TWIN BLASTS ROCK SULU TOWN PLAZA; AT LEAST 15 KILLED, 75 WOUNDED

MANILA - At least seven soldiers, a policeman, and six civilians were

killed, while 75 were injured as twin explosions ripped through the town

plaza of Jolo in the southern province of Sulu on Monday noon, authorities

said.

The military said a suspected female suicide bomber also died during the

second blast.

The first blast happened in front of a food shop on Serantes Street,

Barangay Walled City in Plaza Rizal, said Lt. Col. Ronaldo Mateo of the

military's 11th Infantry Division.

A parked motorcycle exploded near the M35 vehicle of the 21st Infantry

Battalion, resulting in "numerous casualties," the Jolo Police said in its

official report.

"Initially, it's an IED (improvised explosive device) planted in a

motorbike," said Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., chief of the military's

Western Mindanao Command.

As authorities cordoned off the area, a second explosion hit minutes later

in front of a bank, said Mateo.

This was just about 100 meters away from the first blast, said Vinluan, and

10 to 15 meters away from the Jolo Municipal Police station, said ABS-CBN

reporter Nickee Butlangan.

"Nasa kabilang kalye itong pangalawang pagsabog. Malakas," said Butlangan,

who was reporting from the scene.

Authorities said the wounded include 21 soldiers, six policemen, and 48

civilians.

Vinluan said the suspected female suicide bomber who died in the second

explosion had an IED with her.

In a separate interview on TeleRadyo, Mateo said the suspected female

suicide bomber, whose nationality is yet to be ascertained, attempted to

enter the cordoned area, but was intercepted by a soldier, but the bomber

immediately triggered the bomb who also died from the blast.

Mateo said the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) is "most probably" responsible for the

explosions, as there are no other active terror groups in the province.

Gen. Archie Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police, ordered the

Bangsamoro regional police to "expedite investigation and make all

perpetrators accountable before the law."

Malacanang condemned the incident, and condoled with the families and loved

ones of those who died.

PHILIPPINE MILITARY EYES ABU SAYYAF AS RESPONSIBLE FOR TWIN JOLO BOMBING

MANILA - Authorities suspect the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) masterminded the

twin bombing in Jolo, Sulu which left at least 15 people dead and over 70

injured, a military official said Monday afternoon.

According to Lt. Col. Ronald Mateo, Civil Military Relations Officer of the

Philippine Army's 11th Infantry Division, the ASG has yet to take

responsibility for the blasts, but the military believes it is "most

probably" behind the incident as it is the only active terrorist group in

the province.

"Walang umamin sa terrorist activity na ito. Pero, most probably, isa lang

naman ang terrorist group na nandito sa Sulu, and that is the Abu Sayyaf

Group," Mateo told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.

"Without any confirmation, alam namin na it's probably, it's probably the

Abu Sayyaf Group," he added.

The military said a suspected female suicide bomber also died during the

second blast.

Mateo said authorities have yet to identify whether the incident is related

to previous bombings in the province.

"Sa ngayon, we cannot attribute 'yung action na ito sa mga previous events.

'Yun nga 'yung sinasabi ko kanina, mataas 'yung threat dito sa Jolo, kaya

tuloy tuloy yung aming security patrols na ginagawa. And here comes na

nangyari itong bombing na ito, targeting 'yung mga sundalo natin at pulis.

'Yun nga lang, sa kasamaang palad, nadamay, idinamay ang mga sibilyan,"

Mateo said.

"Ang pagkaka-identify lang namin ngayon ay female, babae siya. Then, hindi

pa ma-ascertain kung foreigner ba o local. 'Yun pa ang iniimbestigahan," he

added.

LORENZANA ON SOUTH SEA CLAIM: ONLY IN THEIR IMAGINATION

MANILA — China’s “nine-dash line” used to claim most of the South China Sea

is a fabrication, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Sunday, as he

accused Beijing of illegally occupying Filipino maritime territory.

“Their so-called historical rights over an area enclosed by their nine-dash

line don’t exist except in their imaginations,” he said.

The remarks came amid a fresh row between Manila and Beijing over the

disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which has long been a flashpoint

between the two countries.

'I DON'T KNOW THEM': DUTERTE DISTANCES SELF FROM GROUP WHO RENEWED CALL FOR

REVOLUTIONARY GOV'T

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte, who previously floated the idea of

declaring a revolutionary government to address the nationÂ’s problems,

distanced himself from the renewed call for such a movement.

The Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee

(MRRD-NECC), a volunteer movement that supports the chief executive, called

to declare a revolutionary government to amend the constitution. The

coalition wants Duterte to head the so-called revolutionary government.

“May naglalabas revolutionary government tapos ako ang sinasabi na…” Duterte

said in a recorded speech aired Tuesday morning.

“Wala akong pakialam diyan. Wala akong kilala sa mga tao na ‘yan at hindi ko

‘yan trabaho,” claimed Duterte, who attended an event of MRRD-NECC in 2018.

Duterte himself had dangled the call to establish a revolutionary

government. In 2015, the then Davao City mayor first mentioned a plan to set

up a revolutionary government if elected. He said he would padlock Congress

and the judiciary through extraconstitutional means and would establish a

federal-parliamentary type of government.

In 2017, he threatened to establish a revolutionary government to quell

supposed destabilization plots against his administration and to declare all

government posts vacant if the country plunges into “chaos.”

The president later on clarified that would make such move if “things go out

of control” and if his administration is at risk of being toppled violently.

In 2019, Duterte warned he would declare a revolutionary government and

suspend the writ of habeas corpus and arrest his critics after opposition

senator Franklin Drilon appealed to the administration to be careful in

reviewing government contracts. Malacañang then said the remark was an

“exasperated expression.”

Hours before DuterteÂ’s meeting with the Cabinet, Robredo had a public

address to report her recommendations on how to improve the governmentÂ’s

response, which include extending cash aid of P5,000 per month to poor

families.

She also said Filipinos are losing their “confidence” in the government at

it scrambles to contain the crisis and that they step up when the government

fails them.

Duterte asked the vice president not to “add fuel to the fire.”

“Wag niyong sirain ang gobyerno kasi masisira ang tao. Pag masisira ang

gobyerno, lulutang tayong lahat. Maski na sabihin nyong mamatay ako bukas it

cannot solve the problem of the country,” he said.

HOUSE RATIFIES BAYANIHAN 2 WITH P165.5 BILLION FUND

MANILA — The House of Representatives ratified yesterday the bicameral

conference committee-approved Bayanihan 2 bill that will give President

Duterte P165.5 billion in additional funds to help temper recession by way

of reviving the battered economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

This paves the way for the enrolled billÂ’s submission to Malacañang where

President Duterte is expected to affix his signature soon, and which may be

enacted into law by September.

The Senate ratified last week the final version of the priority measure,

officially named “Bayanihan To Recover As One Act,” that will provide cash

aid for the poor and loans to micro, small and medium enterprises that were

hit the hardest by the pandemic.

Deputy Speaker for finance LRay Villafuerte said the biggest share of the

stimulus package is for “soft loans to badly hit groups such as MSMEs,

transport, tourism and agriculture sectors to help them get back on their

feet at the soonest.”

“It was difficult and tough to accommodate all the critically impacted

sectors with the limited amount we were working on. We finally agreed to

approve the P165.5 billion, which we all felt was not enough but which was

what was available right now,” he said.

The bill providing additional funds to the governmentÂ’s pandemic response

will soon be transmitted to Malacañang for the PresidentÂ’s signature.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the earliest time that Bayanihan 2

could reach DuterteÂ’s desk would be today after the House ratified the

measure.

Roque assured the public that the Bayanihan funds would reach their intended

recipients.

BAYANIHAN 2 FUNDS INADEQUATE, ROBREDO SAYS

MANILA — Funds allocated under the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act

or “Bayanihan 2,” which seeks to cushion the effects of the coronavirus

disease pandemic, are inadequate, Vice President Leni Robredo said

yesterday.

“The provisions indicated and the funds allocated under Bayanihan 2 are not

enough. The government must spend more, spend efficiently, and spend

quickly, with the utmost sense of urgency, as if our economic survival

depends on it – because it does. And yet, here we are, still dependent on a

pre-COVID budget,” Robredo said in a video message last night.

HOUSE APPROVES THIRD TELCO DITO TELECOMMUNITY'S 25-YEAR FRANCHISE

MANILA - The House of Representatives on Monday approved a bill granting a

fresh 25-year franchise to third telco player DITO Telecommunity formerly

known as Mislatel.

Lawmakers voted 240 to 7, approving House Bill 7332 on its third and final

reading or "An act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to

Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company Inc, presently known as DITO

Telecommunity Corp."

It also amended the Republic Act No. 8627 known as "an act granting the

Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company Inc, a franchise to construct, establish,

install, maintain and operate wire and/or wireless telecommunications

system," the bill reads.

DITO is a consortium of Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy's Udenna Corp and

Chelsea Logistics with China Telecom, mounting its network to challenge the

duopoly of Globe Telecom and PLDT Inc.

DITO, formerly known as Mislatel was awarded with its certificate of public

convenience and necessity (CPCN) in July 2019 during a Palace ceremony.

DOMINGUEZ: GOV'T CASH AID TO BE DISTRIBUTED ELECTRONICALLY 'IN THE FUTURE'

Government cash subsidies will soon be disbursed using cashless systems to

prevent corruption, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said on Tuesday.

"All subsidy programs in the future should be digitized," Dominguez said in

a recorded briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte last night aired only on

Tuesday.

Duterte supported the move. "There will be no person-to-person transaction.

All would be directed to the beneficiaries. There is no intermediary and

there is no intervention of any kind," he said.

THE REST

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440 PRIVATE SCHOOLS SUSPEND OPERATIONS DUE TO LACK OF ENROLLEES: DEPED

MANILA - The Department of Education (DepEd) said on Monday 440 private

schools would be temporarily ceasing operations in the coming academic year

due to lack of enrollees.

Of the 14,435 private schools in the country, 440 have so far said they will

not operate for school year 2020 to 2021, according to data from the DepEd.

Education Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo attributed the closure to the low

enrollment turnout in these schools.

Central Luzon had the most number of private schools that will suspend

operations with 88, followed by Calabarzon with 67, and the National Capital

Region with 54.

The Bangsamoro region has yet to submit figures on private schools that will

not be operating this year.

DepEd officials earlier said the dismal enrollment in private schools was

due to the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on the income of families.

As of Monday morning, 1.7 million students have enrolled in private schools,

DepEd data showed. The figure was 41.47 percent of 4.3 million or the total

number of private schools students last year.

The number of private school students who have transferred to public schools

reached 398,010 as of Monday, according to the DepEd.

Escobedo said 1,394 private schools have started classes as of August 24.

More than 6,000 schools are expected to open between August 24 to October 5,

he added.

Government seeks to provide assistance to private school teachers whose

livelihoods were affected by the pandemic through the Bayanihan to Recover

as One Act.

DOH LOGS 4,686 NEWS COVID-19 CASES IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Department of Health reports 4,686 additional COVID-19 cases in the

Philippines, pushing the national tally to 194,252.

The DOH also records 729 new recoveries, bringing the total number of

survivors to 132,042. The country's death toll now stands at 3,010 with 13

new reported deaths.

The Philippines now has 59,200 active cases (net of COVID-19 deaths and

recoveries.

1,333 MORE JEEPNEYS TO PLY METRO MANILA ROUTES

MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)

has approved 1,333 more traditional jeepneys to operate along 23 additional

routes in Metro Manila beginning tomorrow.

According to the LTFRB, a total of 13,776 traditional jeepneys would be

plying 149 routes in the metropolis once these are operational with the

newly approved units under Memorandum Circular 2020-040.

The transport regulatory body said there was no need for jeepney drivers to

secure special permits to operate.

However, they will be required to use downloadable QR (quick response) code

as well as observe minimum health and safety standards.

These include the 50 percent passenger capacity and the “no mask, no face

shield, no entry” policy.

Jeepney drivers should not implement fare hikes, according to the LTFRB.

“They are required to register their jeepneys with the Land Transportation

Office as roadworthy and they must have a valid personal passenger insurance

policy,” the LTFRB said.

Aside from traditional jeepneys, a total of 3,696 buses were allowed to

operate in 31 routes; 1,621 UV Express shuttles in 51 routes; 364

point-to-point buses in 33 routes, and 786 modern or e-jeepneys in 45

routes.

A total of 20,493 taxis and 23,775 transport network vehicle services were

also allowed to ply Metro Manila routes.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has rolled out public

utility buses with passenger doors on the left side along the EDSA busway.

LAGUSNILAD UNDERPASS GETS NEW LOOK, SEES RETURN OF 'BOOKS FROM UNDERGROUND'

MANILA — The city government of Manila on Monday morning inaugurated the

newly rehabilitated Lagusnilad pedestrian underpass, which is also called

the Manila City Hall underpass.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna led the

inauguration of the underpass with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The modernized underpass, designed by University of Santo Tomas (UST) alumni

— architect Juanito Malaga and UST graduates John Fallorina, Sean Ortiz and

Leon Tuazon — in collaboration with the city's Department of Engineering and

Public Works (DEPW), features a 25 x 2.8-meter mural that showcases the

culture and history of the city as well as serving as a tribute to COVID-19

pandemic.

The Manila Public Information Office said that “the mural and the bas-relief

artwork was created in collaboration with the National Commission for

Culture and the Arts and NCCA Gerilya artists inspired from the works of

famed artist Botong Francisco.”

The signs were also written in Baybayin, a pre-Spanish script used in Luzon

and other parts of the Philippines before it was replaced by the Latin or

Roman alphabet.

The underpass will now have 24/7 security, composed of designated security

personnel and CCTV cameras connected to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management Office command center.

TRIBE LEADER SLAIN

NORTH COTABATO — Unidentified assailants shot dead a female leader of the

Manobo tribe in the hinterlands of Magpet town in this province on Sunday.

Bae Milda Ansabo of Barangay Mahongkog died at the scene.

Ansabo was active in promoting programs protecting ancestral lands from

outsiders and capitalists.

The assailants first shot the victim, slashed her throat and removed her

eyes, probers said.

North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco has offered a reward for the arrest of the

suspects in the murder of a female Manobo tribal leader last Sunday.

Catamco, also a member of North CotabatoÂ’s indigenous community, is

chairperson of the provincial peace and order council.

She announced Tuesday that she is ready to give out cash incentives to

informants who can help the police identify the killers of tribeswoman Bae

Merlin Ansabo Celis of Magpet town in North Cotabato.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

LUIS MANZANO RECALLS CHILDHOOD WHILE HAVING A SUPERSTAR MOM

MANILA – Luis Manzano had no second thoughts about the woman he wants to

have a dinner date with if itÂ’s not with his girlfriend Jessy Mendiola.

According to Manzano, it will definitely be with his mom Vilma Santos

because having a “normal life” with her when he was younger was quite a

luxury for their family.

“From my heart, mommy ko. Seryoso. Kasi 'yun 'yung ibang bagay na hindi

namin nagawa ng ermat ko, have something na parang quality time. Kasi alam

ng lahat na 'yung mommy ko is a superstar. So marami kaming hindi nagawa na

bagay,” he said in Mendiola’s latest vlog.

“'Yung isang beses nga nag-grocery kami ni mommy. Ito ‘yung attempt ni Mommy

na bigyan ako ng isang normal life. Nung bata ako, dinala niya ako sa

grocery. Siguro mga six ako nito or seven years old para ma-experience na

'yung mommy kasama 'yung anak, ‘di ba grocery?” he said.

“Pagtapak pa lang namin, siguro mga tatlong tapak pa lang, parang mall show.

Hindi na kami naka-forward. Pagpasok pa lang sa grocery, nakilala nila mommy

ko. Tapos diretso dinala ako ni mommy sa kotse tapos uwi na kami. So

basically wala kami nagawa,” he said.

It is for this reason that he wants to spend any quiet time he can with his

mom.

“So may mga bagay kaming hindi nagawa. ‘Yung maglakad-lakad sa mall kasama

ang magulang? Wala kaming ganun. So isang quiet night siguro with my mom and

Ryan,” Manzano said.

SPORTS

NBA Scores Aug 24

FINAL                        TNT

    1    2    3    4    T

1 Lakers 3-1    43    37    32    23    135

8 Trail Blazers 1-3    25    26    36    28    115

GAME UNDEFINED: LAL LEADS 3-1

SCORING LEADERS

    L. James LAL

30 PTS, 6 REB, 10 AST

    J. Nurkic POR

20 PTS, 13 REB, 4 AST

FINAL                        NBAT

    1    2    3    4    T

1 Bucks 3-1    22    36    26    37    121

8 Magic 1-3    18    34    29    25    106

GAME 4: MIL LEADS 3-1

SCORING LEADERS

    G. Antetokounmpo MIL

31 PTS, 15 REB, 8 AST

    N. Vucevic ORL

31 PTS, 11 REB, 7 AST

FINAL                        TNT

    1    2    3    4    T

4 Rockets 2-2    37    23    33    21    114

5 Thunder 2-2    35    25    32    25    117

GAME 4: SERIES TIED 2-2

SCORING LEADERS

    J. Harden HOU

32 PTS, 8 REB, 15 AST

    D. Schroder OKC

30 PTS, 1 REB, 3 AST

FINAL                        TNT

    1    2    3    4    T

4 Pacers 0-4    22    20    20    25    87

5 Heat 4-0    21    27    22    29    99

GAME 4: MIA WINS 4-0

SCORING LEADERS

    V. Oladipo IND

25 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST

    G. Dragic MIA

23 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.62

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy. - Ralph Waldo

Emerson