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Letran opened the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament with three straight losses.

Jonathan Manalili had enough of it. A winner in the juniors’ division with Letran, Manalili made sure the Knights would finally put a stop to their winless start on Saturday.

‘If I lose, maybe losing once or twice is acceptable. I even told them that I’m a hard loser and I’m hoping they adopt that kind of attitude,’ the rookie guard said in Filipino after their 84-80 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College.

‘We’ve been talking about it every night. Losing is tiring to the point that we don’t even know what it feels like to win. I told them we had to get [the win] today so we can get our confidence back.’

After absorbing yet another loss on Wednesday at the hands of the College of St. Benilde-a 95-80 beatdown- that also served as a wake-up call, Letran played with a sense of desperation to earn a much-needed win. Manalili had his fingerprints in the victory, collecting 12 points and 13 assists.

‘My focus is to win. Whatever I need to do to help my team win, I’ll focus on that,’ he said.

‘I mean, I’m thankful for the assists because it shows that I give [the ball] to my teammates. That’s always where I put focus and I’ll keep doing that in the next game.’

Some 70,142 families in Davao Oriental province were affected by the powerful earthquakes that struck hours apart on Friday.

According to an initial report of the provincial government, all its 10 component towns and one city suffered destruction.

The initial accounting showed Gov. Generoso town with the most affected families at 20,123, of whom some 16,553 were preemptively evacuated due to a tsunami threat.

Banaybanay town came second with 15,119 families affected, followed by Manay with 14,103, and Baganga with 8,728, Cateel 4,314, Tarragona 3,235, Mati City 1,820, Boston 1,056, Lupon 732, San Isidro 583, and Caraga 329.

A total of 225 houses were reported to be destroyed while 471 were damaged.

So far, the provincial government also accounted for three deaths while 360 were injured. /das

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has summoned the driver as well as the student riding a motorcycle he recently hit in Teresa, Rizal, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Saturday.

Earlier, the DOTr released a statement ordering the revocation of the license of the driver after he was seen in a viral video intentionally crashing into the student’s motorcycle because ‘it allegedly ran over his vehicle.’ In a statement on Saturday, the DOTr said that the driver and the student are directed to appear before the Intelligence and Investigation Division in the LTO office in Quezon City at 3 p.m. on Monday.

The agency said the driver received a show-cause order from the LTO for hitting the student riding the motorcycle, ‘causing the latter to fall and be dragged for several meters along the roadway before the vehicle came to a stop, resulting in multiple injuries.’

The driver was ordered to explain ‘why (he) should not be administratively charged for reckless driving under Section 48 of RA 4136, and why (his) driver’s license should not be suspended or revoked for being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle under Section 27 (a) of R.A. 4136, as amended by Section 7 of B.P.’

His driver’s license was also suspended for 90 days. Meanwhile, a show-cause order was also issued to the 15-year-old student for driving a motorcycle with no side mirror and valid license and for not wearing a helmet.

The student was directed to explain ‘why (he) should not be administratively charged for reckless driving under Section 48 of R.A. 4136, Duty to Procure License under Section 19 of R.A. 4136, Mandatory Use of Motorcycle Helmets under Section 3 of Republic Act No.10054, and Motor Vehicle Operating without or with defective/improper/unauthorized accessories, devices, equipment, and parts under Title Il. Par. (d) of Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01.’

‘Traffic violations, criminal liability’

According to Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, the LTO, under its mandate, will investigate the violations of traffic laws from the incident involving the driver and the student. ‘Definitely, both sides are at fault because the driver-you saw the harm he inflicted on the child-meanwhile the minor didn’t have a helmet and a license,’ Lopez noted.

But he also noted that on the aspect of criminal liability, the DOTr will provide assistance for the student in filing a case against the driver.

‘With regard to criminal liability, that’s where we will really provide assistance to the minor because there is no place on the road for abusive and irresponsible drivers,’ Lopez emphasized.

‘We will help the family file a case against the driver because it is clear from the video that he really intended to hurt the minor. We should not let this go,’ he added.

Earlier this Saturday, Lopez visited the house of the student to check on his situation after the incident.

The DOTr said the student turned out to not have been able to attend classes for days already due to the bruises he suffered.

‘FThe government, especially the DOTr, lends its full support for you. We are on your side. What the driver did to the child is absolutely unacceptable,’ Lopez told the student.

Alyssa Solomon and defending champion Osaka Marvelous got off to a losing start in the Japan SV.League after falling to Himeji Victorina, 17-25, 28-26, 23-25, 25-22, 15-11, on Saturday at Ookini Arena Maishima.

Solomon only scored one point off a lone attack attempt after seeing action only in the second and third sets.

The Marvelous blew a two-sets-to-one advantage, as the Victorina turned to Airi Miyabe, who unleashed 31 points off 28 kills and three blocks, to complete the comeback.

Osaka dropped to a 0-2 start in its title retention bid despite the efforts of Lise Van Hecke and Mizuki Tanaka, who had 24 and 22 points, respectively.

The former National University star, who signed with Osaka last month, sat out in their opening game on Friday, where the Marvelous yielded a 25-19, 21-25, 25-21, 25-10 result.

Solomon and the Marvelous seek to bounce back against Aranmare Yamagata next weekend.

Meanwhile, Jaja Santiago, now Sachi Minowa, delivered 14 points in her first game for the Denso AiryBees, sweeping Toray Arrows Shiga, 25-21, 25-17, 25-22, at Horaiya Bonds Arena.

The three-time SV.League Best Blocker, who won a championship with Osaka last year, had a successful debut after drilling 11 kills and three blocks.

Santiago and the AiryBees eye a weekend sweep against Toray on Sunday.

More than 3,000 Roman Catholics joined a grand rosary rally in Bacolod City on Saturday afternoon to pray for conversion against ‘the systemic culture of corruption plaguing the nation.’

The participants marched from three points in the city and converged at the San Sebastian Cathedral where Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon called on the faithful to pray for the conversion of all people linked to corruption in government.

Buzon said that while marches against corruption are important, prayer and sacrifice are also needed to achieve radical change. The bishop described the massive corruption involving flood control projects in the country as ‘beyond belief’ and ‘just the tip of the iceberg,’ which he said has opened a Pandora’s box on the extent of corruption in government. The prelate stressed that the Diocese of Bacolod stands with the people and understands the public’s collective ‘outburst of anger,’ with evidence now coming out that government funds intended for projects for the public good have instead lined the pockets of the powerful. ‘God himself is angry at injustice, especially when the victims are the poor,’ Buzon said. ‘He always sides with the poor.’ The problem of corruption is systemic and runs through the ‘whole gamut of society,’ Buzon said, noting that people have also sold their votes for the kind of leaders the nation now has, while these same officials steal from the government to recover the amounts they used to buy votes.

‘The systemic problem of corruption must be destroyed,’ added Buzon. ‘That is why prayers and sacrifice are needed to seek the grace of conversion against sin and evil.’ Participants at the rally carried placards bearing Bible messages against corruption. Among those messages were: ‘Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy – Proverbs 31:9;’ ‘The Lord detests dishonesty – Ezekiel 22:27:’ ‘Let justice roll down like waters – Amos 5:24;’ ‘Stop robbing the poor – Amos 5:11;’ ‘Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions’ – Luke 12:15;’ ‘Let honesty lead our leaders – Micah 1:2;’ and ‘Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed – Luke 12:15.’

The rally culminated in a program and Mass at the San Sebastian Cathedral in the city.

A nursery and soils laboratory aimed at boosting sugar production will rise in Victorias City in Negros Occidental, according to the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

For this project, the SRA is working with Victorias Milling Co. (VMC), the Victorias Mill District Development Council (VMDDC) and the Florencia Workers Association.

The planned laboratory will develop resilient and high-yield varieties and advance scientific approaches to improve soil health and farm productivity.

The SRA will handle research and other technical aspects. VMC will provide resources, infrastructure and facilities. VMDDC will contribute its on-the-ground knowledge.

Eva Rodriguez, chair of VMDDC and chief administrative officer of VMC, said the facility will promote propagation of higher-yielding cane varieties. It will also provide scientific soil analysis to support the shift into more evidence-based, efficient farming practices.

VMC president Linley Retirado said they hope this partnership will revive the company’s past agricultural and research services as well as extend them to planters not only in Victorias City but also in nearby districts.

Essential support

Retirado recalled how VMC used to provide essential support, including fertilizers, lime, technical assistance and farm management guidance, to planters before it stopped providing these services in 1997.

SRA administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said in a recorded message that it is important to bring research and laboratory services closer to farmers in Northern Negros, a key area in local sugar production.

SRA board member David Andrew Sanson described the initiative as the creation of a ‘mini La Granja.’ He was referring to the SRA’s flagship research center in La Carlota, which benefits both farmers and the mill.

The country’s sugar output totaled 2.09 million metric tons (MT) as of Sept. 28. This was an increase of 8.16 percent from 1.93 million MT in the same period a year ago, data from the SRA showed.

For the current crop year, the SRA allotted the entire production for domestic use. It projected local output to drop by 7.9 percent to 1.92 million MT.

The SRA had said it expects a ‘possible decrease’ in sugar harvests due to the ongoing red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) infestation and excessive rainfall in Negros. /rwd

A hamstring injury forced Calvin Abueva to cut short his second appearance for Titan Ultra against Converge in the PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday here.

Abueva played just the first four minutes and 42 seconds of the Giant Risers’ 129-92 loss at Ynares Center II before spending the rest of the contest on the bench. Without Abueva, who scored just two points, Titan Ultra was handed a humbling defeat by Converge after starting its PBA journey with the upset of Meralco.

In that 100-96 victory, Abueva powered his way to a career-high 41 points while showing the same form during his collegiate and younger PBA days.

Joshua Munzon scored 31 for the Giant Risers in the defeat. The injury also cut short the anticipated matchup between Abueva and Converge coach Delta Pineda.

Pineda has long been considered by Abueva as his ‘second dad’ after he was discovered in Pampanga’s grassroots basketball program before being recruited to play for San Sebastian in the NCAA.

Terra Solar Philippines, Inc. will build a P14.2-billion transmission facility to connect its massive solar farm in Luzon to the power grid.

Based on a document from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the affiliate of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN) focused on the construction of the P200-billion MTerra Solar facility, was allowed to develop and own point-to-point limited transmission assets.

The facilities include a bus-in connection along the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines’ (NGCP) Nagsaag-San Jose 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line. This would be an interim connection to the grid.

The group will also build a direct connection to NGCP’s planned San Isidro 500 kV substation as the final and permanent link to the grid.

For this project, the company tapped Maxipro Development Corp., Fujian Electric Power Engineering Co. Ltd. and Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corp.

The ERC, however, rejected its proposal to operate and maintain the facilities. In turn, the regulator assigned NGCP to be in charge of the infrastructure once operational.

The first phase of the MTerra Solar project has a target capacity of 2,500 megawatts (MW). It is expected to be finished by next year.

The second phase, with a capacity of 1,000 MW, might go online by 2027.

The project will also be equipped with a 4,000 MW-hour battery energy storage system./ rwd

The Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) expressed grave concern about the ‘Golden Pillar of Law Award’ that the Integrated Bar of the Philippines here had conferred upon former President Rodrigo Duterte even as it asked the national lawyers’ group to reconsider.

In a statement signed by Lawyer Beverly S. Musni, UPLM secretary general, the group pointed out that honoring an individual who has a public record of ignoring due process, e.g., utilizing extrajudicial ‘drug matrices’ to persecute suspected drug addicts and criminals, raises serious questions about the standards being promoted by the country’s national organization of lawyers.

‘The award was conferred upon a lawyer charged before the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an alleged ‘indirect co-perpetrator’ of the ‘crime against humanity of murder,’ the group said IBP Davao chapter had earlier stated that the ‘Golden Pillar of Law Award’ was intended to recognize lawyers in good standing who had served 50 years in the legal profession. It also cited the IBP By-Laws, which said that to be in good standing, a member must have paid all dues and assessments and not be suspended from the practice of law.

But UPLM said this view overlooked ‘critical legal and ethical considerations’ fundamental to the integrity of the profession.

‘The distinction of being a ‘pillar of law’ transcends mere longevity,’ the lawyers’ group argued. ‘It necessitates a consistent and demonstrable adherence to the rule of law, justice, due process, and human rights-the very bedrock of our legal system.’ ‘Honoring an individual who has a public record of ignoring due process, e.g., utilizing extrajudicial ‘drug matrices’ to persecute suspected drug addicts and criminals-lists which he later admitted contained grave errors-raises serious questions about the standards being promoted by the country’s national organization of lawyers,’ it said.

Duterte’s deadly war on drugs resulted in what the ICC Prosecutor termed a ‘widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population,’ which was in conflict with the concept of a lawyer being in ‘good standing’ in the fullest sense of the term, according to the statement.

The group also cited the Lawyer’s Oath as a solemn vow to uphold the rule of law, justice, truth, and the rights of all people.

‘If unchallenged, the award conferred to Duterte risks normalizing grave breaches of ethical conduct as irrelevant to professional merit,’ it said. ‘The UPLM is deeply concerned that celebrating a lawyer whose official acts are under investigation for crimes against humanity appears inconsistent with the spirit and letter of this solemn oath.’

It also refuted IBP Davao City chapter’s position that the award ‘does not serve as an endorsement of political acts or personal ideologies.’

‘For a member of the legal profession, actions and policies that undermine the rule of law and are linked to grave human rights violations cannot be divorced from one’s professional standing,’ it said.

‘They are not simply ‘political acts’ but matters that strike at the heart of our duties as officers of the court,’ it said.

UPLM implored the IBP national leadership to reconsider its decision to preserve the integrity of the award and ensure that ‘standards for such accolades reflect the highest ethical obligations of the Philippine Bar.’ ‘We must consider the impact of this award on the public’s trust in the legal profession, particularly on the thousands of victims of the war on drugs, many from the poorest and most marginalized communities, who continue their enduring quest for justice and accountability,’ the lawyers’ group said. ‘For them, Duterte’s award is deeply painful and may be perceived as a validation of the impunity they have suffered.’

Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has released a total of P158 million in financial assistance to 12 northern Cebu local government units (LGUs) severely affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the province late last month.

The LGUs that received assistance from the provincial government were Bogo City, the epicenter of the quake, which received P15 million, while the towns of Bantayan, Borbon, Catmon , Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Sogod, Tabogon, and Tabuelan were given P13 million each.

The distribution of checks took place on Friday, October 10, at the Cebu Provincial Capitol grounds in Cebu City shortly after a precautionary evacuation of employees and officials. The evacuation was prompted by the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that hit the Davao Region and was also felt in Cebu. Once safety was ensured, the activity resumed outside the Governor’s entrance of the Capitol building.

In addition to the P158 million assistance, the Provincial Board (PB) had earlier requested P26 million under the Legislative Assistance Fund (LAF) for PB members to help sustain relief operations in affected areas. Baricuatro, however, approved a higher allocation of P32 million to bolster ongoing recovery efforts in the affected towns.

Based on the official distribution list, the fund will be shared among provincial officials as follows: P5 million allotted to Vice Gov. Glenn Soco, while P3 million each would go to PB Member Celestino ‘Tining’ Martinez, Liga ng mga Barangay president from Bogo City; and 4th District PB Members Kerie Shimura and Nelson Mondigo.

P2 million each were also allotted to 5th District PB Members Red Durano and Mike Villamor; and P1 million each were provided to the remaining members of the PB.

Baricuatro said the fund release demonstrated the provincial government’s swift and unified response to help quake-affected communities recover and rebuild. /das