ANTI-TERRORISM LAW TAKES EFFECT TODAY

MANILA — Denounced on several fronts and challenged before the Supreme

Court, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 takes effect today – even in the

absence of implementing rules and regulations.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Republic Act 11479 or the

Anti-Terror Act becomes effective 15 days after its publication in the

Official Gazette and national newspapers on July 3.

“Considering that the law was published on July 3, it will take effect on

July 18, which is the 15th day,” Guevarra told reporters yesterday as he

rectified an earlier statement that the law would take effect tomorrow,

Sunday.

He said drafting of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) is “just

about to start” and will be ready within 90 days.

“The law will take effect even without the IRR because the promulgation of

the IRR is not a condition for the effectivity of the law. Some provisions

are self-executing, like the organization of the ATC (Anti-Terrorism

Council),” he said.

The IRR will be prepared in consultation with law enforcement agencies and

the military, he said.

“But there are provisions where operational details need to be spelled out

or standards clearly defined in the IRR for a proper implementation of the

law,” he pointed out.

Manila Auxiliary and apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila

Bishop Broderick Pabillo said thereÂ’s nothing else to do at the moment but

to wait and see how the government would implement the law.

Pabillo, a critic of the anti-terrorism law, said he and the other clergy

were hoping “safeguards” in the law against abuses would work.

“Let’s see how the government will implement the law and how effective its

safeguards will be. There are (petitions with the Supreme Court against the

law), so we’ll see if the SC will exercise independence,” Pabillo said

mostly in Filipino.

ANTI-TERROR LAW MANDATES HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION, PH ENVOY TELLS US

LAWMAKERS

The Philippines' ambassador to the United States told American lawmakers

that Manila's new anti-terror law, which takes effect Saturday, clearly

defines terrorism and provides safeguards against abuse.

"The Anti-Terrorism Act itself strongly mandates that human rights shall be

absolute and protected at all times," Jose Manuel Romualdez, in a letter

dated July 16, told 50 US lawmakers who recently asked for the repeal of the

law amid concerns it may endanger the human rights situation in the country.

The lawmakers earlier wrote Romualdez regarding their position.

Romualdez said the anti-terror law clearly defines terrorism as violent acts

and violent purpose, and that it excludes legitimate exercises of freedom of

expression and peaceful assembly.

He assured there are safeguards in place to prevent abuses and said the

Philippines remains committed to the protection of civil and political

liberties, as well as human rights.

Romualdez noted that the Philippines ranks high in the global terrorism

index, and that the Human Security Act of 2007, which the Anti-Terrorism Act

of 2020 replaced, was ineffective in addressing terrorism threats in the

country.

“The Anti-Terrorism Act aims to plug the loopholes in the Human Security Act

by putting in place a more effective legal framework that would enable a

criminal justice response to terrorist acts beyond that allowed for by the

Revised Penal Code,” the envoy said.

"I appreciate the opportunity to openly communicate with esteemed members of

the U.S. Congress on matters of sovereign importance to the Philippines,

particularly inasmuch as these may have a bearing on the deep and

long-standing alliance between our two countries," he said.

The fight against terrorism, Romualdez said, "is one standing and defining

area of our defense and security cooperation."

HONTIVEROS TO GOVERNMENT: YOU DISMANTLED THE LIVES OF ORDINARY WORKERS, NOT

OLIGARCHS

MANILA — Following ABS-CBN's announcement that it would be retrenching its

workers starting August 31, Sen. Risa Hontiveros slammed the government for

endangering the jobs of at least 11,000 workers instead of working to end

the novel coronavirus crisis.

An overwhelming 70 legislators at the House of Representatives on June 10

followed through President Rodrigo Duterte's threats to shut down ABS-CBN,

voting to deny the network a new franchise.

Hontiveros pointed out that it is not just the workers of ABS-CBN who stand

to lose their livelihood as a result of the House vote, saying in Filipino

that "this [11,000] does not even include the tricycle drivers, eatery

workers, vendors and other businesses along Mother Ignacia [Avenue]," where

the network is headquartered.

Hontiveros also condemned Duterte and House Speaker Alan Cayetano's claims

that they unseated the oligarchy by denying the Lopez-owned network's

franchise bid.

"It's not true that the oligarchy has been dismantled. What has been

dismantled are the lives of ordinary workers. We should be solving the

crisis right now instead of adding to it," she said in Filipino.

Oligarchs, originally a Russian term, refers to a small group of people in

control of a country or government.

Three of the Duterte's children currently hold elected positions as

congressman, mayor and vice mayor of Davao City.

Meanwhile, the president's former running mate and politcal ally, Cayetano

has three relatives in elected office as well: his wife is a congresswoman

for a separate legislative district, his sister is a senator and his brother

is mayor of Taguig.

"Dati rin ako sa media. Pero higit pa dito, ako'y Pilipino na nakikiisa sa

mga kapwa ko Pilipinong nalulungkot, nagdadalamhati, at natatakot sa kung

ano'ng hatid ng bukas," Hontiveros said.

BFP TO ASSIST IN HOUSE SEARCH

MANILA — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has deployed its chemical,

biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives or CBRNE teams to assist in

the house-to-house search for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

BFP chief Director Jose Embang Jr. said yesterday these special response

units natiowide would help local government units in the implementation of

Oplan Kalinga, a government program aimed at relocating COVID patients under

home quarantine to state-run quarantine or isolation facilities.

Embang said BFP personnel are well-trained in handling hazardous materials

and are also equipped with protective gear.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año ordered the BFP to help local health

officials in the search for COVID-19 patients.

Año said the BFP will also intensify its contact tracing efforts as part of

the local tracking and monitoring teams.

The new order was made following criticism from lawmakers and the public

over AñoÂ’s recent pronouncement that policemen would conduct house-to-house

search under the new government program Oplan Kalinga to locate COVID

patients for transfer to government quarantine facilities.

He gave assurance that there will be no Oplan Tokhang-like arrests against

COVID-19 patients, despite the worry of some sectors over the program.

PHILIPPINES IS ALREADY EMERGING FROM LOCKDOWNS, BUT FILIPINOS STILL DON'T

KNOW DUTERTE'S APPROVAL RATINGS

MANILA — Over two quarters have passed but the latest satisfaction ratings

of President Rodrigo Duterte are yet to be released by popular polling

firms.

The results of these surveys have never been more important than it is now,

with the coronavirus pandemic putting Duterte's popularity under a tough

test as he faces the biggest crisis of his presidency to date in his fourth

year in office. However, the stringent restrictions he imposed to fight the

virus have also become the same barrier that's hindering the release of the

much-awaited survey data.

"It is harder to approach people face-to-face and ask them questions but

actually it's not just the disease itself that bothers us, it's the

unnecessarily strong lockdowns," Mahar Mangahas, president of pollster

Social Weather Stations (SWS), said in an online forum on Friday.

"Transportation lockdown is the biggest handicap of survey work," Mangahas

added.

Apart from SWS, Pulse Asia also releases quarterly surveys not only on

Duterte but also on officials like Vice President Leni Robredo. If the

normal calendar of releases would be followed, SWS's March report, which

would capture public sentiment at the onset of the enhanced community

quarantine in Luzon, should have been out in April.

As it is, the polling firms already missed two quarters, which would reveal

public opinion at the height of the ECQ until the government started

gradually rolling back tough lockdown measures in June. Following their

typical schedule, SWS's second quarter poll should be published this month.

'MALAKAS MAKAPANG-BULLY': TRILLANES SLAMS GO OVER CYBERCRIME COMPLAINT VS

COLLEGE STUDENT

MANILA — Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday slammed Sen. Christopher

"Bong" Go for filing a cybercrime complaint against a college student.

“Malakas makapang-bully ng estudyante itong Bong Go na ‘to. Siguraduhin mo

lang na 'di iikot ang mundo, kundi may kalalagyan ka. Tatandaan mo,

dokumentado yung sabit mo sa frigate scam,” Trillanes said in a tweet,

referring to the anomalous frigate acquisition project.

Go, who was then President Rodrigo Duterte's aide, was accused of meddling

in the procurement of two new Navy ships under the military's modernization

program in 2018.

Go, who has repeatedly denied the accusation, meanwhile accused Trillanes of

peddling fake news.

"Bagyong Trillanes! Isa kang hari ng fake news, manloloko na walang ginawa

kundi manira ng kapwa, at alam naman natin na ikaw ang totoong Bikoy," Go

claimed.

"Kaya nga ako biglang naging senador dahil sa pambibintang mong walang basis

at walang katotohanan. Nagsawa na ang tao sa madumi mong style na puro black

propaganda kaya bumoto sila ng mga bago na tunay na magseserbisyo sa bayan,"

he added.

"Mismong Senado na kinabibilangan mo noon ang nagsabing wala akong kinalaman

sa anomalyang sinasabi mo at pawang kasinungalingan at fake news lang yang

mga paratang mo," he said.

"Antayin kita dito sa Senado kung manalo ka sa susunod na eleksyon at sabay

nating imbestigahan ang mga anomalya mo. Hindi mo na maloloko ang

taumbayan."

Trillanes' recent comments stemmed from reports that Go's lawyer filed a

cybercrime complaint at the agency's Cybercrime Division against a college

student.

PHILIPPINES' CORONAVIRUS CASES HIT 63,000 WITH 1,841 NEW INFECTIONS

MANILA - The Philippines on Friday reported 1,841 new confirmed COVID-19

cases, raising the nationwide total to 63,001.

Of the newly announced cases, 441 came from Manila, 140 from Quezon City, 96

from Mandaluyong City, 87 from Cebu City and 86 from Navotas, the Department

of Health (DOH) said in its latest bulletin.

Meanwhile, the number of people who have recovered from coronavirus

infection rose by 311 to 21,748.

The health ministry also reported 17 new fatalities from the contagious

disease, bringing the death toll to 1,660.

FOREIGNERS WITH LONG-TERM VISAS CAN ENTER PHILIPPINES

MANILA — Starting next month, foreign nationals with existing long-term

visas especially permanent residents will be allowed entry to the

Philippines.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious

Diseases (IATF) has issued Resolution No. 56 easing restrictions for the

entry of foreigners – but on certain conditions, presidential spokesman

Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday.

“They must first have valid and existing visas at the time of the entry.

This means no new entry visa shall be accepted,” he said.

Returning overseas Filipinos would be given priority, read the resolution

signed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Cabinet Secretary Karlo

Alexei Nograles and Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu. The three officials

share the chairmanship of the task force.

Roque maintained that foreigners would still need to undergo swab testing

upon arrival and await results in a quarantine area.

“They are not just ordinary foreigners, they consider the Philippines as

their second home since they are permanent residents,” Roque said in

Filipino over state-run PTV-4.

THE REST

========

MAYORS PUSH ECONOMIC CHARTER REFORMS

MANILA — The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) has issued a

resolution pledging support for proposed constitutional economic reforms.

In a resolution, the 1,488-member LMP endorsed a proposal to

institutionalize a Supreme Court ruling that internal revenue allotment

should be sourced from taxes collected by the national government.

The mayors also voiced their support for the lifting of restrictions on

foreign investment in some industries.

LMP president Mayor Luis ”Chavit” Singson of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur said these

economic reforms would benefit poor provinces.

Singson presented the resolution to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año in

ceremonies held this early this week.

Homer Revil, chairman of CORE Movement, which is pushing for the

constitutional amendments, said the support of municipal mayors would boost

the campaign of the Duterte administration.

MGA HINDI NAGSUSUOT NG FACE MASK HINUHULI PA RIN SA MAYNILA

MAYNILA - Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang operasyon ng Manila Police District para

masiguro na sumusunod sa mga ordinansa ang mga residente ng lungsod, kasama

ang patungkol sa paggamit ng face mask kapag lumalabas ng bahay.

Ayon kay MPD Spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Carlo Manuel, 20 mga tao na

hindi nakasuot ng face mask habang naglalakad ang hinuli sa Sta. Mesa,

Ermita at Sampaloc.

May ibang operasyon rin sa ibang lugar.

Bukod sa hindi pagssuuot ng face mask, sinagip din ang ilang menor de edad

na nasa labas ng bahay at walang kasamang magulang o guardian.

Bawal ang minors sa labas ng bahay dahil sa banta ng COVID-19. Higit 20 ang

nasagip sa Sta. Ana, Sta. Mesa, Malate, Tondo at iba pang lugar sa Maynila.

Nagpapaalala naman si Mayor Isko Moreno na mananagot ang mga magulang kung

mapababayaan ang mga anak nila sa labas ng bahay.

MGA PASAHERONG STRANDED SA PIER SA MAYNILA, NAKABIYAHE NA PA W. VISAYAS

MAYNILA - Matapos ang higit tatlong linggo, nakasakay na ng barko Huwebes ng

gabi pa-Western Visayas ang mahigit isang libong katao na na-stranded sa

Manila North Harbor.

Ayon sa Philippine Ports Authority, 1,092 na pasahero ang nasa byahe na

papuntang Bacolod at Iloilo ang sakay ng barkong M/V St. Therese of the

Child Jesus.

Hindi agad nakauwi ang naturang mga pasahero dahil sa pag-suspinde ng lokal

na pamahalaan sa Region 6 sa pagtanggap ng mga LSI o locally stranded

individuals, o yung mga taong inabot ng lockdown sa Metro Manila.

Napupuno na kasi ang quarantine facility doon kaya kailangan limitahan muna

ang pumasok sa rehiyon na kabilang ang Iloilo at Negros Occidental.

Dahil sa pansamantalang tigil-biyahe, maraming mga pasahero noon ang natulog

sa bangketa sa labas ng gate ng pier, at inilipat din sila sa loob ng

Terminal para mas komportable sila.

Binigyan ng pagkain at iba pang gamit ang mga na-stranded na pasahero.

Sa ngayon, nasa 174 na lang ang naiwan sa pier para mag-antay ng susunod na

mga byahe.

MANILA TO SET UP DRIVE-THRU TESTING AT QUIRINO GRANDSTAND

MANILA — The Manila city government will put up another drive-thru testing

for the coronavirus disease 2019 at the Quirino Grandstand to test more

people for COVID-19.

“The Quirino Grandstand is bigger and more convenient for motorists. The

area can accommodate 700 vehicles,” Moreno said yesterday.

Moreno said they would designate lanes for four-wheeled vehicles, tricycles,

pedicabs and non-motorized vehicles at the Quirino Grandstand.

The local government on Wednesday launched its first drive-thru testing

center at the Andres Bonifacio Monument near the city hall. It offers free

testing to Manila residents as well as non-residents from Monday to Friday,

from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

According to the city public information office, the Manila government

received approval from the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) to

establish the new testing site at the Quirino Grandstand.

The NPDC supervises Rizal Park where Quirino Grandstand is located.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

MMFF NAMES FIRST 4 OFFICIAL ENTRIES FOR 2020; 'PRAYBEYT BENJAMIN 3'

CONFIRMED

MANILA -- It appears this year's Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is still

pushing through, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the movie

industry in general, with cinemas remaining closed and restrictions forced

on those who want to begin filming again.

This, after the organizers of the MMFF announced this Friday the first four

entries for the 2020 edition.

Based on script submissions, these include a pair of comedies from Vice

Ganda and celebrity sisters Alex and Toni Gonzaga, a Regal Films horror

movie starring Joshua Garcia, and what is billed to be a big-budget

animated, fantasy epic titled "Magikland."

The announcement is the first bit of news from the MMFF organizers, since

they confirmed the cancellation of what would have been the first summer

edition of the annual film festival due to COVID-19.

CLINT BONDAD NAMEDROPS CATRIONA GRAY, SAM MILBY IN INSTAGRAM SAGA

MANILA — Model Clint Bondad's trending Instagram stories are unrelenting as

he continues to post cryptic texts and images up until Friday afternoon.

The message is a little bit more clear, however, with Clint more or less

confirming speculation that his recent behavior is related to his reaction

to the relationship of his ex-girlfriend, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray

and her new beau, actor Sam Milby.

In his more recent posts, Clint name-dropped the couple in separate stories,

which read as follows:

Cat's friends used to call me walking Google

Is Sam off the Hook?

Poor Sam hahaha

"pag usapang IQ lvl bagsak na si sam" - This is how my team works

Earlier this week, Clint also reached out to Sam, asking if he wanted to

collaborate before going on to post his message to the actor in an Instagram

story.

Clint and Catriona separated back in February 2019.

The latter has since been confirmed to be in a relationship with Sam as of

May this year.

SPORTS

GOV'T PROHIBITS SPECTATORS FOR SPORTS, EXERCISE IN GCQ, MGCQ AREAS

MANILA -- The government has prohibited spectators for sports and exercise

in areas where these activities are allowed, Malacañang said Friday.

Onlookers for sports activities and exercise both in areas under general

community quarantine and modified general community quarantine were

prohibited by the government's inter-agency task force on pandemic response

in its latest resolution.

"The members of the IATF prohibited spectators in all outdoor non-contact

sports and exercises in areas under general community quarantine and indoor

and outdoor sports and exercises in areas under modified general community

quarantine," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Outdoor non-contact sports and other forms of exercise such as walking,

jogging, running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian,

range shooting, and skateboarding are allowed in areas under GCQ.

Such sports and exercises are also allowed in MGCQ areas both outdoor and

indoor.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 49.44

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past. -

Patrick Henry