PHILIPPINES WON'T CEASE SPRATLY PATROLS DESPITE CHINA CALL VS

'PROVOCATIONS': DFA

MANILA -- The Philippines will sustain its patrol of the Spratly islands

despite China's call for Manila to stop "illegal provocations" in sending

military aircraft near the area, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr

said Wednesday.

"WeÂ’re gonna continue our patrol because itÂ’s ours," he told ANC. "ThatÂ’s

all there is to it."

Beijing is "free to say" what it wants over the issue, Locsin said.

"They can call it illegal provocations, you canÂ’t change their minds. They

already lost the arbitral award, they wouldnÂ’t accept it. But if that is

their choice, itÂ’s a free world. I wouldnÂ’t stop anyone from talking," he

added.

China's latest remarks came after Manila filed a diplomatic protest over the

Chinese Coast Guard's confiscation of Filipino fishermen's devices in the

West Philippine Sea.

Chinese Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Li Jian said the Chinese Coast

Guard merely acted "in accordance to the law."

DUTERTE MULLS MARTIAL LAW IN SULU AFTER DEADLY BLASTS: PALACE

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte will consider the military and national

police's recommendation to declare martial law in the southern province of

Sulu, following a double bombing that killed at least 14 people and injured

dozens, Malacañang said Wednesday.

“The recommendations have been made, and he listens to those on the ground,”

Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque told CNN Philippines.

“Although the recommendation has been made, the President has to be very

careful that it will pass the scrutiny of both the legislative and judicial

branches of government,” he added.

Authorities initially said a female bomber on Monday blew herself up while

authorities cordoned off the town plaza of Jolo after a homemade bomb

strapped to a motorcycle exploded.

The Bangsamoro police later said both blasts could have been carried out by

suicide bombers.

Reacting to criticism over Duterte's failure to mention the blasts in a late

Monday speech, Roque said the President held a command conference with

military and police leaders, and could have issued a directive there.

The government will recognize the heroism of the state troops killed in the

attack and give aid to their families, he said.

MARTIAL LAW PROPOSAL IN SULU GETS PNP BACKING

MANILA - The Philippine National Police is backing the proposal of the

Philippine Army to impose martial law in Sulu following twin blasts that

left at least 15 dead.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana earlier said it was "high-time" for

Sulu to be placed under military rule again. Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan has

opposed the recommendation.

The PNP said martial law would give security forces "flexibility in

maintaining law and order in the province."

"There will be a significant difference of course because we would be able

to implement stricter peace and order measures and this is not just about

quarantine measures but more on security and we would need of course the

cooperation of the civilian authorities," PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard

Banac told ANC.

"All these are just proposals and recommendations. This would still be up to

civilian authorities. But in so far as security forces is concerned, we

think it would be best if we bring back the imposition of martial law in

that part of Western Mindanao."

Imposing martial rule will also enhance the implementation of the

anti-terror law, which does not yet have a published implementing rules and

regulations, Banac said.

"In the absence of the IRR, we think imposing martial law would help a lot

in maintaining peace and order and of course respond to the threats of

terrorism," he said.

"We are one with AFP in implementing a lockdown in entire Jolo so even at

this point we can prevent movement and assist in the investigation of the

incident. We are tightening the security in and around Jolo."

The PNP will send teams from its crime laboratory and bomb data center to

help with investigation, he added.

ALL COVID-19 FUNDS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR – DUTERTE

MANILA — President Duterte vowed yesterday to look into possible anomalies

in the use of around P376 billion intended for addressing the coronavirus

disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a recorded address from Davao City aired yesterday morning, the President

directed National Task Force for COVID-19 head Defense Secretary Delfin

Lorenzana “to properly report on how all the funds were spent and their

intended purpose.”

“Allow us time to do our thing, spend the money, and there will always be a

time for reckoning and that will be the time when we account for the money

that we have used in the fight against COVID,” he said.

“I will hold myself responsible for this sole and solemn duty of answering

for and in behalf of the executive department of all the funds that were

spent in the fight against COVID,” Duterte said.

The 75-year old leader again assured the nation that government funds are

used wisely and properly following the CongressÂ’ approval of the Bayanihan 2

Act, which extended the PresidentÂ’s power to realign the budget to COVID-19

response.

PHILHEALTH CHIEF MORALES HEEDS DUTERTE CALL TO RESIGN

MANILA — The head of state medical insurer PhilHealth, which is battling

allegations of corruption and mismanagement, said Wednesday he would heed

President Rodrigo DuterteÂ’s call to leave his post.

Duterte had asked PhilHealth CEO and President Ricardo Morales to step down

due to his medical condition, the justice department earlier said.

Morales said he would submit his resignation to Executive Secretary Salvador

Medialdea on Wednesday morning.

“Nagpapasalamat na rin ako sa Pangulo na pinayagan niya akong magpahinga.

Maaatupag ko na iyong aking kalusugan at iyong aking pamilya,” he told

ABS-CBNÂ’s TeleRadyo.

Morales, a former military general, earlier this month sent a medical

certificate signed by his attending oncologist disclosing that he was

undergoing cancer treatment.

Whistleblowers in a Senate inquiry this month had accused Morales of

repeatedly approving allegedly overpriced projects and the release of funds

to supposedly favored hospitals. A purported “mafia” in PhilHealth also

pocketed P15 billion in public funds, witnesses claimed.

Morales, who has denied that a mafia is embedded in his agency, told

TeleRadyo has signed a waiver to open up his bank records and agreed to a

lifestyle check.

PhilHealth submits to Congress a weekly report and receipts of its interim

reimbursement mechanism (IRM) or financial aid to medical facilities, he

said.

“I am confident there is not an iota of evidence,” Morales said. “I am

confident that a thorough and fair investigation will clear us out.”

The PhilHealth chief said he was also ready to face any criminal or

administrative case. “Occupational hazard iyan e,” he said.

Morales said he would go “back to anonymity” after his resignation.

Duterte’s request for Morales to step down “doesn't do justice to millions

of Filipinos who were robbed of funds amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” said

womenÂ’s party-list Gabriela.

“His call for Morales' resignation is in fact based on the latter's medical

condition, and not based on the widespread corruption in the agency which

was unmasked in the Senate and House hearings,” the group said in a

statement.

Duterte “cannot wash his hands clean over the Philhealth mess” because he

signed the Universal Healthcare Law that gave the agency more funds. He also

“blessed the rollout of the P30-billion” IRM, said the party-list.

POLICE COMMANDERS TOLD: MAXIMIZE SECURITY MEASURES FOR COVID-19

MANILA — Police commanders especially in Metro Manila and other

highly-urbanized cities to maximize the implementation of the existing

quarantine security protocols to prevent the "spillover of attacks" in the

aftermath of the twin bombings in Sulu, the quarantine enforcement task

force said.

Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the Joint Task Force COVID

Shield, said in a statement that quarantine control points at the city and

provincial borders are already a part of the target hardening measures with

policemen manning the checkpoints mandated to check all passing vehicles.

Eleazar said that the existing protocols, which were implemented to contain

the movement of the people, could be used to lessen or deny terror groups

the opportunity to carry out terror attacks in other areas.

DUTERTE NOW WANTS TO BE LAST TO GET COVID-19 VACCINE

MANILA — Weeks after volunteering to be the first to try out Russia’s

coronavirus vaccine, President Duterte now says he is willing to be the last

to be inoculated to ensure that the poor will be prioritized.

Duterte said he wants low-income households who are beneficiaries of the

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino cash transfer program to be the first to access

the vaccine.

The next ones to be innoculated are poor people who are not in the list of

Pantawid beneficiaries because they have no fixed address, he added.

The military and the police, Duterte said, would also be prioritized because

they are safeguarding the nation.

“At iyong mga taga-gobyerno, kung gusto ninyo, ako ang mauna para magkaroon

kayo ng kumpiyansa (With regard to the people in government, if you want, I

can be the first so you will have confidence) or I can be the last Filipino

to get. Unahin kayong lahat, magpahuli kami (I will prioritize you all and

we will be the last),” the President said during a meeting of the pandemic

task force last Monday in Davao City.

“For sure, the poor will not be left out under this government,” he added.

Duterte expressed hope that the vaccines being developed by other countries

would be available soon.

DOC SAYS DUTERTE ILLNESS NEARING STAGE ONE CANCER

MANILA — More than a week after rumors circulated that he is sick, President

Duterte disclosed yesterday that his doctor advised him to stop drinking as

his BarrettÂ’s esophagus is nearing stage one cancer.

The United StatesÂ’ National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney

Diseases defines BarrettÂ’s esophagus as a condition wherein the tissues

lining the esophagus are replaced with or have turned into tissues similar

to the lining of the intestine.

People with BarrettÂ’s esophagus are more likely to develop a rare type of

cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma, according to the institute.

In a taped address aired yesterday, Duterte said he and other officials

would not allow corruption because they are about to retire from the

service.

He said accumulating huge sums is useless if one is no longer allowed to eat

all kinds of food due to health reasons.

THE REST

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DOH ADVISES RECOVERED COVID-19 PATIENTS TO REMAIN CAUTIOUS

MANILA — The Department of Health advised the public, especially recovered

coronavirus patients, to stay alert and continue practicing necessary

precautions to avoid contracting the respiratory illness.

The DOH issued this advisory Tuesday night after researchers in Hong Kong

identified what they said was the first confirmed case of COVID-19

reinfection worldwide.

Researchers in Hong Kong University found that a 33-year old man who had

contracted and recovered from the disease got infected with coronavirus

again.

The DOH said “no evidence-based evaluation” can be done until findings of

the study are published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

“Moreover, data on post-infection immunity are also lacking, according to

the World Health Organization,” the department said, adding it is closely

monitoring the matter and is ready to act on it once reliable information is

available.

AFTER FRANCHISE DENIAL, ABS-CBN HIT BY ANOTHER SETBACK

MANILA — Another sad news reached Filipinos recently after the ABS-CBN

Tulong Center announced its closure this month after providing free legal

and medical assistance to thousands of Filipinos for many years.

In an official statement posted on its Facebook page, the unit under ABS-CBN

Integrated Public Service said that it is unable to continue its services

after ABS-CBN was not given a new franchise.

“Nais po sana naming patuloy na makapaglingkod sa inyo, subalit

ikinalulungkot po naming ipaalam na dahil sa hindi pagkakaloob ng prangkisa

sa ABS-CBN, ang aming Tulong Center, kabilang ang aming online na serbisyo,

ay tuluyan nang magsasara simula August 1, 2020,” it said.

The nonrenewal of the franchise has weighed down on some of ABS-CBNÂ’s public

service efforts like its Tulong Center, which has beneficiaries like

children and adults seeking medical treatment, parents and workers asking

for legal advice, and even overseas Filipino worker in need of rescue from

her abusive employer in the Middle East.

Founded in 2014, the Tulong Center provided free legal and medical

assistance to almost 55,000 Filipinos, who sought help through phone,

online, or by visiting its office inside the ABS-CBN Compound in Quezon

City.

MANILA WATER 'PERMANENTLY CLOSING' BOTTLED WATER BUSINESS UNIT

MANILA - Manila Water Co Inc said Wednesday it would shut its purified water

Healthy Family Business unit effective end-October this year due to losses

and inability to sustain business operations.

Launched in 2015, Healthy Family is a brand of purified drinking water under

its Manila Water Total Solutions Corp.

Manila Water Total Solutions Corp, meanwhile, is engaged in consultancy and

related services for the implementation of water and used water

network-related projects.

"Due to recurring losses and inability to financially sustain business

operations, Manila Water Total Solutions Corp. (MWTS), a wholly owned

subsidiary of Manila Water, will be permanently closing its Healthy Family

Business Division effective Oct. 31, 2020," Manila Water told the stock

exchange.

ARCHBISHOP OSCAR CRUZ PASSES AWAY 'DUE TO LINGERING ILLNESS'

MANILA - The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) announced

the passing of Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop emeritus Oscar V. Cruz on

Wednesday.

“Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan died today at 6:45 a.m.

at the Cardinal Santo Hospital due to a lingering illness,” CBCP News said

in a tweet.

Born November 17, 1934 in Balanga, Bataan, Cruz received his seminary

training at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary, and further

theology studies at the Lateran University.

He was the first Filipino rector of San Carlos Seminary of the Archdiocese

of Manila from 1973 to 1978 and was an auxiliary bishop of Manila from

1976–1978 and archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Fernando from 1978–1988.

He was appointed Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan on July 15, 1991 and was the

head of the CBCP before retiring in 2009.

Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes extended his condolences to the family

and colleagues of the late archbishop

"I had known him when we worked together in many campaigns during the Arroyo

regime. We were together in the fight vs election fraud, against the

killings of activist and in the broad united front," he said in a statement.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES SET

MANILA — Unlike most of the local and international beauty pageants that

have either been cancelled or postponed to next year due to the pandemic,

the first Miss Universe-Philippines will be held this year with 50

candidates competing, but a date has not yet been set.

“We will have safety protocols in place,” Jonas Gaffud, member of the team

behind the pageant (with former Miss Universe runner-up Shamcey Supsup),

told The STAR. “Venues will be secured to ensure only essential people are

present. We will not allow visitors. There will be a health officer also to

ensure compliance. All pageant segments will be retained.”

The judges will also be subject to swab tests and be isolated pending

results. Reigning Miss Universe-Philippines Gazini Ganados will be invited

to crown her successor but her participation is subject to approval of the

Bb. Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BBPCI), the previous franchise holder that

staged its last pageant for Miss Universe bet last year.

Added Gaffud, “The changes we already foresee are – pageants can be more

forward thinking and not only for photo ops, we have a clear guide on how to

help more people and make it relevant. We aim for more substance for better

impact.”

Asked if the Miss Universe pageant would also be held, Gaffud said, “We have

to wait for the announcement of the Miss Universe Organization.”

SPORTS

MESSI TELLS BARCELONA HE WANTS TO LEAVE

MADRID, Spain — Lionel Messi has informed Barcelona he wants to

"unilaterally" terminate his contract with the Spanish giants after a

calamitous end to the season, a club source confirmed to AFP on Tuesday.

Lawyers for the Argentina star sent Barcelona a fax in which they announced

Messi's desire to rescind his contract by triggering a release clause,

sending shockwaves throughout the world of football.

Barcelona have yet to officially react but are understood to believe the

clause expired in June and that he remains under contract until the end of

the 2021 season.

"In principal, this clause expired on June 10, but the unusual nature of

this season disrupted by the coronavirus opened the way for Messi to ask to

be released from his contract now," wrote Spanish sports daily Marca.

"It's the first step towards opening negotiations over his departure, on the

basis of which his release clause amounts to 700 million euros ($828

million)."

Messi joined Barcelona's youth academy at the age of 13 and made his debut

in 2004 as a 17-year-old.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner is the club's record scorer with 634 goals

and has won the Champions League four times.

But his future at Barca was thrown into serious doubt following a

humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals

in Lisbon 11 days ago.

It marked the first time Barca had conceded eight goals in a game since

losing to Sevilla 8-0 in the 1946 Spanish Cup.

The humbling defeat sparked drastic changes within the club. Coach Quique

Setien was sacked after barely six months in charge while sporting director

Eric Abidal was also dismissed after Barca's first season without a trophy

since 2007.

Argentine sports daily Ole described Messi's wish to leave as a "complete

bombshell", but he has had regular disagreements with the club's board in

recent times.

NBA SCORES AUG 25

FINAL                        TNT

    1    2    3    4    T

7 Mavericks 2-3    22    30    34    25    111

2 Clippers 3-2    41    35    35    43    154

GAME 5: LAC LEADS 3-2

SCORING LEADERS

    L. Doncic DAL

22 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST

    P. George LAC

35 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST

FINAL                        TNT

    1    2    3    4    T

6 Jazz 3-2    32    31    23    21    107

3 Nuggets 2-3    33    21    28    35    117

GAME 5: UTA LEADS 3-2

Highlights: Jazz vs. Nuggets

2:42

SCORING LEADERS

    D. Mitchell UTA

30 PTS, 2 REB, 5 AST

    J. Murray DEN

42 PTS, 8 REB, 8 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.50

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised

by change. - Thomas Hardy