DUTERTE TO ADDRESS UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR FIRST TIME

MANILA — President Duterte will address the United Nations General Assembly

(UNGA) for the first time today, even as some international groups renew

their condemnation of alleged abuses tied to his controversial war on

illegal drugs.

Duterte, who once called the UN “inutile” for its supposed failure to

prevent wars, will participate at the high-level general debate during the

75th session of the UNGA that will take place today until Sept. 26.

Presidential assistant for foreign affairs and protocol chief Robert Borje

said Duterte would be in the first set of speakers and would deliver his

address on the first day of the general debate. He will be the 12th of 14

speakers who will deliver speeches during the morning session, which will

start at 9 a.m. New York time (9 p.m. Philippine time).

“President Duterte will articulate Philippine positions on a wide range of

issues of key importance to the country, such as the global response to the

coronavirus pandemic; peace and security, including terrorism and

geopolitical developments in the Asia Pacific; sustainable development and

climate change; the rule of law; justice and human rights – including the

situation of migrant workers and refugees; peacekeeping and UN reforms,”

Borje said.

He said the participation of Duterte in the UNGA has always been considered

since the beginning of his term.

“But of course this year takes on a special significance because it’s the

75th anniversary. But more than the milestone landmark commemoration, itÂ’s

the intensity and the urgency needed to address global issues,” he said.

“The President recognizes that the Philippines cannot do it alone and the

United Nations is the worldÂ’s biggest platform where one country can

articulate the countryÂ’s principled position on many items and many issues.

And this is why he decided to join the UN General Assembly high level debate

this month,” he added.

ROBREDO TO DUTERTE: DON'T WAIT FOR VACCINE IN BATTLE VS CORONAVIRUS

MANILA - Vice President Robredo late Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte's

plan to just wait for a coronavirus vaccine as a response to the pandemic

"is not enough" for the Philippines to address the health crisis.

Duterte earlier voiced his frustration in a public briefing, saying he

didn't know what the opposition and his critics still want from the

government since the Philippines has hospitals, hospital beds and morgues to

cope with the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

"Ang sabi, we are not doing enough. What can we do with the germ that is

flying around? It's the microbe that cannot be controlled by any(one)," he

said.

"Anong gawin mo? Gusto mo i-spray mo from the sky? DDT? Wala naman tayong

magawa diyan," Duterte said, referring to the banned insecticide.

The President reiterated that only a vaccine can finally solve the health

crisis. However, Robredo said in a Facebook post that waiting won't solve

the country's situation.

"Hindi yata sapat na basta may ospital, kama at punerarya, ang kailangan na

lang gawin ay maghintay ng vaccine," she said.

The Vice President said that the Philippines can suppress the COVID-19

pandemic by "medical and non-medical" means. The Philippine government has

been criticized for appointing retired military generals in spearheading

anti-coronavirus policies.

Robredo also said the government needs to "overcome humanitarian

emergencies" like poverty, hunger and unemployment caused by the pandemic.

She also advised restructuring public and private finances and rebuild the

economy in an "inclusive, resilient, and sustainable way."

'WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO?': DUTERTE DEFENDS MANILA BAY CRUSHED DOLOMITE

PROJECT

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said there is nothing wrong

with the government dumping crushed dolomite on Manila Bay to create an

artificial beach.

This, after throngs of people went to the Manila Bay over the weekend to see

the artificial white sand dumped in the area.

"People now really enjoy the reclaimed area with the white sand, maski na

papaano," Duterte said during his weekly address to the nation.

"Wala naman talaga tayong magawa. You do it, may masabi sila. You do not do

it, may masabi si (Vice President) Leni (Robredo). What do you want us to

do?" he added.

The opposition and critics lashed out after the local government of Manila

opened the area to the public over the weekend. Photos and videos of

visitors showed that physical distancing protocols to prevent the spread of

COVID-19 were violated.

Duterte, however, maintained that the government cannot do anything about

the virus.

"Ang problema kasi nitong white sand...Ang sabi, we are not doing enough.

What can we do with the germ that is flying around? It's the microbe that

cannot be controlled by any(one)," he said.

"Anong gawin mo? Gusto mo i-spray mo from the sky? DDT? Wala naman tayong

magawa diyan," Duterte added, referring to the banned insecticide.

Robredo, an outspoken critic of Duterte and his political rival, said later

in a statement that spraying pesticide was not what she and the critics were

asking for but a government response by "means of medical and non-medical

interventions."

"Yung number 1 po, hindi maso-solusyunan sa pag-spray ng pesticide sa Manila

galing sa eroplano," she said in a Facebook post.

VICE PRESIDENT ‘PLAYING DEAF’ ON COVID-19 REPORTING – PALACE

MANILA — Malacañang yesterday accused Vice President Leni Robredo of

“playing blind and deaf” to its reporting of updates on the COVID-19

pandemic and urged her to suggest things that the administration is not yet

doing.

In her radio program last Sunday, Robredo said the government should just

conduct a periodic assessment of the pandemic instead of extending the

declaration of a nationwide state of calamity until September 2021.

She said the extension could stoke fears among the public as it creates the

impression that the Philippines would remain in an emergency situation until

next year.

“Again, she is playing blind and deaf to the fact that there is periodic

reporting,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said when asked to react to

the Vice PresidentÂ’s statement.

“All you have to do is go to the webpage of the DOH (Department of Health),

all she has to do is consult the regular reports being submitted by the

President to Congress pursuant to the Bayanihan 1 and Bayanihan 2 laws,” he

added.

“Thank you very much for the suggestions, madam Vice President, but it is

being done. We look forward to a suggestion on something that the government

has not done.”

STATUS QUO AT HOUSE; ALAN MEETS WITH PAOLO

MANILA — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has managed to keep his leadership of

the 300-member House of Representatives despite Deputy Speaker Paolo

DuterteÂ’s announcing his support for a move to declare all House seats

vacant.

The session yesterday was presided over by House Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu a

partymate of Cayetano in the Nacionalista Party with proceedings taking only

about 18 minutes from the time the national anthem started.

“The session is suspended until tomorrow,” the Batangas congressman

declared. Abu was seen bumping elbows with fellow House leaders on the floor

when he left the podium after banging the gavel.

No manifestations were filed either from the plenary or from the remote

digital Zoom app where the 299 House members confirmed their attendance,

which could have come from the side of Cayetano or from his presumptive

successor, Rep. Lord Allan Velasco.

ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Go Yap – a very close ally of Davao City Congressman

Duterte – told ANC that the younger Duterte had already met with the Speaker

and discussed the complaints raised by Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves

Jr.

“As far as I know, they have already talked to each other. And I think they

have already settled all the concerns that have been raised by some House

members. Even in the same way that should there be other concerns, they will

all be addressed,” Yap said.

The chairman of the House appropriations committee interpreted DuterteÂ’s

statement over the weekend to mean that if lawmakers have concerns, they

have all the right to change the leadership if they want.

“He just doesn’t meddle in the budget. He was just saying that if you are

not happy, then you can move to declare all seats vacant. For him, the most

important thing is that he doesnÂ’t want to dip his fingers in the budget

process,” Yap said, referring to the younger Duterte.

“He never said that he will declare all seats vacant. What he said was that

he will ask the Mindanao bloc, especially if they have complaints. Insofar

as he is concerned, he has no complaints over the budget allocations,” he

added.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Chief Executive wonÂ’t meddle in

the leadership issue at the House but made it clear the timely passage of

next year’s budget measure is “non-negotiable” as it is needed to revive the

pandemic-hit economy.

PHILIPPINES SOUNDS CALL FOR CONTACT-TRACING VOLUNTEERS

The Philippines needs volunteers to locate and quarantine those who had

close contact with coronavirus patients, an official leading the effort said

Tuesday.

Ideally, a 4-person team with a health worker and a police investigator or

intelligence agent should look into the interactions of every patient, said

contact tracing czar Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

However, shortage in manpower has led to delays in contact tracing in some

areas, including parts of Metro Manila, he said.

The interior department aims to train some 50,000 additional contact

tracers.

"Malaking bagay iyong pag-recruit natin ng 50,000 na contact tracers. Pero

kung tatanungin ninyo ako, is it enough? Hindi enough iyan, kukulangin

tayo," Magalong told Teleradyo.

"We need volunteers, cause-oriented groups na sa tingin nila meron silang

critical thinking ability, iyong members may investigative mindset, hindi

naman naghahanap ng suweldo. They can always volunteer," he added.

In Baguio, almost half of the 564 coronavirus patients were found through

contact tracing in which various non-government organizations volunteered,

said the mayor.

1,200 MORE HEALTH WORKERS CAN GO ABROAD WITH DUTERTE BLESSING: LABOR CHIEF

A maximum of 1,200 health workers can now go abroad after President Rodrigo

Duterte approved further exceptions from an overseas deployment suspension,

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Tuesday.

Duterte this week permitted health professionals with complete overseas

employment documents as of Aug. 31, 2020 to leave the country.

Previously, only those with existing employment contracts as of March 8,

2020 were allowed to work abroad as the Philippines, a key exporter of

nurses and other medical workers, sought to keep a reserve force in its

battle against the pandemic.

Health workers need the following to leave the country, said Bello: verified

contract of employment, visa, overseas employment certificate, and

pre-departure orientation seminar certificate.

To encourage medical workers to stay in the country, Bello said he has asked

Health Secretary Francisco Duque to study asking Congress to pass a law

raising their salary, which in some hospitals is as low as P9,000 to P18,000

a month.

"Paano ka naman magtatrabaho, sa halip na ikaw ang magsuweldo, ikaw pa ang

nagbabayad in the guise of training fee?" he said.

THE REST

========

DOH RECORDS 3,475 NEW COVID-19 CASES, NATIONAL TALLY NOW AT 290,190

The Department of Health confirms 3,475 newly-reported COVID-19 cases in the

Philippines, pushing the national tally to 290,190.

The country's death toll now stands at 4,999 with 15 additional fatalities.

The DOH also records 400 new recoveries, bringing the total of recovered

patients to 230,233.

Total active cases (net of COVID-19 deaths and recoveries) in the

Philippines is now at 54,958.

SENATE RESUMES PROBE INTO SEX TRAFFICKING IN POGO INDUSTRY

MANILA — The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and

Gender Equality on Tuesday morning will resume its investigation into

prostitution rings that cater to Philippine Offshore Gambling Operator

workers.

Through Senate Resolution 131, the Senate panel will examine the

circumstances that push women to work under exploitative conditions.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros called for the hearing following a report of six

Vietnamese women rescued in a Makati City condominium in September last

year. They were allegedly held in a prostitution den managed by two Chinese

women.

"Whereas, the objectification in the gambling industry as evidenced by the

Filipinas in POGOs and the more serious problem of sexual slavery

experienced by human trafficking victims here in the Philippines that

coincidentally have POGO operators as clientele are problems that have

underlying roots in the misogyny that have been normalized by a president

who have delivered sexist remarks without care or remorse," Hontiveros said

in the resolution.

BAGUIO TO WELCOME 200 VISITORS DAILY STARTING NEXT WEEK

Baguio City will accept 200 visitors daily starting next week as it

partially reopens its tourism industry that the coronavirus pandemic had

shuttered for around 7 months, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said Tuesday.

The mountain city's tourism corridor will be limited to visitors from

neighboring Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan provinces, he

said.

"Sinusunod namin iyong aming framework na tinatawag na 3S: surely, safely

and slowly. It will be a calibrated and graduated opening ng aming tourism

industry," Magalong told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.

Baguio tourists and some residents will have to participate in the health

department's pilot test of the coronavirus antigen screening, he said.

This test analyzes nasal and oral specimen, and can yield results in 15

minutes. Similar to the PCR or polymerase chain reaction test, the gold

standard in screening, the antigen tests detect "current infection",

officials earlier said.

Baguio's flower farms, Mines View and Burnham parks, hotels and restaurants

will be open, while bars remain restricted, Magalong said.

Tourists can also visit the Bencab Museum in nearby Tuba town, Tublay's

picnic area, the Sakura trees in Benguet province, and the Sunflower farm in

La Trinidad, said the mayor.

Baguio has tallied 564 coronavirus infections, of which around 170 are

active, Magalong said.

5 CAPTIVE INDONESIANS STILL ALIVE

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The five Indonesian fishermen seized by suspected Abu

Sayyaf bandits nine months ago are still alive and being held captive in

Sulu, a military official said yesterday.

The safe recovery of the victims remains a priority of the Joint Task Force

Sulu (JTFS), according to Lt. Col. Alaric delos Santos, spokesman for the

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).

There were no sightings, however of the captives during an encounter that

occurred on Sunday in Patikul town.

“Based on reports gathered by the ground forces, the Indonesian fishermen

are still in Sulu,” Delos Santos said.

The fishermen – identified as Arsyad Dahlan, La Baa, Riswanto Hayono,

Khairul and Syarizal Kastamiran – were seized by unidentified armed men from

a Malaysian-operated fishingboat in the waters off Lahad Datu, Sabah on Jan.

17.

Reports said the Abu Sayyaf bandits were demanding P30 million in exchange

for the release of the victims.

The kidnappers have reportedly contacted the families of the captives and

the owner of the fishing boat.

Delos Santos cited reports that the bandits tagged the victims along with

them everytime they change location to evade pursuing troopers.

“They are always moving from one place to another. They are highly mobile,”

Delos Santos said.

The Indonesians have been the last captives of the Abu Sayyaf since the

bandit group embarked on cross-border kidnapping activities in the waters

surrounding Sabah.

Malaysian and Philippine Navy forces have intensified the border security

along with their Indonesian counterpart to prevent a repeat of the incident.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

LIZA SOBERANO VOWS TO TAKE ACTION VS CONVERGE EMPLOYEE OVER RAPE THREAT

MANILA — Kapamilya actress Liza Soberano will take action against the

internet provider employee who posted a rape threat against her.

On Twitter, LizaÂ’s fans posted a screenshot of a Converge employee

threatening to rape the actress.

"Wala tayong magagawa, wala ng trabaho, kaya di bale ng masira ang image,

magkapera lang. Sarap ipa-rape sa mga... ewan!” the Converge employee wrote.

Liza commented that she wonÂ’t let the threat pass.

"DonÂ’t worry we wonÂ’t let this one pass. They know my address," she said.

Meanwhile, the internet provider addressed the controversy on Twitter,

promising to take a disciplinary action against the employee.

“We are deeply concerned about the wrongful comments and behavior of some

employees over social media. We do not tolerate such actions toward any

customer and emphasize that their personal opinions do not reflect the

company’s perspective, values, and culture,” Converge wrote.

“We are currently dealing with this matter and we will carry out

disciplinary measures accordingly,” the company added.

Liza recently complained about her Converge account for its slow internet

connection.

PLDT made a move by providing the actress a fast internet after her

complaints went viral.

SPORTS

TOPEX, NASH LOOK FORWARD TO PBA BUBBLE

MANILA — It will be quite an experience for Topex Robinson and Nash Racela

when they debut as head coaches for Phoenix and Blackwater, respectively, in

the highly-anticipated PBA bubble in Clark.

Robinson, whoÂ’s been in charge of the Fuel Masters for only two weeks now,

said it will be a challenge and learning experience not only for himself but

for everyone taking part in the planned Philippine Cup restart on Oct. 9.

“This bubble experience will be challenging for everyone but it’s an

opportunity to learn and grow considering we will be put in uncharted

territory,” Robinson told The STAR.

The 45-year-old Robinson was elevated from associate coach to interim head

coach after management gave Louie Alas the pink slip last Sept. 11.

Racela, former head coach of the TNT KaTropa, came in to replace Aris

Dimaunahan. But his scheduled coaching debut with Blackwater last March was

stalled by the pandemic.

“Of course, we are all excited to resume play. At the same time, hopeful

that we’ll be ready once the games start,” Racela said.

The PBA has crafted a return plan that will place all 12 teams in a bubble

in Clark for two months with strict health and safety protocols in place,

including frequent tests. The squads will observe a strict routine of Quest

Hotel to the training venue as well as the playing site, Angeles University

Foundation, and back.

“Planned bubble looks feasible,” observed Racela. “We just have to secure

that everyone will be (COVID-19) negative when we enter the facility.”

NBA WAS NOT PLAYED ON 21ST SEP; WILL RESUME TOMORROW

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.36

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You can't have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the

time. - Charles F. Kettering