'HUWAG HO KAYONG MATAKOT': DUTERTE SAYS LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS SHOULD NOT FEAR

ANTI-TERROR LAW

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte said the public should not worry about

the new anti-terror law if they are not terrorists.

Addressing the nation for the first time since he signed the law last

Friday, Duterte said law-abiding citizens of the country will not be

targetted by the law.

"For the law-abiding citizen of this country, I am addressing you with all

sincerity. Huwag ho kayong matakot kung hindi ka terorista. Kung hindi ka

naman sisirain mo ang gobyerno, pasabugin mo ang simbahan, pasabugin mo

'yung public utilities, pasabugin mo 'yung, just to derail, matumba na tuloy

ang bayan," he said during a public briefing aired early Wednesday.

"Kung wala mangyari na masama, wala namang problema (If nothing bad happens,

then there is no problem). Pero (But) once you blow up simbahan, blow up mo

'yung marketplace. The right to defend itself accrues to the government

heavily," Duterte added.

He also said the state has the right to defend itself against terrorists,

especially those who kill people "wantonly".

"If you do that to the people, if you kill them wantonly, then I would take

it as a right to kill you," Duterte said.

The measure is expected to take effect on July 18.

75,000 OFWS DISPLACED BY COVID-19 SENT HOME - LORENZANA

MANILA - Over 75,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced by the

COVID-19 pandemic have returned to their home provinces, the head of the

National Task Force Against COVID-19 said early Wednesday.

"'Yung sa ating mga overseas Filipinos na dumarating galing sa ibang bansa

na wala ng trabaho, sa ngayon ay meron tayong naibalik sa mga probinsiya na

75,895. So wala na tayong backlog ngayon," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza

said in a streamed public briefing.

He also revealed that the repatriation of some 5,000 Filipinos in Sabah,

Malaysia is ongoing.

""Yung mga Filipinos sa Sabah, gustong ibalik ng Malaysia sa atin. Ang

bilang po noon ay mahigit 5,000," Lorenzana said.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) earlier said around 400,000

OFWs have been laid off abroad due to the pandemic.

To help displaced and returning OFWs, the government has provided them a

one-time P10,000 cash assistance.

As of July 4, the agency said some 188,473 had received the cash aid,

amounting to P1.927 billion.

DOLE is seeking an additional P2.5 billion to finance its cash assistance

program. The agency received over 551,000 applications both from land-based

and sea-based workers.

BAN ON NON-ESSENTIAL FOREIGN TRAVEL LIFTED

MANILA — Filipinos can now travel abroad for business or tourism at their

own risk and subject to government guidelines with the lifting of the ban on

non-essential trips by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of

Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

“The suspension of non-essential travel by Filipinos pursuant to IATF

Resolution No. 13 dated 17 March 2020 is hereby lifted. All travel

restrictions relative to outbound travel of Filipinos pursuant to IATF

resolutions are likewise lifted,” the resolution read.

As part of conditions for the lifting of the travel ban, travelers on

tourist visas would be asked to submit confirmed round-trip tickets,

presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday.

“Let’s not yet jump for joy, tourism is still not allowed. But what will

happen is – there will be requirements for travelers that they have to

present to the Bureau of Immigration,” Roque said in Filipino.

“All non-essential trips of Filipinos will be subject to conditions –

primarily, round-trip tickets for those with tourist visas,” Roque said.

He added that Filipinos leaving the country should have proper health

insurance to cover possible rebooking and accommodation in case they get

stranded or need to be treated in case of sickness.

They will also be asked to execute a declaration acknowledging the risks

involved in going abroad.

The Department of Tourism should also be informed about coverage of their

travel insurance.

The IATF has set the condition to ensure the safety of Filipino travelers in

case they get sick while out of the country.

Upon their return, Filipino overseas travelers should follow guidelines set

by the National Task Force on COVID, particularly by having themselves

subject to PCR test and quarantine while awaiting test result, Roque said.

The same guidelines shall apply to returning overseas Filipino workers

(OFWs).

DUTERTE: PH STILL GRAPPLING AGAINST 1ST WAVE OF COVID-19

MANILA - The Philippines is still battling the first wave of COVID-19,

President Rodrigo Duterte said early Wednesday, as the country's coronavirus

infections neared 48,000.

"Have we arrived at the second wave? I don't think so. We're still grappling

the first wave," the President said in a streamed public briefing aired 1

a.m. Wednesday.

The health department earlier said the country was not experiencing a second

wave of the disease, saying the surge in infection is attributed to

increased testing capacity and community transmission.

"We are not experiencing a second wave but an increase in numbers of

positive cases due to increase in testing, and community transmission caused

by lack of implementation of minimum health standards. The increase has been

gradual and our health system is able to cope with the increasing number of

cases," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

Despite the rise in cases, Duterte said the the country has logged more

recoveries than deaths since the pandemic began in January.

"Ang patay natin compared to those who recovered it's quite small," he said.

On Tuesday, the country saw its third highest-single daily rise of

coronavirus cases with 1,540 new infections, pushing the nationwide toll to

47,873. The tally includes 1,309 fatalities and 12,386 recoveries.

During his speech, the President also defended the government's decision of

gradually easing lockdown measures, saying the country couldn't afford to

have another surge of COVID-19 cases.

"Because if we open the entire Philippines, thousands of thousands of new

cases would happen then we are in deep s***. Talagang mahirapan tayo. Una

wala tayong pera," he said.

DUTERTE TELLS COMMUNISTS 'YOU ARE TERRORISTS BECAUSE I DECLARED YOU TO BE

ONE'

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte, in a pre-recorded video aired early

Wednesday, claimed he spent most of his days as president trying to connect

to communists to arrive at a peaceful solution but to no avail.

The president added there is a time to be friendly and a time to be firm.

Duterte also said in a past public addresses that the New People's Army is

the 'Number One' threat to the country. Presidential spokesperson Harry

Roque later clarified that the president meant the NPA is the top threat to

the Philippine's national security but "COVID-19 is still number one."

Duterte designated the NPA and the Communist Party of the Philippines as

terrorist groups in December 2017. A petition to proscribe — or to

officially declare them as terrorist and outlawed organizations under the

Human Security Act — is still pending in court.

PHILIPPINES HAS 2ND HIGHEST SEA CASES AFTER INDONESIA

MANILA — Malacañang will allow local government units (LGUs) to impose

localized lockdowns to enforce minimum health standards amid the daily rapid

increase in the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, an

official said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque downplayed the report of the Johns

Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center that the Philippines is now second to

Indonesia with the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia.

Roque said there should be no cause for alarm despite the spike in COVID-19

infections, adding that the government has increased the capacity of the

healthcare system during the first few months of the lockdown.

The report said Indonesia leads Southeast Asian countries in terms of

COVID-19 cases with 64,958 as of Monday, followed by the Philippines with

46,333 and Singapore with 44,983.

Compared to other countries, Roque maintained that the country has been

“winning significantly in the fight against COVID-19.”

“The increase in COVID-19 cases is not surprising until we find a vaccine

and cure for the disease,” he said.

Roque noted that the PhilippinesÂ’ positivity rate is pegged at six to seven

percent for every 100,000 people tested for the virus.

“And we have a large capacity to provide hospital services to the sick. So I

will always say, we are winning against COVID-1    9,” he said.

BATO TWITS UN RIGHTS CHIEF: WHO IS SHE TO CRITICIZE DRUG WAR?

MANILA — Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa questioned Thursday the basis of the

United Nations' top rights official in renewing calls for accountability in

the Philippines' anti-narcotics war that he once led.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet last week asked

Manila to support "international accountability measures" on 25,000 alleged

deaths under the drug war supposedly carried out "without due regard for the

rule of law, due process and the human rights of people."

"Sino siya para magsabi nang ganoon dito sa atin? Nakapunta na ba siya dito,

naobserbahan ba niya kung ano'ng nangyayari dito?" said Dela Rosa, a former

chief of the national police.

"Ang binabasehan lang niya ay iyong report na ridiculous at preposterous na

report na ginagawa ng ating mga kababayan," he told ANC.

Launched by President Rodrigo Duterte after winning the 2016 election on a

platform of crushing crime, the drugs crackdown has left dead 8,663 people,

according to a report by Bachelet's office, citing government data.

The campaign has been linked to the deaths of 73 children, including

17-year-old Kian delos Santos – where 3 police officers were convicted, the

UN human rights office added.

"If you do not trust PNP numbers, dissolve the PNP. If you do not trust the

government, tanggalin ang gobyerno (remove the goverment). Let the human

rights sila ang mag-rule sa ating bansa," said Dela Rosa.

The first-term senator said he would "welcome" any representative that the

UN could send to assess the drug campaign. "But it's not for me to decide.

It's an executive decision," he added.

THE REST

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GOVERNMENT EYES 10 MILLION VIRUS TESTS IN 10-12 MONTHS

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga — The government is eyeing 10 million virus tests

within the next 10 to 12 months, with plans to cover “essential workers who

are in frequent contact with crowds,” according to Vince Dizon, deputy chief

implementer of the governmentÂ’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

response.

“The goal is to now do 10 million tests within the next 10-12 months, with

plans to aggressively expand testing protocols to non-medical personnel,

particularly to essential workers frequently in contact with large volumes

of people,” Dizon said in a statement yesterday.

These essential workers, according to Dizon, include “security guards,

cashiers, market and street vendors and transport sector workers as well as

those in economic zones and priority tourist destinations.”

The development came as COVID-19 national action plan chief implementer Sec.

Carlito Galvez Jr. cited the “urgent need to safely open the economy” while

urging everyone to “work together in controlling the spread of COVID-19.”

Galvez thanked the Task Force Test, Trace, Treat (T3) and its private sector

partners for “coming together to ramp up the country’s overall testing

capacity to 74,000 tests per day, with 75 labs and a turnaround time of just

72 hours or less for results.”

Its goal is to help ramp up the governmentÂ’s testing, tracing and treatment

efforts to beat COVID-19.

COURT ORDERS ARREST OF PMA CADETS, OFFICIALS IN DORMITORIO HAZING DEATH

BAGUIO CITY - The Baguio City Regional Trial Court Branch 5 has issued

warrants of arrest against 6 cadets and officials of the Philippine Military

Academy (PMA) involved in the hazing death of Cadet Fourth Class Darwin

Dormitorio.

Presiding Judge Maria Ligaya Itliong-Rivera ordered the arrest of PMA 3rd

Class Cadets Shalimar Imperial, Felix Lumbag Jr. and Cadet Julius Carlo

Tadena for murder for DormitorioÂ’s hazing death on September 18, 2019.

No bail was set for their temporary release in the warrant of arrest dated

July 7, 2020.

Also ordered arrested for murder were three officials from the PMA Station

Hospital: Capt. Flor Apple Apostol, Maj. Maria Ofelia Beloy and Lt. Col.

Ceasar Candelaria.

The court set their bail at P200,000 each.

Dormitorio, 20, died inside the PMA barracks after experiencing beatings. He

was confined a the hospital twice and was found to have bruises on his

stomach consistent with hazing.

BATO SAYS US AGREED TO FIX HIS VISA BEFORE VFA U-TURN

MANILA — Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said Wednesday the US embassy agreed

to process his visa before the Philippines announced that it was delaying

its termination of a key military pact with Washington.

President Rodrigo Duterte in February axed the Visiting Forces Agreement

(VFA) after Washington canceled the visa of Dela Rosa, who led his war on

drugs as former national police chief. The termination of the VFA was

supposed to take effect in August.

Dela Rosa said the US embassy invited him to process his visa "right after"

a phone call between Duterte and US President Donald Trump. The 2 leaders

last reported conversation was about the coronavirus pandemic in April.

"Ayaw ko ibalita sana, pero to be frank, to be honest with you, tinawagan

ako ng US after nag-usap si President Duterte at President Trump," the

first-term senator told ANC.

"'Pag after COVID daw, mag-report na iyong kanilang mga staff, inimbitahan

ako papuntahin doon para asikasuhin iyong aking visa... Yes, pupunta ako,"

he added.

QUEZON CITY MAYOR BELMONTE TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Wednesday announced that she tested

positive for COVID-19.

In a statement posted on the Facebook page the Quezon City government,

Belmonte said she might have gotten he virus from visiting health centers

and hospitals, special concern lockdown areas and communities in the city.

"Nangyari po ito sa kabila ng aking ibayong pag-iingat, pagsusuot ng

facemask, madalas na paghugas ng kamay at social distancing," Belmonte said

MAKATI BANS PUBLIC DRINKING

MANILA — The city of Makati has issued a city ordinance prohibiting the

drinking of liquor outside the residence during a pandemic or a state of

calamity starting on July 14.

The ban would “prevent situations that could further endanger lives during a

crisis,” Mayor Abby Binay said in a statement yesterday.

Ordinance No. 2020-152 came roughly a week after 113 persons, including

celebrity KC Montero and his wife, were arrested by authorities at a bar in

Barangay Bel-Air.

“Drinking in the confines of one’s own home is safer, but it’s best to avoid

drinking altogether during a crisis,” she said.

First-time violators would be fined P5,000. Repeat offenders would be jailed

for not more than a month (for a second offense) and not more than a year

(for subsequent offenses) and fined P5,000.

The ordinance also bans drinking liquor in stores and other establishments

where the product was purchased.

Tenants and guests at hotels, motels, apartments, apartelles, bed and

breakfast, transient houses, dormitories and bed spaces would be allowed to

drink only in their own rooms or accommodations.

The city government will also crack down restaurants hosting on private

dining and drinking parties.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

MARITONI FERNANDEZ GETS MARRIED AT 51

MANILA -- Actress Maritoni Fernandez took to social media to reveal that she

finally got married to her partner Mon Dayrit.

Fernandez shared photos from their civil wedding at the Parañaque City Hall

in an Instagram post on Tuesday, July 7.

"Nothing fancy, just love," Fernandez wrote in the caption.

"This is the day the Lord has made. After 51 years, I have found my forever.

Today, I became Mrs. Dayrit," she shared in her latest post.

Fernandez has two kids -- a daughter with her former husband, and a son from

a previous relationship.

SPORTS

NBA TEAMS BEGIN ARRIVING IN ORLANDO FOR RESTART OF SEASON

NBA teams are making their way to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

ahead of the restart of the season, some four months after it was halted

because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Orlando Magic were the first team to arrive at the "bubble."

The Denver Nuggets have also arrived, with Troy Daniels proclaiming the team

"bubble-ready."

The Utah Jazz also announced that they have arrived at the bubble.

A total of 22 teams will be playing at the restart, which begins on July 30.

The NBA Finals will end no later than October 13.

Before the season officially resumes, teams will play in three scrimmages to

prepare for the games, from July 22 to 28.

No fans are allowed inside the "bubble" for the remainder of the NBA season.

SPORTS PROGRESS UNDER COVID-19: PROS GET NOD, SEMI-PROS AWAIT GOV'T BACKING

MANILA — Pro sports is slowly making its way back in the country amid the

effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

After receiving backing from the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the Philippine Football League

(PFL) recently got the nod from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging

Infectious Diseases (IATF) to resume limited practices.

Olympic hopefuls like the Gilas Pilipinas 3x3 squad and Margielyn Didal have

also been allowed to get back in action as the country continues to grapple

with the health crisis.

However, semi-pro leagues in the country like volleyball's Premier

Volleyball League (PVL) and Philippine Superliga (PSL), and basketball's

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) will likely need to receive

backing from a government agency like GAB if they also want to return sooner

rather than later.

GAB Chairman Abraham Mitra previously said he had offered to represent the

aforementioned leagues but the latter refused his offer, citing that they

were still semi-pro or amateur in nature.

For volleyball, one of its National Sports Associations, the Larong

Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI), submitted a request to return to

training and conditioning to the IATF.

This request was made with six other NSAs and was also sent to the

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Per the STAR, volleyball leagues PSL and PVL, and men's league Spikers'

Turf, may seek backing and help from the PSC itself since players from all

three leagues represented the country in international meets like the

Southeast Asian Games held last December.

However, return to sports as it was before is likely still far away in the

future with leagues careful to take small steps in returning back to normal.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 49.54

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Collective judgment of new ideas is so often wrong that it is arguable that

progress depends on individuals being free to back their own judgment

despite collective disapproval. - W.A. Lewis