CHINESE EMBASSY CLAIMS ARBITRAL AWARD IN FAVOR OF PH 'ILLEGAL', 'INVALID'

MANILA - The Chinese embassy in Manila on Monday claimed that the Permanent

Court of Arbitration's ruling in favor of the Philippines in 2016 over

disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea is "illegal and invalid".

In a statement released on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the

verdict, China insisted that both the arbitration and the Philippines'

victory are "illegal and invalid".

"China's position is consistent, clear and firm. The South China Sea

arbitration and its so-called award are illegal and invalid. China does not

accept or participate in the arbitration, nor does it accept or recognize

the so-called award," the embassy said in a statement.

The Chinese government also said that its "sovereignty and maritime rights"

in the area will not be affected by the ruling.

"China firmly opposes and will never accept any claim or action based on

aforesaid award. It has to be highlighted that China and the Philippines

have already reached consensus on properly handling the so-called

arbitration case, which has laid down solid ground for the turning-around of

bilateral relations," the embassy claimed.

"It is hoped that the Philippines could make concerted efforts with China in

jointly securing the hard-won sound momentum of bilateral relations and

upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea," the Embassy said.

RAISING STAKES, US BRANDS CHINA CLAIMS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA ILLEGAL

WASHINGTON, United States — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday that

the United States would treat Beijing's pursuit of resources in the

dispute-rife South China Sea as illegal, ramping up support for Southeast

Asian nations.

It was the latest forceful statement by President Donald Trump's

administration to challenge China, which he has increasingly cast as an

enemy ahead of November elections.

"We are making clear: Beijing's claims to offshore resources across most of

the South China Sea are completely unlawful, as is its campaign of bullying

to control them," Pompeo said in a statement.

"The world will not allow Beijing to treat the South China Sea as its

maritime empire."

The United States has long rejected Beijing's sweeping claims in the South

China Sea, which is both home to valuable oil and gas deposits and a vital

waterway for the world's commerce.

Pompeo's statement goes further by explicitly siding with Southeast Asian

nations including the Philippines and Vietnam, after years of the United

States saying it took no position on individual claims.

"America stands with our Southeast Asian allies and partners in protecting

their sovereign rights to offshore resources, consistent with their rights

and obligations under international law," Pompeo said.

Pompeo issued his statement to mark the fourth anniversary of a tribunal

decision that sided with the Philippines against the nine-dash line.

WHO SAYS COUNTRIES TAKING 'WRONG DIRECTION' ON COVID-19

GENEVA, Switzerland — The World Health Organization warned Monday that too

many countries were bungling their response to the coronavirus pandemic,

meaning there could be no return to normality any time soon.

After a daily record of 230,000 new COVID-19 cases reported on Sunday, the

UN health agency said the pandemic was only going to get worse unless people

stuck to the basics of physical distancing, handwashing, wearing masks and

staying home if sick.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that some countries easing their

way out of lockdowns were now witnessing a resurgence of the virus because

they were not following proven methods to reduce risks.

"I want to be straight with you: there will be no return to the 'old normal'

for the foreseeable future," Tedros told a virtual news briefing.

"Let me blunt: too many countries are headed in the wrong direction.

"The virus remains public enemy number one, but the actions of many

governments and people do not reflect this."

He said mixed messages from leaders were undermining trust.

If governments do not roll out a comprehensive strategy to suppress

transmission of the virus, and if the public do not follow the basics,

"there is only one way this pandemic is going to go," Tedros said.

"It's going to get worse and worse and worse."

DUTERTE SET TO ANNOUNCE NEW QUARANTINE CLASSIFICATIONS

MANILA – President Duterte is expected to announce new quarantine

classifications tomorrow as Malacañang cautioned Metro Manila residents to

temper their expectations because coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) data

do not seem to support the easing of restrictions.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte was scheduled to return

to Manila from Mindanao yesterday and meet with members of the Inter-Agency

Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

“It’s possible that the classification of areas will be announced on

Wednesday because the IATF still has a meeting tomorrow (July 14) for the

final recommendation to the President,” Roque said at a press briefing.

“I would like to clarify that while the President has not made a decision,

we will look at the data to determine if we can ease restrictions. Maybe at

this point, the data does not indicate that we can relax (quarantine

measures) at least in Metro Manila, just to manage the expectations,” he

added.

Roque said he was referring to the case doubling rate and critical

healthcare capacity of the capital region, which has the most number of

infections in the country at more than 22,000.

Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the national policy on COVID-19,

said restrictions in some areas might even be tightened.

PH HOSPITALS CAPACITY FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS IN 'DANGER ZONE': DOH

MANILA - Philippine hospitals' capacity to handle COVID-19 patients has

reached the "danger zone," the Department of Health said Tuesday as it

assured the public that medical centers are opening more units.

The danger zone means virus patients occupy more than 70 percent of hospital

beds assigned to accommodate them, said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario

Vergeire.

At least 2 private hospitals on Monday said their intensive care unit beds

for COVID-19 patients have reached "full capacity," while the National

Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) said it has reached the "danger

zone."

"Katulad ng nabanggit ni Dr. (Rustico) Jimenez and (DOH) Usec. (Leopoldo)

Vega yesterday, we are in the danger zone. Ibig sabihin more than 70 percent

na po ang utilization ng COVID beds natin," Vergeire told ABS-CBN's

Teleradyo.

Vergeire said Heath Secretary Francisco Duque has asked hospitals to expand

their COVID-19 units "if and when the number of cases will increase."

"Ito naman ang sinusunod. Katulad last week, nakita natin na talagang

nagbubukas na ng units ang ating mga ospital dito sa Maynila para

ma-accommodate ang mga pasyente," she said.

As of Monday, the Philippines has reported 57,006 cases of COVID-19, with

20,371 recoveries and 1,599 deaths.

PHILIPPINES STRUGGLES TO JUGGLE HEALTH, ECONOMY IN COVID-19 FIGHT

MANILA — Over a month since the economy reopened, the Philippines is

struggling to keep the virus spread in check while leaving most of the

economy functioning, a growing problem that demands a long-term fix or risks

putting more lives in danger.

The challenge is glaring. While since March the Duterte administration

sacrificed economic prosperity by locking down most of the archipelago to

save lives, Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force

Against COVID-19, said the same tack is not feasible in the long run without

pushing down more Filipinos to poverty.

“We are having a rebalancing of the economy and health and we saw that as

per (Finance) Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez, the economy is now on the

tipping point, meaning the situation is very difficult,” Galvez said in a

briefing on Monday.

But the ongoing rebalancing is appearing too difficult to handle. On the

ground, COVID-19 cases that have once subsided during lockdowns have started

to reach new highs over the past week. Hospitals are again declaring full

capacity, reminiscent of pre-lockdown times in March, all while companies,

even large ones, are laying off workers even after they have restarted

operations.

The two-pronged problem left the Duterte administration calling on the

private sector to a whole-of-nation approach against the pandemic. Galvez

reiterated this on Monday, saying “the responsibility shifts” to the local

government units, private companies and individual citizens as far as

“effectively” managing COVID-19 is concerned.

Businesses agreed. “The world will have to live with the virus until a

vaccine is available and most people infected will recover,” John Forbes,

senior adviser at American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, said.

“A dead economy could be the worst outcome for all,” he said.

ABS-CBN GIVEN 'LIFE IMPRISONMENT,' NOT 'KILLED' BY HOUSE, SAYS DEFENSOR

MANILA — The House of Representatives put ABS-CBN Corp. under "life

imprisonment" and did not kill the network when its license application was

rejected last week, a lawmaker who had criticized the network and voted

against its franchise renewal said on Tuesday.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises voted 70-11 last Friday

against a fresh license for the network, permanently shutting down its free

television and radio services.

"This was not a death penalty. This is life imprisonment. ABS-CBN lives, the

corporation lives. But as to the franchise, there were violations that were

established, it's very clear," said Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike

Defensor, vice chairman of the House good government committee.

"ABS-CBN was not killed. They were given the life imprisonment and there is

time to reform during life imprisonment. That is part of the rehabilitation

of a prisoner when they're put in jail," he added.

THE REST

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PALACE NAMES NEW PANDEMIC CZARS AS PHILIPPINES SEES MORE COVID-19 CASES

MANILA-- Malacañang on Monday introduced new czars who would lead the

implementation of the country's strategy in the fight against the

coronavirus pandemic as the Philippines sought a balance between protecting

public health and reopening its economy.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque introduced the "Philippine anti-COVID

czars," namely Bases and Conversions Development Authority President and CEO

Vince Dizon, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Public Works and Highways

Secretary Mark Villar, and Health Undersecretary Dr. Leopoldo "Bong" Vega.

The four government officials will serve as point persons for key areas of

the government's framework to fight the pandemic dubbed as T3 (Test, Track,

Treat).

The framework, presented by pandemic response chief implementer Secretary

Carlito Galvez Jr., consists of five phases to address the health

crisis--planning, detection of the virus, isolation, treatment, and

reintegration.

Dizon, also the deputy chief implementer of the country's pandemic response,

will serve as the testing czar and will be in charge of expanding the

country's COVID-19 detection efforts.

Baguio Mayor Magalong will work as the tracing czar after his city was

hailed by the national government for its best practice in contact tracing

in light of pandemic.

Public Works Secretary Villar meanwhile is the isolation czar and will lead

the government's efforts in putting up quarantine facilities across the

country.

Health Undersecretary Vega on the other hand is the treatment czar, in

charge of monitoring the critical care capacity of hospitals for COVID-19

cases.

Since the major easing of lockdowns last month, the government has geared

its coronavirus response towards economic recovery even as it continues to

fight local transmission of the virus.

DOH: HOME QUARANTINE NOT DISCOURAGED BUT RULES MUST BE FOLLOWED

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients are not discouraged from observing

home quarantine, the Department of Health said Monday but it stressed that

minimum health protocols must be strictly practiced to prevent the spread of

the virus inside households.

“Hindi naman po natin dini-discourage ang home quarantine. Meron nga tayong

joint administrative order kung saan home quarantining is allowed. Pero ang

sinasabi ko nga may mga condition tayo para mag-home quarantine,” Health

Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media forum.

These include having a separate room and bathroom for COVID-19 patients as

well as strict and proper monitoring of patientsÂ’ health condition.

MANILA LAUNCHES ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM

MANILA – The Manila city government has launched its online system for a

hassle-free payment of taxes, bills and documents.

“Pay taxes in the comfort of your homes any time of the day, any day of the

week, without spending on fares or gas and bearing time-consuming traffic,

long queues and risking the possibility of contracting the coronavirus

disease,” Mayor Isko Moreno said in a statement yesterday.

Moreno said 10 percent of those who regularly settle their dues with city

hall have opted to pay online.

More businesses and individual taxpayers welcomed the online payment system,

he said.

Moreno encouraged some 370,000 real property owners and over P50,000

business establishment operators in Manila to pay taxes online.

He urged taxpayers to avail themselves of the system by downloading in their

mobile phones Go Manila app for safer, easier and effortless business

dealings with the city government.

BATANES ONLY AREA UNDER SIGNAL NO. 1 DUE TO ‘CARINA’

MANILA — Tropical Depression Carina may weaken into a low pressure area

between Tuesday and Wednesday morning but it will still dampen parts of

Northern Luzon, weather forecasters said.

The center of “Carina” was last seen 95 kilometers west northwest of Basco,

Batanes packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km per hour and gusts of up to

55 kph. It is heading northwest at 25 kph.

PAGASA said the tropical depression is expected to turn northward while

approaching the Bashi Channel and the southern portion of Taiwan.

Only Batanes is placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1. Residents

of the province will experience winds between 30 and 60 kph or intermittent

rains within 36 hours.

“Carina” will bring scattered light to moderate rains with at times heavy

rainshowers over Batanes, Babuyan Islands and Ilocos Norte.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy

to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers.

PAGASA also advised those with small seacrafts not to venture out over the

seaboards of Northern Luzon due to moderate to rough seas.

Forecast positio - Wednesday morning: 325 km north northwest of Basco,

Batanes

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

CATRIONA GRAY'S EX CLINT BONDAD REACHES OUT TO SAM MILBY

MANILA — Model Clint Bondad reached out to Kapamilya actor Sam Milby for

what seemed to be a business proposal.

In his Instagram story today, Clint posted a screenshot of his message to

Sam.

"Want to become my client?” Clint asked Sam.

"How about we have a little chat,” Clint captioned the screenshot.

It is not clear, however, why Clint messaged Sam.

Apart from being a model, Clint is a businessman and is involved in the

fitness industry.

Sam is the current boyfriend of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, while

Clint was the Filipino-Australian beauty queen's former lover.

Sam and Catriona revealed that they are in a relationship last May while

Catriona and Clint separated last February 2019.

SPORTS

REAL MADRID ONE WIN AWAY FROM LA LIGA TITLE AFTER BEATING GRANADA

Real Madrid are one win away from winning their 34th La Liga title after

beating a resolute Granada side 2-1 on the road on Monday night.

The win restored Real's four-point lead over Barcelona in the table with

just two games left to play, meaning a home win on Thursday can put the

title out of reach for the two-time defending champions.

"It's true that we're one step closer but we have to keep going, there are

still more points to play for and we're going to try and win every game left

as that was always our objective," said captain Sergio Ramos.

"I really hope we can celebrate winning this league title, our results speak

for themselves."

The visitors wasted no time pulling ahead, with Ferland Mendy finishing off

a nice individual move in the 10th minute by smashing his shot from a tight

angle into the roof of the Granada net for his first Blancos goal.

Minutes later, Real doubled their lead on a counter-attack through Karim

Benzema, who cut to his right in the hosts' penalty area and curled a

perfect strike past Rui Silva.

Granada pulled one back to start the second half after Darwin Machis snuck

in behind the Real Madrid defence and split the legs of goalkeeper Thibaut

Courtois to cut their deficit to a goal.

"Without realising it, we made the mistake of letting our guard down after

getting a scoreline which we would have been very happy with," Ramos said.

"But it wasn't good enough and today you can't beat anyone unless you are

fully focused for 90 minutes. We won the first half and lost the second and

although we got the victory we did things we should never do, like conceding

a cheap goal."

It was the first goal Real had conceded in six matches but Granada

threatened to equalise as Machis missed the target on the volley while

Courtois showed superb reflexes to deny forward Antonin late on.

Real Madrid were made to work hard to see out the result and had Ramos to

thank for sweeping a Ramon Azeez shot off the line in the 84th minute as

Zinedine Zidane's side picked up a nervy three points.

Zidane celebrated wildly when the full-time whistle came and praised his

side for coping with Granada's late onslaught.

"I let out a shout because I was happy and because in football you have to

suffer," said the Frenchman, who is closing in on his second La Liga title

in under four years as Real coach along with three Champions League crowns.

"I shouted out loud because the three points were very important and I

wanted to tell my players that they had played a superb game. To win this

league you have to suffer a little bit and we dug in as a team. You have to

be proud of this team."

The result puts Madrid on 83 points after 36 games and gives them a chance

to seal a first La Liga title since 2017 on Thursday against Villarreal.

"Winning the league would mean a lot to us, it would be the reward for the

consistency we have shown and for how hard we have worked throughout the

year," added Ramos, whose side were two points behind Barcelona when the

season was halted in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The lockdown served us well and proved to be a turning point as we worked

on preparing to return to action and set ourselves the objective of winning

the title.

"Now we are in the title fight and I hope that on Thursday we can celebrate

it properly."

Two draws in the last two games can also secure the title for Madrid due to

their better head-to-head record with Barcelona.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 49.45

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Pain divides the champion from all others. What most people lack is having

the guts to go on through the pain no matter what happens. - Arnold

Schwarzenegger