PALACE, PNP: NO ARREST IF JOMA SISON COMES TO PHILIPPINES FOR MEETING WITH DUTERTE MANILA — The Malacañang on Friday said Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison will not be arrested if he comes to the country for a one-on-one meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte. “We dare Mr. Sison to come to the Philippines for a one-on-one meeting with the president to forge a lasting peace agreement,” the Palace said. “[Duterte] guarantees that he will not be arrested upon his arrival and after the meeting he can freely leave for Netherlands when he so desires,” it added. On Thursday, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing that Duterte wants Sison to discuss peace talks. “The president did not state any condition. He just said, ‘I want to talk to him one-on-one here,’” Panelo said Duterte told him last Tuesday. “He should take it or leave it – that’s the stand of the president.” But Sison told GMA news online that he is “willing to meet with President Duterte in a country near the Philippines.” Sison, who has been on self-exile in the Netherlands since 1987, said it would be “premature” for him to go to the country pending the mutual approval of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms. Panelo added that Sison’s refusal to talk with Duterte, his former student, “betrays his insincerity.” Sison was once Duterte’s college professor and the president claims he was once a member of Kabataang Makabayan, a now-underground youth movement Sison founded in 1964. PNP to abide by Palace directive Sison is facing an arrest warrant, issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32 last September, for 15 counts of murder in connection with the so-called 1985 Inopacan massacre. The Philippine National Police said September that it will seek the help of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for Sison’s arrest. Following the Palace's latest order, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman, told Philstar.com in a text message that the police will "abide by, and support the decision of the president." He added: "Pursuant to this, we will make the necessary coordination with the DOJ for the proper guidance to work out [Sison's] immunity from arrest in case he accepts the offer of the president and decides to return to the country." 'NO MORE PROBLEM' WITH HOLIDAY TRUCE, SAYS JOMA SISON MANILA -- Exiled communist leader Jose Ma. Sison said Friday there was "no more problem" with continuing with a Christmas ceasefire with government forces, since the rebels' declaration was reciprocated. Sison said government negotiators presented their own ceasefire order in response to the truce declaration from the National Democratic Front Panel. "At this point in time, there is no more problem about continuing the CPP ceasefire order to the NPA," Sison said on Facebook, referring to the New People's Army. "The best thing to do is cool down and proceed with the reciprocal ceasefires and let them generate goodwill and confidence in preparation for the resumption of the peace negotiations," he said. Before Sison's Facebook post, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo dared him to cancel the rebels' unilateral ceasefire with the government. "Sison and his comrades can proceed with the cancellation of the ceasefire and the President will oblige them," Panelo said. "In the first place, they have violated their own declared unilateral ceasefire. So there is not even logic in their threat," he added. Panelo was referring to separate attacks in Camarines Sur and in Iloilo on Monday that left one soldier dead and 8 other security forces wounded despite an ongoing holiday truce. The government's peace panel and the NDFP earlier agreed to a nationwide "unilateral and reciprocal" ceasefire from Dec. 23 up to Jan. 7 after President Rodrigo Duterte hinted at a possible reopening of peace negotiations. US STATE DEPARTMENT HAS PROCESS TO FOLLOW IN BAN ON DE LIMA'S JAILERS — PANELO MANILA — There is a process for the US State Department to determine who is covered by a provision in the US budget for 2020 that bars people behind the "wrongful" detention of Sen. Leila de Lima from entering the United States, the Palace said Thursday. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the US State Department will only act when it has "credible information" that a person was involved in De Lima's continued detention, adding that US Ambassador Sung Kim agreed with him. "You have to follow the process. There is a process where before the US State Secretary can ban any person, which of course is a right on the part of the sovereign state, it has to determine whether the information relative to a person being banned is credible or not," he said. "I don’t know if I’m at liberty to tell what he made an off-remark statement and he said, 'I read your statement, it’s a very good statement, I agree with it. It’s Congress that passed that law," Panelo, who also quotes conversations and text exchanges with then-Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua, said. The Palace spokesman, who is also chief presidential legal counsel, added the ban should not apply to him: "Like me for instance, what in heaven’s name can I be part of the detention of this woman? I’m not even part of the prosecution." PHILIPPINES RESTORES FLIGHTS, POWER AS URSULA DEATH TOLL CLIMBS MANILA -- Philippine authorities on Friday moved to restore power to millions and normalize air traffic in the wake of a typhoon that tore through the central islands on Christmas Day, as the death toll climbed to 28. The country's largest airline, Cebu Pacific, said it was mounting recovery flights to assist those whose bookings were canceled this week. Typhoon Ursula (Phanfone) tracked a path similar to Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, damaging the Kalibo Airport that serves Boracay Island. Iloilo accounted for 13 out of 28 fatalities, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The storm injured 2 others, while 12 others remained missing, it added. Ursula forced 43,850 people to evacuation centers, damaged around 2,000 houses and 55 schools, and knocked down power in almost 150 towns, the NDRRMC reported. It may take 10-15 days before power is restored in Occidental Mindoro with the help of electric cooperatives from neighboring provinces, said Governor Eduardo Gadiano. "Talagang napakarami kasing natumbang poste; kahit na bakal, bali iyong mga poste (many electric posts fell, even the metal ones)," he told radio DZMM. Ursula could also prompt the provincial government to declare a state of calamity for a third time this year as emergency funds ran low, he said. In Iloilo, it could take 5 days or until New Year's Day before power is restored in 4 northern towns, Governor Arthur Defensor told radio DZMM. Two Iloilo towns declared a state of calamity, he said. A magnitude 4.8 quake on Thursday night rattled Iloilo province and nearby areas. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, he said. Ursula hit Boracay, Coron and other holiday destinations that are famed for their white-sand beaches and popular with foreign tourists. "Roads remain blocked, but some efforts have been made to clear away the damage. It's pretty bad," said Jung Byung-joon, a Korean tourist at Kalibo airport. POPE FRANCIS PRAYS FOR VICTIMS OF TYPHOON URSULA IN PHILIPPINES Pope Francis on Thursday prayed for the Philippines after a typhoon struck the country over Christmas, killing at least 21 people. "I join in the pain that affected the dear people of the Philippines because of the typhoon Phanfone," Francis said. The pontiff then asked the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square for his weekly Angelus prayer to join him in a prayer for the Philippines. Typhoon Phanfone (Ursula) hit the Philippines late on Tuesday (December 24) with winds of up to 120 kph (75 mph) and gusts of 150 kph, heavy rain and flooding. More than 58,000 people were evacuated from their homes before the storm, which caused widespread property damage, and more than 15,000 were stranded at ports when ferries were suspended. Scores of flights were cancelled. The fatalities were in the central provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and Leyte, including a 13-year-old boy who was electrocuted, a man killed by a tree branch and another killed in a car accident, the disaster agency said. The typhoon left the Philippines on Wednesday (December 25) night and was out over the South China Sea, moving west. DUTERTE DISTRIBUTES LAND TITLES TO BARMM FARMERS MANILA — President Duterte recently led the distribution of certificates of land ownership awards (CLOAs) to 793 agrarian reform beneficiaries in Basilan, Maguindanao and Tawi-Tawi. Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones said the CLOAs cover 1,742 hectares of agricultural land. “Take care of your land. Huwag ninyo ipagbili,” the President said in his speech during the awarding ceremony at the Shariff Kabunsuran Cultural Complex in Cotabato City on Monday. The land distribution is the first under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform of the newly created Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). CLOAs covering 238.9 hectares under the Department of Agrarian Reform’s post-land distribution program were also turned over to 93 beneficiaries at the same event. Agrarian cooperatives in the BARMM were also provided farm machineries and crop seedlings as part of the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support program of the Department of Agrarian Reform. ATHLETES ASSURED LAW-MANDATED DISCOUNTS TO BE FULLY APPLIED EARLY 2020 The Philippine Sports Commission on Monday said it is working to make sure deserving national athletes and coaches can avail of discounts mandated by law. Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez said the sports body wants Republic Act 10699, or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, to be fully implemented as soon as possible. “We know this is long overdue but rest assured we are doing what we can, coordinating with the concerned government agencies to effect the full implementation," Ramirez said in a statement. "We hope for the full implementation by first quarter of 2020 so our athletes could swiftly avail of the benefits.” On Saturday, Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Agatha Wong took to Twitter to call for the strict application of RA 10699. The discount, pegged at 20 percent, applies in all transportation services, hotels, restaurants, recreation centers and purchase of medicines and sports equipment throughout the Philippines. Ramirez said the PSC has been coordinating with the Bureau of Internal Revenue since February for the implementation of the law. "We are now just awaiting the issuance of a Revenue Regulation by the BIR on the final implementation of RA 10699 Sec. 4 and 5," he said. P170,000 ‘SHABU’ NASABAT SA CALOOCAN; 4 TIKLO MAYNILA -- Arestado ang mag-asawa at 2 pang lalaki matapos mahulihan ng hinihinalang droga sa Barangay 179, Caloocan. Nasamsam sa mga suspek ang 8 sachet ng hinihinalang shabu na may bigat na 25 gramo at nagkakahalaga ng P170,000. Mga suplayer umano ng droga sa north Caloocan ang mga suspek, ayon kay Police Capt. Ramon Aquiatan Jr. Mahaharap ang mga suspek sa kasong paglabag sa Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. P11 MINIMUM NA PASAHE SA JEEP IHIHIRIT SA ENERO Hihirit ang ilang transport group sa Enero na itaas sa P11 mula sa P9 ang minimum na pamasahe ng jeepney para sa unang 4 na kilometro, sinabi ng 2 sa kanilang lider, Biyernes. Tataas ng P1.50 kada litro ang presyo ng krudo sa Enero 1 dahil sa tax reform law, katwiran ni Pasang Masda president Obet Martin. Ang naturang taas-presyo ay "masyadong mabigat na po bulsa ng tsuper" na kumikita lang ng P400 hanggang P600 para sa 14 hanggang 16 oras na pagpasada, aniya sa panayam ng DZMM. "Kung puwedeng magpasensiya, kung puwedeng magtiis sa kaunting-kaunting kinikita, may maiuwi lamang, nagtitiis kami. Pero itong klaseng ito, hindi na po kaya," dagdag ni Fejodap president Zeny Maranan. Maaari rin aniyang tumaas sa P12 ang hirit nilang minimum fare kung papalo sa P49 ang kada litro ng diesel. Nangako naman si Maranan na hindi magsasagawa ng transport strike ang kanilang mga grupo sakaling mabinbin ang pagpasa sa taas-pasahe. "Papahirapan na nga sa taas ng pasahe, pahihirapan pa ba natin sila sa kanilang pagsakay ng jeep patungo sa kanilang hanapbuhay," aniya sa hiwalay na panayam ng DZMM. FAIR WEATHER EXPECTED ON NEW YEAR AFTER DEADLY CHRISTMAS STORM: PAGASA Filipinos will likely welcome the New Year next week with fair weather, state weather bureau PAGASA said Friday, in the wake of a Christmas Day typhoon that left at least 28 dead and sent tens of thousands into evacuation centers on Christmas Day. Typhoon Ursula was 335 kilometers west of Zambales at 4 a.m. and no longer had any direct effect on the country. It is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday, said PAGASA weather forecaster Ezra Bulquerin. On New Year's Eve, Tuesday, the country can expect fair weather with spots of light rain in the afternoon or evening, he told radio DZMM. The Ilocos, Cordillera, and Cagayan Valley regions and Aurora province on Friday will experience cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms, he said. Metro Manila and the rest of the country meanwhile can expect fair weather with isolated rains in the afternoon or evening, he added. LIZA SOBERANO SPENDS CHRISTMAS IN NEW HOUSE IN US WITH FAMILY, ENRIQUE GIL MANILA -- Liza Soberano finally got to spend Christmas in her new house in the United States. The actress can be seen celebrating with her family and her boyfriend, Enrique Gil, in photos shared on Instagram on Thursday (Manila time). "First Christmas in our new home. Finally have a place to call my own back in the USA. Couldn’t have done it without ABS-CBN and all the brands that have given me their complete trust," Soberano said in an Instagram post. "To all of my LizQuen and Liza supporters out there, thank you for the unconditional love. Last but not least, thank you, Papa God. You have provided a home for me and the people most dearest to my heart. I will forever give you thanks and praise," she added. In a previous interview, Soberano said she will celebrate the holidays with her family and Gil. The couple will star in the upcoming ABS-CBN series "Make It With You." ION PEREZ SHOWS TATTOO DEDICATED TO VICE GANDA MANILA — In a sweet moment during the live episode of “It’s Showtime” on Thursday, Ion Perez confirmed that a date which he recently had tattooed on his leg is dedicated to his partner and co-host Vice Ganda. The topic came up during the “BiyaHero” segment of the noontime program, when a contestant’s tattoos on his arm caught the attention of the hosts. Vhong Navarro asked Vice Ganda and then Perez how many tattoos they have each. The former did not give a serious answer, while the latter counted nine. Asked which tattoo he considers most special, Perez showed the latest one he got: three dates on a ribbon that goes around his left leg. Written in digits, the dates are: August 4, 1947; February 3, 1952; and March 31, 1976. “Si Tatay, si Nanay, tapos ikaw,” Perez told Vice Ganda. “Lahat ng special sa buhay ko, iyong tatlong iyon, kaya pinalagay ko,” Perez added, when asked by Jhong Hilario why he had those dates inked. Perez and Vice Ganda have become increasingly open about their relationship, after the comedian confirmed in November that they have been officially together for a year. Perez, in particular, has been vocal about his affection for Vice Ganda, saying numerous times that he hopes the relationship will last. PBA: BLACK, UMAASANG TATAPUSIN NA NG MERALCO ANG FINALS JINX KONTRA GINEBRA Sabik na si Meralco coach Norman Black sa panibagong salpukan nila ng Barangay Ginebra sa 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup finals. Dalawang beses nang natalo ang Meralco sa Governors’ Cup finals kontra Justin Brownlee at Ginebra — 2016 at 2017. “We all feel like we have some unfinished business. We've already had two rounds with Ginebra and we've lost both,” ani Black sa artikulong ipinost sa ABS-CBN Sports. “We're looking forward to the third round because we wanna change things around and come out the victors this time. That's gonna be our focus now.” Uhaw sa kampeonato ang parehong koponan: ito ang unang title series ng Ginebra ngayong taon, samantalang pinapangarap ng Meralco na makuha ang una nilang PBA title. “Our goal is to win a championship. We have a lot of respect for Ginebra and Tim Cone. Tim is a top coach in the league, but our goal is to win. Simple as that,” ani Black. “It doesn't matter who we're playing against. Our goal is to win a championship. We've already lost two. We only have one goal.” Enero 7, Martes, sa Araneta Coliseum ang Game 1 ng 2019 Governors’ Cup finals. FROM SEA GAMES 2019 TO TOKYO OLYMPICS 2020 After reigning supreme in this month’s Southeast Asian Games, the Philippines wants to parlay its success there with a victory that has eluded it for nearly a century. The country looks to win their first Olympic gold medal in the Tokyo Games next year, and the national contingent is capable of accomplishing that based on the performance of gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole-vaulter EJ Obiena. So far, the Philippines, which joined the Olympic program in 1924, has 3 silver and 7 bronze medals, the last podium finish courtesy of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in 2016. According to the Olympics Reference website, only two countries that exist until today have had a longer gold-medal drought — Haiti (1900) and Monaco (1920). It’s rare to tout a Filipino athlete’s gold chances in the buildup to the Olympics, but thanks to world champion Yulo and top-class talent Obiena there’s excitement over breaking a drought spanning 22 Olympic Games. Given the proper government support and the presence of elite coaching, which both Yulo and Obiena enjoy, that could become a reality. NBA SCORES DEC 25 NOTE: No games were played on 24th FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Celtics 21-7    28    27    33    30    118 team logo Raptors 21-10    19    28    22    33    102 SCORING LEADERS     J. Brown BOS 30 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST     F. VanVleet TOR 27 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Bucks 27-5    30    18    25    36    109 team logo 76ers 23-10    38    31    31    21    121 SCORING LEADERSK. Middleton MIL 31 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST J. Embiid PHI 31 PTS, 11 REB, 3 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Rockets 21-10    29    39    19    17    104 team logo Warriors 8-24    28    36    28    24    116 SCORING LEADERSR. Westbrook HOU 30 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST D. Lee GS 22 PTS, 15 REB, 4 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Clippers 23-10    31    20    35    25    111 team logo Lakers 24-7    33    30    23    20    106 SCORING LEADERSK. Leonard LAC 35 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST K. Kuzma LAL 25 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Pelicans 9-23    29    29    26    28    112 team logo Nuggets 21-9    26    29    25    20    100 SCORING LEADERSB. Ingram NO 31 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST N. Jokic DEN 23 PTS, 10 REB, 4 AST