HOUSE APPROVES CONTROVERSIAL ANTI-TERROR BILL ON 3RD AND FINAL READING

MANILA - The House of Representatives has approved on third and final

reading the controversial House Bill 6875, which seeks to amend the

Philippines' current anti-terrorism laws.

The bill was passed during the lower chamber's session on Wednesday, with

173 House members voting yes, 31 voting no, and 29 abstentions.

If it becomes a law, the government will be authorized to wiretap suspects,

arrest them without warrants and hold them without charge for 14 days, among

other provisions.

For years, the Human Security Act has been criticized because of provisions

penalizing law enforcers with the payment of P500,000 in damages per day for

detention of any person acquitted of terrorism charges.

Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, who co-sponsored the bill, earlier said this

is why it has to be amended.

“Parang natali ang kamay ng law enforcement and at the same time hindi tayo

makapagsampa ng kaso gamit ito sa higpit ng batas. Kaya kinailangan iyong

adjustment para may angkop na batas na magagamit," Biazon said in a House

session Tuesday.

Lawyers and human rights activists in the country, however, are protesting

the bill, certified "urgent" by President Rodrigo Duterte, warning of

draconian and arbitrary provisions that could be abused to target his

detractors.

Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said the bill is

unconstitutional as it violates the Bill of Rights, and it can be weaponized

against members of the opposition since the definition of terrorism in the

measure is vague and broad.

"Malaki ang panganib sa pinalawak na depinisyon ng terorismo na kahit sino,

kahit ordinaryong tao na nag-post ng kaniyang pagtingin sa social media ay

maaaring ituring ng gobyerno na terorista kung nanaisin nito. Huwag nang

banggitin pa ang magiging turing ng administrasyon sa mga aktibista, na sa

kasalukuyang hindi pa pasado ang panukala ay kinukulong na at pinapatay,"

Zarate said.

Critics have called out the proposed legislation, which they said violate

basic rights. Last Friday, the hashtag #JunkTerrorBill was the country's'

top trending topic on Twitter.

ROBREDO QUESTIONS TIMING OF ANTI-TERROR BILL, URGES LAWMAKERS TO FOCUS ON

COVID-19

MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday questioned the timing of

the anti-terror bill, which President Rodrigo Duterte certified as urgent,

and urged lawmakers to instead focus their attention to immediate efforts

against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Robredo said the pandemic is the worst crisis humanity has faced in

generations and "all hands on deck" was needed to address the contagion.

"Itutok sana ng bawat institusyon ang buo at walang-kahating atensyon sa

pagtugon sa mga pinakaagaran at pinakamahahalagang pangangailangan," she

said.

"Ang masasabi natin ukol sa Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020: Wala ni isa sa mga

nabanggit kong pangangailangan ang matutugunan ng batas na ito," she added,

noting that public transportation in areas under general community

quarantine are lacking and government has yet to achieve its goal of 30,000

daily coronavirus tests.

Robredo urged lawmakers to carefully craft the anti-terror bill as she

pointed out that only one paragraph was allotted under programs to counter

violent extremism.

"Sa kabilang banda, maraming probisyon ang nakatutok sa pagpapalawak ng kung

sino ang puwedeng bansagang terorista, at sa pagbabawas ng mga checks and

balances laban sa mga wrongful arrest," she said.

"Huwag madaliin ang pagpanday ng batas, lalo na ang mga batas na direktang

nakakaapekto sa buhay at paraan ng pamumuhay ng napakarami sa atin."

Senate President Vicente Sotto III defended the bill from critics, saying it

has enough safeguards to ensure that state forces would not abuse the powers

granted under the measure to go after government critics.

CLAMPDOWN ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN PHILIPPINES ALARMS UN HUMAN RIGHTS

CHIEF

MANILA — The United Nations rights chief sounded alarm over the arbitrary

arrests of people who criticize their governmentÂ’s response to the

coronavirus crisis or even simply share views on the pandemic in different

Asian countries, including the Philippines.

In a statement, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said Asian nations were

suppressing freedom of expression and tightening censorship during the

coronavirus crisis.

“In the Philippines, arrests have been made under new COVID-19 special

powers legislation which criminalizes the alleged spread of ‘false

information,’” Bachelet said.

PROTESTING IS NOT TERRORISM – DND

MANILA — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana assured the people yesterday

that protesters are not terrorists as he allayed fears over the

controversial anti-terror bill now awaiting President DuterteÂ’s signature.

Lorenzana defended the bill that has met opposition, even online, as the

public raises concern over possible abuse by the state to crack down on

dissent.

“They are not terrorists.

Anybody who makes a peaceful protest, they are not terrorists. It is

enshrined in our Constitution that you can do peaceful protests, a peaceful

assembly. Those are actually protected by the bill of rights,” he told CNN

Philippines.

He said there are enough safeguards in the bill to protect the public.

COVID-19 INFECTIONS NEARLY 20,000 IN PHILIPPINES

The Department of Health reported 751 new cases of the coronavirus disease,

bringing the national tally to 19,748.

There are 90 new recoveries and eight new deaths.

ABS-CBNÂ’S LOPEZ CONFIRMS DUAL CITIZENSHIP

MANILA — ABS-CBN executive Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III yesterday confirmed

that he has dual citizenship.

After insisting that he is Filipino, Lopez admitted he is also a US citizen

and confirmed that all incorporation papers of the network indicated his

local descent.

The former chairman of the countryÂ’s largest television network made the

confirmation to Dasmariñas City Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., who asked him

whether he acquired properties in the US between 1952 to 1986.

“Pilipino po,” the 68-year-old TV executive said during an inquiry conducted

online through the Zoom app by a joint committee of the House of

Representatives that deliberated on the alleged violations the network

committed on its legislative franchise.

Lopez made the remark in reply to Barzaga, chairman of the House committee

on natural resources, who was inquiring into what citizenship Lopez stated

in “ABS-CBN’s incorporation papers from 1986 to 2000.”

Lopez also said he voted in the 2016 US elections, wherein Donald Trump

emerged victorious.

He said he returned to Manila in July 1986 and applied for a Philippine

passport in 2000.

Lopez and his counsel Mario Bautista, who also appeared at the online

inquiry, clarified that his foreign citizenship doesnÂ’t necessarily mean he

is no longer a Filipino, especially since he never renounced his Philippine

citizenship prior to his application for a local passport in 2000.

Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, who opposed the granting of another

25-year franchise for the broadcasting giant, said it was not a problem if

Lopez carries two citizenships, but the problem lies with the 1987

Constitution.

“The Constitution provides that ownership of companies here is only limited

to Filipinos. It could not have been a problem if Mr. Lopez is only a

Filipino, but he is also an American. We will have a lot of problems

processing that issue,” Marcoleta said.

“We should not forget that the issue here is the Constitution. There is no

argument that Mr. Lopez is both a US citizen and a Filipino. The problem

lies only in the fact that ABS-CBN should not be managed by an American,” he

added.

DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS BACK

MANILA — Beginning June 5, domestic flights from the Ninoy Aquino

International Airport (NAIA) will resume as Metro Manila transitions to a

more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ) amid the coronavirus

pandemic.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the resumption of domestic

commercial flights had been approved by Secretary Carlito Galvez, although

limited to GCQ-to-GCQ areas. Galvez is chief implementer of the countryÂ’s

coronavirus response policy.

However, Tugade stressed that the local government unit (LGU) must

categorically support the resumption of domestic commercial operations in

its jurisdiction.

Jim Sydioco, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) director

general, also said that airlines would still have to verify and confirm with

concerned authorities if their airports are allowed to resume operations.

SENATORS STILL WANT VFA REVIEW

MANILA — Senators yesterday welcomed MalacañangÂ’s move to suspend the

termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines

and the United States, but still pressed for a review of the military pact.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he was anticipating the next move of

Malacañang after six months even as he reiterated that the sentiment of a

majority of senators favor the retention and improvement of the VFA.

“But the pending issue in the Supreme Court remains. We still ask the SC

whether or not the abrogation (of treaties) must have the concurrence of the

Senate, the concurring body,” Sotto said, referring to a petition filed by

the chamber before the high court last March.

SC spokesman Brian Hosaka said the 56-page declaratory relief and mandamus

petition filed by senators on March 9 was among the issues tackled by the

magistrates during their session last Tuesday.

“The Supreme Court in the VFA case ordered the respondents therein to file a

comment to the petition,” Hosaka said.

He added the two respondents have 10 days from receiving the notice to

submit their comments.

DUTERTE SAW 'UNTIMELY' ABROGATION OF VFA WITH US DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC —

LORENZANA

In a virtual interview with CNN Philippines' "The Source", the Defense

Secretary Lorenzana said he was told that the Philippines needs cooperation

from other countries amid the pandemic, which has infected more than 6

million people across the globe.

"We need to cooperate with other countries to fight the pandemic and I think

the president (Duterte) thought that it's untimely to end the VFA at this

moment," Lorenzana said in the interview Wednesday morning.

THE REST

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CHOPPING UP EDSA: BIKES, BUSES, PRIVATE VEHICLES ON MAJOR HIGHWAY EYED

A House panel will ask authorities about their full plan and timeline for

the transportation of some 12 million people in Metro Manila, a lawmaker

said Thursday, 4 days into the region's relaxed coronavirus lockdown.

Authorities plan to designate the 2 innermost lanes of EDSA for buses that

will augment train operations, the 2 lanes next to that for private vehicles

and the rightmost lane nearest the sidewalk for bicycles, said House

transportation committee chairman Cesar Sarmiento.

He said his committee would investigate the plan on Friday.

UP, DLSU RANKED AMONG TOP UNIVERSITIES IN ASIA

MANILA — Only two higher education institutions from the Philippines were

included in this yearÂ’s list of top universities in Asia, according to a

London-based global university league table.

The University of the Philippines placed 65th in the 2020 Times Higher

Education Asia University Rankings released Wednesday. The countryÂ’s

premiere state university climbed 30 places from last yearÂ’s 95th ranking.

Meanwhile, the De La Salle University slipped to the 301-350 bracket from

251-300 bracket in 2018, when the institution made it to the list for the

first time in 2019.

Times Higher Education assessed Asian Universities based on performance

indicators in areas of teaching, research, citations, international outlook

and industry income.

The UP said the improvement in its ranking was due to “high score” in

citation and industry income criteria.

The following are the top 3 universities in Asia, according to the Times

Higher Education:

1.Tsinghua University in China

2.Peking University in China

3.National University of Singapore

The 2020 ranking included just under 500 universities in the region.

USE OF LOCALLY MADE TEST KITS SUSPENDED

MANILA — The use of GenAmplify rapid testing kits for the coronavirus

disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been suspended due to a contamination issue on

the raw materials used in their manufacture, Science and Technology

Secretary Fortunato dela Peña announced yesterday.

Dela Peña, at a Laging Handa online press briefing yesterday morning, said

that a new round of validation for the test kits manufactured by Marikina

City-based health technology startup Manila HealthTek Inc. of Dr. Raul

Destura was required before these could be used again.

“So when the new materials came in, we required a new validation through our

RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) and eventually FDA (Food and

Drug Administration),” said Dela Peña.

He said that while Manila HealthTek Inc. was continuing to produce thousands

of kits per day for the mass testing program, the testing has been halted

while validation was being done.

346 COPS INFECTED WITH COVID

MANILA — The number of police officers infected with the coronavirus disease

2019 or COVID-19 is now 346.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said 20

police officers, who recently tested positive for the virus, were either

confined in hospitals or under home quarantine.

Gamboa said 176 have recovered while four died.

“We attribute the high recovery rate to our intensified mass testing...

extensive contact tracing and treatment of confirmed cases as well as

isolation of suspected cases,” he said.

6 NAGPROTESTANG JEEPNEY DRIVER IKUKULONG 'HANGGANG MAKAPAGPIYANSA' - PULISYA

MANILA — Manananatili sa kulungan "hanggang makapagpiyansa" ang 6 na jeepney

driver na inaresto matapos magprotesta sa Caloocan para himukin ang gobyerno

na payagan silang muling makapasada kasabay ng pagluluwag ng coronavirus

lockdown ng bansa, sinabi ng pulisya, Huwebes.

Inaresto nitong Martes ang 6 na driver dahil tumanggi silang itabi ang

kanilang protestang nakakaabala sa trapik sa EDSA, ani Caloocan police chief

Col. Dario Menor.

"Maayos naman po iyong panawagan namin. Makikita naman po doon sa video na

kuha nila na sila po ay resisting pa rin so talagang nag-insist sila na doon

sila," aniya sa panayam ng TeleRadyo.

Na-inquest na aniya nitong Miyerkoles ang mga driver kaugnay ng disobedience

to authority, paglabas sa kanilang tahanan nang walang pahintulot at

paglabag sa physical distancing.

Sa korte na aniya nakasalalay ang kustodiya ng mga driver at mananatili sila

sa kulungan "hanggang makapagpiyansa po sila," ani Menor.

MAHIGIT 36,000 JEEPNEY DRIVER NAKAKUHA NG AYUDA: DSWD

Sinabi ng Department of Social Welfare and Development ngayong Huwebes na

nakapagbigay na ito ng pinansyal na tulong sa hindi bababa sa 36,200 jeepney

driver na hindi makapaghanap-buhay dahil sa lockdown para pigilin ang

coronavirus pandemic.

Nakatanggap din ng ayuda mula sa ahensya ang isa pang grupo ng 36,100 driver

ng public utility vehicles, pero hindi tiyak kung ilan dito ang driver ng

jeepney, ani DSWD Spokesperson Irene Dumlao.

Ito'y dahil aniya magkakahalo ang pangalan ng mga benepisyaryo ng social

amelioration program na inirekomenda ng Land Transportation Franchising and

Regulatory Board.

Binitawan ni Dumlao ang naturang pahayag kasunod ng pag-aresto sa 6 na

jeepney driver nang magprotesta bilang panawagan para sa ayuda at pagpayag

ng gobyerno na muli silang makapasada.

P300,000 HALAGA NG 'SHABU' NASABAT SA 16 ANYOS DALAGITA SA LAS PIÑAS

MAYNILA - Nahuli ang isang menor de edad matapos itong mabilhan ng ilegal na

droga sa buy-bust operation sa Las Piñas.

Kinilala ang suspek na si alyas "Mika," 16 anyos, na inaresto sa ikinasang

buybust operation sa tapat ng isang mall sa may Alabang Zapote Road,

Barangay Almanza 1.

Ayon sa Las Piñas police, bumili ng P500 halaga ng hinihinalang shabu ang

police poseur buyer mula kay Mika.

Nang magkapalitan na ng pera at droga, dito na hinuli ang suspek.

Nakuha mula kay Mika ang 4 na sachet ng hinihinalang shabu na may timbang na

50 gramo at nagkakahalaga ng P340,000.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'I'M IN LOVE WITH MY BUMP': COLEEN GARCIA FLAUNTS BELLY 25 WEEKS INTO

PREGNANCY

MANILA – Coleen Garcia is now 25 weeks pregnant and she is enjoying every

minute of this journey.

This is evident in her recent posts on Instagram where she looked gorgeous

flaunting her baby bump.

“I am in looove with my bump. Even though the little one kicks so much it

makes me kinda queasy. I still find it so amusing and nakakakilig. Enjoying

every step of this journey!!” she wrote.

Garcia and husband Billy Crawford announced her pregnancy last May 1,

although the actress found out that sheÂ’s expecting last January.

In a previous “ASAP” episode, Crawford said this development is something he

and Garcia are grateful for despite the coronavirus pandemic.

“Kahit gaano kahirap ang pinagdaanan ng mundo ngayon, I am blessed with a

little angel in my hands. I am here to love and protect and honor my family.

I am so, so happy,” he said.

The two have been married for over two years now. They celebrated their

second anniversary last April.

SPORTS

TOTTENHAM HAVE ONLY POSITIVE TEST IN PREMIER LEAGUE'S LATEST VIRUS CHECKS

LONDON -- The Premier League's restart bid received a boost on Wednesday as

it was revealed an unnamed person at Tottenham was the only positive test

out of 1,197 in the latest round of coronavirus checks.

Tottenham confirmed the individual who tested positive is from the north

London club, but did not say if it was a player or member of staff.

The person must now self-isolate for a period of seven days.

"We have been informed by the Premier League that we have received one

positive test for COVID-19 following the latest round of testing at our

training centre," Tottenham said in a statement.

"Due to medical confidentiality, the individual's name will not be

disclosed.

"They are currently asymptomatic and will now self-isolate for seven days,

in line with Premier League protocol, before undergoing further testing.

"We shall continue to strictly adhere to the Premier League's Return to

Training protocol, which ensures our training centre remains a safe and

virus-free working environment."

Players and staff at Premier League clubs were tested on Monday and Tuesday.

The low number of positives is another encouraging sign for the Premier

League as it tries to finish the postponed campaign.

There have been five rounds of testing, with the total of positive results

now at 13 from 5,079 tests.

Premier League players and staff are tested twice a week as the league aims

to resume on June 17 following its suspension in March because of the

pandemic.

"The Premier League can today confirm that on Monday 1 June and Tuesday 2

June, 1,197 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19. Of these, one

has tested positive," a Premier League statement read.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

No one is ever a failure when he has friends. - Unknown