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Buboy Montano, RL honor Marilou Diaz-Abaya at remastered ‘Jose Rizal’

By Cynthia Montojo

“Naiiyak pa rin ako…sobrang ganda ng pagkakasulat…napaka-genius ng pag-direct…natutuwa ako because of this newly restored version, nalulungkot lang na wala si Direk Marilou to witness it,” actor Cesar Montano and screenwriter Ricky Lee paid tribute to the late director and National Artist Marilou Diaz-Abaya after  remastered version of her 1998 film “Jose Rizal” was screened.

Remastered  “Jose Rizal,”  screened in  Manila Metropolitan Theater last August 7, was part of  20th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

Film  stars Buboy as Rizal during his final days before his 1896 execution, flashing back to key moments in his life as  author.

It won 17 of its 18 nominations at 1998 Metro Manila Film Festival, and it remains  biggest haul by any entry in  festival’s history.

Ahead of  screening, both Montano and Lee, who co-wrote  movie with Jun Robles Lana and Peter Ong Lim, spoke about their journeys leading to the film.

Lee, also  National Artist, said  Diaz-Abaya confided to him that she wanted to create  “trilogy about men.” He and the late director previously worked on a “trilogy about women”  1980’s “Brutal,” 1982’s “Moral” and 1983’s “Karnal.”

This led  late director to helm “Jose Rizal,” 1999’s “Muro-Ami” and 2001’s “Bagong Buwan,”  coincidentally all stars Cesar.

Cesar acknowledged at that time  he was perceived as  action star, but he could not pass up  chance to work with Abaya. He had to do the film, even if it meant extensive learning of Spanish and reading numerous history and European books.

Lee shared pre-production and shooting on “Jose Rizal” took three months each, while Cesar recalled staying at Abaya’s house for hours to read up material Abaya required of him.

Both lamented that Abaya, who passed away in 2012 from breast cancer, could not be around to see  remastered film. Her family was represented at the screening by her son Marc, who thanked GMA Films for completing  restoration process.

After  screening, Cesar admitted to members of  media, he was emotional seeing the film again, this time remastered.

Cesar  then called on the new generation of Filipinos  to watch “Jose Rizal,” adding  “must-watch film” gave him  different perspective on life as  actor and  Filipino.

Lee similarly admitted crying to inspiring story of Rizal, “Nakakapag-palakas ng puso na makakita ng isang gaya ni Jose Rizal mag-mahal sa bayan, magulang, pamilya, kababayan, at sa sining.”

The National Artist also lamented that older Filipino movies could not be restored like “Jose Rizal.” He cited 1981’s “Salome,” which he wrote.

Restored  “Jose Rizal” will be part of  upcoming 27th edition of Fiesta in America in the United States later this month

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Garcia case vs Smartmatic, in US

By J.Lo

“I have coordinated with  US DOJ, Department of Justice just last night because I believe that this is bank fraud, identity theft and money laundering in their definition,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia is considering filing criminal complaints in  US against Smartmatic and persons behind what he describes as  smear campaign against him.

He was referring to accusations that he received bribes to award  poll automation contract for  2025 elections to South Korea’s Miru Systems, and that he keeps dirty money in offshore bank accounts.

“America can come in, this should be connected in their first investigation,” he said, noting that  US can take jurisdiction over the matter.

He also said  Comelec would use  indictment in  US of three Smartmatic executives and former poll chairman Andres Bautista for bribery and money laundering to convince  Supreme Court to uphold  disqualification of  vote counting machine provider from future elections contracts.

“We will surely manifest this and point out that we did not commit abuse of discretion because we have this basis to disqualify Smartmatic, these developments will surely be manifested by  Comelec before  Supreme Court in relation to  cases pending there,” Garcia said  referring to  motion for reconsideration filed by  Comelec with tSC,  granted  petition for certiorari filed by Smartmatic accusing  poll body of grave abuse of discretion in disqualifying the company.

It was in November 2023 when  Comelec disqualified Smartmatic from participating in any public bidding for elections, citing  ongoing criminal investigation on Bautista and the company.

In April 2024,  SC granted Smartmatic’s petition for certiorari,  Comelec responded by filing  motion for reconsideration.

According to Garcia,  indictment will also help them in their ongoing investigation on alleged rigging of  bidding for  2016 elections. He created  panel to undertake tinvestigation.

“We are trying to determine how and who were involved in alleged rigging of  bidding…officials involved, if any, and whether  allegations are really true,” he added.

Garcia earlier accused  foreign company of being involved in bribery allegations,  he has vehemently denied.

US Department of Justice reported  Bautista and three Smartmatic employees were indicted for their roles in  alleged bribery and money laundering scheme to retain and secure business related to  2016 polls.

Personnel  of Smartmatic supposedly caused at least $1 million in bribes to be paid to Bautista sometime between 2015 and 2018.

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CA restores Rappler’s media license

By J.Lo

“Securities and Exchange Commission is ordered to restore  Certificate of Incorporation of Rappler, Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corporation in its records and system and withdraw all its issuances and actions made pursuant to its illegal revocation of the same,”  Court of Appeals Special 7th Division in  48-page decision promulgated on July 23.

 Court of Appeals has ordered to restore  certificate of incorporation of the company that runs news website Rappler and its owner, Rappler Holdings Corp., voiding  2022 ruling by  Securities and Exchange Commission  declared  company was not 100% Filipino-owned.

In  statement  Rappler said  appeals court’s decision was  “vindication after  tortuous eight years of harassment.”

“Rappler welcomes  Court of Appeals,CA ruling  eliminates  long-standing threat to its corporate existence on account of  flawed ruling by  Securities and Exchange Commission ,SEC…when  rule of law prevails, justice is served,  CA was unequivocal in its rejection of  SEC’s 2018 shutdown order, declaring it ‘illegal’ and ‘grave abuse of discretion ,”  statement read.

In 2018,  regulatory commission ordered to shut down Rappler for violating  constitutional prohibitions for mass media when it issued Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) gave Omidyar Network,  foreign entity, control over media organization.  

That same year,  Court of Appeals upheld  regulatory commision’s decision that  media organization allegedly violated  Constitution and foreign equity restrictions in mass media.

However, the court also asked  regulatory commission to evaluate  legal effect of  alleged donation of Omidyar Network of all its PDRs to Rappler staff.

In 2022, SEC ruled that Omidyar’s donation of PDRs “did not cure  violation by Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corporation” and upheld its revocation of Rappler’s certificates.

On July 23,  appeals court ruled  regulatory commission had committed grave abuse of discretion when it ruled  donated PDRs did not waive Rappler’s alleged violation without actually studying  terms and conditions of  donation.

Decision  noted  regulatory commission did not conduct any hearing or receive any evidence from petitioners prior to making its ruling.

“Thus, it has no knowledge whatsoever  terms of  donation, nor has it even reviewed  donation itself,” it stressed.

SEC “chose to ignore”  appeals court’s order and “‘evaluated’  legal effect of Omidyar’s donation without even bothering to look at  donation itself,”  decision said. 

“Worse, it actively avoided giving petitioners  opportunity to present the same…such action is  height of grave abuse of discretion,” it added.

SEC also “intentionally shirked its responsibility, ignoring  directive of  CA 12th Division to ‘evaluate  terms and conditions of  alleged supervening donation.'” 

“On this basis alone,  assailed Compliance and Order should be reversed and set aside,”  decision said.

Appeals  court also ruled  PDRs by Omidyar did not amount to  constitutional violation. 

“As law and jurisprudence stand, there is nothing prohibiting Filipinos from entering into PDR agreements, even if  underlying shares are mandated to be Filipino-owned,  only limitation, pursuant to  above-cited cases, is to issue shares of stock which are lacking in voting rights, right to dispose or right to receive dividends…here, Rappler Holdings retained all these rights,”  decision read.

Facts  point to Rappler being “currently wholly owned and managed by Filipinos, in compliance with  Constitutional mandate,”  decision said.

News  site considers  decision to be its “biggest case as  company,” according to its report on the decision.

The 2018 ruling by  regulatory commission turned out to be the first in  slew of cases filed against Rappler, which one of several prominent news organizations that earned  ire of  Duterte administration from 2016 to 2022.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte routinely vilified  media in public speeches during his six-year term. He once publicly blasted Rappler as  “fake news outlet” for reporting on  multibillion-peso Navy frigate acquisition project, ushered in  closure of ABS-CBN, the nation’s largest broadcaster, and issued threats against the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Rappler said it was  “fact that  Duterte government used  SEC order to unleash its power to further harass us, our employees, our stakeholders, and our communities.”

“Banks refused to do business with us…clients shied away from advertising with us…government officials and agencies shut their doors on us…we were forced to close our Jakarta bureau, stop our expansion plans… Rappler couldn’t even open  bank account outside the Philippines, we look forward to  speedy dismissal of our remaining two cases:  cyber libel case at  Supreme Court and  anti-dummy case at  Pasig court ,”  company said in its statement.

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Student exams to match PISA

By Creselda Canda-Lopez

EDUCATION SECRETARY SONNY ANGARA

“I think we need to have more test exams that are PISA-like,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara wants schools to develop examinations that will match  Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) in measuring students’ problem-solving and comprehension.

Examinations should be presented in a way  students can harness their skills and apply them to real-life situations, Angara said.

PISA is  worldwide study by  Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development designed to evaluate 15-year-olds’ competencies in mathematics, science and reading.

Angara said these school assessments would encourage students to be analytical and critical thinkers.

“PISA present  situation and participant must react to it and analyze it…so, it’s not like  normal exam asking what happened on this date, or what causes this… so they really give you  problem set… very real-world type,”  education chief said.

Angara stressed  need to change  culture of assessment and measurement where decisions “are not based on what we think or what we feel, but really based on evidence.”

He referred to these plans as having “more objective tools to measure our education outcomes.”

In 2022, PISA showed  Filipino students lagged behind in reading, math and science. he Results  “were about same” as in  assessment conducted in 2018.

PISA also conducted its first-ever creative thinking assessment in 2022, where  Philippines was second to the last among 64 countries and economies worldwide.

In his third State of the Nation Address last July, President Marcos challenged Angara to “recover” country’s quality of education from its current dismal state, where more than half of junior high school students fail to reach  required proficiency levels.

FMJ also cited recent assessments that revealed more than half of grades 6, 10 and 12 students have failed to reach  ideal proficiency levels, faring low in information literacy, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

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Cops feelers to testify in EJK probe

By Nidz Godino

“Some of them are also retired…and I believe this will give direction to our committee as to how we’re going to treat testimonies or their evidences,” House committee on dangerous drugs chairman Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said, refusing to identify  retired and active police officers have sent “feelers” to become witnesses in  Quad Comm inquiry on extrajudicial killings during  Duterte administration.

Quad Comm has been formed by  House of Representatives to look into  possible links between EJKs, illegal drugs, Chinese syndicates and Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs.

It is composed of Barbers’ committee,  human rights committee headed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante; public accounts committee headed by Abang Lingkod Rep. Caraps Paduano and public order and safety committee headed by Sta. Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez.

On issue of EJKs, Barbers noted “members of our law enforcement agencies are  ones who want to share their information.”

He also did not comment when asked if Philippine National Police (PNP) Northern Luzon Command chief Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. was one of  potential police witnesses who came forward.

National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) director general Ricardo de Leon recently revealed that Caramat offered to Speaker Martin Romualdez to disclose everything he knew about EJKs and other irregularities in  drug war, including list of names targeted for killing in return for  appointment as PNP chief.

Barbers  assured Quad Comm  “definite study  and dig deeper” before they accept any testimony and that they will also be guided by legal experts.

He also called on anyone who has information to come forward and help in the investigation.

“And all those people we invited in the past POGO hearing,  likes of the mayor of Porac,  mayor of Bamban,  acting mayor,CIDG ,Criminal Investigation and Detection Group,  PAGCOR, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. officials and some Philippine National Police  generals, including General Caramat, and we will also invite maybe General Eleazar Matta of  PNP Drug Enforcement Group,” Barbers stressed.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said  Department of Information and Communications Technology admitted to have noticed  significant reduction in text scams after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.ordered total ban on POGO, indicating that their operations have also targeted Filipinos in their scamming activities.

“With  implementation of ban, Filipinos are more likely to have  safe and better experience in their online transactions, which could expedite  country’s digital transformation,” he said.

FMJ ordered  total ban of POGO in the country during his third State of the Nation Address last July following complaints that such activities were linked to scamming and human trafficking.

Gatchalian said cyber safety is important not only for accelerating  use of digital technologies in the country but also for attracting investments.

“We hope that our cyberspace will be safer and we will be able to attract more investors to the country, We also hope that the number of text scams and other online scams that prey on our compatriots will further decrease,” Gatchalian added.  

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Psalm 46:1

Psalm 46^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[b] A song.

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.

Footnotes

1. Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
2. Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term

7 Agosto 2024, Miyerkules

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LTO yet crackdown on light e-vehicles

By Nidz Godino

“We won’t crack down on LEVs yet, except on national roads like South Super Highway and EDSA….no crackdown because we are not yet done with  information dissemination with LGUs,” Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza said in  chance interview with reporters no crackdown yet on light electric vehicles as  Land Transportation Office (LTO) continues its information dissemination on registration of LEVs.

Mendoza said  for now, LTO is only strictly enforcing regulations on LEVs on major national roads in Metro Manila.

Mendoza is  still in dialogue with local government units (LGU), as well as LEV owners, on use of  e-vehicles on public roads.

Mendoza noted  LGUs are  ones determining where LEVs will be allowed to ply on their national and local roads.

Last March,  LTO released  memorandum requiring e-bikes and e-trikes to have registration and licensed drivers on all public roads nationwide.

Regulations  were set to take effect in April, but have since been postponed to make way for information campaigns.

Mendoza urged LEV owners to have their units registered or they may face citation tickets with repeated violations.

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Roque, 11 others on ILBO– DOJ

By Nidz Godino

“Hence, we deem  issuance of  ILBO against subject persons in order to at least monitor  itineraries of their flight, travel and,or whereabouts,” order, signed by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla showed  immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against former presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. and 11 other persons of interest in  investigation on raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

In  three-page order, Remulla said Roque and 11 others “may attempt to place themselves beyond  reach of  legal processes of  DOJ by leaving the country.”

This is considering  gravity of  possible charges and  wide media coverage and public attention  case has gained over  past months.

Named in  ILBO were Roque; Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, the authorized representative of  Porac POGO hub, and former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC) deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, among others.

Ininterview with reporters, Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesman Mico Clavano explained ILBO is only  “monitoring mechanism” and is not meant to restrict  right to travel of  respondents.

Clavano said authorities would only be alerted if they leave or enter the country.

He stressed  reports Ong had already left  country and is in Singapore are one of the reasons  prompted  DOJ to issue  ILBO.

“Very goal here is to safeguard  integrity of  investigation…we don’t want that in the middle of  investigation, persons of interest will leave the country without us knowing,” Clavano said.

DOJ will also request  precautionary hold departure order against Roque, Ong and  others, if granted by  court, will bar  persons of interest from leaving the country.

In  statement, Roque slammed  ILBO as “plain harassment” and  “political witch hunt” meant to silence him as  critic of  Marcos administration.

“I expect they will up  ante following my call, posted on Facebook, to keep Malacañang drug-free after  damning revelations of eyewitness Cathy Binag,” Roque said.

He stressed he has “no reason” to leave the country and has committed to face his accusers and answer all allegations related to offshore gaming.

Former  government spokesman said  only evidence against him was his accompanying Ong to meeting with  Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. for  rescheduling of arrears payment of Lucky South 99 and  uncorroborated organizational chart.

Chart  was that of Lucky South 99  listed him as legal head, but he has since said he was not involved in its preparation and did not consent to  inclusion of his name.

Roque has been facing congressional inquiries into  raided POGO hubs after he allegedly helped Lucky South 99,  raided firm in Porac, reapply for  license and settle their arrears.

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Filing of complaint vs Guo agreed

By Nidz Godino

“We have no right to refuse,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia  said, although he has  assurance that  Comelec will not be deterred from running after unqualified candidates even after they win elections set to start  preliminary investigation that could pave  way for  filing of criminal charges against suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo for alleged misrepresentation.

In  memorandum order,  Comelec directed its law department to file motu proprio complaint and conduct  preliminary investigation into Guo’s mayoralty candidacy in 2022.

Garcia said  poll body’s law department would conduct  preliminary investigation to determine whether Guo misrepresented herself to be qualified to run in  mayoralty race despite being  foreign national.

Garcia said  investigation is expected to take two to three weeks, after  law department will submit its findings and recommendation to Comelec en banc.

He said  if commission finds probable cause, election offense charges would be filed against Guo before  Tarlac Regional Trial Court.

If ever, this would be first case of misrepresentation charges to be filed by  Comelec against candidate, according to Garcia.

Even if  criminal complaint is filed against Guo, Garcia said  Comelec still cannot prevent suspended mayor from filing her certificate of candidacy, possibly for  mayoralty race next year.

Last week,  Comelec law department recommended to the commission  filing of  complaint against Guo after  fact-finding probe revealed  fingerprints in her voting records and those in  records of  Chinese individual Guo Hua Ping in  National Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Immigration belong to the same person.

Meanwhile,  human trafficking complaint lodged against Guo and others has been submitted for resolution, according to Department of Justice.

DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano said Guo and three other Chinese incorporators were not able to file their respective counter-affidavits and were no longer given another extension.

This means they have waived their right to answer allegations against them and  prosecutor will resolve  case based only on complaint.

“Prosecutor will resolve  case on basis only of complaint because  respondents failed to give their side to  allegations…prosecutor will only consider  complaint,” Clavano said in  interview.

The DOJ official, however, said  rest of  respondents were able to submit their counter-affidavits.

Guo, like in  two previous preliminary hearings, did not show up at  DOJ.

Meanwhile, three respondents, including former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center deputy director general Dennis Cunanan, were granted  extension in filing their counter-affidavits.

Clavano said  among  reasons for granting  extension is  respondents are either out of the country, have changed counsel or only recently impleaded.

Next  preliminary hearing is set on Aug. 16.

Human  trafficking complaint was filed in connection with  raided Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Guo’s municipality, from where over 800 foreign nationals were rescued.

In another development,  House of Representatives on Monday moved to consolidate into one big committee  inquiries being undertaken by several panels in relation to illegal POGOs and  extrajudicial killings in the past administration.

Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., represents Pampanga’s third district, said  nation “is currently grappling with complex issues involving public order,  proliferation of dangerous drugs and human rights violations.”

“We must address these issues in  coordinated and timely manner to ensure justice and  rule of law,” he said, as Reps. Joel Chua (Manila’s third district) and Patrick Michael Vargas (Quezon City’s fifth district) filed House Resolution 1843, making as one three investigating House committees.

Chua and Vargas wanted  House committees on dangerous drugs, led by Surigao del Norte 2nd Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers; public order and safety, led by Laguna 1st District Rep. Dan Fernandez and human rights, led by Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante, to hold just one consolidated investigation to avoid overlapping functions.

“These individual inquiries by  three committees have been persistent and yet exhaustive…still, there are issues that are interwoven, entailing scrutiny into intricate details,” Gonzales said in his privilege speech.

Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro then proposed  House committee on public accounts of Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano,  Luistro is  member, be included in HR 1843 joining  Barbers, Fernandez and Abante committees.

Proposals  were forwarded to rules committee, led by Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe.

Separate  probes conducted by three separate committees “have shown  overlap or commonalities on individuals or resource persons that may be invited in the hearings,” according to Gonzales.

Another panel, committee on games and amusement chaired by Cavite 6th District Rep. Antonio Ferrer, is also investigating illegal POGOs.

“Joint investigation will enable us to conduct  more inclusive and thorough examination of these interlocking issues… coordinated effort will ensure  our findings are comprehensive and that our legislative recommendations are practical and encompassing,” Ferrer said. 

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USCG, weather team helping oil spill response

By J.Lo

“They will lend their expertise maybe in  aftermath of  oil spill and  coastal management, while NOAA will advise us on the kind of weather and what would be  best strategy to apply given the kind of weather that we have in the country…they will be  ones that could help us in these aspects,” Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)  spokesman Armand Balilo said eight marine environmental and weather experts from  United States have arrived in Bataan to provide technical assistance to  ongoing recovery operations for three recent maritime incidents.

In  statement, PCG said  seven experts from US Coast Guard (USCG) and one from  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reached  Incident Command Post in Lamao Port in Limay, Bataan.

Porta Vaga Ship Management Group,  owner of  sunken motor tanker Terra Nova, meanwhile, denied allegations that they are involved in oil smuggling.

“Owners of MT Terra Nova categorically deny  allegations of smuggling and involvement in pa-ihi operations,” Porta Vaga said in  statement.

“Pa-ihi” is a process where oil from large vessels is transferred to smaller craft at sea to avoid paying taxes.

It pointed out that security measures, such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, have been put in place on the ship to ensure that no illegal activities would take place on board while at sea.

“MT Terra Nova is equipped with  comprehensive CCTV system as part of  company’s proactive measures to prevent oil loss,” it said.

Shipping  company stressed, “since  commencement of its operations, there have been no records of oil loss claims or reports of abnormal losses filed against MT Terra Nova by any of its charterers.”

It also assured  public  it would cooperate in  investigations that would be conducted in connection with  sinking of its vessel in Limay, Bataan, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil.

Shipping  company has also been meeting with local government officials of Cavite, Bataan and Bulacan to assess  impact and cost of oil spill, especially to families living in coastal towns who depend on fishing for  living.

Meanwhile, PCG Bataan station commander Lt. Comm. Michael John Encina said  Mary Jane Ubaldo,  identified operator of  sunken MV Mirola 1, has reportedly stopped coordinating with them on removal of its vessel.

He stressed  continual non-cooperation of Ubaldo would lead to  PCG removing  abandoned vessel and using it as payment for  services of  salvor.

PCG is required to remove all hazards in navigation and  marine environment under Republic Act 9993, and is mandated to send three letters to  operator.

Encina  have already sent one letter to Ubaldo and they are preparing to send another this week.

Bataan station commander declared that MT Jason Bradley would be refloated and brought to shore in Bataan by next week, provided there are no factors that may affect  operations such as bad weather and holes on ship’s hull.

Divers  from FES Challenger Salvour and Builders would lay down pipes that would be used to siphon  seawater that will make  Jason Bradley refloat today.

Activists and environmental groups will hold  rally today in protest of  oil spill that hit Manila Bay caused by  sinking of three vessels in Bataan.

Led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, demonstrators will march toward Don Chino Roces Bridge along Mendiola Street in Manila on Wednesday morning to protest  negligence of  administration of President Marcos in addressing  oil spill crisis.

Bataan province is now under  second state of calamity since Monday due to  threat of oil spill from  three capsized vessels.

Declaration  of  second state of calamity, under Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution 328, is based on  environmental concerns of  oil spill and its effects on  livelihood of thousands, especially those dependent on fishing and tourism.

Threatened by  oil spill are nine of 11 towns and one city in Bataan adjacent to Manila Bay, namely Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga City, Pilar, Orion, Limay and Mariveles.