NO MARTIAL LAW, JUST ITS STYLE OF DISCIPLINEÂ’

MANILA, Philippines — The imposition of martial law would be unlikely

without invasion or rebellion in the country, Cabinet Secretary Karlo

Nograles said yesterday.

What President Duterte wants is to impose strict disciplinary procedures

similar to martial law, to compel people to abide by community quarantine

measures meant to contain the coronavirus pandemic, Nograles explained.

“What the President said last night is very clear: martial law-type. Meaning

to say, you know, just for those who wonÂ’t budge and continue to disobey the

rulesÂ… then we will really employ and ask the military to come in and help

with the police,” Nograles said during his virtual presser.

“Something like that, that’s what he means,” said the spokesman for the

Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Duterte, in his televised address on Thursday evening, said he would call in

the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police

(PNP) to enforce quarantine rules that include social distancing and

stay-at-home policies.

Pressed further, Nograles said the present situation does not warrant the

declaration since there is no rebellion or invasion, the two factors under

the Constitution which would allow the President to declare martial law.

“The Constitution is very clear, ‘in cases of invasion or rebellion,’ OK?

So, the absence (of these factors wonÂ’t merit) martial law. But the

President is only trying to emphasize to the people that he also has the

ability to ask for the AFP and military to help impose order if need be,”

Nograles added.

“He has that power, so it’s a warning for violators and warning to violators

to shape up, behave. Let’s keep order,” Nograles said.

WHO: OTHERS WILL REVISE VIRUS DEATH TOLLS LIKE CHINA

The World Health Organization said Friday that many countries would likely

follow China in revising up their death tolls once they start getting the

coronavirus crisis under control.

Wuhan, the COVID-19 epicentre, admitted missteps in tallying its death toll,

abruptly raising the city's count by 50 percent -- following growing world

doubts about Chinese transparency over the outbreak.

The WHO said Wuhan had been overwhelmed by the virus, which emerged in the

city in December, and the authorities had been too swamped to ensure every

death and infection was properly recorded.

Authorities in Wuhan initially tried to cover up the outbreak, punishing

doctors who had raised the alarm online, and there have been questions about

the government's recording of infections as it repeatedly changed its

counting criteria at the peak of the crisis.

"This is something that is a challenge in an ongoing outbreak: to identify

all of your cases and all of your deaths," Maria van Kerkhove, the WHO's

COVID-19 technical lead, told a virtual press conference in Geneva.

"I would anticipate that many countries are going to be in a similar

situation where they will have to go back and review records and look to

see: did we capture all of them?"

She said the Wuhan authorities had now reviewed their databases and

cross-checked for discrepancies.

Wuhan added 1,290 deaths to its toll, raising the total to 3,869, and added

a further 325 cases, bringing the number of infections to 50,333.

11 SOLDIERS KILLED, 14 OTHERS WOUNDED IN CLASH VS ABU SAYYAF IN SULU

MANILA (UPDATE)- Eleven soldiers were killed while 14 others were wounded in

a firefight between government troops and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) gunmen in

Patikul town, Sulu on Friday afternoon, the military said.

Government forces encountered the Islamic State-linked bandits in Barangay

Danag around 3 p.m., according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines'

Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom).

The battle lasted about an hour before the ASG fled.

The bandits, numbering around 40, are reportedly under Abu Sayaff leaders

Radullan Sahiron and Hatib Hadjan Sawadjaan. Sawadjaan is believed to be the

acting "emir" or leader of the so-called Islamic State in the Philippines.

The military said they lost 6 R4 rifles, a K3 SAW machine gun, an R4 rifle

with a grenade launcher, and a handheld radio in the encounter.

It is still unknown how many losses the ASG incurred in the gunfight

although the "combat troops inflicted enemy casualties based on the

bloodstains found in the encounter site," Wesmincom said in a statement.

Wesmincom sent its condolence to the families of the killed soldiers.

PALACE VOWS TO CRUSH STATE ENEMIES, CONDEMNS ABU ATTACK THAT LEFT 11

TROOPERS DEAD

MANILA - Malacañang on Saturday vowed to crush the state's enemies as it

condemned the Abu Sayyaf Group's attack that left 11 soldiers dead and 14

wounded in Sulu on Friday.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the latest incident in Patikul,

Sulu, where members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) believed to be under ASG

leader Radullan Sahiron and Hatib Hadjan Sawadjaan attacked government

troops resulting in a firefight," Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said

in a statement.

He said it was the second encounter between the bandit group and state

troops in as many days, with three soldiers wounded in the first encounter

on April 16.

Roque cited how the terror group carried out attacks even while the nation

grappled with the spread of the contagious coronavirus disease 2019

(COVID-19), which has infected 5,878 in the country, among whom 387 died and

487 recovered, as of Friday.

The unprecedented pandemic has prompted lockdowns in Luzon and other parts

of the country, keeping authorities busy with manning checkpoints and

enforcing quarantine rules.

"The enemies of the State choose no date and occasion. They strike even

during this time of great pandemic," said Roque.

"But let this serve as a warning to all: Our authorities remain ready and

prepared to crush the enemies of the government and quell any armed attack

amid the existing state of calamity and public health emergency," he said.

PHILIPPINES, JAPAN PLAN AVIGAN TRIALS VS CORONAVIRUS BEFORE END OF APRIL

The Philippines and Japan are planning to begin clinical trials of Avigan

before the end of the month, in the hope of using the anti-influenza drug as

a treatment for the new coronavirus.

Philippine Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told Kyodo News on

late Thursday that arrangements are being finalized to begin testing on

people afflicted with the disease as soon as possible.

"We are expediting the process, so we hope we could start before the end of

the month," she said, noting that discussions for the testing size and

duration have yet to be concluded.

The Philippines expressed willingness to participate in the clinical trials

for Avigan during a virtual summit held last Tuesday with leaders of

Southeast Asian countries, Japan, China and South Korea.

Avigan is manufactured by a group firm of Japan's Fujifilm Holdings Corp.,

which has recently started boosting its production of the drug, aiming to

have enough supply to treat 300,000 patients a month by September.

Aside from the clinical trials for Avigan, the Philippines, along with 69

other countries, will also participate in the tests organized by the World

Health Organization for five other drugs.

NEDA CHIEF PERNIA RESIGNS; DOF'S TAX REFORM 'POSTER BOY' NAMED REPLACEMENT

MANILA — Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia has resigned and

Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua, who crafted the Duterte

government's tax reform program is replacing him, officials said in separate

announcements on Friday.

The sudden change in leadership at the National Economic and Development

Authority (NEDA), one the governmentÂ’s top economic agencies, is coming at a

crucial time for the economy, heavily battered by the coronavirus

disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and the local and national lockdowns

imposed to fix it.

In his statement, Pernia, 76, said he is leaving his job nearly four years

after due to personal reasons “and partly to differences in development

philosophy with a few of my fellow Cabinet members.” He did not go into

specifics.

SENATORS STILL PRESS FOR DUQUE RESIGNATION

MANILA — Senators will continue to press for the resignation of Health

Secretary Francisco Duque III for his alleged failure of leadership in

addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, despite his

public apology and President Duterte’s asking him to “stay put.”

Senate President Vicente Sotto III yesterday said the chamber will pursue a

probe on DuqueÂ’s failures as outlined in Resolution 362 signed by at least

14 senators calling for the health chiefÂ’s resignation.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, one of the signatories of the resolution, said the

chamber will give Duque the chance to defend himself in an investigation.

“We trust that his admission of shortcomings will be followed quickly by

more proactive and positive action to address the issues and concerns raised

by his own people at the DOH, as well as government and private physicians

and health workers against his leadership,” Lacson said.

“After all, it is them who have brought most of these concerns to the

attention of the senators who signed the call for his resignation. For a

start, his display of humility should begin in his own department and field

offices,” he said.

Sen. Joel Villanueva, who signed the resolution, said Duque should “do

justice being our public health expert/leader and to the service of the

thousands of health workers who risk their lives in treating the sick.”

He said the Senate will continue to exercise its oversight and call out

under-performing government agencies and officials.

DOLE WANTS 30% OF WORKERS BACK AFTER QUARANTINE

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) wants a gradual

return to work of employees, with only 30 percent reporting back to work

after the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon is lifted.

During the Management Association of the PhilippinesÂ’ webinar yesterday,

Labor Undersecretary Ana Dione said the DOLE does not expect all employees

to immediately be allowed to work after quarantine ends on April 30.

“We are thinking it should not be an abrupt report to work for all the

workers. We are thinking of maybe gradual, about 30 percent, and then after

one month, 50 percent and then 75 percent,” Dione said.

She said a gradual approach is needed as companies need to make operational

adjustments.

“Companies will also have to adjust, taking into consideration occupational

safety and health of the workers and also social distancing,” she said.

FOR CRUISE SHIP CREW WAITING TO COME HOME, IT'S A BITTER-'SUITE' LIFE

MANILA — Long weeks of staying afloat in Philippine waters for more than 300

crew members of a cruise ship will finally come to an end.

The crew of an Australian ship—one of a handful loitering in Philippine

seas—may soon be allowed to set foot on their home country and reunite with

their families.

Every day since March, *Linda and some 300 Filipino crew members of an

Australian cruise ship have been biding their time and waiting for word on

when they can come home.

“For a month, all of the ships were just floating until our company

coordinated with [the Philippine] government, then we were allowed [to get

ready to dock] and they gave a schedule of the port and arrival,” Linda, a

43-year-old waitress, told Philstar.com in an online exchange.

They have not had a guest aboard their ship—built to billet thousands in

luxury—since March.

According to their company schedule given April 14, Linda's ship is set to

dock on April 20, but they were informed that they can dock on Saturday,

April 18.

A new rule from the Philippine government, however, may mean that they may

not be able to see their families immediately since they may need to go

through another 14-day quarantine.

Linda and her fellow crew on the ship are just a few hundred of thousands of

Filipinos on other vessels, waiting for word on when they will be able to

dock and disembark.

OVER 1 MILLION CONSTRUCTION WORKERS STRANDED, DISPLACED DUE TO LUZON

LOCKDOWN

More than 1 million construction workers in Luzon were left stranded,

hungry, and displaced due to the enhanced community quarantine that seeks to

curb the fast-spreading novel coronavirus, a group said Friday.

According to the Philippine Constructors Association, around 1.3 million

construction workers were likely displaced in Luzon due to the lockdown.

Using wage rates in Metro Manila, the “probable unearned salary is about P16

billion to P18 billion for one month of stoppage" of work, the constructors

group said.

Artemio Delantar, a construction worker from Tacloban, Leyte, along with 7

others from Bicol and other provinces, were left stranded in their barracks.

Their group was supposed to do the roadwork on 24th Avenue in Barangay East

Rembo, Makati City.

But its construction was temporarily halted.

Because they are paid on a daily basis, no work meant no pay for the

workers.

East Rembo barangay captain Thelma Ramirez told ABS-CBN News five

construction sites in their area have stranded workers.

“Puro sub-contractor na itong mga to eh, hindi sila makauwi kase una nga,

malalayo, probinsiya, meron man silang ayuda, napakaliit,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez said they are trying to contact the sub-contractors to inform them

about the plight of the stranded workers.

Joey Bon, a carpenter, is worried about his wife and 5 children in Quezon

province as he is unable to send them money.

In Pasay, 13 workers from Burias Island in Masbate were also left stranded.

They are all trying to fit in a small room where social distancing is

virtually impossible.

They also did not receive help from their contractor.

Bobby Rondina, one of the workers, said they received food from the barangay

but it wasnÂ’t enough for all of them.

At the University of the Philippines-Diliman, 11 workers are also stranded

in the construction site.

Raymond Bautista, a helper in the construction site, said he uses a

compressor as a makeshift nebulizer to help him breathe every time he has an

asthma attack.

Welder Eric Plata and his group said they were blessed because they were

given P1,000 every week since the lockdown happened.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa kumpanya namin, di kami pinapabayaan,” Plata said.

According to UP Campus barangay chairperson Zenaida Lectura, even if the

workers are not their constituents, they also deserve assistance.

Meanwhile, an official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development

said families of these carpenters will receive money in areas where they are

residents.

The families can go to DSWD and city social welfare regional centers to seek

financial assistance, DSWD Undersecretary Camilo Gudmalin said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

EVOLVING ENTERTAINMENT: VIRTUAL REENACTMENT OF 'ZOMBADINGS' WILL MAKE YOU

LAUGH OUT LOUD

MANILA — With the extended coronavirus lockdown and the suspension of TV and

film productions come new forms of entertainment made from homes and

streamed in homes.

Sure, there are established platforms such as Netflix and iWant that offer

hours and hours of binge-worthy shows — and then there's a live movie

reenactment via split screen, complete with musical scoring.

It was an image that encapsulates physical distancing in the time of

coronavirus: Five actors, on video call from their respective homes, staged

a live script-reading of the comedy flick "Zombadings: Patayin as Shokot si

Remington."

Taking on the characters from the 2011 indie release were Christian Bables

as Remington (originally portrayed by Martin Escudero), Paolo Ballesteros as

Pops (Roderick Paulate), Gabby Padilla as Hannah (Lauren Young), and Vance

Larena as Jigs (Kerbie Zamora). Kokoy de Santos was also on board.

The scene, which sees Remington confronting the person who "cursed" him to

become gay, even had backdrops to indicate settings, and live sound effects

and scoring that evoked the original's suspense element.

The reenactment was part of the April 17 episode of Lockdown Cinema Club, a

fundraising program that aims to help film industry workers whose livelihood

have been affected by the coronavirus quarantine.

Narrating the screenplay was director Jade Castro, who was also one of the

writers of the movie.

In the virtual roundtable that followed the script-reading, producer Moira

Lang, and original cast member Young joined, with Chico Garcia as moderator.

The "Zombadings" edition of Lockdown Cinema Club saw a unique,

full-production take on live streaming, which has become the new normal for

entertainment offerings during the lockdown.

Previously, the likes of ABS-CBN's "It's Showtime" televised a live episode

also using the now-ubiquitous Zoom app, which allows conference video calls

for broadcast.

With governments worldwide extending quarantine periods, streamed programs

produced from home are expected to keep evolving, with elements that

approximate TV or film productions.

Projects such as Lockdown Cinema Club are no expection, as it gears for

another big event in the coming weeks: among them, "Gabi ng Himala," a

co-production with ABS-CBN that will also feature live script-reading, as

well as musical performances.

SPORTS

NBA: GOLDEN STATE TRIED TO TRADE CURRY MULTIPLE TIMES, SAYS BOOK

There was a time in 2011 when the Splash Brothers were destined to be

classified as one man's trash.

But the now-treasured Golden State Warriors' legacy built around one of the

best scoring backcourts in league history was protected when trade offers

for Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson -- including one deal centered around

Chris Paul -- didn't materialize.

According to a new book, "The Victory Machine" by Ethan Strauss, Curry was

often on the trade block before the Warriors found their championship form

under Steve Kerr.

Per Strauss: "The Warriors attempted to trade Steph Curry and Klay Thompson

for Chris Paul in 2011. It was far from the only time Curry was shopped, but

in this instance, the deal was very close to completion. Myers made the

offer and Hornets GM Dell Demps was receptive. The catch was Chris Paul, who

wanted out of New Orleans but had no intention of playing for the woebegone

Warriors.

"Paul told the Warriors they could do this trade, but he wouldn't be staying

when his contract was up at season's end. The Hornets weren't the only

organization to narrowly lose out on the deal of a lifetime. According to

one GM, 'The Warriors were blind lucky that they were unsuccessful in

trading Steph and Klay together for the stars they offered them together

for,' he said. 'There were many, many people they tried to get and failed.'"

Then-commissioner David Stern rejected a deal that would have sent Paul to

the Los Angeles Lakers.

Paul ultimately landed with the Los Angeles Clippers just as the New Orleans

Hornets became the Pelicans and drafted Anthony Davis with the top pick in

2012.

Multiple outlets reported in 2011 that the Warriors were angling to land

Kevin Love in deals with Thompson as the centerpiece.

In 2012, Curry signed a four-year, $44 million rookie contract extension

with the Warriors.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.90

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Reflect on your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your

past misfortunes, of which all men have some. - Charles Dickens