DUTERTE TO PHYSICALLY DELIVER 5TH SONA IN BATASANG PAMBANSA AMID PANDEMIC:

SOTTO

MANILA — For the first time, President Duterte will deliver his fifth State

of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa with a limited number

of lawmakers and an empty gallery in an effort to protect him from

coronavirus infection, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said yesterday.

But presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. clarified that there is no

assurance yet that the Chief Executive would physically go to the Batasan to

deliver the SONA, or if he would just do it via video telecast from

Malacañang.

“The venue is confirmed, it is Batasan. But from what I know, it’s not yet

100 percent sure if the President can physically attend or he would

broadcast from Malago to Congress,” Roque said at yesterday’s press

briefing.

Sotto said he expected the President to inform the nation of the exact

situation of the country, which has been fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I just received word today (Thursday) that the President has decided to

deliver his SONA in the Batasang Pambansa at the House of Representatives on

July 27,” he told reporters in a virtual interview via Zoom.

He explained that the number of those who will be physically present at the

premises will be limited to a maximum of 50 people, all of whom will be

subjected to COVID-19 rapid testing, required to wear mask and must pass the

temperature test before being allowed to enter the Batasang Pambansa

premises.

Twenty-five seats will be reserved for the executive department, including

Cabinet members, 13 for members of the House of Representatives under

Speaker Cayetano and 12 for the Senate.

However, Sotto noted that the 50 people already include the security

officers as well as House and Senate staffers.

PALACE SLAMS US LAWMAKERS ON TERROR LAW

MANILA — Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. yesterday scored US

lawmakers for calling for the repeal of the Philippine Anti-Terror Law,

saying the country is no longer a colony of the United States.

Roque urged the US congressmen not to meddle with the PhilippinesÂ’ existing

systems.

“It’s now in the hands of the court. To the congressmen who signed it, we

have a working judicial system that we can rely on to rule on the

constitutionality of the Anti-Terror Law,” Roque said in a virtual presser.

Earlier, Roque mentioned the way the US maltreated Filipinos during 48 years

of colonization from 1898 to 1946.

There are pending petitions before the Supreme Court [SC] on the

constitutionality of the Anti-Terror Law, which will take effect on July 19.

At least 45 US lawmakers urged the government to repeal the Anti-Terror Act

of 2020.

US congresswoman Jan Schakowsky said she and the 44 other lawmakers have

sent a letter with a call for the repeal of the law to Ambassador Jose

Romualdez.

Schakowsky said Republic Act 11479 gives the Duterte administration a “new

weapon to suppress dissent.”

She said the Anti-Terror Law could worsen attacks on ordinary people.

GOVERNMENT SETTING UP ONE-STOP SHOP FOR DISPLACED ABS-CBN WORKERS

MANILA — The labor department is set to establish a one-stop shop where

retrenched workers, including those who lost their jobs because of the

shutdown of ABS-CBN, can seek employment opportunities, Malacañang said

yesterday.

Some 11,000 employees of ABS-CBN are at risk of losing their jobs after the

House legislative franchises committee refused to renew the television

networkÂ’s franchise.

The non-renewal, widely seen as an attack on press freedom, happened as the

coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is battering the economy.

ABS-CBN has announced that it would implement a retrenchment program on Aug.

31.

“Well, I have good news... I called (Labor) Secretary (Silvestre) Bello

(III). He will have a one-stop shop center in NCR (National Capital Region)

and for ABS-CBN so the retrenched employees can apply (for jobs). He (Bello)

will also have a job referral system. A job fair may also be held. All of

these are confirmed by Secretary Bello. This will provide opportunities to

ABS-CBN workers who lost jobs,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said

at a press briefing.

He clarified though that the one-stop shop and job fair would be open to

everyone and not just to former ABS-CBN workers.

At the same press briefing, he described as a “good idea” the proposal to

use ABS-CBNÂ’s former frequencies for distance learning.

“It’s a good idea, but this has to be decided upon by (Education) Secretary

Leonor Briones and (Commission on Higher Education) chairman (Prospero de

Vera),” the Palace spokesman said.

ROQUE: IATF DOING ROBREDOÂ’S PROPOSALS

MANILA — Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. yesterday thanked Vice

President Leni Robredo for taking time to send her suggestions on how to

deal with the coronavirus disease 2019 but said there is nothing new about

the recommendations.

“I thank the Vice President for her recommendations but these are already

being done by the IATF,” Roque said.

RobredoÂ’s recommendation focuses on reporting and keeping the public

informed, budget utilization, transportation restarting the economy,

education and the composition of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the

Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

On IATFÂ’s composition, Roque said there are 33 members from various offices

and a majority of them are Cabinet rank.

They regularly coordinate with local mayors for consultation, he added.

MERALCO DELIVERS EXPLANATION LETTERS TO 4.1 MILLION CUSTOMERS

MANILA — Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has completed the delivery of

personalized letters to its 4.1 million customers explaining their

electricity bills, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said yesterday.

The chief of the Department of Energy (DOE) also followed up on actions

taken by Meralco to resolve consumer complaints previously discussed with

the companyÂ’s executives, as the agency continues to receive a high volume

of consumer complaints regarding their May/June electricity bills.

In a letter addressed to Cusi, Meralco president and CEO Ray Espinosa said

the company is “on target to deliver the 4.1 million personalized letters to

customers explaining their May 2020 bills (based on actual meter reading)

made even more ‘laymanized’ than what we issued for the June bills.”

The delivery of the letters commenced on July 10, and was supposed to have

been completed yesterday.

“When I met with Meralco last May, I advised them to re-issue electricity

bills based on actual meter readings and disregard previous bills that were

made on estimated consumption. We met again in June to discuss their

implementation plan, and at that time, I underscored the importance of

properly and clearly communicating with their consumers,” Cusi said.

“Meralco informed us then that they will be issuing advisories explaining

the May and June billings through letters, social media posts, and print

media notices,” he added.

DOH LOGS 2,498 NEW COVID-19 CASES; TALLY CLIMBS TO 61,266

The Department of Health reported 2,498 new cases of the coronavirus

disease. This brings the total number of COVID-19 infections in the

Philippines to 61,266.

There are 467 new recoveries and 29 new deaths.

LAWMAKER DENIES GOV'T WANTS TO SEIZE ABS-CBN ASSETS

MANILA — The government does not want to sequester the facilities of ABS-CBN

Corp and use these for the remote learning of students during the pandemic,

a lawmaker said Friday.

House Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund "LRay" Villafuerte said a government

takeover of ABS-CBN assets was "never in my mind" when he wrote a resolution

urging the use of ABS-CBN's frequency for educational programs after

lawmakers denied its franchise renewal.

"Mali po iyon... Ayaw namin mag-takeover. We are in a crisis, but we should

not invoke that national emergency clause," he told ANC. "This should be

done by negotiation, honest communication with the company willing to do it.

If ABS doesn't want to do it, we don't have to force ABS-CBN."

While the government can take over ABS-CBN's frequency, which "reaches areas

that other networks cannot," the state lacks a "costly" transmitter and

technical personnel to air educational shows, said Villafuerte.

"I think the win-win solution is why don't we just talk to ABS? They have

the transmitter, they have the equipment, they have the personnel to run

this immediately — if the government and ABS come to terms, of course," said

the Congress representative of Camarines Sur's second district.

"If we work with probably ABS or other companies that are willing to invest,

the government can roll out as soon as possible. Definitely, government

cannot do it on its own na mabilis po. Hindi ganoon kadali to just use the

frequency, buy the transmitter and run the school TV," he added.

However, the price tag for government's possible use of ABS-CBN facilities

should be "reasonable", he said.

DUQUE'S 'FLATTENED' COVID-19 CURVE REMARK A CASE OF WORD CHOICE MISTAKE

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III did not get a dressing down from

President Duterte for claiming that the Philippines has flattened the

coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) curve, a remark that he immediately took

back after drawing widespread criticism.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said it was just a case of wrong choice

of words for Duque, who made the remark during a pre-State of the Nation

Address forum last Wednesday.

PHILIPPINES TO ALLOW ENTRY OF FOREIGNERS STARTING AUG. 1

MANILA-- The Philippines will allow the entry of foreign nationals with

long-term visas in the country starting Aug. 1, Malacañang said Friday as

the government sought to revive the economy.

Foreigners traveling to the Philippines must have valid and existing visas

and must secure a pre-booked accredited quarantine facility and a pre-booked

coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing provider, Presidential Spokesperson

Harry Roque said.

"They are likewise subject to the maximum capacity of inbound passengers at

the port and date of entry, as returning overseas Filipinos will be given

priority," Roque said.

The new policy comes a week after the government eased travel restrictions

for Filipinos, allowing them to travel abroad even for tourism-related

trips.

CORONAVIRUS SINKS PHILIPPINES' REMITTANCE LIFELINE TO 19-YEAR LOW

Money sent home by Filipinos abroad sank to their lowest level in more than

19 years in April, a repercussion of massive job losses among migrant

workers that is only expected to worsen as the pandemicÂ’s wrath swept the

globe.

Cash remittances coursed through banks sagged 16.2% year-on-year to $2.05

billion in April, the steepest drop since inflows slumped 33.5% in January

2001, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported late Wednesday evening.

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SAN LAZARO HOSPITAL NURSES HOLD SILENT PROTEST, RENEW CALLS FOR BETTER

WORKING CONDITIONS

MANILA — A number of San Lazaro Hospital nurses on Thursday staged a silent

protest outside the COVID-19 referal facility's building to renew their plea

for better working conditions.

The medical frontliners laid their shoes out in front of the SLH building to

express their discontent, GMA's "24 Oras" reported.

This demonstration follows a statement the nurses made on July 10, which

contained allegations against SLH managagement for understaffing,

underpaying, overworking and insufficiently protecting its own employees.

On July 13, the hospital's management released its own statement wherein it

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

through the years of facing several outbreaks and epidemic," but went on to

deny almost every claim made by its nurses.

Nurses conducted the silent protest to renew their pleas for sufficient

supply of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and to ask management to give

their salaries during their mandatory 14-day quarantine.

CALOOCAN HOSPITAL TEMPORARILY CLOSED AFTER WORKERS CAUGHT COVID-19

MANILA — The Caloocan City Medical Center-South will be closed for a week

starting Friday after some of its personnel contracted the coronavirus

disease (COVID-19), Mayor Oscar Malapitan said.

The hospital, including its emergency room, will be closed from 12 noon of

July 17 to 12 noon of July 23 to give way for the decontamination of the

medical centerÂ’s premises.

Malapitan said the hospital staff who tested positive for COVID-19 are under

quarantine and authorities are tracing those who had contact with them. He

did not reveal how many workers were infected.

The mayor also announced that CCMC had reached “overflowing capacity” for

coronavirus patients as he urged the public to bring positive patients and

suspected cases to other hospitals.

Despite the temporary closure, patients who are currently admitted will

continue to receive medical care. CCMC's out-patient department and the

Caloocan City North Medical Center remain open to the public.

DRUG WAR: 67 KILLED DURING QUARANTINE

MANILA — Sixty-seven suspects have been killed in the government’s war on

illegal drugs during the community quarantine.

Citing data from the governmentÂ’s Real NumbersPH platform, the Philippine

Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said 10,105 alleged drug dealers were

arrested since the community quarantine was imposed in March to prevent the

spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.

Among those arrested is ”high-value” suspect Federico Oliveros, 38, alleged

leader of a drug ring operating in Baguio City. He reportedly took over the

reins of the syndicate when his father was convicted for illegal drugs and

sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and fined P10 million.

The raiding team said P400,000 worth of shabu was among those recovered from

the house of the suspect in San Carlos Heights in Barangay Irisan on

Tuesday.

At least 320 elected officials, 376 government employees and 90 uniformed

personnel were also arrested in anti-drug operations during the quarantine.

MAUTE LEADER, 13 BIFF MEN SURRENDER

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A member of a local terror group with links to the Islamic

State has surrendered in Marawi City.

Abdullah Lumzed Arumpac, alias Afghan, sub-leader of the Maute terror group,

surrendered to the 103rd Army Brigade under Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo II in

Kampo Ranao on Tuesday, Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito

Sobejana said.

Sobejana said Arumpac turned over his caliber 5.56 rifle and ammunition.

In Maguindanao, 13 members of the Dawlah Islamiya or Bangsamoro Islamic

Freedom Fighters surrendered in Radjah Buayan town. They turned over

assorted firearms, explosives and bomb materials.

The surrenderees were with the group of Imam Karialan, leader of one of the

factions of the bandit group.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

PHILIPPINES' 'KAREN CARPENTER' CLAIRE DELA FUENTE GETS 7 YEARS IN PRISON FOR

TAX EVASION

MANILA — Veteran singer Claire Dela Fuente was sentenced to seven years in

prison for tax evasion.

According to separate reports by Pilipino Star Ngayon and Manila Bulletin

yesterday, the Court of Tax Appeal ruled that Claire failed fo file the

income tax returns of her bus firm Philippine Corinthian Liner Corporation

(PCLC) from 1998 to 2004.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed seven counts of tax evasion

against Dela Fuente's bus company 10 years ago, and the Court of Tax Appeal

said that “for each of the consolidated criminal cases, she is hereby

sentenced to suffer the straight penalty of imprisonment of one year.”

The court also ordered Claire to pay a fine of P150,000, with subsidiary

imprisonment and an additional P50,000 fine in case she would not pay the

original fine.

Dela Fuente pleaded not guilty of the charges, saying that her company only

started operating in 2005. But PCLCÂ’s records with the Land Transportation

Franchising Regulatory Board, Securities and Exchange Commission and Land

Transportation Office showed that the company began operating even before

2005.

The court also dismissed PCLCÂ’s 2005 BIR registration as "spurious" or fake.

Claire was known as one of the "Jukebox Queens" of the 1970s together with

Imelda Papin, Didith Reyes and Eva Eugenio. She was dubbed as the "Karen

Carpenter of the Philippines" due to her Carpenter-like "sweet" voice as can

be heard from her hit song "Sayang."

'PAMBIHIRA': ANGEL LOCSIN SLAMS HARRY ROQUE FOR CRITICIZING ABS-CBN'S

COVID-19 EFFORTS

MANILA — Kapamilya star Angel Locsin had enough after presidential

spokesperson Harry Roque claimed that the relief efforts of her home network

ABS-CBN during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic didn't

shape up compared to other companies.

"I know you donated P200 million of your own money but the rest you raised

from your Tv programs through your calls for donation but these 2 companies

did it on their own. I do not know why ABS-CBN could not have done more like

what the Ayalas and the MVPs did," Harry said Wednesday, as seen in the

quote card reposted by Angel on her Instagram story.

The 35-year-old actress did not mince words and came to ABS-CBN's defense.

“Pambihira. Imbes na magpasalamat at may sumasalo, nagawa mo pang

tuligsain,” began Angel’s rant.

“Kusang loob po iyan at hindi obligasyon dahil government naman po talaga

dapat ang gagawa neto pero humingi po kayo ng tulong di ba kasi hindi kaya?

Wala nga ako narinig na naitulong mo pero nagawa mo pang magsalita ng

ganito.”

SPORTS

PBA: BLACKWATER FINED P100K FOR EARLY RETURN TO PRACTICE; LEAGUE TO

INVESTIGATE SALE OF FRANCHISE

MANILA -- The Blackwater Elite have been fined P100,000 after they returned

to practice ahead of the official go-signal from the Philippine Basketball

Association (PBA).

The league is also set to launch an investigation after team owner Dioceldo

Sy announced his intent to sell the franchise in the wake of the

controversy.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial also told ABS-CBN News that the entire

Blackwater team have to undergo swab testing for COVID-19. If they test

negative and have no symptoms, they still have to undergo a seven-day

quarantine, as per league protocol.

"Sana hindi ma-jeopardize 'yung ginawa natin sa gobyerno," said Marcial, as

the league had gotten approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force for teams to

return to practice last July 3.

The PBA is just waiting for official documents from the IATF and the Games

and Amusements Board, as well as for teams to be tested completely, before

hopefully returning to practice by next week.

The Elite, however, made an early return, as was confirmed by Sy himself

during an online interview. After the PBA and the GAB sought an explanation

from the team, Sy said on Wednesday night that he is thinking about selling

the franchise.

He put a price tag of P150 million on Blackwater, and said his heart "is no

longer there for the PBA."

"Regarding sa selling ng franchise, seryoso at mabigat 'yung sinabi ni Mr.

Dioceldo," Marcial said. "Iimbestigahan namin."

"Pagkatapos ng imbestigasyon, papadala ko agad sa Board ang findings at

recommendations," he added.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 49.53

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm. In the real world

all rests on perseverance. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe