CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

WEATHER
Baguio temp at 9.5C
By Dexter A. See
BAGUIO CITYThe temperature here dropped to 9.5 degrees Celsius at 5 a.m. on Friday, forcing residents and visitors to bring out much thicker jackets and sweatshirts and to gather around replaces Salvador Olinares, ofcer in charge of the Baguio ofce of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said residents and visitors were expecting much colder days ahead
Next page

ALGERIA HOSTAGE-TAKING Cold in the north.

Fog blankets Halsema Highway, the highest highway system in the Philippines, as the temperatures continued to drop in the north. DAVID CHAN

2 Pinoys die, 1 hurt in rescue operation

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan
AT least two Filipinos were among those killed after Algerian helicopters and special forces stormed a gas plant in the Sahara to wipe out Islamist militants who held workers from 10 countries hostage. The fate of the ghters and many of the captives remained uncertain in the ensuing chaos. There were conicting claims from the military and the militants about an event that angered Western leaders and raised world oil prices. At least six people Britons, Filipinos and Algerianswere killed. Terrorized hostages from
Next page

PNP chief abolishes Marantans intel office

NATIONAL Police chief Alan Purisima on Friday said he will abolish the counter-intelligence ofce of Supt. Hansel Marantan for accomplishing nothing and plunging the police organization into another controversy. Thirteen people were killed in Atimonan, Quezon, in a supposed encounter on Jan. 6 between a group of policemen and soldiers led by Marantan and people they claimed were criminals. The policemen said the 13 men were killed in a shootout, but Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Thursday said there had been no shootout after witnesses told her what really happened on Jan. 6. That unit has not been functioning well, so we will be abolishing it and putting up another one, Purisima said. He said President Benigno Aquino III and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II were appalled by the operation hatched by Marantan on Jan. 6. Marantan, still recuperating from the bullet wounds he allegedly
Next page

Standard TODAY
Manila
Vol. XXVI No. 286 12 Pages, 2 Sections P18.00 Saturday, January 19, 2013

www.manilastandardtoday.com mst@mstandardtoday.com

De Lima rapped for bias

Urged not to interfere with probe
By Macon RamosAraneta and Rey E. Requejo
A LAWYER for the military personnel involved in the Jan. 6 killing of 13 people in Antimonan, Quezon, on Friday accused Justice Secretary Leila de Lima of bias after she declared that she was unconvinced that they died in a shootout.
Villasanta

Senates spending not subject to govt audit

By Merck Maguddayao
THE Senate was exempted from government audit and senators spend money without submitting receipts or liquidations of disbursements of their budgets, which amounted to P1.8 billion in 2011, a senior ofcial of the Commission on Audit (COA) said on Friday. COA Chairman Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan said the Senate was the only government institution exempted from government audit with regard to its maintenance and operating costs and other expenses. The Senate accountant merely submit to our auditors a certication of their spending without any documents or receipts attached, Tan said Tan was reacting to questions raised by Sen. Miriam Santiago on the controversial P30 million Christmas bonus released by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to 22 senators, which he claimed came from savings from operating expenses. Enrile called it additional budget for operating expenses but Santiago described it as grandmama of all scandals. She said if the Senate made savings in its operations, COA should recommend to cut its budget for the following year, and claimed it was
Next page

Guns galore. Col. Monico Abang (seated center), the Special Forces ground commander in the shooting incident in Atimonan, Quezon, and his lawyer present to the NBI 15 rearms that were used in the incident. On top right, Cavite Police chief Romano Cardeno presents the guns and ammunition seized from a Mark Aura during a raid in San Jose village on Friday. LINO SANTOS AND DANNY PATA

UNA hails level playing field in election TV ads

By Christine F. Herrera
THE United Nationalist Alliance on Friday hailed the Commission on Elections ruling of limiting to 120 minutes the TV ads for senatorial candidates. The opposition group said the ruling would prevent the President Benigno Aquino III-led Liberal Party coalition from using governments enormous resources for its slate and against its opponents. UNA Secretary General and Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco said the 120 minutes would already amount to P106 million, a difcult amount to raise for the opposition. We welcome the Comelec ruling. That way, we are assured of a level playing eld because we were worried that the ruling Liberal Party, with the government machinery with enormous resources at its disposal, would put us to a disadvantage, Tiangco said. But LP coalition senatorial bet and former Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar said the ruling, which also limits radio exposure to a total 180 minutes, would be disadvantageous to a newcomer like her. Next page

Crisanto Buela, lawyer of the Armed Forces 1st Special Forces Battalion, also complained that a reenactment of the incident had turned into a circus. We were surprised to see Secretary De Lima there with so many press people covering the event. What was supposed to be an objective re-enactment of events turned out to be a circus, Buela said.

Buela also said De Lima had no business leading the reenactment, because President Benigno Aquino III had tapped the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the case. It would have been wise and prudent for her not to interfere with the fact-nding investigation and let the NBI do its job, said Buela. While NBI Director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas has been very careful in his press statements, De Lima appeared to be overly excited and prejudging the case, Buela said. To make matters worse, Buela said De Lima held a news conference in which she giggled before the press when saying she couldnt nd the appropriate term
Next page

Aquino declares January 23 as Araw ng Republikang Filipino, 1899

President Aquino has declared Jan 23 of every year as Araw ng Republikang Filipino, 1899 to commemorate the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. announced Friday. The event, which is a special non-working holiday in Bulacan, is aimed to promote awareness, especially among the youth, on the significance of this chapter in Philippine history that marked the culmination of the Philippine revolution against Spanish rule.

Comelec rules epal poll offense

By Joel E. Zurbano
COMMISSION on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Friday reminded all government ofcials that posting their names on government structures and vehicles is an election offense. Under our new rules, incumbent ofcials are required to remove their names/images/ initials appearing on government structures, signages and vehicles, Brillantes said. He said all government ofcials must comply with this provision before the start of the campaign period, otherwise they would be held liable. The commission is now monitoring the political campaigns on the Internet, election propaganda and campaign materials in connection with the May 13 mid-term polls. It recently came up with Resolution 9615 implementing the new rules and regulations on campaign and election propaganda. Next page

Congress scrambles to pass priority bills

WITH only nine session days left before Congress adjourns on Feb. 9, the House and the Senate are scrambling to tackle several priority measures, especially the Freedom of Information Bill, for the third and last session of the 15th Congress. Proponents and supports of the FOI Bill on Friday held a press conference to push for the measure, which was already passed on third reading at the Senate but has yet to gain ground at the House. The group was led by the bills author, Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Taada III, along with Bishop Broderick Pabillo of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, professor Luis Teodoro of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Ana Maria Nemenzo of the WomenHealth Philippines, lawyer Nepomuceno Malaluan of the Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, Carlo Brolagda of FOI Youth Initiative and Juned Sunido of the Netizens of the Philippines. Tanada urged his fellow lawmakers to vote for the FOI bill, saying that there was still enough
Next page

Aground. This photo taken on Jan. 17 and released by the Armed Forces shows the USS Guardian, a US

Navy minesweeper that went aground off Tubbataha Reef, a World Heritage Site in the Sulu Sea. Most of the sailors left the ship Friday for safety reasons after initial efforts to free the vessel failed. AP

US pivot to Asia to help stabilize region

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan
A UNITED States lawmaker on Friday said the US presence in the Asia-Pacic region would help stabilize security in the region amid the ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). US Represenative Ed Royce, chairman of the U.S House Committee on Foreign Relations, made the assurance in a meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario when the countrys top envoy visited Washington recently. Representative Royce reiterated his commitment to a strong alliance between the Philippines and the United States, a statement from the Foreign Affairs Department said. In recent months, countries belonging to the Association of South East Nations have been rocked by diplomatic spats, mainly because of what they claimed as Chinas increasingly aggressive stance in the South China Sea. Next page

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A2

SATURDAY

JANUARY 19, 2013

ManilaStandardToday

News
posed encounter and who, according to reports had links to alleged jueteng operator Vic Siman, who was also killed in the supposed encounter. Purisima wants to establish a new intelligence ofce that will perform better, Cerbo said. The Intelligence Group based in Camp Crame led by Senior Superintendent Abelardo Villacorta has not received any reports on Conseminos association with Vic Simans group. Hours after the alleged shootout in Lumutan village, local police ofcials claimed that the fatalities were members of a gunfor-hire group. But because of allegations that the incident had been a rubout and not a shootout, Aquino designated the National Bureau of Investigation as the sole agency to investigate the incident to avoid a whitewash. But because of Marantans refusal to cooperate with the

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Baguio...
as the temperature was expected to drop further because of the northeast monsoon bringing in the cold winter winds from China and Siberia. The highly elevated areas in Baguio and Benguet have much lower temperatures because those areas are directly exposed to the northeast monsoon, Olinares told the Manila Standard. He said the thick clouds were blocking sunlight, hence contributing to the cold spell. As soon as we felt the much colder winds on Thursday afternoon, we lighted up our replace to help keep our house warm, said James Cortes, a resident of Camp 7 village here. In Madaymen, Kibungan and Bauko in Mountain Province, where the temperature was reported to have dropped to 4 degrees Celsius, hundreds of farmers rushed to their gardens and sprayed their crops with water before sunrise to remove the frost that had formed on their leaves. Agriculturist Lolita Bentres said that, so far, there had been no reports of vegetables being damaged by frost, which had been forming in the past several days. Most of our farmers have harvested their crops, Bentres said. They are just waiting for the cold spell to pass before planting for the next cropping season. The lowest temperature recorded in the city was 6.3 degrees Celsius on Jan. 18, 1963.

PNP...
sustained from the supposed encounter with the 13 men, was sacked as deputy director of the Intelligence Division of the Regional Police Ofce 4-A after a PNP fact-nding committee found glaring checkpoint violations by his group of 15 policemen and 23 soldiers. The soldiers were led by Lt. Col. Monico Abang, command-

ing ofce of the Armys 1st Special Forces Battalion. Marantans 15 men were also relieved, while Quezon provincial commander Senior Supt. Valeriano de Leon was red. The President then red Calabarzon Police chief James Melad. National Police spokesman Generoso Cerbo said Purisima disbanded the counter-intelligence group for failing to check on Supt. Alfredo Consemino, one of the 13 people killed in the sup-

investigation, de Lima said, they were contemplating to file obstruction-of-justice charges against him. Earlier, Cerbo said the National Polices Internal Affairs Service had already started investigating Marantans the administrative liability. Purisima said he had already ordered the Internal Affairs Service to expedite their investigation of Marantan. Florante S. Solmerin and Francisco Tuyay

Re-greening Baguio City.

Baguios residents have been working with SM City Baguio to re-green the city with a treeplanting activity that is being held every week until the last week of February 2013. Around 4,000 trees will be planted in the next two months by community leaders, residents and students. SM has been involved in Baguios environmental renewal for eight years now, and since 2005 has planted more than 23,000 saplings.

De Lima...
for the incident, suggesting it might have been a rubout. So as not to further prejudice the rights of his clients, Buela said he urged Rojas to send the records of the case to the Ofce of the Ombudsman for preliminary investigation if the NBI will le criminal charges. De Lima denied suggestions that she was preempting the investigation Friday. The media observed the reenactment closely and you saw what happened. As I said it was not a shootout. It could be rubout, ambush, summary execution or even massacre. We dont know yet how to call it, but it will come out in the NBI report, she said. De Lima said she already directed the NBI to expedite the probe and submit its report by mid-next week at the latest. Responding to criticisms from Marantan and Buela, De Lima said she saw nothing wrong with her hands-on supervision of the probe by the NBI, which is under the Justice Department. Did I violate anything? Isnt NBI under me? So whats wrong with that? NBI is a constituent

Senates...
irregular that Senators were given additional operating budgets at the end of the year. Tan said the Senate exemption dates back to the 1980s under the leadership of the late Senate president Marcelo Fernan and the practice continued because it was included in the rules of the Senate with respect to their accounting. Those of us working in government, when we take and trip and ride on a plane we present our tickets and boarding passes, which should be attached to our liquidation. In the Senate, nothing, she said. But I understand why they have adopted that system. They are senators who were elected by the people and there is no reason why we should doubt what they put into writing. We take their word for it, Tan said. Tan said the House of Representatvies, which do not enjoy the same exemption as the Senate, have unliquidated cash advances of P10.7 million and unreconciled balance of P56.5 million in its property and equipment assets. She said auditors were still going over its maintenance and operating expenses for last year.

agency of the DOJ -- not just an attached agency -- so anytime that I feel like monitoring or personally supervising any of its activities, its my prerogative to do so. Theres nothing wrong with that, she said. Also on Friday, the executive director of the Presidential AntiOrganized Crime Commission, Chief Supt. Reginald Villasanta, conrmed they released P100,000 out of the P900,000 requested for Coplan Armado (Case Operations Plan Armado), but said this was to build up a case, not to mount a military operation against Vic Siman, alleged leader of a gambling and gunrunning syndicate in the Southern Tagalog region. In a prepared statement read before the media after appearing at the NBI headquarters, Villasanta said the release of funds did not amount to a go-signal to carry out the operation, which ended in the death of 13 people. He said a board resolution did not approve of the Coplan Armado submitted by police Supt. Hansel Marantan, Supt. Glenn Dumlao and Calabarzon regional director Supt. James Melad. This contradicted Melads claim Wednesday that the comcy APS said four foreign workerstwo Britons and two Filipinoswere killed in the raid. We dont have any reports about that. Reports from Algeria are very minimal, said Raul Hernandez, department spokesman. He did not name the Filipino who escaped during the raid, but said he was injured and on the way to Algiers for treatment. Hernandez could also offer no accurate count of the number of Filipino workers trapped in the gas eld, or how many of them were held hostage. We are trying to see how to get more information. It looks like there are many Filipinos working in the gas eld in variAct is (a) tangible evidence in trade policy of this pivot, he added. Recognizing the importance of the alliance in the ambit of the US Congress, Royce assured del Rosario that he will help reinvigorate the Philippine-US Friendship Caucus. The Caucus is a bipartisan network of US congressmen which work for a robust bilateral partnership for democracy and regional security and recognizes the dynamic presence of Filipino Americans in the United States. Royce is a long-time proponent of closer defense cooperation between the Philippines and the US, and has pushed for bilateral efforts against terrorism. He is also a staunch supporter of the rules-based approach to the West Philippine Sea issue and the peaceful resolution of disputes have to ask the Speaker to give us some leniency on the policy of quorum while deliberation is ongoing. The Senate passed on third and nal reading the FOI bill as well as the version submitted by the House committee on public information. Belmonte, meanwhile, said he and other House leaders will meet with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile over the weekend to discuss the FOI and other priority measures.

mission, headed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, had approved the operation and disapproved only the portion about its funding. Marantan, who was relieved as deputy intelligence ofcer of the Calabarzon regional police, backed Melads assertion, saying he received P100,000 of the P900,000 requested funding. Marantan led the ground operation against Siman following an informants tip that the group would be passing through the highway in Atimonan. But Villasanta said it was clear from the resolution that the operation was never approved by any ofcial at the Executive Secretarys level or higher. He said the operation was not approved because it lacked the documentation required to assess the viability and feasibility of the operation. Just for clarication, the fund (P100,000) was given to be used in gathering information to strengthen their proposed Coplan, said Villasanta. Allow me to stress a very important distinction here: the release approved was only for intelligence purposes. It was not intended for operations, he said.

After reading his statement, Villasanta declined to answer questions from the media. His y condential. Villasanta said he showed up at the NBI in consonance with earlier pledge to cooperate with the bureaus investigation of the Atimonan incident. I met with NBI ofcials and provided them with information. We hope we will help them arrive at the truth regarding the incident in Quezon, he said. An NBI source said Villasanta was questioned on the particular role of PAOCC in the Quezon operation. De Lima on Thursday declared there was no shootout based on the explosive and very vital testimony of three witnesses who bolstered ndings that there was no shootout at the joint policemilitary checkpoint in Brgy. Lumutan in Atimonan. Marantan insisted that a shootout occurred on Jan. 6 and that he himself was wounded in the limbs. But De Lima said Marantans statement is no longer needed if he will insist there was an exchange of gunre. De Lima said the neutral witnesses were there on that Sunday

afternoon and saw the killings that local and regional police ofcials wanted the public to believe was a shootout between a combined police and military security force and a group of criminals led by Siman. Siman, three police ofcers and three military men were among those killed by Marantans group, which was backed by members of the Armys Special Forces. On Friday, Lt. Col. Monico Abang, commanding ofcer of the 1st Special Forces Batallion, led the turnover of 15 rearms to the NBI for ballistics tests. During a press brieng at the NBI headquarters, Abang said they red warning shots after gunre erupted. He also conrmed they blocked the road with a military truck after the convoy tried getting past the rst checkpoint. He described the encounter as spontaneous and said all he saw during the shootout was the wounded Marantan, who was being dragged away from the area. He also said he did not see any truck pass the checkpoint, contradicting testimony from witnesses who said they saw the shooting as they passed through in their truck. With Joyce Pangco Paares

2...
Ireland and Norway trickled out of the Ain Amenas plant, but dozens more remained unaccounted for, including Americans, Britons, French, Norwegians, Romanians, Malaysians, Japanese and Algerians. In Manila, a Foreign Affairs ofcial could not conrm the death of two Filipino workers but said at least one Philippine national managed to escape injured. The country has no embassy in the African state and handles consular business through its embassy in neighboring Libya. Earlier, the Algerian news agenof international law must be respected, Royce said. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr., who was also at the meeting, said that del Rosario and Royce renewed their commitment to promoting the historic and vital relationship between the two countries. Del Rosario and Cuisia expressed their gratitude to the congressman for his support for the Save Our Industries Act (SAVE Act), a trade initiative in the US Congress which is aimed at promoting Philippine apparel and US textile industries. Royce said we have to keep pushing it [the SAVE Act]. The US pivot to Asia should lean towards the Philippines, the oldest and one of the closest allies of the US in the region. The SAVE is our responsibility to attend the session, instead of waiting for instruction from our respective parties, he said. Taada said he will ask House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte to allow the bills authors to deliver their sponsorship speech on Monday. We all know that a Monday session is always devoted to a day for privilege speeches, and that based on experience, the House has always experienced a problem in the quorum. (So) I will

ous companies, Hernandez said. The government says there are some 2,400 skilled Filipinos working in Algeria, many of them in the Amenas gas field. Hernandez said the department had received calls from relatives of Filipino workers in Algeria who they said were among the hostages. They counted at least 20 such cases. He also quoted another report saying 34 Filipinos who were trapped in the gas eld managed to escape and were being own to London on Thursday. With the Associated Press and Vito Barcelo within the framework of international law. China and the Philippines are embroiled in a simmering territorial dispute over the resource-rich chain of islands in the West Philippine Sea. China claims virtually the entire sea, while parts of it are being claimed in parts by the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. The US presence in the region, however, was an unwelcome sight for China who had proposed bilateral talks to resolve the dispute. The United States, however, has backed the Philippine proposal of subjecting the issue in multilateral talks that would include parties with strategic interests to the peace and stability in the region. Belmonte underscored the need to to harmonize bills to be passed with the Senate to ensure that these would reach the desk of President Benigno Aquino III. Communication between the two chambers is important at this point, Belmonte said as he vowed to muster a quorum during the remaining session days, Bemonte said He said the Lower House was all set for the resumption of session on Monday, Jan. 21.

Comelec...
We overhauled our rules on campaign and election propaganda and trees will be much happier under our new rules, Brillantes said. Among the prohibited acts: Printing, publishing, posting or distributing any newspaper, newsletter, newsweekly, gazette or magazine advertising, pamphlet, leaet, card, decal, bumper sticker, poster, comic book, circular, handbill, streamer, sample list of candidates or any published or printed political matter and broadcasting any election propaganda or political ad by TV or radio or on the Internet for or against a candidate or group of candidates for any public ofce unless they bear the reasonably

US...
Royce also downplayed fears that the US budget reduction may impact on its diplomatic relations with Asia, particularly in the areas of security and military alliances. He said that with the increasing number of Filipino-American lawmakers in the US, Royce said that he does not see that budget reduction would affect Washingtons relations with Manila. I dont believe any sequestration or budget reduction would have any marked impact on US engagement in Asia, particularly in bolstering security and military alliances. Asia represents half of the global economy. We need to keep the peace and keep the shipping lines open. The supremacy

legible or audible words political advertisement paid for. Showing publicly in a theater, TV station or any public forum any movie, cinematography or documentary portraying the life or biography of a candidate, or in which a character is portrayed by an actor or media personality who is himself a candidate. Any radio, TV, cable TV station, announcer or broadcaster allowing the scheduling of any program or permitting any sponsor to manifestly favor or oppose any candidate or party by unduly or repeatedly referring to the candidate or party. We also prohibited campaign materials posted on trees, public utility vehicles like buses, jeepneys, taxis, pedicabs, tricycles, and terminals airports, Brillantes said. their campaign. Local candidates, on the other hand, must not log more than 60 minutes for TV and 90 minutes for radio. But the Comelec said the TV ads by the UNA and LP which were already aired were not counted since the 90-day national campaign period has yet to begin on Feb. 12. The Comelec ruling deviated from past Comelec regulations in 2004, 2007 and 2010 when candidates were given the same airtime limits but on a per network basis. The ruling, however, did not sit well with the KBP, which said that the new rule runs counter to previous rules implemented in previous elections where the allowable airtime for political ads was interpreted as per station. The KBP said the Comelec should take into account not only the legislative intent, but also the limits on campaign spending, the right of the public to information, the right of candidates to determine the most effective means of advertising expenditure to reach the electorate, and the peculiarities and nuances of local broadcast media.

UNA...
I think it will affect newcomers or new names in politics more than the reelectionists or those who have had prior positions in government kasi wala pang name recall. Also, it will also be disadvantageous to private people compared to media people or other prominent personalities, for example, those who are in show business, she said. Bayan Muna Rep. and Makabayan senatorial bet Teddy Casino, also gave his thumbs-up on the ruling, but urged the Comelec to buy more airtime for the free use of all senatorial candidates that would be distributed equitably. The Comelec, he said, should use its billions of savings for this purpose. It is good the Comelec is trying to limit the exposure of moneyed and powerful candidates and parties. We hope it will truly lessen the barrage of campaign ads, Casino said. In a Comelec en banc Resolution 9615, the commission said candidates for national ofce should have an aggregate total of 120 minutes of TV airtime and 180 minutes of radio airtime for

Congress...
time to take up the measure before Congress adjourns to give way to the May 13 elections. Each representative must ask himself or herself where does he or she stand on the issue of the FOI measure, Tanada said. He added that the measure should cross party lines. If Congress believes in good governance and accountability, it

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

ManilaStandardToday

News
them. The memorandum of understanding between the government of Korea and the Philippines provides that the MOEL may take necessary measures such as reducing the number of jobseekers in the roster or suspending participation in the EPS if the number of Filipino workers absenting without leave or staying illegally in Korea exceeds the average for all sending countries, Cacdac said. In the registration for the rst computer based Test for Prociency in Korean, at the OSHC in Quezon City, Cacdac thanked the EPS workers for observing Korean immigration laws by not running away from their jobs and voluntarily leaving Korea after nishing their contract.

SATURDAY JANUARY 19, 2013

A3

Korea slashes PH labor quota

By Vito Barcelo

South Korea will reduce labor quota for the Philippines because of the increasing illegal overseas Filipino workers in that country, the Philippine overseas Employment Administration said.

The Philippines may eventually lose a favored destination of Filipino workers if the number of workers illegally staying in Korea continues to increase, POEA chief Hans Cacdac said. Cacdac said the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor has decided to reduce the number of new workers that may be allowed to work in Korea this year to 4,200 from 5,200 in 2012. For 2013, only 7,900 names of Filipino workers will be included in the roster, a marked decrease from 9,800 names in 2012, Cacdac said. However, he said, the POEA is not disputing the decision of Korea to slash the quota on Filipino workers. We have to abide with our contract with

You make us proud in contrast to those who turn illegal, unmindful of the governments forewarning and advice to return upon the expiration of their contract, Cacdac said. He also urged them to help preserve the positive image of the Filipino EPS workers to continue to enjoy a good share of the demand for foreign workers in Korea and not ruin the good chances of other Filipinos desiring to get jobs under the EPS. Let us reduce the number of Filipino irregular workers in Korea so we can have a higher quota next year, Cacdac said. The Philippines has deployed some 30,000 workers to Korea since 2004, mostly in the manufacturing sector.

Manila-Madrid forum slated

By Sara Fabunan
FILIPINO ofcials will host a high-level dialogue with their Spanish counterparts by the end of the month to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries. In a media round table on Friday, Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq said that Madrid has decided to boost relation with the Philippines by focusing on only four areas of diplomatic partnerships, namely business, education, politics and culture. The dialogue is much more focused than in the previous meetings, Domecq said, adding that the area of relations will be in line with the Philippine governments programs, including good governance and PublicPrivate Partnership Program. He added that Spain has already implemented its new business model in Japan and Korea. And we are thinking whether we would also do the same thing with China, the envoy said. Pedro Roxas, president of the privately-funded Fundacion Santiago, said that this year, Spain would like to focus on the Philippines business side, given the fact that Manilas economy is growing. We would want to strictly focus more on the business side, Roxas stressed. Callas the Sixth Tribuna Espaa-Filipinas, the high-level dialogue will be held at the Asian Institute of Management on January 29 and 30. Domecq said that the forum has been quite a fruitful seedling for the two countries, which share more than 300 years of relations. [The forum] will complement the different components of the private, public and cultural side. It will act as a catalystic force to focus attention to the key areas of mutual interests, Pedro Roxas, president of the privately-funded Fundacion Santiago, Roxas said. The forums ultimate objective is to strengthen ties and help both countries understand each other. The focus will be on four major points--heritage tourism and creative industries, private public partnership (PPP), politics and education. Other sessions of the forum will cover investments in airport runways, wall-less education, exchanges, internationalization and equivalency. Chaco Molina, the spokesperson of the Tribuna EspanaFilipinas, recognized the need to boost the links of the two countries. We shall not ignore the past, but we must look forward to the future. It is a bittersweet relationship, he said.

Booster. The war on criminality gets a big boost with the donation of 200 motorcycle units made by Norking Trading headed by Norberto
Quisumbing (middle). Also at the turnover rites held at Camp Crame are Teresita Ang See, vice chairman of the PNP Foundation Inc.; police deputy director-general Rommel Heredia, and other police and company ofcials. MANNY PALMERO

2 tollways top P147-b projects

PRESIDENT Aquino has approved ve major projects worth P146.9 billion during Fridays National Economic Development Authority board meeting. All of these projects are meant to promote inclusive and rapid growth, Presidential Communications Development Secretary Ramon Carandang said. The NEDA board approved the continuation of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Service or KALAHI-CIDSS consisting of community development projects worth P81.9 billion. Carandang said this would benet 5.9 million families across the country. Other projects approved are as follows: the Cavite-Laguna expressway worth P35.6 billion which will be nished by 2017; the South Luzon Expressway-North Luzon Expressway connector worth P25.5 billion that is expected to be completed by 2016. Carandang said the government will shoulder the common portion from the Buendia station to the station near the Polytechnic University of the Philippines; construction of a dam in Isabela worth P1.03 billion, of which P935 million will come from ofcial development assistance, aimed at preventing ooding in the province and in neighboring areas which will also reroute water for irrigation and expand areas for sheries; and the second phase of the Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resources Management project worth P2.9 billion to nance local community development projects. Joyce Paares

Compostela cop, soldier nabbed at NPA checkpoint

THE military and police have launched rescue operations for a soldier and a policeman who were abducted by the New Peoples Army Thursday in Sitio Mangob, Barangay Imelda, Laak, Compostela Valley, Maj. Jacob Thaddeus Obligado, commanding ofcer of the Armys 10th Civil Military Operations Battalion, said yesterday. He identied the victims as Private First Class Jezreel Culango, currently assigned with an Army unit based San Isidro, Davao del Norte and PO1 Ruel Pasion, of San Isidro Police Station. Obligado said Culango and Pasion were on board a passenger vehicle when stopped by more than 30 rebels, 12 were in camouage uniform and the rest in civilian clothes, at around 9 a.m. He said the band, belonging to NPA Front 34 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, ed with their captives toward Sitio Tugpahan On January 15, government forces lifted the suspension of military operations while the NPA cancelled its ceasere notice, following the order of the Community Party of the Philippines to resume tactical offensives. Malacanang announced a return to peace talks with the National Democratic Front, the negotiating arm of the CPP-NPA, after a condence building meeting on December 17 to 18 last yerar in The Hague. Peace negotiations had been stalled since February 2011 after the NDF pulled out because of the continued arrest of its peace consultants who were covered by the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees signed by both parties. Florante S. Solmerin

Cebu drug suspect, 61, nabbed

IN BRIEF

PEDITA Abella, 61, listed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 7 as a drug-ring leader, was arrested during a buy-bust operation on January 16 in Barangay Suba, Cebu City. She is the notorious leader of the Abellana Drug Group responsible for the proliferation of illegal drugs in Barangay Suba and nearby municipalities, PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. said. He said Abellana, a resident of Magsaysay Street, was arrested at around 1:30 p.m. After handing over one sachet of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu to the poseur-buyer, Abellana was arrested by PDEA operatives under Director Julius Navales, Cacdac said. She yielded two more sachets of shabu weighing more or less two grams contained inside a blue pouch, he said. More and more women are getting involved in illegal drug activities, drug pushing in particular, Cacdac said. Even in their 60s, these women are bold enough to head a drug group, Cacdac said, referring to Abellana and Violeta Vallecer, a 65-year-old leader of the Contreras Drug Group, who was arrested by PDEA agents last December 13.

Sinulog festival goes hi-tech

MILLIONS of Filipinos all over the world will be able to virtually join those who will ock to Cebu City for the Sinulog festival, to pay homage to the Child Jesus amid song, dance, and religious fervor. They will be able to do this in real time and via the Internet, through LTE, the fastest wireless service of telco leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart). In cooperation with SunStar Network Online (Sunnex), Smart will be providing connectivity to the live video streaming of the festivities. Using Smart LTE, the countrys rst and only commercial LTE service, Sunnex will deliver live, high-resolution images and high-denition videos, allowing anyone with Internet access anywhere in the world to join the celebration by going to http://cebu.sunstar.com.ph/ sinulog. We are glad to provide connectivity to help promote the grandeur of Sinulog to a global audience, especially to our kababayans abroad who surely miss participating in this uniquely Filipino tradition, said Emmanuel C. Lorenzana, Executive Vice President and head of Smarts Wireless Consumer Division. Those in the city who will not be able to personally join the event can also proceed to the Jump Experience Center in SM City Cebu, where big plasma screens will show the SunStar Network Online LTE-powered live-streaming of the Sinulog highlights. Dubbed the fastest wireless technology in the world today, LTE is a telecommunication standard capable of extremely high-speed data transfers, and is several times faster than presentday 3G and HSPA+ speeds.

Scavenger. A teenager sifts through the debris following an overnight re that gutted 200 houses and displaced a thousand people in a squatters area in Cainta. AP

PRESIDENT Aquino has appointed Jose Grageda as acting Agrarian Reform undersecretary and Janice Santos as assistant secretary of the Ofce of the Cabinet Secretary. Other appointees in the regional and municipal trial judges: Leah Baguyo and Ambrosio de Luna for Palawan; Beatrice Medina for Rizal; Napoleon Matienzo for Quezon; Luvino Roque, Rean Joaquin, and Christine Isabel Guerrero for Laguna; and Mederlyn Mangalindan for Cavite; Melina Mantilla for Surigao del Norte. Edward Togonon is new chief prosecutor of Manila, replacing Jhoseph Lopez, who was promoted as associate justice of the Court of Appeals. Togonon, president of the chief prosecutors association of the Philippines, served as city prosecutor of Muntinlupa. He also served in a fact-nding panel that held former President Arroyo and Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos liable for the 2007 election fraud. Joyce Paares, Rey Requejo

Cabinet men, trial judges named

A4 SATURDAY

JANUARY 19, 2013

ManilaStandardToday Adelle Chua, Editor

Opinion
enforcers have to double up their watch on private armies and their arsenals while minding Camp Crames one-strike policy on jueteng. With the extra attention focused on Quezon, the police regional ofce makes it appear that the province is a lucrative place for the illegal numbers game and weapons dealinga prime assignment for ofcers outside Metro Manila. Meanwhile, the investigation into the Atimonan killings should trace how the chain of command was followed. What is the protocol? When are actions in order? When is an order made not in excess of authority? Under what circumstances are instructions allowed

mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Process of elimination
bush at all. Surely, the dead mens relatives cannot be expected to shrug off the carnage as a mere accident in the manner of a road mishap. All told, it is reasonable for the bereaved family of slain environmentalist Tirso Lontok Jr. to ask the role of the Armys Special Forces Battallion, giving the operation the scale of a campaign in Latin America where the armed forces wage war on dangerous drugs. Unperturbed, the police justify the stakeout as necessary in the continuing drive against gun-for hires and illegal gambling. At the onset of election season, law to be made verbally and in writing? Is texting permitted? The police should undergo constant drills on the rules of engagement to prevent a repeat of the Luneta asco, where the hostage-taking incident was mishandled on live coverage before a horried audience. Regardless of the investigations results, there is no loss for words to describe 13 deaths on January 6 in the hands of the police and soldiers-- massacre, bloodbath, overkill, slaughter, tragedy. And in an almost-forgotten song of a movie from the last century, the slayings are not self-inictedmuch less painless.

WHEN 13 people are gunned down at a highway checkpoint, describing the incident is crucial especially when authorities are mindful of the fact that government functionaries are involved. After Thursdays re-enactment at the site of the shooting in Atimonan, Quezon, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was categorical in ruling out a gunght. Denitely, it was not a shootout, she told reporters, giving credence to the testimony of three witnesses who saw a joint police and military team open re on the victims on board two vehicles. Deputy director Virgilio Mendez of the National Bureau of Investigation, an agency under De Lima, finds no am-

The dark world of jueteng

BACK CHANNEL
A WINDOW into the dark world of jueteng was opened on Net 25s TV program, On Line Balita, which gave an insight into the internecine rivalry of crime bosses and the huge money involved that led to the Atimonan carnage on January 6. Two civilian witnesses have surfaced to give a vivid account of the carnage in Atimonan to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima during a reenactment at the crime scene. On board a truck, they were told by the combined police-military group manning a checkpoint to move on. They claimed they saw two men from one of the vehicles alight with their hands raised but were still shot. This was followed with a fusillade from the group beside the road on the two Montero sports utility vehicles killing the 11 other occupants. Police Superintendent James Melad, relieved as Director of Calabarzon (Region IV) after the Atimonan incident, insists Coplan Armado was approved by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, head of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission. Melad who talked to reporters when he appeared before the NBI panel probing the case, said only the funding for the operation was disapproved but the plan was given the green light. Whistleblower Sandra Cam, the resource person on Arlene de la Cruzs TV program last Wednesday, is someone with inside information on the illegal numbers game who is not easily dismissed. She laments that President Aquino, the only one who can really stop jueteng, has not given the order to do so. Walked through by the sharp and leading questions of the veteran print and broadcast journalist Arlene de la Cruz, Cam validated initial ndings that the bloody Jan.6 incident was a turf war between a jueteng king, Vic Siman, in the Bicol, Batangas and Laguna provinces and a jueteng queen related to one of the police ofcials involved in the Atimonan carnage. Siman was among the 13 men slain in Atimonan. Another Siman henchman, Fernando Morales, was dragged out of his house in San Juan, Batangas a few days after Atimonan and was killed in an alleged shootout by men posing as policemen. Although Cam cleared President Aquino as beneting from jueteng, she said the money trail from town mayors, governors, PNP and military provincial commanders go all the way to Malacanang. She refused, however, to name the Palace ofcial linked to the payola. Given Cams vulnerability, one can understand why she is conALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

Jueteng is no longer just an underworld industry. Like drug trafcking, it has gone past the nascent stage of being a national security threat.

strained from naming names. What is hard to understand is why the national leadership cant seem to see that jueteng is no longer just an underworld industry. Like drug trafcking, jueteng has gone past the nascent stage of being a national security threat. With their enormous funds, the crime lords can undermine the state by buying off law enforcers and nancing the election of ofcials from the local to national level. The shocker was when Sandra said three senators also get a share of jueteng money. But again she demurred from naming them. Ms. Cam said it is logical some politicians were receiving campaign funds from jueteng. She is no longer under the governments witness protection after her expose of the extent of the illegal numbers game. With threats from jueteng lords, Sandra said she has committed her life in the hands of a higher Lord. She revealed that DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, who warned jueteng operators in Pampanga to cease and desist, should look into his region where the illegal numbers game has spread to Iloilo and Negros. Cam claims she is in possession of bank deposits slips purportedly given to a ranking ofcial. Joining Sandra in the war against jueteng are former priest and Pampanga Governor Among Ed Panlilio and retired Pangasinan Archbishop Oscar Cruz. The continued proliferation of jueteng, Cam said, was operating under the guise of the Small Town Lottery. The modus operandi of the jueteng lords, she said , was to pay off an STL operator who has been licensed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Ofce. The licensed STL operator bribed or under duress from crime lords, then allows two extra draws that are actually jueteng under STL cover. The PCSO has been promising to unveil a new Small Town Lottery designed to eradicate jueteng. The new PCSO board headed by Margie Juico, however, still has to come up with the master plan after two years on the job. It makes you wonder whether they really have a plan or the plan was shelved. Hmm.

Of heroes and villains

POWER POINT
ANDRES Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini have always been my heroes of choice. My top hero was the Supremo because he was (and is) regarded as the full-blooded revolutionary who led the masses ght against our Spanish oppressors. Second was Mabini because of his intelligence and uncompromising patriotism. He came in conict against the illustrious Cabinet members of then President Emilio Aguinaldo, which, later alienated him. Mabini was one of those who would rather lose power than give his principles up. Dr. Jose Rizal was also on my list. After all, his writings inspired the Katipunan. He was also martyred by the enemy. But Rizal was my far third. Rizal was highly educated. Bonifacio was virtually unschooled. Rizal rejected the revolution. He wanted annexation to, not independence from Spain. Bonifacio, despite the odds, went on and led the revolution towards Motherlands independence. I believed that Rizal was a safe choice for the Americans as our national hero over Bonifacio because he was a pacist, and the latter, a rebel. In short, I bought the idea that Rizal was a reformist and Bonifacio was the revolutionary. Bonifacios image with the grim face, a bolo-bearing arm raised as if shouting, Sugod mga kapatid! truly captivates me. It was so romantic, I could swoon. As an activist, I want systemic

ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO

The 9:30 breakfast meeting on Jan. 22 of John Negroponte, former US ambassador to Manila, with invited journalists has been moved from the Manila Peninsula to the Mandarin Hotels Nash Room. Negroponte, former chief of US Intelligence and Americas ambassador to the United Nations, will also address on the same day a joint American and European Chambers of Commerce and the Asia Society co-hosted by the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation at 12 noon at the Taipan Room of the PhilAm Tower Club.

Change of venue

change. I think that nothing short of a revolution, albeit non-bloody, can solve our countrys problems. I believe that the masa should lead the revolution, ala-Bonifacio. To me, Bonifacio was bigger than Rizal. What about Emilio Aguinaldo? Without really bothering to learn more, I regarded him as the villain of the revolution. He had my hero, the Supremo, killed. He sold out to the Americans. I needed nothing more. Or so I thought. Lest I be accused of biases, let me state that I write this piece not as an expert but as a student of history. I also write this not to defend Aguinaldo but to raise concerns on how we learn from our past. Purposely, this piece comes after the showing of the movie on Aguinaldo. I have nothing to do with it. Activism rekindled my interest in our history, particularly, the Philippine revolution. Through the years, I have read many related books, publications, even unpublished manuscripts. I searched for materials on revolutionary Filipino women. My belief that katipuneras did more than feeding the men and healing the sick was reinforced because of accounts of women ghting side by side with katipuneros. I visited museums and historical homes and places, looking for clues about the lives of those who came before us. Seeing their personal things fascinated me. My thirst for knowledge and understanding has given me insights about the context within which our heroes, even those we consider as villains, operated. I learned that Rizal did not reject

the revolution outright. He wanted for the group to prepare more and acquire arms that the Katipunan sorely lacked. I learned how lonely and hard-up Rizal was in Europe despite pictures of parties and get-togethers we see of him. His letters to his family and his writings at this point revealed this. He even wrote about the loneliness of being unable to court women he found attractive because he had a job to do for his country! From various publications, I learned how hotheaded Bonifacio was, and how it appeared to people that he liked being treated as maharlika. There are some accounts of katipuneros complaining about Supremos highhandedness. I also learned that the revolutions launch was more accidental than planned. Katipunan was discovered because of a quarrel between two members. One revealed the secrets of the society to his sister who in turn told a nun. The nun had the katipunero confess to a priest. Thus, KKK was discovered and members were hunted down. A few days after, Bonifacio launched the revolution. Nagkasubuan na! Many months before the movie El Presidente was shown, I got lucky and had the opportunity to read some of Aguinaldos papers. I must confess that reading his words, his perspectives on things, their difculties during the revolution, the treachery within and outside Katipunan, gave me a different point of view. Aguinaldo became President at the age of 28. What does a 28-year old know? In the papers I read, he spoke of his sadness that Mabini chose to leave him. He said he only wanted the best and the brightest to help him in building the nation. Turn to A5

ROLANDO G. ESTABILLO RAMONCHITO L. TOMELDAN CHIN WONG/ RAY S. EANO JOEL P. PALACIOS MARLON C. MAGTIRA

ROGELIO C. SALAZAR President & CEO Publisher FRANCIS LAGNITON Managing Editor ARMAN ARMERO Associate Editors LEO A. ESTONILO ROMEL J. MENDEZ News Editor ROBERTO CABRERA Online Editor

Senior Deskman Senior Deskman Senior Deskman Art Director Chief Photographer

Standard TODAY
Manila
Published Monday to Sunday by Kamahalan Publishing Corporation at 3rd Floor Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas corner Perea Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone

CLIMACO E. CALIWARA Controller ANITA F. GREFAL Treasury Manager

MA. EDITHA D. ANGELES Advertising Manager EDGAR M. VALMORIDA Circulation Manager

numbers 659-4830 to 32 (connecting all departments), 659-4827 (Editorial), 6594803, 659-4802 (Advertising), 527-5016 (Sales and Distribution/Subscription) and 527-2057 (Credit and Collection). Fax numbers: 659-4804 (Advertising) and 5276406 (Subscription). P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Ofce, Manila. Website: www. manilastandardtoday.com E-mail: mst@ manilastandardtoday.com

MST ONLINE

can be accessed at: www.manilastandardtoday.com Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

PPI

MEMBER

mst.lettertotheeditor@gmail.com

ManilaStandardToday Adelle Chua, Editor

Opinion
EAGLE EYES
NOT even a week after the New Year revelry took the life of seven-yearold Stephanie Nicole Ella when she was hit on the head by a stray bullet, the nation was again shocked by the senseless killing of the innocents when drug-crazed 41-year-old Ronald Bossing Bae went on a shooting rampage in his neighborhood in Kawit, Cavite. Bae indiscriminately killed eight and wounded about 11 others, including a pregnant woman and a seven-year-old girl, before he was finally shot dead by the responding police. Baes murderous rampage is reminiscent of the Sandy Hook massacre - the second-deadliest school shooting in United States history, after the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre - when a lone gunman, armed with a semi-automatic AR-15 assault rifle made by Bushmaster and pistols made by Glock and Sig Sauer, shot his way into an elementary school fatally shooting 20 children and six adult staff members and wounding two at Sandy Hook Elementary School. After the killing spree, the 20-yearold gunman Adam Lanza committed suicide by shooting himself in the head as policemen arrived. The soaring number of mass shooting incidents in the United States has triggered a raging debate between pro-gun advocates and those who are advocating for a stricter gun control. And at the core of this debate is right to bear arms guaranteed under the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This past week, President Barack Obama has taken bold steps to address this problem.
DEAN TONY LA VIA

SATURDAY JANUARY 19, 2013

A5

Distinguishing image from reality

BACKBENCHER
PRESIDENT Benigno Simeon PNoy Aquino III is about to cross the halfway mark of his term, and the people who gave him the adulating mandate are still awaiting some tangible achievements. They have yet to see what that modernday American philosopher Eric Hoffer said as the promise of hope translated to one called matuwid na daan. Of course, those who have been lording it over are expected to praise the 7.1 percent increase in gross domestic product as phenomenal. They would be quick to say he surpassed what their favorite whipping boy Ferdinand Marcos had achieved during his time, even outpacing the brisk economies of Singapore - 0.3 percent, Malaysia - 5.2 percent, and Thailand - 3.0 percent. The Philippines has even overtaken the accelerating economies of Indonesia - 6.2 percent and Vietnam - 4.7 percent. Despite that much-vaunted feat, we remain at the bottom, listed no. 102 in the ranking of real growth rate with the rest of the world. As of 2011, we have a per capita income of $4,100, but remain way below, ranking at 162 in comparison with other countries of the world. Mr. Aquinos hooters also trumpet the low unemployment rate at 7 percent. However, they fail to explain that it is the result of the reclassication of the underemployed, part-time, seasonal workers as employed, while those who have been unemployed for more than a year excluded from the statistics. The greatest ambivalence is that poverty continues to stalk most of our people at 26.5 percent as of 2009. In the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations, as of the last quarter of 2012 about 16.3 percent or 3.3 million families suffer from hunger. If that gure is multiplied by ve, which is the average number of persons per family, that would be equivalent to 16.5 million Filipinos out of a population of 103,775,002 million suffering from hunger. In fact, there is much doubt in that analysis. The experience of not having to eat once in every three months cannot be termed as hunger, but one we could say a bad day for the family. Hunger is rooted on extreme poverty, and it is a daily occurrence to poor families. They have to hurdle daily to make sure they would have something to share together on the table to go on with life. This explains why to this date, 54 percent or about 10.9 million families, or equivalent to 54.5 million Filipinos believe they remain poor. Even if we are to take it that this administration is pushing our GDP to such an unprecedented level, the percapita income, foreign investments which are mostly portfolio investment or casino-like gambling, increase in exports, etc., belie that. The real ledger in measuring progress is when the majority of our people are affected by the transformation in terms of increased income and purchasing power, reduced poverty,
ROD P. KAPUNAN

The death penalty and gun control debate

The Philippines seems to be following suit when certain quarters started calling for total gun ban and the revival of the death penalty after the recent spate of gun-related killings. While the nature of the gun control debates in the U.S. and the Philippines is at the core essentially similar, there are some contextual differences. Unlike in the U.S. where gun ownership is itself permitted and guaranteed by the constitution, there is no identical right under the 1987 Constitution. Hence, in the Philippines, regulation of gun ownership is all in the hands of the State. Moreover, here the runaway number of unregistered firearms is a problem that seems to defy solution. Add to this the existence of private armies and the insurgencies and the problem of regulating gun ownership and gun control becomes more complicated. As already mentioned, the slew of heinous killings has revived calls for the re-imposition of death penalty. The history of the death penalty in the country shows that an upsurge in criminality always carries with it a resurgent call for the supreme penalty of death. Death penalty was carried out during Martial Law. It was abolished under the 1987 Constitution with respect to which the Congress may provide for exceptions based on compelling reason involving heinous crime. In 1996, death penalty was restored under President Ramos as a result of the high crime rate but it was again re-abolished in 2006. While the concern of pro-death penalty advocates is understandable, there is simply no plausible reason for its restoration. As said before, in an imperfect justice system such as ours, there is a greater probability for the innocent to be subject of lethal injection due to judicial error. It is also because of flawed justice system that death inmates mostly come from the poor; after all, the rich can hire the best lawyers and bribe their way out of the system. Perhaps, the most compelling reason why the death penalty should not be imposed is because of irrefutable proof that the death penalty has never been a deterrent to criminality. In 1999, President Joseph Estrada put to death seven death row convicts. Yet criminality increased by 15.3% as a total of 82,538 (from 71,527 crimes in the previous year). Even in the U.S. the death penalty, currently imposable in 33 states and in the federal civilian and military legal systems, has not stopped the mass killings. The answer does not definitely lie in re-imposing death penalty which has proved to be counter-productive; nor by arming the citizenry which may worsen the situation. The way to go is to establish a highly professional security force with effective police enforcement capability to ensure the expeditious apprehension of criminals and effective protection of the citizenry plus the institution of a strong, impartial and effective judicial system to make certain that the criminals are brought to justice. The certainty of apprehension and punishment is still a surefire guarantee to a safer society. However, whichever way the government chooses to curb the rising tide of gunrelated violence, it must be effective. The effort must be sustained and the solution permanent. The public, for its part, must sustain interest on the issue and through rational discussion continuously seek solutions to the problem. Facebook Page: Dean Tony La Via Twitter: tonylavs

This is not just about the growth in GDP.

and the elimination of hunger and the endemic diseases brought by it. That now reduces to nothing the 7.1 percent increase in GDP because that contradicts the fact that we remain the highest from among the Asean member countries in terms of economic inequality, according to Xinhua in its August 6, 2011 issue. Moreover, according to the study conducted by the Stratbase Research Institute, the Philippines registered a Gini coefcient of 44 percent in 2010 higher than Thailand with 42.5 percent, Indonesia with 39.4 percent, Malaysia with 37.9 percent and Vietnam with 37.8 percent. According to Stratbase, the huge disparity in income could breed social tension and political instability. The prioritized legislation like the Reproductive Health Act, the passage of the socalled Sin Tax, and the amendment strengthening the AMLA bear the visible markings of subservience to repay debt to those who made possible his election. The questionable agreement with the MILF stands as a sellout than an earnest effort to achieve peace in Mindanao. The manner in which the chief justice was removed and replaced by an unabashed minion was a miscarriage than a vindication of justice. Even our foreign policy is now perceived as implementing the blueprint of Washingtons grand design to contain China. This can be drawn by the routine port of call of US warships, increased joint military exercises with our soldiers living up to their role of scouts, and the senseless purchase in arms that could never tilt by half a degree the balance of power in the region. The irony in PNoys success is that it is not borne out of craftsmanship in government, but one prepared for him by his benefactors. Everybody knows that the P2.006 trillion national budget is not the residual result of increased income from production and business activities, but the result of increased and vigorous collection of taxes. The sad part is the small local entrepreneurs and the wage earners are always the ones affected. Even the constructions being undertaken are mainly designed to complement and enhance foreign and elitist businesses, and not really to open new opportunities for our people to participate. This one can observe by the thrust of those projects, which is to attract tourism, to instill love for luxury, mire our people crass consumerism. Constructions are designed to pave the way for the building of new shopping malls, luxurious hotels, exclusive resorts and restaurants, and condominiums only a few could afford. The popularity of PNoy is more of an image itched into the ignorant mind of many, and that is precisely designed to generate a bandwagon for which his candidates hope would work. The promise of illusory democracy and freedom is a dead platform. What will be decisive is the question on what they have accomplished, and not on their credentials of being the supporters of the ideology of vengeance. It is not even about the GDP for which many of them could hardly understand. As one cynic would put it, Yan ba ay nakakain? rpkapunan@gmail.com

Lance Armstrongs confession is just the start

By Jonathan Mahler
IN case you havent heard, Lance Armstrong has confessed to doping during his cycling career. All of the faux moral posturing can now ofcially stop. Im not talking about Lance. Im talking about the steady stream of former teammates, employees and even journalists who as recently as this week were still apparently awakening to the reality that a Stage 4-cancer survivor competing in the most grueling, steroidsoaked sport in the world was powered by more than just his God-given strength and will. Im talking about those who expressed offense at the (equally obvious) revelation that Armstrongs doping program was highly organized, as if it would have somehow been better if he had shot himself up with dirty needles in a dark alley of some medieval European town. Now that our long era of shattered innocence is nally over, its time to move past the sanctimony and outrage and proceed with a more sensible conversation about drugs and sports. We might begin a century ago, when, having just completed a long Alps climb, the French rider Octave Lapize called the organizers of the Tour de France damned murderers!the implication being that such a grueling competition would basically kill you. Against this backdrop, its easy to see how cycling became a laboratory for drugs that boosted riders ability to perform and (no less important) masked at least some of the pain associated with spending three weeks furiously pedaling a bike up a lot of big mountains.

Armstrong

Of heroes...
From A4

I think I understand better. The movie El Presidente was based on Aguinaldos memoirs. It can easily be dismissed as his way of clearing his name and perhaps it is. But will we know for sure? A number of people strongly rejected the way the Supremo was portrayed in the movie arguing that Bonifacio was not a traitor. Perhaps that is true. But it is also possible that Aguinaldo (if indeed he wrote it) was telling the truth. The reactions against the movie are understandable. But at the very least, the movie presented another side of the story of the revolution. We venerate our heroes, especially Rizal and Bonifacio. We firmly believe that they did no wrong. Somebethangsioco@gmail.com and @ times, we forget they were people like us, complete with shortcomings bethangsioco on Twitter

and limitations. Mistakes happened along the way. Our heroes were not Gods. We should look at the context within which our heroes did things. They made decisions perhaps with the best intentions in mind at a very difcult time. It was war. Such context is important if we are to truly understand. Aguinaldo is perhaps the least popular of Katipunan leaders but it is undeniable that he was a key player. I believe that his life, together with the lives of others, needs to be further studied with an open mind. Now, I regard Bonifacio, Rizal, Mabini, Aguinaldo, and the rest as heroes. Flawed -- but heroes still. We will never know the whole story but we will benet from taking lessons from our past. We have our heroes to inspire us. This is how we move forward.

Widespread use
As the historian John Hoberman has documented, medically supervised drug use has been part of professional cycling since the middle of the 20th century. Amateur riders were expected to be clean; but pros, who rode for a living, could take whatever they could get their hands on. Moral judgments werent made. The only relevant questions were

whether the drugs themselves were safe -- or if they could dangerously desensitize the body to overexhaustion. Also, whether they were equally available to all riders. Nothing fundamental has changed since then, and cyclings governing body, the UCI, is almost wholly to blame. Like so many unaccountable international sports organizationsthe International Olympic Committee and FIFA come immediately to mindthe UCI is little more than a catch basin for hustlers and opportunists who know exactly whats going on inside their offshore enterprise zones and see no reason to stop it. As Hein Verbruggen, the UCIs longtime leader and current honorary president (presumably for life, unless Armstrong takes him down with him), is reported to have said: If the public were satised with the Tour de France riders going 25 kilometers an hour (15 miles per hour), there wouldnt be a doping problem. But it wants 42 kilometers an hour, and theres only one way to get thereby doping. This same Verbruggen has never missed the chance to label individual riders who confess to doping as unworthy of respect. He also routinely puts his organizations autonomy and protability above the integrity of the sport it governs.

Of course, maybe we ought to rethink the very notion of integrity when it comes to drugs and sports. Performance enhancers of one form or another have been around forever, but not until the rise of anabolic steroids was there a doping crisis in sports. There are many drugs doctors who are legally permitted to administer to Tour de France riders. Why are some approved and others not? Why does cortisonewhich alleviates pain and enhances performancerepresent an acceptable level of pharmaceutical aid, but not, say, stanozolol? Then theres this absurd provision: Under the UCIs rules, cyclists are allowed to take hormone supplements if their health is in danger. In other words, PEDs are fine if a doctor says theyre necessary.

Universal truths
Doping isnt a moral problem. It is a social, political and economic problem misrepresented, in Hobermans words, as a function of the moral degeneracy of athletes. Doping is also inevitable. As long as athletes can earn more money and glory by outperforming their competitors, we will never eliminate PEDs from the world of sports. Which leads us to a universal truth about drug use, one that applies

equally to elite athletes and homeless junkies: Theres no point in vilifying the user without also asking why he became one. As it is, Lance Armstrong is just another reminder that were failing in the War on PEDs in much the same way that we failed in the War on Drugs. After ignoring the widespread use of PEDs for yearsin cyclings case, for decades we started an expensive, no-holds-barred crusade for their prohibition, shaming users as moral degenerates and criminals. Instead, lets pause to considerif only for as long as Oprah Winfreys two-night interview with Armstrongthe underlying reasons that steroids are so common in sports: Because we value winning above all else, and pay winners accordingly. Because we expect to see transcendent athletic performances with casual frequency. Because of the unrealistic physical demands of endurance sports. Because we have embraced performance-enhancing pharmaceuticals in virtually every other realm (the bedroom, the classroom, the battlefield, and so on). The worlds most famous doper is nally on record and presumably ready to cooperate with authorities. Let the outrage endand the sensible conversation begin. Bloomberg

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

A6

SATURDAY JANUARY 19, 2013

ManilaStandardToday

News
Florentin said Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code prohibits the transfer or movement of ofcers and employees in the civil service during the election period, as reiterated in Comelec Resolution No. 9385, but it also allows the Comelec to given an exemption in certain cases. In another development, Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim welcomed the Comelecs decision to disqualify 63 nuisance candidates and 10 ineligible candidates running for the 2013 elections,, including a certain Rodolfo Gayola Lim who led a certicate of candidacy for mayor of Manila. Lims spokesman Ric de Guzman said Rodolfo Lim led his certicate of candidacy to create confusion to voters or to cause the removal of some of the votes for the incumbent mayor. The Comelec also declared four other candidates for Manila as nuisance candidates, according to its Resolution No. 9160. The resolution promulgated January 11 was signed by Comelec chairman

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF
GSIS pensions hiked
ABOUT 58,000 pensioners of the Government Service Insurance System have started receiving the upgraded minimum basic pension of P5,000 beginning this January in addition to a Christmas cash gift equivalent to the one-month pension they received in December. GSIS president and general manager Robert G. Vergara said the pension hike forms part of a series of initiatives launched by the GSIS to provide responsive service to its pensioners in compliance with the announcement of President Aquino in his last State of the Nation address. Meanwhile, around 43,000 pensioners with over P5,000 but less than P8,000 monthly pension also received a P200 increment. This is in addition to the regular 1.5 percent increase for all pensioners. For questions about the GSIS pension program, pensioners may call the GSIS hotline number at 847-4747.

Police transfers allowed

By Joel E. Zurbano and Macon R. Araneta

ALTHOUGH there is a prohibition in the Omnibus Election Code against the movement of ofcers and employees in the civil service, the Commission on Elections may allow the transfer of police ofcials provided there is a pending request for exemption, a lawyer of the commission said on Friday.
Comelec lawyer Ofel Florentin made the clarication after the National Police relieved Nueva Ecija provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Walter Castillejos on January 15, or two days after the onset of the election period. We have received several request for exemption from the ban but we have no recommendation yet for approval of these requests, Florentin said, noting that Calabarzon regional police director Chief Superintendent James Melad was also replaced within the election period because of the recent massacre in Atimonan, Quezon. Catillejos was replaced by Senior Superintendent Crisaldo Nieves while Melad was replaced by former Southern Police District director Chief Superintedent Benito Estipona, whose order of assignment was also dated January 15. Florentin said all requests for permission to move or transfer civil servants have be approved by the Comelec en banc, but it has so far not approved any of the pending requests.

Increased garbage target

THE city government of Las Pias is targeting to reduce by up to 35 percent the citys garbage production for this year after realizing a measly 13.6 percent drop in the volume of collected garbage in 2012. Las Pias Mayor Verge Aguilar said the 35 percent target will be a good step in achieving the city governments ultimate goal of 70 percent garbage reduction in the next ve years. If we continue our good practice, we are condent we can meet our goal of 70 percent solid waste reduction in the next ve years, Aguilar said as he renewed his call for restrained use of plastic and Styrofoam materials in the city. Citing data from the Environmental Sanitation Ofce, Aguilar said solid waste collected from households in 20 barangays, 15 public markets and 50 talipapa or ea markets, as well as all commercial centers decreased to 13.6 percent in volume as of December 2012. For 2012, the city disposed a total of 191,502 cubic meters of garbage, less than 30,235 cubic meters from 221,736 cubic meters recorded in 2012. Aguilar attributed this to households practice of waste segregation and the city governments plastic ban ordinance. Ferdinand Fabella

Sixto Brillantes and Commissioners Armand Velasco, Rene Sarmiento, Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph, Christian Robert Lim and Maria Gracia Cielo Padaca. The resolution cited Section 69 of the Omnibus Election Code which states: The Commission may, motu propio, or upon a veried petition of an interested party, refuse to give due course to or cancel a certicate of candidacy if it is shown that said certicate has been led to put the election process in mockery or disrepute or to cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates or by other circumstances or acts which clearly demonstrate that the candidate has no bona de intention to run for the ofce for which the certicate of candidacy has been led and thus prevent a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate. In Resolution 9160, the Comelec also disqualied ve who were running for congressmen, seven for governor and 24 for mayor in their localities.

LTO scored over unremitted fees

By Merck Maguddayao
THE Land Transportation Ofce failed to remit to the Bureau of the Treasury P29.9 million in fees it collected from the issuance of Radio Frequency Identication tags from vehicle owners in 2009 and 2010, the Commission on Audit said on Friday. The controversial RFID fees were not remitted and were instead deposited in an escrow account in the Land Bank of the Philippines in accordance with an agreement between the LTO, Land Bank and RFID contractor Stradcom, state auditor Joseph Anacay said in the agencys latest annual audit report. [But] the RFID fees were not supposed to be deposited to an escrow account, the report stated, citing the solutio indebti doctrine, which prohibits the enrichment of a government agency at the expense of others. The COA instead recommended that the LTO deposit the collection in a trust account with the BTr pending resolution/approval from proper authorities for the refund to the vehicle registrants. From November 2009 to January 2010, LTO collected P350 per vehicle owner for the RFID, a remote and digital vehicle tagging system initiated by the LTO with private contractor Stradcom. But the Supreme Court stopped the implementation of the project in January 2011. The court issued the order upon the petition of the groups Bayan Muna, Piston, Anakpawis and Gabriela questionoing the constitutionality and legality of the RFID project.
Republic of the Philippines

Korean invasion. Members of the Korean pop groups U-Kiss and Innite arrived in the country and were welcomed by hundreds of fans. Th etwo groups are among six Korean pop bans that will perform in a one-night concert at the SM Mall of Asia concert groups on January 19. ERIC APOLONIO
Republic of the Philippines

DPWH Mindoro Occidental I District Engineering Office Bridge out the Countryside
by Rizalinda C.. Flores As envisioned by President Benigno Aquino III to achieve Ang Tuwid na Daan and to boost the economic development of the countrys underdeveloped areas, infrastructure facilities were given priority such as roads, bridges, school buildings and other public utilities. Proof of its sincerity in improving the lives of all those who live in the countryside and remote areas, Mindoro Occidental District I Engineering Office, with its main building at the Airport Road, Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro, under the able stewardship of OIC-District Engineer Josefino M. Melgar Jr., OIC-Asst. District Engineer Salvador E. Abad and Staff, has materialized the construction or replacement of old-aged/deteriorated bridges for easy access of the traveling public and transport of commodities. By the year2016, Mindoreos can look forward to a dust-free road, concrete bridges and improved public utilities that will link not only the province, but will also unite the people up to the most secluded part.

Department of Public Works and Highways

Quezon II District Engineering Office Dalahican Road, Lucena City Tel. No. (042) 373- 4252

Department of Public Works and Highways Bulacan First District Engineering Office OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Tikay, City of Malolos, Bulacan (044) 794-0556

INvITATION TO BID
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Quezon II District Engineering Office through viLP 2012 & MvUC-FY 2013 intends to apply the sum of Twenty seven million eight hundred forty nine thousand eight hundred eighty seven pesos and 73/100 (P 27,849,887.73 ) to payments under the contract for Contract id nos. 13dJ041-45 et;al. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Quezon II District Engineering Office now invites bids for the following Contract id nos. : 1. 13dJ041- CLUStER 36 a) Construction of Drainage Canal at Brgy. 9, Lucena City b) Completion of Drainage Canal at Brgy. Poblacion 2, Sariaya,Quezon c) Construction of Drainage Canal at Brgy. San Mateo, Dolores,Quezon d) Construction of Line Canal at Brgy. Silanganan, Dolores,Quezon Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : P 2,549,989.02 P 929,995.08 P 369,997.25 P 249,999.43 P 999,997.26

invitation to Bid
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), through the General Appropriations Act intends to apply the sum stated below being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the following: Contract ID: 13CC0030 Contract Name: Construction of drainage canal along Pulilan-Calumpit Road Contract Location: Pulilan, Bulacan Scope of Work: Construction of drainage canal along national road Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): Php 9,485,930.37 Contract Duration: 120 calendar days Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of bid. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a single contract similar to the project, equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), other wise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. Contractors/applicants who are interested in the DPWH civil works are required to register prior to the set schedule of submission of bid while those already registered shall keep their records current and updated. Contractor Profile Eligibility Process (CPEP) and subject to further post-qualification. Information on registration can be obtained at DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph of Central procurement Office (CPO), 5th Floor, DPWH Bldg., Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH Bulacan First DEO and inspect the Bidding Documents as the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday to Friday. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of non-refundable fee for Bidding Documents in the amount of ten thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) each. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph, provided that the bidders shall pay for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. Payments can be made at any DPWH field office. The submission of the Original Receipt (OR) for payments of bidding documents issued by any DPWH field office is sufficient for the BAC of this District Office to process the electronic eligibility evaluation of contractors. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 25, 2013, 10:00 a.M. at the Conference Room, DPWH Bulacan First DEO, Tikay, City of Malolos, Bulacan which shall be opened only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before February 7, 2013, 10:00 a.M. at the BAC Secretariat Office. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.1. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representative who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. The DPWH - Bulacan First District Engineering Office reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding process any time prior contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidder/s. For further information, please refer to: (Sgd.) GERoniMo F. aSonZa Engineer III BAC Chairman DPWH Bulacan 1st DEO Tikay, City of Malolos, Bulacan (044) 794-0556
(MST-Jan. 19, 2013)

2. 13dJ042- Construction of Multi-Purpose Building at Brgy. Pili, Sariaya,Quezon Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : P 499,999.42 3. 13dJ043- Repair/Rehab. of Hall of Justice, Lucena City Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : P 4,999,997.49 4.13dJ044- Repair/Rehab./improvement of MSR-old Route Jct. Merchan St. Lucena City Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : P 9,899,950.90 5. 13dJ045- Repair/Rehab./improvement of Lucena Cotta Port Road Ko131-134 + Ko134+198 (w/exception), Lucena City Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : P 9,899,950.90 Bidders must have an experience of having completed at least One (1) contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (R.A. 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. Interested bidders may submit their letter of intents from January 18 - February 1, 2013. They may obtain further information from DPWH, Quezon II District Engineering Office, and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M 5:00 P.M A complete set of bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five thousand Pesos (5,000) for 1M up to 5M Projects and ten thousand Pesos (10,000) for above 5M up to 20M Projects. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the DPWH, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later that the submission of their bids. The DPWH, Quezon II District Engineering Office will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 25, 2013 at 10:00 a.M. at the DPWH Quezon II DEO Conference Room, which shall be open to all interested parties. Bids must have delivered to the address below on February 5, 2013 until 2:00 P.M. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders representative who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. The DPWH reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: JEREMiaS B. LiCaS JR. BAC Chairman Attention: Head, BaC Secretariat DPWH,Quezon II District Engineering Office Dalahican Road, Lucena City Tel. No. (042) 373- 4252 Approved by: (Sgd.) JEREMiaS B. LiCaS JR. Chief, Construction Section Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

REPLaCEMEnt oF oRUBUGan BRidGE iii aLonG CRoSSinG MindoRo WESt CoaStaL Road (PoLa) CaSaGUE JUnCtion aLaCaaK Road Location: Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro Contractor: New Mindoreos Lumber Hardware & General Mdse. Contract Cost: P 14,815,486.34 Contract duration: 210 C.D. Effectivity of Contract: January 26, 2012 date of Completion: August 22, 2012

REHaBiLitation/REConStRUCtion / StREnGtHEninG oF PanaYUPan BRidGE aLonG MindoRo WESt CoaStaL Road, PanaYUPan SECtion, SaBLaYan Location: Panayupan Bridge, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro Contractor: New Mindoreos Lumber Hardware & General Mdse. Contract Cost: P 9,502,055.78 date Completed: September 11, 2012

REPLaCEMEnt oF JUnCtion MaPaYa MindoRo Contractor: Contract Cost: date Completed:

tEPaSSY BRidGE aLonG BULaLaCao-San JoSERoad, MaPaYa SECtion, San JoSE, oCCidEntaL F.A. TORRES CONSTRUCTION/ 3W BUILDERS (JV) P 9,498,246.10 September 22, 2012 (PAID ADVERTISEMENT)

Noted by: (Sgd.) CELEStiaL S. FLanCia District Engineer

(MST-Jan. 19, 2013)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK ManilaStandardToday Riera U. Mallari, Editor

sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Sports

SATURDAY JANUARY 19, 2013

A7

Novak stretches win streak to 17

MELBOURNE, AustraliaNovak Djokovic didnt get all the breaks against Radek Stepanek on Friday at the Australian Open. The top-ranked Serb, however, remains virtually unbeatable Down Under.
Djokovic beat Stepanek 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the fourth round and extend his winning streak to 17 matches at the Australian Open. Djokovic broke the 34th-ranked Stepanek late in each set, but was troubled at times against a wily veteran who mixed up the tempo with a lot of serve-and-volley and some unorthodox shot-making. Absolutely it was great. Great match and great fun, Djokovic said. Its always tricky to play Radek. Hes a talented player. Skillful player. Told about the statistics - Stepanek won 36 of the 67 points he played at the net - Djokovic wasnt surprised at all. Hes skillful on the net and he was not giving me a lot of rhythm - he was changing up the pace on the ball, Djokovic said. Nowadays everything is based on the baseline. Its nice to see somebody coming to the net. Stepanek had Djokovic smiling and acknowledging his winners on some points, frustrated him on others with his constant, stay-in-the-point defense, and even had chair umpire Carlos Bernardes grinning with his over-the-shoulder winner to save one match point near the end. Djokovic, the two-time defending champion who also won the title at Melbourne Park in 2008, is hoping to become the rst man in the Open era to win three consecutive Australian titles. He will next play either American Sam Querrey or Switzerlands Stanislaw Wawrinka in the fourth round Sunday. Angelique Kerber survived some nervous moments before fending off American teenager Madison Keys 6-2, 7-5 in their third-round match, then got to blow out the candles on a cake to celebrate her 25th birthday. Local organizers brought a cake onto the court for Kerber immediately after the match and the crowd at Rod Laver Arena sang Happy Birthday. She blew out the candles and said thank you to the crowd and to the 17-year-old Keys. Madison is a great young player and it was very tough, said Kerber, a seminalist last year at Wimbledon. So happy I won today on my birthday! AP

Serbia's Novak Djokovic reaches for a backhand return to Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday. AP

Hope seeks Shakeys title repeat

HOPE Christian High School braces for a tough title-retention campaign as it faces eight top local teams and a fancied Australian youth squad in the Shakeys Girls Volleyball Tournament-of-Champions, which fires off Monday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The Hope tossers, behind Most Valuable Player Justine Dorog, wore down Colegio San Agustin in a grueling four-setter to retain the National Capital Region leg crown recently and lead the winners of the other regional tournaments in the Tof-C spiced up by the participation of the tall, youthful Aussie team. The visiting squad arrived late last night and expressed confidence of its chances in the six-day tournament put up by Shakeys Pizza and organized by Metro Sports to help sustain the development of the sport which continued to gain tremendous popularity the last few years. Backing up Dorog are Desiree Cheng, Bel Molde and Chester Ong. NCR leg runner-up Colegio San Agustin, led by the troika of Ana Gopico, Samantha Torres and Julia Morado, is also competing in the event supported by Tobys Sports, Mikasa as official ball, Tune Hotels as official residence of T-of-C, Asics and Volley Prep as chief backers. Others vying for the crown are the champions of the Northern, Central (Southwestern University) and Southern Luzon, and Eastern (New Ormoc City National High School), Central and Western Visayas and Mindanao (Davao City National High School).

Rose, Donaldson ahead in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, United Arab EmiratesWith Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods struggling, fthranked Justin Rose and unheralded Jamie Donaldson had 5-under 67s Thursday for a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. McIlroy, playing with new clubs following his multimillion dollar sponsorship deal with Nike, finished with a 75 and risks missing the cut. Woods shot an even-par 72. Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark and Pablo Larrazabal of Spain finished one stroke behind the leaders. McIllroy repeatedly missed fairways, including a shot on his 12th that hit a tree and ended up in a parking lot, leading to one of his two double bogeys. His other came when he muffed a chip in thick rough on his par-3 6th. He also putted poorly, missing a par putt on his 17th and a birdie putt on the 18th. The top-ranked McIlroy insisted his difculties had more to do with rusty strokes than the new equipment that he hyped only a few days ago. While he repeatedly slumped after a bad shot or frowned following a missed putt, the 2012 European Tour and U.S. PGA Tour money winner seemed resigned to adjusting to the new Nike clubs. AP

Capadocia joins PH team

MARIAN Jade Capadocia is set to join a three-member national womens team seeing action in the Asia/Oceania Group 2 tie of the Federation Cup 2013 this February in Astana, Kazakhstan. She will be joined by Clarice Patrimonio and Marinel Rudas. Twelve countries including the Philippines are taking part. The Philippines is in the same bracket with Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand, Turkmenistan, Iran, Pakistan, Vietnam, Kyrgystan and Yemen. Meanwhile, the 17-year-old Capadocia took a 3-6, 4-6 setback at the hands of second seed Chinese Yuan Yi in the semifinal round of the Hong Kong International Tennis Federation Junior Championships 2013 at the Victoria Park courts in Causeway Bay. It was Capadocias best nish in an international tournament after she won over Gabriel Umoquit, 6-1, 6-0, to claim the Week 1 crown of the Phinma competitions last November at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. She and partner Maia Balce also fell in a 1-6, 0-6 loss to Eudice Chong and Yuan in the girls doubles. Peter Atencio

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Isabela 4th District Engineering Office Quezon, San Isidro, Isabela

Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corporation

A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

INVITATION TO BID
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the DPWH Isabela 4th District Engineering Office, invites contractors to bid for the aforementioned projects: 1. a. Contract ID No. b. Name of Project c. d. e. f. g. : 13BH0007 : Construction of Rizal Flood Control Project along Santiago-Tuguegarao Road Location : Rizal,Santiago City Major Item of Work : Gabions Approved Budget for the Contract : 5,489,813.00 Contract Duration : 90 cd Cost of Bid Documents : 10,000.00

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is inviting all interested bidders in its forthcoming Re-bidding for the Supply and Delivery of Lot 1 (46,104 Rolls of Jumbo Tissue), Lot 2 (6,552 Bottles of Mouth Wash) and Lot 3 (11,760 Packs of Powdered Juice Drinks) under ITB No. 01-23-2013. Approved Budget Description (VAT Exclusive, Zero Rated Transaction) Five Million Seventy-One LOT 1 (46,104 Rolls of Jumbo Tissue): Thousand Four Hundred Forty Pesos White, 90MM x 230MM per sheet, minimum 2 ply with perforation, minimum of 16/32 GSM (PhP 5,071,440.00) and 12 rolls/box One Million One Hundred LOT 2 (6,552 Bottles of Mouth Wash): Thirteen Thousand Eight Hundred Forty Pesos Mint flavor, 250 ml plastic bottle (with print or brand manufacturer, net, weight & expiry date), machine sealed bottle and 36 bottles (or equivalent) per corrugated box (PhP 1,113,840.00) One Million One Hundred LOT 3 (11,760 Packs of Powdered Juice Fifty-Two Thousand Four Drinks): Hundred Eighty Pesos (PhP 1,152,480.00) Concentrated powdered form orange flavor, aluminum foil pouch (with print of brand, manufacturer, net, weight, & expiry date), machine sealed packed, yield: makes at least 50 glasses (8oz.), and 12 packs or equivalent per corrugated box Delivery Schedule

The complete schedule of deliveries is provided in Section VI (Schedule of Requirements) of the Bidding Documents which will commence from the effectivity date specified in the Notice to Proceed

2. a. Contract ID No. b. Name of Project c. d. e. f. g.

Best shot
INSIDE SPORTS
IF the crowds that showed up for the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup championship series, which ended in a four-game sweep by Talk N Text, is any indication, then the premier professional basketball league in Asia is back where it truly belongs in the hearts and minds of Filipino fans. More than 17,000 people jammed the Smart Araneta Coliseum for what proved to be the last game on Wednesday when the team owned by businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan proved they richly deserved their third title, with coach Norman Black returning after a winning run in the UAAP collegiate league, proving what a terric coach he is and underscoring his ability to get his players to appreciate what he seeks to do. Talk N Text has always been an excellent offensive team, loaded with talent, but Black introduced a relentless defensive dimension to the team and it showed, especially in the championship series. As Norman said, they could have scored 60 points and still won because their superb defense would make it happen. All you need to do is to ask Rain or Shine shooting star Jeff Chan what it was like to contend with the killer defensive aspect introduced by Norman to his team. Beyond that, Talk N Text emphasized the fundamental philosophy that basketball is a team game. They clearly had players, who could be considered superstars, but they subdued that status to play for each other and let their personal egos disappear for the good of the team. They moved the ball around with remarkable quickness and precision and took no ill-timed
RONNIE NATHANIELSZ

: 13BH0008 : Construction of Buyon Flood Control Project along Daang Maharlika Location : Castillo,Echague, Isabela Major Item of Work : Gabions Approved Budget for the Contract : 4,810,000.00 Contract Duration : 90 cd Cost of Bid Documents : 5,000.00 : 13BH0009 : Const./Rehab/Impvt. Of FMR, Brgy. Caquilingan-Anonang Road Location : Cordon, Isabela Major Item of Work : PCCP-150mm thick Approved Budget for the Contract : 2,895,000.00 Contract Duration : 90 cd Cost of Bid Documents : 5,000.00

or hurried shots. This was a team worth watching. Of course, there is no doubt that the passionate support of team owner Manny Pangilinan could never be measured. He was, like hes always been, the inspiration that drove Norman and the players to give him a championship which was a reward that MVP richly deserved. Now, the bigger task lies ahead not just f or him and his loyal lieutenants in the Samhang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, such as executive director Sonny Barrios, former Asian Basketball Confederation secretary general Moying Martelino, top executive and sports enthusiast Ricky Vargas, plus of course PBA Commissioner Chito Salud and PBA chairman Robert Non of San Miguel Corporation. There is absolutely no room for pettiness in this national undertaking. Basketball is an integral part of the everyday lives of millions of Filipinos who are overjoyed and proud that our country has secured the right to host the qualier for the 2014 World Cup of Basketball. All the PBA teams have an obligation to give their full support, as we have no doubt they will, in forming the strongest team possible en route to our nations fervent wish of qualifying once again for the World Championships. Good sense must prevail and Mr. Pangilinan has taken the rst major step in reaching out to all the team owners, which is what Commissioner Salud has also done. The country must come before club and when we accept that with humility and do what is expected of all of us, then surely we are bound to be blessed with success. Even if we fail to make it to the World Cup, at least we can pride ourselves in having given our best shot for our nation and people. We cannot ask for anything more and indeed anything less would be unacceptable.

3. a. Contract ID No. b. Name of Project c. d. e. f. g.

Source of Fund: Internally Funded NOTE: Bidders may bid on any or all lots This bidding is open to all suppliers; provided that the winning bidder should be registered with PAGCOR prior to award of contract. Unregistered suppliers must register at the Suppliers Registration & Evaluation Section (SRES), Procurement Department (PD), 2nd Floor PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Blvd., Ermita, Manila, Tel. No. 526-0573. Bidders should have completed, within the last three (3) years before the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138. All particulars relative to Pre-Bid Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its IRR. The schedule of activities is listed, as follows: Activities Issuance of the Bidding Documents Pre-Bid Conference Deadline for Submission and Receipt of Bids Opening and Preliminary Examination of Bids Schedule January 21, 2013 to February 06, 2013 January 25, 2013, 10:00 a.m. February 06, 2013, 02:00 p.m. February 06, 2013, 02:00 p.m., onwards

Procurement shall be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations. To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with DPWH; (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture; (c) with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract; (d) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years; and (e) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment of at least 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Office before the deadline of receipt of LOI. The DPWH-POCW Central Office will only process contractors applications for registration with complete requirements, and issue the Contractors Registration Certificate (CRC). Registration forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. Significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: Issuance of Bid Documents : JANUARY 21-FEBRUARY 12, 2013 Pre-bid Conference : JANUARY 29, 2013 10:00 AM Deadline of Receipt of Bids : FEBRUARY 7, 2013 04:00 PM Opening of Submitted Bids : FEBRUARY 12, 2013 10:00 AM The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at DPWHIsabela 4th DEO, Quezon, San Isidro, Isabela upon payment of nonrefundable costs indicated above. Prospective bidders may also download the BDs if available, from the DPWH website. Prospective bidders that will download BDs from the website shall pay the stated fees on or before the submission of their bid documents. The Pre-Bid Conference shall be open only to interested parties who purchased the BDs. Bids must be accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Sec. 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include the eligibility requirements. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and post-qualification. The DPWH Isabela 4th DEO reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to annul the bidding process anytime before contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders.

Complete details of the project are indicated in the bid documents which will be available to prospective bidders at the BAC Secretariat Unit, Procurement Department (BSUPD), upon payment of the non-refundable bidding fee based on the following matrix: Approved Budget for the Contract 500,000.00 and below More than 500,000.00 up to 1 Million More than 1 Million up to 5 Million More than 5 Million up to 10 Million Cost of Bidding Documents (in Philippine Pesos) 500.00 1,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00

Prospective bidders may also download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.net and may be allowed to submit bids provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable bidding fee not later than the date of the submission of bids. The Pre-bid Conference is open to all interested bidders. Prospective bidders should present to PAGCORs Cashier at 6th floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, M.H. del Pilar cor. Pedro Gil Sts., Malate, Manila either the Bidding Fee Slip which may be secured from the BSU-PD or a copy of this ITB in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids. PAGCOR reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, and to annul the bidding process and reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee thru the BAC Secretariat Unit, Room 205, Second Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Tel No.: 524-3911, 521-1542 local 223/571.

(Sgd.) RENATO B. CLARAVALL BAC- CHAIRMAN Noted by: (Sgd.) BERNARDO P. MORENO DISTRICT ENGINEER
(MST-Jan. 19, 2013)

(SGD) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson

Bids and awards Committee 3

(MST-Jan. 19, 2013)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

NBA HOME TEAM IN CAPS

NY Knicks 102 DETROIT 87 LA Clippers 90 MINNESOTA 77 Milwaukee 98 PHOENIX 94 Miami 99 LA LAKERS 90

Sports
Manila Standard TODAY
Riera U. Mallari, Editor

LOTTO RESULTS
6/45 00 00 00 00 00 00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00 00 00 00 3 DIGITS 00 00 00 2 EZ2 00 00

sports@manilastandardtoday.com sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

A8

SATURDAY

JANUARY 19, 2013

Lance: I am a awed character

CHICAGOHe did it. He nally admitted it. Lance Armstrong doped.
He was light on the details and didnt name names. He mused that he might not have been caught if not for his comeback in 2009. And he was certain his fate was sealed when longtime friend, training partner and trusted lieutenant George Hincapie, who was along for the ride on all seven of Armstrongs Tour de France wins from 19992005, was forced to give him up to anti-doping authorities. But right from the start and more than two dozen times during the rst of a two-part interview Thursday night with Oprah Winfrey on her OWN network, the disgraced former cycling champion acknowledged what he had lied about repeatedly for years, and what had been one of the worst-kept secrets for the better part of a week: He was the ringleader of an elaborate doping scheme on a U.S. Postal Service team that swept him to the top of the podium at the Tour de France time after time. Im a awed character, he said. Did it feel wrong? No, Armstrong replied. Scary. Did you feel bad about it? Winfrey pressed him. No, he said. Even scarier. Did you feel in any way that you were cheating? No, Armstrong paused. Scariest. I went and looked up the denition of cheat, he added a moment later. And the definition is to gain an advantage he wanted and to control every outcome. And its inexcusable. And when I say there are people who will hear this and never forgive me, I understand that. I do. ... That deance, that attitude, that arrogance, you cannot deny it. Armstrong said he started doping in mid-1990s but didnt when he nished third in his comeback attempt. Anti-doping ofcials have said nothing short of a confession under oath - not talking to a talk-show host, is how World Anti-Doping Agency director general David Howman put it could prompt a reconsideration of Armstrongs lifetime ban from sanctioned events. Hes also had discussions with ofcials at the U.S. AntiDoping Agency, whose 1,000page report in October included testimony from nearly a dozen former teammates and led to stripping Armstrong of his Tour titles. Shortly after, he lost nearly all his endorsements, was forced to walk away from the Livestrong cancer charity he founded in 1997, and just this week was stripped of his bronze medal from the 2000 Olympics. Armstrong could provide information that might get his ban reduced to eight years. By then, he would be 49. He returned to triathlons, where he began his professional career as a teenager, after retiring from cycling in 2011, and has told people hes desperate to get back. Initial reaction from antidoping ofcials ranged from hostile to cool. WADA president John Fahey derided Armstrongs defense that he doped to create a level playing eld as a convenient way of justifying what he did - a fraud. AP

In this Monday le photo provided by Harpo Studios Inc., talk show host Oprah Winfrey (right) interviews Lance Armstrong during taping for the show "Oprah and Lance Armstrong: The Worldwide Exclusive" in Austin, Texas. Armstrong confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France cycling during the interview that aired Thursday, reversing more than a decade of denial. AP

on a rival or foe. I didnt view it that way. I viewed it as a level playing eld. Wearing a blue blazer and open-neck shirt, Armstrong was direct and matter-of-fact, neither pained nor defensive. He looked straight ahead. There were no tears and very few laughs. He dodged few questions and refused to implicate anyone else, even as he said it was humanly impossible to win seven straight Tours without doping. Im not comfortable talking about other people, Armstrong said.

I dont want to accuse anybody. Whether his televised confession will help or hurt Armstrongs bruised reputation and his already-tenuous defense in at least two pending lawsuits, and possibly a third, remains to be seen. Either way, a story that seemed too good to be true - cancer survivor returns to win one of sports most grueling events seven times in a row - was revealed to be just that. This story was so perfect for so long. Its this myth, this perfect story, and it wasnt true, he said. Winfrey got right to the point

when the interview began, asking for yes-or-no answers to ve questions. Did Armstrong take banned substances? Yes. Did that include the bloodbooster EPO? Yes. Did he do blood doping and use transfusions? Yes. Did he use testosterone, cortisone and human growth hormone? Yes. Did he take banned substances or blood dope in all his Tour wins? Yes. In his climb to the top, Arm-

strong cast aside teammates who questioned his tactics, yet swore he raced clean and tried to silence anyone who said otherwise. Ruthless and rich enough to settle any score, no place seemed beyond his reach - courtrooms, the court of public opinion, even along the roads of his sports most prestigious race. That relentless pursuit was one of the things that Armstrong said he regretted most. I deserve this, he said twice. Its a major aw, and its a guy who expected to get whatever

Black credits players in title run

By Jeric Lopez
THREE months ago, Norman Black won his fth straight University Athletic Association of the Philippine crown with Ateneo De Manila. Now, he is on top of a higher mountain. Winning is nothing new to Black, but after steering mighty Talk N Text to its third straight Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup title, he feels something special with this title win back in the countrys top league. Ive always wanted to go back to the PBA, the best league in the country. To be back and win the All-Filipino championship with Talk N Text is such a big blessing, said Black. I was just waiting for the right time. Ive been away for too long and its a great feeling to be back as a champion. In addition to his already colorful resume both as a player and as a coach in the country, Black now raised his number of PBA titles to 11 as he remained in third place in the all-time list behind Baby Dalupan (15) and Tim Cone (14). While savoring all his success and accomplishments over the past several years, Black still dished out credit where it is due -- to his players and assistant coaches who have helped him achieve feat after feat. I consider myself as a good coach but still, without these talented and hardworking players that go out there and execute for me, I wont be able to be where Im at right now. Plus, my assistant coaches are very helpful every game as they help me in every necessary aspect. Though he and the Texters made their crowning look easy, Black said that it wasnt like that at all in the beginning, where he started taking over just right after capturing the UAAP crown with the Blue Eagles. I never really had the luxury of time in terms of adjustment since I had to jump straight from the UAAP to the PBA but luckily, my players made it easier for me. We made some adjustments with each other from the start but once we got accustomed to what we want to do, we were able to surely get to our goal. Black also commended his seven-year stint with Ateneo , which made him a better coach in his return to the PBA. My time with Ateneo helped me a lot as a coach. Teams there used to experiment with a lot of plays and personally, I studied different kinds of systems back there. That helped me manage the environment back up here in the PBA, said Black.

Mark, Pascua tied for lead

MARK Paragua and Haridas Pascua were tied for the lead after the seventh round of the 2013 Philippine Sports Commission Cup International Chess Championship Friday. The 19-year-old Pascua, who upset Paragua in the sixth round Thursday night, drew with Mongolian Gundavaa Bayarsaikhan in the seventh round. Paragua defeated Oliver Barbosa to join Pascua with six points. Gundavaa and Richard Bitoon were tied for second with 5.5 points. Fifth to 10th placers with ve points were top seed Alexandr Rakhmanov, third seed Joey Antonio, Darwin Laylo, John Paul Gomez, Gombosuren Mungkhal of Mongolia and untitled Nouri Hamed. The $30,000 tournament hosted by the PSC holds its eighth round Friday afternoon and the nal round on Saturday. However, concerns were raised by chess sources about whether the top Philippine chessplayers would become stale since the Asian Zonal will be held on Tuesday in Tagaytay. That is a concern, that this tournament, a warm-up event basically, may work against them. But it can also help the other players play themselves into form, one source said. Paragua, who nished second in the 2011 zonal, appears to be the only one in form as he is tied for the lead in this tournament. Wesley So is to arrive Friday night from the United States where he is studying to compete in Tagaytay. He has to nish among the top two places in the zonal to qualify for the World Cup where he has done well. Barbosa has qualied for the World Cup by nishing among the top three in the 2012 Asian championship.

Heat hold off Lakers, 99-90

LOS ANGELESFor a few exciting minutes in the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers resembled the championship-caliber dynamo everybody expected this season, making a big run and surging past the Miami Heat. And then LeBron James calmly demonstrated why the Heat are the defending NBA champions and the Lakers are in 11th place in the Western Conference. James had 39 points and eight assists, Dwyane Wade added 27 points on his 31st birthday and the Heat held off the Lakers 9990 Thursday night, scoring the nal nine points to nish their six-game road trip in style. We closed out the trip the right way, and we want to build from it, James said. We wanted to do much better, of course, after the way we started, losing to Indiana and Portland. AP

Sangchan turns back Ardina, bags golf crown

LIPA CITY, BatangasThai Supamas Sangchan bucked the odds, including a two-shot decit, a hostile gallery and a tough Dottie Ardina, to prevail on the sixth extra hole and capture the Champion Innity Philippine Ladies Open 2013 crown at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club here yesterday. Sangchan watched Ardina ub a par-saving 10-footer on the par-4 No. 1 of Mt. Makulot then rolled in her own par bid from three feet to clinch the crown and end the longest playoff duel in the countrys premier ladies golng championship presented by Champion Innity. The Thai ace, who placed eighth at Wack Wack last year, birdied the par-5 18th in regulation to close out with a 73 and force the sudden death at 218 after the ICTSI-The Country Club spearhead, who started the nal round two-up on Sangchan, settled for a par and a 75. The two went par-birdie-par in their rst three stints on No. 18 in the playoff before the duel shifted to No. 1 where both made bogeys twice before Sangchan came through with a superb pitch that set up that title-clinching three-footer. Ardina also missed the green but failed to complete an up-and-down bid from 10 feet, leaving her again without the crown that meant so much to her. It was a sorry setback for the 18-year-old Ardina, who had looked forward to a successful campaign after storming in front with a 72 in demanding condition in the second round of the 54-hole event organized by Womens Golf Association of the Phils. But the reigning Taiwan Amateur champion struggled in the nal round, succumbing to testy pin placements for a 40 at the turn. But she fought back at the back and kept her title bid going in the event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Coca Cola, Duty Free Phils., Pacsports with support from the Department of Tourism. In the end, Sangchan proved steadier to frustrate Ardina and her horde of supporters and become the rst Thai to win the crown since former national team mainstay Yupaporn Kawinpakorn humbled the eld and reigned in 2007. Malaysian Michelle Koh placed third with a 220 after a 74 while Orchards Claire Legaspi carded a 77 and ended up fourth at 224 and Thai Benyapa Nipathsophon wound up fth at 226 after an 80 followed by Cyna Rodriguez and Lovelynn Guioguio, who had identical 228s after a 74 and 80, respectively.

Thai Supamas Sangchan (left) receives her Champion Innity PH Ladies Open trophy from WGAP president Marissa Romano

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Business
Manila Standard TODAY
Ray S. Eano, Editor business@mst.ph Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor extrastory2000@gmail.com Commission approved the merger Friday as well as the corresponding amendment of the banks articles of incorporation to pave the way for the consolidation. The SEC approved the reclassication of PNBs authorized preferred shares into common shares and increased the number of directors from 11 to 15. PNB, which will emerge as the surviving entity, is expected to become the fourth-largest bank with total assets of over P500 billion, following the merger. PNB had P320 billion in assets as of end-September last year while Allied Bank had P189 billion. The Bangko Sentral approved the merger of the two banks in August last year. The two banks also secured the approval of monetary authorities in other countries where they also operate. PNB said the Financial Services Authority of the United Kingdom recently approved the change in control of Allied Bank Philippines (UK) Plc and PNB (Europe) Plc in relation to the upcoming merger. Last year, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority approved PNBs plan to become a majority shareholder and controller of Allied Bank. PNB and Allied Bank discussed a possible merger with Bank of the Philippine Islands last year to create the countrys largest lender with P1.2 trillion in assets. The exclusivity period for the negotiation between the shareholders of BPI and PNB, however, lapsed on Dec. 15, 2012, without any deal. PNB booked a prot of P3.8 billion in the rst nine months of 2012 while Allied Bank earned P922 million in the same period. Allied Banks strength lies in the China market while PNB has an international network that makes it a leader in the remittance business.

SATURDAY JANUARY 19, 2013

B1

PNB merger set next month

By Anna Leah G. Estrada

THE merger between

IN BRIEF
Globe, Smart trade barbs
GLOBE Telecom Inc. said Friday contrary to reports, interconnection and SMS transactions between its network and other telecommunication companies are normal and running smoothly. Our network is not experiencing any difculty in handling SMS trafc across networks. As far as our technical monitoring is concerned, there were no incidences of failed connections with other telco companies, whether on calls or text messages, said Yoly Crisanto, Globe head of corporate communications. There may be times when non-Globe subscribers may experience difculty sending texts to our network but the problem may have to do with their transmitting home network, she added. Crisanto cited the case of Sun Cellulars link congestion, which is affecting inter-operator SMS trafc. When sought for comment, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. denied Globes allegations. The problem in SMS delivery two days ago resides in Globe network. Smart and Sun interconnection link was having difculties in connecting to Globe, Ramon Isberto, spokesman for PLDT group, said. Lailany P. Gomez

Philippine National Bank and Allied Banking Corp. will take effect next month, after the two Lucio Tan-controlled lenders obtained all the necessary approvals for the plan.

We now have all the necessary regulatory approvals to implement the legal merger by February 2013, PNB corporate secretary Doris Te said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Friday. Te said the Securities and Exchange

Cleanup drive.

Manila Water Co., the water concessionaire for the east zone of Metro Manila, and the city government of Manila teamed up for a treeplanting activity and a drive to clean up the citys esteros in combined efforts to promote environmental protection under Manila Waters Toka Toka Environmental Movement. Shown are (from left) Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, barangay chairman Aldrin Lopez, Manila Water manager Rubi Martir and Manila Water area business manager Elmer Largo during the opening ceremony for the treeplanting activity and cleanup drive held at Perlita Creek, Osmea Highway. Manila Water also donated 150 units of cleaning materials for the citys estero clean up drive, one of the companys tokas (share) in the campaign to clean up Metro Manilas polluted river systems.

Higher Mazda sales seen

BERJAYA Auto Philippines Inc., the new Philippine distributor of Mazda vehicles, expects sales to hit over 2,000 units in 2013. We cannot achieve the 2010-2011 sales but were positive that sales will be denitely higher than that of 2012, said Berjaya Auto chief executive Steven Tan during the corporate launch that coincided with the introduction of Mazda CX-5 in Pasay City. From 3,000 units sold in 2011, Mazda vehicle sales dropped to less than 2,000 in 2012. Tan said the Malaysia-Japan partnership in Berjaya aimed to be a major player in the local automotive sector. The company said it would keep its distributorship business and had no plans to put up an assembly plant in the near future. Over the coming years, we want to be known as one of the leading distributors of high-performance vehicles, not as an assembler, said Tan. The company hopes to open six dealership agreements in 2013. There are still plenty of high potential locations across the country that Mazda can establish a presence and delight the customers with our stylish, high quality and fuel-efcient vehicles, he said. Othel V. Campos

DA bares PSALM rebids contract to operate Cebu power plant rehab plan By Alena Mae S. Flores for cacao industry
THE Agriculture Department will implement a rehabilitation program for the cacao industry, which was recently affected by typhoon Pablo. Agriculture Assistant Secretary Dante De Lima said in an interview the government would plant more cacao trees because they were more resilient than coconut. Cocoa, which is produced from cacao trees, also commands an attractive price in the market. A kilo of cacao seeds costs P100. De Lima said the DA would plant cacao trees over 500 hectares of land in Davao Oriental. The areas were earlier planted with coconut trees. He said the government would plant cacao trees on an additional 500 hectares in Compostela Valley province, which was hard-hit by typhoon Pablo in December. If we invest on alternatives, we want to make sure that we have our target market. At present, there is already an agreement between the Department of Agriculture in Davao, the local government unit of the province of Davao Oriental and Kennemer Foods International Inc. They will be using the cocoa seeds to make chocolates, De Lima said. Kennemer is a Philippinebased producer and marketer of food and agricultural products. The agreement tapped KFI for its techno-managerial expertise in project management and fund sourcing for further project development of the cacao industry, which will guarantee the effective and accelerated implementation of the said program. Anna Leah G. Estrada POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. said Friday it will solicit bids for the contract to operate the 145.8-megawatt Naga power plant complex in Naga City, Cebu for an approved budget of P319.389 million. PSALM said in a notice it was inviting parties registered with the governments electronic procurement system to join the public bidding for the contract to operate the Naga power plant for one year. Bids received in excess of the approved budget for the contract shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. Bidders should have completed within ve years before the date of submission and receipt of bids a contract similar to the project, the agency said. PSALM scheduled the prebid conference on Jan. 30 and the submission of documents on Feb. 12. PSALM earlier extended the contract of SPC Power Corp. to operate and maintain the Naga power plants until February after a failed rebidding last year. The auction on the Naga power plant failed three times while two negotiated bids did not succeed. SPC Power operates and maintains the Naga complex. SPC Powers contract would have expired in December until it was extended until February. SPC Power is led by a group of local investors and Korea Power Corp., Koreas largest stateowned power utility company. PSALM signed a contract with SPC Power to operate the Visayas-based complex after the rehabilitate-operate-maintainand-manage agreement between National Power Corp. and the private company expired on March 25, 2012. The Naga complex consists

of three thermal power plants that use a combination of diesel, bunker C oil and coal as fuel. The complex hosts 50-MW and 56.8-MW plants fueled by coal; and the 39-MW diesel station, which consists of six power units with a capacity of 6.5 MW each. The PSALM board decided to defer the bidding of the contracted capacity of the Naga power facilities to an independent power producer administrator in October 2011.

Sugar imports displace 6,000 jobs

A GROUP of sugar planters said Friday the surge of imported rened sugar and sweeteners displaced at least 6,000 jobs in 2012. The private sector-led Sugar Master Plan Foundation Inc. warned that the scheduled reduction in sugar tariff rate to 5 percent by 2016 would exacerbate the situation and displace more farmers. It said rened sugar imports jumped 24 percent to 26,453 metric tons in 2012, displacing the output of at least 3,200 sugarcane farmers. The group also said based on Customs records, some 52,631.10 MT of softdrinks sweeteners, called high fructose corn syrup, were brought into the country from January to November last year. It said the imports of sweeteners were equivalent to 526,311 bags of sugar, which meant that harvests of 3,333 farmers were displaced in 2012. Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines Inc. was reported to have brought in 78 percent of the HFCS. Imports in November alone spiked to 20,121 MT, a level equivalent to the total imports from August to October of the same year, Sugar Master executive director Felixberto Monasterio said. These imports have a detrimental effect on the income of rural families in the countryside whose only source of livelihood is sugarcane farming, Monasterio added. The group warned that as import tariff would drop to 18 percent this year from 28 percent, a further surge in imports could be expected and imported sugar would gain an edge in the local market through lower price. Unfortunately, Filipino farmers face this stiffer competition while their neighboring competitor farmers, primarily from Thailand, continues to receive substantial government support despite common elimination of tariff, SMPF said. It said Thai farmers were receiving subsidies in the form of farmgate price protection, retail price setting, direct nancial assistance from government represented as bank loans and sanitary and phytosanitary protection against imports. Anna Leah G. Estrada
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, January 18, 2013
Indonesia Thailand UAE Euro Korea China India Malaysia New Zealand Taiwan Rupiah Baht Dirham Euro Won Yuan Rupee Ringgit Dollar Dollar 0.000104 0.033602 0.272264 1.338100 0.000945 0.160875 0.018399 0.331840 0.839913 0.034528 0.0042 1.3648 11.0583 54.3483 0.0384 6.5341 0.7473 13.4780 34.1139 1.4024
Source: PDS Bridge

Forum seeks extension of Recto drilling period

FORUM Energy plc, a UKbased oil and gas exploration and production company, said Friday it formally asked the Energy Department to extend the deadline to nish an exploratory program on service contract 72 covering the Recto Bank. Forum Energy said in a statement it sought the extension after failing to obtain approval of the Energy Department to begin exploration under the work program. Drilling work had been scheduled to be concluded at SC 72... on or beforeAug. 14. However, the requisite approvals from the DoE to conduct the proposed work program [comprising of a geotechnical survey and the drilling of two appraisal wells] have to-date not been received, Forum Energy said. Forum Energy, controlled by Philex Mining Corp., the biggest mining company, has a 70-percent stake in SC 72, with Monte Oro Resources and Energy Inc. holding 30 percent. Philex Mining chairman Manuel Pangilinan said early this week any exploratory drilling this year on SC 72 would be unlikely. SC 72 covers an 8,800-squarekilometer area in offshore west Palawan. The SC 72 block is estimated to contain prospective resources of as much as 16.6 trillion cubic feet of gas and 416 million barrels of oil. Alena Mae S. Flores

E ATE PSE COMPOSITE INDEX F OREIGNUnitXCHANGE RPeso Currency US Dollar

Closing January 18, 2013
United States Japan UK Hong Kong Switzerland Canada Singapore Australia Bahrain Saudi Arabia Brunei Dollar Yen Pound Dollar Franc Dollar Dollar Dollar Dinar Rial Dollar 1.000000 0.011125 1.600000 0.128994 1.072501 1.014919 0.817461 1.052853 2.652520 0.266660 0.814133 40.6160 0.4519 64.9856 5.2392 43.5607 41.2220 33.2020 42.7627 107.7348 10.8307 33.0668 6500 5500 4500 3500 2500 1500 1000

P584-P695 LPG/11-kg tank

P47.15-P53.07 Unleaded Gasoline

OIL PRICES
TODAY

PESO-DOLLAR RATE
Closing JANUARY 18, 2013
40 42 44 46 48

P38.40-P41.05 Diesel P40.30-P52.20 Kerosene P27.20-P31.00 Auto LPG

P40.575
CLOSE

67.63

6,139.210

HIGH P40.550 LOW P40.595 AVERAGE P40.580 VOLUME 687.950M 630.700M

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

B2

SATURDAY JANUARY 19, 2013

ManilaStandardToday

Business
52 Weeks

extrastory2000@gmail.com business@mst.ph

Market posts new record; PLDT rises

closing above the 6,100-point mark for the rst time Friday, as investors cheered signs of US economic recovery and a rebound in Chinas growth.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index jumped 67 points, or 1.1 percent, to settle at 6,139.21, which eclipsed the previous record closing of 6,091.18 on Jan. 9. The 30company benchmark index actually hit an intra-day high of 6,150.62 in the early part of trading Friday, before closing lower. The heavier index, representing all shares, also increased 32 points, or 0.9 percent, to 3,862.41, also a new record, as gainers outnumbered losers, 103 to 60, with 48 issues unchanged. Value turnover reached P9.4 billion. Philippine Long Distance Telecom Co., the most active stock, advanced 3.2 percent to P2,800. Rival Globe Telecom also jumped 4.7 percent to P1,187. Major conglomerates rose Friday. GT Capital Holdings Inc. gained 2 percent to P680 while Ayala Corp. rose 1.6 percent to P529. SM Prime Holdings Inc. was up 0.4 percent to P16.60. Mining companies led by Philex Mining Corp. and Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. climbed. Philex was up 1 percent to P18.20 while Atlas surged 4.2 percent to P22.15. Meanwhile, Asian stocks also rose Friday after signs that the US economic recovery is gaining traction and a rebound in Chinas growth emboldened investors to plunge back into equities. Strong reports on housing starts and jobs released late Thursday in the US sent Wall Street higher, despite disappointing earnings from Bank of America and Citigroup. Chinas economy grew 7.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012, up from the previous quarters 7.4 percent. Stronger quarterly growth was widely expected after earlier data showed retail sales, factory output and other indicators rising. Such an outcome should put to rest any remaining doubt about China escaping a hard landing and sailing smoothly through the troubled global waters, Dariusz Kowalczyk of Credit Agricole CIB in Hong

MST BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW

High
77.10 100.00 1.82 595.00 2.20 23.90 32.95 22.00 0.95 3.25 590.00 104.90 3.06 96.20 109.00 500.00 60.00 169.10 1100.00 140.00 2.70 38.00 13.58 2.26 1.62 61.00 4.99 3.12 27.75 4.55 7.16 10.40 3.80 24.00 95.50 24.60 0.027 14.00 5.49 2.35 120.00 11.70 8.40 14.66 22.50 23.00 33.50 7.50 18.80 291.20 12.20 6.82 13.60 13.70 14.94 5.09 3.90 7.60 122.50 3000.00 0.220 2.77 1.41 88.00 5.50 2.08 18.00 2.20 1.03 59.90 0.169 17.50 2.70 5.95 6.98 2.98 3.52 552.50 64.80 4.19 5.20 0.98 693.00 6.80 40.70 8.20 5.60 6.78 1.54 0.85 3.82 5.03 6.63 9.66 0.0680 2.20 0.66 3.40 2.40 0.420 923.00 2.71 1.57 0.420 0.620 0.850 48.00 3.89 0.87 0.195 27.35 5.62 9.00 2.47 3.00 1.50 0.092 1.11 1.13 0.435 2.48 1.66 2.14 4.50 3.33 0.31 0.990 0.67 22.30 7.71 3.15 7.57 18.20 0.84 4.55 0.64 5.20 4.72 42.00 18.98 0.88 63.90 0.2420 24.00 77.00 9.70 5.47 1750.00 1270.00 11.00 77.00 0.98 10.00 4.70 22.00 1.65 0.0850 3.4400 9.90 3.46 0.84 4.08 22.95 3.47 12.00 17.88 2886.00 0.39 34.45 14.18 3.30 0.72 4.50 0.0070 19.82 48.00 0.345 29.00 34.00 2.12 1.68 61.80 1.21 1.79 2.070 0.085 0.087 36.50 12.84 1.100 8.40 0.032 0.033 7.05 27.85 48.00 0.062 257.80 0.028 50.00 580.00 105.50 108.00 11.02 116.70 1050.00 2.28 2.20 57.30 56.60 0.68 48.00 1.60 17.90 18.50 7.95 0.62 2.00 420.00 71.75 1.69 59.00 71.80 239.00 29.75 100.00 879.00 69.00 1.71 28.70 6.22 1.24 1.20 17.10 2.12 2.41 7.60 4.32 4.83 3.60 1.00 12.80 58.50 16.50 0.0110 10.00 3.80 0.61 89.00 5.70 1.44 3.70 1.39 1.50 20.55 2.00 8.76 218.80 7.50 2.09 9.70 10.20 8.03 1.33 2.30 3.00 100.00 240.00 0.121 1.66 1.08 50.00 1.05 0.450 2.65 0.90

STOCKS surged to a new record level,

Kong said in an e-mail. Japans Nikkei 225 soared 2.5 percent to 10,875.16, recouping all of Thursdays losses and more as the yen slipped against the dollar. The dollar rose above the 90-yen line for the rst time since June 2010 as expectations intensied that the Bank of Japan will take steps to ease credit next week, Kyodo News Agency reported. Hong Kongs Hang Seng rose 0.8 percent to 23,514.10. South Koreas Kospi added 0.3 percent to 1,980.79. Australias S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3 percent to 4,771.50. Benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and mainland China rose. Malaysia and New Zealand fell. US economic data continued to show steady and gradual growth, and that gave a fresh boost to market sentiment, said Gary Yau of Credit Agricole in a market commentary. Wall Street stocks rose, but the rally was held back by earnings reports from two of the countrys biggest banks. Both Citigroup and Bank of America fell after disappointing the market with their fourth-quarter earnings reports. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.8 percent to 13,596.02. The Standard & Poors 500 rose 0.6 percent to 1,480.94. The Nasdaq composite index rose 0.6 percent to 3,136. With AP

0.65 40.50 0.014 10.24 1.88 3.30 3.700 0.90 0.90 332.00 42.80 1.96 3.36 0.10 455.40 3.07 24.50 2.08 3.30 4.90 0.81 0.320 1.710 3.48 4.38 1.33 0.044 1.20 0.42 1.56 1.17 0.300 557.00 1.13 1.04 0.205 0.255 0.330 15.00 2.37 0.43 0.162 15.82 4.00 2.51 1.35 1.50 1.05 0.060 0.76 0.60 0.152 1.63 1.06 0.72 1.60 1.58 0.145 0.240 0.41 11.86 2.35 1.98 5.72 12.10 0.65 2.31 0.49 2.85

Maxicare teams up with Slimmers. Maxicare HealthCare Corp. gets Slimmers World International to be its slimming, health, tness and beauty partner, providing Maxicare members with more avenues to promote a healthy lifestyle. Shown during the formal launching of the partnership are Slimmers World International center manager Mayette Dolor-Gutierrez (left) and Maxicare vice president for sales and marketing Armi Malaluan. With the new partnership, Maxicare members get exclusive discounts, special privileges, offers and promos every month at Slimmers.

7-Eleven to open 300 new stores

PHILIPPINE Seven Corp., operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores, announced a three-year expansion program that involves the opening of 300 new stores in Luzon and the Visayas. PSC chief executive Victor Paterno said the expansion program would involve the opening of 100 stores in Cebu and the neighboring islands and another 200 new stores in Luzon. These areas, in particular the metro provinces of Cebu and Ilocos, are t and very ripe hubs for c-store growth mainly because of the locations rapid increase in economic activity, attractive tourism venues and being centers of education, Paterno said. 7-Eleven recently opened 13 stores in Mandaue, Lahug, Banilad and Cebu City. It also opened 172 stores in Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, La Union, Pangasinan and Baguio. Paterno said to support its growth targets, PSC initiated key marketing strategies that included heavy local advertising and promotions, setting up of a local warehouse, tapping local suppliers/concessionaires for items uniquely supplied in Manila and offering competitive pricing and constant product availability. He said the expansion allowed the company to create more jobs and introduce expanded product line, which consisted of both proprietary and popular grab-and-go brands. All 7-Eleven outlets now espouse the companys Store of the Future energy-saving functional design as part of the stores value-added shopping conveniences. 7-Eleven now has 800 outlets, of which 62 percent were franchise-operated.
Close (P) 4.30 0.430 9.20 2.40 0.0520 0.620 2.50 0.320 4.85 3.59 Change (%) (14.00) (6.52) (5.93) (5.88) (5.45) (4.62) (3.85) (3.03) (3.00) (2.97)

T OP G AINERS
STOCKS LMG Chemicals Forum Paci c Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Filipino Fund Inc. IPVG Corp. ATN Holdings A Easy Call "Common" Century Property Oriental Pet. `A' Oriental Pet. `B' Close (P) 2.58 0.235 0.78 11.00 0.68 0.95 2.95 1.85 0.0210 0.0220 Change (%) 27.72 7.80 6.85 6.80 6.25 5.56 5.36 5.11 5.00 4.76

T OP L OSERS
STOCKS Keppel Holdings `A' Information Capital Tech. Vivant Corp. Liberty Telecom Island Info Ionics Inc Republic Glass 'A' Sinophil Corp. DFNN Inc. IP Converge

1.33 24.10 1.05 0.60 8.13 0.1010 3.65 52.40 4.00 1.80 800.00 990.00 6.63 54.00 0.36 4.65 1.75 0.019 0.54 0.040 2.170 6.28 2.28 0.60 1.34 13.78 1.49 7.15 12.10 2096.00 0.27 17.90 3.30 2.42 0.35 1.14

T RADING S UMMARY
FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL SHARES 16,116,484 379,149,737 214,929,257 376,654,220 32,9136,619 5,602,813,410 6,918,799,727 VALUE 1,356,746,115.2 1,732,250,524.28 1,972,711,659.2 1,772,028,238.77 1,849,585,286.62 654,556,652.402 9,337,878,476.47 FINANCIAL 1,583.14 (up) 3.66 INDUSTRIAL 9,204.51 (up) 23 HOLDING FIRMS 5,455.01 (up) 89.84 PROPERTY 2,417.39 (up) 4.26 SERVICES 1,854.05 (up) 41.44 MINING & OIL 22,057.9 (up) 334.05 PSEI 6,139.21 (up) 67.03 All Shares Index 3,862.41 (up) 32.94 Gainers: 103; Losers: 60; Unchanged: 48; Total: 201

0.0039 16.80 10.00 0.210 18.60 17.70 0.82 1.02 12.10 0.48 0.8600 0.9200 0.047 0.047 15.78 4.70 0.008 3.07 0.016 0.017 5.62 12.52 8.50 0.024 200.00 0.014 22.65 505.00 100.00 101.00 6.52 104.10

ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. Ayala Corp. Pref `A First Gen G First Phil. Hldgs.-Pref. GMA Holdings Inc. PCOR-Preferred SMC Preferred A SMC Preferred C 1000.00 SMPFC Preferred 0.68 0.74

M S T
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2013
Previous

Low

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

Close Change Volume

76.20 98.80 0.72 55.55 1.99 18.98 30.05 11.00 0.76 2.79 530.00 105.30 1.74 92.30 105.50 414.60 61.50 166.00 1040.00 115.10 2.47 0.79 (0.20) (1.37) 0.27 0.00 0.21 1.52 6.80 0.00 (2.79) 0.00 (0.09) 0.58 1.43 4.46 0.14 0.82 0.36 0.97 0.26 2.07

Net Foreign

Trade/Buying
99,518,244.00 (27,163,577.00) 65,700.00 (27,163,577.00) 100,170.00 (18,202,700.00)

Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. Bank of PI Bankard, Inc. China Bank BDO Leasing & Fin. Inc. COL Financial Eastwest Bank Filipino Fund Inc. First Abacus I-Remit Inc. Manulife Fin. Corp. Metrobank Natl Reinsurance Corp. Phil. National Bank Phil. Savings Bank PSE Inc. RCBC `A Security Bank Sun Life Financial Union Bank Vantage Equities

Aboitiz Power Corp. Agrinurture Inc. Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. Alsons Cons. Asiabest Group Calapan Venture Chemrez Technologies Inc. Cirtek Holdings (Chips) DNL Industries Inc. Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) EEI Euro-Med Lab. First Gen Corp. First Holdings A Ginebra San Miguel Inc. Greenergy Holcim Philippines Inc. Integ. Micro-Electronics Ionics Inc Jollibee Foods Corp. Lafarge Rep LMG Chemicals LT Group Manchester Intl. A Manchester Intl. B Manila Water Co. Inc. Mariwasa MFG. Inc. Megawide Mla. Elect. Co `A Pancake House Inc. Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. Petron Corporation Phinma Corporation Phoenix Petroleum Phils. RFM Corporation Roxas Holdings Salcon Power Corp. San Miguel Corp `A San MiguelPure Foods `B Swift Foods, Inc. TKC Steel Corp. Trans-Asia Oil Universal Robina Victorias Milling Vitarich Corp. Vivant Corp. Vulcan Indl. Abacus Cons. `A Aboitiz Equity Alcorn Gold Res. Alliance Global Inc. Anglo Holdings A Anscor `A Asia Amalgamated A ATN Holdings A ATN Holdings B Ayala Corp `A DMCI Holdings F&J Prince A Filinvest Dev. Corp. Forum Pacic GT Capital House of Inv. JG Summit Holdings Jolliville Holdings Keppel Holdings `A Lopez Holdings Corp. Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. Mabuhay Holdings `A Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Metro Pacic Inv. Corp. Minerales Industrias Corp. MJCI Investments Inc. Pacica `A Prime Media Hldg Prime Orion Republic Glass A Seafront `A Sinophil Corp. SM Investments Inc. Solid Group Inc. South China Res. Inc. Unioil Res. & Hldgs Wellex Industries Zeus Holdings

Anchor Land Holdings Inc. A. Brown Co., Inc. Araneta Prop `A Arthaland Corp. Ayala Land `B Belle Corp. `A Cebu Holdings Century Property City & Land Dev. Cityland Dev. `A Crown Equities Inc. Cyber Bay Corp. Empire East Land Ever Gotesco Global-Estate Filinvest Land,Inc. Interport `A Keppel Properties Megaworld Corp. MRC Allied Ind. Phil. Estates Corp. Phil. Realty `A Robinsons Land `B Rockwell Shang Properties Inc. SM Development `A SM Prime Holdings Sta. Lucia Land Inc. Starmalls Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. Vista Land & Lifescapes

2GO Group ABS-CBN Acesite Hotel APC Group, Inc. Bloomberry Boulevard Holdings Calata Corp. Cebu Air Inc. (5J) DFNN Inc. Easy Call Common FEUI Globe Telecom GMA Network Inc. I.C.T.S.I. Information Capital Tech. IPeople Inc. `A IP Converge IP E-Game Ventures Inc. IPVG Corp. Island Info ISM Communications Leisure & Resorts Liberty Telecom Manila Bulletin Manila Jockey Pacic Online Sys. Corp. Paxys Inc. Phil. Racing Club Philweb.Com Inc. PLDT Common PremiereHorizon Puregold STI Holdings Touch Solutions Transpacic Broadcast Waterfront Phils. Yehey

Abra Mining Atlas Cons. `A Atok-Big Wedge `A Basic Energy Corp. Benguet Corp `A Benguet Corp `B Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A Lepanto `B Manila Mining `A Manila Mining `B Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A Oriental Pet. `B Petroenergy Res. Corp. Philex `A PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A Semirara Corp. United Paragon

Megaworld Corp. Warrants Megaworld Corp. Warrants2

FINANCIAL 75.60 76.25 75.90 99.00 99.00 98.30 0.73 0.74 0.72 55.40 55.60 55.40 1.99 1.99 1.99 18.94 19.00 18.90 29.60 30.75 29.55 10.30 11.00 10.98 0.76 0.76 0.76 2.87 2.85 2.79 530.00 558.00 530.00 105.40 106.80 104.60 1.73 1.75 1.74 91.00 93.00 91.00 101.00 105.50 101.00 414.00 415.00 414.00 61.00 61.80 60.00 165.40 166.50 165.00 1030.00 1046.00 1035.00 114.80 115.50 114.80 2.42 2.47 2.43 INDUSTRIAL 38.15 38.20 37.95 8.00 8.20 8.00 1.99 2.01 1.95 1.33 1.34 1.32 19.20 19.00 18.80 4.30 4.30 4.30 2.95 2.95 2.90 27.15 27.60 26.90 5.31 5.400 5.25 6.99 7.00 6.97 11.20 11.24 11.02 1.82 1.83 1.83 23.95 24.10 23.90 99.90 100.20 99.90 17.20 17.00 16.70 0.0200 0.0200 0.0190 13.40 13.30 12.92 3.98 4.00 3.96 0.650 0.690 0.620 106.90 108.20 105.50 11.50 11.50 11.14 2.02 2.71 2.06 12.96 13.40 12.94 14.00 13.80 13.00 14.20 14.10 13.20 33.50 33.80 33.45 4.95 5.25 4.56 17.500 17.720 17.060 279.60 281.80 279.20 8.00 8.00 7.90 6.27 6.35 6.20 10.50 10.54 10.46 12.12 12.30 11.50 9.40 9.60 9.40 4.85 5.00 4.80 3.00 3.05 3.00 4.54 4.60 4.50 106.30 106.10 105.60 243.00 244.00 243.00 0.142 0.142 0.140 1.72 1.72 1.71 1.43 1.49 1.43 85.10 86.00 82.60 1.58 1.65 1.56 0.95 0.98 0.93 9.78 9.80 9.20 1.51 1.51 1.48 HOLDING FIRMS 0.68 0.68 0.66 55.95 57.00 55.95 0.1420 0.1430 0.1420 17.86 17.86 17.70 2.30 2.40 2.30 5.63 5.63 5.61 4.98 5.00 4.80 0.90 0.95 0.90 0.90 0.91 0.88 520.50 538.00 523.50 52.40 53.15 52.40 2.95 2.90 2.90 4.63 4.69 4.65 0.218 0.235 0.218 667.00 684.00 670.00 6.60 6.78 6.59 37.50 38.50 37.65 7.40 7.49 6.00 5.00 4.30 4.30 6.90 7.01 6.70 1.00 1.02 0.99 0.500 0.500 0.500 1.88 1.99 1.89 5.02 5.10 5.02 7.02 7.07 7.00 7.15 7.50 6.88 0.0520 0.0520 0.0510 1.330 1.380 1.330 0.600 0.630 0.610 2.60 2.50 2.50 1.90 1.92 1.86 0.330 0.335 0.320 940.00 967.00 945.00 2.21 2.26 2.19 1.11 1.08 1.08 0.2700 0.2950 0.2700 0.3050 0.3100 0.2950 0.690 0.720 0.670 PROPERTY 17.00 17.60 17.00 3.00 3.00 2.93 1.000 1.100 1.000 0.200 0.200 0.195 27.80 27.80 27.35 5.05 5.16 5.04 4.00 4.00 4.00 1.76 1.88 1.76 2.26 2.35 2.35 1.15 1.14 1.14 0.072 0.071 0.065 0.81 0.83 0.81 1.010 1.030 1.000 0.390 0.395 0.385 2.00 2.03 2.00 1.64 1.68 1.63 1.20 1.20 1.20 2.85 2.95 2.85 3.22 3.23 3.19 0.1110 0.1150 0.1090 0.6600 0.6700 0.6400 0.480 0.490 0.480 21.30 21.60 21.30 3.31 3.42 3.29 3.13 3.13 3.10 5.97 6.02 5.95 16.54 16.60 16.46 0.73 0.81 0.74 3.90 3.89 3.63 0.580 0.590 0.570 5.120 5.130 5.050 SERVICES 1.70 1.92 1.70 39.80 40.00 39.60 1.31 1.30 1.29 0.840 0.850 0.830 13.10 13.20 13.04 0.1350 0.1370 0.1350 3.72 3.80 3.68 61.50 61.90 61.50 5.00 4.85 4.71 2.80 2.95 2.90 1066.00 1054.00 1002.00 1134.00 1202.00 1114.00 9.57 9.70 9.50 75.50 76.40 75.50 0.460 0.465 0.430 9.00 9.00 9.00 3.70 3.74 3.55 0.024 0.026 0.024 0.64 0.71 0.62 0.0550 0.0520 0.0510 2.2000 2.2000 2.1600 8.19 8.42 8.16 2.55 2.45 2.36 0.77 0.75 0.72 2.76 3.04 2.77 14.00 14.00 14.00 2.94 2.95 2.91 10.40 10.76 10.30 14.20 14.22 13.96 2714.00 2900.00 2720.00 0.335 0.335 0.335 32.00 32.50 31.80 1.01 1.05 1.01 9.20 9.22 9.12 2.39 2.40 2.15 0.420 0.420 0.410 1.290 1.270 1.270 MINING & OIL 0.0057 0.0057 0.0057 21.25 22.30 21.25 20.45 20.55 19.60 0.290 0.290 0.280 18.80 19.00 18.80 18.50 19.00 18.50 1.03 1.04 1.00 1.02 1.02 1.01 15.00 15.00 14.78 0.52 0.53 0.51 1.160 1.190 1.150 1.220 1.250 1.220 0.0630 0.0650 0.0630 0.0670 0.0700 0.0680 20.10 20.15 20.00 4.60 4.63 4.56 0.6300 0.7000 0.6200 3.590 3.640 3.560 0.0200 0.0220 0.0200 0.0210 0.0230 0.0210 6.30 6.33 6.27 18.02 18.480 18.180 33.25 34.10 33.25 0.042 0.045 0.041 243.20 244.00 242.00 0.0180 0.0190 0.0180 PREFERRED 41.90 43.45 41.90 530.00 530.00 530.00 103.50 105.50 103.60 102.00 101.50 101.50 9.95 10.18 9.90 108.50 108.90 108.50 75.00 75.00 74.95 75.30 75.75 75.30 1018.00 1020.00 1014.00 WARRANTS & BONDS 2.16 2.21 2.04 2.07 2.18 2.06

4,565,380 1,632,200 133,000 148,970 40,000 21,500 2,176,400 4,200 34,000 43,000 560 3,497,540 465,000 1,173,080 7,670 5,370 313,220.00 1,431,130 350 323,150 99,000

(116,129,327.00) (367,500.00) (4,983,327.00) 17,223,235.00 90,260,839.00

938,050.00

38.10 8.14 1.98 1.34 19.00 4.30 2.95 27.40 5.37 6.98 11.02 1.83 24.00 99.90 16.70 0.0200 13.30 4.00 0.620 108.00 11.50 2.58 13.24 13.76 14.10 33.45 5.00 17.700 281.80 8.00 6.28 10.48 11.82 9.44 4.94 3.00 4.55 106.00 244.00 0.142 1.72 1.45 86.00 1.58 0.95 9.20 1.49

(0.13) 1.75 (0.50) 0.75 (1.04) 0.00 0.00 0.92 1.13 (0.14) (1.61) 0.55 0.21 0.00 (2.91) 0.00 (0.75) 0.50 (4.62) 1.03 0.00 27.72 2.16 (1.71) (0.70) (0.15) 1.01 1.14 0.79 0.00 0.16 (0.19) (2.48) 0.43 1.86 0.00 0.22 (0.28) 0.41 0.00 0.00 1.40 1.06 0.00 0.00 (5.93) (1.32)

2,924,100 12,700 1,809,000 1,066,000 1,900 20,000 34,000 278,000 30,596,000 14,363,500 1,061,300 1,000 2,391,200 1,089,520 18,500 240,100,000 187,000 4,000 1,423,000 1,851,640 197,600 12,825,000 1,060,500 25,200 30,600 565,400 77,000 51,000 691,630 22,800 4,299,900 2,953,800 10,100 153,800 5,264,000 116,000 38,000 327,610 68,950 5,290,000 31,000 26,028,000 1,327,450 11,270,000 1,112,000 12,000 1,342,000 2,939,000 2,393,550 105,280,000 16,293,700 8,687,000 15,200 26,000 142,000 81,000 880,330 959,720 54,000 207,000 160,000 608,350 139,100 2,192,300 11,400 55,600 5,507,700 654,000 10,000 2,433,000 9,151,500 168,800 15,328,500 11,700,000 93,000 1,508,000 5,000 127,000 4,240,000 289,970 231,000 7,000 840,000 420,000 21,081,000

3,220,695.00 (30,450.00) 73,580.00

(1,047,766.00) 19,885,365.00 792,934.00 27,261,400.00 22,722,834.00

(1,084,000.00) (400,830.00) 30,080.00 (23,859,561.00) (115,000.00) (31,320.00) (233,200.00) (233,200.00) 340,180.00 11,873,870.00

67,800.00 (13,327,424.00) (953,499.00) (17,416,936.00) (63,050.00) 24,828,800.00

10,499,833.00 4,754,430.00 281,000.00 (2,398,250.00) (528,660.50) 681,380.00 (14,150.00) 46,000.00

0.68 57.00 0.1420 17.70 2.37 5.63 4.98 0.95 0.91 529.00 53.00 2.90 4.68 0.235 680.00 6.78 38.40 7.49 4.30 6.78 1.00 0.500 1.94 5.02 7.01 7.05 0.0510 1.330 0.610 2.50 1.90 0.320 967.00 2.21 1.08 0.2700 0.3050 0.670

0.00 1.88 0.00 (0.90) 3.04 0.00 0.00 5.56 1.11 1.63 1.15 (1.69) 1.08 7.80 1.95 2.73 2.40 1.22 (14.00) (1.74) 0.00 0.00 3.19 0.00 (0.14) (1.40) (1.92) 0.00 1.67 (3.85) 0.00 (3.03) 2.87 0.00 (2.70) 0.00 0.00 (2.90)

(33,500.00) 67,350,670.50

(77,499,598.00) (750.00) 9,680.00 54,204,120.00 (28,661,096.50) 233,700.00 130,116,585.00 2,103,790.00 3,174,457.00 99,000.00 (1,918,238.00)

(201,300.00) (12,500.00)

155,100.00 162,800,035.00 (5,450.00)

(31,750.00) 77,210.00 (136,880.00) 277,120.00

17.60 3.00 1.020 0.200 27.75 5.12 4.00 1.85 2.35 1.14 0.071 0.81 1.020 0.385 2.02 1.67 1.20 2.85 3.19 0.1130 0.6500 0.490 21.40 3.29 3.12 5.99 16.60 0.78 3.89 0.580 5.100

3.53 0.00 2.00 0.00 (0.18) 1.39 0.00 5.11 3.98 (0.87) (1.39) 0.00 0.99 (1.28) 1.00 1.83 0.00 0.00 (0.93) 1.80 (1.52) 2.08 0.47 (0.60) (0.32) 0.34 0.36 6.85 (0.26) 0.00 (0.39)

95,100 108,000 11,145,000 1,110,000 6,440,900 6,989,300 66,000 27,346,000 68,000 20,000 3,010,000 3,307,000 24,236,000 2,740,000 1,858,000 113,003,000 50,000 5,000 16,688,000 52,920,000 12,916,000 710,000 2,704,600 2,057,000 116,000 2,698,200 52,141,100 7,722,000 216,000 652,000 10,290,300

32,823,575.00 7,305,048.00 649,600.00 41,000.00 1,507,820.00 1,034,850.00 64,127,380.00

(1,034,130.00) 124,650.00 130,000.00 (2,363,690.00) 107,790.00 5,218,291.00 (117,566,656.00)

(28,874,385.00)

1.72 40.00 1.30 0.840 13.12 0.1370 3.72 61.80 4.85 2.95 1052.00 1187.00 9.60 76.00 0.430 9.00 3.59 0.025 0.68 0.0520 2.2000 8.33 2.40 0.75 2.77 14.00 2.91 10.34 14.22 2800.00 0.335 31.80 1.03 9.12 2.40 0.420 1.270 0.0057 22.15 20.55 0.285 18.80 19.00 1.04 1.01 14.96 0.53 1.180 1.240 0.0640 0.0700 20.10 4.61 0.6200 3.600 0.0210 0.0220 6.33 18.20 34.00 0.044 242.60 0.0180

1.18 0.50 (0.76) 0.00 0.15 1.48 0.00 0.49 (3.00) 5.36 (1.31) 4.67 0.31 0.66 (6.52) 0.00 (2.97) 4.17 6.25 (5.45) 0.00 1.71 (5.88) (2.60) 0.36 0.00 (1.02) (0.58) 0.14 3.17 0.00 (0.62) 1.98 (0.87) 0.42 0.00 (1.55) 0.00 4.24 0.49 (1.72) 0.00 2.70 0.97 (0.98) (0.27) 1.92 1.72 1.64 1.59 4.48 0.00 0.22 (1.59) 0.28 5.00 4.76 0.48 1.00 2.26 4.76 (0.25) 0.00

239,000 98,200 59,000 5,720,000 5,440,300 22,210,000 573,000 401,030 1,900 13,000 115 164,455 625,200 451,410 500,000 13,800 407,000 203,600,000 16,409,000 2,380,000 105,000 1,070,900 144,000 4,000 3,978,000 10,000 843,000 329,100 1,892,700 392,905 100,000 4,975,000 46,070,000 108,300 389,000 210,000 15,000

(39,991,914.00) (7,812,336.00)

97,631,900.00 13,075,421.50 34,400.00 106,200.00 150,000.00 24,150.00 9,680.00 99,970.00 26,000.00

(43,650.00) 1,820,340.00 (13,533,290.00) 602,226,180.00 (68,346,005.00) 5,479,300.00 (33,140.00)

88,000,000 6,965,400 6,800 1,540,000 5,000 11,000 27,200 3,314,000 12,700 338,000 20,047,000 18,783,000 295,300,000 212,050,000 754,600 1,452,000 1,703,000 869,000 2,725,100,000 66,700,000 9,800 11,049,700 278,500 1,903,200,000 136,830 244,500,000

26,426,140.00 4,055.00 (247,950.00) (185,000.00) 15,300.00

7,221,560.00 138,000.00 489,155.00 (31,000.00) 10,910.00

10,041,226.00 3,653,345.00 884,400.00 3,306,020.00 88,290.00

43.45 530.00 103.60 101.50 9.97 108.50 75.00 75.30 1020.00 2.21 2.06

3.70 0.00 0.10 (0.49) 0.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.20

987,900 1,480 6,560 3,810 8,148,000 98,330 4,080,570 27,050 22,670 105,000 833,000

50,750.00 29,850,000.00 (76,077,750.00) 804,825.00 101,500.00

2.31 (0.48)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

adv.mst@gmail.com
Page Compositor: Diana Keyser Punzalan

ManilaStandardToday

Classifieds
Republic of the Philippines

SATURDAY JANUARY 19, 2013

B3

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS Region X BUKIDNON 3RD DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE Office of the District Engineer Dicklum, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera Administrative Region OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Abra District Engineering Office Bangued, Abra
January 16, 2013

INVITATION TO BID
The DPWH, Bukidnon 3rd District Engineering Office, Dicklum, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply to bid for the following contract(s): 1. Contract ID Contract Name 13KC0003 A.) Emergency Repair of the Damaged Abutment A & B of Lower Olayan Bridge and B.) Emergency Repair/ Restoration of Existing Slope /Bank Protection of Bridge (Puthawon Bridge) Jct. Maradugao-Camp KibaritanDominorog Road Section Scope of Work : Repair/Restoration of the Damaged Abutment A & B Contract Location : Kalilangan, Bukidnon ABC : Php 2,759,319.31 Cost of Bidding Documents: Php 5,000.00 Contract Duration : 110 Calendar Days : :

INVITATION TO BID
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bangued, Abra through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites contractors to apply to bid for the following contract(s): Contract ID Contract Name : 13PA0007 : REPAIR/REHABILITATION/IMPROVEMENT OF NATIONAL ROADS Contract Location : Abra-Kalinga Raod, S00592LZ K0 420 + 280 K0 421 + 440 Scopes of Work : Item 310 Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) : Php 9,885,677.00 Contract Duration : 22 calendar days Source of Fund : FY 2013 MVUC Procurement will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations. To bid for the contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (c) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH-POCW Central Office before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH-POCW Central Office will only process contractors applications for registration with complete requirements and issue the Contractors Certificate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph.. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: 1. Issuance of Bidding Documents 2. Pre-bid Conference 3. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective Bidders 4. Receipt of Bids 5. Opening of Bids January 16 - February 7, 2013 January 24, 2013 February 7, 2013, until 10:00 A.M. February 7, 2013, until 10:00 A.M. February 7, 2013, @ 2:00 P.M.

For fast ad results, please call 659-48-30 local 303 or 659-48-03

ERRORS & OMISSIONS
In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published. We will not be responsible for any incorrect a d s n o t reported to us immediately.
(MST-Jan. 12, 19 & 26, 2013)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch 43, Manila IN THE MATTER OF THE RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN DIVORCE SP. PROC. NO. 12-127544 JENNIFER SARONA GOBUYAN, Petitioner. x------------------------------------------------x SEIZABURO MIURA, CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR OF MANILA AND CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, Respondents. x------------------------------------------------x

Procurement will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures in accordance with R.A. 9184 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations. To bid for this contract, a contractor must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), purchase bid documents and must meet the following major criteria: (a) prior registration with DPWH, (b) Filipino citizen or 75% Filipino-owned partnership, corporation, cooperative, or joint venture, (c) with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract, (d) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and (e) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or credit line commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC. The BAC will use non-discretionary pass/ fail criteria in the eligibility check and preliminary examination of bids. Unregistered contractors, however, shall submit their applications for registration to the DPWH, Bukidnon 3rd District Engineering Office, Dicklum, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon before the deadline for the receipt of LOI. The DPWH, Bukidnon 3rd District Engineering Office will only process contractors applications for registration with complete requirements and issue the Contractors Certificate of Registration (CRC). Registration Forms may be downloaded at the DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. The significant times and deadlines of procurement activities are shown below: 1. Issuance of Biddings Documents 2. Pre-bid Conference 3. Deadline of Receipt of LOI from Prospective Bidders 4. Receipt of Bids 5. Opening of Bids From: Jan. 15, 2013 to February 5, 2013 January 25, 2013 , 10:30 am January 31, 2013 Deadline: February 5, 2013, 10:00am February 5, 2013, 10:30am

ORDER OF HEARING
A verified "Second Amended Petition" was filed before this court alleging among others that petitioner was married to a Japanese national named Seizaburo Miura on April 23, 1992 and that the latter secured a divorce in Japan on January 28, 2010. Petitioner prays for recognition of the divorce in Japan and that she be declared to have the capacity to remarry under Philippine laws. Any interested party may come to court to submit comments and/or oppose the petition. The petition shall be heard by this court on March 22, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. The court is located at the 5th Floor, Taft Wing, City Hall, Manila. SO ORDERED. November 28, 2012, Manila, Philippines. (Sgd.) ROY G. GIRONELLA Presiding Judge

Republic of the Philippines

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at DPWH, Bukidnon 3rd District Engineering Office, Dicklum, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, upon payment of a non-refundable fee (refer above). Prospective bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their bid Documents. Bids must accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and post-qualification. The DPWH, Bukidnon 3rd District Engineering Office, Dicklum, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding process anytime before Contract award, without incurring any liability to the affected bidders.

The BAC will issue hard copies of Bidding Documents (BDs) at DPWH, Abra Engineering District, Bangued, Abra upon payment of a non-refundable fee of P10,000.00 for Bidding Documents. Prospective bidders may download the BDs from the DPWH website, if available. Prospective bidders that will download the BDs from the DPWH website shall pay the said fees on or before the submission of their bids Documents. Bids must accompanied by a bid security, in the amount and acceptable form, as stated in Section 27.2 of the Revised IRR. Prospective bidders shall submit their duly accomplished forms as specified in the BDs in two (2) separate sealed bid envelopes to the BAC Chairman. The first envelope shall contain the technical component of the bid, which shall include a copy of the CRC. The second envelope shall contain the financial component of the bid. Contract will be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bid as determined in the bid evaluation and post-qualification The DPWH-Abra Engineering District, Bangued, Abra reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bid and to annul the bidding process anytime before Contract Award, without incurring any liability to affected Bidders.

Department of Public Works and Highways OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Samar Second District Engineering Office Region VIII Catbalogan City

INVITATION TO BID FOR

I. Contract ID Contract Name : : 13 IK 0001 CLUSTER I Construction of 12-unit, One Storey, One (1) Classroom, Modified Type School Building, (7.00mx9.00m) on various locations: 1 Brgy. Alegria PS, Sta. Rita; 2. Brgy. Astorga ES, Daram; 3. Brgy. Balerican PS, Villareal; 4. Brgy. Bangon PS, Basey; 5. Brgy. Banguil ES, Villareal; 6. Darm NHS; 7. Hinabangan NHS; 8. Villareal NHS; 9. Brgy. Parasan NHS, Daram; 10. Antonio G. Tuazon HS, Catbalogan (Capital); 11. Brgy. Maputi ES, Zumarraga and 12. Brgy. Maligaya ES, Sta. Rita all in Samar Furnishing of Materials, Labor and Minimum Equipment for the Const of One (1) Storey, One (1) Cl. (7.00x9.00m) Modified School Bldg. on various locations P 7,928,048.40 240 Calendar days P 10,000.00 13 IK 0002 CLUSTER II Construction of 9-unit, One Storey, One (1) Classroom, Modified Type School Building, (7.00mx9.00m) on various locations: 1 San Jose de Buan NHS; 2. Brgy. Madalunot ES, Pinabacdao; 3. Brgy. Siga ES, Sta. Rita; 4. Brgy. Tinabanan ES, Marabut; 5. Brgy. Agimit PS, Basey; 6. Brgy. Anglit ES, Basey; 7. Brgy. Bagolibas ES, Sta. Rita; 8. Brgy. Bagong Silang, Basey; and 9. Brgy. Barcelona ES, Sta. Rita Furnishing of Materials, Labor and Minimum Equipment for the Const. of One (1) Storey, One (1) Cl. (7.00x9.00m) Modified School Bldg. on various locations P 5,830,473.15 180 Calendar days P 10,000.00 13 IK 0003 CLUSTER III Construction of 2-unit, One Storey, One (1) Classroom, Modified Type School Building, (7.00mx9.00m) on various locations: 1 Brgy. Casandig NHS, Paranas Wright, Samar; and 2. Brgy. Igot NHS, Villareal, Samar Furnishing of Materials, Labor and Minimum Equipment for the Const. of One (1) Storey, One (1) Cl. (7.00x9.00m) Modified School Bldg. on various locations P 1,257,239.40 45 Calendar days P 5,000.00 13 IK 0004 CLUSTER IV Construction of 2-unit, One Storey, One (1) Classroom, Type III S School Building, (7.00mx9.00m) on various locations: 1 Brgy. Anagasi PS, Paranas Wright, Samar; and 2. Brgy. Barayong PS, Motiong, Samar Furnishing of Materials, Labor and Minimum Equipment for the Const. of One (1) Unit, One (1) Cl. (7.00x9.00m) Type III-S School Bldg. on various locations P 1,321,325.30 45 Calendar days P 5,000.00

Contract Location

Brief Description/Scope of Work

(Sgd.) RONALD T. GEMPISAO Engineer III Chief, Planning & Design Section BAC Chairman

APPROVED: (Sgd.) EDWIN T. BRINGAS Chief, Maintenance Section BAC-Chairman Tel. # 752-8507
(MST-Jan. 19, 2013)

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) Contract Duration Cost of Bidding Documents II. Contract ID Contract Name

: : : : :

Contract Location

(MST-Jan. 19, 2013)

Brief Description/Scope of Work

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Public Works and Highways SAMAR FIRST DISTRICT ENGINEERING OFFICE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ENGINEER Calbayog City

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS Cordillera Administrative Region OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR Engineers Hill, Baguio City ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) Contract Duration Cost of Bidding Documents III. Contract ID Contract Name

: : : : :

INVITATION TO BID for

I. Contract ID : 13IJ - 0048 REHABILITATION ALONG CALBAYOG CATARMAN ROAD VIA LOPE DE VEGA, K0796 + 500 K0797 + 500(with exceptions) Scope of Work : Rehabilitation of 3,400 sq.m. PCCP and Construction of 980 lin.m. Grouted Lined Canal Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC): PHP 11,637,432.00 Contract Duration : 120 CD Cost of Bid Documents : P 10,000.00 1. The DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City, through the FY-2012 (Carriageway Fund 101) intends to apply the sum of ELEVEN MILLION SIX HUNDRED THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY TWO PESOS (P 11,637,432.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the abovementioned contract. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bidding opening. The DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City now invites bids for the abovementioned description of works. Completion of the works is required within the above stated contract duration. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instruction to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnership, organizations or joint venture with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. 4. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City, and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. 5:00. P.M. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by Interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount stated above. Issuance of Bidding Documents will be on January 18, 2013 February 8, 2013. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PHILGEPS) and the website of the procuring entity provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the bidding documents not later than the submission of their bids. 6. The DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 25, 2013 at 3:00 P.M. at the BAC Office, DPWHSamar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City which shall be open to all interested parties. Bids must be delivered at the address below on or before February 8, 2013 at 9:00 A.M. at the BAC Office- DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Brgy. San Policarpo, Calbayog City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bids will be opened on February 8, 2013 at 2:00 P.M., in the presence of the Bidders representative who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. 8. To bid for this contract, a contractor must purchase bidding documents and meet the following major criteria; a) prior registration with DPWH, BAC-CPO, Manila; b) with PCAB License applicable to the type and cost of the contract; c) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and d) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or Credit Line Commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC. Bidders shall submit their bids through their duly Authorized Liaison Officer only as specified in the Contractors Information (CI). The DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office, Calbayog City reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability or obligation to the affected bidder or bidders. Contract Name/Location :

Invitation to Bid
The Department of Public Works and Highways - Cordillera Administrative Region (DPWH-CAR, through the General Appropriations Act intends to apply the amount of the Approved Budget Cost to payments under the contract and now invites bids for the contract: Contract ID No: Contract Name: Contract Location: Fund: Approved Budget Cost : Scope of work: Contract Duration: Cost of Bidding Documents: 13PO0002 Pilot Project: Road Slope along Benguet Nueva Vizcaya Road (Pito Section), K0314+725 Pito, Bokod, Benguet SR 2012 12-001741 Php 8,535,591.94 Structural concrete (Class B), Gabions, etc. 171 Calendar Days Php 10,000.00

Contract Location Brief Description/Scope of Work

: :

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) Contract Duration Cost of Bidding Documents IV. Contract ID Contract Name

: : : : :

Contract Location Brief Description/Scope of Work

: :

Bids received in excess of the Approved Budget Cost shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. Completion of the Works is required within the contract duration. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Document particularly, in Section II, Instruction to Bidders. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a single contract similar to the Project, equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines. Contractors/applicants who are interested in the DPWH civil works are required to register prior to the set schedule of submission of bid while those already registered shall keep their records current and updated. Contractors eligibility to bid on the project will be determined using the DPWH Contract Profile Eligibility Process (CPEP) and subject to further post-qualification. Information on registration can be obtained at DPWH website www.dpwh.gov.ph. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the cost of Bidding Documents. Interested bidders can also make payments for the purchase of the Bidding Documents at any DPWH Field Offices. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of bids. Letters of Intent and/or applications for eligibility and latest Class A documents are to be accepted by the BAC together with the Bids and other relevant documents on or before the deadline for submission of bids. The Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera Administrative Region will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 25, 2013, 10:00 AM at Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Office, 2nd Floor Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera Administrative Region - Regional Office, Engineers Hill, Baguio City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents. Interested bidders may obtain further information from Department of Public Works and Highways- Cordillera Administrative Region, Engineers Hill, Baguio City and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Bids must be delivered on February 6, 2013, not later than 10:00 a.m. at Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Office, 2nd Floor Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera Administrative Region - Regional Office, Engineers Hill, Baguio City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.1. Bids will be opened in the presence of the owner or the bidders authorized representatives who choose to attend at the above. Late bids shall not be accepted. The Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera Administrative Region reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: ATTY. MICHAEL S. VILLAFRANCA Attorney IV HEAD, BAC Secretariat (074) 300-6047 (Sgd.) CONSTANTE R. SARMIENTO Chief, Maintenance Division BAC Chairman
(MST-Jan. 19, 2013)

Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) Contract Duration Cost of Bidding Documents 1.

: : :

2.

The DPWH Samar II District Engineering Office, Catbalogan City, through the FY 2013 GAA intends to apply the sum above stated being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the above mentioned contracts. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. The DPWH Samar II District Engineering Office, Catbalogan City now invites bids for the abovementioned description of works. Completion of the works is required for the above stated contract duration. Bidders should have completed, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II instruction to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary pass/fall criterion in the eligibility Check and Preliminary examination of Bids as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, organizations or joint venture with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

2.

3.

3.

5.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from DPWH Samar II District Engineering Office, Catbalogan City and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. 5:00 P.M. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon Payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount stated above. Issuance of Bidding Documents will be on January 15, 2013 to February 5, 2013. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippines Government Electronic Procurement Systems (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

5.

6.

The DPWH Samar II District Engineering Office, Catbalogan City will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 21, 2013 at 9:00 A.M at the BAC Office, DPWH, Samar II District Engineering Office, Catbalogan City which shall be open to interested parties. Bid must be delivered to the address below on or before February 5, 2013 at 9:00 A.M. at the BAC, Office, DPWH Samar II District Engineering Office, Catbalogan City. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the ITB Clause 18. Bids will be opened on February 5, 2013 at 2:00 P.M in the presence of the Bidders representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

7.

7.

8.

To bid for this contract, a contractor must purchased bidding documents and meet the following major criteria: a) Prior registration with DPWH, BAC-CPO, Manila; b) with PCAB license applicable to the type and cost of this contract; c) completion of a similar contract costing at least 50% of ABC within a period of 10 years, and d) Net Financial Contracting Capacity at least equal to ABC, or Credit Line Commitment at least equal to 10% of ABC. Bidders shall submit their bids through their duly Authorized Liason Officers only as specified in the Contractors Information (CI). Submission of Letter of Intent (LOI) is no longer required to participate in the bidding, per D.O. No. 64, series of 2012. The DPWH Samar II District Engineering Office, Catbalogan City reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability or obligation to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: NESTOR I. MATE, MPM Engineer III-Chief Const. Section (BAC Chairman) Attention: Head, BAC Secretariat BAC Office, DPWH Samar II District Engineering Office Catbalogan City (Sgd.) NESTOR I. MATE, MPM Engineer III-Chief Const. Section (BAC Chairman) (Sgd.) RUBEN D. DE LOS REYES JOHNY M. ACOSTA OIC-District Engineer

9.

9.

10

10. For further information, please refer to: ALVIN A. IGNACIO OIC, Asst. District Engineer (BAC Chairman) Attention: Head, BAC Secretariat BAC Office, DPWH-Samar First District Engineering Office Brgy. San Policarpo, Calbayog City (Sgd.) ALVIN A. IGNACIO OIC, Asst. District Engineer (BAC Chairman)

NOTED:

(MST-Jan. 19, 2013)

(MST-Jan. 19, 2013)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

WORLD
Manila Standard TODAY
WITH the worst u outbreak since 2009 gripping the U.S., vaccine makers are determined to do better next season. Theyre developing powerful vaccines that hold the promise of cutting incidences of u by the thousands.
The new immunizations represent the broadest u treatment update in three decades, while more than 200,000 American are hospitalized yearly with the disease, according to US health ofcials. Health ofcials were caught off-guard last month when the u season started earlier than in past years, with 47 states now reporting widespread disease. Existing vaccines miss signicant quantities of the virus circulating in any given year. This year, for instance, as many as 4 million people may develop inuenza from a strain of virus that isnt included in the current vaccine. Now, Sano, GlaxoSmithKline Plc and AstraZeneca Plc are each preparing immunizations that for the rst time will cover all four main forms of the virus, including both inuenza B strains that often infect children. The unpredictability of inuenza means its best to have the broadest coverage possible, said Chris Ambrose, vice president of medical and scientic affairs for AstraZenecas MedImmune division. If I am sick, the u is the u. Because u is so unpredictable, with different strains becoming dominant year to year, producing a four-in-one vaccine can be a big step forward toward keeping breakouts under control, said John Treanor, chief of infectious diseases at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. BLOOMBERG

B4

SATURDAY JANUARY 19, 2013

IN BRIEF
Monaco royals slam Grace lm
PARISMonacos royal family has criticized a feature lm about the late Princess Grace, saying it presents a glamorized and inaccurate view of her life. Prince Albert and his sisters, Princess Stephanie and Princess Caroline, issued a statement saying the lm about their motherthe former Grace Kellycontained major historical inaccuracies and purely ctional scenes. The royals rebuffed a report in Paris Match magazine claiming the palace supported the lm, Grace of Monaco. The movie stars Nicole Kidman as the Hollywood icon, who married Monacos Prince Rainier II in 1956. The princess died in 1982, aged 52. The statement said the family had absolutely no association with the lm. It said the lmmakers had ignored the palaces requests for changes to the script. AP

Flu crisis sets vaccine redesign

Surgeons left 16 items after op

BERLINA lawyer in Germany claims surgeons left up to 16 objects in her clients body after an operation for prostate cancer. Annette Corinth says doctors removed a needle, compresses and surgical strips from banker Helmut Brecht after his wounds failed to heal properly following surgery in 2009. The 77-year-old ex-banker died last year and his family is seeking 80,000 ($106,216) damages for his suffering, plus costs, from the Henriettenstift hospital in Hannover. A spokesman for the Protestant Church-linked organization that runs the hospital rejected the claims. Achim Balkhoff told The Associated Press Thursday the objects couldnt have been left in the patients body during the operation because the equipment wasnt in use at the hospital. He added that the compensation demands were unusually high for such a case. AP

Rising waters. A rescuer minds commuters in Jakartas ooded streets on Thursday amid seasonal rains. At least four people have died along
with more than 20,000 evacuated. AP

12 indicted in US sex trafficking case

SAVANNAHFederal authorities said Thursday they have uncovered an illegal sex trafcking network that forced women into prostitution and traded them like slaves between cities in Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas. Twelve people eight men and four women were indicted. Prosecutors said they had acted since 2008 as a network of pimps who lured dozens of women to the United States from Mexico and Central America and forced them to work as prostitutes in homes, hotel rooms and mobile home parks. Men were charged $30 to have sex with them and the women were moved between cities or states about once a week, authorities said. Some of these women would be forced to perform up to 30 acts of prostitution a day, said Edward Tarver, US attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Speaking at a news conference, he added: Im outraged that trafcking of other human beings is ongoing in our country today. Authorities said they rescued 11 women, most in their 20s and from Mexico and Nicaragua, who were being used as sex slaves. Theyre getting help while assisting prosecutors with their criminal case, authorities said. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton said the case should serve as a wakeup call as to how widespread sex trafcking has become in the United States. He noted his agents made 967 arrests related to human trafcking and sex tourism last year. To those who would believe that sex trafcking doesnt happen in America, reect on this case and think again, Morton said at the news conference with Tarver. A Jan. 11 indictment was unsealed Thursday. It charges a Mexican national identied as Joaquin Mendez-Hernandez with conspiring with other suspects to use false promises of prot and prosperity to lure women illegally into the US and use threats to force them into prostitution. The indictment accuses MendezHernandez of telling one woman she would be returned to Mexico if she didnt have sex with at least 25 men each day. Prosecutors said the sex network largely catered to Latino immigrants, and therefore had prostitutes working not only in larger cities such as Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina, but also in small farm communities such as Bonaire, Georgia. AP

Israel removes protesters camp

JERUSALEMA spokesman says Israeli police have taken down a West Bank tent camp pitched by Palestinians to protest Israeli plans to build a large Jewish settlement there. The settlement near Jerusalem would have more than 3,400 apartments and drive a wedge between the eastern sector of the city and the West Bank, war-won territories the Palestinians want for their state. Palestinian protesters pitched two dozen tents on the site marked for construction last week, but were dragged away by Israeli troops two days later. On Wednesday, Israels high court canceled an injunction that had barred police from removing the tents, but said there would be further discussion on the protesters right to be in the area. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said on Thursday that police removed the tents late Wednesday. AP

Bolshois artistic director attacked in Moscow

MOSCOWThe artistic director of the Bolshoi Theaters ballet troupe was attacked with acid in Moscow and his eyesight is threatened, the theater said Friday. Sergei Filin, a 42-year-old former ballet star, was approached Thursday night by an unknown man who splashed acid on his face as he got out of his car outside his home in central Moscow, Russian television reported. Bolshoi spokeswoman Katerina Novikova, who visited Filin at the hospital Thursday night, told The Associated Press that his condition is stable but his eyesight is threatened. Filin was appointed artistic director of the Bolshois ballet company in March 2011. He danced for the Bolshoi on and off from 1988 to 2004 when his sustained a severe injury onstage. The theaters director general Anatoly Iksanov told Russias Channel One that he believes the attacked is linked to Filins work. He was a man of principle and never compromised, Iksanov said. If he believed that this or that dancer was not ready or was unable perform this or that part, he would turn them down. Several stars at the Bolshoi including Nikolai Tsiskaridze, one of its most celebrated dancers, have complained about what they call Filins unfair treatment of dancers at the Bolshoi. AP

Tibetans brace for crackdown

BEIJINGChinese authorities are responding to an intensied wave of Tibetan self-immolation protests against Chinese rule by clamping down even harder criminalizing the suicides, arresting protesters friends and even conscating thousands of satellite TV dishes. The harsh measures provide an early indication that the countrys new leadership is not easing up on Tibet despite the burning protests and international condemnation. For months, as Tibetans across western China doused themselves in gasoline and set themselves alight, authorities responded by sending in security forces to seal off areas and prevent information from getting out, but those efforts did not stop or slow the protests. The self-immolations even accelerated in November as Chinas ruling Communist Party held a pivotal leadership transition. Then the government went on the offensive in December, announcing through a state-owned newspaper that the burnings are the work of foreign hostile forces keen on separating Tibet from the mainland and that those who help others self-immolate are liable to be prosecuted for murder. Arrests quickly followed. AP

In this le photo, Sergei Filin as Albrecht and Nina Ananiashvili as Giselle perform a tragic scene during a rehearsal of the Bolshoi Ballets United States premiere of Giselle at The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York. AP

Syrian pro-regime gunmen kill 100

BEIRUTGunmen loyal to President Bashar Assad swept through a mainly Sunni farming village in central Syria this week, torching houses and killing more than 100 people, including women and children, opposition activists said Thursday. The reported slayings fueled accusations that pro-government militiamen are trying to drive majority Sunnis out of areas near main routes to the coast to ensure control of an Alawite enclave as the countrys civil war increasingly takes on sectarian overtones. Activists said the attackers were from nearby areas dominated by Shiite Muslims and allied Alawites. Assad and most of the top ofcials in his regime belong to the minority Alawite sect, a Shiite offshoot. The events in Haswiyeh, an impoverished farming area on the edge of Homs, unfolded on Tuesday and Wednesday, but only came to light Thursday as the reported scale of the killings became apparent. An amateur video posted online showed veiled women sitting on the oor surrounded by children as they described a horric scene of gunmen killing people and burning bodies. They slaughtered members of the same families then turned the diesel heaters on them, one of the women said, adding that some homes were robbed of money and jewelry as well. We did not ght and we had no gunmen. We are all workers trying to make a living. Another video showed a charred room with what appeared to be two blackened bodies on the oor. A man could be heard weeping in the background. The caption said the video is from Haswiyeh. AP

Quantas cancels order for Dreamliner

QANTAS Airways Ltd. canceled one of the 15 orders it has for Boeing Co.s 787 aircraft and added eight short-haul planes to its domestic eet. The cancellation of the composite-bodied aircraft is the rst since regulators in the US and other nations grounded the Dreamliner after an emergency landing this week by one of the planes in Japan. The decision was taken at the end of last year, the company said in an emailed statement, and had only now been nalised. The aircraft, destined for the Sydney-based carriers Jetstar budget arm, may not be needed as it examines how much it needs to grow capacity on long-haul routes. Qantas on Dec. 20 won initial antitrust clearance for a deal under which it would collaborate with Emirates on international operations, including the so-called kangaroo route to Europe. While the plan is for Jetstars long-haul network to keep expanding we are using the exibility in our agreement with Boeing to cancel a rm order knowing that we can replace it, Alan Joyce, chief executive ofcer, said in the statement. Planes from the remaining 14 rm orders are due to start arriving from July. Qantas, which canceled 35 787-9s for its main unit in August, retained the 50 purchase options it has for the Dreamliner. BLOOMBERG

Europe eyes bulk of 94m Chinese tourist-shoppers

MOVE aside Mona Lisa. More Chinese visitors are headed to Paris and they are picking luxury stores such as Galeries Lafayette over visits to the Louvre. Europe will be among the top destinations for the 94 million mainland Chinese who are expected to travel abroad by 2015, according to McKinsey & Co. Their tour-group itineraries are showing day-long trips to luxury outlets -- squeezing short visits to the Eiffel Tower and Louvre museum in between. By turning their holidays into lengthy shopping excursions, the Chinese are propping up European sales and aiding the outlook for brands from Prada SpA to PPR SA s Gucci, even as the euro area faces a second year of economic contraction. Close to a third of Chinese luxury buyers will shop in Europe in 2013, McKinsey estimates, up from a fth last year. Consumption is happening more and more outside than within China, said Erwan Rambourg, HSBC Holdings Plcs head of consumer and retail research in Hong Kong. Its cooler to say you bought a Vuitton handbag in Paris than in China. At Harrods department store in Londons upscale Knightsbridge district last summer a sign welcoming Chinese visitors was prominently displayed at the entrance, and some employees milled about wearing badges that asked Can I help you? in Chinese. London-based Burberry Group Plc has doubled the number of Mandarin-speaking staff in Europe in the past 12 months, Chief Financial Ofcer Stacey Cartwright said Jan. 15. We have a love story between us and the Chinese, said Desiree Bollier, chief executive ofcer of Value Retail, which has nine Chic Outlet shopping village outlets in Europe selling brands from Dolce & Gabbana to Jimmy Choo. BLOOMBERG

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK