US EMBASSY WELCOMES EXTENDED SUSPENSION OF VFA TERMINATIONMANILA - The Embassy of the United States in Manila welcomed Thursday thePhilippine government's decision to postpone anew the termination of theVisiting Forces Agreement (VFA) for another six months."The U.S.-Philippines alliance remains vital to our robust, deep-rootedbilateral relationship. The United States will continue to partner closelywith the Philippines to strengthen our mutual security ties," the embassysaid in a statement.Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. earlier said in a message toWhite House National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien that President Duterteis extending the suspension of the abrogation of the VFA by yet another 6months.The termination of the pact was initially made on Feb. 11 this year afterthe US visa of Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, Duterte's first national policechief and the first to implement the government's controversial war ondrugs, was cancelled. The abrogation was supposed to take effect 180 daysafter Washington received Manila's notice.But the termination was suspended in June because, according to Locsin then,Duterte "saw that the tensions in the South China Sea were getting in theway of a united response to the COVID-19 crisis.""The past four years have changed the South China Sea from one ofuncertainty about great powers’ intentions, to one of predictability andresulting stability with regard to what can and cannot be done, what willand will not be acceptable with regard to the conduct of any protagonist inthe South China Sea," he said."Clarity and strength have never posed a risk. It is confusion andindecision that aggravate risk."Duterte's decision to extend the suspension of the VFA abrogation also camedays after Democrat candidate Biden won the US presidency over Donald Trump.ULYSSES TRIGGERS FLOODS IN QUEZON, OVER 13,000 FAMILIES AFFECTEDMANILA – Scores of families in Quezon province have been displaced by heavyflooding brought by Typhoon Ulysses, its governor said Thursday.Heavy rains caused rivers to overflow and inundate villages in the towns ofGeneral Nakar, Infanta and Real, affecting over 13,000 families or 70,000individuals, Quezon Governor Danilo Suarez told ANC.At least 30 towns in the province were currently without power including 12towns from Quezon’s 1st district.Ulysses, the 21st tropical cyclone to enter the country this year, madelandfall in Quezon thrice.It first hit land near Patnanungan at 10:30 p.m. followed by a secondlandfall near Burdeos at 11:20 p.m. It made its third landfall near GeneralNakar at 1:30 a.m.As of 5 a.m., state weather bureau PAGASA said the typhoon was located inthe vicinity of San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.Residents climbed rooftops or sought higher ground as Typhoon Ulysses'fierce winds and torrential rains inundated large swaths of Luzon Thursday.Marikina seeks air rescue as Ulysses floods submerge housesThe water level of Marikina River has reached 21.8 meters as of 8:30 a.m.Thursday, officials said, as heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Ulysses(Vamco) continued to batter Luzon.The current level of the Marikina River is now higher than the peak 21.5meters set during Typhoon Ondoy's onslaught in 2009.Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro earlier said rainfall measurement was at150 to 170 millimeters in 6 hours until about 4 a.m. Thursday.Residents climbed rooftops while others sought higher ground as TyphoonUlysses brought heavy rains and floods in Luzon Thursday, the fifthconsecutive storm to hit the Philippines.Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro on Thursday morning called on nationalgovernment for assistance in rescuing his constituents as Typhoon Ulysses'floodwaters submerged some 30,000 houses.Teodoro said he has spoken with the Philippine Coast Guard and the nationaldisaster council as the city's 50 rubber boats are not enough as residentsclimbed on rooftops due to rising floodwaters.The Armed Forces of the Philippines has deployed rescue teams, saidspokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo."Ang ating hamon sa ngayon ay sa dami ng humingi ng tulong, di natin kayangrespondehan on our own," he said, adding that the military coordinates withlocal disaster officials in prioritizing rescues.Twenty out of 41 local governments in the province have no electricity,Avenilla said. Electricity in most of the towns was cut off forprecautionary measures, he added.Authorities in Rizal have launched rescue operations in the towns ofRodriguez and San Mateo, said disaster official Dong Malonzo.Local officials have coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard, Malonzosaid as the province experienced moderate to strong winds and moderate toheavy rainfall. Two rubber boats were sent to Barangay San Jose inRodriguez, according to ABS-CBN reporter Adrian Ayalin.METRO MANILA WAKES UP TO SEVERE FLOODING TRIGGERED BY TYPHOON ULYSSESMANILA — Typhoon Ulysses' destructive winds whirled through the main islandof Luzon overnight as the cyclone made its way to the capital region andCalabarzon on Thursday morning, dumping heavy rainfall and triggering flashfloods across Metro Manila.In Marikina, the river rose to 21.8 meters by 9:04 a.m., the highest waterlevel seen since 2009 when Typhoon Ondoy hammered the city. Back then, rainscarried by the cyclone inundated villages, destroying homes and propertiesand affecting nearly 900,000 people in the worst known flood disaster inmemory.The scene this morning had a similar ring. Filipinos retweeted and repostedcalls for rescue for relatives, friends and strangers trapped on rooftops asfloodwaters rushed inside their already elevated homes.The 155-kph maximum sustained winds toppled electric posts, knocking downpower in many places. Power distributor Meralco's advisory indicates that3.8 million customers were affected by the outage, representing 56% of itssubscriber base.Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco's spokesprson, said it would take an indefinitenumber of days before electricity is restored.The outages also broke up broadband services and mobile data in affectedareas, shutting down even weather forecasting hotlines of PAGASA.MORE THAN HALF OF MERALCO CUSTOMERS HIT BY POWER OUTAGES AS ULYSSES BATTERSPHMANILA - More than half of Meralco customers have been experiencing powerinterruptions due to typhoon Ulysses as of 5 a.m. Thursday, the powerdistributor said.Meralco said 3,803,810 or 56 percent of its customer base have been affectedby Ulysses."We are exerting all efforts to restore power soonest despite theconstraints we are currently facing. Rest assured that Meralco will continueto conduct restoration efforts round the clock in order to address each andevery customer who still have no power supply," Joe Zaldarriaga, Head ofCorporate Communications at Meralco said.Meralco advised customers to report power issues through its officialFacebook Messenger and Twitter accounts or via SMS.TYPHOON ULYSSES WEAKENS, SET TO EXIT LUZONThe country's 21st storm this year was last estimated in the vicinity ofCabangan, Zambales as of 7 a.m., moving west northwest at 30 km per hourwhile packing maximum winds of 130 kph near the center and gusts of up to215 kph, PAGASA said.It is forecast to exit Luzon landmass on Thursday afternoon or evening.It is expected to emerge over the western seaboard of Zambales within thenext hour and may intensify as it traverses the West Philippine Sea. It isforecast to leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday.The storm left at least one dead and forced 170,000 to flee their homes asthe COVID-19 pandemic persisted. It comes just a week after Super TyphoonRolly devastated southern Luzon and left at least 19 dead.DANAO VOWS TO ‘FLOOD’ METRO STREETS WITH COPSMANILA — Newly installed National Capital Region Police Office director Maj.Gen. Vicente Danao yesterday vowed that Metro Manila would be “flooded” withNCRPO officers to fight crimes.“More police visibility on the streets – this is part of our marchingorders. Let us flood the streets of Metro Manila with policemen to ensurethe safety of the people,” Danao said during the change of command ceremonyat Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.“We will do our best to maintain peace and order in the metropolis,” Danaosaid.He replaced Gen. Debold Sinas, who was appointed by President Duterte aschief of the Philippine National Police.Danao said he would bank on the strategic deployment of policemen as part ofpreventive measures against crimes.Danao, who headed the Calabarzon police and Manila Police District, said hewould be enforcing “Oplan Litis” to go after police personnel involved indrugs and other illegal activities.“We have to rid the NCRPO of scalawags. I will be strict on theadministration of justice for everyone,” he said.He said he expects members of the NCRPO to toe the line.He ordered police station commanders in Metro Manila to step up thegovernment’s war on drugs, crimes and corruption.THE REST========CORONAVIRUS CASES IN PHILIPPINES TOP 400,000; DEATH TOLL AT 7,710Health authorities confirmed Wednesday that the number of coronavirus casesin the Philippines has reached more than 400,000 nine months into theoutbreak.Data from the Department of Health showed there were 1,672 new COVID-19infections, bringing the overall tally to 401,416.MANILA JUDGE SHOT DEAD INSIDE COURTROOMMANILA — A Manila trial court judge was shot dead inside her court room onWednesday afternoon.The victim was identified as Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 45 Judge Ma.Theresa Abadilla (44). The incident report named her chief of court clerk,lawyer Amador Rebato (42), as the suspect.A follow up report from Special Mayor’s Reaction Team (SMaRT) chief PoliceMajor Jhun Ibay said that Abadilla arrived at the emergency department ofthe hospital at 2:45 p.m.She was declared dead at 3:15 in the afternoon.In a separate report from Police Lt. Col. Arsenio Riparip (Ret.) for ManilaMayor Isko Moreno, the city security force said initial investigation showedthat Abadilla was talking to Rebato about the latter’s performance “whichseems unfavourable.”The incident happened at around 2:45 p.m. on the fifth floor of the ManilaCity Hall.Citing a witness’ account, Riparip, chief of the city security force, saidRebato recently got infected with COVID-19, which “affected his performancewherein he was planning to file his resignation.”Riparip added that prior to the shooting, Rebato was seen “feeling uneasyand shuddering” while she was being questioned by Judge Abadilla.He then shot the judge in the head and then took his own life with his ownfirearm of unknown caliber, the report read.SMaRT operatives have since turned over the investigation to the homicidedivision. All gates of the city hall were also closed.AFTER MANILA COURT SHOOTING, IBP SAYS TO CONTINUE HELPING LAWYERS WITHSTRESS, SECURITYMANILA — The Integrated Bar of the Philippines said it will work on helpinglawyers to deal with stress and improve their personal security in the wakeof deaths of a Manila court judge and clerk of court.IBP National President Domingo Egon Cayosa said being a lawyer is one of themost stressful professions. This is compounded by the killings of judges,prosecutors and lawyers, the COVID-19 pandemic, and “the creeping culture ofviolence and impunity in our society.”“IBP will continue to help lawyers handle stress and improve their personalsecurity,” he added.Cayosa issued the statement after the death of Manila Regional Trial CourtJudge Maria Teresa Abadilla and clerk of court, lawyer Amador Rebato Jr. onWednesday afternoon.Investigators, citing a witness testimony, said Abadilla and Rebato were indiscussion over the latter’s performance that was affected when hecontracted the coronavirus. Rebato shot Abadilla while they were inside thecourtroom, and he later shot himself.Abadilla was rushed to the Manila Medical Center but was declared dead onarrival.Cayosa noted it is “ironic” that they learned of the shooting incident whilethe IBP, the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine PsychiatricAssociation were holding a webinar on how to manage stress and mental healthin the legal profession amid the pandemic.“We hope the government and all sectors will cooperate to ensure thatdifferences may be resolved responsibly, quickly and peacefully,” he added.GROUPS, CONCERNED FILIPINOS DECRY DEATH OF VIR MAGANES, 18TH JOURNALISTKILLED UNDER DUTERTE ADMINThe provincial police formed a special task force to probe the killing of ajournalist in Pangasinan following calls for justice by progressive groupsonline.In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 11, the Police Regional PoliceOffice 1 (PRO-1) director Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin announced that heactivated a special investigation task group that will look into the killingof Pangasinan-based journalist and columnist Virgilio “Vir” Maganes.Azurin said that the group is currently probing into leads and persons ofinterest who were identified through footages in surveillance cameras nearthe crime scene.The investigation is still ongoing.Through social media posts on November 10, the National Union of Journalistof the Philippines reported the killing of Maganes and noted that theincident happened just a week after the International Day to End Impunityfor Crime against Journalists on November 2.In the organization’s count, the veteran broadcaster would be the 18thjournalist killed under the Duterte administration and the 190th since 1986.“His death is an indictment on this government’s empty boast that pressfreedom is alive and well in the country,” the group said.While motives for the killing remain uncertain, the NUJP demandedauthorities to resolve Maganes’ killing and bring justice to his family.SINAS DARES CRITICS: GO AHEAD, SUE MEMANILA — Amid allegations of human rights violations, Philippine NationalPolice (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas yesterday challenged his critics tofile charges against him in connection with the abuses in Central Visayasthat he supposedly abetted when he was the region’s police director.Sinas said there were no charges filed against him in connection with theseaccusations.“I don’t have any cases in Central Visayas. If there were any, or if thereare clamors, they can file them in court,” Sinas said. “I encourage them tofile cases so I can answer them in the proper venue.”In a television interview, New York-based Human Rights Watch said Sinas’appointment as PNP chief was a cause for concern due to alleged abuses,including the string of unsolved drug-related killings in Central Visayas.Sinas served as director of the Central Visayas police from July 2018 toOctober 2019.The PNP chief also asked his critics to end talks about the mañanitacontroversy, saying prosecutors have investigated the incident.Sinas received flak when he held a birthday feast at the Metro Manila policeheadquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig last May, which reportedlyviolated the ban on mass gatherings and quarantine protocols.The controversy prompted the PNP to file criminal charges against Sinas and18 other police officials before the Taguig prosecutor’s office.Sinas is also facing an administrative complaint over the mañanita mess.ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE‘VERY TRYING TIME FOR ME’: LIZA SOBERANO ADMITS REASSESSING GOALS, ‘MISSIONIN LIFE’MANILA — Actress Liza Soberano explained on Tuesday her month-long absencefrom social media, saying she has been taking time to reflect on her“mission in life.”On Twitter, the Kapamilya star addressed her fans, writing: “Hi everyone!Sorry I’ve been MIA for a while. Just savoring the time I have with thepeople most special to me.“But I do constantly have all of you at the back of my mind and I just wantto say thank you so much for all the love and support everyone has beenshowing me this past month.”Soberano is currently in the United States, where she is helping care forher ailing grandmother.“It’s honestly been a very trying time for me and I wanted to express how Iwas feeling with all of you but it was just too soon for me,” she said.“I needed to take a break and think about life, my goals and what I think mymission is in life.”Soberano, 22, was recently the subject of controversy when a militaryofficial issued her a public warning for participating in a women’s welfareprogram of the rights group Gabriela.Soberano’s part in the virtual talk, where she urged influentialpersonalities to speak up for those who are marginalized including women andchildren, snowballed into the national discussion on “red-tagging,” with thelikes of Catriona Gray and Angel Locsin being targeted, too, for their ownadvocacy.The past year had also been tumultuous for Soberano, whose primetime series“Make It With You” was cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic and theforced broadcast shutdown of her home network ABS-CBN.Those are aside from her personal situation. While Soberano has mentionedattending to her grandmother in the States, she has opted to keep details ofher condition private.SPORTSPBA SCORES NOV 11WED, NOV 11, 2020    Q1    Q2    Q3    Q4    TPhoenix Fuel Masters    21    25    13    31    90Rain or Shine    24    18    24    22    88Magnolia Hotshots    32    16    25    22    95Blackwater Elite    14    22    20    24    80Batang Pier    14    16    20    23    73Meralco Bolts    23    16    28    13    80NLEX Road Warriors    23    32    42    30    127Terrafirma Dyip    26    18    27    30    101PBA PLAYOFFS SET FOR TIP-OFF FRIDAYMANILA — The matchups for the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs are finalized asthe eliminations concluded Wednesday at the PBA bubble in Clark City,Pampanga.The eight remaining squads will have more time to rest their bodies as theleague expects a less busy schedule after daily elimination games.Top-ranked Barangay Ginebra will take on Rain or Shine, which slid down tothe eighth spot yesterday after a loss to Phoenix.The win propelled the Fuel Masters to second place behind the Gin Kings,where they will face the streaking Magnolia Hotshots who are riding a sixgame-win streak.In the other matchups, the TNT Tropang Giga, who began their bubble journeywith five straight wins, will clash with the Alaska Aces.The six-peat seeking San Miguel Beermen, meanwhile, will face the MeralcoBolts.The top four teams Ginebra, Phoenix Super LPG, TNT Tropang Giga and the SMBBeermen have a twice-to-beat advantage in the first round of thepost-season.The playoffs will begin on Friday, November 13, with SMB and Meralco facingoff in the first game, and Ginebra playing Rain or Shine.