PH prepares for South Korea satellite launch

..The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) will implement no-fly and no-sail zones in preparation for South Korea's planned launch of a satellite on October 26. NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said the launch is expected between 2:30 to 6:00 in the afternoon of October 26 although the launch may be delayed to between October 27 to 31. He said parts of the rocket that will be used to launch the satellite could reach the Philippines within 20 minutes after launch. The first stage of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle (KSLV-1) rocket will fall within 450 nautical miles (NM) eats of Palanan, Isabela while the second stage of the rocket is expected to fall 340 NM east of Samar Province. The third stage of the KSLV-1 is projected to fall within 330 NM of Surigao del Sur. Because of the risk from falling debris, the NDRRMC will ban sailing and fishing in parts of Bicol, Samar, Leyte, Surigao del Sur, and Surigao del Norte. The Department of the Interior and Local Government will enforce the fishing ban while the Maritime Industry Authority, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine Navy will be in charge of the shipping ban. Ramos said the Coast Guard and Navy will begin patrolling the exclusion areas on October 25 although local fisherfolk will still have time to fish on that day. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is expected to issue a Notice to Airmen seven days before the scheduled launch so airlines can plan alternative routes accordingly. "We will be closely monitoring the air lanes that will be affected and come up with other contingency routes," he said. ..

Congress welcomes newest member

..The 12 weeks remaining in the legislative calendar failed to discourage the House of Representatives from welcoming its newest member. House Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. sworn in Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance of the Philippines (Fejodap) President Zeny De Castro-Maranan this week as a new lawmaker at the lower House. Maranan is now representing 1-United Transport Koalisyon (1-Utak) in place of Homer Mercado, who resigned from his post to be able to represent another party-list group in the mid-term elections. In a separate interview, Mercado said he would attempt to win a party-list seat for 1-Joint Alliance for the Marginalized (1-Jam). In a resolution, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) orders "any selected party-list representative who changes his political party or sectoral affiliation during his term of office shall forfeit his seat." Meanwhile, the new lawmaker vowed to champion the advocacy left behind by her late husband for the interests of jeepney drivers. Maranan also promised to push the apprehension of policemen, who force public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators to give bribes to escape traffic violation penalties. She also called for the modernization of jeepney fleets by funding the conversion of diesel engines for all them to run on liquefied petroleum gas. ..

MANILA, Philippines - Seven officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Mt. Province office were recently suspended for 90 days for alleged gross misconduct and neglect of duty over a flood control project.

MANILA, Philippines - Seven officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Mt. Province office were recently suspended for 90 days for alleged gross misconduct and neglect of duty over a flood control project. DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson ordered the preventive suspension of John Marquez, officer-in-charge district engineer; Benedict Matib, chief, construction section and bids and awards committee chairman; Manuel Likigan, chief, planning and design section and BAC member; Esther Taynec, planning and design engineer and BAC vice chairman; Domingo Pumecha, assistant maintenance engineer and BAC member; Artemio Guisala, engineer II and BAC member; and Romualdo Solang, engineer II and BAC member. The respondents were also ordered to turn over DPWH documents in their custody to the DPWH-Cordillera Autonomous Region regional director within three days. In a five-page charge/order, Singson said the agency found prima facie evidence against the respondents. Marquez, Matib, Likigan, Taynec, Pumecha, Guisala, and Solang were charged with grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Marquez, Matib, Pumecha, and Likigan were charged with falsification of official documents. “There is a need to temporarily remove respondents from the scene of their malfeasance to prevent the possibility of their exerting undue influence or pressure on the witness/es against them as well as to prevent the possibility of their tampering with evidence that may be used against them,” Singson said. The project involves the rehabilitation of the Gonogon section of Chico River Flood Control in Barangay Talubin, Bontoc. It was awarded to Four Brothers Construction at P2.5 million even though the bid price was only P1.9 million. The project was constructed in Barangay Gonogon instead of Barangay Talubin as provided in the project’s re-invitation to bid and program of work. - By Evelyn Macairan

Army vows to stop Kato group, secure communities

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SEC records 540 new stock companies in Davao Region

..A TOTAL of 540 new stock companies have registered for the first eight months of 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Davao Extension Field Office reported Monday. SEC-Davao director, Lawyer Javey Paul Francisco, speaking in yesterday's Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City, said there is an increase of at least 13.4 percent in the total number of registrants from January to August this year as against the same period last year with only 476 registered companies. Francisco attributed the increase to the bullish business condition and the continuous increase of investors' confidence in Davao Region, especially in Davao City. Davao, he said, can attract more industry players to put up businesses in the region. Of the total new SEC-registered companies, 70 percent are said to be operating in Davao City. Francisco said more than 50 percent of these companies are family-owned and are mostly into wholesale, retail and trade businesses. There is a total of P3.2 billion approved capital stock investments for the new SEC-registered companies, according to Francisco. In terms of registration fees, SEC-Davao netted some P32 million last year. And although Francisco cannot account how much they have collected so far this year, he estimated a collection of from P33 million to P34 million by the end of December, provided there’s an increase in the number of business corporations this year. Registration fees imposed on companies are based on business capital, or "1/5 of the 1 percent of the authorized capital investment." "Our target is to have more corporations to monitor and penalize," Francisco said, adding that they surpassed the number of companies monitored last year with a total of 6,000 within the area of SEC-Davao. SEC-Davao also covers areas outside Region 11 such as in Region 12, and some parts of Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Surigao del Sur and Cotabato City. Francisco said companies are required to submit General Information Sheet and Audited Financial Statements reports yearly to SEC-Davao. Failure to submit reports may lead to revocation of these companies SEC-registration. "If they are not submitting reports for three years, we’ll send them letters. If they still don't answer, we will revoke their registration)," he said. SEC-Davao has revoked about 1,000 company registrations for non-compliance of reports since 2002. Most of these companies are family-owned since many of the big corporations have the compliant officers who regularly submit reports. Meanwhile, SEC-Davao reported a total of 616 new non-stock corporations as of January to August this year while 627 non-stock groups were recorded last year. Non-stock corporations are private groups and clubs. SEC is an agency assigned in the registration, monitoring, and regulation of all the stock businesses, which include business partnerships and corporations and non-stock corporations. ..

Storm ‘Nina’ Now In PH

..MANILA, Philippines - A new tropical cyclone entered the Philippine vicinity Monday morning and was named "Nina" (international name: Prapiroon), the state weather agency said. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) tracked the eye of storm "Nina" at 1,210 kilometers (km) east of Cagayan Monday afternoon. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and with gustiness of up to 120 kph. PAGASA forecaster Bernie de Leon said the storm will move generally westward within the next 24 to 48 hours but will re-curve and assume a west-northwest direction by Wednesday. He noted that "Nina" has a minimal chance of making a landfall if it maintains this track. "There is a high pressure area (HPA) northeast of Nina that affects the current track of the storm. After 48 to 72 hours, the HPA will slightly weaken. A trough will allow the storm to re-curve towards Japan," De Leon explained. "Nina" is forecast to move west slowly at 9 kph within the next 24 hours. Tropical storm "Nina" is expected at 1,070 km east of Cagayan by Tuesday morning. By Wednesday morning, it will be at 850 km east of Aparri, Cagayan, and at 760 km east of Calayan Island, Cagayan by Thursday morning. Meanwhile, a low pressure area (LPA) located at 110 km northeast of Virac, Catanduanes will bring occasional light to moderate rains or thunderstorms over Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, and Bicol Region. However, De Leon said the LPA will likely dissipate within 12 to 24 hours. He also said Palawan and Visayas will experience occasional light to moderate rains or thunderstorms due to the prevailing intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, and Mindanao will have relatively good weather condition, except for some isolated rains due to thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening, De Leon added. He also said a northeasterly windflow or hanging amihan will prevail over Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila. He clarified, however, that the northeast monsoon will not be the prevailing weather system yet. "We are still entering the transition from southwest monsoon (Habagat) to northeast monsoon, but by the end of this month or early November, amihan will become the prevailing weather system," De Leon explained. ..

PH is among Southeast Asia's 'New Tigers'

The Philippines' recovery from the Asian financial crisis and its high potential for growth has prodded a business website to name it one of the "New Tigers" in Southeast Asia. The Philippines, as well as Indonesia, have "come of age" and are "poised to drive future growth and grab more economic power," Market Watch said. "In an economically vibrant Southeast Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines stand out as the region's 'New Tigers' with the potential to leave a bigger imprint on global growth for years to come while the developed world struggles with excess debt and traditional regional heavyweights China and India lose momentum," it added. This review of the Philippines is the latest in a string of recent positive assessments and forecasts, most of them noting deep-seated governance reforms and its impact on ease of doing business. The Philippines and Indonesia's edge over other countries in the region, Market Watch said, include "large and young labor force, an expanding middle class and... elected governments with policies inspiring investor confidence." Sturdy banks and enough foreign exchange reserves also put the countries at an advantage, it added. National debt also remains low in the Philippines and Indonesia compared to countries in the West, "leaving both enough room to boost their economies in case of need," the report said. Market Watch also noted that the two countries' stock markets "are among the world's best performing since the end of 2008." Marking the two countries' takeoff, Market Watch said, is their leap from borrower to lender status in the International Monetary Fund, with each pledging $1 billion to replenish the multilateral bank's funds. This, as Market Watch noted that the IMF bailed out the two countries during the Asian Financial Crisis of the late 1990s. These developments have not escaped the view of global investors which are now turning their heads toward the Philippines and Indonesia, Market Watch said. "Both markets have been a popular choice for investors since 2009 and have extended a solid upward run with sharp gains so far this year," it noted. Market Watch highlighted the Philippines' status as second to Thailand's best-performing stock exchange in Asia so far this year, rising 18 percent. Indonesia's Stock Exchange meanwhile gained 4 percent. "Signaling the strength of foreign investor interest in both the Philippines and Indonesia, new products have been developed to provide overseas investors with more options to access those markets," it noted. The two countries are not free from risks, however, with Market Watch noting that challenges include "sustaining political stability, tackling widespread corruption and improving their poor infrastructure." The Philippines' heavy dependence on remittances from overseas workers may also prove to its disadvantage amid a weak global environment, the report added. This, even as it echoed forecasts that the services sector and high remittances will drive economic growht in the Philippines this year. "To sustain its trajectory, the Philippines needs to not only get more value out of existing industries, but also forge new ones," Market Watch said. An expansion in the tourism sector may be

Fire in Oro leaves 30 families homeless

SOME 30 families lost their homes as 22 houses caught fire in Barangay 34, in Cagayan de Oro early dawn Saturday. Senior Fire Officer 2 Jun Galang, fire investigator of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Cagayan de Oro Fire District, said the blaze started around 4 a.m. It was declared under control by around 4:30 a.m. A resident was reported injured after jumping from the window as she panicked when the fire broke out. Galang said the fire began at the house of Mamerto Camingaw particularly at the second floor occupied by boarders. The fire department estimated the cost of damage at P350,000. Fire investigators are still conducting investigation to determine to the cause of fire. "But we suspect that it is because of a mosquito coil or cigarette since the second floor didn't have electricity and no one lit a lamp," Galang told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. It was also learned that Camingaw's house had no electricity of its own as it only tapped illegally from one of the neighbors. "Only the first floor had electricity," fire investigator said. Affected families are now temporarily sheltered in the covered court

Government ceasefire head warns of Kato group's kidnap plot

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The chairman of the government’s ceasefire committee has warned of a plot by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) led by Ameril Umbra Kato to kidnap foreign workers of international donor agencies and humanitarian groups operating in Central Mindanao. In an e-mailed statement, Brig. Gen. Gilberto Jose Roa, chairman of the government ceasefire panel, said he has informed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of persistent reports on such a plan by the BIFF, as relayed by intelligence sources and confidential civilian informants. Roa said he has, in fact, written the government and MILF peace panels about the BIFF’s reported plan to carry out kidnappings. The government and MILF panels, through the joint ceasefire committee, are helping each other address security concerns in areas covered by the 1997 Agreement of General Cessation of Hostilities. More than 20,000 villagers were dislocated in violent attacks by the BIFF in five Maguindanao towns last August. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has filed charges of multiple murder, frustrated murder, robbery and arson against more than a hundred BIFF members and their leaders, including Kato and spokesman Abu Misry Mama, in connection with the attacks. Roa said the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, which has jurisdiction over the adjoining provinces of Maguindanao and North Cotabato where there are BIFF fighters, had uncovered a plot by the BIFF to sabotage the government-MILF talks. President Aquino announced yesterday that the government has reached a preliminary peace agreement with the MILF. The MILF disowned the BIFF last August and even declared the group “open game” to the police and the military following its attacks. Part of the BIFF’s ploy, according to intelligence reports fed by the 6th ID to the government’s ceasefire committee, was to derail the peace talks by seizing foreign nationals engaged in various humanitarian projects in remote areas. “In this regard, we enjoin everyone to avoid (these) areas in the meantime until (the) threat from the BIFF has been removed,” Roa said in his statement. Roa said copies of his statement have been distributed to offices of international organizations and foreign embassies engaged in various projects in Central Mindanao. - By John Unson

DTI Mulls P1-B SSF Fund

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is planning to raise the budget for shared service facility (SSF) program to P1 billion by 2014 from P700 million in 2013 to provide more equipment and facilities key to the improvement in the capability and competitiveness of micro enterprises around the country. Trade and industry undersecretary Merly Cruz told reporters that P700 million have been allocated for 2013 to jump start the establishment of facilities and machineries for use by micro enterprises in the rural areas. ''DTI Secretary Gregory L. Domingo would even like to see a total of 1,000 SSFs scattered throughout the country,'' Cruz said. For the 2013 budget, Cruz said they have already received 700 proposals to be screened by the DTI after which the agency will conduct a public bidding for the supply of these machineries and equipment. The proposals, she said, are all for the establishment or purchase of equipment and machineries for agribusiness ventures. The DTI priorities are businesses engaged in bamboo, rubber and coconut coir. ''We are hoping that by January next year we can already place orders for these facilities so enterprises can start producing using these facilities within the first quarter also,'' Cruz said. The SSFs could be hosted by a private group, academe, cooperatives, or under the Department of Science and Technology. The DTI shunned putting these facilities under the care of local government units to avoid any political color. The SSFs have to be shared among clustered industry players in a particular area. SSFs are meant to improve the capability of micro enterprises in the processing of raw materials, improve their productivity and quality. Some facilities could cost P10 million each or less. Already, the DTI has launched the National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (NICCEP) after a series of nationwide planning workshops adopting the industry cluster approach to support the development of MSMEs in the country. Already, 21 pilot projects were already identified of which eight of these projects are in Luzon, five in Visayas, and eight in Mindanao. In these projects, practical and sustainable operational plans to promote industry cluster approach are designed and will be implemented. This project aims to help increase the contribution of selected priority industry clusters to the national economy, mainly in terms of job creation, MSME development, investment generation, export growth, and above all poverty alleviation. It is a three-year project funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in coordination with the DTI to develop and mobilize pilot industry clusters nationwide. ''The NICCEP intends to improve the competitiveness and business environment of these industry clusters. The capacities of these industry clusters to plan, implement, and evaluate projects will be developed,'' Cruz said. ''With the NICCEP in place, we hope to advance MSME's capacity to adopt the industry cluster approach and make them contribute to national growth and development,'' she added

Gov’t To Expand AFP Housing

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the government is expanding its housing program for soldiers and policemen outside Metro Manila with the planned construction of additional 31,200 housing units in urban centers in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., AFP spokesman, announced this as the second phase of the AFP- PNP (Philippine National Police) housing program was unveiled by the National Housing Authority (NHA) last Friday at the Department of National Defense (DND) building in Camp Aguinaldo. ''This will provide a total of 31,200 housing units with at least one housing site in every region with a maximum of 1,500 units per location either city or municipality,'' said Burgos. Among the general locations for the housing program in Luzon are Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Batangas, Cavite, Quezon, Albay, Camarines Sur, and the National Capital Region (NCR). In Visayas, housing sites will be developed in Iloilo, Capiz, Negros Occidental, Cebu, and Leyte. Likewise, the NHA eyes Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Agusan del Sur, and Maguindanao for the Mindanao region. According to the AFP spokesman, each 40-square meter lot with a 22-square meter house costs P240,000. He added the AFP will be allocated 45 percent or 14,040 of the total 31,200 house units. The Housing Program is the flagship project of President Benigno Aquino III for the AFP and PNP. Launched in May 2011 in Bocaue, Bulacan, the project aims to benefit twenty-thousand personnel from the military and police by the end of this year. .

DOH-7 Bares New Hospital Classification

.CEBU CITY, Cebu - Following a new order on hospital classification, at least 51 Level-1 hospitals in Region 7 will be downgraded to primary care facility if they do not upgrade their current facility based on the Department of Health's (DOH) Administrative Order No. 12. DOH 7 head for hospital licensing, Sofia Mancao, said the new order will make Level-1 hospitals primary care facilities while those previously classified as Level 2 will become Level-1 hospitals based on their capacity. She added that the order reclassifies general hospitals into three levels from the current seven even as it also consolidates licensing and accreditation under the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PHIC). In the previous setup, private and public hospitals apply for separate license and accreditation from the PHIC, with the latter requiring more services. This has raised concerns on the DoH and PhilHealth's joint P12-billion program subsidizing the insurance premiums of 5.2 million of the country's poorest households, as a number of public hospitals are not accredited by the state insurer. Meanwhile, Mancao expressed optimism that the new classification will encourage hospitals to upgrade their services to make certain their accreditation. She said both private and government-owned hospitals will be affected by the reclassification. Mancao admitted that the lack of facilities and medical personnel among district hospitals here have resulted into the congestion of such bigger hospitals as the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. ''Some hospitals have the infrastructure but the problem lies on their lack of medical personnel handing surgery and other procedure,'' she said. The lack of medical personnel is usually attributed to the small compensation doctors receive working in district hospitals, ''which is why we are encouraging local government units to allocate a budget for them,'' Mancao added. Under the new DOH reclassification order, Level-1 hospitals should have the following facilities - surgery room; isolation, surgical and maternity facilities; dental clinics; secondary clinical laboratory; blood station; first level X-ray; and a pharmacy. Level-2 hospitals require additional departmentalized clinical services, a respiratory unit, high pregnancy risk unit, second level X-ray with mobile unit, while Level-3 hospitals should have DOH-accredited teaching and training on four major clinical services, ambulatory surgical and dialysis clinics, and a blood bank. .

Show Evidence, GMA Camp Dares Gov’t

.. The legal spokesman of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo challenged yesterday the Aquino government to show evidence against her, claiming that President Benigno S. Aquino III just wanted to divert public attention after he bailed out his friend, newly appointed election commissioner Grace Padaca. Responding to the challenge, Malacañang said: "Be careful with what you wish for." In a phone interview, lawyer Raul Lambino belittled the Chief Executive's declaration that the prosecutors have strong plunder case against Mrs. Arroyo which stemmed from alleged fraudulent transfer of P366 million confidential intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) from 2008 to 2010 "Ganun din sinabi niya sa electoral sabotage case, pero wala naman pala silang matibay na ebidensiya. Pano magiging malakas ang ebidensya nila, eh ang Commission on Audit ay naglalabas ng report every year that those funds are properly spent? Nasaan ang kanilang ebidensya?" he asked. But Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said, "Atty. Lambino should be careful with what he wishes for because it just might come true." Lambino branded as diversionary tactic the government's move to have the former President arrested as he criticized Mr. Aquino for implementing a "double-standard" policy that only stands to benefit his allies, patrons, and friends. "Gusto lang ni Presidente na pagtakpan ang pagabswelto nya kay former Governor Grace Padaca. Pagkakampi abswelto agad, pag kalaban kulong agad. Anong klaseng hustisya ito?" Lambino asked. But Valte dismissed Lambino's allegation that the Palace is using former President Arroyo to divert the public's attention from the Padaca case. "His line that we are using CGMA to divert any issue is a tired and old one," Valte said. Using his personal funds, President Aquino paid the P70,000 bail bond Padaca posted last Thursday at the Sandiganbayan over the graft and malversation cases hurled against her by the anti-graft court's Fifth Division. Lambino said they are exploring and exhausting all possible legal options, including the filing of a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court questioning the exercise of discretion, which they "believe was abused by the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan in handling our earlier petition for judicial determination of probable cause." "Wala pa kaming desisyon ngayon, lahat ng options na available ay pinag-aaralan," he said. Aside from Mrs. Arroyo, also ordered arrested last Thursday were former PCSO Director Manuel Morato, PCSO budget officer Benigno B. Aguas, PCSO Board of Directors chairman Sergio O. Valencia; former PCSO general manager Rosario C. Uriarte; PCSO director Jose R. Taruc V, Raymundo T. Roquero, and Ma. Fatima A. S.Valdes; former Commission on Audit chairman Reynaldo A. Villar and former COA-Intelligence Fund Unit head Nilda B. Plaras. Valencia and Aguas already surrendered to the Philippine National Police while Morato turn himself in to the National Bureau of Investigation. They were accused of conspiracy in defrauding the government of P365,997,915 through unlawful transfer of confidential/intelligence funds of PCSO from January 2008 to June 2010. Plunder, a capital offense, is non-bailable and punishable by life imprisonment and entails forfeiture of defendants'assets if they are found guilty of the crime. Mrs. Arroyo remains at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) where she was served a warrant of arrest for plunder last Thursday.

The "Bangsamoro" will be a new autonomous political entity

UPDATE) The "Bangsamoro" will be a new autonomous political entity in the Philippines, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Sunday said, as he announced that the government has forged a deal ending the decades-old insurgency of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). "The ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) is a failed experiment. Many of the people continue to feel alienated by the system, and those who feel that there is no way out will continue to articulate their grievances through the barrel of a gun," the President said. "And now, we have forged an agreement that seeks to correct these problems," Aquino said. "This agreement creates a new political entity, it deserves a name that symbolizes and honors the struggles of our forebears in Mindanao. That name will be Bangsamoro," Aquino said. He added that the new deal is seen to pave the way for "final, enduring peace in Mindanao." "It brings all former secessionist groups into the fold; no longer does the Moro Islamic Liberation Front aspire for a separate state," Aquino noted. The announcement came after the latest round of protracted peace talks between the government and the Muslim rebels ended in Malaysia Saturday. There have been 32 rounds of negotiations since 2003, with 13 rounds under the Aquino incumbency. The President, however, noted, that "the Philippines remains one nation and one people," adding that "the Constitution and lawful processes shall govern the transition to the Bangsamoro." "National government will continue to exercise exclusive powers of defense and security, foreign policy, monetary policy and coinage, citizenship, and naturalization," Aquino said. "The Filipinos of Bangsamoro, on the other hand, will be assured a fair and equitable share of taxation, revenues, and the fruits of national patrimony," he added. The new autonomous political entity, Aquino said, will also "enjoy equal protection of laws and access to impartial justice." What areas will Bangsamoro cover?

3 cops among hijacking suspects slain in Cavite

MANILA, Philippines - Six suspected hijackers, including three policemen, were killed when they shot it out with law enforcers in Dasmariñas, Cavite before dawn yesterday. Senior Superintendent John Bulalacao, Cavite police director, identified two of the slain suspects as PO2 Robert Sison Santos and PO1 Jonjie Jun Sayuman Liangco, assigned to Manila Police District’s Station 10, as identification cards recovered from them showed. The third slain policeman was identified as PO3 Jessie Villanueva, and another as just a certain Don. The two others remained unidentified. “The ID cards of the policemen appeared genuine, and the PO1 was in uniform. We will be coordinating with the DPRM (Director for Personnel and Records Management) to determine if they are legitimate members of the Philippine National Police,” Bulalacao said. He said police recovered guns from the slain suspects, three of them with “PNP” markings, bolstering information that they were legitimate members of the police force. The slain suspects were tagged in at least four hijackings involving grocery products. Bulalacao said five other suspects, including two women, are detained at the Dasmariñas police headquarters. He said the encounter took place at around 2 a.m. yesterday at the boundary of Barangays Lankaan 2 and San Agustin 3 in Dasmariñas. Bulalacao said they beefed up police patrol following a hijacking incident involving P1.9 million worth of goods last Oct. 2 along Aguinaldo Highway in Barangay Salitran 1, also in Dasmariñas. During the operations, police intercepted a red Toyota Vios that had been roaming around the area. The three occupants of the car led police on Thursday afternoon to a warehouse in Barangay Langkaan where the stolen goods were kept. “We brought the caretaker to the police station for further investigation,” Bulalacao said. Unknown to the hijackers, a civilian asset was fielded to monitor their movements since their detained cohorts revealed they would take the stolen merchandise on Thursday night. At around 1 a.m. yesterday, Bulalacao said police received a report that hijackers arrived at the warehouse onboard a truck and a Mitsubishi Adventure without a license plate. “The suspects were hurriedly loading the items to the truck, thus our policemen immediately responded,” he said. Bulalacao said some policemen secured the warehouse while others gave chase until the shootout occurred near the Dasmariñas City Hall. After the shootout, Bulalacao said scene-of-the-crime operatives recovered police-issued guns like a Beretta and a .38-caliber revolver. He said the hijackers were not using long firearms. Also found in the suspects’ possession were a K-9 sub-machine gun, two 9-mm, a .45-caliber pistol and another .38-caliber revolver. As part of the group’s modus operandi, Bulalacao said a member wearing a police uniform would flag down a targeted truck and accost the driver. When the driver would alight, a cohort would take over the merchandise-laden truck. – With Ed Amoroso, Arnell Ozaeta - By Cecille Suerte Felipe

Philippine Airlines to buy 10 Airbus A330s

Philippine Airlines said Friday it would buy 10 new Airbus A330 jets with a list price of $2.5 billion, on top of 54 aircraft it ordered from the European manufacturer last month. The new order, signed two weeks ago, brings the total PAL-Airbus deal at close to $10 billion, the airline's president, Ramon Ang, said in a statement. In the earlier deal, PAL and Airbus announced firm orders for 44 single-aisle A321 planes and 10 long-haul A330-300s. Ang said the extra 10 planes would replace PAL's current A330 fleet for medium-haul routes. He said Airbus would start deliveries of about 10 of the 64 orders next year, without specifying which ones. San Miguel, one of the Philippines' biggest conglomerates, bought a 49-percent stake in PAL for $500 million in April, and took over management. Ang is also head of San Miguel. Ang has sought to revive PAL, which has lost its status as the nation's top carrier in recent years to low-cost airline Cebu Pacific. Cebu Pacific last year ordered 23 Airbus 320 and 30 Airbus A321 neo aircraft to add to its fleet of 25 A320s, and in January leased eight A330s for long-haul flights.

Celebs, hundreds of supporters join bets during filing of COCs

This was how Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu City Election Officer Edwin Cadungog described the last day of filing of the certificates of candidacy (COCs) yesterday. Cadungog cited the presence of celebrities and the large number of supporters accompanying the dominant political groups in Cebu City: Team Rama and Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK). Congressional hopeful Annabelle Rama, a talent manager and cousin of Mayor Michael Rama, brought with her a handful of celebrities including her husband Eddie and children Ruffa, Richard and Raymond. “As expected, many candidates opted to file their COCs on the last day. What was unexpected was the number of people who attended because of the presence of celebrities. There were fans and supporters,” said Cadungog. Star-struck Comelec staff advised fans to stay outside so that candidates and their immediate families will have enough room inside the office. But Comelec personnel were also star-struck. Comelec 7 Director Temmie Lambino told the staff in jest that if they neglect their tasks to ogle the celebrities they will lose their jobs. Cadungog estimated the crowd accompanying Team Rama to be between 500 and 700. The BOPK came to the Comelec office with about 500 supporters as well. There were also a handful of independent candidates. Independent Among the 15 candidates running as independent are 55-year-old businesswoman Lea Ong and Miguel Selim who refused to be interviewed because he claimed to be a member of the press. They hope to beat incumbent Cebu City Mayor Rama and Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) in the mayoral race. A total of 56 candidates filed their COCs for the 20 positions available including mayor, vice mayor, eight seats for councilor each for the north and south districts of Cebu City. Gumersindo Cañete is unfazed by the two dominant groups as he filed his COC to run for councilor in the south district. Retiree Cañete, 54, applied for early retirement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines but realized he wants to continue serving the people. He thought of entering the world of politics. “I want to continue serving the people since I opted for early retirement. I have many projects in mind but it would be too early to reveal these now that I have yet to win the elections,” Cañete told Sun.Star Cebu in Bisaya. He said he plans to secure a loan from the AFP Savings and Loans Association Inc. (AFPSLAI) to wage an all-out campaign. Twenty-two candidates will vie for eight positions in the City Council that are allotted for the south district while in the north, there are 17. Districts Eight candidates want to be congressman in the north district: Annabelle Rama of Team Rama, former congressman Raul del Mar of BOPK, and independent candidates Judge Donato Navarro, Juan Arenasa, Pablo Doronio, Vicente Tan, Eliseo Tumulak, Marlo Maamo and Florencio Villarin who was the last person to file his COC at 4:15 p.m. yesterday. There are only three candidates for south district congressman: Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa of BOPK, lawyer Aristotle Batuhan of Team Rama and independent candidate Erlinda Sollano. There are only two candidates for vice mayor: incumbent Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young of BOPK and Councilor Edgardo Labella of Team Rama. Comelec North District Election Officer Marchel Sarno said there are fewer candidates this year compared to the over a hundred people who filed their COCs in the last elections. He said that it could be because there were three groups that filed complete slates in the last elections

Celebs, hundreds of supporters join bets during filing of COCs

This was how Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu City Election Officer Edwin Cadungog described the last day of filing of the certificates of candidacy (COCs) yesterday. Cadungog cited the presence of celebrities and the large number of supporters accompanying the dominant political groups in Cebu City: Team Rama and Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK). Congressional hopeful Annabelle Rama, a talent manager and cousin of Mayor Michael Rama, brought with her a handful of celebrities including her husband Eddie and children Ruffa, Richard and Raymond. “As expected, many candidates opted to file their COCs on the last day. What was unexpected was the number of people who attended because of the presence of celebrities. There were fans and supporters,” said Cadungog. Star-struck Comelec staff advised fans to stay outside so that candidates and their immediate families will have enough room inside the office. But Comelec personnel were also star-struck. Comelec 7 Director Temmie Lambino told the staff in jest that if they neglect their tasks to ogle the celebrities they will lose their jobs. Cadungog estimated the crowd accompanying Team Rama to be between 500 and 700. The BOPK came to the Comelec office with about 500 supporters as well. There were also a handful of independent candidates. Independent Among the 15 candidates running as independent are 55-year-old businesswoman Lea Ong and Miguel Selim who refused to be interviewed because he claimed to be a member of the press. They hope to beat incumbent Cebu City Mayor Rama and Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district) in the mayoral race. A total of 56 candidates filed their COCs for the 20 positions available including mayor, vice mayor, eight seats for councilor each for the north and south districts of Cebu City. Gumersindo Cañete is unfazed by the two dominant groups as he filed his COC to run for councilor in the south district. Retiree Cañete, 54, applied for early retirement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines but realized he wants to continue serving the people. He thought of entering the world of politics. “I want to continue serving the people since I opted for early retirement. I have many projects in mind but it would be too early to reveal these now that I have yet to win the elections,” Cañete told Sun.Star Cebu in Bisaya. He said he plans to secure a loan from the AFP Savings and Loans Association Inc. (AFPSLAI) to wage an all-out campaign. Twenty-two candidates will vie for eight positions in the City Council that are allotted for the south district while in the north, there are 17. Districts Eight candidates want to be congressman in the north district: Annabelle Rama of Team Rama, former congressman Raul del Mar of BOPK, and independent candidates Judge Donato Navarro, Juan Arenasa, Pablo Doronio, Vicente Tan, Eliseo Tumulak, Marlo Maamo and Florencio Villarin who was the last person to file his COC at 4:15 p.m. yesterday. There are only three candidates for south district congressman: Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa of BOPK, lawyer Aristotle Batuhan of Team Rama and independent candidate Erlinda Sollano. There are only two candidates for vice mayor: incumbent Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young of BOPK and Councilor Edgardo Labella of Team Rama. Comelec North District Election Officer Marchel Sarno said there are fewer candidates this year compared to the over a hundred people who filed their COCs in the last elections. He said that it could be because there were three groups that filed complete slates in the last elections

Oro firms safe from rotating brownouts

BUSINESSES in Cagayan de Oro may worry not with the more than a month preventive maintenance shutdown (PMS) by the Steag State Power Inc. (SPI) in its two generation units coal fired power plant supplying a total of 210 megawatt (MW) power in Mindanao. This is the assurance released by the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. (OroChamber) to business establishments in the city even as it announces that the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company Inc. (Cepalco) was able to augment its existing back-power supply from Mindanao Energy (Minergy). On October 6 to November 4, SPI would shutdown Unit 1, 105 MW (net), while Unit 2, also supplies 105 MW power (net) is scheduled on October 29 to November 10, 2012. According to National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the impact to the grid is about three to 12 hours of rotating brownouts, depending on the backup power supply of utility companies and electric cooperatives. In a statement, SPI said carrying out the maintenance works as planned and scheduled will bring back in long-term benefits to the Mindanao power consumers in terms the power plant’s operational reliability. It added that the generation company’s Mindanao power plant has sustained an impressive availability rate of 93.3 percent and a low unplanned outage rate of less than one percent during its first six years of operation. SPI’s power plant is considered as the most modern and the biggest in Mindanao on a per unit capacity. It has so far delivered more than 8.3 billion kilowatt hours (kWH) of electricity representing about 20 percent of Mindanao’s total power supply. The planned PMS has been approved by the NGCP as recommended by the Mindanao Grid Operations and Maintenance Planning Group composed of the NGCP, National Power Corporation and its Independent Power Producers.

Mindanao lawmakers, protestant churches support RH Bill

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Two Mindanao representatives and two protestant churches here urged for the speedy passage of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) Bill. Gabriela Women's Party-list Representative Luzviminda Ilagan said the current sixth version of the "long overdue" RH Bill is what the country needs. Speaking before a Theological Forum on Reproductive Health Bill held at the Southern Philippines Methodist College, Ilagan said the country needs a comprehensive reproductive health policy to ensure sustainable health care for poor Filipino women. In that same forum, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and the United Methodist Church (UMC) presented its seven-page statement of support for the passage of the bill. It cited the "sanctity of human life," the rights of all people, including women, children and the family. It also called for the conduct of education on human sexuality and family life, including rights of children; counseling for married and would-be married couples on responsible parenthood; afford access to comprehensive health care and nutrition among pregnant women, among others. "In many aspects, the RH bill is in agreement with many positions of the UMC with regard to family planning, responsible parenthood and other related issues," the statement concluded. UMC calls on its members to support the bill and cooperate with its full implementation should the bill became a law. Meanwhile, Cotabato incumbent and reelectionist Representative Nancy Catamco also defended the RH bill, describing it as a legislative measure to empower women to choose freely. Catamco also expressed hopes of passing the bill before the 15th Congress ends. "The bill provides an informed choice for women and the couples. It talks about responsible parenting; it’s not an imposition on what family planning method one should adopt," said Catamco, a co-author of the RH bill. Representative Ilagan criticized personalities and institutions blocking the passage bill, saying that "the bill is not about abortion and abortifacients. It's a bill that advances poor Filipinos' rights and access to reproductive health care." Salient points of the controversial RH bill include: accessible reproductive health care with a full-range of choices of RH care supplies; training of midwives and other birth attendants and an increase of honoraria for barangay health workers; emergency obstetric care; maternal and newborn health care in crisis situation; mobile reproductive health care; age-appropriate sexuality education; sexual and reproductive health programs for persons with disabilities; maximum benefits for life-threatening reproductive health conditions like breast/reproductive tract cancers and HIV/AIDS; and pro-bono services for indigent women, among others. (Danilda L. Fusilero/davaotoday.com/Sunnex)

3 Women Man Shar'iah Courts

MANILA, Philippines - Three Muslim women are manning three Shar'iah Circuit Courts in Mindanao. These are Judge Nurkarhati Sahibil, Shar'iah Circuit Court, Parang,Sulu; Judge Remee S. Tanjili, 6th Shar'iah Circuit Court, Luuk, Sulu; and Judge Sirikit Berua, Shar'iah Circuit Court, Wao, Lanao del Sur. In the rest of the active Shar'iah judges, 26 are men. Shar'iah Courts in the Philippines were established under the Code of Muslim Laws of the Philippines, or Presidential Decree 1083, issued on Feb. 4, 1977. There are five Shar'iah District Courts and 51 Shar'iah Circuit Courts. So far, only 29 Shar'iah Circuit Courts have judges. The information came from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), headed by Secretary Mehol K. Sadain. NCMF's Bureau of Muslim Cultural Affairs (BMCA), under Director Sultan Masiding Salic, handles the annual Shar'iah training seminars as part of the government's Shar'iah Development Program. "It is considered as an outcome of the reform strategies the Philippine National Government has pursued in response to the socio-political dilemma confronting the Muslim communities in the Philippines," an NCMF-BMCA report said. In the previous administration, the government peace panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front was directed "to operationalize the Shar'iah Courts in the country to solve conflicts among Muslims." The Muslim community is awaiting new Shar'iah court judges to be appointed by President Benigno S. Aquino III from the pool of 429 Shar'iah counselors who passed the Special Shar'iah Bar Examinations conducted by the Supreme Court. Muslims living in the Visayas and Luzon have also been clamoring for Shar'iah courts because they have to go to Mindanao every time they have dealings or needs for the Islamic courts.