By CJ Marquez, CNN Philippines

Subic, Zambales (CNN Philippines, June 3)-Nick Baldwin accomplished a feat that nobody from his country Seychelles has achieved – win an Ironman title.

“To win the first Ironman here is cool for me,” he said.

He clocked in an official time of eight hours, 50 minutes, and 13 seconds.

After six years of attempting to capture an Ironman title, Baldwin said this achievement in his career will have a special place in his heart.

“It feels like a long time. I’ve always tried to win an Ironman title. To do it is something very special,” he said.

Asked on what part of the race he struggled the most, Baldwin shared that it was the 42-kilometer run.

Aside from the $25,000 cash prize, Baldwin also got a slot for the Kona, Hawaii World Championship.

New Zealand’s Cameron Brown came at second with an official time of 8 hours, 56 minutes and 49 seconds, while Simon Cochrane at third place with 8 hours, 58 minutes and 58 seconds.

Meanwhile, Australian Liz Blatchford topped the women’s division with a time of nine hours, 22 minutes and 22 seconds.

Her fellow Australian Dimity Duke finished second with a time of nine hours, 40 minutes and 45 seconds, while Simone Maier landed third with nine hours, 47 minutes and 39 seconds.

August Benedicto was the first Filipino to cross the finish line with a time of nine hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds.

Source: cnnphilippines.com

Continue Reading

Energy chief renews call for strategic oil stockpile

By: Ronnel W. Domingo – @inquirerdotne

Photo credit: bmiresearch.com

The government expects to secure an initial shipment of lower-priced diesel from abroad within this month but does not yet know where this is coming from nor where this will be stored.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi yesterday said in an interview that Russia was previously mentioned only as a possible supplier, but that the government was looking at other potential sources and has not made a deal with any seller.

Officials at Malacañang earlier said the government intended to buy cheaper oil from sources that were not members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec).

“I would like to clarify that it’s not only Russia [that we are looking at for cheaper diesel]. Russia is an option, but there are other options that we are looking at,” Cusi told reporters.

The state-run PNOC-Exploration Corp. “is looking toward the end of June for the arrival of shipments,” he added.

Asked where the refined fuel would be stored, Cusi said PNOC-EC was negotiating for at least three locations.

“There are available storage tanks, and PNOC-EC is negotiating. One is in Subic [in Zambales], one is in Phividec [in Misamis Oriental], another one is in Quezon [province], and there are other areas” under consideration, he said.

Phividec refers to the industrial complex run by the state firm Phividec (Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corp.) Industrial Authority.

“This is what we have been saying [from way back], we need to have a strategic supply,” Cusi said.

“Our oil industry is deregulated but the private sector is required to have 15 days’ supply of refined products and 30 days’ supply of crude oil,” he said. “Of course, we are concerned that we would be affected should there be a disruption in supply. That is why the government is developing a strategic reserve.”

Earlier this week, Cusi said the government was gearing up for a national oil stockpile as crude oil prices touched four-year highs near the $80-a-barrel mark in previous weeks.

As Opec and non-Opec countries including Russia continue efforts to raise prices by reducing output through an agreement made in late 2016, the World Bank’s forecast as of April put crude prices averaging at $65 in 2018 and 2019.

“The government is aware of the country’s vulnerabilities to abrupt changes in the international oil situation and impending threats on the same,” Cusi said. “Hence we are formulating various strategies to address those vulnerabilities to cushion the impact for our consumers.”

Cusi, who is ex-officio chair of PNOC-EC, said the state firm was preparing for oil trading and retail “to provide competition to existing oil industry players and pacify domestic oil prices.”

In particular, PNOC-EC has been directed and authorized to source fuels such as diesel from Russia and non-Opec members, which will be “sold to independent oil firms and directly to the public.”

Oil companies are currently required to maintain a minimum inventory that is equivalent to 30 days’ supply of crude and products for refiners like Petron Corp. and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. Non-refiners are required to keep a stock good for at least 15 days of diesel, gasoline, and kerosene as well as seven days’ worth of liquefied petroleum gas.

Cusi said the creation of a strategic petroleum reserve was based on a number of joint international studies that were done in 2003 and 2004, on the feasibility of building and maintaining such stockpiles. But the Philippines has not gone so far as to build a stockpile as prices of crude and refined products plummeted a few years ago. Until oil ministers of 14 Opec member-countries along with non-Opec producers—including the Russian Federation—agreed in November 2016 to reduce their crude oil output by 558,000 barrels a day for each country.

source: business.inquirer.net/

Continue Reading

PTFoMS PROTOCOLS SEMINAR. Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Undersecretary Jose Joel Sy Egco gives his introduction on Administrative Order no. 1 during the 3rd PTFoMS seminar on the implementation of the operational guidelines and introduction of the PTFoMS Protocols in Region III, held at By the Sea Resort Hotel Subic Bay Olongapo City on Thursday (May 31,2018).(PNA photo by Oliver Marquez)

SUBIC BAY— The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) held yet another successful seminar on the Operational Guidelines of Administrative Order No. 1, which established the lead coordinating body tasked to investigate media killings, at the By The Beach Resort Hotel in Subic on Thursday.

“This is one of the most successful gatherings so far and I would like to thank everyone who attended our third seminar,” PTFoMS Executive Director and Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco said in his speech.

The seminar was attended by nearly 150 members of the press, prosecutors and law enforcers from Central Luzon.

Egco said they intend to finish all the seminars within this year, particularly in regions where there are high cases of media killings and harassments.

He underscored the need to tackle not only the role of the police and legal experts in protecting and handling cases of media practitioners but on how to professionalize the ranks of the media.

“We also discuss the corruption of media, AC/DC, ‘hao-siao’ (bogus journalists) which (is) the problem in the local level. So it is now clear with them that we don’t tolerate these problems,” Egco said.

He said out of nine media practitioners killed in the past two years, only two have been verified as work-related killings, referring to Larry Que and Christopher Lozada.

“But it does not mean that we did not pay attention to seven others. Our policy is always (to) presume that it is work-related but the rest are due (to) personal affairs, politics and even love life,” he said.

Based on PTFoMS records, the other seven media members killed include Apolinario Suan Jr., Mario Contaoi, Marlon Muyco, Joaquin Briones, Rudy Alicaway, and Leo Diaz.

Egco said the task force will continue to perform its mandate to go after perpetrators of media killings and harassments.

“For the first time in (the) history of the Philippines, we have a government that made a declaration against media killings. Through this, we can show to the world that we are serious in our efforts to address this problem,” he said.

The creation of the PTFoMS has continued to get praises from the media, thanking Duterte for providing security to media practitioners.

“Before, we thought that our President hates the media, but when he signed this AO 1, we are very happy that the administration has concerns for the media,” Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. president Nelson Santos said.

For his part, National Press Club (NPC) president Paul Gutierrez thanked Duterte for giving so much attention to the welfare of the Philippine media.

“This is very historic that we, the police and the media groups have closer coordination,” Gutierrez said.

He said the NPC is one with the PTFoMS’s 20/20 vision to remove the Philippines from the world’s most dangerous places for media practitioners by year 2020.

Aside from PAPI and NPC, officials and members of the local media groups, including Bulacan Press Club, Camp Olivas Press Society, Central Luzon Media Association, Macabulos Press Corps, Pampanga Press Club and Nueva Ecija Press Club, have attended the seminar.

Lawyer Yuri Beltran represented the National Bureau of Investigation 3 (Central Luzon) while headed by Police Regional Office3 Director Chief Supt. Amado Corpus led the provincial police directors and other officers from Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

PTFoMS legal consultant Jay de Castro discussed the AO 1 while Task Force Chief of Staff Abraham Agamata and PTFoMS chief investigator Rechie Duldulao explained the Operational Guidelines and Protocols, respectively.

By: PTV News

source: ptvnews.ph

Continue Reading

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales – Four Japanese and thirteen Filipinos yesterday were detained at the San Antonio Police Station after excavating the renowned Capones Island in Barangay Pundakit here.

By Jonas Reyes

San Antonio Chief of Police PS Isnp. Jonathan Bardaje inspects the excavation equipment in front of the San Antonio Police Station Friday that were confiscated during an illegal mining operation held at the Capones Lighthouse Island. (Jonas Reyes / MANILA BULLETIN)

According to a spot report by the San Antonio Police Station, 56-year-old Domyo Ukari, 44-year-old Shinchi Kawano, 60-year-old Morie Eizo, a 15-year-old Japanese national, and thirteen other Filipinos were arrested for illegal mining.

Domyo, Shinchi and Mori are all residents of Legaspi Village in Makati City and are natives of Japan, while the Japanese minor is a resident of San Marcelino in Zambales and served as the interpreter of the three aforementioned to the thirteen other workers.

San Antonio Chief of Police PS Isnp. Jonathan Bardaje said their group conducted a joint operation with the Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) against the alleged illegal mining in the Capones Island. The group apprehended the suspects who were caught in the act of digging the west side of the island.

Other suspects were identified as Lloyd Marlo Cerezo, 22; Arnold Argel, 23; Rexy Maycong. 21; Gregorio Domingo, 34; Effer Tolentino, 24; Rodrigo Castro, 58; Luis Cerezo, 39; Lymar Cerezo, 20; Reggie Marcong, 25; Noel Flores, 29; Jason Ebalane, 27; Espiridon Gumacao, 62; and Ronald Gonzales, 48.

Recovered from the illegal operation is a compressor set, generator set, metal detector, grinder, edger, two exhaust fans, two shovels, jackhammer, hand saw, tool box, assorted ropes, sprayer, zonar metal detector, 18 pieces of steel pipes used for scaffoldings, a pike and a rake.

According to Vice Mayor Lugil Ragadio, the island is considered a public domain since the island houses the Capones Island Lighthouse, adding that the area is not for sale nor should be settled upon by people. He also said the area is a marine protected and that the Philippine Coast Guard has been constantly monitoring the island.

The group has already dug up around sixteen feet in depth and already has an area of five by five meters despite the rigidness of the area, which leads to speculations of alleged treasure hunting. Some residents say that the Capones Island might have been where a well-known Japanese officer hid his treasure during the world war.

source: news.mb.com.ph

Continue Reading

The downpour Wednesday afternoon did not stop the Bureau of Customs from destroying over a hundred smuggled motorcycles and vehicles worth P37.41 million in Manila in a bid to prevent smugglers from getting the seized vehicles back through auctions.

By Betheena Unite

The Bureau of Customs destroyed over a hundred smuggled motorcycles and vehicles worth P37.41 million at the Customs headquarters in Manila.(ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)

Using a backhoe, a total of 122 smuggled vehicles — 116 motorcycles and six vehicles — were crashed and bulldozed at the Customs grounds with President Duterte and several government officials witnessing the third destruction of seized vehicles in the country.

The vehicles destroyed include 112 units of brand new Vespa scooters, used BMW motorcycle, Harley Davidson, two units of Triumph motorcycle, Mitsubishi Pajero, two units of Land Rover, and Volvo car. These, according to the bureau were seized at the Manila International Container Port (MICP), Port of Subic, and Port of Iloilo. They arrived on separate dates.

Two more vehicles — used 2002 Ford Ecoline and 2005 Ford Ecoline E350 — were also destroyed at the Port of Cebu on the same day.

Supercars not included

Missing on the vehicles that were destroyed were the previously seized supercars including McLaren and Ferrari, which are currently under litigation at the Law Division.

Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena said 24 luxury vehicles that were intercepted at the MICP are under litigation.

“I have directed those in charge of the case to facilitate the litigation of the 24 luxury cars. If the final decision of the case is in favor of the government, the same will happen to them. They will be destroyed,” Lapena said.

Eighteen of the 24 cars including 13 brand new Land Cruisers, two units of Chevrolet Camaro, two units of brand new Range Rover, and McLaren have been forfeited. However, the importer filed an appeal to the Court of Tax Appeals.

The remaining cars, Lapena furthered, are still under legal proceedings.

Stop fixing schemes

The Bureau reiterated that the destruction of the vehicles aims to stop the fixing schemes of the smugglers conniving with some Customs employees in the usual public auction of seized cars.

It is also meant to send a stern warning to importers to pay the right tax for their vehicle importations “or have them crushed by a bulldozer.”

“The President’s order is clear, sending a very strong message to smugglers to stop what they have been doing. These smugglers have long been cheating the government. this has to stop,” Lapena said.

The Customs chief stressed that smugglers disguised as bidders during legitimate auction proceedings to get the seized vehicles back.

To date, the condemnation of vehicles on Wednesday was the third time under the Duterte administration.

On the first condemnation of smuggled vehicles, a total of 20 luxury vehicles seized at the Port of Manila, Manila International Container Port, and Port of Subic were destroyed in February in Manila. Another 10 smuggled vehicles were also crushed in Cebu and Davao on the same day.

The cars destroyed included Corvette Stringay, Lexus, BMW, Pajero, a several of Mercedez Benz, and Audi, among others.

In a matter of minutes, the luxury cars valued at P61,626,000 were bulldozed and reduced to roughly P1, 600 per vehicle.

Another set of smuggled cars, 14 vehicles in total, worth P27 million were also destroyed in Sta. Ana, Cagayan in March.

Among the destroyed cars were Maserati Quattroporte, Porsche 911 GT3, BMW Alpina B12, BMW Z1, Opel Manta, Renault 5, and eight Mercedes Benz cars.

source: news.mb.com.ph

Continue Reading