680,000 MANILA FAMILIES GET 2ND TRANCHE OF CASH AID

MANILA — More than 680,000 families in Manila will receive the second

tranche of cash assistance from the city government, Mayor Isko Moreno

announced yesterday.

Moreno said qualified beneficiaries from 896 barangays would get P1,000 per

household under the City Amelioration Crisis Assistance Fund to help them

cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

In a Facebook Live, Moreno said residents from 300 barangays in the cityÂ’s

first, second and third districts received cash yesterday.

He said the second batch of recipients from 500 other barangays would be

given cash assistance today.

Barangay officials initially recorded about 607,000 qualified families. But

after reviewing the master lists, the number of beneficiaries increased to

680,000.

The city government is also providing relief goods to senior citizens, solo

parents, persons with disability and drivers.

Students of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and Universidad de Manila

also received cash allowances.

City hall gave P5,000 each to 10,072 teachers and 1,077 non-teaching

personnel.

Member of the Manila Police District received a sack of rice.

‘POLITICS DOOMED ABS-CBN PROVISIONAL FRANCHISE’

MANILA — What prompted House members to drop a proposal to grant provisional

franchise to broadcast giant ABS-CBN while Congress deliberates on its

franchise renewal application?

Even Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who initiated the measure that could have

allowed the network to return on air under a temporary franchise until Oct.

31, was surprised by the sudden turnaround in the chamberÂ’s plenary.

“I did not expect it to happen because in my view and when we speak of

fairness, we should allow ABS-CBN to go on air and cover the hearings so we

can judge whether or not its coverage is really fair on the issue once

arguments are presented,” he admitted in a radio interview yesterday.

Cayetano said the House is a collegial body that decides through a consensus

or majority vote, wherein members can change their positions anytime.

He said that after the chamber passed his House Bill 6723 on first and

second reading on May 13, political parties met with their leaders and

members in the following days.

“Some political parties and congressmen, other members of the government and

even private citizens had plenty of discussions... You know individual votes

of congressmen can change once they meet with their political blocs or

regional blocs,” he said.

DUTERTE TERMINATES CIVIL DEFENSE DEPUTY CHIEF PURISIMA

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte terminated the deputy chief of one of the

government's disaster response offices due to "loss of trust and

confidence," his spokesman said Friday.

Office of Civil Defense Deputy Administrator Kristoffer James Purisima, who

holds the rank of assistant secretary, was removed from his post effective

Friday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

"The Palace confirms that Office of the Civil Defense Assistant Secretary

Kristoffer James Purisima has been relieved from his post effective

immediately due to loss of trust and confidence," Roque said in a statement.

DUTERTE ACCEPTS RESIGNATION OF DICT'S ELISEO RIO

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted the resignation of

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)

Undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr., Malacañang said Friday.

The 75-year-old Rio, who led the selection for the Philippines' third telco,

resigned from his post in February citing complications in the agency and

old age.

"The Palace thanks Usec. Rio for his invaluable services to the nation and

we wish him well in all his future endeavors," Presidential Spokesman Harry

Roque said.

"Siya po ay talagang competent at talaga naman pong mapagkakatiwalaan at

wala pong bahid ang kaniyang karakter," he said in a DZMM interview.

Rio is a licensed Electronics and Communications Engineer who finished 4th

in the ECE Board Exams in 1971. After retiring from the Philippine Army with

the rank of brigadier general, he was appointed to the National

Telecommunications Commission in 2001.

The DICT is headed by ex-senator Gregorio Honasan, a former military man

like Rio.

PHILIPPINES TOPS WORLD FOR ONLINE CHILD SEX ABUSE: STUDY

The Philippines has become the world's largest known source of online child

sexual exploitation, with endemic poverty helping drive a surge in abuse, a

report said Thursday.

Parents and relatives were responsible for facilitating the abuse in nearly

all cases, according to the International Justice Mission aid group's

seven-year study.

The combination of English fluency and high internet connectivity in the

former US colony had helped make the country a "global hotspot" for child

pornography, the report said.

The proportion of Philippine internet addresses used to host child

pornography had tripled in the three years to 2017, said the study, which

based its findings on data collected by law enforcement data.

"There are children who need rescue now, but rescue starts with timely

detection and robust reporting," said IJM's Philippine director Samson

Inocencio.

The report said of the victims it identified had been preyed upon for years

and the youngest was less than a year old.

"We need to act as a global community -- ending impunity in both source

countries like the Philippines and demand countries," Philippine Justice

Undersecretary Emmeline Villar said in a statement responding to the

findings.

The United Nations Children's Fund said in February that the Philippines is

one of the top global sources of child sex abuse materials, with 600,000

"sexualized" photos of Filipino children bartered and traded in 2018 alone.

Last month the Manila-based Child Rights Network warned the country's

coronavirus lockdown had led to an increase in the online sharing and

selling of child sexual abuse materials.

OFWS TO GET FASTER 'E-TICKETS' FOR QUARANTINE COMPLETION

Thousands of repatriated OFWs can now leave quarantine centers with

certificates of completion that they can print themselves instead of waiting

for paper documents from authorities, the Overseas Workers Welfare

Administration said Friday.

Similar to an electronic ticket, the new scheme will allow OFWs to skip the

wait for a certificate from the Bureau of Quarantine, said OWWA

Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac.

The Philippines has repatriated about 42,000 migrant workers and is

expecting around 45,000 other OFWs to come home until June, he said.

PALACE SAYS COVID-19 MESSAGING 'BY AND LARGE EFFECTIVE'

Government announcements about the coronavirus pandemic are "by and large

effective" and "organized," Malacañang said Friday after the health

department retracted a statement that the Philippines was on the second wave

of infections.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday told senators that the

Philippines was already on its second wave, which Palace officials and his

agency later denied.

"Organized naman po [ang government announcements], kaya lang Senate hearing

iyon, siyempre medyo natataranta ang ibang kasama natin. Medyo iba ang

nasasabi," Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told DZMM.

"Pero by and large, until nangyari naman po ang insidente na ito, it has

been centralized and it has been rather effective," he added.

Experts from the University of the Philippines earlier flagged "alarming

errors" on the health department's data on patients with COVID-19, which

also mismatched the tally of local governments.

The agency said it had corrected errors on its novel coronavirus data which

comprise "less than 1 percent" of the information that served as basis for

putting millions of Filipinos under lockdown.

500 OFWS TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID; 14,669 CLEARED

MANILA — More than 500 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have tested positive

for coronavirus disease 2019 while 14,669 have been cleared of COVID-19 and

are set to go home this month, an official said yesterday.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo said the

Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) brought the positive OFWs to available isolation

or treatment facilities.

The 14,669 who tested negative for COVID-19 were issued a quarantine

clearance and started going home as of yesterday afternoon. These include

the 44 seafarers who completed the 14-day mandatory quarantine at a facility

in Tondo, Manila.

Balilo reported that the Philippine Red Cross has processed the tests of

23,000 of the total 31,330 OFWs who underwent the polymerase chain reaction

(PCR) test as of May 20.

He added that the group is also working on the test results of around 8,000

who have tested negative for COVID-19 but are still waiting for their

quarantine clearances and on the 7,000 samples that are still up for

analysis.

THE REST

========

MORE FILIPINO FAMILIES GO HUNGRY AMID COVID-19 CRISIS – SWS

MANILA - More Filipino families experienced hunger in the past 3 months,

according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released Thursday, as

the coronavirus crisis raged across the country and brought economic

activities to a standstill.

The May 4 to 10 poll found that 16.7 percent of respondents went hungry due

to lack of available food, which translates to around 4.2 million families

nationwide.

The latest figure is the sum of 13.9 percent or 3.5 million families who

experienced “moderate hunger” and 2.8 percent or nearly 700,000 families who

experienced “severe hunger.”

“This is nearly double the 8.8 percent (est. 2.1 million families) in

December 2019, and the highest since the 22.0 percent (est. 4.8 million

families) in September 2014,” SWS said in a statement.

The pollster defined "moderate hunger" as experiencing hunger "only once" or

"a few times" in the last 3 months, while "severe hunger" refers to

experiencing it "often" or "always."

According to the survey, the hunger rate doubled in Metro Manila and Balance

Luzon while the Visayas and Mindanao also experienced a rise in hunger.

Metro Manila, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, appeared to suffer the

brunt of the crisis. From 9.3 percent or 307,000 families, the hunger rate

in the Philippine capital rose to 20.8 percent or 693,000 families.

Hunger also went up in Balance Luzon to 12.6 percent or 1.4 million families

from 6.3 percent or 688,000 families in the December 2019 survey.

In the Visayas, some 14.6 percent or 685,000 families missed meals while

24.2 percent or 1.4 million families went hungry in Mindanao.

The SWS noted that 99 percent of the families surveyed nationwide have

received assistance from the government.

Due to lockdown restrictions, the poll was conducted using mobile phone and

computer-assisted telephone interviews with 4,010 respondents. It has a

margin of error of plus-minus 2 percent for national figures.

Like most countries, the Philippine government imposed lockdown rules, which

had taken root for 2 months, to rein in the spread of COVID-19.

Since emerging in Wuhan City in Hubei province, China in December, the novel

coronavirus has sickened 13,434 people in the Philippines, whom 846 died

while 3,000 survived.

PANDEMIC PUTS BRAKES ON SOME FIRMS' EXPANSION PLANS: ECOP

MANILA - Some businesses have postponed expansion plans due to uncertainty

from the coronavirus pandemic, the Employers Confederation of the

Philippines said Friday, citing its recent survey.

Sixty-seven percent of 347 companies polled in the Impact Assessment Survey

said they were postponing expansion and investments at this time, ECOP

Director General Jose Roland Moya told ANC.

Metro Manila, which accounts for a third of the economy, is under lockdown

until May 31, alongside other urban centers. The so-called enhanced

community quarantine was dialed down to a modified ECQ last May 16, marking

the first time in 2 months that some restrictions were eased.

"The conditions have very much worsened. The Department of Labor and

Employment has already reported some very alarming figures and these figures

are just the tip of the iceberg," Moya said.

Aside for deferring expansion plans, companies also complained of reduced

demand due to lack of customers, difficulty in paying salaries, inability to

meet deadlines and obligations, and disrupted supply chain, he said.

Employers are also worried over their worker's well being, he said.

Under the modified lockdown, select Metro Manila-based companies are allowed

to operate at reduced capacity. Moya said it could take "a lot more time"

before some firms resume operations.

NBI FILES MORE COMPLAINTS VS INTERNET PERSONALITY 'FRANCIS LEO MARCOS'

MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation filed more criminal complaints

against online personality “Francis Leo Marcos.”

The STAR reported that Marcos, whose real name is Norman Mangusin, is facing

additional complaints on violation of the passport law and anti-alias law,

and inciting to sedition.

NBI Cybercrime Division chief Vic Lorenzo confirmed this in a text message

to reporters.

Lorenzo said that they are filing violation of the passport law and the

anti-alias law because he was using two names, “Norman Mangusin” and

“Francis Leo Marcos.” He is also accused of possessing a passport using his

alias.

“What is the truth? At the same time, in [violation of] the passport law,

because if you falsified documents in procuring passport under a different

name, that is not allowed,” Lorenzo explained in Filipino.

The CCD chief said that Mangusin is also facing a complaint of Article 142

or inciting to sedition, in relation to paragraph 4 of Article 39 that reads

“to commit, for any political or social end, any act of hate or revenge

against private persons or any social class.”

Central to the inciting to sedition complaint is one of the viral videos on

his “Mayaman Challenge” where he urged wealthy people to help the poor

during the period of enhanced community quarantine.

490 TESTED FOR CORONAVIRUS AT ILLEGAL HOSPITAL IN CLARK RESORT: POLICE

Authorities have tested at least 490 people for the novel coronavirus at

Fontana Leisure Park in Clark Freeport following the discovery of an illegal

hospital for Chinese citizens there, police said Friday.

The facility raided Tuesday only did check-ups on patients without requiring

them to go on quarantine, said Brig. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento, deputy chief

of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

"Lahat ng mga staff doon, lahat ng mga tenant, hindi na pinayaganag lumabas.

Pati iyong community within that area, ni-lockdown na," he told DZMM.

"Ang ultimate objective natin, number 1, is magsagawa tayo ng contact

tracing," he added.

The release of test results might take 2 to 3 weeks, he said.

PMA VALEDICTORIAN FOR 2020 IS DAUGHTER OF FARMER, TEACHER

MANILA — The daughter of a farmer and teacher from Echague, Isabela topped

the Philippine Military Academy Masidlawin Class of 2020.

This year's valedictorian, 25-year-old Cadet First Class Gemalyn Sugui

bested nearly 200 other graduates. She earlier obtained a Bachelor of

Science in Management Economics degree from the University of the

Philippines Baguio.

She is also awarded with the Presidential Saber, the Achievement Award for

Academic Excellence, the JUSMAG Award, the Philippine Army Saber, the

Spanish Armed Forces Award, the Social Sciences Plaque, the Management

Plaque, and the Rule of Law Award, the PMA said.

The Masidlawin Class's top 10 includes 5 women and 3 cadets from the

Cordilleras.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the country's premier military training

institution will not open this year's graduation rites to the public to

include the parents and loved ones of the graduates, said PMA Superintendent

Admiral Allan Ferdinand Cusi.

"I believe this is a necessary decision in order to safeguard the health and

general well-being of the CCAFP (Cadet Corps, Armed Forces of the

Philippines) and the whole PMA community," he said in a statement.

"As a parent, I know how heartbreaking and disappointing that decision is,

but we have to do what is best for all. Safety and health are paramount at

all times,” he added.

Twenty-three female cadets and 173 male cadets belong to the Masidlawin

Class. Of the total, 100 will join the Philippine Army, 45 will go to the

Philippine Air Force and 51 to the Philippine Navy, said the PMA.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

MYX AWARDS 2020: NOMINEES NAMED; VIRTUAL SHOW TO BE HELD

MANILA — Amid the coronavirus pandemic, MYX Philippines is pushing through

with its annual awards show but through a virtual celebration, it announced

Thursday, along with the release of the list of nominees.

IV of Spades leads the list with six nominations, including Artist of the

Year. They're up for three awards for the track "Come Inside of My Heart,"

including Song of the Year; and two more for their collaboration with Rico

Blanco, "Nagbabalik."

Shanti Dope earned six nods — two for his single "Amatz," and three for his

collaboration with KZ Tandingan, "Imposible."

Moira dela Torre, meanwhile, is nominated for Artist of the Year, plus four

more awards, including Collaboration of the Year for "Patawad, Paalam" with

I Belong to the Zoo.

Ben&Ben and SB19 are also up for multiple awards, including Artist of the

Year. The latter is likewise vying for New Artist of the Year, alongside

Gibbs, Frankie Pangilinan, Syd Hartha, and Zephanie.

The MYX Awards 2020 nominations were announced via a virtual gathering of

VJs and nominated artists on Thursday.

Fans can vote for their favorite artists until July 20. Winners will be

named through the virtual ceremony, whose schedule has yet to be announced.

'HEARTBREAKING': MATTEO GUIDICELLI, SARAH GERONIMO BREAK SILENCE ON ABS-CBN

SHUTDOWN

MANILA — Kapamilya celebrity couple Matteo Guidicelli and Sarah Geronimo

broke their silence on the ABS-CBN shutdown issue.

Speaking with ABS-CBN News' MJ Felipe, Matteo said he and Sarah are praying

every day that their home network will resume broadcasting soon.

“I am praying every single day. My wife and I have been praying that ABS-CBN

can stand back up and all we need is humility, unity, and peace,” Matteo

said.

“And I believe that Filipino people want ABS-CBN and love ABS-CBN like a

family, and I hope and I pray that all these issues will be resolved one

day,” he added.

Matteo said he and Sarah remain positive despite the shutdown.

"Of course, itÂ’s heartbreaking. But we are being positive that everything

will be okayÂ… You have to be positive because whatÂ’s going to happen if you

put fire to fire?” he said.

He is confident that the issue will be resolved in the coming days.

“I am sure this will be solved because it’s for the Filipino people and

ABS-CBN is here for the Filipino people," he said.

Matteo's original iWant documentary film "Ranger G" streams for free this

(Saturday) May 23 on the iWant app (iOS and Android) or on iwant.ph.

"Ranger G" shows Matteo's scout ranger training as an army reservist.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The fewer data needed, the better the information. And an overload of

information, that is, anything much beyond what is truly needed, leads to

information blackout. It does not enrich, but impoverishes. - Peter F.

Drucker