GOVÂ’T LOOKS AT IMPLEMENTING LOCKDOWNS AT BARANGAY LEVEL AS VIRUS

RESTRICTIONS EASED

MANILA — The government may implement lockdowns at the barangay level as it

eases restrictions on movement across the country, the implementer of the

national action plan against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) said.

The national government began relaxing coronavirus restrictions last week to

revitalize the economy paralyzed by a two-month lockdown.

“Baka hindi na tayo mag-declare ng lockdown per region but ang lockdown na

lang natin dito by barangay,” Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a

briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte late Tuesday evening.

“Ibig sabihin, paliitin na lang natin. Ang gagawin po natin is ‘yung

barangay na mayroong cases, ‘yun po ang ila-lockdown natin para ma-preserve

po natin ‘yung ating [economy],” he added.

PHILIPPINES RECORDS 12,942 COVID-19 CASES

The Philippines recorded an additional 224 COVID-19 cases in the country,

bringing the national total to 12,942.

The Department of Health also reported 114 new recoveries, bringing the

total number of recovered patients to 2,843.

Meanwhile, the health department reported six new deaths, which brings the

national toll to 837.

'WHAT WE FEEL FOR THE MOMENT': DUTERTE ENDS COVID-19 BRIEFING WITH A SONG

MANILA - To end a televised meeting designed to brief Filipinos on the

country's fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic,

President Rodrigo Duterte played a song late Tuesday in what looked like an

effort to reach out to the public.

Minutes after he defended Metro Manila police chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas

for having a birthday party amid the lockdown, Duterte played a song which

he said one of his friends made.

"Yung kanta nakuha niya, yung the spirit of what we have been looking

for...what we feel for the moment," he said, before ordering the song to be

played.

During the song, officials sat in silence listening to the song while

Duterte had a hand across his face with his eyes closed, as if in a trance.

"I hope na maski papano, we were able to convey, napaabot namin ang mensahe

ng gobyerno sa inyo," the President said after the song ended.

HOUSE UNLIKELY TO PASS ABS-CBN FRANCHISE BEFORE CONGRESS BREAK IN JUNE:

SENATOR

MANILA — Lawmakers are unlikely to pass a bill that will grant a fresh

license to ABS-CBN Corp before Congress goes on break in June, putting the

jobs of ABS-CBN's 11,000 workers at risk, Sen. Franklin Drilon said

Wednesday.

Drilon said ABS-CBN could have resumed its broadcast operations, halted

since May 5, if the House had approved a provisional franchise for 5 months.

The Lower House on Tuesday stopped deliberations for the shorter license and

opted instead to hear bills for the 25-year franchise.

"Sa akin, dapat itinuloy na lang nila iyong 5-buwang provisional franchise,"

Drilon told TeleRadyo. "Hanggang June 3 na lang kami. Hindi po matatapos ang

hearing nila hanggang June 3... Wala pong prangkisang maapruba bago

mag-June."

"Nasa House of Representatives po iyan, sa administrasyon kung ano ang

kanilang tingin sa 11,000 empleyado ng ABS-CBN. Nobody will get harmed kung

bigyan ng kahit provisional franchise ang ABS-CBN... Walang masasagasaan,

walang mapeperwisyo, walang masasaktan," he added.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said he had also hoped that the House would transmit

the short-term franchise to the Senate so that the network could "

immediately operate and join in the fight against COVID-19."

"With 7 session days left in the legislative calendar, the prospect of

getting the provisional franchise approved before the sine die adjournment

is getting tighter," he said in a statement.

Congress will reopen on the fourth week of July, when President Rodrigo

Duterte delivers his State of the Nation Address.

The House franchises committee will hold hearings even during the break,

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said Tuesday.

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM DRIVE ALIVE DURING PANDEMIC, 281,000 SIGNATURES

GATHERED: CORE HEAD

MANILA - A group of civic organizations in support of constitutional reforms

(CORE) on Wednesday said it was helping the Department of the Interior and

Local Government in collecting signatures for its campaign.

The DILG earlier denied it was behind a signature campaign to push for

federalism as the country battled the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the pandemic hit, the group was able to collect some 281,000

signatures against its target of 1 to 2 million, according to former Masbate

governor Vicente Revil, head of DILG's CORE movement.

"Yes, we are continuing this because we have seen now, especially with the

present situation the effects on the health and economy of our country, it

is just right that we have to correct these structural flaws thatÂ’s

happening with our governance," he told ANC.

"We still have to work and ensure that in the long run this pandemic will be

properly addressed in solving the holistic approach, not only in the health

sector but also in the economic part."

The group supports amendments to the Constitution that would equally

distribute the wealth of the country among all regions, not just in Metro

Manila, Calabarzon and Central Luzon, Revil said.

"Before this balik probinsiya advocacy, our call was paluwagin ang Metro

Manila, payamanin ang mga probinsya," he said.

"We have 17 regions, and in this 3 regions this is where the population and

economy is concentrated. There must be an equitable division of wealth," he

added, noting that the regions also recorded the highest cases of COVID-19.

The group said it was pushing for amendments to the Constitution and not the

Local Government Code to ensure long-term policies.

PALACE: 13,000 REPATRIATED OFWS OUT OF QUARANTINE 'SOON'

Some 13,000 repatriated migrant workers or nearly half of those already in

the country can "soon" leave quarantine facilities, Presidential Spokesman

Harry Roque said Wednesday.

"There are now 13,000 [negative coronavirus] test results with certificates,

meaning that the 13,000 individuals would soon be allowed to leave the

quarantine facility," he told ANC.

"That's a major development because that's almost half of the total number

of OFWs waiting," he added.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will be "on guard to ensure that

the results are followed up and that the OFWs are released at the soonest

time possible," said Roque.

Some 43,000 other OFWs are expected to come home between May and June, said

the labor department.

PEZA SEEKS 'STATUS QUO' ON INCENTIVES AS COVID DISRUPTS SUPPLY CHAIN

MANILA -- Import disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic halted operations

of 41 percent of companies in the Philippines' economic zones, its manager

said Wednesday.

Half of raw materials used in economic zones are sourced from China, where

the virus was first reported, Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director

General Charito Plaza said.

Plaza said PEZA asked lawmakers for a "status quo" on incentives in economic

zones which are "tried, tested and proven" to attract foreign investors.

Should the second tranche of tax reforms aimed at corporate taxes be passed,

Plaza said it should first apply to domestic enterprises.

'Why should we remove the enthusiasm or interest of investors who are

already here?" she said.

With strict health checks, PEZA remains COVID-free, Plaza said. The country

has 405 economic zones, that is home to 4,553 companies and 1.6 million

workers.

Workers in PEZA zones who show symptoms of the disease are told to get

tested. Facilities are disinfected and workers are required to wear

protective gear, she said.

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'AKO 'YUNG MAY AYAW NA MALIPAT SIYA': DUTERTE DEFENDS METRO MANILA POLICE

CHIEF SINAS

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night said he will not remove

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Debold Sinas from his

post despite allegations that the police official violated coronavirus

disease 2019 (COVID-19) quarantine protocols.

In a televised briefing, Duterte said it is his decision not to relieve

Sinas of his duty as the capital's top cop, saying it was not the police

official's fault that other people wanted to celebrate with him on his

birthday.

"Itong kaso ni Sinas, General Sinas, sa National Capital Region commander,

ako 'yung ayaw na malipat siya. He is a good officer. He's an honest one,

and hindi niya kasalanan kung may mangharana sa kaniya sa birthday niya," he

said.

Duterte added that it was normal for people to remove their masks during the

celebration since they will be eating.

"'Yung nagsasabi na hindi naka-mask, eh siyempre may merienda 'yan, may

pagkain. Eh alangan-alang naman na kainin nila pati 'yung mask. Tanggalin

talaga nila. Kainan 'yun eh," he said.

The President also said he studied Sinas' case carefully.

"Hindi ako sang-ayon. I will not just, hindi ako ganoon. Pinag-aralan ko

yung merits at demerits. Kailangan ko yung tao. Mas kailangan ko 'yung tao

dito sa trabaho niya," Duterte said.

"They are all competent. But you know, seniority. It is his time to be

there. And I do not believe in just firing him because kinantahan siya ng

happy birthday (they sang him the birthday song)," he added.

Duterte, likewise, said he believes Sinas would not have allowed such a

gathering should he have known about it beforehand.

"I'm sure na kung alam ni Sinas 'yan, hindi siya pumayag. Pero kung nandiyan

na, mañanita nga eh," he said.

He also defended Sinas from those accusing him of violating the law.

"Sabihin mo, the law is the law. Well, akin na 'yun. It's my responsibility,

but I will not order his transfer. He stays there until further orders,"

Duterte said.

MUSLIMS CAUTIONED AGAINST EIDÂ’L FITÂ’R CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS

Clerics have cautioned Muslims against performing the field EidÂ’l FitÂ’r

prayers following the culmination of Ramadhan to protect them from

coronavirus disease.

The Islamic Ramadhan fasting season, which started April 24, is expected to

end within four or five days from now, depending on the sighting of the new

moon to mark the start of Shawal, the 10th month in the lunar-based Hijrah

calendar.

The Darul Iftah, or House of Opinions, in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

in Muslim Mindanao, reiterated Tuesday its previous appeal for BARMM

residents to forego the traditionally grand EidÂ’l FitÂ’r outdoor

congregational prayers as a health protection measure.

'I DON'T OWE THEM': ROQUE REJECTS NUJP CALL TO APOLOGIZE FOR BERATING

REPORTER

MANILA — Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque on Wednesday rejected a call by

the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) to apologize to

a reporter he publicly berated for allegedly misquoting him about

coronavirus mass testing.

The official during a live briefing on Tuesday singled out CNN Philippines

reporter Triciah Terada for an online article headlined "Up to private

sector to carry out mass testing, Roque says amid limited testing capacity."

"It was a wrong quote. It was a misquote because the context that the mass

testing had to do with the Wuhan-type testing was omitted," Roque told ANC.

"We do not have the same kind of testing that Wuhan is doing."

Wuhan City in central China, the global epicenter of the pandemic, will test

all of its 11 million residents.

Unlike Wuhan, the Philippines is rolling out "expanded targeted testing", he

said.

Based on international standards, governments should test 1 to 2 percent of

the population, which is "a good statistical sample." In virus epicenters

like Metro Manila, authorities aim to test 10 percent of residents while in

barangays with high infection rate, all residents are screened with help

from the private sector, said Roque.

Roque on Tuesday told CNN's Terada: "Hindi po mass testing ang ginagawa

natin (what we are doing is not mass testing); it is expanded targeted

testing."

"I have to call you out at ikaw lang ang nag-report ng ganyan (you're the

only one who reported that)," he said.

Terada said she did not write CNN Philippines' online article. Other news

organizations like Rappler, Inquirer, and Philstar also ran similar stories.

NUJP described Roque's reprimand of the reporter as "boorish and, as it

turned out, misbegotten tirade."

"I don't owe anything to NUJP. I've done work for NUJP. They probably owe

me, I don't owe them," Roque said.

CNN Philippines said it accurately reported Roque's remarks.

"It is likewise regrettable that Ms. Terada was not given a chance to

challenge the allegations made against her and defend herself from the

public attack that could harm her reputation as a journalist and a

professional," it added

NBI ARRESTS INTERNET PERSONALITY FRANCIS LEO MARCOS

MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday arrested internet

personality Francis Leo Marcos over violation of the optometry law.

Agents of NBI-Cybercrime Division (CCD) arrested Marcos in Quezon City,

following the warrant issued by a Baguio City court over his supposed

violation of Republic Act 8050, or the revised Optometry Law of 1985.

NBI CCD chief Victor Lorenzo told reporters that the case stemmed from

MarcosÂ’ distribution of eyeglasses without prior approval and permission

from professional associations.

No other details on the Baguio City case have been made public as of

writing.

Lorenzo said the bureau is also verifying charges of qualified human

trafficking in a Manila court and violence against women in a Nueva Ecija

court against Marcos.

The CCD chief added that Marcos is under probe of several NBI units. He also

has pending complaints of estafa.

CAVITE MALLS TO REOPEN AFTER A 2-DAY SHUTDOWN, GOVERNOR SAYS

MANILA - Malls in Cavite province will reopen Wednesday after being shut for

2 days due to violation of physical distancing and quarantine measures

against the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Jonvic Remulla said.

Mall operators and local chief executives agreed on operating hours of 10

a.m. to 5 p.m. with the last customer leaving the premises by 6 p.m.,

Remulla said in a Facebook post.

"Hinde ninyo karapatan ang oras na ito. Ito ay pribelhiyo para sa inyong

ikabubuti. Huwag abusuhin at marami pang ibang customer na kailangan

bumili," Remulla said.

Consumers thronged shopping malls over the weekend, when the lockdown in

Cavite was downgraded to a general community quarantine for the first time

in 2 months.

Malls are allowed to partially operate under general and modified quarantine

but with strict health protocols.

Shoppers are given a "1 hour time pass" to stay inside malls, except those

going to the supermarket, Remulla said.

Consumers will only be allowed in malls within or the one nearest their

towns, except for frontliners who are allowed in any mall in Cavite, he

said.

TEACHER ARRESTED FOR DUTERTE SLAY OFFER FREED ON BAIL

MANILA — The public school teacher who was arrested for offering a

P50-million reward to anyone who would kill President Duterte has posted

bail for his temporary release.

Olongapo Regional Trial Court Branch 72 Judge Richard Paradeza ordered the

release of teacher Ronnel Mas after posting the P72,000 bail set by the

court, a copy of the release order sent to the media by the Alliance of

Concerned Teachers (ACT) showed.

The judge set MasÂ’ arraignment and pre-trial on May 28.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

ANGEL, ANNE, BEA AMONG STARS BEHIND FUNDRAISER TO AID COVID-19 MASS TESTING

MANILA — Showbiz contemporaries Angel Locsin, Anne Curtis, and Bea Alonzo

are among the stars coming together for a fundraiser to produce test kits

for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The Kapamilya actresses are launching Shop & Share, a project where

celebrities donate personal items which are then auctioned off online.

The initiative was first done in 2009 in response to the Ondoy calamity. At

the time, proceeds from auctioned designer bags, jewelry, and clothes, among

others, were given to the Philippine Red Cross.

This time, Shop & Share will be held to purchase COVID-19 test kits,

according to the announcement posted by Locsin, Curtis, and Alonzo.

The goal: to "allow testing opportunities for the poorer sectors in the

hopes of helping out in the efforts to provide mass testing in the country."

"This way we can make a higher impact, by pushing the

test-trace-isolate/treat formula that is the only proven way to defeat the

virus," the statement added.

The team behind Shop & Share called on other celebrities to join the cause,

to "help flatten the curve in the Philippines our little way."

So far, several stars are already on board, going by the accounts tagged in

Locsin's announcement.

Among them are Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, Angelica Panganiban, Piolo

Pascual, Vice Ganda, Liza Soberano, Kim Chiu, Coco Martin, Marian Rivera,

Dingdong Dantes, Shaina Magdayao, Jodi Sta. Maria, Karla Estrada, Richard

Gutierrez, Bela Padilla, Jennylyn Mercado, and Sarah Lahbati.

SPORTS

FOOTBALL: PREMIER LEAGUE CONFIRMS SIX POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES AFTER TESTING

The Premier League said on Tuesday that six people from three different

clubs had tested positive for COVID-19 out of a sample of 748 individuals.

The novel coronavirus tests were taken on Sunday and Monday ahead of the

return to small group training.

"Players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a

period of seven days," the league said in a statement.

"The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the

purposes of competition integrity and transparency.

"No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the

League and results will be made public in this way after each round of

testing."

Watford later announced that three people, including one player had tested

positive for the virus and all three would self-isolate for seven days in

line with Premier League guidelines.

Burnley said that their assistant coach Ian Woan was among those to give a

positive result after being tested on Sunday.

"In line with strict Premier League requirements and following a positive

test, Ian will now self-isolate for a period of seven days, with a view to

being tested again week commencing Monday, May 25," said Burnley's

statement.

"Ian is asymptomatic and is currently safe and well at home. He will remain

in close communication with club personnel regarding his re-engagement in

training once he is clear of the virus."

On Monday, the Premier League voted to allow clubs to begin small group,

non-contact training with some clubs returning on Tuesday.

The league will decide early next week when to allow contact training as it

looks for a June restart to the season which was halted on March 13.

On Saturday, Germany's top-flight became the first major European league to

return to action.

The Bundesliga returned 10 positives out of 1,700 tests, on May 4, ahead of

its return to training.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for

complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the

philosophy is kindness. - Dalai Lama