DELAYED MARAWI REHAB MAY FUEL VIOLENT EXTREMISM, WATCHDOG WARNS

MANILA – The ongoing delay in the rehabilitation of Marawi City, which was

reduced to rubble during a 5-month war against Islamic State-inspired

homegrown terrorists, can fuel resurgence of violent extremism, a

peacebuilding organization warned on Wednesday.

Francisco Lara Jr., senior peace and conflict adviser in Asia of

non-governmental organization International Alert, said displaced residents

of the Islamic City were growing impatient over the snail-paced

rehabilitation. It has been 3 years since the government declared its

liberation.

“Hands down, people on the ground are anxious. They are getting impatient,

and of course, there is a lot of anger because exactly of the promises that

were made, the schedules that were presented to the people that have not

been met,” he told ANC’s “Matters of Fact.”

With the rehabilitation delay, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic,

terrorists may hijack the grievances of residents, ultimately leading them

to violent extremism, Lara said.

“Because I assure you, the influence remains in some communities. When the

President said we have liberated [Marawi], that’s right. Marawi was

liberated in terms of control of the city. But in terms of the presence of

extremists, they are still there,” he said.

To date, over 100,000 residents, who have been yearning to rebuild their

lives after the months-long fighting that ended in October 2017, are still

living outside the most affected area of Marawi, Lara said.

He warned that extremists have gotten stronger in other parts of Bangsamoro,

a newly created autonomous region in the restive South, particularly in the

boundaries of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.

Lara, also a sociology professor at the University of the Philippines

Diliman, urged government leaders to prioritize the rehabilitation and

reconstruction of Marawi.

HOLD ME RESPONSIBLE FOR DRUG WAR DEATHS – DUTERTE

MANILA — While he has claimed to have never killed anyone or had anyone

killed, President Duterte said he could be held responsible for deaths

related to his campaign against illegal drugs, but not for unexplained

killings.

Duterte said he does not mind facing the court and going to jail because of

the crackdown on illegal drugs, which has so far left more than 6,000

suspects dead, based on police data.

“If there are deaths, I said... you can hold me responsible for anything,

any death that has occurred in the execution of the drug war. But do not

blame me for deaths whose perpetrators are not known,” the President said in

his televised public address.

“If you die, that’s because I am angry with drugs. That’s what I am saying.

If you bring me to court or send me to jail, fine, I have no problem. If I

serve my country by going to jail, gladly,” he added.

While he is open to facing charges, Duterte said he should not be accused of

committing “crime against humanity.”

“Kailan pa naging humanity itong p***** i** mga drug na ito (Since when did

these sons of b*****s become part of humanity)?” the President said.

Duterte said some of the deaths blamed on the drug crackdown may just be

“random killings” or may have been motivated by rivalry, debts and money

issues related to narcotics deals.

“It could be hatred and something else. It could be a fight over a woman,”

the President said.

PALACE SEEKS 'LEEWAY' IN HIRING CHINESE WORKERS FOR INFRA PROJECTS

MANILA - Malacañang appealed Wednesday for "leeway" in hiring Chinese

workers engaged in ongoing infrastructure projects, which a senator

criticized as the COVID-19 pandemic spawned job cuts for Filipinos in the

construction industry.

The Department of Public Works and Highways said in a recent Senate hearing

that the Chinese comprise 45 percent of the workforce in the Binondo Bridge

project and 30 percent in the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge.

These bridges are "100-percent donations from the Chinese government," said

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

"We don’t pay back anything for the building of these bridges. That’s why we

need to give them some flexibility in the personnel that they hire," he told

CNN Philippines.

"Had this been a project that we will pay for using taxpayers’ money, of

course we would insist that aside from highly technical positions,

Philippine laborers should be employed. I just appeal that we should give

them some leeway although we would appreciate it of course if the Chinese

government should employ more Filipinos," he added.

As a general rule, foreigners should be hired “only when there’s not enough

Filipinos able and have the capacity to perform the work,” said Roque.

He said he would discuss the issue with the DPWH and the labor department

“to see if we can insist that more Filipinos should be hired.”

PEPITO INUNDATES PARTS OF LUZON, FORCES HUNDREDS TO EVACUATE

MANILA - Tropical storm Pepito's strong winds and rainfall inundated parts

of Luzon Tuesday evening, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate as the

COVID-19 pandemic persisted, officials said Wednesday.

"No major untoward incident" has been reported so far while some 9 villages

in Nueva Ecija and Lopez town, Quezon were flooded, according to the

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Some 1,000 vehicles were stranded along Lopez town's national highway due to

flooding as of 8 a.m., local police said.

Landslides were reported in Sta. Ana Cagayan but has since been cleared out

and roads are now passable, said NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal.

"Wala pang casualty na naiuulat. We’re hoping na yung maagang paghahanda ng

LGUs (local government units) natin ang nagbunsod nito," he told ABS-CBN's

Teleradyo.

"Ang challenge po kasi dito yung mismong nagmamando ng ating COVID response

sa ground sila rin ang responders natin sa emergencies kagaya ng

bagyo...Pati ang evacuees natin dapat protected din at observe pa rin ang

physical distancing measure."

The storm caused "minimal damage" in Aurora and prompted the evacuation of

some 177 families, according to its Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction

Management Office.

Some 183 persons or 49 families were forced to evacuate in facilities

separate from individuals that might be carrying the coronavirus in

Casiguran town, Aurora, where Pepito made landfall on Tuesday evening, its

mayor Ricardo Bitong said.

PEPITO HEADS TOWARD WEST PH SEA AFTER BATTERING LUZON, STORM SIGNALS STILL

UP IN SEVERAL AREAS

MANILA - Tropical storm Pepito has emerged over the West Philippine Sea on

Wednesday morning after battering parts of Luzon, the state weather bureau

said.

The country's 16th storm this year was last estimated 115 kilometers

northwest of Dagupan City, Pangasinan as of 7 a.m., packing maximum winds of

up to 75 km per hour and gusts of up to 90 kph, PAGASA said in its latest

weather bulletin.

Pepito is forecast to leave the Philippine area of responsibility and

gradually intensify into a severe tropical storm over the West Philippine

Sea on Thursday if it continues to move west northwest at 30 kph, the state

weather bureau added.

On Wednesday, it will bring moderate to heavy rains over Batanes, Cagayan,

Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, La Union, Apayao, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan,

Occidental Mindoro, and Calamian Islands.

A tropical depression spotted outside PAR, approximately 1,900 km

east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, remains unlikely to enter the

country, PAGASA said.

PNOC-EC EYES PRODUCTION FROM AREA NEAR MALAMPAYA BY 2026

MANILA - The Philippine National Oil Company - Exploration Corp said Tuesday

it could start drilling in an area near Malampaya next year after President

Rodrigo Duterte lifted the moratorium on oil exploration in the West

Philippine Sea.

If the timeline works, oil production could start by late 2026 or early

2027, PNOC-EC president Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez said during a Senate budget

hearing.

Drilling is set to start next year, he said.

Briguez said the PNOC-EC was focused on 2 service contracts namely SC 57 and

SC 59, which he said were located within the "disputed areas" and one in

Northwest Palawan.

After the moratorium was lifted, the PNOC-EC proceeded with several actions

to "move forward" with SC 57 and SC 59, Briguez said. The agency will also

pursue SC 75 and SC 58. [LIFTED

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/10/15/20/duterte-oks-resumption-of-oil-exp

loration-in-west-ph-sea-doe]

The terms of reference for the SC 57 is currently being validated by the

Department of Energy and will also invite other proponents to join the

project.

"Once approved, we will farm it out and proceed with the additional studies

and exploration drilling for SC 57," Briguez said.

"Our timeline is, if we start drilling by 2021, hopefully in 5 years time we

will go into production and that is in 2026," he added.

The said SC 57, estimated to be 1.8 trillion cubic feet, has so much

"potential" since it is located near the Malampaya project.

DEPED: STOP CONNECTING DISTANCE LEARNING WITH SUICIDE

MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) has warned the public against

speculating about incidents involving the suicide of teachers and students.

“Suicide is a sensitive and complex issue. We would like to appeal to

everyone to stop directly connecting such to modules or distance learning,”

the agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

“We have received police blotters, incident reports, statements of families

and initial investigation of the cases, and none of them referred to

distance learning as the primary cause,” it added.

The statement was in response to several online posts alleging that the

incidents were related to the heavy work or study load as a result of the

shift to distance learning this school year.

DepEd urged the public to respect the privacy of the families and warned

against those who supposedly use the incidents to discredit the agency.

It said its field offices are in contact with the grieving families to

provide urgent relief and assistance.

THE REST

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METRO MANILA GETS FIRST FEMALE POLICE CHIEF

MANILA — The first ever female police chief in Metro Manila was named last

week, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced yesterday.

In a statement, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas said that Col. Angela

Rejano took over as Malabon City’s police chief on Oct. 15, replacing Col.

Jessie Tamayao.

She was the head of the NCRPO’s regional plans and strategy management

division prior to taking over Tamayao’s post.

Rejano was the first female police chief of Sorsogon City, the first female

provincial police chief of Siquijor and the first female head of the

Regional Training Center 5 of the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s

training institute.

She would lead over 500 police officers in Malabon, which has around 380,000

residents.

PHILIPPINES’ BIGGEST GAMING CONVENTION GOES VIRTUAL

MANILA – The country’s biggest esports and gaming convention is back and

more virtual than ever. The Electronic Sports and Gamming Summit (ESGS) 2020

is going digital from October 23-25, truly reinforcing the concept that

#GamingNeverStops even during a pandemic.

Back in 2014, one Filipino attended a gaming summit in a different country

and wondered why such an event couldn't be held in his own country.

It was then that Jobert Yu, founder and managing partner of Gariath Concepts

as well as Deputy Secretary General of the newly accredited POC Associate

Member Philippine Electronic Sports Organization (PESO), conceptualized the

Electronic Sports and Gamming Summit, more commonly known as ESGS.

Fast forward to 2020 and ESGS is one of the biggest gamming summits in South

East Asia as well as the biggest and most anticipated gaming summit in the

country.

"We were actually surprised," said Marketing Team Lead of ESGS organizer

Gariath Concepts, Mae Calicdan. "Marami akong narereceive dun sa [Facebook]

page: 'May ESGS ba?' Everyone was really expecting na magkakaroon."

With the current quarantine, the fate of ESGS hanged by a thread as the date

of when the summit usually took placed loomed over the horizon. But last

September 7, ESGS announced via their Facebook Page that gamers can enjoy

the summit from the safety of their own home as ESGS was going digital this

coming October 23 to 25.

COURT JUNKS DRUG CASE AFTER CCTV FOOTAGE SHOW PDEA AGENTS FAKED DRUG BUST

5 PDEA agents facing indirect contempt charges, probe

MANILA — A Dumaguete court has junked drugs cases against 5 suspects after

CCTV footage showed agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency lied

about a supposed drug bust.

Instead, Judge Amelia Lourdes Mendoza of Negros Oriental Regional Trial

Court Br. 34 initiated indirect contempt charges against the 5 PDEA agents

involved “for misleading the court, for making untruthful statements in

their affidavits, and for directly impeding and degrading the administration

of justice.”

PDEA agents Nelson Muchuelas, May Ann Carmelo, Jose Anthony Juanites, Cheryl

Mae Villaver and Realyn Pinpin are required to attend indirect contempt

proceedings on November 13, along with 2 witnesses — a barangay official and

a media representative.

The judge has also ordered that copies of the order junking the case be sent

to the Department of Justice and the Dumaguete City Prosecutor’s Office to

investigate the criminal liability of the PDEA agents and to PDEA Director

General Wilkins Villanueva for probe into their administrative liability.

“The time stamps on these videos corroborate the allegations of the accused.

It would have been nearly impossible for accused to produce CCTV videos

randomly depicting an identical blue utility car with dark windows in all

five locations, and within a little more than an hour timeframe. Such a tale

would be too tall to concoct,” the court said.

“The Court concludes that accused were illegally arrested on June 28, 2020,”

it added.

As a consequence of the illegal arrest, the court ruled it has no

jurisdiction over the accused and evidence supposedly obtained from them

were inadmissible.

HOTELS IN GCQ, MGCQ AREAS ALLOWED TO OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY

MANILA — Hotels in areas classified under a modified general community

quarantine and general community quarantine are now allowed to operate at

100-percent operational capacity, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat

announced Tuesday.

“The decision to open at 100-percent operational capacity will be subject to

the hotel management’s decision and compliance with the safety guidelines,”

she said.

The announcement came after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management

of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved Resolution No. 79 last Thursday,

which replaced the provision that accommodation establishments in areas

under GCQ may only operate with a skeleton work force.

The IATF-EID, however, allowed the DOT to determine the allowable

operational capacity or the employees who can be permitted to physically

report to work on-site, up to 100% for hotels under MGCQ and GCQ areas.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

KATHRYN BERNARDO REVEALS MARRIAGE DEAL WITH DANIEL PADILLA

MANILA — Kapamilya actress Kathryn Bernardo echoed her boyfriend Daniel

Padilla's sentiment to marry before turning 30.

During the recent virtual press conference of their digital series "The

House Arrest of Us," Kathryn said she and Daniel both agreed to tie the knot

before turning 30 years old.

"Before 30, ayon talaga ang deal namin. Pero may ilang panahon pa kami

before 30," Kathryn said.

The blockbuster queen also said that they are already discussing their

marriage that's why they are working hard now for their future.

"Of course, agree. Napaguusapan naman na talaga namin 'yon. I think nasa

tamang age na kami para i-ready ang mga sarili namin sa puntong 'yon," she

said.

"And now, 'yon ang dahilan kung bakit kami nagtatrabaho ngayon, i-ready

'yong mga kailangang i-ready kasi malaking step 'yon," she added.

When asked if she also agrees with Daniel to have a child immediately after

marriage, Kathryn laughingly said: "Siya magbuntis!"

SPORTS

NEWSOME LEADS MERALCO'S ESCAPE OF MAGNOLIA IN 1ST PBA BUBBLE OT

Chris Newsome delivered in the clutch to propel the Meralco Bolts to a

nail-biting 109-104 victory over the Magnolia Hotshots in the PBA Philippine

Cup at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga on Tuesday, October 20.

Newsome finished the game with 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists for the

Bolts, who now moved to 2-2 in the team standings.

The Hotshots led by as many as 10 points early in the 4th period after a Jio

Jalalon floater.

But the Bolts refused to stay down as Trevis Jackson drilled back-to-back

three-pointers late in the quarter to snatch the lead for the Bolts, 91-90.

The Hotshots were able to tie the game off a Paul Lee free throw with 13

seconds remaining before Chris Newsome missed a potential game-winning

jumper from the top of the key at the buzzer.

In overtime, Newsome scored 8 of his 23 points, including a tough fade-away

jumper with 9 seconds left to seal the game for the Bolts. Paul Lee failed

to connect on a three-pointer to tie the game.

"We just wanted to come out, play with a lot of energy, play with a lot of

heart and try to do anything to get a win today," said Newsome following his

outburst.

Rookie Aaron Black continues his stellar play for the Bolts as he

contributed 16 points, while Cliff Hodge and Reynel Hugnatan chipped in 12

and 10 points respectively.

Paul Lee exploded for a season-high 32 points while Mark Barroca added 17

points for the Hotshots, who missed the services of Ian Sangalang and Rome

Dela Rosa due to injuries.

PBA: ALASKA CLOBBERS BLACKWATER FOR 2ND WIN

MANILA — Alaska couldn’t do any wrong as it steamrolled Blackwater, 120-82,

for its second win in the PBA Philippine Cup Tuesday night at AUF Sports

Arena & Cultural Center in Angeles, Pampanga.

Aces rookie Barkley Eboña played his best game yet as he led all scorers

with 24 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the field in 24 minutes of action.

Alaska, which improved to 2-2, scored the game’s first nine points and never

looked back, taking a 38-17 advantage after the opening frame and pushing it

to as high as 40.

Five more Aces hit double-digits with Robbie Herndon posting 21 points and

Vic Manuel registering a near double-double with 16 points and nine

rebounds.

Alaska played like well-oiled machine, converting on 51% of its field goal

attempts while dishing out 23 assists with only seven turnovers.

Ed Daquioag paced Blackwater (2-2) with 18 but even he struggled offensively

with most of his points coming from the free throw line.

All 14 players scored at least two points for the Aces including Maverick

Ahanmisi, who made his bubble debut after missing his team’s first three

games.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.62

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of

leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of

non-essentials. - Lin Yutang