PHILIPPINES TO GET VACCINE PRIORITY, XI TELLS DUTERTE

DAVAO CITY – On the eve of the 122nd anniversary of Philippine Independence

Day, Chinese President Xi Jinping called President Duterte to congratulate

and assure him that Filipinos would be prioritized in the distribution of a

vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) once it becomes available in

China.

The President received XiÂ’s call Thursday night at the Malacañang South

Guest House here. Their conversation lasted for 38 minutes.

China is one of the countries developing a vaccine for COVID-19.

XiÂ’s call came a few days after the two countries marked 45 years of

diplomatic relations. It also came on the heels of

DuterteÂ’s suspension of his termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement

(VFA) with the United States.

Duterte and Xi discussed their countriesÂ’ progress in combating COVID as

well as their strategies for restarting their respective economies.

ANTI-TERROR BILL ENDORSED FOR SIGNING AMID RALLIES

MANILA — The Anti-Terror Bill of 2020 will pass the constitutional test once

it is brought to the Supreme Court, chief presidential legal counsel

Salvador Panelo said yesterday.

Panelo also recommended to President Duterte to sign the measure,

transmitted by the Senate and the House of Representatives to the Office of

the President last week.

“After a careful and thoughtful review of the Anti-Terrorism Bill, this

representation has recommended the approval and the signing of the proposed

legislative measure to the President,” Panelo said.

“Our office has studied each and every provision, which should not be read

in isolation but in connection with each other so as to render the document

in its entirety, as well as its directives, effective in combatting

terrorism, and found the same passing the constitutional test,” he said.

He maintained the bill contains sufficient safeguards against abuses and

that it would only be used against those who sow and create a condition of

widespread and extraordinary fear and panic through lawless actions.

“The proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 will serve as a powerful weapon

against participants of these lawless actions, the threat of which is

extremely imminent during our current times,” he said.

In a statement, Panelo also assured the public that the government is

following the guidelines set by the United NationÂ’s Security Council for

fighting terrorism and violent extremism.

“Further, by strengthening policies against terrorism and its actors, our

country will effectively be complying with our obligations to the community

of nations by countering and eliminating terroristic acts through proper

legislation,” he said.

Panelo was referring to the PhilippinesÂ’ obligation under the UN Security

Council in 2017, through its Resolution No. 2396, stipulating that “member

states have the primary responsibility in countering terrorist acts and

violent extremism conducive to terrorism.”

“Our lawmakers have guaranteed – and we agree – that provisions found in the

draft legislative policy are not just compliant but are supportive as well

to our international covenants,” he said.

TERROR BILL CRITICS DEFY QUARANTINE, STORM IN INDEPENDENCE DAY 'MAÑANITA'

MANILA - Hundreds of protesters on Independence Day defied downpour from

Tropical Depression Butchoy and a ban on mass gatherings to urge President

Rodrigo Duterte to scrap an anti-terrorism bill that critics said could

spawn rights abuses.

Carrying roses and food, the activists dubbed their mass action a "mañanita"

in a dig at a recent birthday serenade for Metro Manila police chief Gen.

Debold Sinas that allegedly violated the 10-people limit on gatherings to

prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. President Rodrigo Duterte had

refused to sack Sinas.

Performance artist Mae Paner, dressed in an orange shirt, impersonated Sinas

and blew birthday candles on a Voltes V cake in front of the crowd that was

mostly wearing anti-virus masks at University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Internet sensation "Aling Marie," who shot to fame for a video bashing

online troll farms, spoke at the rally and claimed the anti-terror bill that

Duterte had certified as urgent could stifle criticism against the

government.

Leody De Guzman, who lost his senatorial bid last year, said there were more

pressing national issues than the bill.

"Sa lahat ng puwedeng asikasuhin na bills, eto pang anti-terror bill na

naglalayon patahimikin ang mga kritiko ang inuuna... Sila ang namumuwersa na

lumabas ang taumbayan," said Michelle Santos, a graduate of UP Baguio.

"Usapin ng kalayaan at kinabukasan ang nakataya dito, kaya hindi kami

puwedeng manahimik," said Kara Taggaoa, spokesperson of the League of

Filipino Students.

The measure, which is up for Duterte's signature, will allow the government

to wiretap suspects, arrest them without warrants and hold them without

charge for up to 24 days, among others provisions.

Details of what constitute terrorism under the bill have worried human

rights lawyers, who noted how the new definition “swivels” from "its effects

upon the people toward its effect upon the government."

"The danger lies with how the government can construe legitimate acts of

dissent or opposition within these definitions," according to the group

Concerned Lawyers for Civil Liberties.

"Ang pandemya at bagyo ay lilipas naman, pero 'yung pagkuha o pagnakaw sa

karapatan at demokrasya natin dapat hindi natin pinapalampas. At hindi naman

ako natatakot sumama kasi alam kong hindi naman ako nag-iisa," said a

protester who requested to be identified only as Christine Anne.

"Mas nakakatakot 'yung mangyayari kung hindi ako lalabas ng bahay para

ipanawagan 'yung pagbasura sa anti-terror bill," said Dindo Roxas, a member

of Karapatan Alliance Philippines.

PHILIPPINES LOGS 336 FRESH COVID-19 CASES; RECOVERIES AT DAILY RECORD-HIGH

MANILA — The Philippines has reported 615 additional coronavirus disease

(COVID-19) cases, 336 of which are considered “fresh cases,” the Department

of Health reported Friday.

Of the total number of new cases, 279 were classified as “late cases," are

those whose test results were released four days ago or more.

Philippines meanwhile saw another record-high in COVID-19 recoveries, with

289 recovered patients reported, bringing the total number of recoveries to

5,454.

The DOH also reported on Friday 16 new COVID-related deaths, which is the

highest number of deaths reported in a single day for the last 2 weeks. This

brings the total number of fatalities to 1,052.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has reached

24,787, as of Friday.

“Total cases reported may be subject to change as these numbers undergo

constant cleaning and validation,” the DOH told media, as it noted that “3

duplicate cases were removed from the total cases.”

Of the 336 fresh cases, 97 are from National Capital Region and 92 are from

Region 7 or Central Visayas. The remaining 147 are categorized as “Others,”

which can mean that they are from other regions and their locations are

still being verified.

Of the 279 late cases, 84 are from NCR, 20 from Region 7 and 10 are Filipino

repatriates. Another 165 are categorized as “Others.”

Based on DOH data, the number of cases that have locations that are “for

validation” started to increase in late May. DOH has yet to explain this

trend. ABS-CBN

Since June 6, the Philippines has been logging larger numbers of fresh cases

despite the earlier claim of the DOH that the country has been flattening

the epidemic curve.

A substantial number of fresh cases have also been coming from Region 7,

where there was a previous spike in cases in villages and jails.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said earlier that their

Epidemiology Bureau is already investigating the cause of the spikes.

COVID-19 has so far infected 7.5 million people around the world, according

to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus dashboard. Of those, 3.5 million

individuals have already recovered while 421,000 have died.

TAX MEMO AIMS TO 'REMIND,' NOT 'GO AFTER' ONLINE SELLERS, SAYS DOF

MANILA - The Department of Finance said Friday it was not running after

small sellers when the tax bureau issued a memorandum reminding those who

transact online to register and pay for taxes.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue released an order dated June 1, mandating all

businesses involved in digital transactions to register by July 31.

“The goal of this project is not to go after online merchants for unreported

sales or unpaid taxes. We just want to encourage those who are engaged in

online businesses to register with the BIR,” said Finance Revenue Operations

Group Undersecretary Antonette Tionko.

“Online transactions have increased for quite some time now, especially

during the community quarantine period. ThatÂ’s why we want to take this

opportunity to remind them to register their businesses," she added.

There will be no penalty for registrations until July 31 as well as for

those who will declare and pay corresponding taxes for past transactions,

the DOF said.

Online sellers earning below P250,000 a year are exempted from paying taxes,

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said.

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PDRS ALLOW FOREIGNERS TO INVEST WITHOUT VIOLATING PH LAWS, SAYS MONSOD

MANILA - One of the framers of the 1987 Constitution on Friday said that

issuing Philippine Deposit Receipts (PDRs) is not an innovation of ABS-CBN,

and that similar instruments are being issued by other countries to attract

foreign investors.

“It’s not an innovation or creation of ABS-CBN. This is allowed in many

countries and the purpose of this is to allow foreign investors to invest

without violating any laws of the land. What is the benefit to the foreign

investor are the distributions of the holding company that issues a PDR. In

the case of ABS-CBN, ABS Broadcasting is listed in the stock exchange,” said

Atty. Christian Monsod.

Monsod, on ANCÂ’s Headstart, said 66 percent of shares of ABS-CBN are owned

by ABS-CBN Holdings Corp, and it is the latter which issued PDRs to foreign

investors.

“So, the foreign investors have no ownership of the shares,” Monsod said.

ABS-CBN has maintained that PDRs do not violate the Constitutional mandate

that media companies should be 100-percent owned and controlled by

Filipinos.

“The foreign investors are not entitled to receive dividends directly from

ABS-CBN Broadcasting, and the feature of this PDR is that for every PDR

thatÂ’s issued by ABS-CBN Holdings, there is a corresponding underlying

pledge of ABS-CBN Broadcasting shares but that is not owned by the PDR

holder, it is continuously owned by ABS-CBN Holdings,” said Monsod.

Rep. Michael Defensor said on Thursday that ABS-CBN was engaged in

company-layering, and that PDR holders have some control of the corporation.

ABS-CBN's legal counsel has said that these financial instruments do not

amount to ownership of shares, nor do they give holders the right to vote

for the company's board of directors.

Other media companies, including ABS-CBN's chief rival, GMA Network, have

holding firms that sell PDRs. These holding firms, not the PDR holders, have

stakes in the broadcasting firms.

Monsod said the ruling of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on

RapplerÂ’s PDR does not apply to ABS-CBN Holdings' PDR.

‘HOMESCHOOLING AN OPTION, BUT IT’S NOT FOR ALL’

MANILA — With the expected suspension of face-to-face classes due to the

coronavirus pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) has identified

homeschooling as a possible option for students to continue with their

education.

But according to Donna Pangilinan-Simpao, president of the Homeschoolers

Association of the Philippines, this particular mode of learning could work

for a certain demographic but is not applicable for all.

“In terms of scale, you can’t say that you can replicate it for 33 million

school-age children because homeschooling, in the way that we have lived and

promoted it, is not for all,” she said in an interview with The Chiefs on

Cignal TVÂ’s One News on Thursday night.

“Homeschooling is a solution for a certain demographic. I do understand that

a lot will not be able to do so, but there are those who can,” she added.

Simpao said there are certain factors needed to be able to adopt the setup.

“They have to have a growth mindset,” she said, referring to parents.

“Homeschooling to most is like tutorial… It’s a wrong concept or perception

of homeschooling.”

Homeschooling is a flexible learning option recognized by DepEd.

CONSTRUCTION OF EDSA BIKE LANES STARTS TODAY

MANILA — The construction of protected bicycle lanes along EDSA will start

today, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said yesterday.

The DOTr said it has come to an agreement with the Metro Manila Development

Authority (MMDA) to start the construction following a meeting between

Secretary Arthur Tugade and MMDA chairman Danny Lim.

Neither the DOTr nor the MMDA stated the completion date for the project.

The protected bike lanes will be constructed on the roads and not on

sidewalks, as more people are shifting to this mode of transport given the

lack of available public transportation.

“Our goal is to move people while making sure of their safety,” Tugade said.

According to the DOTr, the MMDA plans to provide at least 1.5 meters of

space for bikers, with the project to be done in two phases.

SAN JUAN STUDENTS TO RECEIVE FREE TABLETS

MANILA — Students of public schools in San Juan City will no longer have to

worry about online classes as they will receive more than 11,000 tablets and

1,500 laptops from the national government.

Mayor Francis Zamora said the Department of Information and Communications

Technology (DICT) will donate the portable computers as part of its free

Wi-Fi for all program in the city.

San Juan was chosen last year as the DICTÂ’s pilot city for its free Wi-Fi

project.

“They are providing us free tablets for all public school students and free

Wi-Fi for every barangay,” Zamora said during a news briefing.

The laptops were earmarked for students of the Pinaglabanan Elementary

School, which is the pilot site of the DICTÂ’s program.

Under the local governmentÂ’s agreement with the DICT, public places in the

cityÂ’s 21 barangays will be the pilot sites for internet access. These are

barangay halls, health centers, public schools, police stations and public

parks.

TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO OVERSEAS FILIPINO FRONTLINERS IN INDEPENDENCE DAY VIDEO

In a music video set to a fresh rendition of "Noypi," Bamboo's iconic song

about national pride, overseas Filipino frontliners are shown tending to

coronavirus patients.

International headlines about Filipinos' service in other countries —

notably in Britain, where they were publicly lauded by TV host Piers Morgan

— are also seen in the video.

In a portion saluting the heroism of Filipino frontliners abroad, they

individually take off their face gear to expose marks that indicate long

hours and symbolize their dedication.

According to the DOT, among the 10 million Filipinos working abroad are over

254,000 doctors, nurses, caregivers, hospital staff, and other healthcare

professionals.

"We celebrate this Independence Day by standing with our frontliners," the

DOT said in a statement. "Your dedication to the profession has made an

immense contribution to global recovery, and we are all deeply proud to say,

'Hoy, Pinoy ako!'"

Originally performed by Bamboo, "Noypi" is given a poignant update by young

singer Katching Silvestre, with vocal arrangement by her father Monet

Silvestre.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

EVERYTHING AIRING ON KAPAMILYA CHANNEL STARTING TODAY

MANILA — ABS-CBN programs, both current and classics, will finally return on

air starting June 13 via cable and satellite TV on Kapamilya Channel.

Kapamilya Channel's debut comes over a month after the government shutdown

of ABS-CBN's TV and radio broadcast, and three months after the coronavirus

lockdown halted showbiz productions.

Current programs resuming production under strict safety protocols include

"FPJ's Ang Probinsyano," the long-running primetime stalwart starring Coco

Martin, and "It's Showtime," ABS-CBN's flagship variety program.

The action drama has retained its weeknight time slot of 8 p.m., while the

the noontime show is airing 15 minutes earlier at noon both on Saturdays and

weekdays.

Two other scripted shows rolling cameras again are the family drama "Love

Thy Woman" and the military series "A Soldier's Heart," airing at 2:30 p.m.

and 9:30 p.m. on weekdays, respectively.

Local hits will be joined by popular K-dramas, with "Familiar Wife" and "The

World of Married Couple" premiering on Philippine TV. Both will be weekday

programs, with 9:30 a.m. and 8:45 p.m. time slots, respectively.

Weekends, meanwhile, will see the comeback of "ASAP Natin 'To "and "The

Voice Teens." The star-studded concert show will still air 11:30 a.m. on

Sundays, while the singing competition remains a primetime offering, kicking

off 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 7:15 p.m. on Sundays.

Talk and information are also included in Kapamilya Channel's maiden lineup.

ABS-CBN News' Teleradyo and the lifestyle show "Magandang Buhay" will air

back-to-back on weekdays starting 6 a.m., while "News Patrol" will keep

viewers updated at 6 p.m.

"TV Patrol," ABS-CBN's flagship newscast, while not included in Kapamilya

Channel's programming, will remain to be seen on ANC, Teleradyo, Cinemo,

TFC, and online (ABS-CBN News on Facebook and YouTube, news.abs-cbn.com, and

iwant.ph).

LOOK: 'SHOWTIME' HOSTS RETURN TO STUDIO AFTER 3 MONTHS

MANILA — For the first time in three months, the hosts of "It's Showtime"

returned to its ABS-CBN studio on Friday, one day before its live television

return via Kapamilya Channel.

In photos posted by production head Peter Dizon, the hosts, all wearing face

masks, appear to be getting briefed while seated in the audience area.

"It's Showtime" last held a live episode inside its studio in mid-March,

before the coronavirus lockdown. Then, for weeks until the government

shutdown of ABS-CBN in May, the noontime program was held virtually, with

hosts interacting via conference call from their respective homes.

The June 12 rehearsals marked a physical reunion for its mainstays: Vice

Ganda, Vhong Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Karylle, Amy Perez, Jugs Jugueta, Teddy

Corpuz, and Ryan Bang.

Anne Curtis and Mariel Padilla remain on leave after they gave birth in

March and November, respectively.

Owing to strict safety protocols, the hosts, as well as performers and

segment judges, will have rotating physical participation inside the studio.

Implementing physical distancing will also mean no live audience, and only a

handful of contestants are allowed, after having done self-quarantine and

rapid testing.

When it resumes on Saturday, "It's Showtime" is introducing a new slate of

segments which all aim to help address the needs of Filipinos amid the

coronavirus crisis. The singing competition "Tawag ng Tanghalan" has been

retained, and now has a virtual barangay component.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.19

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The emancipation of our physical nature is in attaining health, of our

social being in attaining goodness, and of our self in attaining love. -

Rabindranath Tagore