ABS-CBN HAS NO TAX DELINQUENCY, BIR TELLS SOLONS

MANILA--ABS-CBN Corp. has no current tax delinquency and, with the rest of

the companies under the ABS-CBN Group, infused a combined P71.5 billion in

taxes to government coffers in 17 years, congressmen scrutinizing its

application for a new broadcast franchise were told Wednesday.

The company also set the record straight that ABS-CBN Corp. did not have a

"negative 5-percent effective tax rate for 2018," an allegation that has

been raised in the joint House hearing as well as in social media.

In fact, ABS-CBN paid P164 million--not negative P84 million--that year,

said Ricardo Tan, the group's chief financial officer.

Asked by Minority Leader Benny Abante if he could honestly say that ABS-CBN

honestly paid taxes to the government, Tan replied: "Yes, we can."

ABS-CBN Corp., whose broadcast operations were ordered shut down by

government regulators on May 5, remitted P15.3 billion in taxes from 2016 to

2019 alone, said Assistant Commissioner Manuel Mapoy of the Bureau of

Internal Revenue (BIR).

The company has been "regularly paying its corporate taxes for the past

years," he told the House Committee on Legislative Franchises and House

Committee on Good Government.

"There is no outstanding delinquent accounts as we speak," he added, but

noted that ABS-CBN was still under investigation for 2019 while those for

previous years have been completed.

From 2003 to 2019, the ABS-CBN Group of companies (including ABS-CBN Corp.)

paid a total of P71.5 billion in taxes, said Tan.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate reminded his colleagues that such would

roughly be the amount that the government would lose should Congress reject

ABS-CBN's application for a new 25-year operating franchise.

CEBU CITY MAYOR SEES 'NO HARM' WITH MILITARY TRUCKS OUT DURING PANDEMIC

The mayor of Cebu City said Thursday he saw "no harm" with the deployment of

military trucks there in a bid to contain the coronavirus pandemic, despite

Vice President Leni Robredo's warning that this may sow fear among

residents.

"There is no harm if there are military personnel, military tanks... This

fight against coronavirus is like a war. This kind of war is rather more

difficult because we are fighting an invisible enemy," Mayor Edgardo Labella

told ANC.

"It requires all of us residents some kind of self-discipline... The

visibility of our military and PNP personnel, and of course show of force,

is one of the ways we can show and impose discipline," he added.

Robredo last week questioned the military tanks deployed to Cebu City after

President Rodrigo Duterte placed it back under the strictest lockdown level

due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

"This is a health pandemic. Bakit may mga tanke sa daan? The military has

been very helpful, even to our office, pero I think we should take a more

public health approach," she said.

"Ang problema ko rito, 'pag nakita na ng mga tao iyong tanke, 'Ano ba to,

giyera?' Iyong giyera natin dito against COVID-19 at hindi ito nadadaan sa

pagso-sow ng fear among the constituency."

Robredo said Iloilo City contained its coronavirus outbreak at 4 active

cases without any arrest for lockdown violations.

"I have great faith na if people understand why we need to do this, if

people understand that they have a stake, that they have a responsibility...

mas magiging cooperative sila rather than tinatakot (they will be

cooperative, rather than if they are intimidated)," she said.

PALACE EYES CONGRESS SPECIAL SESSION FOR BAYANIHAN 2

MANILA - The executive branch would call for a special session for both

chambers of Congress to consolidate its versions of the Bayanihan 2 stimulus

package in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said

Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the announcement, citing

information from Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. Under the

Constitution, the President may call for special sessions which are usually

held between regular legislative sessions to handle emergencies or urgent

matters.

"Nung huling pag-ulat ni Presidente sa taumbayan, nandun po si Secretary

Dominguez at sinabi niya sa'kin halos plantsado na ‘yung Bayanihan 2 at

magpapatawag na nga po ng special session," Roque told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

"Sinabing may linaw na po at magpapatawag na ng session at sinabi ni

Secretary Dominguez na importante magkaroon ng Bayanihan 2."

The Senate adjourned session last month without final approval of the

Bayanihan to Recover as One bill, or Bayanihan 2, that would extend the

validity of some provisions of Bayanihan 1 allowing the government to

disburse cash aid during the coronavirus crisis.

The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, or Republic Act 11469, was signed into law

on March 25 and mandated to be in effect for 3 months until June 24. It

granted Duterte additional powers to respond to the pandemic, such as the

authority to realign items under the 2020 national budget.

DEPED TO PRIORITIZE SCHOOLS WITHOUT INTERNET ACCESS, ELECTRICITY UNDER

‘CONNECTIVITY’ PROJECT

MANILA — Schools without internet access and electricity will be prioritized

under the connectivity project of the education department, its

undersecretary said Thursday.

In an interview with ABS-CBN Teleradyo, Undersecretary Alain Pascua said 50

percent of schools in the country does not have internet connection. He

added that 3,000 schools in the country do not have electricity.

"Priority natin sa mga paaralan na walang kuryente at walang internet. ‘Yan

po ang uunahin natin dahil ‘yung lugar nila ‘yung mga pinakamalalayong

lugar, sa mga isla, sa mga bulubundukin, gusto po nating ipaabot sa kanila

‘yung connectivity nang sa ganoon ay masagap naman nila lahat ‘yung mga

impormasyon na makukuha nila sa internet,” Pascua told ABS-CBN Teleradyo.

Pascua said they are finalizing the papers for procurement within the next

two weeks and included a minimum internet speed in the paper to consider the

needs of teachers to download audio and video content.

He added that the project will provide solar panels for schools without

electricity.

“Fina-finalize na po namin lahat ng papeles para i-procure na natin ‘yan

within the next 2 weeks para sa ganoon ay maipatuloy na natin ‘yung

pag-connect ng mga schools."

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said in his 14th report to Congress that

the said agency is procuring internet connection for more public schools at

a P700 million price tag.

He added that the provision of internet access to some 7,000 public schools

is expected to be completed in 10 months even as distance learning is set to

start in August.

CHR PROBES 55 ALLEGED EJKS DURING VIRUS LOCKDOWN

MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights said it has monitored 55 complaints

of alleged extrajudicial killings while the country was under community

quarantine to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“Even in terms of numbers, even if it slowed down, it’s still a death. It’s

still an extrajudicial killing allegation,” CHR commissioner Karen

Gomez-Dumpit said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel Thursday.

“We’re investigating all of that,” she added, without specifying how many of

the executions were related to the governmentÂ’s bloody war on drugs.

Gomez-Dumpit also said that the commission has monitored a total of 817

complaints related to virus lockdown. Most of the complaints were about

government assistance and financial aid, followed by torture, and cruel and

degrading treatment or punishment.

In May, the Philippine National Police said anti-narcotics operations will

continue even as the country deals with the COVID-19 crisis.

“Even with the ongoing health crisis, police anti-illegal drugs operations

will continue without let-up and will be unrelenting as ever,” Police Gen.

Archie Gamboa said.

Latest government figures put the number of alleged drug personalities

killed in the war on drugs at 5,601. But it is significantly lower than the

estimates by human rights watchdogs of as many as 27,000 killed.

The CHR official said the commission welcomed the creation of an

inter-agency panel that seeks to investigate killings related to the

governmentÂ’s brutal drug war.

But Gomez-Dumpit said the panel must look at not only the numbers provided

by the government.

“Go beyond government numbers because there are killings, many many killings

beyond the official numbers and they have to ensure these are investigated,”

she said.

DUTERTE WANTS RESTAURANTS REMOVED FROM NAIA

MANILA — President Duterte has ordered the Department of Transportation to

remove the restaurants at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to

put more seats for passengers.

Duterte said he read from newspapers that most of the passengers waiting for

their flights had slept outside airport buildings. The airport police, the

President added, should assist passengers who just came from provinces and

provide them seats.

Duterte went on to criticize the design of NAIA, saying there are not enough

seats for passengers.

“I’d like to call the attention of (Transportation) Secretary (Arthur)

Tugade.

Art, alam mo ‘yang sa - ‘yang airport na ‘yan, kung sinong nag-design niyan

g***. Sabihin mo sa kanya. Walang upuan. Iilan lang ang upuan (You know,

whoever designed that airport is stupid. Tell that to him. There are not

enough seats),” Duterte said during a televised address on Tuesday night.

Duterte said while some passengers are forced to stand while waiting for

their flights, only a few people can use the seats and tables inside the

restaurants.

“Art, put seats in those areas. Terminate the contracts of the restaurants,

terminate them because I need them to seat the passengers waiting,” he said.

Duterte said his directive covers “the whole of NAIA (Terminal) 2.” He said

other passengers waiting for their flights can stay in NAIA Terminal 1,

noting that not so many people use the facility.

In the same address, the President reminded the Department of the Interior

and Local Government to help passengers stranded at NAIA and to provide them

accommodation.

DUTERTE SIGNS LAW UPGRADING BICOL HOSPITAL

MANILA — Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go yesterday thanked President Duterte for

signing into law a bill upgrading the Bicol Medical Center.

Republic Act 11478, which Go sponsored as chairman of the Senate committee

on health, increases the bed capacity of the hospital from 500 to 1,000 beds

and upgrades its facilities and services.

“Inaprubahan na po ni Pangulong Duterte ang batas na naglalayong mas

maisaayos ang Bicol Medical Center. Para po ito sa mga kababayan nating

Bikolano,” Go said.

“Patuloy po tayong nagtatrabaho upang mas i-angat pa ang kalidad ng ating

mga pampublikong ospital sa kahit saang parte ng bansa lalo na ngayon na may

hinaharap tayong pandemya,” he added.

The measure is expected to improve the delivery of medical and healthcare

services in Bicol.

It is the fourth health-related measure Duterte signed into law since last

week.

ROBREDO VISITS WAKE OF SLAIN SOLDIERS IN JOLO SHOOTING

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo visited the wake of three of the four

soldiers killed in the shooting in Jolo, Sulu earlier this week.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, Robredo said she visited the wakes of

Maj. Marvin Indammog (39), Capt. Irwin Managuelod (33) and Sgt. Jaime

Velasco (38).

She was not able to visit the wake of Corporal Abdal Asula (33) as he was

buried immediately following Islam tradition.

“All of them are young men who died in the service of the country. It was

heartbreaking to hear their stories from their respective families. They had

such promising futures ahead of them,” the vice president wrote.

“My heart goes out to their loved ones and the entire Philippine Army who

are all grieving for their loss,” she added.

Robredo also thanked Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, commanding general of the

Philippine Army, for ensuring that justice will be served.

Gapay branded the police accounts of the incident that initially said the

soldiers fired shots as “fabricated, full of inconsistencies and

misleading.”

Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson later said that the

incident was not a “misencounter" and the slain soldiers did not fire guns.

According to the military's Western Mindanao Command, the four were part of

an intelligence unit gathering information on suicide bombers linked to the

Abu Sayyaf group in the vicinity of Barangay Mauboh, Patikul.

The nine members of Jolo police involved in the shooting were relieved and

disarmed on Wednesday. They have also been placed in the custody of Sulu

police.

The National Bureau of Investigation has been tapped to conduct an

independent and impartial probe into the shooting.

THE REST

========

JEEPNEYS BACK IN METRO MANILA TOMORROW

MANILA — After months of shutdown, traditional jeepneys will be back on

Metro Manila roads tomorrow.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has

approved the partial resumption of operations of public utility jeepneys

(PUJs) in select routes in the National Capital Region (NCR).

A total of 6,002 jeepneys for 49 routes have been given the green light to

resume operations.

Under LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2020-026, traditional PUJs will be allowed

on roads during the general community quarantine (GCQ) in Metro Manila.

They will be given corresponding QR codes that will be displayed on their

units to serve as special permits for their operations.

Traditional jeepneys deemed “roadworthy” will be allowed to resume

operations.

Drivers and operators will still have to comply with safety measures, such

as checking of temperature, wearing of masks and gloves and operating at a

limited 50 percent capacity to ensure physical distancing.

Drivers are encouraged to put up a fare dropbox to limit contact

transactions with passengers.

Passengers will also have to fill out passenger contact forms for contact

tracing purposes and should wear masks at all times.

CEBU CITY DAILY TAX COLLECTION DOWN TO P100,000 FROM P12 MILLION BEFORE

LOCKDOWN: MAYOR

The coronavirus lockdown of Cebu City brought down its daily collection of

real property and business taxes to P100,000, Mayor Edgardo Labella said

Thursday.

Home to 1 million people, the trading center and port city used to collect

P10 million to 12 million a day in taxes before the lockdown in March, he

said.

"But now under this pandemic, it's good if we can collect P100,000 per day,"

Labella told ANC.

Duterte from June 16 placed the urban center under enhanced community

quarantine (ECQ) which limits economic activity to utility services, food,

water and other essential sectors. He announced Tuesday that the city will

remain under ECQ, the strictest of 4 lockdown levels, until July 15.

The lockdown prevents Cebu City, a gateway to other tourism spots in the

Visayas, from opening its port to travelers, said Labella.

The mayor said he asked for a report on losses from business chambers that

complained they were "hurting" under the quarantine.

AMID 92 WORKERS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, MRT-3 TO CONTINUE REGULAR OPERATIONS

MANILA — The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 will continue regular operations on

Thursday even if 92 of its depot workers tested positive for the novel

coronavirus.

MRT-3 Director for Operations Michael Capati told Inquirer that 89 of the

infected workers are employed by MRT-3's maintenance service provider

Sumitomo-MHI-TESP, while the other three are railway personnel.

He added that all of the infected workers were assigned to the railway's

depot in Quezon City "and do not engage face-to-face with operations

people."

All 92 employees are being quarantined for 14 days, according to the

operations director. He also confirmed that they were tested using the

reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests which are

considered the gold standard in testing for COVID-19.

“Tespi will review their capacity and will [advise] MRT-3 for any reduced

capacity by next week. All personnel are required to wear [personal

protective equipment], both depot and station personnel [at the] MRT-3

line,” Capati told Inquirer.

UP TO 4 CYCLONES TO HIT PHILIPPINES THIS MONTH

MANILA — Filipinos should brace for up to four tropical cyclones this month.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

(PAGASA) weather specialist Ariel Rojas said cyclones that develop over the

Pacific Ocean in July either “recurve” or return to the Pacific, sideswipe

the northern part of Luzon or hit landmass in northern, central or southern

Luzon.

“These are the general tracks of the cyclones that entered the country

between 1948 and 2017,” Rojas said.

He said cyclones that do not make landfall and pass the eastern section of

Luzon could enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat and bring rains over

the western section of Luzon.

Rojas said 10 to 14 cyclones are expected to enter the Philippine area of

responsibility between July and December.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

‘SINCERELY, TAXPAYER’: ANGEL LOCSIN PENS LETTER TO GOV’T, QUESTIONS

PRIORITIES AMID PANDEMIC

MANILA — Actress and philanthropist Angel Locsin on Wednesday penned an open

letter to the government questioning misplaced priorities amid the

coronavirus pandemic.

The "Iba 'Yan" host, who has been a visible figure during the health crisis

with successive relief programs, shared the letter through Instagram

Stories.

Addressed to "whom it may concern," Locsin wrote, "Make sure you have plans

for the many workers and business owners who lost their income."

"Ang daming time pag-initan ang ABS, i-prioritize pa ang renaming ng

airport, anti-terrorist bill, pero ang kailangang marinig ay ang plano

tungkol sa Covid at frontliners," she said.

Locsin was referring to the ongoing House hearing on the franchise renewal

of her home network ABS-CBN, a House proposal to rename the Ninoy Aquino

International Airport to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas, and the

controversial, administration-backed anti-terror bill that has sparked

protests.

Locsin continued: "[Ang kailangan marinig ay ang] plano sa edukasyon para sa

mahihirap na walang access sa internet o magtuturo sa bahay,

balik-probinsya, OFWs na stranded sa ibang bansa, kabuhayan ng nawalan ng

trabaho."

"Paano na ang tradisyunal na jeepney drivers? Paano ang mga senior citizens?

At sa kung anong kakaharapin ng masang Pilipino pagkatapos ng pandemya?"

Locsin ended her letter by identifying herself as a taxpayer.

Since the onset of the pandemic in the country, Locsin has led or actively

taken part in campaigns to bring aid to frontline workers and vulnerable

sectors.

Notably, she spearheaded the government-lauded #UniTentWeStandPH, which

provided additional room for coronavirus patients in dozens of inundated

hospitals.

Her most recent and ongoing initiative, Shop & Share, is raising funds to

purchase coronavirus test kits specifically for underprivileged communities,

with testing already rolling out as of late June.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 49.82

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Genuine tragedies in the world are not conflicts between right and wrong.

They are conflicts between two rights. - Georg Hegel