HOUSE PLENARY RECALLS ABS-CBN FRANCHISE OK

MANILA — To pave the way for possible amendments, the leadership of the

House of Representatives recalled yesterday the approval it gave on second

reading to the bill granting ABS-CBN a provisional franchise.

The House was supposed to transmit the bill to the Senate, the committee on

public services of which has already scheduled a hearing on the franchise

renewal bills today.

But House Deputy Majority Leader Wilter Wee Palma II moved in MondayÂ’s

virtual session to reconsider instead last weekÂ’s plenary approval of House

Bill 6732 (An Act Granting the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. a Franchise) that

will be valid until Oct. 31 this year.

“Due to the request of our members who wish to make some interpellations and

possible amendments on the bill, let me make this of record that, at any

time, the House can approve this bill, HB 6732 on third reading. But because

of the insistence of our colleagues to interpellate further on the matter, I

move that we reconsider the approval on second reading of HB 6732,” the

Zamboanga-Sibugay congressman said.

Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte, who is among the billÂ’s proponents, said

the main reason for the recall is the proposal to give ABS-CBN a 25-year

franchise, instead of just a few months.

CALIDA DENIES MEDDLING IN 'ADVISING' NTC TO ISSUE CLOSURE ORDER VS ABS-CBN

MANILA -- Solicitor General Jose Calida on Tuesday denied allegations he

meddled with Congress' instructions to the National Telecommunications

Commission (NTC) to grant ABS-CBN Corp. a provisional authority when he told

the regulatory body to instead issue a cease and desist order.

"Warning or cautioning a client is not threatening. He (Calida) never

mentioned the name of Speaker Cayetano and any congressman in his advisory

letter to NTC and subsequent press release," he said in a statement released

to the media.

Calida said the April 30 letter of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG)

merely "advised" NTC that "a provisional authority cannot be issued in the

absence of a law."

He explained that the letter warned NTC of "possible encroachment on

legislative power" if the NTC issues a provisional authority without a law

authorizing it, which supposedly shows that Calida "is not at loggerheads

with Congress."

But a copy of the OSG's letter obtained by ABS-CBN News showed that Calida

not only told NTC that it should issue a cease and desist order, it also

warned NTC commissioners of prosecution under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt

Practices Act if they issue a provisional authority.

The same letter also discredited the position of the Department of Justice

(DOJ), the Senate and the House of Representatives Franchise Committee on

NTC's issuance of a provisional authority to ABS-CBN.

"The House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises Letter

dated February 26, 2020 and Senate Resolution No. 34413 both urging the NTC

to issue a PA [provisional authority] to ABS-CBN Corporation and its

subsidiaries or affiliates are erroneous and not binding,” Calida said in

the letter also signed by 6 assistant solicitors general.

The letter also dismissed the view taken by Justice Secretary Menardo

Guevarra that “equity” can fill the gap in the law. The justice chief had

said no law governs public utilities seeking renewal of their franchise but

who are unable to secure one without their fault.

Calida stood by this position in Tuesday's statement.

In the same statement, Calida also said he declined to attend Tuesday's

Senate hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise saying the issues that will be

discussed are "sub judice" or under consideration by the court and cannot be

discussed in public.

Calida filed in February this year a quo warranto petition before the

Supreme Court against ABS-CBN Corporation and ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc.

alleging violations of their franchises. SC has yet to act on that petition.

He also invoked OSG's role as statutory counsel of the NTC in the TRO plea

filed by ABS-CBN against NTC also before the Supreme Court.

ENRILE: WHY CANÂ’T CONGRESS GRANT 25-YEAR FRANCHISE TO ABS-CBN?

MANILA -- Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile warned Tuesday that

Congress would risk “emasculating” the constitution should it go for a

temporary franchise allowing broadcast network ABS-CBN to resume its free TV

and radio operations.

Enrile said the legislature should instead tackle a 25-year franchise for

the shuttered network, saying there should be “permanence” in the

legislative grant.

“Why can you not give a permanent franchise to ABS-CBN right away, conduct a

day-and-night hearingÂ… instead of playing with the constitution by granting

a temporary franchise? he told a Senate inquiry.

“If Congress can grant a temporary franchise, what is the compelling reason

for Congress not to grant a permanent franchise with a reasonable period of

25 years?”

Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Congress could decide on the length of

the franchise using its “plenary powers” so long the period would not exceed

the 50-year limit in the constitution.

A number of senators expressed reservations on the Senate hearing on

ABS-CBNÂ’s franchise since the House of Representatives has yet to approve

its version. Under the Constitution, private bills such as the networkÂ’s

franchise application must emanate from the House.

“This hearing might be premature,” said Sen. Francis Tolentino.

But Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who presided over the inquiry as the

committee’s vice chairman, said the hearing was “anticipatory.”

Enrile acknowledged Sen. Panfilo LacsonÂ’s concern that senators might face a

“constitutional challenge” in case they agreed to the House proposal of a

provisional franchise for ABS-CBN.

But amending the period to cover a full 25-year franchise will be “perfectly

okay,” Enrile said.

The government will "pull the plug on the livelihood" of 11,000 Filipinos if

it fails to resolve the broadcast shutdown of ABS-CBN Corp over its stalled

franchise operations, a senator said Tuesday.

COVID-19 CASES IN THE PHILIPPINES RISE TO 12,718

The Department of Health reported an additional 205 COVID-19 cases in the

Philippines, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 12,718.

The total number of recoveries is now at 2,729 after the DOH recorded 94 new

recoveries.

Meanwhile, the national death toll stands at 831 with seven new deaths.

PALACE SEES SPIKE IN COVID-19 CASES

MANILA — Malacañang is expecting a spike in coronavirus disease 2019 or

COVID-19 cases because of the failure of some people to observe physical

distancing in malls over the weekend.

The government allowed malls to partially reopen in areas that have shifted

to modified enhanced community quarantine or MECQ – the transition between

the strictest enhanced community quarantine ECQ and the more lenient general

community quarantine or GCQ.

Areas that have been under MECQ since May 16 are Metro Manila, Laguna,

Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales and Angeles City.

Officials were alarmed over reports that health protocols particularly

physical distancing were ignored as large crowds trooped to malls during the

first day of MECQ.

“After Saturday, I am sure we will see a steep increase because we

disregarded social distancing and other health protocols,” presidential

spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said at a press briefing yesterday. “If many of us

remain stubborn, many would catch COVID-19. We will be like other countries

which saw an increase in COVID-19 cases after relaxing restrictions because

people did not comply with health standards.”

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire also reiterated the

governmentÂ’s call for people to continue staying inside the safety of their

homes.

She said easing up the ECQ was not intended to encourage people to go to

malls, noting that the confirmed COVID-19 cases had reached 12,718 with 205

new cases recorded yesterday.

Of the new cases, 145 came from the National Capital Region, eight from

Region 7 and 52 from other regions.

Seven new fatalities were also recorded yesterday, bringing the death toll

to 831.

Roque reminded malls to comply with health protocols and ensure safe

physical distancing or face closure or legal action.

DOH ALLOTS P18 MILLION FOR CLINICAL TRIALS OF FLU DRUG AVIGAN

MANILA — The Department of Health has allocated P18 million for the clinical

trials of anti-flu medication Avigan on coronavirus patients, President

Rodrigo Duterte said in his latest report to Congress.

Avigan—approved for use in flu outbreaks in Japan and has been deployed to

treat Ebola—is being trialled as potential coronavirus treatment.

“The DOH, through its Advancing Health through Evidence-Assisted Decisions

with Health Policy and Systems Research, has allocated P18 million for

Avigan trials,” Duterte’s report read.

The chief executive said three sites have been identified for Avigan trials

on 80 to 100 patients. The locations of the sites, however, were not

specified.

SARA TO QUARANTINE VIOLATORS: PREPARE P2 MILLION

DAVAO CITY — Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday dared quarantine violators

to prepare their last will and P2 million for their medical expenses in case

they get infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

Carpio issued the statement as the government expressed frustration over the

non-observance of social distancing in malls during the second day of the

implementation of general community quarantine (GCQ) in several areas of the

country.

Carpio expressed disappointment over reports that a majority of Davao

residents, who were neither reporting for work nor buying essential goods,

went out on the first day of the GCQ in the city yesterday.

Carpio said a mass grave has been readied in case the COVID fatalities pile

up.

Residents had been warned that the city government will not shoulder their

hospital expenses if they violated quarantine rules and contracted COVID.

Carpio said that although the city is under GCQ, people are still limited to

buying essential goods such as food and medicine, going to the doctor and

reporting to work.

Meanwhile, the COVID cases at the Zamboanga City Jail increased to 132 after

seven more inmates tested positive for the disease on Sunday.

The seven new cases were part of a group of inmates issued release orders by

the courts, according to Dulce Amor Miravite, chief of the city health

office.

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‘ESCAPED’ OFW FOUND, TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

MANILA — An overseas Filipino worker (OFW), who escaped from a quarantine

facility and was later found positive for coronavirus disease 2019

(COVID-19), has been found and brought to a medical treatment facility.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that the Sub-Task Group for the

Repatriation of OFWs found the 49-year-old OFW at his home in Quezon City

last Sunday and immediately took him to a COVID-19 treatment facility.

The OFW had been made to stay at a hotel accredited as a Bureau of

Quarantine (BOQ) facility in Pasay City. He violated the required 14-day

quarantine period and stayed at the facility for five days only, from May 11

to May 15.

Once cleared of the virus infection, charges might be filed against the OFW

for violating the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

Members of his family, including persons he had personal contact with, were

placed in isolation and are now undergoing COVID-19 RT-PCR testing.

In a statement, the PCG said eight OFWs were recorded to have escaped from

their respective quarantine facilities, without first securing clearances

from the concerned government agencies.

The eight OFWs who escaped their designated quarantine facilities were

briefed on general quarantine protocols, underwent swab test, and signed an

“Affidavit of Undertaking” that they voluntarily submitted themselves to

mandatory quarantine and committed to comply with quarantine measures while

waiting for the release of their swab test results and BOQ clearances.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said, “The search operations for

the seven other OFWs are ongoing. They shall be arrested and shall face

charges for violating quarantine protocols and for compromising the health

and safety of their families and communities.”

TRADE DEPT TO START MSME LOANS PROCESSING ON JUNE 1

MANILA - The Department of Trade and Industry said Tuesday it would start

processing on June 1 loans for micro, small and medium businessmen displaced

by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DTI's Small Business Corp has set aside a P1 billion fund for loans of

P10,000 to P500,000 depending on the size of the business, Trade Sec. Ramon

Lopez told ANC's Headstart.

The P1 billion loan fund can be increased as needed, he said.

Congress is also proposing additional funds for SB Corp to allow it to

directly administer the loans. Under it existing network, SB Corp has 400 to

500 microfinance or credit delivery partners.

Applicants need to fill up a form which is accessible via the SB Corp

website www.sbgfc.org.ph and submit requirements at SB Corp offices or

Negosyo Centers.

BSP SAYS 'NO APPARENT, IMMEDIATE NEED' FOR NEW IMF CREDIT LINE

MANILA -- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Tuesday

there was "no apparent and immediate need" to avail of one of the

International Monetary Fund's lending tools since the Philippines was

entering the COVID-19 pandemic from a "position of strength."

Diokno was refering to the Short-term Liquidity Line or SLL, a new facility

directed at member-countries' coronavirus response.

The peso is "strong" and gross international reserves are at a "healthy"

level of $89 billion (P4.5 trillion) as of end-March, Diokno said.

The size of debt relative to the economy is "manageable" and the balance of

payments surplus was at a 7-year high at the end of last year," he said.

"As I said before, structural reforms and sound economic management have

helped the Philippines enter the COVID-19 crisis from a position of

strength," he said.

UP OPENS PEP SQUAD'S TRAINING VENUE AS ISOLATION FACILITY

MANILA -- To support the government's drive to curb the effect of the novel

coronavirus pandemic, the University of the Philippines (UP) has opened the

Kalinga Center of the College of Human Kinetics as a step-down isolation

facility.

The newly converted step-down facility was the training venue for the UP

women's basketball team and the UP Pep Squad.

It is equipped with tents, mattresses, and beddings that will be used by

recovering COVID-19 patients and patients awaiting the result of their

retests.

It also has shower and toilet amenities, water dispensers, and washing

machines, along with hygiene kits.

"Nakita namin 'yung value and significance of serving the UP community. For

as long as puro remote learning sa UP, we will support this," said UP CHK

dean and UAAP Board of Managing Directors member Kiko Diaz.

"Wala pa namang face-to-face classes so we saw fit that one of the

facilities be transformed to an isolation facility," he added.

The step-down facility is a tripartite initiative between UP CHK, Maynilad,

and UP ACTasONE which is headed by Mike Defensor.

NAVY BRINGING 5,000 BOXES OF FOOD AID TO TACLOBAN

BRP Batak (LC-299) is heading to Tacloban City from Cebu to transport 5,000

boxes of food items from Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) to

Tacloban City, Leyte as part of the social amelioration program in Region 8,

Naval Forces Central says.

NavForCen says the sealift is part of the DSWD's program "to ensure

continuous augmentation of food and other support in the Visayas region."

"The Naval Forces Central, under Central Command will continue its effort to

support the whole-of-government to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 to the

most vulnerable sectors in the Visayas Region while ensuring safety and

security of the people as well as its maritime domain," it also says.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

Karla Estrada, Jolina Magdangal, Melai Cantiveros to host new online show

MANILA — "Magandang Buhay" stars Karla Estrada, Jolina Magdangal at Melai

Cantiveros are set to return as hosts of the new online show “Confessions

with the Momshies.”

On Instagram, Magdangal, Estrada and Cantiveros shared their excitement as

they posted the poster of their upcoming project.

The newest show will be available on YouTube and Facebook.

“Ano man ang nasa puso mo, ano man ang nararamdaman mo, makikinig kami sa

'yo. No judgment! Ihinga mo 'yan dito sa 'Confessions with the Momshies,'”

Magdangal wrote in the caption.

SPORTS

FOOTBALL: PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS TO RESUME TRAINING IN 'SMALL GROUPS'

MANCHESTER, England -- Premier League clubs will return to training on

Tuesday after agreeing to allow "small group" sessions to begin, with a

possible return to normal 'contact' training next week.

The league held a conference call for all 20 clubs on Monday where the move

was given unanimous backing but there remains no firm date for the season to

resume.

Another meeting is scheduled for early next week when the league will decide

on whether to move to the second phase which allows for training involving

contact.

It is the first move in the league's 'Project Restart' plans to resume play

in the league, which has not held a game since March 9 due to the novel

coronavirus pandemic.

The league has set June 12 as a tentative date for a restart of action but

chief executive Richard Masters said they were aware they would need to be

flexible.

“Next week we are going to be discussing full contact training protocols",

he added.

FOOTBALL: SPANISH CLUBS BEGIN GROUP TRAINING AS LA LIGA EYES JUNE RESTART

MADRID, Spain -- Spanish clubs began training in groups of 10 players on

Monday, in line with health protocols, as La Liga takes another step towards

the planned resumption of the coronavirus-hit season next month.

Barcelona confirmed their squad was back on the training ground at 9:30am

(0730 GMT), with pictures published on their Twitter account showing several

players including Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets taking part in the

session.

Real Madrid players also trained at the club's base on the outskirts of the

Spanish capital, as clubs begin the last step towards being able to work

with their full squads together.

Spanish government protocol allows training sessions to be expanded by all

clubs, even those belonging to areas that are further behind in the

country's programme of de-escalation from a strict lockdown.

That means teams like Real, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are able to train

in groups of 10, despite both the capital and Catalonia remaining in 'phase

0' as two of Spain's worst-hit regions.

Spain has been one of the world's hardest-hit countries by COVID-19 with a

total of 27,650 reported deaths as of Sunday, and more than 231,000

confirmed cases.

"It is a ministerial decision. It was very important that all teams could

train in the same way," said Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, on

Sunday.

INDICATORS

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

No matter how far you have gone down the wrong road, it's never too late to

turn back. - Turkish Proverb