EU PARLIAMENT CONDEMNS ‘RAPIDLY DETERIORATING’ STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS, PRESS

FREEDOM IN PHILIPPINES

MANILA - The European Parliament adopted a resolution Thursday calling on

the Philippine government to grant ABS-CBN Corp.'s broadcast license, nearly

5 months after President Rodrigo Duterte's allies in Congress rejected to

renew its permit to operate on TV and radio.

The resolution -- which had 626 votes in favor, 7 against and 52 abstentions

-- cited the denial of ABS-CBN's new application of franchise after it

expired "as an act of retaliation for the mediaÂ’s coverage of the anti-drugs

campaign and serious human rights abuses."

The Parliament also called for the dropping of at least 6 "politically

motivated" lawsuits against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and the media outlet's

staff. Ressa was convicted of cyber libel with researcher Reynaldo Santos

last June and may face up to 6 years in jail.

The lawmakers expressed alarm over the "deteriorating level of press freedom

in the Philippines" and denounced all forms of threats, harassment and

violence directed against human rights advocates, environmental activists,

trade unionists and journalists "who seek to expose allegations of

extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations in the country."

They also called on Philippine authorities to conduct "impartial,

transparent, independent and meaningful" investigations on the deaths of a

number of activists.

The parliament condemned the thousands of extrajudicial killings and serious

rights abuses in the Philippines, particularly those perpetrated in the

country's drug war, and urged Manila to "put an immediate end" to all

violent operations and actions against suspected drug offenders.

The EU Parliament also urged Manila to:

- drop all charges against detained Sen. Leila de Lima and release her as

she awaits trial "to allow her to freely exercise her rights and duties as

an elected representative"

- authorities to recognize the function of rights advocates as a "legitimate

role in guaranteeing peace, justice and democracy" in Philippine society

- reverse the Philippines' withdrawal from the International Criminal Court

and "cooperate fully" with the ICC Prosecutor's office in its initial

inquiry of the situation in the country

- "to immediately halt" ongoing procedures to reinstate capital punishment

or the death penalty

- to honor its obligations under international law to safeguard and uphold

the rights of indigenous peoples and adopt policies to improve their

conditions

- to step up efforts in "effectively" dealing with corruption

- to increase efforts in protecting children from abuse and defend their

rights, including the indigenous children's right to education

- to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for

Human Rights (OHCHR) and all UN human rights mechanisms, and avoiding

committing acts of intimidation or reprisal against them

- to back the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and

Human Rights (UNGPs), "and to ensure effective human rights due diligence

processes for investment, development and business projects, especially with

regard to large scale agribusiness acquisitions, extractive industries,

infrastructure projects and cooperation involving the security sector."

FRANCE, GERMANY, UK CHALLENGE LEGALITY OF CHINAÂ’S SOUTH CHINA SEA CLAIM

MANILA — France, Germany and the United Kingdom have challenged before the

United Nations the legality of ChinaÂ’s sweeping maritime claims in the South

China Sea.

In a note verbale submitted on Sept. 16 to the UN, France, Germany and the

UK highlighted the argument that China’s exercise of “historic rights” over

the South China Sea “does not comply with international law and the

provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

(UNCLOS).”

The three countries also recalled that the arbitral award in the Philippines

v. China case dated July 12, 2016 “clearly confirms this point.”

“As state parties to UNCLOS, France, Germany and the UK reaffirmed their

legal position,” the three countries declared. “France, Germany and the

United Kingdom will continue to uphold and assert their rights and freedoms

enshrined in UNCLOS and to contribute to promoting cooperation in the region

as set out under the Convention.”

The three stressed the universal and unified character of UNCLOS that sets

out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas

must be carried out.

“The integrity of the Convention needs to be maintained, as reaffirmed by

the UN General Assembly in its annual resolution on oceans and law of the

sea,” they declared.

France, Germany and the UK said there is no legal ground for continental

states to treat archipelagos or marine features as a whole entity without

respecting the relevant provisions in Part II of UNCLOS.

The three countries maintained that all maritime claims in the South China

Sea should be made and peacefully resolved in accordance with the principles

and rules of UNCLOS and the means and procedures for the settlement of

disputes provided in the Convention.

CONGRESS BACKS DUTERTEÂ’S CAMPAIGN VS RED TAPE

MANILA — The House of Representatives yesterday vowed more actions to help

President Duterte fulfill his agenda for stamping out corruption and red

tape in government.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano made the commitment after meeting with the Chief

Executive and Senate President Vicente Sotto III the other night.

The meeting was held at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang Park.

“Congress will continue to follow the President’s lead, and with the good

relationship between the Senate, the House of Representatives, and

Malacañang, there is no reason why we cannot do this now, and end red tape

before the end of the President’s term in 2022,” he said in a Facebook post.

DISASTER AGENCY BILL PASSED ON SECOND READING

MANILA — The House of Representatives approved on second reading Tuesday a

measure that will establish an agency tasked solely to help government

address natural disasters, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Legislators voted to approve House Bill 5989 (Disaster Resilience Act)

creating the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) that will be

the primary agency responsible for leading national efforts before, during

and after disasters.

“This would help drastically reduce, if not totally eliminate, the

bureaucratic red tape that has caused many delays in the delivery of

immediate assistance needed by disaster and calamity victims,” House

Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said.

The DDR guarantees a unity of command, science-based approach, and full-time

focus on natural hazards and disasters.

FISH KILL DUE TO DOLOMITE? 'IMPOSIBLE PO 'YAN', SAYS DENR OFFICIAL

MANILA - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources denied Friday

that the fish mortality reported in the Baseco area was caused by the

crushed dolomite used for the Manila Bay makeover project.

DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the fish kill happened far from

where their project is located.

“Kung ang fish kill nangyari sa area po natin, doon po pupunta ang mga

isdang patay doon po sa area natin, which is 'yun po ang pinaka-catchbasin

lalo na’t ganitong mayroong habagat,” he said in an interview on ABS-CBN

TeleRadyo.

Antiporda added: “Kaya imposible pong sa atin galing 'yan, na 'yung dolomite

ang nakamatay. Imposible po.”

The DENR official said dolomitic lime content neutralizes and controls the

acid level of the water.

Antiporda said they also regularly conduct water sampling when the weather

condition changes to determine the dissolved oxygen level in the water,

which could affect marine life.

In a statement, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Director Eduardo

Gongona said water quality testing in Baseco showed that dissolved oxygen in

the area was only at 0.11 mg/L, much lower than the acceptable level of 5

mg/L for aquatic life. Gongona also cautioned against eating fish that are

not caught fresh and alive.

But he said they are not discounting other possibilities for the fish kill

including the use of cyanide in fishing and sabotage.

MORE PUVS INSTEAD OF SHORTER DISTANCING? TRANSPORT DEPT SAYS ALREADY DOING

SO

MANILA — The transport department said Friday it was already letting more

public vehicles back on the road, even before medical experts asked them do

so and refrain from cutting coronavirus distancing rules.

“Iyong proposal kasi to reduce physical distancing, it’s not just a sole

proposal. Iyan po ang linawin natin. Iyan po ay ini-propose alongside with

other interventions sa transport sector,” said Transport Assistant Secretary

Goddess Hope Libiran.

“Iyong pagdadagdag po natin ng public transport, ginagawa na po iyan ng

LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) since June 1,”

she told ABS-CBNÂ’s TeleRadyo.

For instance, the LTFRB as of Friday has opened 206 routes for some 17,500

public jeepneys in Metro Manila alone, up from zero authorized routes before

the region eased its coronavirus lockdown in June, she said.

The LTFRB every week announces more additional routes, said the official.

FILIPINO FAMILIES OF SUNKEN SHIP CREW PLEAD FOR SEARCH TO RESUME

MANILA —Families of 39 Filipino crewmen who were aboard a cattle ship that

sank during a typhoon are pleading for a search to continue and to expand

into uninhabited islands and nearby waters, two weeks after their vessel

capsized off Japan.

In tears during an online news conference, family members urged authorities

to resume a massive search effort, after JapanÂ’s coastguard suspended its

rescue last week.

Of the ship’s 43 crew, three were rescued – all Filipinos – but one later

died after being found unconscious. Thirty-six Filipinos, two New Zealanders

and two Australians are missing.

“We are getting frustrated not knowing where they are,” said Liberty

Seneres, wife of chief engineer, Aristotle Sabillena.

“We are worried. But there still is hope that they are still alive.”

The group called on the Philippine government to resume the search and

expand it to waters off South Korea, Taiwan and China.

THE REST

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3,375 NEW COVID-19 CASES BRING PHILIPPINE TALLY TO OVER 276,000

The countryÂ’s coronavirus caseload jumped past 276,000 Thursday after the

Department of Health announced 3,375 additional infections.

The novel coronavirus has so far sickened 276,289 people in the Philippines,

of which 63,408 were active cases. This means nearly 23% of the nationÂ’s

total confirmed are still undergoing treatment or quarantine.

MANILA DROPS 10 NOTCHES IN 2020 SMART CITY INDEX

MANILA — Concerns on road congestion, poor public transport services, air

pollution and corruption weighed down on Manila’s “smart city” ranking this

year, as it finished as the sixth worst city worldwide.

Manila fell 10 notches to 104th out of 109 cities worldwide in the 2020

Smart City Index published by the Institute for Management Development in

collaboration with Singapore University for Technology and Design.

The Smart City Index ranks cities based on economic and technological data,

as well as by their citizens’ perceptions of how “smart” their cities are.

Hundreds of citizens from 109 cities were surveyed in April and May 2020 and

asked questions on the technological provisions of their city across key

areas such as health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities and

governance.

Last year, Manila ranked 94th out of 102 cities, or the ninth worst

globally, in the first edition of the Smart City Index report.

This year, it managed to outperform only five cities: Rabat, Cairo, Abuja,

Nairobi and Lagos.

Manila also continues to fall behind its Asian peers with Singapore ranking

first globally, Taipei at 8th, Hong Kong 32nd, Seoul 47th, Kuala Lumpur

54th, Bangkok 71st, Hanoi 84th and Jakarta 94th.

PHOENIX PETROLEUM KICKS OFF ON-SITE LPG SOLUTIONS TEST RUN IN BALESIN

MANILA - Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc said its LPG venture Phoenix

Pilipinas Gas and Power Inc started the pilot-run of its gas-fired gensets

in Balesin Island Club in Polilio, Quezon.

The pilot run, which started on Aug. 31 is in cooperation with US-based Mesa

Natural Gas Solutions Inc, aims to provide baseload power for the resort,

Phoenix Petroleum told the stock exchange.

Phoenix Petroleum said the generator sets were powered by propane-rich LPG.

It is not only cleaner but also a viable component in the energy mix in the

country, said Phoenix president Henry Bong Fadullion.

"The aim is to ultimately replicate such solutions later on in industries

that are generating and using their own power in the fields of

manufacturing, hospitality and leisure, construction, telecommunications,

and mining," Fadullon said.

Phoenix and Mesa signed a memorandum of agreement in 2019 while 3

US-manufactured genset units with a maximum of 350 kWh capacity arrived in

June, it said.

MRT DEPLOYS RECORD-HIGH 21 TRAINS

MANILA — For the first time in its 20 years of operation, the Metro Rail

Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) deployed yesterday a record-high 21 trains as the

Department of Transportation (DOTr) decided to keep the one-meter distance

rule in public transport.

With more trains, MRT-3 operations director Michael Capati said commuters

could expect shorter waiting time intervals and increased rider capacity.

“This is a product of the DOTr and MRT-3’s collaboration to improve the rail

lineÂ’s service for the riding public. We want to keep our commitment to

provide passengers with the best service they can experience. As

Transportation Secretary (Arthur) Tugade says, we owe it to our passengers,”

Capati said in a statement.

LALAKING NAGBEBENTA NG PEKENG TRAVEL AUTHORITY TIMBOG SA PASAY

MAYNILA - Arestado ang isang 25-anyos na driver sa Pasay City matapos

ireklamo dahil sa pagbebenta ng pinekeng travel authority para sa mga

bibiyahe sa probinsiya.

Nagsagawa ng entrapment operation laban sa suspek na si alyas Abner ang

intelligence section ng Pasay City Police sa service road ng Roxas Boulevard

Martes ng hapon.

Ayon kay Pasay City Police chief Col. Ericson Dilag, itinimbre sa pulis ang

iligal umanong gawain ng suspek na taga-Antipolo at ibinigay sa kanila ang

contact number nito.

Nagpanggap ang isang pulis na bibili ng travel authority papuntang Nueva

Ecija sa halagang P4,500 para makipagkita sa suspek.

Nakumpiska kay Abner ang 5 blangkong medical certificate at isang travel

authority na may pirma ng hepe ng Antipolo City Police na si Lt. Col. Jose

Joey Arandia.

Pero tiniyak ni Arandia sa Pasay Police na peke nga ang dokumento.

Nahaharap si Abner sa kasong falsification and use of falsified documents.

Tumanggi siyang magbigay ng pahayag sa ABS-CBN News.

Hanggang simula ng Setyembre, naitala ng Joint Task Force COVID Shield ang

halos 50 indibidwal na naaresto dahil sa paggawa ng pekeng travel authority,

medical clearance certificate at maging ID card at pass ng Inter-Agency Task

Force.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

DID YOU KNOW? KATHRYN PLAYED CUPID IN KHALIL AND GABBI GARCIA'S RELATIONSHIP

MANILA – Celebrity couple Khalil Ramos and Gabbi Garcia revealed they have

Kathryn Bernardo to thank for their relationship.

In a YouTube Live broadcast on Tuesday, the two shared that it was Bernardo

who played cupid for them back in 2015 during the debut of Julia Barretto.

Ramos said he first saw Garcia during that party and he immediately asked

Bernardo, who was seated beside him at that time, who she was.

“At that time, 'yung relationship namin ni Kath, hindi kami like now. We’re

much closer now. Pero out of nowhere, I asked her who you were,” he said.

“Tapos parang naramdaman niya yata kaagad na parang I’m crushing on you or I

like you. Sabi niya agad, ‘Si ano iyan, si Gabbi. Papakilala kita,

papakilala kita. Halika, halika, papakilala kita,'” he added.

Garcia recalled that Bernardo simply introduced them to each other before

she and the actress went to the dance floor.

“Sumayaw pa kami sa dance floor ni Kath. Suddenly, someone from Star Magic

pulls her and said she has an interview so I was alone. Hindi ko na alam,

bigla ka (Ramos) na lang lumapit sa akin,” she said.

Garcia said she and Ramos started having small talks and he never left her

side that night.

“After the small talk, I went looking for my friends. He went with me, he

helped me look for them. And when I saw sila na, you were just there. You

were just following me the whole night,” she said.

When it was time to go home, Garcia admitted she was waiting for Ramos to

ask for her number but he didnÂ’t.

The following day, Garcia said Ramos slid her a message on social media and

thatÂ’s when they started talking again although not for long.

“We became friends for a short bit and we lost contact na. Nung 2017 na

'yung next,” he said.

Garcia and Ramos started dating in 2017. They have now been together for

three years.

Giving Bernardo a shoutout during the YouTube Live, Ramos said: “Thank you

Kath, we love you. And we miss you if you’re watching.”

“Cheers, Kath,” Garcia added.

SPORTS

NBA SCORES SEP 17

FINAL

    1    2    3    4    T

5 Heat 2-0    28    19    37    22    106

3 Celtics 0-2    31    29    17    24    101

GAME 2: MIA LEADS 2-0

SCORING LEADERS

    G. Dragic MIA

25 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST

    K. Walker BOS

23 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST

PBA BUBBLE: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

MANILA — The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is preparing to make

its return to play amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Targetting an October 9 restart to the stalled Philippine Cup, Philstar.com

takes a look at what the PBA has proposed so far in its own "season bubble".

Clark City are hosts

After considering a number of venues, Clark City in Angeles, Pampanga was

named on Thursday as the final host for Asia's first-ever pro basketball

league.

Packed schedule

In order to finish the conference in a shortened period of time, the PBA has

decided on a packed schedule for its squads.

Double-headers are expected seven days a week once play resumes.

Much like its format prior to the pandemic, the Top Four teams at the end of

the regular season will gain twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

The semifinals and finals will be played in a best-of-five and best-of-seven

series, respectively.

Hefty fines for violations

To ensure its players and staff all stick to the strict quarantine rules it

would have to follow, the PBA has proposed large penalties for those who do

not follow protocols.

A member of the team who violates rules and protocols set by the league will

face a month without pay, as well as a Php 100,000 fine from the league.

They will also suffer a five-game suspension for the league's next season.

While the IATF has yet to approve the league's plan, the PBA is ensuring

everything is ready once they get the green light.

"If we can start tomorrow, we would start tomorrow. The Commissioner's

Office has done a good job with the plans, and they're ready to execute as

soon as we're given the go-signal," said PBA chairman Ricky Vargas.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.51

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what

you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou