WEST PH SEA AWARD IS ‘NON-NEGOTIABLE’, DFA SAYS ON 4TH ANNIV OF LEGAL

VICTORY

MANILA - The PhilippinesÂ’ arbitration victory against China is

“non-negotiable”, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday on the

4th anniversary of the verdict.

On July 12 four years ago, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor

of the Philippines' arguments for maritime entitlements over the West

Philippine Sea, rejecting China's claims in the resource-rich area.

The DFA said the arbitration case “is a contribution of great significance

and consequence to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China

Sea and to the peace and stability of the region at large.”

“The Tribunal authoritatively ruled that China’s claim of historic rights to

resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line’ had no

basis in law,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said in a

statement.

The DFA also noted that the Tribunal ruled that the PhilippinesÂ’ sovereign

rights in its exclusive economic zone were violated by the construction of

artificial islands and large-scale reclamation. The large-scale harvesting

of endangered marine species also damaged the areaÂ’s marine ecosystem, it

said.

“Compliance in good faith with the award would be consistent with the

obligations of the Philippines and China under international law, including

UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) to which both

parties are signatories,” Locsin said.

He said the Philippines, as a law-abiding, peace-loving and responsible

member of the international community, reaffirms its adherence to the award

and its enforcement without any possibility of compromise or change.

“The award is non-negotiable,” Locsin added.

China however has rejected the arbitral win, with no less than Chinese

President Xi Jinping telling President Rodrigo Duterte this ruling during

their bilateral meeting in Beijing last year.

China has instead ramped up its militarization efforts in the vital

waterway.

Last April, the DFA filed a diplomatic protest against China after a Chinese

warship pointed a radar gun at a Philippine Navy ship in the West Philippine

Sea.

In June last year, a Chinese vessel collided with a Filipino fishing boat

and sank it, and then left the boatÂ’s crew floating in the middle of the

sea.

Meanwhile former Foreign Affairs chief Albert del Rosario said Duterte can

still raise the country’s arbitral win “before the world.”

“In the remaining years of his term, we believe that our president still has

the opportunity to fulfill his promise to the Filipino people to raise the

Award: this time, not before the Chinese President, but before the world.”

Del Rosario said in a text message.

ABS-CBN SHARES HALTED FROM TRADING PENDING INFORMATION ON BUSINESS PLAN

MANILA — Trading of shares in embattled ABS-CBN Corp. was indefinitely

suspended on Monday to give time to the network to inform investors how a

denial of a new broadcasting franchise would impact the companyÂ’s business

going forward.

In a notice, the Philippine Stock Exchange said the local bourse would allow

shares of ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN Holdings Corp., the firmÂ’s holding company, to

resume trading a day after information on its corporate plans is submitted.

“The Exchange is mandated to ensure that the investing public has access to

full, fair, timely and accurate information where such information may

reasonably be expected to materially affect the market activity and the

price of its securities,” PSE said.

“Pursuant to the foregoing basic principle and disclosure standard, the

Exchange required the Company to submit a full disclosure on the impact of

the non-renewal of its legislative franchise on the business, financial

condition and operations of the Company, as well as its prospects and

business plan moving forward,” it added.

CAYETANO: WE WERE FAIR TO ABS-CBN

MANILA – Amid the flak, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday called on the

general public to be more circumspect in their opinion about the House of

RepresentativesÂ’ refusal to grant ABS-CBN another 25-year legislative

franchise.

“The House leadership asks that the people read the findings carefully in

order to appreciate the reasons for their decision. And for those who do not

agree, at the very least, understand why the decision had to be so,”

Cayetano said.

The Taguig congressman pointed out that the hearings conducted by the joint

panel of the House committee on legislative franchises and good government –

headed by Reps. Franz Alvarez and Jonathan Sy-Alvarado, respectively – were

fair and objective.

“The House committed and delivered a time for Congress to conduct fair,

impartial, thorough and comprehensive hearings on the application for

franchise renewal of the ABS-CBN Corporation,” Cayetano said.

“Because of the highly partisan nature of this issue, we accepted from the

start that there would be those who will vehemently disagree with the

committee’s decision, no matter what they resolve,” he added.

The administration stalwart maintained that the process was “by no means

easy for anyone involved in the proceedings, but assured the public that the

final resolution was not arrived at without serious consideration of the

overall impact it will have on the nation.”

He said the technical working group (TWG) took the opportunity to present

policy recommendations with a view to crafting more responsive and effective

legislation to address the many unresolved issues discussed in the course of

ABS-CBNÂ’s franchise application.

On the other hand, the TWG assured the public that the decision was in no

way related to the freedom of the press, but rather a denial of a privilege

granted by the state because ABS-CBN was seen as undeserving of the grant of

a legislative franchise.

ROBREDO TO ROQUE: LAWMAKERS SHOULD REPRESENT VIEWS OF CONSTITUENTS

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday disagreed with presidential

spokesman Harry Roque that the junking of ABS-CBNÂ’s franchise by a committee

of the House of Representatives was the “decision of the Filipino people.”

Robredo said RoqueÂ’s statement contradicted the results of the latest Social

Weather Stations (SWS) survey, which showed 75 percent of Filipinos

supporting the franchise renewal of the television network.

“When you say it’s the decision of the people, the (lawmakers) – that’s why

they’re called representatives – should represent the views of their

constituents,” the Vice President said over dzXL.

The nationwide SWS poll was conducted from July 3 to 6, using mobile phone

and computer-assisted telephone interviews of 1,555 adult Filipinos, 18

years old and above.

Results of the survey were released on Saturday, a day after the House of

RepresentativesÂ’ committee on legislative franchises, in a vote of 70-11,

denied the network a fresh 25-year franchise.

Robredo also countered Speaker Alan Peter CayetanoÂ’s claim that the panel

conducted “fair, impartial, thorough and comprehensive” hearings.

“I think many have watched the hearings and only the people can tell if they

think the hearings were impartial,” the Vice President said.

Robredo said just like other candidates during the May 2016 elections, she

herself experienced “unfair” treatment from some members of the TV network.

“I also have several ads which were not aired (by ABS-CBN), there were also

instances when I felt many people at ABS-CBN were not fair to me, but this

is not the time to take revenge due to personal grudges because weÂ’re

fighting for a bigger interest, and these are the people depending on the

jobs at ABS-CBN,” she said.

Robredo said she did not expect that a closure of a media network would

happen again after the Marcos dictatorship.

“I didn’t imagine this would happen again… I thought when we fought a

dictator we learned our lesson,” she said.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno said the proposed peopleÂ’s

initiative to revive ABS-CBNÂ’s franchise bid is feasible.

IATF: MGCQ IN METRO POSSIBLE

MANILA – Quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila may be eased if local

governments can act swiftly to contain coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

in their respective areas, an official said yesterday.

Metro Manila, which contributes a third of the PhilippinesÂ’ gross domestic

product, has been under the more lenient general community quarantine (GCQ)

since June 1 as the government slowly reopens the pandemic-hit economy.

But officials have also warned that the capital region may revert to a

stricter quarantine scenario if its healthcare capacity is in danger of

being overwhelmed by a rising number of infected persons.

Asked about Metro ManilaÂ’s chances of being downgraded to the most relaxed

modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), Cabinet Secretary Karlo

Nograles said it would depend on the data on COVID-19 infections, as well as

the capabilities of local governments to respond to the disease.

“There are two ways of thinking about it. Number one, it’s possible as long

as the localized response of LGUs (local government units) is fast. But

again, it really depends... When the President is about to decide (on the

quarantine classifications), we will give him options,” Nograles told radio

station dzBB.

COVID-19 CASES IN PHILIPPINES HIT 56,259; DEATH TOLL AT 1,534

MANILA — Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines jumped to

56,259 as of Sunday, with the Department of Health also reporting massive

increases in the number of recoveries and deaths.

In a briefing Monday morning, the DOH announced that 2,124 new infections

were added to the national caseload. Numbers related to COVID-19 were

supposed to be released on Sunday afternoon but the department failed to

publicize the figures for the first time due to “significant volume of data

gathered.”

The number of additional deaths also rose significantly at 162. This brought

the total number of fatalities related to COVID-19 in the country to 1,534.

The country has so far tested 908,779 for coronavirus. Currently, there are

85 testing laboratories nationwide.

SAN LAZARO HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT DEFENDS ITSELF AMID COMPLAINTS FROM NURSES

MANILA — A COVID-19 referral facility in Manila on Monday released a

statement in response to several issues raised by its nurses who called for

better working conditions.

"We acknowledged with utmost importance the dedication of our nursing staff

all through the years of facing several outbreaks and epidemic," San Lazaro

Hospital said in a statement which went on to deny almost every claim made

by its nurses.

SLH nurses on Friday pleaded for relief in a statement issued by Filipino

Nurses United, saying 40 hospital workers have been infected with the deadly

respiratory disease. Management responded by saying that this number is

cumulative of the total number of infections since March.

Despite this clarification, the hospital's nurses on Friday said that only

half of workers infected with COVID-19 have been admitted and confined due

to the limited amount of isolation. They added that the rest, who are

asymptomatic are self-quarantined and waiting for vacant beds.

SLH also vehemently denied its nurses' claim that it was understaffed.

"With our occupancy rate of only 20% and with the same number of staff that

took care of patients at even 80-100% occupancy rate prior to the pandemic

(during dengue, leptospirosis, and measles), management DON'T see reasons or

basis for their claim of understanding. In fact, standard nurse to patient

ratio is being observed accordingly," it said.

SLH nurses in their statement claimed that more space for COVID-19 patients

have already been opened up, with regular wards having been converted into

COVID-19 wards, despite not having enough manpower for all of them.

Nurses also claimed that understaffing was leading to physical, emotional,

and mental fatigue, to which the hospital responded that "management agreed

on the work schedule arrangement... that allows less days of work in a week

for them to have more rest days."

The hospital added that "psychosocial and debriefing sessions are regularly

conducted by our psychiatrist to address the mental and emotional concerns

of the staff."

Management also denied its nurses' claims that there was a shortage of

personal protective equipment and N95 masks, saying the hospital has enough

supplies to last the month.

However, it also clarified that staff handling positive COVID-19 cases are

instructed to reuse their N95 masks for 12-hour shifts, which they said is

compliant with infection and control guidelines.

THE REST

========

10 GENERALS VIE FOR TOP AFP POST

MANILA — Ten generals are being considered to replace Armed Forces of the

Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., who is set to retire next

month.

AFP spokesman Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the shortlist of candidates was

submitted to Malacañang through the Department of National Defense earlier

this month.

“Those being eyed to replace General Santos include three-star generals,

major service commanders and unified command chiefs,” Arevalo said over the

weekend.

The AFP Board came up with the shortlist following deliberations, Arevalo

said.

Santos is set to retire from the military on Aug. 4 when he reaches the age

of 56.

Arevalo said it is the prerogative of President Duterte if he wants to

extend SantosÂ’ duty as the country is fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s the prerogative of the President. But as a matter of course, we

conducted deliberations to submit the names based on their qualifications,”

Arevalo said.

MRT-3 OPS BACK AFTER CORONAVIRUS HITS HUNDREDS OF PERSONNEL

MANILA -- The MRT-3 operations resumed Monday on a limited capacity after a

6-day shutdown that gave way to a coronavirus screening of its personnel.

The MRT management earlier said at least 2,103 personnel tested negative for

the pathogen, exceeding the 1,308 required personnel to resume train

operations.

Of the 281 personnel who tested positive, only one had developed symptoms

while the rest are doing well under quarantine, MRT-3 operations chief Mike

Capati told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.

Those who reported for work on Monday were in full safety gear. Passengers

are required to go through thermal checks, fill up a form for contact

tracing and practice social distancing, Capati said.

TPLEX COMPLETION SEEN THIS WEEK

MANILA — The last segment that will complete the 89.21-kilometer expressway

from Tarlac City to Rosario town in La Union will open this week, Public

Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said over the weekend.

“This July 15, the 89.21-km Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway or TPLEX

will be fully utilized from Tarlac City to Rosario, La Union,” Villar said.

With the opening of the last segment, travel time between Tarlac City and

Rosario will be reduced to one hour from 3.5 hours.

Some 20,000 travelers per day will benefit from the reduced travel time.

The construction of the final 11-kilometer Section 3B, from Pozorrubio in

Pangasinan to Rosario, started in April 2018 and was completed within 28

months.

“To promote development of Northern Luzon, a proposal to extend TPLEX by an

additional 59 kilometers up to San Juan in La Union has been submitted,”

Villar said.

The proposed P23.95-billion extension project aims to promote Northern Luzon

as well as facilitate connectivity to Central Luzon and Metro Manila through

high-speed mobility and secured access.

The project involves a 59.4-km four-lane toll road, which will start from

the last exit in Rosario and ends in San Juan.

50 BACK-RIDING COUPLES PULLED OVER – HPG

MANILA — No couples faking their relations have been apprehended so far by

authorities implementing back-riding protocols for motorcycles as officers

were directed to be more considerate, the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) said

yesterday.

Col. Wilson Doromal, field office director of the HPG National Capital

Region, said they pulled over at least 50 couple riders, but none of them

were found to have been faking their marriage documents.

The government has allowed couples to ride on motorcycles provided they have

plastic barriers between them as protection against the coronavirus disease

2019.

Aside from married couples, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and

transgender community are allowed as long as they are living in one house.

HERE COMES CARINA: LPA OFF LUZON NOW A TROPICAL DEPRESSION

MANILA — A low pressure area off Luzon strengthened into a tropical

depression before dawn on Monday and might stir rains across large swaths of

the country, said the state weather bureau.

The third storm of 2020, Carina was 275 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City,

Cagayan at 7 a.m. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers

per hour (kph) and 55 kph gusts, said PAGASA.

Signal number 1, where wind speeds of 30 to 60 kph may be experienced in 36

hours, is hoisted over:

Batanes

Babuyan islands

Northeastern Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Buguey, and the

eastern portions of Lal-lo, Gataran and Baggao)

Carina will dump moderate to heavy rains over Babuyan and northeastern

Cagayan and Isabela. Ilocos, Cordillera, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Aurora

and northern Quezon including Polilio islands will experience light to

moderate with at times heavy rains, said PAGASA.

Residents in these areas should be on the lookout for possible floods or

landslides during moderate to at times heavy rains, said the weather agency.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

CHARO SANTOS ON ABS-CBN FRANCHISE DENIAL: 'I AM BEYOND HEARTBROKEN'

MANILA -- "I am beyond heartbroken."

This was the reaction of actress and ABS-CBN chief content officer Charo

Santos-Concio after lawmakers decided to deny the renewal of its franchise

on Friday, keeping the network's main broadcast platforms off the air and

places thousands of jobs at risk.

"I am beyond heartbroken. Hindi lang po para sa akin kundi para po sa aming

libo-libong mga Kapamilya dito at sa buong mundo," Santos-Concio said, as

she thanked all the network executives "for your courage, humility and

strength. I am so proud of all of you!"

"Sa aking mga Kapamilya sa ABS-CBN na pinuno ang langit ng dasal, it is with

great pride that I all call you Kapamilya," she added.

Santos-Concio, who also hosts the longest-running television drama anthology

in the country "Maalaala Mo Kaya," remained hopeful that ABS-CBN will be

back on the air.

"Sa amin pong mga tagasubaybay, kayo po ang aming naging inspirasyon...

hindi namin kayang suklian ang inyong pagmamahal. Maraming salamat po.

Hinding-hindi po mabubura sa aming mga puso ang ating pinagsamahan!

Naniniwala po ako na tayo po ay muling magkikita," she said.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of

trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition

inspired, and success achieved. - Helen Keller