‘ABS-CBN SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS FRANCHISE BID’

MANILA — Television giant ABS-CBN has successfully justified its bid for

franchise renewal before the House of Representatives, proponents of the

franchise renewal bill said yesterday.

They are optimistic that the broadcast empire could secure a fresh franchise

from Congress.

Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Agusan del

Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun expressed belief that ABS-CBN won in the hearings

and sufficiently rebutted allegations should their fellow lawmakers base

their votes on merit.

The House joint committee on legislative franchises and good government, and

public accountability should approve the franchise renewal after nearly two

months of hearings, they said.

The lawmakersÂ’ belief contradicted an earlier report that said the TV

network is facing an uphill battle as the number of House members who want

to reject the franchise request outnumber those who favor the reopening of

ABS-CBN.

The report said only 25 lawmakers would likely vote in favor of ABS-CBN.

As this developed, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano slammed what he branded as

propaganda to blackmail Congress into deciding in favor of ABS-CBN.

Cayetano said some people he did not name are spreading rumors to influence

the decision of the House committee.

He appealed to both supporters and critics of ABS-CBN “to continue to

advocate, but never to engage in black propaganda and fake news.”

“Speaker Cayetano said he would allow a conscience vote on the ABS-CBN

franchise. I hope he will deliver on that. If itÂ’s a conscience vote,

ABS-CBN wins. If it’s not, the opposite happens,” Atienza said.

Lagman agreed with Atienza and forecast an 8-0 victory for the network as he

cited eight issues tackled during the hearings.

These issues included the citizenship of ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio

Lopez III, issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) of ABS-CBN

Holdings to foreign nationals, reacquisition of the Lopez family after the

EDSA Revolution in 1986, 50-year constitutional limit on franchises, digital

migration, alleged labor malpractices, various tax issues and biased

reporting.

Fortun shared LagmanÂ’s opinion and reiterated CayetanoÂ’s call for committee

members to vote according to their conscience.

“If committee members vote according to conscience, ABS-CBN franchise should

be renewed,” Fortun said.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ASKS DUTERTE TO DROP CHARGES AGAINST RESSA

MANILA — Members of the European Parliament wrote to President Rodrigo

Duterte to raise concerns on the conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa on a

cyber libel charge.

“We are concerned her conviction sends a strong message to journalists that

critical reporting risks imprisonment,” the ten members of the media working

group of the European Parliament said.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines shared a copy of the

letter on Thursday.

Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa

convicted Ressa and Santos on Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 or cyber

libel. The court sentenced Ressa and Santos to the indeterminate penalty of

imprisonment ranging from six months and one day of prision correccional as

minimum to six years of prision correccional as maximum.

Ressa and Santos are currently out on post-conviction bail, as they appeal

the guilty verdict of the court.

The case emanated by a complaint filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng over an

article published in May 2012, roughly four months before the Cybercrime

Prevention Act of 2012 was instituted. Laws like this cannot be applied

retroactively. The Justice department found probable cause to bring Ressa

and Santos to court, asserting that the updated article fall under

re-publication and puts it under the anti-cybercrime law — a theory that

Ressa's legal team challenges in their appeal.

The legislative body of the European Union stated that the “conviction is

part of an orchestrated campaign of legal harassment against Maria Ressa and

Rappler.”

“We are worried her arrest shows that the law in the Philippines is used

against journalists perceived as being critical of the authorities,” they

added.

The regional bloc called on Duterte to "drop all charges against [Ressa and

Santos], not oppose the appeal of her conviction in the cyberlibel case, and

guarantee a free and independent press in the country."

DUTERTE: NO RUSH IN REOPENING ECONOMY

MANILA — The Philippine economy cannot be totally reopened for now or the

number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases would increase by the

thousands and the country would be in “deep s**t,” according to President

Duterte.

Meeting in Davao City from Tuesday night until early yesterday with members

of his Cabinet involved in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Duterte said

the reopening of the economy should be “circumspect” as the country cannot

afford to have another spike in the number of infected persons.

“If you open the entire Philippines and thousands upon thousands of new

cases happen, then we are in deep s**t. It would really be difficult for us.

First, we do not have money,” the President said in his televised address.

“Poor countries like us… cannot (really afford) a total epidemic or

pandemonium. We are poor and we cannot afford to gamble,” he added.

DUTERTE: I DONÂ’T NEED TO BE CORRUPT

MANILA — Amid allegations of corruption thrown his way, President Duterte

said he and members of his Cabinet wonÂ’t tarnish their reputation in their

final years in public service.

At the same time, Duterte defended his Cabinet, especially the former

military officers.

He made the statement in a pre-taped broadcast aired early yesterday while

also downplaying critics.

Duterte said he cannot be lured by money at this point in his political

career as he had been in his days as local chief executive. “No more… am

already old. YouÂ’ll give me a truckload of money? What will I do with the

money? At my age, I hate to travel. You travel, you get COVID,” he said in

English and Filipino.

While he indulges himself with his gun collection, Duterte said he is

unmoved by bribes.“I have a gun collection – rare, antique – but no military

hardwareÂ… hobby-hobby lang. Iyong travel, I cannot travel anymore. Totoo

‘yan. Wala na ‘yan sa amin,” he added.

He pointed out that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Interior Secretary

Eduardo Año, presidential adviser for the peace process Carlito Galvez – all

former military officials – won’t allow any activity that would ruin their

reputations after keeping their integrity intact while in the military.

“General Galvez, General Lorenzana, General AñoÂ… they have served their

country and theyÂ’re still serving the country. Why would they destroy their

name?” he said.

ECONOMIC MANAGERS: WE WILL OVERCOME THIS CRISIS

MANILA — Members of the administration’s economic team yesterday expressed

confidence that the Philippines will overcome the health and economic crisis

brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic.

President Duterte, in a pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) briefing, had

a similar message, saying his administration has always overcome trials in

the past four years.

The head of the economic team, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, said

the economy would be able to bounce back.

“We will overcome this crisis. We will get back to work. We will get back

our economy and you can be assured that this government is doing its utmost

to bring the economy back to the growth path,” Dominguez said at the

pre-SONA virtual press briefing.

“It’s true we are having a hiccup, we are having a bad spot, but we are

strong enough to weather this problem and come out of it probably even

stronger than before,” Dominguez added.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno, acting

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua and Public Works Secretary Mark

Villar expressed the same confidence that the country would hurdle the

challenges posed by the pandemic.

The Philippine economy contracted by 0.2 percent in the first quarter of the

year, the first quarterly economic downturn in two decades.

Diokno said earlier a deeper economic contraction looms in the second

quarter, with the gross domestic product (GDP) likely shrinking by 5.7 to

6.7 percent. But he said the country is in a good position for recovery.

For 2020, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) expects the

economy to contract by two to 3.4 percent. However, they also see a sharp

recovery in 2021, projecting a GDP growth of 7.1 to 8.1 percent.

PH LOGS RECORD-HIGH 2,539 ADDÂ’TL COVID-19 CASES; BREACHES 50,000 MARK

MANILA — Additional COVID-19 cases in the Philippines on Wednesday reached

another record high at 2,539.

It also crossed the 50,000 mark, with 50,359 total confirmed cases since the

outbreak started.

Of the additional cases, 1,922 are considered “fresh cases” and 617 are

considered “late cases.” This is the highest number of fresh cases reported

in a single day.

ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING OFFICES IN NAIA PLACED UNDER LOCKDOWN

MANILA — The Department of Justice placed anti-human trafficking offices in

three terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport under a two-week

lockdown due to COVID-19 threat.

DOJ Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar ordered the temporary closure of

NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking (NAIATAFT) and Inter-Agency Council

Against Trafficking (IACAT) offices at NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3 from July 8

to 22.

This was after four NAIATAFT personnel tested positive for COVID-19 based on

a swab test conducted on July 2.

Villar said that during the lockdown period, they will conduct immediate

disinfection and cleansing procedures in the offices.

“All existing work assignments shall be, as far as practicable, done from

their respective homes where everyone is expected to be on call for urgent

matters or concerns,” the order also read.

The head of the NAIATAFT is told to submit a recommendation on return to

work order and schedule upon the end of the lockdown period.

DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete, department spokesperson, meanwhile assured

that while the IACAT offices at the airport are on lockdown, “the existing

protocols to detect trafficking situations remain in place.”

“Under these protocols, passengers suspected of being trafficking will still

be referred to strict secondary inspection by the Bureau of Immigration,” he

told reporters in a message.

The IACAT Office will also continue to receive reports of trafficking

situations through hotlines and social media, Perete added.

THE REST

========

PHILIPPINES EYES WIDER CORONAVIRUS ASYMPTOMATIC TESTING

The health department aims to expand its coronavirus testing to cover more

asymptomatic individuals to contain the pandemic as the Philippines relaxes

its lockdown measures, an official said Thursday.

"The economy is getting to be open right now... and a lot of people are

moving around and that increases the possibility of the transmission of the

virus. We are trying to do a balance in terms of safeguarding the health of

the community," said Health Undersecretary Leopold Vega.

"We are trying do expand the testing guidelines so that more, not just

symptomatics are getting to be tested, but also the asymptomatic. This is

the only way that we will be able to isolate, contact-trace and treat

patients," he told ANC.

Some 800,000 people have been screened for the novel coronavirus so far, the

health department said Tuesday, almost 4 months into varying degrees of

lockdowns to contain the pandemic.

PGH CORONAVIRUS PATIENTS EXCEED INITIAL BED CAPACITY: OFFICIAL

MANILA — The number of coronavirus patients at the Philippine General

Hospital has exceeded its initial bed allocation for the respiratory

disease, an official said Thursday.

The state-run hospital had allocated 130 beds for COVID-19 patients. It now

has 172 coronavirus patients, including 145 with positive test results, 22

suspected carriers and 5 probable, said PGH public affairs coordinator Dr.

Jonas Del Rosario.

This figure is the highest COVID-19 admission since PGH became a referral

center for the disease in March, he said.

To accommodate virus patients, the PGH used "buffer beds" in non-COVID-19

wards, he said.

"Talagang inaayos namin iyong pagkaka-arrange ng mga pasyente. Hindi

puwedeng maghalo ang COVID at non-COVID," he told DZMM.

Del Rosario said the spike in patient admission might be due to the

Philippines' increased testing capacity and eased lockdowns.

The PGH as of Thursday only had 3 to 4 vacant beds in its intensive care

unit. The hospital will only accept COVID-19 patients with moderate and

severe symptoms, he said.

PGH's supply of protective gear and medicines is "enough", he added.

Less than 2 percent of its 5,000 workers were infected with coronavirus so

far. They are recovering at the hospital, Del Rosario said.

He urged patients who had recovered from the disease to donate their plasma,

in hopes that the donor's antibodies will speed up the recipient's recovery.

The PGH previously used plasma treatment only for patients with severe

symptoms and would now try giving it to those with moderate symptoms.

Interested donors may call hotline 155-200, said Del Rosario.

GOV'T ALLOWS BACKRIDING FOR COUPLES

MANILA — Beginning Friday, the government's coronavirus task force will

allow backriding, but only for married and common-law couples, Interior

Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday.

Speaking in an interview with dZMM Teleradyo, Año said that those doing so

would first have to comply with the strict health protocols under the model

proposed by Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap, which includes dividers and even handles

wedged between riders and their passengers.

“Starting tomorrow, we're going to allow backriding for couples, and the

prototype model submitted by Gov. Arthur Yap, that'sa already been approved

too by the [National Task Force] and this is the prototype that we're going

to use,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

"There is a barrier between rider and passenger, and there should also be a

handle on the side of the barrier at the same time both the rider and the

passenger need to wear a mask and helmet," he added.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, of which Año

sits as vice chair, has not yet released a memo regarding the shift to local

governments.

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian that same day wrote in a tweet: "That's

going to be the signal to implement this, but we're still waiting for it. We

will announce guidelines when we get it."

NATIONAL ID IMPLEMENTATION SEEN THIS YEAR

MANILA — Implementation of the National ID System is on track before the end

of the year, with the last major procurement block expected to be hurdled

soon, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said yesterday.

“Most of the procurement packages, except for the systems integrator, were

already bid out and awarded and now we are already in the middle of

procurement of the last package,” said NEDA acting director general Karl

Chua.

The systems integrator, which will ensure that major components of the

Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) are seamlessly interconnected and

fully functional, is the last major issue needed to be hurdled to pave the

way for the mass registration into PhilSys this year.

The contract for this project is slated for award in August.

“Once we are done with the procurement and the development, we can begin the

registration, subject to health conditions toward the end of the year,” Chua

said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

SUNSHINE CRUZ GOES ON BLOCKING SPREE AFTER CALLING OUT 'SEXUAL PREDATORS'

MANILA – Sunshine Cruz went on a blocking spree on Monday after she got

dismayed over some Facebook users whom she tagged as “sexual predators.”

“Enjoy din naman palang mang-BAN, block and delete. Nagkalat ang ‘sexual

predatorsÂ’ online. Parang ngayon lang nakakita ng mga babae. Ako po ang

nahihiya para sa mga magulang n'yo. You guys know who you are. I am saving

those messages before banning you. You’ve been warned,” she said.

According to Cruz, it's wrong to disrespect a woman just because sheÂ’s

wearing shorts or a swimsuit.

“Ginagawang palusot lang ng mga manyak o sexual offenders 'yan. Don’t blame

women! Blame those men who look down on women for the choice of clothes they

wear,” she said.

Explaining her social media posts, Cruz said: “Walang mamanyak kung walang

manyakis, walang babastusin kung walang bastos. Wala po kaming tinatapakang

tao. I am only sharing bits and pieces of my life and my children. We just

want to share our lockdown activities with my followers.”

She also lashed back at those who brought up the fact that she used to be a

sexy star.

“O may mga magsasabi na naman dyan na DATI ka namang sexy star. SO? Trabaho

ko 'yan noon. Part of my job. It is never a reason para mga anak ko babuyin.

Mahiya kayo sa magulang n'yo. Sinasayang n'yo lang ang pagpapaaral nila sa

inyo,” she said.

The actress then urged those who get uncomfortable in seeing her posts to

just unfollow her on social media.

SPORTS

PLAYERS REACH ORLANDO BUBBLE AHEAD OF NBA TRAINING CAMPS

MIAMI -- NBA players have started arriving in Orlando to face life in the

league's "bubble" at Walt Disney World ahead of Thursday's start of training

camp workouts.

Airplane-style food trays have brought mixed reviews as 22 teams prepare to

restart a 2019-20 season that was shut down March 11 when Utah's Rudy Gobert

tested positive for COVID-19.

Players are tested for coronavirus upon arrival at the quarantine zone

designed to prevent outbreaks even as Florida becomes one of the latest US

epicenters of the deadly virus.

They must pass another test at least 24 hours later to leave isolation, and

partake of hotel restaurants with more than pre-packaged offerings.

"No way Bron eating this. LOL," tweeted Los Angeles Clippers guard Isaiah

Thomas, hinting that LA Lakers superstar LeBron James would have a superior

menu when his team arrived Thursday.

"Food is actually a lot better than what I expected," tweeted Orlando Magic

swingman Evan Fournier. The Frenchman also offered a quick tour of his

typical-looking hotel room on social media, complete with a balcony.

Teams can begin training camp workouts once they have completed bubble

arrival quarantine. Teams will start to scrimmage each other on July 22

ahead of the planned July 30 restart.

Some players have been outspoken in their lack of confidence in the NBA

bubble plan, which was assembled in consultation with the players union and

medical experts as well as local and state officials.

"I don't like the idea," Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid said. "I still

don't believe in it and I don't think it's going to be safe enough."

The Cameroonian center said he considered not playing but did not want to

let down his teammates as they try to capture an NBA title.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 49.47

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Success is not owned, it is rented, and that rent is due every day. - Rory

Vaden