Authorities arrest second Ampatuan massacre suspect

2020-01-10 21:32 / Manila Shimbun

Gambayan Kasim, also known as Lori Alip, was arrested on Thursday January in his home at Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao, authorities said.

He is the second fugitive to fall into the hands of the authorities in three days in connection with the 2009 Maguindanao Massacre. Seventy-eight suspects are being pursued by the authorities.

Kasim’s arrest happened just three days after Faisal Dimaukom, the first suspect, was nabbed by a composite team led by Lt. Col. Ibrahim Jambiran, chief of the Parang Municipal Police at Brgy. Kabinge, Maguindanao at 5:05 am on January 6.

His arrest was effected through a warrant issued by Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City under Criminal Case No. GL-Q-12-178638.

Just like Dimaukom, a hand grenade was also seized from Kasim as he was arrested, but his companion, Edsrail Guiomla, was killed in the police encounter after he allegedly fired at the arresting officers.

Kasim is in under police custody.

“We are counting down to the eventual capture of all those involved in this gruesome episode in our history. As I’ve said before, it’s not going to be easy, but we will be relentless in pursuing them, ” said Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Martin Andanar. DMS

PSE index finishes lower

2020-01-10 21:29 / Manila Shimbun

The Philippines’ main stock index ended lower while the peso ended flat against the US dollar on Friday.

The peso ended at P50.66 from Thursday’s P 50.651. Volume at the foreign exchange portal of the Bankers Association of the Philippines reached $1.152 billion from $1.582 billion on the previous day.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index settled at 7,776.77 points, down 20.87 points. In the broader market, there were 101 gainers, 89 losers and 47 unchanged.

Volume reached 1.11 billion shares worth P6.8 billion from Thursday’s 843.96 million valued at P5.56 billion.

Most active shares were led by SM Investment Corp., up P7.00 to P1,079; SM Prime, unchanged at P42; Ayala Land, down 65 centavos to P44.35 and GT Capital, down P24 to P795. DMS

FDI records higher net inflows for October 2019: BSP

2020-01-10 21:27 / Manila Shimbun

Foreign direct investments (FDI) net inflows grew by 33.7 percent to $672 million in October 2019 from the $502 million recorded during the same period in 2018, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ( BSP) said Friday.

This was mainly on account of the expansion in non-residents’ net investments in debt instruments issued by local affiliates (intercompany borrowings) by 60 percent to $534 million (from $334 million in 2018).

Meanwhile, net inflows of equity capital slowed down to $58 million (from $98 million in October 2018), following the decline in equity capital placements (to $80 million from $112 million) coupled with the increase in withdrawals (to $22 million from $14 million).

Equity capital infusions during the month came mostly from the United States, South Korea, and Japan. Placements during the period were invested largely in 1) real estate, 2) financial and insurance, and 3) manufacturing industries. Reinvestment of earnings amounted to $79 million, 12.7 percent higher than the $71 million recorded in October 2018.

For the period January-October 2019, FDI net inflows reached $5.8 billion. This, however, was lower by 32.8 percent from the $8.6 billion posted in the same period in 2018.

The lower FDI net inflows reflect subdued investor sentiment due to the continued sluggish global economic activity.

Net investments in debt instruments decreased by 27.3 percent to $4.3 billion from the $5.9 billion during the same period in 2018.

Likewise, net equity capital investments dropped by 65.4 percent as placements fell by 44.9 percent to $1.3 billion and withdrawals rose by 58.8 percent to $629 million.

The top country sources of equity capital placements during the period were Japan, the United States, Singapore, China, and South Korea.

These were channeled mainly to 1) financial and insurance, 2) real estate, and 3) manufacturing industries. Reinvestment of earnings rose by 12.5 percent to $825 million during the period. DMS