‘OBJECTIVE ACHIEVED’: MARTIAL LAW IN MINDANAO ENDS, AS NEW YEAR BEGINS Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday said the government will end martial law in Mindanao at midnight, even as soldiers will remain in the region “to sustain peace and stability.” Military rule has been in effect in the region since May 23, 2017, in response to the ISIS-affiliated Maute group attack on Marawi City. It was extended thrice. “At midnight (Tuesday), the martial law in Mindanao will end after two years and seven months or 953 days of effectivity,” Lorenzana said in a statement. “Upon the recommendation of the security sector, the President has decided to allow martial law to lapse and not ask for another extension anymore.” However, Lorenzana said that “the present number of troops will remain as is wherever they are and will continue to collaborate with the LGUs to sustain peace and stability.” He assured that “the security sector believes that the objective of the martial law has been achieved. The rebellion in Marawi, Lanao del Sur and other areas in Mindanao have been effectively stopped.” “They are confident that they can maintain the current peace and order in Mindanao and that an attack similar in scale to Marawi cannot be waged by the remnants of the Mautes or by any other terrorist groups in the future.” Human rights groups and social activists have questioned the extension of martial law in the region due to alleged abuses. DUTERTE: MY PRESIDENCY A 'TOTAL FAILURE' IF I FAIL TO CONTROL ILLEGAL DRUGS MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has admitted that his presidency would be a "total failure" if he fails to control the drug menace, one of the campaign promises that catapulted him to a landslide win three years ago. Duterte, whose brutal war on narcotics has left more than 5,000 drug suspects dead, said drug trafficking has become a "big problem" that threatens the future of the next generation. "It is a big problem. I'm trying to save the next generation. I'm not saying I'm the savior but I'm the president now. If I fail to control drugs by the time the graduating college students become fathers or mothers, they would have a problem," Duterte said during his visit to earthquake survivors in Digos City, Davao del Sur last Monday. "If we cannot control the flow of drugs, then I will consider my presidency a total failure. So I don't want that to happen. Do not do it," he added. When he was still running for president, Duterte vowed to put an end to illegal drugs within the first six months of his term. He eventually admitted that the promise was not doable because of the involvement of several government officials in the sale and distribution of narcotics. DUTERTE NOT THREATENING JUDICIARY, SAYS DOJ MANILA — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday expressed doubt that President Duterte was threatening the judiciary when he told the courts not to issue temporary restraining orders (TROs) against the construction of the Wawa and Kaliwa dams. Guevarra said he believed Duterte was “just being his usual tough guy self” when he advised the courts not to issue TROs that would delay the construction of the P20-billion Wawa Dam in Rizal. Wawa will be constructed by the joint venture of Prime Infra of businessman Enrique Razon and San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders Group. “The President knows that the judiciary is independent of the executive branch. He was merely expressing, in his own usual tough style, a personal sentiment and hope that the courts will not obstruct the pursuit of major development projects,” Guevarra said. “I recall that there’s a law or Supreme Court resolution that prohibits all courts, except the SC, from issuing restraining orders/preliminary injunctions against national government infrastructure projects,” he added. The justice secretary said this is covered by Republic Act No. 8975, titled “An act to ensure the expeditious implementation and completion of government infrastructure projects by prohibiting lower courts from issuing TROs, preliminary injunctions or preliminary mandatory injunctions.” “That law is still in effect and provides the legal basis for the President’s recent statement on the Kaliwa and Wawa dam projects,” Guevarra added. DILG CHIEF VOWS TO INSTITUTE REFORMS IN PNP MANILA — A day after President Duterte tasked him to temporarily lead the Philippine National Police, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año yesterday vowed to institute reforms in the PNP, which has been saddled by allegations of corruption among its ranks. While he is leaving the management of the PNP’s affairs to officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, Año said he is keeping a close watch on the police organization. “I will just closely supervise the organization and institute reforms that will improve further its efficiency and effectiveness,” he said in a text message to The STAR. In a separate statement to reporters, Año said he is ready to supervise the PNP until Duterte chooses the country’s next police chief. “My job is to supervise the organization on his behalf as his alter ego,” Año said. AFP TO HAVE NEW CHIEF ON JANUARY 4 MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will have a new commander on Saturday when Gen. Noel Clement relinquishes the top military post to his still unnamed successor after only three months on the job. Clement, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1985, assumed command of the AFP last September and will reach the military’s mandatory retirement age of 56 on Sunday. In a media advisory, the AFP Public Affairs Office said the AFP Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Camp Aguinaldo grandstand in Quezon City with President Duterte as presiding officer. Unlike his predecessor, retired Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., whose three-month term as AFP chief was extended by Duterte for another six months post retirement, Clement is not getting any extension, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. However, of all the retired AFP chiefs that served under the Duterte administration, Madrigal is the only one who has yet to get any government position. As of yesterday, Camp Aguinaldo insiders said the Palace has yet to communicate with the top defense and AFP leaderships regarding the next AFP chief. FIRECRACKER INJURIES DECLINE IN WELCOME TO NEW YEAR'S DAY 2020 MANILA -- Firecracker related injuries declined in the run-up to New Year's Day 2020, compared to the previous year, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said. The Department of Health Recorded 164 injuries from Dec. 21 to early morning of Jan. 1, down 35 percent during the same comparable period leading to New Year's Day 2019, Duque said. There were no immediate reports of deaths and the casualty count could rise since the DOH will record cases up to Jan. 6, Duque told reporters. At the Jose Fabella hospital in Manila, a man's hand was amputated after a powerful firecracker, Goodbye Philippines, exploded in his grasp. At the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, 16 were treated for burns mostly due to kuwitis (rocket) and sparklers. A woman was wounded in the eye while filming the festivities using her smartphone. A man was wounded when his pressure cooker exploded while another was hit on the head with a bottle. There were no immediate reports of injuries due to stray bullets. In Manila, another 16 were brought to different hospitals due to firecracker-related injuries, the city's public information office said. Authorities advised the public not to pick up unexploded firecrackers and sparklers from the streets. TV5 OPEN TO BLOCKTIME DEAL WITH ABS-CBN — MVP MANILA — PLDT chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said TV5 Network Inc. is open but cautious at the same time to a blocktime deal with ABS-CBN Corp. should the franchise renewal of the Lopez-owned broadcast company not be granted next year. Pangilinan clarified that there are no ongoing talks between the PLDT-backed network and ABS-CBN at present. “We have lots of highways on 5. Setting aside the politics, if they want to blocktime we are prepared to talk. We don’t have much entertainment content. It’s up to them,” Pangilinan said. “Of course politically, the President might say something so we are also reluctant,” he said. ABS-CBN is in danger of not having its franchise renewed when it expires next year following repeated threats from President Duterte himself. Duterte has said several times that he is personally against the franchise renewal of the media and entertainment giant, which expires on March 30, 2020. Asked if TV5 is open to a buy-out deal should ABS-CBN make an offer, Pangilinan said he did not want to think about it “because it won’t happen.” “I don’t want to be presumptuous. We don’t want to think about it. It’s up to them, but we’re not offering them anything. We’re not suggesting anything to them so there are really no talks,” he said. TV5, for its part, is planning to infuse more entertainment content into the channel starting next year, but without giving up its strength in sports. COMMANDERS FACE SANCTIONS FOR COPS CAUGHT FIRING GUNS MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa yesterday warned police commanders that they would face administrative sanctions if their personnel would be involved in the indiscriminate firing of guns during the New Year celebration. Gamboa issued the warning after a policeman assigned at the Butuan City police station was arrested for indiscriminate firing on Dec. 26. “We will also hold you responsible,” he said in an interview over radio station dzMM, addressing the police commanders. Gamboa stressed that unit commanders are also liable if they fail to supervise their personnel against indiscriminate firing. “The commander is equally liable, especially if we see that he did not do anything about it,” he said in Filipino. DFA TO ENSURE SAFETY OF 2 FILIPINO SEAMEN KIDNAPPED OFF CAMEROON MANILA - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday it was monitoring the reported kidnapping of a group of seafarers, including 2 Filipinos in Cameroon. "The Philippine Embassy in Abuja, which has jurisdiction over Cameroon, is coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure safety and security of the Filipino seafarers," the DFA said in a statement. On Tuesday, armed men attacked a Greek-flagged oil tanker in the port of Limbe and abducted 8 of its crewmembers including 5 Greeks, 2 Filipinos and a Ukranian. VENDORS GET LAST GLIMPSE OF ICONIC MANILA MALL MANILA — Stall owners who have been in Harrison Plaza for decades gave tribute to the country’s first one-stop mall, which closed shop yesterday after four decades. Many vendors told The STAR their main problem now was where to find affordable rent like in Harrison, where it cost P30,000 a month. The mall’s closure displaced a group of 15 visually impaired masseurs employed in “Bless Massage Centre” on the second floor. “Harrison is the massage capital of the Philippines. That is its legacy. The owners have been kind to the visually impaired,” said the massage center’s supervisor Tess Muñoz, who was teary-eyed as she recalled their shop’s beginnings in 2008 to give employment to persons with disabilities. When The STAR visited their shop Monday, they had just up a sign that read “Thank you for all the years of supporting the visually impaired masseurs!” They are now moving to a smaller space near the Light Rail Transit’s Carriedo station. DEPLOYMENT BAN TO KUWAIT A 'POSSIBILITY' AFTER OFW DEATH: LABOR CHIEF MANILA -- The Philippines could again ban the deployment of workers to Kuwait unless authorities in the Middle East state secures justice for a Filipina who was killed by her employer there, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday. Filipino authorities are working to repatriate the remains of the victim, Jeanelyn Villavende from Nuralla, South Cotabato. Her female employer is accused of killing her. President Rodrigo Duterte banned the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait in 2018 following reported deaths of Filipino workers, including Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found in a freezer. "I'm ready to do that. Ngayon, this is another possibility na hindi remote na magdedeployment ban din kami sa Kuwait unless they can show us na mabigyan ng katarungan ang ating kababayan na si Jeanelyn," said Bello in an interview on DZMM. An early report from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Kuwait indicated that Villavende was "maltreated" by her employer, who is detained, Bello said. The Department of Foreign Affairs condemned Villavende's killing, calling it a violation of the agreement signed by the Philippine and Kuwaiti governments in 2018 to protect OFWs. Bello said he would summon the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Manila on Thursday for a meeting regarding the incident. MEET 2020'S 'NEW YEAR BABIES' AT JOSE FABELLA HOSPITAL MANILA -- Five babies were delivered at the Philippines' main maternal and newborn hospital from midnight, as the country welcomed 2020. The first of the New Year babies, Ericka Escopete, was born at the Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila a few minutes before midnight. Her 20-year-old mother, Rosel said she did not expect to deliver her second child that day. "Tuwang-tuwa po. Akala ko kasi hindi pa ako mangananak. Mahirap, pero pag nakita mo ang bata, parang wala na," Escopete said. At around 12:05 a.m., Kate Nicole Rodriguez gave birth to daughter Ziaxia Zhavia, two days earlier than her due date. "Napakasaya po. Napaka overwhelmed kasi New Year, salubong sa Bagong Taon tapos first baby pa. Napakasaya po. Kahit malayo sa pamilya, sobrang saya," said the baby's father, Andrai John Cabaluna. As of 4 a.m. Wednesday, 3 more babies were born at Jose Fabella, where delivery and medicine are free. The hospital delivered more New Year babies this year from 2019. "Seems to be healthy naman silang dalawa so good for the New Year natin," said doctor on duty Maria Niña Quilnat, referring to the 2 girls born at around midnight. 300 PAMILYA SA MAYNILA NASUNUGAN SA BAGONG TAON MAYNILA - Nasa 300 pamilya ang nawalan ng tirahan ngayong Bagong Taon matapos na masunog ang isang residential area sa Sta. Ana sa Maynila. Isang fire volunteer at isang residente ang nasugatan din sa kasagsagan ng apoy, ayon sa Bureau of Fire Protection. Alas-6:42 ng umaga nang ideklarang fire under control ang sunog na nagsimula alas-4 ng madaling araw. Nasa 50 bahay ang tinupok ng apoy. Tinatayang nasa P2.5 milyon ang halaga ng naabong ari-arian. Patuloy na inaalam pa ng awtoridad ang pinagmulan ng apoy pero malaki umano ang posibilidad na ito ay firecracker-related. Dalawang covered courts ang binuksan para magsilbing pansamantalang tuluyan ng mga nasunugang pamilya. ANGEL LOCSIN, SINIMULAN NA ANG KANYANG ANTI-PIRACY CAMPAIGN Sinimulan na ni Angel Locsin ang pagiging anti-piracy ambassador ng Optical Media Board. Nakapag-shoot na si Angel ng kanyang kauna-unahang anti-piracy campaign video kasama ang aktor na si Cholo Barretto. Napapanood na ang video sa mga sinehan bago ipalabas ang mga pelikulang kalahok sa Metro Manila Film Festival. PBA: SO WHO WINS BEST PLAYER OF THE CONFERENCE NOW? The Best Player of the Conference derby heads to a curious finish, with not a single player from finalists Barangay Ginebra and Meralco making the Top Five in the stats race. (Photo by Richard Esguerra) The fight for the coveted individual plum in the PBA Governors’ Cup is a virtual barroom brawl. The Best Player of the Conference derby heads to a curious finish, with not a single player from finalists Barangay Ginebra and Meralco making the Top Five in the stats race. San Miguel’s June Mar Fajardo, Columbian Dyip super rookie CJ Perez, NorthPort’s Christian Standhardinger, NLEX’s Kiefer Ravena and TNT KaTropa’s Jayson Castro slug it out in the BPC rumble. Meanwhile, two-time Governors’ Cup Best Import winner Allen Durham and one-time Commissioner’s Cup top reinforcement Justin Brownlee are again chief rivals for the coveted ware. With outside chances for the Best Import honors are TNT’s KJ McDaniels and NorthPort’s Michael Qualls. But it could well be either Durham or Brownlee as they’ve remained class acts, with their topnotch performances leading to a third finals duel in the season-ending tourney. The BPC award is a toss-up among Fajardo, Perez, Standhardinger, Ravena and Castro – all with strong cases to win the award. Fajardo (with an average of 38.8 stats points) narrowly won the stats race over Perez (37.2), the season’s top draft selection who made good impression all season long, including in the Governors’ Cup where he showed the way in scoring (23.2) and in steals (2.5). Standhardinger (35.1 SPs) and Castro (31.6 SPs) were two candidates who were able to carry their teams to the semis while Ravena earned taps on the back with his fine showing coming from his long FIBA suspension. Three Ginebra stalwarts in Stanley Pringle (30.8), Japeth Aguilar (29.9) and LA Tenorio (28.0) narrowly missed the Magic Five together with TNT’s RR Pogoy (30.4) and Meralco’s Chris Newsome (29.8). Tied with Tenorio at 10th spot was Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang (28.0) then came another rookie in Bobby Ray Parks (27.5), followed by Raymond Almazan (27.4), Jeth Troy Rosario (27.0) and Matthew Wright (26.8) to round out the Top 15. Fajardo collected averages of 19.3 points, 14.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 blocks to contend for a second BPC award in the season following his BPC coronation in the all-Filipino tourney. Meanwhile, Castro, the Commissioner’s Cup best player, normed 14.9 markers, 5.9 dish-offs, 4.4 boards and 1.7 steals. NBA SCORES DEC 30 FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Hawks 7-27    25    22    27    27    101 team logo Magic 14-19    21    36    15    21    93 SCORING LEADERS     B. Goodwin ATL 21 PTS, 3 REB, 6 AST     N. Vucevic ORL 27 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Heat 24-9    39    24    18    24    105 team logo Wizards 10-22    29    42    19    33    123 SCORING LEADERSJ. Butler MIA 27 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST J. McRae WAS 29 PTS, 4 REB, 8 AST FINAL/OT     1    2    3    4    OT    T team logo Nets 16-16    29    21    30    23    12    115 team logo Timberwolves 12-20    27    22    25    29    19    122 SCORING LEADERS     S. Dinwiddie BKN 36 PTS, 5 REB, 8 AST     S. Napier MIN 24 PTS, 3 REB, 8 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Bucks 30-5    31    24    40    28    123 team logo Bulls 13-21    20    32    25    25    102 SCORING LEADERSK. Middleton MIL 25 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST Z. LaVine CHI 19 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Pistons 12-22    21    19    18    23    81 team logo Jazz 21-12    19    20    29    36    104 SCORING LEADERS     D. Rose DET 20 PTS, 0 REB, 4 AST     D. Mitchell UTA 23 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST FINAL     1    2    3    4    T team logo Suns 13-20    19    36    28    39    122 team logo Trail Blazers 14-20    38    26    25    27    116 SCORING LEADERSD. Booker PHO 33 PTS, 6 REB, 7 AST D. Lillard POR 33 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST