DUTERTE WARNS OF ‘MARTIAL RULE’ DISCIPLINE vs VIOLATORS

MANILA — With an average of 4,000 quarantine violators being accosted daily,

President Duterte warned last night that he would make the police and

military enforce social or physical distancing “just like in martial law” to

contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a televised address to the nation, Duterte talked about employing the

“martial rule” style of discipline amid reports that people are increasingly

returning to the streets and breaking quarantine rules.

“I am asking you to be disciplined… If you don’t want it, believe me, the

military and the police will take over. I am ordering the police and the

military to be readyÂ… the police and the military will enforce the distance,

social (rule) just like in martial law. You choose,” Duterte said.

Apart from the stay-at-home order, he said he would impose curfew to ensure

that nobody goes out unnecessarily.

The President said he is weighing the consequences of lifting the enhanced

community quarantine, which he has extended until April 30. He again

appealed to the

people to wait and be patient as the government implements measures to help

contain the COVID-19 virus.

Likening the pandemic to calvary, Duterte advised the public to maintain

social distancing and to wear face masks at all times.

He took note of the latest statistics showing that the country has 5,560

positive COVID-19 cases with 435 recoveries and 362 deaths. “Ano na lang

kaya kung hindi tayo nag-lockdown?” he asked.

PHILIPPINES RAMPS UP COVID-19 TESTING WITH SPECIMEN COLLECTION BOOTHS

MANILA -- The Philippines will put up specimen collection booths as it ramps

up COVID-19 testing efforts, the spokesman of the country's pandemic

response task force said Friday.

An initial 132 specimen collection booths will be put up in different

regions to complement the increasing number of COVID-19 testing centers,

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said.

The Philippines has 16 COVID-19 testing centers nationwide. The health

department and science department collaborated on the specimen collection

effort, Nograles said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday said laboratories should run

24-hour shifts for COVID-19 testing as the government aims to run 8,000 to

10,000 tests per day by the end of April.

The Philippines has the most number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia so

far. As of Thursday, it confirmed 5,660 cases of the respiratory disease,

with 362 deaths and 435 recoveries.

Luzon, home to half the country's 100 million population, is on lockdown

until April 30 to halt the spread of the disease that forced similar

quarantines overseas and put the global economy on ice.

CHINA UNDER MOUNTING PRESSURE OVER VIRUS ORIGINS

WASHINGTON, United States — China on Thursday came under mounting pressure

over the coronavirus pandemic from Western powers led by the United States,

which said it was probing whether the virus that has infected more than 2.1

million people actually originated in a Wuhan laboratory.

The new focus on China's role came as the world wrestles with a crisis that

has killed more than 140,000 people and created historic jobless numbers,

with Britain, Japan and New York extending lockdown measures.

President Donald Trump, who initially downplayed the illness whose US death

toll has shot past 30,000, has been attacking China for weeks and appeared

to gain support after a videoconference among leaders of the Group of Seven

industrialized democracies.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told reporters there could be no

"business as usual" with China.

"We'll have to ask the hard questions about how it came about and how it

couldn't have been stopped earlier," said Raab, filling in for Prime

Minister Boris Johnson who is recovering from the virus.s

French President Emmanuel Macron warned not to be "naive" in believing China

has handled the outbreak well.

"There are clearly things that have happened that we don't know about," he

said in an interview with the Financial Times.

COVID-19 first emerged late last year in Wuhan, with China saying it was

suspected to have been transmitted to humans at a meat market that butchered

exotic animals.

The Washington Post and Fox News reported there were growing suspicions the

virus in fact slipped out of a sensitive laboratory in Wuhan that studied

bats, blamed for the SARS coronavirus outbreak in 2003.

Neither outlet suggested the virus was spread deliberately.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by

phone and called efforts to blame Beijing counterproductive.

Xi called attempts to politicize the pandemic "detrimental to international

cooperation" and Putin denounced "attempts by some people to smear China,"

according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency.

PHILIPPINES' HEALTH CHIEF WANTS 24-HOUR COVID-19 TESTING

Laboratories should run 24-hour shifts for testing for the novel

coronavirus, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Friday, a month into

the lockdown of millions in Luzon to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippines has 16 testing sites and 30 more are "in the pipeline."

Authorities aim to run 8,000 to 10,000 tests per day by the end of April,

said Duque.

"Marami tayong mga laboratoryo ngayon, pero sabi ko nga, doblehin iyong

operating hours. Hindi puwedeng 8 hours lang iyan, dapat iyan 3 shifts or 24

hours para talaga dumoble, trumiple ang kanilang testing output," he told

DZMM.

The laboratories in the next few days can yield "a good approximation of the

epidemic curve" or the rate of increase of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila,

Calabarzon and Central Luzon, he said.

Duque said he would also personally inspect a COVID-19 testing laboratory in

Marikina that the local government insisted on opening Friday even without

the health department's approval.

The lab has yet to train its personnel and install some machines, said

Duque, citing the latest update from Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario

Vergeire.

The Philippines as of Thursday confirmed 5,660 cases of the respiratory

disease, with 362 deaths and 435 patients who recovered.

LANDBANK OPENS P10 BILLION LOAN FUND FOR SMALL BUSINESSMEN

MANILA -- State-run Land Bank of the Philippines said Friday it opened a

P10-billion loan facility to help small businesses, cooperatives and micro

lenders cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Borrowers can take out up to 85 percent of their working capital, payable in

5 years and with the option to fix interest at 5 percent for 2 years. A

grace period of 2 years on the principal amount is also available, said

Landbank President Cecilia Borromeo.

"Alam namin ang hinaharap na problema ngayon ng ating mga negosyo, SMEs and

cooperatives, pati na din microfinance institutions," Borromeo told DZMM.

The I-Rescue lending program will prioritize micro, small and medium

businesses, cooperatives and micro lenders in the agribusiness supply chain,

she said.

The same terms for businessmen apply to lenders as long as they cap interest

on loans at 12 percent, she said.

PHILIPPINES HOTEL OWNERS SEND SOS

MANILA — The Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) has renewed its call

to the government for support for the accommodation sector in the form of

tax relief measures, labor force assistance and travel stimulus, in a bid to

help the sector survive and recover from the coronavirus disease 2019

(COVID-19) pandemic.

In a letter addressed to Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr., PHOA

president Arthur Lopez reiterated the groupsÂ’ recommendations for the

Tourism Response and Recovery Program of the Department of Tourism (DOT),

noting its previous letter dated March 27.

“The hotel owners are the biggest investors in the tourism industry, in

terms of capital, employment and dollar generation. Our sector is very much

affected by the COVID-19 disruption of business, and we are looking for

possible solutions and options for our recovery, as it impacts on our

employees and our business continuity,” Lopez said.

“We are, however, disappointed that we have not heard from the Department of

Tourism since then. Meanwhile, various proposed stimulus packages have come

up from Congress and the Department of Finance,” he added.

“We are, however, disappointed that we have not heard from the Department of

Tourism since then. Meanwhile, various proposed stimulus packages have come

up from Congress and the Department of Finance,” he added.

MANILA FUNERAL SHOPS REFUSING COVID BODIES FACE CLOSURE

MANILA — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has approved an ordinance, which penalizes

funeral homes rejecting persons who have died of the coronavirus disease

2019 (COVID-19).

Moreno on Wednesday signed Ordinance No. 8628, penalizing funeral parlors

that refuse to provide services to COVID-19 victims.

He said he would revoke the business permits of funeral shops that

overcharge the sale of coffins, cremation and burial services.

PHISHING, DONATION SCAMS RISING AMID CORONAVIRUS CRISIS: NBI

MANILA -- Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the Luzon lockdown to do

criminal acts online such as phishing and donation scams, the National

Bureau of Investigation said Friday.

"Nakita ng industry ng mga bangko 'yong pagtaas ng insidente ng mga phishing

at mga [donation] scam," NBI cybercrime division chief Victor Lorenzo told

DZMM.

Phishing is a cybercrime in which targets are contacted by email, telephone

or text message by someone posing as a legitimate institution to lure

individuals into providing sensitive data such as banking and credit card

details, passwords and personally identifiable information.

Lorenzo said the NBI is working with banks to trace the culprits.

"Kapag nag-phish ka naman ng account, mayroon kang pagta-transferan na isang

account. Kasi online rin ang transaction nila. 'Yon ang sinusundan namin. So

naipa-pattern namin kung saan nanggagaling," he said.

"Ang bangko kasi, hindi niyan hihingiin 'yong account information mo,

especially 'yong mga password mo dahil nasa kanila 'yon eh," he added.

The NBI official warned the public to be wary of texts and social media

posts asking for donations. Only legitimate institutions or those accredited

by the Department of Social Welfare are allowed to ask for donations.

"Dapat ang publications [ng donations] katulad sa legitimate institutions,"

he said.

He also reminded the public not to sell empty ATM cards as syndicates use it

to transfer their "fraudulently acquired funds" from their victims.

NBI has yet to compile the final tally of cybercrimes involving donation

scams and phishing.

Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has ranked Bangladesh, the Philippines, and

China as the top three countries with the most detected coronavirus-related

malware. The firm detected 53 coronavirus-related malware in the Philippines

until March of this year.

During the first week of February, Kaspersky warned the public about

malicious pdf, mp4 and docx files disguised as documents relating to the

then newly-discovered coronavirus.

Cybercriminals have sent emails purportedly from organizations such as the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health

Organization, with recommendations about the coronavirus. The email then

directs users to a phishing page meant to steal email credentials.

‘DUQUE TO STAY PUT’

Senate passes resolution calling for resignation of DOH chief

MANILA — Despite calls of senators for his resignation, Health Secretary

Francisco Duque III remains in the good graces of President Duterte, who

asked him to “stay put” and just work harder to squelch doubts on his

competence and sincerity to serve the people, Malacañang said yesterday.

“The President has made a decision for Health Secretary Duque to stay put.

(Duque) also expressed his appreciation for the senatorsÂ’ gesture in giving

him the opportunity to weigh his options on his performance as SOH

(secretary of health),” Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said in a

text message.

“Secretary Duque was made aware of the sentiments of the senators and the

President expects him to work even harder to set aside any doubts on his

capacity and sincerity to serve the public during these difficult times,”

Medialdea added.

Fifteen senators, including close allies of President Duterte, have filed a

resolution seeking the immediate resignation of Duque, citing his alleged

“failure of leadership” that they said resulted in poor planning, misguided

policies and delayed response to the onslaught of coronavirus disease 2019

(COVID-19).

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque also made it clear Duque still has the

“trust and confidence” of Duterte.

He stressed the Palace had nothing to do with calls for DuqueÂ’s resignation.

“We do not have any position (on the resignation calls). We do not have

anything to do with these initiatives seeking the resignation of the

secretary of health,” the Palace spokesman said.

Sen. Bong Go, who declined to join his colleagues in calling for DuqueÂ’s

ouster, said it would be unwise to replace a “captain” in the thick of the

“battle.”

BAGUIO AGGRESSIVE CONTACT TRACING IN COVID-19 FIGHT EARNS PRAISE

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Friday praised Baguio

Mayor Benjamin Magalong for ordering aggressive contact tracing in the city

to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Contact tracing is a labor-intensive process of finding out who positive

coronavirus patients have been in proximity with and testing and

quarantining the various connections if necessary.

Instead of asking COVID-19 patients to simply list persons they interacted

with, Baguio authorities seek to "refresh" their memory on where they went

to identify possible carriers of the disease, including those who are not

personal acquiantances, said DILG Secretary Eduardo Año.

"Maganda talaga iyong formula na ginawa ni Mayor Benjie Magalong kasi iyong

pagiging CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) chief niya before

nagamit niya," he told DZMM.

"Madali nilang nakukuha at mabilis silang nakakakilos. Dapat ganito kasi we

have to account all those people para ma-conduct-an natin ng testing," he

added.

MERALCO STAGGERS LOCKDOWN CONSUMPTION INTO 4 INSTALLMENTS

MANILA - Power consumed during the lockdown period will be divided into 4

monthly installments to ease the burden for consumers, Meralco said Friday.

During the lockdown, consumers are billed based on their average consumption

for 3 months since physical meter reading is suspended.

Bills will be adjusted once meter reading resumes after the lockdown is

lifted, Meralco spokesman Joe Joe Zaldarriaga told DZMM.

"Yung cumulative amount ng mga bill na dapat ay nag due within the ECQ

period i-aamortize 'yan into 4 equal monthly installment payable in 4

billing months matapos mag end and ECQ natin," Zaldarriaga said. s

"Na consume na naman ng consumer ‘yon. Magcocorrecting naman yan eh once

nabasa na ang metro," he added.

ATMS NG LANDBANK TINIYAK NA LAGING MALINIS LABAN SA COVID-19

MAYNILA - Tiniyak ng LandBank of the Philippines na regular nilang nililinis

ang mga ATM para maprotektahan ang kanilang mga customer mula sa

nakahahawang coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Yung mga ATM na nasa premises ng LandBank, 'yung nasa branches, ang mga

'yan ay regular na nililiis namin. 'Yung keypad, screen, monitor nililinis

namin regularly, more than twice a day at naglalagay din kami ng hand

sanitizer para sa mga kliyente," pahayag ni Cecilia Borromeo, presidente at

CEO ng LandBank.

Ayon kay Borromeo, may mga ginagawa rin silang pag-iingat laban sa virus sa

mga ATM machine sa labas ng branches o tinatawag nilang offsite ATMs.

"Naglalagay kami ng marka sa floor para may guide 'yung mga tao sa social

distancing. 'Yung ibang branches naglalagay ng upuan para mas convenient

para sa mga kliyente at ang aming mga guwardiya patuloy nilang in-a-advise

'yung mga customers na they should follow the social distancing protocols,"

sabi pa niya.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

FULL-TIME MOM ELLEN ADARNA HAS NO PLANS OF GOING BACK TO SHOWBIZ FOR NOW

MANILA – Ellen Adarna has just become active on social media again after her

nearly two-year absence from showbiz.

The actress, however, has no plans of resuming her acting career at this

time, website PUSH reported, citing her interview on “Good Times with Mo”

last April 3.

“I’m working now for my family so I don’t plan to go back to showbiz anytime

soon. Not in the next seven years. And I donÂ’t have plans with vlogging as

well,” she said.

Noting that her life now is not as interesting as before, Adarna said she

spends much of her time as a devoted mom to Elias, her son with John Lloyd

Cruz.

“Right now I am a full-time mom. I put my baby to sleep, I feed him, and in

the afternoon when I go to work, he goes with me to the office and thatÂ’s my

life,” she said.

While claiming that the “old me” is still in her, Adarna said she’s learned

“how to control it but it comes out every once in a while.”

“[I miss] how free-spirited I was and how I had no worries. But now I’m a

mom. I have to think about my son all the time. IÂ’m a professional worrier

now,” she said in jest.

Does she want her son to also follow her or his dadÂ’s footsteps in showbiz?

“He will decide but now he can’t yet, right? So I want to have a choice.

There are pictures [of him] though, itÂ’s been circulating but I donÂ’t want

it coming from me or his father,” she said.

SPORTS

REPORT: OPTIMISM GROWING FOR NBA RETURN

MANILA — There is reportedly increased optimism in a possible return for the

NBA amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Per Sam Amick of The Athletic, organizations and players within the league

are eager to finish off the season eventually -- especially with only about

one to two months of the regular season left unplayed.

The league has been on indefinite suspension since March 11 (March 12,

Manila time) after Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert tested positive for the

coronavirus.

It was earlier reported that there was pessimism if the league could return,

with the number of infected and casualties from coronavirus still increasing

in the United States.

But the US' leading immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a report by

Agence France Presse that sports could likely return, but without fans.

Amick, however, said that scenarios discussed within the NBA doesn't put the

return to the hardcourt for at least a few months.

"The regular season began in July and the Finals were eventually played

in... late October," Amick wrote.

He also said that there was "league-wide confidence" in saving the season.

One of the contingency plans the NBA has discussed was holding the

postseason in a single venue in Las Vegas, with all players and game-day

personnel held under close surveilance.

However, it is still unclear on what the final scenario would be should the

NBA return to action this season.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.80

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Our zeal works wonders when it seconds our propensity to hatred, cruelty,

ambition, avarice, detraction, rebellion. - Michel Eyquem de Montaignea