Laundering, plunder charges eyed vs CJ

MANILA, Philippines - A prosecution spokesman yesterday said the dizzying movement of funds in Chief Justice Renato Corona’s dollar accounts as alleged by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales in the impeachment trial is proof of money laundering. Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada also warned that Corona can be charged with plunder even after he is convicted. “Outside of the impeachment case, if there’s going to be a case for plunder and graft, then the Ombudsman may take such initiative after the impeachment proceedings,” Tañada said. He said other questions that the Chief Justice has to answer are whether he owned the dollars, where the money came from, who was the real owner of the funds if he did not own them, and why he agreed to hide or launder the money if it belonged to another person. Tañada said as far as the prosecution is concerned, Corona is the owner of millions of dollars in bank deposits attributed to him by the Ombudsman. “The deposits were in his name as reported by the banks to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC),” Tañada said. Morales told the Senate impeachment court on Monday that based on a report submitted to her by the AMLC, Corona kept 82 dollar accounts in five banks between 2003 and 2011, and made more than 400 transactions during that period, transferring funds from one account to another. She said the Chief Justice also had several peso accounts, from which he moved funds amounting to more than P200 million. Tañada said the Ombudsman’s testimony bolsters the prosecution’s argument that the Chief Justice failed to declare certain assets in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN). “Regardless of whether those funds are legal or illegal, the point is Chief Justice Corona did not declare them in his SALN. Such nondisclosure is included in the impeachment charges,” he said. He said the prosecution could not understand why the movement of funds in the dollar accounts the Ombudsman linked to Corona escalated during the election period in 2004 and 2007. “What is the connection of those deposits to the elections?” he asked. Another prosecution spokesman, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, said the decision of Corona’s lawyers to bring Morales to the impeachment court as a “hostile” witness boomeranged on their client. “It appears that the defense panel’s gamble did not pay off. It was the defense lawyers who sought the testimony of the Ombudsman, and not the prosecutors. They have planned to punch holes in the testimony of Ombudsman Morales, but it did not happen,” Angara said. He also criticized the defense for trying to insinuate that the Ombudsman was part of a conspiracy to remove Corona from office. Chief prosecution spokesman Rep. Miro Quimbo of Marikina, on the other hand, chided defense lawyers for labeling the Ombudsman’s testimony as “hearsay.” He said Morales’ damaging statements cannot be classified as hearsay as they were based on a document, which is the report of the AMLC on its monitoring of Corona’s bank transactions. “They were the ones who brought in the Ombudsman. And when their plan backfired, they are now discrediting her testimony,” he said. End of the line Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said because of the damaging disclosures on Corona’s alleged $10-million bank accounts, they sense the “end game” at hand in his impeachment trial. “The moment of truth is here. This is the end game in one or two days,” Belmonte told reporters, adding he continues to look forward to Corona testifying to clarify the latest allegations against him. Gonzales said that “because of the Ombudsman’s revelation, it will be extremely difficult for any senator to acquit him.” When asked whether the latest disclosures at the trial was the final nail on Corona’s coffin, Belmonte said even at the start of trial they were convinced that they had a strong case to convict the Chief Justice. “We already have a prima facie case, and we believe that in the course of the initial witnesses of the defense, they only made it worse for themselves,” he said. The Speaker said as early as Friday or before Morales first testified, he received a thick envelope containing a copy of the report of the Office of the Ombudsman on its investigation into Corona’s alleged dollar accounts. He said the sealed envelope, which bore the seal of the Office of the Ombudsman, was delivered to his house in Quezon City by Morales’ staff. Belmonte said he did not want to open the envelope alone so he called Gonzales to study the document with him. Sifting through it, Gonzales said they were able to see that Corona has accumulated some P660 million in deposits in the past nine years or shortly after he was appointed to the Supreme Court. He said their estimate did not include Corona’s other assets such as the reported condominium units. “In the report, the investigating team summarized the salaries, allowances and other perks of the Corona couple for this period and it could only be this much pesos (P36 million). But here are his acquired properties during this period, and then here is his peso and dollar accounts and when they computed them, it amounted to P660 million something,” Gonzales said, emphasizing that the amounts, taken together, are grossly disproportionate to the entire income of the Coronas during that period. He also chided Corona for demanding the resignation of Morales because of what he said was her misleading testimony. The House leaders said they saw nothing wrong with being furnished a copy of the Ombudsman’s report as the chamber is the sole body authorized by the Constitution to initiate an impeachment case against impeachable officials. “Presumably, the aim of the Ombudsman is while they can’t file a case yet against an incumbent impeachable official, they can refer the documents to the House for initiation of an impeachment case,” Belmonte said. Gonzales said the Ombudsman probe showed that records of bank transactions made by the Chief Justice from 2003 to 2011 involved at least $10 million and over P200 million. The Ombudsman also weighed the income of Corona and his wife Cristina during that period and compared it to the “circuitous” bank accounts. He added that the first portion of the Ombudsman’s report included a review of the Chief Justice’s properties such as land titles, register of deeds, motor vehicles, documents from the Senate impeachment court, and the records of Corona’s bank accounts as collated by the AMLC. Basis of new impeachment Asked why the Ombudsman had to send them a copy of the report barely three days before she was summoned to appear before the Senate impeachment court, Gonzales said it is probably because the House of Representatives has authority to pursue impeachment charges. He noted that the Ombudsman’s authority is limited only to the investigation of impeachable officials while the filing of an impeachment complaint is the role of Congress. They said some information in the Ombudsman’s report can “be the basis of a new impeachment complaint once the one year ban lifts.” “But of course we can only do that once the impeachment, the one year ban expires and assuming that Chief Justice Corona is acquitted or still not impeached by December,” Gonzales said. He said only Corona’s lawyers should be blamed on why the information exploded in their faces because they insisted on bringing the Ombudsman to the witness stand. – More problems for CJ Meanwhile, Teofisto Guingona III said Corona may have failed to declare some P27.933 million in mutual funds in his SALN in 2004, as stated in entries of the report submitted by Morales to the impeachment court. “The transaction code said, BYMF, which meant ‘buy mutual fund’,” Guingona said, referring to page 2 of the 17-page AMLC report that Corona purchased the P27.933-million Philam dollar bond fund on May 17, 2004. The purchase was monitored by the AMLC under account number 16874, made by “for the account of” the Chief Justice. The senator noted that Corona failed to declare this in his 2004 SALN when records showed that the mutual funds were sold 11 months after the transaction was made, or on April 6, 2005. When it was his turn to question the Ombudsman, Guingona pointed out that P3.3 million in cash and investments in 2004 and 2005 SALNs “still existed but it was not reported.” “It should have appeared in his SALN on Dec. 31, 2004,” he said. The transaction, a purchase of mutual funds, is not covered by the confidentiality clause under the law on foreign currency deposits, according to Guingona. But Corona’s lawyers Tranquil Salvador III and Rico Paolo Quicho debunked the allegations and maintained that the Ombudsman failed to authenticate the AMLC report, and as such, it should not be accepted as evidence by the court. “She was asked if she verified it, she said no. How can you ask a witness about a document who did not and can’t authenticate it? So that’s just a conclusion, it has no basis, which cannot be established as a fact. We respect it because it’s a question coming from a senator-judge,” Quicho said. Salvador reiterated that “any document you intend to present in court, should generally be identified by the person who prepared the same.” “Our question is who made the AMLC records being waved by the Ombudsman inside the court?” Salvador asked. The defense team said the Chief Justice has vowed to continue the fight until the impeachment court issues its verdict. They also vehemently denied that Corona is resigning as a result of the latest developments in the trial. – Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero - By Jess Diaz

PSE okays BDO's $1-B rights offer

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) has approved the $1-billion rights offer of BDO Unibank Inc. (BDO), which will be classified as core capital. It will be the biggest rights offer in the country’s history. BDO chairperson Teresita T. Sy said the capital raised would be used to fuel medium-term growth for the bank. Likewise, it may set aside an amount in anticipation of the more stringent Basel III capital guidelines of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Under the Basel III capital framework, the BSP will be raising the capital adequacy ratio (CAR) from the present 10 percent to 12.5 percent, as well as double the Tier 1 ratio from five to 10 percent by 2014. “The bank is optimistic about the outlook on the Philippine economy and hopes to continue with its faster-than-industry loan growth, driven by a strong consumer sector and opportunities in the SME, middle market and large corporate segments,” Sy added. Initial reports indicate that the rights offer is enjoying on 1:3 ratio, which will be offered at an indicative discount of 20 to 25 percent to market. This will allow all shareholders to proportionately participate in the capital-raising program. The offer price, to be fixed on June 5, will be based on the 10 to 15 trading-day volume-weighted average price of BDO shares prior to the pricing date, subject to a discount of 20 to 25 percent. Strategic investors SM Investments Corp. (SMIC), the International Finance Corp., and the United Overseas Bank (UOB) have expressed support for BDO’s expansion plans and the proposed rights offer. The IFC is the private investment arm of the World Bank. BDO Capital & Investment Corp. is the lead issuer and domestic underwriter. The joint international lead managers and international underwriters are Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong branch, JP Morgan Securities Ltd., and United Overseas Bank Ltd. - By Ted P. Torres

Clamor growing for lawmakers to sign confidentiality waivers

..An online petition urging lawmakers to waive bank secrecy on their accounts has been gaining support less than a week after impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona issued the challenge in open court. In his testimony Tuesday, Corona signed a waiver on the confidentiality of his bank accounts, tax records, and properties. He said, however, that his accusers must also waive confidentiality on their own assets. The petition, started by a certain Charissa Ronque on Wednesday, says "We want the truth! We want these 'Honorable' Congressmen and Senator to prove they have nothing to hide from the Filipino people." She was referring to the 188 members of the House of Representatives who signed the impeachment complaint against Corona in December last year, and Senator Franklin Drilon, whom Corona singled out when he issued the challenge on Tuesday. As of this post, more than 400 netizens had indicated support. "We elected you. Your salaries come from us, coming from our hard-earned money, and it's no joke earning that! It's just right that we insist you also sign," Bing Torres-delos Santos, who signed the petition, said. Bhabes Ortiz said she signed the petition "to see if the accusers have the right to accuse their fellow government official." Drilon, whom the defense tried and failed to get to inhibit from the trial, has already said he will not sign the waiver. "We are not the ones on trial. We are not the ones being tried at the impeachment court," he said Tuesday. Drilon is the senior member of the administration Liberal Party at the Senate and has been criticized--particularly by former senator Francisco Tatad--of acting like a prosecutor. Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr., lead prosecutor, has also refused to sign the waiver. Some members of the House accepted Corona's challenge, however. "I signed the impeachment complaint. I'll sign the waiver," ACT Party-List Representative Antonio Tinio declared on his Twitter account Tuesday. Cebu Representatives Rachel Marguerite del Mar, Benhur Salimbangon and Gabriel Luis Quisumbing have also said they are willing to sign waivers. Drilon, on Thursday, said Corona is waging a personal vendetta against him because he is responsible for disclosing Corona’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth. "I suspect he singled me out because I was the one who was able to draw out the SALN from that Clerk of Court. That started everything," Drilon told reporters, explaining why he was the lone senator-judge challenged by Corona to sign the waiver allowing the disclosure of dollar accounts. Drilon pointed out that it was upon his questioning that the Clerk of Court surrendered Corona’s SALN which he said built the prosecution team’s case for Article II of the impeachment complaint. “I would say that was the reason why he singled me out, because of that episode. I would say pinersonal niya ako,” he added. The senator has insisted he will not sign the waiver since it would on divert the issue from the embattled chief justice. He further claimed that he has been truthful in disclosing all his assets in his SALN. “First, there is nothing illegal in maintaining a dollar account. Second, I report all my assets in my SALN. Third, my SALN contains a waiver. Fourth, my SALN is open to the public,” Drilon said. The senator also said foreign currency deposit units (FCDU) and banking secrecy laws cannot justify Corona’s non-inclusion of dollar accounts in his SALN. “Kapag hindi mo nireport, what you violate is the law that requires you to report all your assets even dollar accounts. You report the equivalent peso amount in your SALN. That is precisely the issue in the impeachment proceedings – failure to report an asset. A dollar account is an asset,” he said. Drilon noted that the chief justice’s interpretation of the FCDU law is that it can be used as a haven to hide proceeds of criminal acts. “A corrupt official will commit corruption, the fruits of the corruption will be converted into foreign exchange and the foreign exchange will be deposited in a foreign currency deposit unit. Under that theory, you cannot inquire anymore into the proceeds of the corrupt act,” he said. Nevertheless, Drilon said the senator-judges will vote according to the evidence on record and the court will still wait for Corona to appear tomorrow. ..

Corona bares he has $2.4 million in his accounts

Chief Justice Renato Corona on Friday admitted that he has at least $2.4 million (P105,026,400 for at P43:$1 exchange) in his four dollar accounts. Corona claimed that he earned this money due to his dollar deposits for over 35 years, since his family invested in foreign exchange. “Ang pera namin ay lumago sa interes. Bakit hindi nagagalaw ang interes? Napakasimple po ng aming pamumuhay at mayroon naman akong current stream of income na nagagamit sa pang-araw-araw,” he said. The Chief Justice said he did not declare his dollar deposits to his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth due to banking secrecy and foreign currency deposit units laws. Corona also testified that his three peso accounts contain a total of P80 million which are all commingled funds that he does not solely own. He pointed out that these accounts contain the expropriation proceeds of the sale of the lot owned by his wife’s company, Basa Guidote Enterprises Inc., the inheritance of his late mother, and some funds of his children. “Mas malaki ang deposit, mas malaki ang interes,” Corona said, explaining why his children opted for commingle funds. The chief justice also denied the allegations of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales that he owned $10-million worth of “transactional balance” and $12-million worth of “fresh deposits.” “I never, at any time, had 10, 11 or 12 million dollars. Pinakamalaki na yung $2.4 million,” he said. Corona hit Morales for releasing the report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council which he said is unauthenticated. “Palagay ko po nagpagamit si Ombudsman sa Malacanang. Kasi naman po winagayway niya dito yung dokumentong allegedly from AMLC. Parang di naman po tama yun kasi hindi man lang authenticated,” he said. Confidentiality waiver Earlier, Corona submitted a confidentiality waiver--and dropped an earlier condition he set--which would allow the court look at his four dollar accounts. At the same time, Corona apologized for his behavior in Tuesday's trial, while maintaining he did not "walk-out" but was really not feeling well. "I am submitting this [waiver] without any condition," Corona told the court Friday as he returned to the witness stand. On Tuesday he dared all 188 impeachment complainants as well as Senator Franklin Drilon to also submit their confidentiality waivers. His move to submit the waiver came after Corona's apology to the Senator-judges. “Ako po ay nagpapakumbaba at humihingi ng paumanhin sa inyo. Hindi ko inaasahan na ganoon ang mangyayari,” Corona said. Corona also denied that he planned the alleged "walkout" and insisted that he was just not feeling well after suffering from hypoglycemia. “I was in a total state of confusion. Sa hilo ko po, ako ay naduduwal. Ayaw ko naman po maduwal sa harap ng camera,” he said. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile asked the chief justice if he’s now ready to face the court despite his condition. Corona said although his doctors advised him to skip today’s trial, he still chose to return. “Nasa puso ko po ang obligasyon ko sa bayan na magpaliwanag na hindi natapos noong Martes. Pumunta rin po ako para magbigay galang sa Senado bilang institusyon ng ating pamahalaan,” he explained. The chief justice said he has not finished reading the remaining two pages of his statement which deals with the alleged flip-flopping on the case of the Philippine Airlines vs. Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines, and the issuance of the temporary restraining order allegedly in favor of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. No more cross and direct examination The prosecution and the defense panel both moved not to push with direct and cross examination, respectively. Defense lead counsel Serafin Cuevas said that due to Corona's condition, they would no longer subject the Chief Justice to a direct examination. Private prosecutor Mario Bautista said prosecution will also no longer cross-examine Corona but moved that his statements on Tuesday are "inadmissible in evidence." ...

CIDG: Rescue of estafa suspects legit

MANILA, Philippines - The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said yesterday 15 of its agents – facing charges of obstruction of justice, grave threats and physical injuries filed by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) for allegedly trying to rescue two women arrested for estafa – were performing a legitimate operation. In a statement, CIDG Director Samuel Pagdilao said he has also asked the Philippine National Police leadership to dig deeper into Friday’s standoff between the operatives of CIDG-National Capital Region, who pursued Quezon City police officers they believed had kidnapped Marilyn Ong and Edna Alfuerte. Alfuerte and Ong were convicted by the Metropolitan Trial Court in Manila for seven counts of estafa involving P5,507,000 in January 2011. Ong is also facing an indictment in the US involving an $80-million scheme to defraud the US Export-Import Bank. The case is subject to validation with the US Department of Justice. CIDG to sue QC cops Pagdilao also said the CIDG will pursue the investigation of the kidnapping case for possible filing in court against the abductors of Ong and Alfuerte, who were snatched along Daang Hari Road in Imus, Cavite when their vehicle, a gold Hyundai Starex van (NIL-145), was blocked by a maroon Mitsubishi Adventure occupied by armed men. CIDG-NCR chief Senior Superintendent Joel Napoleon Coronel said contrary to allegations that the team led by Quezon City-CIDG head Chief Inspector Rey Magdaluyo tried to obstruct the arrest of Ong and Alfuerte, CIDG agents acted on a complaint by lawyer Marie Espina that her companions were kidnapped by armed men who introduced themselves as Interpol and CIDG. Coronel also maintained that the CIDG has strictly followed protocol in police operations and properly coordinated with the Tactical Operation Center (TOC) of the QCPD. Coronel said that last Friday at around 5:30 p.m., Espina, another lawyer and Alfuerte appeared before the CIDG and asked for police assistance. Espina said the abductors introduced themselves as Interpol operators with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the CIDG, and that Ong and Alfuerte were being arrested by virtue of a warrant against Ong, who has been convicted of an undisclosed crime in the United States. Held for ransom? Coronel said Espina told them that armed men who snatched Ong have also contacted them to produced P10 million as ransom for Ong’s liberty. Coronel said Espina claimed she received several text messages from Ong telling her they were brought to a coffee shop at the corner of Maginhawa and Malingap streets in Teacher’s Village at Barangay Sikatuna, Quezon City. Espina said the men who held Ong captive introduced themselves as NBI agents and told her that the Starex was already included as part of the ransom and ordered her to execute an open deed of absolute sale for the vehicle. She also said Ong’s abductors doubled the ransom to P20 million, and that the amount should be delivered to the coffee shop. Coronel said that all the text messages were recorded in the message inbox of Espina’s cellular phone, which she showed to CIDG investigators. After coordinating with the QCPD’s TOC, Coronel organized two teams and accompanied Espina to verify her claim. He said they saw the Starex parked in front of the coffee shop and the victims guarded by several armed men in the shop. He said the CIDG operatives approached the armed men posted outside the shop, and one of the men identified himself as a member of the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit. Coronel said CIDG operatives arrested all the armed men and rescued Ong. He said while the CIDG operatives were accounting for all those arrested and rescued, around 70 QCPD policemen arrived in several vehicles and patrol cars and, at gunpoint, snatched Ong and her alleged abductors. The CIDG teams, led by Magdaluyo, identified themselves and informed the QCPD policemen that they were in an ongoing police operation that had been coordinated with the QCPD’s TOC. Coronel said Ong, Espina, her associate lawyer and Alfuerto were taken to the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal and were detained together with Police Officer 2 Sheila Famuleras of the CIDG. - By Mike Frialde

PNP Needs Doctors, Pilots, Priests

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyer? Physician? Pilot or Priest? The Philippine National Police (PNP) needs you. Senior Supt. Generoso Cerbo, PNP spokesman, said those professions are among those needed to fill up the 75 vacancies for professionals who wish to join the PNP Officer Corps as Police Commissioned Officers. "This is part of another round of Lateral Entry screening process to fill authorized vacancies for technical service officers in the National Support Units this year," said Cerbo. There were originally 98 vacant positions but Cerbo said 23 of them may already be occupied by early birds. Vacancies available are: four lawyers in the PNP Legal Service; nine Commel officers in the Communication and Electronics Service; 12 Medico-Legal Officers and 20 Forensic & Chemical Officers in the PNP Crime Laboratory; two pilots in the Special Action Force; one Chaplain officer in the Chaplain Service; and 12 Medical Officers and 15 Nurses in the PNP Health Service. Cerbo said medical doctors, lawyers and chaplains will be appointed to the initial rank of Police Senior Inspector with monthly basic salary of P35,312.00, Cerbo announced. Successful applicants to other vacancies will be appointed to the initial rank of Police Inspector with monthly basic salary of P32,341.00. Cerbo said all applicants are required to undergo the mandatory Written Competitive Examination (WCE) and the Physical/Medical/Dental Examinations (PMDE). To broaden the pool of applicants, the Lateral Entry Program has allowed qualified personnel from other PNP Units to apply for the vacancies, said Cerbo. "We want to have as much qualified applicants as possible, in order to have wider range of selection, because we want to get only the best and most qualified officers for the job," the official added.

Corona in ICU for possible heart attack - SC spokesman

Chief Justice Renato Corona has been admitted to the intensive care unit of The Medical City "for a possible heart attack," Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez said early Wednesday. Corona was brought to the hospital Tuesday evening after complaining of dizziness during his impeachment trial earlier in the day. In a telephone interview aired over ANC, Marquez said he had visited Corona late Tuesday and talked to the magistrate about the possibility of returning to the Senate for the continuation of his testimony on Wednesday. He said he was at the hospital until 11 p.m. "When I got home, I received the disturbing news that he was wheeled to the ICU for a possible heart attack," Marquez said. Defense lawyers earlier said that Corona, who has diabetes, had suffered from low blood sugar after giving an almost three-hour opening statement at his impeachment trial Tuesday afternoon. Marquez said family members had informed him that Corona has had a previous double bypass and has weak kidneys, among other medical conditions. He said Corona was under sedation when he arrived at the hospital and was "kinda groggy" when they talked earlier in the evening. "He asked me about the hearing tomorrow. I told him if he's physically able to attend, it would be best because the senators are waiting for him," Marquez said. "I thought he would be alright already," Marquez added. Senate President and presiding officer Juan Ponce Enrile has warned the defense team that Corona's testimony would be stricken from the court records, and the senator-judges would make a decision on the basis of previous evidence if the magistrate does not return to the impeachment court on Wednesday for cross-examination. Enrile was outraged when Corona capped his lengthy opening statement by saying, "And now the chief justice of the Republic of the Philippines wishes to be excused," before briskly walking out of the Senate hall despite the Senate President's appeal for him to come back because he had not yet been discharged. Corona looked disheveled when he was brought back to the hall after an hour. He remained silent while Enrile was castigating lead defense counsel Serafin Cuevas about the actions of his client. Marquez said Corona's wife Cristina and their two children were at the hospital with the chief justice. A medical bulletin will be issued about Corona's condition at around 8 or 9 a.m. Wednesday, he added. - YA/HS

President Offers Salary For Repairs

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno S. Aquino III Thursday offered to donate his salary to efforts to repair public schools in case the government funds run dry. The President, however, acknowledged that school authorities should not expect a large donation because his salary as the country's highest official is actually low. "In case the funds are not enough, although (Education Secretary) Brother Armin (Luistro) expects a P2 billion fund this year, I am ready to give my salary to augment the funds," the President said in Filipino during a Brigada Eskwela event held in Apolinario Mabini Elementary High School in Quiapo, Manila. "When you receive my salary, you might ask why the amount is only small. Remember the salary of a president of the Republic is not that huge," he said. The President receives a gross basic salary of P95,000 a month. In offering his salary, Aquino explained that he noticed that the public elementary school still needed some repair despite the ongoing cleanup activity initiated by the Department of Education. Among the things Aquino saw during the school inspection were a broken drain spout and nails sticking out of a school chair. School officials however immediately promised Aquino to complete the repair before the opening of classes next month. "I will return to make sure that they have fulfilled their promise to us," the President said. The education department has launched Brigada Eskwela 2012 to encourage the public to join its campaign to clean and repair around 45,000 public schools in preparation for the opening of classes next month. The President thanked the school officials, parents and other volunteers helping spruce up the schools for the students. He said the government will need more volunteers in Brigada Eskwela especially when the government finally eliminates the classroom shortage by 2013. He said the classroom shortage will be resolved through educational reforms and investment programs such as the Public Private Partnership (PPP) program. Upon assuming office in 2010, Aquino said the education department reported a shortage of more than 60,000 classrooms for students to use. So far, he said the government has built more than 10,000 new classrooms. An additional 30,000 classrooms will be constructed before the end of the year. "By next year, every student will be given quality education inside a quality classroom," he said.

Cavite Gets P22M For Agriculture

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has given away P22 million for infrastructure, processing facilities and inputs for agricultural projects in Cavite. Alcala turned over the assistance to 1,000 farmers, fisherfolk and officials led by Governor Juanito Victor C. Remulla, Jr. during a provincial forum on May 18, 2012 in Trece Martires City. The assistance covered the following: A P5-million small water impounding project for Poblacion, Carmona; a P5-million farm-to-market road (FMR) project for Barangay Kaytambog; a P3.4-million aquasilviculture project for Cavite State University (CavSU); a P3-million diversion dam for Tambong Kulit, Indang; a P2.5-million coffee roasting facility for Amadeo; a P1.2-million 90-HP 4-wheel drive tractor worth P1.2 million for the Cavite provincial government; a coffee processing facility worth P500,000 for Silang, and; various farm implements and inputs worth P 492,600. The DA chief also raffled off several farm implements and inputs to lucky forum farmer-participants. Alcala encouraged Cavite farmers to expand their operations to increase production of major crops and vegetables, noting the province has relatively good climate and soil, and is adjacent to Metro Manila, a strategic major market.

Business optimism continues to pick up

MANILA, Philippines - For the fourth straight quarter, local businessmen remained optimistic of economic prospects amid growth concerns in the US and the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, a survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. The central bank’s Business Expectation Survey (BES) for the second quarter of 2012 showed that the business confidence index improved to 44.5 percent in the second quarter of the year from 40.5 percent in the first quarter. BSP assistant governor Cyd Tuano-Amador said in a press conference that this was the fourth consecutive quarter that the business confidence index improved. “The BES has edged again higher and this is the fourth consecutive quarter that business confidence continued to remain bouyant,” Amador stressed. After dropping for two consecutive quarters to 31.8 percent in the second quarter of last year from 47.5 percent in the first quarter and the record level of 50.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, the confidence index steadily improved for four straight quarters to 34.1 percent in the third quarter of last year, to 38.7 percent in the fourth, to 40.5 percent in the first quarter of the year and to 44.5 percent in the second quarter. The confidence index is computed as the percentage of firms that answered in the affirmative less the percentage of firms that answered in the negative with respective to their views on a given indicator. Teresita Deveza, acting deputy director of the BSP’s Department of Economic Statistics (DES), traced the continued optimism of businessmen to the increase in orders and new contracts leading to higher volume of production as well as expansion in businesses and new product lines. Deveza also cited higher government spending, seasonal uptick in demand during the summer, enrollment, and harvest seasons as well as favorable macroeconomic fundamentals. “Also contributing to businesses’ improved sentiment were the prevailing favorable macroeconomic conditions such as lower interest rates and manageable inflation as well as the steady growth of remittances that contributes to healthy external payments position,” she said. The Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) expects the gross domestic product (GDP) expanding between five percent and six percent this year due to higher government spending under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme of the Aquino administration. The GDP growth slackened to 3.7 percent last year from 7.6 percent in 2010 due to weak global trade, resulting in a sharp drop in the country’s export earnings, as well as the underspending by the Aquino government. The survey also showed that less respondents expect inflation to go up but more respondents expect the peso to appreciate due to robust remittances from the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and robust receipts from business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. The survey conducted between April 2 and May 11, had 1,587 respondent firms from the Top 7,000 corporations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. - By Lawrence Agcaoili

Padaca posts bail

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Former Isabela governor Grace Padaca, who is charged with malversation of public funds involving a P26-million hybrid rice program in 2006, has posted P70,000 bail for her temporary liberty. “I am in touch with my lawyers on my legal option. The last advice I got was that we will be elevating the matter to the Supreme Court,” Padaca said in a text message. Earlier, Padaca’s fellow respondents – Dionisio Pine, manager of Economic Development for Western Isabela and Northern Luzon Foundation Inc. (EDWINLFI) and councilor Servando Soriano – also posted bail. As this developed, former vice governor Ramon Reyes defended Padaca, saying there was nothing irregular in the contract. “She did not benefit from the amount. It was given to the intended beneficiaries through the foundation so it would be quicker to channel it instead of undergoing the bureaucratic process of biddings,” Reyes said. He said a board resolution and receipts also covered the disbursement. “It can all be accounted for,” said Reyes, who was the board’s former presiding officer when the contract with the EDWINLFI, a non-government organization that implemented the program, was signed. Former Isabela congressman Santiago Respicio filed the case against Padaca, Pine and Soriano in 2007. Respicio claimed Padaca had “unjustly favored” EDWINLFI and merely relied on the agreement ratified by the board instead of conducting a public bidding. The fund was part of the P35-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines for the province’s priority hybrid rice program. – Charlie Lagasca, Raymund Catindig, Michael Punongbayan -

Philippines 'lacks sincerity' in sea dispute: China

China accused the Philippines Thursday of not being sincere in seeking a peaceful end to a standoff over disputed waters, ramping up the rhetoric one day after confirming the deployment of more ships. The Chinese foreign ministry made the remark as tension lingered over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a vast body of water which stretches almost to the Equator and is claimed in its entirety by China. "During the whole process, China has been appealing for diplomatic consultations to resolve the situation there," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular briefing. "But the actions of the Philippine side cannot but raise our doubt over the sincerity of the Philippines to properly resolve the current situation." As of early this week, there were five Chinese government vessels -- up from three -- and 16 fishing boats at the shoal, the Philippine foreign department said Wednesday. Chinese state media later confirmed a "strengthened" presence, and Hong on Thursday also suggested that China had boosted the number of vessels. "From the beginning of the incidents, China had launched solemn and immediate representations, demanding the Philippines to withdraw their vessels," he said. "Now the Philippines is still taking some provocative actions there and China has to strengthen control and raise alert there." China claims the shoal along with most of the South China Sea, even up to the coasts of its Asian neighbours, while the Philippines says the shoal is well within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. Both countries have had ships posted around the shoal since early April, when Chinese vessels prevented a Philippine Navy ship from arresting Chinese fishermen. "We urge the Philippine side to respect China's territorial sovereignty in earnest and stop all provocations and show sincerity and carry out serious and earnest diplomatic dialogue with China," Hong said. Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia also claim parts of the South China Sea. The rival claims have for decades made the waters one of Asia's potential military flashpoints.

2nd US warship sold to Philippines also stripped of guns

..Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - Washington has turned down Manila's request to retain the entire weapons system in the second US Coast Guard cutter the Philippines is acquiring from the United States. Top Filipino military officials flew to the US last weekend for the ceremonial turnover on May 23 of the 378-ft USCG Dallas in North Charleston, South Carolina. According to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, the second cutter will also have most of its weapons removed as happened with the first cutter acquired from the US by the Philippine Navy last year. In the case of what is now the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, all its weapons were removed except for a 76-mm Oto Melara automatic cannon. In a meeting in Washington on April 30, Gazmin personally asked his counterpart, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, to keep the USCG Dallas in its original state and to restore the weapons that were removed from its sister ship, the Gregorio del Pilar. The Gregorio del Pilar is currently the biggest and most modern warship in the Philippine Navy fleet which still relies on World War II-vintage vessels. Symbolic turnover Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Jessie Dellosa and Philippine Navy Fleet commander Rear Admiral Jose Luis Alano will take possession of the Dallas during a symbolic turnover on Wednesday. The vessel will be renamed the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, after the World War II hero and former fleet commander, and will be under the command of Navy Captain Ernesto Baldovino. In April 1942, Alcaraz was commander one of the Philippines' three torpedo boats that shot down three of nine attacking Japanese fighter planes. After the turnover, the Philippine Navy crew will undergo training before they sail the ship home to the Philippines. ..

Philippines to receive 10 new patrol ships from Japan

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The Philippines is acquiring 10 brand new patrol ships from Japan to boost the country territorial defense in the West Philippine Sea. Japan is offering assistance [to boost] our maritime capability, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told reporters in a phone interview. Vice Admiral Edmund Tan of the Philippine Coast Guard said the patrol ships will be used by the PCG. The loan is now for approval of the National Economic Development Authority, Tan said. Asked when the ships would arrive in the Philippines, Tan said it would depend on the processing of the papers. There still no approval, he told reporters by phone. â¿¿We have to go to the process. Tan did not discuss further details. In March, weeks before a standoff between China and Philippines began in the Scarborough Shoal, media reports in South Korea and Japan said Tokyo would provide the Philippines with patrol ships by yearâ¿¿s end. The Japanese embassy in the Philippines on Thursday, however, said Tokyo has not yet officially decided if it would provide patrol vessels to Manila.

Nueva Ecija vice mayor charged with rape

MANILA, Philippines - Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija Vice Mayor Romeo Borja Jr. was charged with rape before the Department of Justice yesterday. The 18-year-old victim, known by the alias Jasmin, alleged that Borja raped her at least six times from June to September in different places in their town. She was joined by a former house helper of the vice mayor, who also claimed to be his victim. The woman, whose alias is Mina, said she had filed a qualified seduction case in Cabanatuan City against Borja. The vice mayor’s driver, Fritz Taguinin, and their common friend Denden Escuadro were also named respondents in the case. In her six-page affidavit, Jasmin said she first met Borja in April last year during the coronation of a local beauty contest where he presented her with an award. She said Borja courted her, but she rejected him. The victim said she got drunk when she was invited by a friend for a drink last July and upon waking up, found herself naked in a room with the vice mayor. “I cried and pleaded to him to stop. I shouted for help but nobody came to help me. I tried to fight him but he was strong,” the victim said in Filipino. After a few days, she said the vice mayor contacted and raped her again after threatening that he would distribute a supposed sex video he took during the first incident. She claimed Borja raped her at gunpoint four more times in the next two months, one at the vice mayor’s office. Last October, she said she told the respondent she was pregnant with their child. The latter allegedly told her to find an abortionist and promised to give her a scholarship and a house, among others. Jasmin said she confided her situation to her mother only last February. She said it took them three months to file a case knowing that Borja’s family is “very powerful and influential.” Borja’s father, Romeo Sr., is the town mayor. - By Edu Punay

Mayors top list of officials facing corruption cases

MANILA, Philippines - City and municipal mayors topped the list of government officials with the most number of cases filed against them before the Office of the Ombudsman last year. Records show that 3,852 cases were filed against mayors in 2011, of which 2,075 were lodged in the anti-graft agency’s central office in Metro Manila. The Office of the Ombudsman’s finance and management information office (FMIO) said 633 cases were filed in the Luzon office, 600 in the Visayas and 544 in Mindanao. Members of the Philippine National Police are second on the list with 1,128 complaints against them followed by members of the Department of Education with 562. The Philippine Information Agency is fourth with 490 cases; followed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, 416; Armed Forces of the Philippines, 304; Bureau of Customs, 177; Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 155; Department of Social Welfare and Development, 148; and Department of Justice, 98. At least 92 cases were filed against personnel of the Department of Finance; Department of Health, 87; Department of Public Works and Highways, 86; Department of Agrarian Reform, 81; Commission on Higher Education, 57; Commission on Elections, 54; National Labor Relations Commission, 48; Bureau of Fire Protection, 47; and the National Bureau of Investigation and National Economic Development Authority, both with 45 cases. The FMIO report also listed 14 agencies with the least number of cases filed in 2011. The agencies include the Laguna Lake Development Authority, Local Civil Registrar, Philippine National Oil Co., Senate and the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority. The Office of the Ombudsman did not provide information on the status of the complaints. - By Michael Punongbayan

Gov't eyes P30 B from PSALM bond issuance

MANILA, Philippines - The government is aiming to tap the cash-rich domestic market by mid-June for up to P30 billion in 10-year bonds for the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), the state agency tasked to manage and dispose the government’s power assets, officials said yesterday. Finance Undersecretary Rosalia de Leon told The STAR yesterday that the government is considering borrowing an initial tranche of PSALM’s estimated P85-billion funding requirement through the issuance of bonds and continue with the second tranche in the latter part of the year. “We will do an initial tranche. The full amount they’re requiring is P75 billion to P85 billion,” she said. The rest of the amount would be raised in the latter part of the year, she said. Government financial institutions such as the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines may handle the debt sale, De Leon added. “We are already in talks with the GFIs,” she said. National Treasurer Roberto Tan said the Bureau of the Treasury may adjust its regular borrowing correspondingly so as not to compete with the PSALM issuance. “We have to differentiate it so it will be different from what will be issued by PSALM,” said Tan as he confirmed that the government is already preparing the bond issuance for PSALM. The government would do away with the usual practice and borrow on behalf of PSALM instead of the agency doing the fund-raising activity. “(Borrowing by the) national government is the cheapest,” Tan said. Estimates made by the Department of Finance (DOF) showed that the financing cost of government is 50 basis points lower than the borrowing cost of state agencies. Early last year, PSALM has obtained P75 billion in syndicated term loan to meets its funding requirements. The government has a program to borrow $4.02 billion from foreign sources this year, lower than the programmed $4.5 billion in 2011, according to the latest data from the Department of Finance (DOF). Of the $4.02 billion, the government plans to borrow $2.25 billion from the commercial debt market and to borrow $1.77 billion worth of program and project loans. The 2012 borrowing program has a proposed mix of 75 percent and 25 percent, in favor of domestic sources. The government borrows from the local and overseas debt market to plug its budget deficit, which is projected to hit roughly 2.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year. Last year’s budget gap reached P197 billion, below the programmed ceiling of P300 billion set for last year. - By Iris C. Gonzales

LGUs to get P1.8-B IRA funds

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced yesterday the release of P1.8 billion in Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) funds to local government units, marking the fourth installment of the IRA differentials for the LGUs under the Monetization in IRA Collectibles for Local Empowerment 2 (MIRACLE 2). “The P1.8-billion release for LGUs is representative of the administration’s commitment to ensure sufficient and timely budgetary support to local governments and the communities they serve,” DBM Secretary Florencio Abad said. Under MIRACLE 2, LGUs are set to receive IRA differentials from the reenactment of the fiscal years 2000 and 2003 General Appropriations Act (GAA) in fiscal years 2001 and 2004, respectively. The reenactments resulted in unreleased IRAs for LGUs amounting to P12.57 billion, which had been released to LGUs in equal installments since fiscal year 2009. Of the P1.8 billion representing the fourth installment, P1.23 billion will be released to the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), which acts as a trustee bank covering all LGUs enrolled in the DBP MIRACLE 2 program. At least P939.3 million of this amount will be distributed to enrolled provinces, cities, and municipalities, while P296.02 million will go to barangays. Meanwhile, the remaining P561.3 million will be directed to DBM regional offices to cover the shares of LGUs that did not avail themselves of the monetization program. The fourth installment will be charged against the Allocation to Local Government Units-Special Shares of LGUs in the Proceeds of National Taxes under the 2012 GAA. Abad confirmed that the three remaining MIRACLE 2 installments would be distributed to beneficiary LGUs every May until 2015. He added that fund utilization would be governed by the same rules set for LGUs in the Local Government Code. “We trust that our peers and colleagues in the local government will use these funds to serve their communities’ best interests. As our LGUs receive the funds due them, so should Filipinos receive the benefits brought about by efficient and effective local governance,” Abad said. - By Aurea Calica

Corona in 'possible heart attack', confined at ICU

After a 'hypoglycemic episode', Chief Justice Renato Corona has been admitted to an intensive care unit. Corona is in Medical City in Pasig early Wednesday morning due to a possible heart attack, Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez said. In a radio interview, Marquez said a blood test on Corona showed he had elevated Troponin T levels and the diagnosis is a possible heart attack. Marquez said he is not sure if the chief justice will be able to take the witness stand on Wednesday as ordered by the impeachment court. He assured that Corona wanted to continue with his testimonies but his doctors were against it. "Bago ako umalis, sinigurado ko kung ano ba talaga ang kaniyang nararamdaman at kung tingin niya at makakapunta siya sa impeachment kanina. Talagang gusto na niyang matapos ito," he said. "Medyo tumututol na yung mga duktor na kausap namin. Sinasabi ko nga na baka puwedeng payagan niyo at humarap ng sandali at ipaliwanag iyung kaniyang kundisyon," he added. Marquez said Corona's doctors are expected to issue a medical bulletin around 8 or 9 a.m. Meanwhile, Senators will check whether Corona is fit to testify on Wednesday. "The Senate will verify his (Corona's) condition," says Senator Tito Sotto. Senator Francis Escudero meanwhile added: "We will have to check on his medical condition. If indeed he is too ill to continue, we might not be able to continue with his direct testimony and cross examination."

pawikan meat

By NESTOR B. RAMIREZ, VERA Files CEBU CITY—Business is brisk, judging from the throng of people and cars parked outside this makeshift eatery in Pasil, a shoreline barangay. The customers, some in long sleeves and tie, do not mind the heat and the dishevelled slum area. They are here for one reason: To eat their favorite stewed dish of sea turtle or pawikan, an endangered species whose hunting, sale and killing have been banned by law since 2001. The Wildlife Conservation Act, or Republic Act No. 9147, penalizes violators with a fine of up to P100,000 and imprisonment of up to one year. The pawikan appears on the list of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), having become endangered because of poaching, slaughter, blast fishing, illegal trade and pollution. A signatory of the CITES, the Philippines, through the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, has implemented the Pawikan Conservation Project nationwide. Animal welfare groups, meanwhile, consider the whole month of May as the Month of the Ocean, which promotes conservation and protection of sea creatures. But Basilisa Piaquinto, head of the Protected Area and Wildlife (PAW) of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) here, expressed helplessness over the sale of the contraband in Pasil. Vendors, mostly ambulant, have wised up and now sell pawikan meat already cut up, making it difficult for authorities to tell it apart from other meat, she said. And eateries are temporary structures that are easy to dismantle, allowing them to elude authorities. Piaquinto said the vendors themselves know they are violating the law, but the demand for pawikan meat has kept the trade going. Often eaten with corn grits and sold for P60 a bowl, the stewed pawikan is commonly believed to be an aphrodisiac, explaining its popularity among men. "People come here because they believe that pawikan is like Viagra and some also come just for the thrill and curiosity of eating an endangered species," said Henry Lumanang, who has lived for 15 years on Rallos Street where the eatery is located. Viagra is a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. The sale of the marine species in the neighborhood is an open secret known even to policemen, who are among the eatery's customers, he said. Elinore Malagar, a student from the University of San Jose Recoletos, visited the makeshift restaurant, located less than 300 meters from the nearest police station, a parish church and barangay hall, in mid-April after she was told that pawikan meat was being sold openly. When she got to the place at 11.a.m., a handful of customers were already eating at the tables housed under a tent with tarpaulin roof and two large cauldronscontaining a steaming hot stew had obviously just come off the wood-fired stove. Beside the cauldrons was a plastic pail that contained the raw meat, four flippers and the head of a sea turtle. "I was shocked and could not believe what I saw inside the pail," Malagar said. A man in his fifties who was preparing the exotic dish said the eatery gets its daily supply of pawikan meat from middlemen who buy the turtle meat from fishermen from islets in Bohol. The merchandise enters through the small port in the barangay and is sold for P250 to P350 a kilo, depending on the supply, he said. But the deliveries are not easily detected by authorities because the contraband is stored inside a styropor box and covered with fish to camouflage, unlike in the past when live sea turtles were delivered to the barangay, the man said. "Now they deliver the meat; that is why it is hard to detect," he said in the dialect. The supply of pawikan meat is continuous because of the sea turtle's nature to lie on the seashore where it dries its carapace or top shell in the sun, makes a nest, and lays eggs, making it easy to capture, the man said. The pawikan would also get accidentally trapped in the fishermen's nets. The Pasil eatery cooks an average of 80 kilos of pawikan meat every day. The dish is cooked in two batches—the first at 9 a.m., in time for customers who start coming at 10. The second batch is prepared at 1 p.m. because by then the 40 kilos of meat cooked in the morning would usually have been consumed. VERA Files saw how the old man prepares the stew. He first sautés about two kilos of tomatoes, garlic and onions in the big cauldron, then puts in the pawikan meat and lets it simmer.Water is added and brought to a boil before the man throws in a bunch of raw tamarind (sampaloc) to give the dish its sour taste and finally two glasses of black beans (tausi) to give it the salty taste. The man explained that the pawikan meat he was cooking that day was still young and weighed only six kilos. (A pawikan can weigh up to 200 kilos depending on its age and size.) It took him less than an hour to finish cooking because, he said, the meat from the young turtle is still tender. There are days when it would take him an hour or two to cook the dish if the meat that is delivered comes from a big sea turtle, he said. CENRO's Piaquinto said her office has looked into reports of pawikan being sold in Barangay Pasil but has been unable to catch violators who, she said, are ambulant. "(T)he reports could not pinpoint the exact location (of the sellers) since they move around,"she said. Piaquinto also said that it is hard to identify pawikan meat because it looks like any other meat. "We need to have scientific basis in order to establish the evidence, and we don't have the equipment needed," she said. Police seized last year 20 kilos of pawikan meat at the Pasil Port—only because they got lucky. The couriers hurriedly left when they saw law enforcers. If the contraband had not been abandoned, police would have no idea it was pawikan meat, Piaquinto said.

Kopi Talk We can't turn tail and run

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - If countries were people with their heights determined by land area and their weights determined by population, China would certainly be a Goliath to the Philippines' David-except that the physical differences between the two would be much, much greater than those of their biblical counterparts. Even if the Old Testament's Goliath had been nine feet tall (although the experts think he was closer to seven feet), as opposed to David's maybe 5'7" at the shortest, and the giant's weight had been three times that of the young boy (15-17 years old), that difference would pale in comparison with China's Goliath and the Philippines' David. China's land area of 9.6 million square kilometres would make it 32 times taller than the Philippines (300,000 sq km); its population (1.3 billion) would make it 14 times heavier than the Philippines (94 million). A really daunting difference. It must have been daunting for the biblical David, too, but the point is that he didn't turn tail and run, which would have given victory to the Philistines on a silver platter. And, of course, he won. Given the difference between China's Goliath and our David, we may not win. But our turning tail and running now will just give China victory on a silver platter. Plus, we may not be able to live with ourselves, however we try to rationalise things. Plus, of course, we would have let Inang Bayan down, particularly since we regularly sing to her that: "It is glorious, ever, when thou art wronged, for us thy sons to suffer and die." Nevertheless, it would be instructive to find out exactly how China rationalises a situation that, from our point of view, leaves no doubt whatsoever of its hegemony and/or imperialism. And one would be amazed that as far as China is concerned, we are the bad guys. It has been forbearing, but we are "pressing" it "into a corner" so that its only recourse is to stand and fight. It also claims that Philippine warships have been harassing its fishermen since 1990, with the April 10 incident being only the latest in this string of harassments. We have "played tricks" and "triggered disturbances." And since 2000, by its count, at least 32 of its fishing ships were "chased, robbed or detained" by the Philippine Navy. The tiny David, bullying the giant Goliath. The harassment being in the form of chasing, or robbing, or detaining. Just listen to China's version of what happened on April 10, as recounted supposedly by the captain of one of its fishing ships: Nine Philippine soldiers, seven of them carrying rifles, and riding on an inflatable raft, boarded his ship, and made him and his crew (total 16) stand on the deck under the hot sun for four hours while they searched the ship. The captain apparently still had not recovered from the "shocking encounter" with the Philippine Navy, even after three weeks from returning home. And to the Chinese government, we live in fantasy land, because we are mistaking its "forbearance" for "timidity." At the same time, its story of being harassed, robbed, and pressed into a corner, played tricks on, detained, is an objective, factual account. China calls it Huangyan Island. We call it Bajo de Masinloc. We say that the area has been delineated as Philippine territory in Spanish maps dating to the 17th century. China says that this same area has been delineated as its territory in its maps dated several centuries ago. But what about the fact that Bajo de Masinloc/Huangyan is only something like 230 kilometres away from Zambales while it is 1,200 km from the nearest major Chinese land mass? Only think of how long it would have taken Chinese boats several hundred years ago to go to and from the area. Tiny boats. No refrigeration. What would be the point of using the place as fishing grounds? No one has given a satisfactory reason. But isn't Huangyan, at a distance of 1,200 km from China, outside of its exclusive economic zone (200 miles or 320 km), while it is well within that of the Philippines, as we claim? Not to China, which thinks that our territorial claim is "untenable" because, quoting from the director of the China Institute for Marine Affairs under State Oceanic Administration, "there is no such principle in international law that determines territorial ownership by geographic distance, and this theory based on geographic distance ... has no basis in international law and judicial practice." And if the Philippines' theory was upheld, he says, the world map would be totally redrawn. The example he gives is that the British Channel Islands are less than 12 nautical miles off the French coastline at their nearest point. What he fails to point out is that the closest distance between the English mainland and France is only 22 miles. So obviously, the 200-mile economic zone cannot apply. The kicker here would be: If China really thinks that the Philippine "rhetoric" is untenable in terms of international law, why doesn't it want to go to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea? Tsk. But China isn't the only one that makes a claim and doesn't want to put its money where its mouth is. We have also been treated to the spectacle of the United States, which claims that we have a mutual defence treaty with each other but won't put its money where its mouth is. But that's another story. A pox on both of them.