TRUMP SIGNS 2020 BUDGET BANNING DE LIMA JAILERS Officials involved in the “wrongful” detention of Sen. Leila de Lima would be banned from entering the United States, based on a provision in the $1.4-trillion US budget for next year signed by President Donald Trump. The ban was part of the amendments to the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations section of the budget program put in by US Senators Richard Durbin and Patrick Leahy days before Trump’s signing of the document on Friday. A section entitled “Prohibition on Entry” states that the Secretary of State “shall apply sub-section (c) to foreign government officials about whom the Secretary has credible information have been involved in the wrongful imprisonment of… Sen. Leila de Lima who was arrested in the Philippines in 2017.” It called for the same sanctions against officials of the governments of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey for the detention of a US citizen. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo downplayed the development, saying a provision in the law states that before it can be implemented, there has to be credible information proving that De Lima’s detention was wrongful. De Lima has been in detention at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame since February 2017 on drug charges. De Lima and other critics of the administration said a court ordered her arrest on trumped up charges to please President Duterte, whose bloody war on drugs she has openly denounced. In a hand written statement, the opposition senator expressed her “overwhelming” gratitude to the US Congress. “This latest development signals the fact that impunity cannot last and that one way or another, justice will catch up with those who choose to do injustice to others. This also signifies a solid recognition by the US government that I am a clear victim of political persecution,” De Lima said. LAMBANOG DEATHS RISE TO 11; BAN ORDERED CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — Eleven people have now died after drinking lambanog or coconut wine last Thursday in several Christmas parties in Rizal, Laguna. Mayor Vener Muñoz of Rizal, Laguna yesterday declared a state of emergency in his town to deal with the situation. Another resident in Candelaria, Quezon also died on Thursday after consuming lambanog, one of the most popular alcoholic drinks Southern Tagalog. Muñoz had banned the sale of lambanog in all stores in Rizal as the fatalities increased from seven to 11. Police said six of the 11 victims in Laguna have been identified as Maricris Dimayuga, 24; Cenon Piedra, 60; Ricky Vitangcol; Analyn Lanuza, 34; all residents of Barangay Pook, Rizal, while Marlon Veridiano and Elmer Dorado were from Nagcarlan, Laguna. Officials said more than 300 Rizal residents who drank coconut wine were rushed to hospitals in Nagcarlan and San Pablo City and the Philippine General Hospital. Selvio said that the cause of death of the victims was methanol poisoning. Rizal police chief Capt. Lindley Tibuc said the victims attended separate Christmas parties and a birthday party where they drank Rey Coconut Wine purchased at the same Rey Lambanog store, operated by Nicanor Buela delos Reyes. Calabarzon police director Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. ordered police units to compel liquor store owners to stop the sale of lambanog on a temporary basis. Danao’s directive is for the entire region which covers the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas and Quezon. DUTERTE TO VISIT COTABATO CITY DESPITE BOMBINGS, PALACE SAYS MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte pushed through with his scheduled visit to Cotabato City, despite the series of bombings that rocked the area hours before his arrival, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said told reporters. President Duterte was set to distribute Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA) to farmer beneficiaries in the city, Tuesday afternoon. “He will distribute land certificates and then visit the venues where the bombing took place. I don’t know which of the two but one of them,” Panelo said. The Palace says it does not see the bombings connected in any way with Duterte’s planned visit. “Definitely not, parang ang teenager ang nabasa ko doon sa isang report, teenager ang pagpasabog, grupo ng teenagers. Hindi naman alam nila na darating si Presidente roon eh,” Panelo said. “Baka more on the reaction sa BARMM. Diba kasi may dating grupo tapos mawawalan ng trabaho yung previous entity that will be replaced by BARMM. We don’t know. Actually ngayon nag-iispeculate lang,” he added. Panelo earlier condemned the bombings in Cotabato and Maguindanao and urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons to the police. At least 22 people were wounded in the different blasts on Sunday, just days before the government lifts martial law in Mindanao due to the supposed "weakening of the terrorist and extremist rebellion." PALACE HANDS OFF RAPE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST QUIBOLOY MANILA — Malacañang yesterday distanced itself from the rape allegations against President Duterte’s friend and religious leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Quiboloy, founder of Kingdom of Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name, has been accused of rape by his former follower, who also claimed that she had experienced forced labor when she was a member of the group. The alleged rape victim has also accused him and four others of qualified trafficking in persons and child abuse. Quiboloy’s camp has denied the allegations, dismissing them as part of a “grand conspiracy” against the religious leader. Asked to comment on the accusations against the pastor, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said: “That should be a private matter involving the pastor. We will not intrude into that private domain.” Panelo said Quiboloy’s closeness with Duterte would not affect the charges against the religious leader. INDONESIANS RESCUED FROM ABU SAYYAF IN SULU NOW WITH AMBASSADOR ZAMBOANGA CITY — The military on Monday turned over two Indonesians rescued from the Abu Sayyaf on Sunday to the Indonesian ambassador to the Philippines. Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, presented Maharudin bin Lunani and Samiun bin Maneu to Ambassador Sinyo Harry Sarundajang in a briefing at the Westmincom headquarters in Zamboanga City. Marines rescued Maharudin and Samiun in Barangay Pugad Manaul in Panamao, Sulu after a series of clashes. "Last night, I received news from the staff and attaché that something happened in the Sulu area, that the two kidnap victims from Indonesia are free now and under the custody now of the military under the leadership of Gen. Sobejana,” Sarundajang said. The two victims and their companion Muhammad Farhan were abducted last September 23 by gunmen while aboard they were fishing off Lahad Datu, Sabah and brought to Sulu and held captive by the Abu Sayyaf group. "During the abduction, we were initially brought to an island and proceeded to Panamao (town) by our fully-armed abductors," Maharudin said through an interpreter. Maharudin said they were only fed twice a day while they were captives and had to sleep on the ground. Although their captors threatened them, they were not physically harmed, he also said. "Our President Joko Widodo and Foreign Affairs Minister Madam Retno would like to thank you for your bravery and you did something for us as brothers… What you have done today surprised us because the two kidnap victims are here because the general and the army and the police took them in a very difficult situation with that direct encounter," Ambassador Sarundajang said. ESPERON FED 'FALSE INFORMATION' ON NPA HIT LIST — PALACE MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte's inclusion in a so-called hit list of the Communist Party of the Philippines' armed wing New People's Army is "fake news," according to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon earlier said the president and other Cabinet officials are included in the list. Panelo, however, claimed that Esperon was fed false information as CPP founder Jose Maria Sison denied this already. "Let me put it this way: The communist rebels will always want this government to fall; that is precisely the purpose by which this organization has been conceived from the very beginning," Panelo said. The Malacañang spokesman added that the government is prepared for any move of the communist group who "want to eliminate all the officials running this government." RUSHING NEW MOTOR-TAXI PLAYERS ENDANGERS PUBLIC SAFETY: ANGKAS MANILA - Ride-hailing app Angkas on Tuesday said rushing two new firms to operate would put the public's safety in danger as it urged Congress to look into an interagency body's process in limiting the number of motor-taxis. A technical working group conducting a pilot run for the safety of motor-taxis has put a rider cap of 10,000 motorcycle drivers on motor-hailing firms Angkas, Move-It and Joy Ride, slashing Angkas' numbers from 27,000. Angkas has a "99.997 percent" safety record, according to its spokesman George Royeca. It has so far trained 120,000 riders for free but has failed 70 percent, who are then urged to re-train, he added. "It took us 3 years to develop the infrastructure to monitor 27,000 bikers. Now you're asking new players within 3 month’s time to fill up 10,000. These are untested players, with all due respect to them," he told ANC's Early Edition. "Para i-rush 'yung bagong player, when it took us 3 years to build, kinakabahan po ako in terms of the quality of bikers that will be on the road." ON CHRISTMAS EVE, FUEL PRICES GO UP MANILA — Prices of diesel and kerosene products will be increased by over P1 per liter today. In separate advisories, oil firms said they would implement an increase of P1.15 per liter on diesel and P1.10 per liter on kerosene. There will be no adjustment on gasoline prices. Chevron Philippines Inc., which operates Caltex stations, will implement the price hike starting 12:01 a.m. Cleanfuel, Petro Gazz, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., PTT Philippines Inc. and Seaoil said their price adjustments would take effect at 6 a.m. Other oil firms have yet to announce their respective price adjustments as of this writing. Prior to this week’s price movement, year-to-date adjustments stand at a net increase of P6.47 per liter for gasoline, P3.76 per liter for diesel and P0.61 per liter for kerosene, data from the Department of Energy (DOE) showed. During last week’s trading, global oil prices rose as trade tension continued to ease between the US and China, which boosted expectations of better demand next year. 2 BOYS, AGED 10, LATEST FIRECRACKER VICTIMS MANILA — Two 10-year-old boys are the latest victims of firecracker blasts this Yuletide season, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday. This brings to four the number of casualties since the DOH Epidemiology Bureau started its surveillance of firecracker-related injuries on Dec. 21. According to DOH spokesman Eric Domingo, one of the victims sustained eye injuries. The two boys, from Western Visayas and Calabarzon, were “active users” of firecrackers. “We appeal to parents and care-givers to watch over their children this holiday season. We should not let them play with any type of firecrackers or pyrotechnics,” he said in an interview. Domingo added that children should be encouraged to stay away if they see someone using firecrackers because they might be hit accidentally. Earlier, a four-year-old girl from Cagayan Valley and a 23-year-old man from Metro Manila were documented to have sustained injuries from firecracker blasts. The report showed the four cases are 50 percent lower compared to the eight cases recorded during the same period in 2018. It further stated that the four cases were caused by baby rockets, kwitis (sky rocket) and boga (PVC cannon), which is illegal. ATHLETES TO GET DISCOUNTS ON THEATERS, RESTAURANTS MANILA — Soon, national athletes and coaches will get discounts on goods, medicine, transporttation and even restaurants and movie theaters, among others. Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez yesterday said they are coordinating with several government agencies, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue for the 20-percent discount mandated in Republic Act 10699 or the National, Coaches and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act. It is the same law that grants monetary incentives to athletes and coaches that win medals in the international events like the Southeast Asian and Asian Games, World Championships and Olympics. “The PSC has been making efforts to see the benefits of RA 10699 (aside from the cash incentives) implemented starting on the discounts of athletes and coaches,” said Ramirez in a statement. Ramirez was reacting to the recent social media posts of Southeast Asian Games wushu gold medalist Agatha Wong seeking a better implementation of RA 10699. “Can we make RA 10699 on the national discount benefits an imposed and required law to abide by,” said Wong on her Twitter account @AgathaWongy recently. “Gets quite annoying to keep having to explain to managers that this kind of benefit actually exists and some are even doubtful. U think amalayer (Do you think I’m a liar).” But before Wong’s rants, the PSC had actually sent a letter multiple times to the BIR as early as two years ago. It sent another one in February and actually sat down with the BIR the next month. URSULA ENTERS PAR, TO HIT EASTERN VISAYAS TODAY MANILA — Tropical Storm Ursula (international name Phanfone) is expected to hit the landmass of Eastern Visayas today, bringing heavy rains and damaging winds in many parts of the country until Christmas Day, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). As of 5 p.m. yesterday, tropical cyclone wind signal No. 2 was hoisted over Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Signal No. 1 was raised over Quezon, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Albay, Marinduque, Romblon, Sorsogon, Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands; rest of Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, northern Cebu, central Cebu, northeastern Bohol, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, northern Negros Occidental, northern Negros Oriental; and Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, including Siargao Island. Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Aklan, Antique, Capiz and the northern portion of Palawan, including Cuyo and Calamian islands, will experience light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains, while Calabarzon region will experience moderate to heavy rains between tomorrow morning and late evening. Northeastern Mindanao and the rest of Eastern Visayas will experience strong winds this morning. Ursula, the 21st cyclone to enter the country this year, will lash Eastern Samar beginning this afternoon with winds that could damage light to moderate structures. The southern portion of Bicol and some portions of Central Visayas will also experience strong winds this afternoon as well as some portions of Western Visayas this evening. “Ursula is forecast to gradually intensify to at most severe tropical storm category prior to landfall over Eastern Visayas this afternoon or evening,” PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said. WAIT, THERE’S MORE: SARAH G, G-FORCE TEASE ‘TALA 2.0’ MANILA — Three years after its release, Sarah Geronimo’s “Tala” has taken on a life of its own as a ubiquitous dance craze that’s even become a staple at Christmas parties. The memorable choreography, as featured in “Tala’s” 2016 music video, has taken over social media, with videos of drag performances, TikTok challenges, the viral confrontation with “Aling Nelia,” and even a father dancing to his newborn. Now, Geronimo appears set to build on the fresh hype of “Tala,” as she teased on Sunday a “2.0” version of the dance. “Gawa tayo ng something new!” original choreographer Georcelle Dapat-Sy of G-Force said, in a selfie video taken by Geronimo. G-Force member Gelai Aguzar, who has been a frequent collaborator of Geronimo in her performances, added: “New version, level up version! Secret pa. Abangan niyo ‘yan!” They did not give further details, but did thank those who have been joining the dance craze that has helped catapult “Tala” as a bigger hit now than its original 2016 release as a single. PBA: BOLTS SURGE PAST TNT IN GAME 5 TO SET FINALS TRILOGY WITH GINEBRA ANTIPOLO — Huge power boost for Meralco. The Bolts are back in the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals after surging past TNT in a do-or-die Game 5 Monday at the Ynares Center here, scoring a huge victory. Down 1-2, Meralco still ended up winning the series, 3-2, to challenge Ginebra for a third time in four seasons for the Governors’ Cup championship. Meralco got big games from Allen Durham, Chris Newsome, and rookie Bong Quinto in the victory. Durham led the Bolts with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Newsome added 23 points and rookie Bong Quinto recorded a career-high of 19 points for the win. Down at the half, Meralco started to clamp down on defense, making scoring ultra-tough for the usually high-powered KaTropa. The Bolts then got a spark from Quinto, who had a personal 8-1 run to start the fourth that created the true separation of both teams. TNT's season ends without a title once again and the KaTropa certainly picked a bad time to struggle on offense, shooting just 34 percent as a team. KJ McDaniels led TNT with 30 points and 13 rebounds in the loss. The Scores: MERALCO 89 -- Durham 28, Newsome 23, Quinto 19, Maliksi 11, Hodge 3, Caram 3, Amer 2, Almazan 0, Pinto 0, Faundo 0, Jackson 0, Jamito 0, Jose 0, Salva 0. TNT 78 -- McDaniels 30, Parks 15, Castro 11, Rosario 10, Pogoy 10, Semerad 2, Reyes 0, Washington 0, De Leon 0, Vosotros 0. NBA SCORES DEC 22 FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Mavericks 19-10    17    34    35    21    107 team logo Raptors 21-8    20    22    21    47    110 SCORING LEADERSJ. Brunson DAL 21 PTS, 4 REB, 9 AST K. Lowry TOR 32 PTS, 8 REB, 10 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Hornets 13-20    37    19    21    16    93 team logo Celtics 20-7    30    29    25    35    119 SCORING LEADERS     D. Graham CHA 23 PTS, 4 REB, 10 AST     J. Tatum BOS 39 PTS, 12 REB, 2 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Clippers 22-10    33    30    26    23    112 team logo Thunder 15-14    27    30    29    32    118 SCORING LEADERSL. Williams LAC 22 PTS, 3 REB, 7 AST S. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC 32 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Pacers 20-10    22    33    18    16    89 team logo Bucks 27-4    21    38    24    34    117 SCORING LEADERSD. Sabonis IND 19 PTS, 18 REB, 5 AST W. Matthews MIL 19 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Nuggets 20-8    23    32    36    37    128 team logo Lakers 24-6    28    25    25    26    104 SCORING LEADERSP. Millsap DEN 21 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST A. Davis LAL 32 PTS, 11 REB, 1 AST