ACQUITTED MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE SUSPECTS WALK FREEMANILA - Nearly all of the defendants acquitted in the Maguindanao massacrecase walked free on Friday, a day after a special court absolved them in thedecade-old case.The 56 defendants acquitted in the Nov. 23, 2009 slaughter were mostlypolicemen assigned in the province of Maguindanao, several alleged membersof the Ampatuan family's militia, and 2 leaders of the clan accused oforchestrating the crime to stop a challenge to their rule in the province.Forty of the 46 acquitted defendants in custody were released from policecamp Bagong Diwa in Taguig on Friday morning, said Bureau of Jail Managementand Penology Spokesperson Chief Insp. Xavier Solda.Of the remaining 6 defendants, 2 were expected to be released later Fridayafter court verification while 4 would remain in jail due to separatepending cases, he said.The guilt of those acquitted could not be proven "beyond reasonable doubt,"according to Manila regional trial court judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes' 761-pageverdict.The 2 acquitted Ampatuan clan members were Datu Akmad Ampatuan and DatuSajid Islam Ampatuan, who was out on bail.The "not guilty" finding bars any appeal on the criminal aspect as it wouldamount to double jeopardy, a constitutional right preventing an accused frombeing tried again for the same or similar charge following an acquittal orconviction.Sajid Ampatuan, who allegedly participated in the crime's planning andattempted cover-up, could still face a civil suit seeking damages, saidlawyer Nena Santos who represents the families of 38 of the 58 victims.The acquitted policemen, meanwhile, have to apply for reinstatement togovernment service and undergo review, said national police spokespersonBrig. Gen. Bernard Banac.BAD FORENSICS HIT OVER MISSING 58TH MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE VICTIMMANILA -- The prosecution's failure to account for a 58th victim in theAmpatuan massacre can be blamed on bad forensics, according to an expert whosaid she found a contaminated crime scene in Maguindanao province 10 yearsago.Five members of the powerful Ampatuan clan were convicted with 38 others onThursday over the murder of 57 people, whose bodies were mutilated anddumped in a shallow grave with a backhoe, in one of the worstelection-related attacks in the Philippines.Unlike the relatives of these victims, the family of Reynaldo Momay was notawarded damages by a Quezon City judge, who cited the prosecution's failureto "sufficiently establish" his death."That is a grave, grave injustice. That is so forensically bad... So anongnangyari sa kanya (what happened to him)?" said Raquel Fortun, aManila-based forensic pathologist brought in to examine the crime scene 4days after the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre.A denture found in the crime scene did not necessarily show that it belongedto Momay, a photographer who joined a group of journalists covering a localpolitician's registration to challenge the Ampatuans in Maguindanao'sgubernatorial election in 2010.Human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno raised concern over the "integrity ofthe crime scene," which he feared "was not properly preserved.""Therefore, there were probably vital evidence that could have been veryuseful for the prosecution that were lost because of the contamination ofthe scene," he said in a Quezon City forum.Fortun recalled seeing images of soldiers allegedly spitting, smoking, andtouching evidence, such as vehicle doors with their bare hands, when theyfirst arrived at the crime scene."Contaminated talaga yung crime scene (The crime scene was reallycontaminated)," she told the forum."This was really awful, how not to do CSI (crime scene investigation). Thefirst responders made a lot of mistakes."Fortun noted how the group was seen in video footage stepping on the ground"where those who had carried out the killings "left a lot of themselvesthere" such as vehicle tire marks.Crime scene investigators found 112 empty shells from 2 types of firearmsfrom the massacre site. But Fortun said they could have found more withsystematic search.Authorities, she said, should have planned more carefully how to dig up thebodies, how to transport then, and where they would be autopsied.CRIME SCENEBodies were supposed to have been placed in body bags, not merely coveredwith banana leaves, she said."Ang body, crime scene yan. And dami nyang ebidensya. The fact na nilatag mosya sa surface that is unprotected, you already contaminated it," she said.With the way the crime scene was processed, Fortun feared it might affectthe case when appealed.The ruling by judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes was heavily based on the testimoniesof witnesses present during the planning and execution of the massacre.AMPATUANS MUST PAY VICTIMS' KIN P155.6 MILLIONMANILA, Philippines (Updated 8:45 a.m., December 21) - Heirs or next of kinof the victims of the Maguindanao massacre are entitled to damages rangingfrom P350,000 to P23.5 million as part of the guilty verdict on the mainperpetrators of the crime, particularly members of the Ampatuan clan.Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, inher 761-page decision promulgated Thursday, sentenced the principal convictsto life in prison without parole and ordered them to pay a total of overP155.6 million in damages to the heirs of 57 victims.The convicts - including five prominent members of the Ampatuan clan - weredirected to jointly pay the families of each of the victims P100,000 incivil indemnity, P100,000 in moral damages and P100,000 in exemplarydamages.Solis-Reyes also granted the plea for actual damages for the death of 12 ofthe 57 victims, including lawyer Cynthia Oquendo-Ayon (P872,595) andjournalists Alejandro Reblando (P146,557.34), Daniel Tiamzon (P101,297.40),Fernando Razon (P62,769.90), Henry Araneta (P80,000), Jephone Cadagdagon(P131,179) and Santos Gatchalian (P55,650).Also receiving payment for actual damages are the heirs of couple Eduardoand Cecille Lechonsito (P110,000 for each victim), Mercy Palabrica(P54,000), Wilhelm Palabrica (P67,996.20) and Anthony Ridao (P223,433.40).The five were among those killed after they were mistaken to be part of theconvoy led by the wife and relatives of then Buluan town vice mayor and nowMaguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu.Relatives of those not getting actual damages would each receive P50,000 intemperate damages, which are awarded when the amount corresponding to theloss is not determined with certainty.Aside from the amount, heirs of 39 victims - mostly journalists - were alsoentitled to payment due to loss of earning capacity.17 COPS ACQUITTED IN MASSACRE TO BE REINSTATEDMANILA, Philippines - The 17 policemen acquitted in the Maguindanao massacremay be reinstated to the police service but will not be entitled to backpay.Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the17 policemen would go through the process of restoration to full-duty statusafter charges against them were dismissed.He said the policemen would need to undergo mandatory drug testing,neuro-psychiatric test and medical examination before reinstatement."This is to determine their fitness after having been away from the servicefor a very long period of time," Banac said.The policemen were placed on automatic leave of absence without pay aftercharges of murder were filed against them in court.While they are up for reinstatement, Banac said claims for back wages arenot applicable.The 17 were among the total of 62 PNP personnel accused in the gruesomemassacre that killed at least 57 people in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao in2009.The court found 19 policemen guilty of the charges while 36 were acquitted.Banac said the PNP is conducting a study of their status and preparingrecommendations should those acquitted apply for restoration to full-dutystatus.For those dismissed from the service but were acquitted of the crime, thisrequires a different set of procedures, Banac said.PESO AT 'FAIR VALUE' VS DOLLAR, MAY TRADE AT P51-P54 IN 2020, SAYS DIOKNOMANILA -- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno said Fridaythe peso is currently at "fair value" against dollar and will likely tradein the P51 to P54 range next year.The peso is currently among the three strongest currencies in the region,led by the Thai baht, Diokno said in an exclusive interview with ANC."Right now, we are happy where we are. It's not very attractive for theexporters but what can we do, the dollars keep coming in," he said. "Rightnow it's a fair value, determined by supply and demand.""They [macroeconomic planners] are saying the peso will be between P51 to54, so that's the range," he said.Tourism receipts, business process outsourcing earnings and foreign directinvestments help lift the peso, Diokno said. An acceleration in imports dueto infrastructure projects could push it to P54 to the dollar, he said.The peso was trading at P50.72 to the dollar at noon Friday from Thursday'sclose of P50.64. It strengthened in recent weeks due in part toChristmastime remittances from overseas Filipinos.Analysts said the peso could weaken at the start of 2020 due to imports. TheDevelopment Budget Coordinating Committee set its foreign exchangeassumption at P51-P54 for 2020 to 2022.BANGKO SENTRAL TO ENSURE SECURITY OF DIGITAL TRANSACTIONS: DIOKNOMANILA - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is working to ensure that digitalbanking is "safe and sure" as it encourages more Filipinos to transact usingonline channels, Governor Benjamin Diokno said.Existing regulations were being reviewed to adapt to changing conditions inthe digital space, Diokno said in an exclusive interview with ANC.As of 2018, e-payments accounted for 20 percent of total transaction valuewith the goal to bring it to 50 percent by the end of his term in 2023,Diokno said."We have adopted rules so that we want to make sure that the digital paymentis safe and sure. We want to make sure that it's safe and so far it's safe.Now that it's embraced and it works, it's a matter of applying it to otherbanks," Diokno said.Diokno said he now uses his phone to pay bills instead of sending someone torun those errands.The BSP under Diokno, recently launched a standardized QR code system andeGov Pay or the electronic payment facility for government transactions.The recently enacted national ID system is a "big step" to financialinclusion, he said.The BSP is also pushing for the use of PesoNet and InstaPay under theNational Retail Payment System (NRPS) as an alternative to using cash.93% OF PINOYS FACING 2020 WITH HOPESHARESMANILA, Philippines - Nine in 10 Filipinos will welcome the New Year withhope and nearly half of them expect a "more prosperous" holiday season,according to the latest survey by Pulse Asia.The survey, taken from Dec. 3 to 8, found 93 percent of respondents sayingthey would face the coming year with hope.All geographic areas and socio-economic classes posted majority figuresranging from 90 to 98 percent and 91 to 97 percent, respectively.Seven percent of the respondents expressed indecision on the matter whileless than one percent saw themselves facing the coming year without hope."During the period December 2018 to December 2019, hopefulness becomes morepronounced among those in Class E (+15 percentage points) while indecisionon the matter in the same socio-economic grouping eased (-15 percentagepoints)," Pulse Asia said.The poll also found 48 percent of Filipinos expecting the coming holidayseason to be more prosperous for them and their families.This view was expressed by more than half of the respondents in Mindanao andthose in Class ABC - at 57 percent and 68 percent, respectively, as well asby a near majority in Class D at 49 percent.Only 11 percent of Filipinos have a contrary opinion, while 41 percent donot expect their holiday celebration to be any different from the one theyhad last year.Pulse Asia said these figures are essentially the same as those recorded inDecember 2018.NUMBER CODING LIFTED FROM DECEMBER 23 TO JANUARY 2MANILA, Philippines - The number coding traffic scheme for provincial buseswill be lifted during the holiday season, the Metropolitan ManilaDevelopment Authority (MMDA) announced yesterday.The MMDA said the unified vehicular volume reduction program would besuspended from Dec. 23 to 31 and on Jan. 2 next year.This is to allow public utility buses to accommodate more passengerstraveling to the provinces for the holidays, the agency said.The number coding is automatically suspended on Dec. 25 and 30 and Jan. 1since these are regular holidays.MORE AFTERSHOCKS JOLT DAVAO DEL SURDAVAO DEL SUR, Philippines - Aftershocks hit parts of Davao del Sur againyesterday, almost a week after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake left nine peopledead.Yesterday's aftershocks had magnitudes ranging from 1.4 to 3.9, according tothe Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismlogy.Phivolcs had earlier advised residents in areas affected by the Dec. 15temblor to check their houses and establishments, saying continuousaftershocks could result in the collapse of these structures.The magnitude 3.9 tremor occurred at around 11:45 a.m. The epicenter waslocated two kilometers northwest of Kiblawan, Davao del Sur. It was felt atIntensity 2 in Malungon, Sarangani.The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said826 aftershocks were recorded as of 4 p.m. on Thursday.The NDRRMC said 29,592 families in 105 barangays in Davao were affected bythe quake. At least 3,076 families are taking shelter at 24 evacuationcenters.Science Undersecretary and Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum Jr. said theaftershocks could continue for weeks.Meanwhile, President Duterte continues to monitor the situation of thevictims of the earthquakes that hit Southern Mindanao recently.The President is expected to visit the victims when he comes home to DavaoCity to spend his Christmas vacation.4 BIFF COMMANDERS SURRENDERMINADANAO, Philippines - Four commanders of the Bangsamoro Islamic FreedomFighters (BIFF), also known as the Dawlah Islamiya, surrendered on Thursday.Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command chief, identified thesurrenderees as Ibrahim Odin and Diyah Musa of the BIFF's 3rd Brigade;Pagras Daud, administrative officer of the First Battalion, and YasserAbunawas of the 3rd Brigade.Sobejana said the bandits turned over a Barrett rifle, an M16, arocket-propelled grenade, an improvised explosive device and several roundsof ammunition to the 34th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Indatuan inNorthern Kabuntalan.LRT-1 TO IMPLEMENT PASSENGER TRAFFIC SCHEMEMANILA, Philippines - The Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) is set to implementearly next year a temporary passenger traffic scheme in line with theconstruction of the Unified Grand Central Station.The LRMC said the scheme would be implemented at the Light Rail Transit Line1 (LRT-1) north line covering the Monumento, Balintawak and Rooseveltstations from Jan. 4 to March 31, 2020."This is to accommodate the construction of the common station, which willconnect the systems of the LRT-1, MRT-3 and MRT-7," the LRMC said yesterday.Under the scheme, commuters traveling northbound may take theBaclaran-to-Monumento circuit and the Baclaran-to-Balintawak circuit.The LRMC said passengers with Roosevelt station as their last stop shouldtake the Baclaran-to-Balintawak circuit where a special shuttle train wouldarrive every 10 minutes during peak period to exclusively pick up passengersat the Balintawak station and shuttle them to Roosevelt station.The same shuttle train will pick up passengers from Roosevelt station andtransport them to Balintawak station where LRT-1 commuters can take thetrain going southbound.LRMC chief operating officer Enrico Benipayo said the Baclaran-to-Monumentocircuit would address the high volume of passengers at the Monumentostation, especially during peak hours."We want to ensure normal operations in all 20 stations of the LRT-1 whilethe construction of the common station is ongoing," Benipayo said.ANGEL LOCSIN UNVEILED AS ANTI-PIRACY AMBASSADORShe was recently recognized for her relief efforts in disaster-strickenareas, with Forbes Asia labeling her as a "hero."And now, Angel Locsin is lending her voice to another cause --this time, thefight against piracy.She was unveiled this week as the anti-piracy ambassador of the OpticalMedia Board, a government agency dedicated to regulating the production, useand distribution of recorded media in the country.She follows Piolo Pascual, who was honored with the same title last year.Locsin is known for her charity work, mainly for supporting causesbenefiting programs related to education, indigenous people, and fightingviolence against women and children.PBA: BROWNLEE POWERS GINEBRA TO GOVERNORS' CUP FINALS BERTHBarangay Ginebra secured the first finals berth in the 2019 PBA Governors'Cup by hacking out a 120-107 win over NorthPort at Araneta Coliseum onFriday.Justin Brownlee led the balanced effort with 36 points, 19 rebounds, and 8assists, as Ginebra finished their best-of-5 series in 4 games.Four other Ginebra players finished in double-digit scoring, with JapethAguilar and LA Tenorio tallying 20 and 19 points, respectively.Stanley Pringle added 18, while Scottie Thompson had 14 points.This is Ginebra's third finals appearance in the season-ending conference inthe past four seasons. Brownlee and co. missed the title series last yearfollowing a semis loss to Magnolia.Ginebra will battle the winner between TNT and Meralco in the othersemifinal, which TNT leads 2-1.Game 4 of that series is on Saturday, Dec. 21, at Ynares Center in Antipolo.The scores:Ginebra 120 - Brownlee 36, Aguilar 20, Tenorio 19, Pringle 18, Thompson 14,Slaughter 6, Mariano 4, Chan 3, Dillinger 0.NorthPort 107 - Standhardinger 32, Taha 29, Qualls 25, Anthony 18, Lanete 2,Elorde 1, Cruz 0, King 0, Escoto 0.Quarterscores: 32-21, 56-39, 86-75, 120-107.NBA SCORES DEC 19FINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Jazz 17-11    28    24    31    28    111team logo Hawks 6-23    30    26    28    22    106SCORING LEADERSD. Mitchell UTA30 PTS, 5 REB, 5 ASTT. Young ATL30 PTS, 5 REB, 8 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Lakers 24-5    17    29    35    23    104team logo Bucks 25-4    23    42    24    22    111SCORING LEADERSA. Davis LAL36 PTS, 10 REB, 5 ASTG. Antetokounmpo MIL34 PTS, 11 REB, 7 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Nets 15-13    33    23    25    24    105team logo Spurs 11-16    27    23    33    35    118SCORING LEADERSS. Dinwiddie BKN41 PTS, 1 REB, 5 ASTP. Mills SA27 PTS, 1 REB, 2 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Rockets 19-9    27    27    36    32    122team logo Clippers 21-9    28    41    18    30    117SCORING LEADERSR. Westbrook HOU40 PTS, 10 REB, 5 ASTP. George LAC34 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST