EDITOR MARIFI S.

JARA WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

The
Nation
#nationataglance Supreme Court OK with plea bargains for drug cases
COURT BACKLOGS may soon be eased somewhat with the Supreme Courts move to allow plea
bargaining for cases related to illegal drugs. The high court has declared as unconstitutional
Section 23 of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which states that any person so charged re-
gardless of the imposable penalty shall not be allowed to avail of the provision on plea bargain-
ing. The Supreme Court took the position that provision is at odds with its rule-making author-
ity as provided for in the Constitution, it has inherent powers to review, revise, reverse, modify,
or affirm on appeal or certiorari, as the law or the Rules of Court may provide, final judgments
and orders of lower courts. In the case of drug suspects, if the courts approve of a plea bargain,
the case wont have to run its full course. The Philippine National Police has acknowledged that
a big part of the congestion in jails is due to the backlogs in the courts, especially with the spike
in arrests with the ongoing war on drugs. interaksyon.com

JOVEN CAGANDE/PHIILIPPINE STAR

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

Flood and gridlock

Tropical Depression Maring dumped
rain in and around Metro Manila,
causing traffic gridlock such as here
at the southbound lane of major
highway EDSA, and flooding in many
areas, forcing commuters to take
boats.

WESTERN VISAYAS: PASSI CITY

AND BAROTAC NUEVO, ILOILO
Agro-industrial ecozone eyed
in Passi City, Barotac Nuevo
THE 4TH District of Iloilo province is being posi-
tioned to become an agro-industrial hub, with
Passi City and the town of Barotac Nuevo as the
main processing areas. The districts congressional
representative, Ferjenel G. Biron, said potential
locators already have pending applications with
the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
We are eyeing locators for processing of fruits
or other agricultural products (in Passi), said Mr.
Biron, chair of the House committee on trade and
industry. Barotac Nuevo, on the other hand, is be-
ing eyed for processing of fish and other aquatic
products. Mr. Biron said there is also a proposal in
Congress for the town of Dumangas, where Iloilos
biggest port is located, to be the main gateway
of Iloilo province. I talked with the Department
of Transportation and they consider Dumangas
as the main gateway of Iloilo instead of Iloilo
City, he said. PEZA is looking into an available
area for logistics or warehousing zone within the
Dumangas Port. Aside from Passi, Barotac Nuevo,
and Dumangas, the 4th District is composed of
the towns of Anilao, Banate, Dingle, Dueas, San
Enrique. Louine Hope U. Conserva
CENTRAL VISAYAS: NAGA CITY, CEBU
Cebu prepares to sell Balili lot
to Naga City
CEBU GOVERNOR Hilario P. Davide III said
he is in favor of selling to Naga City the
controversial Balili property, which he said
has no use to the provincial government.
Mr. Davide will inform the Economic En-
terprise Council (EEC) about the planned
sale in a meeting next week. If the EEC ap-
proves the proposal, it will have to discuss
the price for the 25-hectare property. The
purchase of the property during the time
of former governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia
became controversial after the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources dis-
covered that 19 of the 25 hectares of land
were under water. The province bought
the property for P98.9 million and spent
another P27 million for backfilling. Ms.
Garcia is facing charges over the matter,
but Mr. Davide said he is hopeful that the
pending case will not affect the planned
sale. The Naga City government plans to
develop the property into an economic
zone. The Freeman
>> See related story on https://goo.gl/
PMvZWA
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA: ZAMBOANGA CITY
BICOL: TABACO CITY, ALBAY
Stranded
Ships, rolling cargo, and passengers stay put at the Tabaco Port in Albay province as trips
were cancelled due to Tropical Depression Maring.
Tree planting
Representative Arnel U. Ty (5th from right), chair of the House committee on n atural
resources, leda ceremonial treeplanting at the Taganito Mines in Surigaodel Norte
during a visit over the weekend. Mr. Ty was with the committeesvice-chairs and
Nickel As ia Corp. Senior Vice-President andChief Operating Officer Jose B. Anievas
(2nd from left).
CARAGA: CLAVER, SURIGAO DEL NORTE
House representatives visit mining sites
MEMBERS OF the House of Representatives visited mining sites in Palawan and Surigao del
Norte over the weekend as the committee on natural resources prepares to tackle pending
mining bills. The House contingent went to the Ipilan mines of Ipilan Nickel Corp. and Rio Tuba
Nickel in Palawan and the Taganito Mines in Surigao del Norte. Rio Tuba and Taganito are both
under Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC). In a statement released yesterday, NAC Senior Vice-President
and Chief Operating Officer Jose B. Anievas said the company is looking forward to more ac-
tive dialogues between the mining industry and Congress. BW Mindanao Bureau
>> See full story on https://goo.gl/5ikXnS
PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD
DAVAO: DAVAO CITY
Davao tourism stakeholders to launch six-point agenda
REELING FROM the impact of the martial law declaration in Mindanao, but encouraged
by the visitor turnout during the Kadayawan Festival last August, tourism stakeholders
led by the Davao Tourism Association (DATA) will launch a six-point Davao Turismo
Agenda during the Davao Turismo Conference (TCON2017) on Sept. 22 at The Pinnacle
Hotel. The agenda focuses on marketing, product development, service, financing,
government relations, and industry support. We want to come up with a Davao Tour-
ism vision and this will somewhat give us the right direction and all of the tourism
players will be guided by this direction, said Renator Gatchalian, Jr., DATA president.
We have to prepare Davao City for any eventuality. The recent martial law declaration
really affected all of us in the industry. With being resilient we did a lot of things and
we were so happy (that) the Kadayawan sa Davao turned out to be a very successful
one, Mr. Gatchalian said. Cherry B. Al-ag, president of the Wellness Association, said
the tourism industry is composed of not only the hotels and the restaurants, but also
tour operators, the wellness industry, transportation, academe, allied services, and
shopping malls, and it is important to consolidate action plans. We even have a mem-
ber in DATA, the dog lovers association, because they bring people to our city, said Ms.
Al-ag. Maya M. Padillo
Walk this way
CARMENCITA A. CARILLO
Hundreds have been apprehended as the Davao City Transportation and Traffic
Management Office (CTTMO) started this week the strict implementation of the
anti-jaywalking ordinance and other traffic policies. Jaywalkers are given a City
Traffic Citation Ticket and required to pay a fine of P100 or undergo a compulsory
four-hour community service. The same ticket is issued to erring drivers, owners
of illegally parked and unattended vehicles as well as owners of establishments
whose wares, products, and structures cause traffic congestion. On Monday,
arguments ensued between implementing officers and violators, who claimed
ignorance of the law. CTTMO Chief Dionisio C. Abude called on the public to
cooperate, stressing that it would be easy by simply changing the usual norms
that we have long been comfortable with, including defiance to basic traffic laws
and regulations.

Cybercrime fighters
Officers of the police Regional Anti-Cybercrime office in Zamboanga Peninsula are awarded with the
Medal ng Kasanayan, a recognition for efficiency, following an operation where they rescued two minors
and arrested a certain Eric Abad Acain, who is suspected of running an online pornography site. The
awardees were Chief Inspector Joel C. Tuttuh, and police officers Charlene G. Nabua, Mary Grace G.
Francisco, Art G. Binas, Art Josef S. Valdez, and Jenny Ian L. Kalayakan.
ALBERT F. ARCILLA

BUSINESSWORLD GRAPHICS: ERKA CAPILI INCIONG