. We have to strengthen
3rd... from p.2
their soldiers,” Sison said.
For this year’s anniversary,
the 3rd ID adopted the theme,
“Strong, United and Reliable
Spearhead Troopers at 49.”
Sison said that it is aligned
with the Philippine Army’s
thrust.
“Ang tatag, disiplina at pag-
kakaisa na ating ipinamalas ay
bahagi ng repleksyon kung ano
ang ating Hukbong Katihan
ngayon,” he said.
Sison said that every Spear-
head trooper contributed to
the successes of the 3rd ID last
year.
The scores of encounters re-
sulted in the death of 49 rebels.
that,” he added.
Reyes said the PDEA-Ne-
gros Occidental Provincial
Office will continue to collabo-
Also, 149 rebels surrendered
and 13 were arrested.
The military also seized
60 high-powered and 145
low-powered firearms.
Sison also bared six major
engagements that transpired
and led to the deaths of al-
leged high-ranking rebel lead-
ers such as Rogelio Posadas,
secretary of NPA’s Komiteng
Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol,
Siquijor (KR NCBS); Juanito
Magbanua, ROC Commander
of KR-NCBS; and Ericson Acos-
ta, secretary of the dismantled
North Negros Front.
In June 2022, the Bohol Par-
ty Committee was also disman-
rate with the partner-agencies,
particularly the local govern-
ment units, to better serve the
Negrenses. (PNA)
tled.
Sison also considered as
another milestone their oper-
ations following the so-called
Negros Massacre that led to the
deaths of Governor Roel Dega-
mo and nine others in Negros
Oriental.
“Together with other law
enforcement agencies, we
managed to apprehend all per-
petrators and helped restore
the culture of peace in the
province,” he said.
Despite these achievements,
Sison enthused the 3rd soldiers
to work harder to finally put an
end to the insurgency problem
in the Visayas.
nation. Your participation and
input have brought us one step
closer to achieving this goal,”
Colonel Vicente said in appre-
ciation for the dialogue.
During her presentation,
Undersecretary Magno ex-
plained the rationale behind
the proposals and stressed the
importance of having vested
rights for a secure and predict-
able pension system.
“Huwag po natin siyang
isipin na as parang tax na kinu-
hanan na hindi na babalik sa
atin. Ito po ay parang forced
savings, kasi pera po natin ito
na pinepwersa lang tayo na
mag-save para…meron tayo
mahuhugot kapagka nag-retire
tayo,” she said, clarifying mis-
conceptions about the fund.
Let us not think of this as tax
that won’t be returned. This is
like forced savings on our part
so that we will have something
ready upon retirement.
She also explained the danger
behind the current pension sys-
tem which solely relies on the
national budget. An economic
crisis, budget problems, and a
ballooning deficit may affect
the pension to be given to retir-
ees if there are no vested rights
assigned to the retirement fund.
“We support this move of
the government to have a se-
cure pension system that will
protect us once we bow out of
the service…I’m hoping––we
are hoping that we will meet
halfway for the betterment of
our government and also for
the betterment of the morale
and welfare of our entire mem-
bers of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines,” Chief Sergeant
Major John I. Roxas said.
An AFP-wide survey is
also being conducted to help
the economic team craft a bal-
anced proposal.
The economic team is com-
mitted to engage in dialogue with
affected MUP stakeholders to en-
sure that the policy directives of
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
are built on consensus and partici-
patory policymaking.
The team has scheduled a
lineup of consultations with
the Armed Forces of the Phil-
ippines (AFP)’s Presidential
Security Group (PSG), Health
Service Command, Philippine
Navy (PN), Philippine Army
(PA), Visayas Command, East-
ern Mindanao Command,
Western Mindanao Command,
Western Command, Philip-
pine Military Academy (PMA),
Northern Luzon Command,
and Southern Luzon Com-
mand.
 Jokic’s triple-double too much for Heat,
powers Denver to 1-0 NBA Finals lead
By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic continued
his stellar postseason run after notching
another triple-double and helped the
Denver Nuggets clinch the Game 1 vic-
tory over the Miami Heat, 104-93, in the
ongoing NBA Finals last June 2, 2023.
Jokic just powered his way against the
ALEXANDER Zverev will be advancing to the third round of the French
Open (eurosport.co.uk)
Eastern Conference champions and tallied
27 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds, one steal,
and a block.
From the words of NBA legend
Shaquille O’Neal: “Very impressive pass-
ing, scoring, leadership, and he’s a true
definition of letting the game come to you.
Charles (Barkley) and myself, and Grant
(Hill), sometimes, we would go get it. But,
you know, the first five, six minutes, he
probably didn’t even take a shot.”
What the former Los Angeles Lakers
superstar said was in full display after
Jokic set the tone in the opening quarter
with his ability to pass the ball and active-
ly sought the mismatches that favored his
teammates.
Jokic/p10

Alexander Zverev sweeps

Slovak foe to reach the third
round of the French Open
By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Alexander Zverev continued his dominant run in the ongoing

French Open after sweeping Slovak Alex Molcan- 6.4, 6.2, 6.1- to
advance to the third round of the Grand Slam tournament last
June 2, 2023.
After a straight-set win against Lloyd Harris during his open-
ing campaign, the former world no. 2 male tennis player showed
consistency and had a better baseline defense game against Mol-
can.
Despite a 3-0 win over Harris, Zverev was taken to the brink of
elimination in the first two sets but was able to weather the storm
after a close 7-6, 7-6 clash.
The German tennis ace then made sure no slow starts will be
seen against the Slovak and immediately went off to the races af-
ter scoring consecutive forehand bombs.
Zverev then took care of his service possessions and failed to
give up a single break point midway through their clash.
With Zverev getting it going in all departments, Molcan could
only watch the former champion operate and dictate the pace that
he wanted.
The Slovak showed different ways to score at the beginning
of the third set after wowing the crowd with a series of point-to-
point ball saves but Zverev spoiled his momentum after clinching
back-to-back down-the-line winners.
Molcan unleashed one last run midway through the third set
after deciding to fight fire with fire against Zverev but the German
star wrapped things up with his powerful groundstrokes to score
his second-straight 3-0 victory in the French Open.
Zverev led the service ace section by a wide margin, tallying
six service winners built from a 77%-win rate in all of his first
serves.
Up next for the current world no. 22 male tennis player is a fel-
low young star Frances Tiafoe in the third round of the tourney. NIKOLA Jokic was unstoppable against the Heat (Isaiah J. Downing-USA Today Sports via reuters.com)

PHL Boxing: Mark Magsayo moves

up to super featherweight division
By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipino boxing sensation Mark Magsayo will
be embarking on a new journey after announc-
ing that he will be moving up to the super
featherweight division.
It was Manny Pacquiao (MP) Promotions
president Sean Gibbons who first confirmed the
development and added that the hard-hitting
Magsayo might be back inside the boxing ring
this September or October 2023.
Gibbons announced that Magsayo had diffi-
culty in making the desired cut-off weight when
he was still fighting in the featherweight divi-
sion.
Despite dethroning longtime featherweight
king Gary Russell Jr. for the World Boxing
Council (WBC) crown, Magsayo failed to sustain
his momentum and is currently on a two-match
losing streak.
Magsayo lost his WBC belt to Rey Vargas last
year despite scoring a knockdown in the fight
and also failed to bounce back against Brandon
Figueroa for the no.1 contender slot.
If Magsayo was able to bring home the deci-
sion during his fight against Figueroa, he would
have got the chance to reclaim his lost belt
against Vargas as announced by the WBC.
Gibbons revealed that the MP Promotions
and Magsayo’s camp are now planning for a big
fight against one of the top dogs in the super
featherweight division.
Magsayo will have the chance to go after
the current super featherweight champions
in O’Shaquie Foster, Hector Luis Garcia, Joseph
Cordina, and Emanuel Navarrete.
The 27-year-old star also expressed his excite-
ment on his official Twitter account and posted
that he is ready to fight in the 130-lbs weight di-
vision.

BERNADETH Pons is the newest member of the Creamline Cool Smashers (Philippine Superliga/philstar.com)

Bernadeth Pons confirms return to indoor

volleyball after signing with Creamline
By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Creamline Cool Smashers wasted no time
picking up more talent and firepower for their
upcoming Premier Volleyball League (PVL)
conference campaign after acquiring the ser-
vices of beach volleyball superstar Bernadeth
Pons.
Creamline’s latest roster addition was con-
firmed last June 2, 2023, after the Cool Smashers
hosted a welcome lunch for Pons.
Present during the Cool Smashers’ activity
were team captain Alyssa Valdez and the veter-
an duo of Tots Carlos and Michele Gumabao.
Despite playing the past years in a beach vol-
leyball setup, Pons started her career indoors
and was a member of the strong Petron team
that contended for multiple titles in the last con-
ferences of the Philippine Superliga (PSL).
Four years ago, Pons decided to skip joining
the indoor volleyball scene after putting all of
Bernadeth/p10 MARK Magsayo will now fight as a super featherweight (premierboxingchampions.com)