US POLLS: TOO CLOSE TO CALL, BUT TRUMP EDGES AHEAD IN EARLY TRENDS

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are battling it

out for the White House, with polls gradually closing across the United

States Tuesday and a long night of waiting for results ahead.

The first results are trickling in, with US media projecting wins for the

Republican incumbent so far in 17 states including Indiana, Kentucky,

Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia -- all states he won in 2016.

Biden has captured 14 states including his home state Delaware and big prize

New York, plus the US capital Washington Connecticut. As with Trump, so far,

all states claimed by Biden were won by Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.

The magic number (for electoral votes) is 270. Observers expect the hotly

contested race for the White House to come down to a handful of key

battleground states.

Trump's campaign claimed victory in the must-win state of Florida, though US

media said that race was still too close to call. The president's campaign

made the claim in a tweet as ballots were still being counted in the state

that holds 29 state-by-state Electoral College votes.

The New York Times put the president's chances of winning Florida at over 95

percent.

The voter turnout indicated the largest participation in a century.

According to the United States Election Project, in at least six states —

Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Texas and Washington State — the turnout

has been more than what we saw in the 2016 polls.

The latest tally of early voting in the US shows that almost 102 million

Americans cast their votes before Election Day, an eyepopping total that

represents 73 of the total turnout of the 2016 presidential election. Early

voting — whether in person or by mail-in or absentee ballot — has swelled

during the Covid-19 pandemic as voters have sought the safety and

convenience it offers. The greatest gains have been witnessed in Kentucky

where almost 13 times as many voters cast their ballots early as in 2016.

One doesn’t know how much the postal votes that will be counted the last in

most states, will matter.

DUTERTE: MANY CORRUPT OFFICIALS TO LOSE JOBS

MANILA — Expect a wave of dismissals, suspensions and even prosecutions to

swamp the bureaucracy next month, President Duterte said on Monday as the

government’s re-energized anti-corruption campaign goes into full swing.

The President issued the warning during a meeting at Malacañang with his

officials on the impact of Typhoon Rolly.

“The next round will be by December. Many will lose their jobs. Many will be

separated from the government. Many will face prosecution and many will go

to jail,” Duterte said.

At the meeting, he presented a list of 60 officials from the Philippine

Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHhealth) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) who

were either suspended or dismissed for involvement in corruption.

“Marami ito. Dagdagan ko pa yan (There are many of them. I will add more),”

Duterte said.

He named about 40 immigration personnel being investigated for alleged

corruption.

He said in the BOC alone, 20 personnel have been dismissed, four suspended,

135 being investigated and 45 charged with administrative cases.

“I will dedicate the last two years to the fight against corruption,” the

President said.

“We have been transparent...you said it, but that’s good that all declared:

‘We have funds in our department.’ For as long as we spend it for the

purpose for which it is intended to be appropriated,” he said after Budget

Secretary Wendel Avisado identified agencies that can tap their own

emergency funds.

Before reading the list of PhilHealth and Customs officials being probed for

alleged corruption either by the Office of the Ombudsman or other agencies,

Duterte reiterated his trust and confidence in Public Works Sec. Mark

Villar.

PHILIPPINE NAMED ASIA’S TOP DIVE, BEACH DESTINATION; DOT WINS

MANILA — The Philippines continues to be recognized by the international

travel community as it was named Asia’s leading dive and beach destination

at the 27th World Travel Awards.

Apart from bagging the two awards, the Department of Tourism (DOT) was also

declared as this year’s leading tourist board in Asia, beating 11 nominated

countries.

“We are truly honored and thankful for the accolades given to the

Philippines at the 2020 World Travel Awards Asia,” Tourism Secretary

Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.

“These recognitions are certainly an inspiration to the industry as we

safely and gradually reopen our destinations for tourism. These would not be

possible without the combined efforts from our tourism stakeholders, local

government units, partner agencies and our fellow Filipinos who have

tirelessly promoted our country’s attractions, products and culture,” she

added.

Dive tourism is identified by the DOT as one of the key areas in the

National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2016-2022 that can positively

affect industry growth in terms of increased visitor count, extended length

of stay, higher tourism revenue, among others.

This is the Philippines’ fourth time to win Asia’s Leading Beach Destination

and second time to win Asia’s Leading Dive Destination, following a number

of nominations for categories since 2006.

In contrast, this is the second time for the DOT to win Asia’s Leading

Tourist Board.

Apart from its wins in the Asia categories, the Philippines and the DOT

still stand a chance to bag more awards in the World category as it has

received five nominations.

Among these are the World’s Leading Beach Destination and World’s Leading

Dive Destination for the Philippines, World’s Leading Island Destination for

Siargao and World’s Leading Tourist Attraction for Intramuros.

The DOT is also nominated in the World’s Leading Tourist Board category.

COMELEC ON VP POLL PROTEST: PET CAN VOID ELECTIONS UNDER 'STRICTEST

STANDARDS, PROCEDURES'

MANILA — Weighing in on pending issues in the vice presidential poll

protest, the Commission on Elections said that the Presidential Electoral

Tribunal has the power to annul election results but it must do so under the

"strictest standards."

The Comelec submitted its Comment in compliance with the tribunal’s order to

answer pending issues on former Sen. Bongbong Marcos' election protest

against Vice President Leni Robredo. Marcos’ third cause of action in his

petition alleges massive electoral fraud in the provinces of Lanao del Sur,

Basilan and Maguindanao.

Comelec told the tribunal that it received and dismissed eight petitions for

declarations of failure of elections related to the 2016 national elections

filed relative to the provinces of Lanao Del Sur, Basilan and Maguindanao.

All except in a case involving Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao were issued

their respective Certificates of Finality.

“Accordingly, no special elections were held or conducted in the provinces

of Basilan, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao in connection with the 2016

[National and Local Elections],” it added.

The Comelec was told to submit a separate comment from the Office of the

Solicitor General that told the PET that even if the votes in the three

provinces are nullified, there will be no failure to elect and the ultimate

winner is that with majority of votes. Following Solicitor General Jose

Calida’s notion, this would mean wiping out of Robredo’s slim margin over

Marcos.

The Comelec said that it is clear that the PET is empowered by the

Constitution to declare annulment of elections without special elections,

but it cannot declare failure of elections and conduct special elections, as

this would be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the poll body.

While the Comelec also said PET can annul election results following its

mandate, it stressed: “As to give highest importance to the thousands of

votes cast in the elections, the strictest standards and procedures of law

must be set in place if the PET becomes strongly and positively convinced to

annul the results of the elections.”

JOMA SISON AGAIN DENIES LEGAL GROUPS AS RED FRONTS, ALLEGES MILITARY SPLICED

VIDEO

MANILA— Self-exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison on Wednesday

reiterated a denial identifying progressive groups as communist front amid

allegations he was to blame for red-tagging.

Speaking to ANC, one of the leaders of the long-running Philippine communist

insurgency accused the military of splicing a 1988 video to make it appear

that groups such as Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela and Alliance of Concerned

Teachers, among others, were allied to their cause.

"Well I, spoke in Belgium, in Brussels, in 1988 and the Philippine military

was able to get hold of the video. They spliced the video to make it appear

that I said that the legal democratic organizations are fronts, in the sense

that they are facade. I never used that kind of language," he said.

"As a matter of fact, I differentiated the legal forces of the national

democratic movement from the armed revolutionary movement. So it's stupid of

the military to splice this. I used to call them military morons but I [now]

call them idiots.”

Several military and police officials had claimed it was Sison himself who

red-baited the legal democratic organizations.

Sison, who has been on self-exile in the Netherlands for over 30 years, also

dismissed as “entirely untrue" claims of receiving cuts of up to 40 percent

from companies extorted by their armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

"I depend on the assistance from relatives and friends… I don’t have to

depend on funds that belonged to the revolutionary movement,” he said.

He was reacting to an allegation made by Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz, who the

military presented to testify against communist rebels during Tuesday’s

Senate hearing on the state forces' alleged rampant practice of red-tagging.

Celiz, who is included in President Rodrigo Duterte's narcolist, claims to

be a former member of the armed communist movement.

On allegations that some NPA officers raped its female members, Sison

slammed the military for supposedly making up stories.

He insists the communist party is committed to “following international law

on human rights and international humanitarian law in humanitarian conduct

of waging war."

“So you have a very responsible movement that's why it lasted for so long,”

Sison added.

BIGGER BUDGET FOR DISTRESSED OFWS SOUGHT

MANILA — A group of overseas Filipino workers yesterday called on the

government to increase funds for programs that provide assistance to OFWs

and their families in the 2021 national budget.

Migrante International said that under the proposed budget, only P8.6

billion from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Overseas Workers

Welfare Administration (OWWA) was allotted for programs meant to assist

distressed OFWs.

“The 2021 budget for the DFA’s Assistance to Nationals Program and Legal

Assistance Fund did not see any increase at all, amounting to P1.2 billion,”

Migrante said in a statement.

THE REST

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PH DAILY INFECTIONS, COVID-19 POSITIVITY RATE IN NCR STEADILY DECLINING:

OCTA GROUP

MANILA - The COVID-19 positivity rate in Metro Manila is declining steadily

as the Philippines' daily coronavirus cases also continue to decrease, a

group of analysts said early Wednesday, presenting a brighter outlook for

the country.

The OCTA Research Group said in a report that the ratio of people testing

positive of COVID-19 in Metro Manila is trending at the right direction at 6

percent, and is close to the World Health Organization's recommended target

of 5 percent to effectively curb the virus spread.

Even after the Philippine Red Cross resumed its coronavirus testing

services, following a debt feud with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth), daily infections are dropping in the country especially in the

capital region, the analysts noted.

The average number of new cases per day for the whole Philippines went down

to around 1,800 while the new average in Metro Manila is at 490, a

significant improvement from August when it was at 2,500, the OCTA group

said.

The Philippines recorded 1,772 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday,

bringing the total number of cases in the country to 387,161.

The health department noted that this is the 21st straight day that the

country's daily tally is less than 3,000, although it does not include data

from 18 accredited testing laboratories that failed to submit results on

time.

However, the OCTA group — composed of professors from the University of the

Philippines, the University of Santo Tomas, and Providence College in the

United States — warned that positive downward trend in the Philippines and

Metro Manila can "easily be reversed" if the government, private sector, and

the public become complacent with the virus and begin to ignore

anti-coronavirus policies.

MANILA TAKES CUSTODY OF 500 FAMILIES AFTER FIRE

MANILA — More than 500 families who lost their homes in a two-hour fire in

Sta. Mesa, Manila have been taken to evacuation centers and are now under

the care of the city government, Mayor Isko Moreno said yesterday.

Moreno said he ordered city social welfare department chief Re Fugoso to

bring the victims to the Hippodromo, Polytechnic University of the

Philippines and barangay covered courts and extend the necessary assistance.

The fire victims were fed and given food packs while they wait for the

opportunity to rebuild their houses.

An estimated 300 houses made of light materials were destroyed in the fire

that reportedly started in the house of a certain Edilberto Layson at the

corner of Road 12 and Anonas street at around 3:24 p.m. on Monday.

No one was hurt in the blaze. The Bureau of Fire Protection estimated the

fire damage to be at P1 million.

DOCTORS ON BOATS SAIL FOR TYPHOON VICTIMS

MANILA — Doctors on boats are arriving in areas devastated by Typhoons Rolly

and Quinta to provide emergency medical services for the calamity-stricken

residents, it was learned yesterday.

Philippine Medical Association (PMA) president Benito Atienza said their

group has reactivated the “Doctors on Boats” program to be able to penetrate

remote and deeply flooded barangays to deliver crucial medical services as

well as relief goods.

Atienza said psychiatrists and spiritual leaders are included in the medical

teams, to provide mind and spiritual support to the flood victims.

MRT-3 SPEEDS UP TRAINS TO 50 KPH

MANILA — For the first time in six years, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3

(MRT-3) increased the speed of its trains to 50 kilometers per hour starting

on Monday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) reported yesterday.

The increase has reduced the time between trains to four to five minutes for

20 trains at 50 kph, from 6.5 to seven minutes for 20 trains at 40 kph.

According to the DOTr, this means that travel time from the MRT-3’s North

Avenue station to its Taft Avenue station will be lessened from one hour and

15 minutes to just one hour and five minutes.

7 ABU SAYYAF SLAIN IN SEA CLASH WITH SOLDIERS

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Seven Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in an encounter with

soldiers in Sulu Sea before dawn yesterday.

Ground forces identified two of the fatalities as Madsmar and Mannul

Sawadjaan, brothers of Jolo suicide bombing mastermind Mudzrimar ”Mundi”

Sawadjaan.

Mannul, alias Abu Amara, was said to be the successor of slain Abu Sayyaf

leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said the clash

occurred on high seas off Sulare Island in Parang town, a known jumping-off

point of Abu Sayyaf kidnappers.

SIGNAL NO. 1 UP OVER PARTS OF CAGAYAN, BABUYAN ISLANDS DUE TO 'SIONY'

MANILA — Storm signal has been hoisted over parts of Cagayan and Babuyan

Islands due to Tropical Storm Siony (international name: Atsani), the state

weather bureau said Wednesday morning.

PAGASA placed the following areas in extreme Northern Luzon under Tropical

Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 in anticipation of strong breeze to near gale

force associated with Siony:

- Northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga)

- Eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Balintang Islands, Babuyan Island,

Didicas Island and Camiguin Island including their adjoining islets)

TCWS No. 2 can be hoisted over these areas. Weather forecasters are also not

ruling out the possibility of raising TCWS No. 3 in areas near or along the

projected track of the storm.

Siony—the 19th tropical cyclone this year—was last spotted 700 km east of

Basco, Batanes packing peak winds of 85 kph and gusts of up to 105 kph.

PAGASA said the tropical storm is expected to move slowly or remain almost

stationary in the next 12 hours. Then, it will head westward or

west-northwestward toward Luzon Strait and extreme Northern Luzon, bringing

the center of Siony over or very close to Batanes and Babuyan Islands

between Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Landfall over Batanes or Babuyan Islands remains likely.

Siony is seen to strengthen into severe tropical storm in the next 24 hours

and reach its height of 100 to 110 kph Thursday ahead of its possible

landfall or close approach over extreme Northern Luzon.

“Intensification into typhoon category is not ruled out at this time,”

PAGASA said.

Forecast positions

Thursday morning: 520 km east of Calayan, Cagayan

Friday morning: 25 km northwest of Calayan, Cagayan

Saturday morning: 595 km west of Basco, Batanes

Sunday morning: 910 km west of Northern Luzon

Monday morning: 1,390 west of Central Luzon

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

MIMIYUUUH GETS ROWDY WITH BEA ALONZO IN HILARIOUS VLOG

MANILA — Bea Alonzo may be known for her poise and sophistication, but those

had to be put aside when she collaborated with comedian and social media

star Mimiyuuuh for a vlog.

Alonzo was Mimiyuuuh’s guest in the latter’s vlog released on Tuesday, where

they took on the popular song association challenge.

The mechanics? Race to snatch a pillow, and if successful, sing a line from

their entry.

The game proved to be rowdy, as Mimiyuuuh and Alonzo scrambled to get the

most points, showing a rare glimpse of the actress with her guard down.

In Alonzo’s own vlog entry with Mimiyuuuh, the “challenge,” meanwhile, was

more laid-back, as they discussed different ways of vlogging.

The actress sought tips from Mimiyuuuh on possibly taking a specific route

as a vlogger. The early result: Alonzo coming up with a tagline for her

YouTube, “Life is BEAutiful.”

SPORTS

PBA SCORES NOV 3

TUE, NOV 3, 2020        Q1    Q2    Q3    Q4    T

Barangay Ginebra        15    19    27    26    87

Alaska Aces            24    16    16    25    81

Batang Pier            13    17    25    32    87

TNT Tropang Giga        30    24    36    22    112

Phoenix Fuel Masters        23    36    27    30    116

Terrafirma Dyip            26    29    16    23    94

Blackwater Elite            27    14    18    25    88

San Miguel Beermen        20    21    25    18    90

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.41

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The wave of the future is not the conquest of the world by a single dogmatic

creed but the liberation of the diverse energies of free nations and free

men. - John F. Kennedy