ANTI-TERROR LAW WON'T STOP SONA PROTESTERS: ACTIVIST GROUP

MANILA - The recently-implemented anti-terror law will not dissuade

protesters from physically gathering and airing their grievances during

President Rodrigo Duterte's penultimate State of the Nation Address on

Monday, an activist group said Wednesday.

The mass action dubbed SONAgkaisa is expected to gather more than the 5,000

people who attended the Independence Day mañanita, said Bagong Alyansang

Makabayan (BAYAN) Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr.

"ThereÂ’s always that risk but I donÂ’t think thatÂ’s going to dissuade anyone

at this point from coming out and expressing themselves. There will be a

huge political fallout if ever the administration uses the terror law

against the protesters on Monday. That would definitely backfire on the

Duterte regime," he told ANC.

"The government keeps saying the terror law will not be weaponized and used

against administration critics so letÂ’s find out. As far as weÂ’re concerned,

we have lodged legal challenge before the Supreme Court and weÂ’re preparing

for greater political actions and challenges against the anti-terror law."

The protest will be only 2 hours long and will not involve the physical

burning of an effigy, Reyes said. Participants are required to wear face

masks, bring disinfectants, and observe physical distancing, he added.

"I donÂ’t think the terror law would dissuade the people from expressing

their anger and outrage over the Duterte administration's failure to address

the pandemic, the economic crisis and its prioritization of measures such as

the terror law, the shutdown of ABS-CBN, and now even charter change is even

being prioritized ahead of the pandemic and the economic crisis," Reyes

said.

The group has discussed the mass action with the Quezon City government and

expects a permit to be issued within the week, he added.

FILIPINOS NEED FOOD, NOT CHARTER CHANGE: DRILON

MANILA - Filipinos need food rather than charter change during the COVID-19

pandemic, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Wednesday as the House

of Representatives moved to tackle constitutional reforms.

Some 1,486 town mayors have expressed support for the Mandanas ruling or

sourcing internal revenue allotments (IRA) for local governments from all

national taxes and the lifting of restrictions on foreign investments.

Drilon said he was in favor of the latter but said it "can wait."

"Constitutional reform is always a divisive issue. What we need today is

food rather than Cha-Cha. Five million Filipinos experienced involuntary

hunger in the past 3 months. Is cha-cha the solution? We can have all kinds

of reasons but at bottom, letÂ’s see what the real score is or what is the

intention," he told ANC.

Drilon said the Mandanas ruling does not need to be included in the

Constitution as it had already been institutionalized by the Supreme Court

in making the decision.

"ThereÂ’s a decision of the Supreme Court interpreting the Constitution

cannot be overcome by ordinary law. That is already institutionalized," he

said.

RESSA PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO TAX CODE VIOLATION CASE

MANILA — Embattled veteran journalist Maria Ressa returned to court on

Wednesday, a month after she was found guilty over cyber libel. This time,

it was for a tax violation case.

Ressa stood before Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 157 for

arraignment in a tax code violation case. She pleaded not guilty.

In November 2018, the Department of Justice found probable cause to charge

Ressa for allegedly failing to supply correct information in its Value Added

Tax return for the second quarter tax year of 2015.

Ressa, CEO of the online news site, was accused of violating Section 255 of

the Tax Code.

In the charge sheet, the DOJ said: “By then and there, failing to report

therein the total quarterly sales receipts coming from the issue and sales

receipts and coming from the issue and sale by RHC of Philippine Depositary

Receipts.”

State prosecutors said RHC acted as a dealer in securities when it sold PDRs

worth P2.4 million, and should be taxed with P294,258.58. They argued that

the amount should be reflected in its tax returns.

The Rappler CEO tweeted that the court set P1 million for travel bond, for

the case involving an amount of more than P200,000.

Ressa is also facing other four other tax-related cases at the Court of Tax

Appeals.

Cyber libel conviction

The arraignment comes after last June 15, the Manila RTC Branch 46 found

Ressa and RapplerÂ’s former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. guilty for cyber

libel. This was over a 2012 article first published May, or months before

the institution of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Ressa and Santos are out after the post-conviction bail. They have since

filed a motion for reconsideration to overturn the courtÂ’s conviction.

Ressa slammed the string of cases filed against her and her media company as

harrassment and an attack against press freedom.

Malacañang has maintained that the Palace had nothing to do with the cases

against Rappler and Ressa.

It has also denied that Rappler's legal issues have anything to do with

press freedom despite statements and warnings from journalists' and civil

society groups that the cases are an attempt to silence critical reporting

of the Duterte administration.

PALACE: PHILIPPINES CRITICAL CARE CAPACITY OUT OF DANGER ZONE

MANILA — The Philippines’ critical care capacity is no longer in the danger

zone as there are now more available hospital beds for patients infected

with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said only about half of the intensive

care unit (ICU) and isolation beds are occupied while about three-fourths of

ventilators remain available as of July 19.

“We are now at 50 percent. The danger point is 70 percent while 50 percent

is within medium risk, so we are now in medium risk as far as critical care

capacity is concerned,” Roque said at a virtual press briefing.

“Actually, this is good news because we have more available ICU and hospital

beds,” he added.

Citing health department data, Roque said as of July 19, 49 percent or 665

out of 1,358 ICU beds have been occupied. A total of 5,196 out of 10,573

isolation beds or 49.1 percent are in use. A little more than half (54.9

percent) or 2,013 out of 3,665 ward beds have been occupied while 25.3

percent or 503 out of 1,485 ventilators are in use.

Earlier this month, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said the critical

care capacity of hospitals was in the “danger zone” because of the rising

number of persons infected with COVID-19.

PSG READYING 360-DEGREE SECURITY FOR DUTERTE AT SONA

MANILA — President Duterte will get a “360-degree” security shield when he

delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of

RepresentativesÂ’ Batasan Complex in Quezon City on Monday, Presidential

Security Group (PSG) chief Col. Jesus Durante III said yesterday.

Durante said the President would be fully protected from any untoward

incident and exposure to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“The Presidential Security Group, together with the Office of the

President-Event Management Cluster (OP-EMC), is preparing a heightened level

of security measures from previous SONAs while working closely with other

government agencies involved in securing the President,” Durante said in a

statement.

He said the PSG would enforce additional health security measures it adopted

from the implementing guidelines of the PSGÂ’s Task Force COVID-19,

Department of Health and Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of

Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“Inter-agency meetings with all involved security agencies have been

conducted and continuous collaborations are in place,” Durante said.

He said all security preparations are geared toward a peaceful, successful

as well as COVID-free SONA 2020 of the President.”

PHILIPPINES EYES MORE APPREHENSIONS OF QUARANTINE VIOLATORS

The Philippines is looking at more apprehensions of quarantine violators

following President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to law enforcers to be

stricter in implementing COVID-19 restrictions.

Speaking to ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo, Interior and Local Government

Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said police were more tolerant of quarantine

violators at the start of the lockdown despite existing protocols to wear

masks and practice physical distancing.

"We don't apprehend, we don't jail them. We just fine or warn them," he said

in Filipino.

With the President's directive, however, he said law enforcers will need to

be stricter in apprehending quarantine violators.

"Mas madami tayo ngayong ma-a-apprehend. Kaya babala po sa ating mga

kababayan, sana makinig po tayo sa mga pinapatupad na protocols ng ating

bansa," he said.

First offenders could be penalized with community service, he said. while

those with subsequent violations would face fines and even jail.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government is currently talking

with local chief executives to standardize penalties for quarantine

violators. Malaya said fines for quarantine violations vary in different

areas, sometimes ranging from P2,000-P5,000.

President Duterte earlier said violations of the mandatory wearing of face

masks in public places and the observance of physical distancing can be

considered a "serious crime" given that the country is seeing an outbreak of

infections.

"We have to ask our police to be more strict, hulihin talaga. A little shame

would put them on notice forever," the President said in a speech aired

Tuesday morning.

Getting arrested and detained would be a "lesson for all time," he added.

'UMAAPAW': PGH CORONAVIRUS WARD REPORTS FULL CAPACITY

MANILA - The Philippine General Hospital said Wednesday its COVID-19 ward

was "overflowing" with 215 patients.

This despite the state-run hospital adjustment of its number of beds for

virus patients to 210 following the spike in coronavirus cases, spokesman

Jonas del Rosario said.

The hospital will still accept non-COVID-19 cases, he added.

"Puno na po. Umaapaw po...Nalampasan namin 'yung amin 210 na sinet na

limit," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

"Marami pong private patients ang nagpunta sa PGH, marahil sarado na rin

'yung private hospitals."

Some 40 COVID-19 patients are waiting to be transferred to the hospital once

beds become available, Del Rosario said.

Around 45 healthcare workers of PGH are admitted following an outbreak in

its dietary department where 20 staff tested positive for the virus, he

said. Some 6 frontliners contracted the disease, he added.

The Philippines as of Tuesday recorded 70,764 cases of COVID-19, with 23,281

recoveries and 1,837 deaths.

DISINFECT MASKS WITH GASOLINE? 'BAKA JOKE LANG,' SAYS DOH AFTER DUTERTE

REMARK

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte might be joking when he said the public

can disinfect their face masks with gasoline, the Department of Health said

Wednesday.

"Alam niyo naman 'pag nagsasalita si Presidente, baka 'yung mga jokes lang

niya 'yun, especially 'yung sa gasoline," Health Undersecretary Maria

Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing.

In a taped address aired Tuesday morning, the President said the public

could dip their face mask in gasoline if they can't afford to use a

disinfectant spray.

When Duterte mentioned in the same speech that the public could use their

face masks twice, Vergeire said the President was referring to reusable

cloth masks.

"May department memo tayo on rational use of protective equipment. 'Pag ikaw

ay may symptoms, gamitin mo surgical mask. 'Pag ikaw ay nagtatrabaho sa

ospital, N95 mask. Kapag sa community, cloth mask," she said.

The health official also reminded the public that surgical masks were for

single-use and should be discarded properly.

"Hindi mo 'yan puwede hugasan. Kasi 'pag hinugasan mo 'yan, may mga

components 'yang mask na certain filtering mechanism, kapag hinugasan mo o

binasa mo 'yan, mawawala na ang effect no'n," she said.

Meanwhile, cloth masks can be washed and hung to dry under direct sunlight

after each use, Vergeire said.

In the absence of disinfectant spray, the DOH earlier recommended the use of

alcohol or alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

THE REST

========

4 COUNTRIES REQUIRE COVID-19 TEST FOR PHILIPPINE TRAVELERS

MANILA — Four countries are requiring Filipino travelers to present a

certification that they are cleared of coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19

prior to departure, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA)

announced yesterday.

In an advisory, the MIAA said the international destinations are Abu Dhabi,

Dubai, Hong Kong and South Korea.

“These countries will ask incoming passengers from the Philippines to

present COVID-19 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

test results, certifying that they are negative for the virus,” MIAA public

affairs office head Connie Bungag said.

Bungag said only certifications issued by the airlinesÂ’ accredited testing

centers would be accepted before travelers are allowed to board their

flights.

The MIAA advised passengers to coordinate with airline carriers for details

about the new regulation.

Passengers without the negative RT-PCR test results may not be allowed to

check in for their flights even if they have confirmed bookings, according

to the MIAA.

The Hong Kong government said it would implement the new guidelines starting

July 25.

PRIEST WHO SURVIVED MAUTE CAPTIVITY PASSES AWAY

MANILA — Father Teresito "Chito" Soganub, a Catholic priest who was taken

hostage by the Maute group during the Battle of Marawi in 2017, died early

Wednesday, according to Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña.

Soganub died in his home in Noralah, South Cotabato due to cardiac arrest,

Dela Peña said in a statement.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later, Dela Peña added.

Suganob, along with other civilians, was abducted by Maute terrorists while

at the compound of the Cathedral of St. Mary at the start of the 5-month

siege in 2017.

The priest escaped from the terrorists after nearly 4 months in captivity.

BUCOR: SHABU TIANGGE OPERATOR BORATONG AMONG COVID-19 FATALITIES

MANILA — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) yesterday confirmed that

convicted drug lord Amin Imam Boratong has died due to the coronavirus

disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Boratong was the operator of the notorious “shabu tiangge” in Pasig City.

He was convicted, along with his wife, in July 2009 after the drug den was

raided and demolished in 2006.

A funeral parlor in Muntinlupa City also confirmed yesterday that a certain

Amin Imam Boratong was picked up from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) last

month.

Gigi Laconico, the daughter of Zenaida Lim de Mesa Funeral HomesÂ’s owner,

said the BuCor contacted them to pick up the body of Boratong and brought it

to a Muslim cemetery in Norzagaray, Bulacan in the afternoon of June 5.

The body bag was not opened, according to Laconico, since “the cadaver is

COVID-19 positive.”

She said what happened was a “direct burial” as cremation is a practice that

is forbidden by Islam.

BuCor spokesman Gabriel Chaclag also confirmed the death.

“(Boratong’s) name is among the deceased,” Chaclag said in Filipino.

BoratongÂ’s death was confirmed a few days after another high-profile person

deprived of liberty (PDL), Jaybee Sebastian, was reported to have died due

to COVID-19.

MOTORCYCLE RIDERS URGED: USE BARRIERS APPROVED BY GOVERNMENT

Bohol provincial government and motorcycle ride-hailing app Angkas passed

the safety standards set by the National Task Force against the coronavirus

disease 2019 or COVID-19.

“These two approved designs underwent a thorough study, including the

concept of aerodynamics,” Eleazar said in a statement.

With the Bohol prototype, the barrier is installed in the motorcycle.

AngkasÂ’ backpack barrier is worn by the rider.

Eleazar issued the statement in reaction to social media posts blaming the

governmentÂ’s requirement for barriers as the reason behind motorcycle

accidents.

He said motorcyclists should only buy barriers approved by the government.

A total of 10,932 motorcycle riders were accosted for back-riding

violations. Of the figure, 9,649 did not use barriers while 1,283 violators

have protective gear, but their companions were not their spouses or

partners.

They were not given citation tickets and were advised to comply with the

requirements by July 26.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

DID DOMINIC ROQUE JUST CONFIRM BLOOMING ROMANCE WITH BEA ALONZO?

MANILA—In an apparent indication of their blooming romance, actor Dominic

Roque shared a photo on Tuesday with fellow Kapamilya star Bea Alonzo, with

whom he has been linked since late last year.

“Tila ako’y nabighani,” Roque wrote, with a heart emoji, captioning the

photo of him with Alonzo inside what appears to be a ramen restaurant in

Tokyo.

The two were last known to be together in Japan in November 2019. Prior to

that, Roque was spotted at AlonzoÂ’s intimate birthday gathering at her home.

Sightings of them together prompted speculation of a brewing romance.

In her last interview addressing the topic, Alonzo denied being in a

relationship anew, describing Roque as a “good friend of mine.”

Alonzo, 32, was last known to be in a relationship with actor Gerald

Anderson. They separated in mid-2019 after three years together.

Roque, 30, has been open about his apparent admiration for Alonzo, posting

numerous times photos of the actress on Instagram.

SPORTS

NBA RELEASES ROSTERS, SCRIMMAGES TO BEGIN AS RESTART LOOMS

MANILA — The NBA restart plan has almost come to its fruitition with the

July 30 (July 31, Manila time) tip-off inching closer.

The league recently released the official rosters of all 22 teams in the

Orlando, Florida bubble with scrimmages set to begin on July 22 (July 23,

Manila time).

@mluisamorales

The NBA releases official restart rosters for all 22 teams in Orlando,

Florida bubble

Scrimmages set to begin tomorrow. Each team will play three scrimmages

before the restart officially tips off on July 30 (July 31 in Manila) |

@StarSportsHub @PhilstarNews #NBA

Overall trust in the safety of the bubble was recently affirmed by zero

positive cases for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases among the 346

players in the campus.

But the NBA is still prepared for positive cases in the future, with an

isolation plan for a player positive for the virus already prepared.

Each team is set to play three scrimmages before the official tip off.

The first scrimmage of all the teams will be shortened to four 10-minute

quarters instead of the usual 12 minutes to not overdo players after months

of hiatus.

Scrimmages after that will employ the regular 12-minute quarters.

Once the restart tips off, the 22 teams will each play eight seeding games

to determine the final cast of the playoffs for both conferences.

The post-season will then continue with the usual best-of-seven series

setup.

The 2019-20 season is expected to end sometime in October.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 49.39

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It doesnÂ’t matter how many times you fail. You only have to be right once

and then everyone can tell you that you are an overnight success. - Mark

Cuban