NEW YEAR, NEW TAXES; HOUSE EYES 4 BILLS MANILA - The principal taxman in Congress vowed yesterday to push for the approval next year of four tax bills that would raise an additional P492 billion from taxpayers and the booming offshore gambling industry over five years. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, who chairs the House ways and means committee, said his panel would "sustain its commitment to funding President Duterte's key infrastructure and human development priorities." "To this end, we will keep our push for passage in plenary of four key tax bills that the committee has already endorsed," he said. He specified the measures as the five percent license fee on Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), the doubling of the road user tax, a new mining industry fiscal regime and a tax on single-use plastics. Of the four, the almost 100-percent increase in road user tax, officially called motor vehicle user's charge (MVUC) under the present law, would bring in the biggest revenue increment of P236 billion, based on Salceda's estimates for the period of 2021 to 2025. The Land Transportation Office collects the MVUC from 11 million Filipinos who own motor vehicles in the form of increased annual registration fees. Salceda projects that the POGO tax would yield P213 billion over five years. Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero, who represents party-list group 1-Pacman, and Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao have proposed that the POGO sector be tapped to fund a bigger salary increase for 900,000 public school teachers who are demanding a P10,000 pay hike. The planned new round of pay upgrading in the bureaucracy would give teachers a P6,000 increase over four years, from 2020 to 2023. That would translate to just P52 a day, teachers said. An immediate P10,000 adjustment would put them at par with soldiers and policemen, which is what President Duterte had promised, they said. The new mining taxation scheme would generate an additional P20.6 billion, while the planned tax on single-use plastics would yield P22.1 billion. "Of course, the most important priority next year will be to pass the proposed Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Reform Act (CITIRA). This is the single most important economic reform measure after EDSA. I expect the Senate to pass CITIRA within the first two months of 2020," Salceda said. "As chair of the committee on ways and means, I have three goals that we need to achieve by 2022: A-level credit rating, eight percent economic growth, widespread prosperity. We will work tirelessly to achieve these," he said. PEOPLE FLOCK TO DUTERTE'S HOUSE IN DAVAO DAVAO CITY - As early as Christmas Eve, thousands again flocked to the house of President Duterte on Taal street in Royal Valley Subdivision in this city for the usual Christmas and thanksgiving party that has been the tradition of the Duterte family since the late 1980s. Residents who gathered at the house of the Dutertes were treated to food and Christmas packages and given a chance to win prizes in the raffle. This tradition has been going on for more than 30 years since Duterte threw his hat into politics. His daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, has kept the tradition alive since Duterte became President in 2016. But, as in the past three years, the President did not show up for the traditional program. Observers noted that there were more and more people who lined up -stretching for more than two kilometers - for the yuletide giveaways of the Duterte family yesterday. SARA DUTERTE 'BENT TO RULE WITH IMPUNITY': COMMUNIST REBELS MANILA - Communist rebels in Southern Mindanao denounced Thursday Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte's plan to exclude her city from the government's ceasefire with the left. The President's daughter is "bent to rule with impunity," the National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Southern Mindanao said in a statement. "Mayor Sara wrongly blames the alleged failure of the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines)-NDFP talks to the 'countless criminal acts and treachery' of the revolutionary forces, specifically the NPA (New People's Army," it said. "Yet, it had been the AFP's (Armed Forces of the Philippines) fascist forays into hinterland areas that violated GRP's ceasefire declarations which forced NPA units to engage in self-defense." Duterte-Carpio has rejected negotiations with the communist rebels, referring to them as "terrorists." She instead touted the achievements of the local peace initiative Peace 911, saying it is a more effective strategy in winning back strongholds of rebels. The group, however, said the local peace initiative only "deodorizes the horrid stories of harassment, psywar, forced and fake surrenders of civilians as NPA members and forced recruitment to CAFGU, Alamara and Bagani paramilitary forces." "She seems to also be blissfully unaware of the fact that the 3 battalions she is coddling in Davao City are pocketing millions of public funds supposedly for salaries of CAFGU members or remuneration for mass fake surrenders," it said. Duterte-Carpio's stand "clearly displays her charmed ruling class origin, bereft of the troubles of the working class," it added. POPE FRANCIS DEFENDS MIGRANTS, CALLS FOR PEACE IN CHRISTMAS MESSAGE VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis urged the world to let the light of Christmas pierce the "darkness in human hearts" that leads to religious persecution, social injustice, armed conflicts and fear of migrants. In his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) Christmas Day message, the 83-year-old Pope called for peace in the Holy Land, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Venezuela, Ukraine and several African countries caught up in conflicts. The common thread of his address to tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square and millions watching or listening around the world was that change starts in the hearts of individuals. "There is darkness in human hearts, yet the light of Christ is greater still," Francis said, as he marked the 7th Christmas of his pontificate. "There is darkness in personal, family and social relationships, but the light of Christ is greater. There is darkness in economic, geopolitical and ecological conflicts, yet greater still is the light of Christ," he said. Francis singled out the persecution of Christians by militant groups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, asking God to console those who suffer for their faith. On Dec. 1, at least 14 people were shot dead in an attack on a church in eastern Burkina Faso, where an Islamist insurgency has ignited ethnic and religious tensions. Francis, who has been scorned by populist politicians because of his defense of refugees and migrants, dedicated a section of his address to their plight. This month, Francis called for the closing of migrant detention camps in Libya. "It is injustice that turns them away from places where they might have hope for a dignified life, but instead find themselves before walls of indifference," he said. Francis said that while there were many huge problems in the world, people did not have to look far to correct injustices. They could make a difference in their own communities as a start to healing all the "suffering members of our human family." "May (God) soften our often stony and self-centred hearts, and make them channels of his love. May he bring his smile, through our poor faces, to all the children of the world: to those who are abandoned and those who suffer violence," Francis said. To underscore his message, the two cardinals Francis chose to join him on the basilica's central balcony were Renato Martino, president emeritus of the Vatican's immigration office, and Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner who distributes aid to Rome's poor and homeless. "Through our frail hands, may he clothe those who have nothing to wear, give bread to the hungry and heal the sick," he said, adding that through friendship, everyone could be close to the elderly, the lonely, migrants and marginalized people. "On this joyful Christmas Day, may he bring his tenderness to all and brighten the darkness of this world," he said. PNP TO USE DRONES VS LAWLESS GROUPS MANILA - The Philippine National Police will be using drones in conducting tactical offensives against lawless groups, PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said yesterday. "These unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are ideal weapons against the enemies of the state as well as in protecting government's security forces during combat operations," he said. "It can prevent ambuscades, get to enemy frontlines and collect information on how troopers can penetrate the area," Gamboa added. The PNP in November acquired 51 drones to boost the operational capabilities of its field units. In 2018, the police procured about 700 UAVs. Gamboa said they have been using drones in the past for aerial surveillance to protect major events such as the recently concluded 30th Southeast Asian Games. Among the groups battling the government are the New People's Army, Abu Sayyaf and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Aside from drones, the PNP also plans to procure more firearms and vehicles next year. AT LEAST 7 DEAD, 12 MISSING IN ILOILO DUE TO URSULA MANILA - Christmas Typhoon Ursula left at least 7 people dead after it lashed Iloilo with fierce winds and heavy rains, a local disaster official said Thursday. As of 5 a.m. Thursday, 12 people remain missing in the province, according to provincial disaster office head Jery Byuna. Most of the fatalities were from the town of Batad, Byuna said, where a family attempted to get to higher ground during the onslaught of Ursula but was intercepted by flashflood. "'Yung biglaang pagbuhos ng ulan in a matter of 3 hours, pagbaba ng tubig dun dumaan sa kanila. Hindi 'yun daanan ng tubig normally," he told radio DZMM. "Maybe as a result of the masyadong makapal na ulap, masyadong malakas na ulan, resulting in flashflood. 'Yung bundok nila dun naging kaingin, nagresult ng flashflood." A total of 375 families fled their homes due to Ursula, Byuna said. The country's 21st and possibly last storm this year was last seen over the West Philippine Sea or 155 kilometers northwest of Coron, Palawan at 4 a.m., state meteorologists said. It is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday morning, if it continues moving west northwest at 15 kph, PAGASA said. URSULA MOVES OVER WEST PH SEA, TO DAMPEN CALAMIAN ISLANDS MANILA - Typhoon Ursula will bring rains over Calamian Islands and Occidental Mindoro even as it moved over the West Philippine Sea early Thursday, the state weather bureau said. The country's 21st and potentially last storm this year, which dampened Christmas for Filipinos this year, was spotted 155 kilometers northwest of Coron, Palawan at 4 a.m., packing maximum winds of 130 km per hour and up to 160 kph gusts, PAGASA said. Ursula (international name: Phanfone) will bring occasional to frequent heavy rains over Calamian Islands and Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Island. Light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains, meanwhile, will be experienced over Metro Manila, Oriental Mindoro, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and the rest of extreme northern Palawan. Storm signal no. 2 remains hoisted over the following areas, where winds could uproot big trees, peel off roofs and cause "light to moderate damage to exposed communities." - Calamian Islands (Coron, Culion, Busuanga) Storm signal no. 1 - which means winds could "partially unroof" houses made of light materials and cause "significant damage" to rice crops - is raised over the following areas: - Bataan - Cavite - Batangas - Oriental Mindoro - Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island - the rest of extreme northern Palawan (Linapacan, El Nido) Ursula is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday morning, if it continues moving west northwest at 15 kph, said PAGASA. JUDY ANN GETS GOLD AWARD FROM YOUTUBE Actress Judy Ann Santos earned the coveted Gold Button from YouTube after her channel, "Judy Ann's Kitchen," reached a million subscribers. Santos shared the news on her channel's Instagram account. "Happy Golden Christmas everyone! Thank you so much!!!" she wrote in the caption. Santos also shared her latest achievement with her husband, Ryan Agoncillo. Averaging 100,000 views each, Santos posts videos of her cooking her recipes, complete with her quirky and funny comments. FORBES: PACQUIAO 8TH RICHEST ATHLETE OF THE DECADE; MAYWEATHER TOPS LIST MANILA - Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is the eighth wealthiest athlete in the world throughout the decade, according a list recently published by Forbes. Forbes said Pacquiao's "25 pay-per-view fights have generated 20 million buys and an estimated $1.3 billion in revenue," which culminated in hefty personal earnings of $435 million (over Php22 billion) that placed the fighting senator among the likes of golf legend Tiger Woods and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James. He sits between the Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Durant and golfer Phil Mickelson in the list. Pacquiao started out the 2010s by dominating Joshua Clottey to retain his WBO welterweight title in a fight that drew gate earnings of $6.3 million and $35.3 million in pay-per-view buys. Throughout his storied career, "Pac-Man" won 62 fights (including 39 knockouts), lost 7 and drew in two. He remains to be regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Twelve wins and four of those losses came in the last decade, which included a devastating knockout loss to archrival Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012. It came after Pacquiao's earlier victory over the Mexican star in 2011, in their third meeting. Pacquiao also faced Timothy Bradley Jr. twice in the 2010s, losing a controversial split-decision and later securing a unanimous verdict in 2016. Also topping the Forbes list was fellow boxer Floyd Mayweather, who earned more than $500 million combined for his 2015 and 2017 fights against Pacquiao and UFC star Conor McGregor, respectively. Mayweather won his megabuck 2015 bout with Pacquiao, scoring a unanimous decision. It was also reported by news outlets in May that Pacquiao stood among the most affluent of Senate lawmakers in the country after the boxer-senator declared a net worth of P3,005,808,000 in his 2018 statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) despite also ranking as the Senate's top absentee. Just the year before, Pacquiao's SALN reflected a net worth of P2.9 billion. A similar list by Forbes published in 2015 saw the boxer notching the second spot as the second highest paid athlete in the world for that year. NBA: 76ERS BASH BUCKS IN CHRISTMAS CONTEST Joel Embiid had 31 points and 11 rebounds to lift the host Philadelphia 76ers past the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks 121-109 on Wednesday. It was Embiid's seventh game this season with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds. Ben Simmons had 15 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds for the Sixers, who won their third in a row and tied a franchise record with 21 made 3-pointers. Tobias Harris scored 22 points and went 5 of 7 from beyond the arc. Josh Richardson added 18 points, Furkan Korkmaz scored 16 and Al Horford had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 31 points, while Giannis Antetokounmpo added 18 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, but he shot 8-for-27 and missed all seven 3-point attempts. George Hill scored 15 points as Milwaukee's record dropped to 27-5. The Sixers dominated the first half, as they jumped out to a 69-48 advantage thanks to 23 points and seven rebounds from Embiid. Philadelphia made 11 treys, their most in any half this season. The score could have been even more lopsided if not for Hill's 12 points off the bench, coming on 5-for-5 shooting. Milwaukee's deficit hit 25 points in the third, its largest of the season, and the Sixers extended the lead from there, going up 100-73 at the end of the third. Antetokounmpo drove to the lane and scored to cut the lead to 102-85 with 8:04 remaining, capping a 12-0 run. On the Sixers' next possession, Korkmaz made a 3-pointer, their 18th of the game, to push the lead back to 20. Antetokounmpo appeared to be accidentally poked in the eye by Richardson with 6:25 left and stayed down on the court for several minutes. Antetokounmpo then got up and was whistled for a technical foul for arguing with referee Tony Brothers. Middleton hit a tough 3-pointer, and Sterling Brown added a dunk to close within 115-106 with 1:52 left. But Harris sealed the win on the next possession, beating the shot clock with a 3-pointer for a 12-point advantage. GINEBRA-MERALCO TRILOGY ALL SET ANTIPOLO - After a one-year delay, it's on for Round 3 of the Barangay Ginebra-Meralco Bolts titular confrontation in the PBA Governors' Cup. The Bolts took care of business and joined the waiting Gin Kings in the best-of-seven finals after taking down TNT KaTropa in an electrifying semifinal clincher, 89-78, last night at the Ynares Center here. Fully powered up coming out of the half-time break, the Bolts unleashed a strong finishing kick built around Allen Durham, Bong Quinto, Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge to clear the way to the 11-point closeout that completed their fightback from a 1-2 deficit and set a Last Dance with old rival Ginebra. Durham was a source of strength all throughout, piling up 28-10-8, while Chris Newsome had a steady 23-8-4 performance as chief playmaker and Quinto fired a career-high 19 spiked by a personal 8-1 run that gave Meralco a 74-62 cushion at the start of the fourth. "In this series, I felt like we literally had everything thrown at us by TNT. The coaching staff and the players really worked hard to get to the finals again," said Meralco coach Norman Black, whose wards now have a chance to get back at the Gin Kings, who tormented them in the 2016 and 2017 finales. "Credit to the players; we were down two games to one and we have to win both games (4 and 5) to make it back to the finals and everybody focused in, stayed positive and was very attentive to the game plan and how we needed to execute for us to make it back to the championship round again," added Black. Meralco held TNT to only 36 in the second half while scoring 52 on their end. "Just like it has been the entire conference, defense was what did it for us. TNT is a high-powered, high-scoring team, but defensively, we're able to hold them down," said Black. Next up is previous conqueror Ginebra. "We feel like we have an unfinished business. We already had two rounds with Ginebra, we lost both. We're looking forward to the third round, we want to change things around and come out the victors this time," said Black. KJ McDaniels shot 30 with 13 boards for TNT, which fell short of its bid to make it to the finals for the second time this year. It was a tight encounter in the first 24 minutes of play with the protagonists battling to nine lead changes and seven deadlocks.