Faces of the news
Danilo Suarez
Exactly nine years after footing the $15,000 bill for a lavish dinner hosted by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Washington, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez was installed as lead fiscalizer of now Speaker Arroyo last week. Suarez’s election as minority leader through viva voce by the administration-dominated Congress did not sit well with opposition lawmakers who questioned his known close ties with Arroyo. But Suarez and his 15-member faction vowed to scrutinize the actions of the House majority, starting with the administration’s push to pass the second phase of its tax reform package and next year’s cash-based budgeting system for government.
Donald Trump Jr.
While the US media ponder how he can be made liable for meeting with a Russian lawyer in 2016, Donald Trump Jr. remains unbowed and unapologetic, as he revels in the enthusiastic reception he has received while representing his father in many Republican strongholds ahead of the November midterm elections. While crisscrossing the country to campaign for favored candidates, Donald Jr. has also been flaunting his new relationship with former Fox News host, Kim Guilfoyle, in the midst of his divorce from estranged wife, Vanessa. His approach seems to reflect Trump’s combative style and embodiment of the “Make America Great Again” agenda.
Carlos Dominguez III and Ernesto Pernia
The head of the Duterte administration’s economic team and the country’s chief economist have spoken—the fiscal provisions of the draft federal Charter were “very confusing.” A childhood buddy of Mr. Duterte and often described by the President as the smartest in their class, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III told senators last week that the country’s investment-grade credit ratings, which make it cheaper to borrow money, might “go to hell,” while interest rates might shoot up as the draft Constitution was “unclear” whether expenditures to pay the national debt, the military and diplomats, as well as provide additional capital to the central bank, would come before—or after—the proposed 50-50 sharing of revenue collections from the regions and the national government. While members of the consultative committee claimed that splitting revenue shares would come after such expenses, Dominguez was puzzled: “When I read the draft, it doesn’t say so there.” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, a former lead economist at the Manila-based Asian Development Bank, was quoted on TV as saying that federalism could wreak havoc on the fiscal situation and cause government to incur additional costs of up to P130 billion, thus disrupting the economic growth momentum.
Nicolás Maduro
After a supposed assassination attempt on Aug. 4, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro continued his crackdown on opposition leaders, even asking Interpol to arrest Venezuelan politicians exiled in Colombia. Meanwhile, thousands of Venezuelans thronged the border with Colombia amid fears of further economic chaos in the country. From there, they cross into Ecuador. The United Nations has described it as one of the largest mass migrations in Latin American history. But while Colombia and Brazil bear the brunt of mass migration, and as Quito, Ecuador, declares a state of emergency, desperate Venezuelans now train their sights on Peru and Chile.
Scottie Thompson
When Barangay Ginebra dethroned San Miguel Beermen for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup, the Kings did not only end a 21-year drought in that particular conference. They also watched a superstar come into full bloom. Scottie Thompson, the gutsy guard out of the University of Perpetual Help, averaged 10.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists in the championship series, to take home the PBA Finals MVP trophy. More importantly, Thompson came through in the biggest moments for Ginebra. With the series tied at two games each, he came out with a strong finish in an 87-83 Game 5 victory to help the Kings take a 3-2 series lead and eventually the championship.
