The

Nation THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 EDITOR MARIFI S. JARA

#nationataglance
CENTRAL LUZON: BULACAN
Ex-Bulacan solon, rural bank exec to face charges for pork barrel scam
THE OFFICE of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to charge ex-congress-
woman Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado before the Sandiganbayan for her involvement
in an alleged scam using the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), also
known as the pork barrel. She is charged together with four Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Region 3 officials, and Nestor
Custodio, general manager of the Cooperative Rural Bank of Bulacan
(CRBB). The Ombudsman noted that this is the first PDAF-related
case that involves a private financial entity, the CRBB, a rural bank
that was a recipient of a portion of Ms. Alvarados 2007 PDAF.
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/v9UbgJ
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION: LAS PIAS CITY
Korean wanted for futures trading scam arrested
A 60-YEAR-OLD Korean fugitive wanted for swindling a compatriot in a futures
trading scam has been arrested at his residence in Las Pias City, the Bureau
of Immigration (BI) reported yesterday. Kim Youngho, who was a subject of
an Interpol red notice arising from an arrest warrant that a Korean court issued
against him, is now detained and awaiting deportation. The BI said Kim had been
hiding in the country for more than two years and was already overstaying at the time
of his arrest. Based on information provided by the Korean Embassy, Kim, who owned a futures trading
company in Korea, conspired with two other suspects in swindling a Korean of more than 137 million won
EX-CONGRESSWOMAN or about $122,000. Kims accomplices, who are still at large, are now the subject of a continuing manhunt
Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado by BI operatives.

C ENTRAL LUZON: GAPAN, NUEVA ECIJA

14-year-old boy last seen with killed UP student found dead
REYNALDO DE Guzman, the 14-year-old EASTERN VISAYAS: BALANGIGA, EASTERN SAMAR
boy last seen with 19-year-old former On the statement of US Ambassador Sung Kim that
University of the Philippines student Carl the return of the Balangiga bells is the right thing to do:
Angelo Arnaiz, was found dead by his
father at a funeral parlor in Gapan City, The Balangiga bells form part
Nueva Ecija, according to a radio report.
interaksyon.com of our national heritage
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/GRr3bL
and the return of these
historical relics is important
for our national pride,
CENTRAL VISAYAS: NAGA CITY, CEBU
Naga City plans to convert Balili Resort into an economic zone as these bells are reminders of the gallantry and
MAYOR KRISTINE Vanessa T. Chiong said the Naga City government plans to convert
the 25,000-hectare Balili Resort into an industrial or economic zone once it completes heroism of our forebears.
the purchase of the property from the Cebu provincial government. Ms. Chiong, speak-
ing on Tuesday during the 10th cityhood anniversary of Naga, said Cebu Governor
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella,
Hilario P. Davide III has verbally approved the proposed purchase. Kulang tag (We Sept. 6 statement
lack) development. We need an additional area to accommodate further develop-
ment, Ms. Chiong said. If the parties strike a deal, it would be the second major
provincial government property bought under the administration of former governor
Gwendolyn F. Garcia that would be
disposed of under Mr. Davides
leadership. Last month, Mr.
Davide signed a contract to
sell the Cebu International
Convention Center to the
Mandaue City government
for P300 million. Ms. Chiong
said the city government is now
taking measures to convince the
provincial board to give the governor CENTRAL VISAYAS: CEBU CITY
authority to enter into a contract with Vivant Corp. inks deal with Chinas ET
the city. The provincial government Energy for solar projects
under Ms. Garcia purchased the Balili CEBU CITY-based Vivant Corp. is ventur-
lots in 2008 for P98 million. Later, it ing into solar power plants or rooftop
was found that some portions of the PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) after
property were submerged in seawa- it formally sealed a joint venture deal
ter. The Freeman with Chinese firm ET Energy on Monday.
The two firms have formed ET Vivant
Solar (EVC), which will focus on provid-
ing turnkey solutions through PPAs. Our
partnership with ET Energy allows us to
add a new option to the solutions we of-
fer our customers, partners and commu-
nities, allowing us to be more adaptable
to the changing needs in the market,
said Arlo G. Sarmiento, chief operating
officer of Vivant. Under the joint venture
deal, ET Energy and Vivant, through
its wholly owned subsidiary Vivant
Renewable Energy Corp. (VREC), will
complement and expand their respective
expertise in technology, project devel-
opment, operations, power generation
and retail electricity supply. ET Energy
firmly believes that clean energy is the
PHILSTAR
AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO: future. Thats why we are dedicated to
MARAWI CITY, LANAO DEL SUR providing green electricity for customers
Classes resume in 12 Marawi public schools all over the globe. said ET Energy Presi-
CLASSES HAVE resumed in 12 public schools in Marawi City located in dent and Chief Executive Officer Dennis
barangays that government forces have cleared from Maute terrorists. She. The Freeman
John A. Magno, regional secretary of the Department of Education-Auton-
omous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said Wednesday that teachers started
holding classes there Tuesday in coordination with the office of Marawi
City Mayor Majul Gandamra and the provincial government of Lanao del
Sur. philstar.com
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/NUgDoF
DAVAO: TALAINGOD, DAVAO DEL NORTE
IP member dies in Davao hospital after being shot
by alleged military agent
MINDANAO A 19-YEAR-OLD member of an indigenous people (IP) community
Mindanao poultry sector seeks ban on Luzon products until Nov. died after he was shot by an alleged military agent in Davao del Norte
POULTRY INDUSTRY stakeholders in Mindanao have called on local Tuesday afternoon, according to Task Force Lakbayan, the organizing
government units (LGUs) to block the entry of products from Luzon until committee for this years Lakbayan ng mga Pambansang Minorya.
November to ensure protection from the avian flu that affected several In a text message to media Wednesday morning, the task force said
farms in Pampanga and Tarlac. In a petition paper sent to LGUs, industry Obillo Bay-ao, a Grade 6 student of Salugpongan Community Learning
associations said they want the ban on any poultry, eggs and any related Center, sustained serious wounds from the shooting and was declared
products from Luzon until the conditions for lifting the ban have been dead by the Davao
complied (with). They also urged Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Regional Hospital at 9
Piol to ensure that the ban imposed by the Department of Agriculture p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 5.
on the movements of industry products from Luzon to the Visayas and Bay-aos death is the
Mindanao for 90 days will be complied with until full sanitization of af- 47th case of political
fected areas is completed on Nov. 17. There is no compelling reason for killing in the southern
any undue haste in lifting the temporary ban. Mindanao is self-sufficient Mindanao area, accord-
in its requirements for poultry meat and eggs and can even supply part ing to the task force.
of Luzons, they said in the position paper. The signatories to the paper interaksyon.com DAVAO: DAVAO CITY
included the Southern Philippines Egg Producers Association, Northern >> See full story on Security remains biggest concern
Mindanao Egg Group, Davao Poultry and Egg Producers, Inc., and Davao https://goo.gl/9Fc3qN as banana sector prepares for annual meet
United Games Fowl Breeders Association. The Davao City Chamber of ATTACKS FROM the communist New Peoples Army (NPA) continues to be the
Commerce is also supporting the call. Carmelito Q. Francisco biggest concern of banana industry players as they prepare for their annual
conference slated this year on Oct. 12-13. We are afraid if this continues, the
investment of multinational companies will fold up, Ferdinand Y. Maraon,
president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PhilExport)-Davao Re-
gion, said in a media forum earlier this week. Carmencita A. Carillo and
Carmelito Q. Francisco
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/9SfE8W

BUSINESSWORLD GRAPHICS: ERKA CAPILI INCIONG