DUTERTE TELLS XI: COVID-19 CRISIS SHOWS 'GREATER SIGNIFICANCE' OF NOURISHING

PH-CHINA TIES

Duterte assures China's Xi of 'firm commitment' to diplomatic ties

MANILA - The COVID-19 pandemic shows the "greater significance" of

nourishing the Philippines relationship with China, President Rodrigo

Duterte told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as the two nations marked 45

years of diplomatic ties.

Duterte, in a June 9 letter to Xi, affirmed Manila's commitment to

strengthen the relationship with Beijing as the pandemic, which began in

China, continues to upend the stability of the world.

"As the entire world continues to face challenges to security and stability

and the rule of law and with the rise of non-traditional and emerging

threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic, further strengthening

Philippines-China partnership takes on even greater significance," Duterte

said in his letter.

"We must forge on and ensure that the potential of our special ties is fully

realized," he added.

Xi, for his part, said he values China's ties with the Philippines.

"I attach great importance to the development of China-Philippines ties," Xi

was quoted as saying by Chinese state-run agency Xinhua.

While leaders such as US President Donald Trump have criticized China over

the pandemic, Duterte has been supportive of Beijing even thanking the East

Asian nation for its support to the Philippines during the crisis.

CONGRESS SUBMITS ANTI-TERROR BILL TO DUTERTE

MANILA — The new anti-terrorism bill is now ready for President Duterte’s

signature, as Congress yesterday transmitted to Malacañang copies of the

controversial measure that various groups and sectors are opposing.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said at a press briefing yesterday

that Duterte has 30 days from transmission of a measure to sign or veto it

in its entirety or in parts.

Under the Constitution, the enrolled measure will lapse into law if not

acted upon by the President within the 30-day period.

Certified as urgent by the President before Congress adjourned last week,

the measure, once enacted, will effectively repeal the Human Security Act of

2007.

It will allow a longer period of up to 24 days to detain suspected

terrorists without the filing of charges.

The measure also allows a longer period of up to six months, with court

approval, for the conduct of surveillance operations, wiretapping and

recording of private communications, access of data base, examination of

bank records, freezing of assets of persons and organizations suspected of

financing terrorism or having connections with alleged terrorists, among

others.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the implementing

rules and regulations (IRR) for the measure would have safeguards against

abuse.

“Should the ATB (anti-terror bill) be enacted into law, the DOJ will

endeavor to define more clearly, in the IRR that the ATC (anti-terror

council) and the DOJ will be tasked to promulgate, the parameters within

which the law will be implemented and enforced, in order to erase any

latitude for misapplication or abuse,” Guevarra said.

He said the DOJ has set its own deadline of 15 days, beginning yesterday, to

finish its comments on the bill.

COMMUNIST REBELS MAY BE COVERED IN ANTI-TERROR BILL: PHILIPPINE ARMY

MANILA - Communist rebels may be covered in the anti-terror bill which is

now awaiting President Rodrigo Duterte's signature, the head of the

Philippine Army said Wednesday.

The President previously declared the the Communist Party of the Philippines

and New PeopleÂ’s Army as terrorist organizations and the justice department

has asked the court to do the same.

"If they espouse violence and we have seen how they killed innocent

civilians and even us in the security sector... I think in that, theyÂ’re no

different than other terrorists," Commanding General Gilbert Gapay told ANC.

Rebel supporters "donÂ’t have anything to worry about" if they do not provide

financial and logistical support, he added.

"You can express yourself as long as you donÂ’t espouse violence. Civil

rights are protected in the anti-terror bill," he said.

"For the rest who are not really involved, it's unfounded apprehension

really on their part."

The definition of terrorism and terrorists are "clear cut" in the measure

that "puts more teeth" to the Human Security Act, according to Gapay,

contrary to criticisms.

"The new anti-terror bill is more on the preventive side and we want to

deter any terroristic acts by going after these people who are still in

their planning stage," he said.

COVID-19 CASES IN PHILIPPINES JUMP TO 22,992

The Department of Health reported that the total infection count in the

Philippines is now at 22,992.

The Health department said there are 518 additional COVID-19 cases, 99

recoveries and six new deaths.

PAGCOR EYES GRADUAL REOPENING OF CASINOS

MANILA — The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) is eyeing the

resumption of casino operations this month to save the jobs of thousands of

workers employed by the gaming industry and generate much-needed revenues

for the governmentÂ’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response.

The gaming regulator wants to reopen casinos gradually either this month or

in July, Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer Andrea Domingo said on

Monday.

Pagcor suspended the operations of casinos last March when the government

imposed community quarantine measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Domingo said operators should follow health and safety protocols if casinos

would be allowed to reopen.

“We cannot resume operations with 100 percent of our workforce. We have to

observe social distancing. We need to conduct rapid testing for our

employees,” she said.

Domingo said the resumption of casino operations would save 132,000 workers

from being jobless and allow the government to generate revenues to fund

measures against COVID-19.

“We have to maximize revenue collection because we need the money not only

for COVID-19 response but also to jumpstart the economy after the health

crisis is over,” she said.

40 DOJ PERSONNEL TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID

MANILA — The Department of Justice is considering suspending work after 40

DOJ employees tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),

an official said yesterday.

Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the employees tested positive in the rapid

antibody test and will be subjected “to a more reliable swab test.”

The number of DOJ employees who tested positive jumped from an initial three

– two security guards and a maintenance worker – to 40. The DOJ has 700 to

750 employees.

“We’ve disinfected the premises over the weekend, and we’ll do it all over

again. We will also decide if we need to suspend all work on site in the

meantime,” Guevarra said.

Guevarra said they have instructed the first three personnel who tested

positive for COVID-19 not to report to work and to undergo a reverse

transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test to validate the

result. The rapid antibody tests were done on June 5.

The DOJ also asked the Chinese General Hospital to conduct rapid testing on

their other employees yesterday and today.

Guevarra said the DOJ employees who tested positive for COVID-19 could have

acquired the virus outside the DOJ.

JUNE 12 ‘MAÑANITAÂ’ PROTEST: ONLY 10 ALLOWED

MANILA — Groups opposing the Anti-Terrorism Act, which now awaits President

DuterteÂ’s signature, are planning protests they call “mañanita” to mark

Independence Day on June 12.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. reminded the public against mass

gatherings of more than 10 people, in accordance with social distance rules

of minimum health standards during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

pandemic.

“I donÂ’t know anything about this mañanita, but gatherings of 10 people or

more is prohibited. That is all,” Roque said in Filipino, referring to the

regulations imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management

of Emerging Infectious Diseases in general community quarantine or GCQ

areas.

The mañanita protest is named after the birthday feast for National Capital

Region Police Office chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas. Despite the quarantine

breach, he has kept his post.

RODY TO REMAIN IN DAVAO

President Duterte will likely mark the occasion in Davao City where he has

been staying for the past two weeks, Roque said yesterday.

“We’re checking because we were given permission by the IATF to hold the

celebration at Luneta, but limited to 10 people only,” he said.

Media affairs relations office Undersecretary Feducia Mia Reyes-Lucas said

no meeting is being called for Independence Day as of presstime.

At a press briefing in Malacañang yesterday, Roque said the President will

be holding another meeting with the IATF in Davao, where he is likely to

announce whatÂ’s next for Metro Manila residents and other areas that remain

under GCQ until June 15. Duterte will also reportedly come up with a

recorded Independence Day message for the national celebration.

Last year, Duterte skipped the Independence Day rites in Manila when he

opted to visit troops in Lanao del Sur. In 2018, Duterte was heckled at the

Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite. He had also skipped the ceremonies in

2017.

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SECURE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS BEFORE FLYING: PAL, CEBU PACIFIC TELL PASSENGERS

MANILA — Passengers may be barred from boarding their flights if they lack

documents that local governments require as precaution against the

coronavirus pandemic, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines said Wednesday.

Current virus curbs allow air travel in 3 cases: stranded individuals,

repatriated overseas Filipino workers and those working in authorized

sectors.

Those stranded by the lockdown that started in March should have a medical

certificate and travel pass, said PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna.

Repatriated OFWs should have a quarantine certificate while those workers in

authorized industries should carry their company ID, employment certificate

or ID from the inter-agency task force on COVID-19, Villaluna said.

Some areas like Cebu province require other documents like a letter of

acceptance from the local government. A list of requirements is posted on

the PAL website, Villaluna said.

Cebu Pacific on Tuesday offloaded around 20 passengers because they had

incomplete documents, said airline's corporate communications director Charo

Logarta-Lagamon.

PAL had similar incidents, said Villaluna. "Nagkakaroon po ng ganoong

sitwasyon (there are situations like that)," she said, without giving

additional details.

LTFRB: ALL 31 BUS ROUTES OPEN BY NEXT WEEK

MANILA — All 31 rationalized bus routes in Metro Manila could be open by

June 19 as public transportation remains limited due to the coronavirus

threat, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)

said yesterday.

LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III bared the projection as he reported that 15

bus routes have been opened.

Delgra said that aside from these routes, the LTFRB was also preparing to

reopen routes for provincial buses once phase two of the public transport

resumption begins.

With the enforcement of the general community quarantine since June 1, some

quarantine restrictions were relaxed and some modes of public transportation

were allowed to resume operations in two phases.

For phase one covering June 1 to 21, the Department of Transportation has

allowed the operation – albeit on a limited capacity – of trains, bus

augmentation services, taxis, transport network vehicle services, shuttle

services, P2P buses and bicycles.

Tricycles have also been allowed to operate even before the first phase but

with the approval of local government units.

“For preparations for provincial buses, we are looking at integrated

terminal exchanges like the PITX, which is already open,” Delgra said during

the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday.

TEACHERS SEEK P1,000 INTERNET ALLOWANCE

MANILA — Teachers should be provided with internet or communication

allowance to cover expenses related to the shift to distance learning in the

upcoming school year, an organization said.

The TeachersÂ’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) recommended providing teachers with

P1,000 monthly allowance for communication-related expenses such as internet

connectivity and mobile load.

“With online tasks continuously growing, we may need more funds to cope,”

Ildefonso Enguerra III, president of the TDC Metro Manila TeachersÂ’ Union,

said.

'KAKAYANIN KO PA': 72-ANYOS NA JEEPNEY DRIVER NA NAKULONG DAHIL SA PROTESTA,

HANDANG MAGBALIK-PASADA

Hindi mag-aatubiling bumalik sa pamamasada si Elmer Cordero, 72, isa sa 6 na

jeepney driver na kalalaya lang matapos arestuhin sa isang protesta para sa

dagdag na ayuda mula sa gobyerno at panawagang muling makapaghanapbuhay.

"Talagang kakayanin ko pa kasi d'yan ako lumaki, d'yan ko rin nakuha 'yong

sakit-sakit sa pagmamaneho. Hindi ko lang masabi kung tuloy-tuloy pero nasa

jeep pa rin ako," sinabi ni Tatay Elmer sa ABS-CBN Teleradyo.

Inaresto si Cordero at 5 kasamahan driver mula sa grupong PISTON noong Hunyo

2. Unang nakapagpiyansa ang 4 na miyembro nitong Lunes ng grupo pero naiwan

si Cordero at isa pang kasamahan dahil may hiwalay umano silang kaso.

Kinasuhan ng estaga si Cordero noong 2002 dahil hindi siya nakapagbayad sa

inuupahang talyer.

Nakalaya rin siya at kasamahang si Wilson Ramilla nitong Martes ng gabi

matapos magpiyansa ng P10,000.

Una nang na-dismiss ang kaso ni Ramilla na carnapping noong 2008 at na-serve

na nito ang kasong qualified theft, paglilinaw ng kaniyang abogadong si JV

Topacio.

BREWING STORM THREATENS LUZON: PAGASA

MANILA — A low pressure area or brewing storm is expected to trudge through

Luzon this week, the state weather bureau said Wednesday, with the region

still under varying virus quarantines.

The weather system was spotted 75 kilometers east of Borongan, Eastern Samar

at 3 a.m. and may strengthen into a tropical depression in 48 hours, said

PAGASA weather forecaster Ezra Bulquerin.

The LPA might approach Bicol and Eastern Visayas before crossing northern

Luzon on Friday or Saturday, he told TeleRadyo. It will be the second storm

to hit the country after Typhoon Ambo (international name: Vongfong) which

followed a similar track.

On Wednesday, the weather system will bring cloudy skies and rains over

Marinduque, Romblon, Bicol Region, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region,

and Central and Eastern Visayas, Bulquerin said.

Western Visayas and the rest of Mindanao will also experience cloudy skies

and thunderstorms due to winds from the southwest, he said.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon should expect sunny weather with rains in

the afternoon or evening, he said.

The LPA will come as authorities examine whether or not the lockdown of

Metro Manila, the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, could

be downgraded further on June 16.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

VETERAN ACTRESS ANITA LINDA PASSES AWAY AT 95

MANILA — Veteran actress Anita Linda passed on Wednesday, June 10, at 6:15

am at age 95 at her home in Paranaque.

LindaÂ’s daughter, Francesca, told ABS-CBN News her mother succumbed to heart

failure after several days of labored breathing.

The actressÂ’ daughter also disclosed that Linda had late stage dementia at

the time of her passing.

“She lived a good life, love niya ang showbiz. Sobrang pasasalamat namin

because everyone is good to her. Love siya ng lahat!” Francesca said.

As of this time, LindaÂ’s family is preparing for the cremation of LindaÂ’s

remains at Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Paranaque.

Alice Lake in real life, Linda left a lasting legacy of films where she

showed her prowess as an actress, beginning with the post-war movies “Sawa

sa Lumang Simboryo” and “Sisa”; Lino Brocka’s “Hellow, Soldier”; Mike de

leon’s “”Sister Stella L”; Brillante Mendoza’s “Lola”; and Adolf Alix's

“Adela” and “Circa,” her last movie in 2019 with Eddie Garcia and other

veteran stars.

The sad news was confirmed by director Adolf Alix Jr. in an Instagram post.

“This is a very sad day for me. I am trembling as I am gathering my

thoughts... The great Anita Linda has passed away this morning at 6:15 a.m.

Prayers for her soul,” Alix wrote in an Instagram post.

In June last year, Linda was honored for her contribution to Philippine

cinema at the Dunong ng Isang Ina event, which was part of the Sandaan: 100

Years of Philippine Cinema celebration.

“I feel good. I’m being rewarded, they appreciated it. Maraming salamat sa

Diyos,” Linda said in an interview during the event.

Asked of her secret for having a long and successful career, the actress

replied: “Siguro pakikisama sa lahat, sa kapwa. Maybe it’s a secret na

mahirap intindihin. Bakit nga ba hanggang ngayon ay narito pa ako? Somebody

up there loves me. Wala naman akong gagawin sa buhay ko kung hindi umarte.”

SPORTS

NBA PLANNING SHORTENED '20-'21 SEASON -- HAWKS GM

A shortened 2020-21 season is part of the NBA's plan to reduce the impact of

a compacted offseason.

The league's desire to get closer to the usual calendar, including ending

next season in April with the playoffs running into mid-June, is also

driving decisions around the makeup of next season.

"If you're going from the middle of October to starting the season the first

of December, if you are one of the teams in the Finals, that's quick,"

Atlanta Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk said on a conference call

Tuesday.

"But they want to try to stay as close to the historical timing as possible.

So I don't think this is something you'll see stick. They've talked to us on

one of our GM calls that it might be a condensed schedule next year. More so

than in the past," he added.

"As you know, there's been a big drive to avoid back-to-backs and certainly

four in five nights, but we might find ourselves in a situation next year

where it would be much more condensed."

The 2019-20 season is scheduled to resume in Orlando on July 31. The Hawks

are one of the eight teams who aren't part of the restart with no chance to

reach the playoffs. That means the Hawks, like other teams such as the

Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls, would go from

mid-March until November without formal workouts.

"Because of this circumstance, I think the league wants to stay as close to

its original schedule as possible," Schlenk said.

"There's a lot of different reasons for that -- the college season, the

draft and how all of that plays out. So that's why they've laid out a

timeline where it would be a very quick turnaround from the NBA Finals to

the start of the season."

The tentative key dates that the NBA released last week include training

camp starting Nov. 10 and the first regular-season game being played Dec. 1.

Key considerations facing the league next summer include the postponed

Olympic Games, scheduled for July.

INDICATORS

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position

falls, your ego goes with it. - Colin Powell