PHILIPPINE ECONOMY SHRINKS 11.5 PCT IN Q3, SECOND WORST QUARTERLY

CONTRACTION ON RECORD

MANILA - The Philippine economy shrank 11.5 percent in the third quarter,

the second worst quarterly contraction on record and marking the first time

in 35 years that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) saw three

straight quarters of negative growth, the state statistics bureau said on

Tuesday.

The negative growth in the July to September period followed a revised 16.9

percent contraction of the country's GDP in the second quarter from a year

earlier, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

First quarter GDP had earlier also been revised to -0.7 percent from -0.2

percent.

This means that the GDP has contracted 9.7 percent in the first three

quarters of the year.

Economists polled by Reuters forecast the economy to shrink 8.9 percent for

the whole of 2020, which is much steeper than the 5.5 percent decline

forecast by Philippine economic managers last August.

The International Monetary Fund meanwhile forecast Philippine GDP

contracting 8.3 percent this year, which is the steepest in Southeast Asia.

Economists have blamed the world’s longest and strictest lockdown for the

record decline of the Philippine economy.

Agriculture was the lone bright spot in the PSA report, as it grew 1.2

percent in the third quarter. Industry meanwhile shrank 17.2 percent, while

services contracted 10.6 percent.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has said that it expects third quarter GDP

to be better than the "rock bottom" second quarter figures after the

reopened economy showed "positive indicators."

DUTERTE SUMMONS 40 BI MEN IN ‘PASTILLAS’ SCAM

MANILA — President Duterte yesterday called to Malacañang the 40 Bureau of

Immigration (BI) personnel tagged in the “pastillas scam,” but did not

deliver on his threat to make them eat money wrapped like pastillas.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Duterte gave to the men money rolled

up in paper and wanted them to eat it.

The President, however, did not insist and “just said either eat it or give

to the first beggar you see,” Guevarra said.

“He relented at the last moment and no longer required them to eat the money

rolled up in paper that appeared just like the sweet pastillas delicacy,”

the justice secretary said.

“The President apparently intended to give them a dressing down. During the

short meeting, he distributed pastillas to the BI personnel. Money had been

rolled inside each pastillas, ” Guevarra narrated.

“The President wanted them to eat the pastillas, but did not insist out of

deference to the secretary of justice who was also present,” Guevarra said.

The pastillas scam allowed the illegal entry of Chinese nationals into the

country. The payoffs were allegedly rolled up in paper like pastillas.

Before ending the meeting, Duterte told the immigration personnel that they

would have to face the cases filed against them.

PFIZER, BIONTECH SAY THEIR COVID-19 VACCINE IS MORE THAN 90% EFFECTIVE

Pfizer Inc. said on Monday its experimental COVID-19 vaccine was more than

90% effective, a major victory in the fight against a pandemic that has

killed more than a million people, battered the world's economy and upended

daily life.

Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE are the first drugmakers to release

successful data from a large-scale clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine.

The companies said they have so far found no serious safety concerns and

expect to seek U.S. authorization this month for emergency use of the

vaccine.

If authorized, the number of doses will initially be limited and many

questions remain, including how long the vaccine will provide protection.

However, the news provides hope that other COVID-19 vaccines in development

may also prove effective.

"Today is a great day for science and humanity," Albert Bourla, Pfizer's

chairman and chief executive, said.

"We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program

at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new

records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to

reopen."

Pfizer expects to seek broad U.S. authorization for emergency use of the

vaccine for people aged 16 to 85. To do so, it will need two months of

safety data from about half the study's 44,000 participants, which his

expected late this month.

The MSCI index of world stock markets hit a record high following the

announcement. Pfizer shares were indicated 6% higher in New York, while

BioNTech's U.S. stock leapt 18%.

BRAZIL HALTS TRIALS OF CHINESE COVID-19 VACCINE

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil's health regulator said Monday it had suspended

clinical trials of a Chinese-developed Covid-19 vaccine after an "adverse

incident" involving a volunteer recipient, a blow for one of the most

advanced vaccine candidates.

The setback for CoronaVac, developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac

Biotech, came on the same day US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said its own

vaccine candidate had shown 90 percent effectiveness, sending global markets

soaring and raising hopes of an end to the pandemic.

The Brazilian regulator, Anvisa, said in a statement it had "ruled to

interrupt the clinical trial of the CoronaVac vaccine after a serious

adverse incident" on October 29.

It said it could not give details on what happened because of privacy

regulations, but that such incidents included death, potentially fatal side

effects, serious disability, hospitalization, birth defects and other

"clinically significant events."

However, the public health center coordinating the trials of the vaccine in

Brazil, the Butantan Institute, said it was "surprised" by the decision.

The institute "is investigating in detail what happened," and "is at the

Brazilian regulatory agency's disposal to provide any clarification

necessary on any adverse incident the clinical trials may have presented,"

it said.

It said it would hold a press conference on Tuesday at 11:00 am (1400 GMT).

FORMER ENVOY TO BRAZIL CHARGED FOR MALTREATMENT

MANILA — Former Philippine ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro was formally

charged yesterday for alleged maltreatment of her Filipino house helper,

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said.

Locsin did not elaborate on the complaint against Mauro, a career diplomat,

but said he informed President Duterte of the charges.

“Charge served on her at 8:25 a.m. today. I sent a memo to the President on

it,” Locsin tweeted.

“The Hearing Panel’s report and charge will be passed upon and

approved/disapproved by the Board of Foreign Service Administration; and

finally by the Secretary. It shouldn’t take too long,” he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) vowed to impose “severe” penalty on

the former ambassador for maltreating her household staff.

Last month, Locsin recalled Mauro, who was caught on video maltreating her

51-year-old housemaid.

The footage, first aired by a Brazilian news outfit, went viral on social

media.

The DFA formed a fact-finding team to investigate Mauro for allegedly

mistreating her Filipino domestic helper after Malacañang allowed the agency

to conduct the probe.

ROBREDO LAWYERS TO QUESTION CALIDA'S ROLE IN SEEKING LEONEN INHIBITION FROM

POLL PROTEST

MANILA — The legal team of Vice President Leni Robredo will question

Solicitor General Jose Calida’s role in pushing for the inhibition of

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen on former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos

Jr.’s poll protest.

Speaking on CNN Philippines’ "The Source" on Tuesday, lawyer Emil Marañon

said they will file a pleading to question Calida’s participation in the

case, which he pointed out, is a private suit.

"We find it not only very abnormal but very suspicious, the solicitor

general’s action. We will raise points not just to question the standing of

OSG in aiding a private litigant like Mr. Marcos. Also we’ll question the

merit of the very motion to inhibit filed by the OSG," he added in a mix of

English and Filipino.

Calida on Monday filed his own motion to inhibit Leonen in the poll protest

just hours after Marcos submitted his own pleading. The two motions —

unrelated, according to Marcos — raised similar arguments.

According to the office's mandate, the solicitor general "is the principal

law officer and legal defender of the Government" and is to "represent the

Government and its officers in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and

all other courts or tribunals in all civil actions and special proceedings

in which the Government or any officer thereof in his official capacity is a

party."

The same mandate gives the solicitor the power "to represent the Republic

and/or the people before any court, tribunal, body or commission in any

matter, action or proceeding which, in his opinion, affects the welfare of

the people as the ends of justice may require."

SENATE OKS BILL BANNING CHILD MARRIAGE IN PHILIPPINES

MANILA — The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a measure

criminalizing child marriage in the country, which has one of the highest

number of underaged brides in the world.

An overwhelming 21-0 with no abstention secured Senate Bill no. 1373's

passage in the upper chamber, which would send to at least six years in jail

and impose a fine of P40,000 those who would arrange or facilitate a child

marriage.

Parents or guardians of minors who would commit the crime will face 12 years

imprisonment, a P50,000 fine as well as losing parental authority over the

children.

The United Nations Population Fund in a policy brief had said that one in

six Filipino girls are married even before they turn 18 or of legal age.

Another UN agency, the UNICEF, has said too that the Philippines accounted

for 726,000 child brides in 2017, placing the country at the 12th spot

globally.

THE REST

========

DUTERTE NAMES SINAS AS NEW PNP CHIEF

MANILA — The controversial police general facing charges over a birthday

party held despite a ban on mass gatherings has been named the country’s

next police chief.

President Duterte has appointed National Capital Region Police Office chief

Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas as the new head of the 200,000-strong national

police, a move that critics said reflected patronage and double standard in

government.

Sinas replaces Gen. Camilo Cascolan, who is stepping down today as

Philippine National Police chief upon reaching the mandatory PNP retirement

age of 56, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

‘GREATLY INDEBTED’ VELASCO MARKS 43RD BIRTHDAY WITH OATH-TAKING BEFORE

DUTERTE

A month after his dramatic takeover at the lower chamber, Speaker Lord Allan

Velasco took his oath as House leader before President Rodrigo Duterte in

Malacañang.

Velasco’s oath-taking ceremony was held on Monday, November 9, coinciding

with his 43rd birthday celebration.

Malacañang released photos and videos of the event only on Tuesday morning,

November 10.

“I am deeply honored to be sworn in by President Duterte who I admire a lot

and have high regard for. He is also one of the persons to whom I am greatly

indebted,” Velasco said in a statement.

After the ceremony, Duterte offered to do a fist bump with his party mate,

Velasco

Velasco’s oath-taking before the President is merely ceremonial, however.

Senior Deputy Speaker Salvador “Doy” Leachon told Rappler the Speaker took

his oath before Duterte “just for it to be meaningful [as it is] coinciding

with [the] Speaker’s birthday.”

Velasco can be seen holding a birthday cake in one of the photos sent by

Malacañang to the media.

WALANG DALAW: BUCOR CHIEF SAYS SUSPENSION OF VISITS CAUSED BILIBID RIOT

MANILA - Four prisoners were killed while 64 others were wounded after a

fresh riot erupted in New Bilibid Prison on Monday, the Bureau of

Corrections said Tuesday.

Twenty of the injured inmates, none in critical condition, were referred to

outside hospitals while the rest were sent back to their cells, according to

BuCor spokesman Gabriel Chaclag.

The fight may have erupted due to prisoners' restlessness after months

without visitation rights, Chaclag said.

Last month, 9 inmates were killed and 7 others were wounded in a riot

between "Sputnik" and "Commando" gangs at the east quadrant of the New

Bilibid Prison's maximum security compound.

"Ilang buwan na pong walang dalaw. Kahit konting girian lang ay nagkakaroon

ng matinding effect sa kanilang grupo," he said.

BuCor chief Gen. Gerald Bantag allowed reformation activities to resume 3

days ago, Chaclag said. Inmates are also allowed to receive electronic

visits (e-dalaw) and given phone call privileges, he added.

MOTORCYCLE TAXIS TO RESUME OPERATIONS – DOTr

MANILA — The resumption of motorcycle taxi operations nears as the

guidelines to ensure the health and safety of passengers and riders have

been released, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said yesterday.

“We want to have motorcycle taxis back on the roads to help our fellowmen in

their transportation needs. We also assure the public that the minimum

standards and protocols will be enforced,” Transportation Assistant

Secretary for road transport and infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor said.

National Action Plan against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon

said the operational guidelines for motorcycle taxis were approved last

week.

Dizon said part of the guidelines is the mandatory use of barriers with

specifications approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of

Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Passengers must bring their own helmets that comply with specifications

issued by the Land Transportation Office.

RISING COVID-19 TREND OBSERVED IN VISAYAS AND MINDANAO

MANILA — While there has been an overall decline in the number of new

infections of coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 in the country, a rising

trend of cases in four areas in the Visayas and Mindanao has been observed,

the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said an increase of as much as

200 percent has been noted on Dinagat Island and Sarangani in Mindanao as

well as in Ormoc and Eastern Samar in the Visayas.

“Many areas are having a downward trend, but there are some that are still

seeing an increase,” Vergeire said.

She said several reasons are being considered for the increase, but the DOH

is validating them based on its own criteria.

In Ormoc, Vergeire said the local government detected a cluster of cases

among health care workers.

In Eastern Samar, the rise was attributed to increase in testing.

The rising trend on Dinagat Islands was blamed on the opening of its port.

SAYYAF IN KIDNAP OF INDONESIANS KILLED IN SHOOTOUT

ZAMBOANGA CITY — An alleged Abu Sayyaf bandit tagged in the kidnapping of

six Indonesian fishermen was killed in a shootout in Zamboanga Sibugay over

the weekend.

Salip Adzhar Alijam, alias Aya and Alip Adjal Hamsa Grandad, reportedly

opened fire at a team of police officers out to serve a search warrant on

the suspect’s residence in Barangay Masao, Tungawan town, according to Brig.

Gen. Jesus Cambay Jr., Zamboanga regional police director.

The warrant was issued for alleged illegal possession of firearms and

explosives.

Alijam was positively identified by Herman Bin Manggak as one of the men who

kidnapped him and his fellow fishermen in 2016.

Manggak and his companions were freed separately after weeks of captivity in

the jungles of Sulu.

ULYSSES THREATENS SOUTHERN LUZON, METRO MANILA; MORE AREAS UNDER SIGNAL NO.1

MANILA - More areas were placed under signal number 1 early Tuesday as

tropical storm Ulysses slowed down while approaching Quezon, the state

weather bureau said.

The country's 21st storm this year is forecast to strengthen into a severe

tropical storm by Tuesday night and may reach typhoon category and its peak

intensity on Wednesday afternoon or evening, PAGASA said.

It is expected to make landfall over Quezon on Thursday morning closely

approaching Catanduanes and Camarines Norte afterwards. A "slight shift" in

its track shows an "increasing likelihood of landfall" over Bicol region

between Wednesday afternoon or evening, PAGASA added.

Ulysses may traverse south of Metro Manila between Thursday morning and

afternoon, said PAGASA weather specialist Chris Perez.

"Mula po Central Luzon, southern Luzon, kasama ang Metro Manila at ibang

bahagi ng Visayas ay kailangan pong maghanda sa posibleng direct effect ng

Ulysses," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

The storm comes as majority of southern Luzon is still reeling from the

onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Quinta, which left billions of

pesos in damage and killed dozens.

Ulysses was last estimated 555 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes as of 4

a.m., moving northwest "slowly" while packing maximum winds of 65 kph near

the center and gusts of up to 80 kph, PAGASA said.

On Tuesday, it will bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over

Aurora, Quezon, Bicol region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Davao region,

according to the weather bureau.

Moderate to heavy rains associated with the rainbands of "Ulysses" will

begin affecting Bicol region and portions of Eastern Visayas on Wednesday,

PAGASA said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

MOVIE QUEEN MILA DE SOL DIES AT 97

Actress Mila del Sol, one of the queens of the golden age of the Philippine

cinema, has died at the age of 97.

Her grandson, Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, made the announcement on

Tuesday.

"It is with a heavy heart that I share that my beloved grandmother, Ms. Mila

del Sol, our Lulay, ang Reyna ng Pinilakang-Tabing, passed away this morning

at 1:10am," the lawmaker said in a statement. "She passed away in the home

of her eldest son and my father, Sonny Tambunting."

Del Sol starred in over 40 Filipino films in the pre-war and post war-era,

including Ibong Adarna (1949) and Villa Hermosa (1941).

"Being the link of the pre-war and the post-war era, Lola’s contributions to

laying down the foundations of Philippine cinema has allowed her to be

recognized as a true cornerstone of the industry," Tambunting added. "Before

her passing, she was the only living movie star from the Golden Age of

Philippine Cinema in the 1930s and 1940s."

Tambunting described Del Sol as a "loving mother, grandmother, great

grandmother, and great-great grandmother" who lived a long, charmed life.

She is survived by her children Sonny, actress Jeanne Young, Ancel Romero,

and Leo Romero.

SPORTS

PBA SCORES NOV 9

        Q1    Q2    Q3    Q4    T

Terrafirma Dyip    23    14    30    13    80

Barangay Ginebra    26    35    16    25    102

Alaska Aces    17    36    22    33    122

NLEX Road Warriors    23    26    26    33    119

Phoenix Fuel Masters    15    19    33    33    100

Blackwater Elite    21    24    25    25    95

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.14

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I

succeed. - Michael Jordan