PHILIPPINES WONÂ’T STOP PROJECTS OF BLACKLISTED CHINA FIRMS

MANILA— Apart from the Philippines being an independent nation, President

Duterte will not follow the United StatesÂ’ lead in cutting ties with Chinese

firms involved in reclamation activities in the South China Sea because the

country needs investors from China.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr admitted outright that the Philippines

values China as one of its investors, which is why the government is

pursuing the joint agreement with China Communication Construction Co. Ltd.

despite the US move.

“The President declared last night that the Americans can enforce the

blacklisting of Chinese companies within their territories in the United

States and areas where they maintain military bases which are under their

jurisdiction,” Roque said.

“The President is clear, he will not aide with the directive of the

Americans because we are a free and independent country and we need

investors coming from China,” he added.

“We need the investments from China,” Roque said. “So, Sangley and all

other projects, no matter which Chinese contractor they are, all will

proceed because we are looking at our national interest to ensure that the

flagship projects under Build, Build, Build would materialized.”

REVGOV PUSHED BY DUTERTE SUPPORTERS IS DICTATORSHIP, SAYS GORDON

MANILA — The revolutionary government that supporters of President Rodrigo

Duterte are pushing equates to “dictatorship”, a senator said Wednesday.

This set-up will allow the government to “remove anybody… incarcerate

anybody” by decree, said Sen. Richard Gordon.

“Revolutionary government is dictatorship, plain and simple. Kawawa ang tao

d’yan (the people will suffer there),” he told ANC.

“That’s not going to be good for our country and we will lose the respect of

the world. Our economy will go down, just as it did during the time of Mr.

[Ferdinand] Marcos,” he added.

“It should not even be discussed. We have so many problems,” said Gordon,

adding that he and “a lot” of his colleagues were “squarely against” the

proposal.

“Revolutionary government, talagang takot ako d’yan. You cannot rule by

decree. Even now, somebody has to tell the emperor heÂ’s wearing no clothes.

Under a revolutionary government, wala,” he said.

A revolutionary government will pave the way for a shift to federalism, the

group Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee

had said.

"Palusot lang nila iyan (that's just an excuse)," said Gordon. "Let the

people decide on federalism in a plebiscite. You don't need a revolutionary

government for that."

SENATE RECOMMENDS FILING OF MALVERSATION, GRAFT CHARGES VS DUQUE, PHILHEALTH

OFFICIALS

MANILA - The Senate Committee of the Whole on Tuesday recommended the filing

of criminal charges against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and several

former and incumbent officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp

(PhilHealth) over alleged anomalies at the state health insurer.

Duque, resigned PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales, and other executive

officers of the insurance agency should be charged with malversation and

graft for the "improper and illegal implementation" of the interim

reimbursement mechanism (IRM).

"We are in the middle of a pandemic and we should not change horses

mid-stream... However, it may be a worse course of action for this august

chamber to sit idly by knowing how mismanaged PhilHealth is," Senate

President Vicente Sotto III said in his sponsorship speech in plenary.

"PhilHealth is hemorrhaging because of [the] inefficient running of the

corporation, compounded by the corrupt practices inside," he said.

The committee also recommended the filing of administrative charges against

resigned and incumbent PhilHealth officials who failed to immediately

address the anomalies repeatedly flagged by former employees of the agency.

"Any reform in personnel and its organization cannot come from within its

ranks when all had been tainted with suspicion - through active

participation or inaction - in the conspiracy to bankrupt PhilHealth of its

funds and resources," Sotto said.

"The endemic corruption and gross mismanagement of PhilHealth, if not

corrected or eradicated, will pose grave risks not only to health, but also

to the lives of all Filipinos," he added.

"We must thus exert our utmost authority and vigilance to rid PhilHealth of

undesirables and punish to the fullest extent of the law criminals.”

GORDON SAYS EVIDENCE LACKING VS DUQUE IN PHILHEALTH MESS

MANILA -- Sen. Richard Gordon said Wednesday a Senate inquiry into the

alleged corruption inside the state medical insurer did not find enough

evidence for the filing of criminal charges against Health Secretary

Francisco Duque III, contrary to a committee report.

The Senate Committee of the Whole on Tuesday recommended malversation and

graft charges against Duque and other officials for PhilHealth's interim

reimbursement mechanism (IRM) that released funds to supposedly favored

hospitals.

Gordon said he supported the committee's report “with reservations,”

particularly on the recommended charges against Duque, who is chairman of

the PhilHealth board.

"I always want to be fair. ItÂ’s not popular to be seen as supporting DuqueÂ…

[However], he was never there. He did not participate [in the IRM], he was

absent," said Gordon, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

"If there are other things that they can charge him with, then theyÂ’ll have

to come up with something. In my view, whenever I make accusations, I make

sure that I have a piece of paper that supports it," he told ANC.

Asked to clarify if there was enough evidence against Duque, Gordon said,

"No."

"The man is totally besieged. He inherited a DOH that is actually a snake

pit... There are certain people within PhilHealth that really favored

certain hospitals," said the lawmaker.

GORDON DENIES REPORT VS AQUINO AIDES IS 'DAMAGE CONTROL' FOR DUTERTE MEN

MANILA — Sen. Richard Gordon denied Wednesday that he recommended charges

against 2 Cabinet secretaries of the previous administration to take the

heat off of allies of President Rodrigo Duterte who are facing corruption

allegations related to PhilHealth.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Gordon recently recommended

technical malversation charges against former Budget Secretary Florencio

"Butch" Abad and former Health Secretary Janette Garin for allegedly

diverting P10.6-billion in PhilHealth funds “to finance the 2016 elections.”

The report “reads like a cover-up and damage control for Mr. Duterte and his

men in PhilHealth,” who were recently accused of pocketing P15 billion in

public funds, said Sen. Leila De Lima.

“What can I expect from Senator De Lima? She’s very bitter,” Gordon said of

his colleague, who has been jailed since 2017 on drug charges she said were

fabricated by DuterteÂ’s administration.

Gordon said he has not seen Duterte “for the last 2, 3 years.” He said he

had also criticized killings under the current administration, the death

penalty revival pushed by the President, his attacks against the Catholic

church, and his use of profanity.

“Wala naman akong hinihingi kay President Duterte… Ang dami niyang position

na ayaw ko,” Gordon told ANC.

“Kayo (you find), guilt by association. I don’t do that. I find guilt based

on evidence,” he added.

Gordon noted that he also supports “with reservations” a separate Senate

report that recommended criminal charges against current PhilHealth

officials.

The senator's allegation of fund diversion is an "absolute lie”, Abad said

last week.

"I can only conclude that the release of this report is maliciously timed to

confuse the public and distract them from the real PhilHealth scandal," he

said.

CASCOLAN NAMED PNP CHIEF AS GAMBOA RETIRES — AÑO

MANILA — Police Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan will be the Philippine National

Police chief after Police Gen. Archie Gamboa retires on Wednesday, Local

Government Secretary Eduardo Año told reporters on Tuesday.

Gamboa turns 56 on Wednesday, the mandatory retirement age in the Philippine

National Police.

In a statement issued earlier Tuesday, Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP

spokesperson, said that Cascolan is next in the PNP's succession of command,

and with no announcement yet from President Rodrigo Duterte on who he will

be appointing, Cascolan was set to take over as PNP-OIC over the

209,000-strong force once Gamboa steps down.

"Cascolan brings with him the occupational specialty in command and control,

honed by vast experience in field operations and strategic management,"

Banac's statement reads.

BIR REGISTERS 5,650 ONLINE SELLERS, EXTENDS FILING DEADLINE TO END-SEPT.

A total of 5,650 online vendors have registered before the Bureau of

Internal Revenue (BIR) from June to August to pay taxes, Deputy Commissioner

Arnel Guballa said on Tuesday.

The amount of taxes collected from these sellers upon registration is still

being computed, he added. BIR also extended anew the deadline for

registration to Sept. 30.

In June, BIR released Revenue Memorandum Circular 60-2020 that tasked online

enterprises to register before the bureau or risk getting run after by

taxmen.

The original registration deadline was set for July 31 before getting

extended to Aug. 31 and now to end-September. "Hopefully, this is the last

extension," Guballa said.

BIR's order has been met by staunch criticism from the public and

legislators who questioned BIR's intent to collect taxes from people trying

to earn online at a time job losses have increased due to the pandemic.

SRP ON GADGETS? DTI TO DECIDE SOON

MANILA— The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will decide this week

whether suggested retail prices (SRP) will be imposed on gadgets like

laptops.

In an interview with Teleradyo yesterday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said

the DTI Consumer Protection Group headed by Trade Undersecretary Ruth

Castelo is currently studying if price caps need to be put in place on

gadgets.

“This week, we will release the decision if we will put SRP,” Lopez said.

He added that the DTI initially had misgivings on putting price caps on

gadgets.

“We are reluctant when it comes to computers and gadgets because they have

different features, prices, performance and power. The SRP is not one size

fits all,” he said.

Demand for gadgets such as laptops has increased as many companies

implemented the work-from-home scheme for its employees due to the

coronavirus disease pandemic.

There is also demand coming from students as schools hold classes online

while the crisis persists.

18 RAPED DAILY DURING QUARANTINE

MANILA— An average of 18 persons a day have been raped in the country during

the community quarantine.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday 3,016 people nationwide

were sexually assaulted from March 17 to Aug. 31, or an average of 18 people

daily.

The daily average has more than doubled compared to eight cases a day last

May when Metro Manila and some parts of the country were under a stricter

modified enhanced community quarantine.

The PNP did not go into details on the areas with the highest number of

cases and if there are children among the victims.

The overall figure is lower by 26.09 percent, or an average of 24 victims a

day, compared to 4,081 cases recorded from Oct 1, 2019 to March 16, before

the government imposed quarantine restrictions to contain the spread of

COVID-19.

Girl, 4, raped, slain

A four-year-old girl was raped and killed by a 17-year-old boy who claimed

to be under the influence of alcohol in Barangay 175, Camarin, Caloocan on

Sunday.

The girl went missing just as her father was preparing to go to a birthday

celebration, police investigator S/Sgt. Mark Bartolome said yesterday.

A witness told police the girl was last seen with the teenager, who pointed

to the location of the body when police accosted him.

Her body, covered by leaves at an abandoned lot, was found with head wounds

and without lower garments.

The suspect told police he was under the influence of alcohol when the crime

happened. He underwent inquest proceedings yesterday for rape with homicide,

Bartolome said.

THE REST

========

COVID-19 CASES CLIMB PAST 224,000 AS METRO MANILA STAYS UNDER GCQ

Recorded cases of the new coronavirus in the Philippines reached 224,264

Tuesday as the government opted to place Metro Manila and other urban areas

under general community quarantine until end-September.

The Department of Health reported 3,483 additional coronavirus cases, more

than half of which were from Metro Manila. It was followed by Laguna (223),

Cavite (184), Rizal (161) and Batangas (126).

TRUCK BAN, NUMBER CODING STILL LIFTED IN GCQ AREAS: MMDA

MANILA - The truck ban and number coding remain schemes lifted in areas

under a general community quarantine, the Metropolitan Manila Development

Authority (MMDA) said on Wednesday.

“Lifted pa rin ang truck ban pati ang ating coding kasi nga hindi pa ganun

ka normal ang ating public transportation,” said MMDA General Manager Jojo

Garcia.

Garcia said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) appealed to the MMDA

to lift the truck ban to allow the unhampered movement of essential goods.

“Truck ban na oras, wala na po muna 'yan. Essential, lalo na medisina,

pagkain, basura kahit lahat ng industriya na pinapayagan during ECQ

pinapayagan na po 'yan. Ultimo construction materials allowed po 'yan,” he

said.

However, the MMDA official reminded that trucks should remain in their

designated lane.

“Hindi puwedeng kahit saan sila. Lalong gugulo ang daloy ng trapiko,” he

said.

Meanwhile, Garcia said there are other local government units that are

imposing modified coding.

“Maiintindihan natin kasi ito 'yung business districts like Makati, meron

silang modified coding d'yan,” he said.

He urged motorists to strictly follow traffic rules.

CHURCH CAPACITY: FROM 10 PERSONS TO 10%

MANILA— The government has eased the restrictions on religious gatherings as

churches were allowed to accommodate up to 10 percent of seating capacity.

Previously, the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging

Infectious Diseases (IATF) allowed only 10 persons to attend physical masses

and other religious services.

Catholic bishops welcomed the governmentÂ’s decision to relax the guidelines

for religious events.

DAHIL SA DAGDAG-KAPASIDAD: BACLARAN CHURCH MAAGANG DINAGSA NG MGA DEBOTO

MAYNILA - Maagang pinilahan ng mga mananampalataya ang Baclaran Church

matapos mabalitaan na mas marami na ang papayagan na makapasok sa loob para

makapagmisa at manalangin.

Kahit pa mas marami na ang pinayagang makapasok, makikita ang disiplina ng

mga mananampalataya lalo na sa pagsunod sa health at safety protocols maging

sa ipinatutupad na physical distancing.

Madami ang inagahan na ang pagpunta sa simbahan ng Baclaran kahit pa alas-8

pa ang unang misa.

Sa Roxas Boulevard Service Road entrance, umabot sa kanto ng Redemptorist

Road ang pila ng mga deboto habang mahaba din ang pila ng mga

mananampalataya sa Redemptorist Entrance

Mahigpit pa rin ang pagpapatupad ng safety protocols ng simbahan kayat

mabagal ang pag-usad ng pila.

Kailangan may suot na facemask ang mga magtutungo simbahan at requirement na

rin ang pagsusuot ng face shield.

May mga naglalako naman ng face shield sa presyong P30 para sa mga walang

dala nito.

May foot bath na may disinfectant, temperature check, paghuhugas ng kamay at

pagsusulat sa contact tracing form.

Kapag may dalang bisikleta, kailangan din itong i-sprayan ng disinfection

solution.

Pagdating naman sa loob ng simbahan, mahigpit na ipinatutupad ang physical

distancing. Sa bawat upuan ay 3 lang ang pinapaupo at may laktaw na isang

linya ng upuan.

Nagiikot din ang mga security guard para paalalahanan ang mga

mananampalataya sa physical distancing.

PRICES OF COOKING GAS UP THIS MONTH

MANILA— An increase in the price of cooking gas has been made for this

month, driven by rates in the international market.

In an advisory, Petron Corp. announced a P0.15-per-kilogram increase in the

price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) which took effect at 12:01 a.m.

yesterday.

It added that the price of AutoLPG also inched up by P0.10 per liter.

“These reflect the international contract price of LPG for the month of

September,” Petron said.

In a separate advisory, Phoenix LPG Phils. Inc. said it also implemented the

same price adjustments yesterday.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

ANGEL LOCSIN ASKED: 'HAS ANYBODY EVER CHEATED ON YOU?'

MANILA – “Has anybody ever cheated on you?”

Angel Locsin had to answer this question during her conversation with G3 San

Diego during an Instagram Live broadcast on Monday night after they talked

about the actress’ former project “The Legal Wife.”

Without dropping any name, Locsin said: “Oo, na-experience ko na.”

Locsin explained that being cheated on is not in any way based on how a girl

looks physically.

“Wala naman sa itsura 'yun. Karamihan ng mga kababaihan, kapag naloloko,

sinisisi 'yung sarili. Pero mali 'yun. Kailangan ma-realize ng mga

kababaihan na ang ganung gawain, hindi mo fault 'yun. Hindi mo fault kung

walang loyalty 'yung isa,” she said.

“Totoo na sa isang problema, dalawang tao 'yung involved pero sa kasalanan,

isa na lang 'yun. Kapag mali, mali pa rin 'yun. Maraming babae ang nabubulag

na ‘Ah baka kasi ganito, kasalanan ko kaya ako naloko.’ Pero kapag

manloloko, manloloko talaga,” she added.

While it was a heartbreaking experience, Locsin said she is somehow thankful

for it because sheÂ’s been able to utilize that pain as an actress.

“Naa-appreciate ko na napagdaanan ko 'yung ganung klaseng journey kasi

nagagamit ko siya sa craft ko. Thank you for my sadness kasi dahil sa

sadness na 'yun, nagkaroon ng best actress award. And kahit paano nakatulong

ako to uplift other women na may ganung same journey,” she said.

Locsin said itÂ’s true what other people say that the day will come when

someone whoÂ’s been cheated on will just laugh off everything sheÂ’s been

through.

“Kung dati halos pakamatay ka na sa pain, dadating 'yung panahon na

tatawanan mo na lang. Kapag nahanap mo 'yung tao na para talaga sa 'yo,

mare-realize mo na how petty 'yung mga pinagdaanan mo, 'yung mga iniyak mo,”

she said.

Testifying that it happened to her personally, Locsin said: “Dati hindi ko

naiintindihan 'yun. Every time may nag-a-advice sa akin na ‘Wala, tatawanan

mo lang iyan,Â’ naiinis ako. Sino ka para sabihin mong tatawanan, eh sobrang

hurt na hurt ako? Pero totoo pala 'yun.”

SPORTS

NBA SCORES SEP 1

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

team logo 3 Celtics 2-0    28    22    20    32    102

team logo 2 Raptors 0-2    28    20    30    21    99

GAME 2: BOS LEADS 2-0

SCORING LEADERS

J. Tatum BOS

34 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST

O. Anunoby TOR

20 PTS, 7 REB, 0 AST

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

team logo 6 Jazz 3-4    21    15    24    18    78

team logo 3 Nuggets 4-3    26    24    15    15    80

GAME 7: DEN WINS 4-3

SCORING LEADERS

    D. Mitchell UTA

22 PTS, 9 REB, 1 AST

    N. Jokic DEN

30 PTS, 14 REB, 4 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.48

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Reform is affirmative, conservatism negative; conservatism goes for comfort,

reform for truth. - Ralph Waldo Emerson