edge davao 8 issue 168

P 15.00 • 20 PAGESwww.edgedavao.netVOL. 8 ISSUE 168 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

BOMB EXPLODES INSIDE VAN

Fil-Am with Davao roots could win medal for US in Rio

EDGEDAVAOSports

P14

Van helper hurt, police dig deeper into incidentBy ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

[email protected]

EDGE Serving a seamless society

DAVAO

AN impro-vised explo-sive device

exploded inside a moving passenger van yesterday in Eco West Drive,

Ecoland, Davao City.

Police said a white PUV bearing a plate number MVW 553

driven by one Herman Daag had unloaded

passengers at the SM City Davao van terminal and was

moving along Eco-West Drive when a bomb explod-ed from its rear section at around 9:45 a.m.

No one was killed in the blast but the van’s helper, identified as Tata Basañes, sustained minor injuries when he was hit by shrapnel in the nape.

Some cars parked in the area were also hit by the fragments of the IED.

Police report said that the van carried only three—a woman and two

F BOMB, 13

BLAST INSPECTION. Operatives of Task Force Davao, Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) gather fragments from an improvised explosive device (IED) that was detonated inside a public utility van (PUV) at Eco-West Drive in Ecoland yesterday morning. Lean Daval Jr.

IED FRAGMENTS. An officer from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) holds a plastic bag with a possible fragment of an improvised explosive device (IED) that exploded inside a public utility van (PUV) in Eco-West Drive, Ecoland yesterday morning. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 168 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 20152 EDGEDAVAO

NEWS

THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) is still trying to de-termine the motive for the

bomb blast inside a public utility van (PUV) yesterday in Ecoland, Davao City.

In an interview yesterday, DCPO director Senior Superin-tendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. said police are looking at several an-gles, including terrorism.

“The threat of terrorism is always there. We cannot remove that,” he said.

Danao said the police are also looking at personal grudge, particularly with the possible conflict with illegal van termi-nals.

Asked about unverified in-formation that the explosion was

due to the order of Mayor Rodri-go R. Duterte to dismantle all illegal van terminals in the city, Danao said, “We gave a very fair warning to all van owners that as long they are legally operating in the city there is no problem.”

He said the van driver, iden-tified Herman Daag, is not a sus-pect because no one in his right mind would detonate a bomb inside the vehicle he is driving.

Still, he said police will loon into the possibility.

For her part, DCPO spokes-person Milgrace C. Driz said the explosion could be connected to extortion.

“With the incident, we take the possibilities.... especially on

DAVAO City Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte yester-day directed all security

units of the city to intensify the checkpoints in the city after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded inside a pub-lic utility van (PUV) yesterday morning in Ecoland, Davao City.

“Ato na silang gimanduan na i-intensify diha sa boundar-ies sa Davao including Calinan (I am ordering them to inten-sify the checkpoints in the boundaries of the city),” Paolo said in an interview at the site of the incident along Eco-West Drive in Ecoland.

Duterte said he also di-rected Task Force Davao to provide augmentation in the checkpoints so that all vehi-cles entering the city will be inspected.

“Karon ako silang gisulltian na bahalag ma-traffic ang pa-sulod atong i-intensify kay naa na ma’y nahitabo diri (I told them to intensify the inspec-tions even if it causes traffic jams),” he said.

The explosion happened even though the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) was on red alert status following the grenade blasts in Cotabato City and Kabacan, North Cotabato on Saturday night.

Police said the white PUV bearing a plate number MVW 553 left Pikit, North Cotabato at around 5 a.m. yesterday.

When the van arrived at the SM City van terminal, only three passengers remained, two males and a female. One of the male passengers got off in front of SM City Davao while the other two disembarked in-side the van terminal.

The van then drove through Eco-West Drive and was in front of a condominium when a bomb exploded from

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will take into consid-

eration the ruling of Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) de-claring Senator Grace Poe as a natural-born Filipino, in deciding the disqualification cases filed against the law-maker.

“The SET ruling will, of course, be taken into consid-eration by the Comelec divi-sions hearing various cases in their deliberations,” said Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez in a statement.

For his part, Comelec Commissioner Christian Lim said that the First and Second Divisions are ready to read the decision of the tribunal.

“It may have persuasive effects,” said the head of the First Division of the Comelec in an interview.

In a 5-4 vote, the SET on Tuesday junked the disqual-ification case against Poe which was filed by Rizalito

David.David’s petition ques-

tioned the senator’s being a natural-born Filipino when she ran for senator in 2013 since she is a foundling.

Those who voted to dis-miss the petition against Poe were Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Loren Legarda, Bam Aquino, Cynthia Villar and Pia Cayetano.

Meanwhile, Senator Nan-cy Binay, Associate Justices Antonio T. Carpio, head of the SET, Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro and Arturo D. Brion voted in favor of the petition.

Aside from the case be-fore the SET, Poe has four disqualification cases pend-ing before the Comelec filed by lawyer Estrella Elamparo, former senator Francisco Tatad, De La Salle Univer-sity professor and political analyst Antonio Contreras, and former University of the East law dean Amado Valdez. (PNA)

BRIEFING. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. (right) briefs Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte (left) after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded inside a public utility van (PUV) yesterday morning at Eco-West Drive in Ecoland. The vice mayor ordered all security units to intensify the checkpoints in the city while Danao asked the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious person to the police. Lean Daval Jr.

Paolo orders strengtheningof checkpoints into DavaoBy ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

[email protected]

Police probe deeperinto van explosion

Comelec to consider SETruling on Poe’s DQ case

FPAOLO, 13

FPOLICE, 13

VOL. 8 ISSUE 168 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015 3NEWSEDGEDAVAO

THE Philippine govern-ment will help spear-head in Metro Manila

next week a symposium aimed at enhancing Asia-Pacific Eco-nomic Cooperation (APEC) members’ resilience to disas-trous typhoons which hamper socio-economic growth.

State weather and climate authority Philippine Atmo-spheric, Geophysical and As-tronomical Services Admin-istration (PAGASA) will host the Nov. 24-25 symposium in cooperation with APEC Re-search Center for Typhoon and Society (ACTS) of Chinese Taipei.

‘Lessons Learned from Disastrous Typhoons’ is the 2015 APEC typhoon sympo-sium’s theme.

“Such event aims to demonstrate recent advance-ments in severe weather re-search, monitoring and fore-casting,” said PAGASA Acting Administrator Dr. Vicente Malano.

He noted the symposium will also serve as venue for facilitating APEC members’ exchange of information and sharing of experiences on disastrous typhoons, flood forecasting, hazard manage-ment, disaster preparedness, post-disaster response and recovery work.

“The symposium de-sign also includes sharing of knowledge,strategies and risk management tools to be im-plemented against hazards of future typhoon events,” he continued.

APEC groups Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Ma-laysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Russian Federation, Singa-pore, Chinese, Taipei, Thai-land, USA, Viet Nam and the Philippines.

Commencing as an infor-mal dialogue group in 1989, APEC evolved to become the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, coopera-

tion, trade and investment across the Asia-Pacific region.

Free, open trade and in-vestment is the key goal APEC targets achieving in the region through trade and investment liberalization, business facili-tation as well as economic and technical cooperation.

State think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) warned di-sastrous typhoons and other extreme weather events can derail the bid to achieve such goal, however.

“The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disas-ters could seriously hamper efforts of economies gearing up for higher and sustained growth,” said PIDS which helped organize the May 2015 APEC research conference in Boracay Island.

PIDS noted repeated di-sasters drain public coffers and contribute to the poverty cycle in affected communities so countries must already set respective disaster funding.

“Disaster funding is cru-cial for poverty alleviation and sustained economic growth,” said PIDS.

As of mid-November, PAGASA’s program for the 2015 APEC typhoon sympo-sium listed several experts as speakers for this event.

Among them are Nation-al Taiwan University’s Dr. Gwo-Fong Lin, University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Michael Bell, National Taiwan Ocean University’s Kwan-Tun Lee, San Diego State University’s Bo-Wen Shen, Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute’s Dr. Su-tat Weesakul and University of the Philippines’ Dr. Enrico Paringit.

The experts also include Central Weather Bureau’s Hui-Ling Chang and ACTS’ Dr. Em-ily Ching-Cheng Chang, Shu-Ling Chen and Ya-Pin Lyu.

Last month, APEC ener-gy ministers meeting in Cebu province adopted the Cebu Declaration which promotes energy resilience in Asia and the Pacific. (PNA)

THE White House has identified the two ships US President Barack

Obama has pledged to donate to the Philippine Navy shortly after his visit to the BRP Grego-rio Del Pilar (PF-15) Tuesday.

These ships are the high-endurance US Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell and re-search vessel, R/V Melville.

The USCGC Boutwell is the sister ship of the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (formerly the USCGC Hamilton) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (the ex-USCGC Dallas).

The former is the third

ship of the Hamilton class cut-ters.

“This will provide the Phil-ippines the ability to maintain greater maritime presence and patrols throughout its EEZ. We are also in the process of trans-ferring the research vessel R/V Melville to support naval research and law enforcement capabilities,” it added.

The Philippines remains the largest recipient of mari-time security assistance, and will receive a record USD79 million in bilateral assistance of the FY 2015 funds allocated

for developing Southeast Asian maritime capabilities.

This assistance is largely focused on building the train-ing and logistical base for ex-panding the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Forces’ ability to conduct operations within waters off the Philip-pines’ coasts.

“We are assisting with naval maintenance capacity building as well as providing interdiction vessels, naval fleet upgrades, communications equipment, and aircraft pro-curement,” the White House

said.The US also vowed to con-

tinue to support the National Coast Watch System and assist the Philippines through the Global Security Contingency Fund (GSCF), building capacity in Philippine maritime vessel maintenance, training, law en-forcement support, and intel-ligence assistance to expand the country’s ability to detect, track, and interdict where nec-essary criminal and terrorist elements involved in the smug-gling of sensitive items and il-licit goods. (PNA)

POLICE operatives in South Cotabato province seized a total of P11.4 million worth

of illegal drugs in various an-ti-drug operations in the last 10 months.

Superintendent Rogelio Abran, deputy director for admin-istration of the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office, said they were able to conduct a total of 140 successful operations within the province’s 10 towns and lone city from January to October.

He said these operations led to the recovery of 1.44 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochlo-ride (shabu) and 217 grams of marijuana that were valued at P11,446,054 as set by the Dan-gerous Drugs Board.

The official said they arrested 206 drug personalities like push-ers, suppliers, couriers, as well as users.

“We have filed 225 drug-re-lated cases and all of these are currently progressing in various local courts,” he said in a media forum.

Abran said all police units in the province, including those

based at the provincial police office, have posted accomplish-ments during the period in the campaign against illegal drugs.

The Sto. Nino municipal po-lice station already posted the biggest recovery at nearly 800 grams of shabu that were valued at more than P6 million.

The Koronadal City police station seized some 363 grams of shabu that were valued at nearly P4 million.

In 2014, the South Cotabato police recovered at least P5.1 mil-lion worth of illegal drugs in 136 anti-illegal drug operations.

Such operations led to the arrest of 171 suspected pushers and couriers, and the filing of 131 illegal drug-related cases.

Abran their intensified an-ti-drug operations are currently ongoing and they are targeting more recoveries and arrests in the coming weeks.

He said they have been con-tinually monitoring various drug routes as well as the identified drop-off and distribution points of drug supplies in the province. (PNA)

HOLIDAY CLEANUP. A utility personnel of the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Davao cleans up a portion of the building where a Christmas decorations are already put on display. Lean Daval Jr.

US identifies 2 shipsto be given to Phl

APPRECIATION. Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) executive vice president and chief operating officer Arturo Milan give an inspirational mes-sage to the company’s valued customers during its Customers’ Appreciation

Night, an activity to honor companies that helped during the recent period of power shortages, held at The Marco Polo Davao on Tuesday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

SoCot’s 10-month drughaul totals P11.5 million

APEC symposium targets boosting typhoon resilience

VOL. 8 ISSUE 168 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 20154 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

THE Paris attacks that killed 129 people and injured 300 more was

not included in this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Ministers’ joint statement, Foreign Af-fairs Secretary Albert del Ro-sario said on Tuesday.

Secretary del Rosario said the ministers were not able to come up with a group position on the terrorist at-tack against France, but not-ed that “everyone spoke the same language” of sympathy and condemnation.

“I don’t think we did as ministers,” he said when asked about including the Paris attacks in their joint statement.

Del Rosario, together with Trade Secretary Grego-ry Domingo, held the APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) press conference at the Inter-national Media Center (IMC) at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

There was a “common refrain” wherein “everyone expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the

terrorist attacks”, he said.“There was a call for uni-

ty of nations and peoples, and there was traditionally, a call for bringing to justice those who perpetuated the horrific developments in Paris last Friday (November 13),” del Rosario said, adding that each minister comment-ed on the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Although these commen-taries were contained in the minutes of the ministers’ meeting, there was no stand-alone statement for it, nor

was it included in their joint statement.

“These are personal ex-pressions of sympathies and condemnation,” del Rosario said.

Paris was rocked on Fri-day last week by separate bombings and ambushes in at least six central locations.

About 129 were con-firmed dead and 300 were injured, 100 of whom were critical, in the hands of ter-rorists who have been iden-tified as members of the Syr-ia-based Islamic State. (PNA)

AT the Visayan Zonal Partnership Forum, the Technical Education and

Skills Development Authority (TESDA) focused the spotlight on the value and opportunity of the Dual Training System (DTS).

iDTS helps trainees up-grade their skills to keep pace with the demands of the mod-ern workforce. At the same time, it provides companies with the exact skills they need.

Irene Isaac, TESDA Director General, exhorted companies and private businesses to par-ticipate in the DTS and contrib-ute in the skills development of the Filipino workers.

“DTS is one of the best ways of skilling up the next genera-tion vital to the country’s social and economic future. Let us support dual training that will help educate more people and make them valuable assets to the company, their families and

communities,” Isaac said.“TESDA wants to make sure

that the Philippine technical vo-cational education and training system is in sync with the indus-try to be able to produce global-ly competitive human resources that are flexible and adaptable in the changing work environ-ment. A potent strategy is the establishment of partnerships between schools and compa-nies to bridge the supply and demand gap in the country’s labor market,” she added.

The forum saw one of the biggest gatherings of technical vocational schools and compa-nies in the region with close to 300 participants.

Held at the Iloilo Conven-tion Center, the event was the last of the three series of part-nership fora geared towards strengthening and sustaining industry-academe partner-ships, particularly in the effec-tive implementation of DTS.

This is one of the activities being implemented as part of the PCCI-TESDA Tech-Voc Proj-ect (PTTP). The project was formalized through a Memo-randum of Agreement between TESDA and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry that aims to promote, facilitate and assist business chambers, industry and trade associations, as well as individ-ual enterprises to conduct skills training and be engaged in tech-voc.

The Luzon Zonal Partner-ship Forum was held in Feb-ruary at the TESDA Women’s Center in Taguig City, while the Mindanao Zonal Forum was conducted in Cagayan de Oro in May.

Patterned after the German model, DTS is an instructional mode of delivery for technolo-gy-based education and train-ing in which learning takes place alternately in two venues:

the school or training center and the company. It was insti-tutionalized through the enact-ment of R.A. 7868 or the Dual Training System Act of 1994.

In his message during the opening program, Iloilo May-or Jed Patrick Mabilog said the DTS should be made a central pillar of the training system to enhance the employability of the graduates.

“Most economies are look-ing for ways to improve the shift between school and em-ployment, and the Philippines, for one, is increasingly turning its sights on the preferred mo-dality of transition that is the Dual Training System,” he said. Teodoro Pascua, TESDA deputy director general, said intensify-ing the academe-industry link-ages will revitalize and bolster the implementation of the DTS, which will give Filipino trainees the edge in the global market.(PNA)

POLICE units in South Co-tabato have stepped up their security operations

in preparation for various lo-cal activities and the coming Christmas season.

Sr. Supt. Jose Briones, South Cotabato police direc-tor, said Wednesday they sus-tained the heightened alert in the area to ensure the peace-ful and smooth conduct of the lined up events and activities in the coming weeks.

He said these include the 1st National Human Immu-nodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or HIV/AIDS Summit slated on Nov. 25 in Koronadal City.

The event, which is ex-pected to gather around 400 participants, will be graced by Health Secretary Janet Garin.

The South Cotabato police raised the area’s alert status last month in line with the week-long Mindanao leg of the 2015 Batang Pinoy Games as well as the observance of the All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

Briones acknowledged that their intensified security

operations were also in re-sponse to the recent terror at-tacks in Paris, France.

He said they specifically tightened its monitoring on the movements of lawless ele-ments based in nearby areas.

But he assured that all their security measures re-main in place and they have doubled their efforts to pre-vent possible attacks like bombings, extortions and kid-nappings.

He said they have estab-lished checkpoints and choke-points in all entry and exit point of the province to pre-empt possible terror attacks.

“Police visibility in public places like churches, malls, schools and public markets is a major factor in preventing these attacks,” Briones said.

He said they have been properly evaluating and cor-roborating various security-re-lated information that they receive.

“We are carefully handling information from social me-dia and text messages so that it will not result to panic,” he said. (PNA)

NEW SPOKESPERSON. Incoming Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 spokesper-son Chief Inspector Andrea G. dela Cerna introduces herself to members of AFP-PNP Press Corps in yesterday’s media briefing at the Davao City Police

Office (DCPO) conference room. With her is outgoing PRO 11 spokesperson Superintendent Antonio Rivera, who will be assigned at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO). Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

Paris terrorist attacks not included in APEC Ministers’ joint statement

Help train workers, TESDA urges firms

TWO employees of the provincial government of South Cotabato have

been dismissed from the ser-vice while three others are undergoing termination pro-ceedings due to their alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.

South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said the five were among the local govern-ment employees that were placed under investigation in the last two months for al-legedly using and peddling il-legal drugs, specifically meth-amphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).

She said four of them are casual and contractual work-ers while one is a regular or permanent employee.

“I immediately ordered their dismissal after confirm-ing their involvement in these (drug-related) activities,” she said in a media forum.

The governor did not name the erring workers, who are all males and have tested positive of using various illegal drugs based on tests commis-sioned by the local govern-ment.

She said some of them had been on “AWOL” or absent without official leave before

they were subjected to the in-vestigation.

As to the permanent em-ployee, Fuentes said they were able to uncover his illegal ac-tivities due to changes in his behavior in the last two years.

She said his co-workers specifically complained of his erratic behavior and poor per-formance while at work.

“It was later confirmed during the random drug tests,” she said.

Aside from the dismissal of the erring workers, Fuentes said they submitted their re-cords to local police units for proper monitoring.

She said it’s important to alert authorities regarding their cases as there’s a possi-bility that they might resume their illegal activities.

In April and June, two pro-vincial government employees were arrested by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforce-ment Agency in Region 12 and the South Cotabato police for their involvement in the illegal drug trade.

The two, who were nabbed in separate buy-bust operations, were assigned at the Provincial Engineer’s Of-fice and the Office of the Pro-vincial Agriculturist. (PNA)

5 SoCot capitol workersaxed over drug activities

South Cot police starts security preparations for Christmas season

UP Mindanao UPHold Launches the 1st Integrated Marketing Communication Workshop-Competition in Region

UPHOLD Communications, a student-led company that specializes in effec-

tive communication for advo-cacy campaigns and social mar-keting, announced that they will hold a regional wide workshop and competition on Integrated Marketing Communication. The event will take place on Decem-ber 5 to 6 at the Mindanao Train-ing and Resource Center, Davao

Medical Foundation School.With the variety of media

in communication today, UP-Hold challenges young com-municators, including those in marketing and business to explore the use of communi-cation in developing advocacy campaigns. Of the company’s event, Keziah Morales, student leader and president of UPHold Communications says, “UPHold

IMC opens the eyes of young and aspiring marketing communica-tors by giving us an introduction to what we can expect when we finally venture in to the field. It shows us the power we hold as communicators and marketing specialists in creating a better community.”

In launching the event, UP-Hold Communications plan to include the following in the pro-

gram:• A seriesof lectureon Inte-

grated Marketing Commu-nication to be given by dis-tinguished speakers from the field of communication, marketing and business

• Acompetitiononintegratedmarketing plan to be partic-ipated by the different uni-versities and colleges in the Region 11.

To learn more about UP-Hold Communications and the 1st Integrated Marketing Com-munication Workshop-Compe-tition, contact the Communi-cations and PR Director, Sancia Novie Palma at 09480547648 or follow the company at UP-Hold Communication for Face-book and @UPHold_Comm for Twitter.

About UP Mindanao UP-

Hold: The Uphold Communica-tions is a student-led company that specializes in effective communication plans and exe-cutions for advocacy campaigns and social marketing. Our ser-vices for an effective communi-cation plan covers strategic con-ceptualization, advertising and promotion, public relations, me-dia relations and management, and events management.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 168 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015 5EDGEDAVAO


ECONOMY

A TOTAL of 40 Philippine trade attaches from different countries all

over the world will convene in Davao City next month for a familiarization tour in a bid to promote the city as an invest-ment area.

““Our trade attaches will be able to promote better the Davao City when they go back to their assignment coun-

tries,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Davao City director Edwin Banqueri-go told Edge Davao yesterday. The event is slated on Decem-ber 11 and 12.

The trade attaches will be coming from countries in Eu-rope, US, as well as those from Asia like Singapore, China, and Malaysia, among others.

Trade attaches or com-

mercial attaches are represen-tative of the Philippines in var-ious Philippines Embassies, Consulates and key central business districts in different cities around the world.

Handpicked by the pres-ident himself, attaches are tasked with the “promotion of the Philippines economic in-terest overseas,” the DTI said.

Among its core functions

include “building business linkages with various stake-holders to generate targeted foreign direct investments into the Philippines, to pro-vide market access for Philip-pine exports in international markets, and to extend timely delivery of commercial intel-ligence to local stakeholders,” the DTI added.

“The event will allow at-

taches to identify our prod-ucts that can be marketed out-side the country,” Banquerigo said.

He added that among the industries that the DTI would meet for the two-day familiar-ization event will be the cacao and ICT industry, among oth-ers. He said the DTI here will be meeting with the local gov-ernment unit, industry play-

ers and private sector.“Allowing our trades at-

taches to be familiarized with our major industries here can put an edge to Davao City. This will put Davao City on the top of their list whenever they receive inquiry from possible investors,” he said.

Banquerigo said the DTI office is still finalizing the ven-ue of the familiarization event.

Trade attachés in Davao [email protected]

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Davao City

warned consumers anew against buying substandard Christmas lights from different establishments.

DTI-Davao City director Edwin Banquerigo issued the warning as he confirmed there are Christmas lights without Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers now circulating in the market.

“There were some importers who were faking their ICCs. This would mean that the quality of the imported products did not pass the standard test,” Banquerigo told EDGE DAVAO yesterday.

But, Banquerigo was quick to clarify that they have

not yet monitored in the city the existence of Christmas lights with fake or without ICCs during their weekly monitoring and inspection.

Among the priority establishments for inspection of the DTI are those located in Uyangguren and Monteverde area, and malls.

“Our establishments here are compliant, so far,” Banquerigo said.

“Most of these products are in Manila because it is where these imported products are unloaded,” he added.

But, Banquerigo said consumers should be more cautious in purchasing Christmas lights for decoration during the yuletide season.

“The consumers can

base their assessment with the price of the product. Consumers should be extra cautious if products are sold cheap,” he said.

“The Christmas lights with fake or without ICC stickers found in the stores were sold for only P60-P80 per pack. Prices of Christmas lights with genuine ICC stickers in reliable stores range from P300-P500 per pack,” a press release from the DTI said.

Aside from Christmas lights, the DTI is also monitoring the price of noche buena commodities in major malls and grocery stores in the city.

“We are monitoring more than 500 establishments here,” Banquerigo said. “We

have given them the list of suggested retail price (SRP) for noche buena items so that they will a guide on the pricing of their products.”

Noche buena products include: ham, fruit cocktail, cheese, sandwich spread, mayonnaise, keso de bola, pasta spaghetti, elbow and salad macaroni, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and cream.

“There is no significant increase on the SRP of noche buena products this year, according to Banquerigo.

As of now, Banquerigo said supermarkets in major malls and grocery stores have remained compliant so far with the SRP of DTI. CHENEEN R. CAPON

Consumers warned vs buying substandard Christmas lights

PNoy highlights inclusivityas key to economic success

PANABO City Mayor Engr. James G. Gamao led the oath-taking Ceremony of

the newly-elected officers of Vintage Fisherfolk Association of Cagangohan (VFAC) and Maritime Police Auxiliary Group (MPAG) last November 11 at Barangay Hall, Cagangohan.

Mayor Gamao stressed the importance of monitoring and controlling the surveillance of PNP-Panabo Maritime headed by station Commander P/INSP. John

Paul B. Nepomuceno. “This aims to protect our

marine resources and to promote the interest and welfare of our fisherfolk,” he said.

The local government and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will also work together in the development programs and projects such as conservations and livelihood.

Barangay captain Russel Dumagil said: “Their installation will strengthen the dissemination

of information and in promoting the proper utilization of our seas and other aquatic resources in cooperation with the Panabo PNP-Maritime. Ten (10) additional motorized bancas will be given to members of VFAC and other fisherfolks association.”

VFAC president Francisco Demetrio, Jr. expressed his gratitude to the government for the valuable support and effort in protecting the seas and the fisher folk’s welfare.

On the other hand, Nepomuceno urged the VFAC officers and other Panaboans to be vigilant, responsible and coordinative to the authority.

“By using your mobile phone, you can send message and report to PNP-Maritime Group (PNPMG). Just text PNPMG (Space) Feedback (Space) Your Message and send to Number 700-32569, keypad numbers 32569 stands for Dedicated Alert Lines for Ocean BiodiversitY (DALOY),” he said.

Panabo fisherfolk, PNP-Maritime vow to preserve marine resources

PRESIDENT Benigno Aqui-no III on Monday (Nov. 16) shared the Philippines’

story on how the government is addressing poverty with sheer determination to correct bureau-cratic flaws.

In his speech during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooper-ation (APEC) CEO Summit in Makati City, Aquino said his ad-ministration’s decision to adopt an inclusive growth theme helped address the country’s poverty situation since a holistic and co-hesive national strategy was put in place.

“We knew we had to craft and relentlessly pursue a holistic and cohesive national strategy - one that can systematically respond to every debilitating aspect of pov-erty, with the belief that this good governance is good economics,” he said.

He said this was done with-out imposing new taxes although the Sin Tax Law was amended to primarily address the rising inci-dents of usage of the youth and the poor of sin products and to update the taxes on these prod-

ucts. Proceeds of the reformed Sin

Tax Law benefited the govern-ment’s health-related programs and the tobacco industry.

Aquino said focusing on the people --- their welfare, health, and education --- helped the econ-omy a lot.

He said the move to increase the years of the basic education system and ensure that backlogs on textbooks and classrooms are addressed greatly helped empow-er the youth.

Ensuring that people also get quality skills training will aid them in getting jobs, thus, secur-ing not only their future but the domestic economy as well since this will serve as among the major drivers of domestic expansion, he continued.

Aquino said the program to invest in education and skills training of poor citizens proved to be a win-win decision, as these people would be able to pay their taxes once they land jobs, and the taxes can be used to “help create even more opportunities for other Filipinos.” (PCOO News Release)

MEMBERS of the Ki-lusang Mayo Uno- Southern Mindan-

ao Region (KMU-SMR) will stage a regional anti- Asia Pacific Economic Coopera-tion (APEC) mobilization to-day, 1:00 p.m. at the Freedom Park as part of its campaigns against neoliberal globaliza-tion and its attack on workers.

“The neoliberal imposi-tions of APEC have not trans-lated to more jobs, higher wages, or job security,” KMU-SMR vice president Joel Ma-glunsod said in a statement.

Maglunsod said the “be-lied claims of inclusive growth by citing that the average pur-chasing power of the ordinary worker has continually de-clined.”

“If the APEC policies are really designed to build in-clusive economies, why are the lives of workers not better off? Since 1990, 3 million jobs have been lost because for-eign corporations devoured small local industries as in the case of the garment industry,” he said.

He added that “the privat-ization and the rationalization

of the bureaucracy destroyed thousands of government jobs.”

“Twelve million people or over 12% of the country’s population are either unem-ployed or underemployed and an additional 12 million have left the country because there are no jobs here. If there is a better world out there, the workers have been in the dark under APEC policies,” Maglun-sod said,

The labor group also warned that the APEC will bring policies meant to crack down on genuine unionism because the focus of talks will be on how to make labor more flexible to accommodate de-mands of foreign monopolies.

“APEC will bring policies meant to deprive workers of regular employment through contractualization, labor flex-ibilization and trade union repression. Levels of union-ization have consistently dropped,” he said.

Based on the group’s re-cord, only 69,000 workers were unionized or 3.7% of the total 1.87 million work force.

Militants to stageanti-APEC activity

TOKENS. SM Assistant Vice President for Operation-Mindanao Debbie Go (center) and SM City Davao assistant mall manager engineer Nick Santos (second from right) receive the electric meter-shaped tokens for SM City

Davao and SM Lanang Premier from executives of the Davao Light and Power during the company’s Customers’ Appreciation Night at The Marco Polo Davao on Tuesday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

F MILITANTS, 13


ENVIRONMENTVOL. 8 ISSUE 166 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2015 7

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE EXTENSION OF THE TENDER OFFER FOR SHARES OF

DAVAO DOCTORS HOSPITAL (CLINICA HILARIO), INC.Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. (“MPHHI”)

(formerly Neptune Stroika Holdings, Inc.), hereby announces that its offer to acquire the remaining 587,154 common shares of Davao Doctors Hospital (Clinica Hilario), Inc. (“DDH”) which comprise approximately 65.18% of the total outstanding shares of DDH, is extended from its original deadline of 5:00 p.m. of November 19, 2015 to 5:00 pm of December 19, 2015. The Securities and Exchange Commission approved MPHHI’s request for extension of the Tender Offer Period in its letter dated November 6, 2015, and received by MPHHI on November 13, 2015

Correspondingly, the start of the Settlement Date will also be moved to December 21, 2015.

The offer period is extended to give DDH shareholders more time to consider the offer and clarify some terms, and prepare the necessary documentary requirements.

Except for the extension of the deadline of the Tender Offer and the corresponding adjustment of the start of the Settlement Date as indicated above, all the other terms and conditions of the Tender Offer as published remain unchanged.

For more information and for inquiries regarding the tender you may contact the Tender Offer Agent as follows:

Atty. Dominador Maphilindo O. CarrilloSyCip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan Law Offices

The Penthouse, 17/F, Landco Corporate CentreJ.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City 8000

Telephone No. : (6382) 221-3917Email Address : [email protected]

Each stockholder of DDH is advised to read the full terms and conditions of the Tender Offer and SEC Form 19-1. Inquiries and requests for assistance and copies of SEC Form 19-1 may be directed to the Tender Offer Agent, whose address and telephone numbers are indicated above.

EDGEDAVAO

CULTURE & ARTSHISTORY OF DAVAOMaglana in defense of SabahBy ANTONIO FIGUEROA

ON September 19, 2015, Sultan Esmail Kiram II, the reigning sovereign of

the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo since October 26, 2013, at age 76, died due to kidney fail-ure in Zamboanga City. He suc-ceeded his elder brother, the late Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, to the throne, and was later replaced by the crown prince, Rajamuda Datu Phugdal Kiram, 75, as the next sultan in “strict adherence to the law and order of succes-sion.”

North Borneo was original-ly known as Sabah, a territory ceded by the sultan of Borneo to the sultanate of Sulu for helping the former’s kingdom against European threat, specifically the Dutch aggression, in 1704.

Under the 1960 UN Gener-al Assembly Resolution 1541 (XV), Principle 9 of the Annex, which set the referendum in North Borneo and Sarawak as “free and without coercion,” the territory that rightfully belongs to the Philippines, by legal right and title, was ‘given’ to Malaysia.

Three years later, from June 7-13, 1963, in order to resolve the issues affecting the Sabah claim, the Manila Accord was signed on July 31, 1963 by Ma-laysia, Indonesia and the Philip-pines, and this included a joint statement by all three parties. Throughout the negotiation, tension was high between the successor state (Malaysia) and the claimant country (Philip-

pines).

‘Sabah is Philippines’Least known among the

Filipino figures that staunchly defended the Sabah case was Davao Oriental congressman Constancio B. Maglana who stood in the House of Represen-tatives on March 27, 1968 to deliver a privilege speech titled “Sabah is Philippines.”

Rep. Maglana’s speech was made while both the Senate and the House of Representatives were conducting a full-scale inquiry into the “Corregidor in-cident” (the debunked Jabidah massacre), the wick Malaysia used in accusing the Philippines before the United Nations for “committing inimical acts to their interests”. As a result, Filipi-nos were persecuted, prompting the Davao lawmaker to lambaste Malaysia:

“[O]ur nationals in Sabah are now being subjected to in-dignities. They are arrested for alleged violations of their im-migration laws by considering them as transient newcomers when they themselves admit that these compatriots of ours have been long-time residents of Sabah. Reports had been re-ceived in this Chamber that our nationals, when arrested by [the Malaysians], are quarantined in dark places and allowed to thrive on very little food and treated like ordinary criminals. That is the way our nationals are

treated. While in our country, when their nationals violate our laws, yes, we apprehend them, but we treat them decently. We feed them, clothe them, and house them in proper places as much as we could.”

Upping the anteThe row between the Philip-

pines and Malaysia further esca-lated the following year follow-ing an allegation in the editorial of Sabah Times that the country was channeling funds for inde-pendent candidates in Sabah. Maglana did not allow this vitriol pass without retort by hurling his blunt commentary, saying:

“Malaysia is again resorting to psychological warfare. This time it has become presumptu-ous to use the Philippines as a tool in making the world believe that there is some form of de-mocracy in that oppressed colo-nial state by putting words in our mouths conveying the meaning that there is an opposition in Sabah. The accusation is most welcomed because it gives us the opportunity to announce to the world that there is no such thing as an opposition I Sabah, neither in Brunei or Sarawak, hence the administration, even if it is the last thing it will do on earth, will not waste one centavo for an op-position that does not exist.”

This statement came just few days before the UN-spon-sored electoral exercise was conducted in the contested ter-

ritory. The Davao congressman continued:

“All this talk about general ‘elections’ in Malaysia… is all a mock and simulated suffrage to-fool the entire world that Malay-sia is not a colonial aggrupation led by the former country of Ma-laya or Federation of Malaya as puppet head nation.”

UnchangedForty years later, the issue

about Sabah remained un-changed. On August 20, 2008, during the Arroyo administra-tion, Malacañang issued Mem-orandum Circular 162 entitled “Guidelines on Matters Pertain-ing to North Borneo (SABAH)” to government departments as

regards any act or statement ex-pressing or implying, directly or indirectly, any recognition of a foreign state’s sovereignty over Sabah, a Philippine territory.

In part, the circular provides that “No department, agency, or instrumentality of the Philippine Government shall make any act or statement expressing or im-plying, directly or indirectly, any recognition of a foreign state’s sovereignty over North Borneo (Sabah) or non-recognition of Philippine title or historical and legal rights to the same.”

In 2013, after the bloody confrontation between the Ma-laysian forces and heirs to Sabah sultanate ended, the government considered bringing the territo-

rial claim of the Sultanate of Sulu over Sabah before an interna-tional tribunal for resolution.

Despite claiming territori-al rights over Sabah, Malaysia, as a result of the lease of Sabah signed on January 22, 1878, be-tween the sultan of Sulu and the British North Borneo Company represented by Baron Gustavos von de Overbeck and Alfred Dent, Malaysia continues to pay to this day a token annual rent of 5,300 ringgit (P77,000) to the sultanate of Sulu as “cession fee.”

As a footnote, Rep. Magla-na, it must be remembered, authored Republic Act 5747, signed on June 21, 1969, which created the town of Banaybanay, Davao Oriental.

Rep. Constancio B. Maglana and the Sultan Kiram II of Sulu (from www.mb.com.ph)

Philippine birdsfacing extinctionText and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO(Second of Three Parts)

“WE regret losing something when it is already

gone,” goes a familiar saying. If the usual disruptive trend to the country’s bird species con-tinues, the maxim might well prove true for the diminishing legacy of the Philippines.

Although not talking only of Philippine birds, Dr. Lee Tal-bot, then director of the South-east Asia Project on Wildlife Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, said: “A few decades ago, the wildlife of the Philippines was nota-ble for its abundance; now, it is notable for its variety; if present trend of destruction continues, Philippine wildlife will be notable for its absence.”

Dr. Dioscoro Rabor, a well-known Filipino wildlife expert, agrees. “It is about time that we should stop

making ourselves intention-ally blind to the real status of our wildlife resources,” he deplores. “We should face the fact that our country is no lon-ger rich in forests and conse-quently, of wildlife which used to be a normal component of our forests.”

Deforestation The destruction of for-

ests, which is the natural hab-itat for birds, is the primary reason why Philippines birds are facing extinction. In an ar-ticle published in Manila Bul-letin, Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim was quoted as saying: “Most of these species, such as eagles, hornbills, and woodpeckers, depend on trees for food, or on nesting sites.

Dr. Lim is the director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), a line agency of the Department of Environ-ment and Natural Resources

(DENR). “(Birds),” she said, “don’t just nest on any trees, and they can live only under specific types of trees.”

Some 80 years ago, more than half of the country’s 30 million hectares was blanket-ed with forests, and the forest-to-man ratio was then 1:13 per Filipino. In 1990, the envi-ronment department record-ed only 6.7 million hectares of forest land in the entire archi-pelago, and the forest-to-man ratio dropped to 0.1 hectare per Filipino.

In The World for World is Forest, Ursula K. Le Guin wrote: “A forest ecology is a delicate one. If the forest per-ishes, its fauna may go with it.”

“There are now only a few patches of forest in the Philippines that are consid-ered pristine old growth,” John Philip Lesaca, chair of Haribon Foundation, told Manila Bulle-tin’s Monch Mikko E. Misagal.

“Based on the cur-rent trend in defor-estation in the Philip-pines, for-est birds are most at risk of the number of threats that they encounter.”

The State of Philippine Birds, published by Haribon Foundation, said that 67% of the country’s birds “spend their lives or part of their lives in forests.” And according to Dr. Lim, “Birds serve as a good indica-tor of our forests’ state.”

The Davao-based Philip-pine Eagle Foundation said that a pair of Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jeffreyi) needs at least 7,000 to 13,000 hect-ares of forest as nesting terri- F PHILIPPINE, 13

tory. “The Philippine eagle has become a critically endangered species be-cause the loss of the forest had made it lose its natural habitat,” explained Dennis Salvador, the foundation’s

Brahimy kite

Philippine eagle


VANTAGE

EDITORIALPublic vigilance

THE bomb explosion inside a passenger van in Davao City yesterday morning sent shivers down the spines of many residents in this part of Mindanao. Although the blast

claimed no lives and caused only damage to properties as only two people were hurt, the incident disturbed the tranquility of the city and alarmed law enforcers, what with the volatile situation in the country today and around the world because of threats of terror-ism.

It was only days ago when horror gripped the planet after ter-rorists picked Paris as their newest major target and killed over 100 innocent people and wounded several hundred others. The deadly attacks inside a concert hall, outside a sports arena, and posh bars and cafeterias came as a jolt not only to the beautiful city of Paris but also to the rest of the world.

Following the carnage in the French capital, terrorists belong-ing to the Islamic State warned of more attacks in other parts of the world, particularly the US. With these renewed threats, securi-

ty was tightened specially in the Philippines with its hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) Summit in Manila.

And just days ago, grenade blasts rocked Cotabato City and Ka-bacan, North Cotabato, prompting the Philippine National Police (PNP) to place several areas in Mindanao, including Davao City, under red alert status. The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) under director Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao Jr. tightened secu-rity in the city, intensifying checkpoints and launching foot patrols in a bid to prevent any terrorist act from occurring in the city.

But of course, the DCPO and Task Force Davao cannot get the job done without the help of the populace. In securing the city and safeguarding its citizens, they need all the support and coopera-tion from the residents themselves if they are to succeed in their objective. As always, we urge the public to remain vigilant by im-mediately reporting to the police the presence of people acting suspiciously in their communities. This is the only thing terrorists and criminals fear: a people united in their fight against attacks.

Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

OLIVIA D. VELASCOGeneral Manager

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building,

Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, PhilippinesTel: (082) 301-6235

Telefax: (082) 221-3601www.edgedavao.net

[email protected]@edgedavao.net

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICELEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing ManagerUnit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts.Cagayan de Oro CityTel: (088) 852-4894

RICHARD C. EBONAAdvertising Specialist

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EDGEDAVAOProviding solutions to a seamless global village.

ANTONIO M. AJEROEditor in Chief

Columnists: CARLOS MUNDA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • ATTY. EMILY ZEN CHUA • GREGORIO G. DELIGERO • JOHN CARLO TRIA • VIDA MIA S. VALVERDE • Economic Analysts: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. PhotographyARLENE D. PASAJE

Cartoons

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Lifestyle

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Telefax: (082) 221-3601www.edgedavao.net

[email protected]@edgedavao.net

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General Santos CityMobile: (Smart) 0909-424-7990

MANILA MARKETING OFFICEANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager

97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave.,Marikina Heights, Marikina City

Tel: (02) 654-3509

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVOManaging Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR.Associate Editor

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FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERACHA MONFORTE

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Reporters

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AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JRCirculation

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTEthe national association of newspapers

FOOD

EDGEDAVAOINdulge!

Carlo Lorenzana hold’s Muntown’s new improved Smokee.

Pickled, relish and banana peppers add a bit of tanggines and heat on Munchtown’s Chicago Smokee.

Muntown Fries are the best acoompaniment to any Smokee.

FILIPINOS have a love affair with the hotdog, whether mixed together with kaldereta or alone skewered on a stick. That is why when one looks for a sausage at Munchtown, one gets thirteen different ways to enjoy the veritable deli delight. Known already for their pre-mium angus beef burgers, spec-tacular pizzas, crispy home-made fries, belly busting blue plate spe-cials, and decadent milkshakes, Chef Robby Goco’s Munchtown brings a bit of New York into the mix with their Smokees which are hotdogs with a variety of toppings and served on a warm soft bun. What makes Munchtown’s smokees unique from any other hotdog served out there, aside from coming in thirteen flavour-ful varieties, is its characteristic snap. To say though that the smo-kees are just a mere hotdog is in-correct, as choice prime meat and spices are used to stuff the natural casing each smokee. “Our smokees are all home made by our commissary in Ma-nila using quality meat, stuffed in natural collagen casing, smoked, and then flown to Davao regu-larly,” said Carlo Lorenzana, Munchtown Davao’s managing partner. “This ensures the fresh-ness and flavour of our food.” Another secret of the delicious-ness of Munchtown’s smokees are the freshly made buns using the restaurant’s secret recipe. Each bun cradling the home-made

Smokee and the munchies

smokee is soft and fluffy. The absor-bent interior acts as a sponge, soak-ing up delicious sauces and juices, ensuring a flavourful bite every time. “We also have our trademark potato bread here in Davao,” adds Carlo. “This ensures that our food is always at its best when it comes to quality.” So if you have a munch you need to quell, why not try out Munch-town’s smokees which are now made more affordable and tastier? Munchtown is located at the ground level of SM Lanang Pre-mier’s Fountain Court.

Light and crispy, Munchtown’s BLT Smokee.There are thirteen different Smokees to choose from.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 168 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

steaks and seafood nibbles will always remain a favorite – a personal all time fa-vorite, that is. For me, for as long as I’m satisfied, I’m good. This is what PHAT FIVE is. It’s one of those restos that’ll urge you to be hungry even without being hungry. Why? Their food is always spot on delicious – tender, juicy and succulent up un-til the last bite. Guaranteed a most memorable gas-tronomic experience for you and your tummy...and friends too. Their menu has its own story to tell. It’s packed with dishes that are pre-pared and cooked for your very liking. Seldom do you chance upon a restaurant that serves what you have in mind, right? Here, you’ll never have to worry. At Phat Five, not only would you have a love affair with their food, you’d most

certainly love the positive vibe and their music scene. Every so often, they feature local bands to the delight of the crowds hence making your #PhatFive experience one to remember. Let’s talk food. Here’s something for the hungry you. When deciding on a restaurant to visit, make Phat Five your first – and only option. Enjoy! Kudos to the chef – dishes were all superb! Ribe Eye. Whatever your preference – rare, medium or well done – Phat Five will

make sure that you won’t need a saw to enjoy your steak. Their steak is tender, juicy and very savory. It’s not overly flavoured thus still enabling you to taste the meat and its juices. Best of all, they have an array of sauces to make your steak experience different every time you dine. Creamy Cheese Chick-en. For the chicken, cream and chesse lover, this is for you. It’s creamy and super cheesy and very juicy too. The chicken is not dry and as such, will make you sa-vor the sauce in every bite. What’s more, you can have it as a meal or an appetizer for those late night nibbles

with your friends. This is a must try! Brocolli with Crabmeat. This is a personal favor-ite! The crunchy medley of greens and oranges and whites on the plate is enough to tell you that you’d be in for a treat. The delight does not begin and end with your eyes – you’d most certainly love every bite of it. Cooked just right, the vegetables are sweet and very delectable. You’d also love the crab taste as you pop one flow-eret after another. Bistek Tagalog. Another personal favorite! Marinat-ed slices of tender beef will have you saying goodbye to your diet in an instant.

What I personally love about this is that the meat is not tough and the white on-ion verily complements the whole dish. On any given day, you should try this. Sisig. A foremost crowd favorite, many Phat Five patrons rave about the taste and texture of their sisig. Perfect for an all nighter, their sisig rich, savory and crunchy. Yes, what they have is a different take on the sisig – that you’d surely love in an instant. Phat Five Bar & Grill is lo cated at Talisay, Ecoland Drive, Matina, Davao City (near Civil Service XI). For inquiries and reser-vations, you can call them at 0932 428 9195. For promos and events, view, browse and like their Facebook: www.facebook.com/phatfive

*** Happiest birthday to Ba-buLaya, Daddy Cho and Papa Thoy – we miss you! To the chikitings, Bai Satria and Datu Hassan – lovelove from ate Ebai! To my Daddy on the 23rd, happiest birth-day, Daddy. Iloveyou and Mama.

A2 INdulge! EDGEDAVAOFOOD

Counting from one to

PHAT FIVE

STEAKS and seafood nibbles aren’t always found in the same sentence...at the same time. Most often, it’s the budget that hinders the two to meet in the dining table. Other times, the unavailability. Whatever the reason may be,


Heart reveals how she conquered her insecurities

INdulge! A3EDGEDAVAOENTERTAINMENT

UP AND ABOUT

much what everybody thought.” She spent years explaining herself but “it was too much of an effort.” The Beautiful Strang-ers star had enough

of what the public say about her and this time she has one solid mes-sage for everyone, “You know what, ‘Love me, hate me, I can’t do any-thing anymore.’”

KAPUSO star Heart Evangelista is one of the most beautiful women in the entertainment industry, but did you know she also has her fair share of insecurities? The actress-host revealed in her beauty book ‘This is Me, Love Marie’ that she was once been insecure about her chini-ta features. But it was her dad who told her to embrace her uniqueness since everyone in her batch of artists were mes-tiza. But, for the beauty author, the long list of flaws doesn’t end there. She told GMANet-work.com during her book launch, “When you see Kend-all Jenner and her never end-ing long legs, I feel like I wish I can wear jeans and wear my

heels. Definitely, I’m insecure about my height.” It’s also a surprise that this actress finds something strange about her pretty face and proportionate body, “Sometimes I feel like my face is too small or my neck or whatever.” As she turned 30, Heart learned to love and accept herself wholeheartedly. She said, “This is who I am, and I love myself. I’m not [going to] allow myself to get hurt any-more that’s why I accepted my flaws. I embraced it and, who I am today, I’m actually proud of who I am with my flaws.” The Chinita beauty has been in the industry for 17 years, and it took her a long time to accept every-thing because she “cared too


PG/*PG

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PG 12:40 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

WANG FAM

Pokwang, Benjie Paras

PG 1:00 | 3:45 | 6:30 | 9:15 LFS

SPECTRE/ *THE HUNGER GAMES:

MOCKINGJAY 2

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THE HUNGER GAMES:MOCKINGJAY 2

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson

11:45 | 2:30 LFS / *5:20 | 8:00 LFS

Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz/ *Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson

THE HUNGER GAMES:MOCKINGJAY 2 3D

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson

November 18 – 24, 2015

SKY’s MasterChef Asia Fly-in Treat

THE MASTERCHEF franchise has trans-formed the lives of aspiring chefs across the world. A program originating from the United Kingdom as far back as 1990, it has been continu-ously adapted and improved in every it-eration of the show. The success of the MasterChef Australia series is what made it explode internation-ally, showcasing a tru-ly feel-good, uplifting vibe, as very talented culinary amateurs compete and work together to succeed in every challenge. The format’s renown led to further adapta-tions in the US, a cre-ation of a MasterChef All Stars and Profes-sionals version, and MasterChef Junior, which even enjoyed a localized series in the Philippines. To bring the life-changing program to Asia, Life-time, in collaboration

with regional part-ners, developed Mas-terchef Asia – where skilled home cooks in the Pan-Asian region can vie for the very first MasterChef Asia title. As a treat for the series fans, SKYcable offers its subscribers a unique opportu-nity to be part of the finale.

MasterChef Asia brought together a stel-lar cast of judges to mentor the batch of 15 talented culinary ama-teurs. In honor of her talent and the impact of her MasterChef experi-ence to her career, Audra Morrice, a MasterChef Australia alum, is part of the judges’ panel. Two all-star chefs join her, the genius Susur Lee, and 3-star Michelin Chef, Bru-no Ménard. Now thanks to SKYcable’s special fly-in promo, lucky fans can meet them and the con-testants during the finale party by sending-in their answer to this simple question: “Who is your

favorite MasterChef Asia contestant and why?”.

Current and active SKYcable postpaid sub-scribers with Lifetime included in their plan or SELECT channel line-up can join this fly-in promo by simply visiting either www.mysky.com.ph/masterchefasia. Once on the webpage, all sub-scribers have to do is answer the contest ques-tion and fill-out essential details. The full contest mechanics are listed on the website.

In the grand raffle draw, one SKYcable sub-scriber can get a chance to win roundtrip air tickets (Philippines- Sin-gapore), a twin-sharing accommodation, and admission passes to the MasterChef Asia Finale Party for two. Any non-Metro Manila subscriber who wins will also receive round trip tickets for two to Manila, including an overnight stay. This spe-cial fly-in treat is part of SKY’s commitment to provide its subscribers

exclusive perks and un-matched entertainment that enriches their lives.

Stay tuned to Lifetime every Thursdays at 9PM to watch new episodes of MasterChef Asia. SKY-cable subscribers can watch via Ch. 740 for HD, or Ch. 614 for SD. If you’re interested to know more about Lifetime and SKY’s fly-in promo, simply log on to www.mysky.com.ph, or call the 24-hour customer service hotline at 305-5456. You may also send a text for free to the text hotline 23662.

Only SKYcable pro-vides quality home en-tertainment with the widest-range of standard and high definition digi-tal channels; with over 200 channels, and other top-of-the-line services such as flexible subscrip-tion options via SELECT; iRECORD that records, pauses, and rewinds live TV; as well as real-time coverage of live concerts and sporting events via FREE VIEW and PAY-PER-VIEW.

A4 INdulge!PEOPLE

BEHIND every success-ful hotel is a wonder-ful culinary experience provided by its dining outlets. With four food outlets as well as banquet and meeting facilities, the Marco Polo Davao’s food and beverage man-ager is sure to have a handful. Thankfully there is Ms. Ma. Consue-lo Galang-Yabut whom I got to meet over a sump-tuous executive lunch at the Marco Polo Davao’s Polo Bistro. With over 30 years of expe-rience in the food and bever-age industry, Ms. Ma. Con-suelo Galang-Yabut, or Chel to friends, started from the ranks in the early 80’s and worked her way up the corporate ladder in

the industry. Her first hotel stint was at The Peninsula Manila where she was a ten-year loyalty awardee of the hotel. She then decided to make her way up and ventured into the restau-rant industry in Via Mare, Bar-go Sports Bar and then moved to become an outlet manager for Max Brenner. She was also a former district manager of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, over-seeing several coffee outlets. She went back to the hotel industry and became the Pur-chasing Manager of Peninsula de Punta Fuego and Terrazas de Punta Fuego. Chel then worked as Food and Beverage Manager for the concession of Canyon Cove in Nasugbu, Paseo Pre-miere Hotel and Technopark Hotel in Laguna and later on at The Linden Suites hotel in

Ortigas. Soon after, she became the Director for Food & Bever-age of the One Kitchen Stadium Group of Companies. A chef in her own right, Chel decided to put up her own Ho-tel and Restaurant Consultancy group, Une Enterprise de Con-seil and a Catering Company called Home Chefs Catering. Chel is also a food historian, a blogger, and a recipe contrib-utor for “What Happens when the Farmers Meet the Chefs” cookbook. She also worked as a Culinary Director for the Eat and Cheat Cancer Project add-ing to the list of her projects and accomplishments. With such outstanding ex-perience and passion, one can expect a better and exciting cu-linary journey on every visit to the Marco Polo Davao.

Marco Polo Davao appoints new food and beverage managerBy Kenneth Irving Ong

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 168 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015

BETWEEN November 30 and December 11 of this year, a group of politicians and global leaders from over 190 countries

will gather together in Paris, France for the United Nations 21st Conference of the Parties (‘COP21’, as it is known).

“They’re meeting in Paris to try and agree a global legally binding climate treaty,” wrote Christine Ottery and Ruth Davis. Ottery is the energy desk deputy editor of Greenpeace while Davis is the organization’s political advisor.

According to some reports, the delegates will finalize a new global climate accord that will replace the Kyoto treaty, which failed to stop emissions rising. The talks are about agreeing a plan to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, such as more severe droughts, floods and storms.

“In practice, that means getting us on track to keep global warming below 2°C – this is the agreed threshold that we must not let the planet’s warming exceed if we are to avoid cat-astrophic effects of climate change,” the two Greenpeace officials wrote.

“Some nations are already feeling the im-pacts of climate change even now, at the cur-rent level of just under 1°C of warming on av-erage. There are already people seeking to be official climate refugees; conflicts exacerbated by climate change and extreme weather caused by climate change is on the increase.”

The Paris talk “is also about supporting vul-nerable countries and communities in adapt-ing to the impacts of climate change that are happening right now.”

The Philippines, for instance, has been struck with several super typhoons in recent

years: Sendong, Pablo, Yolanda, and Lando. In addition, Filipi-nos suffer from the climate-re-lated El Niño (drought) and La Niña (too much water) events. Not to mention is the sea level rise that will affect the more than 7,000 islands.

“Some nations, including an alliance of small islands, think the 2°C threshold is too high and are advocating that we should stay within 1.5°C of warming, which is the level of warming we may already be locked into,” the two noted.

The talks hope to come up with “an in-ternationally legally binding treaty.” The two pointed out: “(The treaty is) not a declaration or other empty promises, but something that legally binds nations and holds them to their commitment.”

In order to achieve this, the United Nations diplomats are asking for more preparation to be done before the COP conference, and a con-tribution from all states is required. I think the Philippine delegation has already done some-thing on this.

The two noted: “That’s where Intended Na-tionally Determined Contributions – or INDCs – come in. These are the pledges that countries

responsible for over 80% of emissions have made towards emissions reductions in ad-vance of the talks.”

Unfortunately, all of these aren’t legal com-mitments. “They are more like indications of intentions for the 155 countries that have sub-mitted them,” the two clarified. “But one of the aims of COP is to try and get parties to agree a level of legal ‘bindingness’ at Paris.”

While the INDCs submitted currently don’t add up to us staying within 2°C of warming, “they are a good start,” they said. “That’s be-cause the INDCs signify what the biggest pol-luters – including the US, China, Europe and India – are willing to do to tackle global climate change.”

The two Greenpeace officials commented that the current political landscape is looking a lot more promising than it has at previous meetings.

“The most significant thing has got to be the historic China-US climate agreement… in which the world’s two biggest carbon emitters and global superpowers indicated their com-mitment to moving away from fossil fuels.”

President Barrack Obama has made a glob-al climate deal a priority for his legacy while the G7 – Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Japan and United States – have “agreed to decarbonise over the course of the century, aiming for zero emissions by 2100.”

On the other hand, countries that were pre-viously seen as barriers to a global agreement, including China and India “are driving renew-able energy in a big way.” But the two noted that “India also wants to double coal produc-tion by 2020.”

Some more good news: “In the business sector, business leaders have pledged to sup-port the Paris talks, while governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney gave investors an in-centive to act when he warned that they will face huge climate change losses.

“There also appears to be a buildup of pres-sure from civil society ahead of the COP, and it’s expected that hundreds of thousands will at-tend mass climate marches in the days before the COP starts.”

The two concluded: “Overall, things are looking promising but it’s important to remem-ber that each country will be looking for a deal that fits best with its own national issues and planning processes.”

Meanwhile, Financial Times came up with a report on John Kerry, US secretary of state, speaking after a visit to the USS San Antonio, a transport ship at Norfolk naval base on the Atlantic coast where he sought to reinforce the case for tackling climate change. The naval base, which is the biggest in the world, is facing threats from rising sea levels and flooding.

“During a speech at nearby Old Dominion University, Mr. Kerry said the threat from ris-ing temperatures was not just the ‘harm that is caused to the habitat for butterflies or polar bears as some people try to mock it’ but the threat to everything from agriculture to nation-al security,” Demetri Sevastopulo, author of the report, wrote.

“Long story short, climate change is not just about Bambi. It’s about all of us in very person-al and important ways,” Kerry told the audience which included students, military officers and climate scientists.

BY YUSUF MORALESPEACETALK

VOL. 8 ISSUE 168 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015 VANTAGE POINTS 11EDGEDAVAO

The world is not enough: A parody of the tragedy of ParisTHE world’s spotlight is now on Paris, after

experiencing a tragic blow nearly a year after the Charlie Hebdo attacks. This has

brought many people to sympathize and empa-thize with the French. Facebook even allowed people to post a watermarked flag of France su-perimposed on the pictures of Facebook users.

There are many angles to this story. First, is the double standard perception towards re-portage, that when the non-Western countries, specifically Muslim and indigenous popula-tions, experience violence and cultural and eth-nic cleansing, the world seems to turn a blind eye. But when western countries like the US or France get attacked, the whole world suddenly mourns. This is further exaggerated if the per-petuators are colored, or Muslim.

The second angle is the demonization fac-tor. Much as I do not want to cite Samuel Hun-tington, there is still a pre-existing paradigm that despite being in a globalized society, there is still a sense of unwelcoming over certain el-ements of regional culture. A global culture in order to be global must be welcoming and ac-cepting of differences, of becoming open spaces of inclusivity and sensitivity. This goes both for global and local media, to be able to broadcast and highlight both local, regional and interna-tional events whether of economic successes such as the APEC summit, or the Palestinian genocide and the Burma ethnic cleansing to mobilize not only sympathy but also global sup-port and mobilization.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr says that the ethos of modern society is that there is more emphasis

of social premiums on individuals than on the collective society as a whole. This has wors-ened in today’s post-modern society, a society wherein Shaykh Hamza Yusuf has described as having a culture of extremism in western soci-ety. A society that encourages extreme sports, even extreme dietary culture like vegetarianism or veganism, one that encourages extreme life-styles, of open marriages and open-ended rela-tionships. This has been in the eyes of Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, towards the degradation of west-ern society and one-sided values, thus having one-sided perspectives, seeing the bombing of Beirut of the beheading of Hazaras in Afghani-stan or the daily genocide of Palestine and Ro-hingya as not crucial while the Paris incident has been mourned by the world.

Not to sound callous but are the Sandy Brook, Boston Bombing, the Charlie Hebdo and recent Paris incidents the only worthy news items worth shedding a tear for? It is an irony that when the Paris incident happened, a lot of Filipinos changed profile pics but never reacted to Lumad killings and preferred a very distant incident. The global psyche of callousness is so deafening it has become so fearful.

On the other hand we are asked, who are to blame for the actions of a small minority of Muslims who have wreaked havoc on the world? It is but time that the world and the west

“man up” for the geopolitical ironies that has happened.

The Arab spring has become the Arab winter. Everyone was happy that democratic demonstrations in the Arab world, support-ed by the West, would bring down the tyrants whom the West helped set up in the first place. Now the pride of North Africa, Libya, is in civil war, Egypt has yet to recover from the crisis of Morsi and Sisi, Tunisia has yet to stand up, and all of these countries have extremists flowing in, supported by foreign money with promises of “democracy” replacing tyranny. Syria and Iraq are no strangers to this, and have fallen prey and victim to the “puppetries” in the hopes of dislodging Assad as hey have dislodged Saddam. But now they face a monster, one that they may have to man up that they have created, and have brought menace into their societies.

To declare that the refugees brought the menace to Western soil is an irony, since the menace crept into Arab lands because of West-ern intervention.

Democracy and power to the masses is a very admirable concept, but it has to be natural, one that is homegrown and raised by the peo-ple themselves, when it is grafted by ideas of foreigners who do not understand the soul of a people, would wreak more havoc than becom-ing the balm to cure its ills.

As the theatre of war will expand, these ex-tremists would have landed in Southeast Asian shores. Many social media posts decry their existence already. And we may have to confront them. Then how do we confront an ideology that

is against inclusivity, against accepting differenc-es, against accepting deviants and the West?

Then we shall see like in the Middle East, the sky fall, from bombs, from tears and wails from suicide bombings, from terror attacks and kid-nappings.

Before this happens, what are we to do, so that we may have even a spectre of chance to succeed?

We have to make our national culture one of inclusivity, true inclusivity in education, in governance, in culture, in language and in the people themselves, not simply bylines or moth-erhood statements but true programs that res-onate the state’s sincerity to unify as a people, to be inclusive as to allow the people of different areas to govern themselves in the pursuit of self determination, to recognize the indigenous cul-ture of our diverse peoples and enrich it to make them mainstream and accept them, so that no culture is left behind and that each Filipino feels he is proud to be one.

For if we do not, then when the religious and political extremists would continue to wreak their havoc, having enough manpower, “to die another day.” For “the world is not enough” for anyone who has the zeal to wreak havoc in the pursuit of his goals. (MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Yusuf Morales is the Mus-lim Affairs Coordinator of the Social Development Office of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. His interests are Sufism, Southeast Asian Islam, Islam-ic Philosophy and Theology. History of Religions and Social Development. The author has written articles on Islam and Muslims.)

Paris climate talks

Henrylito D. [email protected]

THINK ON THESE!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 168 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 201512CLASSIFIED EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 168 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015 13executive director.

When Cebu lost all of its forest cover to kaingineros (slash-and-burn farmers), 9 of the province’s 10 endemic bird species and subspecies disap-peared. What remains was the Cebu black shama (Copsychus ce-buensis), which the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified as “critically endangered.” Called locally as “siloy,” the bird is able to survive by “adapting to living in bam-boo groves and secondary forest patches.”

Trade and for foodOn the other hand, Philip-

pine cockatoo (Cacatua haema-turopygia) has declined extreme-ly rapidly owing to extensive de-forestation within its range, but also as a result of the high prices the birds fetch in trade.

Birdlife International re-ports: “On Palawan, Polillo and Samar, trapping is particular-ly serious, and the high price fetched per bird means that chicks are taken from virtually every accessible nest. High num-bers were (legally) traded inter-nationally in the 1980s. Poaching of nestlings and snares possibly intended for roosting cockatoos have also been noted during re-cent conservation work on Pan-danan Island.”

The same is true is hap-pening in Surigao del Sur. Cecil Morella, in a report for Agence France-Presse (AFP), accompa-nied Felizardo Goring, a local guide, into some forests areas in the province. During the sojourn, the journalist witnessed one local man selling his trapped parrot.

Morella wrote: “Goring ex-plained the blue-naped parrot disappeared locally about 15 years ago, primarily because of pet trade. He said forest birds sold for as little as P500 in the

markets of Bislig, the nearest city… with customers buying them for food as well as pets.”

Like chickens, birds can also be eaten. And this is another rea-son why birds are fast disappear-ing from this part of the world. Take the case of big bird Eastern sarus crane (Grus antigone shar-pei), which used to abound in the open swampy areas of Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, Nueva Ecija and the island of Panay.

“In the 1940s, the birds were frequently seen in groups of up to five in flooded rice paddies,” wrote one award-winning au-thor. “When people, however, learned that the crane’s meat is much tastier than that of chicken, the birds had been hunted re-lentlessly, and with their big size, they didn’t stand a chance.”

Some lawsTo give birds a chance to

live, the Philippine government signed Republic Act 7586 (en-acted in 1992) which set import-ant bird and biodiversity areas through the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).

Another law, Republic Act 9147, more popularly known as the “Wildlife Resources Conser-vation and Protection Act,” pe-nalizes any person found guilty of killing or destroying any criti-cally endangered wildlife species “with imprisonment from six to 12 years, and/or a fine between P100,000 and P1 million.”

The Act also said: “No per-son or entity shall be allowed possession of wildlife unless such person or entity can prove financial and technical capabil-ity and facility to maintain said wildlife.”

Trading and transporting of wildlife, including birds, are classified as illegal acts under the said law. -- (TO BE CONCLUD-ED)

Philippine... FROM 7 BOMB... FROM 1

Militants... FROM 6Police... FROM 2

Paolo... FROM 2male passengers—when it reached SM City Davao Termi-nal. A male passenger disem-barked in front of the mall’s entrance while the remaining two alighted at the SM Ecol-and Terminal.

After the two disem-barked, Daag drove the van to Eco West Drive to have break-fast at one of the restaurants. On the way to the nearby restaurant, eyewitnesses said they heard a loud blast.

In an interview yesterday, DCPO director Senior Super-intendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. said police are looking at several angles, including ter-rorism.

“The threat of terrorism is always there. We cannot re-move that,” he said.

Danao said the police are also looking at personal grudge, particularly with the

possible conflict with illegal van terminals.

Asked about unverified information that the explo-sion was due to the order of Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte to dismantle all illegal van ter-minals in the city, Danao said, “We gave a very fair warning to all van owners that as long they are legally operating in the city there is no problem.”

He ruled out any par-ticipation by the van driver believing that “no one in his right mind would detonate a bomb inside the vehicle he is driving.”

Still, he said police will look into several angles.

In a related development, Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte said yesterday he has ordered intensifying of all security checks on vehicles entering the city (see related story).

its back portion at around 9:45 a.m.

The van driver, identified as German Daag, was still able to drive the van around 100 meters before stopping.

No one was killed in the blast but the van conductor, identified as Tata Basañes, sustained minor injuries when he was hit by shrapnel in the nape.

Some cars parked in the area were also hit by the frag-ments of the improvised explo-sive device (IED).

Ronald Mendrez told re-porters the front tires of the car which he had borrowed from a friend were hit by bomb fragments. He had parked the car outside the condominium since the night of November 17.

Scene of the Crime Opera-tives (SOCO) was able to recov-er a pieace of metal, believed to be the cover of 6 millimeter mortar, from inside the car.

Sought for comment, SM City Davao management sent

a text message saying, “The local authorities earlier sought the cooperation of SM City Davao mall security personnel in relation to the investigation of the van explosion incident which occurred outside the mall. The said investigation of the incident is still ongoing.”

For his part, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vicen-te D. Danao Jr. said the police should triple the security in the city since the explosion happened even at the height of a red alert status.

Danao asked the public to be vigilant and immediately report any suspicious person to the police to prevent any terror plans from being car-ried out.

He also warned that ter-rorists could enter the city through the shoreline.

“We are really asking our communities to be vigilant. We really need to encourage them (to be watchful) especially in the shorelines,” he said.

“As of Jun 2014, only 70,838 workers out of 2.061M or 3.4% of the total workforce are unionized, meaning they have rights to collectively bargain, right to job security, and right to strike. APEC will further bring these numbers down,” Maglunsod added.

The labor group also said that “inclusive growth” is im-possible under a neoliberal regime of increasing repres-sion of workers and trade unions. A report from the Cen-ter for Trade Union and Hu-man Rights (CTUHR) revealed 554 cases of trade union and

human rights violations since 2010, 24 victims of extra-judi-cial killings among the work-ers and the urban poor.

Trade unions and work-ers’ communities have also been militarized, leading to harassment and vilification of genuine trade union, he said.

The same group held a protest in front of the Depart-ment of Labor and Employ-ment Region (DOLE) 11 to condemn the “cabal of impe-rialists” who had arrived here in Manila to hold talks under the APEC Summit. CHENEEN R. CAPON

the motive of extortion,” she said in yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps at the DCPO conference room.

Driz said Daag and the son of the van owner told her that some groups from Pikit, North Cotabato were extorting money from the owner.

“It just happened that the bomb exploded here in the city,” she said.

Driz said investigators are now looking for the passenger whom Daag dropped in front of SM City Davao.

Police said a white PUV

bearing a plate number MVW 553 had unloaded passengers at the SM City Davao van terminal and was moving along Eco-West Drive when a bomb exploded from its back portion at around 9:45 a.m.

No one was killed in the blast but the van conductor, identified as Tata Basañes, sus-tained minor injuries when he was hit by shrapnel in the nape.

Some cars parked in the area were also hit by the frag-ments of the improvised explo-sive device (IED). ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

NEWSEDGEDAVAO


MEDAL IN RIOUSA’s half-Pinay Lee Kiefer boosts her bid

14 EDGEDAVAOSports

THE road to the 2016 Olympics

Games for half-Pinay US fenc-

er Lee Kief-er is within reach. In fact, her c o a c h is now

thinking of a medal in

Rio.

The 18-year old Kiefer, daughter of a Dabawenya doctor, joined the world’s top fencers in advancing through World Cup events in the sabre and foil disciplines in France, Romania and Japan. Kiefer, ranked world no. 4 in women’s foil, bagged a bronze medal in Sport Center Pierre Brosso-lette in the city of Saint-Maur, France last November 8 before the attacks in Paris.

The world’s top 178 wom-en’s foil fencers from 38 coun-tries vied for the women’s foil events in the tough meet. Ita-ly’s Arianna Errigo edged out compatriot and top ranked

fencer, Elisa Di Francisca 12-11 to clinch the wom-

en’s individual event. Errigo was the

same Italian fenc-

[email protected]

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

er who eliminated Kiefer in the quarterfinals of the 2012 London Olympics.

Current world no. 1 and Olympic champion Di Francis-ca defeated Kiefer by a touch at 15-14 but it gave the Fil-Am fencer her first individual medal of the season. Kiefer had beaten Di Francesca in an-other World Cup tournament this year showing promise that she is capable of upsetting the big guns.

Kiefer’s US Team coach Amgad Abd El-Halim Khazbak told EDGE Davao in an online interview that his ward is making great strides towards the Rio Olympics.

“We are doing great! I think now 99% will be there, but we are planning for med-al,” coach Khazbak said. “This result maintained her ranking as 4th in the world.”

The other bronze medal went to Ger-

many’s Car-olin Gol-

ubytskyi. The Italians made it a women’s foil double as they also took out the team event. They beat Russia 45-25 in the final, with France taking the bronze medal after beating Korea 45-24.

In Tokyo, the Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium in Tokyo played host to the Fenc-ing World Cup in the men’s foil individual and team events, with some 178 foil fencers from 33 countries competing. USA’s Alexander Massialas took victory in men’s individ-ual event after beating Korea’s Jun Heo 15-10 in the gold medal final.

Massialas, who took silver earlier this year at the World Fencing Championships in Moscow, Russia, now moves up as the world’s top-ranked

foil fencer. The 2015 World Champion

from those Cham-pionships, Japan’s Yuki Ota and USA’s Mein-hardt Gerek took the bronze

medals.

PROUD TO BE HALF PINAY. Lee Kiefer of the United States in action against Italy’s Elisa Di Francisca (top) during the Olympic Qualifiers. Below, Kiefer smiles after scoring a win. USFA Photo

VOL. 8 ISSUE 168 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2015 SPORTS15EDGEDAVAO

CHRISTOPHER “Bong” Go put on a familiar shoot-ing display capped by a

crucial basket in the closing seconds to lead the City May-ors Office to a 92 – 90 victory over Regional Public Safety Battalion in the 2015 Mayor Rody and Vice Mayor Pulong Duterte – AFP- PNP Basketball Tournament at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym on Tuesday night.

Go, who recently returned to action from a shoulder inju-ry, dribbled his way to the bas-ket and hoisted a pull up jump-er to make the go ahead basket that broke the 90-90 deadlock.

The sweet-shooting trust-ed aide of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte scattered 28 points, including three triples, as the

City Hall dribblers shrug off a flat start on its way to second straight victory.

Abao scored 23 points as Galarpe had 19 for the RPSB that missed the potential game winning tries.

Jr de guzman and Rodel Bantilan made significant con-tribution, scoring 16 points each on top of hustle and en-ergy that helped cmo battled toe to toe with the pesky RPSB side all game long.

CMO opened the season on the right track with a win over the naval forces eastern Mindanao command – Philip-pine navy.

Go was just on his third game after returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for three weeks.

Go steers CMO to 2nd win in AFP-PNP hoops

ANDRE Drummond had 25 points and 18 rebounds and made

some crucial free throws when he was fouled inten-tionally, helping the Detroit Pistons rally to a 104-99 victory over the Cleveland

Cavaliers on Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time).

LeBron James scored 23 of his 30 points in the first half, but the Pistons double-teamed him on a couple of big possessions down the stretch and

Cleveland couldn’t convert. The Cavs lost their second straight after winning eight in a row.

Drummond’s free throw with 2:07 left gave the Pistons a 98-97 advan-tage, and Detroit was able

to hold on. It was 102-99 with 13.8 seconds remain-ing after Reggie Jackson made two free throws for the Pistons. J.R. Smith then missed a contested 3-pointer from near the top of the key.

RONDA Rousey will be out for six months after the humiliating loss to

Holly Holm, with the Ultimate Fighting Championship issu-ing medical suspensions to several fighters after UFC 193.

The erstwhile unbeaten Rousey was stopped by Holm in the second round following a vicious head kick on Sunday in Australia.

The medical suspension

for 180 days issued on Tuesday may be cleared by a negative head CT scan but neverthe-less the 28-year-old American former Olympic judo medalist cannot fight within 60 days.

Strawweight titleholder Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who won by decision over Valerie Le-tourneau, injured her hand and is also out for 180 days un-less cleared by an orthopedic doctor.

THE Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub golf tournament will be held in Luzon for the first time in its 69-year history. Hosting the annual event from Feb 23 to March 5 will be the Mimosa Golf and Country Club and FA Korean Country Club in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. Photo shows (from left) Henry Arebalo, tournament director;

Bong Velasquez, PAL SAVP-International Sales; Dina May Flores, PAL VP Revenue Management; Jefferson Tan, golf manager of Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Parks; and Eric Gozo, general manager of Mimosa Leisure Estate. With the theme “Power on the Greens,” a total of 192 teams will take part in the regular and senior tournaments.

JOHN Wall had 19 points, nine assists and six re-bounds as the Washington

Wizards beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 115-86, on Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time).

Otto Porter also scored 19 to help the Wizards (5-4) win by double digits for the first time this season. Washington had six players in double fig-

ures.Milwaukee (5-6) was

led by Khris Middleton, who scored 14 points in the team's worst loss of the season.

In the last eight minutes of the second quarter, Wash-ington outscored Milwaukee, 28-8, to take a 64-46 lead into halftime.

The Bucks went on a 20-8 spurt of their own in the first

JORDAN Spieth knows how to mix business with plea-sure. His business is play-

ing great golf. His pleasure is playing great golf courses.

Spieth leaves this week for Down Under, where he defends his title Nov. 26-29 in Sydney at the Australian Open. The first stop is Melbourne and a chance to play the fa-bled sand belt courses. He has games lined up at Royal Mel-bourne and Kingston Heath.

“I’ve heard Kingston Heath is unbelievable,” Spieth said. “And then Royal Melbourne, I hear you get on the first tee and think, ‘Piece of cake,’ and then watch your tee shot bounce in the air. There and then Long Island, the courses there, are on my bucket lists of courses I haven’t played yet.”

Spieth surely has a long list. He’s only 22 and just com-pleted his third year as a pro.

What intrigues him about Melbourne’s sand belt and Long Island (Shinnecock, Na-tional Golf Links) is “that style of golf was meant for that area.”

He missed his chance at

Long Island in August during The Barclays, although that was never the plan even be-fore he missed the cut. He was supposed to play with Justin Thomas at Pine Valley the Monday after the tournament. When he missed the cut and had an extra day on his hand, Spieth chose to play Baltusrol with Rickie Fowler (who also missed the cut) to see it ahead of next year’s PGA Champion-ship, and then headed to Bos-ton to work on his game.

Not to worry. That’s an easy trip to plan.

After that?“I’ve done pretty much

everything I want to do,” Spi-eth said. “I still haven’t played Oakmont (next year’s U.S. Open). We have Royal Troon coming up. I haven’t played Carnoustie. But sought after? Sand Hills in Nebraska, the Coore-Crenshaw. I’ve heard it’s supposed to be that good, from Crenshaw and everyone down there.”

One area he failed to men-tion was Chicago Golf Club, one of the five founding cours-es of the USGA.

LEBRON DEFENDS. Marcus Morris of the Detroit Pistons is guarded tightly by Cleveland Cavaliers’ Lebron James.

Spieth heads to Australian Open

Pistons hand Cavs second straight loss

Wizards rout Bucks 115-86

Rousey suspendedfor 6 months

seven minutes of the third to cut the Wizards' lead to 72-66, but got no closer.

It was the Wizards' second win over Milwaukee this sea-son, including a 118-113 victo-ry Oct. 30.

INJURED BUCKSMilwaukee forward Jabari

Parker is not traveling with the team during its three-game road trip due to a sprained right foot.

"Hopefully, it's in a few days that he's back playing," coach Jason Kidd said.

"It's not a serious injury. The things that he's done at this point, it's all right for him to be sore. Hopefully he's back

sooner than later."Meanwhile, guard O.J.

Mayo practiced on Monday but was sent back to Milwaukee for an examination. Kidd hopes Mayo, sidelined all season with a strained right hamstring, will play Thursday at Cleveland.

BEAL RESTS AGAINWashington guard Bradley

Beal missed his third straight game with a sore left shoulder. But coach Randy Wittman said Beal isn't being rested to pre-pare him for next week's four games in five nights.

"We would do that anyway. If a guy's hurt, you've got to make sure he's ready before he comes back," Wittman said.

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