SONA PROTESTS TO PERSIST DESPITE BANS — RIGHTS GROUP

MANILA — Mobilizations set on Monday will push through despite the issuance

of protest bans just days before President Rodrigo DuterteÂ’s fifth State of

the Nation Address, according to human rights monitor Karapatan.

“The Duterte regime is shameless in using quarantine measures to crack down

on dissent but we will not be deterred: we will join thousands in the

streets on Monday, we will observe proper health protocols, and we will ring

the people’s demands louder than ever,” Karapatan Secretary-General Cristina

Palabay said in a Saturday release.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Thursday issued an

advisory reminding local government units to observe the prohibition on mass

gatherings as mandated by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of

Emerging Infectious Diseases.

"In view of the forthcoming State of the Nation Address, the [IATF] strongly

reiterates that mass gatherings...are prohibited in areas under General

Community Quarantine," read IATF Resolution 57.

In compliance with the DILG advisory, the local government of Quezon City,

where the SONA will take place, has since said that all applications for

permits to organize or hold public assemblies will not be processed while

permits that have been deemed issued upon inaction are revoked.

Karapatan denounced the prohibition of protests which they said are only

meant to hide true public sentiment on the administration amid the COVID-19

pandemic.

“[T]he issuances of these resolutions and advisories mere days before the

SONA already show their true intent of threatening and intimidating those

who will join the protest with arrests and dispersals,” Palabay said.

“We would like to remind the DILG and the Philippine National Police that

the IATF resolutions and guidelines are not laws; they are also not higher

than the Constitution and they canÂ’t be used to restrict the peaceful

exercise of basic constitutional rights and civil liberties, including the

right to freedom of assembly.”

The rights group called on local governments to respect and uphold protest

actions on Monday.

“On Monday, we will take to the streets to assert our rights and to expose

the true state of the nation — a nation defying State terrorism and

fascism.”

COVID-19 BILLS FIRST BEFORE CHA-CHA – SPEAKER

MANILA — The House of Representatives may start tackling proposed amendments

to the 1987 Constitution early next year, including the lifting of term

limits – but only after Congress passes the 2021 national budget and all

needed measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, Speaker Alan Peter

Cayetano said yesterday.

“If COVID can be solved next month, and we’re up on our feet next January,

February, then we can talk about Cha-cha,” he said.

The Speaker said apart from proposed amendments to the economic provisions

of the Charter, Congress would also take up proposal for longer term limits

for politicians.

Cayetano, whose wife and two siblings currently hold national and local

elective positions, has been batting for a five-year term for three

consecutive terms, or four-year terms without restriction for reelection.

“The problem with the arguments here in the Philippines is there’s too much

hypocrisy, and I keep saying that no one is innocent. ThatÂ’s why we have to

change the system,” he argued.

He explained that term limits in the 1987 Constitution were not crafted to

factor in “unintended consequences” and were only meant to prevent a repeat

of the decades-long reign of late former strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

Cayetano lamented that the limits instead gave birth to more dynasties as

politicians seek to cement their hold on their bailiwick.

10 PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE PERSONNEL POSITIVE FOR COVID-19-

ANDANAR

MANILA - A total of 10 personnel of the Presidential Communications

Operations Office (PCOO) have tested positive for COVID-19, Communications

Secretary Martin Andanar said Saturday morning.

The PCOO personnel are among Malacañang staffers confirmed to have acquired

the virus, with two other personnel of Palace broadcast office also

infected.

"I would like to inform the public that I tested negative for COVID-19 after

I underwent a test on Thursday, July 23. However, I regret to confirm that,

as of 6:00am today, a total of ten (10) of our personnel in the main office

tested positive," Andanar said in a statement.

He conveyed "hopes and prayers for their speedy recovery from the virus."

The official said "physical work suspension" at the PCOO would continue

indefinitely as disinfection continues at Malacañang's New Executive

Building (NEB), which houses the communications office.

PCOO will continue operations with staffers working from home.

"All programs and briefings done at NEB will be undertaken remotely and/or

virtually," Andanar said.

"Rest assured that the delivery of essential and timely information to the

Filipino public will remain unhampered and unchanged as we have adopted a

work-from-home arrangement," he said.

While several PCOO and Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) staffers have

fallen ill with the contagious disease, Palace coverage of President Rodrigo

Duterte's State of the Nation Address (SONA) will proceed on Monday, Andanar

said.

LAWYERS, CHURCH LEADERS, WOMEN'S GROUP FILE NEW PETITIONS VS ANTI-TERRORISM

ACT; TOTAL NOW AT 19

MANILA -- Three more groups on Friday filed new petitions contesting the

constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act before the Supreme Court,

raising the total number of petitions against the law to 19.

The Alternative Law Groups, a coalition of 18 NGOs engaged in alternative or

developmental lawyering, filed the 17th petition against the new law.

They expressed concern that their work delivering legal services to basic

sectors and grassroots communities all over the country such as peasants,

indigenous communities, fisherfolks and the urban poor would be hampered and

that they were at imminent risk of becoming victims of grave human rights

violations.

"Petitioner faces a real threat that their acts of providing 'expert advice

and assistance' to such individuals or entities would be construed as

violations of Section 12 (providing material support to terrorists), making

them liable as principals to the crime of terrorism and subject to the same

penalties. R.A. No. 11479 does not exempt bona fide civil society

organizations from its purview," it said in its 130-page petition, claiming

a "chilling effect" on their legitimate functions.

A group of bishops, church leaders and religious organizations led by Manila

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, meanwhile, filed the 18th petition citing credible

threats that they would be prosecuted under the law.

Women's group Gabriela and some women leaders, for their part, claimed the

anti-terror law poses a valid threat to women, quoting the President's own

words "Shoot them in the Vagina" on the very first page of their petition --

the 19th challenge to the Anti-Terrorism Act.

PALACE TO PROBE PHILHEALTH ANOMALIES

Anti-fraud lawyer resigns, cites widespread corruption

MANILA — The Office of the President will investigate alleged anomalies in

the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., laid bare in a shouting match online

among PhilHealth officials that eventually led to the resignation of one of

them.

President Duterte ordered yesterday Undersecretary Jesus Melchor Quitain, of

the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, to conduct a probe on

PhilHealth, which is headed by president and CEO Ricardo Morales.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said he received a copy of the

resignation letter of PhilHealth anti-fraud legal officer Thorrsson Montes

Keith.

The Senate, for its part, vowed to launch a “full blown” investigation of

PhilHealth and called for the dismissal and prosecution of its erring

officials.

“We view the allegations of Mr. Keith a serious matter and therefore enjoin

him, and other officials, to cooperate with the ongoing investigation,” said

Roque.

STRANDED INDIVIDUALS CRAMPED UP INSIDE RIZAL MEMORIAL SPORTS COMPLEX

MANILA — The Philippine Sports Commission's (PSC) Rizal Memorial Sports

Complex has been converted into a quarantine facility for the government

amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Along with other PSC venues like the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City, Rizal

Memorial has been serving as an additional facility for various reasons as

the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus.

The Rizal Memorial Stadium in particular is being used to house "locally

stranded individuals" (LSIs).

However, photos surfaced on Friday evening showing thousands of LSIs cramped

up at the bleachers of the stadium without any form of proper social

distancing.

The LSIs are supposed beneficiaries of the second batch of the country's

Hatid Tulong program, which will send them back to their respective

provinces after being stranded due to quarantine measures.

Total cases of COVID-19 in the country breached 76,000 on Friday with more

than 50,000 active cases.

With the health crisis still clearly wreacking havoc, the lack of proper

safety protocos for LSIs in the PSC's football stadium is a point of

concern.

THE REST

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VILLAR: 150 FACILITIES CONSTRUCTED, REPURPOSED FOR COVID-19

MANILA — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark

Villar on Thursday said a total of 150 facilities constructed and repurposed

by the department are now being used as facilities for quarantine, isolation

and off-site dormitories of COVID-19 patients and frontline workers.

Citing the latest “We Heal as One” Report, Villar said that of the 150

facilities, 19 were newly constructed and 131 were evacuation centers

constructed by DPWH and recently repurposed as COVID-19 facilities.

“The 19 newly coverted and constructed facilities include the 11 mega

quarantine facilities with 2,584-bed capacity in the National Capital

Region, Regions 3, 4-A and 11; six off-site dormitories with 192-bed

capacity in NCR and one isolation/quarantine facility with 149-bed capacity

in NCR and Region 8,” the DPWH secretary said.

“Our regional evacuation centers nationwide on the other hand were

repurposed to accommodate up to 5,895 COVID-19 patients. Overall, these

existing facilities plus the recently completed have a bed capacity of

8,820,” he added.

Aside from the existing 150 facilities, Villar noted that 111 more are

ongoing, consisting of one mega quarantine facility in Region 8; 16 off-site

dormitories in NCR, Regions 3 and 7; 28 isolation/quarantine facilities in

Regions 7 and 8 and 66 evacuation centers nationwide. When completed, these

facilities are expected to cater to at least 4,252 patients and frontliners.

DPWH also proposed the construction of additional 342 isolation facilities

nationwide with a total of 12,978-bed capacity and 39 off-site dormitories

with 968-bed capacity.

“We are working closely with local government units and national government

agencies to ensure we provide enough and timely infrastructure support in

our fight versus COVID-19,” Villar said.

“These facilities are essential in decongesting hospitals and further

preventing the nationwide spread of the virus, as we slowly open borders for

the economy,” he said.

PASSENGERS, CREW RESCUED AFTER SHIP CATCHES FIRE NEAR CEBU

MANILA — A total of 45 passengers and crew members have been rescued after a

passenger ship caught fire near Binongkalan Point in Cebu Thursday night.

The Philippine Coast Guard reported that MV Filipinas Dinagat caught fire

while sailing at the vicinity waters about 5.5 nautical miles east off

Binongkalan Point at around 10:45 p.m. Thursday.

"Immediately, the survivors were embarked in a motorbanca that transported

them to the nearest port for further assistance," the PCG said.

The passenger ship owned by Cokaliong Shipping Lines was totally engulfed in

fire when the coast guard arrived the the area, according to the incident

report.

MV Filipinas Dinagat left Cebu City at around 7 p.m. Thursday and was bound

for Palompon, Leyte. The PCG is conducting investigation on the cause of the

fire.

4 DEAD IN AIR FORCE HELICOPTER CRASH

ISABELA — Four persons died and another was seriously injured when a

helicopter of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) crashed while taking off at a

military camp in Cauayan City, Isabela on Thursday night.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo

identified the fatalities as pilot-in-command Maj. Cristopher Cesar Urbano,

co-pilot Capt. Fiorelio Bernardo, officer on board First Lt. Mike Tuesday

Tabigne and air crew S/Sgt. John Cristopher Taguiam.

Airman 1st Class Gerry Aviles Jr. remains confined in a hospital. Reports

said he managed to jump from the helicopter before it crashed.

The PAF said the victims, who belonged to the 205th Tactical Helicopter

Wing, were undergoing night vision training when the accident occurred in

Barangay San Fermin at around 7:10 p. m.

The Department of National Defense (DND) expressed its sympathy to the

families of the fatalities.

CAYETANO TO HONOR TERM-SHARING DEAL ON SPEAKERSHIP

MANILA — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said yesterday he would step down from

his post in November and honor the term-sharing agreement with Marinduque

Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

With just three months left in his 15-month term as Speaker, Cayetano said

the chamber is already preparing for the scheduled transition in leadership.

“Yes (I will step down). My 15 months end in late October or start of

November... The House will be ready and the members are resilient regardless

of whoever the Speaker will be,” he said in an interview with CNN

Philippines.

“I haven’t seen anything that will make it change. We’re not talking (about

anything) differently. WeÂ’re just quietly working, weÂ’re preparing for

that,” he revealed.

Under the term-sharing deal brokered by President Duterte himself, Cayetano

will serve as speaker for the first 15 months or until October 2020, with

Velasco taking over the post for the final 21 months of the 18th Congress or

until June 2022.

Cayetano previously expressed desire to stay on as House leader until 2022,

but said he would still consult with the President whether or not to

relinquish the post.

Reports had quoted House members saying Cayetano should just continue as

Speaker and that the term-sharing deal should no longer push through

considering his high ratings late last year.

But earlier this year, Cayetano revealed an attempt to unseat him, which was

denied by the camp of Velasco.

MOTORBIKE OWNERS GET MORE TIME TO INSTALL BARRIER

MANILA — The government has given motorcycle owners until the end of the

month to install physical barriers approved by the National Task Force

(NTF)against COVID-19.

Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief

for operations, said yesterday the deadline was extended until July 31,

giving motorcycle riders more time to comply with the governmentÂ’s directive

to install barriers to separate the driver from the passenger.

Eleazar said the latest deadline is final and they will start apprehending

couples next month who are on board motorcycles without barriers.

“This will be the most that the government, through our NTF against

COVID-19, could give for our motorcycle riders to comply in order for them

to be allowed to back-ride their spouses or live-in partners,” he said in a

statement.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

LAST-MINUTE HITCH DELAYS LAUNCH OF VICE GANDAÂ’S OWN DIGITAL NETWORK

MANILA -- A website problem has delayed the much-anticipated launch of Vice

Ganda's own network.

Friday's launch, set for 9 p.m., hit a snag when people, including the

comedian himself, could not access the network's website where a game show

and a new talk show were supposed to be shown.

Vice Ganda said that he will try again in a later date.

Once fixed, Vice Ganda's network is expected to carry programs such as his

new talk show, "Gabing Gabi Na Vice!," boasting a star-studded lineup of

guests beginning with Angel Locsin and Bea Alonzo.

There was also supposed to be a game show hosted by the "Gold Squad," or

Francine Diaz, Andrea Brillantes, Kyle Echarri, and Seth Fedelin from the

hit series "Kadenang Ginto."

According to Vice Ganda, more than 100,000 preregistered to watch the launch

of his own network.

Vice Ganda apologized to his fans, writing: "I am very sorry for the

invonvenience. Babawi si Meme pramis!!! Love you guys! Love you Madlang

people! Love you my Little Ponies!"

SPORTS

NBA FANS TO APPEAR VIRTUALLY ON VIDEO BOARDS FOR TELECASTS

NEW YORK - When the NBA season resumes Thursday in a Florida quarantine

bubble, fans will be able to appear virtually on giant videoboards around

the court as part of digital technology enhancements.

Heads and chests of more than 300 fans per game will appear on boards at the

sides and ends of courts on 17-foot videoboards, five rows of people on each

bringing a look of spectators when none will be courtside.

Similar technology has been deployed by European soccer clubs, notably

Manchester City, since play resumed.

The coronavirus pandemic shut down the 2019-20 NBA season on March 11 when

Utah's Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.

Months of planning led to an isolation bubble restart plan at Walt Disney

World in Orlando with 22 teams finishing the campaign and the NBA playoffs

set to begin in August.

The first experience of an NBA strategic alliance with Microsoft will be the

tech firm's "Together Mode," part of broadcast enhancements that include

previously unseen camera angles, some from camera's operated robotically,

and enhanced audio of more player shouts and shoe squeaks.

Under the NBA's virtual video experience, fans will be removed from their

individual backgrounds and brought together in a shared visual space seen in

the venue and on game broadcasts. Fans can remain safe from the virus at

home while their cheers and energy can provide a measure of in-venue support

for players.

Music DJs and announcers will be used at venues to help replicate natural

sounds from typical NBA games.

Fans can also cheer for teams through NBA social media, virtual cheering to

be reflected with animations and graphics to reflect the level of global fan

engagement.

"Working with our broadcast and technology partners, we are excited to

unveil a series of enhancements that will bring fans closer to the game and

allow them to personalize their viewing experience," said Sara Zuckert, the

NBA head of Next Gen telecast.

"Our goal is to create an enjoyable and immersive experience where fans can

engage with each other and maintain a sense of community as we restart the

season under these unique and challenging circumstances."

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 49.33

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Peace has to be created, in order to be maintained. It is the product of

Faith, Strength, Energy, Will, Sympathy, Justice, Imagination, and the

triumph of principle. It will never be achieved by passivity and quietism -

Dorothy Thompson