22 WOUNDED IN BLASTS IN COTABATO, MAGUINDANAOMANILA - At least 22 were wounded in several blasts which rocked CotabatoCity and 2 other towns in the provinces of Cotabato and MaguindanaoprovinceSunday night.A grenade exploded at 6 p.m. on the corner of Sinsuat and Quezon Avenuesnear the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Cotabato City.At least 12 were wounded in the grenade blast, the police said. Among thosewho hurt in the blasts were 8 soldiers conducting patrols in the area.An improvised explosive device detonated nearby a few minutes later. Apasserby was slightly wounded in the second explosion.Meanwhile, 6 others were wounded in 2 blasts in the town of Libungan,Cotabato province the police said.Two others were wounded in another blast in the town of Upi, Maguindanao.Local police said another bomb was thrown into a police station but did notexplode.Authorities have appealed to the public to stay alert and report anythingsuspicious.The military and police are still investigating the incidents.No groups have yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, which happened asthe government planned this year to lift its military rule in the islandover the improving security situation."We do not discount the possibility that Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters(BIFF) and Daesh-inspired groups are behind this," said Major Arvin Encinas,spokesperson of the military's Western Mindanao Command, referring to theIslamic State-linked militants.PALACE DECLARES CEASEFIRE WITH COMMUNIST REBELS, EYES RESUMPTION OF PEACETALKSMANILA - The Philippine government announced on Sunday a ceasefire withcommunist rebels for the Christmas holidays as the two sides moved closer toresuming peace negotiations.Malacañang said it was reciprocating ceasefire earlier declared by theCommunist Party of the Philippines, the New People's Army and the NationalDemocratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).The ceasefire will be implemented nationwide, starting 12 a.m. of Dec. 23until 11:59 p.m. of Jan. 7, 2020, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelosaid in a statement.Panelo said Duterte has instructed the Department of National Defense, theDepartment of the Interior and Local Government, the Armed Forces of thePhilippines and the Philippine National Police, to issue an officialceasefire declaration."The President has also ordered the reconstitution of the Government of theRepublic of the Philippines (GRP) Negotiating Panel, naming ExecutiveSecretary Salvador C. Medialdea as among its members," Panelo said.He said that with the confidence-building measures "the Office of thePresident looks forward to the possible resumption of peace talks with theNDF, achieve accord with the whole coalition and ultimately, attain alasting peace among the citizenry of our country."Malacañang earlier said the government is still keen on restarting peacenegotiations with communist rebels even after Duterte ordered the militaryto crush its armed wing, the New People's Army.LAGUNA TOWN UNDER STATE OF EMERGENCY AS ALCOHOL POISONING DEATH TOLL CLIMBSMANILA - The town of Rizal in Laguna has been placed under a state ofemergency, Mayor Vener Muñoz said Monday after several were killed andhundreds were rushed to hospitals due to alcohol poisoning.Muñoz said he declared a state of emergency so that the town can gain accessto financial assistance.Eleven people were confirmed dead while at least 200 others werehospitalized on Sunday after drinking palm liquor, more commonly known aslambanog."Para makakuha ng tulong pinansiyal sa aking bayan. Pansamantala akonagastos eh sa dami niyan hindi naman ako mayaman," Muñoz said.The victims came from different holiday parties but all bought liquor fromthe same store.Following the alcohol poisoning, Muñoz said the local government hassuspended the sale of lambanog.One critical patient has been placed in the intensive care unit of thePhilippine General Hospital and will undergo dialysis, the hospital'sspokesman Dr. Jonas del Rosario told radio DZMM.Forty-three patients are experiencing symptoms after drinking lambanog,while 17 others who also drank the alcoholic beverage are being monitored.The youngest of the patients was aged 13, while the oldest was 75, DelRosario said.Hundreds others were transferred to East Avenue Medical Center, RizalMedical Center or were brought to provincial hospitals, he added.The alcoholic drink should only have less than a percent of methanolcontent, according to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officer-in-chargeEric Domingo."Pag mali ang pagpproduce ng alak, imbis na ethanol ang nagagawa, methanolpo ang nagiging produkto," he told radio DZMM.The FDA is investigating the brand of the liquor which Domingo said does notseem to be registered with the agency.Del Rosario urged the public to immediately go to a hospital should theyexperience vomiting, stomach pain, and dimming eyesight."Yung methanol nakakabulag, nanghihina ka. Minsan po hindi nila iisipindahil ang tingin nila hangover lang o effect lang talaga ng alcohol," hesaid."Ang isang napakaimportante ay kung iinom kayo ng alcohol dapat alam niyokung saan yung source, lalo na po yung lambanog."'CORRUPTION': ANGKAS CRIES FOUL AFTER LTFRB LIMITS MOTOR-TAXI NUMBERSMANILA -- Ride-hailing firm Angkas on Sunday cried foul over transportregulator's ruling to limit its drivers to 10,000 from 27,000.An inter-agency body conducting a study on the safety of motorcycle taxis asa mode of transportation said it slashed Angkas' numbers in order to includeriders from two other firms, Move-It and Joy Ride.George Royeca, Angkas’ chief transport advocate, said the inter-agency bodytook out the participation of lawmakers and other stakeholders.“They want to rush these other players in 3 months? I say again, hindi poito monopoliya, we welcome competition, but at the expense of the ridingpublic, hindi po regulasyon ang ginagawa dito, corruption ang nangyayari,"he told reporters.Angkas head of operations David Medrana questioned the inter-agency body'sprocess to reach the decision.“It took us 3 years, it took them less than a month. Ano meron sila at alamnila at galing nila para magawa 'yun? Pinapatunayan ng Angkas na kaya nilamaging safe. Anong klaseng standard ang ine-expect ng LTFRB sa bagongfleet?” he said.Various groups have also expressed dismay over the ruling of the LandTransportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).8 IN 10 PINOYS SATISFIED WITH DRUG WAR: SWSMANILA — Eight in 10 Filipinos remained satisfied with the government'santi-narcotics campaign, despite doubts on lawmen's account of the deaths ofthousands of drug suspects, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS)survey released Sunday.The Sept. 27 to 30 survey of 1,800 adults showed 79 percent were satisfiedwith the drug war, 15 percent were not, and 6 percent were undecided.Subtracting the percentage of dissatisfied respondents from the percentageof those who were satisfied yields a "very good" net satisfaction rating of+64, which is 6 points below the excellent +70 in June and March 2019, SWSsaid.Net satisfaction with the campaign has always been either a "very good" +50to +69 or "excellent" in the past 12 survey rounds, hitting a record high ofexcellent +77 in December 2016, the pollster said.Among those satisfied with the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign,their most common reason was "drug suspects have lessened" at 42 percent.The next most common reasons are "drug suspects have been arrested" at 18percent, and lessened crime at 11 percent, said SWS.TROOPS RESCUE TWO ABDUCTED INDONESIANS IN JOLOMANILA — The military rescued two abducted Indonesian sailors in a Sundaypre-dawn raid on an Islamist militant stronghold which left two dead, amilitary official said.A soldier and a militant of kidnap-for-ransom group Abu Sayyaf — which wasbehind some of the nation's worst attacks — were killed during a 30-minutegunfight in the mountainous town of Panamao on the southern island of Jolo."During the firefights, the two victims managed to scamper away (from themilitants) and we were able to rescue them," military commander LieutenantGeneral Cirilito Sobejana told AFP.The pair were among three Indonesian sailors abducted by the militants inSeptember off Malaysian waters near the southern tip of the Philippineisland of Mindanao.Sobejana said a military operation was underway to rescue the otherIndonesian captive.PALACE: CUBAO TO MAKATI IN 5 MINUTES STILL DOABLEMANILA — Malacañang is not giving up on the challenge to cut travel timefrom Cubao, Quezon City to Makati to five minutes, an official saidyesterday.Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the fulfillment of PresidentDuterte’s promise depends on some factors that would make it doable.“If it’s not done this year, it does not mean that it won’t happen beforethe end of the President’s term,” Panelo said. “Hanggang may buhay, maypag-asa (As long as there’s life, there is hope).”DOLE ISSUES HOLIDAY PAY GUIDELINESMANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday issuedguidelines to observe proper payment of wages during the holidays.Workers who will opt to work on Dec. 24 are entitled to receive 30 percentmore of their daily basic pay for eight hours of work.Bello said if an employee works on a regular holiday that also falls on hisrest day, he should be paid an additional 50 percent of basic wage for firsteight hours of work.For overtime work on a special holiday, Bello said employees would receivean additional 30 percent of hourly rate.The “no work, no pay” rule covers those who would choose not to work on Dec.24.Workers who will go to work on Dec. 25 will receive double of their regulardaily pay.An employee who works on a regular holiday that falls on his rest day shouldbe paid an additional 30 percent on top of the double pay.Those who would choose not to work on Christmas would still receive theirregular daily pay.17 SUSPECTS HELD IN DRUG STINGSMANILA — At least 17 persons were apprehended in separate anti-narcoticsoperations in Metro Manila in the past two days.In Quezon City, four drug suspects allegedly yielded over P50,000 worth ofshabu.John Paul Cagampang, 24, and Randy Guarin, 23, were nabbed for allegedpossession of P47,000 worth of shabu during a sting along Taurus street inBarangay Tandang Sora.Members of the Kamuning police collared Bernadette de la Cruz, 39, andMariano Manlangit, 55, in Barangay Pag-asa.Police said they recovered P13,600 worth of drugs from the suspects.In Pasig, more than P108,000 worth of shabu was confiscated by police fromfour suspected drug pushers.Rico Rogacion, 43, and Aldrin Ube, 45, were nabbed in a drug sting inBarangay Rosario, according to city police chief Col. Moises Villaceran Jr.Villaceran said Rogacion and Ube have been under police radar for allegedlypushing drugs.The suspects reportedly sold shabu to a police officer who posed as a buyerprior to their arrest.‘BEWARE OF UNREGISTERED FOOD PRODUCTS’MANILA — As Christmas Day nears, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)yesterday warned the public against unregistered food products in themarket.In an advisory, the FDA reminded consumers not to purchase unregistered fooditems that pose health risks.“Since these products have not gone through evaluation process, the agencycannot assure their quality and safety,” the FDA said.“The use of violativeproducts may pose health risks to consumers,” the agency added.Among these unregistered products are L’ Amor Coco Jam with real cacao (140g), Mango Kernels Chewy Mango Snack, Greenlife Organic Coconut Sugar, SweetValley Freeze Dried Blueberry Coated with Milk Chocolate.The FDA said these food items have not been issued certificates of productregistration and should not be sold in the market.The agency urged the public to check if food products are registered withthe FDA before buying and eating these items.Commercial establishments and stores found selling unregistered productswill be sanctioned, the FDA said.DILG’S DRUG AUDIT SCORE UNFAIR – ISKOMANILA — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has slammed the Department of the Interiorand Local Government (DILG) for giving the city a failed score on thefunctionality of its anti-drug abuse council.In a Facebook Live on Friday, Moreno boasted of the city’s accomplishmentsin the war on drugs.Moreno said around 164 barangays were declared drug-free in the six monthsof his administration. Under the previous administration, only 59 barangayswere cleared of drugs from July 2016 to June 2019.He added that a total of 1,074 drug surrenderees underwent rehabilitation inhis first six months in office, as opposed to 500 surrenderees in theprevious administration.Moreno said he has allotted P11 million for the city government’s campaignagainst narcotics.“Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and I, together with the city council, the ManilaPolice District and other members of the city government, we are trying ourbest to keep the city safe,” the mayor said during his weekly report.“So it is quite unfair for the city government and the people of Manila tohear such commentaries na nanggagaling pa sa ahensya ng pamahalaan (comingfrom a government agency),” Moreno added.CHRISTMAS STORM URSULA ENTERS PHILIPPINES, HEAVY RAINS EXPECTEDMANILA (UPDATE) — Tropical storm Ursula (international name: Phanfone)entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday, 2 days beforeChristmas, threatening to bring rains in the southern portion of the countrystill reeling from a series of deadly quakes.Ursula was about 1,000 kilometers east of Mindanao at 6 a.m., packingmaximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and 80 kph gusts, saidPAGASA weather forecaster Benison Estareja.On Christmas Eve, Tuesday, the storm will bring light to moderate rains overparts of Visayas, and the eastern parts of Mindanao and Southern Luzon, hetold radio DZMM.The country's 21st storm this year could further strengthen before makinglandfall in Samar or Leyte province on Tuesday afternoon and crossingEastern Visayas, he said.Ursula on Christmas Day, Wednesday, will spawn moderate to heavy rains thatcan trigger floods and landslides over Visayas, and Bicol and Mimaroparegions, Estareja warned.The southern province of Davao Del Sur, the epicenter of a magnitude 6.9quake last Dec. 15, is among areas that may experience moderate rains,PAGASA weather forecaster Shiela Reyes told ABS-CBN News.The recent tremors left at least 13 dead, cracked some 25,000 houses andspawned around 1,000 aftershocks so far, according to the disaster agency.Meanwhile, Metro Manila, the southern parts of Mindanao, central andnorthern Luzon will experience fair weather that may be marred by isolatedthunderstorms on Dec. 24 and 25, said Estareja.The storm could prompt the cancellation of flights and sea travel inMindanao on the same dates, he said.If Ursula continues moving at 20 kph, it could leave the Philippines onFriday, said the meteorologist.METRO MANILA FILM FESTIVAL'S PARADE OF STARSCrowds greeted the annual Parade of Stars of the 2019 Metro Manila FilmFestival. Eight movies are chosen each year to take part in the festival.The 8 MMFF films are:The Mall, The Merrier - starring Vice Ganda and Anne Curtis.Mindanao - starring Judy Ann Santos and Allen Dizon3Pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon - starring Coco Martin, Jennylyn Mercado, andAi-Ai delas AlasSunod - starring Carmina Villarroel and Mylene DizonCulion - starring Iza Calzado, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, and Meryll SorianoMission Unstapabol’: The Don Identity - starring Vic Sotto and Maine MendozaMiracle in Cell No. 7 - starring Aga Muhlach and Bela PadillaWrite About Love - starring Yeng Constantino and Rocco NacinoGGV: DIMPLES ROMANA THANKS FANS FOR SUCCESS OF DANIELA MONDRAGONIf it weren’t for the viewers of Kadenang Ginto, Daniela Mondragon would notbe a hit this 2019, Dimples Romana said in Gandang Gabi Vice as she thankedher fans for a successful year.Romana is currently playing the role of Daniela Mondragon, which blew up insocial media after her iconic red dress and luggage scene.Since then, Romana has launched various projects dubbing the iconic scene.“Dinasal mo lang ng mabilis kasi tingin mo naman hindi mo na deserve. Akokasi ganun eh. Kasi naisip ko kumpleto naman ‘yung pamilya ko, ok namankami. Ang wish ko lang sa totoo at alam mo ‘yan. Basta lang may trabaho ako,mapag-aral ko lang mga kapatid ko. “Yung pamilya ko kasama ko ok na ako,”Romana said.Romana also expressed her joy over people imitating her role in variousforms.“Ang pinaka-pangarap ko lang talaga ay maitawid ko lang [ang role] ko nangmaayos. Magawa ko lang trabaho ko nang maayos. Kapag pa pala inappreciaiteng mga tao ‘yung ginagawa mo at ginawa nilang katatawanan, masaya sila roon.‘Yung saya nila, saya ko na rin,” she said.Romana will be part of Vice Ganda’s Metro Manila Film Festival Entry “TheMall, The Merrier” playing the role of “Tita Moody.”NBA SCORES DEC 21FINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Jazz 18-11    31    25    28    30    114team logo Hornets 13-19    33    31    22    21    107SCORING LEADERS    B. Bogdanovic UTA26 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST    T. Rozier CHA29 PTS, 4 REB, 3 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Hawks 6-24    34    39    25    14    112team logo Nets 16-13    34    26    25    37    122SCORING LEADERS    T. Young ATL47 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST    S. Dinwiddie BKN39 PTS, 6 REB, 6 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Wizards 8-20    25    28    27    28    108team logo 76ers 21-10    32    33    23    37    125SCORING LEADERSB. Beal WAS36 PTS, 8 REB, 6 ASTJ. Embiid PHI21 PTS, 13 REB, 3 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Bulls 12-19    25    28    40    26    119team logo Pistons 11-19    28    31    30    18    107SCORING LEADERS    Z. LaVine CHI33 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST    M. Morris DET23 PTS, 1 REB, 6 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Bucks 26-4    37    31    27    28    123team logo Knicks 7-23    23    31    16    32    102Highlights: Bucks at Knicks1:21SCORING LEADERSK. Middleton MIL23 PTS, 6 REB, 5 ASTJ. Randle NY20 PTS, 8 REB, 2 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Kings 12-17    21    29    28    37    115team logo Grizzlies 11-19    23    37    31    28    119SCORING LEADERS    H. Barnes SAC25 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST    J. Jackson Jr. MEM18 PTS, 5 REB, 2 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Clippers 22-9    33    39    38    24    134team logo Spurs 11-17    31    30    22    26    109SCORING LEADERSK. Leonard LAC26 PTS, 7 REB, 9 ASTD. DeRozan SA24 PTS, 3 REB, 3 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Rockets 20-9    36    34    36    33    139team logo Suns 11-18    35    30    30    30    125SCORING LEADERSJ. Harden HOU47 PTS, 6 REB, 7 ASTK. Oubre Jr. PHO26 PTS, 5 REB, 4 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Timberwolves 10-18    23    29    28    26    106team logo Trail Blazers 14-16    27    34    22    30    113SCORING LEADERS    A. Wiggins MIN33 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST    D. Lillard POR29 PTS, 3 REB, 7 AST