DUTERTE PUSHES 2 DAMS FOR METRO MANILA, WARNS COURTS MANILA — A “desperate” President Duterte yesterday ordered the completion of two projects designed to ensure enough water supply in Metro Manila and nearby areas, saying indigenous people would have to be relocated and no court could stop it. Duterte said the China-funded Kaliwa Dam and the Razon-led Wawa Dam would be Metro Manila’s “last resort to have water.” “The people living there, they are, of course, they are all natives. They are trying to delay the project... And we need water. Manila without Wawa and Kaliwa Dam, this will be the last resort to have water for Manila,” the President said during his visit to Digos City, Davao del Sur yesterday. “I will order them to go ahead and we will pay the natives and we will relocate them. But for the courts to issue (temporary restraining orders or TROs), I said, do not take it to the point that I would say, ‘Ignore them,’” he said, describing himself as “desperate” to find relief for the problem. He threatened to send owners of the Metro Manila water concessionaires to jail for syndicated estafa, saying their deals smacked of corruption. The P12.2-billion Kaliwa Dam to be constructed in Quezon province is one of the government projects funded by Chinese loans. Meanwhile, the P20-billion Wawa Dam to be built in Rizal is a joint venture between Prime Infra of businessman Enrique Razon and San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders Group. Duterte claimed losing bidders have been using TROs to delay projects and to extort money from winning bidders. 'I SHARE YOUR GRIEF': DUTERTE SAYS SORRY IN FIRST VISIT TO COTABATO QUAKE VICTIMS MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday apologized to residents of Cotabato for not visiting them sooner after the province was hit by a series of powerful earthquakes, leaving at least 20 dead and scores injured. "It’s really scary, and sometimes there’s just a little depression. Madedepress ka talaga, kung nawalan ka ng bahay, anak, tatay, nanay," Duterte said in a speech before evacuees in M'lang town. "I share your grief, sa totoo lang. Pinilit ko, I must apologize, I am very sorry that I could not be here immediately. Marami hong problema sa Maynila. Kasi busy ako nagmumura doon sa mga water concessionaires na si Ayala pati si Pangilinan." The President was referring to government's "onerous" water concession contracts with Ayala-owned Manila Water and the now Pangilinan-led Maynilad signed in 1997 but were extended early during the administration of his ally, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Duterte assured victims of the earthquake that government would help until "you’re able to get back to your feet and start anew with renewed hope and greater capacity to lead your lives." "I hope that the assistance we will give you today will make you feel the warmth and joy of the Christmas season despite your current situation," he said. US SENATOR BLASTS DUTERTE ADMIN FOR THREATENING NEW VISA RULES FOR AMERICANS MANILA—A US senator has slammed the Philippine government for threatening to impose visa requirements for Americans after he sought to ban Filipino officials involved in the imprisonment of Sen. Leila de Lima. "The Duterte regime should stop threatening the travel of these Filipino Americans and so many others who travel between our nations," US Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois said in a statement released Tuesday (Manila time). The US lawmaker also called on the Philippine government to "release or give a quick and credible trial" to De Lima, a known critic of President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign. "This strong-arm tactic is an insult to the Filipino American community and the country's democracy," he added. De Lima, Durbin said, had been jailed for more than 1,000 days on "questionable charges." "Her release, which has been championed by groups such as Amnesty International – and now the US Congress – is unfortunately symbolic of the larger price one increasingly pays for peaceful dissent and honest journalism under President Duterte in the Philippines," he said. In his statement, Durbin also expressed support to Filipina journalist Maria Ressa who reportedly face harassment "for fostering honest coverage regarding the country's sweeping extra-judicial killings, which is an affront to the cherished democratic norms we share with our long standing Filipino allies." US SENATOR’S AIDE SAYS HARD FOR US SECRETARY OF STATE TO IGNORE CONGRESS DIRECTIVE MANILA—An influential staff member of US Sen. Patrick Leahy who pushed for a ban on Philippine officials behind the detention of Sen. Leila de Lima has confirmed a congressional directive to “apply the law" in the senator's case. Tim Rieser, foreign policy aide of Senator Patrick Leahy, told ABS-CBN News that Leahy and his colleague Richard Durbin included a provision in the US Senate appropriations committee report that accompanies the annual appropriations bill directing the US Secretary of State to apply the law banning human rights violators from entering American soil to De Lima’s case. The same provision classified “unjust or wrongful detention” as part of “gross violation of human rights,” making it a ground for applying the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, a US law which authorizes the US government to sanction those who it sees as human rights offenders, freeze their assets, and ban them from entering the US. “That language was included by reference in the final version of the conference agreement that was negotiated by the House and the Senate and enacted a week ago,” Rieser said. "It means that the Secretary should look at the information that Senator Leahy and Senator Durbin and other members of the House and Senate believe is credible." Pro-Duterte bloggers Sass Rogando Sasot and RJ Nieto or Thinking Pinoy earlier questioned the absence of De Lima’s name in the spending bill that US President Donald Trump signed into law on December 20, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the news about the US entry ban. De Lima, however, said the explanatory statement of the law states that unless specifically negated, the language in the US House and Senate reports on the bill remains in force. The Congressional record of the US 2020 consolidated budget directed the State Department to comply with the directives, reporting requirements and instructions in the Senate and House reports. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Sunday confirmed the ban, citing his conversation with Philippine Ambassador to the US Babe Romualdez. But Nieto continued to question whether the ban was based only on the Magnitsky clause that he said has been in US budget laws since 2015 or if it was a result of an amendment introduced by US senators Richard Durbin and Patrick Leahy, which he maintains, does not exist. Rieser confirmed that the controversial clause has indeed been in US budget laws for years now but stressed that the difference now is US Congress specified that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo apply it to De Lima. “They are correct to the extent that 7031(c) has been in effect for years. Senator Leahy wrote it. It applies globally. However, what’s different is that the Congress is saying that the Secretary shall apply the law in this particular case. That didn’t exist before,” he said. “To suggest that it is more of the same is to ignore the fact that this year, Congress zeroed in on her case specifically by name, and directed the Secretary to make a determination.” 'HARD TO IGNORE CONGRESS DIRECTIVE' Rieser said that ultimately, it will be up to Pompeo to implement the congressional directive. “He could ignore the Congress but it’s not easy to do that when there are multiple, credible sources saying that she is imprisoned because the government is trying to silence her as a result of her criticism of the government’s policies,” he said. THATCHER APPROVED CORAZON AQUINO ASYLUM REQUEST: ARCHIVES LONDON, United Kingdom — British prime minister Margaret Thatcher granted Corazon Aquino's request for asylum at the height of the uprising that swept her to power in the Philippines, according to newly declassified files released on Tuesday. Aquino headed the four-day 1986 People Power Revolution that ended the 21-year rule of totalitarian president Ferdinand Marcos. He had declared victory in a snap election tainted by fraud allegations. During the turmoil, Aquino sought sanctuary in the British embassy or the ambassador's residence in Manila, files released by Britain's National Archives indicated. But Britain's protection was ultimately not needed as Marcos stepped down the following day and the Aquino government was officially recognized. The asylum request was in a Downing Street file on Britain's relations with the Philippines spanning from 1981 to 1995. Urgent request On the evening of February 24, 1986, Foreign Office diplomat Len Appleyard wrote to Charles Powell, Thatcher's private secretary for foreign affairs. He said Aquino had asked whether Britain would be prepared to offer sanctuary in the British embassy or residence at 8:00 a.m. local time the following morning—midnight in Britain. Appleyard said Aquino had rejected sanctuary with the Americans and the Japanese but turned to the British "because they are 'friendly and reliable.'" It was thought the request was a contingency in case the situation turned ugly. DUTERTE: AÑO TO LEAD PNP UNTIL POLICE WOES FIXED MANILA — President Duterte has told Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año to take charge of the Philippine National Police for now, saying he has not named a new PNP chief because of issues – including corruption – involving Manila policemen. Duterte said he has ordered Año to fix the problems in the PNP, admitting that there are officers who are involved in corruption and illegal drugs. “Sa mga probinsya, mahusay ang mga pulis (In the provinces, the policemen are good). But in Manila? That’s why I didn’t appoint a PNP (chief). Sabi ko kay general Año na hawakan niya muna (I asked general Año to handle it for now),” the President said during his visit to M’lang, North Cotabato where he met with earthquake survivors. “You (Año) fix the police so that by the time we make the exit two years from now, at least the problems of the Filipinos won’t be that serious. You’re dealing with government officials or officers who are into corruption, especially illegal drugs,” he added. The PNP, said spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, sees no problem with the President directing Año to fix the institution, since his department has jurisdiction over the police force. “We will just wait for his (Año) instructions and guidance,” Banac said in a phone interview. DUTERTE TELLS ABS-CBN OWNERS TO JUST SELL THE TV NETWORK MANILA — Three months before the expiration of ABS-CBN's franchise, President Rodrigo Duterte Monday said the television network should just be sold as he vowed to give its owners an episode they won't forget. Duterte, who has accused ABS-CBN of biased reporting and of "swindling" him for not airing his campaign commercial, said there is no assurance that the network's franchise would be renewed. The Lopez-owned network's franchise is set to expire on March 30, 2020. "Your contract is about to expire. You will try to renew it but I don't know what will happen to that," the president said during his visit to earthquake victims in M'lang, North Cotabato. "Kung ako sa inyo ipagbili niyo na 'yan. Kasi ang mga Filipino ngayon lang makaganti sa inyong kalokohan (If I were you, I would sell it. It's only now that Filipinos would be able to get back at your wrongdoings). And I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever," he added. Duterte claimed previous presidents did not act against the interests of some businesses because they were afraid of ABS-CBN. Duterte had claimed that ABS-CBN did not return the money he paid for campaign commercials even if the advertisements did not air. He had also accused the network of magnifying "garbage" stories peddled by his critics. Earlier this month, Duterte vowed to block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise. "I will see to it that you're out," he said in a speech delivered in Malacañang last December 3. DUTERTE DEFENDS DOUBLING SALARY OF COPS, SOLDIERS DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur—President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday defended his reason for doubling the salary of the military and police. Speaking during the 60th founding anniversary of Cor Jesu College, Duterte said he had been receiving complaints about it. "I’ve been hearing a lot of complaints bakit 'yong sa mga pulis doblado. Bakit sa maestra hindi pa. This country is a troubled land. I need soldiers and policemen, who are not afraid to die," he said. Police officers and soldiers sacrifice their lives and they deserve a good compensation for their service, Duterte added. Duterte, however, made no mention when public school teachers will receive a pay hike, which he promised this year. Entry-level public-school teachers, which have a Salary Grade 11 under Tranche 4 of the Salary Standardization Law, earn a monthly salary of only P20,754. IMPORTS READIED AS ONION PRICES SOAR MANILA — The government is preparing to issue permits for importation of red onions, citing rising prices due to low supply. Department of Agriculture (DA) spokesman Noel Reyes said the recommendation of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to import red onions is already on the table of Agriculture Secretary William Dar. “The secretary is aware of the high price of onions right now. The issuance of import permits as recommended by BPI is already with him. And he is likely to favorably grant that,” Reyes told The STAR. “Hopefully by next week, that will be approved.” Reyes, however, could not reveal the volume of importation. “What will be imported are red onions only for household consumption. We have enough for the white one which is for institutional use such as restaurants,” he said. “It is off season for red onions and that is basically the reason [for the low supply]. Farmers will only start to harvest by March and April,” Reyes added. Latest market monitoring from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that price of red onions is at a high of P195 per kilogram for wholesale. For retail, prices range from P180 to P260 per kilo. In supermarkets, prices range from P150 to P200 a kilo. It was in March when the DA suspended the importation of onions. Last April, the country’s production of bulb onion increased by about 70 percent of the total national requirement, satisfying household consumption for the first time. 17 PINOY LUMIKAS SA LIBYA MATAPOS SALAKAYIN NG ARMADONG GRUPO Napilitang lumikas ang 17 pinoy matapos puwersahang kubkubin ng mga armadong lalaki ang gusaling tinitirhan sa Tripoli, Libya, ayon sa embahada ng Pilipinas. Ayon kay Chargè d'Affaires Elmer Cato, nasa ligtas na kalagayan na ang 17 Pinoy at nasa piling na ng mga kamag-anak at kaibigan sa iba pang bahagi ng Libya. Dahil dito, muling nananawagan ang embahada sa mga Pinoy sa Tripoli na lumikas na o maghandang lumikas sakaling abutin ng mga kaguluhan. Buwan ng Abril nang magsimula ang mga kaguluhan sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng Libya matapos ang ikinasang opensiba ni Gen. Khalifa Haftar ng Libyan National Army upang mabawi ang Tripoli mula Government of National Accord na kinikilala ng United Nations. FILIPINA ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY EMPLOYER'S WIFE IN KUWAIT MANILA - A Filipino domestic worker in Kuwait was allegedly killed by her employer's wife, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday. In a statement, the DFA condemned the killing of the Filipina, calling it a violation of the agreement signed by the Philippine and Kuwaiti governments in 2018 for their protection. "The continuing incidents of violence and abuse of Filipino domestic workers in Kuwait violates the spirit of the agreement signed in May 2018 that seeks to promote and protect their welfare," it said. The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait is coordinating with Kuwaiti authorities "to ensure that justice will be served," the DFA added. The DFA also said it has summoned Kuwaiti Ambassador in Manila to express the government's outrage over "the seeming lack of protection of our domestic workers at the hands of their employers." The DFA, likewise, said it will push for complete transparency in the investigation, as well as swift prosecution of the perpetrators "to the fullest extent of the law." WHAT HAPPENED WHEN VICE GANDA SHOWED UP AT ‘THE MALL, THE MERRIER’ SCREENINGS MANILA — Through the holiday season, Vice Ganda has been doing non-stop promotions for “The Mall, The Merrier,” including surprise visits at screenings of the Metro Manila Film Festival entry. The comedy superstar would announce online the venues just an hour or two before showing up. Among the malls he visited in the past week were SM Mall Of Asia, SM Bacoor, SM Pampanga, SM Dasmariñas, and SM Megamall. His appearances did come as a surprise to many moviegoers, going by a compilation video released by Star Cinema on Sunday. In one portion, a thankful Vice Ganda went in front of a cinema at the end of a screening of “The Mall, The Merrier,” to shrieks from the audience. The comedy flick marks Vice Ganda’s first big-screen team-up with his “It’s Showtime” co-host Anne Curtis, who was unable to join him on promotional tours due to her pregnancy. “The Mall, The Merrier” stars the two as rival siblings who claim ownership of a mall, resulting in a showdown of gimmicks. Confronted with a family secret, and a bigger, magical threat, they are forced to put aside their differences and unite. NBA SCORES DEC 29 FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Thunder 17-15    22    25    29    22    98 team logo Raptors 22-11    20    27    33    17    97 SCORING LEADERSS. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC 32 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST F. VanVleet TOR 20 PTS, 3 REB, 8 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Hornets 13-22    20    26    29    29    104 team logo Grizzlies 13-21    31    25    30    31    117 SCORING LEADERS     M. Monk CHA 18 PTS, 5 REB, 0 AST     D. Brooks MEM 20 PTS, 0 REB, 2 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Kings 12-21    32    25    24    34    115 team logo Nuggets 23-9    31    31    26    32    120 SCORING LEADERS     N. Bjelica SAC 27 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST     W. Barton DEN 19 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Rockets 22-11    37    27    29    19    112 team logo Pelicans 11-23    36    28    22    41    127 SCORING LEADERSD. House Jr. HOU 22 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST L. Ball NO 27 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Mavericks 21-11    19    24    26    26    95 team logo Lakers 26-7    25    29    30    24    108 SCORING LEADERSL. Doncic DAL 19 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST A. Davis LAL 23 PTS, 9 REB, 4 AST